Once I began working as a photographer I began to take less ans less pictures for myself. I’ve been out of the industry for 17 years now and don’t take many pictures anymore, mostly just family stuff and pictures for clients in my present job. I’ve never really understood the huge numbers of amateur and hobbyist photographers who spend most of their time taking shots that are indistinguishable from commercial photography, for god’s sake do something different, the pros are taking these pictures because they are paid to not because they have any great merit. I still really enjoy taking pictures while both fulfilling a brief and trying to look at things a little differently if I can. I’m not being paid specifically for the shots which gives me a lot more freedom.
Anyway in answer to the question by all means pursue your hobby as a career but expect your relationship to that hobby to change. It won’t necessarily be better or worse just different.
I now do a job I’d never thought of as a career and really enjoy it. The hours can be long and unsocial but I get to travel a lot and see a lot of places I wouldn’t otherwise get to. I’m spending this week in Vienna and I’m just back from a trip to Rome, Moscow and Paris. And I haven’t taken a single snap of anything other than the exhibition stand I’m looking after. If i want a nice picture of where I’ve been I’ll look on line where someone will have been kind enough to wait hours and hours to get a very nice shot I can look at. 🙂