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so busy

I have been getting tons of first time clients in the past month. I've had at least one job every weekend. It's GREAT! With each shoot, my confidence and organization improves. I am fine tuning the details of my portrait sessions to get better results, and require less time post-processing and preparing proofs.

I am so lucky to have a husband who is supportive of this project, and helps me wherever he can. He is my complete marketing department, recruiting his co-workers and acquaintances, and passing out my business cards like crazy. 90% of my clients have come through his hard work, and confidence in my ability. I sometimes lack the confidence to go out and promote myself and my work. It is amazing to have someone who loves me and believes in me to brag about my work and bring in clients. I am so thankful to have him around during baby shoots as well. He is amazing with kids. He will do whatever silly thing it takes to get them to laugh, and kids just seem to love him. That allows me to focus on snapping the picture at the perfect second when their face explodes into a smile. This allows me to take less pictures overall of one pose, and helps me a lot with the decisions when I'm proofing them.

I launched a makeshift website a couple months ago, thinking it would do the job to convey pricing and contact information and show a little bit of my work. I have no flash skills, so it is pretty basic. I think my "non-business" is out-growing my website. I am feeling ready to take the next step and start trying to get business beyond only word of mouth. But I want to have a site to direct people to that I am proud of. I need to find somebody else to do that for me, I just don't have the time to teach myself. I'm sure I could do it, but that is time taken away from taking pictures.

Right now, the biggest obstacle in front of me is choosing a name for my business. I've been using my first name with my last initial because I had to have something to put on a business card. However, this was never what I wanted in a business name. I want something catchy and memorable, something unique and not too cutesy. I've tried to think of something that would be a tribute to my father, because his beautiful photography along with my parents always having the Konica SLR handy while I was growing up is probably what most influenced me to love and pursue photography on my own. But I am having so much trouble making a choice and feeling confident that I will want to stick with it forever. So I can't launch an official website until I have an official name.

Other than the name, there are a few more things I'd like to add to my portfolio before I "go public". I'd like to try some maternity portraits, and do a senior picture session this spring with a young lady who would like to take advantage of the flowering trees, and I'd like the chance to try another newborn session or two. If you desire portraits and are in the metro-Detroit area, and fit any of those categories, leave a comment, and I will send you my very affordable price list, and we can talk about some incentives or discounts for helping me out to complete my portfolio.

Cocoon

I want to make one of these baby wrap cocoon things. There are many available for purchase, but since I am a knitter as well as a photographer I'd like to make my own. I can't find a free pattern anywhere, and I don't want to buy a pattern because I haven't found one that is exactly what I want. It seems simple enough...I've looked at many variations, and figured out what I want. I can't decide on the color I want to make it either. I was looking at these yarns but can't pick a color.

I should have kept better records

I've been planning to register as an LLC with the state for a while now. I spoke with my friend, who does our taxes, about the benefits of doing so. She told me I can claim equipment for the business that I purchased prior to registering, if I have the receipts. I should have all the receipts for the big important stuff, but the question is where are they? Also, I'd like to be able to claim the muslin and other fabric I purchased for backdrops and such, because all together it adds up to quite a bit, I'm sure. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure I didn't keep every single Jo-Ann Fabrics receipt. Too bad. I supposed if I'm going to run an official business, I better get a much better system of record keeping and organization. Hopefully, the benefit of better organization will improve my housekeeping abilities as well!

to watermark or not to watermark?

That is the question. I really hate to have to do it...and I've already made all my photos on flickr small size only, and not able for download. The real concern is not with the general public, my portraits aren't of much value to a stranger on the internet. Sad to say, it is my clients that are pushing me to make this decision. Or rather, the parents of the children I've photographed. I had two sessions this holiday season where I never got an order. I gave them their 4 x 6 proofs, and that was the last I heard. I understand the occasional person, who may decide after seeing the proofs that they don't want any prints. But one client asked about Christmas cards specifically. I even purchased a set of templates to prepare for her. Then nothing.

Since I don't charge a sitting fee, I don't make any income off my time and efforts spent editing and preparing their proofs. As it is, I barely charge enough to cover my cost of printing.

I wonder how diligent your typical drug store photo lab is. I know they all have policies about not reproducing professional work. My proofs do have printing on the back identifying them as such. But, I would imagine it's not that hard to get away with. I don't know for sure that it has happened, but I just find it odd that I never heard from these people.

At this point I'm thinking of the following options:

1. A large watermark across the center of the image deterring any attempt at copying (or framing the proof).
2. A small logo "strip" running the length of the photo at the bottom making it hard to copy in standard sizes without cropping.
3. Charging a session fee as a deposit that will be applicable to the print order. That way, if they never order I am still compensated.

The watermark would be most effective, but I think it is tacky. What does it say that I think of my customers when I give them their images with a giant copyright across the front? I also think it is hard to appreciate a photo like that. The other two options sort of say the same thing, but in a much more subtle way.

Any opinions?

Santa was good to me...

Let's just say I have a four hundred and something page manual to read...
My husband got my mom, his parents, his brother, and our good friend to chip in on the most awesome gift ever for me! Thank you all so much! I LOVE it!

Photoshop

I have never purchased any "resources" to use for Photoshop. I'm talking about actions, or templates, or brushes, etc. Until today. I am currently waiting for my first set of Holiday Card Templates to download. I got them from the talented Angie at Simplicity Photography Designs. Go check her stuff out.

Last year and the year before, I made a couple sets of holiday cards for some clients; but I just used the templates that were offered at the retail store I print with. This year, I wanted something nicer. I am very excited to try them out. I had two Christmas sessions this year, and I know one of the clients wants cards. I'm hoping she likes these.

I am amazed by how beautiful all the templates and design resources are. People MADE them. It blows me away. I consider myself a pretty creative and technical person and I wouldn't have a clue where to start. I'm hoping to someday make my own. I could do the art part...but the logistical .psd file part...I need to get a look at how that works.

I know I will figure it out. I'm usually a whiz at self teaching...except when I hit a wall...I never want to turn to the manual or a book of any kind. So I'm sure I'm missing out on tons of potential that Photoshop has for me by not reading the books I bought. I need to work on that. But who has time to read manuals and guide books when there are pictures to take?