Career advice needed

[neliconcept]

I don't know if this is a good place to post this or posting it at all.

Essentially my issue is, I've been a photographer for the past 9-10 years and have been unemployed for the past year and I just can't live like this anymore. I've had a total of 10 days of freelance work out of 365 days and I can't sustain myself on that. I wanted to get opinions and or anyone in different fields that may think I could do something different with minimal schooling needed. I had been wanting to get back into Architecture however that would require probably another 5-6 years of education (BS and MArch degrees), plus I don't know the outlook with Architecture, but if the outlook was good and I could get started in that right away after school, I'd go that route in a heartbeat.

Let me know if this makes sense at all. I'm just looking for options that I can jump into with experience in photography, art direction and some retail/auto sales. I tried working in the auto industry for sales and I sucked at it.

Any suggestions are helpful.

[TheWatchGuy]

porn

[overcoil]

I’d go back to school for physical therapy or speech pathology - or a field in demand and once you get that steady income ( even if your wealthy as is ) then try to resurrect the photograph/art side of your talents.

Even an admission counselor at a college could reviews any transferable credits or experience and guide you to where you might be able to put your talents to good use while maybe back in school.

I imagine architecture school admission would be one of the harder routes, particularly w/o computer drafting background and equivalent.

[DETRoadster]

About 2 years ago I hired a former freelance photo-journalist who had given up on trying to make money in print media photography. She joined one of my departments as a project manager and has been great at it.

If you are organized, detail oriented, timeline focused, and good at getting people to collaborate, project management might be a good avenue for you to explore.

[JamesWWIII]

Sorry to hear about your career woes, wish I had some advice for someone in your line of work.

Having said that, as a man who has enjoyed looking at photos of beautiful women since puberty, I've always been curious what one does to break into that business and be successful. It just always seemed like one of those dream jobs to me as a total outsider to that world. Is it like so many other areas of life, all about who you know? Is it luck?

Like how does a known scumbag like Terry Richardson get to where he is in life?

[evoq007]

I would echo DETRoadster. Look into program management. PMP certification honestly isnt a great tool, but might help get you networking contacts as well as getting your resume through some robot screeners. See if you can find some online courses on Scrum and agile management.

[RickFLM4]

Find a trade you like. Can make a good living without years of school and can start your own business once experienced.

[neliconcept]

Originally Posted by DETRoadster

About 2 years ago I hired a former freelance photo-journalist who had given up on trying to make money in print media photography. She joined one of my departments as a project manager and has been great at it.

If you are organized, detail oriented, timeline focused, and good at getting people to collaborate, project management might be a good avenue for you to explore.

I hadn't thought about that, but I will do some research on this avenue and see if I can tailor my resume for it.

Originally Posted by JamesWWIII

Sorry to hear about your career woes, wish I had some advice for someone in your line of work.

Having said that, as a man who has enjoyed looking at photos of beautiful women since puberty, I've always been curious what one does to break into that business and be successful. It just always seemed like one of those dream jobs to me as a total outsider to that world. Is it like so many other areas of life, all about who you know? Is it luck?

Like how does a known scumbag like Terry Richardson get to where he is in life?

It's more about networking, being the fad or whatever is new going around and some being pure luck. my work is solid but I always shoot to advance and have even considered a direction change: http://www.blakedavenport.net

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

I’d go back to school for physical therapy or speech pathology - or a field in demand and once you get that steady income ( even if your wealthy as is ) then try to resurrect the photograph/art side of your talents.

Even an admission counselor at a college could reviews any transferable credits or experience and guide you to where you might be able to put your talents to good use while maybe back in school.

I imagine architecture school admission would be one of the harder routes, particularly w/o computer drafting background and equivalent.

Yea, the drafting background probably will hurt me quite a bit. Thank you for the other advice and I will definitely look into it! Right now, I have basically no money in my account, my girlfriend is helping me out but It's stressing me out to the max that I can't help her with general utilities, food and the like. Slightly depressed but I need to think positive and get a new job!

