File :-(, x, )
Photojournalistic crap.. confag
Okay, /p/, help me out here.

I really, really love photography. I love shooting, I love exhibiting, and I love just talking about it. I'd like to go into some sort of a job where I take photographs for a living - photojournalism would be kickass. But how much demand is there for that sort of career? Am I going to be turned down after I get out of school? What should I go to school for?
>> Anonymous
photojournalism is insanely, insanely competitive and doesn't pay much (average salary is around 25 grand). if you want to do it, go to an accredited school (http://www2.ku.edu/~acejmc/STUDENT/PROGLIST.SHTML organized by state) and major in either journalism and photography or straight-up photojournalism if your school offers it (most don't; it's a rare degree). Most papers only hire about 10 staff photographers, and almost never accept freelance work. Like I said, hypercompetitive.

wanna make money with a camera? shoot weddings. everything else is a crapshoot at the absolute best. for example, i work with a fucking amazing photographer who can get away with charging 2 grand a shoot (one day's work), and he still has to work as a waiter to make ends meet.
>> Anonymous
>>91844

depends on how good you can sell yourself. prices go from 300 to 300,000, with the gallery getting usually a 40% cut. it's also almost impossible to get a solo showing in a gallery unless you have at least a BFA, but an MFA is most definitely preferred. so, you have to submit your work to a gallery that accepts cold calls (walk-ins off the street), and then you have to realize that gallery curators at a place like that get probably 50-100 portfolios a week and select maybe 3 or 4 photos out of 2 or 3 portfolios. Also insanely competitive.

That's why no one gets into fine art for teh monies, unless you're a gallery curator. A lot of big photographers have to subsidize their fine art with commercial work. The ones who don't have to are the ones with fat patronages and NEA grants.

like i said, shoot weddings.
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
On the topic of this, whats the word of sport photography like, I'd imagine its also shit hot competative but is it better/worse than art?
>> Anonymous
>>91851

On a par with the rest of photojournalism for papers.

The other part of selling art in galleries is that you will have to be there to talk people into buying it most of the time. If you aren't a smooth talker and a good salesman you might not make any sales for your effort.
>> Anonymous
>>91851

shit hot about sums it up, especially if (and no offense intended here) you're a girl.
>> Anonymous
>>91850

i'm shocked and appalled that i would write "how good you can..." jesus. that's just embarassing, considering that i'm about to graduate with a degree in english, ferchrissakes.
>> des
>>91851
Art's probably better off, these days. A big problem with breaking into photojournalism now is that most local/indie papers just have the guys writing the copy go out. Why pay for a staff photographer when your writer can take a bunch of snaps with a compact digi and it's good enough?
If you really want to get into photojournalism, get an english degree and an AA in graphic design/dtp. You've got to have excuses for them to hire you and then keep you around. :P
>> Anonymous
>>91960
Koudelka majored and worked in exactly that.
>> des
>>91960
+English minor = trade pubs! ;P
>> Lynx !!KY+lVSl0s2m
My parents have starting pressuring me to switch to journalism from mechanical engineering. But even if I was any good at taking picture I wouldn't, simply because it doesn't pay for crap. The only photogs that I know of with money are the ones that own the damn photo shop in town.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>91967
That's weird. Normally parents want to pressure their kids to switch from the artsy career path they love to the boring one that'll make them mad bank, not vice versa...
>> Anonymous
>>91967
and my parents tell me i should hold off on my photo stuff until after i get my degree in mechanical engineering
>> Lynx !!KY+lVSl0s2m
>>91969
They're pretty cool about what I study, as long as I get A's. Engineering makes me crazy sometimes. They like it when I'm happily snapping away at zoo animals.
Besides, they know it's my sis thats gonna pay for their retirement home costs, she's in international studies at George Washington University.... my parents just left me alone with 40$ for the week so they could spend Thanksgiving with her in D.C.
>> Anonymous
>>91971
my parents dont care what i study...as long as i do good studying something that will make money.
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>91833

start out on the side; study english, communications, journalism and photography. Do as much as you can- if you're writing and doing photography at the same time, you're better off. As most said, don't expect to make a whole ton of money off photojournalism, but if you are determined enough, go for it! just make sure to have a supplement income to support yourself until you're established.

Also; get yourself a website or a hook up with a gallery and work on studio/business work outside.

It will also help you to learn videoagraphy, as most photographers are required to know that as well.

Good luck
>> Anonymous
>>91960
You're already doing aerospace engineering? Aren't you getting money guaranteed? Just take pictures as a fucking hobby. :b