Earning a living from SU etc...
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Hi,
I have seen a some people on here and elsewhere offering their services as a 3d visualiser / modeller etc, and it got me thinking about how many people actually make a living from this type of work? and how good you need to be?The reason I ask is this:
I am currently thinking about developing my 3d skills as a basis for a career, and I am therefore interested in hearing from people already in this field (particularly those in the UK doing architectural based modelling/rendering).Through university I was interested in 3d modelling, but I had never really had enough time or a reason to pursue it. However recently I have started using SU for a few projects at work and I have found myself enjoying this much more than the rest of my job, and could see myself doing it full time. This has given me the drive to develop these skills in my spare time (which isn't much), I have also being trying to get to grips with rendering (with KT) in my spare time to compliment my su skills.
Currently my portfolio of this type of work is minimal, but this is something which I intend to change, but for now i'm just investigating my options... so any advice / comments you have would be appreciated - how easy/hard is it to get work like this etc etc..
Richard
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Richard, I would like to second that inquiry. I am in a similar position (have enjoyed 3d for a long time, but limited in the "professional" experience). My job is actually disappearing in a couple weeks (company is downsizing) and I'm exploring the possibility of doing some independent 3d work as well as seeking architectural firms, etc. in the area.
If I could just find the people who would pay me to do this work!
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I make a living (I think you can call it that..haha) with sketchup.. modelling and rendering... and also working with another architect or two doing a bit of design/drafting in acad. I worked full time as an architect, and did the modelling/rendering at night for like a year..and when I had a pretty steady client-base... I took the leap and quit my job... I did have somewhat of a guarantee of the autocad work for a bit, so that helped my decision and kept me afloat in the beginning. Who knows how long it'll last, but I've been on my own for over a year now and work keeps flowing in...it was definitely helpful to be in the business for 5 years and make alot of contacts... fingers crossed... good luck to you guys!
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Well I can't say I make a living with SketchUp but it did get me a couple jobs.
I was drafting from home while watching my newborn. When she was old enough to start prechool I started to interview.
My first interview with an architecture firm went well, then at the end the architect told me about this neat new program called SketchUp. He told me there was a free trial version and I should check it out. I went home excited, downloaded SU v2 and started watching the tutorials. By the end of the week I had done the skin of a nursing home I had worked on for another architect.
I emailed pictures to the interviewing architect and got the reply: "Ok you get the job".
Three years later I am looking to change jobs and I interview with the firm I am with now. I show my best SU stuff and nailed the interview.
Going out on my own scares me, but that is just me. I like the security of a firm.
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Thanks for the replies so far...
@unknownuser said:
Going out on my own scares me, but that is just me. I like the security of a firm.
I think this scares me as well, I like the idea of working for myself, but if/when it comes to making a decision on changing jobs, I think I'd prefer the security of working for someone else.
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yeah...i NEVER thought i'd ever go out on my own..never wanted that insecurity....but here i am..haha..
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I've had my own business for over six years. The ups are great...But the downs Really STINK...try going 4 months without a single dime come in...that'll make you think twice about your decision.
Can you make a living doing 3d modeling...is like saying can you make a living selling cookies, pulling teeth, (insert any ocupation here) in the end it has more to do with who you are and what you are willing to take in return for your services.
You will need to be a salesman, a draftsman, a 3d modeler, a business man, oh someone has to go buy printer cartridges and since it's just you...guess what you get to do. Oh and when a client calls and says can you change this and this and this and I need it by tomorrow morning...you get to tell your wife that even though its her birthday you will need to work tonight....anyway the list will go on and on....the succes or failure of your business depends on so many other factors other than whether or not you can produce quality 3d models. ask yourself this can I eat beans and rice for three monnths to save money when times are slow. Can I put aside money when I have extra to save up for the hard times. Can I work 24 hours a day for 3 days to meet a deadline and only bill for 20 hours even though it took me 60 hours. Will I have the diligence to get up every day and go to work and be productive....your at home and the tv the refirigerator, your bed, the back yard, the trash,....you will need the diligence to say to your self that this is work time and even though I'm home I need to focus on work right now. I can't tell you how many times I've gone up stairs for lunch and 3 hours later realize that I just lost 3 hours of work time during the day that I will need to make up at night...OH and when you are your own boss your work day goes from 8 hours a day to 24/7/365...Clients will call you and if you want to keep them happy you will take thier calls...
OK...I'll get off the soap box now...one last thing...If you have even the slighetest thought of starting your own business take my advice. DO IT...you will never regret doing it you may find that you do have what it takes. You will forever regret not doing it, but you will never regret doing it. Even if it is not as sucessful as you had hoped.
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I always like to hear your perspectives, thanks Phil.
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I work in partnership with my mother in a website that I created... http://www.aboveallhouseplans.com
I've been using SketchUp for about a year or more... I earn a living Designing in Sketchup, but a drafting package is needed to compliment it... for construction documents.
I do pretty well all things considered... it grows every year... and SketchUp has gotten some great responses from prospective and current clients...
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I make my living with sketchup - I started with V4 a couple of years ago.
the beauty of sketchup is that your client can download the free google version. I know of no other program that enables that yet as my clients are international it's a vital part of my business now.
I agree with Kris though - you need AutoCad for drafting. It's such a shame because a few simple additions to sketchup like dimension, line and text styles could eliminate that.
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autocad has a free viewer...
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That is such a good post Phil and really helps put things in perspective.
I guess it is probably what most people may expect if they are being realistic, but it is good to have it confirmed by someone that is actually carrying out the dream!
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@unknownuser said:
autocad has a free viewer...
Yes it does Kris - but you can't access all the tools as you can with google sketchup.
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yeah for sure John... it's really not a program at all, just a viewer... in fact it really suxx...
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I also started SU about a year ago and first didn't think about earning/making money with it.
Yet I got some jobs and did make some money and now I'm thinking of gradually becoming independent from my present (dull, boring and tiring) full time job at the municipality of my home town and working (among others) with SU to make a living.Funny at first...
There is also this SketchUp viewer that also lacks a lot of functionalities therefore it cannot really be a good tool for now.
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