Burnt out - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 18-300mm f3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM

08/07/2008 02:02:42 PM · #1

I haven't been feeling my best this week. It's still early in the senior season, but I feel so out of it. I just haven't felt very into it the past few sessions.

Anyone with any words of wisdom or inspiration for me would be much appreciated.

jhomrighaus

Nikon D5300

08/07/2008 02:11:27 PM · #2

Damn Girl, You got a D200 and a bunch of friends here. Focus on that for a little while and just keep thinking about the fact that its almost over.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/07/2008 02:21:25 PM · #3

You only have one lens? Buy a 70-200 2.8 - it's a lot better for portraiture and new gear will also inspire you to try new things! Shopping therapy is good stuff!

And as a sidenote, if you've lost your enthusiasm at age 21 and early in the season then you might want to consider a career change cause it only gets harder the more/longer you do it.

JaimeVinas

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

08/07/2008 02:24:26 PM · #4

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

And as a sidenote, if you've lost your enthusiasm at age 21 and early in the season then you might want to consider a career change cause it only gets harder the more/longer you do it.

Those are some true words of inspiration :P (just teasing you)

I say this, take a little break. Observe your surroundings , pay attention. Think what you would like to photograph and why and you will find that your inspirations and ideas will come back. I do this all the time.

There will be times when you dont feel like it, but it is temporary. Dont let that bring you down, keep thiking outside the box and coming up with new ideas. I do that exercise everytime I run out of ideas. I give it a break and talk a good walk/drive

08/07/2008 02:29:42 PM · #5

I get psyched to shoot some things and less so on others. You have to find a way to keep your motivation, creativity and energy up. Speed helps...just kidding!

Go to a new location, find something new to try. I've shot a prom TTD and now have seniors wanting shots in the prom dresses all over the place - a waterfall tomorrow and graveyard next week - that keeps it interesting for me.

I find weddings harder at times to be creative. One formal grouping is the same as the last, a ring shot is a ring shot, etc.

08/07/2008 02:31:22 PM · #6

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

You only have one lens? Buy a 70-200 2.8 - it's a lot better for portraiture and new gear will also inspire you to try new things! Shopping therapy is good stuff!

And as a sidenote, if you've lost your enthusiasm at age 21 and early in the season then you might want to consider a career change cause it only gets harder the more/longer you do it.

Wow, is it wrong that I find that very insulting? I posted this thread to obtain advise from those that have been through this before. I'm going through a very hard time in my life right now and I just needed some inspiration, not to be told just to quit.

If this was a big name in DPChallenge saying what I'm saying, I'm sure you'd give them all the support in the world, not just tell them to give up.

Sigma 18-300mm f3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM

08/07/2008 02:32:08 PM · #7

Originally posted by JaimeVinas:

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

And as a sidenote, if you've lost your enthusiasm at age 21 and early in the season then you might want to consider a career change cause it only gets harder the more/longer you do it.

Those are some true words of inspiration :P (just teasing you)

I say this, take a little break. Observe your surroundings , pay attention. Think what you would like to photograph and why and you will find that your inspirations and ideas will come back. I do this all the time.

There will be times when you dont feel like it, but it is temporary. Dont let that bring you down, keep thiking outside the box and coming up with new ideas. I do that exercise everytime I run out of ideas. I give it a break and talk a good walk/drive

Thank you for that advise, I really think that's what I need now more than ever. I think stress is starting to take over my life.

jhomrighaus

Nikon D5300

08/07/2008 02:40:23 PM · #8

Originally posted by CassieDoodle:

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
You only have one lens? Buy a 70-200 2.8 - it's a lot better for portraiture and new gear will also inspire you to try new things! Shopping therapy is good stuff!

And as a sidenote, if you've lost your enthusiasm at age 21 and early in the season then you might want to consider a career change cause it only gets harder the more/longer you do it.

Wow, is it wrong that I find that very insulting? I posted this thread to obtain advise from those that have been through this before. I'm going through a very hard time in my life right now and I just needed some inspiration, not to be told just to quit.

If this was a big name in DPChallenge saying what I'm saying, I'm sure you'd give them all the support in the world, not just tell them to give up.

I'm not sure being insulted is the best way to respond to this comment because it is a perfectly reasonable comment. You need to think about WHAT part of your life is creating this feeling of malaise.

If it is the routine of having to take pictures then it may in fact be time to evaluate your long term plans(how can you have a career in photography if you don't enjoy it), if on the other hand it is some other part of your life that is draining your enthusiasm for photography then you need to focus on that. This happens to most professionals from time to time regardless of their profession. We don't lose our love for what we do, just feel less energy when life starts to take too great a share. You need to stick it out, while at the same time looking for ways to generate a little buzz from your photography(as was suggested try something new, get out of the studio a little with your clients perhaps for the last portion of the session leave the studio and hit up a park or something just to stir your creativity, remember to that these kids don't have a notion of what SHOULD happen when getting their senior pictures so you can do pretty much whatever you want and i suspect they will find it fun as well and you just might find that they are getting better portraits because of it).

Message edited by author 2008-08-07 14:43:47.

