The last of the old format of videos. IF you want to see my new education platform where the more high end info is stored.... head here tinhouse-studio.com/studio-access/
Hi! Just wanted to tell you that your UA-cam channel has quickly (as in… in the last few days) become my new favorite photography related channel and quite possibly my new favorite channel in general. Love the way you explain things, including yourself as a photographer. I’m not a professional photographer myself, and have absolutely no intention of ever becoming one. Ok, yes, the thought has crossed my mind at some point. But as you pointed out in one of your previous videos, it’s not for everybody, and coming from a humble background it’s damn near impossible to even get started. But even as the occasional amateur / hobby photographer I find your advice very valuable, and quite frankly, you’re fun to watch and learn from. 🙂
I'm a weddings and events photographer as opposed to commercial but I still find lots of value in these videos. I have definitely made some sacrifices over the years.
After thirty years, I've learned to qualify those online forum comments by the quality of work the commenter has produced. Friends, I find that the older I get the smaller circle of friends I have and subscribe to the quality over quantity philosophy. Best of luck in your next stage of your career and thank you for these videos.
I can relate to what you are saying. I’ve been a photographer since my teens and full-time pro for short periods but inevitably it becomes all consuming. My relationships and other interests suffered and eventually I had to back-off to rebuild my relationships, creativity and enthusiasm. Thankfully, the “in between” careers have also been somewhat fulfilling and have ultimately given me subject knowledge that has advanced my photography. I’m now 67, semi retired, and just having fun with photography - it’s a great place to be!
I respectfully disagree, in a way at least. You seem to want to be the best at whatever you do, and yes, then you’re probably correct. But we don’t all desire that recognition or the 20k/day paycheck. I’m perfectly happy being an average photographer who doesn’t do campaigns worth chatting about at parties. I love what I do, and I make a modest living doing it. I’m not saying that’s better: I respect people who aim for the stars. I just don’t envy them: I have work-life balance just fine. I see it as income-free time balance and know that I’m perfectly happy sacrificing some of the former for the latter.
How fu*king true! My life experience has taught me that if one wants to excel at something - anything - it will come at the cost of losing friends, damaging relationships, and spending large portions of life in relative isolation. But, for me? I wouldn't have it any other way.😊 Thanks for another very important and insightful video.
"To be at the top you have to ruin your life" is very true. Which is why I got out in 1980 after running my own commercial studio for ten years. Which, by the way, I only did because my training gave me a unique background in scientific and medical equipment (I apprenticed with a company that sold those things). Combined with a family background in watchmaking I had a way into a very narrow but lucratrive niche. Even so, I nearly killed myself on that career, but I was lucky to meet people who helped me change tack. Good luck!
I love your channel. It is really helping me with my creative process and it's making me think a lot about what matters and what doesn't matter, etc. I am a psychotherapist and I'm retiring so I can spend all of my time on my photography obsession. You always have good tips, but the most helpful thing is your overall perspective and practicality. As a therapist, I have seen a lot of highly ambitious people whose relationships and friendships fall apart because it is hard to balance high ambition with social activities. But our work, our career is where we contribute to the world and find our fullest expression, so it's not wrong to place so much emphasis on work. Just always remember to pet the dogs and speak to everyone in your life for 30 seconds a day before plunging back into the obsession 😂
I just do what I love and I don't compete with other photographers. I started off by doing different photoshoots, then realized what I liked and what I didn’t like. Then I started to work on my craft. I haven't lost relationships, but it definitely takes time away from quality family time. I still don't remember all the photography terms.. and I'm very simplistic and don't own expensive equipment. I love my work, but I know I'm not everyone's cup of tea. I love other photographers.. I learn from them. And yes they're photographers who believe you're not a true photographer if you don't own specific equipment or a brand of camera (camera snobs). And if you don't know the technical terms.. then you don't deserve the photographer title. I just love the Art of photography, and the different approaches that photographers use to produce their final product. ❤
Someone talked about it recently, I think it was Chris Williams from Modern Wisdom, who mentioned that so often you get these very successful known people writing a book, or having countless talks about what made them successful, but what they themselves often have forgot, is that balance was not there in the beginning, with was as you say, work-work balance. Yes the other things was part of the important bits, but without the work-work balance they wouldn't have gotten where they are, or maybe one could argue, they would not have gotten where they got in the timeframe they got there. Maybe the same could be said for you Scot, maybe you would have achieved this success you have, but this level would've been reached at 50 and not nearly 40. Hell it could've been achieved at 60 and not 40. But then also, having that slower pace might also have meant the chance of not achieving it ever.
