I think I finally hit the wall.

The past 2 weeks I have been up to 3am almost every night hussling to get books designed, orders processed, images edited etc.

So today, as I was whipping through and finessing yet another book design. Things were going great, until I reach the reception images... as I am staring at the images in bridge something inside me snapped and I got really wierd.



I started laughing (at myself) and cannot, for the life of me, come up with anything for the rest of the book! The images are great, but I have hit the wall - I have designers block


I am totally burned out and have zero ability to go on designing.
This is very frustrating for me. I am just sitting here, staring at the images in bridge and cannot make any decision on what to do next.

I have designed the reception spreads about 4 different times now, but am unable to finalize my design on them...

I need a nap. - NO - I need a vacation! I haven't had a vacation since I started this business... that's 8 yrs. and no real time off! Ugh.

That's all, just needed to vent a little.
Thanks for being there OSP!

Hey Johnny,

I understand completely. And I know its not easy this time of year to just get up and walk away from it for a while because of the deadlines. I wish I had better advice, but the only thing I can say is to slog through it. It will get better. At least this is what I tell myself.

Take care and I hope it gets better.

Richard

I'll give a big fat +1 on that one from me... I hear ya!

I have been spending way too much time on OSP the past couple of days because the pile of work seems bottomless and I am beginning to loose hope that it will get done by the holiday....

I say, get a second opinion. Go with one of your design trials, put it up for someone, a friend, OSP or something, and if they say it looks fine, go with it! If the pages aren't exactally award winning, I doubt your client will notice. They will be more pleased that it is to them on time.

(maybe I should listen to my own advice! )

Go outside. Take a walk, throw a ball for the dog, write in a journal, take some pics with the new gear (outside) maybe of the dog chasing the ball,,, Whatever, just get away from the screen for a little while, take a nap. It'll be better when you get back. ;-)

oh no! I feel your pain, but atleast you are trying to get it done. I tend to avoid things that are causing me trouble. Its so hard to be creative and original with every single album (especially after 8 years), why not take a look at your previous designs and borrow a few layouts from them..as long as they work for your current project.

For sure take a break--a few days off to be with the kids and wifey might help. If I was closer--I would so babysit and then you could have a date with your wife! Imagine that--time ALONE.

Good Luck!

I am sorry to are suffering like this!! I was wondering what happened to you...

I don't know that I can offer anything more than a prayer...

And if you need to chat, you know I am only a phone call away.

Yeah, um, you're exactly where I was last year. I couldn't even see straight and stressed? Whoa, buddy. I was wound tighter than a guitar string. I'm hearing ya'. Try to stay positive, take breaks, dance around the office to your favorite song...turned up really loud. Go home and play with the kids. I don't mean board games, I mean get into some mean tickle fights or play tag. These are things I had to do to unwind a little. It helped. But nothing is better than getting through the busy season. Tim and I hope to go on a mini-vacation for New Years. I know we need it!



Hang in there!

All this said....I'll be here tomorrow ordering pics and albums like a mad woman. On a SUNDAY! (Not normal for me....I'm feeling the stress myself.)

Johnny,

I hear you when you talk about not getting a vacation. My question for you is, when was the last time you took a whole day off? I mean no electronics. Not TV, no computer, nothing that runs on batteries or plugs in? I hear it all the time about people working weekends to catch up. The problem with that is you get to where you are now.

There are days where I just turn off everything and go to the big multiplex and watch 4-5 movies. Oh yeah I eat too much junk food but then I hit the gym in the morning and realize that I like the gym and I enjoy not working all day long on photography. That said I love what I do but it is a job and my job is to do the best job possible for my clients. If I am dreading it, but "push on anyway", that is not doing my clients any favors.

Really take a break and do something you like to do that is not related to photography? When was the last time you went out and ordered a banana split? Fed the ducks? Happy hour with your buddies? Sat and read a magazine in the book store? There is nothing wrong with taking time off. Do not punish yourself for wanting a break.

My brother has pictures that he has printed from the web or torn out of magazines of things that remind him why he works. Of course there are wonderful family portraits, but he also has a picture of a BMW, the Disney Cruise Ship. Some new property he is looking at...

Why do you work?

I'll give you a hint:

Remember work is what we do so we can enjoy life. So don't forget why you are doing work.


-Bill

outsource. outsource. outsource.

did I mention outsource?

YES YES YES AND MORE YES

It took me over 10 years of busting my back to get that and I will never go back.

Album design is my favorite part....when I shoot I shoot for the album and cant wait to put it together. But then we have only been doing this for 2 years. I might feel differently in 6 more years.

Sometimes when I hit a wall with something I look around for inspiration and that usually does it...

Kerri

well... I have just started my business this year so my first thought was I don't understand that yet but I have spent the last 5 year raising 2 crazy boys (SAHM syndrome:) and not to mention a husband and when I hit that wall.... I will ask one of my friends to seriously yell at me "take a break"=) Then once I have removed myself and my MIND from the situation for a few hours.... I'm excited to jump back in again!

