Caution: Rant ahead!

[AnneWynne]

Thanks for the recent words of support. I have sold some prints (yay!) and am exhibiting regularly in a couple of galleries as well as doing a gypsey art market. The art market is used both for selling my landscapes as well as drumming up business for portrait work.

I get lots of positive feedback, but gigs are slow in coming.

I am looking at the last few months as having taken a sabattical from my profession as a psychologist. It has given me time to reflect on what I really want to do, which is to work in a college counseling center where I can be more creative via outreach programming and possibly mentor new therapists. Working alone in a private practice is not my idea of a fun job, I need collegial interaction that is harder to get when working solo.

As for the contract that I had to work abroad, it was contingent on getting the security clearance, which simply was not coming through fast enough, so they had to put someone else in the position. That's life, and I knew it when I started making plans to move. Either way, I was not going to stay in Athens.

As for having to give up my dogs, I am actually ok with that. I found them great homes and can visit whenever I want. At this point in my life it is better to not have them, it opens up more options for me. I also think my dogs are in better situations for them...Ellie has another dog who loves to roughhouse with her and she is spoiled by the new owners (she goes on a golf cart ride every day!) and Fletcher has two children who love him and play with him and (most importantly) throw the ball for him. He is living on a river and learning to dock dive and go on the boat. He is in his element. I have seen them, and they are no longer "my" dogs, so I know they have adjusted well.

No longer ranting. Things are just moving along and I am filling out job applicaitons and looking for work in the setting I want to be in. I sell a few prints, and I market the portrait business. I house sit and dog sit occassionally for extra money. It is not a horrible situation. Something will work out, it just may take some time.

And just last night the husband of one of my clients was over at the house and he was saying how much he like the portraits I took of his kids and the senior photos I did of his oldest son. I think it helps for my s-in-l and brother to hear it from satisfied customers.

[Photologyst]

That is great, Anne. Sounds like you are doing everything right and moving in a positive direction.

I know there is “Art Therapy.” How about making “Photography Therapy” part of that? Kids might find a passion.

[AnneWynne]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

That is great, Anne. Sounds like you are doing everything right and moving in a positive direction.

I know there is “Art Therapy.” How about making “Photography Therapy” part of that? Kids might find a passion.

I actually use "photography therapy" in my work. It is amazing what old photos (and new) can tell you about family dynamics. Professional/studio images don't say as much as the informal family snaps. I have also given teens the assignment to create a journal with images they take on certain subjects...we then review what and why they took the photos they did. These can be really time-intensive sessions as the teens really get into it and are so open to talking about painful topics.

Photos are also great when working with adoptees as well as kids in foster care (who often do not have photos of themselves or their families of origins due to multiple moves, often abrupt moves).

I think one of the reasons I am as good as I am in photojournalistic portraiture is my focus on the face and emotion honed over decades of working with people. Photograqphy gives me a much needed emotional boost because I am helping people (capture memories), it makes them happy (which makes me happy), and I get paid for it without having to deal with insurance companies who will do anything to delay payments.

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by AnneWynne

I actually use "photography therapy" in my work. It is amazing what old photos (and new) can tell you about family dynamics. Professional/studio images don't say as much as the informal family snaps. I have also given teens the assignment to create a journal with images they take on certain subjects...we then review what and why they took the photos they did. These can be really time-intensive sessions as the teens really get into it and are so open to talking about painful topics.

Photos are also great when working with adoptees as well as kids in foster care (who often do not have photos of themselves or their families of origins due to multiple moves, often abrupt moves).

I think one of the reasons I am as good as I am in photojournalistic portraiture is my focus on the face and emotion honed over decades of working with people. Photograqphy gives me a much needed emotional boost because I am helping people (capture memories), it makes them happy (which makes me happy), and I get paid for it without having to deal with insurance companies who will do anything to delay payments.

That sounds really terrific, Anne. Photos and music can be very therapeutic. I have been able to let go of "stuff" with memories attached to these by taking photos and then giving away or selling these.

Good luck with everything.