How Old is Too Old to Start a New Career?

When is it too old to start a new career? I guess each person has to answer that question for themselves. For me, you are never too old to start something new. I always thought I had a safe job. It was in the Finance and Accounting world. At least, I thought it was safe until it wasn’t and I found myself in my 40s at the unemployment office in the middle of the 2020 Pandemic. As I was filing for unemployment, I realized there is no such thing as a safe job so do what you want to do. I have been shooting product photography for quite some time on the side but never really considered it a safe job so I felt I could not pursue it full-time. Irony is funny sometimes, isn’t it? I remember being in High School a very long time ago and thinking, I want to be a photographer when I grow up. I was always so fascinated by it. The school counselor and teachers always pushed the safe jobs. So I decided Accounting was for me but it really never was for me.

I have a Bachelor’s in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration. I worked my butt off to get those degrees. I earned them. I earned every job I have ever had. I made good money and I was an extremely independent woman until I wasn’t. Losing my job is one of the hardest things I have ever been through. I would not wish it on anyone. I felt lost. I didn’t know who I was anymore. I felt like my identity was taken away from me. I felt like a lot was taken from me actually. Luckily, I have gained so much more. I have amazing friends that supported me and it made that bond even stronger. I also met some fabulous people, who I now call my friends. They have helped me and motivated me to pursue photography full-time. They will never understand how much they helped me, not just professionally but personally as well. I started to heal. I started to realize that when one door closes, another really does open sometimes. So don’t give up. You have to move forward. You have to keep going. And through the support of my amazing husband, my family and friends, I got back to myself. I have had some time to process the whole thing now and I realize a job does not define who you are. I am still the same person only happier and stronger. I feel much more creative now more than ever. And I know exactly who I am. I have no regrets because my Corporate job allowed for me to have some really nice things in my life and it has put our family in a better position because of it. I have some life-long friends because they were co-workers first. And it’s ok that I am not in the Corporate World anymore. I learned so much about business that will absolutely be incorporated into what I am doing now. So I know it will be great.

It actually makes sense to me to transition to being a full-time photographer and blogger because it was getting to a point where it was too hard to do it part-time. I needed more hours to work on it. I did not want to give it up because I absolutely love photography. I am truly happy when I have a camera in my hand. There is no age limit to happiness and creativity.

Let’s be honest, the perks are pretty fabulous. When you are a product photographer, you get to photograph so many products and keep a lot of them. I have received so much product over the years that I now have a significant amount of insight about these products, enough to blog about it. So I am really excited about this opportunity to continue my photography career and start blogging. I hope that this inspires anyone who has lost their job or wants to start a new career. I hope you know you are more than just a job. I hope you know you can do what you put your mind to do.

So whatever your situation is, breathe and take a moment to let yourself just be. Have faith in yourself and know it will all work out if you try really hard and pray on it. It helps if you have a great support system like I have had. You don’t have to do it alone. You can be a little dependent while you are finding your way. And before you know it, you will start to get that independence back a little at a time. Your smile will come back and you will realize you are happy again.

I hope you join me on this new ride I am on. Thank you for reading my very first blog. I hope you have a lovely day! 💜🍓