It's funny what a dose of reality can do to our dreams and ambitions of running our own business. I didn't really understand what I was getting into when I started my little side business over 5 years ago. But learning and embracing reality is a part of the adventure as you learn to effectively carry out your dreams as a self-employed artist.
I have enjoyed Michael Gerber's "E-Myth" and encourage you to take a look at this article--The Self-Employment Myth.
More often than not, when aspiring photographers ask me for a piece of advice regarding getting into the business, the first thing that comes to mind is "Don't...unless you are willing to work your butt off, and make huge sacrifices--like no weekends to yourself, missing out on your friends' and families historic moments like weddings and reunions, being 'on-call' 24/7, unpredictable income, and a job that you don't ever leave; or like Dave Ramsey says: "Living like no one else today, so you can live like no one else tomorrow."
On the up side, the hard work pays off! The moments when teary-eyed mothers, and ecstatic brides cannot put into words the joy and gratitude they have because of the visual story you created are so rewarding. Or the times when loved ones pass, but their memory is captured forever in your work, or the days you can turn your attention to care for someone more important than the work at hand, are days that the privilege of being a photographer overwhelm me. Or the people I get to meet and the places I've seen, the experiences I've documented--it's priceless and worth every ounce of energy.
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