I am a part timer working on a 5 year plan.
I am starting year 4.
my day job is with a little company called TI.
me ... i built up my family/portrait work first.
Then hung out on another forum.
somebody from here was also on that forum. he was looking for a shooter. showed him my smugmug site and he gave me a chance.
yes it was in another state. it was a great experience.
I have shot with the shooter for 3 years. Now we try to shoot at least one a year together.
The shooter turned me onto Fred Miranda.
I have picked up several 2nd shooting gigs here on FM. mainly by hanging out and a great recommend from a the first photog i worked with.
It has been good working with other shooters.
I picked up several small weddings and shoot them as primary. ( Including 2 weddings in Taiwan because of my day job.)
Last year, I also picked up shooting 2nd for a local company that needed a second shooter.
over the course of 6-7 months, i shot 11 weddings.
I went to my first workshop last fall.
I am setting everything up to attend my first bridal show this year.
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The biggest thing i see is why higher somebody who just popped up on the radar screen.
Meaning you in Chicago.....
It can be done .... but you should have some marketing plan.
