Would photography be a wise career path?

Photography is such a huge industry. You have some good answers above so I wont say the same but this: Think about a subject (apart from photography) that interests you (i.e. scooting, cycling, computers, etc) and see if you could apply your interest in photography with your subject/s of interest in order to make a decision as to whether you want to pursue Photography as a career or not.

My son is a scooting fanatic so he takes photographs of his friends in action and publishes them on facebook. This could lead him ont to something bigger.
There are so many magazines out there that look for great action images whether scooting, cycling or at public events, or wildlife images or ...and the list goes on.
You could get into Photography by starting your own business and getting your name out into the public domain (Facebook/Twitter/Linked-In etc) with work you have already done, just to gauge people's views on it. If they like it that much they may ask you to do some for them. You might get requests for weddings or photoshoots if you are great at taking photos of people, for instance.
Set up your own little studio at home, with some lights and take images of products. If they are good, you could show them to companies who sell consumable products, for putting online or in a magazine or in their buildings.
And so on, it is endless.

This is just an example to get you thinking. You know what interests you, so have a think and hopefully this will help you see a route to what you want to do.

But my last advice would be to use photography as a sideline for now and get a job that pays you regulalry, until your photography makes you successful to the point that you have built up a client list and have companies begging you for photograph work. Until then, enjoy it for your own benefit, as this is why you do it in the first place.

Good Luck
Sally

Photography isn't for everyone, it can be an incredibly difficult career path if you're trying to make a stable income. My advice would be to practice, practice, practice! Build a portfolio of work you are proud of, and network with as many people as possible. If you try, and are persistent, you can become successful. I would recommend figuring out exactly how much money you need to live on each year, and determine how many sales or bookings you'll need to achieve that. Photography is a wise career path for those who have passion and believe in their craft.

Hey Quin,
You answered your own question. "...being a photographer would be a wise career path because it is something I would love to do for the rest of my life." You said that! If you really mean that, nothing can stop you. Follow your love and stick with it.
Hard work and perseverance will be your constant companions.

Hi,
You have a good answer above, no one can tell you if a career is good for you or not...it is all about what you want and how passionate you are about what you do.
I will suggest that in addition to photography, you learn about other areas that are related so you can have other career options if the photography business is ever a little slow and you are not making money right away...Examples- journalism, advertising, writing, video production, editing, etc. Below is a good link I found for you as well. Good luck!

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/photographer.aspx

Quintarian,

I cannot tell you if this will be wise, but from the sound of your interest, it may be a satisfying career for you. Test out your idea, start volunteering with clubs and organizations as their photographer. Start a blog or photography website. Shadow a photographer, there are job opportunities out there, just look for them, get creative! You just have to think about what setting interests you as well.

Hi Quin, Photography can be a very satisfying career, and if you enjoy making pictures now try meeting some professional photographers in your area. Perhaps they will let you watch their craft and maybe even help around their studio. Practice making images of many different subjects including people, nature, animals, and even buildings. Get some honest feedback on your images from people you trust. The more you practice, the better your images will become.

Hi Quin,
How much money you can make is up to how much time and effort you put into it. If you love what you do and can pay the bills at the same time you are ahead of almost everyone else. There are many ways to make a living at photography. Of course there are the portrait and wedding photographer, the landscape photographer, fashion and more, but there are also photographers who shoot catalogs and inventory, school and church pictures etc.. If you really want to be a photographer I suggest taking pictures of everything to find what you enjoy the most. Remember you don't have to pick one type and only do that. I don't, I'd go crazy just shooting one way.

Hey Quin,
Photography can be great career wise if you love it, and are willing to sacrifice a lot. You need to understand that for the first few years, your job and your life are basically the same thing. You often not have days off when your friends do. Stability will be hard won, but at the same time you can have epic freedom. If you have the strength and the talent, it will be awesome. But if you want a job with security, and benefits, this probably isn't the right thing for you.