The disappearing mid-level job market and the plight of workers.

[GoldStone]

^^^ This.

$3K over 14 week period equates to $214 per week. I bet she can easily find a job that pays way more than that. She just chooses not to. So much easier to sit back and enjoy the summer, while collecting $3K for doing nothing.

[hystat]

My wife is a school photographer and makes about 25k a year gross. Inside that there is a 12-14 week period in the summer where she is laid off.

aren't a good half to 2/3rds of weddings in the summer?
seems like wedding photography would be perfect for a photographer

[m3s]

EI payments equal about $3000 more dollars

If we don't get it? That's 3k in less spending we will need to do. That's less spent at businesses, less collected in income tax at the end of the year.

IMO short sighted to say the least.

What makes you think that $3k isn't needed more somewhere else, where it could equally stimulate the economy?

aren't a good half to 2/3rds of weddings in the summer?
seems like wedding photography would be perfect for a photographer

How would that stop her some collecting EI though? I'm assuming all the hobby photographers I see lately aren't declaring the extra income.

[carverman]

aren't a good half to 2/3rds of weddings in the summer?
seems like wedding photography would be perfect for a photographer

Yes, but a school photographer may not know the details of taking pictures for weddings.
This is a specialized field that requires expensive cameras, darkroom/developing skills, touchup skills maybe,
and most of all...a proven track record with albums of wedding photos taken already to show potential clients.

It's not as easy as sitting a kid on a stool at school, telling him to smile while squeezing the shutter,
and sending off the photos to get developed by a school photo specialty place.

I'm sure there are other issues with wedding photography besides just showing up with a Nikon 35 mm,
and snapping away, not to mention the experienced competition out there.

A lot of people can play guitar but not too many are classified as top notch guitar players.

[hystat]

well, guitar players aren't born strumming. wedding photographers aren't born snapping perfect angles in soft focus.

rather than collect EI, I'm simply suggesting people develop their skill set. Work as a wedding photog's assistant to learn the business.

[Four Pillars]

How would that stop her some collecting EI though? I'm assuming all the hobby photographers I see lately aren't declaring the extra income.

Because of the new rules, she won't have any EI to collect (or not as much). These suggestions are ways to replace that income.

[crazyjackcsa]

Find another job? Man! Why didn't we think of that! She'll just go down to the job store and get a new job!

I get it, the poor are lazy and aren't interested in working.

That may be your reality, but it isn't ours.
Do some reading on southern Ontario between Windsor and London. It isn't a hotbed of activity, that's for sure. Double-digit unemployment across all sectors, depressed wages and terrible prospects across the board.

She has training and some of the equipment to handle weddings, but it's a lot harder than just deciding to be a wedding photographer. In fact the digital revolution in photography has severely over-saturated the market for photographers. A full half of the people she works with are wedding photographers. It isn't money you can count on.

I don't expect any sympathy or understanding I'm only stating it isn't as cut and dry as it has been made out to be.

[Spudd]

But if it's really that hard to find a job, then it shouldn't be a problem to keep collecting EI. All they're saying is that you need to accept a job that's not ideal when one is offered to you. Am I missing something?

[GoldStone]

She has training and some of the equipment to handle weddings, but it's a lot harder than just deciding to be a wedding photographer. In fact the digital revolution in photography has severely over-saturated the market for photographers. A full half of the people she works with are wedding photographers. It isn't money you can count on.

How about home summer camp for early grade kids? Heck, make it a photography-themed summer camp. Post a sign on the bulletin boards in a few elementary schools. See how much response you will get. Two kids at $200/week puts you well ahead of EI game.

[DanFo]

25k a year is barely above min wage it isn't hard even in Chatham to find a minimum wage job..sure it might be in a walmart or mc D's but it is work ...... I agree with the new rules If you can't budget your money for the year when you earn it all in less than that... well then your going to have to learn..The new rules are still good for the person who unexpectably gets laid off but when your job is cronically seasonal and you know it learn to save or find a new profession......something is wrong when people are paying less than 800 into it each year (like your wife) and taking out 3K each and every year.....that is clearly unsustainable...( I know of many who earn 50K + seasonally and go one ei when they request to be laid off)