I shoot totally for pleasure,always have done and probably will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Whilst the end result is obviously important my main pleasure is from just being out and about in the fresh air,surrounded by beautiful peaceful scenery and wildlife.
I generally end up dumping many more raw files on the computer than I've got time to process.However the ones I do get round to processing either end up as an A4,A3 or A3+ print which I get lots of pleasure reviewing now and then,I also frame a few to put on the walls.
I like making slideshows and also get lots of satisfaction from posting to this forum.
At the moment and for the last god knows how many years its been for pleasure but im hoping that is about to change and will start to get a small percentage of the money back that i have spent over the years,Has anybody ever worked out how much they have paid out in equipment,travel,petrol,time etc
I'm with Justin and Tim. I also do this purely for pleasure. As for what I do with my images?I haven't printed a single one of my images yet. Get my pleasures from being out early with no-one around enjoying the wildlife, scenery and photographic opportunities. My only outlet for my images is posting on here and a couple of other forums for comments and critique. No plans (or the talent) to go pro....ever!
Hello William
I take photographs primarily because I enjoy doing it. I also enjoy just being out there with nature, but obviously that can be done without a camera, so I must admit that I get a "kick" out of recording, and sharing, some of the things I see.
I , like many others on this forum, run my own web site where I offer images for sale, and where, as has been proved by a previous posting, neither I, nor most others, do in fact sell many!
However, I print and frame some of my better images, and sell them in various galleries and restaurants. This helps to limit some of the huge expenditure which I have put into my photography "hobby?!"
Best wishes
Phil
I do it for the shear enjoyment and have done for the past 16 years, I can,t think of a better hobbie or a more fustrating one. Sometimes you get a good image and forget the early mornings, midges, shit weather, lost film or cards, bloody computers, moaning women (sorry paula and alison), dropping gear in salt water, tripod legs sticking ( again salt water) oh and all the money spent down the years but heh its great fun and worth every penny.
Thanks for all who answered. I too have enjoyed shooting nature work, mostly for my fun, but managed to sell a few. For those who wanted to know why its just a curious question. Especially knowing how competitive the nature photography market has become..
Hi William,
I have aimed to make photography cost-neutral and, as I am now kitted out with 5D, 500mm and loads of other lenses, PS-CS2 etc I should break into profit this year. I sell travel and landscapes, wildlife doesn't seem to sell much. I am planning to retire in 3-4 years and will then give travel and photography more time. fortunately I won't need to earn a living from it as it is a very competitive field spending a lot of time not taking photos in the fresh air!!
Fun or profit? Neither!
Sell about one picture a month through Alamy, and am on the verge of giving up photography. Come back from a trip out chasing birds and landscapes, etc., absolutely knackered, instead of relaxed and refreshed as I used to before I took up photography. Photography is coming between me and my enjoyment of the natural world. It has got to stop!
I get my kicks from being out in the countryside (especially early mornings when the world is still and fresh). Toting a camera around has opened my eyes even more and I now see things that I missed before. I enjoy seeing the finished product in either print or digital form. My nature photography is purely for pleasure but my other forms of photography are increasingly becoming an income requirement.
Rob
Posted by Paul Everett on July 13, 2006 at 4:36 AM
I enjoy wildlife and landscape photography and would never want to lose that enjoyment. I do exhibit and sell my photos from time to time and that does defray my expenses to some extent. I also enjoy the pleasure my images give to other people. I have no desire to become a "professional" photographer, who spends more time leading holiday groups, lecturing and holding workshops etc, than actually taking photographs. Its easy to take an envious and unrealistic attitude toward the so-called pro's, the fact is there are very very few who actually make a living from nature photography alone.
Discussion
14 repliesI like to get a percetage of how or what photogs are shooting for and doing with their images. Feedback please
William
I shoot totally for pleasure,always have done and probably will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Whilst the end result is obviously important my main pleasure is from just being out and about in the fresh air,surrounded by beautiful peaceful scenery and wildlife.
I generally end up dumping many more raw files on the computer than I've got time to process.However the ones I do get round to processing either end up as an A4,A3 or A3+ print which I get lots of pleasure reviewing now and then,I also frame a few to put on the walls.
I like making slideshows and also get lots of satisfaction from posting to this forum.
Tim
I'm with Justin and Tim. I also do this purely for pleasure. As for what I do with my images?I haven't printed a single one of my images yet. Get my pleasures from being out early with no-one around enjoying the wildlife, scenery and photographic opportunities. My only outlet for my images is posting on here and a couple of other forums for comments and critique. No plans (or the talent) to go pro....ever!
Regards
Graeme
I take photographs primarily because I enjoy doing it. I also enjoy just being out there with nature, but obviously that can be done without a camera, so I must admit that I get a "kick" out of recording, and sharing, some of the things I see.
I , like many others on this forum, run my own web site where I offer images for sale, and where, as has been proved by a previous posting, neither I, nor most others, do in fact sell many!
However, I print and frame some of my better images, and sell them in various galleries and restaurants. This helps to limit some of the huge expenditure which I have put into my photography "hobby?!"
Best wishes
Phil
I do it for the shear enjoyment and have done for the past 16 years, I can,t think of a better hobbie or a more fustrating one. Sometimes you get a good image and forget the early mornings, midges, shit weather, lost film or cards, bloody computers, moaning women (sorry paula and alison), dropping gear in salt water, tripod legs sticking ( again salt water) oh and all the money spent down the years but heh its great fun and worth every penny.
Cheers
Danny
Why?
But briefly I am a working natural history photographer at the NHM, my personal work is both for pleasure and profit through agencies.....
Phil
William
I have aimed to make photography cost-neutral and, as I am now kitted out with 5D, 500mm and loads of other lenses, PS-CS2 etc I should break into profit this year. I sell travel and landscapes, wildlife doesn't seem to sell much. I am planning to retire in 3-4 years and will then give travel and photography more time. fortunately I won't need to earn a living from it as it is a very competitive field spending a lot of time not taking photos in the fresh air!!
Sell about one picture a month through Alamy, and am on the verge of giving up photography. Come back from a trip out chasing birds and landscapes, etc., absolutely knackered, instead of relaxed and refreshed as I used to before I took up photography. Photography is coming between me and my enjoyment of the natural world. It has got to stop!
Rob
Paul