VENTING:
Not sure if this fits the "Photographic Discussions" thread but I really just want to vent to others who will understand where I am coming from.
I started my own photography business doing mostly family portraits about a year ago in the hopes that I may one day evolve into a wedding photographer. I come from a super teeny tiny town where everyone knows everyone and after I "started up shop" lots of people I grew up were very interested in giving me a go and letting me use their children and families for practice. Now, almost a year later, I feel confidant in my work. I am charging for my work, I feel like my business has made great strides considering I have never had any formal training and self taught everything to myself. Pouring hours and hours everyday starting at early morning, ending at late in the evening studying other photographer's work, tutorials, lens education, filters, ISO, full-framed bodies, lighting, off flash techniques, ect, ect, blah, blah, blah. I joined this forum to learn even more and get "real" insight from top notch pros. I'm still learning, I'm still improving (I hope I'm improving!) and do not by any means stick myself above anyone else work wise. I am newbie and will be a newbie in any other photographer's eyes until I've saddled 10 years of experience and have a glowing portfolio full of flawless work, however, now that my work has become more than just "popular" in my community I feel like every and anyone I went to high school with in this teeny tiny town wants to be a PHOTOGRAPHER! SO AGGRAVATING!! Not that I don't want someone to appreciate this art form, or use it as an expressive outlet or growing hobby, but DAMN! RIGHT WHEN I FINALLY FIND MY OWN "GROOVE" WHERE I BELONG EVERY TOM, DICK & HARRY PICKS UP A CAMERA!! I'm sure this seems childish but seeing as I come from such a teeny tiny town, I can't vent my frustration without fearing my name will be slandered for "unprofessional-ism" throughout the area. It just really sucks when I finally find something I truly enjoy and right when I start pulling in big gigs like charity pageants and weddings, it's like these people on facebook see it and think, "Oh! Well if she can do it, so can I!" without having a single artistic bone in their body. Now I am left to compete with people who are charging 1/3 of my fees (and I'm not pulling a hefty price-tag either, in fact I'm on the low end in this category) who don't know the first thing about running a business!
UGHH.
Again, sorry if this didn't fit the topic forum. I just needed to type this sh** out and let loose. I'm keeping a smile pasted on when I see them in person (so far there are FIVE people I know from school that have come out of the woods with this bs in the last year!) and are congratulating them for "opening a business" to save face and appear gracefully unchallenged, but man I am pissed.
