I wish I could work as a photographer in Finland

[miakki]

Hello
I'm a joung photographer. I've got my own photo equipement.
I want to move to Finland, bc I love this country! I was there 3 times so far. Ones I lived and worked around Hki about 4 months. I speak english and I know finnish in basic level (I'm still learning).
It would be great if some finnish photographer want me for help/work together. Unfortunatelly I guess it's not easy to implementation...
Please for help to make my dreams come true
Terveisin, miakki

[Pursuivant]

There are people who have managed to do that. Unfortunately - the market is tough, and you need to *network* and a lot.

[rinso]

With everybody having a digital camera, the money making work tends to shift to the high end professional market (advertising, fashion, projects).
You need to offer alot (experience, skills, training) to become interesting as an assistant.
And indeed you get the job through your network.

[finlandforumuser]

I don't know exactly about photographer but I'm quite familiar with neighbor area -- computer design. What I noticed there are plenty of workers who think they are professionals while show only mediocre skills. I never met a designer would be close to team like http://www.artlebedev.com/ What it means if you are world class specialist you will definitely find the job here.

[miakki]

Tank you all for answers
Well... I start to think, that I express my things not enought clear... Do you think if I would have lot of experiance and be a "world class specialist" , I wanted to be sb assistant?? Then I would have my own (smaller or bigger) business in the field of photography. I'm looking for somebody to be ones assistant, because I'm not ready (in some way) to do it myself.
Everybody was young and there is a moment you have to start from some point (and I am in that point). And after that you can became a "world class specialist". I think it has some sense...

[interleukin]

Of course everyone has to start somewhere. But let's be realistic here, why would some hire you as their assistant here in Finland when there are a bunch of Finnish photographers around? You know, people who know the local language, can interact with customers, know their way around town and can arrange things and take care of bureaucracy or something like that?

Unless you make friends with a certain Finnish photographer or make a bit of a name for yourself in your home country first, it sounds like you are out of luck.

[miakki]

I know you're right, interleukin. That's why I used expression "to make my DREAMS come true".
But some say that sometimes dreams come true and why not even try?
Lot of my friends said that it's a crazy thing go to Finland without knowing finnish, but I did it - spend there few months, lived and worked - it was wonderful time for me, it was good decision I think. Now I'm learnig finnish. Why not try to be a photographer in Finland? Of course sb would say that better cut the wings in the beginning, but how would be life without dreams and efforts to make it planns and then realise it?!
Are you sure any finnish photographer who need help read my posts here? I would prefere to say "let's check"

[fairy]

I didn't read all the replies, so maybe this has come up but on a wedding planning forum I visit there are photographers who offer reduced price/free photography in order to build their portfolio or profile. Maybe you could try something like that to get yourself more established?

[miakki]

Actually I've done what you suggest already, in the beginning. Now I've got my wedding photography website, portfolio and some orders. It comes in good way by small steps farther. But everything is doing in my country. Ok, I'm, not the most popular photographer here (yet ), but my hope is try to do the same in Finland but by the arm of some finnish photographer. I'm not asking about starting photographing business at all - I'm asking about Finland...

[Rosamunda]

Why don't you try and find a course, and come here to study photography? I have no idea if there are any courses in English
http://www.flickr.com/groups/finland/discuss/113013/

[rinso]

but my hope is try to do the same in Finland but by the arm of some finnish photographer.

Wedding series are not common in Finland. Only the formal portraits. Wedding guests take the pictures during the event and present them afterwards as a gift.
So most photographers have a small portrait studio for those wedding pictures, graduation pictures and passports.
But as I said, with the digital age, less and less work comes this way. Those photographers are struggling and have no money or need for assistance.

[juniyao]

Miakki

I think it´s great that you know what you want from your life and you are trying to make your dream come true.
You can do it! If you really feel for it and keep trying step by step, you will reach your goal someday.
You know, whenever you are trying to do something out of the audinary, people will line up to tell you that you can´t do it,
why you can´t do it,even people who should know better will discourage you. That´s just what people do.

To achieve anything great or worthwhile, set goal, take actions!

I just started my own business in Helsinki (www.chinasolutions.fi)
pursuing my dream everyday.Eventhough it is difficult, I know I can do it, IT IS POSSIBLE!
so if you really are coming here someday, I´d like to help you out if I could.
Juni

[rinso]

Miakki
You can do it! If you really feel for it and keep trying step by step, you will reach your goal someday.

Again a positive approach out of touch with reality.
It is possible to achieve things against all odds. But it takes time and in the mean time you have to survive.
Without a reliable source of income you don't have the luxury to follow your dreams. You'll struggle to get food on the table the next day. (or even a roof over your table) Nine out of ten people will have to abandon their dream and follow a more practical course. If one can succeed doesn't mean it is wise for everybody to ignore reality.
The OP has started his business in his own country and has some success. He has to decide to give up what he already has and follow his dream or go (for now) with the security he has. It is an important and difficult decision. He needs a realistic assessment of his chances, not a motivational talk.

[karel]

Even if juniyao has made it, it doesn't mean you will. He's in a different business area than you with your photography.
There is a photography market here, but it's tough. And there are a lot of photographers.
Weddings do happen, people do hire photographers for weddings, but a "second shooter" is very much an American thing and doesn't really happen here, save for an occasional exception to the rule. I've seen and heard a lot of photographers go out of business in the past years, because of the recession. Things are crawling back up, but if you're not already established, there's not much chance you'll get your dream realized. You can try the photography school as penelope suggested, but that's a lottery ticket. Loads of applicants and only few places to give away.

If you want to have your dream job in photography, Finland is not your country, sorry to say.


(mind sharing information about your kit?)

[Upphew]

(mind sharing information about your kit?)

This made me look at her pictures. Why people care more about the tools than the work or worker?