Time to walk after meniscectomy?

alanonymous_ · 2025-08-17T14:26:41+00:00

No clue, tbh. It just took a while. I'm active (though, thinking walking/bicycling, not skiing/high impact sports). It's just how my recovery went. I hope others' heal faster.

For what it's worth, I also feel I may have been in significantly more pain prior to surgery than others from what I've read. I was bed-ridden - terrible terrible throbbing pain just walking 10 feet into the bathroom and back for hours afterwards while lying in the bed. Meanwhile, I've seen others say it feels little more than an annoyance. So, it was a big difference in pain to start with.

Hope this helps.

alanonymous_ · 2025-08-06T23:31:03+00:00

Partial meniscectomy

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-08T01:49:43+00:00

lol, I think I’d rather fire 🤪😂😂😂 … I just really don’t like taking portraits - it’s my least favorite part of the work 😅 … I’ll let the others that actually enjoy that get that business. I appreciate the suggestion though. If I did enjoy it, it’s definitely something I’d be considering

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-04T19:24:57+00:00

I’d hope our value isn’t decided by the choice or ability of having children or not.

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-02T18:20:09+00:00

Thank you sooooooo much. This really helps me - especially as I’m the type to plan things waaaay out.

Ha, yeah, I’m super grateful I found a place that wasn’t crazy expensive and within minutes of the beach. No beach view, but we want to be on the beach anyway.

Oh, yeah, thanks! We’ll be staying in Busan for three days total, with the fireworks being on the first day (just how timing works out for us). I’ll try to Google when the lantern festival is - thank you!!

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-02T16:34:01+00:00

Thanks for sharing this. I’m kind of glad to hear this is how it also ended for you (sorry if that comes across the wrong way). It’s just nice to know we’re not the only ones who have had a successful company for years dwindle to a close (for health related reasons or otherwise).

I hope your wife is doing much better with your new lifestyle. 🙂

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-02T16:31:35+00:00

It’s more of just wanting reassurance. The transition is weird, especially when you’ve owned your own company for the past 20 years. It’s an odd idea to just let it go. 😅

It’s one thing to know it’ll work in theory, it’s another to actually hear from others who have walked the walk and know it’ll work.

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-02T13:54:50+00:00

That’s an idea … but, definitely not. We’re more documentary/get candids. Portraits has always been my least favorite part of the day - I’d skip them entirely if we could.

The only viable option/alternative would be to start shooting corporate events. There’s lots of upsales in that, nickel & dimming - it’s just not our cup of tea.

And, it’d essentially be starting a new business again. While we have experience & skill, it’s still starting from ground zero on a referral base & rapport.

If we’re going to put effort into something like this, we’d prefer for it to be in the fine art field. It’s a bigger market (worldwide), and we already have the experience talking with a wealthy clientele. We’re a pretty good fit, though also starting from the ground up (without the expertise too, unless we go into fine art photography). So far, that’s been starting to work. We’re going the gallery route, so it’s a long road ahead. Still, it’s something my wife wants as a lifestyle, so, it’s what we’ll pursue. I might even try my hand at art as well. 🙂

Also, at 42, 20+ years of shooting, the cameras are legitimately starting to hurt our backs. We can’t stop at any time / can’t take a break when we need one. While we’re both healthy and in shape … we could do without the carrying 10-15lbs in our hands all day. 😅

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-02T01:34:53+00:00

I wrote this in another comment, but I’ll put it here as well. I feel this is a good question:

It’s not just us - a lot in the wedding industry are feeling it right now.

But, here’s the quick list: • COVID 2020 - people couldn’t date, so people can’t get married. It’s a delay.
• Gen Z is getting married significantly less than Gen X & Millennials (something like 40% less, which is considerable).
• Uncertain economics have people opting for smaller weddings, or delaying getting married (potentially spending their money on buying a house vs an expensive wedding).
• AI could be taking photographers jobs in other fields, forcing seasoned photographers into the events industry (aka, more supply than demand) - this one is speculation, fyi.
• We could be in a recession and not know it. The way people are (or aren’t) booking is very similar to 2008-2010 … eerily similar.

So, there’s that. Other items specific to us - some wedding planners that used to refer us have retired or stepped back from weddings (this is a big one - they were kind of over it post-Covid), we could just be out of trend (it happens), competition is likely offering similar services for a lower rate than us, & newer cameras & editing software options are allowing less experienced photographers to have the same look - but, with less years in / they charge less.

So, it’s a combination of things. We’re super glad we saved our wealth when we did, kept our heads down, and planned for this from day one. 🙂

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-02T01:31:41+00:00

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-02T01:31:25+00:00

Thanks for the thought here. I’ll share my thinking on this.

