Part-time photography

Read as much as you can about the industry to ensure that you're doing things the right way. Read the blogs of photographers you admire. Read their magazines and books, look at the type of cameras they use and so on. As you become more knowledgeable you can start to apply some of these principles, but start small. Read and learn how to take proper pictures, rather than focusing on what you're shooting. The photography industry is very competitive, so keep an open mind, and be prepared to learn new things as you go along. I used to think that learning to use the camera and taking pictures wasn't particularly important for my career, but I learned to use the camera and taking pictures wasn't particularly important for my career, but I've seen what a difference it makes to be prepared. To all new photographers: remember that you're in charge of the number of frames that you shoot per day, and take a long hard look at how often you're taking photos.

Find ways to make money from the hobby.

I can't tell you the number of people that I see posting online and telling me that they're about to start a photography business, and every single time I see one of these types of posts I think to myself 'How can that possibly be working out for them?' I'm not saying this to discourage you, but you can't be relying on one income stream and relying solely on that income stream to pay your bills.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with using the income to help pay for living expenses, and that may include your credit cards, but make sure that you have enough savings to help you with emergencies, because there will be emergencies. The real reason to focus on the income is to create the cashflow for the rest of your life, because a combination of being self-employed and doing contract work is usually the most lucrative. Having a lot of work can be financially stressful, and that can cause burn-out and anxiety, but if you want to be a full-time photographer

I think it's important to have money in the bank in case of any setbacks. There will always be down times, so if you have to take a step back from work for a couple of months, or you need to save some money to cover your bills, you can do it. The important thing is that you don't have too much of a safety net, because you need to be working constantly, or you're going to end up in debt and unable to work.

Think about what you want to create.

When I started out I took pictures of anything and everything that caught my eye, but as time went on, I started to think about what I wanted to create. At first I was just taking pictures of my friends, but as time went on I began to think about what I would like to take pictures of.

Think about what you can create with the photographs that you take, and don't rush yourself. Develop a process, but don't overthink it. Be prepared to do the best that you can with your budget, but don't let money become a limit. You could spend months and months taking photos of nothing but people's feet, but you wouldn't be able to develop your skills unless you were taking some pictures that you were passionate about.

Have a clear idea of what you want to take pictures of.
When you start taking photos for yourself, you'll be mainly taking pictures of people and objects that you like, but don't set the bar too high. Give yourself a deadline, and when it comes to taking photos for your portfolio, only take pictures that you feel good about.

Be prepared to learn quickly.

Whether you're self-taught or having to go to a photography college, you need to start practicing with your camera and learning by doing.
I took a lot of photos when I first started out, but it was only when I sat down and set myself a deadline that I started taking pictures that I was proud of.
Take photos that you're excited about, and most importantly, take more photos than you think you'll need.

Don't take yourself too seriously.

When you first start out, you're bound to make mistakes and it's important not to take yourself too seriously, because you'll spend a lot of time going back and fixing them.

Find something that you like doing, and do it.

Everyone needs a hobby, and if you don't have a hobby, it's important to find something that you like. It's a good idea to develop your skills at something, or to try something completely new and different, because it's unlikely that you'll stick to something for too long if you don't enjoy it.
When I started out I was inspired by everything that I saw, but now, I take the focus off of seeing things and focusing on how I want to edit and improve the photos that I take. That might sound boring, but it really works.
Never quit.