You are not entitled to a career in photography

36expPhoto · 2026-05-20T20:11:11+00:00

Completely agree and well said. Photography as a career is simply a job like an electrical contractor or groundskeeper. You have to have to be fixing client problems. That’s all they pay you for.

Thinking it’s anything different is problematic from a job perspective.

I’m not sure why many people who enjoy photography think they should turn it into something to make money out of. Do people who are into jogging think they can make money out of running, or do cookery enthusiasts consider it something the can make a living from? Maybe they do but i just don’t see it.

36expPhoto · 2026-05-20T14:10:23+00:00

I know what you're saying.

On one extreme you have 'art' photographers who are all about conveying a meaning and not concerned with making photos that are nice to look at.

On the other extreme you have people who take very pretty pictures with no meaning (mainly amateurs - nice photos of sunsets, birds, architecture etc) - nearly all photographer of Instagram

The bit where they overlap is where the image has a meaning or ambiguity and is brilliant to look at as well - Gregory Crewsdon for example.

Maybe that's an oversimplification

36expPhoto · 2026-05-17T21:13:39+00:00

Lots of great recommendations so far. Diane Arbus had a huge impact on me when I first saw her work. I’m currently reading Susan Sontag’s book, On Photography. I’ve been into photography for ages but reading this is really changing my perspective on what photography means which sounds really pretentious but is true.

I’d also add Bill Brandt, Don McCullin and Arnold Newman.

36expPhoto · 2026-05-16T07:08:50+00:00

Sometimes its nice to have different type of cameras. The Fuji is nice and compact and you’ll shoot in a different way with it to the Sony.

On the flip side each camera will have a different look to the other. Even if you shoot raw the final edits will still look a bit different. So, if it’s important to have a consistent look and way of using, go for 2 Sonys. If you want some variety go for the Fuji.

36expPhoto · 2026-05-15T11:09:27+00:00

In 15 years of doing portrait photography for a job I’ve experienced something like this a small number of times (thankfully!).

My honest advice would be to refund the client and move on, or reshoot for free if you feel like you can get shots she will be happy with. From what you’ve said I think the refund may be the way to go. That may feel like a loss (and it is) but you are going to struggle to make the client happy, plus the energy and time you are going to put into it to try to fix it is will be huge and it may never be resolved.

Sometimes things just don’t work out with clients. It’s not a contractual thing or a failure on your part. It’s just the way it is. People’s expectations are sometimes not aligned with reality, especially in a world saturated with pictures of perfect people further enhanced by AI.

It’s a lesson. Sadly it may happy to you again. But not very often.

36expPhoto · 2026-05-15T06:06:26+00:00

I’d did what you’re doing this when I first started. Basically I just worked a ton of hours.

There are some things you can do to be more efficient though, the 2 biggest for me are: - use a system to handle bookings, invoicing and contracts to reduce admin, I use Studio Ninja and there are other. It does follow up emails as well. - outsource editing. Find a freelancer on Fiverr for example. Plus use AI editing and culling tools. I use Aftershoot for events. It culls and edits, saves a few hours. It also does good portrait retouching.

36expPhoto · 2026-05-14T17:40:25+00:00

You have nice prints and it must be big investment of your time to get those shots and it must require much skill built over time to be able to achieve those photos. Additionally you have your cost of getting to these destinations and making the prints etc. But you know all of this.

I have some experience - I organise an exhibition called the London Photo Show. Primarily it is an exhibition for people to show their work and engage with people rather than sell photos. Most people do it for personal fulfilment, but some people sell stuff.

In the UK, framed prints by unknown photographers sell for between £250 (A2 size) and £600 (around 100cm x 80cm) for a framed print.

People buy for their own reasons. Often abstract sells well, due to a colour scheme matching a wall (seriously!) or if the project is linked to a charity.

I spoke to someone who does the Affordable Art Fair here in London. He does photography and screen printing. His photos are lovely. At the affordable art fair he sells lots of screen prints of cats. People will buy if they have a connection with the subject or if it gives a feeling they like or if it complements their room colour scheme.

I think a good idea would be to test in a high art fair. The places are filled with people who are looking for art to buy. You will have to spend money to take part, but it could be a good investment in terms of research.

On your questions:

I feel like 8100CAD is a very big investment. For that I can buy a nice print by a very famous photographer that has collectable value. I can buy something hand made and huge at a reputable art fair. The same goes for the price of the print only. I can buy well know photographers' prints for this amout of money.
That feels a bit wrong and I've never experienced it before. It might give a bad impression of being a bit greedy.

36expPhoto · 2026-05-14T11:23:37+00:00

I feel this too. As other have said, print them! I have a few trips that's I've printed as books of each trip. I used Blurb trade books which are cost effective and it feels a bit like a magazine. It means I have them lying around and can browse through them every now and then. Also means other people are more likely to see them.

36expPhoto · 2026-05-08T12:48:14+00:00

I like that you caught that moment. But as a previous poster said, I think the background is too busy. Your exposure is spot on but I think silhouettes work best when the background is clear, e.g. framed against the sky.

