jim mucklin

<p>Thank Walt.</p>

<p>Drew, thank you so much. Maybe you should work for customer service at Epson.<br>

I'll download it now.</p>

<p>Robert, I won't bore you with the build a business model. Until you do, go have fun with this. Start of with an alacarte idea, find out what they want, do they want one 8x10, do they want and 11x14 for their home. Do the shoot, provide them with a cd of only the best images from the shoot, don't give them 100, maybe between 5-10 winners. Tell them to have a look and get back to you with what they would like to order, explain to them that is only a proof cd and include your copyright on the images to protect it. Charge a small sitting fee and loose money if you have to, to estabish a good relationship and provide them with what they want and deliver. Offer them a discount if you can use there images and yes a model release won't hurt. Keep a time card of all your time from start to finish, you'll be suprised how much your time will be your biggest cost.<br>

Now here comes the speach. Now that you have breathing room, sit down a come up with a business plan,figure out a cost sheet that includes all cost in what it take to do this, pay for yourself, travel, print, taxes, and yes I profit. Work with a local printer and come up with a few packages based on customers needs, this way they will know up front what they can afford, no two customers are alike. Make them aware they can order extra prints and that you have access to other services if needed. My own take is leave the framing to the pros. With all the choices, it's to much to stock all the colors and sizes. Meet with a local framer and work out a referal system. The same is true with online webprinter, most of my customers don't want the hassle of online ordering, they give me there order and I deliver the prints after I see them.<br>

The biggest factor never mentioned is time, pay yourself. If your going to make dvd's, videos, etc this take time, add it to your cost. Do all your future customers want this service?<br>

As stated look at it as a business and provide exceptional photos and exceptional services.<br>

Listen to the above posters, it's the best advice.</p>

 

<p>Does anyone have a source for dividers or ideas for foam inserts for a older tamrac roller?<br>

I'm looking to secure two bodies, glass and flashes.<br>

The one board that is in it measures 12x7 inches.<br>

Any ideas or photos would be helpful.</p>

<p>I use a <a href=http://reallyrightstuff.com/video/WPF-1.html/> WPF</a> setup. It's not cheap but I like it because I can go from portrait to landscape and it locks in plaace. I also purchase the quick release clamp for my ballhead so I can go from tripod to on the move fast and I don't have to carry a pocket full of tools.</p>

<p>Nadine hit it on the head. Search the reviews and make your own choice when it comes to cameras. Cannon and Nikon are at the top of the food chain, please note that they make many cameras from consumer to prosumer to pro and each model is different so choose not only a manufacturer but a model. While you can take a photo with a point and shoot, you will find some pro bodies sutied to low light, some to sports, etc.<br>

Then buy the best glass that you can, good glass on a prosumer body will produce better images than cheap glass on a $5000 body. I used to shoot weddings with a pair of Nikon D70s. Most brides aren't gear heads and only care about the images not the camera.<br>

As stated you'll need a backup, so save and spend your money wisely by buying once. Buy two dedicated flashes for you body. All the controls are in the same positions and you have the advantages of TTL and while you get by with a cople of old flashes and shooting manual. There is nothing faster than a wedding and having TTL is the best thing you can have in your camera bag. There is no time to fiddle, you have to have your exposure and flash right.<br>

Take if from someone who has done it all wrong, don't waste your money. Save, beg, borrow till you have the right tools to do the job. While I have been lucky over the years to never have a failure in the field, others have and there are the horror stories on Judge Joe Brown, so be ready with a backup plan. There are no shortcuts and starting a business requires a startup.<br>

Good luck with your adventure.</p>

<p>I'm in a bind, somehow I misplaced my Epson Print Cd. I am striking out with Epson, I submitted a ticket and i'm still waiting, If anyone could help I would be forever grateful.<br>

I tried Roxio, but I can't get it centered properly and have gone thru quite a few discs and ink.<br>

thanks.</p>

<p>No matter what you buy, it won't be right. I have three, my lowerpro backpack, has a rain cover built in and I have abused this bag for 5 years, excellent quality and I can't believe the zippers still work. I use this for sports and trecking, holds a Nikon D2x with a 180 on it and a D2H with a 85 on it, a couple of other lens, two flashes and a bunch of other stuff, packed tight. I wish I could they would make tires, I can't destroy this bag and I have destroyed a few over the years.<br>

