qipup

Hi Lauren it's okay, just do it! I'm joking, of cuosre, I know it isn't that easy, and there is so much to consider when going from a day job into photography it can be a huge financial and emotional risk for so many of us. Everyone's situation is different when they pursue photography full-time (some people may have to completely support themselves, while others my have an understanding partner or family member who will help support them until their business takes off). My personal experience was this: I had been working in retail for a few years, and was doing photography as my side job. I finally got to a point where I couldn't do both because of time constraints, so I chose to pursue photography instead, because (being honest here) I was about to have a nervous breakdown working in retail I really hated it, was always exhausted from working long hours, and never got to see my family. So, I finally came to the conclusion that I would be healthier and happier if I pursued my passion and took a risk, rather than being so unhappy in my retail job. I also had about 3 months worth of rent and bill money set aside, just in case things were slow, I would know that my bills were taken care of. That was a big help for me, because things were really slow the first 4-5 months. I hope this helps! I am not a huge risk-taker, myself, but if you are feeling at all inclined to pursue photography, and you feel as though it will make you happy, then I say go for it. If photography is that important to you and you don't give it a try, there may always be a part of you that will regret not trying, and that would be really unfortunate! But yes, in short, my suggestion to you would be a) do as many photography jobs as you can in conjunction with your day job right now to start building a client base for if and when you decide to pursue it full time and b) get your ducks in a row financially, because worrying about money in those first few months can be a HUGE stress, and the less stress you're under, the more productive you'll be with you business. Good luck, and let us know how things progress!