Who are we (Garage Glamour?) ???

[R_Fredrick_Smith]

Obviously this site grew out of Garage Glamour. That used to imply that many of us were shooting in limited work spaces, with limited equipment. Many shot just for fun. In other words a lot of us were not full time professionals. We didn't make our living at glamour photography, but just had fun doing it. The attached poll is designed to see whether that might still be the case. In other words, "who are we"? Where do we come from?

I created the poll to determine how much of our income comes from photography. So the intent is to really get a handle on our "profession".

Feel free to post comments also. In other words, if you really don't make your living from photography, tell us a little about how what you do do, relates to photography.

Cheers,
rfs

[Ron_C]

I do work as a photographer full time though I do not work as a glamour photographer full time. The glamour shooting that I do is only about 3 to 5% of my work, the rest of what I do is corporate, weddings, head shots, mommies with new babies, and family portraits of tourist that are visiting the area (Hilton Head Island SC) and would like to have a portrait taken on the beach.

[Bob_B]

I don't post here much but have been a member for awhile now and usually log in and admire everyone else's work I shoot mostly landscapes and have done very little glamour I try and learn what I can so that someday I can quit my job and start a business and while I do have a website where I can sell some of my photographs I have as of yet been able to sell anything except to my family so far my sister is my best customer and I do not make any money from her.

[SamBeasley]

I don't make money from photography yet, but I'm hoping that will change once I get out of school. Studying fashion and commercial photography at Miami Ad School right now.

[Jetboy]

My 'real life' job is in information technology, so photography's my creative outlet. Will I make money via photography? Perhaps in the future whenever I feel ready to take that step.

Alan B.

[Jagdoc]

I'm hope ing that when I retire, I will be able to make a small amount of money to offset my costs. Great if it works out, just a very enjoyable hobby if it doesn't.

The friends I've made through photography make it all worth while, you included Roger.

Vic

[bc_shutterbug]

Another daytime IT person here, heading into the last years to retirement. I'm starting now to build a photography business that will provide a supplement to pension income, as well as offer me some excuses to travel to more exotic locations that I may have otherwise. I'm working mainly on Weddings and event photography at the moment, but opening a few doors in the world of models and agencies for portfolio and portrait work.

Another great topic RFS. Thanks!

[JimK]

Far from making any real money from photography. The little I do make from sports and weddings goes back into new toys (read camera stuff).

I am a full time pharmacist to pay the mortgage and works nights, 7 on 7 off so I have lots of time for photography.

Jim

[Saltwater Servitude]

I work residential real estate here in San Antonio in the day, manage Aldino's Cucina Italiana at night.

I got back into photography for two reasons: 1. I needed a DSLR to shoot 360x360 panoramas and 2. Rolando comes into the restuarant occasionally which in turn sparked my interest in the art again.

I shoot mainly headshots for the Realtors starting out in my office for the same reason already listed above, to pay for more gear. Once I've gotten a decent lighting system, I hope to start shooting a few ideas with models that have been floating around in my head for a while now.

Mostly I am here to read, learn, and admire the work of others.

[RHWeiner]

During the weekday hours I am employed as a Mechanical Draftsman/Designer for a local medium sized engineering firm. The pay is decent (actually the best I've made so far) so I have some money to play with. But the creativity I once enjoyed in my profession has been taken over by computerization. So, while I still do like what I do I just find that it feeds my body...not my creative soul. That's what the photography does.

However while the photography may feed my creative side it still doesn't pay for itself...or even cover costs. I'm doing way too many TFP/CD shoots *and* I'm too much of a softie when the models come back to me with the old "I've got no money" tale. But then again, I'm not really into this for the money.

Considering just how hard it is to get the models to pay me (instead of me paying them...this discussion has been gone over at G1 a number of times.) I still need to find a "market" and not have to resort to doing ...weddings...product shots...stock photography...babies...pets...etc... to make a bit of cash. But a money would help me transcend some of the barriers to expanding and improving my abilities.

Would I ever like to basically chuck the regular job and go fulltime into photography? Yes and No. Yes it would be great to be doing something I do love all the time but, no, I've talked to too many pros who have said to me that the actual photography part of their business occupies only about 10% to 25% of the time and efforts. The rest is taken up with chasing down clients or chasing down the money.

Should this photography 'thing' I do ever start to feel like, "...just another job" and all of the Fun go out of it then I'll drop it all and sell off the equipment.