Taking the plunge into professional photography . . . . .

I have been thinking about the terrifying and inevitable transitional phase I will be entering into when i finally decide to quit my day job and pursue photography full time. Obviously this decision is based on a myriad of variables (current workflow, self assessment of potential, business plan, etc). But assuming everything is in line and its time . . . . . . . . . .

Im not even sure what im asking . . . but im curious if there are any pros here who did what im doing . . not ones who started by aprenticing or got jobs right out of college . . but the career changers . . . guys/girls who decided they wanted to be passionate about their work and knew that where they were wasnt gonna make that happen . . .

How did you make the goal a reality once you knew you had your ducks in a row?

My concern is largely steady income once the job is taken and shoved. I know its impractical to expect consistency in the first year of business but survival must be accomplished somehow. It seems to me the only way is to have a bankroll to live off of for the hard times. Not sure how probable that option is for me.

I'd love to hear alternative scenarios or just "How I made it happen" stories.

Having a bank roll would be my first choice, second choice would be don't quit your day job, till you are too busy to keep doing it. I made the mistake of relying on the bank roll a few times and ended up running out of money. I just did it again and now I'm looking for a job again. I think the difference this time, is that I'm willing to just keep after it and not expect it to happen in a month or even a year. I just resigned to the fact that this is what I'm going to do and I'll keep after it till it happens, doing what I have to do in the meantime to stay afloat. Hope that helps.

EPEACE - "Plunge" means to jump in without consideration to circumstances. Do this and I will give you a written gaurantee of failure- signed by thousands of others.

1) Make an honest asessment of your RESULTS in photography, not just skills/talent/equipmen​t/effort, but the end product of all the factors.

2) Build a business plan. Precisely where, what,how,when you are going to be at a certain point. A timeline if you will.

3) Find a niche if you can (my method) and investigate the possibilites as you see them. Define your actions to develop the market.

4) Build a realistic product/price list. And stick to it. Anyone who gives theirself away or "discounts", loses more than dollars, you lose respect from clients, they may buy but you have lost them none the same. If your work and methods are good, then they have an honest value. Discounting from desperation is the beginning of a steep slope DOWN.

5) Ease into the market - keep one hand on reality. What you expect and envision will take time to materialize.

6) The camera won't save you, it's just a tool.

7) At first expect on 80-90% planning and 10-15% actual shooting.

8) It can be done and give great rewards - just don't plunge!

A few years back I mentioned to a photographer friend that I wanted to "take the plunge" into professional photography, i.e. full time. He looked at me like I had three heads and said . . . "There's a reason why people say 'he plunged to his death' when a guy jumps off a bridge"

His advice then was . . . "at the very least BUNGIE, but please don't PLUNGE!"

I never apprenticed (wish I had) and I didn't have the luxury of working in a field that I loved right out of school. My experience had primarily been in corporate training and freelance graphic design. Photography was a passion that I didn't think I'd ever be able to turn into a career. I thought I had a pretty nice life carved out for myself until one day it was all gone. Job, Fiancé', nice apartment, new car . . . even my cat - just gone. I found I had two options. 1) Wallow in self pity and depression while consuming mass quantities of Hagen Das in one hand and Chocolate Chip Cookies in the other - OR - 2) Take it as a sign that it may be the only time in my life I have a chance to truly start anew. So, I took the option #2 seeing as my thighs had suffered enough through the years and surely didn't need any more Hagen Das! I moved back to New York (that alone made me feel alive again), I surrounded myself with supportive people, friends & family and I decided that life was simply too short and unpredictable and deserved to lived to the fullest . . . doing something you love.

To make a very long story short, I broke out the camera, dusted off a few lenses and...pardon the pun...focused. I focused on my goals, focused on my dreams and focused on everything I could fit in that viewfinder. I still had a "day job" but I decided to do temp work so I would have a little more flexibility in my schedule. Realizing a dream isn't nearly as romantic as it sounds. Money was very tight that first year or two, but I managed. Every season that they unveiled a new shoe line that I couldn't afford made me that much more determined!

After about a year I began to get small side jobs. Those eventually landed me an internship at a local entertainment paper. Before long I was looking for "day work" at local portrait studios and after pounding the pavement for two months I finally got a job at one. I soaked up all of the knowledge I could (given their limited versatility) and honed my skills on my own whenever I could. I rented gear to experiment, rented studio time to practice and I slowly added to my own equipment. Before I knew it more and more "side jobs" starting coming my way (thank you satisfied customers and word of mouth). Then this past summer, myself and a former business associate, who still lives down in North Carolina, decided to pool our resources and our individual talents and start our own business. We worked hard on the details, set realistic goals and knew going in that it would a slow process and a rocky road, but it was a reality (and a possible loss) that we were prepared for.

So, today I am the proud co-owner of one fledgling mobile photography studio. It has been slow going, but it gets better every day. My advice to any one wanting to "take the plunge" would be:

Do whatever you have to do to achieve your dreams . . . just not at the expense of your current reality. Have a clear business plan, when in doubt - ASK, put enough money away to support yourself and finally...hope for the best but plan for the worst. I can tell you this though; you'll never work harder or longer than you do when you're in business for yourself, but you'll never enjoy anything more. It's as scary as it is exciting but, for me, it was worth it.

Lisa

yah thats kind of where im at right now . . . i am at a cusp in life . . . i will be moving out of state at the end of the year and hopefully well on my way to success as well . . .

i understand that an undertaking such as this is not something to be taken lightly . . i have never been more serious about anything in my life . . . i am scheduling myself to take several business courses over the coming year as well as researching and reading anything i can get my hands on every waking moment that i am not working for someone else . . . . every ounce of energy i dont expend at work is spent either supporting my girl (who is also embarking on a new career as an LMT and forsaking her current one in advertising) or researching/learning/p​lanning for my future in photography . . . . . i can feel success in me with this just gagging to get out . . .

perhaps using the word plunge was perceived by some as an error in semantics . . . but i am of the feeling . . . no matter how much planning, plotting, and saving you do . . there comes a moment that requires you to do just that . . .

jump . . or go go home . . . . . . .

im realizing now, however, that you cant focus on that moment, as inevitable as it may be, until it has arrived . . its like looking down when crossing a tight rope . . youll get down there eventually . . but you have to get across this rope first . . .

when the time is right you know it . . . and for every person who made it . . theres a new story of grit and adversity . . . mine will be as unique as the ones ive already heard . . . .

With that determination and planning I have no doubt that you'll do well for yourself!
I wish you great success and satisfaction!

Lisa
The place I'm at right now, reminds me your situation in the past. And your advice is really helpful and encouraging. I find myself doing things that are kind of half creative or half satisfying and reading your story really helps me to see a bigger picture.
Thanks.

Nick

Thank you Nick.
Seeing "the bigger picture" that waits for you is what has kept me going. Once you can see it gives you a goal to get to!
Best wishes to you.
Lisa