Getting bored of photography

I used to (as mentioned earlier in the thread) take portraits for people, and I was getting more requests than I could handle (which is a good problem to have in business), but it wasn't very satisfying. I enjoyed making people happy when they got the images, but everything else was a drag. The main reason I did it in the first place was that I spent about $2500 on gear and promised myself to pay it back. That took about half a year taking on photography work.

Now I just get artsy.

My next venture is to go to Cuba in a couple weeks. My biggest worry is blowing it photographically. I really want to find my creative groove while I'm there. It's a great opportunity. I'll do quite a few HDRs because I'm pretty good at it, and at least I'll have those artistic pieces to impress myself and friends/family, but my primary goal is to meet people, photograph them, and try to capture Cuba and its people (at least in and around Havana). I'm rushing into it because I'm afraid the recently relaxed restrictions will go back to the way they were.

For now, commercial airlines are flying direct, round trip, for $200-400 from Atlanta. I can't pass up an opportunity like that.

I'm sitting here stressing on what to bring (for photography). I might rent some lenses or whatever. Currently I just have my 6D, 24-105L, and a 50mm 1.8 lens.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #18229654
Is it just me or is this an endless circle? LoL.... Chicken or egg? Like many of the great artists I believe that the creation is important and the label not so much. In forum land there are many misconceptions that seem to have become fact in forum land. sjones hit on a big one in his post and this entire art discussion is a another.

You can call anything whatever you like. If there is a red car out in front of your house you can call it green all day long but it wont change the color from red. It is still a red car. So put any label on whatever you like but it won't necessarily make it so.

And if you read my posts my definition isn't narrow and as my previous posts suggest I am not a big fan of labels but would rather just let the work speak for itself and let those stuck on labels apply them. Again if you read and understand the history of art and photography, history is the ultimate decider. There is a big world out side the cave (Plato's Cave) I say stick your head out. Knowledge has never been easier to obtain and they say the sure cure for ignorance is knowledge.

Air, thanks for handling this. I'm with you 100% but my mental health prefers that I stay clear.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #18230730
I think it's really tough now working for the general public even here in the states. I know a lot of photographers that have gone out of biz and are not doing it at all anymore. I made a few really good decisions a couple of decades ago that really panned out. I would love to think I had some kind of foresight but that wouldn't be true. I just made a few lucky choices. The foundation of which was laid back in the film days so it was before digital. I did lay the foundation though when I had opportunities I was able to take full advantage of those. It hasn't been easy. In some ways it might have helped contribute to a divorce. Remarried now and happier than ever but there were and still could be ahead(who knows what the future will bring) a few really bumpy stretches. But that is life. Biggest challenge is getting paid. It is usually 60 to 90 days on invoices and could be longer with some clients. Some pay within the terms 30 days. It can be a challenge at times. Lines of credit and money put aside for such times were part of the learning curve.

Complete ditto here.

mcluckie wrote in post #18237494
Complete ditto here.

Double ditto.

I don't have any real point of reference for trying to build a photography business that deals with the 'public' i.e. weddings/portraits/mod​eling portfolios, etc. (which seems to be the bulk of members here) It seems that with the digital age that made the making of quality photography a relatively easy task, the number of people trying to make money by doing these types of work exploded into numbers that really complicate a sustainable business model. I've been lucky in part because I'm relatively sheltered from the storm. While every year my competition grows, there's still relatively few people that do specifically what I do.

Foodguy wrote in post #18237564
Double ditto.

I don't have any real point of reference for trying to build a photography business that deals with the 'public' i.e. weddings/portraits/mod​eling portfolios, etc. (which seems to be the bulk of members here) It seems that with the digital age that made the making of quality photography a relatively easy task, the number of people trying to make money by doing these types of work exploded into numbers that really complicate a sustainable business model. I've been lucky in part because I'm relatively sheltered from the storm. While every year my competition grows, there's still relatively few people that do specifically what I do.

If someone can buy a fancy camera and deliver the same quality results as a seasoned pro...I got to wonder about the abilities of the pro.

Foodguy wrote in post #18237564
Double ditto.

I don't have any real point of reference for trying to build a photography business that deals with the 'public' i.e. weddings/portraits/mod​eling portfolios, etc. (which seems to be the bulk of members here) It seems that with the digital age that made the making of quality photography a relatively easy task, the number of people trying to make money by doing these types of work exploded into numbers that really complicate a sustainable business model. I've been lucky in part because I'm relatively sheltered from the storm. While every year my competition grows, there's still relatively few people that do specifically what I do.

And probably most don't do it at the level you do it at. I know in the area I work in I deal a lot with people that work with only people that they trust because there is to much on the line to go with an unknown entity. And many are visual professionals themselves and they get it. They would never hire from a website which is unlike the general public. I have a friend that is now retired from Kraft and still does food and it is like that for him to. The type of work he wants and gets is from folks that would never hire an unknown.

Unless you have moved into a very high end wedding/portrait market, from what I see, is the lower end and lower middle end, cost is the driving force with clients. And when that is the driving force quality is usually the victim. At that end of the market, I really can't distinguish a lot of difference in many of the different photographers work. They must have all had the same wedding hero and watched the same tapes. I see some that can make a living with that client base but I see it as very unstable, volatile and very high volume. Usually very easy to get into. A DSLR and your in business. Some (and most of these have other jobs) do it for $500. There is no way you can sustain a living at that price point. There just aren't enough days in the weekend.

A fair number of us have the abilities of that pro...it's the business acumen that fails us.

chauncey wrote in post #18237867
A fair number of us have the abilities of that pro...it's the business acumen that fails us.

They might have some ability to create at leisure but many lack the consistency, the ability to create on demand and the ability to exceed the clients expectations consistently. I am not a good businessman but good enough to know my strengths and weaknesses and I get help in those areas that are not my strengths by those that are very strong in those areas. That leaves me the time to do the things i love and the thing (photography) that makes me the most $$$.

well good news... i have found my passion again.
Bought some film cameras (USSR era) and now shoot street.
Really happy as it's what i used to enjoy, I can take my time, think about my shot and not come home with hundreds of random shots, only ones i actually want!

Well done, good to hear, so that's what's good about film, in hindsight, was anything else bad about digital other than the possible 'spray and pray'?

I think the other thing i like about film that i cant replicate in digital is the feel of it... there is much more of a natural feel with film. digital feels almost cold to me now,

Interesting expression, I can see where you're coming from

urbanfreestyle wrote in post #18217545
My work is unique and have been told that's a good thing.

I would not trust someone who provides advice like that.

In photography uniqueness if leveraged properly will be the what separates you from the pack and can greatly increase the value of your work should you want to go there.

urbanfreestyle wrote in post #18227420
I think my issue stems from striving to get 'that image' every time i go out and the lack of appreciation i recieved in return.

That's going to bite you in the fanny every time, try going out and finding something different versus getting the "image" and never gauge yourself by appreciation received in return.

bobbyz wrote in post #18229113
Sometimes I am glad that I am not good in this artsy stuff. I was looking at this, maybe I don't know nothing. Maybe it is great. not to me.

http://www.huffingtonp​ost.com …importan_1_b_58​63002.html

That's more of a snapshot then great photography.