gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

As much as it pains me, I'm seriously considering closing up Shop and just doing photography for the fun, and the challenge of it. It's been a nice ride for the past seven years in business. The clientele is just not there and the competition for photographers in my area is brutal. So I will do on request shoots when people ask, but that's about it.

My collection of equipment allows me to provide photography for just about any situation and with Adobe CC (which I'll still keep) the options are almost unlimited.

I'll still enjoy reading the daily Hog, so I'm not disappearing completely. I enjoy this forum and what I've learned here is amazing. Maybe I can share some of that knowledge to help out some other folks. "Keep shooting".

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

I wish you good luck. In fact now you can enjoy what your doing, with the pressure off you might find a hole new venue.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

that's true..:)

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Have you posted your most treasured images with the story behind them. Might be instructive for those getting into the trade. For fun, your most spectacular bloopers.

lost_found

it is tough to covience people that all that you know goes into providing them with images they will be proud to display in this day of immediate gratification and smartphones. Best of luck and please keep contributing your experience to the rest of us.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

thx...

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

I contacted SmugMug and they offered to extend my website subscription for 6 months no charge!

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Good luck in your new adventure...which would be what? Total retirement?

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Welcome to the world occupied by many of us here: photography totally for fun. It's a blast! I'm sure you'll find whole new ways to enjoy using what you have and what you know. Look at it as a beginning rather than an end :) And keep sharing not just your knowledge but your new photographic interests and accomplishments.

juicesqueezer Loc: Okeechobee, Florida

George, sorry to hear you are closing your business. Wish you the best!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

That is the down side to newer easier to use technology. Now anyone can sorta do a good job and those who work at it doing a really good job and trying to make a living at it struggle.
Just look at what happened to all the craftsman who built outstanding products by hand. Today there are a few who cater to the rich or work as "artists", often part time with a day job to live. The craftsmanship is just not an easy way to make a living when mass production gives the world cheaper, good enough products.

If those people who settlied for Aunt Sue and Cousin Fred snapping with a cell phone or using a good camera as a snap shooter taking 100s or 1000s of shots to get one good one ever start wishing they had some really good shots done by a pro it will be too late.

For those who will jump in about it, yes I know the pros often use bursts and take 100s of shots to get a few outstanding ones, esp things like sports and BIF. I use burst myself, with digital it is almost cost free. But those pros often discard shots by the dozens that most of us would consider to be very good and even hang on the wall to show off our hobby. The ones they keep and publish/print are often things that for those of us to whom it is a hobby would consider our "once in a lifetime" picture.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Good luck and keep hanging around the Hog Goerge. You and others here have helped me take it to the next level. I'm having the time of my life, shooting daily and posting on my Facebook, Google+ and neighborhood newsgroups. Some of my shots even make me go Wow. With that said, I'm a self-employed computer consultant and still enjoy that and am making ends meet. I don't envy anyone wanting to become a pro photographer theses days, what with piracy, an ever increasingly rude and demanding public and iPhones and tablets everywhere getting in the way of what I want to shoot. I did a wedding pro bono for a relative and it was a nightmare, even the Grannies were in the aisle with their phones. I hope you find as much enjoyment as I've been getting by NOT being a pro. Maybe you'll find another niche or style that you can make a few bucks at. Again, blessings on your new life!

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

thx...

Whuff Loc: Marshalltown, Iowa

I understand about the competition being brutal. I see folks posting all the time here on Facebook looking for reccomendations for photographers for an event such as a wedding or family portrait with the stipulation that they don't want to pay "an arm and a leg" for it. Then a dozen people jump in and say either they know someone or they themselves can do it for a cheap price. How can a professional compete with people who want cheap, quick and easy rather than professional and creative? I have a feeling this same attitude is widespread these days and it goes beyond photography. I work in manufacturing for a company that was bought out by a very large corporation thats known for their low cost first attitude. We used to make all the parts here in our location but now most of our parts are bought from china completely machined and shipped overseas cheaper than what we can buy the raw material.
Sorry, George, for getting off topic. You said you were seriously considering closing up. Does that mean you haven't come to a final decision? I'm sure it has to be hard on you to end something you've put so much effort into.

Walt

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

Being retired is something I enjoy and I want to continue that. The stress of wondering where the next job is coming from makes it like working.