Can YOU Leave a 9-5 job for Photography in 2024? 

If you need help with the business and marketing side, head here tinhouse-studio.com/product-category/workshop/

I was once asked what the most essential thing a professional photographer needed. I think the person who asked me expected me to name some bit of kit. "A partner with a proper paying job so you can eat and pay the mortgage." was my answer!

When I became a full-time NYC pro photog 35+ yrs ago, it was then a VERY difficult road to go down. All these yrs later, after STOCK HOUSES, PHOTOSHOP, and now AI, there are far fewer photography hires today. NYC used to have hundreds, maybe (low) thousands of pro shooters and lots of studios, a "Photo District", and many magazine clients. All long gone. Plus, every art director with an iphone fancies themselves the next Avadon. There are only a handful of shooters left in NYC, most in news capture, which is a different thing. As careers go, it's on the level of becoming a whaler or coal minor, trades big in their day, but that day has past. Unless you are truly talented, lucky, and live in a city with ad agencies. If not, or if you are raising kids, keep your 9-5!

Tried it, realized early on retirement, health insurance, home ownership, and days off would never be in the budget. The never-ending cycle of finding/winning clients, negotiating my worth, and actually getting paid on time became a grind. This was in the infancy of digital cameras entering the scene. I love photography, I could do it all day with no regrets. But paying bills constantly and having any life did not work.

You have figured out the life / work balance before 40. Well done. A lot of people never figure it out.

Sage advice for life, Scott. 'Build safety margins into every important aspect of our lives, to absorb the impact of speed bumps along the way.' Be it photography, relationships, health or significance, it's all the same currency! Well done you for unashamedly slapping the real cards on the table to help any or all punters to 'launch well' into any area of worthy endeavour. 🍺👍🎯

It's just good advice to not have any debt, to begin with as well as saving up for a year of income and expenses for a year. It is stressful enough trying to make a business work much less having to worry about everything else. You don't need to be a slave to the lender! The best part about being self-employed is you can take a half day off whenever you want, You have to figure out if it's the first 12 hours or the second 12 hours of the day. ;) Also, you have to be ok with failing. Everyone fails. Pick yourself up, learn from your mistakes, and hit it again.

Regarding the every so popular gear topic: Everything I've ever shot was on a 24-70 and a 90mm macro. I don't even know what third lens to choose because I'd probably never use it anyway.

My Wife and I run our photography business as a hobby, yet we're on a shoot nearly every week. I suppose that we could make it our full time but we've got young children, our time with them is priority. Being a lover of photography from a very young age has really helped. I enjoy photography period, there is never a moment when you aren't learning to be a better photographer. Being paid is nice, very nice actually, but even if it stopped I'd still be a photographer. Getting the shot in camera not in post is a massive benefit. Having very minimal time in post while producing happy clients is phenomenal. Our shoot last weekend was pretty much a crop if needed edit session. If you invest the time to learn technique, you'll more than gain that time back later. This has been my experience as a Professional Hobbyist Photographer. Someday I might just maybe go 9 to 5, but for now I'm just happily enjoying taking photos.

I wake up every day wanting to do what you do Scott. I'm still at the start of my journey, just found my niche, developing my style and creating a portfolio. I'm 42 now and wish I had made this decision many years ago. Your advice is always spot on and honest which is rare on RU-vid. I thought being a photographer would be pretty straightforward, boy was I wrong. I have seen local photographers come and go in a heartbeat through poor planning.

Scott, concerning your midlife, lol .... consider a good secondhand Nissan GTR instead. I had one for years. It is 4x4, 4 seats that do fit adults, not very comfortable; but a 100Km is no problem for 4 adults. It has a big useable boot, goes like stink and will not try to kill you, not in the rain, and not in the snow (with winter tires). Maintenance is not expensive and great support, for example Lichtfield Motors around London; or any qualified Nissan garage. It is a blast to drive, real fun and 'calm" when you want it to be. Best car i ever owned!

10 years into my career this coming January after quitting my high tech corporate job.... Agree 100% with what Scott said in this video

Thank for this. Things we know but great to have reinforced. Gotta love your work. Whatever it is.

