I'm seriously at the point where I am considering giving up model photography.
I have this nagging feeling eating away at me that fashion is just not wanted anymore.
While I can see glamours merits its just not my thing, I don't understand it, I have tried and am useless at it and I find it unfulfilling as a photographer.
I really don't see how I can get past this and would love to hear your views before I just pack in.

"writers block" it happens in all walks of live just keep trying keep on going it would be a shame to lose yet another good established photographer to the gwc brigade with a phonecam !

best of luck with whatever you decide to do but do try to not let a temporary "tiredness" stop you from what you have previously enjoyed!



Glenn


There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. by Ansel Adams

DesignandImageStudio , Studio  posted on 13/08/2010 13:25:28   Posted 40 times

Located:Arundel,West Sussex, UK
Member Since: 14/02/2010

Try art Chris? Ok not much money but very satisfying and stands the test of time....never boring. I have given up on shooting for the sake of it and now feel quite liberated

Its only life.

RedDove , Model  posted on 13/08/2010 14:07:01   Posted 493 times

Located:Chippenham,Wiltshire, UK
Member Since: 27/07/2009

 Stick with it bud,i get downhearted too,especially when i get so many no replies,however then a little gem turns up and it all becomes worthwhile,try your hand at something different for a while to keep you occupied,remember...busy hands are happy hands!!

                  All the best.

I don't do glamour for exactly the same reasons as yourself. I'm not a prude it's just I'm rubbish at Glamour. Stick with what you enjoy it always shows in the pictures and the results are what it's all about so if you enjoy fashion you'll do a better job.
The industry is spiralling down without a doubt with models MUA photographers all working for free and now advertisers are getting in on the act its getting all to frequent to see catalogue work being offered on TFP the only beneficiary being the advertiser as far as I can tell. That said there will always be a market for good work and stylish fashion shots it's just a bit tough right now to get into but don't give up there is paid work out there.

Hello Chris

Sorry to hear that you are moving away from fashion photography as you obviously have a talent for photography.

Perhaps you need a break and a holiday and you might feel a bit more enthusiastic?

Perhaps you need to get some inspiration?  I would recommend going along to one of the BIPP courses:

www.bipp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=101

or getting in contact with the local groups:

www.bipp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=192

Good luck!  Don't give up!!!! x

Best Wishes
Alaina




Alaina

BA (Hons) PhotoMedia; LBIPP; LMPA.

I think you guys are all missing the point. Chris is a professional, his pictures are very good, this isn't someone saying I've lost my mojo, this is someone saying "i'm not making a living from fashion photography".

I'm afraid the reality is there is no living to be made from fashion or glamour photography certainly not from internet sites.

I'm afraid amateurs and the dreaded 'semi professionals' are diluting the market so much that everyone is suffering, plus I'm afraid the standards are dropping terribly.

The solution is easy to say but difficult to achieve, find a niche market, with me it was the film and TV market, but there are many others. Find something that amateurs and hobbyist semi pro's can't do because of their limited skills and aim for those sort of markets. 

You have the skills go beat 'em.

Tony

Tony,

As you say "easy to say, difficult to achieve". You're in the very enviable position of having been doing it for many years. Getting into Film & TV now is pretty impossible unless you know all the right people. Like most industries these days, it's not what you know, it's who you know.

A friend of mine is a cameraman in the film industry (work on Bond films, etc). Took him over 20 years to get to where he is (junior cameraman). Started as a runner at Channel 4.
Even now, at every single party for every project he works on he gets asked the same question from all the graduates and mummies boys "So, who is your Dad then?"


My wife and I have pretty much got to the point of giving up on photography altogether!

We started in weddings and lifestyle portraits - that died off thanks to the cowboys and £250 weekend warrior brigade. Plus the "Uncle Bobs".

Tried our hand at fashion and glamour, but the current generation of models all believe they should either be paid even for TFCD (!? ) or togs should work for free.
All the magazines want free subbmissions and there seems to be no way to earn anything from anyone.

The most annoying thing I've seen lately are the number of casting calls on **** from so called "pro" models saying "I'm getting married. Would any tog like to come and shoot my wedding for TFCD. You can use the pictures and we'll throw in a meal!".

Would love to get in to Film & TV, but don't think there's any chance of that.


BBBUUUUTTTTTT ........ we keep going

Chris,
It's the most frustrating thing in the world, but don't give up. Keep at it. If you love it stick with it.
Yes, I've now had to take on a part time job to pay the rent (back doing freelance CAD work), but we keep the dream alive.

NoClue , Photographer  posted on 14/08/2010 13:03:19   Posted 28 times

Located:Braintree,Essex, UK
Member Since: 09/03/2009

Quoting post from ChrisRiccio
I'm seriously at the point where I am considering giving up model photography.
I have this nagging feeling eating away at me that fashion is just not wanted anymore.
While I can see glamours merits its just not my thing, I don't understand it, I have tried and am useless at it and I find it unfulfilling as a photographer.
I really don't see how I can get past this and would love to hear your views before I just pack in.

