Due to my deteriorating lower back (discs and bone spurs) I have dropped part of my business- no longer can I take portraits of people outside my house. Carrying the big sDLR and all the lighting equipment is physically impossible for me. Thus I am limited to studio work with my camera mounted on a tripod. Oh, well it can be worse I guess 

Quote from: Goofy on March 23, 2014, 00:26
Due to my deteriorating lower back (discs and bone spurs) I have dropped part of my business- no longer can I take portraits of people outside my house. Carrying the big sDLR and all the lighting equipment is physically impossible for me. Thus I am limited to studio work with my camera mounted on a tripod. Oh, well it can be worse I guess 

You need some students and semi-pros looking for experience! I shlepped gear for years for pros before I got out on my own. Sorry to hear about your issues, I can relate, had to give up pretty much all paid shooting outside my home. Hope you find creative ways to make up the difference. Best of luck!

Very sorry to hear that Goofy.   I also have had quite a few health issues recently, some of which include back and knee problems.  I couldn't shoot if it wasn't for my husband carrying the gear and setting up the lighting. 

I agree with farbled.  You may be able to find a student or even just a teen who needs a few extra bucks to carry your gear.  Even better, find a teen who wants some portraits taken and trade them for some assistance.  Even the models might be willing to help. 

In the meantime, I am sure you can do a lot of good work in your home studio. 

Best of luck to you, from one sufferer to another. 

Oh, and if you haven't found a good chiropractor, I highly recommend getting one.  Regular chiropractic adjustments and massage have helped me A LOT!

Five years ago I also thought I had to stop doing shoots with people, animals and outdoor subjects because of hip artrosis (at 50!) and very painful wrists/shoulders.  My physiotherapist said that moving less would make things worse, and she was right.  So I changed my eating habits drastically :  0% sugar  , less meat and much more fruit and veggies, plus daily turmuric, glucosamine and mild exercise (20 minutes/day on my home trainer bike).  Today I can do every photo session that I want, as long as I don't have to walk great distances ... and I haven't seen my physiotherapist in 2 years 

I am not saying these things will solve your problems, but as nothing of the above is unhealthy, and there is no prescription medicine involved, anyone with joints/muscles/back problems could give it a try.  Only, you have to be very patient - you'll only see improvement after 4 to 6 months, and it's not a temporary thing, it's for life ...

Quote from: lisafx on March 23, 2014, 03:49
Oh, and if you haven't found a good chiropractor, I highly recommend getting one.  Regular chiropractic adjustments and massage have helped me A LOT!

Yes Chiros are great and you will find that some of the little problems you have will go away after a visit.

Sorry to hear - Maybe time to discover something new - like tabletop or food?

Quote from: DF_Studios on March 23, 2014, 17:17
Sorry to hear - Maybe time to discover something new - like tabletop or food?

Shooting food is fun! (and fattening, I eat everything I shoot)

Quote from: DF_Studios on March 23, 2014, 17:17
Sorry to hear - Maybe time to discover something new - like tabletop or food?

Hope Goofy has a high table and plenty of room.
I find tabletop the very worst on my back, as I have neither.

Thank you all so much- All great advice. I did cut my sugar out of my diet and I have more energy!  I consider this just an new chapter in my life- Actually the majority of my sales are from still life images thus will continue to shoot more and save my back at the same time. Funny how 20% of images are producing 80% of my revenue? If only I could figure out how to shoot more of those 20% 

Quote from: Goofy on March 24, 2014, 02:24
<snip> Funny how 20% of images are producing 80% of my revenue? If only I could figure out how to shoot more of those 20% 

The 20- 80 rule is something that they teach in business schools...and you are right about trying to increase the 20%   

The sad part is that I don't even realize when I shot a 20% (Gem)! Thus telling me that I am so far from being a pro 

I don't think we ever know which will be the 20%er.... It depends so much on the search engine placement and maybe some luck?