So you want to be a professinal Nature Photographer

I see many times people posting interest in taking their hobby of nature photographer to the pro level. Myself and I’m sure other pros have people that contact them asking for advice on what it takes to make a living in this field. My response is that from my experience it’s a seven day work week and can be tough on your family life. I work about forty weekends a year so any family birthdays, holidays, christenings, father and mothers days, sports, concerts, etc, are all missed. Nature photography is one of the toughest fields of photography to make a living in. I’ve found that for me being diversified is the key to making it. Having multiple streams of income keeps the money flowing. Those streams all take a lot of time to keep them flowing.

Marketing is number one, nobody knows you’re alive and in business unless you tell them. Shameless self promotion is something you have to get used to and you need to be the type of person that doesn’t mind this type of marketing as some would consider this bragging about yourself, but it’s just getting the word out that you’re in business and having some success at what you’re doing. I spend a lot of my time marketing, as I moderate on three photography sites, post images, post on Facebook and Twitter, and reply to photographers sending me emails with questions.

I display my images in about twenty five art shows a year. This takes up twenty five of my weekends, many away from home. The shows start in April and run until November and consume almost every weekend for those months. Some of the shows I’m gone on Friday and return on Monday, leaving me Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, to print, package, and pack for the next weekend. During the winter months I’m going though the process of applying to these shows, which is filling out applications, sending images for the jury process, writing out checks for show fees, etc, keeping it all organized so I have a show every weekend. Taking time to keep track of materials and doing all the ordering and always trying to find the best prices. During the winter when I apply to these shows the jury fees and booth fees run about seven thousand dollars, which I won’t see again for months.

During the art shows off season I’m presenting my workshops. I do about twenty five workshops which most are on weekends and some are during the week days. This take time promoting the workshops, adding them to my website and blog, sending out emails and post cards, posting them on nature photography websites, posting on Facebook, etc. I have to call and set dates and times with some of the hotels that I hold them in. I have a macro boot camp coming up next year, which is taking a lot of time contacting companies to help sponsor this program. Working with the hotel, finding other hotel options for those coming in from out of town if the room price is too high at the hotel where the workshop is held. Getting the doorprizes from the sponsors. Planning the workshops and how they will run. Shooting images for examples in what I’m teaching in the workshops.

Wow, I’m already tired and I haven’t scratched the surface on what I do. While all this craziness is going on with the art shows and workshops,

I have to maintain my moderater duties online.

I work with art consultants that buy images for their design projects, print the images, package, ship, and invoice them.

I contact companies that would be willing to sponsor me, work with them when they need images for ads, photo conventions, sometimes even go to photo convention for them. I send them promos for my workshops that they can list on their websites.

I do online workshops, which takes time again promoting, critiquing the participants shooting assignments.

I have a how to macro book that took time to write and have printed, I have to maintain stock at Amazon, maintain on my store front sales, packaging and shipping to customers.

I have three e-book completed and am working on more. Again more promotion, sales and sending the e-books online. I also make them into CDs to sell at the art shows.

I’m looking into doing how-to macro video for next year.

I travel and present programs for camera clubs, photo conventions, garden clubs for flower photography, have done some at REI stores.
Send submission to magazine with article ideas, and once accepted working with the mag to set-up the article and images. Invoice them. I’m working on one now for OP.

Send out information introducing myself to new art consultants, interior designers, calendar companies. etc. reply to their emails as they contact me asking questions about pricing, printing, etc.

I maintain a blog which I write and post as frequently as possible and I write when possible for Tamron’s blog. Post on facebook any updates on workshops, art shows, and any other happenings.

I will visit and sell through art galleries, so time is spend traveling to the galleries maintaining stock.

I have companies that contact me for stock images, negotiate, send files, and invoice them.

I get to beta test new products for companies, and they always wait till the last minute to send you the product and need a response NOW! Take time to work with the product, Email back and forth with response.