Talking about a Masters in Photography, I did just that when I was 18 and had just left school. It was one of the top schools, the Regent St Poly. The year was 1969! Out of all the students, myself and one other were under 21. All the others had careers in photography and I think they saw the course as a way to learn new skills, like colour processing and colour printing, large format cameras and much more. Looking back I'd say that almost all these students had money behind them, like they almost all spoke pretty posh. I did the three years, but felt so disillusioned by the end that I ended up not getting a degree. Did I find a career in photography? Nope. But looking back and knowing myself better now, I should have taken up a menial job on some magazine, working the darkrooms, assisiting the house photographers, making tea. I would have learnt more in three years doing that, than I learnt at the Poly.
It’s not a dark side of photography but it’s an important side of photography and that’s learn the business side as some people think it’s an art form but it’s a business for me not only is it a business its an adventure!
I could not agree more, especially if children are in the picture. I gave up a lot to have this career, but in the end, I never saw myself doing anything else. I always found myself so very fortunate to have such an understanding wife and family.
Great info! In the US, only 1.6% of collegiate players make it to professional league in American football, able to "make a living" as a pro. That tracks well with what you are saying in the photography world.
I completely forgot what you were talking about after you said 20k. I remember you saying 20k, though. In all seriousness though, both an all-in career and raising children require so much time and energy that they're pretty much mutually exclusive for a lot of people. Kudos for managing to do both.
Sherman Duffy of the New York Herald once said, "A newspaperman is the loneliest guy on earth. Socially he ranks somewhere between a hooker and a bartender. Spritually he stands with Galileo because he knows the world is round." Scott been there done that. 😈 I worked as Photojournalist for over 35 years. I did go the college but I also worked 3 jobs. I did not finish college because I started working fulltime as Photojournalist. My neighbors thought I was a Narc because I had a police scanner going 24/7 in my apartment. I screwed more relationships than I care to think about. I missed more holidays than not. There were times I went 72 hours straight without sleep. I cover major sports, news, features and spot news (Plane crashes, crime, and accidents). Being a meant I was a Jack of all trades, so I started picking up commercial work. But I did sacrifice my body and relationships.
Business ownership in general is like that. You can't really be a successful business owner and expect to have a desirable work-life balance. It just doesn't exist. Look up articles on what life is like for the most successful business owners and corporate executives. It's hell. Yes they make a lot of money. But they spend so much of their time focusing on the companies they run that it's like... why be in a position to make that much money when it's going to be years till you can really enjoy it? Ask those who founded some of the most successful companies in the world today what life was like starting those companies and they'll describe a life most don't want to live. Especially living that first year or few not sure if you're going to lose everything, and possibly teetering on the brink of doing so.
I’ve had friends in the film business, kind of related, that I’ve totally let go. It doesn’t happen over night, but after countless “I’m too busy,” you just stop asking. You see them from time to time but they don’t experience the day to day stuff with you and you become strangers of a sort. I’ve seen people become totally alone except for their work family.
I related to your issue in the video, as I reinvented my working career a few times in the creative industries. I agree you end up working all the time BUT I enjoying creating so for me is not really a sacrifice thinking about it. When you are working in those industries you are surrounded by same minded people and they all so focused to achieve the result so “going to the pub and see mates” it’s not really missed. Great topic and I wish the approach wasn’t so negative my personal view is as creative spirit in order to balance your life you need to keep be creative and embrace it and not look at it as a 7:47 chore! Otherwise just don’t do it- do what you make you feel happy- sound simplistic but it’s true. This is just my opinion. 😊
So true. I wonder how many viewers really understand how small the tippy top of the pyramid of advertising photographers really is. Also like your final comment, because, definitely here in the US, and in my experience in other countries too, there’s always a number of silver spoon photographers, because becoming a photographer, especially one with a studio, is incredibly expensive.
Every time I have tried to explain “making it” as a photographer to my friends, I’ve used the analogy of making it into the Premiere League. It’s saturated, everyone wants it, everyone is talented, most work hard and it’s tough getting in front of/impressing the ones who can get you into the team
Sounds like life in general. Playtime is over when you become an adult. It's work, it's survival. I love photography, I love having worked on newspapers. I love Photojournalism more than any other form of photography because it was exciting. Now it is a hobby and when my wife and her family have a get together, I become the photo person again. Yes, it is fun. I love that type of work. But we have to realize that in the latter years of our life, outside of our family, we have very few friends. That's why we have families. What you described is something many people suffer from, work, more work and work. That's life.
Have a couple of friends who ring me and start blathering 90 miles per hour about the latest camera, this or that feature, or the latest quip they disagree with on the silly camera forums. I just say, “Relax. It’s just a box with a hole in it.” Maybe my simple understanding of that early on was because my dad took me out with an actual Box Camera when I was very young.
