So I Sold all my Photography Gear...

SHOCKING, I know!!

I quit attempting to make a full-time business out of photography about a year ago, but the decision to sell my gear last month I think was just as important.

An image from one of my last professional shoots last fall...

You see, as long as I had that gear available to me, I was still saying 'yes' to jobs. One might wonder why that's a problem- it's a problem because when I shot those jobs, I was hating every minute of it. My editing turnaround was slow because I hated sitting there retouching. That sucked. The client wasn't getting the best of me, and I was making myself sick with anxiety and pain from these shoots.

My trusty old friend... who I sold to a nice gal who was just starting out.

I still wanted to take a big break from shooting. I wanted to completely stop shooting professional fashion/beauty/portraits. I just got to a point where I couldn't physically shoot anymore. I would show up to a shoot and be so tense that afterwards, I would be a day or two recovering from the pain & tension in my shoulder, neck, and head. Not only that, but editing brought on the same pain, despite my best efforts to create a very ergonomic workspace. I felt like my body was rejecting photography. I know that sounds weird, but it was becoming obvious to me that my subconscious and my body were screaming out to me that I needed to change something. I feel great not shooting... Shooting for fun, outside, or the occasional laid-back portrait, still appeals to me. But I need a break. A complete disconnect. My thought was, my Canon gear isn't becoming any more valuable sitting in my backpack... get rid of it!

This was also an exercise in not allowing myself to become so emotionally attached to inanimate objects... but dang, this old girl...

So I did!

I fully see myself investing in a new setup before 2019 is over, but for now, I'm really enjoying the peace. I have had to firmly say no to a couple of old clients (who I had already told that I was no longer taking bookings) by saying that I literally no longer have the tools to serve them. Some other photographers in town would be delighted to shoot for them.

So what now?

Learning silversmithing.

Now, my goals are to concentrate on developing my skills in my other creative outlets- painting and silversmithing. I have a ton to learn in both areas, so I'm really enjoying digging in.

My latest acrylic painting.

Digging, playing, learning.

I also have a mile-long booklist consisting of titles on silversmithing, creativity, and witchy spirituality.

This book started this fascination- "Witch" by Lisa Lister- check out my book review a couple posts back.

Most importantly, my mental and physical health are taking priority. I would love to learn lots about mindfulness, get my diet under control, and get outside as much as possible.

Beachcombing is my favourite.

All of this, hand-in-hand with my favourite guy, @mstafford, who is so supportive and awesome I have to wonder if he's real. He might be my imaginary friend. In any case, I'm super excited to finish our adventure van and get out into nature every weekend as the weather improves. It's going to be a very full camping season, I think!

Do you think I'm crazy for walking away from photography? Have you ever had to cut something from your life that you loved?