I have charities that call and ask for print donations which I always do. Deal with emails, set-up time to make contact with prints.

Take care of all the accounting, sales, taxes, keeping track of cost of running the business.

Wow, all this work is making me tired, I need a nap.

Now are you starting to wonder why I haven’t mention anything about shooting. As you can see there is not much time left to shoot. It can be frustrating and hard to schedule time to shoot, as you have probably heard most pros say that the business takes up ninety percent of their time. I do make time to shoot but it has to be scheduled at the peak times which for me are the spring and fall. The summer I almost never get out to shoot as the art shows consume so much time, but I make the majority of my money selling prints at the shows.

I have to say I’m pretty sure there are a few more thing I do, but I think you’re getting the point. If I tried to make it on any one of these streams alone it would be tough, but with a little income coming from all these streams I do very well, but I sacrifice a lot of time and family life to maintain this business.

I have to say even with all the work I do I can’t wait to wake up in the morning at five o’clock and get to work. I wouldn’t trade what I do with anything else. I always tell people where can you work where people are complimenting you while handing you money, love it.

Good luck if you give it a shot.

I'm exhausted after simply reading that.... I don't know how you do it - especially the part where you only shoot during Spring and Fall (I'd be worried about all the shots I'm missing). Thanks for this in depth description of what it takes as there are a lot of people out there who say "I want to be a pro" or "I want to shoot for Nat Geo" and have no idea what it really takes.

When I enrolled in college I started out as a Marine Biology major and was quite knowledgeable about what it would take to go through undergrad, masters, Ph D, etc. and while I grew up in the midwest, I vacationed often along the coasts. I was surprised to find out some of my fellow marine bio majors had never been to the ocean before coming to school. Not only that, they thought that when they graduated they would get to work with dolphins! Suffice to say, no one I went to college with currently works with Dolphins, and only a small number are working on getting their Ph Ds in Marine Bio. The more you know, the better, so thanks.

- Luke

P.S. It's not wonder you don't shoot in RAW with so little time on your hands

Good summary Mike!

Because we charge for our time as well as prints or licenses, we have to track time very carefully and make sure that our "unpaid" time is paid for by our shooting fees.

Here are useful rules of thumb from 20 years of tracking:

Each hour of shooting in the studio requires five hours of support.

Location shooting runs about 3:1, only because we don't process images unless we're being paid extra to do it.

I was almost too scared to read that Mike, but glad I did.

If I could ask a mulit-part question, I do read your blog and try to follow many pro's as much as possible, but if I may.

First, How long has it taken you to get to this point, from the time you decided "I am going to do this for a living".

Second, Has it been a gradual climb or were there specific decisions you made that accelerated your success.

Last, If there were one thing that you know now, that you could have done differently, could you share what that may have been?

Thank you Mike for your time, and sharing of experiences. Members willing to share are what make this site truly valuable.

Brad

I forgot to mention the time I spend working my website.

Hey Luke, I know I do a lot every week but until you write it all out its pretty amazing what gets done. Thanks

Hey Hank, you have many more years to draw experience from then I do so I am learning about the things you talk about on a daily basis. Thanks

Hey Brad, I was a fast learner, I bought my first camera in 2001 and started the business three years ago, and built it fairly quick with a lot of hours spent. As far as what I would have done differently, I'm pretty happy how it's all worked out so far, other then I made some mistakes here and there that I learned from, but there was no one there teaching about the things I was doing so had to learn it on my own.


I'm very lucky I have a very understanding wife.

I do make time to shoot but it has to be scheduled at the peak times which for me are the spring and fall. I work about forty weekends a year so any family birthdays, holidays, christenings, father and mothers days, sports, concerts, etc, are all missed. I do very well, but I sacrifice a lot of time and family life to maintain this business.

I find this to be a very sad tale, actually.
When love of your art and your family life is eventually held second or even consumed by commerce, I would sacrifice something (anything) else in order to make a living. Thanks for the precautions.

