Comments on: The Future of Professional Portrait Photography http://bladeronner.com/2009/06/the-future-of-professional-portrait-photography/ Musings on Business, Branding, Social Media and The Visual Arts Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:34:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Dave http://bladeronner.com/2009/06/the-future-of-professional-portrait-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-4942 Dave Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:04:00 +0000 http://bladeronner.com/?p=535#comment-4942 OK so D got paid £1000 bucks .... whoopdee doo! by that time I'll be getting 100,000 and laughing at how crap her pictures are because I am an ARTIST ! ;-) OK so D got paid £1000 bucks …. whoopdee doo! by that time I'll be getting 100,000 and laughing at how crap her pictures are because I am an ARTIST ! ;-)

]]> By: Dave http://bladeronner.com/2009/06/the-future-of-professional-portrait-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-4901 Dave Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:04:00 +0000 http://bladeronner.com/?p=535#comment-4901 OK so D got paid £1000 bucks .... whoopdee doo! by that time I'll be getting 100,000 and laughing at how crap her pictures are because I am an ARTIST ! ;-) OK so D got paid £1000 bucks …. whoopdee doo! by that time I'll be getting 100,000 and laughing at how crap her pictures are because I am an ARTIST ! ;-)

]]> By: F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE » FSB088: David Wittig http://bladeronner.com/2009/06/the-future-of-professional-portrait-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-3674 F-Stop Beyond: The EXPERIENCE » FSB088: David Wittig Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:00:52 +0000 http://bladeronner.com/?p=535#comment-3674 [...] late June of this year I wrote a post on my regular blog about the future of portrait photography. It painted the picture of a “Debbie Digital” type photographer succeeding amazingly [...] [...] late June of this year I wrote a post on my regular blog about the future of portrait photography. It painted the picture of a “Debbie Digital” type photographer succeeding amazingly [...]

]]> By: Philippe Wiget http://bladeronner.com/2009/06/the-future-of-professional-portrait-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-2877 Philippe Wiget Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:12:02 +0000 http://bladeronner.com/?p=535#comment-2877 Indeed it's the passion and the commitment and I think this part is fairly relevant for her success: "For the first 30 minutes they just hang out at the local soda shoppe chatting away....." Yes, I think it's great that technology advances! Thanks for this article, Ron! Indeed it’s the passion and the commitment and I think this part is fairly relevant for her success: “For the first 30 minutes they just hang out at the local soda shoppe chatting away…..”

Yes, I think it’s great that technology advances!

Thanks for this article, Ron!

]]> By: Ron Dawson http://bladeronner.com/2009/06/the-future-of-professional-portrait-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-2766 Ron Dawson Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:40:02 +0000 http://bladeronner.com/?p=535#comment-2766 @klick - Love this comment. I commend you for making it. I know it must be a hard thing to admit. Bravo for you. I think there are more of you out there than you think, but are afraid they'll get eaten alive. It's okay to be in your position. As you so notably pointed out, it's the talent that counts. Even Dave Wittig admitted that given him brownie and he'll take a better photo than a novice with a 5D. As you've said, it's the passion and commitment. Thanks so much for sharing and keep up the great work. @carl - FINALLY. Someone who recognizes that this is a bright future indeed. :) @klick – Love this comment. I commend you for making it. I know it must be a hard thing to admit. Bravo for you. I think there are more of you out there than you think, but are afraid they’ll get eaten alive. It’s okay to be in your position. As you so notably pointed out, it’s the talent that counts. Even Dave Wittig admitted that given him brownie and he’ll take a better photo than a novice with a 5D. As you’ve said, it’s the passion and commitment.

Thanks so much for sharing and keep up the great work.

@carl – FINALLY. Someone who recognizes that this is a bright future indeed. :)

]]> By: Erik http://bladeronner.com/2009/06/the-future-of-professional-portrait-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-2745 Erik Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:38:25 +0000 http://bladeronner.com/?p=535#comment-2745 @KlickK Thanks for the sharing the info ... What I'd like to know is this (if you're willing to share): what were you charging for weddings when you started? 6 moths later? 2 years later? Now? Keep it up ... @KlickK

Thanks for the sharing the info …

What I’d like to know is this (if you’re willing to share): what were you charging for weddings when you started? 6 moths later? 2 years later? Now?

Keep it up …

]]> By: KlicK http://bladeronner.com/2009/06/the-future-of-professional-portrait-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-2742 KlicK Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:38:58 +0000 http://bladeronner.com/?p=535#comment-2742 Ok here goes. I can PERSONALLY see through the eyes of 'D'. Why? I wasn't that much different not so long ago. To be honest, I've been VERY ashamed to reveal (here) what my equipment choices are simply because you guys are photographers. I've created a rather wonderful portfolio in under 5 years and I just learned about exposure and aperture about a year ago. I shot my first wedding in Manual mode last July however I've been doing weddings since 2005. I used to rely on just simply 'seeing' the photos then releasing the shutter. I didn't realize there was so much to technically learn about the craft. I've recently bought an 'entry level' DSLR and public confidence is an issue. I walked into a wedding last December and the video guy instantly started yapping about 'those point and shoots' then he whipped out his massive 40D with pro flash and big lens attached. I have noticed though, that people often compliment my work locally even after looking at others' work who may have 15 + years experience and use SLRs et al. NOW I know that the equipment doesn't matter however think about this. The reason I bought an entry level DSLR is because it's what I could afford. I've researched photography enough to know what I can do. I'll post pix of my equipment and reveal a few things that I doubt anyone else may be doing. Lack of high end equipment really squeezes creativity out of you. I love 'D' and people like her because I'm not that much different. If people join photography because of a craze or for technology, I just start the timer and move on... THEY NEVER LAST. I'll be in photography for a long time because of passion, commitment and love for the art. Ok here goes.
I can PERSONALLY see through the eyes of ‘D’. Why? I wasn’t that much different not so long ago.
To be honest, I’ve been VERY ashamed to reveal (here) what my equipment choices are simply because you guys are photographers. I’ve created a rather wonderful portfolio in under 5 years and I just learned about exposure and aperture about a year ago. I shot my first wedding in Manual mode last July however I’ve been doing weddings since 2005. I used to rely on just simply ’seeing’ the photos then releasing the shutter. I didn’t realize there was so much to technically learn about the craft.
I’ve recently bought an ‘entry level’ DSLR and public confidence is an issue. I walked into a wedding last December and the video guy instantly started yapping about ‘those point and shoots’ then he whipped out his massive 40D with pro flash and big lens attached.
I have noticed though, that people often compliment my work locally even after looking at others’ work who may have 15 + years experience and use SLRs et al. NOW I know that the equipment doesn’t matter however think about this.
The reason I bought an entry level DSLR is because it’s what I could afford. I’ve researched photography enough to know what I can do. I’ll post pix of my equipment and reveal a few things that I doubt anyone else may be doing. Lack of high end equipment really squeezes creativity out of you.