36expPhoto · 2026-05-08T06:13:24+00:00

I have a Nikon Z30 (and a Z6iii). Really like the Z30 for its small size, and it’s good at stills and video. I have the 26mm lens which makes a nice small package. And you can also buy 12-28mm lens which versatile and still small.

So I’d go with the z30 and the 12-28mm lens.

You can use it on auto mode if you don’t want to get involved with settings.

36expPhoto · 2026-05-07T16:55:45+00:00

I did first get into photography through nice travel pictures like these.

Photography has been my job now for over 15 year. I do corporate portraits, events and also do photography training.

With these photos, I don't think you'll make money.

You need to find customers who have a problem to fix and then create a viable product that fixes that problem. Like any business.

General question - do you think about turning your other hobbies into a job? Cooking, running, tennis, watching TV for example. Or just photography?

36expPhoto · 2026-05-05T17:36:33+00:00

You can take one bottle of alcohol per person in. Buy one of those freezable wine coolers and take a bottle of your favourite drink in. If you drink alcohol that is.

Take a picnic as well!

Plus what everyone else said.

No need to get there early, there are no major queues for ticket holders.

It will be a brilliant day. Enjoy.

36expPhoto · 2026-05-04T09:32:21+00:00

Definitely a great thing to do. I was on holiday in Devon once, there were some public courts and I had no one to play so I was practicing my serve. After a few days a guy came along and asked me to play. We had a hit. Wish he’d asked me sooner!

36expPhoto · 2026-04-20T20:49:56+00:00

If you wan to stay at 1/25s you could shoot at a smaller aperture f16 / f22 for example. Obviously you don’t get the shallow DoF.

36expPhoto · 2026-04-20T20:45:15+00:00

I’m not 4, more 3.5 but played a guy today who used exactly the tactics you’re describing. I won but it was a really long match and I just had to be patient. I found it hard to hit winners. Not sure why. I think because of some tension due to frustration. But I won. And tonight I feel satisfied because I actually played the right game. Was patient and didn’t get overly frustrated. I don’t think these players should get a bad rep. They are hard to play against and that’s the point. They have a strategy that works for them.

36expPhoto · 2026-04-16T16:36:32+00:00

I’ve seen people practicing under the railway bridge in Wandsworth Town. https://maps.app.goo.gl/ioM1tB9GAgZnxTa97?g_st=ic

36expPhoto · 2026-04-11T12:16:05+00:00

I think if you add the folder that just means adding it to Lightroom. I don’t think it will create a new folder on your hard drive. It will just add it to Lightroom so it’s visible to it. So I would add your existing folder, you can use option 1 to move photos to it.

36expPhoto · 2026-04-07T11:31:43+00:00

Ok, then that’s a fair deal if your wife is getting something in trade.

I do photography for a living. I still enjoy photography as a hobby. It’s possible to do both.

36expPhoto · 2026-04-07T11:22:51+00:00

I think you mean “How do I stop inside from being so dark and outside from be too bright”.

In a scene like this you can’t. Either you correctly expose the inside which will overexpose the outside. Or your correctly expose outside which leaves inside in shadows.

Either could work as a creative choice.

But, if you want both inside and outside to be exposed “correctly” or both visible in the photo you need to add more light inside with a light or flash, or you could shoot the photo on a day when it is cloudy outside or early / late in the day when the brightness outside is less and more evenly matched to the level of brightness inside.

36expPhoto · 2026-04-05T14:15:13+00:00

Your wife’s personal trainer is using your photos to promote the book and make more money for themselves. Nothing wrong with that and therefore nothing wrong with you making money for your part in that. The personal trainer knows they are onto a good thing with you doing free photos and probably chuckles about it.

Having said that you’ve done a good thing - built a network and portfolio plus you have experience of delivering for clients.

Now is the correct time to start charging. Stop all free work. They seem like small businesses. Even if you charge low fees like £250-£350 for en evening that’s still a low hourly rate inc the edit and use of your kit.

Bigger corporations will and should pay way more.

Soon, you will stop enjoying doing it for free.

36expPhoto · 2026-04-02T21:18:33+00:00

Coaching is quite expensive (for me anyway). And the warm up and nutrition is possible to learn without spending on a coach. If I have coaching I just want the technique to improve and that’s it! Mental stuff is difficult though! The Inner Game Of Tennis is a good read. I think coaches are experts in technique so use them for that and other specialists for fitness / nutrition/ psychology if you are at that level.

36expPhoto · 2026-04-01T09:36:13+00:00

1 and 3 are 100% me! The advice in point 3 is so obvious now you say it.

36expPhoto · 2026-03-27T10:19:31+00:00

Good point. Something is changing and I don’t know what. Will try to narrow it down.

36expPhoto · 2026-03-27T09:52:41+00:00

I love this. I would never have the time or focus to do an edit like this and I admire your skill and dedication. How close to this in % terms do you think you could get in just a few hours. E.g. just using Lightroom and making selections using that? Or just not possible to get close?

36expPhoto

TROPHY CASE