This applies to photographers too?

Mainecoonmaniac · Feb 6, 2015

http://www.fastcompany.com/3040930/...etween-a-creative-hobby-and-a-creative-career

horacekenneth · Feb 6, 2015

thanks

blansky · Feb 6, 2015

Good advice.

BUT some people will never have what it takes whether it's talent, luck, personality style, or business sense to succeed in creative careers.

AND success is defined in many ways. You may be a great creative "artist" but that doesn't mean that your work will sell or you will make a decent living or raise a family with the proceeds from it.

Success to some may just mean you enjoy it and it gives you pleasure.

There almost needs to be a time frame for someone to pursue self employed creative careers, but then move on when it fails to reach any financial success.

MartinCrabtree · Feb 6, 2015

Yep what he said. I sit here unemployed and not out of money trying to decide what direction to take at 56 years old. That article will come in handy once I read it 30 times.

Trail Images · Feb 6, 2015

BUT some people will never have what it takes whether it's talent, luck, personality style, or business sense to succeed in creative careers.

I went to a photo seminar here in So Cal in the late 70's. At one of the coffee breaks I asked the presenter who was fairly well established by then how he was doing in general and dealing with the strong competition. He said, " it's not a better photographer that I'm concerned about, it's the better salesperson that I have trouble with".

snapguy · Feb 6, 2015

I've competed professionally with some of the top photographers in the world and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some can't count from one to ten without help and others are math whizes. Some lack the talent for basic human communication (think: "Herman" in the comic pages) and some are as slick as a Rolls Royce salesman. The notion of "oh, all you need is THIS and you will make oodles of dough with your camera" is hooey. One has to find one's own path. Name me a dozen top photographers who have an MBA from Harvard. A successful photographer has a grab bag of talents and handicaps and they vary from one photog to another. It is an art not a science.

Trail Images · Feb 6, 2015

I've competed professionally with some of the top photographers in the world and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some can't count from one to ten without help and others are math whizes. Some lack the talent for basic human communication (think: "Herman" in the comic pages) and some are as slick as a Rolls Royce salesman. The notion of "oh, all you need is THIS and you will make oodles of dough with your camera" is hooey. One has to find one's own path. Name me a dozen top photographers who have an MBA from Harvard. A successful photographer has a grab bag of talents and handicaps and they vary from one photog to another. It is an art not a science.

Very well said and a solid perspective overall for sure.

Pioneer · Feb 6, 2015

This is all terrific advice if you are interested in turning your hobby into your career. But the best advice is to quit reading FastCompany, or any of the others, and go do it. If you are waiting for the "right time" to make the move, forget it. There will never be a "right time." If you have big bills, that just enhances the importance, or urgency. The difference between those two words is often only the amount of time before the next bill is due.

Of course you will then need a new hobby. What is never really said in these articles is that our hobby is usually a way to relax and burn off steam. Some of us who have become self employed take up cussing.

Mainecoonmaniac · Feb 6, 2015

I ruined a my hobby by making it into a profession. It's really tough for me to enjoy shooting uninteresting assignments. I have been lucky to shot a few jobs that I love, but overall it's doing it for the money. Frank Ockenfels said it best. I'm paraphrasing now but he basically said "Clients pay you to shoot what they want, not what you want". If a photographer is lucky, he or she will shoot what they want and make a living off of it. So what's your experience?

gone · Feb 6, 2015

Do something because you love doing it. Back when I was a teenager( before the wheel), I had a wife and two kids, so my choices were limited, what w/ my lack of education and skills. Had a lot of low pay, dangerous jobs. So I went to school to learn being a machinist because I was always mechanically inclined, and liked and understood mechanical things. 8 hours of school in the day, took a nap, then worked graveyard at a bakery. It was paid for by the government. I got a small stipend, and was called Manpower Training & Development. Once the kids were raised, I never once worked at anything ever again unless it was enjoyable and/or important to others. When I decided to become an artist, and now w/ my photography, it was because I enjoyed it. The money is just nothing. And you know what? If you satisfy yourself w/ your work, that's all that matters.

I don't understand why people don't get that? This is the only chance at a life in these human bodies. This is not a trial run, this is it! So, its important to do what you want with it.

darkosaric · Feb 6, 2015

momus said:
I don't understand why people don't get that? This is the only chance at a life in these human bodies. This is not a trial run, this is it! So, its important to do what you want with it.

I think it is fear. People are often stuck in one place in their life and they are afraid to move in to the unknown, afraid of the change. I know many who are sitting in big corporations and have fear of the change. The worst is for those who are working what they don't like and they have good salary.

Pioneer · Feb 7, 2015

momus said:
I don't understand why people don't get that? This is the only chance at a life in these human bodies. This is not a trial run, this is it! So, its important to do what you want with it.

I do think that most people do get it. But there are only so many of those "wonderful" jobs available. I don't mean to sound defeatist, but people do have to make a living. I doubt that the guy in my community who pumps septic tanks for a living would ever say it was his dream job. But someone has to do it and he makes a very good living at it.

Most people do gravitate towards jobs they enjoy. Not everyone can be a race car driver but I think my UPS driver is making up for it in his job.

Actually, I think it is possible to enjoy life without having to go find that specific job that you absolutely love. Family, hobbies, sports, reading, any number of other things can. and do, fill in the gaps. This is also why I don't automatically agree with people when they tell me to be a photographer. After all, I obviously enjoy it and am good at it, surely I could get rich.

Not!

fotch · Feb 8, 2015

I love photography however, for me, its either making money or making pictures. I did & do make pictures to help me make money and enjoy both that way.

darkosaric · Feb 8, 2015

Pioneer said:
I do think that most people do get it. But there are only so many of those "wonderful" jobs available. I don't mean to sound defeatist, but people do have to make a living. I doubt that the guy in my community who pumps septic tanks for a living would ever say it was his dream job. But someone has to do it and he makes a very good living at it.

Most people do gravitate towards jobs they enjoy. Not everyone can be a race car driver but I think my UPS driver is making up for it in his job.

Actually, I think it is possible to enjoy life without having to go find that specific job that you absolutely love. Family, hobbies, sports, reading, any number of other things can. and do, fill in the gaps. This is also why I don't automatically agree with people when they tell me to be a photographer. After all, I obviously enjoy it and am good at it, surely I could get rich.

Not!

I think average person on the planet would like to have a job (any job), partner, and probably kids.
If you are privileged and lucky to be able to write on some photographic forum about dream job and seeking dreams (most of us here, me included) - then you can slowly make it. But from another side - many pros always told me: don't become a pro - you will hate photography and will be sick and tired from it :confused:.
I had many different jobs - and I learned that if you do your job god, and you are good at it - you will start to like it .

Mainecoonmaniac · Feb 10, 2015

I know I'm a lucky SOB. I have a job where I have good coworkers, regular pay and benefits. It's a M-F, 9-5 job with a pension. I've had jobs that didn't have that. Count my blessings.

This applies to photographers too?

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