During the past summer I’ve had some extraordinary photo shoots in the two genres that interest me primarily – male figurative work and architectural interiors. I’ve met some great people, had both laughs and lows and, most importantly, learned whether I’m cut out to be a commercial photographer. And while photography is something of a passion, I don’t believe I can make a career out of it.
There are several reasons. While I’ve developed a mature style as a photographer – especially in the male figurative work – the market is shifting away from still photography to videos and from art photography to porn. I’m not skilled as a videographer and don’t have the temperament for porn. Ergo, the market for my skill sets is shrinking. And, while I love doing interiors, the setups are long, the pay is limited and my non-urban location makes for a very limited client base. Plus, increasingly, I’m reluctant to move from Key West. After fifteen years it has become home. To become successful in either of those genres would ultimately require a move to a place where I know no one and have few contacts. Building a client base elsewhere in either genre would take several years with the obvious financial consequences.
As a consequence, I’ve decided to return to my other love – the piano – and believe I’ve figured out a way to make a living at it. Here in the Keys there is not a single R.P.T. (Registered Piano Technician). There are a few people who tune – some badly, some pretty well – but it’s almost impossible to get their services. Yet there are thousands of pianos here in our island archipelago. I have to believe there’s a business in it all for someone who’s fully trained both as a tuner as well as a technician & rebuilder. So I’ve put myself back into school and am on the road to becoming the Florida Keys only R.P.T. For anyone who may interested in keeping up with that journey, you can check out the blog http://www.livingwithzelda.blogspot.com/
But back to the photography. It’s something that’s been a passion for years. So I won’t be giving it up. In fact I just made an agreement with Leather Master here in Key West to mount a permanent rotating exhibit of my work, which will feature original prints as well as greeting cards, postcards, mugs, etc. The first exhibit will be going up this month, October 2009. Additionally, the new owners have asked me to help them with the photography for a new web site that’s in the works – something a little edgier that what they have currently. You can check out the “before & after” by going to http://www.leathermaster.com/ now and returning in a few months.
So while I won’t be photographing as much, I’ll still be looking for models from time to time who are interested in either the male figurative art photography and/or picking up a gig for one of the Leather Master shoots. Feel free to contact me if that’s an interest when you’re visiting Key West. I’ll update information about potential shoots here.
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