How many are making a living at this?

[Dieselrider]

I have been looking at everyones work (well I'm sure not everyones yet) and I am amazed at the quality, everything is awesome! I have noticed on smugmug sites that the costs are very reasonable for your work (at least the ones I have looked at). So with setting up that way and selling your photography in this manner, is it really possible to make a living at it?

I have been a machinist for twenty five years and I am growing tired of it (not in every aspect but in many), I would love to be able to use photography to compliment or even one day replace my career.
That would be really cool! Ok, back to the reality of the situation I am far away from that but, I just wanted to know if it was doable? Thanks. :super

[denisegoldberg]

I think the answer is very different if you are planning to build a business doing portraits or weddings or events as opposed to selling images of things, landscapes, etc.

You might want to take a look at this thread - http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=86383. It starts out as questions about a site, but there is some really good discussion about the reality of selling photos via a web site.

--- Denise

[Dieselrider]

I think the answer is very different if you are planning to build a business doing portraits or weddings or events as opposed to selling images of things, landscapes, etc.

You might want to take a look at this thread - http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=86383. It starts out as questions about a site, but there is some really good discussion about the reality of selling photos via a web site.

--- Denise

Thanks Denise, i guess I was thinking it sounded too good but was hoping for the best there. If I ever get good at this, I guess a smugmug account would be good but I may be better to go with stock photography. Thanks again

[denisegoldberg]

Thanks Denise, i guess I was thinking it sounded too good but was hoping for the best there. If I ever get good at this, I guess a smugmug account would be good but I may be better to go with stock photography. Thanks again
I don't think the problem is using a smugmug site vs. a stock photography site. The problem is attracting the right audience for what you are trying to sell.

And you mentioned trying to make a living from selling photographs. Take a look at the prices on the stock photo sites to get an idea of how little each print sells for.

--- Denise

[JDub]

I make a good living at it, but I also have a day job in sales. I do both, weddings and portraits. I have found portraits are more year round, weddings are feast or famine at times. I would say do both, so you have some employment all year. When your photography income is more than your day job, time to ditch the day job, but dont burn any bridges!

[bham]

I make a good living at it, but I also have a day job in sales. I do both, weddings and portraits. I have found portraits are more year round, weddings are feast or famine at times. I would say do both, so you have some employment all year. When your photography income is more than your day job, time to ditch the day job, but dont burn any bridges!

My recommendation wouldn't be to jump into it, but to start slowly and after 2 to 3 years of building your business, if you feel you day job is holding you back then you would be a very good position to judge if you have the talent, the market, the marketing, the prospects, to survive doing it.

There is a reason most business' fail in the first year. I think lack of planning, lack of knowledge, lack of a solid plan, unrealistic expectations, establishing a niche, effective marketing, etc are just a few of the reasons.