Posted by Doug Clifford (24.19.50.177) on February 29, 2004 at 23:13:43:
In Reply to: I have numerous questions, please help posted by Adrienne on February 29, 2004 at 17:46:20:
Hello Adrienne,
Enthusiasm about photography is a wonderful thing. Avoid falling into the trap of taking pictures the same way every time simply because you find an approach that works. Never stop experimenting and you'll discover new techniques every time you take a picture.
I'm not trying to rain on your enthusiasm, but it is extremely difficult to make a living from photography - almost as difficult as becoming a Hollywood star. There are millions of excellent photographers and the competition is fierce. More than half the equation for success in photography is related to shrewd marketing and strong business skills. Take marketing and business management classes.
You have access to a darkroom on campus. Find someone who uses the darkroom and have them help you. Or take a darkroom class (even if it doesn't result in furthering progress towards your degree.) When talking about darkrooms, I'm referring to black and white photography. Almost no one develops or prints color film in their own darkroom - the learning curve is too steep, color chemistry and paper are very expensive and color prints are too inconsistent except for the most persistent practitioners. Even Ansel Adams didn't develop his own color film.
Photography is a journey. Next year you'll look at photos you are taking now and realize how much you have improved in your picture taking skills. Many times I have looked at prints I made years ago (prints I believed were wonderful at the time) and realize how much better I have become.
Don't get too caught up in the pursuit of equipment. While a quality home darkroom can be put together for well under $1000 by buying used equipment, it's far smarter to use the campus darkroom (and other darkrooms which become available to you) before you take the leap and buy your own enlarger, etc. If you want to learn something about color processing, seek a job with a local mini-lab.
Selling your pictures is going to be difficult. It is almost impossible to sell photographs as art. The stock photography market (photographers used to rent their images to ad agencies, magazines, book publishers etc.) is now dominated by the greed of Getty Images and Corbis (Bill Gates). Locally owned portrait studios are nearly extinct because of competition from chains such as WalMart, Sears, KMart and Olan Mills. Most photographers in a community make their living from wedding photography, events and team sports. Find a local wedding photographer willing to take on an unpaid apprentice to carry equipment and help out at weddings. Watch and learn the business.
Study the strategies of successful photographers in your community, look at the way photographers are selling their work, as greeting cards, postcards, calendars, etc.
Many large companies employ photographers in their public relations departments so this is another field to explore.
: I am new to photography. I bought my very first SLR camera (Canon Rebel TI) in May 2003. I now absolutely love to take pictures, and may possibly look into doing this as a career. I have never developed my own pictures, and I am wanting to know how. I have access to a darkroom on campus, but am not in a photography class so I need help. Also, does anyone know anything about what it would cost and what I would need to start a darkroom at my house? I am very interested in this, but do not know how much it would cost, or even what I would need. Also, does anyone know how I can sell my pictures? Sorry for all my questions, but I am new to the field and loving every minute of it
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