Sad to say, it's true of almost any salaried job. If you're not being paid hourly by your exploiter.... excuse me, employer.... you are expected to be standing tall on the job any time and any day without regard for family. But self-employed, you at least have the option of telling your employer to pound sand.

Hey John, I have owned my own businesses for over twenty five years, so running a business is as much fun as the photography. Family time is always at a premium when you own your own business so I just tranferred from one business to the next, no different. The commerce is selling what I love to do so that's not a problem. I don't expect everyone to understand or approve of how I run my life, but just as in photography we all have different opinions.

Sad to say, it's true of almost any salaried job. If you're not being paid hourly by your exploiter.... excuse me, employer.... you are expected to be standing tall on the job any time and any day without regard for family.

This simply is not true.
I don't mind a factual and principled response (thanks, Mike), but to reply using completely uninformed biases (..see "exploiter" above) just doesn't cut it with me, Hank.

Mike, great post!

For any self-employment scenario, there is usually far more to it than meets the eye, and your post details that so well. But as Hank says, at least you are in control of your time and effort in pursuing your livelihood.

Along with NPN I have a full time, demanding job as a product/marketing manager for a publicly-owned company. The job consumes about 55 hours every week and really does suck the life out of me. It pays well, but I would gladly give up 25 to 35% of my salary for a comparable reduction in workload. But as is typical of companies that measure every facet of "success" purely on profit to the stock holders, that is not an option available to me. I have even offered a significant reduction in my pay just to be able to work from home two days a week, but that didn't fly either. So at least in my case, it's an "all or nothing" proposition that I'm held hostage to (at least for now).

Self employment in most cases requires more time and effort to earn a living with. But at least it can be a "labor of love" and provide a much greater level of "success" than simply making money.

Hey Jim, I didn't go to college, so the job prospects were low paying jobs if I didn't work in an auto plant which didn't appeal to me. My only chance to make a better living was to run my own buisness. I have made a success of the three businesses I've owned and made a much better income then I would have working for someone else. The drawback is you work more hours if you're dedicated to the business. I could get by working less hours and make less money, but I really enjoy the work and enjoy seeing the success of that work, so it's not a problem. It's like people that are billionaires that are still running their compaines, you wonder why, but they love the game of running the business and making money, it's like their hobby.

Mike
Sounds like the you love more the process of running a business and making money which you mention many of times in your posts then the love of photography.
Which I find to be sad.
Joe

As an outsider looking in, I think your post should be required reading for those interested in becoming professional photographers. I've never tried to make a living with photography, but did own a small business for 13 years. It sure seems like many are interested in a PHOTOGRAPHY business, when the reality is a photography BUSINESS. Photography can pay in pleasure and currency, and it's an either/or choice for me. I'm very admiring of those who can pull off both.

Mike, an excellent and informative post. Another outsider looking in. You are a brilliant communicator which is a great assist when seeking to find appropriate balance in your family. And I hope you are equally brilliant as a listener and doer to meet needs. (do not infer that my bringing this up suggests you are not) Family time is precious and when it is gone....it is gone. I am not writing as one who sits atop the pedestal of success....far from it. Here's wishing to you.. and all NPNers.... success and fruitfulness in relationships and business. Esp during the holidays.

As I get older, the "family time" becomes more and more important to me. When I went to my high school 25th reunion I noted that I was one of the few who wasn't divorced. "Family time" is something I've carefully balanced with both my job and my hobbies (mainly hunting & photography.) I've been careful to not let my kids & wife "drift away." So, I make compromises. What I've found has worked for me is to get a salesrep job. This pays me a good steady salary, provides benefits, and pays my travel expenses. (I drive several hundred miles a day.) I pretty much am in control of my own schedule. For the past two years I've been doing a lot of my photos at night during the week. I drive pretty far from home for my job and am out in some nice places for photos. It gets dark around 5 PM in winter, as I'm driving home. So, I use that time to take photos. I don't go out taking photos on the weekend very often, so it all seems to work out for me. I do go hunting on weekends during the season, but that's mostly for ducks. I leave my house at 5 AM and come home by noon. Often my wife isn't even up yet! It all works out. I really don't have any urge to do photography full time because I suspect I'm getting out to take more photos now than I would be if doing it full time. I don't feel at all "exploited." If anything, I'm exploiting my job. I fill up my gas tank almost every day, and they pay for it!

