Frustrated

Bloody frustrated!

This blog has always been as much about catharsis as just writing - I allow myself a little rant on here, secure in the knowledge that very few people ever read it, and just vent my annoyances at today's world.

Well, I'm back to do it again.

For the last few years I've attempted to establish myself as a self employed photographer while undertaking various employment to pay my bills. As you can probably guess, the photography has never taken off.

Now before I start moaning, I will freely admit I am useless at the marketing side of business. I hate the whole business of pestering people, discussing fees and generally self promoting. In general life I'm outgoing and confident, but I loathe selling anything - and especially myself. All my confidence evaporates and I just sit quietly hoping to be noticed. 

Stealth marketing is more my style, it seems...

 However, my real problem is the other photographers out there. Some are extremely good and should be my competition. Unfortunately they have one advantage over me - they are established and word of mouth carries a lot of weight. 

As a result, my competition is every man and his dog. Anyone with a camera thinks they're a photographer. They will photograph your event for the thrill of being the 'official photographer' - often for free or just expenses. 

That's fine if they're good and helping out a friend, but when they set themselves up to take business away from me i find it deeply frustrating when I see how bad they are.

I have seen 'photographers' with thousands of pounds worth of equipment (for a simple job) who waltz around being the big shot and who then produce work I would be ashamed to show as holiday snaps. Yet they keep being offered work,

Why???

I can only imagine it's because - like the Emperors new clothes - no-one wants to stand up and say "these are bad" when everyone tells them how good the photographer is.

I've had work sold, I've taken corporate photos for a small event that were later used as wall posters in head office and I've even convinced a company to change the way it photographed it's staff to the point they received a great deal of positive feedback for the new images. I've even been asked for a few lessons from one person. 

As such, I feel confident I can produce good work.  So why can't I succeed at something I enjoy, I'm good at and at which so many less able people seem to so easily find employment?

I don't believe it's just down to marketing - I know cost plays a part, but surely one look at a free/cheap photographers portfolio/website will show why you shouldn't use them? The problem seems to be more about going with what you know - "I know a bloke..." than bothering to research and see if they even have a portfolio or online presence.

I could moan on a lot longer, but I think I've bored any readers enough.

Please feel free to comment/criticise my blog. And of course... tell me if you need a photographer in Devon!

Thanks for reading, bye.

Got a title, now what's the story?

It's been a while since I wrote this Blog - in fact it's been a while since I wrote anything!

I had a go at the NaNoWriMo but fell quite early. I just don't seem to be able to write at present and it's extremely annoying.

However...

This morning I woke up with a somewhat surreal phrase running through my mind. Normally I would have forgotten it before the first cup of coffee, but it's still there calling out to me. 

I think I may have the title for a short story (or possibly more) - now all I need is the story to go with it. I will spend today allowing thoughts to run free and see if anything good comes up. If so, I hope to be back on the riding horse very soon.

I'll let you know...

help

A little while ago I had a conversation where the unusual (and potentially volatile) Brussel Sprout lasagne was mentioned. After we had all finished crying with the laughter I was left wondering what other bizarre/unsociable dishes people made.

I'm considering a short item/book about this subject and would welcome any of your own creations or family favourites. If I publish (probably in Kindle form) I will give the contributors name in the item (unless you prefer to remain anonymous).

Thanks everyone

What the hell?

I have just discovered something that I find more than a little worrying.

Today, I brought up my Blogger stats page and noticed the traffic appears to come primarily from one address (see below) -

 
 This is not somewhere I'm familiar with, so I clicked on it (more out of curiousity as to how they knew about me to redirect traffic) and was shocked to discover I was on a site filled with pornographic images.

I would hate anyone reading my blog to think I was in any linked with this site. My blog is all about the ramblings of a would be writer/photographer and in no way would I wish to be associated with this other site.

I am worried that it is either a virus in Blogger (I've certainly never put my blog up for any forwarding sites) or someone has created a link between my blog and this site. Either way, I will be keeping a careful eye on any other 'forwarding sites' appearing in my Traffic report, but I certainly won't casually open them again.

I would definitely recommend caution if you see any unknown sites in your own reports.

Neil

Get back to that keyboard

Well, it's been a while since I wrote a proper blog (no developments on the attempt to earn from it as yet) and I thought it was time to start up again.

The last few months have been a little difficult - my depression makes it hard to find the enthusiasm to do anything - and as a result my writing has stopped completely. 

It's a bit of a vicious cycle as I feel even more down when I stare at the screen and can't even write a simple piece.

Anyway, my wife has finally convinced me to pick up one of the many part written/half conceived stories and have a serious go at finishing it off. 

At the same time I'm also looking into putting together a few of my short stories and creating a Kindle book. If nothing else, it will keep me occupied and might even be enjoyed by at least one person...

The hardest part for me now is deciding which story I feel most comfortable in trying to develop into a book. They say you should write what you know which has reduced it to two choices. I love sci-fi, so that offers one of my routes, but I have started a book with hints of self biography (only in so much as the main character has led a similar life, but without all the cock-ups) and a list of characters drawn from real life.

To be honest, the sci-fi feels a bit of a shambles (different parts seem to be different books) so I suspect I will be writing option 2.

I'm going to try to blog as much as possible, as well as work on the book every day. Maybe the last few months will prove to be the push I needed to actually finish writing at least one book.

Thanks for visiting

Neil

A possible earner?

I've just come across a site that suggests you can earn money from blogging.

As I am currently trying to earn some extra (or any!) money, I thought I'd give it a go.

As such, I'm required to add the fairly random sentence,  an envelope absolutely, positively has to be there overnight, to this blog. 

Normal blogs will return shortly, but I'll keep you up to date on whether there actually is money to be made from blogging.

Neil

Shylock misses out...

Today I want to have a bit of a rant about companies offer quick loans.

A few days ago I heard of a twenty year old, unemployed man who had been given a completely unsecured loan by one of these companies that advertise on the TV.

This young man has no job, does not sign on and has no other income. Yet, on the strength of a debit card and a pound in his bank account, he was loaned £250 for a month. He has no apparent concept of responsibility and is reputedly borrowing money from all his friends. It would seem that one of these friends directed him to the easy and instant money available from this loan company.

The loan was for a month (he clearly had no idea of how he would repay the loan) and fell due a few weeks ago. The company are now chasing him for the money and his family are going to have to bail him out.

You may feel this problem is the sole fault of the young man (as I did initially), but perhaps we should ask ourselves how he obtained this loan in the first place.

This company states it is a responsible lender, but how responsible can you be if you lend money to someone with no way of paying it back? The interest so far is close to 70% and growing. I suspect this is the only aspect of the loan that interests many of these companies...

We need to look at the many loan companies currently preying on the poor, needy and the frankly stupid people who use these businesses. This country has massive debt problems and shocking poverty. How can it be right to licence the companies to drive people into debts they cannot afford? After hearing of this story I googled the company name and found story after story from people regretting ever taking a loan from them.

I know the banks have tightened lending, but permitting these  companies to operate in the way they do is not the solution. Sometimes banks refuse a loan because you really cannot afford the extra debt. 

These companies merely provide the opportunity to get further in trouble before the crash.

Shylock would be amazed at the business opportunities these companies would offer him in the 21st century.