Photography as a profession

Our rock band was interviewed by a local radio station one day and the interviewer (who has a show devoted to interviewing local bands and giving them exposure) told us something off-air that I will never forget - and it could be applied to other areas as well (such as photography). He said: "The best thing that has happened in the music industry is that now anyone can record their own album." He then asked the rhetorical question: "Do you know what is the worst thing that has happened in the music industry?" He then answered his own question by saying, "Now anyone can record their own album." He was saying this on several accounts. The point he was making was that now, anyone with talent can showcase that talent and get it out there for people to listen to, yet there are people out there with little or no talent that have no business cutting a record... and that is diluting (or polluting - whichever way you want to look at it) the music industry. In this way, the listeners (and music industry A&R reps) have become inundated with music... or perhaps overwhelmed with music or "music" from unknown artists. While in some ways it is a double-edged sword for the general public, this has a secondary effect to the industry in itself. It has had the effect of diluting the craft of music - not only that, but changing the entire music industry and the way major record labels do things. An artist not only has to compete with other professional musicians, but now that artist has to compete with a slew of other amateurs within the same genre. I will have to say, that as a listener and as one who has recorded some local talent in my studio, I've heard some talent that is on-par with some of what we consider professionals.

At this point, you might be wondering, "Well, that is fine and dandy, but what does this have to do with photography?" Well, I will tell you: The exact same thing that has happened in the music world is happening in the world of photography. Digital cameras have become so pervasive now that even though many amateur photographers are still amateurs - taking amateur "snapshots" - that it is undercutting the careers of professional photographers... those that have been earning money with their craft for many years. In this way, the photo industry has taken a blow, especially those who do freelance work. For example: In the past, a couple would hire a professional photographer to shoot their wedding. Nowadays, there are a lot of people who skimp when budgeting for a photographer and will hire out a friend or family member that simply "has a good camera." So rather than shelling out a thousand bucks for a professional photographer, you've got a friend that can do it for a couple hundred... or for free. What a savings! I know firsthand. I've shot several weddings this way. People don't know my credentials. They just see that I have camera with a big lens and instantly think I'm a professional. Just the other day I was at Stanley Park in Vancouver shooting pictures of the totem poles and a total stranger came up to me and handed me her camera and asked me to take a picture of her and a companion with the totem poles in the background using her point-and-shoot camera. I gladly obliged and snapped a shot for her. I asked her if she wanted to look at the photo to see if she liked it and she said, "No, I trust you... since you have such a nice camera you must be a good photographer." I can't remember if it was those exact words, but that was the gist. See, a lot of people think that if you have a camera with a big lens that it is a "professional" camera and if you have a "professional camera" than you are a professional. I know this was using a lot of words to come to this conclusion, but the bottom line is this: You are going to have a tough time out there earning money as a professional photographer because there is so much competition. You will not only have to compete with other professionals, but you will compete with all the amateurs as well. You will have to work for less, simply because the industry has become diluted. That's just the way it is. If you are getting into photography simply for the money, perhaps it is the wrong reason and I would suggest diversifying your talents or changing your career altogether. Do it for the sheer joy of the art and if it is your passion, follow that passion and see where it goes!

As for the photo... since I mentioned the totem poles at Stanley Park, I figured I would throw one in there! ;)