It's kinda complicated...

Oct 20, 2010

While attempting to gracefully back out of an 11 year photography career, I stumbled and fell right into a metaphoric pile of horse shit. The past few months have forced me to reflect a bit, and what better time to start a new blog.

I’ve had a lot of folks ask me why I quit. My business was “successful”, in the way of having floods of phone calls and a full schedule. I had school contracts, a fantastic sports league contract, and I basically booked weddings non-stop. But why would anyone bail on such a dream?

A) Because it was not dreamy. It was a ridiculous amount of hours away from my family, with a ridiculous amount of bills to pay each month. Top-of-the-line Nikon equipment depreciates by the minute, and for some reason, I had to pay Bannock County every year just for the honor of owning the overpriced optics. I ran with big dogs, had big jobs, and paid big bills. But my work was awesome.
Although clients were almost always happy with my work, I learned that even the most satisfied customer wants something for nothing. I learned that the general public’s tastes fluctuate like the tide. I learned that bride’s mothers can be way worse than any bride. I also learned that photo equipment attracts lightning, and I learned that lightning really hurts.
B) I learned that pursuing a passion can kill that passion. I used to love photography, I hope I do again.



About a year ago, I simply woke up one morning and decided I could not do it anymore. Gibbs Imaging was my business; I started it and I am responsible for ending it. So I did. I cut all ties with advertisers and suppliers, I pulled my website down, and began telling callers that I was no longer taking new jobs… That should do it right?

Fast forward to just few days ago: I am a web tech/I.T. at an auction house here in Pocatello. My bosses asked that I photograph my office co-workers for our website and PR stuff. They know that I was a photographer for a long time, so they asked to put me in charge. Like a complete dumbass, I agreed. I haven’t yet divulged the information of how my photography business was disassembled, or that I had claim bankruptcy to get the ugly talons of sole-proprietorship out of my throat. Or that my equipment was auctioned off, in the same auction house that I currently work in. Essentially, I have nothing left except a Seconic light meter I kept for sentimental purposes.

So, I tried the unthinkable today. I tried to do the portraits with a crap-ass little point and shoot and the results are exactly what you’d think a P&S would do. They’re pretty bad. I have never been ashamed of photos taken by myself until today. It’s like 11 years of my life never existed and I am Joe Amateur clicking away with ‘red-eye reduction’ settings on. So embarrassing. So humbling. So fucking humbling.

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