Originally Posted by evoq007

I would echo DETRoadster. Look into program management. PMP certification honestly isnt a great tool, but might help get you networking contacts as well as getting your resume through some robot screeners. See if you can find some online courses on Scrum and agile management.

Thank you for the advice as well. I am definitely going to look into this field and see if that would be my new avenue of choice!

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Find a trade you like. Can make a good living without years of school and can start your own business once experienced.

I have thought about doing a trade as well. I looked into welding as I would love to play around with metals in my free time, fabrication for offroad equipment, or even just working on some sculpting art in some sort of way when I'm not doing welding for construction. I'm not quite sure what other trades I'd be good at however.

Thank you to everyone so far who has given me some great advice. I'm still researching new avenues. I don't want to give up on photography yet but I need to worry about 5-10 years from now as it's a volatile industry.

[Maestro]

I'll tell you the same thing I told my kids do not get a degree in something unless it shows up in a job description all over the place.

The problem is it is very hard to make money in the Arts. unless you have other skills people are willing to pay you to do. Or your arts skills are over the top and you know how to market the hell out of yourself and convince people to hire you for your arts skills.

My best friend was photographer, carried his camera everywhere he went. However, he took job a Ritz Camera as sales person then store manage to a district manage, also worked for a wedding photographer. He ended turning that all into his own photography studio, and he covered his creative cost by doing school kid pictures that paid the bills and allowed him to do the things he wanted as photographer.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

I’d go back to school for physical therapy or speech pathology - or a field in demand and once you get that steady income ( even if your wealthy as is ) then try to resurrect the photograph/art side of your talents.

Even an admission counselor at a college could reviews any transferable credits or experience and guide you to where you might be able to put your talents to good use while maybe back in school.

I imagine architecture school admission would be one of the harder routes, particularly w/o computer drafting background and equivalent.

LOL, please don't listen to anyone that tells you to go into Physical Therapy... a field that now requires a PHD and pays 80K per year lol

[JamesWWIII]

Originally Posted by neliconcept

It's more about networking, being the fad or whatever is new going around and some being pure luck. my work is solid but I always shoot to advance and have even considered a direction change: http://www.blakedavenport.net

Wow! I'm certainly no expert, but for what it's worth, I think you're quite good.

[overcoil]

Originally Posted by ASAP

LOL, please don't listen to anyone that tells you to go into Physical Therapy... a field that now requires a PHD and pays 80K per year lol

PhD ? You sure? Ever read a physical therapist research thesis ?

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

PhD ? You sure? Ever read a physical therapist research thesis ?

You are aware anyone is able to get a PHD, right?

https://ptrehab.ucsf.edu/qualifying-exam-dissertation


LOLZ

[3rdcoast228i]

Get a trade/certification that will always be in demand and doesn't take years to complete. Get back on your feet then pursue more education if you aren't where you want to be. There is good money to be made without a degree if you work for it.

[overcoil]

Originally Posted by ASAP

You are aware anyone is able to get a PHD, right?

https://ptrehab.ucsf.edu/qualifying-exam-dissertation


LOLZ

Your post reads like a phd is required - I thought you were confusing DPT with PhD.

[JamesWWIII]

Originally Posted by 3rdcoast228i

Get a trade/certification that will always be in demand and doesn't take years to complete. Get back on your feet then pursue more education if you aren't where you want to be. There is good money to be made without a degree if you work for it.

Oddly enough, one of the highest paying jobs you can get without a degree is that held by none other than...



Yes, nuclear power plant operators were making around $75,000 median annual salary back in 2012. That's higher than the median salary of a commercial pilot. Regular power plant operators aren't doing too much worse, pulling down around $66,000/yr.

[SchillerM]

Looking at your site the skill is there for sure. I'd guess location is hard one, lots of potential competition.
One thing I noticed is although you have pictures up and contact info you don't list services.
If you want to stay in photography you might need to branch out, try your hand in automotive stuff.
Most the photographers I know still do the glamour shot to stuff for people. Also give lessons.

