Like many people here, I'm not a professional photographer. I've had some training, and I love it, but it's not my main job. I do it when I can in my spare time or when I'm going places that might turn out some good shots for myself or for DT. This means that I'm usually shooting when I'm going on a trip or someplace with other people, which also means I have a limited amount of time to stand around shooting pictures of...say...an interesting rock formation or something before the rest of my party gets bored and insists we move along.

So last weekend, I found myself with a few days totally to myself. My boyfriend was out-of-town, my good friend was gone for the weekend and no one else was interested in doing much of anything. I decided to take the opportunity to head to a big aquarium nearby,...

Well, not quite Disney Land actually, but I am moving about an hour north of Mickey's homeland. I just got a job in Florida and I'm excited about it and about the new stock photo shots I'll be able to get there. I'm about 1 1/2 hours from the beach, so I'll have more opportunities to take those kinds of fun-in-the-sun shots.

So, goodbye South Carolina, hello Florida.

Here are a few images I took while I was down there interviewing.

OK, that's my Bon Jovi reference for today, but anyway...

I'm excited to announce that I've broken the $50 mark, so I'm halfway to achieving a payout!

This is the last image sold

Not very exciting, but hey, it got me there.

Sales have been very slow for the last month for me, so I'm hoping things are picking up now.

How is everyone else doing with their personal goals here on DT?

I have to keep reminding myself that art photography is not the same as stock photography. The two do overlap sometimes, but often a photo that sells well here, would get torn apart as a work of art.

I'll never forget the one major rule in my photography classes in college. NEVER photograph flowers, puppies or babies, unless you want the professor to, um, "rip you a new one" if you know what I mean.

The rule was in place to basically keep amature photographers from making the mistake almost everyone makes in the beginning: taking boring pictures of things because they are cute or pretty.

Now I'm finding that the no flowers rule is standing up pretty well here at DT, with the exception of really unique or extraordinary flower photos.

However, cute pet photos such as this one of my new puppy,...

I'm currently living in an area of the country where I don't have many friends or family nearby. This makes expanding my portfolio to include more people shots a little more difficult than it might otherwise be but I'm trying to get in touch with my own "inner model."

I've never, ever been one to enjoy being in front of the camera, and I still don't. Adding to my own natural reluctance to step in front of the camera are the difficulties of trying to set up a shoot (sort of) with a model (sort of) who has to be in two places at once.

Lighting, focus, and well, all that important photography stuff is very difficult to get right when you're behind and in front of the camera.

Of course, after all that effort, I couldn't even fill out my own MR form correctly, but after my second try and ...

The word vacation has taken on a whole new meaning for me. Yes, it means a break from my day job, but these days it also means working to find great stock photos while I'm on my little holiday.

Since I only recently started submitting stock photography, this is a great way for me to incorporate something I love doing – taking photos – and would be doing anyway, with something that hopefully can generate a little extra income.

Before I went on vacation and snapped away with my camera knowing that most of the photos I was making would end up as a small photo stuck in an print envelope in a drawer somewhere in my house.

Now I have a new purpose for all my picture taking, and it's really added even more enthusiasm to my vacations even if I am "working."

Here's a few from a recent trip to ...

I know this isn't much to a lot of you guys on here that have many downloads a day, but I've sold a personal record of 3 photographs today.

I've been selling at least one almost every day for the past week or so, and it's really exciting to see the tally continue to go up.

I haven't been able to put much new stuff up lately, but it's nice to know what I do have up here is working for me.

I hope everyone else is enjoying many, many downloads!

The title of this blog doesn't exactly make sense at first glance, but trust me, there is a point, and it is coming.

I had the chance to head out to a beautiful part of the states for a few days earlier this week. My dad lives in Sedona, Arizona, and although the occasion wasn't a happy one (he was having gall bladder surgery), I managed to get some nice shots and have some fun while I was helping him recover.

But during the two-hour ride home from the hospital where he had his surgery, the sky offered up a gorgeous display. That afternoon's thunderstorm had cleared, leaving behind beautiful cloud formations against the hills and mountains in a fabulous sunset.

Perfect. I mean, it was PERFECT for shooting great landscapes in almost any direction you cared to point your camera.

From minute ...

I've spent thousands of dollars over the years on photography equipment, supplies and accessories as I'm sure most photographers here on Dreamstime have.

Yet, what joy I experience when I see that I've sold a photograph for a whole 50 cents!

I'm very new to stock photography, and I still have A LOT to learn. I'm trying to improve every chance I get, and I'm seeing better results from myself, which is very important and exciting for me.

All of the work seems worth it when I see a sale. And yes, it's just 50 cents, but how wonderful to have someone buy something you've created.

So for those who are waiting on that first sale: savor the moment because it is sweet. And for those who have hundreds of sales: take a moment to remember your first sale and how great it felt to see that little ...