just a whinge

[notapro]

Is anybody else feeling burned out? I just started my business in September really and did not expect to be working much until I started marketing in 2008. I have only been doing maybe 2 shoots a week, but with that on top of a full time job, two kids, and being busy with holiday events all the time, I just feel completely drained.

I know there are a lot of other photographers out there who also have families and work day jobs, so I'm just wondering how you manage to stay enthusiastic about it.

I had an inquiry today and I was actually hoping they wouldn't book just so I wouldn't have to try to find time to get them in before Christmas. I just want to enjoy taking pictures again... how do you do it?

[sevillafox]

Is anybody else feeling burned out? I just started my business in September really and did not expect to be working much until I started marketing in 2008. I have only been doing maybe 2 shoots a week, but with that on top of a full time job, two kids, and being busy with holiday events all the time, I just feel completely drained.

I know there are a lot of other photographers out there who also have families and work day jobs, so I'm just wondering how you manage to stay enthusiastic about it.

I had an inquiry today and I was actually hoping they wouldn't book just so I wouldn't have to try to find time to get them in before Christmas. I just want to enjoy taking pictures again... how do you do it?

I wish I had this problem. I'm burning out getting everything set up so I can get more business and anxiously looking forward to getting some.

[rhys]

I wish I had this problem. I'm burning out getting everything set up so I can get more business and anxiously looking forward to getting some.

I've got all my gear, business licence and so on (no insurance - won't bother until I get a deposit from a client). I'm a bit pissed off with building a portfolio and building websites - not least because I dislike websites and regard a website as a pain in the butt that's unlikely to be at all beneficial (nothing computer related has ever been financially worthwhile for me over the last 20 years).

[bieber]

(nothing computer related has ever been financially worthwhile for me over the last 20 years).
Judging by your "shareware" site, this isn't surprising. If you expect to get something out of an occupation, you first have to put something into it. Top businesses in industries all over the place are driving heaps of sales through their websites; it's not websites themselves that are the problem.

[sonshine_rae]

Amanda.. I did briefly feel that way a while ago when I was booked up a bit (right now things are rather dry again).

And I think.. I had to 'make' myself.. take some pictures just for fun.. like a hobby again you know? Whatever your previous hobby interest in Photography was.. go do a little of it!

Get your joy.. your focus.. back!! It's highly important IMHO to keep a clear focus.. so that you can enjoy your work :)!

Whether that is 'no stress' snapshots of your kids, or landscapes, pets, whatever.. maybe even join in a photography 'challenge' of some sort ..... to challenge you to try a little something different.. to learn and grow beyond your normal range :).

hth's.. this to shall pass..
~Rae~

[rhys]

Judging by your "shareware" site, this isn't surprising. If you expect to get something out of an occupation, you first have to put something into it. Top businesses in industries all over the place are driving heaps of sales through their websites; it's not websites themselves that are the problem.

I had a ton more software up for sale but a lot of it became badly out-dated when Windows 95 went the way of the Dodo so I took it down. I haven't written anything new for the site since about 2001. I spent months writing some damned good software and found a few weeks after releasing it that it had been cracked and was being pirated. I changed it a bit and a few days later out came a new crack. I just got fed up then. I figured why waste my time writing software when my hard work wasn't going to earn me any money due to the pirates. Yes - the pirates drove me out of business! I took off all the pirated software. It was a shame - I had a multi-language tutor which was a lot better than any that were out there, all coded in C++ without SQL.

[notapro]

I wish I had this problem. I'm burning out getting everything set up so I can get more business and anxiously looking forward to getting some.

I had intended to take a few months to set up and get more practice in, but I live in a town with lots of customers and only one full-time photographer and one semi-retired photographer.


Amanda.. I did briefly feel that way a while ago when I was booked up a bit (right now things are rather dry again).

And I think.. I had to 'make' myself.. take some pictures just for fun.. like a hobby again you know? Whatever your previous hobby interest in Photography was.. go do a little of it!

Get your joy.. your focus.. back!! It's highly important IMHO to keep a clear focus.. so that you can enjoy your work :)!

Whether that is 'no stress' snapshots of your kids, or landscapes, pets, whatever.. maybe even join in a photography 'challenge' of some sort ..... to challenge you to try a little something different.. to learn and grow beyond your normal range :).

hth's.. this to shall pass..
~Rae~

Thanks Rae! I think you are right that I need to go out and shoot for fun more. I have only gone out doing the kind of stuff I used to like (urban-ish stuff) three times since September. I'm going to do the challenge thing, too. I joined dpchallenge.com a long time ago, but have never participated. next week I'm going to make time.

Thanks so much for listening to me whine. I guess the real problem is not being busy with shoots, it's not making time for other things... hope everyone else is getting through the holiday rush okay .

[Oneslowz28]

I have been working about 90 hours a week since June. I also run a second company but due to good management I only have to spend about 10 hours a week on it. I enjoy the constant work as it means I am constantly making money. IMO the first 3-5 years you should be working about 70-90 hours a week to be making a decent profit. Things did slack off just a bit this week and I expect it to untill the first of the year. I do have several family ports booked and have a team coffee table book that will be printed in a week.

If your getting burnt out just try to come up with a few new things to offer. I always find it stimulating to offer something new and to spend a few days designing, pricing, and testing. It always picks me back up. The coffee table team books are a perfect example of this. I have in the past sold them to families who paid for a whole day shoot and have done plenty for weddings and events, but have never offered one for a sports team.

I also find it fun to just grab my cam and the 28-135 and just walk around town or an older history rich town. Sometimes I will just drive out to the state park and hike for a few hours through the trails and will take 2-3 gigs of shots. This does a great job to relax me and gives me alone time to think.

[notapro]

I have been working about 90 hours a week since June. I also run a second company but due to good management I only have to spend about 10 hours a week on it. I enjoy the constant work as it means I am constantly making money. IMO the first 3-5 years you should be working about 70-90 hours a week to be making a decent profit. Things did slack off just a bit this week and I expect it to untill the first of the year. I do have several family ports booked and have a team coffee table book that will be printed in a week.

If your getting burnt out just try to come up with a few new things to offer. I always find it stimulating to offer something new and to spend a few days designing, pricing, and testing. It always picks me back up. The coffee table team books are a perfect example of this. I have in the past sold them to families who paid for a whole day shoot and have done plenty for weddings and events, but have never offered one for a sports team.

I also find it fun to just grab my cam and the 28-135 and just walk around town or an older history rich town. Sometimes I will just drive out to the state park and hike for a few hours through the trails and will take 2-3 gigs of shots. This does a great job to relax me and gives me alone time to think.

Thanks.. it's funny that you mention offering something new. I just decided today that in the new year I'm going to start pushing seniors because it is something I would enjoy a lot more than what I'm doing now. That got me feeling energetic about things again. I love change!

[Doogiekr]

Get your joy.. your focus.. back!! It's highly important IMHO to keep a clear focus.. so that you can enjoy your work :)!


I really think this is the key to sticking with it.

I went through the same thing 10 years ago when I was shooting for profit but I let it go to far and got completely burnt out. I lost every bit of desire to shoot and actually shut down the business and didnt take a photograph for almost 3 years. :(

I kept all my gear and a few years ago picked it up again but decided that I would not shoot for money again. I think I just let it get too far, and I hope you don't let it come to that, take Raes advice and don't lose sight of why you starting doing this in the first place.