New Camera or New Experience? Which would you choose?

posted July 18

Hi all! How have you guys been? I read some comments from the last blog…I don’t know why you all feel that way…especially since I’ve lost hope in myself. I’m surprised you guys didn’t just let me shut this thing down. It feels nice though.

Photography has been time consuming, but it makes me really happy. It’s one of the few things that I can rely on as a gateway to both payin’ them bills and being able to use my artistic skills/PHOTOSHOP~ People always compliment me on it. When I was doing graphic design, it never got me anywhere. But I find myself important in this field. People are coming to me for engagements, senior photos, bridal parties, events, etc. It’s crazy! I enjoy being able to share special moments in peoples lives…everyone having fun, meeting new people, FOOD! :D

Lately I haven’t been blogging, updating, or doing much of anything. I really have the best excuse, but I’m not even going down that road. I always say I’m going to bring the site back, but whenever I have any free time, damn…I just want to sit and stare.

Every single day I find myself having to do 5,000 different things and go to a million different places. So when I do get home and have an hour before my eyes begin to shut, I figure that the best thing to do is just relax and watch a TV show or play a videogame. I just can’t wrap my head around the idea that I would have to go home and do more work, which…would be working on the site. It’s only work because I haven’t figured out the kinks of coding. If I was better at that, it would be fun. And then it wouldn’t be work.

I had a lot of plans this summer, of course none of them happened. My number one goal this year was to go to Lebanon. Visit my family, finally get some time alone, relax, have fun…see everything. In the midst of everything, I find myself in the position to go, but….with a catch.

I was offered to do a wedding in September. Yes! Photograph a wedding. My first one. I’m very excited and honored, but you see, I am the type of person who has to rise to the occasion. I might not get the opportunity to do another wedding, so I have to make my first time absolutely perfect with my photos. If they come out great, I know I can get a lot of business! But right now, my camera and equipment isn’t up to par….at least, not for my own standards. Which are unnaturally high __ Might explain why I’m still single, HA HA. No.

I figure I have to upgrade my tools. So, I can either choose between going on vacation, or buying a new camera (specially the Canon 5d, right now I have the 60d). I don’t have enough money to do both, so it’s one of those things I must decide wisely on. My current camera isn’t bad at all, but the 5d is a lot better. It will really make a huge difference in the end photos, I know this for sure.

A lot of my friends say get the camera!, because I can excel in my business and go on vacation anytime. But you see, what they don’t know is that I really, REALLY need a break. I’ve been working NON STOP everyday for almost a full year. Maybe that’s not a lot to you, but I’m only 22 and I’ve broken down from stress and suffered from temporary streaks of depression because of it. It’s not even that I want to go out and party and shop and blow my money when I go there, I just want to be alone.

I would love to just wake up in another country where I can get up and no one will be home and I can do whatever the hell I want and no one is there to ask me questions or bug me. I just want to be able to not feel anxiety for just a day or worry about bills and payments and money….just for a little while. I’ll obviously be paying for this trip as I do with everything else in my life (aside from housing I’m entirely independent) so it’s kind of like a big personal decision. I really need to sit and think about it.

If it was your decision, what would you do? And why?

12 comments |

Comments

If it was me in your situation, I would go on the vacation. I had a pretty bad two years with school recently, and when I couldn’t have a break, I would have anxiety attacks.

I think you have a great camera. You do a lot of great coloring effects. I think your camera can do the job for the wedding! I really do. There programs such as Lightroom there are great for coloring effects, and try eBay for any extra equipment that you might need. There has to be something more affordable there. If it might help, maybe you could some friends/family to stage a wedding scene or something so you can practice? That might help relieve some of the stress.

I feel like you could do both. I am so happy that have photography in your life. You have really earned this! You really inspire me, and I wish the best of luck!

Melissa posted this July 18 * # Reply
Jessica, this is my message from me to you. You should do whatever feels best. What is more important to you, family or business?

Though, I have tried to tell everyone that family comes first. Now now, don’t take it to literal. They aren’t going anywhere. When you get enough money, you can go out in visit.

Then again, that new camera isn’t going anywhere. I bet there will be a better one once you save enough money for it.

All I am saying is not to find what is most important to you per se, because that isn’t valid enough right now. What I am trying to say is, what do you need most right now? Do you need a break or more business?

Personally, if I were you, I would take a small break. Maybe stay home and not do anything for a week. I’d buy the camera only because that way the period of the two will be a lot shorter. You say that if you get a better camera you will have more business right? More business is more money. Since you would be making more money you could afford the trip sooner. Though this is me, not you.

Jessica, just find what you need now.

