Louisville Wages vs. Reality: A Freelance Photographer's Take

the numbers say Louisville's average salary hovers around $55k, but lemme tell ya-that's not the whole story. as a freelance photographer, i'm chasing gigs that pay anywhere from $200 for a wedding portrait to $1,200 for a corporate shoot. but rent? it's creeping up like a bad hangover. a one-bedroom in the Highlands can hit $1,300/month easy, and don't even get me started on utilities-$150 in summer when the AC's blasting.

*pros: you can still find $8 pints downtown, and bourbon tours are cheaper than therapy.

cons*: the gig economy here is feast or famine-some months i'm swimming in cash, others i'm eating ramen and questioning my life choices.

overheard at a bar in NuLu: "the bourbon boom brought in the tourists, but it also brought in the rent hikes." true story. and yeah, the job market's got its quirks-healthcare and logistics are solid, but creative fields? you're hustling.

check out Yelp's Louisville cost breakdown for real-time prices, or hit up Reddit's r/louisville for the unfiltered gossip. if you're thinking of moving here, bring a side hustle-or at least a really good camera.

weather's been a mood lately-one day it's 75 and sunny, the next it's pouring like the sky's crying over the Derby results. nearby cities like Nashville and Cincinnati are just a quick drive away if you need a change of scenery (or cheaper rent).

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