Business Talk - Family and Business Separate.

Your family and photography go hand in hand. After all for many of us, the photography bug really hit once we had our babies! But when running a business it's important to have boundaries! I know that the majority of my readers are moms enjoying their passion and exploring a creative outlet while trying to bring in some income (I'm in that category too) but that does not mean we shouldn't be wise business woman! Some things I'm thinking about are small and others a little more major. Here are three things I believe every photographer small or big should be doing right now! And believe me - I am no expert. I'm most often learning by trial and error but as I do, somehow it feel more complete if I can share it!

1. Your own space! Not everyone can have their own office (I understand that) mine is the office/ slash guest-room and not at all the creative workspace I dream of! Maybe you don't even have that much... You can still have something thats your own! Do you have an external hard-drive only for your work? The hard drive is a necessity for backing up your work. Do you have an email account solely for your photography? Do you have a file system to keep track of clients, paperwork, etc.? Even if it's only a corner of the closet, make a little space thats specifically for your business!

2. Keep the $$ Separate! It's important that you know how much you are making. And you can't even begin to figure this out if you don't know where your money is (thats a whole other post coming soon) I feel like it's important that I see my hard work grow and that I have the freedom to use those funds as I want (even if thats just to help support my family)! Open your own bank account, in your name. We have our family account and I have my business checking and savings accounts too (this can be just a personal account if you do not have a business license yet). I really like having a C & S account. All earnings deposit into my checking account and from there I can transfer a percentage to my savings to help me save for big ticket items like a new camera or lens or workshop. And remember all those things I just mentioned are investments back into your business and should be treated as such. Bottom line. Have your own account, keep track of your spending, know where your money is! Next week I will break down how to know what you are really making.

3. A secure investment? No investor ever takes a risk on a business with out determining it to be a good and profitable opportunity. What would happen if you dropped your camera in the ocean or if it was stolen? If you get a grain of sand in your camera and jammed the shutter (can you tell I've done the last one) do you have the money to go out and replace it tomorrow? Will you be happy to do it? I think not! Be a smart investment and insure your equipment. I pay about $35 a year with no deductible and everything is covered from my camera to memory cards, lens, flash, batteries, all of it. If my camera bag was stolen today I could go out tomorrow and replace everything and not have to stress one bit (except for maybe about what was on the memory card).

Being a great photographer is of course the first crucial step in being a successful business, but if you are not business savvy the longevity of your business will ultimately suffer.

Happy Thanksgiving!

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.

- Joahannes A Gaertner

My $25 Billboard

They say you have to hear/see new information 3 times before it registers into the mind for immediate recollection. Well I've taken that to heart and I want to make sure that the people in my neighborhood are seeing my name. I go to preschool, Cosco, Safeway, swim lessons, the studio, gym, dry cleaners, Nordstrom, the library and church with whatever else in between... Some of these several times a week. All of which have potential clients who are just dying to find a great photographer like ME! *wink*

The idea really started to penetrate when I started noticing one particular vehicle. It stood out and somehow I seemed to see it everywhere. Thats when I decided I wanted to stand out and catch peoples attention too. I found a great little shop on Etsy called JK Vinyl and asked to have one made to my specifications. She did a great job and now if I just run enough errands I'm bound to have someone see me at least 3 times. And the great thing is... If I got just one client from sport'n my decal, it will more than pay for itself!

I don't know if I can think of a better way to spend $25 that has the ability to get my name out right where I want it to reach! Contact JK Vinyl and get your name on too!

My only word of caution... Putting it on your car is a 2 man job. I was excited and didn't feel like waiting for hubby. With know one to help place it I found my decal a little off kilter. I'm telling myself it's more of an attention getter that way.

My 1st Reshoot...

While we wish that every client shed grateful tears when seeing how our hard work forever captured the soul of their little one and then plunk down the Benjamin’s to prove it by ordering multiple canvas in larger than life sizes.... (Sigh.) That is just not always going to be the case! Likewise, we (the photographers) will not always be on our A-game. It's inevitable that off days will come; picking ourselves up from those off days (in my experience) can be the hardest part. It's so natural to have such a personal connection... How can I not take it personally it's my work, my creativity, my expression, my... business. And yet it's because it's a business that it so critical that I learn to turn the personal feelings off and click the business woman on. That however, is so much easier said than done! Let me tell you about my personal experience...

