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DPChallenge Forums >> Business of Photography >> When do I quit my day job?
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 08/18/2006 08:40:40 AM · #1
I have a part time job at a chain portrait studio that provides me with great health insurance but crappy money. I am getting more and more work on my own and recently I was asked by a graphic designer that owns his own design company to take pictures for him for album covers, book covers, etc. He will pay me $300 per hour. Sounds great huh? BUT, the work will be random, just here and there. I have also started to do weddings.

I really want to quit the part time job, but I am scared that MY business will slow down and I will be in trouble. At what point did you quit your day job to just do your own photography? Keep in mind, that I do not have a studio of my own. I have no lighting or backgrounds either. If I am going to do indoor portraits, i go to thier home and find a good spot where I have great natural lighting and just improvise. Can I make a living just off of outdoor portraiture?
 08/18/2006 08:44:44 AM · #2
My guess would be that only you can tell if you're likely to bring in enough money without the job to keep yourself in whatever manner you are accustomed to. :)

I reckon if you are having to turn a lot of work down now because of your day job then that probably says that you could make decent money, but nothing is guaranteed.
 08/18/2006 08:45:01 AM · #3
Sorry if this doesn't answer your question, but it sounds like it would certainly be fun to try (venturing off to do photography full time), and you have the skills for it (based on past observations of submitted images, etc...).

Whatever you decide, good luck!
 08/18/2006 08:48:08 AM · #4
Mandy you photography work is great. But what you have to look at is the insurance. If you quit your PT job will you loose all of your health insurance or does your spouse or someone else cover you and your children?

Now days that the big thing and purchasing health insurance on your own is just about not an option unless you are making a lot of money. I have to take one pill a day for my acid reflux decease and if I had to by it without insurance it would be almost $400 per month.
 08/18/2006 08:54:42 AM · #5
Originally posted by mandyturner:
I have a part time job at a chain portrait studio that provides me with great health insurance but crappy money. I am getting more and more work on my own and recently I was asked by a graphic designer that owns his own design company to take pictures for him for album covers, book covers, etc. He will pay me $300 per hour. Sounds great huh? BUT, the work will be random, just here and there. I have also started to do weddings.

I really want to quit the part time job, but I am scared that MY business will slow down and I will be in trouble. At what point did you quit your day job to just do your own photography? Keep in mind, that I do not have a studio of my own. I have no lighting or backgrounds either. If I am going to do indoor portraits, i go to thier home and find a good spot where I have great natural lighting and just improvise. Can I make a living just off of outdoor portraiture?


I would have to say you could quit your day job, when you can provide your own insurance and studio and still provide the needed money that your bringing in now. Going out on your own full time would be very scary but also could be very rewarding with your skills.

MattO
 08/18/2006 08:56:33 AM · #6
Before you do quit your day job make sure to shop around for insurance and see what it would cost you for comparable coverage.

You MAY find that the low paying job with insurance is worth more money than you could make working those hours on your own. I dislike "working for the man" as much as the next guy, just advising you take everything into account.
 08/18/2006 09:01:10 AM · #7
Sometimes in life you gotta take risks. Some of the most successful people in history, failed time and again before they succeeded, but fear of failure never stopped them from trying!

That being said, if you have a family that relies on you and your insurance, then keep the part time job until you know for sure that what you have is stable.
 08/18/2006 09:54:10 AM · #8
Since you have a part time job that provides insurance you may want to consider keeping this for now until you are sure about a steady ncome.

If you are serious about portraits I would believe a studio is a must. Take part of your outside photography money and gradually invest in studio equipment. Check options for a studio location - your home or elsewhere.

Basically what I recommending is developing a business plan over time to achieve what you want.
 08/18/2006 10:02:47 AM · #9
I have a friend, a wedding photographer, who rents a studio part time from a full-time photographer..she still continues to work part-time for the health benefits in the lab where I worked...she free lances weddings but also assists the professional photographer with his wedding coverage...she is a single mother of two and is hesitant to give up the benefits; this has worked for her for many years and gives her additional income and some professional freedom.
 08/18/2006 10:15:01 AM · #10
Just be careful. This life can be very scary and it isn’t for everyone. I have been a consultant for over 25-years. I also have my own company where I do computer animation for video production firms. I have had this company for over 10-years. In this type of work, as you have realized, you only have cash if you have work. There are definite periods where absolutely nothing comes in and then there are times when you almost have to turn folks away. After all these years, the only way it worked for me was to keep the real job AND my little company. My real job buys the house and the food, and my company income pays for the kid’s college and buys me new computer and photo toys (which are then tax deductible by the way).

So my advice is to do both. If you truly love photography then try to keep it that way as truly joyful things are hard to come by. As soon as it becomes your JOB, then that is exactly what it becomes.

08/18/2006 10:24:26 AM · #11
Honestly, the best thing I can suggest is to contact your local SBA and see what help they can give you. Here, they will help you analyze everything, write your business plan, get financing, and really understand how your business will work and how much it can make. Whatever you do, don't start out with too little. If you get loans, it will seem a bit weird to pay yourself out of what is "borrowed" money, but that's what you may have to do.

The SBA will help you, if you ask.

As far as health insurance goes, regardless of what anyone tells you, there are affordable options available. HSA's , group insurance through ASMP, WPPA or another professional organization. There's seriously no reason to let that hold you back.

