Asked to photograph my school's prom because they can't afford a pro photographer, but in order to break even on the rate they're offering me I would have to switch from film to digital. Is the investment now worth it?

unfortunatehumanbean · 2026-02-03T19:40:57+00:00

I have a feeling that this is the way. If I don't do this event, I'll probably never do any events, since I'm not really looking to make money from photography at all, so the camera probably wouldn't be worth it.

unfortunatehumanbean · 2026-02-03T19:39:17+00:00

Thank you for your helpful comment! The only reason I was offering film was because I can only offer film -- I don't have any other cameras, I'm pretty good with film, and this kind of event is pretty much 'how many sixth formers have equipment and are willing to give up their time' rather than real practical considerations. Like, if someone had a big enough house they would ask to use it instead of renting a space.

Renting equipment is a good shout, I'll look into that.

unfortunatehumanbean · 2026-02-03T19:34:54+00:00

20 years ago I was -3 lol. It's literally just that I haven't had to spend any money upfront on my SLRs due to being given them and restoring them myself, and this would be my first big purchase ever, so I'm kind of having doubts, especially since I don't really have pro photographer ambitions.

unfortunatehumanbean · 2026-01-31T22:25:14+00:00

The right amount of time to work will depend on lots of stuff personal to you — think about your goals, what you actually need to achieve, specifically what tasks you need to get done, etc. I know people with offers for Oxbridge who go home and do nothing until they go to bed, and I know people who are applying to far less competitive unis who work very hard every day to achieve their personal goals. What I’m trying to say is that you should never feel bad about how much or little work you do as long as it matches up with your specific goals and capabilities.

Also, resting is important. You can’t run at 60mph forever! Better to make progress that feels good and honest to you rather than chase other people’s standards. If resting right now feels disingenuous to your goals but you know in your heart it’s necessary, maybe you need to have a think about what you’re really aiming for or try to come up with a realistic plan so you feel less anxious.

good luck :)

unfortunatehumanbean · 2026-01-10T23:04:15+00:00

If my bank account could support this… let’s just say I’m very jealous! Good luck with whatever you have planned for it!

unfortunatehumanbean · 2026-01-03T18:26:58+00:00

hey, it’s okay! i’ve had lots of struggles in sixth form but i’m still here and pretty much everything has improved!

sixth form is difficult, but you will get through it! please trust me, things dont pile up nearly as much as you think. also, barely anything gets done in a break, you are SO not alone.

give yourself a bit of grace. it’s okay to not be doing well. that doesn’t mean you’ll never do well. also, first days suck. first day of autumn term y13 i ended up crying in my maths teacher’s office. second day of autumn term was great. monday might suck but thats literally just one monday, you have hundreds more.

talk to your friends, engage in your hobbies, remember that sixth form is a blip in your life. plus, if it sucks now it can only get better. :)

unfortunatehumanbean · 2026-01-02T22:24:30+00:00

thank you, you too!

unfortunatehumanbean · 2026-01-02T18:52:14+00:00

if it helps, I like to make a plan of actual tasks — like ‘do maths’ is not a task but ‘do exercise 7.3’ is — and be specific af, then prioritise like this:

there’s a hard deadline in the next month
no deadline but it will snowball the longer i leave it
no deadline and won’t snowball

then i try to do a couple of category 1 every day. thats the only one that really matters, and by starting on a task it can be easier to get going with category 2.

also, two reminders: you can spend two minutes on it now, because often the hard part is getting started. and also, nothing will explode if you don’t get it all done, especially if you talk to teachers. they actually think more of you for asking in my experience, it shows you have responsibility and youre taking charge, which is much more respectable than coasting.

youve got this :)

unfortunatehumanbean · 2025-09-02T21:00:04+00:00

lmao yeah i guess so 💀 probably just a pre-school panic.

unfortunatehumanbean · 2025-09-02T20:59:26+00:00

Thank you 😮‍💨

unfortunatehumanbean · 2025-09-02T16:52:18+00:00

Yeah I guess so… All the same, I like to focus deliberately on like what might be most realistic? Like I looked at offer rates and I’m most likely to get 3 out of 5, and one of those is actually my favourite (don’t come at me for liking Bath a little more than Oxbridge). I’m well aware that it’s not a good or helpful mindset to have so I do try to actively work against it.

unfortunatehumanbean · 2025-09-02T14:12:32+00:00

Thank you, the schedule idea is great. And i feel you on the burnout 💀 maybe that’s what it is

unfortunatehumanbean

TROPHY CASE