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um….

let me try this again…..

Here are the 10 most-stressful jobs in America in 2012:

1. Enlisted military soldier
2. Firefighter
3. Airline pilot
4. Military general
5. Police officer
6. Event coordinator
7. Public relations executive
8. Corporate executive (CEO)
9. Photojournalist
10. Taxi driver

9th!!! WOW!!! But the competition for being a Photographer is great now today than say 9 years ago. I have seen a great decline in business in the past 3 years to say, it is tough for a Professional Photographer to stay above water in today’s easy availability of a “good” camera. There are many who do not own even a Professional Series Camera, but a “good” camera and going the work I am doing. Technology has made it easy!

I would add to the final of this blog, if  you are going to hire a photographer make sure she/he is a registered business paying taxes and has business insurance!

I hope your New Year is off to a great and wonderful start! Hope to see you soon~~~

Intro to Entrepreneurship

April 17, 2011

Entrepreneur Interview

I had the opportunity to interview Lesley Knox. Lesley is a professional photographer in Omaha. I greatly admire Lesley and her work. I hope to emulate her when I have my professional photography skills obtained. Lesley loves photography. My sense is that she loves what she sees from behind her camera and she loves capturing “the moments.”  It’s more than snapping pictures of someone or an event. It’s capturing the emotion of those moments and truly using the photographs to tell the story.

Lesley’s target market is brides. She loves shooting weddings. She finds that bridal fairs and word of mouth are the best ways to attract customers. When she decided she was ready to start out on her own, after mentoring with another professional photographer for two years, Lesley used word  of mouth marketing and did twelve weddings her first year. Lesley does not have a formal business plan and has used boot strap financing the whole way through. When looking at what to charge her clients, Lesley did her market research and placed her prices somewhere in the middle of what others are charging.

I learned that the challenges I expect to face are the same challenges Lesley faces today. Aside from getting her name out there, the two biggest challenges Lesley faces today are the fact that everyone out there has a digital camera, not professional grade, but still enough to make people think they can shoot special events with the cameras they have. Some do this to save money; ask a friend or relative to take the wedding or senior pictures. Another aspect of “everyone has one,” is that people try to pass themselves off as professionals, and it makes it harder for lesser known photographers to establish credibility in the marketplace. Lesley said it helps to be a member of the Better Business Bureau, be registered with the state as a business, and carry business insurance. Word of mouth is powerful. Doing what you say, when you say you will do it is essential. Honesty and integrity and passion make an impression that lasts.

Lesley gives the kind of service I hope to achieve. She goes beyond the role of photographer to lend a helping hand to brides, to change a diaper for parents attending to other children, to help with pets and special props. Lesley listens to what her clients are saying both with words and body language. Some families may want very formal, posed studio portraits, others something more fun and relaxed. I had the pleasure of having Lesley take family portraits for me last spring. I was a newly single mother of three children. I had been married seventeen years my home was plastered with photos. Every family photo I had, had my ex-husband in them. I treasure those photos from happy times, but I needed to take them down. I needed something happy with just the four of us, and our dog. Lesley hit the ball out of the park. We did outside shots. Fun shots. Happy shots. Hopeful shots. Lesley heard what I needed and went above and beyond to deliver. The photo session in and of itself is a good memory. I want to give that to others. I want to capture the essence of a moment for others to keep and cherish as much as I cherish what Lesley did for my family. Lesley said that during the Great Depression, families went without shoes or new clothes, but they got their family portraits done each year. I want to be a part of helping families preserve memories and moments.

What I took away from all the information Lesley shared with me, is that I can actually do this. If I keep doing what I am doing, and keep learning what I am learning, I will be able to get where I want to go. I am happy to be in this class, and I will most likely enroll in a few more entrepreneurial classes so I feel more prepared for the business side of pursuing my passion. I do intend to have a business plan. I don’t know if I will choose to pursue an SBA loan or if I will stick with boot strap financing. I don’t know how new or innovative another photographer will be, but I do know that the honesty, integrity, and passion Lesley talked about never go out of style.

Second, this week I took on an adventure. Selected some pictures I have taken on the side, as “Stock” portraits. There are many different online sources in which to sell your stock on. So….why not give it a try since business is a bit slow and the extra $$$$ could be well used.

