Getting paid for travel and documentary photography
Opportunities for paid travel or documentary photography are very slim at the moment. The competition is extensive and very talented. Whilst wishing things were different (but realising my good fortune to have any job), I work in advertising and design and try and make the best possible use of my free time to photograph.
Standard holiday allowance in the UK is 25 days. Take away time to spend with family and friends, and I'm left with less than ten days a year. During these days I shoot around 100-150 images a day. I generally return with about one image I like for every day photographing. A total of ten images a year.
I sometimes get offered paid event work and occasionally I sell images to clients who find my work through internet searches. Overall it seems, unless you are rich, super talented or a hardened ascetic making proper consistent money is going to be tough.
So what do I think?
I think you should forget about the money, and do it because you enjoy it or because you think its important. Enjoy the freedom to take pictures of exactly what you want without a restrictive brief from an art director (like me!). Plan ahead so you are able to use the time outside your other commitments effectively. Most of all, make those ten images the best you can.
Posted: 10.11.2009 | Comments: 0 | Add a comment
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