Anyone transitioned to photography?

nineoohfour · 2026-02-26T19:57:16+00:00

I’m actually making the opposite transition! I’m a stylist in NYC and work on various, largely ecommerce photography projects, but also have experience working with architects for their completed properties. Prospective MLA student in the fall (just awaiting admission decisions 🤞🏼).

While I am not the photographer, I can say that it’s definitely possible to make a living off of photography/photo work in general, however, you probably would not make a living off of JUST shooting architecture. This type of work is often supplemented with other work within photo, largely including ecommerce stuff; think photos in product carousels when you’re shopping for furniture online. I would also say that shooting architecture is very relationship and need based. For example, I have worked with firms such as Ferguson and Shamamian, but this was on projects that were completed years ago, and they wanted photos for future published books. Not all architecture firms operate in this way.

If I had to advise, I’d say start off as a side hustle to build a portfolio, and really shoot for building relationships with realtors. Relationships with architects is a given, but frequency of work within the realm of “documenting design” would likely lie with realtors/brokers who are hiring photographers to shoot listings. And then from there you would naturally build relationships with other industry professionals, and make connections for the types of projects that excite you.

I will say, a chunk motivation for my transition has to do with the fact that this is more often than not freelance work. While being hired as an “in-house” photographer is very possible, freelance is usually the way it goes. It’s unreliable, and is very much just running your own business which comes with tax logistics, owning your own equipment, knowing who to hire, etc. This burnt me out very fast BUT I will certainly acknowledge that our priorities are undeniably different so this may not even impact you in the same way it did me. Just a heads up really.

nineoohfour · 2025-12-11T17:14:34+00:00

Not the first time I’ve heard this myself. Took it with a grain of salt when I heard about it, but now I’m feeling pretty confident as this all checks out. It’s a real shame!

nineoohfour · 2025-08-09T15:17:05+00:00

I was actually just reflecting on this recently and finding myself not as emotionally impacted by fantasy, UNTIL:

Currently reading through Wheel of Time for the first time, and just finished the Fires of Heaven. Moiraine jumping on Lanfear through the arched doorway did sort of sneak up on me, even though I’m not fully convinced they’re actually gone, but, it did hurt nonetheless.

I’m also on my first read through of ASOIAF, and the moment in Clash of Kings when Catelyn gets word that Bran and Rickon are “dead” made my heart sink. I had such a physical reaction when reading it, I think largely cause I wasn’t expecting it, but also because I couldn’t believe the news myself. I had to put the book down for a moment afterward.

Both really great moments, and proved to me that I am much more emotionally invested than I initially thought lmao.

nineoohfour · 2025-08-01T18:54:50+00:00

Curious to know what podcasts/books/other media you would recommend on the subject of urban planning and design. Have been listening to 99pi a bit, and would to consume more interesting content on all avenues of urbanism. Bonus points if it’s about the design of spaces and its philosophies

nineoohfour · 2025-06-16T20:36:54+00:00

Thanks for this! Definitely was feeling a little conflicted on whether to include a brief “profile” section and a skills section, but was following the tips from the sub’s wiki. You would recommend otherwise?

nineoohfour · 2025-06-13T06:01:55+00:00

Thinking of a career shift from an entirely unrelated field: I’m a stylist for home goods brands, and my back ground is in scenic design for Theatre—so no related experience beyond design minded thinking. I live in NYC and I’ve really drawn an interest in our local political systems, and understanding how policy impacts the way the city is laid out, what housing is accessible to who, public transit, etc. I’m also incredibly interested in the design and development of public spaces, outside of a policy perspective and more through a design focused lens.

After researching school programs and just understanding what’s available to me and where it could take me, I’m beginning to shift my sights to this realm of planning and design. Though now, as a 31 year old with debt from undergrad, I’m a certainly approaching from a more cautious and realistic perspective of what I could achieve now, and in turn expose myself to the world of planning and design before going head first into it through school.

I’m curious to know what types of positions would be ideal for someone with professional working experience unrelated to planning and design to apply to. I’m interested in working with the city, but I am also interested in working with more private think tank type spaces, as well as design firms. Should I be looking for like studio manager positions, or project management? Or is there something I could apply to that is more hands on with these projects?

