Author Topic: How do you stay motivated (Read 3288 times)

litifeta · « **on:** March 02, 2009, 19:20 »

I guess most of us face the same issues working alone in micro. You get down in the mouth from rejections, sales are down, you run dry of ideas, and consider throwing in the towel.

So what do you people do to keep your chin up?

Dave

surpasspro · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2009, 19:25 »

I get board easily and dread having to keyword and submit my images. I'd rather be shooting or editing... I shoot what I love or wherever I go, so I may not always get a shot I can sell, but I sometimes do. Either way I have fun and learn more. Plus seeing new places helps inspire ideas, so some travel is required.

Vonkara · « **Reply #2 on:** March 02, 2009, 19:36 »

I look at other jobs. Then I stay motivated to continue keywording and editing until those jobs will be past

MatHayward · « **Reply #3 on:** March 02, 2009, 19:59 »

That's a tough question to answer. I definitely feel lackluster about the process on a regular basis. My "day" job requires around 55 hours a week from me, paired with two awesome kids and a wife that likes my attention every now and then it's tricky to put much time into shooting on a regular basis.

What I do all the time though is keep an active file of shot ideas that I am constantly updating so that when I do get some time I can implement them. Up in Seattle the weather has been crappy for a while now so most of my stuff needed shot indoors with a few exceptions. Now that we're seeing some glimmer of hope that the sun may soon appear again I expect to get more motivated to get off my tail and do something when I can. I have a decent amount of decent ideas to make reality when I do.

Mat

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #4 on:** March 02, 2009, 20:16 »

Remember the mortgage comes due on the 1st of the month.

gostwyck · « **Reply #5 on:** March 02, 2009, 20:32 »

Quote from: sjlocke on March 02, 2009, 20:16

Remember the mortgage comes due on the 1st of the month.

You don't still have a mortgage do you? You must be buying Trump Towers or something.

Back to the question __ I love what I do. I don't need to motivate myself to do it anymore than I need to motivate myself to pour yet another cold beer, enjoy a nice meal or have sex. I'm actually off on holiday to the tropics again for a month in two day's time (I'll have my camera with me but no computer) and I'm already getting a bit frustrated at the prospect!

Zeus · « **Reply #6 on:** March 02, 2009, 20:43 »

I keep my stack of bills next to my computer.

m@m · « **Reply #7 on:** March 02, 2009, 21:35 »

Quote from: litifeta on March 02, 2009, 19:20

I guess most of us face the same issues working alone in micro. You get down in the mouth from rejections, sales are down, you run dry of ideas, and consider throwing in the towel.

So what do you people do to keep your chin up?

Dave

It seems to be getting harder and harder, between the economy, low sales etc. as well as some of the posts on this forum by members that feel down and frustrated by the same issues, whenever you get a sale or two from one site or another that motivates and inspires you to keep on going, there is always someone with a negative post, wether the site is dying or dead, none exclusives are being push out, this and that site is a waste of time and energy, I'm not selling anything...To tell you the truth, maybe the answer is to keep on doing what we all love and enjoy doing so much, if not that much for profits at this time, just because it is what we like to do, better days will come, they always have...keep on shooting my friend and don't let situations, rejections or negative people bring you down

Take a short trip away from where you live, I'm sure you will see something worthwile taking a picture of, and that will help bring back the ideas and inspiration...At least it works for me, give it a try it just may work for you as well.
Best regards.

mantonino · « **Reply #8 on:** March 02, 2009, 23:26 »

Quote from: sjlocke on March 02, 2009, 20:16

Remember the mortgage comes due on the 1st of the month.

Those who treat the business like a business succeed. I like that...

Whenever I have to find motivation I just think about it this way - your success depends on YOU in this business. Work for it and you succeed. Don't work for it and you fail. I can dig that challenge all day, every day.

Dreamframer · « **Reply #9 on:** March 03, 2009, 05:28 »

Honestly, I didn't have that problem...not yet. I can say I'm obsessed with microstock, and I hate I don't have more time to make images. This way I am not so productive. I have few friends online who are obsessed too and we chat every day, so I am not alone. Almost every minute of my free time is reserved for taking images, editing, keywording, advertising, and I feel I am still at the beginning. Too bad I don't have more free time....

Maybe in the future I will have moments when I will stay out of inspiration...
Maybe the reason why I have an inspiration is limited time for microstock, so I can't ran out of ideas.

e-person · « **Reply #10 on:** March 03, 2009, 08:47 »

After almost two years in microstock, I have realized it is not for me, so I have started working for PEOPLE, in other words, customers. In the first 3 hours I made the amount I make on microstock in one month. That will keep me motivated for some time...

