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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
OT: Question about relocating...
Bryan Kaisk, Photographer
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Copley | OH | United States | Posted: 1:40 PM on 03.07.11 |
| ->> Just curious if any of you have ever decided to just "up and go" so you could live in the location you wanted to be in and hope for the best? |
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David A. Cantor, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Toledo | OH | USA | Posted: 1:53 PM on 03.07.11 |
->> Bryan,
In this blog:
http://www.thisisthewhat.com/?p=1156
a photographer describes exactly what you are talking about. Nice insights. |
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Bryan Kaisk, Photographer
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Copley | OH | United States | Posted: 2:13 PM on 03.07.11 |
| ->> Thanks for the link David! I am, for the most part, in a situation where I'm unhappy where I'm at...not only from a location standpoint, but as a photographer as well. My fiancee and have been debating the possibility of moving to Las Vegas within the next couple of months. Her family lives there, and I myself am more of a big city type of person. It just makes me nervous about having to start all over again. But then again...it is also exciting all the same. The job market out there sucks about as bad as here in Ohio, so I would basically be looking into freelancing full time. |
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Sean D. Elliot, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Norwich | CT | USA | Posted: 2:40 PM on 03.07.11 |
->> a college friend just e-mailed me recently to say he was up and moving his family, wife and two kids, to Portland, Oregon, from New Jersey for exactly this sort of reason. Not happy in NJ, business stinks ... if you're going to be struggling, why not do it someplace where the quality of life is better than where you are ...
I'm envious to no end (I love Portland) of where he's going, but too chicken-shit to every do the same.
Bryan, more power to you and best of luck.
Sean |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 2:43 PM on 03.07.11 |
->> Bryan,
I did. 12 years ago I quit a staff job that I had for 12 years-I was up to 5 weeks vacation, plus a lot of overtime but I was bored out of my mind. I packed up my stuff and my cat, sold a brand new 3 month old car, and moved into NYC (a place I didn't step foot in for 9 years, and to be honest, I was terrified.) I didn't know a single person-personally and professionally. I moved to towns I never stepped foot in 3x before this move, but I always had a full time job to go to. This time, I had $13,000 from the sale of my car and in NYC, that will last about 4 months!
Long story short-it was the best thing I ever did-personally and professionally. I had 2 short lived staff positions before quitting and going freelance. It was the BEST thing I ever did. Along the way while on a shoot, I met the man who was to become my best friend and we married 1.5 years later.
I am all for people changing their lives. I didn't want to look back and say "what if..." |
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Bryan Kaisk, Photographer
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Copley | OH | United States | Posted: 2:53 PM on 03.07.11 |
| ->> Exactly Debra! That's what I want to avoid...the "what ifs." I know I'm not the greatest photographer out there...or in here for that matter. But I know I can make it anywhere, and I've proved that in that past. But like Sean said above, it's whether or not I'm too chicken-shit to actually do it. I've debated about it back and forth a hundred million times and I am certain the only way to be happy and successful in this industry is to take a risk. |
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PJ Heller, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | USA | Posted: 3:32 PM on 03.07.11 |
->> Bryan:
Just do it. If you don't, you'll always wonder what might have been. You want to be sitting around 10-20-30 years from now thinking about how your life might have changed if only you had taken a chance? Plus, it sounds like you're young, no family, etc., which makes the timing now even better to pick up and go.
I've picked up and moved (or hit the road to travel) plenty of times -- sometimes not knowing what the future might hold -- and always managed to land on my feet. Some were great adventures . . . and I always figured that if I didn't like where I was, I could always try someplace new.
If you think moving from Ohio to Vegas would be tough, I'm part of an online group where people frequently ask about packing up in their home country and moving to New Zealand.
As Debra says, you don't want to look back and say "what if." |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:45 PM on 03.07.11 |
->> Bryan,
if you look at the images I made when I moved to NYC 12 years ago to just 4 years ago, you will see I improved 100%. I was no where near the best, or even good when I moved here. I realized how bored I was when I look back on my work and how dull and how I didn't take photo risks. You have one key thing if you do relocate-someone to go with you , someone who loves you. Right there, that is a plus.