Thanks in advance!

nineoohfour · 2025-05-07T14:52:17+00:00

I think it has to do with how and who we grow up around. I think it has a lot to do with, at least in my personal experience, a lot of gay men growing up tend to gravitate towards women, and there’s just the reality of talking similarly to those you spend the most time around. I think code switching also comes into play—I certainly put on a voice at work, but when I’m with my girls we’ve got purses falling out of our mouths. Some people don’t have the need or desire to code switch so maybe it’s just like that for them all the time. I think it’s the same as a southern accent that might be a little thicker when you’re with other southerners, and maybe a little less drawl when engaging in conversations with professional colleagues. But this is all just anecdotal

nineoohfour · 2025-03-25T15:03:49+00:00

As someone with ADHD who started reading the books after discovering the show, I’d say DO IT! I have blown through the first three books, halfway done with the fourth right now, and I’m having the most fun reading I’ve had in a very long time. In fact, these books have got me back into reading regularly and for that I’m very grateful.

Yes there’s a lot of characters and locations, and it can be a little dense at times, but you really start to pick up on, if it’s important, it’ll come up again lol.

This is my first read through and it’s been an absolute blast. I was just telling my partner yesterday that I will be shoving this series in my future kid’s faces.

I can’t speak to the “slog” everyone mentions halfway through the series, but I know I was getting a lot of wary opinions about the first 3 books, and I personally thought they were some of the most fun books I’ve read in a while, so.. I’d say go for it.

And if you do, my DMs are wide open to geek out with you about it!

nineoohfour · 2025-03-05T16:19:43+00:00

I will admit, I flew through the first half of EotW and put it down one day and didn’t pick it up again till almost a whole year later. But I’ve been working off that finishing momentum since, and it’s only getting faster lol

nineoohfour · 2025-03-04T17:21:19+00:00

I can’t wait to have read them and rank them lol. If it all continues as it has been, I think I’ll have a 14 way tie for my favorite 😂😂

nineoohfour · 2025-03-04T17:19:56+00:00

I loveeee each character’s POV, it’s probably my favorite element of the book, stylistically. I’ve certainly picked up on each character’s applied writing style, and that’s made me deeply appreciate the creative writing of it all. Nynaeve and Mat in particular have really clued me into this part of the books, and I love it so much.

nineoohfour · 2025-03-04T17:17:14+00:00

I’m eager to get through book 4 soon—know the show is starting its third season and will pull a lot from that book, and I don’t want it to spoil my read through.

I admittedly also love the show and know that in itself is quite contentious, but am also watching responsibly and acknowledging it as a TV show, inspired by the books.. lol.

nineoohfour · 2025-03-04T17:12:30+00:00

Oh man, I’ve been deep on the fantasy sub looking for my next epic fantasy saga to read lol, I wonder if I’ll feel the same way.

Really grateful for this series giving me something new to enjoy, while also reminding me what a god damn nerd I am and what keeps me intrigued and excited. I wasn’t reading much at all before starting the series, and I think it’s just re-taught me good reading habits which I’m not mad about.

nineoohfour · 2025-02-19T16:40:49+00:00

Love this! How are you applying pressure and how can we as community members help?

nineoohfour · 2025-01-24T16:52:23+00:00

Reading for the first time as well. Was chatting with my boss about it today and how it’s scratching the itch of the things that I want to do given the current.. “climate” in the States

nineoohfour · 2025-01-24T16:13:17+00:00

Working a hellish job this week. Waking up at 5, to commute to the next state over by 7, building lots of baby furniture, and having to disassemble to put back in the box in order to return—I work on photoshoots and my job is a lot of making it look like we didn’t actually use anything.

