Transitioning from Profession to Hobby
By: Brian J. Krummel

link to Brian J. Krummel gallery

Brian Krummel answered the call to photography as many of us do, by entering college and obtaining a degree to pursue what was surely to be his intended profession. Photographers are most often required to create their own way in the professional world and it’s not necessarily the easiest of paths; there aren’t long lists of human resources departments clamoring for graduates and one’s true passion can be put to the test. This is the story of how one man loved photography, became disenchanted, and eventually returned, all for the better. Here is Brian’s story, as he tells it:

Today

In 2003 I picked up my first digital camera and began to document the industrial sites of my hometown of Pittsburgh (the project would last two years). I am actively experimenting with new techniques, reading biographies on historic photographic icons, teaching others what I have learned through workshops, and exhibiting my work in solo and group shows. I have plans to publish two books this year including the Forgotten Pittsburgh series.

It should be evident that I have a great love for photography. That close relationship, though, had to endure numerous tests along the way, tests that had me questioning my passion for the medium at times. It wasn’t until I quit trying to make a living in photography that I truly found a way to enjoy it once again. Crops of creative people around the world are working towards the goal of turning a hobby into a profession. This is my personal account of exactly the opposite, transitioning from photographic profession to pure hobby.

In the beginning

My primary occupation isn’t as a photographer, but as a computer programmer. It is ironic because my sole passion in life is photography and my formal education is in the creative arts. I graduated from college in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Art with a curriculum focus in photography. To be honest, the five-year program didn’t prepare me for the “real world” or equip me to find a profession outside of the classroom; however, I was full of creative ideas, ambition, and a desire for self-expression…and wouldn’t that be enough?

link to Brian J. Krummel gallery

I started my post-college photo career at a one-hour photo lab in Pittsburgh, learning how to operate the developing and printing machines. It wasn’t very interesting but it was in my chosen field (sort of). Other lab jobs followed, including cranking out 5” x 5” wedding on the industry-standard 5S printer. My wife and I moved to Laurel, MD, which resulted in another job printing on an identical printer. For an ambitious young photographer with ideas to explore this felt more like a prison term than a profession.

Longing to leave the lab, I found another opportunity at a stock photography agency in nearby Washington, DC, where I was responsible for packaging and mailing slides to clients for review. This job was thoroughly enjoyable, I was exposed to original, high-quality professional work and the people that worked there were creative and interesting. At the end of our one-year apartment lease, however, we decided to move back to our hometown of Pittsburgh.

Upon returning to Pennsylvania, I picked up a job working as a store manager and photographer for Olan Mills portrait studios. I recognized that portraiture wasn’t proving to be my specialty and gave retail sales a try at a local photo store. This job turned out to be way more about sales than photography. I saw salesmen pretending to know about a product when they really had no idea what they were selling. I saw salesmen pushing certain products because there were incentives involved. If I told you that I didn’t participate in some of those behaviors to provide for my family it would simply be a lie. That behavior does not reflect my personal character and I felt like I was part of the corporate food chain— eat or be eaten.

Walking away

I finally decided that it was too difficult to keep my interest in photography pure when it had to pay for the bread and milk each week. I left the photographic industry, disenchanted with the occupation, only two years after graduating from college.

At that time I walked away from photography both professionally and personally. I pursued a new occupation as a web designer and developer and spent years job-hopping again to acquire experience and to learn enough to start my own company. In hindsight it was perfect timing right at the beginning of the Dot.com era. To this day I am self-employed for my own interactive company, producing websites for well-known local and national companies.

Since that time I’ve tried my hand at being a wedding photographer, both as an assistant and lead, but that environment is admittedly not for me either. My series of brief employments in photography left me with the understanding that my living wasn’t meant to be made in a commercial market such as portraiture, weddings, sales or events. Looking back, the recurring theme to my photo jobs was low pay and long hours for jobs that required educated skills. I was continuously looking for a new job.

link to Brian J. Krummel gallery

Coming back

That brings us to 2003, five years after walking away from photography. That was the when I picked up a digital camera and began the two year “Forgotten Pittsburgh” photo project. Using a camera once again brought back my interest and I finally remembered why I started with this career in the first place. Through photography I find myself, it is my means of personal expression, emotional exploration, and inquiry into the world. There are other top priorities and interests such as my family and faith, but photography is something that I will never let go of again.

No longer focused on earning a living from photography, it became enjoyable once again and made me happy. This is a realization that I still hold on to five years after returning to the medium. The distinction is that now I treat photography as a hobby rather than a profession. Photography is a creative outlet and release to my professional career in the computer industry that can be full of stress, deadlines, and over zealous clients. My motivation is not to earn a living from my work, but to grow as an artist.

Keeping it pure

If you are trying to pursue a full-time photographic career, ask someone who has followed that path and make sure you understand the dedication and sacrifices necessary, both personally and professionally. I know only a select few people who rely on their photography as a sole source of income and many people who balance their full-time career with their full-time passion of photography. Whichever avenue you pursue, best of luck to you. Always keep pushing yourself, increasing your skill level, and your interests in this dynamic artistic medium.

You can learn more about me and see some of my work on my website at www.briankrummel.com. I am also an active participant in the Flickr community and you can find my work at www.flickr.com/photos/forgottenpittsburgh. You can also reach me by email at brian@iziks.com.