What do you think next year will bring for you

In a photographic sense....Do you think, if you are not already earning from it, that you would want to go pro and start earning from taking photos? Or do you intend to stick to it as a hobby?

For me, I want to go pro, I know it isn't as simple as some people say it is, not in a photographic sense, but as a profession i.e. earning money from it

I don't want to discuss my current job, as it annoys me to the back teeth

If I can get off my lazy butt and do some advertising I'd like to put out some ads to do portraits/family event of whatever for a little $$$. I bought a lighting kit so I better make use of it . I'm still not sure if I want to jump into wedding photography just yet or be an assitant/second shooter for some more weddings.

I don't think I'd ever go "pro"- as in making any kind of living off of it. It woud be nice to have as additional income or at least be able to buy more gear.

I wish I could get some of my photos into stock photography category really, albeit one did get there, but hasn't sold, so I deleted it....so far drawn a blank with the others I have uploaded

It will always be a hobby for me. I do hope though, to never go anywhere without my camera. I have missed way too many opportunities by simply not having my camera with me. I hope to also produce more images that represent myself more. I would like to also start a website to showcase my photos to my family and friends

Take slow steps, if you really want it it will show up.

DStanic, Do not advertise, it's a waste of money, unless your bring in alot and have lots to throw at it. Find other ways to market yourself and there is the key, become an expert marketer!!!!!

Ernst

2009 brought me a 40D, 1D MarkII, 5D MarkII
EF-S 18-55, EF 28-135, EF 50 f/1.8, Sigma 50 f/1.4, Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, 70-200f4L, 16-35L
430EX, 580EXII
I HOPE next year won't bring me as much, or I'm going to be in debt! :P

As for business, I'd still like to keep photography as a hobby, but I'm not going to turn down any opportunities to make side cash (if I'm competent)
I got linked up with a designer (who I shot two smaller fashion shows pro-bono) who will have their product line in the Macy's catalogue and will be shooting that in January and I have a friend who shoots weddings and inquiried if I wanted to shoot studio/or on-site engagement and weddings with her. I'll mainly be doing it for experience and working pro-bono though.

Things are looking great in 2010!

Hobby - going to expand to Astrophotography (with the help of the great people and talent on this forum).

I'm surprised the level of technology for the average person to take Celestial shots. Now I can pull that old telescope out of the closet...

gkarris wrote in post #9222383
Hobby - going to expand to Astrophotography (with the help of the great people and talent on this forum).

I'm surprised the level of technology for the average person to take Celestial shots. Now I can pull that old telescope out of the closet...

I would love to do that, but I would need the time and the investment to do so

No new equipment. I've got all the lenses I need. On my replace-body-every-5-year plan, I can't replace my XTi until 2012 and 5D2 until 2014!!

My real deficiency is in the filing, PP, printing, posting-on-the-web areas. I need to spend time learning how to set up and move files around with Lightroom, get a little better in PP, learning how to print consistently, and learning how to post photos on the web.

Ernst-Ulrich Schafer wrote in post #9222149
DStanic, Do not advertise, it's a waste of money, unless your bring in alot and have lots to throw at it. Find other ways to market yourself and there is the key, become an expert marketer!!!!!

Ernst

By "advertise" I just want to get some nice business cards made, so I can hand it out to people and they can visit my gallery. Get some of my work framed and hung on the wall. My (printed) portfolio sucks.. lol

I'm starting to set up a studio in my parents basement, hopefully I will get some shooting done and it woun't be a complete waste of time.

oaktree wrote in post #9222789
No new equipment. I've got all the lenses I need. On my replace-body-every-5-year plan, I can't replace my XTi until 2012 and 5D2 until 2014!!

My real deficiency is in the filing, PP, printing, posting-on-the-web areas. I need to spend time learning how to set up and move files around with Lightroom, get a little better in PP, learning how to print consistently, and learning how to post photos on the web.

Very close to my thoughts about my new year. I have only been back in this hobby for a few years now, after a twenty year absence. I have regained most of my previous level of 'feel' for exposure and composition and such, and I have bought and sold so much gear that I have just recently reached the point where instead of constantly buying better lenses and bodies, I have gone back and repurchased a few items that I had thought I was selling to get a better tool, but found I was just fine with what I had.

This year its all about the PP, and getting all of my old kodachrome scanned and archived. I am setting a goal of being a more knowledgeable user of cs4 and bridge, and getting closer to mastering the whole workflow all the way to matt cutting.

birdfromboat wrote in post #9227623
Very close to my thoughts about my new year. I have only been back in this hobby for a few years now, after a twenty year absence. I have regained most of my previous level of 'feel' for exposure and composition and such, and I have bought and sold so much gear that I have just recently reached the point where instead of constantly buying better lenses and bodies, I have gone back and repurchased a few items that I had thought I was selling to get a better tool, but found I was just fine with what I had.

This year its all about the PP, and getting all of my old kodachrome scanned and archived. I am setting a goal of being a more knowledgeable user of cs4 and bridge, and getting closer to mastering the whole workflow all the way to matt cutting.

I hear you on this. Between my family and my wife's family, we have about 10,000 b/w prints, color prints,and kodachrome slides to digitize and catalog.

No intentions of trying for pro, as I love my current job. Aspirations for my photography revolve around trying to improve in all areas; get out and do some more astrophotography; work on improving my macro shots; maybe attempt some studio type lighting for portraiture; try and pull together a car shoot that I have already sown the seeds for; and finally save enough to treat myself to a full frame camera so that I can learn all over again how to get the best from it.

p.s. And I forgot to mention that I have just rekindled my interest in my film cameras, so I will be doing some shooting on film, and may even dig out my old processing equipment to have a go at doing my own slides

For me, a few more clients would be good, as that's my "gear money/pocket money" right there, and I'm beginning to worry that my 50f1.4 might die in 2010, so the 50L will be the replacement...and/or the 35L.
And I'm after a 7D too.
And a 200L.


But photography is not my main income, and I don't think I want it to be as I enjoy it too much!

I don't think I will ever call myself a pro or necessarily be as good as, but I am already making a decent sum of money from photography, shooting local events for various people and some local bands.

I will be moving out of state around the middle of 2010, to a beach front community. I would like to start doing some celestial photography and see if I can make any cash doing that? But I have sooooo much to learn, having no experience in that type of photography. But, practice, practice, practice. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.