On quitting my job to become a full-time photographer

A dream job is still a job

A few years ago, I took the crazy step of quitting a stable, well-paid job to pursue my passion. The reality has been very different from the often romanticized idea of what outdoor photography is like. It is my dream job, but it’s still a job, after all.

While there’s nothing wrong with practicing photography as a creative outlet in our free time, I wanted more. I fell in love with the medium, and soon enough, it was all I could think about.

Unlike some creative pursuits, outdoor photography can't be done anywhere, at any time. You can wake up early to write a novel before heading to work or draw late at night, but photography requires you to be outside. Weekend photography is fine, but the chances of the best conditions happening exactly when you’re free are slim.

What pushed me to quit my job was the realization that a photographer’s most important asset is time: the more we do it, the better we get, and the greater the chances we have to encounter magical conditions.

Without a job, I finally had all the time I needed. But I had a new problem: how to pay the bills that never stopped coming.

Over time, I built multiple sources of income: print and book sales, a YouTube channel, Patreon support, talks, sponsorships, and workshops. There are many ways for a photographer to make money, but the problem is that the more of these "mini-jobs" you take on, the busier you get. You might end up back at square one: without time for actual photography.

My dream would be to “disappear” from the face of the Earth for a few years while I work on a photography project, then come back with amazing work, do an exhibition, publish a book, and release prints. The reality, however, is that few people have the financial means to do something like that—especially in a world that increasingly favors short-term projects.

I’m glad I took the chance and feel privileged to be able to do this for a living. I’m fully aware that this could change at any moment, so I cherish every opportunity I have to photograph beautiful places.

Adrian