PHOTOGRAPHIC AGE
(BELOW IS A LINK TO PAGE TWO OF THIS SECTION)
PHOTOGRAPHIC AGE page 2
PHOTOGRAPHIC AGE page 3
Let's find out each others, photographic age. In what year was it that you made your first photo that you did for money, or when you started to get serious with photography.
I put it that way because I am sure, like myself, you didn't sell the first photograph you ever took. For me it was during my senior year of high school when my best friends girl friend wanted me to take portraits of her up in the canyon near Sundance Utah. but then we went lower in the canyon and I got some great shots of her walking on the RR tracks that made a beautiful S curve and the mountains blended very well and all together accented her slender very femminin figure, of course she loved them and so did my friend.
They were in black and white, I seldom shot color in those days, back in 1969. So that makes me 33 years old in photog years.
Craig,
First for money? Let me see...back in 1997 I took images of a friend's baby, naked, sleeping in the crook of her arm. He was a newborn. I didn't charge her much, especially since I was just starting out and the pictures were'nt the greatest. But she loved them and still has one framed in his room.
So, that makes me only a kindergartner (5 years). Wow! I'm a baby!
Kristin Bednarz
Slaton, USA
Hi folks!
Finally figured out what I had to do to post to this board. Up until now, have only been able to read the posts.... figuring this out as I go along, since it's set up differently than on (shhhhh) AOL. (g)
My first wedding "season" was when I was just out of high school, probably about age 20. I shot the (very small) weddings of two friends who had barely enough money to pay for my film and processing. My time and effort were, in both cases, my gift to the couples. Thank goodness, the results were much better than my inexperience might have produced! But it planted within me a desire to create beautiful images, and the learning curve began. I practiced on anyone who would allow me to shoot them!! So, that would make me about 26 in "photog years."
Sheila Pack
sheilapack.com
Hi All;
Welcome to all the new members.
I started earning money in 1967 in the navy as a ships photographer. Went to PH A & C school in 1969 to become a Photographer's Mate. Worked my way through collage as the Director of Photography at SEMO State U. 71-75. Put in a photo studio in 1976 while working as a teacher. The studio is still in business, although I have slowed down. That makes me 35 years.
Andy of pb mo
My first sale was in high school in 1938, graduated in '39...
My first wedding in 1941..
After the war I came home and went into the studio business...
Retired from it 20 years ago, so I guess that makes me a great great grandfather at 81
So I guess my foto age is 64 years??? I don't know, yu figure it out
Been a good life, so far...
Marty
Well...I was in college taking all art classes and my teachers were getting disgusted with me because I wanted to paint like Michelangelo and they kept telling me to loosen up....that;s what cameras were invented for...etc...etc....plus I was already doing pencil portraits from people's photos...which were horrid half the tome, so I thought wouldn't it be cool if I could take the picture myself...then draw it? So, I took my first photography class...just to learn the controls, and the basics...and that was all I was going to do. HA! That was it! I was addicted! The next quarter, I dropped all my art classes...and took photography and sculpting, pottery, etc. I ended up being photo editor for the college paper, and working for the media department. Security guards had to kick me out of the darkroom at midnight every night...as I was the only person on campus...I couldn't get enough! I sold my first photos that first quarter. Now...I have a hard time actually making money at it, as I am shy about charging...get taken advantage of alot(caught one lady in the printshop making every size available of her proofs for all her family!)....and do alot of free stuff, just because I love to do it so! I need help in that department...priceing...keeping it professional, etc. I guess I am 26 years old, since that 1st class was in 1976!
PATTI JO Red tailed hawk lady
Hi,
The first fotos I sold were about 10 years ago after I left a job I loved at a world renowned alcohol and drug treatment center near my home. I had been taking photographs for at least 20 years and people kept telling me that "was good enough" to sell my photos.
. Soooo after I left my job, I contacted the bookstore and gift shop at the treatment center and showed them my card portfolio and to my suprize they ordered 6 dozen cards!! Six cards each of 12 different designs!!!! That was my start. I'm still selling them cards!!!
It was a DREAM come true.
for me. I would encourage anyone to muster up the courage and
go for your dreams!!!! Surround yourself with supportive and positive
people who have your best interest at heart. Don't believe people who try to stop you or put roadblocks in your way to success. Believe me, GO FOR IT!!! It will pay off!
