"Photography is a dead end job"

Well this is what someone commented to me about today.  I was talking to a friend about photography as a job, and this person was listening to our conversation and without an invite decided to jump into our conversation  with "don't listen to him, being a photographer is like being a used car salesman.  It's a dead end job that you do when you aren't good at anything else, or have any other options.  I mean how hard is it to press a button to take a photo?"

As this 'really smart person' (I'm being sarcastic) was rudely barging into our conversation with these insidious words, I was thinking, this would be a great opportunity to share some of photography's success stories.  But something told me this 'really smart person' wouldn't care or listen.  He would just want to argue how difficult was it to just press the button and take a photo.   

Well there is my rant I have been waiting to share on here all day.  Don't be shy, tell me how would you respond to this person. 

Guy sounded like a tool, I would have chuckled and walked away

Robert Chen wrote:  Don't be shy, tell me how would you respond to this person. 

But seriously, I was talking to my professional photographer friend today about this.  That a lot of people who make a lot of money in finance or whatever, decide they want to stop it all and do something "non-stress" so they buy a nice camera and become a photographer.

This guy's perception is based on these such people I suspect.  Unfortunately in the craigslist photographer world we live in (or as we'd say here "Shenzhen photographer") there's a lot of people doing it for the exact reasons that guy sprouted out of his buttocks.

I'd like to know how you actually responded to this.  Did you ask him his job? I'd love to know.  

Arguing with idiots is so nineties.....

  Sure, what ever you say pal.   And sloooooowly turn around and walk to the other side of the room.  

Yikes. I'd have fun with the conversation and up the sarcasm level. "Yeah! I totally agree. It's like being a dentist or lawyer. It's such a lazy person's fallback job. Doctors and lawyers everywhere. So easy to settle into that."

Robert Chen wrote: But something told me this 'really smart person' wouldn't care or listen.  He would just want to argue how difficult was it to just press the button and take a photo.  

You're probably spot on.  I wouldn't have said anything, but a couple things come to mind.  A while back I learned that there are over 100 "professional" photographers in my city alone (As in, people who market themselves publicly and try to make an honest living out of it).  Considering the trade, that alone is enough for people to get exasperated, because it seems that EVERYONE is a photographer these days, and a lot of the people starting out their photography business are inexperienced and untalented people who blindly point and click and post 50,000 pages of crap on their photography page because they think the exact same way as the jerkoff who interrupted you to give his unsolicited opinion: the only thing to photography is pressing a button.  And some people consider it this way and think of it as an easy money grab.
Granted, these businesses usually don't last long (as soon as they realize how much work it is, and how much coordination it takes, and how much learning is involved, add the talent factor and the fact that customer service in any aspect is tricky, and they fade out quickly enough).  However, they perpetuate stereotypes and an exasperating reputation for most photographers, and even I have come to take my photography less seriously.  I don't even care anymore, it's not like people ever offer to hire me to do legit jobs anymore (like the typical shoots: family, wedding, engagement, what have you) but if people ask I'm willing to do it for free at this point.

Another thing people turn a blind eye to is the business aspect.  A big chunk of running a successful photography business has nothing to do with photography at all, and everything to do with your service and your way with business.  It's really hard work keeping a business afloat (and something I could never accomplish), so it's sad to see something like that get invalidated by any random idiot when the truly successful ones are rightfully so, given their dedication to their job.

For the majority of photographers, however, it is a dead end job.  And I've seen many photographers fail with their photography business, myself included.  The thing is, it has nothing to do with "pressing a button".  It's about how much you're willing to commit and how much natural talent you have.

What jerk, I would have walked away from him

I don't think so

Some people just don't get it and aren't exactly tactful.  This guy clearly was one of those people.  

Well clearly though one part of his statement is correct about part of the photo biz, and that is many people do think it is an easy thing to do for making money. They think that all you have to do is green box it, and push the button. Hence the reason for so many CL pros that make you wince when you look at their ads. I would have just shined him on, or actually I would have asked, did I ask for your opinion? And then thanked him for his deeply thought out, and insightful opinion.

Hmmm  well that person is rightful to their opinion, regardless of how messed up their views are. 

RickWalterPhotography wrote: Yikes. I'd have fun with the conversation and up the sarcasm level. "Yeah! I totally agree. It's like being a dentist or lawyer. It's such a lazy person's fallback job. Doctors and lawyers everywhere. So easy to settle into that."

 exactly, have some fun with them

Mentioning dentists and lawyers would be fuel on the fire for that man. Formal study needed... How many people become a lawyer after a few years of law as a hobby? How many photographers have 3-4 years of formal study behind them before they started? I do not say it is easy. But that argument would not float it.

Ira Weber wrote: Hmmm  well that person is rightful to their opinion, regardless of how messed up their views are. 

That is true, but I would of had some fun with the person first. Just make up some weird thing that makes no sense then see what reaction I would get. Then turn and walk away without saying another word.

ETA I have seen used car salesman that make more than the current POTUS. So dead end is just a point of view.