Author Topic: become a full timer? (Read 21909 times)

SIFD · « **on:** November 10, 2012, 16:03 »

hi guys

two years ago i post one topic here: http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/am-i-doing-ok-with-micro-stock/

at that time i was seriously considering leaving my day job and become a full time microstocker, funny despite that i hate my day job to death i still didn't quit it yet. it's a lot of financial responsibilities on my shoulder as i'm the only one brings home the bacon, as a man i swallowed a lot of pain and unhappiness for the family. today i'm in a much better situation now, mortgage is paid off and bought one car for my wife and a new van for my photo business in cash, during the last two years i almost doubled my portfolio and my earning is now more than doubled. i know that a lot of guys will not believe this but as a part time microstocker i'm making more than $8000 a month, 3 times more than my full time job pay check!

technically and financially i think i'm ready to tell my boss to got to hell, however maybe due to my personality - being too cautious, mentally i somewhat still short of some confidence, mainly due to that i was never professionally trained and being the sole income provider for the family, the decision will have huge impact on the family as well.

am i being too ridiculous that with these figures i'm still worrying? your honest opinion needed, especially from the successful old timers.

click_click · « **Reply #1 on:** November 10, 2012, 16:17 »

You're doing good!

Personally, I'll leave it that way unless you are planning going 'postal' on your boss anytime soon.

However, 8K should provide health coverage for the whole family which is one of my "must-haves". Probably you're getting that right now through your employer.

Unless you have a really crappy health insurance plan I'd stick to the job until the company goes under, they fire you OR you planned on becoming a full timer in the first place!

Having no "regular" day-time job will free up significant time to do your business.

Assuming you might start out from home, don't forget the "downsides" of working there being "accessible" all the time. You might get spoiled being able to do whatever you want/whenever you want. A watertight schedule should be in order to keep everything on track.

I do work from home so I basically work all the time, unless I hang out here or do the laundry, cook, eat, sleep and do whatever needs to be done to keep everything in one piece for the family.

It's a wonderful experience and if you're beyond fed up with your job then give it a shot - 8K a month will get you through for a start.

I don't think you are being ridiculous. Money worries are ALWAYS on my mind no matter how much money I make.
You are concerned for your family and you want to be responsible - that's a good thing. By letting your day job go, you do lose some reliable income but it's also quite unlikely that both IS, SS and others will close up shop the same day as well - so if sh!t hits the fan in the microworld you have to find new ways eventually to maintain your standard of living!

I'd say go for it if your heart is in it (has to be) - otherwise stick with the job, take advantage of the benefits (maybe even 401k etc.) and keep your portfolio growing along with your "passive income".

Well done!

P.S. Sorry for massive editing of my post, losing focus a bit here - have to work more to get it together again

tab62 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2012, 16:20 »

If my house and child support were paid off I would leave my daytime job so fast that even that Bolt Guy from the Olympics couldn't catch me

Dan · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2012, 16:33 »

Maybe a part time job (with insurance for your family) might be a solution.

Mantis · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2012, 16:38 »

All I have to say is that if you are really making 8 grand a month doing this part time then you must have some excellent stuff. I do, however, find it hard to believe that two years ago you were making $3500 and today you are making 8 grand. Some of the best in the industry like Sean Locke and Lisa FX are uploading a lot of great quality images and it's all they can do to keep their incomes the same from month to month (I am basing this on previous posts by each of them). Just doesn't add up unless you have an extraordinary skill of combining photos/illustrations with cool special effects that don't compete with other work out there and are a missing link in terms of customer needs.

I am not saying it isn't true that you went from 3.5k to 8. k a month in 2 years but I am saying that this seems unlikely given what everyone else is reporting.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 10, 2012, 16:48 »

where have you been in the last 2 years? looks like you show up to talk about your earnings and leave, anyway congratulations!

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #6 on:** November 10, 2012, 17:02 »

If you're earning three times your day job income I'd say you should be worrying and should move on. That is, unless you now are spending three times as much money and are stuck at the day job.

leaf · « **Reply #7 on:** November 10, 2012, 17:02 »

Microstock income is unstable, but then again so is any job. a business can go bankrupt or you can loose your job tomorrow. I suppose it really depends on what personality type you are. Some people really love the reliability of knowing how much they'll make each month so for them, a regular 9-5 job is really what they want, even if they despise the job. After being totally self employed for the last 5 years, I couldn't bring myself to work for someone else again. I like choosing my jobs, my day plan and getting the benefits (income) myself. I like to know that if I work really hard and do a good job I'll get rewarded for it with higher income (hopefully). Working 2x harder for a business might get noticed but you aren't going to affect your income the same way. You are going to make the company more money.

Working for yourself does have drawbacks of course. If you have a hard time managing finances, managing your time, staying on task etc. you'll find it quite hard - but if you've got a large portfolio online already you should have already proven to yourself that you are pretty determined.

If you are nervous about making the jump, I'd save up 1 year of income in a 'nest egg' .. then jump out and enjoy.

noodle · « **Reply #8 on:** November 10, 2012, 17:04 »

if you are already making 8k/mth from part time effort, you my friend are probably both technically and creativly a very gifted photographer
at almost 100k/year salary I would definitley ditch my fulll time job that I had a loathing for. What could possibly be the incentive to stay? I f things went south, I'm sure you could easily pick up another job .
If however you were making quite a nice salary/benefits, then I could see the hesitation to quit

nicku · « **Reply #9 on:** November 10, 2012, 17:44 »

8k are lot of money regardless in witch country you live...

