Enough said, right?

** The above does not pertain to those who are doing this for a hobby or charity, but for those who are trying to conduct a viable photography business.**

Yes, I remember those days when I was first starting out. They were tough. My business “wish I could do over” list contains the times I cheapened my work in order for it to sell (yuck).

And how many times way back in the day did I give images to commercial opportunities (commerical peeps should be paying!!) with the promise of “Oh, don’t worry, it’s a lot of exposure for your business, you’ll see!”

And not one call.

Getting no calls stinks. Getting no calls and no money for your hard work stinks all the more.

{And most of them forgot to credit my work. Eeep!}

Nothing hits a photographer’s confidence more than someone saying, “I don’t value your work enough to even pay you” . . . . even more detrimental when we say that to ourselves.

Think about what it really costs you to do a shoot for free. No, I’m not talking about vehicle milage, labor for loading & unloading the car, overhead, the actual shoot (though those things count!) —-> I am talking about what it costs by way of less time with your family, with your children.

I’m not even referring to “portfolio building” above. Yes, I do belive you can portfolio build without techically being “free”, however, I can understand why some photographers would do free images during their portfolio building season.

But seasons are just that, seasons. They have a set beginning and an end. Imagine perpetual summer. Sounds good in theory, but in practice you’d be over it after the 45th time the icecream man lapped around your block.

I’m referring to those varying situations (though there seems to be a common thread in most of them) in which the photographer KNOWS in their gut they are selling themselves short.

{Ever hear that sound in your head of your time being drastically sucked away? Sounds like “noo-noo” from Teletubbies only much more frightening. Maybe it’s just me.}

I want to hear from you. Do you have a story to share on this topic?

What would you tell yourself as a new photographer considering what you know now?

Until next time.

Oh yeah, if you liked this article —> share it and help your photographer friends know they don’t have to sell themselves short either.

Skye, xoxo

PS, the title “she works hard for the money” is just a song throwback. I know our guy photographers work hard for the money too baby!

Read more by clicking here.

Come visit and be inspired …

{ The Reverie Website }

Until next time!

- Skye, xoxo

Blog organizer? Yes, a blog organizer.

For those of you who are thinking “Why would someone need to organize their blog?” . . .  this post may not be for you. This is for those of you who are already out of your seat thrilled at the thought that a such thing exists.

Check out this fab “Blog Organizer” by My Girl Thursday. She’s offering free printable templates so you can get your blog in check too. How nice!

We all know that blogging is a great business tool. What a perfect way to connect with your (past & future) clients with interesting entries and the latest images. How many of you start with good intentions, but before you know it, weeks have gone by without a peep from you?

Remember, out of sight = out of mind.

Back to My Girl Thursday. I love what she says about planning out your blog posts. You can check it out by clicking here.

As I’ve said in my Workshop Workbook, I struggle with organization. The thorn in my side. Hats off to you Type A’s out there (though . . . I hear you have your own set of worries).

I recently discovered why all my former attempts at keeping an organization calendar have bombed. I need it in front of my face. The cute little calendar books? Useless to me. That’s why I’m excited about the calendar — though I worry I may fill it up with other stuff too.

Okay. Deep breath. It can be done.

Here’s another great article on utilizing a blog calendar.

Think of some topics you can write about on your blog. Who says you have to be stuck to the usual “Here’s what I got at my session last night . . .” posts.

Psssst. You don’t always have to blog about photography. Your readers are multifaceted and so are you.

{ Topic Ideas }

—-> If you’re a DIY Queen you’re all set! Thanks to the economy DIY is all the rage these days. So embrace your inner Martha and get blogging!

—-> What are you passionate about? A cause, a hobby, a book, a charity . . . write about it.

—-> Go beyond the typical recipe share — actually cook the recipe and document your journey. You don’t have to be Pioneer Woman (God love her). Just have fun with it!

