Mother telling me to forget photography

[tron]

A lot of times a hobby is something difficult to make a career out of. I like working on cars, would I become a mechanic? **** no. Day after day of shooting would get robotic for me too, maybe not for you. Something to think about.

Oh and inb4 "went into photography and now im broke" thread

 

[vtf]

I see many people changing companies every 5 to 7 years, not careers because imo 5-7 years is just starting a career path. I've been in Retail Management for 28 years and now pursuing a career in Studio Art/History with maybe Management/Directorship involvement. That's a career change and is not as simple as just switching jobs. I've lost 2 jobs in the last 5 years, first was 20 years long and second was 4 years. To me 5-7 years in a field then bouncing to another is a person who doesn't know what they like.
I intend to keep my new career to my death. In true reality once you start on a path and life starts to happen, few have the opportunity I have right now.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

One of the security guards at my office is a retired NYC detective.

His undergraduate degree was in photography. Go figure.

I can see a very good relationship between the two. Maybe it takes 30 some years of photography to see it but I'll let you think about it...

 

[behanana]

I'm going to say this with all the kindness I can muster...YOUR 20 Get an F-ing job! You also need to realize that everyone works for "the man", that's because "the man" is not a person, it's the dollar, yen, euro, pound, or whatever other currency you feel like going with. You require currency to survive, thus you work for it and are tied to it. This holds true if you own your own business or work for some international corporation, you will always answer to someone. So get off your a$$ and do something with your life! Take the plunge if that's what you feel you need to do.

 

[tron]

I'm going to say this with all the kindness I can muster...YOUR 20 Get an F-ing job! You also need to realize that everyone works for "the man", that's because "the man" is not a person, it's the dollar, yen, euro, pound, or whatever other currency you feel like going with. You require currency to survive, thus you work for it and are tied to it. This holds true if you own your own business or work for some international corporation, you will always answer to someone. So get off your a$$ and do something with your life! Take the plunge if that's what you feel you need to do.

would read again

 

[shortpants]

My advice is to find a balance. Don't forget about photography completely, but I would also pursue something else at the same time.

I kind of wish my parents pushed me to study something else besides art. First I took a year off after high school and just worked at my father's pizza shop. Glamorous, I know. I started with graphic design, just at community college so it didn't break the bank. Then I went to a 2 year photography school and put myself into major debt. When all was said and done, I couldn't even think about going into business, I had NO money. I waited tables 60 hours a week making sh!t, and never had time to shoot. Then I got married and had a baby, and have been a stay at home mom since. I'm just now able to start focusing on photography again, and I'm still nowhere near ready to make any money from it. Luckily I don't need to and it can be a hobby for now. Sometimes I wish I went to medical school instead, or at the least had a bachelors for SOMETHING.

So my suggestion would be to take core classes at a local college, and also a few photography/art classes on the side. I think both would benefit you in the long run and you never know what else you might become interested in along the way. I went from wanting to have a career in art, to wanting to be a lactation consultant, so there you go

oh and p.s. get a job!

 

[Stradawhovious]

(Typing this without having read all of the responses, sorry. I can only hope this advice has been given 100 times in this thread, and even so, in my ever so humble opinion, it bears repeating.)

Don't bother starting a photography business, or any other business for that matter without knowing how to run a business. If you can get some free education, get it. You would be a fool to pass up that opportunity, but try and get the education in something that actually has some practical application. A general Business degree for example....... if you have one of those and start a photography business, you will be armed with a basic knowledge of the "how to keep it running" end of the business, and if/when the full time photography business collapses you have an education to fall back on that will get a foot in the door in ANY industry.

If you want to study photography, do it as a minor. Nobody will ask to see your photography degree when they enter your studio. Your work will serve as your proof of education.


my .02

 

[Dagwood56]

Have you ever heard the phrase "starving artisit" ? Get a job, get an education that will get you some place in life and pursue photography as a hobby for now. As someone else said, take it as one of your college minors. You will be honeing your photography skills as well as getting an education that will set you up in the "real" world.

 

[gsgary]

I have a D80 and have submitted a few photos here already.
The reason i wanted to go to college to do it was to learn everything about it with all the basics, and knowing how to use studio lighting and stuff like that.

