More Work Than 9-To-5
If you want to be a freelancer because you hope to make your own schedule, you might be in for a rude awakening. At least at first, when he was doing assignment work for the New York Times, Worley said he could be called at 9:30 PM to shoot breaking news.
The outdoors world demands time in a different way. Day shoots are often far-flung. Expedition photographers can be away from home for weeks.
“You don’t ever clock out,” Worley said. “When you get a chance to work, you put aside whatever personal thing you do because that’s how you’re trying to make your living.”
As the gigs have become more consistent and regular, Worley has set boundaries. But still, he said, “if you don’t have a good work ethic, you’re not going to like it.”
Better Than The Alternative?
“It’s hard for me to be negative about my job because I love it so much,” Worley continued. “Going to the same place to do the same work each day would drive me crazy, but not knowing where the next paycheck is coming from would drive other people crazy.”
Assess whether you’re the former or the latter – and if the former, remember to appreciate how you spend each day. “I think if you’re really in love with what you want to do, it makes it all bearable,” Worley said. “I never wake up and groan and go ‘ugh, work.’”
Be Confident
Don’t believe the scare tactics, Trappe said. “You can make a living doing this. Great images and great photographers are valued more than ever now that the internet is saturated with crap images.”
He emphasized that with endless online resources (as well as lots of practice), it’s easier than ever to learn how to shoot well.
“Act like that photographer you want to be and it can happen,” Trappe said. “Fake it ’til you make it – or whatever you want to call it. It’s all possible, so go get it.”
