Why Take Time Off

Sixteen+hour days are not always the best way to be productive. Working smarter not harder is more often the better way. I have spent the better part of a year trying to rebuild a photo catalog. While I now have a decent amount of good photos I now find that my market for the kind of photos that I have been specializing in is not as large as I hoped it would be. It is there. It is just not as large. So, what do I do now?

Well, I'm not going to let the work of the past year go to waste. I will keep shooting what I have been shooting. It pays in more ways than one. I get good exercise every time I go places to shoot. The reactions from the people I am trying to reach with my photographs have been been positive. But, I do need to push them more, and in better ways. And, there are business aspects (paperwork) of photography that need to be completed. After all, the government wants it's cut. We, the government and I, have a business partnership. I do the work, they enjoy the benefits of whatever success I have.

And, it is time for me to expand my horizon, find new subjects, and learn new methods of doing what I do. A year ago I was looking at re-building the photography business that I once had. Today I realize that I am building an entirely new photography business from scratch. It is a challenge, but I love the challenge.

A week ago I was frustrated. In my mind I had failed. I was on the verge of quitting. But, as the days have past I have opened my eyes to the successes that I have had and the fun that I have had doing what I do. Taking time off has been invaluable to me as a tool to reflect on what I am doing and where I am going with my work. Taking time off is an invaluable tool.  

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