Teen Undecided about my Future ( here's my Gallery =) )

Rick Colson said:

Just a few tidbits. There are approximately 62,000 photographers in
the US. The average income is less than $24,000. Only 10% of
photographers make more than $48,000. These are just the facts.

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It's also "fact" that the average salary for a newspaper reporter is less than $30,000 nationwide. In some areas of the country the average salary for a reporter is no more than $24,000. And my personal experieince is that most newspaper reporters work harder than most photographers.

If people base their decisions to follow a career path based only on money then no one would ever report the news ... or many other career paths.

Heck, most medical school graduates have to pay for school with student loans and end up paying off insane amounts of debt for more than 10 years after they become doctors and begin working. That means for the first decade of a highly paid doctor's career he or she actually has a NEGATIVE income (because they're still paying off all their loans).

I remember talking to a couple of classmates at my high school 10-year reunion who became doctors and they were talking about how some of our classmates who never even went to college actually had a better quality of life (in terms of their homes, cars, etc.) than they had because all their extra money was spent on paying off loans. Does that mean no one should consider a high-paying career in medicine?

There's more to the quality of life than the size of your salary. My job allows me to do work I actually enjoy, spend lots of time with my wife and daughter, afford a nice house, drive nice (though not luxury) cars, and have enough money to buy all the essential things and most of the non-essential things like iPods and computers and big screen TVs.

I have no doubt that I could have made more money becoming a banker, but that's not the kind of work I would enjoy and that kind of job probably requires me to work longer hours away from my family.

Salary isn't everything.

--
http://www.jjjphotography.com
See 'The Big Picture' at http://jjjphotography.blogspot.com/

hit the nail on the head! I suspect very few people became photographers for the money. Most do it because, dispite thier bitchin and moanin about how hard it is, they love photography and couldn't imagine doing anything else as a career. And there is plenty of opportunity to be a photographer and make a decent living.

--
Mark

There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

College, college, college. Then decide. Seriously, senior in high school, really doesn't know what he or she wants. Speaking of colleges, hope you already submitted applications (that time of year) or so so now...otherwise your future looks dim.

I make a ton of money, but am unhappy with my career. I would love to open up my own photo studio, but I'm chained to the golden handcuffs! I'd say follow your passion from the start.

-proudfather

Go to college, get a degree in education so you can teach. You'll always have a job. You can practice photography on weekends.

Thirty-five years ago, I dropped out of college to pursue photography. It was one of the worst three decisions I've made in my life. It's been extremely difficult and unrewarding.

Hmm, if I were going to spit out a degree, I would do one that requires actual math. As a rule of thumb, they pay better.

Education degrees pay less than just about any other degree.

I also dropped out of college to pursue my photography career. It have never regretted the decision. It has provided me with a well-above average income and more fun than just about any other career I could think of.

I did end up getting a degree (history) just because I enjoy school and history. Have never really used it but don't regret getting it. Might even get a grad degree sometime. We'll see. But my degree choice was because of personal interest, not because I actually wanted a job in that field. I love photography and wouldn't change fields for three times the money.

DIPics

Carl Feather said:

Go to college, get a degree in education so you can teach. You'll
always have a job. You can practice photography on weekends.

Thirty-five years ago, I dropped out of college to pursue
photography. It was one of the worst three decisions I've made in
my life. It's been extremely difficult and unrewarding.

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when i was in high school, i had planned on being a musician. I was a pretty good guitar player and had a pretty successful band and was allready well on my way to a recording contract. This was in the late 80's early 90's. Things happened, (a girl) and i left music. I ended up working with computers.

I see alot of people here saying photography is competitive, you competing against alot of people etc etc. The computer field is the same way. Everyone and their dog has a cousin/friend/uncle/brother that thinks they know something about computers or runs a computer repair business out of their basement. Much like photography.

I suspect that nowdays almost every field is like this to an extent. I mean if you wanna be a lawyer every small town seems to have 4-5 law offices, etc etc.

The point is, no matter what field you go into your likely to feel like your competing with every tom **** and harry and you WILL have to work hard to perservere. I hate to say it but, i think sometimes here you'll get a jaded answer, in that alot of these guys see you as yet ANOTHER person to compete with and are almost going to the point, maybe subconsciously of discouraging you to a point to maybe cut down on yet another person entering the field and further dilluting hte marketplace.

