Retiring Behind the Camera

If you find yourself with time on your hands, you have one of the three crucial prerequisites for becoming a successful photographer. The second is a camera, and the third is a keen eye for opportunities.

Retired people have a major advantage over many busy photographers – they can often wait around or come back to capture the perfect shot. Much of the art of photography depends on being in the right location at the right time. Wildlife and landscape photography in particular can involve spending hours waiting for the best light, or for certain animals to appear and perform. Photography takes tremendous patience, but the results can be extremely rewarding.

Scott Mead is a fine example of one photographer who came back to fine art photography after retiring from a demanding career in investment banking. He had studied photography many decades before, but put his camera away while he got on with building his career and bringing up a family. In 2009, he opened the boxes in his attic and found not only his camera equipment but also an archive of prints and negatives from the 1970s. He mounted a retrospective exhibition of his early works, entitled “Looking Back”, and he used his discovery as a springboard for his new post-retirement career.

Coming to photography later in life brings enhanced perspectives. The more mature photographer sees the world through different eyes and with the benefit of experience. At the same time, looking at the world around you through a camera lens can also bring fresh perspectives to your life. You may find wonderful locations to photograph quite close to home – places that you have walked or driven past thousands of times without stopping to consider their simple beauty, the dramatic contrasts between light and shade, or the stunning array of colours.

Photography may become a private hobby or a sociable one. As you develop new skills and confidence, you may be asked to photograph family groups and special occasions. You may be able to turn your hobby into an extra source of income, so don’t be shy to save your best shots for a portfolio that you can present when you pitch for a paying engagement as official event photographer.

If you are interested in being commissioned to take photos at events, start by looking out for listings and volunteering your services, and you may become recognised as the go-to photographer for future events. You can charge for your time at the event, and for your work collating and editing the photos for the organisation that hired you.

There are other ways that you can use your photography hobby to supplement your pension. Look out for opportunities to sell your images to newspapers and local magazines, or even to special interest publications such as nature or hobby titles. For example, if you enjoy photographing sports, there are a wide range of magazines and websites whose picture editors may be interested in buying great shots.

Another option is to sell your photos to stock image libraries. It is worth taking the time to research the different libraries’ requirements, including how much they pay each time an image is purchased, and to check what gaps they have in their collection. If you have the opportunity to supply images that are missing and that designers will want to purchase, it may be worth going out of your way to get those shots.

ImageLooking at the greeting cards and calendars that are on sale, you will see that this can be another opportunity to monetise your photography hobby, particularly if you can capture sites of local interest. You may have to pay the printing costs yourself, so start by finding shops that are willing to sell your cards or calendars, and agree the price with them first.

If you dream of seeing your photographs on people’s walls and want to find out whether there is a market for your images, start your research by asking art gallery owners what sells well and what sizes and formats that they recommend. Look out for art shows and photography competitions at your local library or community centre, as this is a great way to start exhibiting your art.

The wonderful advantage of today’s SLR cameras is that you can instantly see the photographs that you have taken, without waiting for the images to be developed or paying for prints of disappointing shots. Digital photography allows unlimited experimentation, and if you are computer-savvy you may want to try your hand at photo editing using one of the many software packages available.

Becoming a photographer means widening your horizons and capturing the images that others have missed. You don’t need to invest in an expensive camera – your eyes are your most important tools, and time is your most valuable commodity. Use them well.

Source: http://www.thisisjoe.net/retiring-camera