Zach's Thoughts
Find Another Passion!
Since making a beneficial career move recently I have had several people ask me why don't I chase storms full time. I have also received this same question many times in the past. I felt this topic was worthy of a blog. I have my own opinion on this and this does not represent the opinions of all chasers. I took a moment to list out my thoughts on the reasons I don't make a career out of storm chasing. I think this may be a tough reality for some that are new to chasing and experienced storm chasers who refuse to admit it.
1. The storm chasing family.
Selling your storm chasing photos, video and advertising can make you money but will never create enough money to provide for a typical family of four (5 in my family). Is it bad to make money storm chasing? Heck no! My goal for any revenue my storm chasing generates is simple, I use the funds to offset the costs. My main sources of storm chasing income are photography prints, calender sales and streaming profits. I am now at the point where this revenue will pay for a good chunk of my equipment and travelling costs. With that being said, I don't ever anticipate my revenue to ever be at the level where I can use it to support my family. I want my wife and kids to be able to do the things they want in life, if I relied on my storm chasing profits this would drastically limit their future. Of course a lot of storm chasers are single or live on a modest budget. This leads me to my next reason.
2. Passion vs Profit.
Have you ever known an artist or someone who was incredibly talented at something only to find that when they turned this talent into a career they were unable to reproduce this talent. It happens a lot more than you think. Our brains are very complex and when put under pressure dramatic changes take place. When I am out on the plains chasing a storm I feel as free as a bird. The stress of daily life is the last thing on my mind. If I knew that my and my family's financial lively hood depended on storm chasing I would feel pressured to get that money making shot. This pressure would in turn lead me to make bad decisions and reduce the creative process that allows me to find the best photo. This could even lead to a more severe consequence if I make the wrong turn or based on a pressured now cast I get caught in the middle of a deadly storm. For me, storm chasing is an art form not a job. I can take my time, relax, pursue a violent storm or watch it from afar. I feel that this freedom has led to some of my more creative photos.
3. No tornadoes no money.
Storm chasing years like 2012 will force a storm chaser to find an alternative career very quickly. 2012 was a very difficult year if your goal was photographing tornadoes. We are not in control of mother nature. If your income is dependent on seeing a tornado or not seeing a tornado you could be a very unhappy person. Tornadoes are difficult to see. It took me a full year to see my first tornado and the images I photographed were not something anyone wanted to pay me for. It does not matter how experienced you are or how many tornadoes you have seen. Mother nature can and will decide that, no matter how hard you try, you will not photograph anything worth selling for months and sometimes years. Some photographers are more talented than others and can find something worthy of photographing on any day. Most of these individuals are professional photographers as well as storm chasers. They have found a love or a passion for photography that goes beyond storm chasing. Outside of the monetary problems that a lack of storms can generate you may also die of boredom.
4. More Money=More Storm Chasing.
This topic goes side by side with topic number 3. A vicious circle is often created when an individual attempts to make a career out of storm chasing. No Storms To Chase>>No Income>>Great Storms to Chase>>No Money To Get To The Storms. This problem will snowball the longer the lack of storms continues. By finding a career that you love outside of storm chasing you will create a system that allows you to make money irrelevant of the amount of storms to chase. In turn giving you the freedom to be able to chase an epic outbreak in Kansas without having to worry about running out of gas money. You will be able to upgrade your equipment when you need to and not worry have to sell storm chasing video to do it.
Now I will be the first to admit I stumbled upon the fact that I would never be able to chase storms for a living. In my younger days I did not think there was a choice. Storm chasing was not as prevalent as it is today and there were no famous storm chasers on TV. I knew that I had to find a career that would support my future wife and kids and I always viewed storm chasing as a hobby. With the rise in storm chasing TV shows, webisodes, chase teams, sponsorship's and a million other revenue strategies the idea that one could become famous chasing storms also was born. What a great idea! Make money and be out on the plains year round. I was never influenced by this idea and in turn was forced into the position I am in. I am thankful that I was. I chase storms when I want to. I sell my photos as I choose. I rarely suffer from Storm Deprivation Syndrome (a mythical storm chaser illness that develops from lack of storms to chase) because if there are no storms to chase I am hustling to make money for when the storms return. That is the best part....storms will always return. In fact, I cherish the down time as it allows me to better prepare for a pro longed period of storm chasing. I realize that not everyone will agree with this. That is fine. I understand. This is only my opinion based on experience. I also am not trying to discourage anyone from chasing there dreams (no pun intended). Of course there are individuals that have turned storm chasing into a career, but they are in the minority. I would also bet that they did not start out in that position. In my opinion, chasing storms as a hobby (money making hobby or just for fun) will lead to a more enriching experience out on the plains.
So, what is my career? I am a financial planner. I help retirees navigate the world of finance by protecting their nest egg, health and future. Granted it took longer to develop, financial planning is now my second passion. Storm chasing, financial planning and my family are what makes me whole as a person. In all honesty these three things keep me so busy there is no room for anything else. That is just the way I like it. I often wonder if I will ever chase storms full time if I happen to build up enough money in savings or if I won the lottery. Honestly, I don't think I would. The bottom line is there is no guarantee in any given year that mother nature will provide me with something to chase. I suppose at that point I would be on the hunt for another passion.