Photography is much like any other field. You might only make 20-30k a year or you might get lucky and make more. Money isn't everything as long as you can pay the bills, but what you have to ask yourself is, is it something you wanna do everyday as a living. Sometimes when you do what you love it becomes more a chore than a joy. For instance when i started with computers i used to read everything about em, i knew the specs of every processor the voltages, you name it. Nowdays? I could care less and i barely even read computer stuff anymore as most of it never applies to the day to day job of cleaning end user viruses and such.

I also wouldn't go to college for the sake of going to college, but trying to decide what you wanna do with the rest of your life at 18, well, that's just nuts. I know now looking back, that then i didn't know squat and there's no way the 18 year old me could decide with any accuracy what the 35 year old me would want.

Carl Feather said:

Go to college, get a degree in education so you can teach. You'll
always have a job. You can practice photography on weekends.

Thirty-five years ago, I dropped out of college to pursue
photography. It was one of the worst three decisions I've made in
my life. It's been extremely difficult and unrewarding.

Click to expand...

Man, I feel sorry for you. I don't know what has happened in your life, but you obviously don't have the same passion for photography that many professionals do. My WORST day as a photographer has been FAR better than my BEST day in my previous job where I made $80k/year. Being self-employeed is really, really hard - no doubt. But making your way through the politics and hassels of working for someone else is FAR more difficult and unrewarding.

"Get an education" for the sake of getting an education is no answer to the struggles and difficulties you will experience in life. If you want to be HAPPY, you must pursue your passions. If your passion is Law, then by all means become a lawyer. If your passion is medicine, follow it. If your passion is photography, find a way. Money does not make one happy, ever. Those who insist it does, don't know what happiness really is.

--
Mark

There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

I think your standard of work is quite high and there are several pics i like very much. The main thing that makes me think you could well make it is that you think (and shoot) conceptually, which could well lead to advertising work - easily the most lucrative sector.

When I was around your age (with the brass-balled arrogance of youth on my side), many well-meaning people warned me against a career in photography because it was so competitive. I thought, that's okay because I'll be the best. Ha ha ha. Many many years later, i'm not the best nor even in the same league as the people I think of as 'the best' in my field - but guess what? you don't have to be. You just have to be good enough. A lot of factors go into that. Sometimes being good enough means being able to say "$2000 a day" with a straight face. I still can't do that, but lots of people can and do.

Photography has been very good to me and I'd do it again tomorrow. Of course it's competitive, of course the industry is changing etc etc. But hedging your bets and approaching it as maybe a second income is just unprofessional from the start. IMHO, life is too short not to do something you love.

If this is the thing you love, then be a pro from day one: put all your chips on this square and commit all your energy to winning. Go to art school, get proper training, be your own harshest critc, stay focussed, work your ass off. Thousands of people succeed as pro photographers - why shouldn't you?
Best of luck.

--
http://www.thedrunkenboat.net

I checked your website & like the depth in your pics. However, my personal opinion (based on my limited experience) would be to complete whatever education/ skills you can acquire, while you're young. As you get older, things will get more expensive, difficult & you'll have more responsibilities.

Let the photography be your second/ part-time profession. That way, your day job can promote money required for your hobby & you don't have to worry about the basic necessities in life. Say, if you do well in Photography, you can always go Full Time.

I'd read some management article where they advised people to have/ blend multiple skills to produce exceptional quality results. Gaining multiple skills also broadens your mind & such people are more likely to think Outside the Box. That's where the root of innovation lies.

Once again, this is based on my "limited" experience!


--
Warm Regards,
HitsOfMisses
http://www.pbase.com/HitsOfMisses

You definitely have an eye for photography.

But being a professional photographer means business and if you aren't business or marketing savvy you are going to fall flat. I would consider majoring in business with a minor in marketing - this way even if you don't go into photography you can pretty much go anywhere. If I had it to do over again, that is the route I would take as my Physics degree has done squat for my career!

The people in this forum are some of the most helpful people I've ever had teh plessure to talk to. Just the fact that you guys(or girls) don't know me personalyl but are willing to take such time from your busy days to advice me is very appreciated.

I like photography but I realize the truth is, like many of you have told me told me, photography is just an extremly competitive career.