I am at the point where the only important part about a camera is the shutter button. That is basically how I shot in the film camera days. Set the speed, the aperture, focus and fire away. So simple, so easy and worked most of the time. Got thousands and thousands of images, both B&W and color. Why all the arguing, shilling? We didn't have that in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s. Everyone had a camera back then and we all had fun. The only funny point some made is the ability to stop the prop of a C-130 was shooting at 1/1000th of a second. I have a Nikon I bought in Japan. My friends had Nikons or Canons. One of the benefits of being in the military is buying expensive stuff overseas. Really cheap. Nikons sold next to Pentax for close to the same price.
@ and rather than worry about camera “features” back then, my most valuable tool was a handheld light meter that I bought used. I used that thing until it fell apart.
Sacrifices - people often make big changes when they run into, or have experienced, sacrifices. How big they are (perceived) depends on prior experiences. In that sense, like the concept of "deprivation" in social psychology,. it's alls relative. This is not meant as a knockdown argument, but an important insight. This point here is about "learning". When the sacrifice was relatively big, you have to evaluate your choices and maybe have to be aware that you wanted to go too fast, ignored important risks, and generally weren't prepared. If you want to try to climb the same photographic art/business mountain peak again, better preparation, train the essential building blocks of getting there. And the training must be matching the challenge. Reaching mount Eiger's peak (3,967 m - 13,015 ft) via its north-face may be more difficult than hiring a Sherpa and walking to Mt. Everest's peak (8,849 m - 29,032 ft). Some people get mountain/altitude sickness already between 1,500 and 2,500 m high - I had no issues at 3,500 m. That may have been preparation. We often ignore risks because of ignorance. Preparing for high altitude by going there in phases long enough to adjust at each next level may be what we do, but we board a plane for a long flight and forget that while cruising at 15,000 m high, the pressure cabin simulates an altitude of about 2,400 m already. Professional photography is full of these risks that we did not know until we ran into them. If we don't analyse and try again, we swapped "learning" for "sacrifice".
Interesting perspective, though I think it can be said about many professions. It's not unique to photography. I know people who work in the financial industry who's goal was to get rich. Those who did get rich did so at the expense of non-work life. I've known people who worked all their loives socking away money so they could live high in retiremnet, only to retire and be dead within a year or two. I now work in the photography field, but after another unrelated career and I have no illusions of ever being a rich photographer. But I do a fair bit of charity work and it is quite rewarding. Peopel actually appreciate it in deep, maningful ways, not just with their wallets. I love getting a nice paycheck for the paid work I do, but I wouldn't give up my life to get ever more and bigger paychecks. We all make decisions based on what we value. I only hope to not look back with regret at mine.
I agree with education. A degree in photography is only really of any use for becoming a teacher, and often not particularly good teachers, because they know all about concept, history, but nothing about practical photography or running a business. When it comes to running a photography business, you do need to be driven. Most photographers I know are one man bands, and generally running a business involves doing all the background stuff, which isn't much fun and does not involve a camera. I do know photographers who are able to keep a work-life balance, but they are insanely talented, have amazing reputations and are incredible at doing the business stuff. Also, most are of an older age and have had real world experience in life.
Please try to find time for that run. Your health is a radical act of self-love and the best gift you can give your kids. I'm not trying to be judgy. I miss friends who were proud of how driven they were.
Bingo... I've been down that road Scott, problem is that I ended up have a few marriages, 4 kids, a few companies in different countries, and a yoyo cashflow. If anyone thinks that they can do everything, I'd love to see you try. Something must suffer along the way... :)
There is not one professional that I was associated with, or studied with that had a 4 year degree in photography. Many where masters, or Certified pros as I was with the PPA. They studied, knew the basics and understood their profession, but like myself, always learning and refining their craft of photography. Thats what I found to be the makeup of the industry when I worked 7 days a week, earning a living. Many, never as a child said I want to be a photographer when I grow up. It just happened. I also have people who just could not cut it. They just didn't have it, the talent, imagination or staying power. That said, If I had to do it all over again, I would have gone to Law school.
I guess it depends on what kind of level you are playing on. I only do events every so often and they are only around 400-500 bucks a gig. I am a stay at home dad mostly so luckily nothing depends on that as my wife has the better job. Looking to do more work but rarely have the time to be so flexible. Good advice overall though
Photography can be high paying. But this definitely depends on the type and level you are in. And if you are on top, then the competition is fierce. Very few are well paid wildlife photographers etc. but I assume this is implied.
