
Part-Time, Full-Time, And Employed Partners
Photography Part-Time Or As A Side Gig
There is no shame in limiting photography to a part-time occupation. In fact, there are several benefits:
- Carries less risk
- Better fit for “photography passion”
- Dual income can mean more money
The cons for making photography a part-time gig include the following:
- More time required to launch
- Eventual work/life balance
- Working multiple jobs can increase the risk of burnout if one’s social life is not nurtured.
- Time = limited scalability
Photography Full-Time As A Sole Proprietor
Of course, there are also pros and cons to making photography a full-time job as a sole proprietor. Some of the pros include the following:
- Faster to launch
- Quicker growth and development
- More time for scaling and development
- Better focus/balance
Here are some of the cons for going full-time:
- Significant risks (income/insurance)
- Lonely/depressing (getting stuck)
- This can be minimized with a healthy peer network, perhaps one in which you meet up regularly with other photographers for lunch or other functions to limit the isolation of working alone.
Photography As A Partnership
Another option for making photography a career is a partnership with fellow photographers.
- Double effort = quicker launch
- Faster growth and development
- Division of labor provides better focus
As is true with other business types, partnerships also carry cons:
- Conflict resolution
- Equity in work/income (greatest stress)
- Less autonomy in decision making
- This includes deciding when you want to go on vacation. Your business partner should be notified in advance to plan for covering all business tasks.
Photography As A Career With A Studio
One avenue towards working as a photographer involves working with a studio. Here are some pros for working in a studio setting:
- Fastest artistic development (often paid)
- No risk, good reward in salary/income
- Learn the business, think differently
- Career platform/business springboard
And of course there are cons:
- Less upside potential
CHAPTER ONE
- 1.1 Business Course One | The Photography Business Plan
- 1.2 Introduction
- 1.3 Common Myths + Truths Unknown
- 1.4 Know The Road Ahead
- 1.5 The Lin & Jirsa Journey
- 1.6 Part-Time, Full-Time, Employed, Partners
- 1.7 Respect Yourself. Stop Wasting Time + Money
- 1.8 Your Business Roadmap And Guide
- 1.9 Chapter One Quiz
CHAPTER TWO
- 2.1 Great Plans Still Fail
- 2.2 Strategy Vs. Planning
- 2.3 The Business Plan/Executive Summary
- 2.4 The Power Of Mind Mapping
- 2.5 Step One: Select A Focus
- 2.6 Step Two: Basic Market Research
- 2.7 Step Three: S.W.O.T. Analysis
- 2.8 Step Four: Target Market Personas
- 2.9 Step Five: Values, Vision, Mission
- 2.10 Step Six: Creating Short + Long-Term Goals
- 2.11 Effectively Managing Your Time
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
- 4.1 Selecting The Entity And Registering The Business
- 4.2 Liability And Insurance
- 4.3 Protect Yourself With Contracts
- 4.4 Why You Need Accounting
- 4.5 Good Data Equals Good Decisions
- 4.6 Using The Gear And IT Guide
- 4.7 Q&A
Total Course Run Time: 7H 50M 44S
ACCESS TO INDUSTRY-LEADING EDUCATION
Let SLR Lounge guide you in your photography journey with the best photography education and resources. Browse our complete, comprehensive solutions and take the next step in your photography.
BROWSE WORKSHOPS