Photography Pivot For Me

gryphon1911

Hall of Famer
Location
Central Ohio, USA
Name
Andrew
I opened my photography business back in 2008. I did it primarily to help those that could not afford a big studio get the portraits that they need.

jump forward a few years and I’m now shooting sports, events, weddings, portraits, festivals, product and architectural.

I eventually scale back to just sports, events and portraits.

COVID hits and the business basically comes to a stand still. 2021 really hasn’t turned much back on for jobs either.

What I have learned is that I don’t really need the business. It is not my primary source of income. It’s an extra step I need to muck with for local taxes and with the IRS every year.

My news site has been way more successful and satisfying even though it generates no revenue for me at the moment.

So, with all that being said, I believe that 2021 will be the end of my photography business. 13 years is a good run. I know it’s a good time because there is no emotion there for me when I think about shuttering it.

I’ll be able to concentrate the time from client jobs more on the photojournalism and on personal projects I want to do.

I’m kind of using this post as a way for me to talk through the process for myself. It still feels really good even after typing all the above.

I’ll be able to get rid of more than half the stuff in my home office which will be great. Heck, I might even treat myself to a digital Leica or a Fuji medium format camera after selling off all the studio gear.

I’ve always sucked at nature and landscape photography, so this might also be a good time to throw myself into that and get better there!

anyway, thanks all that took the time to listen to my diatribe/rant.
 
I know the feeling. I did the same in 2018. I really don't miss the work much, I miss the people some (or should I say I miss some of the people:cautious:).

Cleaning out my pro gear was also liberating and it made it easy to say "no I can't just do this side job".

What news sites? I guess I missed something.
 
Sounds like a well-considered move - congrats on knowing what makes you happy and acting on it, can be much harder than it sounds!

I am curious to see what your focus on hobby photography - which is the only kind I've ever done - will bring you.

Your news site - is it Visual Ohio? (A little birdie called flickr profile helped me ;-) ) Looks nice!
 
I know the feeling. I did the same in 2018. I really don't miss the work much, I miss the people some (or should I say I miss some of the people:cautious:).

Cleaning out my pro gear was also liberating and it made it easy to say "no I can't just do this side job".

What news sites? I guess I missed something.

Sounds like a well-considered move - congrats on knowing what makes you happy and acting on it, can be much harder than it sounds!

I am curious to see what your focus on hobby photography - which is the only kind I've ever done - will bring you.

Your news site - is it Visual Ohio? (A little birdie called flickr profile helped me ;-) ) Looks nice!

yes, it is my visualohio.com site. It has opened more doors of opportunity for me than the the business ever has.

I’m looking locally to add some sponsors and all I really want for it is to cover the costs of running the site and cover the costs of travel to places that are more than a few hours away for stories and such.

as of now, I’ve been using the photo business income for that. Once that is desolved I’ll also need to consider that cost coverage either by me covering it personally or with said sponsorships or advertisements.
Still, much easier than clients.
 
Now I’ve been thinking about my gear. I do have some sporting events that I shoot that will continue. I’m wondering if I should pivot my Nikon pro gear over to Fuji. The XT3 with the 50-140/2.8 could replace my D500 and Tamron 70-200/2.8. If I wanted a DX Nikon I could downgrade to a D7200 just for the reach needed.

not sure I’d need the 300/4 PF either. Seems redundant now if I have the nikon 70-300.

gotta think long and hard on that one.

definitely have a lot of strobes and backdrops that will go as will a lot of the video gear and accessories.

should be quite the clearance!
I plan on using this holiday weekend coming up to ponder all this very hard.

I've always wanted to play with a digital Leica (M8.2 seems like a decent starting point) or a medium format Fuji. Might see if there is enough money in that used gear to treat myself to a photography business retirement gift! Lol
 
Last edited:
Sounds like a well-considered move - congrats on knowing what makes you happy and acting on it, can be much harder than it sounds!

I am curious to see what your focus on hobby photography - which is the only kind I've ever done - will bring you.

Your news site - is it Visual Ohio? (A little birdie called flickr profile helped me ;-) ) Looks nice!

I love being out in nature, but never really took to landscape photography as much as I thought I should. Always seemed more drawn to street. So I think one of my first looks will be into doing more with landscapes.
 
Landscapes and street are two of my favorites, landscapes because that's what is most abundant around where I live, and street for the thrill of the hunt, so to speak. Street is how I respond to traveling to different cities, as well.
 