I purchased a used tamarc roller online for weddings, open the lid and everything is there, not to mention the wheels.<br>

I keep a <a href=http://www.f64camerabag.com/systems.html/>f.64</a> in the trunk for when I want to go light, the lid opens away from you which is nice. I take what I need from the large bag and place it in this one, grab the tripod and go.</p>

<p>Ron, I'm with you. My feeling on the subject is that if you care enough to put your name to something your behind it. I know all the vendors that I do business with by their name and sometimes I'm ashamed to admit it that I have to look up there business name. I like to know the person I'm doing business with.</p>

<p>Jeff beat me to it. I agree, if it's a benefit, they shouldn't charge you. I do a lot of these and I agree to donate a portion of the sales to the charity or event.<br>

If it's at a dealer, ask if there is a corner, say in the service department where you could set up a backdrop or use the shop as your backdrop. That way if it's really hot you have shade. I have a 10x10 pop up but don't use it. Wind is your enemy.<br>

I offer a package (1-8x10, 2-5x7's and 8 wallets) pose the guy and his bike, pose the guy and his girl, shoot thethered, make up a sign and shoot them like "Santa shots". Give them as many options that you can, order now, order later, etc. If your going to print on site, a helper would be great.<br>

I have pre-printed forms, when I take the shots I write the image number to their order, in case they want to order at a latter time. This way if they don't want to carry it, or can't they can get it in the mail.<br>

I have the promoter, post the info that I will be there to spark intrest. If you use the setup above you can shoot the maximum amount of bikes in the shorest time, it will go fast.<br>

Get the exposure down pat, make an image that looks like it was done in the studio, don't waste their time with gear issues and you'll be back next year.<br>

Good luck!</p>

<p>Hi Leo, I can't remember back to when the flash comp can in, it think it was on the 25 or 26 but they are two different animals.<br>

On the Nikon site there is a lot of info about your model camera.<br>

But if you would like to research the flash, try here.<br>

<a href="http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/htmls/models/index.htm">http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/htmls/models/index.htm</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.american-digital.com/prodsite/category.asp?c=1960">http://www.american-digital.com/prodsite/category.asp?c=1960</a></p>

<p>Great customer service. Check out the tin ones, makes a nice gift from the photographer. Then when she gets her cd/dvd's she has something besides plastic.</p>

<p>Hi Mike, Summer beat me to it with the Gorden Ramsey reference. He has a remarkable way of seeing things, if you haven't watched one of his shows, do it. First thing he does it surveys the product, then the competition and final gives the public what they want.<br>

With the risk of me getting beat up, I'll take another approach. Develop a business plan, then worry about your website. You mentioned business, you have to run it as one. The hardest thing for me to see was that I couldn't compete with "craiglisters". Don't get me wrong it you want to make a couple of hundred quick bucks, put up an add and go for it. But if you want to pay taxes, feed the kids and retire you have to look at it like Ramsey.<br>

First offer them exceptional photos and services, like stated brides are looking for bang for their bucks, yes some will look at the lowest prices, but most want quality and services is what they want. So wipe your mind clean of any perceptions that you have and look in your phone book, on the web, etc see what your competition offers, DO NOT LOOK AT PRICES. Back to your business plan, how much does it cost you to do a wedding? Time is money, I average 20-30 hours per and I hate post processing. So when a bride to be ask me if I can complete or match a price with a Craigs list shooter, the answer is no. I'm not going to work for two days to loose money. There are only so many wedding you can shoot in a year. A lot of this is on the web about price cutting and working for cash without paying taxes and it has a way of working it self out, after learning how much time it takes to do a wedding, a lawsuit or an audit a lot of these listers fall by the wayside.<br>

Second, What do they want? contrary to all this "burn me a disc" crap. Many brides want prints, want an album and do want to go thru the bullshite of having to stand in the store to copy their prints. My biggest jump in sales is when I started to have a pro printer do my prints and to offer albums and to offer them alacarte what they want.<br>

