If we assume a relatively short career of twenty years that means that there is actually a demand by the industry of only 300 per year.
It's a big assumption! I'm a relative newcomer (1979) but several of the photographers I worked for as an assistant are still shooting full time. And lots of names I see in my 1972 PhotoGraphis are still churning it out. Bob's maths would probably reduce the number to under 200 a year.
I have spoken to recent graduates who were heartbroken to realise that they had wasted three years and got into debt for a career hope which they were not equipped for.
We're always staggered by the number of people who come for even second assistant jobs who have not only got a photography degree, they've had a gap year, two false starts on other degrees and a subsequent career as chefs/childrens' entertainers/PADI diving instructors.
Even a wholesale fish merchant I know has bought a digital camera because photographers are too expensive.
How often does a wholesale fish merchant need to hire a photographer?
Mike Russell -- Mouse in the House, London http://www.mouseinthehouse.co.uk =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
