How to quit photography?

[DGMPhotography]

Hey TPF, it's been awhile. But as the place that helped me become a photographer, I thought it was only fitting to come to you with this question now.

Basically, photography has become too much of a job for me and I've lost a bit of the joy from it. I also don't make enough money.

So I'm looking for advice on how to scale back, and how to even think about working a "regular" job?

I love the freelancer lifestyle, but it's simply not reliable enough and not consistent enough for me to be where I want to be in life. I pay all my bills, and can provide for myself, but I live with my dad, have no insurance, and no prospects.

The thing I've been gravitating towards is UX/UE design. I have a lot of the relevant skills and experience (not just photography - I have experience with product design, web development, etc), and it's one of the few things aside from photography that I've been able to feel excited about. I have ADHD and it's hard to find things that really hold my interest.

It's scary to think about, but worst case scenario I give it a try and it doesn't work out.

But one thing that I can't wrap my head around is the value of my time. With photography, I can make $3,500 shooting a wedding. Between the shooting time, editing, and backend work, that's $3,500 for about 30 hours of work, or $116/hr. UX jobs come nowhere close to that. Even if you get something on the high end, you're still only pulling around $60/hr if you're lucky.

The tradeoff, obviously, is that's a consistent $2400 per week instead of the occasional wedding weekend once or twice a month. I understand that concept, but it's hard for me internally to justify it.

Anyone else dealing with this, or have any advice?

(And just to clarify, I don't think I'd ever quit photography fully. And I'd probably raise my prices and still take high end weddings in addition to UX work. But I definitely want to scale back on how much I'm doing)

 

[Thiophilos]

I have no clue what UX/UE design is, but if you are qualified for a job and the terms are satisfactory, and if you are not happy with your current situation, then go for it. There is a lot to be said for a steady job with a predictable life. As you say, you could still do weddings part-time. (I've done weddings and personally would be happy to let that go.)

 

[Ozzie_Traveller]

G'day DGM

To some extent your post reminds me of my life, now 50yrs ago when I was trying to swap from a secure weekly wage job into the role of a professional photographer. Yes I was 'good' but I was only one of many trying to compete in the same marketplace

I remember one mentor commenting that my style showed great creativity and openness whereas most clients have fixed ideas as to what they want, thus I would end up as a camera-operator more than a spirited photographer. The mentor also helped by advising that in his estimation, 'about half of the so-called professionals locally also had a day job to provide economic stability'

So I kept my day job

In today's world where 100% of others use a fone for happy snaps and are happy to provide images to the media and others with a freebie, (including at the wedding that you are hopefully getting paid for), the ability of someone to make a good living from commercial photography is, to my mind, rapidly vanishing

So to me, the answer to your conundrum is to do both - get yourself a secure paying job to keep the wolf from the door, and enjoy your creative side as much as you can while you can

Hope this help
Phil

 

[cgw]

Yard sale. A big one!

 

[Woolsocks]

I have no clue what UX/UE design is, but if you are qualified for a job and the terms are satisfactory, and if you are not happy with your current situation, then go for it. There is a lot to be said for a steady job with a predictable life. As you say, you could still do weddings part-time. (I've done weddings and personally would be happy to let that go.)

User experience and usually with products in mind. Like photography of products or printed media on products like bath towls and such.

It sounds like to me he enjoys the editing more then the photography aspect i.e ux design.