It has been almost a month since I have claimed myself a part-time photographer. Sometimes I really want to drop the word “part-time” because it sounds unprofessional, it almost equates “part-time” with “amateur”. But no, I want to tell you “part-time” ≠ “unprofessional” or “amateur. Because I believe some people are capable to excel in more than one thing, or maybe I should say some people are capable to do something they need to do and something they love to do at the same time.
Life does not give you everything you want, when you can feed yourself by doing the things you love, congratulations, you are very lucky. But for many other, less fortunate, people, the job that pays the bill is not always where their passion lies. Even though I am trying to earn some money from my photographs, I would say that currently my business has not reached to the point that I would be able to live off as a photographer.
It is hard to explain the uncertainty I fear for being a full-time photographer: it’s the way I was raised, it’s the value I was taught, and it’s the experience from others I have witnessed. To be honest, my parents still do not 100% support my current decision, but that’s life, it does not give you everything you want, but you have to do whatever it takes that will not let you regret living it.
2 weeks ago, I attended the first photo-shooting event in Boston (#LetsshootBoston). I used to go to these a lot when I was in college back in China. It was an all-female event, which made it a lot more comfortable because we did not have to compete with male photographers for pretty female models. And I learned that many of them were like me, they have their separate full-time jobs but they love photography very much. They are just as good as the full-time photographers, but they just do not consider this as their main source of income. All of a sudden, I thought, it is OK to be a part-time photographer, because being part-time or full-time does not determine how good you are. The time we invest and what we get out of a certain thing is not always a 1 to 1 relationship.
I felt grateful that I am not alone and I am so inspired by all of the talented women. Sometimes, it’s good to not overthink but just do it. To all the people who are in the same boat, good luck to you and lets carry on!
(The below are photos of two very talented photographers I met at the event, Tracy and Dania)
