Photographer for hire

I’ve been unemployed for over two years. A company layoff sent me home and a month later I started receiving benefit checks.

Begin rant: ‘Benefit’ is a bit of a misnomer. While there were two monthly checks deposited into my bank account, at only a quarter of my usual salary, it was far short of what I had been earning. No one is getting rich while receiving unemployment benefits. Pundits and politicians making claims people aren’t looking for jobs because they want to exhaust those benefits first are ridiculous. These same pundits and politicians are most likely pulling in six- or seven-figure salaries. I wonder how they would manage on a 75% pay cut and a weak jobs market. Rant over

Despite search efforts, other than a freelance job last fall, I’ve been unable to find work in my particular field.

Today, I am taking a positive step toward self-employment. This afternoon I’m attending a workshop offered through our local Small Business Development Center on how to start a business. My dream is to establish my own photography company. Not one where I take family portraits on the beach, or wedding photos, newborn or high school senior shots, but rather one where I sell prints of my nature photos.

This idea may never make it to fruition, but I want to try. I may end up selling ziplock baggies of postcards at chintzy art fairs for a dollar, then again maybe I’ll have a sleek, professional website offering framed prints, wrapped canvases and glossy coffee table books. Or else my family and friends will be getting copies of my work for birthdays and Christmas for the next five years.

There are other workshops I hope to attend, and the Mister has even shown interest in going with me. I just want to get some idea of whether this is possible.

Before I get too far into this venture, I could really use some constructive, honest feedback… is my photography good enough to start my own business? Would there be a market for it? I’m not asking anyone to commit to a purchase, I’m only asking for some realistic assessments.

Day  17 – 30 Days of Shamelessness: discuss the reality of your work situation

More photos can be found in my Flickr photostream, or check the links on my Photography Page: