Is becoming a professional photographer worth it these days, especially in 2024? I asked myself this question in 2023 every other day, as it was one of the most difficult years since I had become a professional photographer over ten years earlier.
Is it worth it to become a professional photographer when everyone thinks they are a photographer, and the structure of the business and what companies are willing to pay a photographer has all changed? No one can answer that question for you. You need to decide for yourself if you can hack it, if you can go days and weeks without work, which means no money coming in, then go for it. But, if you are looking for a steady paycheck and security, you may want to rethink going pro.
In this video, Tin House Studio explains the difficulty of becoming a photographer. If you have a family and a great job, maybe starting a photography career right now is not the best idea.
To make it through the difficult times and to thrive, you must have a real passion for photography, not the cameras, lights, or all the technical gear, but actually taking photos. If yes, then you have a chance at making it all work. But, you have to be good; there is too much competition out there to be just okay, so hard work and networking are imperative.
Do what is right for you, and make sure you know what you are in for before starting a new photography career. Take it from me, it’s challenging in so many ways, but it’s also really great when things are working in your favor.
Korbin is a Fine Art, Fashion and Home Photographer living in Los Angeles. His love of photography began early while growing up in Detroit and eventually turning professional while living in L.A. Korbin’s focus is on selling his prints, but is still very active in his other photography endeavors.
I love beans. Sometimes I eat white beans in tomato saus straight out of the box. That as good as it gets 🙂
Get a real job. Have photography as a hobby or on the side. However if you obsessed and single. Like beans and have no desire bigger then doing photography, then yes ok.
I think it’s worth considering that job security just doesn’t exist any more…. anywhere. Regardless of your profession, or whether you’re self-employed or employee, your income can end in a heartbeat. My father worked for the same company his whole adult life and retired with benefits in his 60s. How often do you see that happening these days? Any sort of job remotely connected to technology has risk, even if you’re getting a paycheck from an employer. I’m pretty sure most employees are laid off with little to no advance notice. AI is bound to have a huge impact on job security… or lack of.
I suppose that I have so little faith in the corporate working environment, that I’d do anything I could think of to place control of my future in my hands, and have my own business. In fact, I’ve been self employed for 45 years, and even though technology decimated my work in printing and graphics a couple times over the years, a reasonably intelligent person can adapt by altering products and services to meet the needs of a changing environment. Be flexible, open to new possibilities, work hard, get and stay out of debt, and you’ll most likely be better off working for yourself. You just might have to redefine photography, the same way I had to transition out of printing paper documents in the 1980s. But I feel it’s far better to keep investing in yourself.
First I am old and retired with a military pension (small) and I have been able to make photography a hobby! But I have history and have seen things change,
there used to be camera books and magazines in every book store – I have piles of them in my cave.
Today it is e-books for downloads, more computer programs to edit images at a cost for each and again that everyone has a camera on their brick of a phone with them 24/7, and Kodak just beat all major camera company with point and shoot cameras that is a sign people have gone back in the film days sort of for they just capture and put on a device with no edits. I have a nephew that does that with the best of the best camera for he can afford it with lots of income and travels a lot but editing is too bothersome.
To me pro photography is like going door to door selling Krispy Kreme Doughnuts like I did when 9 to 11 years old also mowed lawns with my brothers – I was a military brat on a military base safe and sound. That too would be going to many businesses seeing if a photo guy would be nice to have for something lucky is to have the net today. But a lot of time spent not doing images, where the passion is.
But I must also say something about taxes here in the states when you think about retirement, there is a two tier tax on Social Security 50% and 80% when total income including SS go above certain levels as military retirement income is say $2500 a mouth that you can not live on but when you get your low SS $1500 payment the total will put you over the 80% level and you lose a whole month, trying just to say if you plan on selling prints in old age it is not worth it. The good news the young bucks get more jobs.
Yes being hobbyist is great BUT a full time job is needed in today’s world high cost of a mortgage or apartment but no different than years past really just that the burger flippers start with a protest needing $15 a hour and like always it was like the dominoes falling uphill to the cost of living.
I share this image made with my old waterproof point and shoot camera Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP of 2009 edited with the newest Lr it was a great jpeg to start with but this is what is happening today with no editing and just for the net to share on and maybe a print or two.
It was the same in the film days those little cameras in the pocket taken to the local drug store for prints no problems just put in a shoe box or photo album (remember those). What it means more jobs for the pro. Also there are more video commercials everywhere today on devices and the streaming movies or over the air networks as well as cable shows, no way to turn them off. All of it is like a hook and sinker to the new Pro to just get rent and food money.
Sorry to ramble on but I see it everyday but can not jump on!