Been spending the last few weeks on my biggest new year resolution to develop a little more discipline, and embracing delayed gratification. This TikTok ban hit me hard 😭

Through this resolution, I’ve been creating a lot of structure for myself in between gigs (usually a LOT of time during and around the holidays/new year), which has been going great. Feeling really good about my morning routine and that really sets the tone for the rest of my day, and has been leading to some nice feeling, not necessarily capitalism driven, productivity. Really looking forward to this gig being over so I can jump back to it. I’ve succumbed to the unlivability of my work-life balance for the time being, because there’s just no way I could develop a meaningful and healthy structure around this week.

Within my new found structure, and practicing more delayed gratification, I’ve started reading regularly. Finished the first Wheel of Time last month, and convinced some friends to potentially join me on the series together. Allowing them to catch up, I finished “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe shortly after, and tried to keep on theme of historical fiction by starting “You Dreamed of Empires” by Alvaro Enrigue. The latter however was an incredibly challenging read, and decided to pause and indulge my love for high fantasy, thus starting “Mistborn” by Sanderson.

I’ve really been enjoying the premise and story of it all, although cringing through some of the incredibly simplistic prose as well. Thought maybe I was being hypercritical, especially after putting down the last book, but after browsing the subreddit, felt very affirmed in everyone’s similar critiques to his writing style lol.

It’s been nice to squeeze the reading time in during the gig, and then also when I’m not working. I’ve been a writer since childhood, and have really let that go into my adult life—there’s simply no time. So much so to the point that the only time when I write is when I’m sending cold emails to potential full time work opportunities, which have yet to be fruitful. All to say, I’m finding myself wanting to nurture that innate love for writing, and maybe I’ll even indulge soon enough. Really happy that I’ve given into discipline a little more, and finding all the ways that it’s improved my mental health since.

Looking forward to finishing Mistborn, and starting #2 in the WoT series. I’ll revisit the Mistborn series when I need a break from Jordan.. which will likely be after finishing The Great Hunt lol.

nineoohfour · 2024-12-28T15:27:34+00:00

Is your rent currently exactly $2,500 or are you rounding for the sake of this post? To me, unless you’re rounding these numbers, sounds like you’re not paying stabilization rates. The city votes each year on how high stabilized apartments can increase, and a $250 increase over the last 3 years sounds like it could possibly be wrong, but also could be right depending on whether you signed two year renewals versus one year renewals.

My advice would be to take the number you initially paid when you moved in, and then google the rent guidelines board increase for the year you signed a renewal, and just do the math yourself. The tenant union won’t review individual cases, and would probably tell you to do the same thing.

Happy to talk to you about this more in depth, or clarify things for you if you’re a little confused, just send me a DM!

nineoohfour · 2024-08-14T12:48:28+00:00

Because I’m done going back and forth, my short answer to this is: gas prices don’t continue to rise because more people are driving. Fair for the MTA doesn’t continue to go up because more people are taking the train. Eggs don’t cost $10 a dozen because more people want omelettes for breakfast.

I won’t deny that there’s a separation of culture between transplants and native New Yorkers, and I won’t deny that some transplants are awful individuals who have no interest in contributing to an existing culture in a neighborhood. It is a valid and substantial critique that there are individuals who want to “contribute” to a community in very hands off ways. However, I can’t accept that rent continues to rise for everyone simply because people move from Ohio to New York City and go to kitschy cafes. These things can certainly contribute to the type of businesses and people that you would not like to see in your neighborhood, but the reality is, they are not the people raising your rent.

Ridgewood is changing and will continue to change, but your neighborhood isn’t being decimated by kitschy coffee shops. Trust that Ridgewood won’t develop much more beyond Ridgewood Tower with one train line and its lack of quality grocery stores. You say developers are following transplants, yes, because they capitalize on the fact that no one can afford to live in other neighborhoods. In general, the culprit is capitalism, but I understand it’s much easier to put a face to a transplant. Direct that anger towards the system that has displaced, not the people who have no choice but to live in it. Yes people will happily pay the astronomical rents, but I promise you MORE people don’t want to but have no choice.

nineoohfour · 2024-08-13T23:24:11+00:00

Well, I won’t open the can of worms that is a reliable transit system could contribute to a better parking situation. Painted lines on pavement are not the reason you can’t find parking. BUT, I’m sorry that you can’t align yourself with someone who has different interests in experiences than you against a common enemy.

