Is it Too Late to Start Your Professional Photography Career?

Photography can feel like a moving target sometimes. The tech changes, styles change, and even the way we share our images keeps evolving. And it always feels like there’s so much more to learn, not just about the skills, but also about the business of photography. If you’re over the age of, say, 40 and you’ve pondered the idea of making it as a professional photographer, you might have asked yourself, “Is it too late for me? Can I keep up? Will I be taken seriously? Can I compete against younger, more ‘hip’ competitors?”

Sure, you still have a passion for photography, telling stories, and creating art. You want to connect with people. And you want to earn income in the process. But what about that nagging feeling of being perceived as “too old” to even get started?

Here’s a thought: What if age isn’t a limitation at all? What if it’s actually an asset? What if the years behind us are not baggage but a treasure trove of experiences, insights, and wisdom that can add value and depth to our craft?

Let’s confront the fear and negative thoughts that many of us have had. I want you to see yourself not as a “late bloomer,” but as a seasoned individual ready to embrace a new chapter with excitement and enthusiasm.

I Wrestled With the Age Questions, Too

A little backstory: So, I’ve been a photographer in one form or another most of my life. I began shooting for the local paper before high school and got my first paying contract for a multi-day event in 9th grade! But as I got older, I wanted to explore other interests and, you know the drill, I got into other types of work. Some of that definitely involved photography, but it was more in support of media projects than anything else.

About 20 years ago, I decided to get back into professional portrait photography. And by the time I was in my mid-40s, I started asking myself, “Are things going to be different as I get older? Will anyone want to hire ‘this guy’ when he’s 60+?” I realized I was already competing for jobs against a slew of confident, good-looking, bubbly 20-somethings in my area. And these people not only had talent but a kind of expertise in networking and self-promotion that nobody in my generation had at that age. I honestly wondered if I’d be obsolete in a few years.

I Needed to Change My Perspective

My wife thought I was way off-track with this kind of thinking. And after a little readjustment of my perspective, I realized she was right. Growing older was going to be a superpower, especially for a photographer. I mean, many of my photography heroes were well into their 60s and 70s at that time. Many were still working as respected, successful artists.

I started thinking about the future differently, picturing myself as a 60- or 70-year-old portrait photographer. I imagined I’d look a little more distinguished. I’d be taken more seriously as an artist and business person as I grew older. I’m edging closer to 60 now, and I would love to tell my past 40-something self: “You’ve got nothing to worry about. It only gets better!” Because it does. I’ve got no problem with my age as it relates to being a professional these days. It’s becoming more of an advantage with every year I add. I think photographers, young and old, should look forward to growing into this career.

Some of the Real-World Advantages of Getting Older as a Photographer

Established Networks: As time’s gone on, you might have built extensive personal and professional networks. This can be invaluable for initially getting referrals, finding clients, or collaborating on projects.

Emotional Intelligence: Age often brings a heightened sense of empathy and understanding. This emotional intelligence is so important in portrait photography, where connecting with the subject is key to capturing good portraits. It also helps maintain good customer relationships that bring in even more referrals.

Diverse Perspectives: We’re not kids. We’ve witnessed various eras, trends, and cultural shifts. Older photographers can bring a diverse and unique perspective to their work, setting us apart from our younger counterparts.

Commitment and Focus: With many other life challenges already navigated, many in our age range can often approach photography with a clear focus and commitment, undistracted by the life changes that younger people might be going through. If you’re just beginning to get into photography as a career, you’re probably doing it at a good time if you’re an older adult.

Continuous Learning: Being a photographer can be mentally stimulating. The continuous learning, whether it’s mastering a new technique, understanding the latest equipment, or exploring new genres, can be invigorating and keep the mind sharp. Bonus!

Flexibility and Control: At this stage, many of us are looking for flexibility in our careers, and photography can offer that. Whether it’s choosing projects, setting working hours, or deciding on travel, there’s a lot of autonomy in a photography career.

Teaching and Mentoring Opportunities: With a wealth of life and professional experiences, there’s potential to not only practice photography but also to teach and mentor younger photographers, adding an additional income stream.

Embrace Your Age as a Professional Photographer

Your camera doesn’t care about the number of candles on your birthday cake. It follows you and captures the vision, the emotion, the story – elements that are enriched by life’s experiences.

For those of us in the 40-70 age bracket, it’s important to remember that our age is an asset, a unique selling point. We’ve witnessed eras, lived through cultural shifts, and navigated life’s challenges. We can also deal with people and subjects in a way that only life experience can prepare us for. All of these experiences can be channeled into our work, giving it a depth and authenticity that’s hard to replicate. There’s a lot of marketable value in that.