Author: DAVID SCHWARTZ

From the best professional photographers in the industry to amateur photographers trying to create aesthetic content and turn a profit on their images; the most used and best quality of cameras come from brands like Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Pantax, Fujifilm, Sony, Olympus, Kodak, and Leica. So, what is the best type of camera? That question solely relies on the photographer, what they are shooting, and how they are shooting it. First thing is deciding whether to shoot on film or go digital, then consider if you want the type of camera to be a Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) or mirrorless camera. The typical film camera that a photographer uses is a 35mm SLR camera. When considering the standard 35mm SLR camera, try to make sure to go with the brands that were stated above. Personally, they are THE best quality film cameras, and for the older models, they tend to last a lot longer than other brands. You should make sure the camera is in good shape, practically all SLR cameras you will find are older and pre-used. There are not too many questions you should be tempted to ask when purchasing an SLR film camera. Decide what lens size you prefer (most commonly used are 35-50mm lenses), see if the camera has a built-in light meter (indicating the amount of light and determining the accurate or even measure of exposure in the camera), which most models have, and figure out the type of film and its sensitivity to light (ISO) you want. Those are the basic questions to consider when purchasing a film camera. Anything else needed would likely be additional equipment such as external lighting, lens filters, mounts, or stands.

On the other hand, there are a lot of questions to consider when investing in a high quality digital camera. Do you want a single-lens or mirrorless camera? Are you taking videos or stills, or both? If so, how high of a video resolution? 3k…4k…8k!? Do you want to focus on cameras with larger or smaller image sensors? Do you want a camera with higher megapixels (better resolution, much more expensive)? Do you want a camera with an optical or electronic viewfinder (this is to compose and focus the picture)? Do you want a camera with a high and faster burst speed (which also relates to an increased viewfinder)? I know these questions may seem very complex and confusing, but in the end, you want to purchase a camera that a.) is within your budget, and b.) will give you best outcome for your preferred style and method of shooting. As mentioned, the type of camera relies on the photographer and what they are shooting. If you are a commercial, travel, portrait, landscape, or fashion photographer you will probably choose higher resolution over continuous shooting periods. If you are a sport or a quick series documentary photographer, you’re going to favor shooting speed and auto-focus over all else, creating bursts of photos within a single frame to make what is called an “action shot”. And if you are a photographer/videographer, some of the best professional cameras are in the emerging mirrorless camera market.

According to the “Digital Camera World”, a website dedicated to keeping the world updated on everything digital camera related, they are reporting that the best professional cameras in 2020 are:

• Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
• Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
• Canon EOS R
• Nikon D6
• Nikon D850
• Nikon Z 7
• Sony A9 Mark II
• Sony A7R IV
• Fujifilm X-T3
• Fujifilm GFX 100
• Panasonic Lumix S1R
• Panasonic Lumix GH5
• Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
• Olympus OM-D E-M1X  

*For more information on these models of cameras, head to https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/the-best-cameras-for-professionals#section-nikon

Nowadays, there are a multitude of ways photographers can turn their skills into cash. You can sell your work online or in public, you can try to get your work into free open art gallerias, you can work for an agency, you can work as a freelance photographer and shoot weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, or even company events, you can work for a more acclaimed or professional photographer, or you can teach fundamental photography skills at a high school, college, or public course level. Yet, the best medium today, by far, is social media. Anybody with an eye for photography can create a blog or social media page (specifically Instagram or Pinterest) to display their work and receive views from the public. If your work is captivating enough or “pleases the masses” so to speak, then you can gain a massive follower base and the necessary notoriety to create more images, network and make connections in the industry, and inevitably sell your work – making a business out of it. Now, this does not work for everyone picking up a camera. It takes dedication and long-term commitment to be recognized for your work. Some professional photographers go half of their life before receiving the proper recognition for their work. After deeply pondering on this “How do photographers make money?” I had to do some research. What I found are some extremely helpful and proven ways to make money as a photographer.