Most people of your age that want to make it big in photography are already assisting a top photographer

 

[valbjorndesign]

Well photography is a calling isnt it. But get a job and go for it on the side, thats what i did,
today i have a great DSLR, and i am having a blast building up my portfolio..

valbjorndesign Photo

 

[Brinr]

funny thread, Dood you already got lots of stuff on your mind and what not but I was in the exact same situation like 4 years ago when i started school. I made several extrapolations:

1 the only jobs you can get with an art degree with emphasis in photo suck... a lot.

2 it's a fun degree but again you can't get a job

3 you still can't get a job with an art degree

4 jobs and $ make life a lot easier.

Here's what I did man, I don't know you financial situation all that well but if you can hang on for like 5 or 6 years of school get the photo degree (the two year would be really good since it's short). Then stay in school and pursue something that will help you with photo and the real world... say business, information systems, entrepreneur stuff, or maybe computer science that way you're marketable to the world and you can use it in your goofy lil photo business along the way. I got my photo degree this spring and I'll only be in school another year or maybe two and I'll have two degrees and a minor, plus I can do my goofy lil photo business along the way to help pay for... well equipment... but hey you could spend it on rent and food and all that other non-important stuff. Anyway, you'll be fine, you're 20 man make a big boy decision and always be flexible

 

[AgentDrex]

Be a slave to someone else and keep photography as a hobby to start with. Then later, you can be a slave to your dreams. Use the time being a slave to others to hone your technique. Perhaps you end up working at an office that needs some promotional photos done. You get a chance to show off your knowledge and if you're good enough, perhaps your name will become slung around and you'll find yourself getting paid for shoots. Perhaps at one point you will get so many paying photography jobs, that you can start living off of it. I know what's in your heart and how it is screaming to get out. Tell it to have patience. I hope your mother was telling you along the same thing, and not just "give up/forget photography". That is lame advice. If you have a passion for it, those that love you should find it in their hearts to understand and come to terms with it. But seriously. Be a slave to someone else while you grow your passion.

Your other option is to become a starving artist. Steal photo equipment, take photos, beg for food, do odd jobs here and there. You get to travel wherever you want pretty much. No rent, no bills. And perhaps, if you get really good over the course of your life, your photos will become sought after pieces of art and will go for millions...after you die...

 

[Overread36]

I have a D80 and have submitted a few photos here already.
The reason i wanted to go to college to do it was to learn everything about it with all the basics, and knowing how to use studio lighting and stuff like that.

Most people of your age that want to make it big in photography are already assisting a top photographer

Aye, but its never too late to start - heck I know a guy who took up plumbing well past his 50s and manages to turn a very good local trade now. It is however a lot easier to start when you are younger -some will get the advantage and start earlier and some take longer to find their way - trick is to follow it when you realise it.

Be a slave to someone else and keep photography as a hobby to start with. Then later, you can be a slave to your dreams.

If your aim is to follow your dreams then - don't put it off to tomorrow, because tomorrow will never actually come. Instead follow your dream from the start - however recognise that part of following that dream might well be time spent flipping burgers or stacking shelves to tide you over - to earn money to continue following the dream.

The difference is in the wording and the mindset - if you always intend to follow the dream tomorrow then its very easy to keep waiting for tomorrow to appear - and then bam 50 years passes and tomorrow jumps past you.

 

[imagemaker46]

You can do whatever you want if you put your mind to it. However if any of my 3 boys had of said they wanted to follow in my footsteps as a photographer I would have been thrilled and told them to find a career that they will be able to live on. Photography in all areas is sadly dying, it used to be that a kid that showed some skill could latch on at one of the local news papers, that has all but gone now. They just overwork the staff guys they have left, until they quit and then they just use experienced freelancers to fill the spots. It is so difficult these days. I would take courses, learn photography and just enjoy it. Some where down the road the opportunity to take a shot at doing it full time may work out.

 

[Compaq]

I would have been telling you to think about a career about 6 years ago

I agree. I don't want to sound rude, but you've had your entire life to consider a career. You've taken courses at school, anything you found interesting? Unless you really burn for photography, you should find something else - that is my advice. Don't settle on your hobby unless you know in your heart this is what you want to do. You can always have photography as a hobby, but you can't have your job as a hobby. The important thing is to find something you'd be interested in doing first, salary second.. Consider where you might get work.

I'd be careful trying to have my hobby as my only job. That's my personal opinion. Do you have any form of education at this point?

Why don't people reflect over their lives? Dig deep and find out what you want to do.