So, I've decided to make it official. Coming June 30, 2021 - the photography business known as Best Light Photographic will cease to be. I just have to go through the formality of shutting down the LLC. Then I will start going through the gear and having a massive sell off. It will mostly be my video gear and portable studio lighting/backdrops at first.

The photo gear will still be useful for the photojournalistic endeavor that I will continue on. For video the mirrorless cameras I have are more than adequate and I also have an action camera that will work well.

This is what I plan on putting out to the public:

Hello everyone.

We here at Best Light Photographic have come to a conclusion about the future of our company. While we love providing photographic services to our community the impacts of COVID-19 and the fact that our passions have gone in other directions lead us to the decision of dissolving the LLC effective June 30, 2021.

Our focus has pivoted toward photojournalism and we will be concentrating on our long standing news site, VisualOhio.com.

Through this site, we will continue to share our great state’s experiences with you all. We are even contemplating a podcast and YouTube content.

While this chapter has come to an end, another new chapter will open for more exciting times ahead of us.

Thank you all for your past patronage to our business. You will not be forgotten. We are looking forward to this new journey and all that it holds.
 
Paid the $50 processing fee to the state on 6/12. It is officially dissolved.
Now, just have to file the tax forms at the end of this month and everything should be complete.

got some encouraging emails from some former clients, which is great to hear. You never really know how much you touch others loves unless they tell you.

while that is not why I got into the business, it is none the less, nice to hear from time to time.
 
I try my best to have a plan, backup plan, and an exit strategy.

Since the business wasn't something I need to sustain my livelihood, the backup plan was not as aggressive at keeping the business going as it would have been otherwise. There were things I could have done to keep it going, but the effort far outweighed the reward. The exit strategy made more sense at this juncture. Nothing says I cannot start up another business later.

The current business I was basically working alone. The new ventures, I will be partnering with my wife. She is working on getting us sponsorships. We are planning on getting a few "episodes" under our belt first. Then get the SEO results back and see how many listeners/viewers we get and use those numbers for sponsorship pitches.

Should be an interesting ride.
 
So, I've decided to make it official. Coming June 30, 2021 - the photography business known as Best Light Photographic will cease to be. I just have to go through the formality of shutting down the LLC. Then I will start going through the gear and having a massive sell off. It will mostly be my video gear and portable studio lighting/backdrops at first.

The photo gear will still be useful for the photojournalistic endeavor that I will continue on. For video the mirrorless cameras I have are more than adequate and I also have an action camera that will work well.

This is what I plan on putting out to the public:

Hello everyone.

We here at Best Light Photographic have come to a conclusion about the future of our company. While we love providing photographic services to our community the impacts of COVID-19 and the fact that our passions have gone in other directions lead us to the decision of dissolving the LLC effective June 30, 2021.

Our focus has pivoted toward photojournalism and we will be concentrating on our long standing news site, VisualOhio.com.

Through this site, we will continue to share our great state’s experiences with you all. We are even contemplating a podcast and YouTube content.

While this chapter has come to an end, another new chapter will open for more exciting times ahead of us.

Thank you all for your past patronage to our business. You will not be forgotten. We are looking forward to this new journey and all that it holds.
I'd say closing Best Light Photographic and not dissolving the LLC, that seems kind of clinical.

Should that be "Through that site"? I read it as this is the site I am currently on, but I'm in no way an English or writing major.

I know you will be happy with this decision and it will make your photography even more enjoyable going forward.

Your message to people gave me a chuckle, because of how I ended my wedding work. I just said, I’m done doing weddings and pretty much any other paid work. If it’s not fun for me I won’t shoot it.
Mine was some where in the middle.

All good things come to an end. I have decided to pursue other challenges and close Blueberry Photo.

I want to say thank you to all those I’ve worked with and to ensure you all images are still available. The links may change, just contact me if you need updated links. David@BlueberryPhoto.com
 
I'd say closing Best Light Photographic and not dissolving the LLC, that seems kind of clinical.

Should that be "Through that site"? I read it as this is the site I am currently on, but I'm in no way an English or writing major.


Mine was some where in the middle.
I did change that sentence on the official release to the actual website name. I agree it was not clear.
 
Closing a business is always a rather tumultuous event. It can be a difficult decision as owning a business is akin to being married. It's an intrinsic part of what you are, and walking away from it leaves a bit of a void.

Good luck with your life forward, and don't look back!
 
Back
Top