It is true that any job can be stressful, especially when other people are counting on you to produce. In photography it also depends on what you're doing, if you shoot landscapes and just sit on a hill waiting for the light it would be far less stressful than doing a shoot outdoors and losing the light. Freelancers that have no other source of income, that have no pension at the end of the road, that watch prices of eveything go up on new gear all the time, that have a family to look after, will find it far more stressful than a photographer at a newspaper, that can look forward to a buy up if there are cutbacks, or a pension at the end.
Mmmm...I don't know if you are really trying to promote the idea that being a photographer is stressful. What I get out of your posts is the underlying truth that is applicable to anyone running their own business regardless of what it is.
Pension...Setting money aside is the individuals responsibility and nobody should rely on anyone else to do it for them. The days of pensions are dwindling for everyone.
Prices of materials/gear...When I started my shop less than 2 (2 years this september) years ago, 14K gold was at $38/DWT (DWT is a pennyweight), it is now at $51/DWT. Two decades ago, gold was at $400 an OUNCE.
Family to look after...Many people have this responsibility. Even those working at MickyD's.
Back to photography, I can't imagine how hard it would be for a Landscape photographer, to make a living off of it. You have travel costs, to get you to the cool places not everyone goes, and the time spent waiting for "THE SHOT" that will sell. While it may not be stressful in a conventional sense, the stress comes later hoping your work sells, and you can feed your family, and afford the next trip.
While I do appreciate most of the discussions you bring here, you tend to look at this with blinders. Having your sole income coming from something you do, from your own business, and the running of that business is stressful. You need to look deeper into the matter. Right now my stress is the amount of work I have to do, and all the conflicting deadlines I have, and not enough time to do it, and being very, very tired and unmotivated. I am also juggling my expenses, and trying to expand and grow. I am taking some big risks, and putting out a lot of $$$, hoping I get the return I desire. Hoping gold doesn't continue it rapid climb. Hoping the ever higher price of gold doesn't slow down peoples desire for a purely luxury item that has no other intrinsic value, apart from the raw materials other than it looks pretty. April was my best month EVER, beating xMas. The work is still pouring in. I work over 90 hours a week. My customers are starting to become a little iritated that I am not meeting deadlines. I risk losing that work. I am not making enough, with my current overhead (accountant tax fvckup, loan, legal fees,growth plan) to afford hiring a QUALIFIED employee and pay their wages, taxes, workmans comp, and healthcare, which would help alleviate my time stress, and possibly allow me to bring in even more work. Don't get me wrong, I am doing well, but not where I want to be. This is all very stressful. I am managing well over all, but on a beautiful Saturday like today, I REALLY don't want to be here.
So, please continue talking about how stressful it is being a photographer, and implying it is more stressfull than many other career choices.
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