So bored! Had practically no work since December. Thinking of going out temping.

[duchesse]

Has anybody else experienced a serious drop in volumes in the last months? I'm a translator, and it seems that more companies are having all but the most crucial documents translated in-house by people who say they can translate, or outsourcing to cut-price outfits.

Am getting rather nervous and unsure about how and when it's going to start picking up again. I'm expecting a new baby in August and ideally need to work as much as possible between now and then so I can afford to take a few weeks off.

Duchesse, I'm exactly the same except I'm a photographer. I'm starting to really panic now.
I thought things might pick up after the book fair this week, but instead I've had another book cancelled dues to lack of sales

I keep having nearly jobs- enquiries from regular client agencies where their client suddenly decides they won't have the thing translated after all, or find a sweatshop cheaper option somewhere. And bingo, job evaporates! At this rate I won't be able to afford my bills in January. Luckily OH is happily employed, so we won't starve, but I hate being a kept woman.

Identical to me... I get all excited when an option comes on, but 90% of the time it disappears!
That's such a relief one of you is employed though.
Unfortunately my dh is also a photographer and is in the same position. I can't afford my bills now

God, poor you. I hope something turns up soon for you. What sort of thing do you photograph? Do you have a website where people can buy your photos? A lot of people I vaguely know who are photographers seem to do that, especially if they take general use photos. Between you and DH, you must be able to muster enough for quite a bank...

Me too - i'm an artist / illustrator and work has tailed right off. You can see why really - art is way down the list of most peoples priorities at the moment.

I've been trying to use my skills in other ways to earn a bit of cash. But when i fill in my self assessment form it's going to look a bit poor this year.

hi there - I work on large projects - about 6-9 months at a time. I'm just coming to the end of one and despite a round of networking/touting/drinking far too much coffee with contacts my in-box is very quiet. I keep avoiding the issue by spending more time than I should be finishing by current one but that doesn't really solve anything. I've got about 10 days work definite - and that's it. Financially and personally I could take a (short) break from paid work - a month off during which I could write an academic article would actually be rather nice - but unless I know I have something to start work on I actually find it difficult to relax enough to do that.

I'm an advertising and editorial photographer and I specialise in lifestyle and children. I can't sell as the copyright is usually client owned or tied up with model release as I am commercially commissioned. Dh is a food photographer so has more pictures available through agencies but nowhere near enough.

db is a photographer - he has a few travel pics with libraries but my understanding is that you need an absolute shed load to make any decent money that way. for him it's just an occasional added bonus.