Ecuador Day 3: Is this real life?

There’s no place like Ecuador. I’ve been here on four separate workshops, and it never gets old.  It might sound strange if you’ve never been, but there’s a real magic to this place, with its gentle people and slower pace of life.
Jackie here, again, coming to you from the end of our Stock Photo Expedition in Cotacachi, Ecuador.
Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip:

Photo by Brian Fisher

Photo by Mark Murphy

Photo by Vernoy Paolini

Photo by Marie-Beth Ackerman Cheezem

Photo by Brian Fisher
We’re so accustomed to spending our days typing away in front of a computer screen that being out here in the mountains, meeting and photographing weavers, wood carvers, leather workers, and artisans of all kinds just feels more… real.
It’s like a big “reset” button for life.
Part of that could be the thrill of every day traveling somewhere new, meeting interesting people, taking photos you can play with and print and sell. And, well, part of that could be the five-star Relais and Chateaux spa treatments we get to indulge in on this Expedition.
Wouldn’t it be great if this were everyday life?
It can be, of course. If you decide you want to make a go of travel writing and photography, this life could become your everyday reality.
The key, Shelly told us, is to practice, practice, practice. Which is something you can do whether you take a workshop with us to Ecuador, or you stay home all year.
Although, I have to say that the photo reviews with a professional photographer make a HUGE difference. You can immediately focus on improving certain things, while solidifying your strengths.
And then, don’t be afraid to just go for it. What’s stopping you from getting your photos published and getting paid?
Until you start, the only thing stopping you is you. So get to it!
[Editor’s Note: Learn more about how you can turn your pictures into cash in our free online newsletter The Right Way to Travel.  Sign up here today and we’ll send you a new report, Selling Photos for Cash: A Quick-Start Guide, completely FREE.]