Photography Amateur To Pro - Am I Ready To Make A Living From My Hobby?

A hobby is commonly understood to be something one pursues for pleasure in their spare time...but have you ever questioned the logic behind pursuing pleasure only in your spare time...particularly when most of us really can not find spare time anyway?

Have you ever thought about turning your interest in photography into something more; to making a living from your passion?

If you have thought about these things before, and if you are a hard worker that is generally successful yet part of you feels stifled; the 'problem' could simply be that you are an entrepreneur at heart.

Although an entrepreneur can be defined in many different ways, most possess some common characteristics. Some of these characteristics include:

• Passion


• Desire for Autonomy


• Vision


• Proactive/take action


• Learn from everything/always improving


• Not afraid of the unknown/can handle some uncertainty


• Understand the value of networking, and being mentored to success


• Inspire others/project a sense of excitement and passion that others want to be a part of

Once you have decided if going into business for yourself is something you desire - perhaps your next question is - could I do it even if I wanted to?

If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and would like to start your own photography business, keep this following piece of wisdom from Emerson in mind:

"Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage" (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

The reality is that most people are so afraid of change they would rather continue down a path of mediocrity than deal with the challenges of new choices; never realizing that our fears and challenges are really extraordinary opportunities for growth. "If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise" (Robert Fritz). If however, we have the courage to overcome our fears and step outside our psychological comfort zone, we embrace new possibilities and create a future where we live our own dreams and fulfill our utmost potential.

Almost anything is possible if you truly want it. This is true of you starting your photography business, and of any other business or venture you want to pursue. So choose to focus your efforts on something that inspires you.

You may have heard the adage - find something you love so much that you would be willing to do it for free, and then become so good at it that people are willing to pay you a lot of money for it- it makes a lot of sense.

So if you decide to go ahead with your business, there are of course things to learn. The best place to learn the skills specific to starting and operating a successful photography business is from other successful people who have gone before you - an entrepreneur knows the value of being mentored and supported, and will achieve their success much quicker by availing themselves of the skills and resources that others can share with them.