I don\'t know what to tell you but it\'s not really just you. The California market, and many industries in CA, are in horrible shape. There are a very few select CA photographers that are rocking it right now and it\'s just plain dumb luck. But often times, those who appear to be super busy give off the illusion of being busy. You know, the art of the buzz. But the lucky ones got in with the hipsters and blogsters with money at the perfect time. Is their work better than others? Not that I can see. Some do some fantastic work, but then it\'s beaten to death by the thousands of people trying to emulate instead of innovate. But I\'m pretty well connected to the LA industry and I\'ll be the first to tell you photographers and videographers and coordinators across the board in CA are worried. You\'re not alone. Heck, people are leaving CA because it\'s so bad. Industry and business aside, I personally know 3 photographers that have already left and 2 more have just announced they\'re leaving (with one way tickets in hand). Constant rumblings by people here and there that think making money and being happy is more important than living in a corruptly governed, albeit beautiful state with wonderful weather. The number of people actually leaving may be a small number in the grand scheme of things, but they\'re not leaving by choice, they\'re leaving because there\'s no money in CA, and it\'s the first time I\'ve seen lots of people leaving due to the same reason of lack of money flying around in the market. Looking at other industries, just go take a walk down any major shopping district in LA. There\'s vacancies left and right. Even Rodeo has vacancies! The last time I went down Melrose a few months ago my mouth was gaping wide open because at least 1/3 of the buildings along the entire strip had for rent signs on it. It\'s scary but the state is dying. It\'s going to get worse when CARB takes effect and our gov\'t is trying to skyrocket income and sales tax. Okay, a bit of a rant....
So, either adapt or die. You said a bride recently was surprised that you were old (gasp, didn\'t she know you\'re not old until you\'re 80?) but based the assumption of your age on your work. This is about the nicest compliment you can get from a bride in my opinion. She thought your work was young, hip and happening. Well you know what? Take that and move in on it. Focus on what makes your work cool and hip and do more of it. The biggest photographers and videographers I know are all in their 40\'s and early 50\'s. Now, a midwestern mother would look at them and probably say they\'re having a mid-life crisis by the way they dress, but they\'re going after the hipper crowd so they have to dress the part.
I don\'t have a crystal ball, but I have a strong hunch that 1st quarter of 2013 is going to be rocking with the economy but that\'s going to take smart voting in order for that to happen. Will it be rocking in CA? Or will we continue to be an island in America? That\'s up in the air.
marti.g3 wrote:
One\'s ego takes a big hit when you were used to shooting really nice weddings for most of your career, then you start having to take those crappy ghetto worship hall weddings because you need the money. Dealing with hagglers, scammers and people who want to treat you like you\'re the Walmart return window. You just say F it........it ain\'t worth
it anymore.
Aug 13, 2012 at 05:00 PM
Previous versions of cineski's message #10879953 « To the higher end shooters... »
