My head is buzzing.

Two weeks today I will be waking up unemployed for the first time since I was 13 years old, very nearly 19 years of solid employment. Well, I say unemployed, self employed actually, but I won't class myself as that until I have a lot more jobs in the diary for the year than I do now. When I grow up I'm going to be a Photographer, or at least that's the plan...

So what has driven this moment of madness? Premature mid-life crisis perhaps? It's certainly possible, after all I am the male of the species, late to mature and therefore probably keen to revert to type through the adolescent yearnings of such a crisis. Hopefully not though, I prefer to think it is drive itself that has got me to this stage, as well as a large serving of dissatisfaction. For a large part of my life I have been involved in a career in management, that for the most part was going well and accelerating onto greater things. But life happens, sponsors move, companies change and all of a sudden you find yourself dropped into a gun fight. With the cast of The Un-pronounceables (or was it expendables?). Armed with a knitting needle. My Dad always taught me that if you think you've taken something as far as you can, you should try something else. Never be afraid to go a different route, do everything to the best of your ability. But don't tread water. If you ain't going forward, you're going backwards.

So that's what has prompted this little switch in the path my life is taking. It wouldn't be possible without the support of some very special people, mostly my Mum, but also friends and colleagues that have re-assured me that the pictures I produce are decent enough to sell. I hope they're right. Mostly I'm excited by what lies ahead. In many way's I'm also clueless, my plan is as loose as it is organised. I've put as much infrastructure into place as I can; website, blog, webshop, twitter, facebook, Instagram, advertising, business cards - the list goes on. I've even managed to get myself published, although not paid just yet. What's scaring me most though is bookings, or a lack thereof. I know a certain amount of patience is required, but when you are used to working in an industry where everything happens yesterday it is a different change of pace!

I do have plans though, I'm starting to get enquiries and even bookings for the Wedding photography and the motorsport photos are starting to gain some exposure (see the published comment). Photographers in the business tell me the next few months are key for the Wedding side of things, so here's hoping and I've still a month or two before I apply for my motorsport press passes, so perhaps I just need to hold my nerve, sit tight and remember what they said in Wayne's World, or was it Field of Dreams?

So what's the plan if it doesn't work? Well, then I will do something else, but lets hope that's a bridge I don't have to cross.

Two weeks to go.

Two weeks until my Photographic odyssey begins.

Two weeks until the start of the rest of my life.