To be quite honest if you wanna be good at anything a relationship is usually not compatible with that unless you have a really understanding GF. Relationships are a time investment and telling any woman on a first date oh btw I'm obsessed with photography will go over like a lead balloon. It's either or, not both and anyone telling you different are lying.
Photography is a great hobby and a horrible job. Considered it many years ago after winning a string of prizes. Checked the outlook. Even bought a financial report on photographers. It flashed to red it was strange it did not burst into fire. Best investment ever. As a hobbiest I enjoy being a sought for photography within my niche and having more than 100 mio. people see my work. You can make your work your hobby - never try the opposite.
Reality is if you want be a pro photographer you have to want it more than anything else in your life, I often get peole saying I'm lucky to do it for a job but they didnt see the 10 years of work to get here. 👍
Your right much like other things, we only see certain successful people we are fed, the best in any field might be not popular because they might be from a communist country and we don’t have access to them, or they might not know how to read and write. But there is a combination of being popular and being good enough, as well as confidence that allows for someone the opportunity to get more money.
From the "photography as art" point of view most/all of the debates on "facts" are like pissing in the wind. Photographers like facts and as you say, "grey, contradicting, statistics, numbers, dynamic ranges, lens sharpness characteristics, and ratings, and stuff we can fixate on" gets them talking. The biggest talking point has become "lens UNsharpness characteristics" (AKA bokeh - an everyday Japanese word for "blur"). Most of the numbers games are completely uninformed on a deeper level. And naive unqualified fluencers keep parroting each other.
If you are a true working photographer with a mortgage, car payment, and kids in school, the GAS goes away quickly. When I was working, I rarely bought anything, just necessities. Sometimes a needed an extra stand, clamps and brackets, an extra light, stuff like that. If it wasn’t in the budget, you didn’t buy it. Once I retired from shooting though, I started buying the toys I wanted. So kind of like GAS in reverse for me 😂 Even the GAS has settled down now though after about 3 yrs of a mild buying frenzy. I try to use what I have and enjoy the shooting more these days.
Have to agree with ruining relationships, but this just doesn't apply to photography, succesful business men are putting in 80-100 hour weeks, surgeons pretty much the same. Even small business owners are doing the same amount of hours. Darkroom work, black and white, colour, the smell of fixer permenating the air, in a stuffy closet of a airless room. Using an light/flash meter and a manual camera. Cyan and magenta. Kodachrome 25 and Cibachrome. The visual 3d effect of Cibachrome I love even today.
Well, time for something that will be more than obvious to most of you. The two points I take away. Specialize in subject matter- I'm a mess - total jack of all trades and i'm suffering for it. Two. You need to know people - it's a Hamburger Hill out there, you're clambering up the hill and the guys who rule the roost are manning the machine gun and guess who they're pointing it at? 🤔
I call BS. Maybe it was different back 20 years ago, but I had no problem balancing my work/life and I was a commercial shooter for decades. I'm retired and maybe what he speaks of is true now, but not back then.
@@mattm7426because we like this “UA-camr” and hope he continues on UA-cam. It’s like your favourite restaurant closing down because they didn’t get enough business.
Don't have time to hang out with your mates on a Friday night.....make time. The kids are going to leave you when they grow older, yes they are special but its about boundaries.
The last of the old format of videos. IF you want to see my new education platform where the more high end info is stored.... head here tinhouse-studio.com/studio-access/
Again, Not the advice we WANT to hear, but the advice we NEED to hear. Love gems like this. keep them coming please.
Hi! Just wanted to tell you that your UA-cam channel has quickly (as in… in the last few days) become my new favorite photography related channel and quite possibly my new favorite channel in general.
Love the way you explain things, including yourself as a photographer.
I’m not a professional photographer myself, and have absolutely no intention of ever becoming one.
Ok, yes, the thought has crossed my mind at some point. But as you pointed out in one of your previous videos, it’s not for everybody, and coming from a humble background it’s damn near impossible to even get started.
But even as the occasional amateur / hobby photographer I find your advice very valuable, and quite frankly, you’re fun to watch and learn from. 🙂
I'm a weddings and events photographer as opposed to commercial but I still find lots of value in these videos. I have definitely made some sacrifices over the years.
After thirty years, I've learned to qualify those online forum comments by the quality of work the commenter has produced. Friends, I find that the older I get the smaller circle of friends I have and subscribe to the quality over quantity philosophy. Best of luck in your next stage of your career and thank you for these videos.
As a husband, father and photographer, I can feel this video in my soul.
