Salary Range of Full Time Photographers

[fotoudavid]

he maybe excellent in covering events but i'm not sure if he is goin to work in some established studio as a full time event fotographer, that is if they are hiring ppl who shoot events full time.

i used to work full time in an established stuio in Singapore that uses top of the range cameras, lights and all that nice gizmo. my starting pay back then was S$2k/. the first 3 months are trial period where they assess u and see if u've wat it takes to make it.

before that i work as a p.a for an expatriate fotographer in Singapore who specialises in inustrial fotography. my pay was a neat S$90 from 9-5pm. o.t pay after 5pm. even on flight to the designated country, i get paid jus by sitting on the plane and reading my magazine.

i wonder why most ppl in CS think that event fotography is soooooooooo important to their portfolios esp. when event fotography nowadays is almost F.O.C.

fotographers who are keen to go into event fotography as their main core, i think it would be suicidal with or without passion.

wedding fotography, i would think, is still quite a viable option but no longer that profitable.


just my 2cents.

when monkeys comes in, what is left? It is better to have a niche besides events photography, like me, now i am always shooting families portraits.

 

[garou12]

he maybe excellent in covering events but i'm not sure if he is goin to work in some established studio as a full time event fotographer, that is if they are hiring ppl who shoot events full time.

i used to work full time in an established studio in Singapore that uses top of the range cameras, lights and all that nice gizmo. my starting pay back then was S$2k/. the first 3 months are trial period where they assess u and see if u've wat it takes to make it.

before that i work as a p.a for an expatriate fotographer in Singapore who specialises in industrial fotography. my pay was a neat S$90 from 9-5pm. o.t pay after 5pm. even on flight to the designated country, i get paid jus by sitting on the plane and reading my magazine.

i wonder why most ppl in CS think that event fotography is soooooooooo important to their portfolios esp. when event fotography nowadays is almost F.O.C.

fotographers who are keen to go into event fotography as their main core, i think it would be suicidal with or without passion.

wedding fotography, i would think, is still quite a viable option but no longer that profitable.


just my 2cents.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: I salute you for your candidness and for saying exactly what is on my mind.

 

[snowspeeder]

he maybe excellent in covering events but i'm not sure if he is goin to work in some established studio as a full time event fotographer, that is if they are hiring ppl who shoot events full time.

i used to work full time in an established studio in Singapore that uses top of the range cameras, lights and all that nice gizmo. my starting pay back then was S$2k/. the first 3 months are trial period where they assess u and see if u've wat it takes to make it.

before that i work as a p.a for an expatriate fotographer in Singapore who specialises in industrial fotography. my pay was a neat S$90 from 9-5pm. o.t pay after 5pm. even on flight to the designated country, i get paid jus by sitting on the plane and reading my magazine.

i wonder why most ppl in CS think that event fotography is soooooooooo important to their portfolios esp. when event fotography nowadays is almost F.O.C.

fotographers who are keen to go into event fotography as their main core, i think it would be suicidal with or without passion.

wedding fotography, i would think, is still quite a viable option but no longer that profitable.


just my 2cents.

Fully agree on this. :thumbsup:

 

[westwest2]

he maybe excellent in covering events but i'm not sure if he is goin to work in some established studio as a full time event fotographer, that is if they are hiring ppl who shoot events full time.

i used to work full time in an established studio in Singapore that uses top of the range cameras, lights and all that nice gizmo. my starting pay back then was S$2k/. the first 3 months are trial period where they assess u and see if u've wat it takes to make it.

before that i work as a p.a for an expatriate fotographer in Singapore who specialises in industrial fotography. my pay was a neat S$90 from 9-5pm. o.t pay after 5pm. even on flight to the designated country, i get paid jus by sitting on the plane and reading my magazine.

i wonder why most ppl in CS think that event fotography is soooooooooo important to their portfolios esp. when event fotography nowadays is almost F.O.C.

fotographers who are keen to go into event fotography as their main core, i think it would be suicidal with or without passion.

wedding fotography, i would think, is still quite a viable option but no longer that profitable.


just my 2cents.

well said...

 

[catchlights]

...........................

i wonder why most ppl in CS think that event fotography is soooooooooo important to their portfolios esp. when event fotography nowadays is almost F.O.C.

fotographers who are keen to go into event fotography as their main core, i think it would be suicidal with or without passion.

wedding fotography, i would think, is still quite a viable option but no longer that profitable.
...............

Shoot funerals and wakes, not much competitors here.. and of course don't need to show portfolio.

 

[Cheesecake]

Shoot funerals and wakes, not much competitors here.. and of course don't need to show portfolio.

tat is quite a niche market too. :thumbsup:

 

[CYRN]

Shoot funerals and wakes, not much competitors here.. and of course don't need to show portfolio.

who says so.

 

[fotoudavid]

who says so.

u mean got alot shoot funerals???

 

[Xiao_shin]

You are young and has nothing to lose. Just give it a shot. Doing well in photo biz might not be just photo skill.
Rapport and networking with clients is important too. From the way I see you "shoot>get name>take pic together>get contact>post in avatar>???", you must have the gift of the gab.

