Victor Friedman, hairdresser in NYC and street photographer once said “Hairdressing provides a living for myself. Photography provides a living for my soul.”

For those of us who were into street photography 20 years ago, the idea that you could make money from it is astonishing.

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Oh yes!

@elsueniero5922

2 жыл бұрын

indeed, shooting with film, printing, was mostly just for the fun of it, and quite expensive hobby

Samuel, I hope you realize that one of the most important factors of your success is how well-liked you are on KZread. You have a great personality and despite the challenging prospect for financial stability, you have a strong foundation for accessing the resources you will ever need to not only continue your passion but to be financially viable in the future. Keep doing your thing!

Thanks for being always sincerely opened to your audience.

I definitely can't afford half my gear from just doing KZread. Not even close.. maybe one or two lenses. A used Fuji X100F.. A lot of my KZread work has come at a net loss for me. But I keep doing it when I have the time because I am passionate about it and want to grow. Sam is fortunate to be past the stage of using KZread as just a marketing tool or creative outlet. But obviously everyone can see he is still passionate about it. It's quite easy to be discouraged too. The amount of times I am ready to call it quits is like.. every time I have to start editing my videos. So almost every day. I hate that. But I keep doing it because I am very much in the stage of needing to market myself. And with how little KZread pays out, helps you in the algorithm etc, KZread to me isn't something I look at as a money making revenue stream in and of itself. So ya, my point is, listen to Sam. He is 1000% correct. All these people you would think are making bank on KZread alone are far from it. If you have been subscribing to someone for years and they have helped you grow as a photographer and person, it really is helpful to be a member/patreon/buy prints/zines/donations etc. I will start doing these extra things too in 2022. It's just come to that point I have worked enough at this to justify. And that's also a lesson, is to pace yourself based on your performance. Some of us get to 10K at different speeds. I am super grateful to everyone that has been subscribed to me. It's a honor! So ya'll already know.. Stay humble!

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

I think you and I are in the same category of street photography youtubers. We show so much of our personality and friends we meet that we become friends with other street photographers we haven't even met yet (for real, people tell me all the time how they feel like we hang out with them) haha. And it makes you look less like slimey salesperson that is in it for the money. You build trust and that can be more valueable than short term financial gain through selling mediocre products to customers who don't know any better because you didn't care to offer real value. I think its good that you think about patreon now and didn't do it earlier. Now you actually have shown that you are in it for the long run and there is good intent behind the channel. Fuck I can go on forever but my son is crying in the background and I can't concentrate haha. All the best to you bro!!

Totally agree man. Like anything be it photography or any business / project.... If you do it just for the money / material gain / ego you will fall flat on your arse sooner or later. Even if you do make it work, it will feel empty. Bit like my tuning business when I was in my early 20s.... I didn't have a passion for it... I just saw dollar signs and the ego / image of having a garage full of 600bhp Nissan skylines to brag about. Safe to say 4 years later it shut down at a huge loss (financial & mental). As cliche as it is, if you do something you love and profit is not a concern, it will come either way. I started street photography to mentally escape all that mess with the garage.... 5 years later it pays the bills... (just)

@andrewstorm8240

2 жыл бұрын

Do you sell prints / teach / something else?

Street photography is my “personal work”. I have a day job and started doing some photography work on the side, and since starting that photography begins to feel like a job. Street photography lets me get a film camera and enjoy the process instead of stress about the results.

😂 Square space! Street is definitely a passion for me, I think if I wanted to make it a career, there are two big issues: (1) I couldn’t (2) it would kill my passion for it! Love the transparency you give, I’ve always been curious. Best of luck balancing it all with being a new father. Will look forward to your future vids!

Thanks to share your experience honestly with us Samuel ! I've been doing photography since 15 years and more, always kept it as a long side project in my life. 10 years ago, I started to get artists/bands who wanted to buy some of my pics of them at music events to use for their artwork. That's at that point I realized it would get really difficult to make a living from this on the long term. It's not impossible, but as you said in the video, don't base your practice of photo for the money. I've chosen from that moment to keep it as hobby for myself, the downside is I still took picture but easily got lazy to take time to share it online, promote, etc... Keep up the goodwork Samuel ! Cheers

Thank you for being open and honest about this! And your jokes are hilarious

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Hehe, my pleasure!

