Mother told me to give up on Photography, so I can move out.

Do you have a Petco store in your area? They have a dog / pet washing and grooming section, and they would not hire you under the table.

A lot of startups do tend to pay under the table, because the costs of “toeing the line” are quite high (and the regulations too difficult to understand for a lot of one-man-band operations). You might be able to prove to a landlord that you have the income – legally, if not “following all of the rules”—after all, he doesn’t want to rent to a drug dealer – but you’re going to have to grow into “respectable” employment. The right landlord would understand.

Sounds like you want to get on your own two feet- an admirable goal! I don;t know what people on here will say, but I agree with @CWOTUS (will wonders never cease!) to get a job with a legit store that’s part of a chain will help.

And keep telling yourself “I’m doing this so I can get back to school”. Once you establish your self, you can start with school again, maybe just one class at a time so you can give yourself the best chance at succeeding.

Hang in there, you can do it!

If you get paid cash then record your earnings and pay taxes. Apartments will accept a tax return from someone who is self employed (which is basically what you are, a private contractor.)
If this is you first year you might want to confirm that they’re not sending you a 1099. Then you WILL be responsible for paying self employment tax.
When people come to rent from me I tell them that if Uncle Same doesn’t know it exists it doesn’t exist to me.

Can’t you find a job and take night classes? Just so you know, I’ve seen many photography places close down because the digital age has made it possible for people to take almost flawless photos and get them developed or fixed online. I have a friend right now who says is having a hard time finding employment in the photography field. Unless you plan to go into photojournalism. Although there will be jobs their I’m sure it is a very difficult field to get into.

Would you consider becoming a veterinary technician? It’s a licensed position here in NYS and they make good money. You could pursue the photography on the side.

@Judi I had a friend who was a hair dresser, and did this- he ended up qualifying for section 8. So there may be hope!

@Adirondackwannabe This would be too complicated for me at the moment, although it sounds like an exciting field.

@paperbackhead I’m no Bible thumper, but there is wisdom worth gleaning from the book. Isaiah 50:7 says “Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” That thought of setting your face like flint resonates with me, and I hope it will with you. When you really do that, you are making a commitment that says that, no matter what obstacles I encounter of how long it takes, I am going to do this or die trying.

If you set your face like flint to graduate, even if it must be via night classes and online classes, you will get your degree, and it won’t take you all that long. Also consider ROTC.

@Judi When I do this would I write down every time I got paid, the amount, dates etc.?

@ETpro I don’t use the bible to dictate my life, but…yeah I guess I would have to find some way to find time to still take classes. Maybe I can take a night class, then go on from there. And the army or air force is really out of the question.

Keep track if everything. you also need to set aside the money for self employment taxes. I would pay a CPA or bookkeeper to gel set you up. at least get quick books. you can also deduct business related expenses from your income so you won’t have to pay any self employment taxes. I have no idea what the percentage you would need to save is. You pay those taxes quarterly.

@paperbackhead The self employment tax is 15.3 percent of the business profit and I’m guessing you’d be in the 10 percent income tax bracket plus whatever your state taxes are.

@Judi This seems like a lot. Is it expensive to hire a CPA or bookkeeper?

@paperbackhead My son went Army ROTC, so I know the downsides as well as the benefits. It’s a great program for those who want to join the military. He did, because he wanted to do something that truly tested him. He had gone to the Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts and to a Math and Science Magnet High School, so all his formative years had been dedicated to study and to composing and performing music. He wanted to prove himself physically. And he is just now being promoted to Captain. He’s thinking seriously about staying in for 20. He’s got the GI Bill plus as Mass. National Guard, he can go to any Massachusetts State College tuition free, so he plans to use that to get a Masters and PhD. Not too shabby. But not for everyone either. Stick to your guns and do what you know is right for you.

@ETpro…good for him.

Another idea, @paperbackhead, if you really do enjoy the dog grooming thing, is to start your own small business doing this on your own.

Since you still live at home (however long that may be), your overheads are low, especially since the dog grooming (and walking, and “other services” that you might choose to offer) has very low capital requirements to start, you don’t have to charge a lot for your services and you can start to build up a client list – and a reputation.

Since you’d be self-employed, the only things you’d have to deal with in terms of regulation should be getting a tax certificate so that you could charge, collect and remit applicable sales taxes for your area to the jurisdiction/s, and your own self-employment taxes would be paid at the end of the year on your 1040. (Keep in mind that you’d have to pay your FICA then, and it’s twice as much as most people think it is, because you’d have to pay the “employee” and “employer” portions.

But you’d get your feet wet (so to speak) and you could make a living doing this, on your own hours, and when your next prospective landlord asks for “proof of income” you can show him a business card and a tax return. You might even elect to make this your primary source of income for some time, and do your schooling and photography “around the business”, instead of running the business around the rest of your life.

@CWOTUS I kind of started to groom out of my home, and passed out fliers. OOF, all of this seems overwhelming.

Start freelancing. Now.

School is a place where they teach you to be an employee. And learning how to be an employee is important, so stay in school but.. don’t get too far sucked in to that mindset or you will never realize that you could just be working for yourself (as your own employee) making good money. You must realize that as an arts student you CAN be independent.

Freelancing means creating money out of thin air, not relying on anyone but your own power.

@paperbackhead, It’s not as expensive as it is getting caught being paid under the table and having to pay back taxes and penalties.

As others have indicated, it’s probably a good idea for you to focus on some aspect of veterinary work, which you say you love and which could eventually provide a good living, and relegate photography to hobby status, at least for the foreseeable future. You’ll have a very difficult time making a living at that, I’m afraid.

But in any case, stick with school as long as you can and don’t let past “messups” deter you. A degree, or at least a few years in college will, more than any job you take now and any place you live, help brighten your future in ways you can’t imagine right now.

Don’t overlook a zoo or animal rescue farm. They might be able to hire a groomer/animal care worker.

Work part time doing anything, just to bring in a regular income.
Photography Business ( example Walmart chain stores) have Photo depts that take group pictures and family portraits at Christmas time etc
They are still in demand.
And these comapanies do hire and train you.( work weekends)?

@paperbackhead Since you already are grooming out of your home, you may consider getting your own business website started. That will save you time and money. In the meantime you may want to read up on how to start up your own home business. There is a part that talks about possibly getting some financial assistance in starting up a small business.

@Pandora I started working at a dog grooming place, yeah its not on the books, but I’m just going to have to write down everything that’s given to me in terms of cash. And the website thing sounds like a good idea, thanks!

@YARNLADY I got hired at a dog grooming place, however I’m on a trial period. And will start work full time, when classes end.

Thanks for the update! I hope it’s a legitimate job and not under the table!

@paperbackhead * * * Y * A * Y * * *

@Judi Unfortunately it is under the table, most places are. Unless I applied for a job at Pet Smart or Petco, and their standards are just crazy even if I got considered for a bather/assistant position I had to groom a dog in front of a bunch of people from HR. And still got denied despite doing a wonderful (and free) groom. I’ll just have to take your advice, and keep track of what I’m being paid so I can file my taxes.

freelance, lady.
freelance photography.

@ninjacolin There’s no money in freelance, even then I’d still want to get a degree.

There’s money in anything you want to pursue.
You just have to be fierce about pursuing it.

“You can do anything if you put your mind to it” isn’t a lie. Rather, it’s magic. And a good bit of Scientific research, trial and error.

It’s up to you, really.

Relvent vid