I've heard several photographers say that the state of the economy has totally slowed down their business. I've heard others that have said that it hasn't affected them at all and that business is booming.

So what about you guys? Is the economy affecting you in any way, shape, or form? And if so, how are you combating it?

Hey Ashley, there's a fairly active thread about this in 'misc. photo questions' here: http://www.opensourcephoto.net/forum/index...showtopic=33330

The press wants to sell papers/attract eyeballs, so they will turn things into a disaster any way they can. The biggest downer on the economy is the stupid press.

Yup! Economic downturns are typically self-fulfilling prophecies...

Let's say there are a few bumps in the market, nothing major and nothing that can't be corrected...but the media finds a few "experts" and they predict a doomsday in the economy - so investors slow down their investing, companies lay-off people to "save money" for the hard times ahead... consumers don't spend as much because they might lose their jobs and need to save money.... and then - POOF - the media predicted economic downturn turns into a reality....

Now, this time around there were a few things happening in the economy that made it more difficult for normal market corrections to work -- but I feel strongly that it didn't have to go this far...

I'll just answer with this news story.

Exactly.

Look back historically, this will happen. The housing market for one, look at all the banks about 5-7 years ago gave every Tom, Dick, & Sally money on an adjustable mortgage or interest only, etc. Now, look at all the short sales & foreclosures. That in turn of course spilled into every other part of the economy, or at least that is what the media is telling you.

Now, really does the entire country stop because there is a bunch of news reports that the gas prices are sky rocketing, a record # of foreclosures, & grocery prices are higher than ever?

Do you believe everything the media reports? You shouldn't. Do your own research.

In my town, there is 1 foreclosure. The pop. is about 20K. There is about 175 homes on the market. We have an extremely low unemployment rate.

The groceries here have gone up. I believe it is due to all the ethanol being produced. The price of corn went up & the demand is high for corn.

This is all part of how our country works. Do you really think the price of gas would stay at $1.50 per gallon forever, or the price of bread .99? Everything goes up, including our photography prices.

The reason why prices are going up is not only supply and demand but also, and primarily, because of our dollar devaluation. And the more and more the fed pumps fake money into the system, the lower the value of those dollars, the higher the prices get, the worse the system is on a whole...

our fiat currency isn't sustainable and somethings gotta give soon.
And when is does, (or maybe it already is) it will affect the entire chain.

Prepare for the worst & hope for the best.

How is it affecting me? All the negative coverage is driving me nuts.... I actually posted a short declaration about it on my blog today. I sit and listen to talk radio/news when I'm working....had to switch to pandora for some music. The news coverage is just such a downer.

Other than that, things have slowed a bit, but nothing devastating. Hope everyone else is doing okay.

i heard a great comment... we are in a mental recession. everyone that listens to this crap feels a recession. a recession is 2 quarters of consecutive negative growth - sorry, hasn't happened.

my biz is better than last year and next year looks even brighter.

stop listening to the news - it's a real downer.

Maybe they will make it taste less like water and more like a delicious beer.