Close the deal, I require that I meet with the bride/ groom before hand, period. Ninety percent of my work comes from referals from local vendors or past brides who have seen an album, not a cd but an album and that is what they want. I still bring albums and books with me, but most have there mind made up at the meet. Now match the needs to their budget.<br>

This is a tough business because of the minimum equiptment and knowlege to get started and to "do it under the table". I thought I was done when my other full time job moved me from a large city to surburbia, but people are people, like in Ramseys show if you give them what they want, they will be back, if not your out of business.<br>

Feel free to contact me off site,<br>

Jim</p>

 

<p>Greg<br>

1. Friends and relationships come and go, I wish you the best, but I couldn't imagine what would happen if a relationship went south and someone wanted out. This blog is full of "relationship/frienship's gone bad. I would suggest sole for now or contact a good lawyer and draw up a contract.<br>

2. I worked for a wedding photograher back in the 90's in Buffalo when I lived there and her biggest headache was tax time. Federal, state and even local are nightmares. Contact a good accountant to answer your questions and to do your taxes. If you make money someone wants their share.<br />This is probably the best money you will ever spend and their fee is tax deductible. My accountant has saved me many hours of time that I use to spend filling out forms and not to mention thousands of dollars of advice on setting up and getting started with expenses and equiptment. Take it from a guy who survived an audit, get your ducks in line before you start.<br>

If I can offer some advice, set up a business account and keep your business and personal banking seperately. second setup an accounting system that tracks every penny spent. I still use a $2 cash ledger and make all my entries by hand. My accountant loves it and at the end of the year I can tell you exactly what was sold by quarters and all my expenses like postage, printing, supplies, etc were. If your going to do this with your computer, back it up.<br>

I agree with Karen on the items on site, good luck.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Up in the top section, click on the tab called Learning, all your questions will be answered.</p>

 

<p><a href="http://www.adoramapix.com/PhotoBooks.aspx">http://www.adoramapix.com/PhotoBooks.aspx</a><br>

I took them up on the trial offer that they had in Shutterbug magazine, I am impressed and so were the last two brides. I take mine which has samples of my work with me to every presentation.</p>

<p>Walter, sorry for the poor choice of words. What I meant to say is that my friend with all his wisdom created a color card which is the same color as my ezbalance and that he called a "digital grey card" To be honest I haven't used a grey card since the 79 and I'll have to find one to compare it to my ezbalance.<br>

What I was trying to point out to him it is the color grey, not white,which is the color that the folks at Nikon and Will Crockett at Smartshooter recomendend for "pre" and to stay within the subject of the posters questions.</p>

<p>Charles, excellent topic.<br>

There's some info over at Smart shooter. I do this all the time indoors at weddings with mixed lighting at alter photos, there is usually at least three types of lights present.<br>

I use a ez balance it's the same company that makes the balance smarter. Grey for Nikon, all others white. They have a target on them for the autofocus to grab hold of. I use the other side as a reflector<br>

Have someone hold the card, fill the lens so that's all you see, set to pre, fire and that's it. You'll also note that you can store mulitples in camera but don't forget to pull up the correct one like I did.<br>

This works for me, I'm sure many of the other products work but this is part of my setup, I hate wasting time in editing when I spent so much in gear. Many people enjoy hours and days with the grey eyedropper and taking a photo of the bride with a grey card but it's not for me.<br>

With out starting a war, 18 percent is a referral to exposure not color balance. From what I have learned the hard way, is that grey is somewhere in the middle between 0 and 255. While I'm not a mathematician, all I know is that it works, I'm sure someone can explain all the theory behind it, I can't. Please don't confuse exposure with white balance, I had terrible exposures with great white balance and what it comes down to is we are just trying to get it to what we saw not to blue and not to orange, right?<br>

So,I have a friend that has a graphic business who made me a "digital grey" card similar to the ezbalance but it was to awarkward to use, this thing folds up small and goes in my bag.<br>

