Suppose for a moment that I enjoyed taking pics, and that I was kickign around the idea of acquiring gainful employment in the photography industry. Where would I start? I found two openings in my area for portrait/school photography, but it doesn't pay much. I do realize that I'm starting at the bottom rung, just wondering how the portrait industry treats employees, and if that would be a good stepping stone into other things. Not sure what other things, just other things. Other things that are not electrical work :)

We have a dame fine Plumber here that has become a Photographer.....I am looking for Electrical Work.....sounds a buzz.....Portrait sounds good.....working and learning for Love....not money......and if the Wages Sux....hey....there may be fringe Benefits....sigh Good Luck.

Why not try running it a a part time job? Keep a full time job and then start your own business as a part time job, evenings and weekends and any vacation time you have. I have just started to do that for myself. The portrait jobs at schools etc.. don't pay a lot of money but provide you with experience. Experience is more valuable than money at the early stages. It will also provide you with active assignments to go on your Resume. Try targeting private schools etc.. they pay more for quality pics and usually buy more than just the one cheap copy. I would still take shots of your electrical work etc.. they could be used for stock photography. I'm assuming that what you are talking about is working within a franchise? They give you a client list and pay you a percentage of the actual cost? These can be OK for experience but become difficult to move away from depending on their contract. My advice would be, if you are not currently working, try for a photographers assistant role, this will provide you with lots of experience using kit you probably can not afford just yet. If you are in full time employment then use your spare time as photography time, take your images as normal, join some stock agencies and submit some of your images (you may get some income from there) Then keep telling people (business cards, leaflets etc..) that you are in business and see what work you get from it. In my case I am finding bits of work, and the funds from the work is buying my equipment, this keeps my books in the negative at the moment and in the UK that is OK for my 1st 2 years, I can claim some of my full time employment tax back each year as well! If you have any other questions then let me know. Just don't expect to jump straight in and be earning big bucks to start off with.

I wasn't expecting to make boatloads just starting out, but I am a family man, and $7-$9/hr (from the chain portrait places, olan mills and lifetouch) just doesn't feed the family, that's where the money concerns come from. I'll still pursue the portrait companies, I suppose, I just am leary, the family just lost $30k on a store that went belly up :(