Jim--
Here's where you messed up. With bonuses I'm making about the same $$ as my district manager. BUT, I'm only working about 75% as many hours! I've passed up "promotion" twice. Don't want to move from South Dakota.


Kent in SD

I've known this is how it is a long time, in fact, it really sunk in after I was out of art school for awhile. The key to making a living at your art is to be a good marketer of it. A lot of photographers out there have great images, and they are as good a photographer as anybody, but the ones who make money are the great salesmen and marketers too. Unfortunately art school only teaches you to be a great starving artist. Of course they also figured you could always teach art, but I should have taken at least a few business courses too. Nobody advised me of this at the time. And once again, in the business world, its not always how good you are at what you do that makes you money, its how much you charge, how you promote yourself, handle expenses, whether you are a good golfer, etc., etc. In short, how good you are at business. Afterall, what makes the world go around? It ain't art or photography.

As a salesrep, I absolutely agree with Richard, above. I've worked for companies like Procter & Gamble and Lilly Pharmaceutical. I'm also very up to speed on how Walmart markets products. I think at least half of any business is solid marketing. If I ever were to try photography full time, I would see myself as a salesrep who takes photos on the side. Hey wait, that's what I'm doing now!


Kent in SD

Mike: Thanks for the thorough accounting of time and all the angles of the job that people don't picture when they think of you shooting a stellar image and selling it for good money.

Everyone:
One thing we should take away is that being a Professional Photographer takes lots of time away from the camera, and those who love the life behind more than anything, should thing twice before taking that leap. Let's not call it "sad" if someone is doing the yukky part of their job as well as the fun part. Let's just call it reality. We all make our compromises.

Also, let's remember time is only one factor, weekends away from family are only one factor, and being self-employed can be a very a personal decision. For example,

Regarding time and weekends: Being a happy spouse is huge, and soul deadening 40-50 hour per week jobs with no flexibility often make for difficult family life anyway. Being away on the weekend but home for dinner every night might be a decent bargain for some.

Regarding Saluting the Employer: Some jobs kill the soul and some inspire it. I have always liked having a job with a contract, predictable pay annually, and some degree of flexibility in my schedule. I chose teaching in part for job security and summers off (and I really sacrificed pay to do that...Having a PhD and making 40k for the first 15 years of a career seems crazy to engineers and stock brokers). Nonetheless, I took those calculated sacrifices and wouldn't go back.

Regarding time in and money out: Some people who are professional photographers might be making 70-100k per year or more and work hard enough to earn it. Some of us might be happy to be a pro at 40k per year if we are doing what we love. Some would hate to turn what they love into a high pressure, financial occupation.

These are all very complex decisions and very personal ones. Don't expect to become Art Wolfe overnight, don't expect to make good money without doing the stuff that isn't fun, and don't expect people to notice you unless you do the stuff that has to happen when the camera is not in your hands. All good advice from the pros above who have commented.

That said, I'm not good enough to go pro anyway, but I like having a lofty goal, I like learning and growing all the time, and hope I can maybe do some local work when I retire and make a couple extra thousand doing it.

Great job on this, Mike, and thanks for posting it. I agree, it should be required reading for all who ascribe to go pro full time. It reinforces, in me, the fact that I am blessed to have a good-paying day job to fund my photography obsession, yet still be able to market myself and make a few bucks selling photos, while not requiring that income to put food on the table!