With Love,
God

God posted this July 18 * # Reply
Go on vacation!!! Seriously. When I had to sacrifice my christmas break to study for a placement exam I gave up a month of a break and it drove me crazy when I went back for the semester. because I wasn’t in the right mind set as everyone else.

Maybe if you go on vacation you’ll be inspired by something you see and would want to include it in your art. Think of it as a graduation present to yourself, you deserve it!

Guest posted this July 19 * # Reply
I’ve never posted on one of your blogs before, but I feel like you could use all the input you can get.

If you’re super stressed and really want to see your family, I would honestly go on the vacation. Yes, more business can give you more money, but if you have a camera and people are complimenting you on your photos, I say use the camera you have and go on the nice vacation. Plus, it’s true, family is more important, and to be honest, you never know what could happen, just saying.
You’ve worked so incredibly hard, and it’s the least you can do for yourself and your dedication; just give yourself a nice, long break. I’m sure you’ll do well at the wedding, make the bride and groom proud, and share a memorable moment with them.
Also, once you get back from your vacation, you might feel new and refreshed, which will hopefully increase your motivation or inspiration to try and create new things. I know you’ve completely turned my life around with your beautiful photography and graphics. I feel like I can accomplish anything, and I just want you to do what is best for you.
You inspire so many people without even knowing it Jessica, and all we want for you is happiness because you truly deserve it. Please, go on the vacation, see your family, make the wedding beautiful, and continue to make us proud :3

Thank you for everything you’ve done; I really, deeply appreciate it <3

Much love, peace, and happiness,
~Serena*

Serena posted this July 19 * # Reply
If it would be me to decide, I would have my vacation. I guess this is the right time for you to do it, you owe it to your self. And besides, if you miss this chance I think it would be difficult for you to plan again since you’ll be busy with everything already. You have a cam that can decently take good photos just like what you said, you can save for it again when you get back after taking the wedding project.

Emjaye posted this July 20 * # Reply
Why not do both? The job seems really important to you to be thinking about this instead of going on vacation. I would try to do the job and take the vacation. Buying a new camera is probably not really necessary now, you just want the camera no? Your pictures look wayy awesome to me with your current camera! I mean, the new camera will improve the overall quality like you say, but the couple saw your pictures and they see what you can do, that’s why they requested you right? I’m sure they loved the pictures you showed them just as they are. After you do the wedding, you would be making money that you could also use towards the vacation. Sooo then you can do both the wedding and the vacation, which is what I would try to do. The only thing messing up your decision is the camera, which I think you could easily save for (well not sooo easy..). If you still really want the camera now, then they are many options you have that you might find worth exploring such as Renting it for the photoshoot (get a feel for it, get comfortable and such, and you would have quality images for the wedding but without the massive hole in your savings), but I understand you’ll want to own it, and if so, then you should look for a payment plan (which most stores should have) so you pay a little bit each month so it doesn’t take a huge chunk of your savings all at once, just be careful with interest and things like that. I hope I helped some >.<!

Jocelyn posted this July 20 * # Reply
Hi Jess – at first, when I read the title of your post, I immediately thought, “choose the new experience”. But then I read on, and realized how important that Wedding photoshoot could be for you in terms of your business etc. Owning a 60D myself, I very well know the differences between this camera and the 5D (mark II or III?), but, having said that, I’m sure that you were offered this wedding opportunity on the basis of your previous photographs taken with the 60D. Do you really need to buy a new camera – or do you consider it an investment for the potential benefits in the long run? And remember, in photography, it is not necessarily the camera that makes the shots – it is the photographer.

However, I wouldn’t dismiss a vacation as something you can always do sometime in the future. We cannot pretend that our lives will eventually get better or that our loved ones will always be here for us. If you feel that the vacation is something you need to do, surely your health and well-being is better than adding the inevitable stress of photographing a wedding. But if you think the benefits of the wedding photoshoot will help alleviate any stress you have, perhaps you should consider having a holiday closer to home? Are there any other cheaper alternatives than going overseas? I mean, who knows when you’ll get a Wedding opportunity again. Not that this is a be all, end all situation, but honestly, it’s up to you. You have to make the best decision for yourself.

Nicole posted this July 20 * # Reply
Hi Jess,

Kevin here from New Zealand – it’s somewhere near Australia, but we pack more punch.

Anyways, keep up the creative work. I’m learning a fair bit from your tutorials and taking lots of resources.

It’ll be cool too see some tutorials of what you do with your camera, too.

Best of luck!

Kevin posted this July 22 * # Reply
I definitly think you should take a holiday. I don’t know much about photography but I’m sure the camera you have is more than capable of doing a good job. What I do think you should do is have a friend who also has a good SLR to take some pictures. Give them a small percentage of the money you make from the wedding if you make any. This persons pictures can be like your insurance just incase your camera dies or something horrible happens.

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