getting back in the groove

 

 

I don’t know if any of my readers have noticed, but I can’t hold a level of motivation and dedication for a long period of time.  My interest in a project will wax and wane, often in cycles with other projects I have going on in the time.  I have to constantly keep on top of a project, keep re-inspiring myself to keep plugging along.  Because of this, I’m notorious for planning things out completely and then never finishing them.

Such is the case with my photography lately.  And by lately, I mean the past several months…. I haven’t picked up the camera and made a decent image in so long I’m ashamed to say.  🙁  I’ve been letting too many other projects (like scrapbooking and sewing and just random other crap) get in the way of constantly improving my art, in part because my desire to photograph dropped off suddenly.  I’m all the time looking at my competition and the photographers I look up to, and that drives me to improve my own work to try to aspire to the same level.  I haven’t been doing that lately. 

Plus, I’m AGES behind on editing my personal and family photos.  Over a year behind.  Seriously.  I adhere to my workflow really strictly when it comes to my professional files, but my personal filed typically get pulled off the camera and into a folder labeled 2009Temp.  I’m not kidding.  I started to sort through the mess tonight, because I’m finally setting my personal files up on the same workflow system I use for my professional files, and I had over 5,000 pictures in one folder! 

I’ve been trying to think of ways to keep myself invested in improving and to constantly working on my business, and so far I’ve come up with three ideas.  The first is to slowly but steadily plug along at editing all of the personal files I have backed up.  It will be personally rewarding to finish all of those.  Second, I’m finally going to open up an online cart for selling fine art prints of some of my images.  I don’t have a whole lot of images that would qualify, so I’ll have to work harder and get more creative to start coming up with new images to sell.  Hopefully selling some prints will generate some income that I can use to improve the business and upgrade my equipment.  Third, I’m going to start a photo project, something without deadlines that I can work on as time allows throughout the year.  I think I’m going to pick a theme, although I haven’t decided what yet. 

 

OH.  I almost forgot.  We got an invite from my BIL and SIL today to my 16yo niece’s first communion/baptism.  On the envelope was a special note to me: "We really hope you’ll come so you can help take pictures!" 

Help take pictures? 

I am so offended by that!  The way the entire thing was worded (there were some facebook communications as well) reads like they want me there as a photographer, but there is no acknowledgement that I’m a professional, no offer of payment or reimbursement.  I’m offended that I wasn’t just simply invited as a family, with the assumption that I would bring my camera along (because I ALWAYS do), and I’m doubly offended that my ILs don’t take my business status seriously.  I’ve had this happen several times with his family and it just grates on my nerves.  

Honestly, I’m thinking about going to the baptism and "helping" take pictures with my point and shoot, and when they ask why I didn’t bring the DSLR, I’ll tell them, "Sorry, I only bring out the professional gear for jobs that pay." 

/snark. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.com