So Long Spark?

I've had a really hard time keeping up with Spark, so as for now I will be taking a little break from Spark. I will still keep this blog up for the past information I've posted, but I will be taking a little break for now.

If I have something awesome I want to share, I just might.  But for now I am going to sit back.

XOXO

Make or Take?

I wrote this article on another blog of mine, but I feel that it should be posted here to help other photographers who may have not seen it.

Enjoy

Do you take photos? or do you make photos?

I would like to think of myself as someone who makes photos, instead of merely taking them.

So what's the difference?

Taking photos would mean that you show up with your camera and you shoot.  

You give the clients what you shot.

Making photos includes what I call the 6 P's.

Plan, Prep, Photograph, Process, Proof, Provide.

Making photographs is far different then simply taking photographs.  Anyone can take a photo. ANYONE.

MAKING photographs takes much MUCH more.

It starts in the planning with the client and with yourself.  You need to plan the shoot, plan the props if needed, plan the wardrobe, plan for the  light, plan for the weather, plan, plan plan.

Then it is PREP.  Prep the props, prep your equipment, prep you knowledge. PREP

Then it's the actual photographing.  This includes photographing with the knowledge of how to use the camera and the equipment and not just snapping the photo.  It's in how to pose, how to use your props, how to work with the light, how to work with the weather, how to work with crabby children and high strung parents.  

Next we have the POST Processing.  

Post Process, doesn't mean running an action and slapping on a texture.  It means adjusting levels or curves when they need to.  It means purging photographs that aren't print quality ie: closed eyes, soft images, etc. 

Proofing.

Client proofing can be a big thing, this is where you can bring in the additional 'moolah'. 

You can proof online, you can proof in person.

If you ever want to up sale...YOU NEED TO ALLOW YOUR CLIENT TO PROOF.

Lastly, PROVIDE.

Provide the images to you client. Provide quality work. Provide a fabulous experience from start to finish. 

This is the difference between simply taking a photo and making a photo.

Let's all be photo makers instead of photo takers. 

My Friend Owns a Shop.

True Story, My friend owns a yarn shop...and she also owns a purse boutique too.  

I've bought yarn from her shop and she has offered me a little bit of a discount.  I'd say maybe 5-10%. Sure I know that the product she has in her shop she has marked up double but she has to make money right?  And she has overhead.  She has rent, payroll, taxes...and on and on.  So she really isn't making 100% profit now is she?! no she is maybe making like 20% and if she is giving me 10% off she is only making a small profit.  That makes me feel bad as a friend allowing her to give me a percentage off, but she does it anyway because we are friends.

SO what does this have to do with photography?  Well nothing, unless you liken it to your business.

Okay so we all have friends who think that we can do their photography for nothing right? Well why do you think they think this?  They see we have a camera.  And I bet you 100 pennies that they think "well it doesn't cost her anything because she doesn't have to buy the camera she already has it, and she can just give me a disc that doesn't cost anything either, really."  Well the thing they don't understand is just like my friend had to buy the yarn, you had to buy the camera.  Sure she has already paid for the product just like you have already paid for your camera but you still need to make money on your investment right?  Now it's not just about the camera you had to buy...you have other overhead too.  Let's talk about what your overhead is exactly.

Camera.(check we covered this)

Camera accessories (lens, camera bag, CF or SD cards)

Computer.  

Editing Software.

Editing Tools. (ie: actions, overlays, textures, templates, brushes, filters)

Supplies. (ie: business cards, paper work: print releases, contracts. CD's, CD cases, files,)

Props.

Backdrops.

Studio Lighting.

Camera Maintenance. 

Automobile Maintenance

Insurance

Business Licences/Registration

Fuel (to get to photoshoots)

Babysitters (if needed)

Pay the Tax Man.

And I am sure I could list more.

So you see you have a lot of overhead right?! RIGHT!

When you tell yourself about ALL these things you start to feel that you can't afford to be the nice guy and do shoots for friends for nothing. 

As a matter of fact you start thinking "I should be charging more."

Then you will really think about what you are charging when you break it down even further.

Say you charge $100.00 but you are giving them 20% off because they are friends.

So they will pay you $80.00

They want a yellow chair in their photo.

You go to the thrift store and find a chair for $5.00. 

and you buy some paint for $5.00

and now you have a cute yellow chair you can use as a prop.

Now you are making $70.00

The location you have decided on is 1 hour away.

You spend 2 hours shooting

and 1 hour driving home.

Now you spend 20 minutes downloading images 

And 1 hour on first round of edits.

you spend another 4-5 hours editing your favorites or the entire shoot.

30 minutes doing social networking about their shoot and uploading their photos to your blog or website.

If you do online proofing you spend another 10 minutes setting up their online proofing.

Now you decide that you are going to just give them a disc because, "heck they are friends"

10 minutes making a disc.

Oh and now you're so nice..you actually deliver the disc to them.  Say that takes you an hour.

Their shoot has now taken you. 10 hours and 10 minutes. 