I was contacted a few months ago by a woman looking to pay for a session and disk for a friend that she could give to her at her baby shower. This great friend and the baby shower were all located in another state, but the mommy-to-be lived here. Awesome enough. Sometime after receiving the gift and very close to the due date, they called to schedule. I squeezed them in despite being over booked (after all, I’d been paid months in advance). I explained that I would just need the $50 deposit to secure the appointment, but that it would become a print credit after the session. They didn't like this very much but I stayed firm. In the back of my mind, I was worried that maybe they did not have the funds and that perhaps my request was a hardship.

Upon arriving to their home I quickly realized that funds were certainly not the issue here. Everything went very well, I was extremely pleased with the images I was seeing in preview. There was only one negative and it was a big one, they didn't have a printer in their home to print their contract, and they didn’t email me to let me know this until I was already in route. I usually have extra contracts in my camera bag, but didn’t that day, meaning I would leave without contracts. At the end of the session the couple was more than nice, they expressed that they did not want their baby on the blog (they don't even send friends and family pictures of their newborn via email) and that they were in no hurry to see the images, so however long it took was fine for them. They assured me that he would print the contracts at the office the next day and get them in the mail.

Flash forward one week. I postponed working on this session while waiting for contracts and being ridiculously behind due to over scheduling. (Whoa. Has this been a tough lesson to learn!?!) I decided that even though I had not received the contracts I should start working on the session. As I start to go through my first round of selecting, I realize that there is something VERY wrong. The images goes from 1 to 266 and the next image number is 511. I am missing half of the session! Image number 266 look like this...

And then it skips to the very last image of the day. We spent half the session upstairs and the other half down stairs... It's the downstairs half that I am completely missing and that includes all the family images. I searched and searched but they were gone. I have no idea how or why this happened (if you know PLEASE tell me). I checked back though preview about every 2 to 3 shots to confirm exposure was correct... and everything looked great. Why it wasn't recording the data is beyond me.

I only promise 30 images, and I definitely had gotten 30 good images from the first 266 shots, but I was missing all the family images as well as many other creative shots we’d come up with, so I didn’t feel good about giving them just 30 images from only half the shoot. I called the family and left a very apologetic message explaining the circumstances and that I would like to have them at my studio that Saturday or come back for a reshoot after the holiday.

He called me back almost immediately and instantaneously went for a bullying tactic. He was degrading and rude and told me, if I wanted to make this better, I would come tomorrow morning all bets were off. He went on to tell me that this is not what you expect from a professional photographer (I agree) and how their baby is changing everyday and this is a great loss for them.

I have to interject a minute... seriously, I have so many amazing clients who would have been so understanding. They would have seen it as a free second shoot and opportunity to get even more great images of their child. Don't forget that I had 266 images from the session. More than enough to call it good. Back to the story...

After a big scheduling nightmare, a reshoot is arranged. Once again I pull up to the amazing home on the top of the hill. This time it's typical Northwest weather and it's poring. I get up to the door to see a note reading, “I'm nursing, please wait here if I don't answer. Will come down when I can.” They want me stand out here in the rain and wait with thousands of dollars of equipment in my hands (the sad thing is, I was planning to comply). I knock and to my surprise the door is answered with in a minute. He answers the door and I just smile and small talk and apologize and try to break the ice. He mentions that I am early (it was 10 minutes or so).

me: 'Yes I am. I thought about waiting in my car but thought you might appreciate if I get set up now so we can start right on time.'

him: 'Well I'm going to finish my lunch in the kitchen'

me: 'Absolutely! You go right ahead.' Big Smile

him: turns toward stairwell, 'Jane, Leah is here but she's early so you go ahead and take your time and just relax up there and don't worry about coming down till after 12:30'

me: pick my jaw up off the ground- turn and go get set up. All set up...wait...wait...continue to sit in their living room staring at the wall and wait... 40 minutes later they bring the baby down.