So the why is, time saving.</p>

<p>Mike, you can go to the Adobe site and view their products, there is a section by Julieanne Kost that shows each section of Lightoom, I just spent the past two weekends reading.<br>

They also have free trial downloads.<br>

Yes CS4 is the latest version. Each product is different not only in price but in features and I have been using PS since PS6 and after watching the videos for LR only wish I have purchased it sooner. It fits the bill for my needs and looks like it will be a big time saver versus the other product us Nikon users have. As the other posters stated PS does a lot and may be overkill for your needs.<br>

I'm a Nikon shooter, but at an event last year a friend showed us how to use th DDP and I was able to grasp how to use it and in his work flow in one morning.<br>

And there are other product out there.</p>

 

<p>Marko, I shoot in the dirt so for the outside of the cameras I use one drop of dawn dish soap to a dixie cup of hot water, dip 3 Q-tips in the water and squeeze out the excess with your fingers, scrub a small area and then follow with dry ones. It takes a long time but it cleans the outside well.<br>

Inside it's Cooper Hill product.<br>

Lens, filters and glass I use Peca Products and some lens tissue.<br>

If it's just the filter or lens while it's on the camera, I use a soft lens cloth that I picked up at the eye doctor.</p>

<p>stuck in customs<br>

Check out the whole site, there's no mistake you'll know them when you see them</p>

<p>Could your sharpness in low light be slow shutter and camera movement? I don't want to sound smart but my photos got sharper when I locked the camera down with a book on on a tripod. I just can't hand hold like I use to. You didn't mention your camera.<br>

Is it unsharp even with a tripod?<br>

The 50 is very sharp, my next favorite is the 85.<br>

I like my Nikon primes, but in your range there is a sleeper, the Tamron 28-75/ 2.8. Which might fall in your price range.</p>

<p>Frendships come and go. Sit down and put all the "what if's"on paper? Many friends loose intrest, move, etc.<br>

A lot don't realize what's involved, don't get caught holding the bag, or lease if your friend leaves. I wish you the best but I don't know of any of these that ever stayed together.</p>

<p>Shawnee, my take is I use an sb800 on camera. on a RRS wedding bracket to trigger my other 800's that are off camera. Perhaps you can pick up and 800 or 900 to use as a master, the reason I do this is to take full advantage of having a flash on the go and to take full advantage of TTL when indoors. A lot of candids can be lot while adjusting or metering. I have had great results with this set up. I figure if I paid all the money for the camera and flash, let TTL do the work. One 800 on a light stand with you choice of umbrella or small softbox will give you great off camera with CLS and TTL.<br>

When you move outdoors swith to A on the Flash or manual flash, TTL works best when it's the brightest light at the party. TTL has it's place, indoors.<br>

When I have an assistant or for larger formals. I set up the area ahead of time or while the guest are at the receiving line. I set a custom white balance, then meter the scene with an Sekonic L-358 to get exposure. Then bring in the bride, do her photos, add groom, do their, then keep adding family and work from a shooting list that the bride and I have written before the wedding and bang them out. A couple of Alien bees and pocket wizards will get the job done. I love my 3-sb-800's but they do have a limit.<br>

There is no such thing as overdoing it when it comes to getting the right light. Pack your car with whatever you have even if your not going to use it. While I have never had an on location failure(except for a cheap snyc cord). I still get stage fright and the thought of any failure sends my blood pressure through the roof.<br>

Most of the time I could get away with the 3 800's, but I like having the extra system and the group shots are extra sales. So as a recomendation I would suggest you add a 900 or and 800 to use as a master and you can control your 2-600's from your camera no matter if you shoot in TTL,A, or manual and your have a killer setup.<br>

As Mark pointed out, there is no time for anything at a wedding it's fast. So have you setup up down cold when you get there. To be honest that's why I choose to have all my flashes the same. All the buttons are in the same place, they are interchangeable, this works for me.<br>

I hope this helped a little, feel free to contact me off site.<br>

Jim</p>

<p>I was told to go with an "active extension cable"<br>

I purchased one from <a href="http://www.usbgear.com">www.usbgear.com</a> for $20.87 which includes shipping to my door.<br>

16 feet and it works.</p>