Throwing in the towel

[minicoop1985]

Well, business has slowed to about a halt. I've decided it's time to give up on the being self employed. I've applied to a studio, and will hear from them today, hopefully. I'm kinda sad, but excited that I can really make headway in this as a career.

 

[BillM]

Just because a door closed it doesn't mean it will never swing open again. Best of luck with the new job

 

[robbins.photo]

Wait, you mean you can't make a living taking pictures of stormtrooper action figures?

Has the world gone MAD!

Lol.. seriously though, good luck with the new career, and as my grandfather used to say - when one door closes, another door opens. With any luck there's beer somewhere behind the new door. See, it's all good.

 

[otherprof]

Well, business has slowed to about a halt. I've decided it's time to give up on the being self employed. I've applied to a studio, and will hear from them today, hopefully. I'm kinda sad, but excited that I can really make headway in this as a career.

I've had a number of apparent setbacks in my life, and each time the future turned out better than the past. Good luck in the new career direction.

 

[pixmedic]

I worked with marble and granite for 12 years running $200k gantry saws and million dollar CnC machines with automatic robotic forklifts.
at the last shop I worked for, after we finished a large production run for a town-home community, the owner told me and another guy that had worked for him for 13 years that he was letting us go because he didn't have enough business lined up. He kept several employees that were not in this country legally. He told us that this was fair because we could collect unemployment, and they could not. yup. sounded fair to me.

after that, I decided to do EMS.
best thing that has ever happened to me besides meeting my wife.

closing doors do not necessarily mean missed opportunities.
sometimes it means your about to find a better one.

 

[Robin Usagani]

I was hoping one day I can be a full time photographer but I dont see that happening. I better keep my main job. I just dont get enough volume and I am not willing to reduce my rate. Just do it on the side man, it is better.

 

[bribrius]

i am going to become a full time photographer shooting animal porn, bestiality and zoophilia..

 

[bratkinson]

It's tough to see ones' business drop off to oblivion. I had that happen 16 years ago, as large companies don't want old-geezer computer geeks...or at least pay a reasonable wage. So I've had several post-career mini-careers since, and each had its positives and negatives.

In my opinion, perhaps the most significant issue a startup company has is advertising. When I started my own mainframe computer consulting company 30+ years ago, I wrote a program editor for PCs and was bowled-over at the high cost of advertising in the likes of PC Magazine. I bought a targeted mailing list (I lived in Milwaukee at the time) and got zero response. The one big potential customer I found preferred my product over the competitors, but was concerned I was only a one-man company, so they bought 100+ copies of the competitors product. That's life.

As a now-retired (again) senior, I'm looking for some means of staying active and making a few bucks on the side. One idea I'm considering and might work for you, is doing church directory photography. I certainly don't want the hassle of weddings and bride-zillas! Yes, there are established companies that do this but they charge some big money. They get school book jobs for just about every school, I'd guess. To me, church directory shooting would be done on, say, 2-3 consecutive evenings at the church and maybe a 'makeup' session the following week. Of course, an easy-to-set-up portable 'studio' is a requirement. That would include at least 2 flashes on stands (plus a spare), 2 bodies, and 2-3 lenses, in addition to a backdrop, and subject seating. Having a 2nd person to run a computer on-site and print complimentary 4x6 shots with little (if any) editing would be big plus. Extra photos for the subjects would be provided at make-a-little-money photo package options. Composing and printing the directory requirements I still have to think about. In all, I'd expect at least 150-200 hrs of work to complete the 'whole thing' for a church of perhaps 80 families...I figure about 2 hrs/family for shoot, edit, photo-package, pro-rated time for driving/directory composition/pickup/etc.

Let's see...a Canon EF 85 f1.2L, 5Dii for a backup ......

 

[minicoop1985]

This definitely seems like a better idea. In all honesty, I was so lost in what to do, how to advertise, etc. I can work for this studio full time eventually, so that's good. He told me today that all he needs to see is more people photography (I specialize in commercial/product) and he'll take me on. So this is a major step in the right direction.

 

[The_Traveler]

Nothing I can say will make this any easier, but you clearly not alone.
Except for occasional spots of un-suckiness, life often sucks.

 

[Gary A.]

This definitely seems like a better idea. In all honesty, I was so lost in what to do, how to advertise, etc. I can work for this studio full time eventually, so that's good. He told me today that all he needs to see is more people photography (I specialize in commercial/product) and he'll take me on. So this is a major step in the right direction.

Storm Troopers are people ... right ...

Working for a successful/established firm will allow you to see how the company advertises and charges and big tricks and little tricks ... the whole enchilada. I know you'll do well.

Break a Leg,
Gary

 

[JustJazzie]

Good luck on your new pathway! May it lead further than your last.

 

[robbins.photo]

Good luck on your new pathway! May it lead further than your last.

But when you get to the cliff, stop.

Just trust me on this one.. lol

 

[JustJazzie]

Good luck on your new pathway! May it lead further than your last.

But when you get to the cliff, stop.

Just trust me on this one.. lol

I want to rate this funny and agree at the same time but it won't let me. :-(

 

[robbins.photo]

Good luck on your new pathway! May it lead further than your last.

But when you get to the cliff, stop.

Just trust me on this one.. lol

I want to rate this funny and agree at the same time but it won't let me. :-(

Well when you try does it give you a pop up asking, "Funny as in Wow this guy is funny Ha-Ha or as in Wow this guy is Funny, anyone got a jacket handy with sleeves that tie in the back?"

Lol