Have you ever contemplated giving up your steady, well-paid job and going all in on your photography career? No, me neither! Not because I’m not ‘all in’, but actually because I’ve never had a regular 9-to-5 job. I’ve always worked freelance in the arts industries. However, there are many successful photographers who haven’t gone full-time and still rely on other work.
If that’s you and you’re considering taking that big step, then this video from Scott at Tin House Studio could be useful. It’s not always an easy transition to being your own boss, and there are both advantages and disadvantages to the decision.
Let’s look at the advantages of quitting the day job first (I’m an optimist at heart; that’s honestly what keeps me going!).
A 9 till 5 job may stagnate your growth as a photographer
It takes time and energy to build a strong portfolio, to network with clients, and to actually start doing commercially viable shoots, or the volume that you need to do to sustain a portrait or wedding business. Many of these things will need to be conducted during business hours.
A typical 9 to 5 job will also require additional commuting time, and there may be other time commitments outside of the 8-hour work shift (obviously, it depends on the job). If you’ve got a family then you’ll have very little free time to actually devote to growing your photography business. It’s not impossible, but it will be slower and more difficult, without a doubt.
Depending on your job, you’ll be pretty tired if you spend evenings editing and weekends shooting. You need a balanced life with time for rest, connecting with family and friends, and other activities. You’re not a robot, and keeping the two things going for too long could result in burnout.
And that travel portfolio you want to build? Forget it if you’re tethered to an office job in a location. Sure, you might be lucky and score some remote gig, but again with those, you’ll be required to still work long hours and won’t have as much time as you’d like to explore and take photos.
A 9 till 5 may not be as secure as you think
A steady monthly salary is great and not to be sniffed at. However, you may find that your job is not actually as bullet-proof and secure as you imagine. Companies go bust, people get laid off, often without much notice. Even with a monthly salary, you should have enough saved to be able to survive for 6 months without an income.
On the flip side, working for yourself will keep you on the lookout for upcoming issues, and you can plan ahead accordingly. Being in charge of your finances means that you can sometimes be more flexible.
What makes the transition to business owner such a challenge?
Obviously, the biggest issue for most people is the lack of a steady monthly income. It can be quite a shock, and there is no sugarcoating just how hard the first few months will be financially. Similarly, dealing with the tax system can be complicated depending on where you live, and having an accountant may be a good idea to reduce stress. Even with a solid business model and grasp on your financial goals, the nature of this industry often means several months of lag between marketing and actually getting steady business.
And it’s not always in the beginning, either. Almost anything can disrupt the income flow, which is why having a few different income strands is often a great option for many freelancers. The internet is full of niching down advice, but for many starting out, that’s not going to give you enough income to stay afloat. Again, it depends on where you live, the market, and how long you’ve spent building things up before taking the plunge to full-time photographer.
Scott says that it takes photographers an average of around three years before they can expect any kind of success. Up until then, they’re looking at a loss. If you have family support, that is a big help, as is lowering your expenses as much as you can and not overspending on gear that you probably don’t need yet.
Conclusion
Making the decision to give up a day job and pursue your photography career full-time is no easy decision, and one that must be weighed against your current financial and personal obligations. Know that you will take a big financial hit to start with. It can be incredibly frustrating and take more effort than working a day job ever does.
However, the rewards of running your own business and being able to go all in on your creative endeavours are worth everything. And you never have to say you’ll never go back to working for somebody else, either. You can take assistant or editing jobs, find a part-time gig that still gives you plenty of time for your photography, or take seasonal work. That’s the beauty of it: there is no one-size-fits-all template.
