If so, what do you shoot? How did you get to being full time with out shooting weddings? Why don't you shoot weddings? Just thought it would be an interesting topic!!!

Looks like everyones a wedding photographer!! (including myself!)

I avoid weddings at all costs. I mostly shoot fashion, music, and kid's portraits.

Did you ever notice how many photojournalists and commercial and fashion photographers start doing weddings when they need "easy" money? - I mean, "discover their passion" for it?

No sirreee bob do I shoot any weddings. I'm a kiddo & family by default shooter, & a few seniors sprinkled in.

I don't think I'll ever be able to do no weddings whatsoever. I would like to do FEWER of them over time and branch out more into the portrait sector, but let's face it, I'll probably always be doing weddings to some degree. (I'd be happy if I could get that # down to ~20/yr and still make a good living.)

I am portrait photographer (mostly seniors), but just started weddings, last year was my first real year at it, but I won't take more then two a month. I love weddings but hate that I have to commit to that weekend soo far ahead. My family is very active and involved in community and family things on weekends, so every once and awhile I miss out on stuff.

Income wise, I am doing good, I built a studio and it will be paid off next year but we don't count on my income, it is extra money for us and so we can put money away for our kids college.

I just started my business this year and so far no weddings (although I'm looking into going into that over the next year). It's been ramping up slowly to being a full-time job and this month is the first month I've not had to do anything else to pay the bills.

I do family and children's portraits
Business portraits
Product shots for businesses
Event and conference coverage

Probably the most lucrative thing I do which is also a lot of fun are day-in-the-life packages. I spend a day at a business...restaurant, dental clinic, coffee shop, etc...taking shots of the staff and what they're doing and the premises itself. The business then can use those photographs in their advertising/brochures/websites etc. It's a lot like how you might approach a wedding but without the same level of stress and pressure. If I don't get a crucial shot I can always go back.

I have made some good contacts within the PR and Marketing industries that set me up with their clients for the business stuff.

I only shoot weddings for long-time family lifestyle clients.

(Well, that's going to be my line once I "make it" as a full time family lifestyle photographer.)

That's awesome! Where is the jealousy emoticon?

my husband works really hard so I can stay home w/ kids, I am lucky. Also we live within our means. The house we bought we spent 9 months remodling to get it the way we wanted instead of hiring it done, we have never had brand new cars, we don't spend alot of money on clothes and stuff. Also I worked while I was in college so I had alot of money saved up when we got married, makes a huge difference when you don't have to start your lives together in the hole like most have to. Try cutting out some of the stuff you don't have to have and then you don't need to make as much money.