Doing a 180

[jaguar]

As it stands I'm well on track to becoming something fairly well paid in the field of market analysis at somewhere fairly nice like UBS or Credit Suisse. While to some degree I do enjoy this kind of work, hunting out patterns and predicting market behavior, I'm starting to feel it really isn't me. If i do it I fear in a a year or so I'll be desperate to bail, no matter how good the pay and perks.

To be honest I'm fairly interested in becoming a photojournalist, combining my wanderlust with the fact I'm a good photographer, I'm one of those weird fuckers who likes getting shot at in obscure third world countries so it's kind of perfect for me.

The point of all this though is I'm looking for stores/anecdotes/advice of people who have made dramatic career changes, why and how.

and if anyone knows how you become a reuters photographer that would be nice too

[Beestie]

Without boring everyone with the story (it fits the thread but not nearly as exciting as dumping a suit for a third world photojournalist assignment), I went for it once. It fell apart but I don't really regret it because now, I can be content even tho "the mountain kicked my ass." I gave it my best effort and despite the consequences, it was exhiliarating.

The point is that I don't have a midlife crisis because I always did what I wanted to and was never afraid to walk away from everything and start over (I did it three times - never to run from where I was but to run to where I wanted to be).

My biggest fear (in the context of this conversation) isn't what will happen if it doesn't work out its living with the regret of being afraid to give it a shot.

If you have family obligations, my answer is predictably different.

[jaguar]

Obligation free, debt free, non-liquid asset free....It would kind of piss a fair few people off but not people I actually care about.

Thankyou for your comments, it's appreciated.

[Undertoad]

Told you so (sixth post down)

If people would just listen to my advice all the time they would have better lives. :P

[jaguar]

I know I know :p

Amusing on the eww maths too in retrospect. Amazing how perspectives change.

[xoxoxoBruce]

The future is unwritten, but UT knows what will happen.
Jag, a years experience in your present field gives you a nice plum on your resume and a safety net to go back to if you change your mind.
It also gives you contacts and credibility/ background in that field, for photojournalist assignments that might involve it. The more background knowlege the better for knowing when and where to be, rather than just shooting from the hip.
a year to plan, equip and network, before you make a move, might be an advantage. It lets editors know you're serious rather than just off on a whim.
The biggest danger is, in working a good paying job for a year you could get in debt, get used to discretionary income, meet your soulmate or (always fatal) fall in love.
I regret the things I didn't do for fear of either failure or punishment, orders of magnitude more than the things I did and failed or got punished for.
Come to think of it, even the failures led to some interesting tangents. So go for it but go smart.....and send us pictures.

[xoxoxoBruce]

A year in that job would also give yopu a safety net, time and money to plan, equip and network. Let the editors know this isn't just a lark
The danger of waiting is you could get in debt of get used to the steady income (golden handcuffs) or worse yet find your soulmate and fall in love. "You're quitting that good job for what?!?!"
I say go for it but do it smart. Good luck and send pictures.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Don't mind me, I couldn't find the first post so I repeated, then it wouldn't let me delete it ?????????

[hot_pastrami]

I know where you're coming from Jag... I'm a software developer, and I don't like my job, but it pays pretty well. I'd give my left nut to get into a profession I'd enjoy more... something along the lines of commercial art/graphics, photography, the written word (or words!), or web design. Programming leaves little room for creativity. But the economy is a motherfucker, and I have too many responsibilities to take the risk of changing professions (mortgage, debts, family).

I'm hoping to win the lottery, so finances will allow for professional exploration. Or maybe I should see how much left nuts go for these days.

Were I in your position, I think I'd start spending some serious time doing freelance photography on the side, and build a portfolio. Once you make some contacts in the industry, and have some stuff published, you should be able to make the switch pretty safely.

[JeepNGeorge]

ewav is a good site to read about one man who decided to quit his computer job and travel the country in search of hisself. He used to have a mailing list which is how I first heard about the cellar. He was always talking about IotD so he may be a frequent contributor here for all I know.

[Pi]

Talking about preparation : read The World's Most Dangerous Places by Robert Y. Pelton.
Work one, two years to get some money. During this time work your style and technic and go for freelance.
I was studying to become a social aid worker, when I took exams for Royal Military Academy. I past the exams with success and so I changed completly, I always wanted to become officer in the Army. But when I finished my secondary studies, they didn't recrute officiers so I had to do something else. But you shouldn't give up your dreams. Try it and if it doesn't work, you always can go back from where you've started. But you won't have the regrets of not having tried...

[jaguar]

In some ways I guess the real question now is can I stick it out till I've got a wad of cash under my belt =)

Found a very cool course back home that specialises in photojournalism and enterance is based on folio so now, the important stuff. Canon EOSD10 is looking good. Thinking of sticking to USM lenses now.

[warch]

Cool. Start taking tons of pictures and look at tons of others' pictures. Learn all that you can and find out the tools you like. Who says you have one job or stay in one field all your life? Renaissance, man.

[jaguar]

=) Will do. Take a couple of safari's to Eastern Europe should help as well.

[limey]

First career - Big city, children's book publicity, 7 years
Second "career" - small Scottish island, trying to make a go of being a translator and doing just about everything else locally available (including waitressing!), 6 years
Third career - Back to the City, insurance broking including a 2.5 year stint abroad, 7 years all in order to finance return to ...
Fourth "career" - back to the Scottish island, still trying to make a go of it as a translator and doing a day job, too (carer in a home for the aged) ...

I've always considered myself lucky (no kids, no mortgage until third career, and that was a calculated decision in order to have some capital for my return "home", no-one to answer to but myself) to have been able to do what I want and throw my life around a little.

But since "second career" I've known where I want to live, which for me is of overriding importance, and am delighted to have achieved my dream. The seven years in hell (sorry, "insurance broking" as it is more widely known) were pretty awful, but worth it in order to get back here. Heaven. Even with bottoms to wash.

Oops, almost forgot the why and how. why - because I've found where I feel most at home. How ... being obligations-free was the biggest factor, plus having the confidence to give it a go. The first move up here was on a whim, the return to the City was through qualifications and the translation experience I had gained, and purely in order to get enough capital in order to be able to buy a house back here. Where I live is a tourist and retirement target, so house prices are high and long-term rentals hard to come by. I earnt enough to solve the property problem ( ) and there is always low-paid work available ...