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Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

10/05/2016 05:41:19 AM · #1

As far back as I can remember, I have never let my membership run out. Until now.
I am uninspired photographically.

MikeO

Fujifilm x100

10/05/2016 06:55:05 AM · #2

I know what you mean. This place has been great but over time it's lost it's mojo and so have I.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

10/05/2016 06:57:19 AM · #3

Originally posted by MAK:

As far back as I can remember, I have never let my membership run out. Until now.
I am uninspired photographically.

Just here, or in life as well?

I'm struggling with whether or not I should let mine lapse on the 15th for the first time in ten years.

Mike

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

10/05/2016 07:37:32 AM · #4

i'm in the same boat. I hate to say it but I think shooting for money ruined it for me...

rooum

10/05/2016 08:02:32 AM · #5

Originally posted by Mike:

i'm in the same boat. I hate to say it but I think shooting for money ruined it for me...

A common occurance I think. I'm trying to avoid that by planning personal projects as much as possible. For me that currently involves as much writing and graphic design as it does photography and is far away from wedding work and portraits. Helps that weddings are seasonal and winter is very quiet so I can get stuff done then. I always think the best way to get out of a photography rut/lull is by doing a series of photos or essay as opposed to single images. But i'm certainly less inclined to head out with a camera these days now that it's a living.

10/05/2016 10:30:55 AM · #6

Message edited by author 2016-10-05 10:37:44.

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

10/05/2016 10:37:09 AM · #7

Originally posted by MAK:

Jeb - to be honest mate it's not just here, I am generally feeling uninspired ... I think the place should run another DPL as that always helped me to get out and shoot.

Mike - That has been a big player for me too... Shootings weddings, with respect, is a brain boiler UNLESS... you shoot it in the style YOU want rather than the cabbage most people are convinced they want, I took this road and ended up shooting maybe a wedding a year.

Rooum - To be fair I think you have a point, definitely shooting a 'series' or 'project' is wonderful & I do have an idea for a great project but the problem is that I can't be ass'd ... in an un-inspirational way of cause.

Tiny - I am not directly referring to DPC btw

MikeO - Touche

Message edited by author 2016-10-05 10:37:31.

tnun

Ricoh GR III

10/05/2016 01:27:17 PM · #8

it might be that certain things, or aspects of them, just run their course. I do always enjoy MAK's photos, though.

Simms

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/05/2016 04:35:23 PM · #9

Originally posted by Mike:

i'm in the same boat. I hate to say it but I think shooting for money ruined it for me...

THIS..

This is bang on.

I shot "professionally" for five years - the last three of those the only time my camera ever came out of the bag was for paid jobs. I was making very good money from it.

In the end I gave up being pro, I totally fell out of love with photography. I hated the general public.

But, that all changed when I booked a holiday to Iceland to get my photography mojo back, I went out with a couple of good friends, it was a blast. I fell in love with photography again. I took some great photos.

Since then I have been offered lots of paid photography jobs, I have turned them all down other than two or three weddings for friends and they went on and on at me until I took their money.

I'll never take a photo again for financial reasons or to impress my peers.. I shoot for me. I still love it. I no longer worry about having to have the latest and best equipment. My 5d2 will be perfect for me until the day it rolls over and dies.

Message edited by author 2016-10-05 16:36:13.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

10/05/2016 05:33:39 PM · #10

Originally posted by Mike:

i'm in the same boat. I hate to say it but I think shooting for money ruined it for me...

Originally posted by Simms:

So get off your @$$ and submit already! LOL!!!

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

10/05/2016 06:37:08 PM · #11

Good lord...... I've awoken the beast.

daisydavid

Canon EOS-5DS R

10/06/2016 05:33:45 AM · #12

la fortuna aiuta gli audaci

10/06/2016 05:55:35 AM · #13

Originally posted by daisydavid:

la fortuna aiuta gli audaci

Does it? well if you wish to gain fortune then all the best to you

Mike

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

10/06/2016 07:44:45 AM · #14

Originally posted by Simms:

Originally posted by Mike:
i'm in the same boat. I hate to say it but I think shooting for money ruined it for me...

THIS..

This is bang on.

I shot "professionally" for five years - the last three of those the only time my camera ever came out of the bag was for paid jobs. I was making very good money from it.

In the end I gave up being pro, I totally fell out of love with photography. I hated the general public.

But, that all changed when I booked a holiday to Iceland to get my photography mojo back, I went out with a couple of good friends, it was a blast. I fell in love with photography again. I took some great photos.

Since then I have been offered lots of paid photography jobs, I have turned them all down other than two or three weddings for friends and they went on and on at me until I took their money.

I'll never take a photo again for financial reasons or to impress my peers.. I shoot for me. I still love it. I no longer worry about having to have the latest and best equipment. My 5d2 will be perfect for me until the day it rolls over and dies.

i have 3 weddings next year and two of them are for very close friends. I don't advertise anymore, I got rid of Facebook I just don't care to do it..

I've been trying to get my friend to do a calendar for his business, because I think it would be fun to do, id be doing it probono of course.. i need to find a good project for my self to work on, something to do for me.