Message edited by author 2006-08-18 10:27:04.
 08/18/2006 10:46:36 AM · #12
When I first started to shoot video at weddings, I still worked my 40+ hr shift. But after about 3 months and 6 weddings I discovered that editing the video could eat up 20+ hours per video rather easy which put me over 60+ hours of work for the week. After some discussion with my wife and after we made sure I could be added to her insurance policy at work, We decided it was a good time to take that chance. Perhaps I was one of the lucky people who didn't fail on my first time out. However I think working for the MAN and taking orders from someone other than myself was my failure. I love the freedom. You will too. If you can get past that insurance thing I say GO FOR IT!!!!


08/18/2006 11:53:35 AM · #13
Originally posted by mandyturner:
I have a part time job at a chain portrait studio that provides me with great health insurance but crappy money. I am getting more and more work on my own and recently I was asked by a graphic designer that owns his own design company to take pictures for him for album covers, book covers, etc. He will pay me $300 per hour. Sounds great huh? BUT, the work will be random, just here and there. I have also started to do weddings.

I really want to quit the part time job, but I am scared that MY business will slow down and I will be in trouble. At what point did you quit your day job to just do your own photography? Keep in mind, that I do not have a studio of my own. I have no lighting or backgrounds either. If I am going to do indoor portraits, i go to thier home and find a good spot where I have great natural lighting and just improvise. Can I make a living just off of outdoor portraiture?


I would keep the day job, it's got insurance and steady income. Do the jobs on the side.

Do that for a year....you may wind up over-working some weeks. But once it is steadly booked and you've made a reputation that will supply steady income, then quit.
08/18/2006 12:10:58 PM · #14
You should talk to people who have done similar things or are in the process of doing so :-D

I was just talking to Skip Rowland ( skiprow ) on some freelance jobs and he is the prototypical "photo enthusiast turning pro ". Ask him or talk to Scalvert...he is in the biz.

I am on the other side of the photo-fence. I started back into semi-pro photography because my job required it of me. I only shoot what is expediante or suites my desires. I didn't have an urge (and still do not) to support myself with my photography...perhaps it's being around too many photographers all the time and seeing what they have to do.

I would say keep the regular job and put your heart and soul into your photography work. Make it another 40 hour a week job. You would have to work 80 hours a week building a business...why not experience the hard work now?

If after you work your photography on other people's schedule for a year or so instead of your own desires..you will get a good idea of whether it will be a business you are good at. You might love photography, you might have good technical skill but the photographers who eat well are good business people.

This is especially important if you have a family to help support.
 08/18/2006 12:16:51 PM · #15
Id'd talk to Kevin Riggs and Prof_Fate, I know another guy who did it, and once he fet to the point where he had 10 weddings booked by november at $3000 a piece, he figured he could quit. However, his significant other was carrying their insurance still. She quit this summer to work full-time with him (both photogs)
 08/18/2006 12:19:21 PM · #16
Originally posted by hokie:


I was just talking to Skip Rowland ( skiprow ) on some freelance jobs and he is the prototypical "photo enthusiast turning pro ". Ask him or talk to Scalvert...he is in the biz.


Actually skiprow's profile page has a ton of info on it.
08/18/2006 12:22:11 PM · #17
Keep the day job and work your ass off for a while. It's the only rational thing to do. Even disregarding the insurance, the day job gives you flexibility to invest in the stuff you'll need to go out on your own.

I did it the other way (dumped the day job and took the plunge) and it was scary as hell, even back in a time when health insurance was much more affordable.

Robt.
 08/18/2006 12:24:20 PM · #18
Here is how I look at it.

Keep the sure thing! Being able to say you work in the "business", even if it isn't GREAT money right now but gives you health care is too valuable to walk away from. Slowly increase your personal photography business and some day this decision will not be hard for you. In my opinion, if you are even having second thoughts, don't walk away from a job that is providing for you. Eventually the decision will be a no brainier. At that point, strike off on your own.

My two cents.

08/18/2006 11:09:47 PM · #19
I do not need to supply a big income. I just have to pay for my cell phone bill and school lunches, and some groceries. The problem is the insurance. I am a diabetic (diet controlled). Insurance companies run from me.

Message edited by author 2006-08-18 23:10:14.
 08/18/2006 11:18:00 PM · #20
I am so happy to live in Canada, it's often in these forums where I realize how lucky I am to have health coverage. I can't imagine how hard it would be to pay for prescriptions or ambulance trips.
08/18/2006 11:22:02 PM · #21
Not trying to discourage you, but it can be a bumpy ride.
 08/18/2006 11:22:19 PM · #22
Mandy,

Lots of advice here -

My advice would be follow your heart. Sometimes the right thing to do and the logical thing are exact opposites. Your heart knows - the answer is inside you.

Nobody else can give you the answer inside - and finding it inside can be tough.

But it is a terrific journey. And you'll know yourself better when you realize what to do.

I know you got the talent - you could go BIG if you wanted.

I'll stay tuned to see your journey unfold! :-)

Doug

Message edited by author 2006-08-18 23:22:51.
 08/18/2006 11:31:11 PM · #23
All I ever tell people when they ask me that question is the cliché and simple, "nothing ventured nothing gained".

On one hand, you might lose your healthy insurance, on the other, you might become absolutely successful and make more money doing what you want than you ever dreamed. But you also might fail, and have to find a new job.

-Hideo
 08/19/2006 03:05:31 AM · #24
You don't regret the chances you took, you regret the ones you didn't.
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