Who is full time and who is part?

[picasso]

Hello!

I am new here and have been posting a little bit. I would like to thank everyone for being so helpful. This board is a very nice change from other boards where people seem to be pretty arrogant. I live in Trophy Club and have been doing photography for about 2-3 years now. I am not professional and it is mainly a hobby although some day I would (as I am sure others here would) like to make it a part/full time gig. I have taken pics for people that see some of my photos and ask me to do it for them. That is about as close as I have gotten to professional. That being said I am wondering -

Who here does photography for a full time living and who here does it for part time money? I notice almost everyone has a site and it says "Such and such photography" then I notice in threads where people also seem to have full time jobs doing something else.

Also, if you do it full or part time would you say you are sucessful at it? Meaning are you able to make a decent living or part time income or do you struggle? No need to answer if you find this part to personal. I am just curious.

Thanks, and it is nice to be a part of such a friendly group of like minded individuals.

Paul

[d2creative]

Part time. VERY part time. Just getting started.
And since it's just part time, no struggling. The money I make usually goes back to more equipment.
But about 30 seconds ago my coming soon splash page went up! Woot!
http://www.bluelemonphoto.com

[venchka]

Full time pastime. Money? From photography? That would take all the fun out of it.

But seriously. I dabled in weddings and portraits ages ago. Made a few bucks. Drifted away from photography all together. I recently emerged from my Photographic Dark Ages and I'm having a ball. When I'm not working 60-70 hours a week.

You will like this Forum. I certainly do. Even if I don't understand all the software and hardware topics.

Good luck!

[Daniel Bates]

This will help with your first question...

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=33140

And for the second--I'm part time, though I rarely get any money from photography. It's just a way to keep my bank account slim and trim.

[Bartman01]

Originally Posted by d2creative

http://www.bluelemonphoto.com

Congrats, but may I suggest publicizing the web address as www.BlueLemonPhoto.com. It resolves the same and is easier for the brain to translate (at least for me). That second 'l' disappears in all those vowels :).

To the OP:
I think you will find that a lot of people with 'official' looking web pages are just serious hobbyists staking their claim on the name they like now - before it is taken. If you have got to have a place to put your stuff, and have any thoughts of making money off it in the future, it is a good idea to start getting your name out there now.

Personally, I would recommend having 2 sites. One for your showcase/portfolio work, and one for your friends/family/clubs/etc. The last thing you want is a potential client seeing that horrible pic of Aunt Edna that you kept because it was the 'best' of the batch.

[OversighT]

I'm part time. I work by word of mouth now and most of the money I make is put back into my business... buying gear, paying for web hosting, education, etc.

My year over year revenue from last year to this year went up 10 fold. It's not a huge amount of money, but it's growing.


T.

[xtnomad]

I am only part time and making a profit if I could just stop buying equipment. But that is not going to happen. I could go shoot every week end but I like to just shoot one or two a month, the funny thing is the money stays the same so I choose the latter. I do have a lot of fun.

[srwatters]

Part time.

[iCe]

Full time spender. Part time shooter. Full time loving every second I get behind the camera.

[tragic hero]

Originally Posted by Bartman01

Congrats, but may I suggest publicizing the web address as www.BlueLemonPhoto.com. It resolves the same and is easier for the brain to translate (at least for me). That second 'l' disappears in all those vowels :).

I would do that as well, I read it as blue moon photo, the brain tends to skip letters when it thinks it knows the words.



and as for me, photography just becoming a hobby again, but I work in a camera store for my full income, so what does that make me?

[bondarnes]

Photography has been my principal source of income since 1975. I also have a little income from real estate and oil and gas.

[L Stegall]

I think Ice put it best:

Originally Posted by iCe

Full time spender. Part time shooter. Full time loving every second I get behind the camera.

That's me too!

[Clint_Smith]

Hmm...how do I respond to this one now....

Ok Actuall hours worked, would be part time since I am a teacher now. But money earned...looks like just over half will be from photography. Was lucky to get into some aerial and commercial work that paid WELL....Along with the portraits, dances, weddings...and occasional bread stick....yeah I help make Fizzole's bread sticks look the way they do...

[HotHolly]

We opened a full time studio last year. We are growing much faster than expected, which is good and bad. More money comes with growth, but so does expansion issues where you need money to make money. If you dont overcome that bump, your biz can flatline. We are trying to beat down the bump right now...its a different kind of fun. Anyway, thats me and *Mike* and we just hired a 3rd person, all our studio.

[rmonty]

Evening and weekend warrior. (a.k.a. part time)