Photographer
Even though Phillip Van Nostrand studied philosophy in college, he’s now a professional photographer who earns over $80,000 per year. A former math teacher, Van Nostrand got his start in photography in 2009. A friend offered him $500 to photograph a budget wedding after noticing the photographs Van Nostrand had posted online; he had been taking photos as a hobby for about six years. Now 36, he’s been a professional photographer for nine years.Is living off your photography your dream? Van Nostrand says, ‘You must love the art of business as much as the art of taking a picture.’ His least favorite part of the job is financial bookkeeping, but mostly the job is a happy one. The joy of photography is evident from Van Nostrand shots. (Here are the shots that have make top photographers happiest.)
His favorite part of his work? The intensity of a photo shoot. ‘You’ve gone through something with tremendous effort on all sides and created something amazing that didn’t exist beforehand,’ he says. ‘That’s a phenomenal feeling.’ Salary: Income varies greatly for photographers depending on who you work for and what kind of photography you do (photojournalism, commercial, event photographer, headshots, etc). According to Indeed.com, the national average is $25,780. Those who own their own photography business have the potential to build a much larger income. Suggested skills: creativity, marketing, social media, camera proficiency, networking, pricing, negotiation, contract, email prowess
