Do You Make Enough Money

Yes, though I am a photographer so my expenses are different, but yes,

Not yet, not by a long shot, only one print sale so far. I hope to some day.

I cover my expenses with stock sales. Fine art sales are my profit.

Results may vary.

I make more money - I buy more supplies.

When I am happy and inspired - I buy supplies. Feeling angst - supplies.

I have a lot of supplies.

Need more Daniel Smith Quina colors though.....

once you get the camera and such, yeah, it's paid for. if i had to depend on it strictly, our area is kind of pricey, i'd need more.

---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

Once you get the camera body you have just begun. You need glass. You need more glass. You need kayaks to get you the place most can't get to. You need Super Swampers on your truck for the same reason. For that matter you need a truck. Oh that truck needs gas, and traveling a distance you will need hotel rooms or at least a tent. When you fly for free, and I do, it is a LOT more expensive driving to Kansas to get your son but you do get to shoot along the way. You need repelling and climbing gear. You need a new computer that can now handle your new camera's larger size. You need editing programs. You need props at times.

Oh, there is SO much more than the camera. Yet, FAA has still paid for all of the above expenses and turns a profit.

Been here for about 5 years and the first camera is almost paid for. The new one.....not so much :-). Some day.

Janine LOL. Nothing like a little retail therapy. I do need some replacement colored pencils though...

Ok, JC we crossed in the mail. Now I'm depressed....so, no, don't make enough YET.

once you have the lens, you don't really need another.... and i don't do kayaks. they don't work well on suburban roads with good drainage. but it really depends where you live. if you already own a cabin on the lake, all you have to do is paint a long boat the color you want.

for me its the camera... of course if a better camera came out, then i guess it will be another camera.

---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

YET!!!!!

my eyes blurred - i thought that said Yeti


---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

You are all sooo Lucky, I am still far from making a profit, maybe someday I make enough too, I wont give up hope


Rita Drolet
http://www.ritadrolet.com

for now, just use cheaper supplies.

---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

also be sure your pushing work at veterinarians, animal shelters and anything to do with cats - like cat ladies.


---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

I always listen to Mike - but do NOT use cheaper supplies !!! Ack - dear googlie no.

THE best you can afford. You are so worth it.

I never make enough money... even with my 9-5 job... BUT, every extra cash I make helps the bottom line!

He is also wrong about needed just one lens, hummmmpphhh.

Never thought of it as luck. More like a lot of hard work.

i have a number of them actually, but found one is enough. i have only so much space and my body can only hold so much. as it is, i think its too heavy. my camera - not cheap. the lens, well you could go crazy getting the best of the best what ever that is. mine, i would say is middle class. canon is 3 times heavier and 3 times more expensive, and i don't think much better overall. really depends what you shoot. you do birding - better have a moolah. do general still lives and some street stuff, then a nice zoom is good.

but i meant cheaper supplies as in cheaper paints.


---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

Haven't made my first sale yet thru FAA but I have faith it'll come. Glad I don't depend on art to feed my family. I do make money doing portraits, and that money I actually put into my IRA so that's a plus

The reason I don't shoot birds is it cannot justify the expense it incurs from a business perspective, at least for me.

i don't shoot birds because there is never enough meat on them... and the farmers usually get angry when i try it over there.

---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

Bird shots can also take forever to get a great shot.

I may have paid for the camera gear from FAA by now but nowhere near the costs of gas, food, lodging and other stuff that pops up.

And that's with sleeping in the car 200 nights a year.

buying cheaper paints (paper or brushes) would be the equivalent of buying cheap walking shoes.

i think i spent like $40 on my last set of shoes. a little tweaking, works fine. sometimes you have to know how to stretch what you have. given the option, i would make my own paints. its more work though.


---Mike Savad
http://www.MikeSavad.com

Birds are cool. Don't eat em 😂 lots of birds where I live in New Jersey

FAA covers all my shooting expenses, I take regular income from it, and just covered a trip to London too!

my eyes blurred - i thought that said Yeti

Mike,

Welcome to being 40 y/o. Your eyes will blur more.

The lens in your eye is flat. Your muscles will not make up for nature's deficit as much from here on out.

Dave

I am building my future. Sales? Coming soon.

I am starting another sales initiative, but really my focus on that has to be after the holidays. For now
I am building my comprehension of where my plans will lead me.

I expect a lackluster holiday season, this time.

Dave

there is plenty of money in the bank! but not all are mine. I have meet a living standard here like anyone else I think.

It covers my membership and maybe few beers :D Luckily I have some income from mictostock.

Rita, your experience on FAA will pretty much be what ever you make of it, that and little luck, like any business. But mostly hard work.

Do not go cheap on the supplies. Buy the best you can afford. Your work and your talent are soooo worth the investment.

The big thing is going to be advertising and selling your work out side of FAA and there in lies the biggest challenge.

Please do not sell yourself short, you are good enough to set your sights much higher then just paying for your supplies. I understand you have other challenges but God willing you will find the success you deserve, but like anything in life there are no guarantees.

Maybe you can find something in the reading below that will help in some way.

Selling Guides for New Members by Floyd Snyder
Advertising Your Artist Website
Response to new FAA member looking for advice – 25/75 Rule
Another Response To A New Member Seeking Help
A Few Reasons Why You May Not Be Selling
Work Smarter Not Harder To Beat The Big Guys
50 Effective Tips to Help You Sell You Art

No, not so much, an occasional sale is like a great big treat. My husband and I are currently living out of our van with our cat since returning to Wa. We went on a two month vacation to Texas during the summer. And last week my computer went toes up. He is on disability and we have made Pilot Truck Stop our little home.

I haven't begun to cover the costs I've incurred being a photographer but I love taking pictures, editing them, printing, matting and framing them. It's a labor of love and I love the results. No one else ne day to. It's GREAT when someone does and buys my piece. Getting positive feedback on my talents is highly gratifying. Do I expect to make a living doing this? No, but I do expect to enjoy myself.

Sandy Molinaro

Yes.

Birds - I concur with JC. Whole lot of expense on glass with little payback. Shooting birds is a hobby - extension of bird watching. Its a great excuse to get out in the fresh air but not a business decision.

Wife-Sell anything today?
Me-No
Wife - You in a slump?
Me-Yupp.

The joys of living with an artist, Buahahahahahahahahaaaaa. .....

Yep.

I been painting pretty much all my life don't need to buy much art supply any more but once a year I spent in total perhaps $400 at most for paints and watercolor paper whenever they are on sale which can last for a couple of years.
I use my income from FAA buying things I collect from Ebay.