10 yrs as a self employed photographer

On assignment shooting video documenting a wedding in The Grenadines in 2001

I can be terrible with dates – just ask my family. I am usually late with birthday cards and have a hard time remembering anniversary dates. I even had my wedding date etched inside my wedding ring to help remember the date! I quit cigarettes over 10 years ago. Missed the anniversary date when it came up – I remember it was in October because I quit on my birthday – perhaps my wife Marci remembers the exact year.

So it should be no surprise that after reading about another photographer on twitter who is celebrating 25 years of self-employment that I just happened to realize that this month marks my own 10 year anniversary date of self-employment. Thank God for twitter – almost missed another anniversary.

It was 10 years ago this month that Marci and I moved from CT to Cape Cod, Mass. I had just left my full-time staff photographer position at the Connecticut Post Newspaper to once again jump into the freelance waters. My job at the Post was the last I held as a full-time (or even part-time) employee working for someone else.

While living on the Cape I freelanced for many organizations including the Cape Cod Times, Boston Herald, Cape Cod View Magazine, and USA Today to name a few. I did spot assignments on the Cape for a number of other newspapers around the country. Being a digital photographer allowed me to instantly transmit photos hundreds and thousands of miles away – this at a time when many newspapers were still shooting film. I sold my images to newspapers, books, magazines, etc.

I also did some corporate and advertising work. And of course, being a freelance photographer, I also shot a number of family portraits and photographed a limited number of weddings each year. Every day was different and I enjoyed and thrived working for myself.

At work photographing Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ in 2006

While still on the Cape, back in 2003, I began selling my own artwork at art festivals. And since moving to Phoenix, AZ in 2006 some 3 years ago (October marks the 3 year anniversary – hey I remember that one) I ended up leaving behind – for the most part – my freelance career and now sell my artwork full-time. While I do accept occasional advertising/corporate assignments I have done nothing in regards to editorial, portrait or wedding  photography since arriving in Phoenix. Creating and selling my artwork consumes most available time and it is something I enjoy tremendously.

Looking back on the past 10 years there are many things I remember fondly about my photojournalism days: getting the shot no one else got at a spot news event, the rush of trying to make deadline, the wonder of what will happen in the news day today, getting access to events the regular public is not able to get, etc. And the fact that I was able to experience it all, working for myself, makes it even more enjoyable.

I am now on the other side of the media, here being interviewed by a local newspaper in 2008

Working for oneself is not easy. It takes dedication, perseverance, commitment, knowledge, ability and desire. It takes marketing skills as you are constantly selling yourself and your work. But above all it takes love – if you love what you do you are heading in the right direction and are leaps and bounds ahead of others that don’t love what they do. If you love what you do your desire to succeed is greater than those that don’t. And if you love what you do you find yourself happier in all aspects of life.

Here’s looking forward to the next 10 years of self-employment as a photographer.

Out on a photographic hike in Colorado in 2009.