Photography Doldrums

I started my photography (hobby/hobby business) as predominantly a landscape shooter and as my life changed, I became interested in photographing my hunting dogs and finally my kids (oldest of two kids is 2.5 yrs old).

Lately, I've had a complete lack of interest in photograhy. I don't have the urge to wake up early for sunrises, I'd rather "just play" with my kids than follow them with a camera and I prefer to keep my loads light while hunting. All the while, my website is falling further and further away from top search results because I'm simply not updating it - meaning fewer image sales.

Admittedly, we've moved another hour or so away from my landscape stomping grounds so that adds drive time to my already early alarm clocks just to be "there" before sunrise. My job has been very busy with about 15-20 days of travel since the middle of January, too. I'd like to blame the cold here in MN but truthfully, it doesn't really bother me....the cold lends itself to unique landscape images.

But, I have some decent gear (5DII, 24-70II and 70-300L) and I hate to see that investment sit in a closet. Plus, it saddens me a bit to have such a lack of interest in a hobby I loved. I know I can't be the only one to have felt like this. What would/do you guys do in this situation?

-Sell the gear in favor of a hobby that keeps my interest or pay off my motorcycle (not likely, considering the audience of this forum)? Hate to do this because inevitably my wife will make me pay a photographer at least twice a year if I stop taking semi-pro quality images of the kids...it kills me to pay someone to do something I can do myself. But, my motorcycle could use some new toys among some other new interests.

-Gear changes? Although very nice lenses that are flexible and with great IQ, a 24-70 and 70-300 are sort of utilitarian/sterile to me...that was appealing to me when I was shooting more landscapes but not so much now. I really enjoyed my use of MF primes in the past and considered switching to ZE lenses and an A7r, or maybe just a trio of fast primes (24L, 50L and 135L) on my 5DII to change things up a bit since I've never had many of those. But, on the other hand, I hate to just throw gear at a problem.

-Something else?

I would suggest you wait until june to decide. The winter can secretly steal the passion from your life, and you wont even know it until you get over it

gonzogolf wrote in post #16741354
I would suggest you wait until june to decide. The winter can secretly steal the passion from your life, and you wont even know it until you get over it

Totally agree.

And I'll add that I always end up making weird gear swaps in the winter when I'm holed up in my basement over analyzing instead of taking pictures. So I'd recommend sitting on your gear for a few more months, too.

However, if you truly, truly aren't feeling it, then selling common gear is no problem. And you can buy it again later if the bug hits you. It's not like 5D and 24-70 are rare beasts. If you go A7R, Good luck getting more than 1/10 in focus with MF and active toddlers/preschoolers, though...

Photography is a sport that can occupy an entire lifetime. It will come and go in phases. You are not the first to hit a transition zone. Nor will it be the last. My advice is to run with it and follow your bliss. So you miss a few landscapes. Check out the kids. Have fun with it.

Have a look at the very best photos you have taken of your children, and think how much they have already changed since then. Think how nice it will be in 10, 20 or 30 years time for them to be able to see lovely pictures from this time of their lives, which they will not remember. When they are rebellious teenagers or independent adults, think how nice it will be for you to be able to look at those photos and remember this special time in their lives.

All this is a big part of my motivation for photographing my nieces, constantly trying to improve my skills and using the best, most capable gear I can afford.

If it's not something you enjoy or have an interest in anymore, sell the gear and move on. Life's too short to force yourself into a hobby that you have lost interest for. Should you decide to pick it back up at some point in the future, you'll get to start out with the excitement of picking out new gear

The thing that got me into photography was my 3 year old. I was sitting in bed one night looking at my Facebook pictures. From pregnancy to the current day I had probably 3k photos, all taken from my cell phone save those we paid to have done. The more I compared the quality of the two the more I wanted to do something about it. I love taking photos, I always have. Now I have almost as many photos in the past year as I had for her first 3 years of life! I hear you on the pain in the butt part. Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't just be easier to take a shot with my cell phone, but at the end of the day, I'm glad I brought the Canon. Now with baby number 2 on the way, I'm super excited!
I have a bike that I'm riding less than ever now. I was diagnosed with an inner ear condition that rendered my ballance less than trustworthy. Enjoy both friend, that's the only advice I can give you.

If chasing the kids with a camera has lost its shine, think about taking good "snap shots" with the camera on Auto. These photos will have tremendous personal value but not be studio pictures that take so much time to set up. I've got a G1X to pack around everywhere for snap shots and it is less intimidating to a subject person than a DSLR with a long lens, off camera flash, backdrop, etc.

There's no reason you can't do both. Play with them most of the time, and then when the mood hits or you see a special opportunity grab a camera. Enjoy this part of their life, it'll be all too soon that it's gone.

Also, before you know it your kids will be competing in sports etc. where you'll have plenty of opportunity to take photos. (I largely missed out on this because I was too busy coaching my son's baseball team.... now I kind of wish I'd have just put him on a good travel team and let someone else do the coaching while I cheered and took photos).

IMO you have to decide whether this is a hobby or a business. If it's a hobby then don't sweat it, do what you enjoy. If it's a business, and the income from it is significant to you, you have to push your way through your temporary lack of interest. We all have times when we'd rather not work, I'd certainly rather be on a lake in my boat instead of working most any day during the summer.

I won't take the time to quote each individual piece that really speaks to me, but this is all helpful. This is definitely a "hobby" and the income from my website was nice to help pay for gear (it's how I paid for most of what I have), but the income is by no means significant for our family budget. That is the main thing I think I'll just have to accept for now.

The rest of it gives me plenty of choices and time to see how things go. I think I will ride it out through the spring when the kids can be outside more to see how things go. Chances are, I'll probably get right back in the swing of things - maybe not so much landscapes until life settles down a bit, but as you've all seen I have had other areas of photographic interest.

If the summer rolls through and it still sems like work, I might hang it up for a while. In the meantime, I'll consider my gear carefully while being careful not to make "cabin fever" choices.

Thanks all!

I found that I was losing some of my passion for taking pictures as well. What helped motivate me was to get some wall hangers printed up and hung in my house so I could have a reminder of what I love to do. I went away from traditional framing and had them mounted on aluminum with no frame, just a hanger. They look super and keep me anxious to add to "my gallery"

atexasphotog wrote in post #16770887
I found that I was losing some of my passion for taking pictures as well. What helped motivate me was to get some wall hangers printed up and hung in my house so I could have a reminder of what I love to do.

That's one thing that gets me going, sometimes. There's something about having a picture that you're proud of printed and hung up for future inspiration.

Savethemoment wrote in post #16742472
Have a look at the very best photos you have taken of your children, and think how much they have already changed since then. Think how nice it will be in 10, 20 or 30 years time for them to be able to see lovely pictures from this time of their lives, which they will not remember. When they are rebellious teenagers or independent adults, think how nice it will be for you to be able to look at those photos and remember this special time in their lives.

All this is a big part of my motivation for photographing my nieces, constantly trying to improve my skills and using the best, most capable gear I can afford.

This. My kids have been a big part of my motivation for investment in gear. Don't miss capturing them, in special moments, as they grow up.