Emily & James Engagements
In December I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Emily and James, who are set to be married in the Washington, D.C. LDS Temple. They were so great to work with, especially when I needed to reschedule due to being ill. Emily hails all the way from Australia! Her family will be flying in for the big day and I can't wait to meet everyone. James, originally from Michigan, seems like such a keeper. They were both flexible and laid back but gave me plenty of direction and ideas for how they wanted their session and ultimately their wedding coverage to go. I can't wait to see them in a few more months and share the images from their wedding day!
Friday 5
1. What kind of insurance do you use to protect your equipment?
As a member of the Professional Photographers of America, I have insurance provided by PhotoCare that covers my equipment loss due to fire, theft or my equipment breaking. I am also enrolled in the Indemnification Trust program, which protects me in the event of digital image data loss, my inability to be at an event or session at a certain time, missed images, and even client dissatisfaction. It feels good to be protected!
2. What piece of equipment would you buy that wouldn't have a place in your camera bag on a daily basis?
Hmmm... this is tough. I love a fisheye lens, but their uses are limited, as they don't work well for portraits. Also, I'd love a super-wide lens. Mostly for taking pictures of my home and my DIY projects. Again, a wide angle lens would never work for portraiture, maybe weddings, but the cost vs. use would be too great. I'd rather invest in equipment that would benefit me from a business standpoint.
3. What is your least and most favorite aspect of shooting a wedding?
The least favorite? The pressure! A wedding cannot be rescheduled, so the fear of my becoming ill, getting stuck in traffic, or anything going wrong is a giant stressor. As for on the job, missing a shot, missing a "moment" - I can only be in so many places at once. The long hours are tough, but I am grateful that all of my couples have taken care of me! They always make sure I am fed at the reception and enjoy myself! The best part of course is being part of so many intimate moments for a couple on their wedding day. I love being with the bride before the ceremony. I love being there to document the first time a groom sees his new bride. Also - I love the food! Who doesn't love a taste of wedding cake as part of their job??
4. Why is it that you no longer include the digital files in your package?
It is my goal to provide my clients with the best final product that I can deliver. I simply cannot do that by giving away my images to be printed by unprofessional photo labs. While they are no longer included in my package to clients, they are available for purchase at very competitive rates. It is still possible to obtain the digital images of your favorite poses from your session!
5. What are your thoughts on the new D4 camera body, just announced by Nikon?
More than I paid for both my current camera bodies and my husband's used car COMBINED. Not in my future, let's leave it at that! Someday... when I strike oil.
Learn from my mistakes!
There are a few things I hold most dear to me. These are the things I dread losing. My husband, my daughter of course, and -- my computer. In such a technology centered world, don't you find yourself lumping in your computer, cell phone, or cameras into your prized possessions? A few weeks ago, the worst happened - I thought I'd lost my hard drive.
There are a few ways in which a hard drive can fail, break or be damaged. A power surge or mechanical drive failure (it breaks, or just stop spinning/working) are the two leading causes. When I attempted to turn on my computer one evening to work and it wouldn't turn on, I assumed the power supply to my system was broken. My husband, who works on computers for a living (and is therefore exceptionally handy to have around) took it apart to diagnose the problem. A few hours later, my husband approached me slowly. And quietly. This disturbed me for a number of reasons and I was left speechless when he said to me, "You may want to say a prayer because I can't get either of your hard drives to work."
Of course this happens right before Christmas as I am trying to finish up client orders so they can make and purchase gifts for their families. It was a nightmare! In my initial panic I emailed a few local data recovery centers, interested in a price quote. I told them the situation - that my power supply had gone out with a vengeance and in turn blew out the tiny circuit board on the hard drives. My face went white when I received a response - $799 - $1400. Well, at least it's a taxable business expense? Hurray?
In an effort to make an already long story shorter, to save my hard drives it cost us $60. $30 for the new part (the little green circuit board on the top of a hard drive) and $30 for rush shipping. My husband replaced the part and within 5 minutes my hard drive was back up and running. I cried. I danced. I jumped on my husband and threw my arms around him. I hugged my little girl. My optimism was not for nothing!
So - here is the question I am sure many of you are asking. As a professional photographer, or at least a tech savvy lady - didn't I have a backup?
Yes... and no. I had a backup, but I did not have an external backup.
I used my main drive to store my files and used a separate hard drive as my mirror. However, because of the power surge within my machine it knocked out BOTH drives - the main and the mirror. If I had the other drive as an external (thus a separate power supply) this very likely would not have happened. I thought I was being so prepared and efficient by having my backup and mirror - I was wrong. Very wrong.
How did I solve this problem?
I am now operating my main drive, an external backup and I'm using an online backup storage service called Backblaze.
While my external helps in the event of a power surge or a main drive mechanical failure, Backblaze helps protect against both drive failure, power surges, fires, toddlers, and the end of the world. The best part? It's only $5 a month for piece of mind and unlimited online storage. Worth every penny, especially knowing how close I was to losing everything. When you're a photographer, or a even a mom or dad with a camera, that phrase could not be more true. My pictures, my memories - they're everything to me.
So, learn from my mistakes. How are your files being stored and protected? Are you covering all your bases - think worst case scenarios and how your computer would fare. Don't let a situation like mine happen before you evaluate what needs to be done!
