Hey all — I recently moved to Los Angeles to pursue work in film, particularly post-production. I was lucky to land a role at a well-established company where I got to work alongside amazing editors, producers, and creatives. But like many others, I was impacted by ongoing industry cutbacks and recently let go.

Now, I’ve been taking time to reflect. The uncertainty in the film industry has pushed me to consider a new approach to work and building a career. Freelancing feels like a direction that better fits my personality and work style. I was putting in 50-hour weeks at my last job, operating under the belief that it would eventually lead somewhere — but deep down, I always felt like I could be using my time more meaningfully, on work that actually reflects who I am.

I have a background in culinary and fine dining (prior to film), and I’ve always loved photography. I'm interested in blending those two passions by offering low-cost photography services to local restaurants as I build my portfolio. Long-term, I’d also love to explore fashion photography, but I know that might come with time and networking.

I’m still early in my photo journey. I’m most comfortable editing in Lightroom, have some knowledge of camera systems, and am inspired by the work of Wolfgang Tillmans — who, I believe, shoots with a Canon DSLR. I’m thinking about getting some affordable gear and just hitting the pavement to start building relationships.

Here’s what I’d love to get feedback on:

Do you think this approach — offering low-cost food photography while building a portfolio — is viable? Could I realistically grow this into ~$2,400/month or more in time?

Would a Canon DSLR be a smart starting point for this kind of work? Any specific gear recommendations?

Are there job opportunities in LA where I can get hands-on experience with cameras? Like photo assistant gigs, internships, or anything else to help level up quickly?