What is the worse thing to happen? You don't like it, and you two find some place else to move to. I always had a plan, and when I moved here, it was the first time I had no plan. When my boss asked me "what will you do if you don't like it? Will you come back?" I loved where I was living (the NJ Shore) but was miserable with everything else, but I also knew that if I hated it here, I wasn't going back. I had no clue what I was going to do, for the first time in my life, and I think I was older than you when I made the jump (I was 37). Like I said, it was the best thing I ever did. And I have a feeling that the same will hold true for you.
I remember getting emails several years ago from another SS member who was thinking about quitting his job (I think up in Boston) to move to NYC and he was asking me questions. He had a girlfriend (or fiance, I can't remember) here in the city and made the leap. He landed a staff job a short time later and in his emails, he sounded great.
The worst thing, to me, would be to look back with regrets and say "what if" of "I wonder what would have happened..." It will make you bitter.
Keep us informed on your move...and your success!! |
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Craig Mitchelldyer, Photographer, Assistant
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Portland | OR | USA | Posted: 11:58 PM on 03.07.11 |
->> "he was up and moving his family, wife and two kids, to Portland, Oregon"
He and everyone else! I think we have the most "just moved here photographers" per capia in the US. Our city is cool, but man I would hate to have to start from scratch here.
I have seen it work really well for people...and if I were them, I'd have them contact local peoples and get out there and meet the locals. It can be done! (in any city, just takes work!) |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 12:19 AM on 03.08.11 |
->> I have done that exact same thing a few times...
It is not easy and I wouldn't do it again.
I relocated the first time from Santa Barbara, CA to the Dallas, TX area, I was there for 19 months
I grew tired of the area and I packed my new wife and moved to Stamford, CT, I was there for a little over five years, then I grew tired there and moved my wife to the Phoenix, AZ Area, I lived there for a little over eight years. I really liked it, but I got a job offer from Cabelas in Sidney, NE and I couldn't say no. So I moved my wife, Mom and Five year old daughter to Sidney, NE.
I was there for two and a half years. I liked the job, but living in BFE didn't go well with me or the family, I got a job offer from a Catalog House in Columbia, MO and I moved my wife (Pregnant and we didn't know it), my Mom and daughter to Columbia, MO. After two years on my new job, I got laid off, we stayed there for Four and a half years. Out of nowhere my wife got a great job offer back in the Phoenix area. It was like a dream come true. Phoenix is the only place of all the placed I've ever lived that I would consider coming back to. So we did and we have been here for almost four years. I'm not event thinking relocating again This is it for me. I love my house, I work from home, my wife loves her work, my daughter loves her high school, my son loves his school (.2 mile form our house) and my daughter wants to go to ASU. This is where I want to stay.
Relocating is a costly effort, and very disruptive. If you are single and your fiancee has her family there, this might be a good thing, having some sort of support group close by might be good for the both of you. I have done it so many times, but I don't regret any of the moves, not a single one of them. I have met great people and made great friends in each one of my stops. It was well worth it.
Y |
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Thomas Pickard, Photographer
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Rarotonga | Cook Islands | Cook Islands | Posted: 1:18 AM on 03.08.11 |
->> @Bryan. I've done it three times so far with my wife. Maldives two years. Thailand two years. And now the Cook Islands. In relation to running a business:
CONS:
- it is disruptive & you do start from scratch to some extent.
- it does cost money no matter how you do it.
- it takes time to get known by people and there is always a lag between arriving and getting local work
PROS:
- pending where you are going and what you shoot, it can open up new business opportunities that locals can't see
- it is really rewarding working in another location / country. Visually I love the changes.
If you've moved once before and set yourself up business wise, then you can do it again. Nothing will be as hard as the first time you do that. |
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John Schreiber, Photographer
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Perth | WA, AUSTRALIA | AUSTRALIA | Posted: 3:50 AM on 03.08.11 |
->> Bryan, I don't think this topic even needs to be OT as I feel like I have known or talked to many photographers who have relocated multiple times in their careers. I think it is very relevant to the profession.
About to come out of grad school, I will be relocating myself and am looking forward to more responses to this thread.
