I do what I want.

I consider myself lucky to have photography as something I do.  I take random cell phone shots like everyone else, but I take more photos with my DSLR than I do with my cell phone.  I can kick myself for not learning this craft when my kids were little, but here we are.  In an age where photographers are a dime a dozen and we have a camera on us at all times.

People ask me for quotes all the time. Most times when I give them that quote...I never hear from them again. We have cameras at our fingertips that if used correctly does an OK job.  The value of photography to most people are gone, and I do a lot of free work because of it.

Now, fellow photographers, don't get your panties in a wad. The free work I do are shoots that I want to do, that I hunted for subjects, props, and sometimes clothing. Sometimes the free work I do is out of boredom or opportunity.  Sometimes it's so I can learn something or add to my portfolio.  When I don't have clients to shoot, I need something to do to be able to grow. 

I don't know how some photographers can put down the camera and only pick it up when they have a check in their hand.   Do you still enjoy photography when you get to that point?  Do you still value it as an art form or is it's only value monetary at this point?  

  I think it's sad when something you enjoyed has turned in to just a job to pay bills. I think artistic businesses are the most successful when the artist still has a love for it and not just cranking them out with little thought.  I hope I never get to that point.