Wow, this is the same advice I gave some sailors that worked for me 40 years ago and you are on point!!!!! They had no concept of overhead, expenses down to trash collection or paying the power bill. Needless to say they didn't build the studio they wanted because they would have been broke. I'm an IT professional and a photographer for fun and I love your videos for their honesty.

Top advice there Scott ive just been made redundant at the newspaper i shot for after a 20 year career and a decade freelancer before that im now picking up aome photo work from various sources but its obviously sporadic im lucky in that i got a decent redundo payout and inhave a regular passive income from an investment not loads but its taken the pressure off me to chase money at the moment. I certainly dont specialise in one area i shoot sports weddings corporate jobs and shoot events so fingers crossed ill be sound then again im 60 next so dont have to fret about the next 40 years good luck to allmout there aiming to make a buck out of photography 🎉

GOLDEN, he's speaking from and with heart. get hes marketing, game changing.

Great video, eye opening. Wish I had found you years ago. Like the expression goes better late than never

Great Advice. I had studio partners leave their jobs and go full time into photography and then went back to a 9-5 job. I have a daily freelance job and also do freelance photography. I have a studio I share with other photographers (1/3 the cost) and IT is working well for a while. I just need to market and get myself better clients and higher paying work.

Great video, and applicable to any move of becoming your own boss. Also; sometimes starting business have postponed taxation; save for all the taxes that are due; calculate, save!

Very sound and proper advice💯💯💯

Best video to date, thank you 🙌

Brilliant advice!

You previously mentioned the camera being a 5Dii, but now your recommendation upgrades to the 5Diii. You seem too practical to make that recommendation lightly. I’m interested in what made the difference from your perspective.? I really appreciate the videos and the engagement!!

Awesome video! You can't imagine how useful this is for me! What type of networking events did you attend when you were starting out?

5diii good for some things but if you want to do product photos higher is better. One will have to upscale the final image for even better pro level work.

I would definitly watch a video of you renting out a ferrari!

I was quitting the 9-5 already, but I really didn't manage to live out of photography. It's really hard to reach the context in which I can create the exactly portfolio that I want. I'm not so active and have no real connection or networking where the money flows. Yet. I'm one of the best concert photographers there is, I want to capitalize on that, but I'm skeptic about the rating in this field. Also didn't manage to earn much out of this either. I'm on an end of the road and I'm trying to find a solution.

How different would you have been if you had taken your own advice years earlier?! Excellent advice - thank you for the insight.

I like your channel and I hear what u saying, but when u play safe changes never come, if you planning to do something do not try to wait till its perfect..., its never perfect moment...or its not enough money, or its this or is that..... JUST DO IT!

I was hoping you wouldn't say that! 😂😆🤣 Leaving my 9-5 job? 🙁 Do I have the guts for that? 😁 Am I that good? 🤔

Your advice applies to (some) hobbies and retirement. So it should be common sense. Which isn't very common, is it?

Why softbox/octabox instead of cheaper umbrellas?

Had I listen to my mother about saving $10 from each pay cheque, starting with my first paid job, god knows where I would be now, some 40 years later...definitely driving a Ferrari.

the bit where you were on about slowly quitting the day job, what happens if you don't have a day job?

Have a 9-5 job as photographer. What do?

@1:40 "Save one years worth of salary..."😂😂 Good luck to anyone trying in 2024. (Or maybe that's his secret plan to reduce potential opposition.. 🤔)

Why do so mny photographers recommend having two camera bodies of the same kind? With couples on motorbikes on long distance travellings I get it, you can exchange same spare parts but why with the cameras? I have an EOS 5D Mk iii and an EOS 90D and love both of them for several reasons.

Be prepared to struggle for 2-3 years and to feel depressed from time to time. Also, forget about pursuing a relationship with a woman, as your confidence will likely be very low for a couple of years.

Do you find the marketing workshop applies the same way in the US vs UK?

Saving a year of salary in 2024 is hard AF There is always an investment to be made with that €. Finish paying mortgage, car, travelling,...alcohol, travelling 😂

Mike drop!