I’ve always though about this; some say that if you do what you love, you won’t have to work a single second of your life, but what some people dont’t realize is that there’s always the risk of losing that thing you love in the process. However, I think it’s worthy to dedicate a life into a great passion, than to do something meaningless and keep regreting the rest of your life for not haven’t taken the risk.
For 2 years i have tried to work fulltime as a photographer, but in 2025 i´m going back to my previous job. I did´nt want to risk loosing my passion for photography just to try keep working fulltime with it. It sure is hard work to get clients and all that you mentioned..
Wow Pat, thank you for such a candid video. You are absolutely spot on. We are always intrigued and stimulated by what is new. Having left the medical field 20 years ago to pursue my passion in a creative field I often ask myself similar questions. As my business has grown, and my job has transitioned more and more away from hands on creating into managing other peoples creations, I realize that somewhere along the way I lost what drew me to my creative field in the first place. Yes, I make significantly more money than I did 20 years ago, but if it was about the money I would have stayed in medicine and made substantially more. My passion and love for my creative field has changed because I'm literally no longer doing what I loved about creating. I'm managing a business, not being the hands on creator that was so inspirational 20 years ago. Thanks again for all of the fantastic content. Keep exploring and discovering new ways to nourish your creativity!
Fantastic video. I am in a similar position in that I have grinded to a well-paying tech position and would hate to ever lose the giddiness after going shooting so thank you for sharing this and getting my head right. Photography is my outlet from work, and I don't think should be work else I am left finding another outlet.
Man, I think you are an explorer, a hunter. So many working positions in different companies, developing new prodcuts, then you leave everything for a passion, you travel the globe and move to a country which is totally different to your culture. Then you get to a plateau you can rationally appreciate by analysis, although it doesn’t fill your heart anymore as it did in the past. This is the story of Love. I know this situation. I have also a dreamwork which I used to approach like a hobby somehow. Now it’s my job since long, and it has become a job I like, but a job with its unavoidable nuances. It’s the bitter award of success. You’re a Lion that used to hunt for continuously bigger preys. They are all gone, you ate them all! Until you find a new one (not compulsory at all) look behind, look around, and feel the flat pleasure of having no frustrations for not having been able to conquer your particular summit. It’s always a pleasure to hear your transparent thoughts!
I’m in the limbo at the moment, I have a part time job and I also do photography professionally, as I’ve been doing for a couple of years, I think next year or the year after I will do the switch to photography completely, but before that, it’s good to have a back up plan, also the income of a part time job + plus the photography on the side, I’m basically making more money than my full time job colleagues, sure I do pay more taxes, but also having a part time, kinda helps me to be more flexible of who do I want to work with, if I didn’t have this income, for sure I would have to take clients that has nothing to do with the things I mostly shoot, so also having the freedom to say no to clients, makes the process a lot easier, as you can focus mostly with the things that are in your interests
Fascinating video, as always! I think you're struggling with thoughts that every person who transitions into doing their favorite creative thing full-time struggles with: writers, painters, musicians, what have you. That isn't to say these concerns aren't real and those struggles aren't valid! For me, I *do* want to take my photography to the "next level", but I'm lucky in that as a real novice who has only been seriously learning about photography for about a year and a half now, my "next level" isn't "full time". I don't know if I'll ever hit "full-time" status, but as an older person, it would be nice if I can make photography into something I can keep doing into the "retirement" part of my life. Of course, there are all manner of external factors in play there, too, so as in all things, we'll see. If it helps, though, yours continues to be a voice I find informative and inspiring as I keep learning how to use my camera!
I think it’s always risky to mix art creation with business. I think this is because in many ways the two things are opposite. Business success or lack of doesn’t necessarily mean the art you create is good or bad. That in itself is illogical.
I’ve always though about this; some say that if you do what you love, you won’t have to work a single second of your life, but what some people dont’t realize is that there’s always the risk of losing that thing you love in the process. However, I think it’s worthy to dedicate a life into a great passion, than to do something meaningless and keep regreting the rest of your life for not haven’t taken the risk.
