CNN’s Take on My Job
October 29th, 2009CNN posted an article today entitled “15 Stressful Jobs That Pay Badly.” Number 8 on the list? Commercial photographer.
They fail to explain in any detail what makes it so stressful, and offer an anecdotal story about a photographer who found herself dangling off of a catwalk under a New York bridge to get the right shot. I see those moments as stress relief, rather than stress-inducing.
They also failed to mention the inherent stress that comes with being a freelance professional. The running joke is that we, as photographers, wake up every morning unemployed, and have to always be seeking the next job, following up on leads, showing our books, etc. Most commercial photographers are a one-person business, having to deal with marketing, accounting, and production ourselves. So when business is handled for the week and the shoot’s been organized (or orchestrated), there is nothing more relaxing than when we finally get to pick up the camera, contort our bodies into goofy positions or dangle from a bridge and just make the images.
You nailed it! The best part is picking up the camera.
Amen!
Word.