Female students take up photography to supplement income

A woman takes photo at a festival held recently in Asir region. (SPA)

JEDDAH: In the face of a severe lack of opportunities, a number of university students have taken up photography in order to fight unemployment and to help them with temporary sources of income. At the same time, many of them are finding that they have learned about the profession and have started their own private projects that generate income for them in certain seasons such as during vacations.
Shatha Qaba, who specializes in taking photographs at weddings in Jazan, said her average monthly income sometimes reaches SR9,000. It increases when she takes on more celebrations and agrees to perform services desired by her clients.
Nada Matae’n also said that she gets SR500 per celebration and her monthly income may be as much as SR10,000 during vacations.
The two photographers told Al-Watan newspaper that they had both loved photography since they were children, and they had developed their skills in photography and montage in addition to increasing their knowledge of cameras and other related equipment.
Another photographer, Jihan, decided to transform her photography hobby into a job. She began taking photographs at weddings and private parties and her minimum income may reach SR4,000 per month.
One photographer from Khamis Mushayt, Logian Al-Shahrani, said that even though she is still studying at university, she continues to practice her hobby and make financial profits. She said that she makes up to SR10,000 a month, with prices ranging from SR200 to SR2,000 for a photographic session. She sets up her own equipment and she is always trying to improve her skills.
Women face many difficulties in the field and their work is limited to women’s wedding parties and celebrations. Shouq Al-Wodman said that women can only take photographs at weddings which means that they have to coordinate their services very early on. She also said that business was slow outside holiday seasons with prices starting from SR3,000 and increasing according to the requirements of the client.