Am I Ready (or not?)

I know myself very well.
I guess it comes from so many years of being me.

If I had to tell you my best and worst traits,
they would be one and the same.

I am a perfectionist.

Perfectionism has worked well for me in many ways. 
I did extremely well in school, especially in math.
My attention to detail and need to get things 100% right were great attributes during my career as a computer programmer.

But more often than not,  my fear of "not being perfect" has deterred me from trying new things in life.
I don't like this about myself.  In fact, I hate it. 


Lately, I have been in conflict with myself once again.

Entering what I think of as the 2nd phase of my life,  I know I want to do something with photography.  It has been a love of mine since I was a child.  More than anything else,  I love taking pictures of people.

Two years ago I purchased a really nice camera and really nice lenses.  For the past two years I have been taking courses and practicing.  I have become very good at portrait retouching, realizing that less is more.
I have photographed quite a few people, each time learning something new.

I am happy with my progress.

My goal?  I'd like to become a professional photographer of some sort.
Why?  Because I love trying to capture the "beauty" of people.

I have learned so much about photography since I bought my first camera back in high school, but have I learned enough to expect people to pay me for my services?

It's easy to take pictures when it is just for fun.

BUT...

Do I know enough?  There will always be more to learn.
Am I good enough?   There will always be those who are better than me.
Am I ready?  Sometimes I believe I am, and sometimes those old perfectionist doubts come creeping into my head!

I am trying hard to push those doubts aside.

I really am!

But old habits die hard.