It went on, but you get the picture. I was shocked at the arrogance and disrespect that this couple showed me all while smiling at me. I kept thinking, “if it had been any other family... ANY OF THEM! Why this one?”

But I got through it. I shot the second set and now could easily give 30 pictures from each time as I'd originally planned when I realized what had happened. I had hoped that in having this technical error, my true colors could really shine as I impressed them with just how far I was willing to go to right the wrong. Oh yes, I'd envisioned how fabulously my wrong was going to turn out. And although that didn't seem to work in the least...I think you still have to try. They are still the customer and I truly believe that the customer should (not always) be right, but next time I'll be able to say with no regrets that they will be better suited with a different photographer.

It was bound to happen someday. Something would go wrong and a reshoot would have to follow. This one didn't turn out as I'd hoped and although I'm NOT wishing any more technical mishaps (knock on wood) if another opportunity arises hopefully then I will be able to prove just how great my little business is!

It's so easy to be a great person when everything goes right...true character is revealed when everything goes wrong!

Inspire Me Friday with Jodie Otte

Jodie Otte of Black Horse Studio in Maryland is the talent behind the Similac add campaigns. If you've watched anything on Hulu lately, opened Parent magazine or watched daytime talk shows, chances are you've seen her work! Jodie has been published in The New York Times, Fox News, The Big Book of Babies by J.C. Squares and thats just to name a few. If that wasn't enough to impress your socks off (and I know it was) she is also incredibly brilliant on the business side of things with a true talent for making the passion you love a thriving business. To top it all off Jodie is a genuinely giving soul willing to share her vast knowledge and encourage newbies into the right direction. I am so proud to say that this weeks spotlight is on the incredibly talented Jodie Otte!

How would you describe your style?

I try to be realistic, classic, but with deep rich tones. My goal is for the viewer to find a warm “peace” about my images.

What's in the bag?

Nikon D3. I’m constantly going back and forth between lenses. Right now, I’m attached to my 24-70/2.8 since shooting a major commercial gig with it recently. However, I am usually attracted to my primes – 85 and 135.

Do you shoot studio or location?

I have a historic 170-year-old studio located in the beautiful rolling hills of Northern Maryland in a very equestrian area. I love to be able to have the option of shooting inside the studio and on the property surrounding.

Can we get a peak into your studio?

I would love to show you my current studio but I’m moving to a new location in January 2010 on 8 gorgeous acres. While I have enjoyed having my current studio, I happened upon this new building recently and couldn't pass it up. I’ll update with pictures on my blog in the near future.

How long have you been pro and how did it start?

I’ve done photography off and on for 10 years, but 6 years ago, I went full time. I used to paint portraits in oils and pastels when I was younger; this was just a natural progression of things.

How do you market your business?

Word of mouth is huge. I love to let my images speak. I’m not a salesperson at all.

How do you present images to your clients?

I do online galleries and utilize collections to help clients decide how to order. 95% of my clients come from at least an hour away. To my surprise, many come from other states. Because of this, I can’t necessarily bring them back to the studio for ordering, but I do give an option for in person ordering.

How do you like to display in your own home (and will you show us)?

I like big prints in my own home. Unfortunately, my kids’ portraits are outdated because of course, I never have time to photograph them ;) Here’s a view of my living room.

What has been most beneficial in helping you grow?

Realizing that I’m a business, and to always act as one, not letting my emotions get in the way.

You obviously have a fantastic sense of business!! Where does this come from?

I started my first successful business 13 years ago in the medical field. When I decided to become a full-time photographer, I had already worked out all my beginners’ mistakes in that business, and it was a fairly easy transition. Owning a business should be the same concepts across the board. Income vs. expenses vs. profiting is what I’m about. I’m not about to have the life of a starving artist.

What are the biggest mistakes you see new photographers making?

I unfortunately see so many photographers get into this and think “wow, I made $200 for doing something I found fun” when in reality – that $200 is not profit; they are making less than minimum wage, not realizing how many hours they really work, because they just don’t understand basic business management. With that mentality, they will never ever be a booming successful business. I think all new business owners should take some business management classes. If you don’t have a good business management foundation, your business will eventually crumble.

