| Did you know that about 50% of all photographers | | | | increasing, the sheer number of budding |
| are self-employed but that it is estimated to be as | | | | photographers that apply for them still means that |
| high as 75% of those based in New York? There are | | | | they are extremely coveted and difficult to secure. |
| many reasons for that, with the main one being that | | | | Freelance photography is notoriously unstable and |
| doing business in New York is very different to | | | | making it from one pay check to another can be |
| anywhere else in the country. Whereas magazines | | | | difficult unless you are able to secure regularly |
| based in Texas or North Carolina would usually | | | | contracted work. |
| employ in house staff photographers, New York | | | | The Solution |
| based media regularly works on a contract basis. | | | | If you are determined to make it as a photographer |
| What does this mean for the aspiring photographer | | | | in New York then you have to be better than the |
| that dreams of living in a New York loft? Batten | | | | competition. It is as simple as that. Many |
| down the hatches and prepare for a long and bumpy | | | | photographers in New York, almost 50% in actual |
| ride! | | | | fact, have a college degree in photojournalism or a |
| Beating The Competition | | | | related field. Many also have experience as a |
| The first thing that any photographer should know | | | | photographer's assistant, which means that they |
| about plying their trade in New York is that | | | | have relevant experience that they can call upon in |
| competition for jobs, whether contracted freelance | | | | their work. |
| gigs or salaried positions, is extremely fierce and will | | | | Many employers insist that freelance contractors |
| remain so for the foreseeable future. New York is | | | | have a college degree as well as proficiency on a |
| the media centre of the United States and will remain | | | | very technical level. The latter includes digital |
| so for some time to come, which has a knock on | | | | photography as well as old-fashioned photography. |
| effective of drawing creative people like tacks to a | | | | You must also have an extensive portfolio, both |
| magnet. Writers, photographers, actors and artists | | | | online and offline, if you would like to impress |
| flock there and only a handful ever make it. | | | | potential employers. When starting out, you may like |
| This may sound extremely harsh but it is a realistic | | | | to submit it to advertising agencies, magazines, |
| assessment for the future of photographers in New | | | | newspapers, large corporations that have in house |
| York. Salaried photographers, such as those working | | | | marketing teams and similar businesses to make |
| in portrait studios and for commercial businesses, | | | | contacts and get noticed. You have to make your |
| very rarely leave their jobs because they provide a | | | | own destiny in photography because it will not make |
| measure of stability. Whilst these positions are | | | | itself. |