Can a professional photographers please help me conduct an interview?

[Micah]

WIll a professional photographer please participate in my interview? It is for a school project. The interview consists of some basic information and nine questions. Here they are:


Interviewee (Full Name):

Job Title:

Education:

Is this person’s job related to this topic you are studying? If yes, what is the name of the company?

How long have you been working in this field?

Do you enjoy your work? What is the hardest part?

Do you work long hours?

What made you choose to do this kind of work?

What skills or talents do you need for this kind of work?

Could a student volunteer work to learn more about this kind of work?

Would you recommend a student pursuing a career in this work?

How would a student begin a career in this kind of work?


It would be great if someone volunteered.

Thanks in advance,

~Micah K.
haha sorry about the typo on the title.
Can someone please help? This is really important.

[Eric Lefebvre]

Interviewee (Full Name): Eric Lefebvre

Job Title: Photographer

Education: High School

Is this person’s job related to this topic you are studying? If yes, what is the name of the company? Self Employed

How long have you been working in this field? 5 years

Do you enjoy your work?
some days yes, some days no. Like nay jobs it has it's ups and downs. Being a freelance photographer is actually more business administration and marketing than actual photography.

What is the hardest part?
For me, marketing. I'm not a great sales person and it makes it difficult in obtaining clients.

Do you work long hours?
Yes. What people don't realize is that there is far more work involved in being a freelance photographer than the time you spend with a camera in your hand. A typical 10 hour wedding is actually over 30 hours of work (travel, working out the contracts, rehearsals, shooting, backups, culling, post processing, ordering prints ....) and that does not include the time I put in to running my business (updating my website, social media, attending trade shows, meeting client who don;t sign, writing up proposals, accounting, interviewing potential assisstants ...).

What made you choose to do this kind of work?
I'm good at it and I love the joy I bring to families, couples ... when I hand over their photos.

What skills or talents do you need for this kind of work?
Photographic skill, marketing, accounting, sales, contract law, copyright law ...

Could a student volunteer work to learn more about this kind of work?
Yes.

Would you recommend a student pursuing a career in this work?
This field I suffering right now. The coming of the digital age has created "photographers" out of everyone ... or so the general public thinks. Photojournalists are being replaced by IPhone wielding reporters or the general public, everyone thinks they are a wedding photogrpaher and charge rates that are un-sustainable in the long run ...

While there is an increased demand for photography, the value of photography has diminished. It is a difficult field to work in.

How would a student begin a career in this kind of work?
The SAFEST way is to find an established photographer and work for them a an assistant for a few years, honing their skills, develop a portfolio and learning the ins and outs of the industry.