Career change?! Requesting some sage advice

[kellmeister]

I always enjoy reading forum postings from some of the young’uns regarding their interest in pursuing a career in photography.

At the ripe old age of 36, I’m also facing this idea. I’ve been into photography for 7 years and enjoy both film and digital. My first photography class was an epiphany. I soon built my own darkroom and started learning photoshop. By 2001, I became disillusioned with my IT career as a developer. At work, I read inspirational blogs, like DaveBeckerman.com, who left his programming job in NYC and started doing fine art photography.

But I fought my inner desires to leave a “real” career to pursue something that would be riskier. Instead I switched companies numerous times, and saw career counselors to figure out what was wrong with me. I have finally realized that I really do want to do photography as a career. Its something that has always been in back of my mind. Luckily, in this period of my life, I don’t have a lot of dependencies. I have no children, and a girlfriend who, as a musician, understands what I’m going through.

Many have said, “stay in IT to get the money and photograph on weekends”, but to me that’s no longer possible. Hating what you do for a living is not the way to live life! I would rather try and fail miserably at a career involving photography then never try at all. I recently started taking another Art class involving advanced Photoshop techniques. It has got me thinking as to what I need to do for my next career move.

Should I try and assist a wedding photographer on the weekends? Maybe offer to help my current teacher who freelances? Go to a photography school? I’m not quite sure what my next move is or should be. Photography school sounds exciting but I might feel out of place at my age.

I’ve read a lot about how hard it is to make a living doing photography, but I do believe it is the right move for me and I need to quit fighting it. I would appreciate any sage advice from others who have changed careers or those who have been in the field for awhile.

[FlyingPhotog]

Just as a way to stimulate this discussion, what are your personal "anchors" and what would be the positive or negative related to each?
- Family? Yes or No? If yes, would they support your decision? Working Wife?
- Current Savings? How many months could you go with minimal (or even no income at all?)
- Gear? Do you have what you need to really do the job at the level you feel you're capable of? Biggest missing piece?
- Contacts? Do you have a network of possible/probable clients? Can you market yourself? How big a market do you live in? Is there enough work there or would you have to travel / move? How many other shooters would you be competing with?
- Inurance? Personal, Equipment and Liability. Health Insurance for yourself and your family?
Expenses? Marketing Materials, Transportation, Consumables (paper/ink if you print your own...), Lab Fees...

Lots and lots to think about...

Good Luck

[PhotosGuy]

Should I try and assist a wedding photographer on the weekends? IMO, out of the frying pan... Maybe offer to help my current teacher who freelances? Maybe. It would give you a good overview. He knows you & we don't. Why not ask him?
What do you like to shoot?
What are you good at shooting?

Turning Pro by David Henderson
http://www.photo.net/learn/turningpro.html

What is the best way to become a "Freelance"
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=238033#238033

How did you get started? - weddings
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=231003

How did you become a pro (or semi-pro)?
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41194

"Other lucrative photo genres besides weddings?"
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=191724

Your pathway to today
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=174508

[cory1848]

I always enjoy reading forum postings from some of the young’uns regarding their interest in pursuing a career in photography.

At the ripe old age of 36, I’m also facing this idea. I’ve been into photography for 7 years and enjoy both film and digital. My first photography class was an epiphany. I soon built my own darkroom and started learning photoshop. By 2001, I became disillusioned with my IT career as a developer. At work, I read inspirational blogs, like DaveBeckerman.com, who left his programming job in NYC and started doing fine art photography.

But I fought my inner desires to leave a “real” career to pursue something that would be riskier. Instead I switched companies numerous times, and saw career counselors to figure out what was wrong with me. I have finally realized that I really do want to do photography as a career. Its something that has always been in back of my mind. Luckily, in this period of my life, I don’t have a lot of dependencies. I have no children, and a girlfriend who, as a musician, understands what I’m going through.

Many have said, “stay in IT to get the money and photograph on weekends”, but to me that’s no longer possible. Hating what you do for a living is not the way to live life! I would rather try and fail miserably at a career involving photography then never try at all. I recently started taking another Art class involving advanced Photoshop techniques. It has got me thinking as to what I need to do for my next career move.

Should I try and assist a wedding photographer on the weekends? Maybe offer to help my current teacher who freelances? Go to a photography school? I’m not quite sure what my next move is or should be. Photography school sounds exciting but I might feel out of place at my age.

