photographers?
Discussion
If she doesn't mind fighting for AED 10 a picture (or something equally ridiculous).
The press here have very low standards and are happy to send Gupta out on his moped and his kodak happysnap to get anything local. Anything bigger and they use stock and wire fed images.
Go to a press conference and spot me a european snapper that's not employed by the company or PR firm hosting it.
For any other type of photography she'd either have to be better than the rest, which would beg the question of why is she here in the first place, or be highly specialised. A friend of mine was trying to scrape a living doing portraits, reportage and general stuff and failing miserably. When it was pointed out that his backround was oil & gas, we told him to specialise in that field, he started making lots of money as he understood what his clients were after.
Sorry to be doom & gloom about it - I hate the press out here - they have very low standards and don't seem to care when they can't achieve them.
The press here have very low standards and are happy to send Gupta out on his moped and his kodak happysnap to get anything local. Anything bigger and they use stock and wire fed images.
Go to a press conference and spot me a european snapper that's not employed by the company or PR firm hosting it.
For any other type of photography she'd either have to be better than the rest, which would beg the question of why is she here in the first place, or be highly specialised. A friend of mine was trying to scrape a living doing portraits, reportage and general stuff and failing miserably. When it was pointed out that his backround was oil & gas, we told him to specialise in that field, he started making lots of money as he understood what his clients were after.
Sorry to be doom & gloom about it - I hate the press out here - they have very low standards and don't seem to care when they can't achieve them.
Asterix said:
which would beg the question of why is she here in the first place
something to do with a handsome, dashing, gregarious, cultured, intelligent; not to mention modest; yorkshireman.Asterix said:
When it was pointed out that his backround was oil & gas, we told him to specialise in that field, he started making lots of money as he understood what his clients were after.
as in, PR type shots, brochures etc?Asterix said:
Sorry to be doom & gloom about it - I hate the press out here - they have very low standards and don't seem to care when they can't achieve them.
i tend to agree. the only publications i'd imagine would be suitable would be the likes of the timeout/what's on type. not being aimed at arabs or publicising places they go to would mean the gender issue would be neutralised.just trying to get a picture of what is and isn't likely. it doesn't look likely as a pure photographer, but then i've no idea what the lateral options would be.
Harris_I said:
+1
Very difficult to earn a living as a photographer or freelance journo out here unless you have another day job.
On the flip side... if she's willing to work for nothing/peanuts to build her rep then it can be done.Very difficult to earn a living as a photographer or freelance journo out here unless you have another day job.
One of my best mates was making his daily bread from playing covers either on his own or in bands here, decided to do something a bit more cerebral and starting writing articles for various ITP publications, became a staff reporter for Time Out Dubai, then the Editor and now is the Editor of Esquire Middle East.
I guess like anything, need to work hard to establish that reputation.
)shirt said:
Asterix said:
When it was pointed out that his backround was oil & gas, we told him to specialise in that field, he started making lots of money as he understood what his clients were after.
as in, PR type shots, brochures etc?shirt said:
She does general press for a day job and freelances for corporate work and music events (gigs, festivals etc.). No studio experience though.
She has a mate who works for getty in the netherlands, but if I could get her in touch with someone local that would be a massive help.
I'll have a word mateShe has a mate who works for getty in the netherlands, but if I could get her in touch with someone local that would be a massive help.
Being a freelancer in this town is tough - especially if you're new to the market. The few guys and gals that are here doing it have been doing it for a while and have a healthy contact book of clients etc.
If she really wants to come out here, she'll be best approaching the likes of ITP (Time Out etc) or Motivate (What's On etc) as they have photography departments that look after all the titles within the company.
The photographers at ITP are required to be 'jacks of all trades' in that they may be asked to shoot a fashion still life for Viva in the morning, an interview for Oil and Gas over lunch, a shoot for CAR Middle East (well, used to - the mag's now closed) in the afternoon and pap an event for Ahlan in the evening. That would be considered to be an easy day - and that's five/six days a week.
Getting onto the books of a PR agency to cover events etc will take time and you'll be fighting an uphill battle against the established boys and their existing rates.
If she really wants to come out here, she'll be best approaching the likes of ITP (Time Out etc) or Motivate (What's On etc) as they have photography departments that look after all the titles within the company.
The photographers at ITP are required to be 'jacks of all trades' in that they may be asked to shoot a fashion still life for Viva in the morning, an interview for Oil and Gas over lunch, a shoot for CAR Middle East (well, used to - the mag's now closed) in the afternoon and pap an event for Ahlan in the evening. That would be considered to be an easy day - and that's five/six days a week.
Getting onto the books of a PR agency to cover events etc will take time and you'll be fighting an uphill battle against the established boys and their existing rates.
Oh and if she wants to go down the 'proper' freelance route, she'll need a visa from Dubai Media City which will set her back circa 25k Dhs a year.
You can get away with bouncing around on visit visas and the likes picking up small 'cash' jobs here and there, but if she wants to work for big companies/agencies they will require a trade licence etc before they can give her work.
Lastly, payment can be an issue with many players in this town - I've heard horror stories of scribblers/snappers waiting for up to six months to get paid. Generally, the smaller companies are quicker on paying, but once your invoice goes into a big company's accounts department it can take an age for the cheque to finally materialise.
ITP as a rule are quick payers - assuming the editor submits the paperwork in time, but due to the photographer department they have in house are against using freelancers unless you're really good/specialist. Big name international fashion photographers can get gigs with the likes of Harpers/Cosmo et, but those are the exception rather than the rule
You can get away with bouncing around on visit visas and the likes picking up small 'cash' jobs here and there, but if she wants to work for big companies/agencies they will require a trade licence etc before they can give her work.
Lastly, payment can be an issue with many players in this town - I've heard horror stories of scribblers/snappers waiting for up to six months to get paid. Generally, the smaller companies are quicker on paying, but once your invoice goes into a big company's accounts department it can take an age for the cheque to finally materialise.
ITP as a rule are quick payers - assuming the editor submits the paperwork in time, but due to the photographer department they have in house are against using freelancers unless you're really good/specialist. Big name international fashion photographers can get gigs with the likes of Harpers/Cosmo et, but those are the exception rather than the rule
thb said:
a shoot for CAR Middle East (well, used to - the mag's now closed)
you should update your profile then 
hehethanks tom, that's some good advice. itp and motivate sound excellent places to start, that sounds much like what she does at present.
she does understand that there will either be a difficult time finding a liveable wage, or there'll be a period of uncertainty with the freelance route and a day job. not sure what someone can do here though with her career experience, and i'm not sure this nameless handsome yorkshire chap can bankroll her.
a chap in my office knows someone at reuters apparently, so there's another lead. i think the better solution would be a period of working for a well known agency in the uk, then coming out with a savings cushion and the correct attitude. or maybe blind luck will strike as per my case!
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