For 2 years i have tried to work fulltime as a photographer, but in 2025 i´m going back to my previous job. I did´nt want to risk loosing my passion for photography just to try keep working fulltime with it. It sure is hard work to get clients and all that you mentioned..
Wow Pat, thank you for such a candid video. You are absolutely spot on. We are always intrigued and stimulated by what is new. Having left the medical field 20 years ago to pursue my passion in a creative field I often ask myself similar questions. As my business has grown, and my job has transitioned more and more away from hands on creating into managing other peoples creations, I realize that somewhere along the way I lost what drew me to my creative field in the first place. Yes, I make significantly more money than I did 20 years ago, but if it was about the money I would have stayed in medicine and made substantially more. My passion and love for my creative field has changed because I'm literally no longer doing what I loved about creating. I'm managing a business, not being the hands on creator that was so inspirational 20 years ago. Thanks again for all of the fantastic content. Keep exploring and discovering new ways to nourish your creativity!
Fantastic video.
I am in a similar position in that I have grinded to a well-paying tech position and would hate to ever lose the giddiness after going shooting so thank you for sharing this and getting my head right.
Photography is my outlet from work, and I don't think should be work else I am left finding another outlet.
Man, I think you are an explorer, a hunter. So many working positions in different companies, developing new prodcuts, then you leave everything for a passion, you travel the globe and move to a country which is totally different to your culture. Then you get to a plateau you can rationally appreciate by analysis, although it doesn’t fill your heart anymore as it did in the past. This is the story of Love. I know this situation. I have also a dreamwork which I used to approach like a hobby somehow. Now it’s my job since long, and it has become a job I like, but a job with its unavoidable nuances. It’s the bitter award of success. You’re a Lion that used to hunt for continuously bigger preys. They are all gone, you ate them all! Until you find a new one (not compulsory at all) look behind, look around, and feel the flat pleasure of having no frustrations for not having been able to conquer your particular summit. It’s always a pleasure to hear your transparent thoughts!
I’m in the limbo at the moment, I have a part time job and I also do photography professionally, as I’ve been doing for a couple of years, I think next year or the year after I will do the switch to photography completely, but before that, it’s good to have a back up plan, also the income of a part time job + plus the photography on the side, I’m basically making more money than my full time job colleagues, sure I do pay more taxes, but also having a part time, kinda helps me to be more flexible of who do I want to work with, if I didn’t have this income, for sure I would have to take clients that has nothing to do with the things I mostly shoot, so also having the freedom to say no to clients, makes the process a lot easier, as you can focus mostly with the things that are in your interests
Thank you! I needed this.
Feel the same way, thank you for this video
Great video. Thanks for sharing. As someone wanting to go full-time but hasn't made the leap (yet), your message is appreciated.
great video! very insightful
📷 Thank you for inspiring us! More Power!
Sincere thanks
Much love ❤
Fascinating video, as always! I think you're struggling with thoughts that every person who transitions into doing their favorite creative thing full-time struggles with: writers, painters, musicians, what have you. That isn't to say these concerns aren't real and those struggles aren't valid! For me, I *do* want to take my photography to the "next level", but I'm lucky in that as a real novice who has only been seriously learning about photography for about a year and a half now, my "next level" isn't "full time". I don't know if I'll ever hit "full-time" status, but as an older person, it would be nice if I can make photography into something I can keep doing into the "retirement" part of my life. Of course, there are all manner of external factors in play there, too, so as in all things, we'll see. If it helps, though, yours continues to be a voice I find informative and inspiring as I keep learning how to use my camera!
I am exactly in this situation. :)
I think it’s always risky to mix art creation with business. I think this is because in many ways the two things are opposite.
Business success or lack of doesn’t necessarily mean the art you create is good or bad. That in itself is illogical.
write a book!
First time i did photos for someone I hated it
How about the second?
@ especially when you are coming from Street photography because that is deeply personal to you
🌼💐🌼