Just want to share my new venture & excitement!

[Mandy]

I've always loved photography. I've been seriously taking pictures for about 6 years, and in the process improved quite a bit. I've taken lots of pictures of my friends, my friend's children, family, etc.

Well, at the end of last year I finally decided to seriously look into what it would take to start my own photography business. I did my first paying job last November, for a family who wanted to give pictures of their new baby as Christmas gifts. I borrowed some equipment, and it went perfectly! So now I've been building up my equipment, and today I'm expecting to get my last big purchase to really have the equipment to do what I want.

My parents have been so kind as to let me set up my studio in their house. So I finally have a real studio, and wonderful equipment (lights, backdrops, flashes, etc.).

Here's the really exciting part...I met with my first wedding client :eek: last night! It's going to be a perfect first wedding for me because this couple is wanting really simple, not very complicated stuff. It's their second marriage, so they are not going all out. A perfect place for me to start!

Someday if I ever get my scanner hooked up, I'll show you some of my stuff!

Thanks for listening, I'm just so excited! I can't believe that I'm actually getting to do this!
:D

[sassysu3]

:) Mandy...congrats! and MUCH success to you! It's great that things are working out as you had mentioned...keep us posted!
sassysu3

[Gilgamesh37]

Mandy that's great, and congratulations. I've grown up & worked with/around photographers most of my life--if you don't mind, I'm sure you've thought about all these points, but they are born of HARD experience, so to try to save you grief if I can.....

1. Make sure your signed agreement/contract is clear and spells out EXACTLY what is to be delivered and for what cost. Best way is cost per roll, with an estimated range of # of rolls (depending on whether it's formal portraits only, ceremony only, reception only, or combination of the above). I've seen brides refuse to pay perfectly reasonable bills because they somehow got the idea it was going to be 50 perfect photos total, and they couldn't understand why the photographer shot 10 rolls of 36.

2. Make sure it spells out what happens if (god forbid) something goes compeltely wrong--camera fails, processor loses film, etc. Make sure the couple realizes that, remote as this possiblity may be, it's still out there someplace. You can't duplicate hte reception, but you can always re-do formal portraits of the couple.

3. Make sure you understand what they want--documentation of the ceremony only? Tons of candids from the reception? If there are particular family members they want to be sure are photographed (Great Aunt Ida, Great Grandmother Fizzlebip) they need to tell you and give you some way to IDENTIFY those people. Many tears have been shed when pcitures came back and somehow there were no photos of X or Y or Z.

I hoep I haven't offended you. I know photographers who love what they do and are great at it--and some who love what they do and hvae been beaten to a pulp because of misunderstandings in the business end of things. Have fun!

[Mandy]

Gilgamesh37,

Thanks so much for your encouragement and advise. I just got together my contract, I'm glad that's done.

I have become friends with a photographer here in Cincinnati who has been doing it forever, and he too has helped me out a lot. I can call him anytime and ask just about anything. Learning from people who have experience, like you said, is one of the best ways!

Thanks so much, I'm still learning so much, any advise is very helpful.

Mandy

[Peggy]

Mandy,

Just wanted to congratulate you for identifying and realizing your dream. What a joy to be able to earn money while doing what you love! Good luck and much success on your new venture!

Peggy

[mightyh]

Congratulations, Mandy! That's really inspiring... best of luck and keep us posted on how it goes!

[linsleyd]

Congratulations! I wish you lived here when I was looking for wedding photographers! Good luck and what a wonderful opportunity!