photography as an extra income

[renato88]

Like many of us (I think) I would love to earn money with photography. How many of you have a fulltime job, other than photography, and how much time/money you make with photography as an extra income?
I am about to decide to climb up the ladder (financial dept.) fulltime or leave it the way it is, part-time hours and start up/learn photography to make money...

[candleman]

so.... you haven't "learned" photography yet?
It would be pretty silly of me to assume its easy to open a resturaunt and expect to make any money If i know little to noything aboutt he business.. right?

I have a full time job.. only because I have 3 kids so don't want to risk it too early.

business keeps me busy most weekends and after hours. The money is'nt wonderful.. but that's what to expect when you're constantly buying more stuff when you're starting out.

I'm plotting another price hike soon and i'm re-packaging the way I sell and adopting a more sales orientated approach.

[renato88]

Originally Posted by candleman

so.... you haven't "learned" photography yet?
It would be pretty silly of me to assume its easy to open a resturaunt and expect to make any money If i know little to noything aboutt he business.. right?

I have a full time job.. only because I have 3 kids so don't want to risk it too early.

business keeps me busy most weekends and after hours. The money is'nt wonderful.. but that's what to expect when you're constantly buying more stuff when you're starting out.

I'm plotting another price hike soon and i'm re-packaging the way I sell and adopting a more sales orientated approach.

I did not say I know little to nothing about photography.I am doing photography for quite a few years, ten years with digital SLR. Studio photography (products) for a graphic design company and later on a bit hobbying but recently portraits and hopefully next year weddings. I will second shoot this year to get experience before I do a wedding on my own. Uh if "I haven't learned photography yet"....there is always room to learn more.

[veritasimagery]

Originally Posted by renato88

I am about to decide to climb up the ladder (financial dept.) fulltime or leave it the way it is, part-time hours and start up/learn photography to make money...

Yeah, this is a bit confusing. If you don't know "photography" then why do you think you can make money with it? Most of us would never consider starting a business and then learning how to do it. I hope that's not what you meant, but that's how it sounds. It would be kinda like saying, "I like driving my car, so I'm gonna open up a shop and learn how to work on them." Usually the learning comes before making money at it.

Kevin
Veritas Imagery NW

[veritasimagery]

Originally Posted by renato88

I did not say I know little to nothing about photography.I am doing photography for quite a few years, ten years with digital SLR. Studio photography (products) for a graphic design company and later on a bit hobbying but recently portraits and hopefully next year weddings. I will second shoot this year to get experience before I do a wedding on my own. Uh if "I haven't learned photography yet"....there is always room to learn more.

See, this is more like the information you should have started with. You already "know" photography but you can still grow. I can "learn" how to drive, but still have room to improve. This makes a lot more sense than your first statement about "learning photography". What you meant was that you wanted to improve your skills more. Yes learn more, but not "learn" photography. When one says that they want to learn something it usually means that they know nothing, or very little, about it. That's why it was confusing.

Kevin
Veritas Imagery NW

[candleman]

Originally Posted by renato88

part-time hours and start up/learn photography to make money...

Originally Posted by renato88

I did not say I know little to nothing about photography.I am doing photography for quite a few years, ten years with digital SLR. Studio photography (products) for a graphic design company and later on a bit hobbying but recently portraits and hopefully next year weddings. I will second shoot this year to get experience before I do a wedding on my own. Uh if "I haven't learned photography yet"....there is always room to learn more.

OK, calm down.. sheesh.. your first post didn't say that.

Question2
What exactly are you wanting to spe******e in?
You mentioned products/Studio.. That's a world of difference from Weddings.
Good you're wantitng to second shoot.. but I'd say stick to what you know.... if you are already a proficient Studio/Product photographer.. why not go down that road and market yourself in that department instead of trying to learn from scratch again with People/Wedding Photography?


Just a thought.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by candleman

why not go down that road and market yourself in that department instead of trying to learn from scratch again with People/Wedding Photography?

...because that's where you find the big bucks? If I find any, I'll let you know...

To the OP, in all seriousness, there are way too many 'fill in the blanks' to give you an accurate idea...

only you know the income differential between the promotion, or working on photography as a sideline. Being able to control the camera is one thing, but it's only a fraction of the work involved.

Exactly how much time do you have to devote to running the business? How much capital to ensure you have the equipment, (plus redundancies), to do the job? How much time can you idle while you establish the business and build momentum and a market? Are you familiar with all of the steps to actually get the business set up and ready to go?

For myself, I had the luxury of having the time and capital to do it. I had half a mind to do it on the side, however in short order, it has become to the full time job, flipping my old job to more of a hobby. If it had failed, or never got off the ground, it wouldn't have bothered me. I might also be taking more pictures for myself, which I havent done now for about a year.

Based on what I see however, the stories of quick success is quite rare however, and the reasons for that success as much down to dumb luck as they are to solid practices and a plan....

As I've said before when this topic comes up, be careful what you wish for.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

...because that's where you find the big bucks? If I find any, I'll let you know...
.

please do.. lol

[Jim Bryant]

Photography is a full-time job for as well as others. First, you need to learn what your cost of doing business is, the market value of photography, and what other professional photographers are charging in your area. If, you feel that your, work is not up to par for charging what pros are charging. THEN Don't bother, until you: 1) gain the experience necessary to quit your full time job and charge those rates.

Why, because there are way too many people with that same attitude that are killing the market by providing WalMark/Kmart photography at those prices. Just take it from a professional's point of view.

You want to do this full time. Get a degree in business or work an internship with a professional photographer. That alone will provide you with valuable insight on what it takes to become a good photographer and what the market rates to charge.

[renato88]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Photography is a full-time job for as well as others. First, you need to learn what your cost of doing business is, the market value of photography, and what other professional photographers are charging in your area. If, you feel that your, work is not up to par for charging what pros are charging. THEN Don't bother, until you: 1) gain the experience necessary to quit your full time job and charge those rates.

Why, because there are way too many people with that same attitude that are killing the market by providing WalMark/Kmart photography at those prices. Just take it from a professional's point of view.

You want to do this full time. Get a degree in business or work an internship with a professional photographer. That alone will provide you with valuable insight on what it takes to become a good photographer and what the market rates to charge.

Thanks Jim.Well, I was not very clear first time, and apologize for that but I have done product photography (medium format film camera plus Canon 20D at that time) for a graphic design company. Last four years used my D80 for some sports photography (published in local paper), travel, nature and landscape and going into weddings, portraits and corporate events. To learn and not to jump into something I have never done, I have contacted a local photographer who is specialized in wedding photography to be his assistant. And that is where I mentioned "learn", because I have never done weddings before. I also have attended many weekend photography workshops in the last few months and I am doing online (photography and Photoshop) Scott Kelby Online training courses as well.
As far as running a business, I have had my own company with a partner. Marketing, advertising, all that I am familiar with.

I am at the point now that I can go into financial direction (study, promotion) but that means spending more time for study instead of trying to get my photography business started. And that is where my question started; what do most of you do, having a fulltime job and do photography on the side.....or if you really want, go into photography and give it all you can?
Am sorry if I was not clear and got the 'who do you think you are?" reactions, which I agree with if that was the point. So basically, going for your passion or follow the career path that has nothing to do with photography?