There are a few ways in which a hard drive can fail, break or be damaged. A power surge or mechanical drive failure (it breaks, or just stop spinning/working) are the two leading causes. When I attempted to turn on my computer one evening to work and it wouldn't turn on, I assumed the power supply to my system was broken. My husband, who works on computers for a living (and is therefore exceptionally handy to have around) took it apart to diagnose the problem. A few hours later, my husband approached me slowly. And quietly. This disturbed me for a number of reasons and I was left speechless when he said to me, "You may want to say a prayer because I can't get either of your hard drives to work."
10 years of personal images.
2 years of client images.
Every song I've ever downloaded.
Photoshop, my precious Photoshop.
Home movies.
My journals.
Of course this happens right before Christmas as I am trying to finish up client orders so they can make and purchase gifts for their families. It was a nightmare! In my initial panic I emailed a few local data recovery centers, interested in a price quote. I told them the situation - that my power supply had gone out with a vengeance and in turn blew out the tiny circuit board on the hard drives. My face went white when I received a response - $799 - $1400. Well, at least it's a taxable business expense? Hurray?
In an effort to make an already long story shorter, to save my hard drives it cost us $60. $30 for the new part (the little green circuit board on the top of a hard drive) and $30 for rush shipping. My husband replaced the part and within 5 minutes my hard drive was back up and running. I cried. I danced. I jumped on my husband and threw my arms around him. I hugged my little girl. My optimism was not for nothing!
So - here is the question I am sure many of you are asking. As a professional photographer, or at least a tech savvy lady - didn't I have a backup?
Yes... and no. I had a backup, but I did not have an external backup.
I used my main drive to store my files and used a separate hard drive as my mirror. However, because of the power surge within my machine it knocked out BOTH drives - the main and the mirror. If I had the other drive as an external (thus a separate power supply) this very likely would not have happened. I thought I was being so prepared and efficient by having my backup and mirror - I was wrong. Very wrong.
How did I solve this problem?
I am now operating my main drive, an external backup and I'm using an online backup storage service called Backblaze.
While my external helps in the event of a power surge or a main drive mechanical failure, Backblaze helps protect against both drive failure, power surges, fires, toddlers, and the end of the world. The best part? It's only $5 a month for piece of mind and unlimited online storage. Worth every penny, especially knowing how close I was to losing everything. When you're a photographer, or a even a mom or dad with a camera, that phrase could not be more true. My pictures, my memories - they're everything to me.
So, learn from my mistakes. How are your files being stored and protected? Are you covering all your bases - think worst case scenarios and how your computer would fare. Don't let a situation like mine happen before you evaluate what needs to be done!
Ordering Deadlines
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I can't believe the winter holidays are almost here. As such, there are a few dates to note so that my clients can be sure to have their images before the Christmas holiday:
December 11
If you currently have an online proofing gallery, your selections must be made prior to December 11th in order to guarantee your final being images being ready before Christmas!
December 20
This is the last day you will be able to order prints from your online galleries to ensure they will arrive before Christmas Day! Shipping is only 3-5 days, but it's not unusual for things to get backed up around the season!
As the season comes to a close, I am so thankful for all the clients I was able to serve this year! As the winter months roll in, my sessions will be limited to indoor newborn/child photography but I look forward to scheduling families, couples, seniors - you name it - in the Spring!
.
The Erker Family - Vienna, Virginia Photographer
Despite it being a downpour outside, I made the most of the soft light inside with Melissa and her family a few days before Thanksgiving! I've mentioned in the past about how much I love candid newborn and family photography and this is the epitomy of that! I loved how they forgot I was there, just interacting with each other as a picture perfect family. It enabled me to really capture some sweet, natural moments.
Friday 5
1. Do you ever plan to offer "mini" sessions for a reduced price?
I have offered mini-sessions in the past, but no one took advantage of them! =) Clients typically prefer to pick their own session date (usually not the case with mini-sessions) so booking mini-sessions can be difficult - clients can cancel/want to reschedule, the times/dates available may not work, the location may not be ideal, etc. It isn't an idea I have completely abandoned, so perhaps I will cook something up in the future.
2. Why do you shoot with Nikon and not a Canon?
My research behind my first big SLR camera purchase was this - "Wow, I love the way my friend's pictures look. I'm going to buy their camera so my pictures look like that too." Yep. That is exactly what I did. I purchased a Nikon and now it is just what "I know" and why I remain loyal to the brand!
3. What might wannabe photographers not expect from shooting a session?
For me personally, it's how sore you'll be afterward! I have horrible joints and knees, so following a long day of shooting a wedding, and even just an hour session with a family, I am beat. By the end of the night my knees are throbbing and my thighs are feelings the burn. This may or may not indicate I am in horrible shape...
4. Do you ever sell your unedited proofs to clients?
No. It would be like a baker selling a cake without frosting. I only want the world to see and view my work at its best.
5. What have you learned this year about running a business?
So much! It's been a great year and I feel very successful, grateful and ready for a break! =) I have managed to really perfect my workflow and work out the kinks with my policies and procedures. Loving my work and doing what I love is very different from being a businesswoman. This year, those two things worked much better together!
Have a question, curiosity, business or photography question? Submit it below! (Submissions are anonymous)
Web forms generated by 123ContactForm
Kent & Lee are engaged! - Occoquan, Virginia Photographer
Lee and Kent are engaged! What a wonderful night for our session. The lighting was just brilliant and I loved our backdrop overlooking the Occoquan River at Occoquan Regional Park. It was great to have Lee come to the session with so many fun ideas. Even Kent had requests of his own and it really helped them personalize their engagements. I'm so looking forward to learning more about their wedding day and wishing them nothing but the best! Here are a few favorites of this sweet couple:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