Thanks for this! I needed to hear this. And thanks for the nice ride down memory lane (just moved out of Hamburg and into thr countryside. But the swedish one) Keep it a passion - this is a gift for life!

Thank you for don‘t doing Squarespace in your videos, I appreciate this a lot. Nice video an all the best for your family and your business plans. I really like your honesty especially about making a living from street photography. You don‘t create wrong expectations for your followers (this kind of believe and achieve thing) 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Erwin! Yes, I made this video specifically because I didn't want people to get a false idea about Street Photography as a business. I've seen people quitting their stable jobs because they want to go all in with Photography but that is not the smartest way to do it. Hopefully this will bring a more realistic view to people new to street photography : )

Squarespace is fine! We all gotta pay bills ✨

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

But I don't even use Squarespace myself so it wouldnt make sense to promote it :) But thanks!

Really like this episode. I wish you all well and good luck bro

Thank you man for this spontaneous video. You are one of the KZreadrs who influenced me in investing in the XE4 and I love shooting with that camera. I will probably keep photography as an hobby as I am not that good at it anyway 😉. Good luck and congratulations on your baby.

For running a workshop it is not enogh to have good photography skills; you need teaching skills as well. Teaching is a craft that is as important to know as the craft you want to teach. Unfotunately there are many workshops on the marked which don't deserve the name because the person leading the workshop simply cannot teach. I have been disappointed by badly tought workshops so often that I beg anyone to learn basic teaching skills before offering workshops. On the long run this will be an important bases for success.

Thx for sharing the info, very useful for someone who is trying to be in this big photography world. One more thing, I really like your sense of humor sir. 😂

Thanks for this. I have come to the street photography world from the writing world and I’m all too familiar with the idea that you’re not going to get paid to do what you love. As a writer, my work-along with my degrees-has helped me get a decent job teaching writing to college students. This means my day job is not horrible. That’s the best I can hope for. 😉

I think you just started business model number 4: virtual city tours with stops on places where you took pictures 💸 Seriously, though, thank you for being so transparent about this topic. It is something you see other people do and always wonder: would this be something I could do? Enjoy the time with your kid, they grow up so fast!

i agree, to do street photography you need to have passion to get the shots. ☺️ thanks for your videos, very informative. cheers!

I never really tried but lately i'm craving to build a community between other photographers. I still trying to get a bunch of like minded people to go out and take pictures with no luck. I hope to get more lucky un 2022, but for now i will follow model number 3, and try to share of my passion that way.

Really Nice video Samu🤙🎩🎩

😍 really nice Video.

I dont judge channels for being sponsored. If it allows you to make more videos I think it is justified.

@DelusionalNYC

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed. I don't expect quality content to be 100% free. Creators have to eat too.

nice ride for the camera as well hahaha

People on streets asked Winograd what was he doing. He was answering with honesty. "Surviving". To me he is true street photographer. Then asked about his prints, he was astonished what it was actually selling. He told it might be for tax evasion. To sell as prints it has be fine art in the form of photos taken on the street. Which is not so much of the street photography, IMO. Also, people go fishing just for pleasure and spending tons of money without any return. Street photography is just a fishing, but you don't 100% need boat (Leica) for it.

Yes bro street fotography ist gut! Do it cause you love it ✌🏼

As a photojournalist here in Florida this is all 100% true

Great financial tipps for photographers, thank you!

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for joining the premiere live! :)

I think its fine if you do sqaurespace or skillshare ads in your videos. We get to watch free content, you deserve to get paid, and all we need to do is skip forward a bit if we dont want to see it.

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

I know that fans of the channel will understand and not mind the sponsored videos but the issue is also that these brands want to see results. And if everyone is just skipping the sponsored messages and don't take action, the brand will not be happy and move on to the next one : ) If the right sponsor comes by, I will probably take the opportunity though.

@TheLiamGordon

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamuelStreetlife that’s a fair point. I hope a good one comes along for you ✌️

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLiamGordon Thanks man!

Oh man, that ending transition got me good :)

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

:P

THANK YOU for not doing Squarespace sponsored videos!! Also great video :) :)

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

So all of this boils down to, get a fan base. And in order to do that you actually have to do good photos or be a genious of marketing.

