A No-Guilt Guide to Quitting Your Job and Going Full-Time as a Photographer
So, you’re staring at your day job, wondering if this is really what you’re meant to do until you retire and start collecting sea glass or painting watercolor lemons.
You have this thing — this camera, this eye, this pull toward light and shadow and the magic that happens when a mom laughs at her toddler and you catch it forever. And maybe, just maybe, it’s time to finally go all-in.
But also? You have bills. Kids. A Costco membership that doesn’t renew itself.
So let’s talk about how to quit your job like a grown-up, without panic, without spreadsheets that make you want to cry, and most importantly — without guilt.
Step 1: Don’t Romanticize the Quit
Quitting isn’t a “yay! freedom!” moment followed by a ticker-tape parade and a perfect inbox.
It’s a shift. A hard stop. And usually, a transition.
So here’s the rule: we don’t quit to run from something. We quit to run toward something.
That means:
- You need a plan.
- You need a runway.
- You need some serious honesty with yourself.
The dream is real. But the dream needs gas money.
Step 2: Know What “Enough” Looks Like
You don’t have to match your day job salary before you quit. But you do need to know what’s “enough.”
Use this simple breakdown:
- Monthly personal expenses (mortgage, insurance, groceries, etc.): $X
- Monthly business expenses (subscriptions, gear, gallery hosting, etc.): $Y
- Add them together = your monthly minimum goal
Now divide that by your average profit per client. How many sessions do you need to book each month to stay afloat?
Let’s say:
- You need $4000/month total
- You make $1000 profit per session
- You need 4 clients/month (plus a little buffer)
Now you’ve got a target. And targets beat vibes every time.
Step 3: Don’t Jump — Build a Bridge
There are a few ways to quit smart. Here are the most popular (and least terrifying):
The “Build It While You Work” Plan
Work your job during the day, build your business during nights/weekends. This is the most exhausting and the most secure method — but it gets you proof-of-concept without gambling your livelihood.
The “Part-Time + Business” Plan
Drop to part-time hours or find a low-stress job that covers your basics (bonus points if it includes health insurance) while your business grows.
The “I Have a Safety Net” Plan
You have a partner, savings, or some other financial support that lets you go all-in. If this is you: AMAZING. Don’t waste the grace. And make sure to bring them coffee in bed every morning to thank them for being your investor!
The “Client-Pipeline-Ready” Plan
You have your next 3–6 months of clients already booked and deposits paid. This is risky, but doable if your marketing is humming and your name is out there.
Pick the one that matches your season. No guilt. No shame. No comparing your quit to someone else’s quit.
Step 4: Normalize Being a Breadwinning Artist
This part’s important. Especially for the moms.
It’s okay to want to make real money. It’s okay to want to replace your salary. It’s okay to want more time and more income.
The creative life isn’t supposed to be lived in scraps and leftovers. So let’s rewrite that whole narrative where photographers are “lucky to make anything.”
You’re not lucky. You’re strategic. And it’s working.
Step 5: Make the Leap Feel Like a Step
Let’s be clear: even if you do all the planning in the world, quitting is still going to feel scary. That doesn’t mean you’re not ready. It means you’re human.
So take the fear with you, but pack these too:
- A 6-month plan (with metrics, not just dreams)
- An email list (grow it now)
- An offer that sells (and a simple funnel to match)
- A couple clients you can love on so hard they bring you more clients
Your art doesn’t have to be a hobby. Your clients are waiting to be wowed.
So go build your thing.
I’ll be cheering!!!!
Next Up: Editing, Shooting, and Client Time: How to Build a Weekly Schedule That Doesn’t Eat Your Life
Ready when you are!