Anybody Making Any $$Money By Way Of Their FILM Photography?

[eli griggs]

As a side note, when I worked as an advertising art director, I had to deny a job to a well-known photographer because he would only shoot film and both the client and agency insisted on digital.

It happens with those who specialize, with only one of the two available options, film or digital, but since we're talking about working with analog, I'll propose he'll do ok with being passed up for the occasional job.

 

[snusmumriken]

I did once sell a print a few years back. Or at least, I agreed to barter it for some cheese. Double Gloucester. Very good, it was.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I used to trade large prints, 16"X20" and 20"x24" color and black & white for offroading equipment.

 

[Dusty Negative]

I did once sell a print a few years back. Or at least, I agreed to barter it for some cheese. Double Gloucester. Very good, it was.

You were feeling esurient, I presume.

 

[snusmumriken]

You were feeling esurient, I presume.

Not especially, but that was the available currency. Buyer was a farmer.

 

[juan]

I made $10 two years ago.

 

[eli griggs]

I made $10 two years ago.

Your prices are too low then, IMO, as ten dollars won't cover film, film developing, expenses to get to and from the shooting scene, darkroom chemistry, developing time and paper used, toners, other treatments and water fees including a contact strip, tests, waste prints and final prints cost, the a reasonable fee/Photographer and Darkroom wages at, at least double minimum wage.

In the Late 1980's, I would charge a flat $10 per 8"x10" black and white print made by me, to models who helped me by no cost above film expense, and to their talent agency for same basic RC print cost, and that was way too low, even then.

 

[BrianShaw]

... but $10 will buy a Leica, so maybe it's not so low.

 

[Sirius Glass]

... but $10 will buy a Leica, so maybe it's not so low.

The cost of the rest of the lenses will seriously dent the wallet.

 

[chuckroast]

Like it reads - whether it be just a few bucks here & there or maybe something substantial through clients who still want work done in film, freelancing, galleries, etc.

A photographer works for years to hone this craft, optimize his kit, and develop a compelling artistic vision.

One day, he finds himself the winner of a multi-million dollar lottery payout. A local reporter asks, "So, what are you going to do with your new fortune?" The photographer replies, "Keep making pictures until the money's all gone."

 

[cliveh]

I sold the first image I ever put on APUG. About 20 years later I have never looked back, as that was the only image I ever sold on APUG. I have sold some prints in local art galleries of some alternative process images and the odd copy of my book containing about 74 black & white images. But photography for me is what I do and any sales are just for fun.

 

[sperera]

As a graphic designer since 1988 (after I graduated) I eventually, in the 90s, started to do all my own photography. Prior to that I commissioned photography, most of it on Fuji Provia II etc even Astia when that came out and did the scanning myself on a ScanMate 5000 drum scanner that I bought off a repro house in Madrid and drove back down to Gibraltar. These days I shoot with Hasselblad and colour negative film. I process the film and scan it myself on Hasselblad Flextight 646 scanner so my turnaround is as fast as I make the effort for it to be. My film of choice for my work is Portra 800. I have shot film for brochures, Gibraltar stamps and even website work.
I find that people buy into film and like the idea of it and that it's part of the package they get with me....ironically now again cos of the adverse effect that non-existing everything in clouds etc are against the grain of humanity in essence...the tangible is why we have fingers.

 

[geirtbr]

I go to fine art gallery exhibitions often, sometimes viewing large photographics prints both from contemporary photographers and historical ones. While prints in this segment may be highly priced (from 5000-50000 USD equivalent), I am sorry to see that hand made printing is not valued. Most prints seem to be made digitally on inkjet (euphemistally referred to as a "giclee print"), some (black and white mainly) digitally printed silver gelatin on lightjet. So, the numbered prints would be exactly identical. Most gallerists seem to have little knowledge of the difference of the processes involved.

I have also seen sloppy digital printwork with (visible artefacts) on a print valued at 30000 USD so clearly these may be produced quickly as well by the manufacturer. (Its probably wise to bring a looking glass and study the details carefully before buying such prints).

What seems to determine valued is first and foremost the signature of the artist (not printer). In case the artist is passed away the estate can also "stamp" the print with the artists signature (sound completely ridiculous but people fall for it).

 

[ignatiu5]

A print of mine sold at a juried exhibition for the first time recently. After only a dozen or so shows. So clearly I’ve earned enough for my retirement.

Seriously though, I am occasionally hired for commissioned photoshoots (portraits, headshots, art nudes, modeling). I was asked to lead/facilitate a film photography workshop at a local arts collective later this month; I expect I'll lose a small amount of money there.

