maybe hobbies should remain hobbies…
I stumbled on a post today, which basically said the best way to retain a love of photography is to keep it as a hobby. That making it your job sucks the joy out…that making average images to satisfy average viewers makes it not fun.
And while it is likely that my best is still only average, what the poster was saying really resonated with me.
I recently took on a project to supply some pictures for something that an acquaintance is doing. I was happy to pitch in…happy, that is, until I had spent 20 hours going through and processing pictures for very little progress made. He has really really specific things in his head, and today I saw some of what he’s gathered together.
And quite honestly, I wonder why he contacted me to begin with.
He wants Disneyworld, I do realism. Sometimes that realism is pretty darn cute, but it still isn’t Disney.
I’ve never even been to Disneyworld.
He would have been better off with stock photography.
If this is a glimmer of what it would be like to make a living from photography, that post I read today is absolutely right. It would suck the joy right out of me!
Deb~
) and kids that were demons from hell, whose parents said “he’s never like this at home?!!!” and then I had the lovers who were so in to each other and there families and just sharing their joy, it was a tonic to my soul. The little down-syndrome girl who hugged me and told me she loved me and held a flower in front of her face and it was so sweet it made me cry…
It’s not all bad…
It’s not all good..
When i made a living taking pictures of weddings and OPK, I had the 250# bride that told me my pics made her look fat, (
I think no matter what you choose to do for a living you must find the joy in it.
Doesn’t your present job have frustrations as well as joys?
Your photo’s capture a quality that is real and endearing. They are moments out of a day, I love looking at your farm animals, your abstracts, Your reflections of quality time with friends. They are NOT disney, but they are alive, The photo above I would hang on my wall with great Love!
ahh, I have gone off on a tangent, don’t mind me..
it’s been one of those days..I have the seamstress blues…
LOL
My current job was, until recently, nothing but misery. It has recently been better - less boring, therefore not as painful. Joys? Well, the satisfaction of doing a good job is a kind of joy. It is not a dream, not a calling, it is a nice paycheck. I’m mostly at peace with that.
I think the idea of finding the joy in what I do is what makes me think so often of doing “more” with my photography. It is hard to spend 9 hrs/day on a job that is just a paycheck.
I think you just gave me one of the biggest compliments ever, when you said my photography is alive.
That’s really cool! I think that would have been my goal, if I’d thought to make one.
I’ve been thinking of you and your art as I’ve gone through this frustration. You seem to maintain your “creation of art” even as you make things on order. That’s been my impression anyway! And I’m starting to realize just what a challenge that might be sometimes!
Bummer about the seamstress blues. You must be almost done with the wedding planning though! I’d offer to help, but the only thing I’m capable of is threading the needle!
Deb~
O-God…I came back to show off goat photo and read your comment…
There are aspects to my art that I love…That bring me untold joy, and aspects that drive me insane.
You have said a mouthful when you say it’s a challenge.
I live in fear of loosing my love of what i do, because I make a lot of things for money, that I don’t enjoy.
I am not good at being a production potter, I never have been. I take only small orders, because I can do 200 with out losing my mind, but more than that, and i want to shoot myself. I do more than potts, though, I do murals, and stained glass, and of course the occasional sewing…(groan)
I have done the paycheck, and i know how miserable it is…
I would recommend to you, to do both. Both paycheck and photo’s.
You find a good and reasonable framer, a decent lab, blow some up, frame them, and then do some small shows. See if you like it. Shows for me can be fun or a nightmare…( so you have been warned!) But a Saturday afternoon, sitting surrounded by a sampling of your beautiful work, people watching, can bring you a certain satisfaction. In the beginning I was discouraged because i received more compliments than sales, but
I did sell. and if I made my booth, and i had a good day, it was worth the effort.
A paycheck can often bring you closer to a life you enjoy. It’s the balance act of being “alive” and having enough to live.
The wedding is no where near done…and has morphed like a mutant monster…
From wedding dress..( which has changed 3 time COMPLETELY) to now making wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses and vests for the groom and his mates…
sigh…
I am the little engine that could…
I think I can
I think i can
I think I can
LOL
Thanks for the offer of help… I will take a little prayer that I don’t go loco or lose a friend by the end…
Deb, there is a restaurant here that hangs artists’ paintings and photos on the walls. When you sit, as a customer in a booth, you can look at dozens of examples. The prices are between $150-$350 for each piece! Of course, that includes the mat and frame, but still. Could you sell some of your photos in that kind of environment? It seems rather stress-free because you make what you love and then if it catches someone’s attention you profit a little.
Sorrow - you have some really good advice, and it has got me thinking. I’ll at least start with getting my favorites printed and framed, and if all I do at this point is hang them on my walls and send them to friends, it is a start, and maybe it will motivate me to do more.
I can’t even imagine dealing with the wedding dress changes, and having to MAKE one, as well as the bridesmaids dresses and everything else! I guess they think you are wonderwoman! And while it is true to a degree, you still can’t warp time! lol.
FW - that’s a good idea as well. I will have to look into that. I’m not sure how it all works, for all I know there is a long waiting list to be a featured artist, but I can look into it and see if it is something I could do. Thanks for that idea!
Guess I have to figure out printing and matting and framing now!
Hi, Deb–This issue is something I’ve struggled with. You may recall my first jewelry show back in December. I felt a lot of pressure to produce items for the show in a hurry, and ended up with 20+ Xmas bracelets that didn’t sell, even though I thought they’d be a big seller. All the time I was so scared, thinking, “Why did I think that selling my jewelry was a good idea?” Years ago I tried to sell gourmet cookies and I think I burned myself on that one (pun intended). So I guess my advice would be, start small, see how it goes…maybe try selling small photos on Etsy. There are some people locally here that put actual photos on greeting cards and attach a piece of raffia or ribbon and sell them in Barnes & Noble etc. Baby steps…I know it can be frustrating, but I think you’re headed in the right direction.
As far as your job being a source of misery–I hear ya! Mine is basically a pleasant environment with a lot of tough work and a halfway decent paycheck. Sad thing is it was meant to be my calling…but it hasn’t worked out. More on that in private e-mails if you’re interested! Have a great day…and great weekend!
Sandra,
I do remember that, with the bracelets. At least you can say you’ve given it a try! I think a lot about it, and I know that you are right about starting small and seeing how it goes…I have to get to the point of starting at all. Baby steps indeed! I think my baby steps will be even smaller than they would be for most, but if I’m moving forward, perhaps that’s the important thing.
As for the job…don’t downplay the “pleasant environment” part that you have going for yours. It is worth more than we might realize until we’re in an environment like mine….and yet I know mine could be much much worse. It can almost always be worse, after all! Isn’t that a pleasant thought!