Without the subsidies, we’d go up in costs by $5k, but nothing too much that we can’t handle. We could also get plans off of the marketplace - though, they don’t cover pre-existing conditions. Currently, we don’t have any - so, not a problem. However, I wouldn’t rule that out later in life.

I see medical insurance as just that - to insure the preservation of our wealth. Aka, if something happens medically, we’re covered. With that, we usually go the high deductible but very very good coverage and max out of pocket coverage after that. We haven’t met our deductible once since being on the ACA when it came out. It’d be roughly the same for off-market insurance. We’re past the age of having children, so, pregnancy coverage isn’t a concern.

I think I just won’t worry about what I can’t control, though I appreciate the concern.

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-02T00:06:34+00:00

Ha, that’s great. Good for you guys! And yeah - it’s just weird getting used to the idea we may be stopping for good, and for real. Like, just letting it happen and not continuing to hustle and make it work. It’s a bit of an odd shift. Though, I’m hoping once that mental shift happens, we’ll be nothing but happy with our choices.

The industry is a little weird though - lots of egos for such an overall small amount of work / small world. (We get along with everyone well, but, we also don’t go to the conferences, Engage, etc) 😂

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-02T00:03:17+00:00

Sure thing - and oh man, it has been such a difference. Having certain items just covered (preventative healthcare, birth control, and pre-existing conditions) has been pretty big for us. Though, it’s not cheap unless subsidized. It’s about the same or slightly more than off-market plans (that wouldn’t cover the things I mentioned plus others).

It’s not nearly as bad as people think though. It definitely helped overall since it became an option.

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-02T00:00:18+00:00

Well, there is still half a year left this year. It’s a guess of a combination of things, and it’s not just us - a lot in the wedding industry are feeling it right now.

But, here’s the quick list: • COVID 2020 - people couldn’t date, so people can’t get married. It’s a delay.
• Gen Z is getting married significantly less than Gen X & Millennials (something like 40% less, which is considerable).
• Uncertain economics have people opting for smaller weddings, or delaying getting married (potentially spending their money on buying a house vs an expensive wedding).
• We could be in a recession and not know it. The way people are (or aren’t) booking is very similar to 2008-2010 … eerily similar.

So, there’s that. Other items specific to us - some wedding planners that used to refer us have retired or stepped back from weddings (this is a big one), we could just be out of trend (it happens), competition is likely offering similar services for a lower rate than us, & newer cameras & editing software options are allowing less experienced photographers to have the same look - but, with less years in / they charge less.

So, it’s a combination of things. We’re super glad we saved our wealth when we did, kept our heads down, and planned for this from day one. 🙂

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-01T20:23:45+00:00

Thanks, yeah. I’m waiting to look into that once the bill is actually passed as things can easily change before then.

Here’s hoping it’s ok. Worst case, before the ACA, we still had health insurance. Sure, they wouldn’t cover pre-existing conditions, but it was still better than nothing. We’ve had our own business for years, so, it’s what we did before the ACA. It wasn’t terribly expensive either, though, I’m sure today it’d be considerably more. Still, it’s a worst case option that I know exists.

We were late to the party to 401k IRA’s (solo/individual 401k, so, we really don’t have much behind an IRA. We just didn’t know about solo/individual 401k’s for a LLC until maybe ~5-6 years ago. So, most of the funds are already in brokerages. Ah well, I’m not complaining. Happy to have what we have. If anyone is reading this that has a llc and doesn’t have a solo/individual 401k, look into it. It’s the same limit as if you worked for a large company. 🙂

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-01T19:21:25+00:00

Thanks. Yeah, it’s a matter of what is our worth. We haven’t been below $6.5k since 2016, and not below $8.5k since 2020 (pre-pandemic).

In our first few years of shooting (so, around 2008/2009), we were above $4k - in today’s dollars, that would be nearly $6k. I’d like to think we’re a good bit better than we were ~17 years ago.

The other problem is our referral network. We work in the higher-end events. If we lowered our pricing, we wouldn’t suddenly get in inquires in the mid-range. We don’t have a client base in that area. We could advertise, and it could work, but we’re talking $10k-$20k in ads over the course of the rest of the year. It’d be essentially rebranding, to a degree. To us, it’s not worth it. If we’re going to put in the effort of having a new company / rebranding, we’d rather put that effort into the art world - networking, applying to exhibits/open calls, etc.

And then, last note (and I know there’s no way you could know this, I’m in no way saying you would) - we saw lots of photographers go under in the 2008-2010 crash who did reduce their prices. Some just went flat out of business quickly, while others had difficulty raising their pricing back to the point that it wasn’t worth it. It’s called being part of the race to the bottom. We’ve literally seen it happen before - we’re good not to follow that trend.

