- Main sources of income for documentary photographers/photographers
- When photos become “direct income”、Actually there are few
- Main source of income ①
- Main source of income ②
- Main source of income ③
- Main source of income ④
- nevertheless、Why can I continue?
- supplement：“Alternative route” of grants, fellowships, and grants
- It's not just about documentary photographers.
- The true meaning of the phrase “living through photography”
- If you change your perspective、I see a different view
Main sources of income for documentary photographers/photographers
- People who live only by photos、What are you eating?
About documentary photographers and photographers、
Looking from the outside、Honestly, there are some things I don't understand。
- I have been photographing the same theme for many years.
- staying abroad for a long period of time
- It appears that no commercial advertisements were taken.
And yet、
I can't see how they live。
the photos are amazing。
Activities continue。
But、“Income structure” is rarely talked about.。
why。
And actually、how do you make a living。
When photos become “direct income”、Actually there are few
First of all, as a major premise、
documentary photography、There is almost no money to be made at the time of shooting.。
like the advertising photo、
- Shooting = fee
- Delivery = reward confirmed
This is because the structure is not。
In many cases、
Photography → Presentation → Evaluation → Leads to the next job
That's called、Model with time lagIt is made up of。
Main source of income ①
Providing photos to newspapers, news agencies, and magazines
the most realistic、An easy-to-understand source of income、
Providing photos to newspapers, news agencies, and magazines.。
There are mainly three shapes:。
- Purchasing articles + photos
- Usage fee for photos only (publication fee)
- Long-term contract (regular/semi-exclusive)
However, in reality、
- 1Price per book is not high
- There is no guarantee of continued publication.
In most cases,。
Rather than “living with just this”、
One of the pillars that forms part of incomeIt will be positioned as。
Main source of income ②
Photo collection/work collection
royalties are low、Hard to call it income
In conclusion,、
Japanese photo book、Hardly enough to make a living。
for example、
- list price：5,000Circle
- royalty：7％
- Number of copies published：2,000department
If so、
Income is approximately 700,000 yen (before tax)。
Given that it takes several years to create、
Calling this "income" is a very difficult number.。
Still, photo books are made、
- prove your career
- Connects to exhibitions and work
- Become a gateway to international recognition
such as、The indirect value is very large.It's from。
The photo book is、
Rather than something to earn money
**It is close to a “device that visualizes trust”**。
Main source of income ③
Photo exhibition/exhibition activities
If you do, you're likely to end up in the red.
The photo exhibition itself、
There are not many cases where it becomes direct income.。
in fact、
- Print fee
- Framing cost
- Venue fee
- Public relations/DM
- Transportation expenses for nave
Etc、Expenses are higherIt is not uncommon for。
Admission is basically free。
Prints aren't easy to sell either.。
Therefore、
Photo exhibition = place to earn income
not、
Photo exhibition = place to use as a business card
It will be positioned as。
Still, you can continue、
- Get noticed by editors and curators
- Leads to the next job
- Accumulate as a result
such as、
Investments that are expected to be recovered in the futureThat's why。
Main source of income ④
Education, lectures, writing
There are few opportunities、The amount is not high either
Many documentary photographers and photographers、
- Part-time lecturer at university/vocational school
- workshop
- Talk event
- Essay and manuscript writing
I make a living by combining these things.。
However, in Japan、
- There are few opportunities to be called on a regular basis.
- There are only a limited number of cases where you will receive a lecture request based solely on your photo.
is the reality。
At an event sponsored by a camera manufacturer、
- 1times：Tens of thousands of yen to around 100,000 yen
- Considering the preparation and commitment time, it cannot be said that the salary is high.
The standard is。
Not many people can live on this alone.、
By combining multiple、the person you base your life ondefinitely exists。
nevertheless、Why can I continue?
Looking so far、
- All are weak on their own
- There is little stable income.
You may feel that。
But in reality、
small income
long term
Stack multiple layers
in the form of、
Documentary photographers and photographers are alive。
Not flashy。
No immediate effect。
nevertheless、There are definitely people who continue。
supplement：“Alternative route” of grants, fellowships, and grants
In Japan、
I rarely hear about photographers who make a living on grants and fellowships.。
As the reason、
- There are few systems specializing in photography.
- Many grants are based on exhibitions.
- Rarely does it cover living expenses
There is a reality that。
Therefore、As long as you are active in Japan、
Hard to become a major source of incomeThe reality is that。
on the other hand、Some Japanese photographers based overseas、
- Grant based on long-term coverage
- Fellowship including living and travel expenses
Some people are using。
However, this、
Rather than a road open to everyone、
Alternative route available only to people who meet specific conditions and skillsIt can be said that。
It's not just about documentary photographers.
The income structure we have seen so far is、
It's not just for documentary photographers.。
People who are called "photographers"、In other words、
- Don't focus on clear client work
- Emphasis on long-term themes and research
- Putting presentation of works at the center of activities
Also for type of photographers、Applies almost exactly。
If there is a difference、
**It's not "what you're photographing" but "how you're showing it"**.。
The true meaning of the phrase “living through photography”
The phrase “living through photography” means、often、
- Eating only in pictures
- I don't have any other job
It is often taken to mean。
But in reality、
- Focus on the photo
- combine multiple tasks
- continues for a long time
It most often refers to the state of。
documentary photographer too、Also a photographer、
We're pretty much in the same place at this point。
If you change your perspective、I see a different view
if、
Not making money just from photography = failure
If you think about it、
This world looks pretty harsh。
But、
Centered on expression
While coming to terms with reality
There are people who have been there for a long time
If you look at it again,、The appearance will change slightly。
this is、I'm not talking about lowering your dreams.。
A story to connect dreams to realityです。