TeaBear
Yep. And I worked for PCA, as a road photographer, for six months. I went from K-Mart, to K-Mart, all over the NorthWest; I carried my portable studio in the back of my truck. It was boring to sit around all day, and wait for people to float in. When there was a crowd, then it was stressful as hell.
I also had to push(sell) photo charms, which I hated to do. My girlfriend, whom I married later helped me to break free and find a new job.
While on the road, i also had my truck break down, and in california, after driving over mountain roads most of the night, I developed a severe pain in my stomach, but I had to keep going.
Next morning, I set up my studio in this K-Mart, but the pain was so severe i had to go back to my motel; the pain got much worse and I was going into shock, so I went to the local hospital. There I found out I had appendicitis, and they had to operate. Good thing I didn't die; I was in the hospital for about a month, and PCA was so grateful, that they let me go back on the road when I got out. then my truck broke down, and it cost me over a 1000.00 to get it fixed.
So I am not too anxious any
longer, to work for studios, who pay a low salary, and reap big benefits from your work.
Walt
Craig,
First, thanks for the welcome! Let's see, it's kind of hard to do high level sipherin' like this but I will try.
We have been operating a home studio (weddings, Seniors, Family portraiture) on a part-time basis for about 2.5 years. It has been a slow process but we are finally getting enough business where I can consider doing this full-time as opposed to part-time. The previous 5 years, I shot part-time for a local studio shooting events and weddings. In 1992 I think I got my first "paying" gig shooting for Jolesch Photography shooting field candids at Marching Band competitions. I shot bands for Jolesch every year since until last year when we were booked solid on weekends for weddings.
I guess that makes me 10 in photog years.
Andy S
Looks like I will be the baby of the group then. In all actuality. I am an embryo. I have never sold a photo. I have photographed my family as subjects but they are never interested in prints, and if they wanted copies would NEVER pay for them. They are great for me in practice though and that is priceless. So actually I believe maybe I should be paying them. Maybe someday I will be of the talent I see on this site and be able to sell some myself. What a great community. Thank you for the wonderful welcome!!
Kittn
how did I get into photography?
the answer comes in two parts
i suppose i've always been a scientist at heart, i love reading about quantum mechanics and particle physics, i was also fascinated about the darkroom. how does the image get onto the paper? and, what are the chemicals used?...how does it work. and same with film, i understand a little about light, but how is an image produced onto the negative, what is it about light that causes molecular changes in the film's emulsion. i wanted to know the answer to these questions.
the 2nd part
about 6 yrs ago, i was on holiday in Austria, i had an old Zenit camera with a 50mm lens, my friend who was with me had a canon eos 600,and all the attachments, i was intrigued by all this, then when my shots came back i thought they were great, and wondered what could i do, if i, had all the attachments and knew how to use them. at the time i was looking for a new hobby, [i'd been an amateur herpetologist for some time but was giving it up due to the difficulties in getting the correct vetinary treatment for exotic animals] so it was down to a local pawn shop and bought an old Praktica with a 28mm, 50mm and 70 - 200 zoom lens. 6 months later i joined a local colledge, just one evening a week, learned how to use a camera correctly, and also the darkroom techniques that had fascinated me for so long, the rest is history, as they say
geoff
To be honest I've always enjoyed taking pictures, got my first camera in elementary school. But I really didn't get serious until about a year ago. After having my second child, people started commenting on how much they liked my family photos, and I realized just how much I did love to take pics! My dear husband bought me my first SLR for our anniversary last year. I took a class to learn how to work the camera, and have since read many books & gone through many, many rolls of film practicing! Family & friends have begun to ask me for family portraits, pics of their kids, etc., though I have yet to charge anyone for them. So, if I was "born" when I got really serious, I guess I'm just the ripe old age of 1!
~Aubrey
Add your story by clicking this link below and make a post,
then I will transfer it to page 2 of this series.
http://groups.msn.com/ProfessionalPhotoTalk/general.msnw?action=get_message&ID_Message=52&ShowDelete=0&ID_CLast=453&CDir=1
(BELOW IS A LINK TO THE OTHER PAGES OF THIS SERIES)
PHOTOGRAPHIC AGE page 2
PHOTOGRAPHIC AGE page 3