I'm not going to lie, I want to be pretty good off financially when I'm older. Not rich or anything, I mean $45,000 a year would be allright for me and something like $65,000 would be prefect. My dad only makes about $40,000 and we live pretty hapilly.

Having a different well-paying career and photography as a side-job, or even just a hobby, would be great BUT the reason I think I don't think about this option too much is because I have NO CLUE on what else I would like to do. I mean sure, medicine, law, engineering, ect are great careeres... but they just don't necesarily interest me.

I really would like to find another career that is pretty secure but I'm having trouble.

In the meantime, I'm applying to some colleges(mostly ones to too afr away from here) that have a good range of majors. I'm applyign to University of Hosuton, A&M, and UT and maybe another.

--
Check Out My Picture Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/htamez/

If you get into A&M and are looking for an assistant position, look me up. No promises though, you will have to impress me.

DIPics

lllZ3R0lll said:

The people in this forum are some of the most helpful people I've
ever had teh plessure to talk to. Just the fact that you guys(or
girls) don't know me personalyl but are willing to take such time
from your busy days to advice me is very appreciated.

I like photography but I realize the truth is, like many of you
have told me told me, photography is just an extremly competitive
career.

I'm not going to lie, I want to be pretty good off financially when
I'm older. Not rich or anything, I mean $45,000 a year would be
allright for me and something like $65,000 would be prefect. My dad
only makes about $40,000 and we live pretty hapilly.

Having a different well-paying career and photography as a
side-job, or even just a hobby, would be great BUT the reason I
think I don't think about this option too much is because I have NO
CLUE on what else I would like to do. I mean sure, medicine, law,
engineering, ect are great careeres... but they just don't
necesarily interest me.

I really would like to find another career that is pretty secure
but I'm having trouble.

In the meantime, I'm applying to some colleges(mostly ones to too
afr away from here) that have a good range of majors. I'm applyign
to University of Hosuton, A&M, and UT and maybe another.

--
Check Out My Picture Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/htamez/

Click to expand...

I enjoyed your photograph, and really enjoyed the discussion here.
My opinion as a ameture photographer

If you are doing well in school, and have the potential for a fairly secure future, I would choose the college path. To most, photography is much more enjoyable as a hobby than a profession. In fact most things in life are. Even things you love doing. I am a physician. I would tell you if I were practicing medicine as a hobby, and was independantly wealthy, I would enjoy it a lot more. Of course, the average physician makes more than the average photographer, and It becomes very hard enjoying something you love, if its not even paying the bills.

Besides, you are just too young to commit 100% to anything. College will at least give you more options, and will expose you to other areas that you may like.

An honest answer. Go with your passion. The security and future will come automatically. If it is a true passion and you have any talent ,your success will be mind blowing.

It's that simple.
--
Brooke
D2X, M3, F3, SL2, C220

lllZ3R0lll said:

The people in this forum are some of the most helpful people I've
ever had teh plessure to talk to. Just the fact that you guys(or
girls) don't know me personalyl but are willing to take such time
from your busy days to advice me is very appreciated.

I like photography but I realize the truth is, like many of you
have told me told me, photography is just an extremly competitive
career.

Click to expand...

What career isn't? Every field is filled with a few people who make very little, a few people who make a lot and most of people somewhere in between.

lllZ3R0lll said:

I'm not going to lie, I want to be pretty good off financially when
I'm older. Not rich or anything, I mean $45,000 a year would be
allright for me and something like $65,000 would be prefect. My dad
only makes about $40,000 and we live pretty hapilly.

Click to expand...

$45,000? Surely that can be done in the photography field!?!? I am not a pro or even trying to be, but $45,000 seems very possible to me.

lllZ3R0lll said:

Having a different well-paying career and photography as a
side-job, or even just a hobby, would be great BUT the reason I
think I don't think about this option too much is because I have NO
CLUE on what else I would like to do. I mean sure, medicine, law,
engineering, ect are great careeres... but they just don't
necesarily interest me.

Click to expand...

This goes to my subject line. You will excel doing what you love. There is a saying that goes something like this: "Find out what you love and find a way to make money at it".

lllZ3R0lll said:

I really would like to find another career that is pretty secure
but I'm having trouble.

In the meantime, I'm applying to some colleges(mostly ones to too
afr away from here) that have a good range of majors. I'm applyign
to University of Hosuton, A&M, and UT and maybe another.

Click to expand...

