This post should actually be called: “How People THINK Photographers Spend Their Time -VS- How They Actually Spend It — it’s not what you think and it’s not too late”. Come to think of it, perhaps I’ll find an even better title… [Done.]
Experience tells me that non-photographers, or amateur photographers often have an idyllic view of the life of a professional photographer. It’s all romping around with a pricy camera, with hot models in ridiculous locations, epic studios, and fancy parties. It’s just not true. That’s not to say there aren’t innumerable awesome perks to my chosen profession, that I don’t count my lucky stars and pinch myself everyday…but his infographic (compliments of Swiss Miss via Seth) tells a different — much more accurate story.
But my real point here is this: every damn profession is full of this stuff. The stuff you’ve gotta do outside the “aura” of the job–whether you’re thinking photographer, rockstar, or astronaut, firefighter or poet– there are ditches the have to be dug, hoops that have to be jumped through, bullshit that can derail the essence of what you do. You can make choices to do more or less of the bullshit…But the way to avoid it? There is no way – you must deal with it. So the way to deal with it? Choose to pursue something you love. Because if you do, those ditches will seem shorter, the hoops closer to the ground, and the bullshit less stinky.
Choose wisely and choose with your heart.
(Share this stuff. I think it’s important.)
i love this! i love how people around me are always pointing out the “benefits” that come from being a photographer.
great post
This graph is so true. My husband and I have run a photo studio for about 7 years now that is about 40% commercial and 60% portrait (families and dogs). We spend so much time on the hustle of the business to keep it going. The thing is, that I think that is the thing that separates the amateurs from the professionals – actually being able to run a business. Good images are a given. It’s funny, I was at a birthday for one of my youngest son’s classmates and the grandma, the mother and the aunt of the birthday girl all had their Nikon’s with zoom lenses going the whole time. I sat down and chatted with the grandma, “It looks like your family really likes photography.” ‘Oh yes,” she says. “We had a portrait business – natural light – we had some really good backgrounds, we just couldn’t get enough clients event with free session fees, so we closed our business.” The business HAS to be a big part of what we do or none of us will survive or thrive.
To be fair, there is still at least 1% partying like rock stars.. that’s only 3 and a half days a year. 😉
That’s a great post makes me think as its such a large piece of the pie improving picture editing skills might lead to having more time to take pictures.