—-> If you’re not into DIY I bet your kids are. Document them doing a fun new project and encourage your readers to do the same.

—-> Why not tackle organization? Your clients would love ideas on organization family photos, or assembling a snapshot album, etc. You can be honest about your struggles — blog readers like to know there’s a human behind the words.

{ More Blog Organization Templates }

—> Evelyn Kate Blog Template

—-> Living Lucurto Template

If you have any blog or even any business-related organization tips — would love to hear them!

Until next time!

- Skye, xoxo

Inspiration. As photographers we need to be inspired. Crave it. Desire it. Without it, we wilt.

There’s no real strong theme for today’s inspiration, just pulled together what spoke to me.

The cupcake? Sorry, I’m not eating sugar these days and boy, that cotton candy cupcake looks delicious!

Credits: cupcake / b&w / ducks / horse

What inspires you?

Until next time,

- Skye, xoxo

BTW, the vintage frame above was purchased from Florabella Collection. Click here to visit Florabella Collection.

Yes, I do.

I’ve been in business over seven years, two of which I was a exclusively film.

It has been five years since I’ve shot film. Five years.

But, what is it about film that continues to draw the heart? Regardless of how much time has passed.

I love my film images today as I did when I first took them. I cannot say I feel the same way about my digital counterparts.

Recently I went online to B&H to buy some film . . . my, things have changed. Heartbreaking to see my favorite Agfa no longer there.

Today I am buying some film, dusting off my beloved F100 and giving it another go.

I will post the results here, hopefully soon. I’d love it if you’d join me.

And yes, I’m still “one of those” photographers that will correct someone when they call it “grain” when it’s truly “noise”. That’s the inner filmie in me, I suppose.

If it’s not film, then it is not grain. *wink*

Until next time!

- Skye, xoxo

Below is a preview of the new senior products available at Jamie Schultz Design:

{ CLICK IMAGES TO VIEW LARGER }

—> Jamie is offering a gift code to all of our readers!  You can use the code  soulagrapher10 to receive $10 off a purchase of $60 or more.

http://jamieschultzdesigns.com/

Oh, and please share this with a friend so they can get the $10 off too!

Until next time!

- Skye, xoxo

In Brenda’s own words .  . . .

{ CLICK IMAGES TO VIEW LARGER }

“I love this pink baby bed – I found it and most of this stuff at a local antique store.   The bucket came from Hobby Lobby – they usually have good stuff for putting babies in.  The chair we use all the time – I got it for $15.”

“Favorite Boy Props  - everything found at antique shops – I frequently go – looking for little rusty treasures!  I think they make images a little bit more interesting if they aren’t new.  The grey/blue/white bucket is an old Bait Bucket.  I can easily put a child’s name in the white space in photoshop.  The Camera would be appropriate for a child 2 or older – I like to ask them to take my picture!  Chairs are a favorite of mine – of course I have about 30 chairs in our studio so we have something for everyone and always getting more.”

“This is the waiting area of my studio – the current shooting area is where I’m standing.  We are getting ready to expand and add on another 600+ square feet with a doorway right under the frame on the far right leading into two different shooting rooms – all with natural light (one being a dedicated newborn room).  All the frames are by The Organic Bloom (the original, the best).  All the chairs I found at either garage sales or antique stores and recovered.”

“Nothing matches – but we have a use for everything and backdrops to go with all of them from LemonDrop Stop.  On the left is my vintage iron crib from ebay, on the right is some props we like to use daily, and the staircase leads to our prop and backdrop storage area.  This barn was built in 1930 and renovated two years ago.  It has a full kitchen, laundry room, full bath and  walk in closet.  It sits on a horse farm and the property has a rock waterfall, pretty big stream running thru, lots of horses, tractors, and lots of beautiful scenery.  I just love it.”

Thanks Brenda, we love it too!

Until next time!

- Skye, xoxo

Sigh. Don’t we have enough to worry about?

Probably, but for many, protecting their work is a top priority.

