How many of us are making money out of photography ?

[nicku]

With the release of the new 5D3 and Canon 6D i sow many of the forum users commenting pro/against the camera expressing their opinions about the cameras like their '' living/income depends of those camera bodies'',....

So my question is very simple: How many of us are making money out of photography ???

I will start; my income percentage that i make out of photography is over 50%. At this moment i still have a regular job ( but not for a long time : )

A fair answer will be highly appreciated.

 

[revup67]

Just finally started making income about 2 weeks ago after acquiring a portrait studio and shooting about 15 small businesses, a local rock band along with some post processing and more jobs in the queue.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I shoot for my online store where I sell thru various venues. Thus, photography profits are not something that have a calcuable number. Better images are part of generating more sales, but not anywhere the whole story.

 

[bdunbar79]

I make less than 25% of my total income from photography. Which is good considering I only do sports, which is not as high as weddings and senior pictures. It's also good b/c that means I do okay with my day job 8)

 

[dr croubie]

I had to get a better job to support my lens habit.

$15,000 in the hole and counting ... yet to make a sale ... (yet to try making a sale, check back next year)

 

[cliffwang]

I take pictures for family and friends. Not for even a penny, but priceless memory.

 

[Unposed-Jeff]

My Better half has a part time job during the slow season, but otherwise both of us make all of our money on Weddings and HS Seniors! And lots of graphic design for those clients!

 

[Sony]

More than $10k for Canon just for love, not a penny back. Have full time job not relating to photography. LOL.

 

[sheedoe]

I started with a 5D2 and a 50mm 1.8 lens about 2 years ago to take pictures of my newborn daughter. Now here I am with $15k+ worth of gear. Had done a couple of paid gigs here and there, but mostly, I use them take pictures of my little girl.

 

[M.ST]

I can live from photography very well.

 

[gilmorephoto]

I'm making just enough so far to cover equipment but I've only just begun and its not a full time gig yet. Gotta start somewhere.

 

[Cannon Man]

More than $10k for Canon just for love, not a penny back. Have full time job not relating to photography. LOL.

I did that too before but after $20k i started my own photo company 2 years ago.

 

[picturesbyme]

Full Time Fun here

 

[pwp]

I heard a quote from a famous Hollywood movie actor saying that it was as simple as heck to make it as an actor.
"Anyone can make it in Hollywood" he said, "all you need is about 25 really lucky breaks".

After more than 25 years in the business I feel privileged to say that photography has delivered a professionally incredibly satisfying life, and we live well. And no doubt about it, I've had my fair share of lucky breaks.

Another quote from a photographer this time, when asked why he chose his career as a very busy pro shooter...
"...it sure beats the hell out of having to work for a living!"

-PW

 

[GT3]

For me it is and will be pure hobby.

 

[nicku]

Another quote from a photographer this time, when asked why he chose his career as a very busy pro shooter...
"...it sure beats the hell out of having to work for a living!"

-PW

What he says is very true...In my case photography is one thing that i make with joy... and as a + i make a living out of it.

 

[dirtcastle]

I make my living as a visual designer and Photoshop pro. I often work with photographs, although rarely my own.

I think it would be fantastic to be a pro photographer. But it seems like most of the money is in weddings, events, sports, and glamour shots, which might be great for people who enjoy that sort of thing. But I think I'd probably rather do the post processing for a wedding than actually shoot the damn thing.

 

[PeterJ]

Just finally started making income about 2 weeks ago after acquiring a portrait studio and shooting about 15 small businesses, a local rock band along with some post processing and more jobs in the queue.

I misread that at first as "acquiring a portrait studio and about 15 small businesses" and thought nothing like jumping in ;D.

For me it's only about 1%, the only photography work I bill for are for a few regular clients that know I'm into photography and get me to snap some of the projects I'm working on for them for web pages and promotional stuff so just bill at my usual rate.

 

[nicku]

I make my living as a visual designer and Photoshop pro. I often work with photographs, although rarely my own.

I think it would be fantastic to be a pro photographer. But it seems like most of the money is in weddings, events, sports, and glamour shots, which might be great for people who enjoy that sort of thing. But I think I'd probably rather do the post processing for a wedding than actually shoot the damn thing.

And stock ...

 

[dirtcastle]

I make my living as a visual designer and Photoshop pro. I often work with photographs, although rarely my own.

I think it would be fantastic to be a pro photographer. But it seems like most of the money is in weddings, events, sports, and glamour shots, which might be great for people who enjoy that sort of thing. But I think I'd probably rather do the post processing for a wedding than actually shoot the damn thing.

And stock ...

Dream job!!