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Marketing alone will only provide short term success. Being transparent and approachable is also important. Good Marketing gets peoples attention but an interesting vision or personality makes people stay and remember you.

Awww, you went to my hood!! I miss Hamburg

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Come back! It's getting boring here...

I do street - to then hope to do mini photo documentaries of my local area and share stories. something new I learn form my peers is the question of what will this photo help and do for the community.

Wait what bag is that? It looks perfect for carrying cameras while cycling, also seem to protect from the rain.

nice one!

Nice topic! I really enjoy shooting with a tele lens. I even went crazy shooting with a 200mm while doing street photography (video in the channel).

You should name these series "Ride with Samuel" :)

street photography is my passion

All the stars need to align. You can have awesome photos be a genius marketing but also need to catch lighting in a bottle

Wow I like that, very Jamie Oliver like, only in photography 🎩🥳 Speedy, cool and interesting and you nailed it! Now books can be projects and you can get money this way, maybe not by selling books but by selling the project. Samuel you're doing great already and I'm sure you'll always find a way because you're clever and gifted and creative and it's been fun watching you and your personal journey for several years now. Actually from the beginning as my son is now 3 since last month and he was not even a project back then. At the end of the day, no matter how successful or not our careers, that's what really matters to me. We all have to make a living but I wouldn't trade my son's laughter for nothing in the world

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your kind comment (as always) man! That is cool to hear that you have a son who grew up alongside my channel haha. I am only into fatherhood for 4 month and it gets better and better. Every morning I wake up and excited to see my son grow! Hope you and your family are healthy and doing well. I agree that the most important thing is to make a living and provide for your family. Everything else is unimportant. I am so blessed that I can see my son anytime of the day. So I already feel rich :) But the pressure of making sure income is coming steadily is definitely there. All the best to you and your family man!

@boris.dupont

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamuelStreetlife Thanks, man, I appreciate it! Like everybody who works in artistic fields we've been through ups and downs in the last couple of years but the good news is my wife and I had more time together and with our son and I take it as a blessing. If you don't mind my saying, I think you'll find better ways to make a living, except for extreme circumstances, if you do what you like than if you do what people think you should do because it sounds more secure. There's no guarantee anywhere anyways. You have a special talent and that's what will always make a difference as long as it's fun for you. And I'm sure your son will be even more proud of you if you do your thing, it'll be something he can rely on later on. Anyway thanks again, man, and all the best to you and your family!

Samuel, which camera you use on lime? Ricoh theta?

Hey, what hacky sack is that for your camera? 😁

Glad that I am doing photography as a hobby rather than a job. I don't think I would enjoy it as much with the pressure to make money with it.

@waltercardenas8727

2 жыл бұрын

I've done a couple of weddings & i hated it. I maintain my hobby of photography by buying & selling camera gear.

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Understandable! Working as a Photographer can kill of the passion for it. Sometimes its better to leave it a passion and have total freedom over what you do with your photography.

Hi Samuel. Thanks a lot for the video. I have a question. What are good practises, in your experience, when growing a street photography youtube channel today? Is it still possible in 2021-2022? Thanks!

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Aris! Yes of course you can still grow a youtube channel, even in 2021 or later. As long as KZread is still the Nr.1 platform for video content there will be opportunities. If I would start a new channel now I would make sure to know exactly what my main content would be. The more specific, the better. Some channels start with a lot of different types of content and then its hard to grow because people discover you and won't know what to excpect. On the other hand it is important to experiment a lot and allow things to change. But having an idea is good (for example street photography education, game reviews, street interviews, news reaction and so on). And in the beginning people dont know you yet so its more important to deliver value first before integrating too much of your private life into the videos. But you should always be yourself and show your natural personality. There is no ONE way to start a channel. Everyone has a unique voice and finding that is the first goal :) All the best!

I want one of those scooters. 💨

We are now at the end of 2023. Dec. The price of film has skyrocketed ! What will 2024 hold? Higher film prices! More variety of digicams. Technology on your phone to make books and zines. You can make all kinds of things. Can you sell any? Enough to buy coffee? Enough to pay your mortgage? I have no idea. I just love it though. Film in vintage cameras. My other endeavors provide for street costs.

