grandmadeb Loc: illinois, usa

good luck with your retirement. sorry to say it but we all work all our lives, to take care of our families. I was a RN, for many years. Recently spent 2 days in hospital, what a shock. the world is changing, and the younger generation is here to take care of us. People may not know quality because they have never seen quality. its a sad story, but true. Nothing we baby boomers can do, but step back and watch, maybe shake our heads. deb

nancyab Loc: Enfield, CT, USA

Sorry to hear what "professional photography" has come down to. I was with FPG (Freelance Photographer's Guild) in NYC as a freelance photographer for about ten years. This was prior to digital at all. I worked with 35mm slides and B&W. I had my own darkroom and really enjoyed it. They went out of business in, I believe, the late 1980s - I received all my submissions back, which are waiting to get scanned into my computer. I would be interested to learn what you have for sale. My email address is: nancybutler15@msn.com. You will certainly have far more fun with photography doing it as a hobby rather than a frustrating business. Good luck with your retirement - it's a great way to go!

Bobbee

I find that after couples get 'rapped' by all the other vendors they look to save on the photographer. It is what it is. Unless you are dealing with high end clients, this is very much expected. I had one wedding where the B&G were claiming poverty. Then at the wedding there was a video guy. Hummmm. Good luck on your retirement, enjoy your family.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

All some people think about is getting the lowest possible cost. Quality is their their goal. It's good you're in a position to retire.

Impressionist

Have a friend who went to China and couldn't find Chinese Food. You have much experience with an increasingly uneducated clientele. It won't get easier but you have something important to teach.

Maybe putting a book or pamphlet together that teaches clients what to expect along with what is being paid for will help you feel better.

Making a living in the arts has never been easy. Degas had to paint fans. You are in good company.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Hi Dave! Good for you. Going back to the family is going to be great!!! When I was a young man I did weddings and anything else I could with a camera. But when Janny wanted kids I had to give it up. The small towns around us could not support a family and the Doctor bills. We lost 6 babies. But ended up with 2 wonderful boys. But I became a workaholic trying to get all the bills paid off. And stayed that way till both of my boy got through college 8 years ago. I got them through school without taking out loans. Some times I am sorry I missed so much of the kids playing and doing things with them. But they both know what and why I did it and are very thankful. In 2 years I will be retired and Janny and I are going to see the country. And my boys say they will meet us out on the road and join us when they can. This will be my second chance to get to know them!!! You are going to love retirement!!!! Enjoy those kids!!!!!!

wolfd Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Have a nice retirement - you have earned it !!

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

I had a photography business back when Hitler was a corporal, but no longer. (Not that long ago, really; I am given to exaggeration...) With that background, I have kept my ear to the ground about the business - as a business - particularly since then, I have been in marketing and sales for a variety of industries. While I believe you are tragically correct, there are a number of photographers - particularly young ones - doing a remarkable job of promoting themselves to niche markets and finding tremendous success. One such photographer is the wife of my nephew, who is not formally trained, but a very good (not EXCELLENT) wedding photographer, herself.

In the past five years, her business has grown incredibly, and in particular, to an extremely upscale audience. And she has done it herself, because it is not like she was born to that "high society" class, where she naturally had friends in that income level from which to pull on a network of ready-made contacts. She is exceedingly busy and has been contracted to travel with the wedding party to places like the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Paris, Sydney, and more.

I am not arguing your point - the wedding business is terrible, for a number of businesses. I sell businesses for a living, and have regularly seen all varieties of businesses that cater to weddings suffer for a number of reasons. The wedding cake business is also fraught with amateurs that severely damage the volume Bakers used to enjoy. Florists are finding fewer takers, with amateurs and families doing their own arrangements. There are any number of instances where amateurs and "hobbyists" are doing cut-rate deals or favors for friends, as people try to get away from the mammoth and spiraling costs that have characterized weddings for years.

But the moral may be that there are niches. It is a matter of being more business and promotionally oriented, than just being a photographic artist. Please understand that I am not implying any negativity about you; it is simply that given the reduction of the overall market, the BUSINESS of photography has changed, radically. And the photographer that wants to remain in the market has to make radical changes, in order to survive.

alamomike47 Loc: San Antonio, Texas

I believe its time to celebrate and have fun. Sounds like you have given much to provide for others. Many choose not to do this in life. Rather than dwell on the changing wedding market celebrate the fact it has shown you a path to a new chapter in your life. A learned man once told you will know when to retire because all the sudden it will hurt to put your pants in the morning. This happen to me nearly 4 years ago after a bout with myself over the changing market realizing it was time to retire. But today I so please it happened. Again celebrate the time you will have with your family and the joy you will have taking photo for yourself. My friend have fun with your family, photography, and life, wishing you the best.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I have been retired 15 years. I absolutely love it. I have been called back to active duty to make architectural images on a temporary basis and I am enjoying it. I was asked if I would shoot a wedding and I said, "Sure. My fee is $20,000." That ended the conversation. Enjoy your retirement and have no regrets.

banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

Times keep a changing, and usually not for the benter. Glad I'm past the age where I want to be photographed.

jputnick

Sad to see this happening. People should remember the adage "You get what you pay for." Enjoy your retirement. I would also be interested in seeing what you are parting with.

Jcmarino

I had someone call me and ask me to shoot their wedding for 2-400.00. I told them I would shoot 1/2 hour for 400. They were in shock! They wanted 10 hours. LOL I told them to buy disposable cameras for each table and let everyone shoot. They said they did not want to spend that much money and then have to pay to develop the prints. Unfortunately we live in a world where marriage is not taken seriously by most folks. Photos of something that will not last with someone you never want to see again, just are not that important anymore.

dave_roe Loc: Rome Italy

Go enjoy yourself and at a time when you can do so and have some fun.

I got to the point of hearing - you charge what? I have a friend that can do it for the cost of prints and they are cheap over at, (fill in big box store here).

On one of my close to the last assignment I was told by two of those in attendance it must be great to be able to charge a bunch of money for the same thing their point and shoot cameras do. They were also taking pictures to give as a gift and yes one was using an iPad. That helped make the move very simple.

Now I do only jobs by request and when I decide I have the time.

The first thing I did was post a sign that read - I am retired. As in the past I don't work for free; family and friends pay extra. Feel free to inquire if you have a need - I might just help out. Be advised my schedule is kind of full.

My schedule, I now get to shoot what I want, when I want and time is relative. It is really fun taking pictures for only one reason - I wanted too.

gym Loc: Athens, Georgia

You make a very good point. The desire to have a 'wedding book' for the coffee table is something that is going out of favor. Today, social media dominates and for many that's the only way they 'show' photos of their wedding - other than to carry them as an album on their cell phones.