I love the idea this Photographer has . . . . And I quote:

“Please respect all photographers LOGOs on pictures we post on Facebook. Don’t let it come to us using this as our watermark. It ruins the picture.”

{ image credit: lily photography, inc. }

Laughs. Well said. Could you imagine?

Along the same line . . . . what if we did not watermark with logos or text, but instead with mustaches and beards?

{ My son would kill me . . . . }

Would people be inclined to lift images if they were sporting an 80′s ‘stache? (Would they be inclined to order them at all? lol.)

I have said for years on various online photog forums, as well as discussed at my former Workshops —> if you are not watermarking your images, you are lowering your sales.

Some of you are thinking, “Oh, but I have a “disable right-click” deal on my blog.” Sweet. But, what about the “print screen” option? If it’s on the screen, someone can snag it. Don’t rely on a disable right-click code to protect your work.

One photographer at one of my workshops once shared the story about a client that admitted to snapping a picture of each session image that scrolled by in a “protected” slideshow. Uhm. Wow.

I won’t go into the argument of having the images on your website watermarked, but as for your blog (especially for “sneak peek” images for clients) and social websites, I strongly suggest you watermark.

sneak peeks

Let’s talk about the sneak peeks. After a fab session you post a few images on your blog to get your client excited about their images. I totally get that. (Although, may I kindly suggest that you limit it to one or two images, and never show the best from the session. Leave those for the ordering session!)

My issue of concern comes from photographers that post images (that have yet to be purchased) with little logo at the bottom corner of the image. Can you say “crop-able”? On top of that, the logo is so pretty, it almost makes the image even more desirable.

Remember, clients often do not have the same standards we professional photographers hold. Many photogs scoff at the thought of a client being satisfied with a 5×7 printed from the web, especially with a little logo in the corner.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Sure, most would rather have the professionally printed version, however, what they are enjoying is the ability to view the image. They are able to put it in a frame and look at it whenever they wish; under their terms.

My rule is this —> when it comes to preview images, the watermark touches or goes through either the chin or the forehead.

Adjusting the opacity of the watermark is the key to not overpowering the image.

online ordering

Same concept as above, but I step things up even more. After all, why would a client place a big order from you if you make it so easy to snag every single image? People can justify themselves into all sorts of crazy. Especially when no one is looking.

{ Skye uses her stern voice. }

Never make business decisions based on depending on the integrity of others.

Get full payment before even ordering images from the lab. Never loan out a proof book. Watermark your images. Get proper credit when due. The list goes on.

I digress.

Here’s an image I snagged from a recent online ordering session of mine. Even if they snag it, there’s no doubt that A.) this image belongs to Work of Heart Photography and B.) this image was not supposed to be taken.

Maybe a bit hardcore for some of you. I understand. However, at least consider watermarking through the chest of your subject — this makes it hard to crop out your identity.

I had one photographer cringe at the thought of watermarking her images. She thought her clients would be offended and have “hurt feelings”. Ladies, yes, I am talking to you ladies as no man in business would even consider this concept, leave the feelings for behind the camera — capturing the emotions, the moments, the beauty, but when it comes to business – leave the feelings behind. Feelings are fickle and are not facts. If you lead your business with your feelings . . .  oh wait now, I’m beginning to preach and go off topic. We’ll leave that for another day.

Let’s do the math. If you charge $40 for a 5×7 print and ten clients lift fifty un-marked images from their online gallery and therefore print 5×7′s per year . . . . that adds up to $2,000 out of your pocket. Ouch. Couldn’t your family use that $2,000 this year?

I cannot tell you how many photographers have told me over the years something along the lines of, “Thank you, my sales went way up now that I’ve been watermarking my ordering sessions!” Again, I’m not talk about “pretty-logo-in-the-bottom-corner” type of watermarking. No need to go crazy, just be proactive.

social websites

Social websites such as Facebook and Twitter can be a huge benefit to your business. Just be smart about it.

