I literally get paid to do what I love for a living
It took me many years of dedication and persistence to reach this point, but now I literally get paid to do what I love most in life for a living. They often say that the easiest way to figure out what you’ll truly enjoy as a career is to ask yourself what you would happily do for work, even if you weren’t getting paid a single cent. For me, that’s anything and everything related to photography. Even when I’m not officially hired to shoot, I’m often found wandering the streets of whichever city I happen to be in at the time, capturing images of anything that inspires me, constantly searching for more great shots to add to my ever-growing portfolio. This kind of passion and dedication is truly how you can tell you love what you do.
But that wasn’t always the case for me. I’ve held high-paying jobs and even owned a few small businesses, but those roles always felt like just work—something I had to do rather than something I wanted to do. What I’ve learned over the years is that you can do work you don’t particularly like for decent money, but only for short periods. Over the long term, that becomes unsustainable. The very best path is to find something you genuinely love to do, and as the saying goes, you’ll never work a day in your life.
Beyond the creative joy that photography brings me, here are some of the unique and rewarding experiences I get to enjoy every single day—experiences many people don’t get to have:
I get the incredible opportunity to visit a different location every single day. This could mean a hotel, someone’s house or business, a park, sporting field, church, restaurant—the list truly is endless—and for me, I absolutely love the variety that comes with going somewhere new each day. I never quite know where I’ll end up, and that element of surprise keeps things fresh and exciting.
Then there’s the weather aspect, which adds another layer of challenge and interest. If I’m shooting indoors, obviously the weather doesn’t play a role, but when I’m outdoors it’s a completely different story. I’ll find myself shooting in bright sunshine, strong wind, heavy rain, or extreme heat and cold, and I genuinely enjoy all of these conditions. Each day’s weather presents a unique puzzle, forcing me to think creatively about how best to capture the shoot despite the elements. This constantly evolving environment also sharpens my skills as a photographer because I’m continually learning new techniques and adapting to new challenges.
I also have the chance to meet an incredible variety of people almost every day. This is particularly interesting for me since I tend to be more introverted by nature, but honestly, some of the individuals I meet are absolutely inspiring. From CEOs to waiters and everyone in between, I truly enjoy having meaningful conversations about their lives and businesses. I learn something new from each person I engage with. For example, at a recent event, I had the privilege of hearing a US helicopter pilot share stories about his military service—the people he’d saved, the sacrifices he’d witnessed, and the profound impact those experiences had on his life. Moments like that are truly moving and unforgettable.
I get ample downtime to recharge. When I’m not out shooting or taking my energetic dog for a walk, I’m usually at home editing images in the comfort of my own space. I can settle down with my laptop and a good coffee, put some music or TV on in the background, and really get in the zone as I edit the photos from my previous shoots. This routine not only sharpens my creative eye but also provides an important break for my body and mind, helping me to stay refreshed and ready for whatever the next day brings.
I’ve become a human encyclopedia! I’ve had the incredible opportunity to shoot events covering a wide range of fascinating topics, from nursing and energy to politics, technology, food, sport, and so much more. This variety means I get to hear the latest cutting-edge information from all these different industries as it emerges. Honestly, I feel like if I had more time and resources, I could start 100 businesses just based on the wealth of knowledge I absorb each week. Essentially, learning is a constant and effortless part of my life—I never stop absorbing new ideas and insights by default.
Gone are the days when I had to buy tickets to attend keynote speeches or wait for major conferences—now, those inspiring speakers essentially come to me! Whether it’s CEOs, politicians, celebrities, models, or athletes, I get paid to watch them share their stories and insights live. Interestingly, some of the best and most memorable speeches often come from people you’ve never heard of before. These lesser-known figures can deliver powerful, impactful talks that fill even the largest rooms with an unforgettable atmosphere.
Another aspect I truly love is the unpredictable nature of my schedule. My days off might be Sunday and Monday, but then I could be shooting on a Tuesday night, early Wednesday morning, all day Thursday and Friday, and again Saturday afternoon. This kind of variety makes the traditional 5-day working week feel completely outdated, and I’m grateful not to be stuck in the usual 9-to-5 grind or battling peak hour traffic every day. For me, this flexible lifestyle is a fantastic way to live and work.
Do I ever have bad days? Absolutely, that’s just part of life - sometimes things simply don’t go as planned. But I can’t blame myself or photography for those moments. I vividly remember one particular shoot that spanned two days at a beautiful beachside location, only to be met with relentless pouring rain throughout both days. Although I was well prepared with all the right gear, many of the event activities were cancelled last minute, including the much-anticipated beach party finale. Unfortunately, most of the attendees had already left by the time anything could happen. Because of these circumstances, I didn’t come away with nearly as many strong images as I had hoped for, and to top it off, the client was quite unhappy, even sending me a harsh email criticizing my work.
What I’m often asked, though, is how to pursue doing what you love when the cost of living keeps rising and expenses are higher than ever. In simpler terms: how do you quit a job you dislike and still manage to cover your bills? Trust me, I understand - it’s not as simple as just walking away from your corporate career to start a small candle making business or anything else you might dream of. The real challenge is figuring out how to generate enough income from that passion to sustain yourself financially. Until you’ve reached that point, it’s usually smarter and safer to continue with your day job while building your new venture on the side.
The benchmark I use to measure success is the average wage. Here in Australia in 2025, the average wage is pretty much spot on $100K AUD. I believe that if you can earn at least that amount, doing what you truly love for a living, you’ll be part of the elite 1% club - the group of people the other 99% rarely get to join. Keep in mind, though, that some have managed to start side hustles based on their passions and earn $1 million or more, so it’s definitely not impossible to achieve remarkable financial success. What I’m saying is, as a bare minimum, you should aim for that $100K benchmark (or whatever the average wage is in your own country) so you can cover your bills and still enjoy a fulfilling life.
It’s equally important to understand that for this to really work, you need to have three key elements in place:
You love doing it
You can make a living from it
You are good at it
If you only have two of these, you will find it extremely difficult to succeed - that’s just the reality of it. For example, I love music, and of course, famous singers make a lot of money, but since I can’t sing, ticking the other two boxes doesn’t take me very far. So my advice is to make sure you tick all three boxes before committing fully — this combination is what sets you up for real success and satisfaction.I’m also not a very religious person, but there is a famous comedian based in the US who is very religious, and his belief is that everyone was put on earth wth a special talent and they just need to find out what that is. Once you’ve done this you can use that talent to make a living by following the three points above.
Finding this talent can be tricky. I’ve found the best way to search is to just start writing down the things that you love to do, even if they seem crazy as a career. For example, if you’re like me and you love dogs, write it down because they might be something there - maybe you are supposed to raise guide dogs, or work at the RSPCA. Just keep writing down a list of things that you love, and once compete, then start to figure out what the possible career is, if you can make a living from it, and if you would be good at it. There are people in Australia that make $200/hour from walking dogs - so always been open minded!
This exercise may take some time and patience to see real progress. It took me years of dedication and hard work, so don’t give up too quickly. The important thing is that you make a start right now, because the sooner you begin, the sooner you will be able to do what you truly love for a living. Have you ever thought seriously about leaving your current job to follow your dreams and passions?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences – please share them with me in the comments below.