the business of pictures n stuff

To get back to where I was very recently, I officially accomplished a few tasks today. I enrolled back into a photography certification course (because while I know the basics, and a lot of the advanced, the certificate means a lot to me... and learning more than what I already know is a sure plus!). Super importantly I applied for my Tax ID and Occupational Licensing, purchased my domain, and worked out some hosting issues. So www.6seventeenportraits.com is officially a website, it is still pretty empty... I'm working on that.  I'm also working on free portrait sessions to friends and family to build up some fresh pictures for the website. I really hope to get support from my friends and family for my business venture. This has been my dream for a long time, and I'm determined to make it work. The name, of course, is the same inspiration as this blog. This blog has been big inspiration for me too. Thanks for being there blog, and readers (eh, reader? you there?).

I miss you Carrie Bradshaw!

     Sometimes I enjoy a lazy day.  Sometimes it is brought on by a bout of mild depression. That's when I enjoy a lazy week and a half. This time it is probably because I finished my class and have had nothing pressing to do for a little while. I have also made the decision to change the school that I'm attending. I don't really want to get into the details here about the reasons because I'm not an expert on the school itself, but there were some tuition and legal issues with the school itself that I'd rather not get myself into a bad situation with.

      All of that aside I am still planning to pursue my photography professionally and continue to attend classes. I am working on a new website portfolio for my work and obtaining a business license. I have also scheduled 4 portrait sessions this morning to brush up my portfolio and have some fresh work for the site. I know that it seems as if everyone who buys a camera or can use photo shop is a photographer these days... and sometimes it can be a bit discouraging. There is beautiful work out there. I also know it is very hard to break into a field already bombarded with amazing professionals and semi-professionals and really bad non-pros trying to come across as professionals.  This is a lot of the reason I have never really charged much for my pictures. I enjoy doing it and at this point have done countless family portraits, senior pictures, and kids photos. I have done 4 weddings.  I've been doing this for over 10 years now, I'm waiting for the time that I can get rid of the fear of looking like one of these really bad non-pros. I also hate over processed, over photo shopped photography. I assume that the only things that will help me is to do great work, and to have confidence in my work. So I'm growing up and building a website to showcase the work that I think I should be proud of.  Getting a few photo jobs out of it would be great, at least getting my family and friends to get me to do their portraits would be great (they don't, I don't even think most of them know I take pictures, or they just absolutely hate my work because they are always hiring out. This makes me feel super special and is a whole other story for a never time however.)

     So on these lazy days, like today, when I'm on the couch researching website building and setting up photo appointments, sometimes something as great as 2 hours of Sex and the City on E! and nap time align, and all is wonderful with the universe. While watching Carrie Bradshaw write her article on men, being single, and the pursuit of happiness, I realized how inspiring the show is. I think if Carrie had in fact given up on writing her column and moved to Paris for good she would have at least taken up blogging.  Between the cancellation of this show and Friends, NYC based (even if just in theory) shows are really few and far between. I miss them all.
 
      So that's what I've been up to, what about you?



(pic from http://eastcoastchic.com/carrie-bradshaw-adventurous-and-unforgettable )