Photographers love it when clients tag session images so their friends and family can view our work, but, many will save right-click your image and upload it as their profile image. Often times they’ll get crop-happy and crop out  any pretty little logos tucked away at the bottom of the image. Don’t leave it to them to credit you in the description either. If there is no identification, how can you get referrals?

I even have a stern warning to not do this, and some do, this is why it’s essential to have watermarked across an important part of the image. A part that chances are they won’t want to crop.

In the image below I placed the watermark slightly lower so that part of it would touch the rooster too.

I will say I don’t believe clients are intending to be malicious or rip us off. Certainly not. However, let’s not make it easy for people snag our images.

in summary

There is much more to cover on this topic, but to sum up:

1.) Watermarking your images protects your images.

2.) Especially watermark images that haven’t been purchased by client yet.

3.) Don’t make business decisions depending on other’s integrity

4.) Watermarking is cool.

5.) Your images are worth protecting.

Will watermarking your images be 100 percent foolproof? Of course not, but again, take the steps to protect your work. If you don’t, then who will?

And am I jaded? I’ve had images of mine ripped off numerous times. Even as far as to have had a former student of mine using my images in her marketing materials as if they were her own. I take that sort of thing seriously. Wouldn’t you?

Before I go, I know there are a few who would like to learn more on how to make a watermark. If you have some version of Photoshop, click here for some resources. It’s easy, pink swear.

For more on this topic, and much more — check out my Workshop Workbook.

—> Have a Watermark story to share? Leave a comment on the blog. I want to hear from you!

Until next time!

- Skye, xoxo

PS. I hope you appreciated the light-hearted message of this post. If so, please share by clicking the Facebook icon below. Thanks!

My thoughts.

Another way to say #4 is “get away from Facebook” . . . no throwing stones please! I took this past month and stepped away from Facebook and you know what, I didn’t shrivel up and die. Sure, I may out of the loop, but I think I like it better that way. Does my creative mind better. Now Pinterest, you’ll have to drag me away from that website!

Ahhh, so glad to see #8 on the list. I knew it all along. Coffee makes me creative. Does that mean I can write off all my Starbucks? {kidding . . . }

I love #15 . . . “practice, practice, practice”. One of my favorite sayings is: “Practice may not make you perfect, but it will make you better”. Preach it.

And who wants to be perfect anyway? Perfect people make me nervous.

Which is sort of related to #25 . . . HELLO? Testify! You can also say it as “Stop being your own perfect” as I think we are often our own worst critics. Yes, striving for more or better is a good thing. I know I personally get tired of my work rather quickly, and this pushes me on to do more creative work, however, there are times when folks just expect far more than they need to from their work and themselves.

I need to stop thinking I can remember everything I want to and do like #26 says —> have an idea, then write it down. I could rule the world if I wrote down all my ideas. Well, maybe not. But I would have a lot more ideas to jump from into something new.

Now, #27 . . . this one I struggle with as my desk is always one paper clip away from being a “hard-hat only” zone these days. I’m dreaming of more office space this summer when we make a  move (God-willing), until then, for the sake of my creativity (and my sanity) I pluck away at my desk tidying up as often as I can.

Lastly, #29 . . . “finish something”. Ouch. I’ve gotten lazy when it comes to new marketing materials I need to create. I have the resources (templates, ideas, etc.), but I need to make the time to create and complete. Tell me I’m not alone in this!

I want to hear from you.

Leave a comment to share which of the above hits home for you. Have one not on the list — would love to hear about it!

BTW, don’t you love Crystal’s album cover? I loved her on Idol (sadly, I haven’t watched it since ) and seeing this cover made the photographer in me smile. Sigh. I love the old & junky look.

Is that a “jackalope” statue I see? {snickers}

Until next time!

- S, xoxo

PS. Love it? Then please share it by clicking the Facebook icon below! {much appreciated}