Ok, i must rain on the parade :-)
Photography, Fashion & Music are the 3 most impossible areas to "break into", especially with bugger all experience behind you.
You need many years of experience, you need a portfolio of your photographic work to show clients what you're capable of.
You needs lots of spin to win over customers and you need to prove you can offer something more/better than all your opposition.
You'll need to know your camera back to front, and then the knowledge beyond the camera itself is infinite, you need to look at things differently thru photographic eyes and learn the art of composition, image editing and so forth to add punch to your photo's....You then also need to know how to get around unforseen problems during a shoot, re-adjusting youre lighting, reflectors, lens', exposure configs to get around the changes etc. (this all comes with experience).
Most places won't take you on for employment with any less than 3 certificates in photography, darkroom & (digital) editing proof of work.
Firstly, go pick out your best shots and put them in a folder, then visit a few photographic places to get their judgement, if not for work, simply for some realistic feedback of your talent (or lack of), then you'll know where you stand.
I've been a hobbyist then semi-pro/freelance photographer for 25+ years and i wouldn't even try to compete with todays market, although i have some different services to offer that extend ontop of my photo-skills, so i get by when i need to, but i have fulltime work in another trade which is my main security....
my 20c, but worth a lot more :-)
MM
well said and I agree, I have only ever been a hobbyist and it is a challenge and worked at labs when in my late teens.
not to detract from your original goal but maybe a fresh new venture that can be exciting is video shoots with still grabs from a quad copter. A relative is just getting it to it and it is amazing and taking off in the US but very new here in Aus. It is not easy but you could invest in a quad copter and a top line go pro learn the skills of flying, get a gimbal and then search out jobs in videoing property for real estates, golf courses full 18 hole over view runs etc.
When I get work and can afford it I will get all the parts to build my own with a GPS unit so it flies back to take off point when battery gets to a low level, you can set a certain flight height etc.
