Can you become a professional photographer after the age of 40? It's a question that might have crossed your mind, especially if you've recently found a passion for photography. Whether you're starting from scratch or have dabbled in the craft, the prospect of turning a late-found passion into a career can be both exciting and daunting.
Coming to you from Scott Choucino with Tin House Studio, this insightful video challenges the notion that age could limit your chances of becoming a professional photographer. Choucino doesn't sugarcoat it—there are some people who simply won't make it, and it's not because of their age. The issue lies more with mindset. If you're stuck in old ways, resistant to change, or dismissive of new technologies like TikTok, your chances of success are slim. Photography today is fast-paced, and if you're not willing to adapt, you'll find it tough to keep up.
What makes this video particularly valuable is how it balances the challenges with the possibilities. Choucino talks about how easy it is to learn the technical side of photography. You can master a camera and lighting within six months, and with dedication, you can start creating work that gets noticed. What's harder, though, is unlearning outdated practices. If you've been stuck in your ways for 20 years, it’s much harder to pivot and meet the demands of today’s industry. Choucino shares examples from his mentorship program where people with only a year or two of experience have already secured agency representation and shot worldwide campaigns, simply because they approached the craft with fresh eyes and a willingness to evolve.
One of the most encouraging points Choucino makes is about the benefits of starting later in life. As an older beginner, you bring a level of maturity and wisdom that younger photographers might lack. This can actually work to your advantage. Clients are likely to take you more seriously, and your life experience can inform your creative vision in unique ways. Choucino even touches on the confidence that comes with age—how walking onto a set with gray hair and wrinkles can sometimes give you an edge. People assume you know what you’re doing simply because of your appearance, and that’s not a bad thing in a field where first impressions matter.
However, Choucino also warns against complacency. Just because you're older doesn't mean you can coast on experience alone. To succeed, you need to be actively engaged in creating new work, pushing your boundaries, and keeping your skills relevant. Those who stagnate, who rely on outdated portfolios or refuse to innovate, will find themselves outpaced by younger, hungrier photographers. The key is to stay curious, stay creative, and keep shooting new, progressive work. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Choucino.
I'm 42 and picked up a camera at 39, but only shoot part time. Could I become a FT photographer? Oh easily, but I just don't want to do what I would have to do to become one. I was in law enforcement for the first half of my adult life and spent that time working nights and weekends and want to go back to having to do that again to earn a living. Now, I get to shoot nights and weekends on my own terms. Now, it also helps I have a job that pays well and it would be difficult to replace that income with photography within the first year or two.
i'm in exactly the same spot.. day job allows me to say "no" and focus on really what I want to shoot.. day job + photography is also a very good balance of technical and creative work. I get it.. some people just want to do the creative side.. there is a place and a way to do what you want to do. just find a way to be happy and create the work you want to create. (... and pay your bills)
www.instagram.com/darrellmillerphotography
Interesting that a full time photographer now has to compete with part time photographers who can sometimes cannibalise the ever smaller piece of pie that is the ‘photography market’, as well as people who rely on their phones. The only way to become a successful full time photographer is to specialise in areas of photography which are not competitive to others who can heavily subsidise those gigs with other work.
Hasn't that been the case since the entry level DSLR hit the market, lowering the barrier of entry for photography? Then again, I'm in the south where every southern stay at home mom tries to earn extra money by selling essential oils, Cricut stuff, handmade jewelry, and of course family and child photographer with their Canon Rebel series Costco kit their husband got them for Christmas...."$25 mini sessions ya'll!"