Another Year in the books

 This year was probably the most difficult year finding subject matter for my photography.  

As everybody knows this isn't my primary job.  Too much competition in the area and i have, i guess you can say, a semi chaotic style which is an aquired taste.

I left my main job in May (thinking i was going to be ready to go to work in june....which ended up being in sepetember) , ended up with covid not once but twice in a 3 month span and trying to find new subject matter in my immediate area.

Im definitely not complaining because i knew what i was getting into 20+ years ago.  Downside is, which i didn't count on then, is camera phones taking over.  

Granted, cell phone cameras are good to have for that "spur of the moment" . I won't knock them. But do we really need 50 mp cameras on our phones?  Pretty soon Wedding photographers will be extinct,  Need a HS senior photo? just pull out your phone. We're trading experience for convenience .

This isn't a post to whine. I just want to point to things that people forget to realize. Especially those who are just getting into this

Shoot for fun. Thats how i started.  If you make money with it thats great but don't think that its going to be easy to take into a full time paying gig. After I made a few hundred bucks i thought i could. But its a who you know field.  Its all about marketing and who ya know. And if theres already established photographers in your area. good luck and try to find your niche.  For me slowly getting into street photography. I will take the ART over a payday any day of the week, BUT on the flipside it would be nice to make more income with it so i can keep buying the new lenses. being I shoot Canon and imo their L lenses can't be beat,  i can easily look at 2k+ for each lens.  Keep in mind all my lenses ARE L lenses so you can imagine the investment that was made. Money has to come from somewhere.

Basically make sure you know what you're getting into when you go down this path. Its addicting.

Im thinking '25 will be a much better year professionally. Setting up some projects months into advance. I don't know if anyone will come out of it BUT at the same time, ill be doing something i enjoy (thats the important thing!)

So after a turbulant '24 to say the least. Here is wishing EVERYONE a happy and safe and healthy new year. and if it looks good SHOOT it.

--Timmah