Archive for the ‘30 Day Challenge’ Category

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Only 3 days left!

Day 27 This month, in great detail

Ok, no I don’t want to write about my month in great detail. Its boring, and frankly I don’t think anyone will read it. So, instead I give you this….

Sometimes I just write whatever comes to mind, its called ‘free association writing’ I used to have to do it in college and high school writing classes, but now I find it helps; more than when I was forced to do it. Here’s what I wrote tonight, inspired by old Italian cinema and the movie, Nine.

Watch this first, then read. Warning: Adult Content

Fergie Be Italian

I want a full day at the spa, mani, pedi, the whole works. I want to feel like everyday I am living in an Italian movie from the 60′s. I want to live all consuming, all knowing, powerful, radical but never apologizing. I don’t feel like I live life the the fullest. I wish everyday could look like a Polaroid picture from the past.

I want to live in Europe for a year, I really want to know myself. I want to be a more fabulous version of myself. I want to sip coffee in an Italian cafe and love with no excuses. I want all consuming, all knowing, passionate, romantic, crazy love. The kind that gives you butterflies in your stomach. The kind they make movies and cheesy romance novels about.

All women want this, we just know better than to admit it. The older we get, the more ‘settled’ we get. Settled in our love lives, settled with our careers, settled with our homes, locations, neighborhoods. I’m in a bit of a funk right now, I don’t know how to get out of it without a plane ticket, many strong drinks and a wild affair with an inappropriate lover.

Or, maybe it’s nothing a good vintage photo shoot can’t fix. Who wants to model? and also lend me an amazing 20′s style house to shoot in?

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Almost done…

Day 26 Your week, in great detail

Oh gees. Do you really want to know. Or care?

The other day, I told you about my day in great detail. So, I’ll try to to keep this short.

Week of July 25-31

Sunday: Marissa’s trash the dress photo shoot in Ray, MI 10-2pm. Come home (to my moms house), upload photos, try to have a weekend.

Monday: Drive back to GR, unpack, upload all photos from this past weekends shoots on the east side. 1 maternity shoot, 1 wedding, 1 infant portrait session, and 1 trash the dress.

Tuesday: Docs appt in morning, edit photos, catch up on emails, work on 2011 promo materials. Supposed to go to a Color Inc seminar but the brakes on my car decide to start making noises. Call auto shop and make appointment for tomorrow morning.

Wednesday: Spend 3 hours and $200 at the auto shop getting car fixed. Not as bad as I thought. Got time to actually read a book (non work related), Kathy Griffins: Official Book Club Selection. Hilarious! Come home, edit, edit, edit, blog post, check social media, emails, talk to Brady, collapse in bed.

Thursday (Today): Errand downtown, stupid gas station charged my card three times for coffee, call bank to resolve issue, bank thinks that my $2,500 camera purchase is fraud, call them back to smooth things over. Camera coming soon!, Edit more, blog posts, social media, redo pricing list, order prints, make guest book and work on wedding albums. Return more emails, run to post office (why are stamps so expensive?), finish editing and mail two portrait sessions. Kickboxing class. Popcorn and wine for dinner.

Friday: Meeting at studio downtown, client meeting at coffee shop, Hanging out with Sarah from Art Van and showing her the city- also little business talk for an upcoming shoot. Come home, edit, edit, edit, work on wedding album. Finalize and order prints and guest book.

Saturday: Client meeting at studio, Edit until Mel’s (former bride) birthday dinner downtown, shooting for fun, come home and collapse in bed.

If you read all of that you deserve a prize, how about a picture? Something from my personal collection…

Flowers in my moms garden I found over the weekend.

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Day 25 Your day, in great detail

Oh wow. You really want to know my day in great detail. It’s a lot. Here we go….

8 or 9am: Wake up, shower or the usual bathroom things.

9-10am: Catch up on emails, check all social media; Facebook, Twitter, blogs. Make to do list for the day if I haven’t already. I’m a list master!

10-12pm: EDIT, EDIT, and more EDITING. Either weddings, or any photos shotts from previous weeks/days.

12pm: Lunch, if I remember. I usually eat and work at my desk.

12-2pm: Run errands if necessary.

2-5pm: Create albums, work on anything creative for advertising and marketing that is not editing images. Do blog posts for the next couple of days.

5-7pm: Finish up paperwork. It’s my least favorite so I save it for last. Invoicing, print orders, contracts, burn CDs, etc.

7pm-on: Kickboxing, pilates, or yoga depending on the day. Then I try and catch up with Brady on the phone, chillax, watch tv… go to bed.

I think the stigma attached to a lot of people that are self-employed, or own their own business is that because they may work from home, doesn’t mean they just sit in their Pj’s all day. Yes, there are some days I don’t throw jeans on till noon, but I’m still working. I’m always working. I don’t quite at 5pm on Friday, or punch a clock. I’m available to my clients 24/7, on vacation, on the road, everywhere.

My job doesn’t have defined hours or even a weekly paycheck, but I love having my own business more than any job I’ve ever had. I work harder at it than any job I’ve ever had. It’s my blood, sweat and tears. Its my baby.

There was a very good article posted a while back on all the work that photographers really do behind the scenes.

http://www.slrlounge.com/business-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-wedding-photographer

This one is good to: http://www.businessofdesignonline.com/a-photographers-day

The average wedding takes about 20 hours of editing time, not to mention countless emails, paperwork and design for albums and CDs. That doesn’t even count the actual wedding day, which usually last between 8-12 hours.

Photographers work harder than you think. We strive to always be better, constantly critique ourselves, and always Dream Impossible. Then, we pass out.

*The Dream Impossible Logo and Slogan are courtesy of TWay Customs Clothing in Grand Rapids, MI.

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Day 24 Whatever tickles your fancy

Baby Colin Cuteness! I had the chance to photograph one of my bride’s beautiful baby boy.

Basically he’s a pretty cool little dude.

Daddy love!

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Rocking out the last couple days of my 30 Day Getting Personal Challenge.

Day 23 A YouTube video

I want to see this movie

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjay5vgIwt4]

And this one

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xitHF0IPJSQ]

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