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A new career.

TheHappyGrowerTheHappyGrower Posts: 181
in The potting shed

I`m a photographer/artist image but gardening for me is a very close second

if i`m not actually doing gardening or potting then i`m reading about it

hints & tips to help me (pardon the pun) grow more in my passion.

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Posts

  • WateryWatery Posts: 388

    I like what I do but would rather have a career that involved outdoor swimming and cakes.

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,633

    I am retired, and it is definitely the best career I have had, although the pay could be better.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,143

    I'm with punkdoc image


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Aster2Aster2 Posts: 629

    Ha ha, I'd love to be a photographer. Are you freelance, TheHappyGrower? Is the income enough to survive? How long did it take you to establish the business? (Apologies for being nosy, feel free not to answer!)

  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,742
    Agree with punkdoc and P8. A life of indolence can't be beaten. image
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • TheHappyGrowerTheHappyGrower Posts: 181
    Aster2 wrote (see)

    Ha ha, I'd love to be a photographer. Are you freelance, TheHappyGrower? Is the income enough to survive? How long did it take you to establish the business? (Apologies for being nosy, feel free not to answer!)

    image The competition is huge but you have to be more determined than everone else to succeed & have that usp (Unique selling point) that something else that sets you apart from the multitudes of fish in a massive ocean.

     

    But competition is what drives me more image  but saying that i prefer not to focus (pardon the pun) on others a great deal but on what my own goals are.

    Freelance is better for me it allows me to have a greater say in who i shoot for & i can control what i do how when etc.

    Takes a while to establish oneself to gain recognition & customers but some can build a strong name quickly it depends on a lot of factors hard work to having a foot in the door possible with family or a secure financial foundation in some cases.

    But for me nothing beats starting from scratch & seeing your work noticed by the industry image.

    Money you need obviously but recognition is something many photographers/artists desire more than £££.

    Income can be very good but it`s important to begin by not selling yourself short for instance excepting almost nothing for your services as that devalues you & your name within your field but something is better than nothing to start with

    and don`t accept work for freebies as that does not pay living expenses & people can in time hope that your work for 0.

    But doing some free shoots can help you to develope your portfolio which is very important when your starting off.

     PS hope that`s ok image

  • Steve 309Steve 309 Posts: 2,753

    Bed tester woulod also do me, but I'm also retired after too many years at the chalkface.  Don't think I'd like to do anything full time now but gardening, woodwork, sailing and putting my feet up all feature.

    If I had my time over again, I'd quite fancy engineering of some kind, but meed more maths than I could cope with.

  • Aster2Aster2 Posts: 629

    TheHappyGrower, thank you for all this, it's really, really helpful! I'd already cottoned on to the "no freebies" thing, people don't value your work if they get it for (next to) nothing, no matter how good it is. Regarding recognition, well, I don't care about that. I care about doing the best job I can and about paying my mortgage! image

    Now I'll have to think about my usp - I guess I'll ask friends about it, because this is something that's difficult to see in your own work.

    Thanks again, I'm very encouraged by your reply! image

  • Lou12Lou12 Posts: 1,149

    I've done nearly all the jobs I wanted but the two that remain are mortician and author.

  • StevedaylillyStevedaylilly Posts: 1,087
    I always wanted to be Fireman. I went on a 2 days course after taking a fitness test at a fire station training centre. I passed the 2 day course and was subsequently offered to attended a 14 week training course. I was in my mid twenties at that stage and after some deep discussions with my wife, I decided not to take that opportunity. My wife was not happy that I was going to put my life at risk everyday. In retrospect, I now appreciate that the risk did not equal the salary I would have received. But I always have that feeling that I missed out on a worthwhile and challenging job as a fire fighter. When I see a fire engine flashing their blue light and speeding off to a "shout", my regret level even at 58 years old rises

    Now I'm a gardener and enjoy what I do but I was born to be a fire fighter
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