Message edited by author 2016-10-06 07:45:08.

Mike

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

10/06/2016 07:49:07 AM · #15

what the deal with DPL?

i'd sign up for that again, that was fun. This place needs some life injected into (along with me)

10/06/2016 12:41:06 PM · #16

Originally posted by Mike:

what the deal with DPL?

i'd sign up for that again, that was fun. This place needs some life injected into (along with me)

The DPL will bring back many old faces, is fun, & would definitely get my vote too... damn, even the legendary Simms could return..........

rooum

10/06/2016 12:53:36 PM · #17

Originally posted by Mike:

Originally posted by Simms:

Originally posted by Mike:
i'm in the same boat. I hate to say it but I think shooting for money ruined it for me...

THIS..

This is bang on.

I shot "professionally" for five years - the last three of those the only time my camera ever came out of the bag was for paid jobs. I was making very good money from it.

In the end I gave up being pro, I totally fell out of love with photography. I hated the general public.

But, that all changed when I booked a holiday to Iceland to get my photography mojo back, I went out with a couple of good friends, it was a blast. I fell in love with photography again. I took some great photos.

Since then I have been offered lots of paid photography jobs, I have turned them all down other than two or three weddings for friends and they went on and on at me until I took their money.

I'll never take a photo again for financial reasons or to impress my peers.. I shoot for me. I still love it. I no longer worry about having to have the latest and best equipment. My 5d2 will be perfect for me until the day it rolls over and dies.

i have 3 weddings next year and two of them are for very close friends. I don't advertise anymore, I got rid of Facebook I just don't care to do it..

I've been trying to get my friend to do a calendar for his business, because I think it would be fun to do, id be doing it probono of course.. i need to find a good project for my self to work on, something to do for me.

I actually still really enjoy doing weddings. Just finishing my 5th year of going full time with them and have done just over 100 so far. I think what MAK says above about doing them your own way has been a big thing for me and whilst there are occasionally a few annoyances they aren't too much to be bothered about. Certainly less than other jobs i've had. Can't say i'm making very good money from them though but I do enough to get by. I'm planning on getting into wedding videography for next year along with getting back into some property photography/videography. Hopefully that'll bump the income a bit.

One of the reasons that I started doing weddings was that I wanted to go and live in quite a remote, rural part of Wales. Being self-employed with weddings, which don't really need a base, has allowed me to do that. If I stopped doing them there really isn't much work round where I am unless I re-train as a shepherd or something. I also like the hours - which aren't much compared to a full time job. I do about 25-30 weddings a year - mostly Saturdays and heavily weighted towards Summer - and the rest is mostly working from home so I can put my daughter on the school bus at 8.30, do a few hours work and then collect her at 3.40 and that's my typical working day - no more than 5 hours a day really and far less than that during Nov-April. Suits me as i've never been much of a hard worker when there are more enjoyable things to do. Actually, if there is a part of wedding photography that I do quite dislike it's the editing after the day - editing as in the sorting through the images. That annoys the hell out of me but once they're whittled down I quite like the processing part.

Message edited by author 2016-10-06 12:54:25.

Simms

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/06/2016 02:18:34 PM · #18

Originally posted by rooum:

Originally posted by Mike:

Originally posted by Simms:

Originally posted by Mike:
i'm in the same boat. I hate to say it but I think shooting for money ruined it for me...

THIS..

This is bang on.

I shot "professionally" for five years - the last three of those the only time my camera ever came out of the bag was for paid jobs. I was making very good money from it.

In the end I gave up being pro, I totally fell out of love with photography. I hated the general public.

But, that all changed when I booked a holiday to Iceland to get my photography mojo back, I went out with a couple of good friends, it was a blast. I fell in love with photography again. I took some great photos.

Since then I have been offered lots of paid photography jobs, I have turned them all down other than two or three weddings for friends and they went on and on at me until I took their money.

I'll never take a photo again for financial reasons or to impress my peers.. I shoot for me. I still love it. I no longer worry about having to have the latest and best equipment. My 5d2 will be perfect for me until the day it rolls over and dies.

i have 3 weddings next year and two of them are for very close friends. I don't advertise anymore, I got rid of Facebook I just don't care to do it..

I've been trying to get my friend to do a calendar for his business, because I think it would be fun to do, id be doing it probono of course.. i need to find a good project for my self to work on, something to do for me.

I actually still really enjoy doing weddings. Just finishing my 5th year of going full time with them and have done just over 100 so far. I think what MAK says above about doing them your own way has been a big thing for me and whilst there are occasionally a few annoyances they aren't too much to be bothered about. Certainly less than other jobs i've had. Can't say i'm making very good money from them though but I do enough to get by. I'm planning on getting into wedding videography for next year along with getting back into some property photography/videography. Hopefully that'll bump the income a bit.

