Photography: Hobby, Side Hustle or Full-Time Career?

[jnantz]

I admit that I know nothing about marketing; I really should start from scratch. I still believe that in Germany there is room for positioning myself as a professional photographer. Whether I can do it full-time is not certain, I guess I need to learn a lot about business first and see if there is enough demand in my area.

in Germany if memory serves correct you may have to pass a licensing exam .. and get vocational training.
friends in Germany who worked there as a commercial shooter for magazines, AFP &c recently told me
worldwide economic circumstances have made it a tight market these days
good luck!
jon

[Michael E]

in Germany if memory serves correct you may have to pass a licensing exam .. and get vocational training.

There are two ways of photographic education in Germany, that are completely separated: Three years of vocational training (to be employed) plus additional training and licencing (to employ and train). Or college/academy, typically five years for a diploma. But the laws have been relaxed in recent years for many trades. Electricians, for example still have to have formal training, but photographers can offer their services without. And I don't get a fine for taking passport photos with a five year degree instead of three years vocational training... Of course, now a lot of self-taught photographers enter the market. But then, companies are paying a lot of money for "authentic" photos for their social media that don't show the effort that goes into them. Craft is not as important as it used to be.

[neil poulsen]

I've made some money at photography, but never a living. No doubt, it's a hobby that I've thoroughly enjoyed.

[jnantz]

There are two ways of photographic education in Germany, that are completely separated: Three years of vocational training (to be employed) plus additional training and licencing (to employ and train). Or college/academy, typically five years for a diploma. But the laws have been relaxed in recent years for many trades. Electricians, for example still have to have formal training, but photographers can offer their services without. And I don't get a fine for taking passport photos with a five year degree instead of three years vocational training... Of course, now a lot of self-taught photographers enter the market. But then, companies are paying a lot of money for "authentic" photos for their social media that don't show the effort that goes into them. Craft is not as important as it used to be.

thanks for clearing that up!

Maybe craft is still important but it presents itself in different ways, like the skill of creating effortless looking photographs?
I'm still trying to figure out what "authentic" actually means considering everything has already been done and there's nothing new under the sun.

[MIke Sherck]

Hobby for 35-ish years. Shot mostly large format (8x10, 5x7 and 4x5) for almost all of that.