College certaintly can't hurt, but you should have an idea of what you want to do, though most change majors. Heck, I thought I wanted to be an Mechanical Engineer and ended up hating it. I switched to Business school at the start of my second year and have been a computer programmer since graduating 16 years ago. Dang, has it been that long already!?! :> )

lllZ3R0lll said:

--
Check Out My Picture Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/htamez/

Click to expand...

Good luck with your decision.

--
Greg
http://www.pictureroanoke.com

The hardest thing a person has to do is live by their own words. - Me 2006

well, even though I have put in my 2 cents already, I want to point out a few things.

1. For the majority of people there is no one thing that they love, and all other things they hate. So you dont even know if you have interests in other areas yet or not. College gives you a chance to figure that out.

2. Strongly recommend to you to do an internship with a local photographer, even it is for free, to go to a few weddings, senior picutres, studio family portraits. The bread and butter of photography. Makes sure you are passionate about that.

Most photographer dont go to exotic places to shoot for national geographic, or have their abstract pictures put up in museums. Thats why I say photography may be more enjoyable as a hobby than a profession.

If I could be very successful, and make the same amount of money no matter what I did, I would be a photographer. That much said, I have found another thing that I enjoy doing and has much more security, and affords me the possiblity of pursuing many of my other passions, including photography.
I suggest you keep your options open and opt for college.

kevindar said:

well, even though I have put in my 2 cents already, I want to point
out a few things.

1. For the majority of people there is no one thing that they
love, and all other things they hate. So you dont even know if you
have interests in other areas yet or not. College gives you a
chance to figure that out.

Click to expand...

True, as I started college as an Engineering student and finished in business school.

kevindar said:

2. Strongly recommend to you to do an internship with a local
photographer, even it is for free, to go to a few weddings, senior
picutres, studio family portraits. The bread and butter of
photography. Makes sure you are passionate about that.

Click to expand...

I agree completely. This should tell you really quickly if you want to make a career of it. Though there are other areas of photography such as commercial, journalist, etc.

kevindar said:

Most photographer dont go to exotic places to shoot for national
geographic, or have their abstract pictures put up in museums.
Thats why I say photography may be more enjoyable as a hobby than a
profession.
If I could be very successful, and make the same amount of money no
matter what I did, I would be a photographer.

Click to expand...

Same here. :> )

kevindar said:

That much said, I
have found another thing that I enjoy doing and has much more
security, and affords me the possiblity of pursuing many of my
other passions, including photography.
I suggest you keep your options open and opt for college.

Click to expand...

You might consider trade school as well if you like working with your hands. There are many trades that pay as well as a lot of professions.

--
Greg
http://www.pictureroanoke.com

The hardest thing a person has to do is live by their own words. - Me 2006

I'm also "self taught" photographer. Read lots of books but, 90% of my learning came from "just doing it".

Here's my own gallery if you'd like to see what self teaching can accomplish... keep up the great work!!

http://brightsidestudio.com

BTW: depending on what type of photography you do, it can be very financially rewarding and it can also be NOT very financially rewarding.

Good luck!
Markjay

I like these kind of threads, because I end up learning just as much by reading the comments as the original poster will.

Just a few things I'd do if I were you...

I'm reading an excellent book at the moment, in fact two of them. One is called "The Little Red Book of Selling":

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Red-Book-Selling-Principles/dp/1885167601/sr=8-1/qid=1166643943/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-8413081-3432419?ie=UTF8&s=books

And the other is "The Little Red Book of Sales Answers":

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Red-Book-Sales-Answers/dp/0131735365/ref=pd_sim_b_1/105-8413081-3432419

The writing style is somewhat odd (written by a salesperson, they like things BIG!) but it's an excellent, fun read.

I originally got some excellent advice from Alain Briot, by purchasing his Marketing CD. The adivce on that CD inevitably led me to exploring marketing and sales and I can tell that the advice and tips given in the books I've linked to above will help me greatly in the future.

Some things which are a recurring theme no matter who I ask for advice or what book I read:

• network with people who are already successful and where you want to be. You are most likely to become like those people you call friends.
• dissasociate yourself from anyone who is not positive, and anyone who tells you "your better off doing something else". As such, there are some responses in this thread I would simply disregard.
• You will never be better at anything more than what you love to do. If photography is your passion - then pursue it.

Hope that helps!

--
~ Rylee Isitt