pretty straight forward... I would like to know how's the earning as a photographer... and whats the usual job scope for a photographer. I think most basic are journalist photographer working for newspaper. Or indoor studio photographer...

I'm quite curious how can one get into photographing as an income. Lets say I have not much knowledge in photographing...and just bout to get my first dslr, how does one start with and go on with the photography job? how bout freelance photographer? how does that count?

Does one have to attend certain creative course...like go college or smthing.. Or just start with 0...and improving through experience.

I'll appreciate if sm1 in this line can share some information bout their photographing line...whr they start...(the lowest pay in begining.... to successful stable carier)

If I start now, with very first dslr... from 0.. can I get into the photography line and earn money from ther? Lately have been quite stress with my job... so think a lot of possible way of changing my lifestyle a bit..

money vs experience vs interest. How can I get all together? Stress

In oversea, photographers conduct workshops.
In Malaysia, you can earn by shooting event. You can also go Macro Stock and sell your print/stock. Forget about Mirco Stock though, you can't make a living from that

for me i got my first DSLR in August, and since then i've been shooting for events. since i work for a broadcasting company i get a lot of opportunity to shoot events, celebs, etc etc.

then from there build a portfolio. i've done 3 paid wedding shots already and i'm currently still doing some more.

i guess you just need to have a lil connection somewhere to build your rep up, then the rest will just come flowing in after, but of course, your pictures have to be good as well.

when people know you're a newbie, they tend to take advantage of that, but then again when you have the pictures to show, then that's a different case altogether.

you planning to do this full time?

kelvin...can u explain more on macro n micro stock?
normal stock photos i understand...but what is macro n micro stock?
thanks.

well , if in my small hometown here.. photographer here earn money by snapping photoes of people's wedding banquet.

then develope it out and sell to the married couple.

most of them will start snapping from the bride's house until the banquet night..

Shooting events... but where do we get started? Must join certain photography company in order to get this opportunity? Or u just find ppl directly who require photographer to capture their events?

Macrostock ...r u refering to online image selling? like istockphoto? I like your animal shooting there. amazing...no wonder can be approved ther.

Just for ur info:

http://submit.shutterstock.com
http://www.shareapic.net

Hi Raven. what is the requirements to be able to work for broadcasting company? and are u a fulltime photographer now? How about ur earning... are you satisfy with the amount? I do have a job now... Interior Designer by the way. But im pretty bored and tired of the job recently.. Work more than 12 hours everyday...and Almost every weeked have to work too. And no matter how much effort we put in... we still get d same amount of pay.

I'm thinking to go 3d freelance fulltime for a period of time... y? to earn more, pay finish my car loan and get a life in a short time. But yet a decision to make, since freelance = extra income, but no experience gain. Since im planning to get a first dslr.. Im looking forward to get income from my photography interest too. For sure will need to start everything slow n somewhere... but i would like to know am I too late for this?.

trust me you won't want to make your hobby ur job... sooner or later u will get sick of it

1.look for some rich guy, snapshot him with other mistresses, and try to sell it to his wife..........earning big money

2.look for some pretty girl, snapshot her, sell to the interested party..........earning medium money

3. work in a press/wedding planner/event staffs, snapshot event........................................earning small money

up to u to choose

Connections and great output is important when it comes to being a freelance profitable photographer .

Once you're known and you take photo's for company's , i.e. taking photo of their products , their equipment , for their company profile and etc , you'll start bringing in the bucks ..

Realise that... same with d course im taking

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Added on October 21, 2007, 2:46 pmI like the first one. lol. can always PHOTOSHOP...hehehe

This post has been edited by clivengu: Oct 21 2007, 02:46 PM

photography can make you alot depends on how good yor photos are

This post has been edited by Daxt3r: Oct 21 2007, 06:41 PM

hey there,

i'm still working in my company, i love my job that i'm currently doing but photography is just more of my hobby, and along the way i make some fast bucks out of it.

it totally depends on an individual really, you can't get your first photo shoot the next day after getting your camera. There's always a starting point. And you're never too late to start photography. I mean its all up to the person, don't buy a camera and rely on the camera. the individual must have his role too

Also, don't expect to earn a whole lot when you first start off, i just started off and i'm getting about say RM 500 - RM 800 per event shoot (without washing)

And i stress again, connection here is very important. maybe your friend's getting married? shoot only, or your friend's friend? shoot only. build your portfolio

And if you're interested in a DSLR, pm me, coz i'm planning to upgrade mine smile.gif still 7 months warranty left. 5 months old DSLR (selling the one that i'm using in my Avatar)

This post has been edited by [Raven]: Oct 21 2007, 06:50 PM

Your comments are quite inspiring. About the "connection" that u stressed.. I think im really lack of that... Im basically by myself in KL.. family in sarawak n sis in Singapore. Other than college friends, I have no other relatives or other community relation... Im also try to build a wide connection to more ppl.. Knowing more ppl will definately help me in Most of d thing that im doing.

Anyway... this really need sometimes to build... I just got my car, after 5 years in KL...no more relying on others and I have much more freedom to do watever thing i wanna explore now.

I know very little ppl here.. thats why i would like to join some community like photography... that perhaps can expose myself to more ppl

I cant tell what is the DSLR that you are using from ur avatar.. Is it sony Alpha? since ur signature saying u r a Alpha user... Im planning... (VERY SOON) to get myself a canon 400D + kit lens + 50mm f1.8 lens = rm 3000 below. Do you have any suggestion for me?

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Added on October 21, 2007, 9:31 pmRAVEN... ur shot are Fantastic!!!! I wan to shoot like that! SIfu guide me!

