THE TRUTH ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS by: Manny De Guzman, Jr. Earning in photography job today is quite complicated. It is very different from when I started with being a newspaper photojournalist during the film era in 1998, where only those with technical know-how using proper 35mm Single Reflex Lens (SLR) film cameras were considered as professionals. When i was employed back then, I was paid per square inch for each published photo in the newspaper (P35 pesos per square inch If I could clearly recall). My first pro camera was issued by the company that i dont have to buy my own, though i still bought another SLR camera for my personal use. In 2002, I was employed as a regular Editorial staff at Miscellaneous Weekly magazine. My photography jobs were included in my payroll, so I have regular monthly income back then. But this decade was very different, especially now where everyone could be self-employed and self-proclaimed photographers. With the rise of DSLR, any consumer may have to choose to be professional or amateur. Some entered into the business by creating their portfolio and by blogging on the web. Thats it! No need to print photos and compile them in clear book. No need to submit hard copy portfolios to companies, just email your application or apply online and youre ready to go. I even tried once in 2004 to apply at Manila Bulletin for a photojournalist position but even with vast portfolio and ample experience in the field, they decline me. It seem nowadays if youre not award winning or not popular you wont be noticed and could not enter a good photography career. I have been into models/ fashion and events photography since 2006, but my first true professional venture in the field of large scale business came to be when I was employed by Innovision Entertainment Production in 2010 as a regular photographer (and soon came to be their press writer and graphics/ layout artist). I was discovered by Innovision in one of the websites I am hosting - TEEN MODELS 2007 (teenmodels2007.wikifoundry/) which I created to help my local friends build their modeling portfolios online. When I say large scale photography, I mean shooting photos of a hundred or more models in a single event or pictorial. When I resigned from employment just last year to be a full pledged freelance events photographer catering to wedding, debut and party events, I realized that unlike in my previous days in the film photography era, digital photography jobs were very seasonal nowadays. Its no different in arts where you exhibit your works in galleries - you earn when you can sell your paintings. In the photography business with lots of competitors out there from both hobbyist and pro communities, no events coverage means no income, and you really have to find ways to market your own works and make yourself visible or known in the industry, or succumb to other sideline job alternatives just to survive when events coverage were scarce. PHOTOGRAPHY JOB IS SEASONAL. The peak season were during the so called Ber months starting from September to December where holidays were at most. During these time of the year, I usually get events coverage from town fiestas and celebrations, reunions, and the like aside from the usual wedding and debut party coverage. January is still okay, until March at its peak where you can get jobs shooting and covering graduation rites. Summer season is also good if youre into models photography, where you can shoot your clients anytime any day of the week. In fact. last May 2014, I was so busy shooting models pictorials doubled with events coverage every other day. One time I even have to travel hours by ferry boat (all expense paid) to reach a job destination in Mindoro, then shoot another event by the time I came back to Manila! However, by the end of the month and by the start of June where classes began, jobs became scarce. In fact last August I only got 2 jobs with very minimal pay. So to sum it up, photography business is really a pain for starters if you dont know your market. Before you enter the business, It is very important that you estimate your budget investment versus your production cost - how much it will take to start a photography business, how could you market your works with the people you already know, and how much you will earn from each effort (beware of shark clients who would ask for bargain below your baseline income). And lastly, if you will decide to register your business and enter into contractual jobs, be sure that you have regular source of projects. Or else, you shall be forced to pay taxes even if your income is way below regular wage. Ask yourself: Is photography job good enough to be my stand-alone career? How can I expect to be taxed if I cant even maintain my income via my photography career, pay the rent and bills, and could not even support my family? MANNY DE GUZMAN, JR. Photographer/ Blogger
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 10:50:20 +0000
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