I can relate to what you are saying. I’ve been a photographer since my teens and full-time pro for short periods but inevitably it becomes all consuming. My relationships and other interests suffered and eventually I had to back-off to rebuild my relationships, creativity and enthusiasm. Thankfully, the “in between” careers have also been somewhat fulfilling and have ultimately given me subject knowledge that has advanced my photography. I’m now 67, semi retired, and just having fun with photography - it’s a great place to be!
I respectfully disagree, in a way at least. You seem to want to be the best at whatever you do, and yes, then you’re probably correct. But we don’t all desire that recognition or the 20k/day paycheck. I’m perfectly happy being an average photographer who doesn’t do campaigns worth chatting about at parties. I love what I do, and I make a modest living doing it. I’m not saying that’s better: I respect people who aim for the stars. I just don’t envy them: I have work-life balance just fine. I see it as income-free time balance and know that I’m perfectly happy sacrificing some of the former for the latter.
How fu*king true! My life experience has taught me that if one wants to excel at something - anything - it will come at the cost of losing friends, damaging relationships, and spending large portions of life in relative isolation. But, for me? I wouldn't have it any other way.😊
Thanks for another very important and insightful video.
"To be at the top you have to ruin your life" is very true. Which is why I got out in 1980 after running my own commercial studio for ten years. Which, by the way, I only did because my training gave me a unique background in scientific and medical equipment (I apprenticed with a company that sold those things). Combined with a family background in watchmaking I had a way into a very narrow but lucratrive niche. Even so, I nearly killed myself on that career, but I was lucky to meet people who helped me change tack. Good luck!
100% to be the best you have to do what no one else does. And sometimes that comes with great sacrifice. Keep up the great work.
Totally agree about priorities, love photography, love my friends, but my priority is my family, i enjoy your channel you talk a lot of sense.
Amazing perspective on the profession and right on the (literal) money. More of this kind of thing and less gear talk. Yay!
I love your channel. It is really helping me with my creative process and it's making me think a lot about what matters and what doesn't matter, etc. I am a psychotherapist and I'm retiring so I can spend all of my time on my photography obsession. You always have good tips, but the most helpful thing is your overall perspective and practicality.
As a therapist, I have seen a lot of highly ambitious people whose relationships and friendships fall apart because it is hard to balance high ambition with social activities. But our work, our career is where we contribute to the world and find our fullest expression, so it's not wrong to place so much emphasis on work. Just always remember to pet the dogs and speak to everyone in your life for 30 seconds a day before plunging back into the obsession 😂
I just do what I love and I don't compete with other photographers. I started off by doing different photoshoots, then realized what I liked and what I didn’t like. Then I started to work on my craft. I haven't lost relationships, but it definitely takes time away from quality family time. I still don't remember all the photography terms.. and I'm very simplistic and don't own expensive equipment. I love my work, but I know I'm not everyone's cup of tea. I love other photographers.. I learn from them. And yes they're photographers who believe you're not a true photographer if you don't own specific equipment or a brand of camera (camera snobs). And if you don't know the technical terms.. then you don't deserve the photographer title. I just love the Art of photography, and the different approaches that photographers use to produce their final product. ❤
Probably the most factual video about working as a a creative 👏
Hi Scott, people who are working towards the top have no illusions; people dreaming of the top do! ;-)
Thanks for the post!
Way to finish strong, thank you for this series.
Someone talked about it recently, I think it was Chris Williams from Modern Wisdom, who mentioned that so often you get these very successful known people writing a book, or having countless talks about what made them successful, but what they themselves often have forgot, is that balance was not there in the beginning, with was as you say, work-work balance. Yes the other things was part of the important bits, but without the work-work balance they wouldn't have gotten where they are, or maybe one could argue, they would not have gotten where they got in the timeframe they got there. Maybe the same could be said for you Scot, maybe you would have achieved this success you have, but this level would've been reached at 50 and not nearly 40. Hell it could've been achieved at 60 and not 40. But then also, having that slower pace might also have meant the chance of not achieving it ever.
I don’t have any children, and friends are few and far between, so I must be on the way! 🎉 That said, I’m disabled, and junior booms are heavy af.
Talking about a Masters in Photography, I did just that when I was 18 and had just left school. It was one of the top schools, the Regent St Poly. The year was 1969!
Out of all the students, myself and one other were under 21. All the others had careers in photography and I think they saw the course as a way to learn new skills, like colour processing and colour printing, large format cameras and much more.
Looking back I'd say that almost all these students had money behind them, like they almost all spoke pretty posh.
I did the three years, but felt so disillusioned by the end that I ended up not getting a degree.
Did I find a career in photography? Nope. But looking back and knowing myself better now, I should have taken up a menial job on some magazine, working the darkrooms, assisiting the house photographers, making tea. I would have learnt more in three years doing that, than I learnt at the Poly.
