I have been making a living as a pro for 20+ years. It is not easy especially now. Many seem to think that buying a pro camera makes them a pro and the next thing they are bidding on jobs at rates so low nobody can make a living. It is rough these days. Stock agencies also are not helping I bid a job for hotel room photos (landscapes of the region) It involved 3000 mils of driving and three weeks of work hotels and such. I bid in the range of 10000 all expenses in (about 3000$) and they ended up buying stock pictures at under 200$ Impossible to compete with. Shooting stock is fine (I don't want to compete with myself) but a average serious stock person makes 10000 a year it is hardly enough to live on that is producing lots of images.
It can be done it is just difficult.
Education I feel that a strictly technical education like a community college or trade school is useless. Lynda.com can teach you these things no need to spend serious bucks learning how to use photoshop or camera. I would look at an art school that has a photo program they will teach you how to 'see' far more valuable. taking business classes and trade classes on the side to 'fill out' the experience.
It comes down to do you have the eye and business sense to make it work?
Reply With Quote