Gayle HAs you may or may not know, Rj’s ‘second career’ started with his passion.
Photography.
All the way back to childhood, Rj had a love for the camera. His Dad had an old Minolta camera that Rj used to capture what interested him most – sunsets on Cape Cod during their annual summer pilgrimage.
In 2003-2004 we backpacked around the world (a whole other story I’ll tell you about in the future, I promise). We had many objectives on this trip, one of them being to take hundreds of pictures of the world around us.
Mission accomplished. One year later, a plethora of natural wonders, amazing people, fun adventures, friend visits in Nepal and Oktoberfest, and of course the shots of our after parties with the wonderful Pub owners in Bath, England.
We decided that year to make a calendar for family members of our travels. Each month was a photograph of us in whatever country we traveled in during that month the year before. The calendar was an enormous hit (and great idea for Christmas gifts because frankly, we were broke!).
I think that’s probably where Rj started his ultimate road to photography fame. Every year after that Christmas, we would make a calendar for our friends and relatives depicting the wonders of whatever travel we had done that year. Eventually clients of the construction company that Rj worked for started ask for calendars for their clients! People who saw his photos on our walls started asking for a copy. At the time, the attention was just good fun.
Then came the day we decided to quit our corporate jobs and follow our dream – making money doing what we enjoyed most. Rj’s choice – photography.
The original plan was to develop the architectural photography business. Rj had been taking photos of construction work for his company to use in marketing materials – so, lucky for him when his company wanted him to continue even though he was leaving his Estimating position. We figured that Rj had enough contacts in the construction and architectural business to get a good foundation of clients.
Then we went for two months to Kauai. (Of course there is travel involved!). Kauai was our ‘reset’ plan – after years running the corporate pace, we needed to veg out before we jumped head first into our new adventure.
Well, two months became two years in Kauai. (Again, another fun story for another time). So Rj needed to find something to keep him busy.
Hello. We’re in Kauai. One of the most beautiful places on earth. Pictures galore.
Landscape photography had always been his love, but we assumed that the architectural photography would pay the bills. Until we found out how many people wanted to buy photos of Kauai! A business was born.
Some of the most fun times in Kauai were setting up the EZ-Up tent in the front of the church in Kapa’a and selling Rj’s images. I will tell you, the art show world is very similar to the corporate world on many levels! (Now those stories will take up many future blogs!)
And so the art show circuit began. We started doing shows on Cape Cod when we returned home. Then in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York. Then Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Chicago and Texas.
Then Florida for three months (January, February and March – see how smart we are?)
Rj won awards. He sold to collectors. He made art donations to great causes. He outfitted corporate office buildings and urgent care centers.
He made a lot of people happy with his art. And in doing so, surpassed his corporate salary in six years.
Yes. You can make money doing what you love. In fact, you can make more money doing what you love than doing what you don’t love so much!
We still work our butts off. Each year we get a bigger tent, bigger pieces, more shows, a bigger truck, more ideas for other revenue streams.
And a 30ft. travel trailer so we can go on the road in style. (Another blog for the future!)
Focus. Faith. Hard work. Goals. Scary financial investments. Bad days. Great days. All ingredients in the recipe of doing what you love for money.
But the most important ingredient? A love for sharing what you love with others.
Gayle H