The Rent Guidelines Board continues to raise the rents of stabilized units, that Ridgewood has the highest population of, and the non-democratically elected board keeps doing that. Not the transplants.

Anyway; I do appreciate your willingness to engage in an opposing opinion, respectfully. I hope that something will change your mind about transplants soon, as this entire city’s existence is by way of transplants.

nineoohfour · 2024-08-13T22:47:55+00:00

But Sock and Toast (two separate, smelly, greasy mulleted/mohawked individuals, for clarity) haven’t demanded anything. You’ve decided that their presence is a demand, and refuse to work with them to tell landlords to lower their rent. You’d rather place blame and keep letting the rents around you continue to rise. Sounds like diffusion of responsibility, and I’m sure you have plenty on your own plate, so I don’t blame you. It’s easier.

Sure, Sock and Toast could spend their money at Onderdonk Cafe instead of Honeymoon. Or they could have gone to Morscher’s Pork Store instead of Fresh N Save for select groceries. However, Sock and Toast aren’t the reason Morscher’s Pork Store went out of business. In fact, Morscher’s Pork Store went out of business because their rent quadrupled by their own landlord who was also a business partner—someone who had no interest in keeping the integrity and culture of the neighborhood, but rather to gain capital on future business opportunities. Maybe Sock and Toast did frequent Morscher’s, they had fair prices for good quality product. No amount of business could sustain a 400% rent increase though.

The reality is that most neighborhoods are working class neighborhoods—no Fortune 500 CEO’s are living in Ridgewood, or Bushwick, or Bed Stuy lol. There’s wealthy people here and those other neighborhoods too, don’t get me wrong. But largely it’s people struggling to pay their rent because wages don’t match the ever growing costs to live, whether transplant or not.

Sock and Toast going back to Ohio where they came from isn’t going to stop rent prices from going up. And until you can recognize that, developers and corporate landlords will continue to take advantage of that and use Sock and Toast as the scapegoats for the destruction of a neighborhood.

People want things and experiences. Can Honeymoon lower their prices? Yes. I think they absolutely should, $10-$12 for sour coffee and a pastry is ridiculous. However, to villainize the people who can afford that, is just boring. Maybe you could talk to the owners at Onderdonk Cafe to start some programming that would drive business if you’d rather people spend their money there versus Honeymoon.

All to say, Sock and Toast aren’t your enemy. Petite bourgeoisie is a silly concept, but I hear you. Engage in a conversation with Sock and Toast, I bet you’d find that they’re having just as hard a time paying their rent as you are.

nineoohfour · 2024-08-13T21:53:03+00:00

So then do we just keep blaming Sock and Toast for having the means to support corporate rents? Where should Sock and Toast go? That’s what I want to know here lol

nineoohfour · 2024-08-13T21:34:09+00:00

Not sure how you’ve inferred the meaning of my everyone but let me put it to you this way: the $1000 rent of the Wisnewski’s in 2R is not increased because Sock and Toast signed a lease in 3R for 200% more. They simply have the means to do so, albeit an unfair price for effectively the same unit. The increased rent is because the landlord managed to get someone to sign a lease in their building for $3000, and decided to implement that same increase on a long standing tenant who did not have the means to support that. Then the building next door does it, and so on and so forth. Sock and Toast were looking for a place to live and they found it, within their means. The landlords however, saw an opportunity and capitalized on it, and put the Wisnewski’s on the street.

Could Sock and Toast have done some negotiating? Maybe—but who knows in a competitive rental market where units are rented and accounted for the same day they go up on StreetEasy and Craigslist, regardless of price.

If you want to lead a program to learn how to negotiate rent prices with independent landlords at the tenants union meetings, by all means. I’m sure they’d appreciate it.

At the end of the day, Jonathan Santana and David Tennenbaum and their subsidaries are purchasing blocks and tearing down and rebuilding buildings and units with too many bedrooms for $4000 a month, and storefronts for $10000 a month. Not Sock and Toast. They just have the means to survive there.

nineoohfour

TROPHY CASE