Many of the comments here have a problem with the loss of family time and as I said in the opening of my post, that when someone contacts me about being a pro nature photographer that they need to consider the lost of family time, and I point this out as I know it is a concern to most. Usually when they hear of the time commitment, their reply is much as what we are hearing here. So I’m not saying it is a good thing, but a reality of the business.

Please don’t feel sorry for me as my wife of eighteen years and my whole family are very proud, supportive and amazed of what I’ve accomplished in such a short time frame and just how hard I work at what I do. You should only feel sorry for me if I was complaining about this business and saying that my family were disappointed with what I’m doing.

My wife is a very busy school teacher that has two masters degrees that she earned while working, and is one of the heads of curriculum in her district. Attends many educational conventions and has dedicated her life and time to education. Runs ski clubs and generally volunteers for anything that benefits the kids. She is as busy as I am so has no problem with the hours I work. Her kids are grown and on their own with no kids which allows her to live this hardworking lifestyle. My kids are grown and gone, none have kids. So my wife and I are not in the position of raising a family that needs our attention.

Please understand that yes this is a business and what some people perceive as some kind of drudgery is not the case. What could be more rewarding then working in an environment that sells what you love, your artwork. I’ve not in love with photography, I’m in love with the art that I create with the camera. If I just loved photography I would be out snapping photos of everything, but I shoot close-ups in nature creating beautiful artwork. Do I create the art just for me, no I create it to share with everyone. There is no more satisfaction in the world then creating a piece of art that someone will hang on their walls where they live. This may be called a business, but what I do is far from the negative attitude that people conjure up from the word business.

As in life there are a lot of things we have to do that we don’t like. This business has some of those things that are not as fun, but the majority of time I’m very happy with what I’m doing. When I’m at an art show I’m reliving every moment of every image I created when people ask me about them. When I’m at an art show I’m surrounded by my artwork just as I am when I’m out in the field, so its not like I’m sitting in some enclosed office working on paper work.

I would admit the loss of time in the field can be as one posted “sad” but I also find when I shoot to much I lose my edge at seeing. If I’m limited on time I’m much more in tune with the surroundings. It’s just what works for me, can’t say it would work for you.

Hey Joe,
I do love the process of the business and making money as it's all tied together with my art that's created from my photography, they are all as one.

Hey John,
I do see people post about how to become pro and what's involved. I never reply because the answer is just to long, so I decided to take the time to write and post this as it may gives some insight into the business for those curious.

Hey Ken,
Family life is important and if you read my previous post you'll see that I'm at point in my life that I don't have a family of small kids or grand kids that need my attention and time. My wife is consumed by her own work, so I'm not losing out on family time, I refer to it in my post that it's a concern to anyone that may be thinking about getting into this business.

Hey Richard,
Your exactly right it's all about the marketing. You can have average work and do well with great marketing. Thomas Kincade is a good painter, but rose to the level he is at because they say his wife is a marketing genious. There are all kind of great painters that will never reach his level of fame as they don't have the marketing skills. That's why the first part of my post was about marketing. If you have great work and great images, then you'll do really well.

Hey Kent,
we all have to make choices in lifes path and sounds like you're happy with yours.

Hey Marylynne,
thank you for your comment, it sounds like you understand well what this is all about.

Hey Doug,
Thanks and a little extra money helps support your obsession and that's a good thing.

Joohn Mumaw said: "This simply is not true.
I don't mind a factual and principled response (thanks, Mike), but to reply using completely uninformed biases (..see "exploiter" above) just doesn't cut it with me, Hank."

Glad your life has been rosey John, but in my long experience and virtually all I have observed, I'm 100% right. For 23 years I filled out 40 hour a week time sheets for a job (professor) that required 60-80 hours a week and lots of weekends and holidays. I worked a bunch with the oil industry, and with the exception of annual bonuses, those salaried folks were REALLY exploited. The security of their salary means something over 80 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. And refuse to do it, and it will cost your job. That's exploitation. It's a fact of live for public service workers as well as private industry. It's also the root of growth in public service worker unions and academic union growth all over the country.

