My association with schools, one school in particular has been mostly great. The income is….. sparing and sporadic, other support non existent, but the jobs varied and more often than not, interesting.
Bonds are formed over time, things learned (and taught), but for the last seven or so years, I have been in a sort of dream land of doing what I want to do, but maybe not how I need to do it.
There is also the looming reality of e-security. More and more schools and institutions are reducing their use of images, some even limiting them to archives. A lost generation is looming.
Time for a change?
My path so far has been unlikely, or has it?
I work fast and efficiently, never say no, regularly over supply and do not charge much, sometimes nothing for the right cause. These are desirable features from the clients perspective, but as many will say (and tell me), it is not a healthy direction.
Sometimes I do feel lost in the crowd, under developed and insignificant.
A million or more images, with not much to show for it other than copious amounts of good will and a promise of more of the same.
Sobering.
Is there a future for me?
AFL Tas sent me a nice letter recently after the football finals. The Mercury news paper has given me two front covers out of five jobs and my extended client base has slowly grown, without me trying in any real way.
Maybe if I actually give it a decent crack, I might actually be able to replace my meagre income from the school with the same or even more, maybe even with less effort.
The cost?
I have a deep connection to the school, something that I consider special, but it has been largely one way, so maybe a loss that should be accepted as a reality of life.
We will see.