I really don’t understand how someone who is creative, intelligent, resourceful, and ernest can have such a hard time finding a job. I have spent hour after hour researching online via job searches, craigslist, assisting lists, job placement companies, and even looking up every local business I can via google maps. I counted how many emails I have sent this month alone for jobs: 179 detailed emails catered to each client. 4 revisions of my resume.  

The responses I get? You are over qualified. Bachelors? Sorry, we need a Masters. You have too much debt and are a risk. You don’t have enough experience for this 10/h job. We can’t afford you. You must supply your own gear/car/things and we will not be reimbursing you for costs. Let’s meet! oh wait im going to flake on you/lied about the ad and want your information to sell. 

This. Is. Bullshit. 

The only work seems to be freelance for short periods of time at a low rate or completely not on the books. When major photographers come through town from New York or LA I am the first person they call but a few jobs every once in awhile isn’t keeping food on the table.

Millions of questions flood my mind at night keeping me from sleeping; How can I get through this? What can I sell? Am I missing something or is it just my lack of intelligence keeping me from finding consistant work? The feeling of letting down your loved ones and friends for not being able to take care of your own responsibilities has to be one of the most crippling experiences one can endure. Friendships start breaking down. Depression settles in. This is happening to so many people around me as well.

It doesn’t have to be this way. I know the societal and economic climate isn’t the best right now but that doesn’t mean we need to start lying, cheating, and conning our way in order not to starve. We really can have good business practices and take care of each other. (I know! isn’t it strange you can be ethical and make money AT THE SAME TIME?!?!)

Here are a few things to start with: You can’t ask for a bachelors or masters degree from someone and expect them to work small hours for little pay. No, most unpaid internships for a for-profit company are indeed illegal. Dividing up hours of workers and having them as “freelancers” so you don’t have to cover their medical costs isn’t a smart way to save money; it’s a good way to be a total unethical douchebag. 

To be honest, I have never worked a single job that paid benefits, health, dental, 401k, or had a retirement plan. I may never. It may be me scrounging by job to job for the rest of my life or maybe find enough fed up people to join me in making a good business with ethical practices. I am hoping for that change.

For now i’ll sit here and think of solutions over my cup of coffee and hope. It’s better than staying maddeningly frustrated. 

Wrapped in thought

Photographer: Dan Moore

Model: Jordan Bunniie 

Bang Bang does Halloween. 

Yeh. I live/work with these people. This is a normal day….

and yes: quick edit. ill have finished up later…




 

Cassidy Queerface as Gay Porn Robin in Bang Bang does Halloween

Photographer: Dan Moore
Hair/MUA/Design: Cassidy Warner
www.flashpointcollective.com 

Here is a behind the scenes of a Flashpoint Collective shoot with Dan Moore and The Bears of Blue River

Videographer: Jason Anderson

Photographer: Dan Moore

Yeh. Thats me. reeeeeallly needing a hair cut at the time.

finding a bunch of old photos of myself.

I am now tossing all of my personal work on http://flashpointcollective.tumblr.com .

Come check out my photography and let me know what you think!