You ever think about quitting photography?

For the last month, my photography business has done horribly.  Business continues to go down the toilet, the phone isn't ringing, and it's just one problem after another.  I'm spending so much time at work and stressing about my next paycheck that my marriage is now on the rocks.  I really don't know what I'm doing wrong.  

Sorry to hear about your challenges. Honestly, not really.  You mind me asking what are you doing to get your business out to new clients?  Advertising?  

I have not advertised in some time.  There hasn't been much that I can do to get business.  

I'm not sure if you mean you work another job besides having a photography business but I don't think photography is a viable option anymore as a fulltime job/career. I don't know if that many people ever worked fulltime as photographers. But now even those that did are struggling - newspaper photographers have lost jobs, longtime portrait and wedding photographers and studios have lost business, etc. Some of it now is getting undercut by all the people with cameras listing on facebook and craigslist. That might eventually change if people decide they want at least decent quality photos instead of crappy photos for cheap, but now I think you're dealing with a saturated market.

I'd think about looking at what other options you might have and continue photography as a sideline or maybe get back into doing photography at some point in the future. You could see if there's anyplace in your area that offers some type of job and career planning for people who are looking to change careers, or re-enter the workplace, etc. to figure out from your past job experience and skills what might be some options. If photography now is a sideline but is for needed income maybe considering some other type of part time work would be an option til you can figure out if you can redevelop the photography business.

If your work is photography in nature, get away and get another job. I burned out back in the seventies after a four year venture. ANYTHING can become tedious, not just "picture takin'". I took it up as a hobby again in the early 00s and now enjoy it more than ever. Don't let it ruin your life!

All good points mentioned already.  Might I add, if you love photography as an occupation, then consider you can not reap what you do not sow.  You have mentioned that you don't advertise and that there hasn't been much you can do to get business.  My friend, there is always something that can be done.  Have you positioned your photography with complimenting products/companies?  Example:  Wedding photographer might cultivate relationships with bakeries, wedding gown stores/rentals, wedding planners, popular wedding venues, etc.  Keep in mind there very likely will be others with the same plan.  So prepare to demonstrate you are the best fit, and that they would benefit from working with you.

I've had the great fortune to interview many of the top photographers from around the world and learn what inspired them, challenges they faced and what fueled them to move forward.  Not only here with elite photographers, but when you study the behavior of the successful and you look at similarities between them.  You start seeing commonalities.  Such as: when faced with adversities, they remain relentless towards their goals and beliefs.  When you factor in what these people are doing, their path in life is congruent with what they absolutely love to do. 

There are a number of quotes that really resonates with me, for sake of this discussion... I'm going to share this one from Rory Vaden who states in his book Take the Stairs "Success is never owned… it's RENTED.  And the RENT is due EVERY DAY!" 

I'm here to help, feel free to PM. 

Nope, love it to much

It's a side job, which I am continuing to develop, and which I expect to carry me into retirement and keep me busy.

Far too many things left to do.  And I'll agree with the above: you may need to revisit what you are doing to market yourself, and what you are focusing on. Time to branch out a bit?

    Great thread guys and gals

Absolutely not, I love everything there is about photography.  It's my zen! 

There are some very good post in this thread 

WOW.  Some of your comments have me thinking about what I have been doing and what I haven't been doing.  Alex you have given me some ideas thank you.  

Personally this is why I have never done it as a job. This despite having some people over the last 50 plus years saying I should. I have only ever done paid work sporadically for acquaintances, other than that it has always been a hobby. Good luck on applying some of the good advice above, but I think getting a job to keep you through till it takes off would be a good way to take off the stress factor.

Good stuff in this thread.  Personally the answer is no for me, I enjoy taking photos too much!

Alex wrote: All good points mentioned already.  Might I add, if you love photography as an occupation, then consider you can not reap what you do not sow.  You have mentioned that you don't advertise and that there hasn't been much you can do to get business.  My friend, there is always something that can be done.  Have you positioned your photography with complimenting products/companies?  Example:  Wedding photographer might cultivate relationships with bakeries, wedding gown stores/rentals, wedding planners, popular wedding venues, etc.  Keep in mind there very likely will be others with the same plan.  So prepare to demonstrate you are the best fit, and that they would benefit from working with you.

I've had the great fortune to interview many of the top photographers from around the world and learn what inspired them, challenges they faced and what fueled them to move forward.  Not only here with elite photographers, but when you study the behavior of the successful and you look at similarities between them.  You start seeing commonalities.  Such as: when faced with adversities, they remain relentless towards their goals and beliefs.  When you factor in what these people are doing, their path in life is congruent with what they absolutely love to do. 

There are a number of quotes that really resonates with me, for sake of this discussion... I'm going to share this one from Rory Vaden who states in his book Take the Stairs "Success is never owned… it's RENTED.  And the RENT is due EVERY DAY!" 

I'm here to help, feel free to PM.