hooman_b

<p>Comes with its own software. It works really well too. I've used it several times.</p>

<p>Mad Mini is working pretty good for me these days.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Powerex-2700mAh-Rechargeable-Batteries-holder/dp/B000FOV92E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1257866562&sr=8-1">PowerEX</a> are also fantastic batteries. Along with their <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Maha-Powerex-MH-C801D-Eight-Charger/dp/B000E5S648/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1257866562&sr=8-3">charger</a> , so a slow charge and a fast charge - the only ones I use.</p>

<p>I think you'll find a lot of people do 1/3 at booking, and then either have 2 more payments, or one more payment. I've been doing 1/3 and then balance due 30 days prior to event, but I'm going to change that to 90 days before event. Also, other photographers I know like have 3 payments to spread out the income as it comes in to steady out the cash flow through the year. Either way, I would want all money prior to shooting an event...</p>

<p>Check out Neat Receipts for Mac http://www.neatco.com/ I'm pretty sure it can incorporate with Quicken.</p>

<p>I've been quite happy with <a href="http://www.youselectit.com/home.php">YSI</a> - bunch of premade template, or make your own. You can drag and drop into the templates, which is really nice. And you can edit a layout in PS through the software. Export features abound and you can set the templates and layouts to the dpi And sizes you need. I think there is a 50% off sale going on now as well.</p>

<p>Great shot - very interesting. I definitely like it a lot. Personally, I would have rather seen a complete straight on shot of this, (it seems you were slightly left of them shooting at an angle). Also, I would have also have rather seen her not smiling, to match the groom. I would like to see the crop at the left and right tree- but yeah, great shot all in all.</p>

<p>That's not true. Anyone can write anything down, and its a contract. If you google around, you'll find people have put up their contracts for people to see. Just find one, revise to fit what you want to do and how you want to do it, and there you go. Just make sure it is fair to you and you are outlining what you intend to provide and do for your client.</p>

 

<p>I can't think of any time I've ever even thought of calling the BBB for anything (much less anyone else I know). I think you're better of spending $25-$50 per wedding web site for an upgraded listing. The BBB called me last year and said it was $300 to join. $300! To me its like the phone book, dead and gone :)</p>

<p>Definitely read this blog - so interesting, I think - and is exactly about what you're asking.<br>

http://markstoutphotography.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/a-dangerous-new-marketing-paradigm-blogs-magazines-fashion-designers-agencies-and-fools/</p>

<p>Have you checked out the PickPic and White House Custom Color combination? WHCC recently bought out PickPic, and they have good integration and working on even more tighter integration. I use both and am quite happy with it. Not sure if its going to do just what you want, but, its an option...</p>

<p>BTW, my JPG sizes average between 4-5 MB</p>

<p>I do this all the time. I use JPGs exported from RAW at 300 DPI at max (10) setting out of lightroom. The videos I make are around 20-24 minutes, with about 250-300 images with music. After saving, I export using the fotomagico "share" -> HD Movie ->1080p and 30fps and save it on my main drive which has a ton of free hard drive space (I think this is pretty important).</p>

<p>It takes around 10 hours for the export to complete. I was having issues in the past with crashes during export, but lately, its been pretty solid and no problems.</p>

<p>After that, I use iDVD to make a menu, with music and sample photo, then drop the mov file into that. (The mov file is around 600MB.<br /> I don't bother saving the project in iDVD, but rather just export it as a VideoTS folder. (under File in iDVD).<br /> <br /> From there I use Toast to burn it to a DVD. (there is an option in toast for burning Video TS files).<br /> It sounds like a lot, but really, it is a painless series of steps and the results are excellent. I watch/show the DVDs on a smasung 46" 720P DLP through a Sony Blu Ray player and it is 100% smooth on the movements and the photos are super sharp.<br /> I just finished making one yesterday as a matter of fact, and I'm making another today.<br /> Let me know if you have any more questions - OH, and I'm using ver 2.6. I have tried upgrading a few times to ver 3, but they seem to have taken out the random feature from 2.x (or changed it or something).<br /> Best,<br /> Hooman</p>