So you have now made. 

$6.93 cents an hour.

And guess what? We didn't even figure in the gas that it took to get you there and back and there and back again.

So you probably made less then that.

So what is this all about?

It is about business.  You are in business to make money.  That is why people go into business.

Sure you can be nice and give your pal a discount, but before you do so really think about how much you are really going to make in the end and if it's worth it to you.

Don't feel bad when someone asks you "how much do you charge?"  Tell them how much you charge.  If they are super special to you, sure make an exception.  If they don't want to pay what you are worth then ask yourself this "are they really my friend."

I know that I value my friend...the one I told you about in the beginning and guess what? I don't let her give me a discount.  Her hard work I value to much and I know that she is in business to make money and as a friend I am there to support her.

Good Luck.

{and no post is ever complete with out something pretty to look at.}

Getting in the Groove.

I don't know about you, but I know for me it's been tough getting back into the groove of things after the holidays are over.  I personally feel like I just took a break, and the break wasn't long enough...but alas everything has to come to an end and everything has to start again.  SO here we are 2012 and many of us are trying to find the groove again or heavens....adjusting the groove.  Adjusting the groove is me.

So let's talk about how we can get GrOOVy!

1. Set your goals.  

No it's not too late to set goals if you didn't already.  It's not to late to adjust those goals...And you should always adjust your goals as your business see's fit.

2. Organize yourself.

For me this is a big one!  And when I say big I mean like the entire state of California big.  

Organizing means getting your calendar together, new price lists, contracts, websites, blogs....and as my friends mom says "The Twitter"....aka social media.  

This for me also means cleaning out old photos.

The start of the year is when I go through my previous years photos (2011) and purge my computer of the ones that I will not use for promotional for 2012.  

All client shoots have been wrapped for 2011 so I don't stress about this. 

HOWEVER I do back them all up on discs and file them nicely away. 

3. Prioritize. 

Decide for 2012 what is the most important to you to focus on...this can be in your goals too.

BUT for me it's more then that.  For example I won't shoot more then 2 client shoots a week.  This allows for me to have time to focus on my own work, and goals and growth.

And make sure when you prioritize that you've included some "me" time in there too.  

4. Start Shooting

One big groove finder is to start shooting again.  And sometimes starting the new year, unless there is a wedding or newborn not many clients are booking.  This is because they had their family photos taken in the fall or before Christmas and they are not thinking about it right now.  But come spring they start thinking about it again.  So you might be sitting for a moment or two and all you find yourself doing is editing.  So go out and shoot.  Grab the neighbors kid, or dog and get to work.  I'm serious!  Shoot something that you want to shoot and that you can get excited about..this is sure to get your mojo going. 

5. Take a Breath.

Before jumping back in for 2012 take a moment to breath and get ponder of the year ahead, where you are going and where you have been.

This may all seem like a cake walk, but let's face it sometimes it's easier said then done.  So don't beat yourself up about it if you fall off track.  Start again..and again and again.

YOU CAN DO IT! Now...get to work. 

To get in my groove for 2012 I grabbed my daughter after school and ran into the back yard and snapped a few.  Now I'm grooving!

Being Better

Spark the Shoot started in Fall of 2011, BAD TIMING I THINK.

As fall is family season, then it goes into the holidays and let's be honest, I've been bad about updating Spark.  HOWEVER 2012 brings changes and a new resolution to be better.

With all this, means I need help to make Spark the Shoot successful.

If you are interested in being part of spark this is what you need to do and what we are looking for.

Unique and inspiring work to feature.

Beautiful imagery.

Fun themed shoots.

Studio Features (What does your studio look like)

What's in your camera bag features.

How you edit features.

Product Vendors.

Shoot Wardrobe Ideas

Giveaway products.

Tutorials.

Photographer Spotlights (about you's)

Creative Writing with Photography emphasis. 

What WE ARE NOT looking for.

Unprofessional edits

Poorly composed work

Out of focus images

"New Photographer Bashings"

Tacky and Tasteless approaches to photography.

If you would like to be part of Spark email sparktheshoot@gmail.com with your entry to be featured on Spark.

I am also looking for regular contributors that will be given access to post often on Spark.

Happy 2012

A Studio Pull Back.

I don't do a ton of studio work and when I do it's only children.  

I know how to place studio lights and I know what is right and what is not.

I however don't enjoy the harsh look of studio lights and the giant catch lights that you can get from soft boxes.  So I do things a little different when shooting headshots. 

I enjoy a more natural catch light and a more natural light on their face.  So I did a pull back so you can see where I place the shoot through umbrellas when I do headshots.

The tips of the umbrellas are about 18 inches from the subject and I shoot through the too lights. 

Inspiration

I take inspiration from everything.  I enjoy finding inspiration from various cultures.

Here is the concept behind this shoot....

Ashley's Grandma is from a Native American Tribe and Ashley looks like an All American Girl.  So this was a All American Girl going after her Native American roots.

I call it, the All American Girl. 

I ADORE IT!