unmotivated

[private]

do you have a small point and shoot camera? If so, you and you dughter can go on a Winter Walk - yes its cold but you'll be excited to see her excited.

[BryanC]

From the previous posts, it seems to be up to the individual. As it should be! As for me, if I'm not motivated, I don't force myself. On the other hand, I have learned to take a camera with me whenever possible. There has been times in the past where I said..."nah, don't feel like it today" and later regretted it. Now, it's with me whenever possible, and if I shoot, great, and if I don't, that's fine too.

[sk66]

IMO, how you handle this should be based upon your ultimate goal...
If you are and only ever want to be a hobbyist..relax..do something else..go for a walk...read the assignments..eventually something will kick in (I'm waiting for better weather myself)

If you are a pro, or desire to become a pro...make yourself an assignment. Anything, preferably something you really don't care for, and GO DO IT...being a pro has very little to do with "feeling like it"...

[sk66]

Originally Posted by richsuk

Buy something really expensive so I'm forced

Done that...bought a relatively expensive macro...haven't taken a macro since I got it (but I did before...)

[starrylaurie]

I was burned by a really unreasonable client. Unfortunately, it was one of my first paying ones. The experience was so bad I decided that if I didn't have to pick up a camera, I wouldn't. That individual took all of the joy out of it for me... (it's part of the reason I haven't been around for a couple of months.) I was so frustrated - being told by real professionals that what I'd done was not only good work, but beyond what they would have offered this person ---especially at the minimal price I'd done it for.

THEN... the yearbook deadline looms ahead (next Tuesday), and as it always goes, my students are nowhere near finished with it. So, I pick the camera up again, hesitant, but determined. I actually have a senior that cannot afford to get shots made, so I told him to come dressed to impress and I'd shoot him. Today's shoot with him was the first time I'd taken a photo in months...

....and it felt great. I feel like... me again. I'm going to choose a few pics that I took of this senior and give them to him --- for free.

I will never do a shoot that I charge for again. It just killed my soul - no matter what the pros say - it's not worth it to me.

I guess I just wanted to let you know --- I know how it feels to be uninspired. I drug my feet, but when I was forced to pick the lens up again, it was a good experience. I think you'll know when you've had enough time off. If not, we'll come knocking!

[sk66]

starrylaurie, I'm sorry your first foray was a bad one...
But look at it this way...Everyone has at least one bad experience, you got your requirement met right away!
The sad fact is, take anything you love and try to make a living/profit from it and it becomes "A JOB"...

There's a lot of ways of looking at it...yours, the clients, the "real professionals" (and WHAT makes THEM a "real professional" and you not??)

On the other hand, I will never tell someone to turn "their love" into "their job"...Done that too many times.


Then again I DO have a side business which I DON'T NEED, I charge what I want (too much), I deliver when it's reasonably convenient (up to 2 months), I turn away work I don't want (hassles), I still "mostly" enjoy it... If you could find "that" AND make a full time living from it.... I probably could, now that I've been doing it for almost a decade...But not the kind of living I make presently( a "real job" I actually *mostly* enjoy. I'm lucky)

[richsuk]

Originally Posted by richsuk

Buy something really expensive so I'm forced

I just realised your looking to take my advice with your D200 purchase :-p

[JodyGall]

Originally Posted by sk66

Then again I DO have a side business which I DON'T NEED, I charge what I want (too much), I deliver when it's reasonably convenient (up to 2 months), I turn away work I don't want (hassles), I still "mostly" enjoy it...

This is EXACTLY what I do with my photography! I don't advertise, its all word of mouth, I turn away jobs I don't wanna deal with, I schedule things when its good for me, etc. But I'm not out to make a full time living off of photography. I have a full time job already...MOM. So that definitely helps. I've pretty much been off for the winter. But I took this time to learn, learn, learn. I swear I've learned more over this past winter than I did all last year! I think I'm just burned out from taking it all in. Haha! Time for a break before spring hits!

Originally Posted by richsuk

I just realised your looking to take my advice with your D200 purchase :-p

Haha! I couldn't help it! Watcha gonna do? It was a good deal! On a side note, I am soooo stinking excited. Yaaayyy! I'm sure when that camera gets here I'm not gonna want to put it down! Until then, I'll take it easy.

Thanks everyone for all you input! I really like the notebook idea too. There are so many times I see a little place driving down the street, or I think of something I want to try and then forget later. I think I should get a little notebook for jotting down random photography stuff in. Great idea!

[InvisibleBlack]

I feel bad when I don't go out and shoot. I feel better when I do. Though I may not like what I shot I feel better. If its cold out.. go somewhere where its warm.. be it a museum, library, bowling ally..... whichever....

I will be taking my own advise.

I will be heading up to Kansas next week with a side trip into Nebraska..... Lots of things to shoot.... I may go mad.

Woopeeee!!


Pat C

[Jim Bryant]

You silly person....that's what contracts are for.......protects you and keeps your cleints honest

Originally Posted by starrylaurie

I was burned by a really unreasonable client. Unfortunately, it was one of my first paying ones. The experience was so bad I decided that if I didn't have to pick up a camera, I wouldn't. That individual took all of the joy out of it for me... (it's part of the reason I haven't been around for a couple of months.) I was so frustrated - being told by real professionals that what I'd done was not only good work, but beyond what they would have offered this person ---especially at the minimal price I'd done it for.

THEN... the yearbook deadline looms ahead (next Tuesday), and as it always goes, my students are nowhere near finished with it. So, I pick the camera up again, hesitant, but determined. I actually have a senior that cannot afford to get shots made, so I told him to come dressed to impress and I'd shoot him. Today's shoot with him was the first time I'd taken a photo in months...

....and it felt great. I feel like... me again. I'm going to choose a few pics that I took of this senior and give them to him --- for free.

I will never do a shoot that I charge for again. It just killed my soul - no matter what the pros say - it's not worth it to me.

I guess I just wanted to let you know --- I know how it feels to be uninspired. I drug my feet, but when I was forced to pick the lens up again, it was a good experience. I think you'll know when you've had enough time off. If not, we'll come knocking!