"Photography is a dead end job"

9 years 7 months ago #393237 by [email protected]
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."


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9 years 7 months ago #393248 by Leilanee

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.


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9 years 7 months ago #393263 by Trisha.M
What jerk, I would have walked away from him


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9 years 7 months ago #393282 by JD Imagery
I don't think so


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9 years 7 months ago #393294 by Jacko
Some people just don't get it and aren't exactly tactful.  This guy clearly was one of those people.  


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9 years 7 months ago - 9 years 7 months ago #393363 by Joves
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.


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9 years 7 months ago #393371 by Ira Weber
Hmmm  well that person is rightful to their opinion, regardless of how messed up their views are. 


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9 years 7 months ago #393381 by Sawyer

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."



:agree:  exactly, have some fun with them

Canon 5D Mark II | Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM | Canon 35L | Sigma 85 1.4 | Helios 44M-6 58mm(M42) | Zeiss 50mm 1.4 (C/Y) | Canon 135L | (2) 430EX II
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9 years 7 months ago #393384 by Hassner
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.


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No one kicks up there feet next to the water cooler better than this person.  Top poster - LoungeLounge Guru
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9 years 7 months ago - 9 years 7 months ago #393400 by hillbilly4rent

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.


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9 years 7 months ago #393679 by Stealthy Ninja
A used car salesman gave me a great deal on free rust proofing! They can't be all that bad. :D
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9 years 7 months ago #393748 by Ruby Grace
Well I provided, wait... photography provided a good life style for my family last year and many years before that.  Hardly a dead end job. 

Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 17-40mmL, 24-105mmL, 100-400mmL, 300mm f/4L IS, Sigma 12-24mm, 430EX, Extension tubes
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9 years 7 months ago #394118 by Camera Diva
I'm sorry, but I find this funny.  This person has no tack. 

At the beginning of time there was absolutely nothing. And then it exploded! - Terry Pratchett
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9 years 7 months ago - 9 years 7 months ago #394131 by Stealthy Ninja

Camera Diva wrote: I'm sorry, but I find this funny.  This person has no tack. 



It's "tact" not "tack"... something I also have none of. ;) :P :thumbsup:  
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9 years 7 months ago #394163 by Leilanee

Stealthy Ninja wrote:

Camera Diva wrote: I'm sorry, but I find this funny.  This person has no tack. 



It's "tact" not "tack"... something I also have none of. ;) :P :thumbsup:  


:rofl:


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