Ed Rooney Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 On Alamy, contributors are divided into pros, semi-pros, hobbyists, and hopeless newbies who soon drop out. Any other categories? I see myself as semi-pro: I make some money here, but I don't make a living at it. I was a professional, but I've been retired from photography since the dawn of digital. What are you, and which group do you think is the largest on Alamy? Edo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Ventura Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 No Idea which is the largest group but I am a full time assignment photographer who also shoots stock. Stock used to make up 50% of my income and now it is only 10% (mostly due to the falling value of stock prices) but still enjoy it. The photos I submit to Alamy are a mix of material from assignment shoots as well as stock shoots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Morgan Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I guess I would be classified as a hobbyist, as my main businesses take up the majority of my time. So much in fact this year, that I haven't had a chance to go out with the cameras. I do all right with sales. This year stared awful, but has picked up. Most of my images are from just being where I am. I don't usually go out for the strict purpose of photography, although I have the odd time. Really do need to take a little time for me, the Canon and the Sony to spend some time together. Jill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MandyD Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I have had professional photography assignments, but economics dictate that I do something else (construction law by way of engineering and economics degrees)..so I would rate myself a hobbyist at this point. First picked up a camera at age 12 in school...lived in the dark room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpole Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I would like to think semi pro but in reality photography costs me more than I make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thyrsis Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 My other half has been a pro photographer all his working life. We only have a small stock portfolio of images mainly taken on, and paying for, our travels or shot closer to home around Oxford. We have huge archives of images so it made sense to library some of them. Last 15 years or so our main business has been selling limited edition prints via our website. Slowing down now into our semi retirement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cryptoprocta Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Somewhere between hobbyist and semi-pro, in that I take pics for stock that I'd never take for my own pleasure or use, even though I know that 'managing' them will be a PITA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManWay Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Henri Cartier-Bresson; “25 years have passed since I started to look through my view-finder. But I regard myself still as an amateur, though I am still no longer a dilettante.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I have been in "the game" on and off since secondary school. Recently retired, I am working on upgrading my Photoshop skills and adding photos to two agencies. Let's see how that works out Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starsphinx Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Again somewhere between hobbyist and semi-pro, or at least trying to be lol. I have health issues that prevent me from finding normal employment (among other things). I got into photography as a hobby where I could be as active as able at the time or still able to do from bed (mainly the developing side). I am now looking at trying to gain some sort of meaningful income from it so I am at least partially self-supporting. The last couple of years has seen me fall into football photography through my son playing and I have several teams who ask me to shoot their matches - next season on the advice of some local pros I am moving from offering free low-quality downloads for social media to pay for higher quality - time will tell if that works. I was also pointed in the direction of Alamy - only been here a couple of weeks and am working at getting a reasonable amount of uploads. No sales yet but not expected I have heard it takes time. Again time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
York Photographer Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Full time, although stock has gone from being 20% of my income to beer moneyRob Cook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobD Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Hobbyist. After selling my business and retiring a couple of years ago, I recently decided to start uploading again after a 3-4 year break. It doesn't make a lot of money but gets me out, pays my petrol costs and the odd lens or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I used to be a freelance writer/photographer and school teacher. Now I'm a guy over 65 with a camera and pension income that needs a monthly boost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Woods Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I am a full time dad with a camera. All the money I earn comes from photography, so that makes me professional. My ability, after 12 years in stock, to fail to spot great shots makes me still an amateur. Fortunately we don't have to live on just my income; The Leader of the Opposition is a doctor so makes pretty good money, certainly enough to keep a family of four comfortable. I take my camera everywhere with me and shoot regularly, and every now and again I plead professional exhaustion and go and spend a weekend at my father-in-law's place in Montreal for a dedicated photo weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morrison Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Full-time photographer while there's a camera in my hand, full-time writer when there's a book to write. Pro for both... but with the heart, I hope, of an amateur... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Walker Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I would class myself as an amateur who takes photography very seriously. I receive regular payments which comes in very useful in retirement. My earnings via Alamy have well cleared the cost of my entire set of equipment - a Sony RX100 M3 and a soft case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colblimp Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Full time here, stock is a small (at the moment) part of my business, with commercial bringing in 50% of my income, events (with my printer around 25% and press, tuition etc making up the rest. My goal is to increase the amount I earn from Alamy and reduce the commercial, although if and when that'll happen is a mystery... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kuta Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Started using an SLR 50 years ago, but didn't try to make money at photography until I decided it would be a retirement avocation. Just looked up "avocation," it says "hobby or minor occupation." Yeah, I'm somewhere in there. A retired, full-time grandfather who got into stock in time to get some good fees--briefly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Rooney Posted June 19, 2018 Author Share Posted June 19, 2018 I used the term 'hobbyist' instead of 'amateur' but both can sound dismissive. Amateur shooters can be very good, but they don't have to deal with clients or assignment pressures that pros do. The younger me used to like that pressure. The senior me does not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MandyD Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 3 minutes ago, Ed Rooney said: I used the term 'hobbyist' instead of 'amateur' but both can sound dismissive. Amateur shooters can be very good, but they don't have to deal with clients or assignment pressures that pros do. The younger me used to like that pressure. The senior me does not. that's what has kept me from taking on more paid assignments....I have enough deadlines and pressure with the regular gig....so I like this instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 Prefer to use the term 'enthusiast'....enjoy making pictures...and get that brief buzz when I get a very infrequent sale 😁😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Rooney Posted June 19, 2018 Author Share Posted June 19, 2018 Nah, a pro can be an enthusiast too. And newbies are often too enthusiastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDoug Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I'm a former commercial photographer with additional work in graphics and writing. My commercial shooting was primarily large format, e.g., food and beverage accounts, some architecture. Wandering around and taking photos of whatever interested me is something I've done since childhood but never made much money at. Contributing to Alamy allows me to call that "working" rather than playing. Cheers, Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abiyoyo Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I have a full time job and in vacations I am a traveller and photo amateur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panthera tigris Posted June 19, 2018 Share Posted June 19, 2018 I am and always have been a hobbyist. None of my motivation is financial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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