Dad or tog or both

[fabphoto]

I wonder if any of you is/has been in the same situation.

I am an amateur photographer. I love taking portraits of my family and friends and capture those natural moments were people are actually not posing, which I think are more natural.

Last December, we took our 7 months old (at the time) to her first photo shoot. It was also my first experience in a professional studio. The photographer was a friend of a friend and he was very cool with us, he even gave us a special deal.

The experience was excellent and the shot were great. Although he gave us a discount, the total price wasn't cheap. I worked out his costs and figured out that he makes a nice little profit. I know he shoots only Saturdays and has a full time job so any money he makes is a nice little bonus.

Being a new dad isn't cheap, and money is very tight. I am thinking to do something similar but I know that starting a new business requires a lot of time and preparation. For the tog part, I need time for the shoot and after shoot for processing. I don t know how to find the right balance between this new adventure and my family life.
How do you guys do it when you have a full time job and shoot on saturdays?

 

[KIPAX]

I worked out his costs and figured out that he makes a nice little profit. I know he shoots only Saturdays and has a full time job so any money he makes is a nice little bonus.

Well I doubt he is doing it for the good of his health as they say.. But how do you know his costs?

Being a new dad isn't cheap, and money is very tight. I am thinking to do something similar but I know that starting a new business requires a lot of time and preparation. For the tog part, I need time for the shoot and after shoot for processing. I don t know how to find the right balance between this new adventure and my family life.

I presume you thought about this with your mate who you say made a nice profit out of you?


BTW You have answered your own question.. you need to put time and effort into the project.. and money.. if you havent got all three then your not going to do it... simple really

 

[specialman]

Do not underestimate the importance of spending as much time as you can with your kids, even when they're at an early stage and don't actually do that much.

I've don't the last 17 months doing bonkers hours most weeks so to make up for time list during the week, I rarely do anything on the weekend. It's family time and I've even given up my greatest live, fishing; I just can't bring myself to fish sat/sun, work AND be a dad.

It's only now things are familiar and stable that I'm allowing myself to shoot odd weddings. The money is a big draw but I won't make it a weekly habit, I just can't.

If you can't put 100 per cent into the venture AND work for a living AND see your kids growing up, it's not worth the risk

 

[Andy_S_T]

Luckily I don't need much sleep so the evenings are when I do my processing. Little one is in bed by 8pm, wife normally goes to bed about 10.30, so I can normally get at least a couple of hours in every night if needed.

 

[hunter20ga]

It's different for everyone (every couple), so very hard to give good advice. I'll point out, though, that children grow quickly, and that 8 o'clock bedtime will change in a blink of the eye.

Very, very few people, on their death beds, say "I sure wish I'd spent more time working and less time with my family."

I understand how tight money can be with little ones in the house, and admit that everyone needs to balance the need for additional income with the time spent with spouse and children. Good luck whatever you choose.

Just a thought.

 

[swanseamale47]

It's different for everyone (every couple), so very hard to give good advice. I'll point out, though, that children grow quickly, and that 8 o'clock bedtime will change in a blink of the eye.

Very, very few people, on their death beds, say "I sure wish I'd spent more time working and less time with my family."

I understand how tight money can be with little ones in the house, and admit that everyone needs to balance the need for additional income with the time spent with spouse and children. Good luck whatever you choose.

Just a thought.

Wise and deep words.

Children grow very fast, if you can't do both comfortably go with the children, theres nothing to stop you still dabbling in photography but family should always come first IMHO.