Business?....or just a Hobby?

 That's been the Great Debate on my mind as of recently. Yesterday I read an article/blog that Borrow Lenses.com had posted on their Facebook.


http://www.digitalweddingforum.com/blog/a-facebook-warning-for-photographers




 It's an article about Facebook's policy on promoting oneself for profit on their personal accounts instead of their business or fan pages. It got me to thinking, "Perhaps I'm promoting my photography on my profile more than I should be." So I signed up for a business page, or started to. About fifteen minutes into it I thought, Why? I don't charge people, I don't have a business license yet. So wouldn't this classify as a hobby since I don't actually financially "profit" off of photography? Emotionally and artistically, yes I do. But financially... No.  So I changed my mind, to heck with this! How many networking sites does one person need anyway? And if FB banned me would it really be the end of my life? I would most likely not even lose any sleep over the ordeal. If anything it would open up at least a half hour in my daily schedule.     

 Then Today, as I log back into FB, I read another blog on another friend's profile. This blog being a little bit more on the touchy side.
 
http://amyrophotography.com/blog/how-to-pick-a-good-photographer/
 
(Please read How To Pick a Good Photographer, it's really worth knowing, and the rest of what I say will make more sense if you do.)
 
   I found the link to this blog on Kristen Caldwell Photography's FB profile
 
http://www.facebook.com/KristenCaldwellPhotography
 
    Kristen is a truly inspirational photographer, who I have learned much from through her blog, and facebook page. If you're into photography, I would advise you keep an eye on her as well. There is much you can learn from just watching at times you know :) Anyways, she has this to say about the link:

<"I posted this link months back from Amy Ro Photography... I'm posting it again today to reiterate WHY it is so important to pick a good photographer and HOW to pick a good photographer... I myself have worked VERY hard to land myself where I am at today... Long nights and LOTS of free sessions before I even THOUGHT to ...start charging people... and to the individual that sent me that "anonymous" snarky email earlier today, feel free to call me anytime! my number is to the left...">
 
   And I agree with both ladies on all subjects.
 
But of course people's feelings will be hurt. Why? Because people, Especially artists, are also known to be egotists. It's unfortunate that there ARE people out there who claim to be a business when they're not, or they claim their work is good enough to be paid for when it's not. 
 
 I am STILL learning. STILL growing. Not Yet Ready, to be a business. Right now, I have too much going on to consider being a business. Hopefully within a year or two, I will take some classes, get my poop in a group, and have a business. But right now.... I DO NOT charge, because I am learning, and I find it a privilege to photograph people. I offer what I can to those willing to accept it. And I'm enjoying every minute of it. My husband likes to remind me at times, "Things worth having, are worth working really hard for, or worth sacrificing for. So right now, I'm going to do what Kristen Caldwell did, and keep offering long nights and TONS of free session, untill I feel I am proffesional, untill I have more Accreditation.
 
-Rachel Nicole