Photography can be a cathartic form of expression for some people, so much so that you may not be able to imagine doing anything else with your life. People say that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life, so why not consider photography a viable career path? Unfortunately, being a successful photographer isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially with the field’s amount of competition. To move toward your success, you have to persevere to push yourself past the difficulties ahead of you.
Is pushing toward success worth it? Is becoming a career photographer worth it? Perhaps the following reasons will help you answer those questions.
No Set Schedule
The standard 9-to-5 job isn’t for everyone, and if you become a career photographer, conventional hours are immediately off the table. Odd hours become the new norm, as does focusing on your strengths and outsourcing your weaknesses, both of which you won’t find at a standard office job. As a photographer, your home can become your office, and 9-to-5 can mean 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. if that’s when you work best. Your weekly schedule can change every week, and it’ll fit within the norm of the job you’ve chosen.
Best of all, you won’t have to worry about a monotonous day. Every day can be different than the one before.
Balance
Though the lack of a set schedule might seem unconventional and unstable, being a photographer is actually rewarding. It has a beautiful balance that only your fellow photographers can truly see. You don’t have to choose between time with your family and your work schedule, because you have no set schedule. You can work from home, while you travel, with a team or solo, and so much more.
Likewise, there’s no set expectation as to what a photographer looks like or when they should be retired. No matter your age or gender, so long as you can deliver quality content to your clients, you’ll be able to work to your heart’s content in a way that balances with your personal life.
Positive = Negative
As a photographer, every positive can also be negative. You’re getting paid to do what you love, but you also need to have the entrepreneurial spirit (or work with an agency) to do so successfully. You have an erratic schedule, but you’re also in control of said schedule. You’re working paycheck-to-paycheck, but the reward for your hard work is well worth the instability. Your competition has grown dramatically due to social media, but DSLRs’ price has decreased, and social media has made it easier than before to get your work to the public.
Every positive has a negative and vice versa. It’s how you deal with it that determines your success.