Noodles · « **Reply #11 on:** March 03, 2009, 09:56 »

I spend around 4-5 hours a week on MS which now brings in around $800-$1000/month. I have a very good day job so the money doesn't motivate me much but the challenge does and that is what keeps me doing it. If I did it full time I would probably be pulling my hair out!

Peter · « **Reply #12 on:** March 03, 2009, 10:13 »

I would get hungry, and eventually die if I dont have money. Money keeps me alive. hhhh

tan510jomast · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2009, 11:28 »

i shoot mostly isolated still life of food. food that open my eyes and make my tummy growl. wine, sangra, food, fruit, etc.. grocery i would not buy normally since sometimes they are too expensive for me off season or whatnot. this way, after shooting for micro, i gobble them up like a pig.

in other words, i don't even care if they get rejected by atilla or whomever. in fact most of them were rejected... but still i am already a happy camper with my stomach dancing with digestive juice

paulacobleigh · « **Reply #14 on:** March 03, 2009, 12:15 »

I think I fall into the obsessed-with-photography group so staying motivated doesn't seem to be a problem (at least for shooting). I have more ideas of what to shoot than I have time to carry out those ideas. The hard part is staying motivated to key word. I hate doing that. But my sales are going up as I get more images in my portfolio so that is what keeps me motivated to keep uploading.

tan510jomast · « **Reply #15 on:** March 03, 2009, 12:24 »

Quote from: paulacobleigh on March 03, 2009, 12:15

I think I fall into the obsessed-with-photography group so staying motivated doesn't seem to be a problem (at least for shooting). I have more ideas of what to shoot than I have time to carry out those ideas. The hard part is staying motivated to key word. I hate doing that. But my sales are going up as I get more images in my portfolio so that is what keeps me motivated to keep uploading.

slightly OT, talking about keywords, moodboard has a nice idea of inserting keywords (to me at least). just found that out last night after getting approved..

lisafx · « **Reply #16 on:** March 03, 2009, 12:56 »

This is a perfect topic for me today. Usually Tuesday is one of the days I set aside to edit, keyword and upload all day. But not today.

I spent all day yesterday trying to get my DROBO to work and failing. Then today I spent all morning packing it and the 4 hard drives back up to return them. I haven't received the UPS prepaid return label yet, so I took them to the post office and figured I would pay shipping to have it over-with. Learned that with insurance it was $43 for shipping. So now I am home checking my e-mail for that * free UPS label again. LOL

Do I feel motivated to work? He11 no!!

Lately I find it harder than usual to get motivated to shoot or to tweak and upload. Maybe because my darned real life keeps intruding. Also, I think going at this 40-50 hours a week for 4+ years takes its toll. Even though it is a great job, it is still a job and even with the best jobs there are times when you just don't feel like working. As Sean said, sometimes it is just that mortgage payment that keeps you at it.

As for how to stay motivated? Sometimes shooting something different will do it for me. Normally I shoot people, so if I am having trouble getting motivated I might switch and shoot some food or something. Then my family does like tan510jomast and eats the props

Xalanx · « **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2009, 15:04 »

I'm planning in an year or two to switch to photography full time, from my current day job. It's enough motivation.

paulacobleigh · « **Reply #18 on:** March 03, 2009, 17:44 »

Quote from: tan510jomast on March 03, 2009, 12:24

Quote from: paulacobleigh on March 03, 2009, 12:15
I think I fall into the obsessed-with-photography group so staying motivated doesn't seem to be a problem (at least for shooting). I have more ideas of what to shoot than I have time to carry out those ideas. The hard part is staying motivated to key word. I hate doing that. But my sales are going up as I get more images in my portfolio so that is what keeps me motivated to keep uploading.

slightly OT, talking about keywords, moodboard has a nice idea of inserting keywords (to me at least). just found that out last night after getting approved..

I use Yuri Arcurs keywording tool, which is better than figuring it out on your own. Have you tried that?

shutterdrop · « **Reply #19 on:** March 05, 2009, 08:06 »

If you have to post here on, " How do you stay motivated," just maybe this cookie is not for you!

crazychristina · « **Reply #20 on:** March 05, 2009, 13:14 »

I like learning new things all the time, and often take the long way round. At the moment I'm not doing much photography, but I am studying a lot of art and also learning skills in 3D modelling. Chances are this will make me a better photographer too (and maybe a producer of 3D content).