The response was not want I had expected and certainly had me doubting my photography abilities…..but are not all artists their own worst critic???

The first company was just a try, but was not the one I really wanted to go with to begin. It was the easiest to post too, once I figured out Firezilla. They crashed down 8 of the 10 images submitted. You had to have 7 of 10 approved in order to become their “client.”

Then I tried iStockphoto……looking at some of the pictures they had available for stock purchase, that I would not have a problem…..they also only required 3 pictures for submission.

The response was this…. “At this time we regret to inform you that we did not feel the overall composition of your photography or subject matter is at the minimum level of standard for iStockphoto. The photographs provided in your application should be diverse in subject matter, technical ability and should be your best work. Think conceptual, creative and most important think Stock photography. Try to avoid the average eye level push the button perspective of a common subject. Try and impress us, we want to see how you stand out from the crowd. “

These are the pictures I have submitted for stock………please feel free to tell me your thoughts!

Check out Alex’s Senior Video……….  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o-jtsGFbhY

Call today to schedule your Senior Portrait Consultation!

402.490.7853

Jaesha was a happy little one on the day of her 6 month portraits.

Visit www.LesleyKnoxPhotography.com for information about baby portraits and more.

“

I am writing this blog in memory and thanks to a good friend, Glenda Epperson.

I could never thank her enough for all she did to help me get my business off the ground. I met her at a bridal show while mentoring under another photographer. She was wonderful and I knew I had to get in touch with her. This would be the last show at the Scholar Ballroom. Her show had grown so much that it would not longer fit in their grand ballroom.

Glenda inspired me, as I assisted her with bridal show preparations and getting vendor emails sent and postcards & posters to them. She knew brides like the back of her hand and could tell you the best way to get them into your booth, WOW them and leaving them wanting to come and see more. I could not see why she would want to help me or why I was doing so much to help her. At one point we moved her office from the basement to the upstairs, sorted through nearly every piece of paper and de-cluttered. I normally do not assist this way with other people, so why with Glenda. Little did I know that in assisting her, that I would gain a friend. And not just any friend, a christian friend.

Glenda became a good christian friend to me.  When she was diagnosed with cancer that was growing in her back, I assisted her while in the hospital bed and listen to her talk about how great the Lord is.  She would tell me, “if the Lord is ready for me now, I would go.”  Her faith could move mountains and her beliefs for fulfillment could do the same.

Once day, while taking Glenda to her radiation treatment, she told me that she was not feeling full. Thinking about her conversation, I assumed she meant by her stomach.  It was her heart! She said that she would attend service, play for the music and leave not feeling full. Glenda’s love for the Lord was great!!!! But she needed more, I told her I would pray for her.

Each year, for four years, Glenda would call me the morning of the Big O Show to see what time she could pick me up. We would attend the O show together.  Glenda was always interested in seeing what new businesses were there and share information with all the vendors about her upcoming bridal show. She was a people person and loved to talk to them about their venues. The last O Show, this past October, Glenda told me on the way home that she was full. I was happy to hear this and asked how this came about. She told me about a new church she was attending, she was playing the piano again and she was FULL! I asked her where she was attending….Life Spring Church in Bellevue. This  was wonderful, and close to home for me. See my uncle is a pastor there and I just thought that this was a good thing for Glenda. I asked her about the  pastors, “there are two and they are both named Steve.”  She would tell me about how wonderful it was to hear them speak the gospel. I told her that Pastor Steve Hicks was my uncle. She did not think I was serious, but when she realized that I was telling  the truth, she said, “Our friendship just keeps getting closer and closer.”

Glenda worked so hard for all her vendors, she was eating, sleeping, breathing bridal show everyday of the year. It was her passion.  She loved her friends and converstations as well. Glenda was unique in this bridal industry and she was unique with her love for God.

Glenda passed away on Monday (February 28th), the cancer had gone to her liver with little warning. Glenda went home to her Lord.

I will miss Glenda and our conversations, I will miss attending the O Show with her. I will miss hearing Glenda speak her faith so freely. I will miss my friend!

For Glenda’s family, I hope to keep communication with them. I have watched her granddaughter, Sarah, many times and hope to keep this connection together.

