Anybody whose been in this industry and have experience making money from photography, is it worth pursuing? How’s the money? would you say it’s enough to sustain financial independence and is there any hope to go further and even think of a above normal life? From a business standpoint is there any potential or is it oversaturated?
It can be, but it’s likely you’ll enjoy it whole lot less if you’re counting on it (by itself) to pay bills. If you don’t like marketing and sales, I’d forget it, because honestly that’s more than 50 percent of the gig.
This depends on the market you’re in and what you’re shooting (and for whom). Money can be good, or it can be a race to the bottom depending on what you’re shooting. I’d say do some research and find out who and what you DONT want to compete with, unless you’re satisfied with being a bottom dweller. If you associate yourself with hacks and lowballers you will be categorized as one.
Financial independence is a nebulous term depends on factors that make this question impossible to answer. “Above normal” - if by that you mean more money then possibly, but nobody knows what your “normal” looks like.
Potential, sure, there always is. Potential will not keep your lights on however.
Oversaturated? Definitely, for better or worse.
Thanks for this thorough answer! can you give some examples on products and services that are infinitely more profitable?
I went back to information technology myself. I work as a contract programmer remotely and even part time I make several times more than I ever did doing photography.
Capitalism ruined art in the US and the attitude is that if it has no commercial value it’s worthless. All the money is in science technology engineering and medical. Sad but true.
I do photography for myself now and I love it more than ever.
How did you end up there? Did you have a background in coding or you just decided to learn coding from scratch? If you could share that journey I’d really appreciate it.