Wow - what wonderful feedback! This really is the home of the nicest, most helpful people on the web, I'm convinced. I feel lucky to be a member of this community. Thank you so much for your support and ideas.
I am definitely going to learn more about stock photography. I'd love to assist a photographer, so I'm perusing the ads on craigslist, and I belong to a local photography meetup.com group. There's also a craft sale at work twice a year, so I may mount some of my photographs and see if any sell (if I am still working here then). I know there are some near my home, too. Etsy is a great idea too!
I searched through all the local colleges and community ed locations for photography classes. Last night I pored over a few photography career books at the book store but didn't buy any. I'll check the library.
As for the job hunt, well, I've been getting seven different daily job notice emails for over a year (some for several years). I also periodically check the websites of places I'd like to work, just to see if they have announced anything new. I think that's partially why I'm so frustrated - I feel like I've been continously job hunting for six years. I should have kept track of how many interviews I've had along the way (although that might be more depressing).
My ideal job traits:
- Good benefits and pay
- Relatively creative
- Variety of tasks
- Flexible schedule
- Minimal supervision
- Friendly atmosphere
I know I can't expect my job to make me happy. It would be nice to do something that doesn't make me dread getting up every morning, though. Ideally, it would pay me enough to allow me to do what I want in my free time (travel, attend orchestra concerts, donate to causes, help out my family, etc). I don't need a McMansion, or a garage full of cars, or a fridge full of caviar (yuck). I just want to get paid what I'm worth, and feel like my skills are appreciated. Do I ask too much?
On that note, here's the tiny foot of my friend's two-week-old baby. Remember feeling like you could do anything in life? I hope she always feels that way.
nicest home on the web
July 30th, 2007 at 07:01 pm
July 30th, 2007 at 07:33 pm 1185820383
Checkout paperback swap.com. If you see any photography books you like, let me know. I have 7 credits and not much time to read, so I'd be happy to get a couple of books for you and send them your way. (When you use a credit, it's free...the sender pays the shipping, so it's no cash out of pocket for me). Let me know.
July 30th, 2007 at 07:36 pm 1185820565
July 30th, 2007 at 07:38 pm 1185820739
That's you, Kashi. The photo above would be accepted by any stockhouse, I'm confident.
July 30th, 2007 at 09:05 pm 1185825945
July 31st, 2007 at 12:17 am 1185837452
August 2nd, 2007 at 02:59 pm 1186063149
Also, thanks for the paperback swap offers!! I will definitely keep that in mind!
August 20th, 2007 at 04:21 pm 1187623277
My husband has a friend who is a professional artist and posts pictures of her art at http://www.ebsqart.com. It is a website where you can network with artists and sell your art, etc. Does this help?
Oh, I was in Minneapolis in November 2005 for a conference and it was bitterly cold. I remember at first I was going to take a small suitcase, then I remembered I had never been there before. I checked the weather, foruntately, and decided to take a lot of polarfleece sweaters, turtlenecks, and heavy long pants.