All they are asking for is fair compensation for the work. When you're required to work more than you're paid for and to sacrifice your family to accomplish it, that's exploitation. Pure, simple and factual.

Call me a liar, and join the sand pounders.

Thank you, Mike. I really had no idea what it meant to be a professional photographer. It’s so funny how we sometimes have such incorrect views of how relaxed is someone else’s job. I’ve worked in industry, as well as for many years as an engineering professor. I’ve also consulted for many industries. I really enjoyed all of that experience. The manager makes such a difference to happiness in your job. Being your own manager is the most demanding option. I’m lucky to be retired now and, especially after reading your post and the various replies, I think I’ll keep enjoying nature photography as an amateur.

Thanks Mike for posting this and I have asked your advise before on this very topic. I think I've accepted the fact that I work 2 jobs. My guaranteed paying job and my hit or miss photography job. Since I last spoke with you I have had 3 publishing gigs. Pretty exciting for me and inspirational as well to keep getting it out there. And as you have stated that's the biggest thing GETTING IT OUT THERE! So... that's what I'm doing, sending my work everywhere possible and hope for the best. Thanks for your inspiration

Narcissism?

Edited a typo...

Great write up Mike. Those who have never owned and operated their own business are more than likely not going to fully understand what you are talking about. It's almost one of those things you have to experience. You can pretty much apply your business model to any type of business not just photography. As a business owner myself (not in photography) I can relate. It's great that your opening the door to what it really takes to take that next step.

Hank, I'd have to agree with you as well. And on top of that, your never going to become rich working for someone else. Well you might think you are rich, but the guy your working for doesn't think you are rich, cause he is.

It's great to see that the business end of things really can put a damper on the recreational interests most of us have when doing our photography. From a personal standpoint, I ran a photography gallery for three years and have decided to close up shop this month for good, why? Because it ruined my interest in my HOBBY, which isn't supposed to be WORK. Really sucks too, so BE CAREFUL, this message has been conveyed in this thread many times.

It seems to me that correctly spelling "professional" in the title might be a good place to start

Seriously, this is a relevant and important topic here, and I'm encouraged to see both the post and the responses. Mike, I admire your work ethic, but I also think it's important to have a real life. This seems to be hardest for the self-employed.

IMO, it really comes down to some deceptively simple premises that are extremely hard to accomplish:

1. Working hard but also smart. Longer hours doesn't mean more payoff.
2. Constantly improving the work through conscious intention.
3. Knowing your customers well and communicating with them in ways they understand and appreciate.
4. Persistence over a long period of time.
5. Keen observation and adaptability to new and rapidly evolving realities.

... Just like any business.

And if you don't love it, do something else. I feel fortunate to love what I do so much that the minor work-related inconveniences remain just that.

Do everything you think might work, evaluate the results, then do some more.

Since all caps seem to convey the true message here, mine would be STICK WITH IT and TAKE SOME CHANCES.

Hey Nat, I wish Jim would put a spell check on the site.
All good points for anyone in business..

Hey Chris, I did brun out a hobby in the past. I was into woodworking about twenty five years ago and turned it into my living for eight years. At the end I burned out and gave it up and started another business. I may burn out on this business and hobby for all I know, but then I'll find another business and hobby. I may love what I'm doing now, but I don't look at any hobby or business as I have to love and do it for the rest of my life, things change, people change.

Hey Brian, you are right you have to be in business for yourself to understand what's involved owning a business.

Hey Cheryl, congrats on your successes, as you have learned the more you put yourself out there the more success, pretty simple. Of course you have to have good images, which you do.

Hey Steve, nothing wrong with being a amatuer photographer, it's a great hobby in retirement.

