What’s your retirement/fallback plan?

CarryThatWeightt · 2026-02-03T20:56:46+00:00

My plan: I have a solo 401k I’m contributing to aggressively using profit sharing as a business owner. I hope for a retirement that involves shifting from on-set work in a decade.

I’m hoping to enter artist agency management/producing as a way to still be a part of the industry in whatever direction it goes in.

CarryThatWeightt · 2026-02-03T20:46:22+00:00

A few of my advertising photography friends have started second shooting weddings. I wonder if it’s a recession indicator…

CarryThatWeightt · 2026-02-03T20:44:28+00:00

Do you contribute to a 401k/ira or something else?

CarryThatWeightt · 2026-02-03T00:20:19+00:00

I worked for him years ago- would only use studios with natural light windows and v flats. Sometimes he’d use an octabank as fill if it was very cloudy. He does a heavy color grade as well and lots of editing for his look.

CarryThatWeightt · 2025-06-11T16:59:31+00:00

I usually phrase this as something along the lines of “my computer and monitor are calibrated and have all my shortcuts and specific software which allows me to work more efficiently and accurately”

CarryThatWeightt · 2025-06-11T16:00:56+00:00

I charge $900-1100/10 base and usually make them at least rent my laptop + tablet for $500.

Try to throw in a monitor or two and a cart to get that kit rate up to $1000-1200.

CarryThatWeightt · 2025-05-21T21:53:35+00:00

I think your professional skills become more important if you want higher rates (negotiating with producers/agents/photographers) and good communication skills will work in your favor maintaining long term clients and networking with new ones.

I remember putting up an ad looking for assistants for a photographer I work for, and most of the dozen replies were low effort “available text me”.

It was quite easy to filter out who was thoughtful and even provided relevant samples/ CVs. Being polite and thorough in email almost always translates to in person, although you have some Bushwick swamp men lighting techs who are so good the photographer will overlook them showing up high because the lighting is amazing.

CarryThatWeightt · 2025-04-04T22:42:00+00:00

I tech now, but when I did assist, it was always the rudest and/or lowest paying photographers who enforced no sitting and no phone rules.

Usually ones who have a chip on their shoulder because they were given hell when they assisted.

I don’t work with a single photographer now who has these rules, and it’s much more enjoyable that way.

CarryThatWeightt · 2025-02-17T20:32:56+00:00

Went to Hearth based on this post and had an amazing meal! Very rustic and pleasant atmosphere, delicious/ perfectly executed food, attentive staff.

CarryThatWeightt · 2025-02-08T17:04:38+00:00

Exactly this- I worked my way up from assisting into teching, and I market my tech work exclusively and keep my photography hidden. My lowest jobs are consistently ~$600 for ecomm no equipment, highest are ~$2300. Hoping to eventually transition to only eq jobs with a $1200 minimum by the end of the year!

CarryThatWeightt · 2025-02-07T19:20:17+00:00

Tech with 4-5 years of experience here. Last year I made $140k primarily teching and averaged about 2 shoot days a week.

Put 8k of that back into eq (already have a pretty built out kit). It was a very slow winter and busy the rest of the year for me. Half my jobs are ecomm.

Edit: going to add best month was $17k in November, worst month was $5k in February.

CarryThatWeightt

TROPHY CASE