It's about time, I tell you.

indiegirl

'round about January I started to see the writing on the wall. The position I took up the previous August was a sham, I was a player in a game without a rule book. I confronted my boss, she confirmed my suspicions. My job was not going to last, better start planning the backup. Plan C gets so little attention.

With six months to get my life in order (this being the second "downsizing" I had experienced in three years), I began planning my "promotion" to doing photography full time. With a nice package to set me on my way, I am taking the leap to do what I should have been doing all along. Hello, photography. Hello, my-own-boss-thank-god.

I don't know if it's the smartest thing but I do know I have the chops. My next chapter began today, with the arrival of my new stuff from B & H. I told the UPS guy he was delivering my new life. He just laughed.

I've secured three school contracts for the fall. That'll do me for a spell and I hope to translate that in to some nice relationships and connections. It's all about relationships, isn't it now? I leave Wednesday for a 4000-mile road trip with the fam (our first vacation). With new camera in hand, I'm gonna go nuts.

So, hi. I'm gonna stretch my legs and get comfy. Nice to meet you, re-meet you and the like [by the way, I feel guilty for posting and run in the past six months, but my life was coming undone, you see].

xoxoxoxo

Jesse

chrisjohnson

Good luck. There is only one plan - plan A - as long as it is your plan. Wishing you well.

angevin1

indiegirl wrote: »

'round about January I started to see the writing on the wall. The position I took up the previous August was a sham, I was a player in a game without a rule book. I confronted my boss, she confirmed my suspicions. My job was not going to last, better start planning the backup. Plan C gets so little attention.

With six months to get my life in order (this being the second "downsizing" I had experienced in three years), I began planning my "promotion" to doing photography full time. With a nice package to set me on my way, I am taking the leap to do what I should have been doing all along. Hello, photography. Hello, my-own-boss-thank-god.

I don't know if it's the smartest thing but I do know I have the chops. My next chapter began today, with the arrival of my new stuff from B & H. I told the UPS guy he was delivering my new life. He just laughed.

I've secured three school contracts for the fall. That'll do me for a spell and I hope to translate that in to some nice relationships and connections. It's all about relationships, isn't it now? I leave Wednesday for a 4000-mile road trip with the fam (our first vacation). With new camera in hand, I'm gonna go nuts.

So, hi. I'm gonna stretch my legs and get comfy. Nice to meet you, re-meet you and the like [by the way, I feel guilty for posting and run in the past six months, but my life was coming undone, you see].

xoxoxoxo

Jesse

Nice story~~ Good Luck~

RxRick

indiegirl wrote: »

'round about January I started to see the writing on the wall. The position I took up the previous August was a sham, I was a player in a game without a rule book. I confronted my boss, she confirmed my suspicions. My job was not going to last, better start planning the backup. Plan C gets so little attention.

With six months to get my life in order (this being the second "downsizing" I had experienced in three years), I began planning my "promotion" to doing photography full time. With a nice package to set me on my way, I am taking the leap to do what I should have been doing all along. Hello, photography. Hello, my-own-boss-thank-god.

You're not a bad writer, either. You might try your hand at a little a little free-lance photo/writing.

Good luck.

--RxRick

Brewster

Having been downsized twice, been there, done that. Know the feeling.
Best Wishes on this new venture............and in the middle of it all, remember to be good to yourself.

Brewster

Art Scott

been downsized several times and as you I got tired of it......I had not planned on going full time (again)
until I got moved to Prague area...but then as we know life happens and intentions get twarted...........

Good Luck...you ventured into an area i would not have looked at.....school photos, but then there is a Life Touch office here and
2 other photogs that have had school contracts for over 30 yrs..........

Good Luck

indiegirl

Art Scott wrote: »

Good Luck...you ventured into an area i would not have looked at.....school photos, but then there is a Life Touch office here and
2 other photogs that have had school contracts for over 30 yrs..........

Good Luck

Hey, Art! I am sticking with small - mid-sized private schools. Creating my own niche. I'm marketing to places that don't want cookie-cutter photos and like working with a person rather than a corp. It's HARD to break in to this market unless you know someone (and I just happened to be the someone who used to hire the photographers). As part of my severance, I negotiated the photography for the school. Two others followed when I could throw around the first school's booking. I also include four hours of candid/marketing photography time for the school at no charge.

indiegirl

RxRick wrote: »

You're not a bad writer, either. You might try your hand at a little a little free-lance photo/writing.

Good luck.

--RxRick

Shucks. Thanks.

indiegirl

Thanks Brewster, Tom and Goldenballs.

divamum

indiegirl wrote: »

Hey, Art! I am sticking with small - mid-sized private schools. Creating my own niche. I'm marketing to places that don't want cookie-cutter photos and like working with a person rather than a corp. It's HARD to break in to this market unless you know someone (and I just happened to be the someone who used to hire the photographers). As part of my severance, I negotiated the photography for the school. Two others followed when I could throw around the first school's booking. I also include four hours of candid/marketing photography time for the school at no charge.

Brilliant. As a freelance musician, I really admire that kind of thinking - the only way to stay in the game is smart networking and thinking sideways, and you did both. Brava!

Indiegirl, I wound up here via your other thread (great shots) and I can only agree with the comments made both here and there - best of luck, and CONGRATULATIONS for taking the plunge. When I made the decision to pursue a musical career, I remember the final deciding factor was that I didn't want to wake up 20 years later and think, "What if I had....". So I've stuck it out through ups, downs and everythign in-betweens and I've never regretted it, even when it's been tough sledding. I wish you the same kind of satisfaction.

dlscott56

Just read this after seeing it in your Road Trip post. Congratulations Jesse. I've really enjoyed your photography over the few years that I've been around DGrin. Still remember your posts when your daughter was in the hospital. Bet you'll do very well for yourself as a full time photographer and you should think about that photojournalism thing. I don't know much about either profession but I do know when someone is talented. Submit some articles, write a book, start a blog? Just a thought.

Good luck to you.

HoofClix

Great you're back Jesse! Congrats on your decision, and stick with it. I'm sure a time will come when you're going to be saying to yourself "what have I done?" without it really being a question.. Just have faith and keep on going! We hope it leaves you time to come in here from time to time as well..