My advice to photography enthusiasts looking to go pro

One of my daughter’s close friends has recently developed a strong interest in photography and is considering it as a possible career path. This prompted me to reflect on my own journey from being a simple hobbyist to becoming a full-time professional photographer. With that in mind, I decided to share some of my thoughts on this transition, including the advantages and challenges that come with being paid for your photography work.

Firstly, let me start by saying that I’m a huge believer in truly loving what you do. As the saying goes, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. Speaking from my own experience, this has definitely been true for me, but I fully recognise that it might not be the case for everyone. I would strongly encourage anyone who aspires to become a professional photographer to make sure they genuinely enjoy being an amateur first, embracing the learning process and challenges before taking that big leap into the professional world.

But being a professional is different. All of a sudden, people are paying money to get some form of return for their investment, so there’s the added pressure of having to deliver. I remember when I was an amateur, getting all excited about a location of a certain type of weather, or subject, grabbing my camera and putting in the time and effort, only to realise when I got back home that NONE of the images I took were worth keeping. This is something you wont have the luxury of when getting paid.

But its not all bad. When shooting as a pro, you’ll typically get a brief of what to shoot, how to shoot it, and what is expected. Plus, shooting pro actually delivers you subjects and locations to shoot, rather than having to aimlessly look for them. But I have to make this point upfront - if the pressure of having to deliver is going to take all the joy out of your photography experience - dont go pro.

I love music. It has this incredible ability to help me relax while simultaneously giving me a boost of energy. Being a musician can certainly be highly rewarding and even hugely profitable if you pursue it professionally. I own several guitars, high-quality speakers, and other musical equipment that fuel my passion. Although I could choose to study music formally and try my hand at writing my own songs, I’m hesitant because I don’t want to risk losing the pure joy I get from simply listening. If I were forced to perform on stage or felt constant pressure to compose original music, I’m fairly certain I would end up resenting what I once loved so much. I’ve seen this happen to a close friend of mine who adored photography and attempted to turn professional. Unfortunately, the many stresses and demands that come with making money from it overwhelmed her, and she completely fell out of love with photography altogether.

What exactly are those stresses and demands you’ll face? Essentially, you’ll be running your own small business, and anyone who’s been through that will tell you it’s incredibly challenging and requires a lot of dedication. In fact, around 80% of businesses fail within the first five years, so the odds are undeniably stacked against you from the very beginning. Beyond simply taking great photos, you need to actively find clients through sales and marketing efforts, handle invoicing and continuously chase payments , ensure all your business documentation and legal requirements are up to date, establish efficient systems and processes to keep the business running smoothly, and manage many other tasks that come with juggling multiple roles. It’s a demanding journey that requires more than just photographic skill.

Now, I come from a small business background where I built my own website from scratch. My wife is a skilled bookkeeper who manages all our financial matters, and I have a solid sales background that equips me with the know-how to effectively find clients. These combined skills give me distinct advantages in this competitive industry. Finding clients, in particular, tends to be the hardest challenge when starting out. Let’s break down some numbers to illustrate this point. If your average photoshoot fee when you’re just beginning is around $500, and the average client only needs your services twice per year, that means the average value of each client annually is approximately $1,000. As of today, the average wage in Australia surpasses $100,000 per year, so you would need to secure 100 clients just to match that income before accounting for any business expenses. And it’s important to note this calculation assumes those clients remain loyal, which often isn’t the case for a variety of reasons beyond your control.

Many successful entrepreneurs have often said that when you are just starting out, you tend to have plenty of time but very little money (which is usually the opposite once you become successful), and that statement is certainly true. My first month of going professional as a photographer consisted of just two small bookings – bringing in about $600 in total. So, for the most part, I literally had most of the month completely free and empty of work commitments. What did I choose to do with all that free time on my hands? I pretty much divided it evenly, spending about half of it going out and shooting anything I could find to continually improve my skills, and the other half dedicated to hustling – actively seeking new clients by any means necessary, even if it meant offering to shoot for free just to build my portfolio and reputation.

But it’s not all negative. If you don’t mind handling all the small business tasks, or if you can outsource them effectively, then photography can be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling career. You’ll have the opportunity to shoot at a variety of different locations, meet a diverse range of interesting people, and constantly learn new skills and techniques. No two days will ever be the same, which keeps the work exciting and fresh. On top of that, if you develop a strong reputation and are regularly booked, you can earn well above the average wage. Some of us even get the chance to travel across the country, or even around the world, while getting paid to do what we love – which is pretty amazing.

Always remember, if you truly love what you do, and you’re genuinely good at it, and you’re able to get paid well for it, then not much else really matters in the grand scheme of things. You’ll still experience difficult or tiring days along the way, you’ll inevitably make mistakes, and you’ll occasionally wonder if you made the right choice for your life and career. However, at the end of the day, you will be better off than at least 90% of people on this planet. So, trust yourself, embrace the journey, and just go for it with confidence.

If you’re considering taking the exciting step to become a professional photographer, I would be more than happy to offer my support and guidance. Feel free to share any questions or concerns you might have in the comments section below, and I’ll gladly take the time to respond and help you on your journey.