It’s not a dark side of photography but it’s an important side of photography and that’s learn the business side as some people think it’s an art form but it’s a business for me not only is it a business its an adventure!
These videos you put out always seem to be recommended right at the right point for me..
I could not agree more, especially if children are in the picture. I gave up a lot to have this career, but in the end, I never saw myself doing anything else. I always found myself so very fortunate to have such an understanding wife and family.
Great info! In the US, only 1.6% of collegiate players make it to professional league in American football, able to "make a living" as a pro. That tracks well with what you are saying in the photography world.
I completely forgot what you were talking about after you said 20k.
I remember you saying 20k, though.
In all seriousness though, both an all-in career and raising children require so much time and energy that they're pretty much mutually exclusive for a lot of people. Kudos for managing to do both.
work work work! thank you for your work!
Sherman Duffy of the New York Herald once said, "A newspaperman is the loneliest guy on earth. Socially he ranks somewhere between a hooker and a bartender. Spritually he stands with Galileo because he knows the world is round."
Scott been there done that. 😈 I worked as Photojournalist for over 35 years. I did go the college but I also worked 3 jobs. I did not finish college because I started working fulltime as Photojournalist. My neighbors thought I was a Narc because I had a police scanner going 24/7 in my apartment. I screwed more relationships than I care to think about. I missed more holidays than not. There were times I went 72 hours straight without sleep. I cover major sports, news, features and spot news (Plane crashes, crime, and accidents). Being a meant I was a Jack of all trades, so I started picking up commercial work. But I did sacrifice my body and relationships.
Business ownership in general is like that. You can't really be a successful business owner and expect to have a desirable work-life balance. It just doesn't exist.
Look up articles on what life is like for the most successful business owners and corporate executives. It's hell. Yes they make a lot of money. But they spend so much of their time focusing on the companies they run that it's like... why be in a position to make that much money when it's going to be years till you can really enjoy it? Ask those who founded some of the most successful companies in the world today what life was like starting those companies and they'll describe a life most don't want to live. Especially living that first year or few not sure if you're going to lose everything, and possibly teetering on the brink of doing so.
I’ve had friends in the film business, kind of related, that I’ve totally let go. It doesn’t happen over night, but after countless “I’m too busy,” you just stop asking. You see them from time to time but they don’t experience the day to day stuff with you and you become strangers of a sort. I’ve seen people become totally alone except for their work family.
If you want to become a photographer, perhaps now more than ever before, first look yourself in the mirror and ask, "How hungry am I?"
I related to your issue in the video, as I reinvented my working career a few times in the creative industries. I agree you end up working all the time BUT I enjoying creating so for me is not really a sacrifice thinking about it. When you are working in those industries you are surrounded by same minded people and they all so focused to achieve the result so “going to the pub and see mates” it’s not really missed. Great topic and I wish the approach wasn’t so negative my personal view is as creative spirit in order to balance your life you need to keep be creative and embrace it and not look at it as a 7:47 chore! Otherwise just don’t do it- do what you make you feel happy- sound simplistic but it’s true. This is just my opinion. 😊
Sorry 7:47 I don’t know why is there - I cannot delete it!!
So true. I wonder how many viewers really understand how small the tippy top of the pyramid of advertising photographers really is. Also like your final comment, because, definitely here in the US, and in my experience in other countries too, there’s always a number of silver spoon photographers, because becoming a photographer, especially one with a studio, is incredibly expensive.
Every time I have tried to explain “making it” as a photographer to my friends, I’ve used the analogy of making it into the Premiere League. It’s saturated, everyone wants it, everyone is talented, most work hard and it’s tough getting in front of/impressing the ones who can get you into the team
Sounds like life in general. Playtime is over when you become an adult. It's work, it's survival. I love photography, I love having worked on newspapers. I love Photojournalism more than any other form of photography because it was exciting. Now it is a hobby and when my wife and her family have a get together, I become the photo person again. Yes, it is fun. I love that type of work.
But we have to realize that in the latter years of our life, outside of our family, we have very few friends. That's why we have families.
What you described is something many people suffer from, work, more work and work. That's life.
Many will fail at just about any chosen profession. But photography a personal form of self expression is always a win. Make art not content.
Have a couple of friends who ring me and start blathering 90 miles per hour about the latest camera, this or that feature, or the latest quip they disagree with on the silly camera forums. I just say, “Relax. It’s just a box with a hole in it.” Maybe my simple understanding of that early on was because my dad took me out with an actual Box Camera when I was very young.