I love ‘D’ and people like her because I’m not that much different. If people join photography because of a craze or for technology, I just start the timer and move on… THEY NEVER LAST. I’ll be in photography for a long time because of passion, commitment and love for the art.

]]> By: Carl http://bladeronner.com/2009/06/the-future-of-professional-portrait-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-2740 Carl Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:19:24 +0000 http://bladeronner.com/?p=535#comment-2740 "The 1,565 RAW images download in 32.3 seconds flat. " I love the future already! I can't wait 'til it gets here! “The 1,565 RAW images download in 32.3 seconds flat. ”

I love the future already! I can’t wait ’til it gets here!

]]> By: Ron Dawson http://bladeronner.com/2009/06/the-future-of-professional-portrait-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-2725 Ron Dawson Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:51:41 +0000 http://bladeronner.com/?p=535#comment-2725 @erik - touche. The earning a $1000 per session after 3 months is kinda aggressive. I'll give you that. The "future" title is more about the equipment and the workflow than about D. And I don't drink coffee (excluding frappacinos), so feel free to treat me to dinner. ;) @david - so, according to you, they're doing things the same now as they did 100 years ago? FWIW, there is no warning in my post. There is no indication in my story that you better beware. If you got that sense, you're reading into it. And frankly, I hardly think the picture I'm painting is "weird." And you know what, technology DOES change how we do things. The way photographers shoot, edit, and market their business has drastically changed because of technology. I'm surprised anyone would suggest otherwise. And I gotta admit that I find your statement rather hard to believe that equipment is twice as much today as it was 15 years ago. In every other aspect of technology it's the other way around. Technological advancements make it cheaper to do the same things you could do 15 years ago. Based on what you're saying, there should be fewer and fewer people getting into the photo business. I'm not seeing that at all. @erik – touche. The earning a $1000 per session after 3 months is kinda aggressive. I’ll give you that. The “future” title is more about the equipment and the workflow than about D. And I don’t drink coffee (excluding frappacinos), so feel free to treat me to dinner. ;)

@david – so, according to you, they’re doing things the same now as they did 100 years ago?

FWIW, there is no warning in my post. There is no indication in my story that you better beware. If you got that sense, you’re reading into it. And frankly, I hardly think the picture I’m painting is “weird.” And you know what, technology DOES change how we do things. The way photographers shoot, edit, and market their business has drastically changed because of technology. I’m surprised anyone would suggest otherwise.

And I gotta admit that I find your statement rather hard to believe that equipment is twice as much today as it was 15 years ago. In every other aspect of technology it’s the other way around. Technological advancements make it cheaper to do the same things you could do 15 years ago. Based on what you’re saying, there should be fewer and fewer people getting into the photo business. I’m not seeing that at all.

]]> By: David Wittig http://bladeronner.com/2009/06/the-future-of-professional-portrait-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-2724 David Wittig Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:15:39 +0000 http://bladeronner.com/?p=535#comment-2724 Ron, The visceral reaction comes from post likes this (that pop up every few months) "warning" of some weird vision of the future, or how some particular technology is going to change everything, and people have been saying the exact same things for 100 years, and it just gets old. You know? As for the barriers to entry being higher, I speak only of photography gear (because I'm not up to speed on the video end of things), but my comment is based on the fact that today it costs over twice as much to buy the equivalent level of photo gear than it did 15 years ago. Additionally, the technology is getting outdated at a much faster paces so your continual equipment expenditure is also significantly more. 20 years ago a photographer could use a camera body for 10-15 years. Today, there is no way I could use a 10 year old camera body. Check out my reply on the Pictage forums if you want to see the specific numbers. Ron, The visceral reaction comes from post likes this (that pop up every few months) “warning” of some weird vision of the future, or how some particular technology is going to change everything, and people have been saying the exact same things for 100 years, and it just gets old. You know?

As for the barriers to entry being higher, I speak only of photography gear (because I’m not up to speed on the video end of things), but my comment is based on the fact that today it costs over twice as much to buy the equivalent level of photo gear than it did 15 years ago. Additionally, the technology is getting outdated at a much faster paces so your continual equipment expenditure is also significantly more. 20 years ago a photographer could use a camera body for 10-15 years. Today, there is no way I could use a 10 year old camera body. Check out my reply on the Pictage forums if you want to see the specific numbers.

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