Photo Assigments

I am tossing some ideas for future photo projects because I need some motivation and need to use my camera.

What I need is focus and something to get the fun back into photography. I want to produce great work but have absolutely no focus, which was great at a school where you changed your focus and topic of photography every week. But now in the real world I am stuck with a jumbled portfolio and not much to show for.

Ok, so survey says:

I could take photos of a specific color food ex all red foods or green food etc
I could go to different event and photograph it, like the sail boats on the charles or the rowers on the Charles or the runners on the Charles
I could look in the Boston globe for different events.
Homeless people
extreme close ups of people-especially wrinkles
Dogs out for a walk
A photo that tells a story about a person.
Pick a color or a shape and put it together- all things that are round
Something that inspires me


I will post photos here every Friday from my assignments, I welcome your suggestions and comments!

A resource or a cheap shot?

Is using a spy lens resourceful? Or is it for cheeters? Let me know what you think? Is this the dream lens we have been waiting for? The lens that is great for capturing candids, or is it just a cheap shot?

I'M IN PRINT

It has been a while since I posted. I have been taking a break from the business of photography and trying to do it more for fun. 

I am working on putting together a new website.. tho aren't we all. 

In March's issue of Down East Magazine my photo is pictured with an article about Lakonia Olive Oil. They are a great company based out of Saco, Maine and Lakonia, Greece. Check it out!!!

A Taste of Greece

http://www.harvard.com/events/press_release.php?id=2174

Here is the link to the lecture and book signing that Annie Leibovitz is giving on Monday night at 7pm. Hope to see you there. 

5 D upgrade?

This camera is drool worthy, with video and so many cool features.

http://www.ppmag.com/web-exclusives/

another list

Here is an addition to the things I must do, I am posting it here on my blog because, I have scattered index cards with to do's that wont gett done if they are not organized

I need to get a monitor calibrator and print a print source I like the prints from, I have to research a couple one is listed on my phone and its worth a shot to try moo again if the price is right.

I need to download the pics from my leica and get cowboy his photos,

I need to get the pics from maine that I shot of my family and put then on my hard drive,

I need to actually post photos on this blog,

I need to at least upload pics from this past weekends lunch and soda shoot.

I need to rent a marantz from school for a possible movie attempt at the olive oil bottling.

and I need to buy more and recharge some AA batteries along with some more DVDS and CDs.

gotta run print some pics and mail some cds!

marketing say what?

I have come to a stand still, and am stumped at what to do next. Writing helps me answer most of my own questions. I am going to envoke the law of attraction and summon the clients to me. But I will also put forth effort to find them. I will keep telling myself that the clients will come, and that I will be sucessful. I will type it in present tense. I have many wonderful clients, I am successful and financially thriving.

I am trying to figure out what to do next, because I dont always feel productive sitting in front of my computer, I want to do something that has an effect, I want to go talk with people, florists, cake decorators but something is holding me back. So I need a plan of action, but I need to go beyond the planning and actually DO!

First I will list the projects that I am working on right now that might develop into something more, opportunities can open up anywhere!

I will be hanging 13 fine art prints on the walls of Antonio's restaurant Gran Gusto.
I am going to be going up and photographing authentic Greek olive oil being processed and bottled in 2 weeks time. They also might use my photos on their website! I also would like to develop my olive oil photo shoot into a little final cut piece for promotional uses.

I would like to make a promotional movie for my business, but I also love making little movies that tell peoples' stories. I want to start making 1 minute or shorter movies for companies that they can use for promotion. I would have fun and my photography gets exposure, plus clients would pay a lot such a nice product.

I am putting the spazzy free for all behind me. I should make a new food postcards and email that out to the food photographers I have on my list.

I should bite the bullet and call Jon and grovel and ask him how he finds wedding business and ask for some tips.

I should update my personal website and get the inthenook website up and running with matching business cards and promo cards to match. Then I need to actually step out of my apartment and distribute the post cards to local businesses. I know I have lists of florists and cake bakers and dress designers. I will have to organize these lists and systematically go to them, and just say "look I am a wedding photographer, I was wondering if I could place some cards in your store." NO ONE WILL BITE also I should get a little card stand for the cards.

I will keep a list of the dates I go to these places and revisit them??? How can I make it worth while for them ?? I need and excuse to revisit them.

At the current moment I will flip out if I read one more article about marketing. I will take a break from them and then revisit them because I am sure there are some useful tips somewhere burried in the countless articles Google shows me.

I did like the idea of notebook business cards, essentially your business card is the cover of a little notebook that is perfect for a purse or pocket, its an attempt at people not throwing your card away and seeing your name when they use the note pad.

I should register/sign up or atleast visit the Cambrigdge Chamber of Commerce and see what networking meetings they have to offer.

I should keep in contact with Greg and give him some promo cards to put in his store.

I need to get up the nerve and see if I can photograph the food at the Stolen Menu in York.

I need to book more time in the studio to photograph food with my love.. and not spaz out. I am smarter than the seamless.

I also want to practice portrait photography. But with who?

I need to learn how to put up a graphic add on craigslist and update it weekly

I should send a promo card to everyone I have a business card of.

Maybe try and contact Pat and see if other people in that building are interested in my photography services.

I sometimes lack the motivation needed perhaps because I cant see a result, I should think of building my wedding photography business like planning my wedding, as exciting and new. Also weddings cost money, but by marketing my wedding photography business I am hoping to make money, so there is an added incentive.

I need to join more photograph organizations and attend meetings they might have in the area. I also need to look into wedding expos and tradeshows, because those are elemental in reaching new customers, maybe have a give away and have a list to join the mailing list. To go along with that I will need some display materials to impress the clients with.