I am at the point where the only important part about a camera is the shutter button. That is basically how I shot in the film camera days. Set the speed, the aperture, focus and fire away. So simple, so easy and worked most of the time. Got thousands and thousands of images, both B&W and color. Why all the arguing, shilling? We didn't have that in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s. Everyone had a camera back then and we all had fun. The only funny point some made is the ability to stop the prop of a C-130 was shooting at 1/1000th of a second. I have a Nikon I bought in Japan. My friends had Nikons or Canons. One of the benefits of being in the military is buying expensive stuff overseas. Really cheap. Nikons sold next to Pentax for close to the same price.
@ and rather than worry about camera “features” back then, my most valuable tool was a handheld light meter that I bought used. I used that thing until it fell apart.
Sacrifices - people often make big changes when they run into, or have experienced, sacrifices. How big they are (perceived) depends on prior experiences. In that sense, like the concept of "deprivation" in social psychology,. it's alls relative.
This is not meant as a knockdown argument, but an important insight. This point here is about "learning".
When the sacrifice was relatively big, you have to evaluate your choices and maybe have to be aware that you wanted to go too fast, ignored important risks, and generally weren't prepared. If you want to try to climb the same photographic art/business mountain peak again, better preparation, train the essential building blocks of getting there. And the training must be matching the challenge. Reaching mount Eiger's peak (3,967 m - 13,015 ft) via its north-face may be more difficult than hiring a Sherpa and walking to Mt. Everest's peak (8,849 m - 29,032 ft).
Some people get mountain/altitude sickness already between 1,500 and 2,500 m high - I had no issues at 3,500 m. That may have been preparation. We often ignore risks because of ignorance. Preparing for high altitude by going there in phases long enough to adjust at each next level may be what we do, but we board a plane for a long flight and forget that while cruising at 15,000 m high, the pressure cabin simulates an altitude of about 2,400 m already.
Professional photography is full of these risks that we did not know until we ran into them.
If we don't analyse and try again, we swapped "learning" for "sacrifice".
Interesting perspective, though I think it can be said about many professions. It's not unique to photography. I know people who work in the financial industry who's goal was to get rich. Those who did get rich did so at the expense of non-work life. I've known people who worked all their loives socking away money so they could live high in retiremnet, only to retire and be dead within a year or two. I now work in the photography field, but after another unrelated career and I have no illusions of ever being a rich photographer. But I do a fair bit of charity work and it is quite rewarding. Peopel actually appreciate it in deep, maningful ways, not just with their wallets. I love getting a nice paycheck for the paid work I do, but I wouldn't give up my life to get ever more and bigger paychecks. We all make decisions based on what we value. I only hope to not look back with regret at mine.
As a full time photographer in Brazil, I can totally relate
I agree with education. A degree in photography is only really of any use for becoming a teacher, and often not particularly good teachers, because they know all about concept, history, but nothing about practical photography or running a business.
When it comes to running a photography business, you do need to be driven. Most photographers I know are one man bands, and generally running a business involves doing all the background stuff, which isn't much fun and does not involve a camera.
I do know photographers who are able to keep a work-life balance, but they are insanely talented, have amazing reputations and are incredible at doing the business stuff. Also, most are of an older age and have had real world experience in life.
Please try to find time for that run. Your health is a radical act of self-love and the best gift you can give your kids. I'm not trying to be judgy. I miss friends who were proud of how driven they were.
Great video man.
Bingo... I've been down that road Scott, problem is that I ended up have a few marriages, 4 kids, a few companies in different countries, and a yoyo cashflow. If anyone thinks that they can do everything, I'd love to see you try. Something must suffer along the way... :)
There is not one professional that I was associated with, or studied with that had a 4 year degree in photography. Many where masters, or Certified pros as I was with the PPA. They studied, knew the basics and understood their profession, but like myself, always learning and refining their craft of photography. Thats what I found to be the makeup of the industry when I worked 7 days a week, earning a living. Many, never as a child said I want to be a photographer when I grow up. It just happened. I also have people who just could not cut it. They just didn't have it, the talent, imagination or staying power. That said, If I had to do it all over again, I would have gone to Law school.
Excellent commentary!
I had a similar talk in photo school…1978. Kinda like…LOOK around…MOST of you won’t make a dent; who among you will? 2nd lesson: PERSEVERANCE.
I guess it depends on what kind of level you are playing on. I only do events every so often and they are only around 400-500 bucks a gig. I am a stay at home dad mostly so luckily nothing depends on that as my wife has the better job. Looking to do more work but rarely have the time to be so flexible. Good advice overall though
Photography can be high paying. But this definitely depends on the type and level you are in. And if you are on top, then the competition is fierce. Very few are well paid wildlife photographers etc. but I assume this is implied.
