The amount of people picking up photography and asking "how can I make this a career?" Makes me sad sometimes.

Well any Art field tbh. But photography since that is what my main hobby is, outside of fitness.

As someone who chased art as a career and ended up deciding I preferred job security and decent pay over the stress of relying on art, I struggle with photographers who are obsessed with the side hustle and "making it".. I pursued music before photography and I know what it's like. I wanted to be a musician. I lost my passion for it, because it became work that didnt provide stability. I just have different priorities now.

Trying to connect with local photographers, I'm finding a lot have the hustle mindset and it bums me out. A lot of new people with that "underdog" "I'm going to get big" attitude. Some people take themselves way to seriously. It's all about connecting for career purposes and not for relationship purposes.

Now, of course there isn't anything wrong with working as a photographer or any art, but sometimes I think people want to "make it" more then they enjoy the art itself.

In America we just have to capitalize everything. Sometimes it's good to just have a hobby for yourself. Sometimes it gives you that freedom to truely create whatever you want. And let your passion run free.

I'm not trying to tell people to not pursue gigs with the talent they have, but there is so much pressure to capitalize on everything and I wish it didn't need to be that way.

Some people may feel that in order to be taken seriously they need to capitalize on the hobby?

I can't know the motive behind everyone's choice in that matter, but at the end of the day. Sometimes creating just for the sake of doing it is amazing.

Again, photography can be a good job for some. But when starting out, I think the enjoyment and passion should come first with art.

Sometimes we need to just "play" without any other motive, but to have fun and create.

Edit: I think sometimes when I say capitalize I really mean monetize

Edit. Let me respond to a couple consistent responses

First off I'm not gatekeeping. I said multiple times that I'm not saying people shouldn't pursue a career or gigs in photography. However, it seems like I see people post all the time about it and local people taking themselves way too seriously. It's a shame to me that overall there is a push to monetize everything. Adults forget how to just enjoy a hobby sometimes.

Also people saying the hobby is expensive so they want to make money from it. First off, thinking you need expensive gear is amateur. Literally pick up a Canon T3i or some under $500 and you're ready to shoot if you're tight on money. Plus there are tons of hobbies that cost money that people only do for the experience and enjoyment. For instance, cycling. People spend tons of money on bikes and don't earn money by how well they can cycle.

All I'm saying here is that it makes me sad that art has to become something people feel pressured to monetize.