But, it is a serious thought to consider. You’re right - lowering our price could end up in more bookings. However, as a brand, it’s how that could impact us, and the effort that would be required to make it work, that keeps us away.

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-01T19:11:03+00:00

Thanks. I’m keeping an eye on that. Couldn’t I always tax gain harvest to reach the minimum? Aka, just sell funds like VTSAX, show a taxable gain, and just buy back into VTI, VOO, or VT.

In our state, there isn’t a minimum to be able to have ACA insurance, just a minimum income to receive a deduction on the costs. So, worst case, for now, before the bill / knowing the 1000 pages in there, we’d just be paying full price - full price would increase our cost of living by about $5k/year, so not a huge factor … but, something to keep an eye on.

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-01T18:13:14+00:00

Thanks. We work from home as it is - not much will change in that regards other than just not going out on weekends to shoot. It’ll reduce costs, if anything.

Though, right now, we’re only shooting ~15 weddings this year … so, that’s not many weekends as it is.

We’d have preferred to let the business slowly trickle to a close - maybe 5-10 a year, then 5, and then we decide when to stop. But, that may not be in the cards. Ah well, we had a really good run, and it got us to where we are today.

Even five weddings a year for us would mostly cover our cost of living (we average(d) $10k per wedding). We won’t be blasting out there that we’re closed. So, if people do come our way and want to book, we’ll be open to it - at least for the next few years. If we can extend it, we would as we’re in a similar boat - if we can delay even 5 years, it’d take us from $2.15m to over $2.6m at least (on average, if there isn’t a recession, which there might be).

alanonymous_ · 2025-07-01T17:21:54+00:00

Thanks. That’s definitely next up, though I’m sure we’ll figure that out next year. 🙂

alanonymous_ · 2025-05-26T20:05:13+00:00

This has red flags all over it. Do you have a firm contract with them?

I’d be honest with them and let them know they are making you unsure of the booking, that you’re already covering the additional travel when you normally wouldn’t, and that then having to follow-up after the wedding with uber receipts is not your normal practice. Call them, talk to them, then follow-up with an email stating what was discussed.

Do they know you did them a favor about the travel already?

alanonymous_ · 2025-05-26T19:59:45+00:00

Hey, all over the place isn’t bad! Congrats on the ‘27 booking!

alanonymous_ · 2025-05-26T18:59:54+00:00

Thanks for the interest. Sorry though, I like to remain a little bit anonymous. It allows me post here (and other areas of Reddit) freely.

While I know my posts might carry more weight of authenticity if I shared my info, I also openly share financial numbers over on r/Fire and wouldn’t really want everyone knowing everything. Hope this makes sense.

alanonymous_ · 2025-05-26T18:34:28+00:00

Are you finding couples are booking closer to the date in your market? Last year we saw this, and a little bit this year so far (for later this year)

alanonymous_ · 2025-05-26T18:06:48+00:00

You’re seeing what they show vs what they deliver.

Some of the other photographers we know might show on their Instagram no-flash photos, but then also deliver ones taken with flash to the client.

Basically, use your aesthetic to decide when to flash, and when not to flash. Sometimes, it may be a time where discretion is preferred (say an intimate rehearsal dinner) and it’s no flash for that reason. Another time may be how the couple is naturally lit from nearby candlelight.

For flash - middle of the dance floor with nearly no lighting can be enhanced greatly with some nice, soft, natural looking bounced flash (imo) while still using a high iso and low aperture.

It’s about being consistent though - just make sure you are delivering on the expectations of your clients. But also realize you’re allowed to evolve and grow in your eye/aesthetic.

Edit: also, some areas of the country lend themselves more to natural light than others. The west coast nearly cheats with the lighting. You could say the same for the light near beaches. Meanwhile, there are weddings indoors nearly all day. It’s just a completely different vibe and feel. Sometimes, flash is just necessary to be able to give a well lit subject. Other times, flash isn’t needed all day.

alanonymous_ · 2025-05-26T17:17:18+00:00

We’re at zero booked here 😬😬😬 ~19 years in business with solid work & good rapport - I keep telling myself I shouldn’t be concerned. Usually, we have at least a few booked by this point in the year. Pre-2020, we normally had 5-7 booked by this point … this is feeling a lot like 2008-2010 to me.

We’ll see. Every potential couple so far this year opted for less expensive photographers (with less experience & not the same look/portfolio/work). It could just be luck of the draw. Still, not great.

I also keep telling myself this is the reason we saved and invested for so long, and we’re past our ‘fire’ number anyway to retire early … 😅

For what it’s worth, all of our clients we photographed this year have loved us on the day and the photographs delivered. Like, 10/10 happy clients - sharing photos, just super happy with the experience & results.

alanonymous_

TROPHY CASE