I'll say a little prayer for ya! ...and while I'm doin' that TAKE A BrEAk!!

~love covers all

As Adam and I were driving home from a wedding this evening and both complaining about how tired we are, he pointed out that we have an entirely full day again tomorrow. Usually we try to not schedule stuff on Sundays, but somehow tomorrow is packed. We have been working non-stop the last few weeks on portraits. It has been crazy. Then Adam made a comment that at least we can get a break after Christmas. I pointed out to him that the day after Christmas we sure will have a break. Our 10 year old son will be in the hospital for a three day procedure and we are required to have one of us with him at all times. That will be some great break!

Ok, I am tired, I have no idea if any of that made sense. Goodnight!

Woah, I didn't really think I would get any response or advice.

Thanks guys. After I posted this, I went downstairs to help Heidi with dinner. We then went over to our neighbors house to have the kids play and let us adults chat with other like-minded adults... but I was vacant the whole time - my mind reeling with all the cr@p that needs to get done.

I've learned a valuable lesson - don't take on too much business if you cannot handle the growth or afford to outsource.

I would love to outsource - but with a wife, six kids (yes, 6) and necessities, I simply cannot afford it at this time.

I have already raised my rates to book only 10 weddings for next year - but I am thinkin of going even higher to book fewer... right now I am sick of weddings.

I haven't had any chances to go out and shoot for my own projects this year - and that stresses me out the most. I am a very selfish photographer and if I don't get to shoot for me, then I don't want to do it at all... and sadly that is where I am at right now.

What's worse, I get my new D300, MN gets a snow storm and I am locked inside editing and designing! ACK!

Of course, this is also the time of year when I naturally look back and become introspective and reflect on my year. I think I just hit that negative point (plus the lack of sleep doesn't help) and I crashed.


Thank you all for your advice and kind words. It means a lot to me to have a place where I can vent.

I'm going to take the night off and watch Terminator 2...


One more thing - being the spoiled and selfish photographer that I am, I am also a very, very picky one at that and I have very hard time letting others do what I feel is my work. I approach every wedding or session like a fine art project... and I feel that my hand must be in the process through the majority of it. But right now, I would be more than happy to unload this stuff on anyone else.

I would bet money that if you go to bed tomorrow night at 9 PM and get a full night's sleep, you would be 50% more productive the next day, than trying to work on four or five hours of sleep. Once the brain freezes late at night, your productivity takes a nosedive. Besides, I'm sure if your album got done one day later because you treated yourself to some sleep, the client would completely understand (and probably never even know). Perhaps you should pad your deadlines a little more too.

Anyway, be happy and grateful the phone is ringing, the e-mailing is dinging, and you have clients anxiously waiting to receive your terrific work!

Arrgghh, Johnny sorry to hear you're having this hard a time.

I, too, am worried about whether I can make it all come together. Albums, last minutes families who want Christmas photos. Month and year end at my other job. I took the day off today. I probably shouldn't have but I had too.

Tell me it all gets better.

I realized a horrible thing a few weeks ago. I sat down to put together a book of my boys for the grandparents for Christmas. I don't have enough from this year to make a book. That's awful. I feel like crap about it. I didn't take the time this summer to take pictures of my own kids.

Learn from my mistake. Take a break with the kids and just have fun.

Take care,
Sarah

lots of great advice here. i recently rearranged my room to separate all the work areas from the rest areas. it's so important to let your mind have a break from working and thinking about working.

and once you're ready to get back to it, if it helps, here's a collection of album layouts i've done, maybe you'll find some inspiration to help you with those last few layouts.

I usually just hit the crack pipe
thats good for some insperation!!

My prayers are with you, Johnny! Maybe you, Stina, Julie and I should have a group hug soon?

May help a little...

Quit working till 3am - lack of a good night's sleep and the extended length of time you're sat in front of the computer is probably what's getting to you the most. Are you on deadlines with your clients? If not, take a couple of days off (not just a couple of hours to watch T2 - love those movies though!) and stay away from the computer!

DUDE I have been there many times. Its got so bad one time that as I was beginning to start editing, I got so pissed and shut my computer down and told my wife to do it. Designers block sucks but i think it makes us better at it cause I am still learning in this business sometimes you have to walk away and come back like a day or 2 and come back with a clear head.

Stewart C.

Man - i know what it feels like. We finished our weddings for the year and the past few weeks have been non-stop editing/PP on the events to get them done. I'm down to the last weddng and have two engagement sessions as well to get done. My goal is to get them all edited, slideshows done and posted by the end of the week - we sheduled a vacation for early next week to get away and relax. I'm hoping that is will also be the end of the year vacation if I can get everything done and edited. I know that I need some time off and away from editing. Our goal is to plan for most if not all of December off each year to relax, recover and reconnect.

It's hard when you know there are people waiting to see their images. I've already changed our contractfor 2008 to give us more time after the wedding to get their images to them.

I agree with what everyone has said - take a break and look around for inspiration. Look at other designs, or let someone else give you some input.