Prettym1k3 Offline Upload & Sell: Off
|
Ron speaks the truth. If you don't have to do it, step back a little bit.
I've done a few things in the past few years that, at least for the 5 years I've gone head first into the wedding/portrait industry, have kept me sane.
1. Do fun shoots. For you. I called a model a few months ago and met her at 7am in an abandoned reservoir to shoot her. It was so excited, and it was just for me and for her portfolio. No rushed wedding timelines. No screaming kids and pissed off parents. Just me.
2. Buy some fun equipment. Over the years I've bought a few pieces of equipment that might have been necessary, but were simply fun purchases. This includes - Nikon 17-35 f/2.8, Nikon 16mm fisheye, Nikon MC-36A Multi-Function Remote Cord, and some film equipment.
Years ago it was a fisheye lens. I never use that lens, except at the one wedding a year when I really need it. But man, it's fun to play with. More recently, I bought a Fuji Instax Mini camera and ordered some instant film for it. Sure, I take it to weddings and hand out a few instant prints. But it's fun to just take pictures of my wife and son around the house with it. And it was cheap. $149 + $50 for film.
3. Shoot some film. If you're old enough to remember film, this will bring you back to your roots. You can pick up a Nikon FG, or Canon AE-1 for $75 or $100. Maybe less. Pick one lens, and toss in a roll of film. Limit yourself to that one roll, and that one lens, and go make some magic. It'll push your limits, and drive your creativity.
I've been working a full time day job (M-F, 8-5) while doing photography for the last 5 years. This year we have 25 weddings on the books. And it's insanely stressful. Add to that engagement sessions, portrait sessions, meetings, album design, editing, and most of my weeks I'm lucky to have a total of 5-6 hours of unscheduled non-work time. But this is just a season for me right now as we aim to remodel our kitchen and get my wife to be a stay at home mom.
With that said, you can balance it. But it takes a lot of hard work. You likely make pretty darn good money doing what your doing at a Radiology tech, so I wouldn't give that up. But you can definitely add some income and have fun while shooting. Only take on what you can handle. And know your limits.
|