MicrostockGroup

I've got them all
Great and illuminating article...

Without being cruel or a hypocrite, because we all started somewhere and when I started with Micro I was asking, what are all those letters people use, what do they mean, how do I add IPTC data and the usual "what agencies are best" questions. But, the one that stumps me is, "I just got a camera, and I want to make money selling pictures..."

Well fine but there's a little detail about learning how to use that camera before you go out and start selling them!

And right about there, the list becomes relevant and funny.

One site someone asked about selling pictures and someone else answered (I didn't make this up!) Put them up on a web page, maybe someone will see them and buy some.  The rest of the answers are what everyone here would expect, SmugMug, Wordpress, Microstock, and set up at fairs, sell direct from the booth.

I take it he arrived on this planet a fully qualified expert photographer! or did he have to learn the art like the rest of us.
I suppose there are people out there who think they can run before they can walk but whats wrong with a bit of ambition? They either learn the hard way and succeed or they fail doesn't affect me.

Druid

Interesting comment....I have a Bachelors Degree in Creative Writing.  I've been published in one publication for which I received 3 copies of the journal as compensation.  I've got an MBA because when I got my Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing, I somehow (without intention) became a tax accountant and I knew nobody would take me serious in the field with an English Degree.  I was hired by a public accounting firm to prepare tax returns on a temporary basis while I was working on the English Degree in school and they decided to hire me on full time.  I've worked as a Tax Accountant for 20 years - 6 years in public accounting and 14 years in industry at Fortune 500 companies.  I currently have $98,000 in student loans from the education associated with those degrees.

I am going to get laid off from my current day job - I've been told my last day with my current company is June 29, 2012.  I was considering going back to school to get a degree in photography.  I looked into the program at the local art institute.  A Four year degree program has an estimated cost in books and tuition of $92,000.  Irrespective of my student loans currently, I don't know how ANYONE can reasonably expect to pay off $92,000 in student loans working in the field of photography with a bachelor's degree.

This business is like the trades.  Try going to a job site and tell them you want a job as a carpenter or an electrician because you have a degree in "construction management".  Be sure to keep an eye on your watch to see how long it takes before they laugh at you.  In order to do this, you have to do this.  You have to fail, you have to suck at what you do until you get better.  There is no way around it - whether you decide to spend that $92,000 on a degree or not.

Yeah I'm not getting your point. Life is tough? Awww.

I studied photography in college as part of my art school program and I bought an slr then. I shot with that thing until I bought my first digital slr in 2008. I upgraded in 2010. i've shot "stock" for my own use in my graphics and have been hired to shoot weddings, commercial photography, etc., and I make part of my living from it. In 2011 it will have been 20 years since I started. Here's the thing: I STILL don't call myself a pro because that would be an insult to those who've studied and worked to be professionals in a world where everyone thinks "i could do that". I am a professional graphic artist and I know full well what it means to be devalued by people who think because they're artistic and creative and own a computer that they can do what I do. I'm sick of justifying my pay to people who think it's easy. Most of those people think it's easy because they can't distinguish between a snapshot and a good photo or between a jpeg business card they did in photoshop using dropshadows & embossing and what I do.

You've worked hard and learned photography and know what you're doing? Good, that's good. If you know that it takes more than pointing your camera at something in full auto mode and pressing a button then uploading it to try and sell it thinking it's easy money then my comments aren't directed at you are they?

I make a comment to defend hard working pros and I get attacked by an accountant. I don't know why I bother with this site. Hey Ed, I just bought Quickbooks, so I'm a professional accountant. I'm going to get business cards done up. There's really nothing to know about it, it's easy.

Isn't that what Tinkerbell told Peter Pan or was it Jimmie Cricket and the wood puppet, just wish and all your dreams come true, studying hard for years learning is for suckers.

We all started somewhere.  Some are still there but pretending they are somewhere else.  It doesn't matter.  All you have to do is shoot better than your competition and you will succeed.

In a wedding photography forum I used to belong to it was a constant complaint from many, many photographers about the "Uncle Bob" shooters that would show up and <gasp> take pictures at a wedding.  Myself and others whom I respect a great deal always maintained the attitude that if Uncle Bob is shooting better than you the paid photographer then perhaps you shouldn't be the paid photographer. 

As for the education = credibility as a photographer angle there is so much information on the internet now that if you were serious about educating yourself in photography you could easily do it for free online.  The movie Goodwill Hunting comes to mind.

That's my .02 anyway.

Mat