1. Photograph small business and create visual advertisements for them.
2. Teach photography – small or large scale.
3. Sell digital or printed copies of your work to the public.
4. Sell your photographs on stock websites. If you have a sizable portfolio, then these platforms can help sell your pictures or videos to businesses, marketing agencies, and the media. In return, photographers receive a commission every time their work is downloaded.
5. Write a photography blog, like this one!
6. Have you, your family, or your friends invest in your art.
7. Shoot portraits
8. Sell your photos to magazines. There are magazine companies that are dying for interesting, unique, or complicated shots that they do not have the necessary resources to capture themselves. P.S. National Geographic is always accepting wildlife photographs, they just must be good enough or amazing (no pressure).
9. Become a freelance photographer and shoot events – a true entrepreneurial experience as a photographer.
10. Enter photography contests. You can win a cash prize or better, get the proper recognition for your work.

According to IBISWorld, an industry research site, the photography industry, which includes studio and commercial photography, generates more than $10 million in revenue annually, employs more than 230,000 people, and makes up around 185,000 businesses in the U.S. alone. It is mentioned by Vault, a career and industry insight platform, that the types of jobs comprising these some hundred-thousand businesses include photojournalism, news photographer, portrait photographer, wedding photographer, sports photographer, and advertising and commercial photographer, who may specialize in food, product, fashion, and industrial photography. Other specialties, that if executed perfectly (creating amazing, once in a lifetime shots) can make some serious earnings in this industry, are industrial photography, architectural photography, nature photography (National Geographic photography to be exact), and science photography. Social Media and crowdsourcing have also had profound effects on the photography industry and select businesses, particularly news photography, as many companies now solicit ideas and contributions from crowds of people instead of assigning the work to professionals in the field.

Here are a few powerful visuals from the various fields within the photography industry:

• Photojournalism (This image, titled “Migrant Mother” was photographed by American documentary photographer Dorothea Lange, circa 1936, and can be found on the 7th floor in the Newman Vertical Campus here at Baruch.)

• News Photography ( This image, titled “Straight Voice” which was photographed by Agence France-Presse’s (AFP) Chief Photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba, circa 2019, and who won the 2020 World Press Photo of the Year. This image captures a young man, illuminated by cell phones, reciting poetry while demonstrators chant civil rights slogans during the protests in Sudan, Africa.)

      

• Portrait Photography ( From left to right – “Close-up Celebrity Portraits – George Clooney” photographed by American/German photographer Martin Schoeller, circa 2008, “Casa de Forte” photographed by Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra, circa 2000, “Lisa Lyon” photographed by New York photographer Robert Maplethorpe, circa 1982, and “Young Man in Curlers” photographed by New York photographer Diane Arbus, circa 1966.)

    

• Sports Photography (From left to right – “Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Listen” photographed by Sports Illustrated photographer Neil Leifer, circa 1965, “Lebron and Wade” photographed by Associated Press photographer Morry Gash, circa 2010, “The OBJ Catch” photographed by Associated Press photographer Julio Cortez circa, 2014, and “Derek Jeter” photographed by New York Times photographer Barton Silverman, circa 2008.)

     

• Advertising and Commercial Photography (From left to right – “Clinique Ad” photographed by American photographer Irving Penn, circa 1983, “Asparagus” photographed by advertising photographer Rene De Carufel, and “Guess” photographed by Fashion photographer Shaun Alexander.)

 

 

 

Welcome to our blog, PHOTORICH: Enriching Life Through Practical Photography Knowledge!

Here we will discuss, in some detail, a beginning approach to photography; how photographers make a career out of their photographic skills with the help of the various and complex software and equipment used, their field in photography, and of course, the cameras they use. The mission of this blog is to educate the public about the basic ideas around photography, the important role that photography plays in the economy, its impact on popular culture, and how, with the right tools, you yourself can get involved in this ever-expanding industry and make money by simply taking pictures.