 

[CYRN]

u mean got alot shoot funerals???

Portfolio need to show also mah.

But also ratio of jobs to photogs are not that great too.

And how much you wanna (or can) charge for multiple days shoot. :sweat:

 

[catchlights]

Portfolio need to show also mah.

But also ratio of jobs to photogs are not that great too.

And how much you wanna (or can) charge for multiple days shoot. :sweat:

wah lao eh? shooting this type who want to see your portfolio?? you want tell them you can shoot very PJ style izit? or you can pose people very well izit? tell you this, when they want one photographer, means they must get one immediately, no time for them to compare quotations, issue you PO or sign contract.

this type of shoot, only work half a night for a few night, than half a day for finale. charge accordingly lor.

when you are a photographer, the longer in the market, the network getting wider, all sort of assignments will come to you.

 

[Sion]

when you are a photographer, the longer in the market, the network getting wider, all sort of assignments will come to you.

Like our Bro Ben? :bsmilie:

 

[catchlights]

Like our Bro Ben? :bsmilie:

but does not mean all jobs will able afford to hire you......

like I got plenty of kids birthday parties, ROM weddings enquiries, but none of them willing pay my rates....

 

[Godzilla Invades]

walk around esplanade on 9aug, see how many ppl are carrying DSLR.

photography today has very low entry barrier... think harder if u wanna go pro.

Low entry barrier it maybe but sustaining it will be hard on some.

Photography is still and will be a very specialized job in the near future.

You can be the Jack of all trades but master of none. Singapore market maybe small but there are still a handful of photographers who specialized in certain areas in photography.

Seeing a lot of people carrying DSLR during 9th of Aug means Singapore economy is good. Everyone can afford a DSLR liao.....:bsmilie:

Average wage of a photographer? Depends on years of experience.

You can start as low a $1500 per month to as high as $3500 per month. Working as a full time photographer for a company is only temporary as bosses in Singapore will not pay you very high unless you have something to offer them which they cannot resist. Very few photographers will get $5000-$6000 per month.

It's a good stepping stone to start working for a company who can offer you.

It will be a good start to a rewarding career but you have to slog when you start your own business. That's when the money starts to flow in.....

 

[catchlights]

..........................................

It will be a good start to a rewarding career but you have to slog when you start your own business. That's when the money starts to flow in.....

only after you have resisted to shoot events for free anymore, and also don't forget to keep telling others not to shoot for free also...... :bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

 

[Xiao_shin]

Ever consider going freelance or ONO? Shooting wedding seem to be quite popular.

 

[eugeneceh]

Shooting weddings as a free service is getting popular too.

 

[Godzilla Invades]

only after you have resisted to shoot events for free anymore, and also don't forget to keep telling others not to shoot for free also...... :bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

In my whole entire 20 years, I only done it once to shoot for free (for charity event in Australia). I never bow down to any customers who wants free, cheap or discounted. Take it or leave. Never ever been on customer's mercy.

So far the trend is, my customer will look for alternative (which is good as they may source some new ideas) which is cheaper/discounted fees from other photographers but always return to me each time when the photographers they meet just does not suit their expectation.

If the photographers (particulary in Singapore market and some JB cheapo photographers) wants to do it free, by all means go ahead. No one is stopping you but remember this, Singapore is a small market, so words gets around. So go ahead and spoil your name in the markert if you wish but it really doesn't bother working photographers like us.

No matter how desperate one is for a portfolio, you should never shoot for free. If you want to be a successful photographer, ask your client to PAY. They have the $$$$$ to pay you.

Catchlight, you get what I am coming from right? Hehe.....

Back to the TS topic. Start off as an assistant ($1,400-$1600 is the minimum), work your way around. Learning from working/fulltime photographers will earn you a lot of experience. Starting pay may seem low but I am sure you will find some other freelance job during your free time.

 

[snowspeeder]

In my whole entire 20 years, I only done it once to shoot for free (for charity event in Australia). I never bow down to any customers who wants free, cheap or discounted. Take it or leave. Never ever been on customer's mercy.

So far the trend is, my customer will look for alternative (which is good as they may source some new ideas) which is cheaper/discounted fees from other photographers but always return to me each time when the photographers they meet just does not suit their expectation.

If the photographers (particulary in Singapore market and some JB cheapo photographers) wants to do it free, by all means go ahead. No one is stopping you but remember this, Singapore is a small market, so words gets around. So go ahead and spoil your name in the markert if you wish but it really doesn't bother working photographers like us.

No matter how desperate one is for a portfolio, you should never shoot for free. If you want to be a successful photographer, ask your client to PAY. They have the $$$$$ to pay you.

Catchlight, you get what I am coming from right? Hehe.....

Back to the TS topic. Start off as an assistant ($1,400-$1600 is the minimum), work your way around. Learning from working/fulltime photographers will earn you a lot of experience. Starting pay may seem low but I am sure you will find some other freelance job during your free time.

Good Advice! :thumbsup:

 

[Harry Potter]

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