Sorry - John - seems we've had this conversation before? Two years ago I was an assistant. Today I'm a working pro -- I'm not in the top of my field, but this year I signed on a house in one of this nation's largest cities...so I maintain that I am doing something right. I guess I could be making as much or more money if I trained to do something else, but I didn't want to. I'm in a position that I could never imagine two years ago. I think I know what I'm talking about from direct experience. Stop making excuses/explanations for why you aren't a big success while holding other forum participants to a higher standard than you hold yourself. I guess one could get lucky and just "be discovered" or one could play the lottery -- personally, I think your chances are better if you are a little more proactive.(posted 8457 days ago)In photography, as in all professions, there are a lot of factors that contribute to financial success. Only one of those is knowing how to work the camera and that is probably not the most important.
Your assesment of Eolo's portfolio is dead wrong. The pictures are good not because the people are pretty but because he has an eye. Look at it again -- where he places people in the frame, how he uses the 4 edges of the frame to dramatic effect with his subject, light and dark, story telling. Its a world away from what I do (product photography) but when you shoot for publication the single rule applies: make every inch count. He does that very well. Personally, I'd set up his site differently and edit it down to 12 or so shots with the chance for visitors to view high rez versions but that's me.