Now that wedding season for Victoria is officially over. I have been busying myself with some training. You can never learn too much.
So recently, I've attended trade expos, workshops. mentoring sessions with the wonderful Master of Photography Shireen Hammond - who has been so generous with her time and knowledge to the eight of us, the AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photographers) bus trips to various studios to see how they manage their client base and general business, The Essential Wedding & Portrait Business Seminar with Graham Monro, Steve Saporito & Lauren Bootland along with looking at the new products coming onto the market and new software to trial. I now have exercise books full of notes and writers cramp to go along with it!
So much fun. Photographers are really a social bunch!
Prior to the official end of the wedding season, we had the VPPY's and the APPAs which are the state and Country wide awards for professional photography held each year. Under Shireen's instructions we all entered images - she said "it was to grow us as an artist - and to see where we were placed among our highly skilled peers". This year the awards were streamed live so we could log onto the AIPP website and watch while we tried to continue working away at the same time! Didn't work - I spent most days glued to the computer screen - too scared to move incase I missed something!
I received a 79, one mark short of a silver award, for an image of Jess Prorok. It was an extremely nerve wracking experience let me tell you, nervous stomach, sweaty hands, lump in throat etc..etc.. almost like being back in school! My other images all scored in the mid to high 70s.
70 is considered the bench mark for a professional photographer, so I guess if you get lower than a 70 for an image, they really didn't think it was up to professional standard and perhaps it's time to take the "Photographer" shingle off the front door for a while.
Now that I've entered, I've a better understanding of what they are looking for. They aren't necessarily looking for the professional standard of each image they are looking for photographers to push the boundaries of their imagery.
Since December I've had a new business logo - who would of thought it so hard to have a dandelion designed? Well, it took forever and I'm talking months and months! Thankfully, Chloe from Feva Graphics in Nagambie worked her magic and the end result is awesome!
Along with that I've had to master stupid "Word" and now have letterheads templates, changed all my paperwork to suit the new logo, updated my contracts and model release forms, streamlined my workflow and so on.... Phew - I think I need a holiday!
I've also been busy on doing wedding photography consultations with the brides of 2013 and some even for 2014 (some girls are super organised) and dates are filling up steadily. It's so, so exciting....
I just love the wonderful atmosphere and energy a wedding has for all involved.
On the days that I have a little time, I've been designing new wedding display albums. This is a huge task. Although, Robert Chamaniuk who runs Newlook Image Design, offers an awesome design service. I've been to suppliers to look at their latest products. We are very lucky that we have the ability to use Australian Designs and know that they are also Australian Made and Owned. These companies stand behind their products which gives us as photographers the total confidence to use them for our clients.
Well, that's how I've been spending my a little of my time lately...I look forward to hearing your news.....
LJ xx
No comments:
Post a Comment