I am in the same situation, still have a regular job but i earn twice as much compared with my salary.... I plan to go full time photographer when my studio is completed ( extending and combining stock with paid photo sessions), The reason is simple: no regular job= more time = more time spend shooting = more images at higher quality = more revenue.

Good luck in your decision.

Nik.

Ed · « **Reply #10 on:** November 10, 2012, 18:13 »

If it were me, I would continue doing what you are doing. Keep the money you make in savings, spend another few years earning from both jobs and put yourself in a position where you and your wife are covered for retirement and your children are covered for their education...then look at retiring from both. Naturally, during retirement, you could add to your portfolio. Most importantly, you would be in a position where you wouldn't have to worry about income - whether it's from stock or otherwise.

stockastic · « **Reply #11 on:** November 10, 2012, 19:22 »

A guy making $8K a month - in his spare time - is posting here, asking if he can succeed in microstock? Am I the only one thinking this is a put-on?

tab62 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 10, 2012, 19:57 »

I think the old Saying applies to this thread- "If it sounds too good to be true than it it isn't true"

Mantis · « **Reply #13 on:** November 10, 2012, 20:18 »

Quote from: stockastic on November 10, 2012, 19:22

A guy making $8K a month - in his spare time - is posting here, asking if he can succeed in microstock? Am I the only one thinking this is a put-on?

No you are not.

tab62 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 10, 2012, 21:24 »

Heck, if I was making $800 a month I would be doing cartwheels let alone $9,000 a month! At that amount I would give my boss the 'Bird' and even have someone take a photo of me giving him the bird that I could use that pic for my new full time job as a mirco-stocker...

luissantos84 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 10, 2012, 22:37 »

hi there Julien!

SIFD · « **Reply #16 on:** November 10, 2012, 23:35 »

@click click, PaulieWalnuts, leaf, noodle, dan and nicku
thank you for your input, actually I have made my mind after post here, i'm 33 years old the only thing in my life so far can even consider a little successful is microstock, without it, i'm really just a nobody. i think now it's time to make it greater than just little successful. 6 years ago when i started microstock, the only goal i had was that hoping one day i can make money enough to take control my own life. if i dont do it now, then i have forgotten why i started microstock in the first place.

@luissantos84
i'm here all the time, but i dont post much, just read then leave. one reason is that i really have no time, the same reason i dont have facebook or twitter or any other social network account. i'd rather use the time to do microstock.

and to rest of the guys who has doubts about this thread, i can post a snapshot of my earning here, then what? i bet someone will then say that i'm full timer already. so i'm not going to make any more effort to explain myself rather than the following: have you ever re-visit a lie you made 2.5 years ago on the internet forum? or do you even remember a lie you post it 2.5 year ago on the net? just think about that.

JPSDK · « **Reply #17 on:** November 10, 2012, 23:44 »

Brave words.
True enough.

fotomine · « **Reply #18 on:** November 11, 2012, 00:28 »

Any advice for the stock photo wannabe's?

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #19 on:** November 11, 2012, 01:02 »

No, absoloutely not! today micro is so unstable that just by the flick of a search change you could be down 50% in income and then what?
Besides isnt it quite obvious micro is on its last legs. There is no future in micro, its totally over saturated and the supply outstripps the demand by lightyears.
In short, keep your job.

Anyka · « **Reply #20 on:** November 11, 2012, 02:03 »

SIFD, one year ago, I was in your position (though not with $ 8000/month). I had the worst boss I ever had, and because of him I hated every day at work. I had already gone from fulltime to 4/5 and microstock income had grown to a bit more than my 4/5 job.
In January this year, I quit and since then I am a fulltime photographer. But not just fulltime microstocker. Because I am cautious like you (and also pessimist and always expect microstock to go downhill), I started offering commissioned portrait work. Today, in my 10th month, portraiture takes up about 20% of my income, the rest is microstock. And I have not used 1 penny of my savings (yet).
Right now, what you spend is probably much more than what you really need, simply because your income is very high. Make a list, calculate how much income you really need per year, and then calculate how much microstock (or any other photography income) can go down without getting into trouble. Then realise how much you hate your job ...

john_woodcock · « **Reply #21 on:** November 11, 2012, 03:57 »

Quote

and to rest of the guys who has doubts about this thread, i can post a snapshot of my earning here, then what?

Why not just show us your portfolio?

aeonf · « **Reply #22 on:** November 11, 2012, 04:15 »

Exclusive or indy?

qwerty · « **Reply #23 on:** November 11, 2012, 04:53 »

It would depend on how easy it would be to get a new normal job if things went upsidedown.

If there 20% unemployment where you live I'd be less likely to trade in the insurance backup security of a paid job. If I knew I could get a job in a week if I had to then it would be a different decision.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 11, 2012, 06:47 »

Quote from: john_woodcock on November 11, 2012, 03:57

Quote
and to rest of the guys who has doubts about this thread, i can post a snapshot of my earning here, then what?

Why not just show us your portfolio?

I have said who he is and it wasn't that hard to find out, that said you have my respect SIFD

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Author Topic: become a full timer? (Read 21909 times)

SIFD

click_click

tab62

Dan

Mantis

luissantos84

PaulieWalnuts

leaf

noodle

nicku

Ed

stockastic

tab62

Mantis

tab62

luissantos84

SIFD

JPSDK

fotomine

ClaridgeJ

Anyka

john_woodcock

aeonf

qwerty

luissantos84

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