I've had a great year, photography-wise. Portraits rolled in faster than I could get them done at some points!! You guys are AWESOME. As the year closes, I'm thinking of things that I want to do for 2011. Some goals, not resolutions. Just the word "resolution" makes me think "yeah, THAT's never gonna get done!" I have some basic ones that most photographers will relate to -- faster processing times, more organization, bigger, better everything. I have some others that are more personal. Many of you have heard me say "Why would I want to do studio work when I've got the world at my fingertips?" I still hold that to be true. I would much rather be out in the "wild" than restricted by four walls. However, the past few months have given me the urge to have my own space. I would love more than anything to have a space just FOR the space. I would love a place to meet clients in, store props, and do my work so that when the work day is over I really can leave WORK and come HOME!! I have this problem with separating the two. Sometimes you'll find me at the computer at 2am, working. Why? Because I just can't get the work out of my head long enough to go to sleep. It's a curse. :P
I want, I want, I want.
I want to do more video+photo slideshows. I want to incorporate these with weddings, especially. In the near future I hope to restructure my wedding packages to include these slideshows. I've had great fun playing with my slideshow software, building up my music library, and watching slideshows on big screens, so now it's time to unveil that to you all in a big, big way!!
As much as I HATE CDs (you've all heard the rant), I do want to include a CD of proof images with some sessions and weddings (depending on the package chosen). This would include very low-resolution images large enough to be used on the web and for viewing, but not large enough to be printed. My intention is NEVER to be a shoot&burn photographer. I want for your product to be a 100% quality professional product from start to finish. I feel like handing a CD over for you to print at Wal-Mart completely ruins your professional experience. Professional custom portraiture is all about the experience, from the initial consultation to the delivery of your amazingly gorgeous professional print. If you are to receive a CD and print at Wal-Mart/Snapfish/CVS/etc, you will likely get a print that has been tampered with. You may get one that has been "color corrected". You may get one printed from a printer that isn't calibrated, or from a high school student who doesn't know anything about the correct exposure or color -- all he knows is how to press the "on" button. I don't mind selling CDs to print off 4x6 images for scrapbooks, passing out to friends & family, etc, but I do feel that the prints hanging on your wall should be of a professional quality. Why else would you come to me? :)
Back to the studio thing, I'd love to have one for proofing sessions. That's a good dream to have!! I want to be able to set up a proofing session with you approximately two weeks after your session, sit down in my comfy studio, turn the lights down, and see your reaction as you're seeing your baby's sweet expressions larger-than-life and true to color. I have offered in-home proofing for this reason, but I find that many aren't interested in in-home proofing (even when you get a discount for ordering during your proofing session!).
In 2011, I want to book more weddings. This past year has been a great year, portrait-wise, but I LOVE weddings. I love the happiness, the joy, the love. I am usually smiling non-stop on the day of a wedding and it's truly because of how ecstatic I am for the ones saying "I do". I hope in this time "off" during the holidays that I can re-vamp my wedding structure and come up with loads of new goodies. I just need a brain breather and some time.
I do love all of you, my clients, friends, and mentors. You help push me to be better!!! Don't worry about all of this; I just needed somewhere to let it out. I'm still chugging along and this will all just force me to be a better photographer to reach my goals and dreams.
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