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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: charlesknox on September 24, 2008, 18:18

Title: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: charlesknox on September 24, 2008, 18:18
I was wondering on how long it took the people that are living off stock photography or photography in general to get to the point that they could live off of it?

I realize that we all need to be patient but i'm just interested in learning from the pros.

Charles
Title: Re: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: PeterChigmaroff on September 24, 2008, 18:32
After much negotiating with my wife I quit work one day and was a full time photographer the next day. I stopped becoming a dependent (for income tax purposes) about 3 years later.
Title: Re: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: Karimala on September 25, 2008, 04:54
One year...but it wasn't exactly by choice.  I unexpectedly lost my job a year after I started selling stock, and used my unemployment as an opportunity to go full-time. 
Title: Re: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: redo on September 25, 2008, 04:59
1 month  ;D

...but in east-europe.
Title: Re: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: araminta on September 25, 2008, 04:59
It STRONGLY depends on how much money you need.

I wish I live in east Europe: I would be pro now. But I'm living in Switzerland and I'm afraid I will never earn enough money to make it a living.

But I guess that if you don't event think about that point it is because you are an US citizen  ;)

In this case the answer is: it depends.
Title: Re: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: Perry on September 25, 2008, 04:59
7 years of happy amateur time
2 years of part-time
-------------------
=9 years
Title: Re: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: kosmikkreeper on September 25, 2008, 08:15
I quit my day job while I was only making half my income from stock. I had been doing stock part time for 3 years. Within a year I had my day job income. And now... I have more.  ;D
Title: Re: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: epantha on September 25, 2008, 09:09
Quote
I quit my day job while I was only making half my income from stock. I had been doing stock part time for 3 years. Within a year I had my day job income. And now... I have more. 

YAY! There's still hope for us sad sacks stuck in monotonous jobs working on other people's stuff. ;D
Title: Re: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: RH on September 25, 2008, 11:10
Hi Charley,

it depands if you really like to give up your hobby and want to do it as your occupatopon. Itīs totally different if you shoot what you wanna shoot or you must shoot what the agencies want/need and you must serve them, that you can live.
Title: Re: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: michealo on September 25, 2008, 11:17
Currently it covers my coffee intake ..
Title: Re: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: RGebbiePhoto on September 25, 2008, 12:57
I didn't work outside of the house.  Hubby got laid off two months after we started in Microstock. 
We're about nine months in, we're hoping to see livable income in the next 2-3 months :)  Wish us luck! lol

Gebbie
Title: Re: How long did it take for people to go pro?
Post by: charlesknox on September 25, 2008, 18:43
Great! thanks everyone!!!

ya i've been doing stock work for a year and a half on and off but january i really started working on it. The future looks good!