One of the reasons that I started doing weddings was that I wanted to go and live in quite a remote, rural part of Wales. Being self-employed with weddings, which don't really need a base, has allowed me to do that. If I stopped doing them there really isn't much work round where I am unless I re-train as a shepherd or something. I also like the hours - which aren't much compared to a full time job. I do about 25-30 weddings a year - mostly Saturdays and heavily weighted towards Summer - and the rest is mostly working from home so I can put my daughter on the school bus at 8.30, do a few hours work and then collect her at 3.40 and that's my typical working day - no more than 5 hours a day really and far less than that during Nov-April. Suits me as i've never been much of a hard worker when there are more enjoyable things to do. Actually, if there is a part of wedding photography that I do quite dislike it's the editing after the day - editing as in the sorting through the images. That annoys the hell out of me but once they're whittled down I quite like the processing part.

I think at my peak I was knocking out around 60 - 70 weddings a year. One year I did four over a weekend , Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday. It was awful. I feel I missed out on my kids growing up as I was never at home over the weekend..Sure the money was good but one comes to realise that really isn't everything.

When I decided to jack in weddings I was a day away from sticking all my camera gear up for sale, the (much) better half convinced me to hold onto it..

I doubt I would ever enter another challenge on here (although I do have a shot for the "best of 2016" that I would love to enter), but I do read the forums on here a lot, I rarely comment anymore.

I understand what MAK says about losing one's mojo. My advice is, f**k dpchallenge, f**k paying clients. Just take photos for yourself, even if they end up languishing on a hard drive or cloud storage for all eternity, just shoot when and what you want for yourself. Or even take a break for a year. Even if they are total crap - don't take to impress, just enjoy taking photos again. I shoot ONLY for myself now and love it.

rooum

10/06/2016 03:12:38 PM · #19

Originally posted by Simms:

That's a crazy amount. Amazing you got that many bookings. I very much doubt i'd be able to get that many where I am in Wales but i'd be happy with a few more. When I first started I gave myself the target of 35 a year to reach at the end of my first five years. Haven't quite managed that as i've been stuck around 25-30 for the last three years but i'd like to get it up to a steady 35. I can see how you'd lose the will with 60-70. Just editing all those would do my head in. Like you say - no time for anything else such as family.

Originally posted by Simms:

I understand what MAK says about losing one's mojo. My advice is, f**k dpchallenge, f**k paying clients. Just take photos for yourself, even if they end up languishing on a hard drive or cloud storage for all eternity, just shoot when and what you want for yourself. Or even take a break for a year. Even if they are total crap - don't take to impress, just enjoy taking photos again. I shoot ONLY for myself now and love it.

Wise words. After reading this thread yesterday I took my camera out for a stroll round - set on jpeg, looking at fences for the Minimal challenge. Reminded myself how much I love just strolling round a town with a camera. The 'Fences' challenge is right up my street as i'm far happier shooting the mundane and I love Minimal challenges - fixed focal length and ISO, f/11 and zone focus looking for shadows and light. Couldn't be happier.

Message edited by author 2016-10-06 15:13:37.

Dennisheckman

10/06/2016 03:49:35 PM · #20

MAK- I've heard that new Leica SL is pretty darn inspiring. Focus M lenses with a 4.4 MP EVF? Sounds too cool to me.

10/06/2016 03:50:17 PM · #21

I used to do 2 weddings a year IF I was that unlucky to actually HAVE to, but I make sure I shoot what I want to shoot and that they understand.. they may only end up with 20 B&W's from the whole wedding but they would be 20 shots that I loved... :)

I'm doing a Photo Workshop to help a friend out... we are taking some students to the Southbank Saturday... I wasn't going to take my camera, have plenty of shots from there etc etc but I think I will stuff it in my bag.

Mark - If you happen to be in the area Saturday then we are meeting at Bourough market for lunch around 12'ish

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/06/2016 03:52:08 PM · #22

Originally posted by Dennisheckman:

MAK- I've heard that new Leica SL is pretty darn inspiring. Focus M lenses with a 4.4 MP EVF? Sounds too cool to me.

The only thing holding me back is the tag ;) heard great things about it however I was attracted to Leica for the Rangefinder focussing system. I tried a Sony A7II for a while but the digital veiwfinder hurts my eyes after a while.. I'm getting old.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

10/06/2016 11:44:45 PM · #23

I, thankfully, still have my mojo for shooting, after doing it professionally for over 10 years now. I think the thing that has made the most difference to me is that I started out as a freelance photojournalist, handling every type of assignment possible. That gave me not only a wide range of experience (and experiences), but it also kept me out of the sameness that could easily have made the work stale. It also qualified me to handle a lot of work competently and confidently that I would not have been comfortable doing had I simply focused on a single specialty.

Today, there are a lot of jobs I handle routinely that involve working in the same venues with the same people, but I love the people and they seem to enjoy my work - and that's what drives me the most: being appreciated.

dpc was a wonderful place for me to get started, and I've made some great friends here and have had some great times because of it, even though I never got the hang of competing in the challenges. Sadly, as much as I owe to this site, I can't justify the blue shirt simply because the ownership doesn't share the same commitment to the place as the volunteers and participants that keep it limping merrily along.