I haven’t made any New Year’s resolutions in years. I never kept them anyway, so I figured why bother. This year I’m making one though, one I feel compelled to keep.
I’ve yet to really get a handle on how to support myself with these blogs I do. I’ve tried different things — some show promise, others are a waste of time and effort. I’ve made many false starts, made many mistakes, and I’ve missed some opportunities simply through my own ignorance and utter lack of business skills. That needs to change.
So… within a couple of months I will be bringing in some income. Before the year is out I will be a fully independent, self-supporting photographer/blogger. A tall order? Of course. Difficult? Absolutely, but seeing how things are going in these tough economic times I don’t think it’s any more difficult than trying to land a job that will actually support me. Once I reach that point it will be a lot more secure too.
By this time next year, if not sooner, I intend to make a trip to Montana to re-establish myself there. Then I can spend some time going back and forth, spending some time here in LA with my daughter and spending some time in Montana. Her and I can also do some exploring between here and there. There’s a lot of ‘west’ to get to know.
When she graduates high school and goes off to college I can move myself back to Montana for good. Once I do that it will take a couple of D-9 Cats and a truckload of dynamite to move me again.
So yes, it’s a tall order but a worthy goal. I’d better get busy… I have a lot to do.
Stay tuned, and Happy New Year.
pj
It sounds like you’re hitting the ground running in 2012, PJ. That’s great. I look forward to following your progress this year. I also look forward to seeing how some of the projects you and I have talked about develop…we can talk sometime in the next couple of weeks…
Beyond that, you’re right…there’s a lot of “west” between here and Montana…I’m looking forward to hearing your impressions!
-Greg
Thanks Greg. I’ve really got little choice but to hit the ground running.
I’m looking forward to talking with you more.
I look forward to seeing what happens! I’m sort of a slacker when it comes to my site. I’m always thinking of things to do with it but most of my ideas end at the thinking stage.
Well, thanks. We’ll see how everything plays out. My brain is going numb from thinking. I need to do, not think about it too much.
Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. Here is wishing you success, health and prosperity in 2012.
Thanks Ken. Yeah, you gotta do what you gotta do. I appreciate your thoughts, and the same to you.
It sounds like a plan and I know you’re motivated and talented enough to make it work. Best wishes and nothing but success this year!
Thanks Earl… I appreciate that. Same to you.
Hooray! Glad to hear you’ll be returning to Montana. I hope to be up there next summer, maybe our paths will cross.
And the best way to do something is to do it. Intention is a powerful tool.
Returning to Montana has always been the plan — don’t expect to get there this coming summer though but we’ll see.
There IS a lot of the West to get to know. Will we see you in Lewistown?
I certainly hope to get over there when I go back to Montana. I’d love to be able to meet you.
Now you have me very curious, PJ. I’m so interested in seeing how this unfolds. I have a few business related resolutions to keep.
I like how positively you stated all this. I’ll join with you in expecting the best.
Sharon
Thanks for your thoughts and support Sharon.
I have a lot to figure out, probably a few more wrong paths to take, and a lot to do, but I don’t panic easily. I always expect the best. Why expect anything less?
Hey pj,
It’s really a tough row to hoe….making money from a photo blog. I know because I’ve been trying for a few years. That’s why I am off to the art show circuit. What I am getting a sense of is that you really need to get known in the “real” world and then use the blogosphere as a support. People really want to see your photos off the web and in real life. What I have found is that most “fine art photographers” make their mark through galleries and art shows, then once a clientele is built the web becomes a more useful marketing tool.
You have my best wishes for a successful 2012 and beyond.
Greg….
Thanks for your thoughts Greg. I agree — selling your work from a blog is a very tough row to hoe. Selling photos online will only be a small part of it most likely, at least for some time. I need to find the right combination of things, from ads and affiliates, to maybe doing books, and what not, as well as whatever employment I can find to hold me over. Right now the expense of doing galleries and art shows makes it difficult for me to pursue that. Much will depend on how good I get at keeping these blogs of mine interesting and fresh, and how good I can get at generating the traffic needed to make it all work. Much to scratch my head over…
I am really looking forward to seeing your next batch of work from Montana now that LA has had some time to work on you…. and change maybe how you see things through the camera.
Thanks Derrick. You’re not looking forward to it nearly as much as I am…
All experience affects how our vision gets expressed. I’m sure after a couple of years in LA I’ll do Montana differently than I used to. We’ll see how much when I get back there. It’s a ways off yet though.
I bet!!!! It’ll happen before you know it.
Best of luck, pj! I admire your attitude, and I look forward to following your adventure!
– Jack
Thanks Jack. I appreciate that, and adventure is a good word for it. Thanks for stopping by.
Hey PJ,
I haven’t made time to go through my RSS feeds in a while was pleasantly surprised to find this post. See I’ve made a similar pact this year. I’m planning on going Pro by June having quite my full-time job.
I know you’re capable of success. Don’t give up and maybe one of these days we can meet up somewhere in the middle of your travels to Montana. I’m trying to fill out my calendar with new places to shoot over the next six months.
-Eric
Thanks Eric. Good to hear from you. As I get more mobile over the next few months I can look at exploring some new places. Maybe we can work out a way to meet at some point. I’d like that.
Best of luck with your venture. I’ll be pulling for ya…