How I Balance Photography With a Full-Time Job

As you might have noticed, it’s been a while since my last blog post. That’s partly because I’m back at work again, and partly because my energy has been very low lately. Which makes today’s topic especially relevant.

Today, I want to talk about something I think many photographers go through — especially once they move past the early stages of photography. That moment when you realize your hobby now demands more time, dedication, and planning than when you first picked up a camera. It’s still fun — but there’s a however that comes with it.

If you’re just starting out, this post might serve as a little heads-up for what could come your way once you leave auto mode behind and begin making real progress. That’s when the exciting part begins — but also, when it gets a bit more complicated.

Let’s begin with something obvious:

Your personal level of ambition will decide how hard or easy it is to balance photography with a full-time job.

In my case, it wasn’t hard at first. I took photos when I had time — and then mostly left them untouched. But earlier this year, I decided to take things more seriously. I launched my website to showcase my photography and share these blog posts. I also created a dedicated Instagram account for my work.

Suddenly, taking photos wasn’t the only thing on my plate. Now I had to select, edit, write, post, and promote — all while keeping up with everyday life and my full-time job.

So how do I manage my time and energy to keep everything in balance?

Well, I made a plan from the very beginning. That plan has helped me stay on track. I know what needs to happen and when. Since I tend to be quite ambitious, my plans often grow too big, too fast — and that makes them harder to stick to. So this time, I kept it modest and realistic.

I decided to publish one blog post per week and post on Instagram once per week. That’s still ambitious — but it’s doable. This approach gives me flexibility. I don’t have to write or post on a fixed day. I just have to do it once every 7 days. That way, if I’m tired or work runs late, it’s no problem — I still have a few more days to create without pressure.

Right now, this setup works really well. I have no idea what the future holds, but I’m confident I’ll adapt when new challenges arise. And if that happens, maybe I’ll revisit this topic in a future blog post.

Let me end with some advice that has worked for me:

Start with a plan — six or twelve months ahead.

Think about what you’d like to write about and what kind of photos you want to share. Be realistic about your time and energy. The goal is to create a plan that helps you stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed. That way, it becomes easier to stick with it — and enjoy the creative journey you’re on.

I hope this post has been helpful — and as always, I wish you good luck and lots of fun!