- Kim
- Every morning I wake up with a head full of things to do. I scramble around trying to put them in lists of importance all while trying to keep the peace within my little brood (trying to recall everything I've learned and read about parenting at the same time.) I love being a wife and the quirks that come with having my man forever. I love to be creative and thrive on crossing off my to do list. I strive to find balance and put first things first which brings me PEACE & JOY and allows me to sleep so much easier when I do. I think that one of the secrets to being HAPPY in life is to find that balance. I'm learning how to be kinder to myself and learning patience in progress. Everyday, through the thick and thin of life I'm trying to turn my heart towards heaven and remember what's really important.Oh, and I love to eat, so much so that I love to exercise too.
1.30.2012
My worth.
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GOOD FOR YOU!!! You are a mother of 4. You didn't just lie in bed with mascara smeared. You did plenty even if you never got around to showering. You had a very accomplished day-another day being a mother. Well done and don't feel the least bit concerned about taking a slower day. Your body needed it. Think of it in investing in more energetic days to come. I try to take a slow day at least once a week. It's genius because then when I'm having a fast day, I can go really really fast. I don't even bother with Pinterest much even though it has amazing things on it and I love it. I barely get to my blog. I love facebook because I can post my thoughts and move forward and I like to get on there and see all the folks I think are great. What you are worth Kim is the world is a better place with you in it. Your childrens' and hubby's life is a heaven on earth because of you!!!
ReplyDeleteYou should charge for your photography for a few good reasons. Number one: (and you are beyond amateur but consider this) there are many amateur photographers out there charging folks and there is a market for amateur photographers simply because of the fact that most growing families like mine cannot afford professional grade cameras and will pay someone basically, not for their talent but their camera. I'm a pretty good point and shoot photographer with some editing skills and so my brother, who doesn't have those same skills but has a professional grade camera can shoot a bunch of photos of my family, send them to me raw and I can fix them up. That kind of thing. Amateur photographers I know are doing deals all the time like "$30 for 30 minutes", etc. That's a lot of pay, when you think about it and it's a bargain for the family getting priceless photos.
Intermediate photography. So, maybe you are this one. You are a brilliant photographer but you haven't been in "the biz" for much time. There is a customer base for this as well. Charge more than $30 for 30 minutes. Do family photos and birthday parties but also more significant events like weddings, funerals, births, etc.
Master. Open a studio. Charge up the wazoo. You can do it.
So anyway, those are my thoughts. Don't be afraid to fail. You already have amateur and intermediate in the bag because you're already doing it. Opening a studio right now is out of the picture because you don't have time! But you might later. So I would stick with the intermediate range and start charging. Anyway, I hope this doesn't sound bossy. This is just my 2 cents. Ignore it if it is not helpful.
Love ya.
Alicia,
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU. You are so kind and so sweet to nudge me. I've charged a few times already but I've never charged enough. It's scary to charge, cause then I can't mess up? I've mostly done family, how do you charge your friends your family?
Can't wait to hang out soon.
love ya too!
You can't charge your immediate family. You just do it because they are your family. However, I would definitely charge extended family but give them between 20-30% off for being cousins, aunts, etc.
ReplyDeleteNow that we are past family-CHARGE YOUR FRIENDS and everyone else. You are in business. Charge. Require people to "book" you well in advance to come to their event. Now the deal is, you need to set up hours you are available. And you need to offer some flexibility for big events like weddings, etc.
In terms of a photography website, that can eat up all your time. Don't worry about updating it all the time and making it better than everyone else's photography website. Blah. Just get your contact info. on there, hours of availability and samples of photos under different categories: babies, weddings, pregnancy, family, birthdays, etc.
Once your site is up, let people know so they can share it. I'll share it on my Facebook page.
Here is a suggestion/example of prices and how you'd communicate what you'd include:
Family Package: 1 Hour indoor/outdoor photo shoot at location of your choice within the Tri-Cities for $65. Add comprehensive CD of your photos that you will then own for $25. Or, order prints at individual cost for cost of print plus $1 per photo for shipping & handling.
Something like that. Offer CDS of the photos. People don't want to order prints as much as they want to share their photos online.
Watermarks: protect all your work with a watermark on your photography website. Then, when you sell a CD of photos to a client, be sure to include a watermark as well so when they post the photo online it spreads the word. However, some photographers get carried away with the watermark. No one will want your photos if your watermark is insane. Just very small and tasteful, in the corner for the ones that the client is purchasing. But for the ones online that are not purchased, large, center watermark to protect your work.
Anyway, I'm happy to talk more about it. When we hang out, ask me about my Dad. I'll give you some input as to why I have the ideas I do.
Anyway, you'd do great as a photographer. And it'd be a good job to have as a secondary income because you can set your own hours to work around your family's needs.