This post is late, compared to the original article date, but I can only hope that the naive comment posters at the beginning have learned by now that watermarks are “professional” and acceptable – Especially here. This is a learning place not an art gallery.

I am photographing in a studio that shoots 25-60 sittings per day. It’s maddening attempting to keep up with the fast pace – am I don’t think I can continue to work at this studio and am questioning my ability to photograph under pressure. The management allows the photographer no time to get to comfortable and relate the children. In that environment it is terribly difficult to produce decent photos with anyone, especially babies and toddlers – the manager is on my back to complete the session in just a short time and meanwhile the next family sits in the reception area awaiting their photo session.

This studio’s corporate machine dictates that the photographer spend 10 minutes in the camera room and then immediately afterward,,to sell the session portraits for 30 minutes at the computer. Get them in and out in 40 minutes and shoot no more than 30 photographs per session. Many of the parents we serve, at least half, have unreasonable expectations. The photographer and the children are unable to produce the photographs many of the mothers demand. As a result the whole experience is disappointing to everyone involved.

Questions??
I am serious about going out on my own and photographing at my own pace. How do I get the business to generate an income from my own studio? How do successful portrait photographers make a good living from their business?