So here we go. Deep breath...

So I'm turning the Lejog blog (ooh nice rhyme!) into a record of what I hope will be my own journey into photography as a career. Under no illusions, this is going to be hard, but the Lejog trip showed me I'm really up for this. Since getting back I have been working out next steps and thinking about what I need to do. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not actually just spending my redundancy time sitting round, lying in, drinking coffee and recovering from nights out. Not every day anyway ;) But I must confess, it doesn't really feel like work! However I think that can only be a really positive thing and is showing me that I think I have a passion for this beyond just having fun, and I can make it happen.

So key things at the moment are:

1) learning more and more about photographic theory, which means reading, asking anyone who knows anything lots of questions (sorry if you are one of the people I keep hassling!) and continuing the modules on the Online course I have started. That is proving challenging, fun and incredibly useful as it is making me think much more about what I'm trying to achieve with every single shot, to understand why things work out and not just leave it to chance and hope. Then there is getting sharper with Photoshop and other post-processing tools. All essential skills. On the positive side again, figured out watermarking today :) And then big question is what do I specialise in. I say big question, but I really love doing Sport and I really love doing Portraits. And cityscapes! And landscapes! And pets! But much of the advice I'm getting is to focus on becoming really good at a genre, and I think that is right. Decisions, decisions.

2) working out a business plan. In some ways this is more straightforward, in others it is really tricky. The Marketing side of it I would like to think I can crack ;) Still, needs me to sit down and map it all out. But am making some headway, have created my own web domain and Gerald is putting together what is looking like a really ace website for me! Really can't wait for it to be finished (no pressure tho, mate!). But then there is a whole host of other things to work out and this is the trickier bit, not least because I don't know so much about setting up and running a business. Been too cossetted in the corporate world! But it's also exciting and I have loads of great friends who do run their own businesses, and I just know they will help point me in the right direction (massive hint there!!). Actually since redundancy all my friends have been just brilliant in helping and advising me. Really appreciate it :)

So enough ramblings for now, but I'm going to leave you with one question, the business is I think going to be called Markham Photography (Friday evening decision in the Canal Bar with some of the finest marketing brains Newbury has to offer), but am I gonna be Dave Markham, (Photographer) or Widge (Photographer)?? I love the nickname Widge, but is it right for this? What do you think?? You decide...