As I sit here typing this post, I am still pinching myself to be chosen to be part of this workshop. I must say I am honoured and grateful that I get to take part of this really wonderful project.
Today was the first day of the week long workshop, and I must say I had already the best day ever. I am overwhelmed with the sheer warmth and passion for photography seeing how all the photographers work. We began the day getting the photographers to get know the town by a bit of a tour and of course with that comes stopping at the side of the road, getting our cameras out, taking photos of just about anything (and nearly getting run over by a truck) and taking photos of each other; which reminds me of a group of monkeys, where one is grooming the other with another one grooming another and so on. (not that I’m implying we are monkeys!)
We finished off the day with a cruise around the harbour (which I never done before) and just had an awesome time shooting and enjoying the cruise.
I will update you with more details during the week when I get the chance, so thank you for stopping by. Have a great week, I know I will!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Have you ever had a time when everything is just not working? You know the time when you had everything laid out and the plan is set but then not one of the plans is working. Well, I just had one of those days in the last two days. I set out to finish a few tasks before the weekend but now sitting here and thinking that I haven’t really done anything.
Anyways, the reason for this post is more on customer service rather than the lack of work that I am doing. It is one of these ‘bad days’ that customer service really counts. I have been ringing and communicating between my website server (ausweb) back and forth for the last three days and I must say that they have been really patient and helpful with me as we try and figure out what is wrong. I’m like e-mailing them every five minutes and the replies comes just after I send them. It is really fantastic. The good thing on these ‘bad days’ I’m having.
Another company that I would like to mention that rocks customer service is the Apple Customer Support. I tried to ring them to see if they can do anything with my problem even if it would be to get to know my Macbook Pro, but what I got was more than customer service, it was like personal training. All the questions were asked to understand my situation but because of them, I understood what really the problem was and wow, though we haven’t really found the solution yet, still it put my mind at ease and not to worry too much. So now, I am not stressing at all. That is what I call customer service.
Ok, this week coming is a big week for me because I get to rub shoulders with the pros. Christian Fletcher, Les Walkling, Peter Eastway and Tony Hewitt. Wow, talk about the superstars of photography. I’m hoping at the end of the week, I get a bit of their knowledge transferred onto me just by being in the same room as them (alright, maybe I will have to ask questions too). I will try and update the blog with all the details when I get some time.
Till then. Have a great weekend.
I am now booking sessions for 2010. The calendar is open for newborns, maternity, family as well as commercial shoots. I am also going to be taking a few weddings shoots this year. So if you are interested and would like to book, just use the contact form on the menu section to send me an email. Also, keep coming back as there are lots of updates and specials coming your way this year.
On a sidenote, I get to ticked one goal off my list of 101 in 1001 and that is — post everyday on my blog for the whole week.
And a post would not be complete without a photo so here’s one of my favourites from 2009.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
This is long overdue, way overdue, good thing this is not in my belly or it would be have been delivered long time (okay I think I have been on the computer way too long, I am not making sense anymore). Right, I will go back to the post, to showcase this gorgeous newborn who didn’t behave like one (right M?) Ahhh, it was sweet and short, she gave me 10 minutes of sleep and that was it, but look at her, isn’t she just adorable?
I am sure she makes you clucky.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The reason why we got my first SLR camera is because I wanted to become a photographer. But what makes a person become a photographer and not just be one who shoots with a camera? I stumbled upon this article that says a lot about being professional and being a photographer.
It explains about being aware of the photography business industry and talks about the photographers that charge too little and undermine the other photographers. There are a lot of points being made and I like the fact that it explains it quite well as well. So what’s my point? I will talk about being a photographer first, like being said in the article, that everyone who owns a camera (that’s pretty much everyone) think that ANYONE can be a photographer and the gear or equipment makes you a good photographer. But there is more to a photographer just by her camera or her equipment. When I first started, I couldn’t differentiate about making the right exposure and just pointing it and pressing the button, but that is nearly 6 years ago. I have read countless of books, studied countless of resources, joined lots of workshops (online or in person) and spent lots of long nights reading and soaking up the knowledge in photography as well as at the same time practicing and learning my camera inside out. At first, me and my camera spoke completely different languages and at first I thought it is just a matter of time until I learn its language but now I realise its really my language that I should strive to have my camera speak because I am the artist. Anyways, at the end, when I started my business last year, I knew that I am ready to be called a photographer.
Although, there is always more learning to do! and that is where the second point of the article comes in.It particularly reiterate the ‘cheap’ photographer versus the high end ‘pricey’ photographer. But let’s look at it this way. You get what you pay for, and that includes photography. You’re paying someone to capture your memories, shouldn’t your memories be worth to pay more. I can’t talk for other photographers but as my own experience, I knew that when I was starting out, I shoot for free, because I was just learning, I was getting some photos for my portfolio. And then, when I started charging I charge accordingly, what I am worth at that time, it doesn’t matter if I charge cheap that I will not always stay cheap. I read somewhere that if I continue to learn more, attend more workshops and training, and continually investing in my business and working hard to perfect my craft, then I should be raising my prices I am getting to be a better photographer, thus is worth more. If I am happy to stay where I was, and not continue to learn and hone my craft, then by all means, I can be just the ‘cheap’ photographer but then I will be pushing the other photographers who are working really hard down by my ‘cheap’ pricing. So I hope you do understand that if I start raising my prices, it means I am putting in more. Just like the universal law, you get what you give!
This is a great article and I recommend you to read it. Click here to read it.
And because a post will be naked without a photo, here is a sneak of a newborn session.
by judith
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