Starving Artists

[Dalmar]

I came across this info tonight on the US Department of Labor website:

"Median annual earnings of salaried photographers were $26,080 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $18,380 and $37,370. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $54,180. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of salaried photographers were $32,800 for newspapers and periodicals and $23,100 for other professional, scientific, and technical services.
Salaried photographers—more of whom work full time—tend to earn more than those who are self-employed. Because most freelance and portrait photographers purchase their own equipment, they incur considerable expense acquiring and maintaining cameras and accessories. Unlike news and commercial photographers, few fine arts photographers are successful enough to support themselves solely through their art."

I'm not a professional photographer, so I don't know if those numbers are correct. If they are right, whoa.....photography will just have to remain an expensive hobby for me. Unless I'm reading it wrong, more than 90% of professional photographers earn less than $ 54 Grand a year and half earn less than $ 26 Grand? Considering the KSA's required to be a professional photographer, not to mention the equipment costs, those numbers stunned me.

If you're interested, the url is http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos264.htm

Dale

[jeffadamshti]

Originally Posted by Dalmar

I came across this info tonight on the US Department of Labor website:

"Median annual earnings of salaried photographers were $26,080 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $18,380 and $37,370. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $54,180. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of salaried photographers were $32,800 for newspapers and periodicals and $23,100 for other professional, scientific, and technical services.
Salaried photographers—more of whom work full time—tend to earn more than those who are self-employed. Because most freelance and portrait photographers purchase their own equipment, they incur considerable expense acquiring and maintaining cameras and accessories. Unlike news and commercial photographers, few fine arts photographers are successful enough to support themselves solely through their art."

I'm not a professional photographer, so I don't know if those numbers are correct. If they are right, whoa.....photography will just have to remain an expensive hobby for me. Unless I'm reading it wrong, more than 90% of professional photographers earn less than $ 54 Grand a year and half earn less than $ 26 Grand? Considering the KSA's required to be a professional photographer, not to mention the equipment costs, those numbers stunned me.

If you're interested, the url is http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos264.htm

Dale

I have worked for myself for over 25yrs, and I can say that if you do your marketing, your biz plan and price yourself for what it takes for you to live well, you can do 100 times better than that, literally. Commercial/Editorial is where the main money is, after that weddings, shooting upcoming models that really have a chance, even at a low rate, is great advertising, and will lead to commercial work. Jeffrey

[epeters]

Want to end up with a little money by doing photography? Start out with a lot of monery..

[icuphotography]

Dale at least your wife is a pharmacist and beautiful and successful model. You deserve to be a kept artist. LOL

Sherwin.

[jimmyd]

the USDL isn't reporting on "professional photographers," it's reporting on "salaried photographers," i.e., employees of businesses who draw a weekly paycheck and work by the hour or for a salary or possibly on a commission basis. there's a big difference btween the two altho, at first glance, it it might not seem so. as an example, "salaried photographers" include people working at places like Sears and K-Mart photo studios, rather than independent/freelance pro shooters.

[dynamike]

Ditto, Jimmy