For those that have relocated or started from scratch in a new city, how did you make it work? What would you do differently next time?
Obviously, it is easier if you are relocating because you have been hired at a new job, but I am curious as to how any freelancers went about setting up shop in a completely new town. Did you move knowing you would have some guaranteed clients? Or did you move to the place of your dreams and work everything out when you got there?
Oh, and I guess I will have to admit, I am also looking at Portland, among other cities... @Craig, perhaps this is why Portland is so popular?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE_9CzLCbkY |
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Craig Mitchelldyer, Photographer, Assistant
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Portland | OR | USA | Posted: 6:21 AM on 03.08.11 |
| ->> Yes, it is where young people go to retire. We love that show, everything in it is 100% accurate! |
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Bryan Kaisk, Photographer
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Copley | OH | United States | Posted: 9:55 AM on 03.08.11 |
| ->> Thanks to everyone for your stories on this and for the words of encouragement. My fiancee and I are going to make a definite decision on this within the next few weeks and go from there. But I must say it's looking like we are going to go through with it. She has a few obligations to take care of as do I with some T&I photos for a league before we can officially move. Since I have soon-to-be family out there it will make it easier for sure. They know a lot of people out there so making new clients shouldn't be an issue, but I will just have to be patient for a bit and roll with it. Only thing that really worries me is securing a part of the youth sports market since I do shoot mostly youth sports. But, I've been in that situation two or three times before and it has worked out. |
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Richard Uhlhorn, Photographer
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Chelan Falls | WA | USA | Posted: 1:39 AM on 03.09.11 |
->> Bryan... read what Timothy Allen has to say about picking up and moving. I found it very enlightening. Also check out his website.
3. I want to quit my job and do what you do, any words of advice?
Speaking from experience… Do it! I quit my job at a British Newspaper a few years ago and bought a one way ticket to Delhi. Just me, a Canon 5D, a few prime lenses and a huge smile. My biggest concern at the time was my mortgage. So, I sold my house and cut my overheads down to the bearest minimum. A year and a half later I returned home with some great pictures and a revitalised passion for both life and my photography. Meanwhile, whilst researching story ideas for the series, a fledging Human Planet team stumbled across my images from NE India on the web and the rest is history.
There are two important points to acknowledge here. Firstly, trying to predict the future is futile. However, as human beings we are all blessed with an inbuilt mechanism that tells us when we are moving in the right direction in life. It’s called enthusiasm, and in my opinion it forms the necessary essence of any fulfilling, creative lifestyle… in whatever line of work that might be. Enthusiasm is the gift that allows us to live in the moment without worrying about what lies ahead, so if you’ve got that niggling feeling in the pit of your stomach and you’re looking for a change in life then why not trust the feeling and let something that really enthuses you guide you in a new direction?
Second point… Whilst I was in India having the time of my life, I was spending a fraction of the money that I would have been parting with had I have remained in my well paid job back home. Relatively speaking, I was far better off. More importantly, I had the luxury of time again… something that gave my passion the space to naturally unfold once more. The space that I literally couldn’t afford back home.
If you are lucky enough to be reading this on your own personal computer then I am guessing that you also have access to sufficient funds to make the kind of trip I am talking about. You don’t need a state of the art camera. If you shop around a bit, a second hand mark 1 Canon 5D will set you back as little as 400 quid these days, and you can get hold of a used 50mm f1.8 for about 50 quid. Both these pieces of kit were my work horses on that trip along with the great value for money Canon 85mm f1.8.
The moral of this story… Without sounding too corny… follow your heart. And for those of you that think that a statement like that is too wishy-washy, then I’ll rephrase it to… persue the vocation in life that you feel most enthusiastic about. You know… the one that you’d do regardless of how much it pays you. In my experience, if you live this way then no matter what transpires, you will be walking in the right direction in life.
The likelihood is that nothing will turn out the way you expect, so I would recommend not bothering with any expectations of the future. Just concern yourself with enjoying what you are doing in the moment. That’s the place where all the magic happens.
… and if you have discovered that photography is your passion then think yourself very lucky. Many people go through life never knowing such a feeling. Don’t waste it.
His website is here: http://humanplanet.com/timothyallen/ |
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