I’ve read a lot about how hard it is to make a living doing photography, but I do believe it is the right move for me and I need to quit fighting it. I would appreciate any sage advice from others who have changed careers or those who have been in the field for awhile.

Your not alone my friend, I went to art school majoring in Illustration and minoring in photography. I took the minor at the time because it made me understand lighting and how to see light and I wanted to apply those experiences to illustration work. Well, after graduating and quickly learning how cut throat the illustration market was, I took a graphic design job at a local paper, 10 years later I am doing production work at one of the largest educational book publishers in the world. Guess what...I am bored to death. After not using photography after school, I recently rediscovered my love for it about 6 months ago and would like to make a career change in that direction as well. Trouble I am having is what direction to go in...so I am trying every direction I can to find out what I excel at. Weddings pay the bills ( I havent done any yet), but would I be happy with the stress? I really like sports but having a hard time breaking into that as well. I have an interview as a 2nd shooter for a wedding photog Saturday and I am going to see how that goes. Could be a good experience if I am given the chance.

One thing I do realize is that I cannot financially afford to leave my current boring job until something is up and running, until then I continue to work 80+ hour weeks hoping this takes off...

Good luck

[Village_Idiot]

This is the second time I've heard this and It's almost my same predicament. I work in IT, have been for about 4 years and I can't stand it anymore. I was thinking even working some lay about part time job that needs me 3 days a week would even let me do what I needed to and provide me with at least some sort of dependable income. Then again, I'd have to get rid of my toys but I'd at least be able to see sun light on days other than weekends and government holidays.

[kellmeister]

Thanks guys for your suggestions.

Cory1848/Village_Idiot..I feel your pain. There’s nothing worse then spending your time working in a job that bores you to death or that you hate. I do have patience and know that things take time. But I really want to get a plan together to figure out what I need to do to start making contacts and possible “intern” with other photographers on the weekends, as a start.


FlyingPhotog – I guess I’m in a pretty good position at the moment.
I have about 12K in the bank for savings.
No family. No kids. A girlfriend who just wants me to be happy.
My gear is lacking.. I have a Canon Rebel with 50mm, 12-22mm, and 70-200mm L. I need some better glass and preferably and some more L lenses.
I live in Little Rock which is a small city, but I would be willing to move if I needed to. If I do a quick google on wedding photographers in the area there are several.. about 35 sites. I guess I need to talk with some people around here to get an idea of the market for weddings and general portraiture. My teacher is actually a freelancer for news agencies. Not sure its even possible to break in that field.

The hardest thing seems to be how to network and meet other contacts (photographers).

[estisdal]

I've been toying with the idea of going part-time photog on the side of my IT career. Right now I have a wife in grad school and some debt to pay down, so I can't just make the leap directly to full-time.

Personally, I'd like to get more experience in portraiture and wedding photography. I also want more time to navigate the legal waters for licensing, insurance, etc so when I do pull the trigger, I know exactly what I'm looking at.

But all the best in your endeavours!

[djscrib]

I guess one question is why you need to fully quit your job immediately, and dive straight into photography 100%. If you're still doing your job and debating the switch, why not start doing the weekend photog thing right now, work on PP in evenings. Yes you may hate your job, but you may hate photography more if after 6 months you've made $300. Going "Cold Turkey" seems like the surest way to fail anything. I would advocate going full board in your spare time, but don't "poison" your love for photography by suddenly turning it from a hobby to a sole source of income in the span of 1 day.

The other side of the equation is, what I hear a lot is photography as fun, photography as a business can easily be just as miserable as any other job.

I guess what I'm saying is you have an advantage to some degree in that you can ease in to photography without relying on it for income at the beginning. A large proportion of jobs are going to be on the weekends anyways, so just devote your spare time to photography and get things moving before dumping the job.

[mtnman]

Photography school sounds exciting but I might feel out of place at my age.


I can only tell you one thing. 36 is not old! Get that idea out of your head. Age is an artificial roadblock and it's only in your own mind.

I went back to college at the age of 55 after spending 20 years in IT, the last 6 years as a Unix administrator. I find that age and maturity are an asset. I'm accepted by my younger classmates, and the instructors treat me with more respect than I ever could have imagined when I was 20.