15:32 hahaha

Create like nobody is watching. Create to enjoy the process, learn and achieve personal fulfillment. Outcome is not important.

@flanky2020

2 жыл бұрын

Ah and hustle hard to sustain yourself and your creative habits. In a perfect world doing creative work, but there’s no shame in doing odd jobs just to survive and keep on doing your own thing. I worked night shifts in hotels, build champagne towers, build up festivals etc etc just so I could eat and make art. Took me about 5 years to live just from my creative work. 15 for it to be stable and buy a house get a car etc. And now I feel old writing this :) Great video. I love your honesty and pragmatism. Wish I had someone like you making videos on KZread at the beginning of my career.

You should be sponsored by Redbull to be on their scooter team!

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Haha, I would take it!

I looove squarespace 🤪🔫

What is squarespace? ;) If sponsors means that you will be able to put more time into your videos, then I think we can all live with a bit of sponsor-lingo. :). For me photography is all about having fun and use it as a hobby, as soon as i would try to monetize it I would begin setting up expectations on myself that woul ruin the fun for me. That is my personal reflection.

It is possible to do some things just for the money. Nowadays music works like that. People do it just for the money. And youtube too ofc. But from what I can see. Street photography is least profitable photography. Its because main market for street photographers are just other street photographers. And from what I can see. I love photography but I cant imagine I would do it for a living. I want to let it pure in my life. Doing it just and only for good feeling. Im lucky enough to earn enough money for some gear. But I dont want to do anything I like just because I need money. I want to do things that I like freely. How I want to do it and when I want to do it. In this extremly fast moving world I want to live slow and enjoy as much little things as I can. I dont want to be busy.

You live dangerously on that scooter.

By making videos about street photography perhaps?

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

That is one way!

„This combination feels so nice“! = Leica SL2-2. Reasons: better build quality, smaller file size, better color because of larger pixels, interchangable lenses (all in comparison to the Q2) Am I right, am I right, am I right :P....otherwise Im making a complete fool of myself right now *sniff*

Did someone film the video for you? Seems pretty cool to be hands free

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Yes my friend GoPro Max helped me out to film this video😁

@wujiarong3331

2 жыл бұрын

@@SamuelStreetlife it must be nice 👍🏻

The wisest words were at the end, right before you crashed, lol :)

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Haha, thanks Lukasz! :)

Maybe buy a radio with police frequencies and listen and go wherever something is going on. Then write to the newspapers that you have photos and maybe they will buy and finally become a big and rich free street photographer :))) and good luck

How the fuck did you film this?!

Street photography as a job is too hard!

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Yep!

Trying to make it your job will simply kill the passion.

Anyone who thinks they can go into photography to make money must be mad. Luckily I have a shop shoe repairer and fill my front shop of some images. I get work out of it. I'm lucky that way.

Maybe join a Magnum..xD

I think you can make money on reportage shooting wich is really close to street, but don’t do money like it’s main purpose

your thumbnail for your workshop is spoiling your new camera !

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Haha no that image was taken in 2015 and what you see is a Canon C100 Mark II that I don‘t own anymore :)

How do you make a million dollars from street photography? Start with 2 million ;-)

@sexysilversurfer

2 жыл бұрын

Richard Branson said that about Virgin Atlantic airlines!

As always, totally enjoy your work. I just launched my own KZread channel. If you check it out, start with episode 3. I do both the music & video content. Sorta VanLife meets Photo vlog... but different. My work is kinda trippy. Best with headphones. Lemme know your thoughts!

Explore NFT, OpenSea...

selling nft

Everyone saying don't do about money do it if you just like it .... But i can't afford atleast a camera ... How can i make payment without income ....!😂

Wait, you guys are getting paid for this?

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Haha. Not exactly for doing Street Photography though...

as far as I can understand, streetphotography should be an ichigai instead of a proper job ;)

Samuel, please wear a helmet. Please.

My name is Andy VON Jones…does that qualify me enough to teach workshops? I sell camera straps and lens shades for a heck load of money too…😬😎😂

@SamuelStreetlife

2 жыл бұрын

Haha :D Don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't do! The sky is the limit haha.

“How to make money from street photography (i.e. a living)...? “ You don't...