This post has been edited by clivengu: Oct 21 2007, 09:31 PM

in terms of connection, one way to get around that is just attending events. .Its all about selling yourself and your services with something to back you up. Like an online port folio or something.

joining communities is a good thing, attending the events the fellow forum members hold (although i've yet to attend any) will help you improve. there are many photography forums around, i won't mention but if you want to know, pm me. so that's where your connection starts. the most i do is post my photos up in the forums and wait for feedback and comments and use them to improve.

furthermore, you mentioned you're a designer, so you have added value to editing your photos for clients, like for me i only know basic photoshop

For the set that you're planning to buy, its a good set to start off with. if funds are tight, just go for the kit and practice with that first. don't really have to buy the whole system before you know the basics. you have to be patient, and at the same time creative in photography. most of the shots you see on my flickr are only taken with the kit lens

ok i've written enough, so long winded

thanks for viewing my pictures and thanks for your comments, i wouldn't mind guiding you, buy Sony!

This post has been edited by [Raven]: Oct 21 2007, 09:54 PM

My work doesnt allow me to attend different events.. working omost fulltime till no time to breath... thats why thinking to go freelance for a while... planning planning..

I did join photomalaysia.com.. Lowyat.net n photomalaysia r d 2 forum i regularly visit. for outing and joining community...i think everything should start only after i got my first DSLR..

Yeah..i did know bout photoshop.. Indeed all my photos taken with my Canon A80.. r 70% EDITED in photoshop.. hehe.. wat to do.. d camera cant perform much.. Worst in low light condition.. Iso above 100 oredi horrible.. so Reduce noise in photoshop.. my photos up to date r all very "artificial"

Ur shots in flickr r really good enough if really taken with just kit lens... it impress me! ur oversea shots r fantastic too.. interesting subjects and theme.

Micro stock are those like www.istockphoto.com, they pay cents. Macro stock are those like www.alamy.com, they pay hundreds of dollars, but the requirement is damn high.

istockphoto is micro, cause they pay so little.

There's nothing wrong with A80. It's a great cam. I owned one before I bought my S3IS. Just make sure you use only ISO80 if you plan to use it as stock.
And there's nothing wrong with 70% PP. A professional photographer, Juza has once stated that taking a well composed photo is only 50% of the whole process, the other 50% is PP.

may i know how much one can get snap pics for wedding?

my hobby is now my job. not looking into other hobbies just yet.

a professional photographer can charge up to RM 2.5K with washes Per Day

wow.. after each event can buy new dslr

Ya, provided you don't need to pay for transportation, parking fees, toll, food, better lenses, retirement fund, photo printing costs, etc...



Plus, if you are really fully booked, you may not have enough time to take photos YOU want to take. Most of the time you're taking photos OTHER people want to take.

Edit: Oh yeah, this thread is about making money from photography, so ignore the above...

This post has been edited by chucky: Oct 22 2007, 10:19 AM

Fantastic Thread..i oso wan to join and learn leh..i enjoyed taking photos..

im planning to buy DSLR early of next year. from then on, wanna start to learn more on photography and start making money with it

yeah me too . very soon to get d80

i send to star publication get rm50 heheh

since ur using e-510, may i know how's the performance? e-510 is in my wishlist . but dunno what happen next year. maybe olympus release their new dslr model

well you think RM2.5K is a lot, you know Louis Pang? one day he can make RM 3,000 - RM 7,000

of course it all includes washes and all.

now i wanna go to photography courses.. can any1 tell me where?

ahh. met him a few months back, IINM he does like 3 - 4 shoots a month. so yeah, imagine how much he's making.

Look like not only me who are interested in this topic.. haha.. Anyway I really wish to get into photography and make it as my part time job.

Raven.. The camera you wanna sell is Alpha A100 right? I have done quite a research yesterday.. It can really compete with Canon 400D.. There r cons n pros... When i Have made up my mind on 400D..suddenly Alpha appear to influence me... thanks to u raven.. LOL..

Canon 400D perform better with less noise in High ISO compare to A100.. While Alpha selling point is the body built in Super Steady Shot. After reviewing lots of websites... i think is more practical for me to go for A100... since im not likely to play with canon variety of L lenses ...and with canon IS..is really gonna cost a bomb..

Im thinking to get the A100 with 18-70mm kit lens (better than canon 18-50mm kit lens) , 18-300mm + 50mm f1.6... Looking for the cheapest offer... this should cover a wide range of shooting and should last me a few years

Raven.. u gonna be my master jedi.. are u willing to take me as ur apprentice? May Alpha be with us~

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Added on October 22, 2007, 9:42 pmI dont know who is louis pang... famous photographer? any portfolio to see Any1 else sharing more on their photography carrier?

This post has been edited by clivengu: Oct 22 2007, 09:42 PM

how photographer make money?
buy lottery lo, stock market share lo, many ways what?!?!

ha ha.. so funny lah your statement

Malaysia's damn famous wedding photographer la.

Went for a talk just the other day, he was the speaker. It was very enlightening. A very nice fellow, humble and helpful person.

http://www.louispang.com/

sry if it wasnt funny....
but i did provide an appropriate answer that fits the thread subject ;]

yes a VERY humble and nice person indeed, i've never met him in person just that my friends who are event planners tell me he's a very nice down to earth guy despite his skills

every photographer start from '0'.
try to connect every single thing around you with photography. and try make money with it.
good luck..

heard about about kid chan b4 http://www.kidchan.com/

is he as good as louis pang?

I'd like to add a bit lah. 99% of photographer make money by selling their photos, or offering photography services. As for me, the other 1%, just put my photos online in websites or blogs, and make money from the online advertising program.