Comments on: Study Finds Photography Undesirable as a Job

By: Gregpodolec

Gregpodolec — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:27:00 +0000

It’s just that the pay is better for wait staff. I know many that make $20-$40/h!

By: Scott MacKenzie

Scott MacKenzie — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:21:55 +0000

What I don't understand is what the word “Photograhy” means in this article. Journalism? Wedding/Portraiture? Commercial? Bio Communications?
A photojournalist doesn not have to regularly deal with Bridzilla, or an overheating mother-of-the-bride, and a Wedding photog doesn't have to deal with the dangers of war.
I wonder if “Musician” was included in the list.

By: Middle East Jobs

Middle East Jobs — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:21:20 +0000

test

By: mktedman

mktedman — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:54:33 +0000

Would love to have a job in Photography you try working in a factory all your life…

By: mktedman

mktedman — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:54:33 +0000

Would love to have a job in Photography you try working in a factory all your life…

By: jimers

jimers — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:37:37 +0000

I thind the lack of “desireability” is because of the lack of pay. Not too many photographers make “good” money. And I'm talking $40 – $60K here, not a lot these days.

By: Carrie Sylvester

Carrie Sylvester — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:21:28 +0000

I find that SO surprising. Personally, its what I want to be when I grow up! =)

By: Jeff_Power

Jeff_Power — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:39:58 +0000

I agree with stephenswofford, most photographers are passionate maniacs, it's tough to make a living at it. But if you can do what you love and get by, than you are probably better off than most people in the world.

By: stephenswofford

stephenswofford — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:59:09 +0000

Honestly, this doesn't surprise me at all. Well actually it does, I'm surprised it's not at the bottom of the list. I should mention: I'm a photojournalist.

Everywhere I go, if I have my camera I can guarantee at least one person will comment on it. Not my shooting ability, but the equipment I use. They will then comment on how they're a photographer themselves. These people serving my food, or ringing me up. These same people are now my competition for freelance jobs. The problem is, they don't make their living off of it, they just want bragging rights. So I get screwed.

Bottom line is photography (photojournalism specifically) is probably the worst career decision anyone could make and I would strongly urge everyone considering it not to. Newspapers aren't struggling, they're dying, and staff positions are going the way of the buffalo. The idea of being a photojournalist is a wonderful, romanticized idea of travel, adventure, and experience but the reality is much more mundane. A few friends of mine have won pulitzer prizes. They now photograph weddings because they couldn't pay their mortgage with news photography.

To get to the point, it's the very fact that so many people find the job so desirable despite the incredibly low pay grade that makes it such a terrible career decision.

I'm not bitter at all.

By: Gazmick

Gazmick — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:27:34 +0000

I'm sorry, I don't mean any disrespect to waiters and waitresses, but waiting on tables is more desirable than being a photographer?! Oh come on!