Taken for Granted?
April 5, 2024There are sometimes I feel I have the word “Mug” tattooed across my forehead. People and organisations getting my services as a professional photographer for nothing or next to nothing. I know I should charge my rate, which by the way is not that bad but I see the opportunity and say ‘yes’. Perhaps I should learn to say ‘No’ more often. But then they will go and get some other photographer with an iPhone who will provide images for picture credits and a pint of shandy!
Photography is not just pressing the button and out pops an image, irrespective of what the manufacturers will tell you. There’s the planning, travel, parking, insurances, permissions, website hosting, editing, processing and storage of images, etc, etc.
And did I mention, its expensive. Cameras, lenses, computers, batteries, cards, etc.etc, all seem to cost an arm and a leg. If you need to shoot as a professional, you need professional equipment. It is a never ending outflow of cash and time with very little to show for it. As somebody once said, “the fastest way to make money form your photography is to sell your cameras and lenses”.
March was another busy month and again was sport centric. The month began with a shift at the Portsmouth News with a couple of news stories, a fundraising walk for someone battling Cancer and some images of the spring like weather we briefly had and two football matches back to back.
The following week was busy! Royal Navy Women v Army Women in the Knight Cup final. The RN took home the silverware. The following day, two matches, the RN v Army Masters match and the RN v Army at Fratton Park. It was nice to be photographing a sports match under decent lights. The following night was a boxing tournament at HMS Collingwood, the day job. The Saturday saw a rugby match at Burnaby Road, USRFC v Basingstoke.
The following Saturday saw another shift for the News. A PR style job the theatrical show, Grease. A brief trip to Port Solent where a group of Cosplay inspired Ghostbuster themed characters were raising money for charity at the opening week of the latest film in the Ghostbuster franchise. Finally, some more football. Though this get me two ‘Big Picture’ centre spreads in the Portsmouth News.
The last jobs of the month was the rugby match, Royal Navy Senior side v the British Police and then my final shift at the News saw back to back jobs, Spinnaker Tower Easter Chocolate Workshop, a Save our Swimming Pool protest, a Easter themed image at Whitely Village then back into Portsmouth for a Shop opening and a Pub reopening.
I still haven’t been able to find time for my own work but have been experimenting with multiple exposure/montaged images in Photoshop. (I still have a lot to learn with this programme) with some pleasing end results. Though this does underline my lack of new personal images for source material.
So to sum up March. I must try harder, especially with my own work and try to earn some money from my photography by not being taken for granted.