I need your help

In Life, Money, Photography on 3 September 2008 with 7 comments

I’ve been enthusiastic about photography these past eight months. (Why?)

January – bought my first digital SLR camera; joined 2008: A Year in Pictures (which means one photo/day for 2008)
February – bought a Canon EF f/1.8 II lens from Arnold
March – sort of photographed at a Chiodos concert (photos)
April – photographed a Finch concert at the Roxy without a photo pass (photos); photographed another Finch concert in San Diego, this time with a photo pass (photos); photographed Armer and Tracy (Arnold’s friends) for pre-wedding photos
May – bought a Canon EOS 40D; Five Mile Town photoshoot (photos); my first paid event (photos); bought parts for and put together a new computer
June – went to Hawaii and took a couple thousand photos (photos)
July – photographed a Five Mile Town concert; participated in a peaceful photographers’ rights protest (photos)
August – photographed a Rx Bandits concert with a photo pass (photos); bought a Drobo

In addition to all that, I’ve photowalked almost twenty times¹.

However, I need help addressing the following problems ASAP.

Problems

Currently, I have equipment worth over $2,000. If my camera/computer dies, or if I need more hard drive space, I don’t have money saved for that. I also don’t have money for additional hard drives – I’m currently using 188 GB just for photos and Lightroom catalogs. In addition, I’d like more lenses to expand my photographic abilities.

I’m a struggling student going back to school in January 2009², which means I’ll be getting a loan.

I’m in debt due to credit cards³, which add up to at least $4,000.

Lastly, I don’t have an emergency fund or a savings account.

How you can help

Buy some prints. I love compliments, but it won’t help keep me going if I don’t have funds for upgrades and new equipment.
Request for photography services. I’ll do a photo session with you: portraits, family portraits (Christmas is around the corner!), senior portraits, events, or be a second/third photographer for your wedding⁴. I also love band photography. I pretty much love portraits in general, can you tell?

Whether or not you’re able to help me monetarily, I really appreciate the love and support you’ve given me this past year. I won’t forget. You all inspire me to improve.