Top Drawer as always
To be quite honest if you wanna be good at anything a relationship is usually not compatible with that unless you have a really understanding GF. Relationships are a time investment and telling any woman on a first date oh btw I'm obsessed with photography will go over like a lead balloon. It's either or, not both and anyone telling you different are lying.
Photography is a great hobby and a horrible job. Considered it many years ago after winning a string of prizes. Checked the outlook. Even bought a financial report on photographers. It flashed to red it was strange it did not burst into fire. Best investment ever. As a hobbiest I enjoy being a sought for photography within my niche and having more than 100 mio. people see my work. You can make your work your hobby - never try the opposite.
Reality is if you want be a pro photographer you have to want it more than anything else in your life, I often get peole saying I'm lucky to do it for a job but they didnt see the 10 years of work to get here. 👍
True.
This advice (work life balance) applies to most careers.
Your right much like other things, we only see certain successful people we are fed, the best in any field might be not popular because they might be from a communist country and we don’t have access to them, or they might not know how to read and write. But there is a combination of being popular and being good enough, as well as confidence that allows for someone the opportunity to get more money.
From the "photography as art" point of view most/all of the debates on "facts" are like pissing in the wind. Photographers like facts and as you say, "grey, contradicting, statistics, numbers, dynamic ranges, lens sharpness characteristics, and ratings, and stuff we can fixate on" gets them talking.
The biggest talking point has become "lens UNsharpness characteristics" (AKA bokeh - an everyday Japanese word for "blur").
Most of the numbers games are completely uninformed on a deeper level. And naive unqualified fluencers keep parroting each other.
I don't know about it ruining my life, but it will defiantly cause you to go broke. Hi, I'm Bob and I'm a Gear Aquisition Syndrome addict.
If you are a true working photographer with a mortgage, car payment, and kids in school, the GAS goes away quickly. When I was working, I rarely bought anything, just necessities. Sometimes a needed an extra stand, clamps and brackets, an extra light, stuff like that. If it wasn’t in the budget, you didn’t buy it. Once I retired from shooting though, I started buying the toys I wanted. So kind of like GAS in reverse for me 😂 Even the GAS has settled down now though after about 3 yrs of a mild buying frenzy. I try to use what I have and enjoy the shooting more these days.
I enjoy photography as a skill and would never want to be called or call myself a photographer. I simply prefer to be a man with a camera.
jokes on you! I didnt have friends or a partner in the first place!
Hahahahhahhaa 3:33 this made me laugh 😆 Definitely caught me now
Have to agree with ruining relationships, but this just doesn't apply to photography, succesful business men are putting in 80-100 hour weeks, surgeons pretty much the same. Even small business owners are doing the same amount of hours.
Darkroom work, black and white, colour, the smell of fixer permenating the air, in a stuffy closet of a airless room. Using an light/flash meter and a manual camera. Cyan and magenta. Kodachrome 25 and Cibachrome.
The visual 3d effect of Cibachrome I love even today.
I would love to lend some macro lense for Canon R6 ;p
Well, time for something that will be more than obvious to most of you. The two points I take away. Specialize in subject matter- I'm a mess - total jack of all trades and i'm suffering for it. Two. You need to know people - it's a Hamburger Hill out there, you're clambering up the hill and the guys who rule the roost are manning the machine gun and guess who they're pointing it at? 🤔
sad but true
57 yrs old, just bought my first camera and lenses 9k. Im not trying to catch up, Im just gonna play with my toys.
I call BS. Maybe it was different back 20 years ago, but I had no problem balancing my work/life and I was a commercial shooter for decades. I'm retired and maybe what he speaks of is true now, but not back then.
3:30 facts🤣
**cough** Sony rumors forum **cough**
I love reading about tech, but the amount of braincells I lose when I read the comment section 😭
👌
If one makes 20k in a day's work, I don't believe they have no free time. They'd be earning 7 million a year.
can you stop with these titles? it is really getting old.
The algorithm likes them.
No, people only click on this type of title
@@thomaspinder1596 why do you care that a UA-camr is getting clicks?
@@mattm7426 i like his videos and he'll stop if the channel isn't successful? Are you 5?
@@mattm7426because we like this “UA-camr” and hope he continues on UA-cam. It’s like your favourite restaurant closing down because they didn’t get enough business.
Don't have time to hang out with your mates on a Friday night.....make time. The kids are going to leave you when they grow older, yes they are special but its about boundaries.
It's about balance. More money/more work= less time with family and friends. We have to choose what gets more time in our life.