Time for a Leap of Faith?
So I’ve been inspired lately to take my photography to the next level. I’ve put an advertisement into our embassy newsletter offering my services for family portraits and I’m actively researching the possibility of opening an Etsy store.
The problem is ever since I made this decision, I’ve been wracked with anxiety. Can I actually produce acceptable portraits? Will people be happy with them, or despite the ridiculousy low price I’m charging, demand their money back? Would an Etsy store work for me, given that everything must be shipped from New Zealand? How will the impending move to a location as yet unknown affect the store next summer? Will anyone even WANT to buy my photos?!
I’m on an emotional rollercoaster with this one, alternating between excitement and pure dread. Something tells me I need to press on, succeed or fail, but do SOMETHING. I’m freaking out, but willing myself to stay the course. In the meantime, I hope my family can endure my mood swings, and random fits of tears!
observationsofanokie 
Thanks for sharing your thoughts/frustrations over here… it’s always nice to relate with others, somehow… I’d say, just do it… Nothing to lose, right? And if nobody wants to buy/hire you, so what? You would not know the answer if you don’t try… I’ve seen and witnessed a lot of spouses/partners/EFMs changing/adjusting their careers over here… I’ve seen people with “virtual yard sales”, where they manage somebody else’s add(s) for a fee. I’ve seen stay-home moms who’ve began a career out of a hobby of helping other families organizing birthday parties/events… I’ve known people who started just like you, offering their ‘not-so-professional’ skills as a photographer and doing exactly that: taking family portraits, for a few, or even, pro-bono, just to have their names out there [could put you in contact with this spouse, if you want]. I’ve seen hobbies as cake baking, painting, photography, you name it, move up to a real day time job… So, after this very long comment, I’d leave my 2 cents, and you decide what to do with it: just go for it, and good luck!
Greetings from another traveling family!