Interesting thread. I've thought about this for a while and realized if I wasn't restricted with weddings this year that I'd actually go and work somewhere remote for research in the sciences.
paparazzinick wrote:
When I was 15 I was set on playing football and making a lot of money Had scouts from the NFL come watch me my junior and senior year in high school. My senior year I blew my knee out and it ended my career, after having a full ride offered to me at Miami.
This sounds like a combo of my husband and I's life.
He played baseball and football. In HS he blew his knee playing football, but his love was baseball and he was a pitcher so it wasn't the end of the world. He went on a scholarship for baseball, was about to be signed to Detroit when he blew his pitching shoulder. In his case though... it's 12 years later and he still hasn't graduated and/or figured out what the heck to do with his life. He's changed his major four times. Sigh. Obviously he wasn't planning on ever doing anything except playing sports.
I graduated with a graphic design degree and my minor was in photography so naturally I started shooting stuff for other students and then for the ad agency I worked for... I liked shooting better than sitting at the desk all day Probably explains why I still hate editing.
My degree is in Geography and after graduating I worked in GIS. First at an environmental company doing site plans and working with historic aerials, then for the last 6 years I worked for the local county government doing mapping for the planning department. I was never in love with GIS, like some people I know, but I felt alright settling for it when I decided that I hated going to school for a business degree. I fell in love with photography the summer after I graduated college while taking a trip with my family.
I just left my position doing GIS at the end of the year to pursue photography full-time. Like most people here, it's become an incredible passion. As long as I'm able to keep paying the bills, I'll be happy : )
JakeB. wrote:
My degree is in Geography and after graduating I worked in GIS. First at an environmental company doing site plans and working with historic aerials, then for the last 6 years I worked for the local county government doing mapping for the planning department. I was never in love with GIS, like some people I know, but I felt alright settling for it when I decided that I hated going to school for a business degree. I fell in love with photography the summer after I graduated college while taking a trip with my family.
I just left my position doing GIS at the end of the year to pursue photography full-time. Like most people here, it's become an incredible passion. As long as I'm able to keep paying the bills, I'll be happy : )...Show more →
So IF you were unable to pay your bills with photography, you would do something else full time and keep photography part time ?
I would likely pick up other part-time work, trying make myself as available as possible for opportunities in photography... or, I'll just stop paying my bills :P
I have a store front studio in an office/commercial complex, but im considering closing it and just renting a small office where clients can meet. Downsize my entire operation. Just too much overhead. Im still not too keen on the "meet me at the hotel/coffee shop" business model.
lilyphoto wrote:
My story is actually kind of ironic. Photography has always been my passion. My parents wouldn't allow me to study photography in college. They told me that you couldn't have a successful career in photography, that I wouldn't find work and would be poor.
So I got my teaching degree. It was my second passion.
The year I graduated (2 years ago) the public education system funding went down the tubes. Barely anyone that I graduated with has found a teaching job, those that did either got laid off or are worried they will.
I am doing pretty good with the whole wedding photography thing.
Teaching in the UK is going down the tubes, with various changes to the pensions, cash strapped school and governments inspectors turning a blind eye to headmasters illegally putting unqualified teaching assistants in front of classes all to blame.
Teaching supply for the last seven years or so.
Teaching now supplements the photography, rather than the other way around.
Had scouts from the NFL come watch me my junior and senior year in high school. My senior year I blew my knee out and it ended my career, after having a full ride offered to me at Miami.