Professional Photography in the US.

Just saw a post on PDN about how low ball photographers are affecting the photography business in the US. It’s definitely a good read.

It’s getting from bad to worse over there, there’s even a sport photo agency asking for free photography. So, what’s happening in Singapore with organizations asking for free event photography is not a local thing, it’s world wide thing. It’s textbook case of supply vs demand. But it’s going to get worse, pricing for semi-pro full frame cameras likely to head south this year, competition will only increase.

Is there a way to get out of this situation? Yes, there are:

1. Image licensing – Unfortunately, this is only happening only at the level of top tier photographers here, typically in the advertising area.

2. Creating a niche – Some photographers are also diversifying into film/video work.

3. Investing in other business – More photographers are looking into stocks and property for residual income.

Compiling a list

I am compiling a list of Singaporean professional photographers (foreign photographers based in Singapore are included) for the blogroll. To make sure the list doesn’t replicate other Singapore photography lists, it will be limited to photographers:

1. Who specialize in one area of photography AND
2. Who have been in the business for 5 years or more

The list will be categorized in alphabetical order under different specialties. If you have names and working websites, drop me an email? Thanks!

Month of Photography in Singapore: John Clang & Martin Parr

John Clang is having an exhibition 24 June – 6 July at the Substation in Singapore. Titled Clang: A White Book. Martin Parr too! Titled Retrospective at City Hall from 6 to 29 July. A must see, especially Clang’s work.

Pity we can’t be there. Can a kind soul take piktures and post? pweeese?

Wes

"Can you do something like this?"

I just had to get this link off mr brown’s blog. Last I read, the student that copied the work was getting expelled from NAFA.

Poor Little Singapore Student

How many times have photographers got a brief that went ‘Can you do a shot like this image that i’ve torn out from a mag?’

Wes

Copyright

Got this from a Bill Waterson (Calvin & Hobbes) site. Just couldn’t resist this one.

Wes

Wedding Photography

so funny it hurts.

Wes

Business of Photography

The subject of business in photography has been in my heart and mind for quite a while. I was doing photography as a hobby for the longest time before turning it into a business. I have also learnt some important lessons through blood, sweat and tears. And from time to time, I have had friend and acquainstances who have joined the photography profession. I have also seen the ‘old birds’ in the industry who are not doing photography anymore, it has been hard breaking coz I knew them as ‘chien peis’ from the early 90s. They are out because the market got worse a few years ago… but I digress, that’s another story altogether.

I never had the chance to pen those thoughts about the business. This person Alan Briot has nicely summed up some really important points in his articles on http://www.luminous-landscape.com.
It’s a series of articles in 3 parts and it’s a really good read, even for non-photographers.

Wes