Where might we find you when you're not shooting?

Enjoying my family – my husband of 15 years, and our 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter -- Up at the barn riding our horses or down in Cape Hatteras.

Be YOUnique

I was trying to think of a title for this post you are reading now and I got very excited because my little mind came up with that title all on it's own. Who would've ever thought to put YOU for the U in Unique? We'll let me tell you, 160,000 other people. I really thought I had come up with something original but I didn't. It's been done before. Does that mean I copied said 160,000 people? No. I googled that title after I thought of it. It just so happens that creative minds think a like.

Where is this going you ask?

When you are taking pictures do you look for the opportunity to imitate exactly what another photographer has done? When you look at other photographers sites, are you looking to copy or for inspiration because there is a difference. I'm not asking to be mean (or because I'm some amazing photographer who's never done it - I have) but because I honestly don't want any photographer to lose the most important asset in their business, themselves! When we look to imitate instead of create we lose the Art, the Value in what we do. Would you want to buy a fake Van Gogh for the same price as a real one? That being said, I know he wasn't the first to paint sunflowers or the stars. It was how he painted them that set him apart from the other painters.

Now I want to make one thing very clear. I have copied. I have seen an image, loved it and looked to duplicate it. I can think of one very clear example of that. My friend Heather did this great pose where dad is holding on to baby by the foot upside down, I loved it and I copied it, I since had a friend tell me that she saw mine. She loved it and she copied it. So I am just as much part of the cycle as the next. But as I have continued to grow, I've realized that when you duplicate, it can never bring the satisfaction as when you CREATE!

It's hard to be and feel original now days. Since the invention of the digital camera everyone and their kid has become a photographer. It's hard to find locations that haven't been used or poses that haven't been done. If you use the same location as another photographer does that mean you're copying? No, unless you intentionally went there to try to make your photo's look like theirs. I could use the same location over and over again because do you know what does change? My subjects and what they bring to the table. A good photographer poses their subjects according to their personality. If I tried to make someone pose out of their persona or comfort zone, I won't get the results I want.

For a while I didn't look at another photographers website or blog because I didn't want to be influenced in a shoot. If you're more in the imitation category rather than inspiration, I'd highly recommend doing that. But today as I was preparing for a shoot, I drew a blank. I knew the locations I wanted to visit but that was it. For some reason I could not think of angles, lighting or poses. So, for the first time in a while, I went to another photographers site for i n s p i r a t i o n. I knew it was inspiration rather than copying because I didn't retain any of the poses I had looked at. I was doing a senior shoot and I looked at family photos. But nonetheless I looked, I was inspired and had an amazing shoot.

It's also important to realize that there are trends in photography just as there are trends in what we wear. Anyone can follow the trend, but it's the gal who puts her own spin on it that really knows how to work it! As you start out and feel unsure you will probably gravitate more toward copying then inspiration (I will admit that I did). I challenge you to ditch this style as quickly as you can and promise that when you do you will finally see the true confidence kick-in. I have realized that there is a certain style that I just gravitate toward. Has this style been done before? Only at least a thousand times, but it's still mine and it's what I love. And each day, each shoot I try to go out and own it more and more as my own artistic expression.

My mom always told me Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. While this may be true with younger siblings, it does not apply to business. Step back and evaluate your creativity. Are you simply doing what's been done before? That's fine. Just work it, and own it! Are you always trying to come up with new ideas and feeling the vibe from your subjects? Great! Are you scoring sites trying to study other people's poses and finding the trendiest props? If so, again I encourage you to not be influenced. Step back and see what changes you may need to make in order to be more creative and better photographer. Be YOUnigque! ;)

And for some *inspiration* 35 Beautiful Photography Websites.

Q&A WEDNESDAY

This weeks Q&A is devoted to this HUGE question that every photographer has at some time...

