I have always worked in and around photograhy in one way or another (photo labs, stock photo agency, pre-press dept. at a printing company, photoshop tech, part time photog at a weekly newspsper, and occasional fill-in photographer at a daily newspaper), but I've never supported myself completely through photography. That is a dream I haven't managed to make come true yet.
I do side jobs when I can get them (head shots, weddings, events, concerts), and because I have been around the business so long, I am aware of the struggles and concerns about the business that professional photogs face. I want to be able to charge appropriately for the work I do without undercutting anyone else. Its always been a mystery to me knowing how to charge a price that is competitive, yet appropriate for my skill level.
A recent layoff forced me to think hard about what I need to do to be able to continue to pay my mortgage, and balance that with keeping myself happy creatively. I am now a web producer in the health care industry, but its clear that I won't be completely happy until I can find a way to do more of what I love, which is photography.