Thank you soo much Mike, I am safari guide in Botswana, Africa and I spend most of my time taking pictures and I would like to turn pro one day. You have really opened up my eyes how the whole business works like. I believe if one is not dedicated it would be impossible. So I am going to GIVE IT MY BEST SHOT, you are an inspiration to a lot of people since you are a self taught photographer and I believe they are lot of us here ( self taught photographers).
Than you again and to all the pro's who commented on this post.

Kabelo Kgafela
http://kabelophotography.blogspot.com/
www.flickr.com/photos/nativepics/

Mike

This is one great post. Like others have said it should be required reading for anyone who wants to become a professional nature photographer. I can entirely relate to you as I participate in 25 to 30 art shows a year from Washington all the way down to Arizona. In fact as I am writing this post I am in a hotel room in Tempe, AZ. getting ready to drive down to Tucson for this coming weekends last show of the year. I have been on the road doing art shows since the beginning of November. I was able to fly home for Thanksgiving to be with my family, but that was only for a week. I am also very lucky to have a extremely caring and patent wife. My wife is a part-time social worker for the main hospital where I live in Washington State. Her schedule is as such that it allows us to get together either on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. This time is the balancing mechanism that allows me to be full time pro photographer. Without that time it would be very difficult for me to maintain my relationship with my wife. So in other words my time with my wife and my kids is very special.

Like you I get a lot of people that come by my booth at various art show who express to me there desire to become a professional nature/landscape photographer. And like you most of the time I do not have the time to explain the ins and outs of what becoming a professional photographer takes. What people believe is that being a pro photographer means taking pictures all the time. That is so far from the truth. In this business I firmly believe that if you are out taking pictures 80 percent of the time and only dedicating 20 percent to running your business you are probably going to fail. Being a pro photographer is so much more than taking pictures as you have stated above. Now you can go out a hire an agent to do your marketing, selling, etc.... but you are going to give up at least 35 to 40 percent of your income to pay for it. So the choice is yours. I would recommend anyone who has a desire to become a "Pro" to take some beginning business classes in marketing, and accounting at a local community college.

Just my two cents!! Now I have to get back to applying for art shows for 2010.

David Forster
Light Capture Photography

Hey David,

thank you for posting this and confirming what I have been telling eveyone here. Like me, you are in a position in your life and with your wife and family that allows you to do what you do. Most people with small kids and tons of family activities can not pull this lifestyle off, and that's what I tell young photographers looking to get into this business. My hope is that somewhere in the future I can afford to pay people to help with some of the simple time consuming things and give me more time to shoot, but if that doesn't happen, I'm perfectly happy with the way things are going now. Good luck on your shows in 2010.

Hey kabelo,

yes you have to be dedicated to any business to be successful. Good luck if you give it a go.

Mike, a great post. greater is the way you handle the "negative" criticism

I`m a geologist who really enjoy his job because it takes me around the world to places that I hav`nt seen BUT it also takes me away from my dear family for longer periods. The up side is that when we are together we now do more things together than when I was at a 8 to 5 job!!!

A lot of people have a lot to say about the way other people live their lives as in this case but the fact is that they may never have been in a position where you cannot provide for your family. Quality time with family is preferred but it does not always put bread on the table

Hey Hendrick, you're right that not everybody can have a job that allows them all the family time they need.

I have family members and friends that are engineers here in the Michigan area that had to go out of state for work to support the family. My bother in law is a electrial engineer that had to go to Kentucy for two years, and would come home on a wekend about once a month. You do what you have to do in this economy.

If you don't have a college degree or some skill your job prospects don't pay enough to support a family so you have to work longer hours or a second job, leaving little time for family. I know people will say well they should have gotten a college degree, but if everybody out of high got a college degree there wouldn't be enough jobs for all of them and they would still be at MacDonalds trying to pay for their degree.

Here's one for you Mike:

What did the liberal arts graduate say to the engineering graduate?

"Would you like fries with your burger?"

Hey Hank, very true now a days.