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I'm between majors, is teaching and photography a realistic career?

I'm committed to a college already and I'm between becoming a photographer or a elementary teacher.

teaching photography elementary-education photographer
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Paul’s Answer

Yes, those sound like realistic majors. I can also offer some of the following elements, when it comes to finally making a selection, when you achieve your Junior standing:

Finding the right career requires deep self-reflection, and to basically identify activities you would do even if you weren't paid for them.

I strongly advocate for a philosophy where passion and genuine interest drive career choices, suggesting that when you love your work, high performance and eventual compensation will naturally follow.

The following are some suggestions, which include:

Find Your "Internal Drive" by asking yourself: "What do I love to do so much that I would do it anyway, even without pay?".

Maintain a Learning Mindset: I believe that it is a current life element to never feel "stuck" in a choice. A mindset of continuous learning and the willingness to pivot if you discover something more engaging is necessary for success

Conduct Thorough Research: Students should utilize college career centers, conduct informational interviews with professionals, and seek practical experience through internships or volunteering before fully committing to a path.

Evaluate Daily Satisfaction: Rather than just focusing on long-term goals, reflect on whether a typical workday brings joy and energy or feels like just "reaching expected milestones".

The "First-In, Last-Out" Rule: I would define a perfect job as one where you are excited enough to be the first in the office every morning and the last to leave in the evening.
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Maxine’s Answer

You can do both here! Teaching can lead to many opportunities. I used to be an early childhood teacher, and I loved it. Photography is also fun and relaxing. Go for it and enjoy the journey!
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Megan’s Answer

Both are great career paths, and can both be pursued. Teaching can provide a steady paycheck, schedule, and benefits. Outside of your teaching time, you can pursue photography, or at some point you could combine the two as a photography or art teacher.

Teaching requires certain degrees and certifications, so it may make sense to officially major in a degree that fulfills that requirement. Also take classes that set you up for a career in photography. Business courses could also be helpful if you decide to set up your own photography business in the future. Best of luck!
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Nicolás’s Answer

Any career can be realistic as long as it’s pursued with passion and connected to something you truly enjoy. I’d recommend being disciplined and always doing your best—both while studying and later when applying that knowledge in your professional career.

Teaching is wonderful, as you help others understand new things through your example. Photography is also a great path, since it allows you to convey emotions and feelings through your work. In either case, you would be on the right path.
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Michael’s Answer

I agree with the previous answers.

Advantages of teaching;
- You can pursue photography when you are not actually teaching.
- Teaching is more likely to lead to a stead / secure income with benefits.
- Getting an MFA can be useful for teaching and photography - and teaching photography.
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Leslie’s Answer

Congrats on your commitment to a college! How wonderful! As for a potential career in teaching vs photography, consider a week in the life of each career. As someone who worked both a corporate job as well as owned my own photography business, my day-to-day life was vastly different. In my corporate role, I worked typical office hours with minimal work on the weekends and I was able to disconnect from matters outside of work hours. During the years I ran my photography business, I worked primarily weekends due to client availability and edited on weekdays. However, I needed to ensure I remained structured in my weekdays to manage the operations side of the business. Another consideration is the flow of workload. A teaching career will provide you with consistency of what's to come each month whereas business ebbs and flows in the photography world based on your marketing and word-of-mouth. My suggestion would be to take a few courses of interest in each area and see what speaks to you. What classes excite you and motivate you to learn more? You don't need to have it all figured out but in putting yourself out there to explore both career paths, you may learn a lot about what you enjoy in life. Best wishes!
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Vianne’s Answer

Both teaching and photography can be great career choices, though they are quite different. It's smart to think about them now. Teaching in elementary schools is more structured. You'll need a degree in education or something similar, along with a teaching license. It's a stable job with a steady income, benefits, and a clear career path. Plus, you get to work with kids, which is really rewarding if you enjoy that.

Photography is less predictable, especially in terms of income. Many photographers start by mixing freelance work with teaching or part-time jobs while they build their portfolio and find clients. You'll need to be good at marketing yourself, networking, and always improving your skills. Success in photography depends a lot on your talent, persistence, and branding.

Some people choose to combine both paths. You could major in education and keep photography as a side project, or minor in photography if possible. This way, you have a stable teaching career while still growing your photography skills. Think about what kind of work you would enjoy every day, the lifestyle you want, and how much financial risk you're comfortable with. Both careers are realistic options, just in different ways.
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Sheryl’s Answer

Being between majors can feel stressful, but it’s also a sign that you’re being thoughtful about your future. I was also between majors when I decided to pursue a teaching career for high school with a specialization in English Literature. Teaching and photography are both realistic career paths, and they don’t have to be an either/or decision. I taught 8th grade English, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience-meaningful work, strong relationships with students, and a level of flexibility that many careers don’t offer. Because I had summers off I was able to pursue other passions. Many people build fulfilling careers by pairing a stable, purpose-driven role like teaching with a creative pursuit such as photography. Teaching can provide consistency, benefits, and long-term stability, while photography can grow over time-from something you explore on the side to freelance work or even a primary focus down the road. Career paths are rarely linear, and that’s okay. What matters most is choosing a path that aligns with your values and supports your well-being, while staying open to how your interests may continue to evolve.
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Jeff’s Answer

You can have both if you want. You can go down the path of being a teacher and be a photographer in your spare time. This way you can take some time and weigh them out to see which one is your calling.
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Sebrena’s Answer

Both teaching and photography can be realistic and rewarding careers, but they are different in a lot of ways. Being an elementary teacher usually means having a steady job, a regular paycheck, and the chance to make a real difference in kids’ lives. You’ll need to finish college and get certified, and the work can be challenging but also really meaningful. Photography is also a real career, but it’s usually less predictable. Many photographers work for themselves and have to find their own jobs and clients. It can take time to earn stable money, but if you love being creative and are willing to practice a lot and keep learning, it can be a great path too. Some people even find ways to do both, like teaching photography or making photography a side job while working as a teacher. Try to think about what kind of work you want to do every day and what will make you happy. Both careers are possible if you’re passionate and put in the effort.
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David’s Answer

I have told young people to teach art and be a photographer in your spare time. That way you can live while you become established. And, being an art teacher can open doors for your photography.
Good luck!
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Jerry’s Answer

In my opinion you can combine both,

Teach elementary education and learn how to bring photography into the subject matter covering the class.

While this is all going through your head, I would visit some of the elementary schools in your area, both public and private.

Call ahead and ask for an appointment to speak to someone in administration about teaching elementary education. Of course that means one will have to come prepared with some questions.

With some luck, you may then get a chance or two to talk to some of the teachers.

With even more luck you may be invited to join a class or two as an observer.

One can learn quite a bit from simple observation.

And somewhere along the line, you will get the chance to talk about you interest in photography.

In other words, go to college and learn what you can, but direct contact will widen your scope of thoughts.
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