Ghost wrote:
If you were to tell us back in 2012 that we will be shooting internationally in 2013, I'd say whatever you are drinking is too strong. But we have, we did and we are being requested again.
WOW. Congrats on your success, Ghost! So envious of you. For me, change in my business comes VERRRRYYY slow.
Worry is the misuse of imagination.
We're given an opportunity 24/7 to have a positive reaction to a situation or a negative. It might be that you're stuck in a 9 to 5 or that you worry that you won't have more gigs in a few months. No matter what job or endeavors are put before you you can find something negative to worry about or complain about. This realization has been a huge conviction in my life in how I deal with my wife, my clients and friends. Only by the grace of God I am able to break free of the chains of insecurity and shifting emotions that have been on me for so long.
Wow, I pulled up this thread somehow and you can add me to the ranks - sorta. I've been doing this full time for five years and I have been successful. Although my numbers are steady, it has been harder each year to get those numbers. The stress, as Evan eluded to, is immense. I can't compare it to Iraq (thank you for your service, Evan!) but it is the main reason I chose to at least partially exit.
To have the income I desired, I had to work all. the. time. I could have probably worked smarter, but I got very tired of missing family events, gatherings with friends, trips with our airplane. If I was awake during the spring or fall, I was editing. I outsourced as much as I could but I was still working constantly and it took the joy out of it for me. I do still love to shoot. My wedding last Saturday was amazing and I enjoyed every hour of it.
I had immense fear that the photography market would change forever with the prices spiraling downward and so many people flocking to the field to hang out their shingle. As I said it has not affected my bookings (average of 35 weddings since the 2010 season, and I was on pace to book that for 2014 when I called it done), but will it at some point?
I bought into a printing company (large format) that has been incredibly successful and my mother and I are now running it with two very profitable first months behind us. I'm still a small business owner but I have set hours and I go home and leave it. And I (will) have weekends.
I'm finishing this season out, and I have 15 weddings booked for next year, that are spread nicely through the entire year. I anticipate booking less in 2015. I am very excited to start, at that poing, shooting for myself. Landscapes. Storms. Stuff I have never had time to do because I was always working.
Good luck to everyone, whether you are stepping into this field or exiting. I don't regret doing it for one second. I was and am successful, but I choose not to work to death as I hit my 40th birthday. Life is short.
Hopefully I'll have time to once again post my work on here!
I bought into a printing company (large format) that has been incredibly successful and my mother and I are now running it with two very profitable first months behind us.
Sarah
Sarah, I thought about you the other day, wondering where you'd been. I'm glad to hear things are going well. Much luck on your printing business!
Sarah Dickerso wrote:
I have set hours and I go home and leave it. And I (will) have weekends.
The other day I briefly fantasized about the idea of designating set days off so as to help me to feel better about this job. Right now I'm working seven days a week year round.
D. Diggler wrote:
The other day I briefly fantasized about the idea of designating set days off so as to help me to feel better about this job. Right now I'm working seven days a week year round.
This month is going to be crazy busy for me. Tomorrow I have corporate head shots in the afternoon. The next day I have another corporate gig starting at 7am and going to noon. Then I run to the airport to catch a flight to Cancun for a wedding. The week after I get back I fly to California for another wedding. In between the weddings every weekend, I have to shoot profiles of 8 different organizations in my area, all due by Nov. i also have to schedule some e- sessions there somewhere.
D. Diggler wrote:
It doesn't feel like it's do-able to take regular days off.
Give it a try. You can do it. We've taken Sundays off since we started. Between that and the other scheduling rules we've set, we've been able to really take control of our schedule in large part. I've found that really streamlining things, setting rules and getting really good people to work has completely changed our lifestyle.
I used to view busyness as a point of pride, but over the last couple years I've started to learn that being overwhelmingly busy doesn't do anything but stroke my own ego. Even though our business is still producing the same quantity, we're doing it much more efficiently. It's given me a lot more time for life. I'm even developing hobbies now. Imagine that.
I try to take a day off during the week if I shoot back to back weddings that weekend. I at least try to get out & hop on my road bike for a 20-30mi ride daily or some other exercise during the day. I've got 2 weddings and an E session I need to finish up before Friday, but it helps me stay on track.
I don't have fear. But I do have stress. And I know exactly what brings it on. Control.
When I feel like I'm in control I feel good. When I feel the business is in control of me I stress out, badly. Last year was a difficult one personally. Working became my escape and I really appreciated the benifits I get from working for myself. When I'm down about work, I only need to look at my friends and their full time jobs to realise I've got it made.
I don't always do it well but when I make sure I go to the things that freedom allows me I'm great. My bike rides with the guys, time with the kids or an odd surf really make a difference. I take Monday and Tuesday mornings off, except when I have a commercial shoot. If I do I reschedule my personal time like I would a job. I don't treat down time as optional. The whole point of working for yourself is to let yourself have the freedom to do the things you want when you want. I drop my kids at school. I take the dog for a walk. And strangely the work still gets done.
I'm 49. And I have yet to peak in business or as a photographer. And although I fail to take my own advice too often, I think I've survived because I have a work/life balance others don't. Next weekend I had three enquiries for Saturday. Me. I'm taking my son to Monster Jam. Do I wish i was making 3K next weekend. Nope. I'm having a dad/son day. That's the reward for all the hard work. My shooting partner took one of the jobs and cancelled the day out with his son because "he's setting himself up for a life". I always wonder when he's going to start the life he's always planning for?
I can use the money but the timing is not good.