Time To Put On Some Big-Girl Panties and Deal With It (MDTBL, #2)

This past work season has been particularly taxing on me, and I've come to the conclusion that I just can't do it anymore and need to find a new job.  I can't be a school portrait photographer for the rest of my life.  I'm embarrassed to answer when I'm asked what I do for a living, and this job has taken my passion for photography and crushed it.  I don't feel like doing it for myself anymore, some days I don't even want to look at a camera.  The disadvantages of my job are overwhelmingly disproportionate to the benefits - I'm not guaranteed work 365 days a year, I travel long distances (I'm paid 42 cents for every mile I drive, but only after a 50 mile deductible & that's not enough to cover new tires, oil changes, and other basic vehicle maintenance,) dealing with school age children who have no regard or respect for their elders, their peers or themselves and are socially inept, dealing with staff and administrators who aren't much better than the children, bending over backwards to please these kinds of people only to be treated like dirt or an inconvenience, walking into my office to find everyone in a bad mood 90% of the time, being told I'm to trust my company with booking me hotel rooms only to be told at the last minute that nothing's available...the list goes on.
There are days I love my job, but they have become few and far between.  Not only am I the one behind the camera, but I am also out on the road representing my company.  I'm expected to walk into every job with a smile on my face and prepared to bend over backwards for the people who have hired us.  That usually doesn't come hard for me, but it's getting to be with every mile I drive, every building I walk into, every time I click the damn shutter on the camera.
The main reason I've become so discontent is because my job does not challenge me in ways that would make me a better employee and all-around person in the long run.  I face insignificant challenges every day that irritate me.  The bottom line is that I don't usually have to use my brain and I'm missing that.  Now granted, I'm going to miss the flexibility of my job - plenty of time off in the summer to sit by the pool or go to the beach and the half days I work while getting paid my full rate.  But when your full rate can't pay the bills, something needs to change.  I've spent my entire twenties partying my ass off and pissing away my money.  It's time to put on my big girl panties and get a big girl job with benefits and a 401K.
I've put my resume back together and have a few professionals going over it to help me polish it up.  Once that's done, (I'm hoping by the end of this week,) I will be cranking it out to anyone who will read it.
I have a feeling this particular road is going to be a long one and I'm a little terrified to start down it, but I'm excited to start a new professional life.