Google Glass Google Glass

08/07/2008 02:44:00 PM · #9

It isn't the business that I am getting sick of at all. The fact is that there was a recent death in my family which is causing a lot of depression in my loved ones. Recently that has been weighing on my mind so much that it is making it hard for my mind to focus.

So my question stands, what do you do that one day that you just don't feel like doing your job?

ambaker

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

08/07/2008 02:48:38 PM · #10

Originally posted by CassieDoodle:

Thank you for that advise, I really think that's what I need now more than ever. I think stress is starting to take over my life.

Relax, it will get easier as you go. I no time at all you could be worrying about house payments, car payments, braces for the kids, oh by the way your dog just bit the mailman and he is going to sue, so the insurance company has issued a notice of cancellation, and your employer has announced a 15% cutback in jobs.

Then today will, looking back, seem to have been so much easier than it is now. ;-)

I have found that whenever you solve a crisis, another one takes it's place. Someday I'm going to find me a problem I don't mind having and just leave it be and never fix it.

PHOTOKID

08/07/2008 02:52:52 PM · #11

Originally posted by CassieDoodle:

So my question stands, what do you do that one day that you just don't feel like doing your job?

I guess the first question is, do you have clients that day. If not you do something else that interests you and makes you happy. If you do have clients you try to have fun with them and give them the greatest session you can as if they are smiling it will make you feel better too.

I can understand what you are going through, I have had some major family troubles in the past month or 2 and it makes it harder to pick up a camera because of what you are feeling inside. I hope everyday for you it gets a bit better and you can keep moving. Pm me if you would like.

Rich

ambaker

Google Glass Google Glass

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

08/07/2008 03:11:40 PM · #12

Originally posted by CassieDoodle:

So my question stands, what do you do that one day that you just don't feel like doing your job?

I guess it depends, and it depends on who is depending on you...

Some people take a day off, and there is no difference. They work for a large employer, they have plenty of people to do that kind of job, and so there is no problem. Nobody misses them, except their friends at work to talk to.

Other people have people who are depending on them personally. If you have an appointment with your doctor, you depend on the doctor being there. If you have a sitter for your children, you expect the sitter to be there, so you can go to work or whatever.

Part of life is responsibility, and unfortunately responsibility may call when it is inconvenient for us.

As you may have guessed by now, I am one of the people who does not have a job where I can walk away. I am on call 24 hours a day, every day, I even get calls when I am on vacation. It makes me no better than someone else who has that luxury, and I make no judgement of any kind.

But I can say, that though I do get tired of it all at times. And there are days when as I like to say, "I am really not in the mood...". I would not have it any other way. I usually enjoy my work, I find it challenging. And on the days when I am not in the mood, the fact that I am needed helps motivate me to rise again.

So, as Hot Pixel says... If you have no clients, take the day and refresh your spirit. If you have clients, then use the fact that they are depending on you to motivate you to meet their needs.

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

08/07/2008 04:24:25 PM · #13

Originally posted by CassieDoodle:

If you don't enjoy the work (burnt out says you don't) then i'd advice you to find work you DO enjoy. You are 21 - you ahve 40 years to work yet young lady. If you can't get motivated, excited, whatever now, you're only going to find it gets worse as you get older. Wait till you have the flu, sick kids and have to get up and make breakfast, go to work, come home and cook or clean or some such - and keep everyone else happy while you do it in some way.

Again I expected to be tarred and feathered for telling the truth. And as always I will respond with: You want hugs and kisses go see mom. I am not your mother, but I am a mutha of some kind. LOL

If you are depressed or similar seek a doctors advice, see your Pastor, talk with friends that are REAL, etc. They know YOU, your family and what you are going thru better than a bunch of strangers on the internet that may or may not be what they seem to be.

Message edited by author 2008-08-07 16:28:48.

JulietNN

Canon EOS R7

08/07/2008 04:49:05 PM · #14

Originally posted by CassieDoodle:

to be honest, yes i think you are wrong to feel insulted. you stated just one or two facts about being burnt out and not wanting to do it or even like it. you ask for advice and you get it. But becuase you did not give all the facts, like your family, you answer to the question was just based on your photography.

you are only 21, you have a lot of life left to get burnt out on jobs you hate. if you dislike this one right now, then get out of it and keep it as a sideline or hobby. find something that you like to do. take a break from photographing etc etc etc

but to feel insulted, nahhhh, you are just being very sensitive right now to probably most things and you have every right to be. so step back and chill, put things into place for you

jdannels

Nikon D300s

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

08/07/2008 05:32:35 PM · #15

Do you have a hobby not related to photography? I went into the music industry because I wanted to play guitar for money. Slowly I ended up in production and have been to hundreds of shows probably. At the same time I slowly stopped playing guitar as much and started photography as a hobby. Now I am trying to do more photography and oddly enough I started playing Disc Golf. May sound random but you need an alternate way to entertain yourself if you take your hobby to a career level. Also I think there is some merit to Prof_Fate says. Everyone gets burned out, and maybe you are still passionate about photo work, but it isn't bad to look at yourself and decide if this is a high level money making hobby or a career decision. Just my two cents.
Joe