Career AND Photography?

As of Monday, I'd begin my professional career as an engineering consultant, working at various places across Canada. Although I've always dreamed of being a wedding photographer, working professionally is my only realistic situation at the moment.

For those of you who have professional careers, were you able to keep up with your photography to a professional extent? Has anyone here made the switch from a professional career to strictly a photography one? I'm hoping that some day I'll be able to quit my technical side, and become a full-time photographer.

Yes, I'm very curious as well. I have a professional career, but would love to have a part-time photography career. Eventually it would be great to go full time as a photographer, but i'm cool with doing the baby steps.

Since you travel maybe you should consider a side of photography that doesn't require booking gigs months in advance? I can't see doing weddings part time if you are moving around.

I did make the jump from the corporate world to commercial photography. However, there was no way I could have done it as a part time venture during the transition. Most corporate and commercial photography is done during regular business hours, so that precluded doing both during a 'ease in' period.

I had to jump from the safety of the ship, and into the torrent waters. But I also felt it made it a 'you better learn to swim and survive' since there was no life preserver to fall back on. I think that also lit a fire under me to do what it took to make it work.

If there was a safety net, there were times I would have grabbed it possibly bailed. But since that wasn't an option it pushed me to keep going. And in that vein, it worked well. I'm very happy with were I landed up, and things are better than I anticipated. But there were rocky times, growing pains, and times I wondered. Luckily, I ditched the life preserver

sfaust wrote in post #5799415
I did make the jump from the corporate world to commercial photography. However, there was no way I could have done it as a part time venture during the transition. Most corporate and commercial photography is done during regular business hours, so that precluded doing both during a 'ease in' period.

I had to jump from the safety of the ship, and into the torrent waters. But I also felt it made it a 'you better learn to swim and survive' since there was no life preserver to fall back on. I think that also lit a fire under me to do what it took to make it work.

If there was a safety net, there were times I would have grabbed it possibly bailed. But since that wasn't an option it pushed me to keep going. And in that vein, it worked well. I'm very happy with were I landed up, and things are better than I anticipated. But there were rocky times, growing pains, and times I wondered. Luckily, I ditched the life preserver

Wow, that's a great portfolio you have there! Amazing stuff. Extremely professional.

So you have worked for the Boston Globe? I used to work as a co-op student for the City Weekly Section back in the mid-90s. I worked with a few photographers there, but they were photojournalists. I did a Q&A where I had to interview random people on the street and the photog had to take a pic. It was truly embarrassing, lol. I also did some admin. work for the Editor at the time, who has since gone to a paper in NYC. Got to write some stories too. All in all, a great experience.

Thanks Mum..

No, I never worked for the Globe. I have a few things in Improper Bostonian, but I don't really shoot any journalism. The closest I get is editorial, but most of my work is commercial and corporate.

I remember those 'comments from the street' sections. I was once stopped and asked a question, but I never followed up to see if I made the cut. Maybe embarrassing, but I would image it could also be a lot of fun too. Kind of gives you a reason to approach anybody and spark up a quick conversation. There are so many interesting people out there.