Anyway, it's hard for photographer to make a living in a single forte until they are well know.
Best of luck
Matt

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Your post reads like a phd is required - I thought you were confusing DPT with PhD.

A doctorate is a doctor... its an advanced degree and the point I am making has no relevance to this distinction.

[Mingwan]

Your work looks very good. On architecture, I wouldn’t look into it unless you are going to be more passionate about architecture than you are photography, and you’re also willing to do the 6 years of schooling you’ll likely be required to do for architecture.

Are you sure you’re looking hard enough for jobs? I’ve seen people with shittier photography skills and graphic design skills land jobs in decent places. Maybe you should use your skill set and cross into other related fields like graphic design and put some focus there.

[yco]

launch a small company create a logo for it and start taking professional pics for people who wants to sell their houses.. real estate photography for mid and high end clients.. art direction, advertising.. if you believe you can do it worth trying..

[DerEisbaer]

What yco said + have you checked with car dealers? A lot of the high-end dealers might be in need to hire a professional photographer for their inventory.

Adding to that, fabrication could give you a steady base-income after a while.

[neliconcept]

Originally Posted by SchillerM

Looking at your site the skill is there for sure. I'd guess location is hard one, lots of potential competition.
One thing I noticed is although you have pictures up and contact info you don't list services.
If you want to stay in photography you might need to branch out, try your hand in automotive stuff.
Most the photographers I know still do the glamour shot to stuff for people. Also give lessons.

Anyway, it's hard for photographer to make a living in a single forte until they are well know.
Best of luck
Matt

Thanks for your reply. I did work at a high end dealership in Manhattan for a year, Manhattan Motorcars (Porsche, Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Bentley, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Lotus) and that was a fun job but highly underpaid. I've used my connections from that place where a couple of guys have gone to other places like Mclaren and another Lambo dealer and nobody seems to need a photographer for some reason. I have thought about setting up a company and pitching services to dealer networks, it's quite the change though.

Originally Posted by Mingwan

Your work looks very good. On architecture, I wouldn’t look into it unless you are going to be more passionate about architecture than you are photography, and you’re also willing to do the 6 years of schooling you’ll likely be required to do for architecture.

Are you sure you’re looking hard enough for jobs? I’ve seen people with shittier photography skills and graphic design skills land jobs in decent places. Maybe you should use your skill set and cross into other related fields like graphic design and put some focus there.

I see a decent amount of jobs out there, I just recently had my resume written by a resume writer as I think my previous resume wasn't doing the job. I have been applying 24/7 after I got that back and I'm getting more worried by the minute with no responses. I've worked full-time with a company called Net-A-Porter and have done freelance e-commerce work for Amazon, Gilt Groupe, Intermix/Gap and have been trying to do freelance for Target (contact keeps pushing my start date off with them) and Bloomingdales. A lot of fake people in this business. I do have schooling in Graphic Design so that is an option, but will need to do another portfolio for that. Working on that aspect now.

Originally Posted by yco

launch a small company create a logo for it and start taking professional pics for people who wants to sell their houses.. real estate photography for mid and high end clients.. art direction, advertising.. if you believe you can do it worth trying..

I like this idea and may give it a shot also.

Originally Posted by DerEisbaer

What yco said + have you checked with car dealers? A lot of the high-end dealers might be in need to hire a professional photographer for their inventory.

Adding to that, fabrication could give you a steady base-income after a while.

As I said to Schiller, I've done this route before but it didn't prove prosperous. Thank you for the responses however. One thing is for sure I am not going to give up on my work.

What I am planning to do is to shoot more beauty and do a rebrand of my website and try and get an Agent. I have a syndication agent but they only sell my images I've shot to magazines in Europe and abroad which doesn't help me since Editorials don't pay too well and it's sporadic. I need ad clients and big box brands and an agent would be that bridge to those clients. In the meantime though I need steady income as I'm broke as can be.