Christopher Sampson wrote:
yes i realize thats important. ITs a prospect for me though. I thought i was ok with being comfortable... until i became passionate about photography..and then its not good enough anymore

I don't think you'd have a problem getting awesome contacts with agencies, doing great tests, etc. But it is hard to make enough money just off of models. Yes, there are people who do it, but it's hard.

What's your business plan?

(This is by NO means a critique of your work, I hope it doesn't come across that way!)

Marin Photography wrote:
Judging by the quality of your work I don't think you have to worry about being in a big pond. There are millions of photographers who can't shoot worth a damn, but you can so get going already!!! Best of luck!

I have known more than one shooter that couldn't shoot to save themselves but they always made bloody good money. By the same token I have known plenty whose work would bring a tear to your eye but struggled badly.

Despite how threatened some shooters feel about the statement, the FACT it that in business and making a living, Photographic skills are secondary to business skills.
It would be the shooters ability to get work rather than do the work that would determine their success, especially in a saturated market like NY.

It is also always a sound business practice to test the water before diving in headlong  to something which is why I suggested an exploratory Visit before tearing up roots and going to live anywhere.

It's real easy to tell someone to go for it when it's not your arse on the line. It's a whole different ball game for them to make it work.

If someone is going to do something as a business to make their living from, they need to conduct it as a business and do their homework and apply due diligence to
give themselves the very best chance of making it work and discovering as many as the pitfalls as they can before they commit.

T-D-L wrote:
Talent plays a smaller role than one might think when it comes to making money.  It's all about your ability to market yourself.  Unless your work is breaking new ground (in other words, you're in various Vogues, S, Z!nk, Harpers, W, etc) you're not going to have to worry about being a small fish in a big pond....even worse you'll be "just another fish" in the pond.  Your ability to get your name and work out there, and be seen by those that matter will count the most.  Testing with agencies?  Don't even think about that being a viable source of income, not when thousands of people are willing to do 99% of tests for free just to build their book.  You need clients.  And until you know what the market dictates, and how to get your work in a position to be seen by said clients, you need to have a day job.

+1. Yeah pretty much true on all points.  You show a good amount of skill and a willingness to get better but unless someone gets to level as mentioned of ground breaking or undeniable - then essentially if you come to NYC you join the pool of very good photographers in NYC....and yes that is a big ass pool.  How you differentiate yourself is the tough part. 

EDIT: As VOID-VOID put it above (nice to see you back MD by the way) it is a tough game.

Paul Tirado Photography wrote:
+1. Yeah pretty much true on all points.  You show a good amount of skill and a willingness to get better but unless someone gets to level as mentioned of ground breaking or undeniable - then essentially if you come to NYC you join the pool of very good photographers in NYC....and yes that is a big pool.  How you differentiate yourself by your marketing is key.

I agree that marketing helps if done properly... but connections and product are paramount and the marketing should be a reflection of the product+connections. People should be driven to work with you, and people should be driven to talk about you. That is all the marketing a good business needs IMO

Paul Tirado Photography wrote:

+1. Yeah pretty much true on all points.  You show a good amount of skill and a willingness to get better but unless someone gets to level as mentioned of ground breaking or undeniable - then essentially if you come to NYC you join the pool of very good photographers in NYC....and yes that is a big ass pool.  How you differentiate yourself is the tough part. 

EDIT: As VOID-VOID put it above (nice to see you back MD by the way) it is a tough game.

I'm flying by for the moment.... I'll be gone again soon!

glumpy wrote:
...
I would suggest at least going for an exploratory
" Holiday" for a week or so and checking things out. No use moving and then finding that getting work where you want to go is harder to get than where you are now.

+1
Hire a room for 2-3 months and network your *ss off!
Work will depend on your network you need to build again.

Christopher Sampson wrote:
How did you make it in the big city? Do you have another job that holds you up while you do photography part time ?

It hasn't been said, so I'll say it. Respect the market you are in or want to be in...as in respect the fact that the market's needs are being met without you. What you think you know about a market from the outside mostly likely proves to be wrong once you get inside. Unless you are carrying clients with you or already have clients at your destination, to expect work in the short term is unrealistic. At whatever talent or motivation level you are at, there are more talented or motivated people in the industry already--many of whom are not getting enough work already.

I can only speak about the NYC market, but things are really tight currently. I know highly talented and experienced people who are not getting the kind of work they deserve. People who are either considered at the top level here or have the kind of tearsheets that would make anyone here jealous--and they are the ones who are scraping by. The people who are working are the people who combine the talent for creating images with the talent for creating work. By posing this question here, I would have to assume you are not part of the latter.

I made the transition from a small town to the big city several years ago. It was possibly an easier time then, but I heard the numerous stories from established people that the good days were gone even at that time. I came straight from an internship at the National Geographic Society in Washington DC and had previously had an internship in NYC. I had no illusions about shooting right away and assisted for two years while picking up small tearsheets. From what I gather, the environment for assisting and starting up is even tighter (especially editorial).

IF you come here, come here to LEARN before you to come here to EARN.