Earning Intentions?

[candleman]

This is just a curiosity thing.

Who or how many of us on this forum have intentions of starting a business, or earning in some way, and who is in it just for the love of it?

Who & how many are already "professional" photographers ~ however abstract the definition of professional may be, where are you going with this.. ?

[sarahgirl777]

I voted for in the process of getting started. I'm doing my shoots for free just charging for prints until I feel I have a good portfolio and it will help me pay for the additional equipment I feel I need before I start charging more. I plan on making a go of it, however I am a stay at home mom now so any money I make is better than none. I don't have to make a whole lot to make me happy, but just for some extra spending money and for the love of photography.

[candleman]

phew, someone broke the ice.

i'm inbetween "not experienced enough" and "getting started"
i'm hoping to do work on weekends and after hours in the near future, and if demand grows i'll take it from there.
money from my current profession is pretty good, but it SUX and i'm really tired of it. Its been 7 years and i cant take any more of something i fell into by accident.

i'd love to eventually go full time into photography.. but for now its a pipe dream.

[CactusTri]

Well, I had to check "in the process of getting started" even though I am also in the "I make too much to replace my 'day job' paycheck" because I intend to have 2 jobs, my full-time "day job" and my photography business and am taking steps to make it "official" and will hopefully make enough to pay for my domain and some new camera gear from time to time.

[prince]

I am with the majority so far "I want to earn, but i dont feel experienced enough yet.."

I don't intend to make it a full time profession. I see it as an expensive hobby, fun to relax, and don't mind making some moolah

[rediguana]

I'm not sure which to answer, as I mostly do it for the fun of it. I do want some earnings from it, but I don't want to work full time at photography.

[starrylaurie]

Well, I checked "its just a hobby, i make too much to leave my current profession" but that's somewhat untrue. I'm a teacher, so the pay is laughable. Plus, I'm open to making it a part-time paying affair, possibly taking a position as a fill-in for bookings. (every teacher needs a little extra dough!) However, if that doesn't happen, I'm happy leaving it as a hobby/teaching it!

[windrider86]

I am in between. I have a business name and a license but am pretty insecure with my work. I dont think I am incredibly confident about doing portraits.
But, I have been hired by a few magazines to do shoots for them, which is cool. Thats why I like to nature photography the best. I can create my own art , anyway I want and the trees never come back and complain cause they look fat.
I am ever so close to being able to do this as a full time deal. But in a tiny town of only 9000 its tough. The magazines are based out of Denver so what they want is usually pretty limited out of this area.
I may have abreak tho as there is a new tv series being filmed here. Sex change hospital wil be airing the first of the week and they have asked for me to do some stills for them

[lissykeeper]

Originally Posted by starrylaurie

Well, I checked "its just a hobby, i make too much to leave my current profession" but that's somewhat untrue. I'm a teacher, so the pay is laughable. Plus, I'm open to making it a part-time paying affair, possibly taking a position as a fill-in for bookings. (every teacher needs a little extra dough!) However, if that doesn't happen, I'm happy leaving it as a hobby/teaching it!

I'm sort of dittoing Laurie here for the same reasons. I don't make enough teaching, but it does pay the bills. I'm afraid I couldn't make enough as a full time photog to do that. I do make a little moolah on the side, but I don't do it often enough to even be considered semi-pro.

Windrider big congrats on the tv show stills!

I went to school for too long to give it up now