 

[logan2z]

I go to fine art gallery exhibitions often, sometimes viewing large photographics prints both from contemporary photographers and historical ones. While prints in this segment may be highly priced (from 5000-50000 USD equivalent), I am sorry to see that hand made printing is not valued. Most prints seem to be made digitally on inkjet (euphemistally referred to as a "giclee print"), some (black and white mainly) digitally printed silver gelatin on lightjet. So, the numbered prints would be exactly identical. Most gallerists seem to have little knowledge of the difference of the processes involved.

This is a real pet peeve of mine as well. Of course I expect a digital print if the work was originally shot digitally, but if I'm looking at a print of a photograph that was shot on film I expect that print to be made using an analog process (eg. silver gelatin). I was really disappointed to see that some of the prints in the recent Dorothea Lange show at the Monterey Museum of Art were printed digitally. They looked terrible.

 

[koraks]

A print of mine sold at a juried exhibition for the first time recently.

Congrats! I assume it wasn't 'just another landscape' - I imagine those don't sell all too well. Too much supply given the demand.

I expect I'll lose a small amount of money there.

Sounds better than losing a lot, eh!

 

[Eric Rose]

The sale of prints has dropped through the floor. I'd estimate that less than a dozen analog only photographers are making their living selling prints.

 

[eli griggs]

The sale of prints has dropped through the floor. I'd estimate that less than a dozen analog only photographers are making their living selling prints.

Actually having a full time self sufficient income is something of a rare thing for many here, however, the occasional job below or above the Tax/No Tax line, is, IMO, something to enjoy, take pride in well done jobs and build on. If you've the energy, kit and ambition to last out the period that building a client list of repeated jobs.

 

[chuckroast]

Actually having a full time self sufficient income is something of a rare thing for many here, however, the occasional job below or above the Tax/No Tax line, is, IMO, something to enjoy, take pride in well done jobs and build on. If you've the energy, kit and ambition to last out the period that building a client list of repeated jobs.

Everyone is different of course, and my experience does not necessarily generalize, but I found that nothing took the joy out of photography more for me than doing it for other people.

 

[ignatiu5]

Congrats! I assume it wasn't 'just another landscape' - I imagine those don't sell all too well. Too much supply given the demand.

Thanks. It was an art nude. Now I have an empty space on my wall that I need to fill! Time to get back into the darkroom, I guess.

 

[koraks]

That's a good position to be in; have fun! I hope you will have many more temporary empty spaces in the future.

 

[RezaLoghme]

Professional kit is not necessary element in making some monies with your camera, you can start with many types of kit. but if you are specialized in your topics, you will quickly find out any limitations about how far that equipment can take you.

Very often, work can be done with a kit lens filters, support and a flash, so don't think you can not get started today with what you have on hand.

It's just a simple matter of discovering those jobs that will allow you the use of what you have to hand.

IMO

Well "professional equipment" also follows fashion and trends. Remember when professional cameras had to be black? And how "proper" wedding photographers have to have a big camera? Memes and tropes exist everywhere...

 

[MattKing]

Remember when professional cameras had to be black?

It was always the other way around.
A lot of the camera equipment that was designed for heavy commercial or professional work happened to be black.
So a lot of models that were designed to compete in the amateur/advanced amateur marketplace came out in black, or were offered with a black option, to capitalize on the perception that black meant high end.
The true professionals couldn't care less, unless they needed black for something like surveillance work.

 

[RezaLoghme]

That's what I said: Slickback

 

[eli griggs]

Per

Well "professional equipment" also follows fashion and trends. Remember when professional cameras had to be black? And how "proper" wedding photographers have to have a big camera? Memes and tropes exist everywhere...

Perhaps I should have wrote "Professional grade equipment", but, you are right, anything can be turned into a "Style", "Influence", "Look", or "Trend" and, we've seen Polaroid Land Cameras, SX-70's, Olympus XA's, Stylist MJU, Half Frames, Kodak Disk films, Giant Polaroids, mini-cameras, like the Minolta 16's, Ultra Large, Large Format, Nikonos, Polaroid multi-print strips, Instax in several formats, thin pocket digitals, etc, etc, etc.

Some of these are, indeed, Professional Grade kit, but most have been more or less, Fads or Challenges amongst Photographers, Art Directors, Editors, Artists, Art Galleries, Museums, and Publicist.

The bottom line seems to be, if you can make photographs, with a camera if any sort, that grabs the attention of Viewers and the Professionals in the Graphic Arts, you have a good chance to become a professional photographer with minimum kit.