Do you have any hints/tricks for photographing children? Every age has their difficulties. Namely 2-3 year olds? Sometimes they are shy, too rambunctious, won't look at the camera, crying. Also, young siblings are my ultimate nemsis at the moment. I can't seem to get a 1 and 3 year old (general ages), to do any sort of interacting together without one or both of them crying, running away, etc. Let alone look at me and smile. Any great tricks that have helped you?

Hahaha! I don't know if I'd say I have GREAT tricks? I'm constantly reaching back into the bag to try something else. Okay lets see... A lot of these ideas came from other photographers and often their wonderful books too.

1. You gotta EARN IT FIRST! Before you even take out your camera become friends with the family and kids. Learn their names, give them high fives, compliment their cute dress or awesome hair do. Kids love compliments just as much as the rest of us. You have to get them back into their comfort zone. Go down on their level and look at them eye to eye. If you are in their home ask them to show you their room. When you feel like the ice has broken a bit, and you've become friends, then take out your camera. Instead of being scared or shy, they may be interested and excited. SOMETIMES taking a quick picture and showing it to them can help break them out of their shell. Sometimes things would be better if you didn't give them that privilege, all just depending on the child. :)

2. SILLINESS! I have found that the best thing I can do is be ridiculously and utterly silly! You may feel embarrassed but the kids will love it and the parents will eat you up because of it. When you're shooting just the children have a parent (the sillier of the two) stand behind you and tell them to pretend to do silly things to you. Don't be hesitant to bring toys or puppets to make them laugh. I placed a squeaky toy on my lens for a shoot this Saturday to keep the attention of a 6 month old but I soon had the whole family laughing as they watched my uncoordinated attepts to squeak the toy, press down the shutter and hold the camera still.

3. The NEW factor! Kids LOVE bubbles and it can make for a good prop too or a clean duster to tickle the kids' noses. It doesn't have to be fancy, sometimes all you need is a new element. When kids are having fun they tend to get along with each other better. Before you ask the siblings to pose together use your Jedi mind trick. You love your brother don't you? I bet you're a good older sister huh? Show me how much you love each other. Give them a hug! Children want to please adults and it helps if you tell them how much it would make you happy to see them hug. Something else I've learned is that you need eyes in the back of your head. While you're taking pictures of say, mom and dad, be on the look out for the kids in their natural state. You may just get a better picture while they are least expecting it than if they were posed. With all this said sometimes everything you try still doesn't work. You still can get a great picture of a child crying or running around. If that's the child's personality then what would be more fitting?

4. PREP THE PARENTS! It's also important to prep the parents and tell them not to get stressed out. Once mom's stressed the whole family is. I've seen so many shoots go south fast because mom starts getting stressed about the kids refusal to sit, hug and love on each other. Next time the kids are starting to act out, pay attention to the parents and see if thats whats setting it off. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to ask mom and dad to step out of the room for a few moments. Politely explain that you've noticed that kids often open up best when know one else is watching. When they see the results they will thank you for the suggestion! Plus when mom and dad are out of the scene you can talk to the kiddos about making a really great picture to surprise them with... This always seems to work for at least a few frames.

5. PERFECTLY PEZ-ERIFIC! I'm not kidding, the Pez machine is magic!! I'm working up quite a little collection so that the kids can pick who they want to smile at. You have to trim down the sides just a little and they fit right into your hot shoe. Just make sure you have a large supply of the yumminess to go with it!

6. Know THE LINGO! It helps a lot to know the really popular songs and characters that kids are in to. Sometimes I will email mom before the session to ask what the kids fav characters, movies and shows are. I become EXTREMELY cool when I start singing the song from their favorite morning cartoon!

7. SHARE IT! Let us know what works for you!!!

Show me your Bokeh!

Here are our bokeh submissions!! Thank you!

...................

From Claire...

From Leah...

From Noelle...

From Heather...

Sent from Kalli...

Thank you SO much for submitting images! This crew has got bokeh down! It's really appreciated. Our next one is going to be all about colour!! I will do a few tutorials in the next 2 weeks to help with really popping color, so start looking for color and thinking about what YOU want to submit!! We may even make our next one a contest with a PRIZE!!!