<p>I'm not checking my gear or would ever do that - if it goes in the belly , I"m dropping it off at the stairs when boarding - it is brought back to the stairs when you land..</p>

<p>I have flown a decent amount with my gear. I use a pelican case (I can't recall the model number) but it is the one "guaranteed" to fit in the overhead bin. That being said, if you're riding a small connecting commuter, like an Embraer or the smaller Canadair RJs, then it doesn't really fit. I leave it by the stairs and they put it in the belly. The case holds 2 bodies, 2 lenses and a flash. I carry on my shoulder bag which has the CF cards, batteries and charger. Xray doesn't do anything to CFs.<br>

Be aware if you're leaving a case at the door of a jetway. Those guys have no problem chucking anything 15 feet to the concrete waiting for someone else to pick it up and then put it in the belly. I caught one guy grabbing my case ready to do it. Basically, if you're getting on the plane with a jetramp, then take it inside the plane. If its a commuter which you're walking on the ramp and up the stairs into the plane, I leave it on the ground by the stairs for the belly.</p>

<p>I have no idea how that much dust came on the sensor. The camera is only 8 months old and I never have removed the lens from when I originally put it on when I first got the camera. I also do use the sensor clean before every shoot as well on both my cameras, but as several mentioned, there really is no reason to make it an auto feature when you turn the camera on, so I'll set that to auto. Thanks for all the input and product recommendations!</p>

<p>Wow, always learning new stuff. Had no idea about the aperture making it more pronounced (now I finally get why I only noticed it some of the time lol). Thanks guys!</p>

<p>Hi everyone,<br>

I'm not sure which I need cleaned - the sensor, mirror,? Take a look at the attachment. These spots (top left quadrant mainly), are usually only visible on the photos which have sky in them, and become much more pronounced when adding filters in post, or darkening that section up. I have clean the lens with RayVu, and it happens with 2 different lenses, so I'm pretty confident it is the body.<br>

I'm looking for any advice on this... Thanks.<br>

<img src="http://www.vesic.com/img/sample.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="532" /></p>

This is a video from a videographer I have worked with - they swear by ShootQ - I've really liked what I've used of it so far too. And I just spent

about 45 minutes with Shoot Q on the phone (no charge) as they helped guide me through the process of using the software. It is really nice,

and I can definitely see it being worth the monthly charge...

http://www.infocusvideoevent.com/blog/2009/05/how-using-shootq-can-improve-your-business.html

<p>Two popular ones are www.shootq.com and www.tave.com.</p>

<p>Ferdinand - In regards to your question: "Hooman, so if the couple is not from your area, how do you handle the contract?" - I tell them the contract is pretty simple and I just need them to email me information like full names and addresses/phone/email, ceremony/reception information, apprx. start and stop times, and which package they want.<br>

From there, I fill in the info on the contract, PDF it, email it to them, they sign it and send it back with a deposit. That's pretty much it.<br>

Hope this helps :)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Email sent ...</p>

<p>1. Your best bet is to get with a bookkeeper or CPA - or, just get a good book on the matter.<br>

2. See 1<br>

3. Drive 200 miles to meet a client? Just not realistic or practical. You can do it over the phone. Generally, clients will want to see links to full weddings , talk to you on the phone to see if your personalities click and go from there. If its good, email the contract filled out, have them sign and mail back with a deposit and that's it.<br>

Sometimes I've met the clients before the wedding, if they are from where I am, but now live somewhere else; and sometimes I meet them that day. Its never been a problem for me, at least...</p>

<p>You could always do the shoot, keep the photos and send a letter out that the current contract has been violated, and you'll start working on the development of the photos upon payment of the balance due. That way you don't look bad, reputation is in tact, etc..</p>

<p>You can scan your sig, and place it in the doc, PDF it and send it out. Have them rescan or mail it back to you.</p>