Published on: 11/28/2015IST
He Works 7 Days A Week, 365 Days A Year, And Makes Rs. 10000 A Month
How much do you earn when you’re a full time photographer? On a recent visit to India, Dubai based photographer Jeffery Martin was walking through the vintage streets of Mumbai, when he was approached by a young man with a Nikon DSLR and a backpack. He offered to take a photo of Martin, against the backdrop of two of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Gateway of India.
He said instant prints were available, and he showed examples of them in a clear plastic file which he offered for inspection.
In that area, a number of young men were making similar offers to other tourists, foreign and Indian alike: 30 Indian rupees, about $0.50 US, per print. Martin was curious about how and where prints could be delivered. The young photographer, Amit, opened his backpack and showed him an Epson PM245, about the size of a toaster.
Amit allowed him to follow him around and document his work. After finishing work, he sat down and explained the entire business to him. He told Martin that he was from Agra. He also told him that Agra was more organised when it came to photography, but to work there, one must join a photographer’s guild to acquire a license that costs approximately 20,000 INR. It was different in Mumbai. At the Gateway to India, he explained, anyone could do photography.
Amit talked about his expenses. He had to look presentable to make a good impression on clients. Although he owns his own camera, he rents the printer from another photographer. He pays the police to allow him to work the area. In return, the police enforce pricing and insist on flat rates. There is often gouging and haggling which invite complaints and cause more work. Most importantly, he purchases his own paper and ink, and at the end of the month, his expenses equal half his sales. He has been working for 6 years, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. In peak season he takes 50-60 photos per day, in off season 20-30. Monthly, he takes home Rs 10,000, a quarter of which he sends home to support his family.
Amit says, “It’s a job, how else can I live?”
11/28/2015 | | Permalink