If photography is your dream, and you want to go to photography school, then just do it. Don't let imaginary barriers hold you back.

[John Mireles]

First read the book "The Emyth Revisited." It's a great, easy to read book about the pitfalls of going into business for yourself. It will definitely help you get started on the right foot.

I've been a photographer for 18 years; 16 of which it's been my full-time profession. These days, I'm more of a businessman than a photographer. Granted, I do still shoot, (check out my blog for the latest: www.mirelesblog.com), but 95% of my time is spent running my business. I deal with all kinds of stuff that has nothing to do with photography. Employees, finances, clients, production. Most of the time, I'm stuck in my little office being a business owner.

To pursue a career in photography really means that you're going to become a businessman. Do you love running a business? Does the idea of entering stuff into quickbooks make you salivate? Does the thought of staring at a computer 60 plus hours a week make you giddy with joy? The reality for most working photographers these days is that you spend all your time doing everything but photography.

I'm not complaining. I have it pretty good - I'm in Hawaii right now for a wedding I just shot. But the reality and the fantasy are two different things. A lot of people get into the business because they love photography. Unfortunately, they never master the business side so they're always stuck doing lousy work and never able to do what it is that drew them in in the first place.

John

[primoz]

It's much more simple then it looks. Are you getting enough money to survive with photography? Yes? Fine go for it. You don't? You actually don't get anything at all? Well then, at least around here, and I do hope somewhere else it would be different, it doesn't look too good. You won't start selling 1000s of photos just because all of a sudden you call yourself pro shooter.
Personally if I look at all this now, I can't imagine being it possible... at least in my field (sport/editorial photography). I mean it still is, and new guys are keep coming, but it's far from easy. You don't have any contacts, there's 1000s of kids (or not kids) with cameras willing to work for free/byline, equipment costs a fortune, living is far from cheap etc. It takes few years to come to the point, where you can even start selling photos. Noone takes you seriously on beginning, but you still need to buy bread and milk every day.
But on the other side, if you can afford such begining, it's nice job, and personally I like it... at least most of time :) And I agree with you, doing something you hate, is not really way to live your life... even if it brings you lot of money. Money is not most important thing on world, at least not for me.

[nwa2]

I have worked in Engineering for the last 20 years and have toyed with the idea of a complete career change into Photography. My current job is not terribly fulfilling but I have learned that you can not expect thrills and spills every day of a 40 year career of any sort (is photography any different). If I went into photography full time I would have less security; more financial risk; huge downsizing; I would get paid less and have to work harder ....

Now let me see .....

My advice for what it is worth, if this is what you want to do, then don't listen to the harpies of doom and throw yourself into it. You will succeed because you want it.

[djscrib]

You know, the goal of find a job you love, and wake up every day eager to go to is a noble pursuit. But the truth is, it generally doesn't happen. The truth is to find a job you don't mind, and then narrow it down to the one that makes the most money, with the least amount of time involved. After that you have the time/money leftover to do the things you truly love.

And nowadays, what matters almost more than the money is getting health insurance provided for you. At age 36, with 12k in the bank, you're one slip down the staircase from being bankrupt.

[tim]

I did exactly what you want to do. My suggestion is to get some IT contract work, it'll get some money behind you, plus when you're making double what you make now you'll be happy to go to work for another 6 months or so. In that six months read everything you can, especially about the business side of photography. Also identify where you think you can make money - what your niche is - weddings, fine art, commercial, etc. You won't get anywhere without experience, so start getting that experience however you can. Assisting is good, but once you have confidence you can do it just go for it - I never assisted before I shot a wedding.

Photography's a HARD way to make a living, especially to start with. I would strongly suggest getting into it slowly, and IT contracting is flexible enough you can do that. Good luck, and keep us up to date... threads here can stick around for years.

[robgr85]

Hi!

Probably, I will not help you there, because the best advices can go from people who did it. The thing I want to ask, is Your current work such a time consuming that You have no time for your hobby? If You want to try photography, it would be good idea to switch to some part time IT job. You will still get the money, and You will not be out of 'market'. If You would fail as a photographer it would be far easier to go back for a full time job in IT.

Some time ago, I've found some ebook that You might find interesting.

Cheers,
Robert

[S.Horton]

Great thread. Nice PDF!

@Frank most excellent contributions, much appreciated; followed all those links.