Hi Chris
I read your post with interest and being a miserable sod myself on occasions I could totally relate to the prospect of 'getting out' of model photography at times.
This usually happens when a model books me, confirms, and then texts me (if I am lucky) the day of the shoot, to cancel.
Then all of a sudden a great model books, turns up, and I end up totally changing my mind.
one question I would ask is whether your decision to consider 'getting out' is in any way financial?
I have no wish to open up and old can of worms on this subject but net portfolio keep telling me that I dont post to forums (you will soon know why)
The reason I ask is do many photographers actually get paid to photograph models on this site or any other for that matter.?
I for one could be working 24/7 on a  TFP TFCD TFDVD  TF?? basis but it doesn't pay the costs of running a high street studio, or for that matter my pet budgie....
I am not complaining about the models when I say  this, as why should they pay me or you, if there are so many other talented photographers on this site willing to work for nothing to build up portfolios etc.
If my portfolio gets anymore 'built up' I will need yet another hard drive to store the images...
I would welcome comments from other site members re the above
(at least I`think I will)
going back to your comments about 'being useless" at this I would suggest you are just plain wrong.
take another look at your own work sometime to prove my point.
My last piece of useless advice would be to seek out some of the great models on this site.
I find  the more talented and inspiring  the model is, the better the results achieved.
Many of my best creative photo shoots have been 75% down to the model and 25% down to me...
stay with it when you have taken THE PHOTO you will be glad you did
regards
peter
photogenic-uk




Peter
www.photogenic-uk.co.uk

photogenic-uk , Photographer  posted on 14/08/2010 13:15:37   Posted 3 times

Located:watford,Hertfordshire, UK
Member Since: 24/09/2008

I'm afraid I have to agree with Chris. From my professional point of view, glamour photography is a waist of time as there are too many part time photographers that are prepared to work for nothing, producing a variety of images from excellent to appalling and a lot of the subjects that are photographed, can't tell the difference so why bother.
I have worked professionally with some fantastic models and will work with them again but for every good one, there is 100 who think they are the only ones that need paying and would not loose a minutes sleep over leaving a full creative team without a subject to photograph, if the weather is good enough for a shopping trip instead.
I have to keep a 'quick reaction' list of models on-hand, that can step in at short notice, to save a shoot when the primary model fails to turn up.
I have also be quoted that one of the reasons for s drop in studio bookings is that some (not all) models selected from modeling sites, are that unreliable, that photographers are not booking studios as they risk the prospect of loosing their deposit if the model fails to show.
I consider myself a good photographer and I have been on a number of model/photographer sites for two to three years and the number of paid shoots I have been booked for is to low to count so, not only is glamour on these sites a waist of time for the professional but I now believe the sites themselves are just as useless and I'm considering removing all my accounts to save money.
I'm sure for every comment I have made there will be someone who will disagree but the thing about these sites is that one persons experience differs from others so now one is right and now one is wrong. It's just a point of view.

Regards and Good Luck for the future

I'm happy I got out of adv. in the late 90's as that was where the money was at...serious money.
I feel sorry for the new photographers trying to make a career out of photography.

It may have been the internet and digital but it seems to be the catalist of when it all started to go pear shaped.

Quoting post from chris
I'm happy I got out of adv. in the late 90's as that was where the money was at...serious money.
I feel sorry for the new photographers trying to make a career out of photography.

It may have been the internet and digital but it seems to be the catalist of when it all started to go pear shaped.

Yep. I totally agree.
I spent 18 years as a professional photographer working for someone else and when I decided to start out on my own two years ago. Low and behold, every other person who had a digital camera, was pushing themselves as a professional photographer.
My problem is that I'm not used to promoting myself so I'm paying the price.
I see many photographers who produce poor quality work and have more customers than I do.
I also think that the public are more likely to go to a friend, relative or none professional, with a digital camera, to take their family pictures, than go to a professional as they think it will be cheaper.
Anyway, you know where I'm coming from and I won't go on about it as it pisses me off no end.

Well its back to wedding drudgery for me now :( 8 hours of my life I wont get back today lol. I'm just trying to apply some fashion style shots to my wedding stuff. just to keep me sane

Quoting post from ChrisRiccio
Well its back to wedding drudgery for me now :( 8 hours of my life I wont get back today lol. I'm just trying to apply some fashion style shots to my wedding stuff. just to keep me sane

Much as I hate them now, wedding work is ok if you can get any (just to pay the bills at least).

But all of the above applies to weddings as well now.

The number of people we used to meet at wedding fayres that say "oh my uncle is doing our photos" or "I've got a friend that enjoys taking pics. They said they'd give it a go!".

or "Its only a small wedding. Just 50-80 guests, so obvioulsy we'll want you to reduce your prices accordingly. we only want you for an hour or so".

NoClue , Photographer  posted on 14/08/2010 23:40:45   Posted 28 times

Located:Braintree,Essex, UK
Member Since: 09/03/2009

Glamour;

One light ring flash.
3 variable poses.
Production line.
Should be easy £.