To Glenda, Thank you for all you have done for me, thank you for the conversations and the laughter. Thank you for being you all the time!! Thank you for lending me so many books in the years and for sharing your faith with me. I know you are Home and that you are no longer sick or in pain. I did not get to say, “talk with you later,” before your leaving…..Never good bye, just talk with you later!!!

Well I find this statement to be completely wrong. I have gained so many new friendships and close ones too from my business clients. I love all my brides and mommies!!  I am blessed that they hired me above all the other options of photographers that they had. I owe them compassion and understanding as well a helping hand if I can.

I have in my BIG camera bag many helpful items for a bride or client. Some of these are: cork screw, pocket knife, safety pins, bobby pins, straight pins, double sided sticky tape, trash bag, Visine, and tissues. I have used all of these so many times and glad to take the few minutes to assist so that we can keep on schedule for the wedding day!

Often times I have held little ones of bridesmaids so that I could capture the entire wedding party picture.  A wedding guest captured this moment for me.

As well brought small toys for flower girls and ring bearers to encourage them to do a great job and they would take the gift home.

I take much pride in work and doing all I can to soak up any stress for a bride and groom on their day!!!

In the end, my product is that one that will last more than a life time but several!

In my latest wedding, when checking to see if the bride and groom had everything they needed to enjoy their meal, the bride asked if I would cut her chicken. Certainly joking but not wanting to get it on her dress, I did cut her chicken for her. Luck y to have an assistant to this wedding to capture me in action.

I do have many brides that would agree to my “going above and beyond” on their wedding date.

One wedding, in this fall, I wish there was an assistant, there was much happening when I arrived at the brides mother’s house for getting ready.  Mom was sewing her dress still and the bride was having troubles with her hair. I put down my camera and asked what I could do….”Can you sew?”  Thinking they were joking, I said yes. I made the brides vial on the wedding day, as well helped her with her hair, curled and pinned mom’s hair. As well at the ceremony/reception location I assisted in decorating the tables and getting the ceremony candles ready.

This is mom’s hair, I got it all done while she finished sewing:

As everyone was sitting to eat at the reception, I noticed that the wedding cakes were not out and the table not decorated. I cleared that table and decorated it as well made the cake topper. It turned out beautiful and all the guest thought the table was wonderful!

This is the table before:

The table after and the wedding cake with topper, just tossed together:

So if you are wondering if I am going to just show up and only be your photographer…….well I hope that is not the case!

But when I think about the past year and all that I have accomplished and changed, the one prop that really is love the most by most clients (99.9% of them) would be our 7 year old Schnauzer. Toby is a very mild mannered dog. He is hypoallergenic and LOVES everyone. This may all have to do with his puppyhood days.

When Toby was about a year old, he was snatched in the jaws of a pit bull. This new neighborhood dog had just moved in the area from Council Bluffs after the city banning of the breed. Toby was a trooper and survived the attack and emergency surgery. Not sure of what his behavior would be like after this, we just kept him close to the family and nurtured him.

Toby loves people and ofter has a problem being around dogs that are too big (except Cooper, best friends Boxer). But he adores the attention from all the families that come to our home. But he also loves to have his picture taken. NOT the case is most other dogs!!

This year Toby has been an asset to the studio, even high school seniors have had their pictures taken with him and had wallets printed to share with friends.

So maybe the next time you come to the studio, you too may have Toby stroll into your picture for his shot and leave once the flash as gone off!

I had a wonderful time photographing Amanda Phillips and Elliot Harris’s engagements on 10.10.2010. The day was beautiful and Elliot had selected some wonderful spots for their session.

It was beyond wonderful truly! I love when I am behind my camera and can totally amaze myself with what I captured.

On our second location, the was were really well created with graffiti.  And I glanced and seen a wonderful rustic door. This was a hot spot for me. Then there was the wall of wonderful colored leaved that indicated the beauty of Fall. I had to use it.. this is what I captured.

fall in love

Now the area around us was not all that beautiful. Keep in mind that this was in an alley way. Keeping Amanda and Elliot away from the debris and catching the wall of fall behind them was easy to do, they had to just not look on the ground around them. This is what was in the remaining background.

This was certainly a place for which on person rests their head at night. But with the beauty if offers, who would not want a bed room with such live and vibrant colors?  Truly a lesson, that if you close your eyes to the ground around you, you will miss the beauty that otherwise surrounds it.