jennifer_s3

<p>I have been using instaproofs for years and they are fantastic!</p>

<p>I had to deal with this all last sunday. they literally stood at the alter behind the rabbi. Hopefully the couple really likes their videographer, cause well, they sure do have a lot of pictures of him.</p>

<p>This is why I got into the field to begin with- it sure wasn't for the money!</p>

<p>They will get plenty of photos in their best duds at the wedding. The E-session is all about who they really are. If that is an old rocker t and some toe thongs- so be it!</p>

<p>thanks for the imput. The 2408wfp is not ips. from what i have read, i should be considering ips panels for strict photo editing. anythoughts on this?</p>

<p>much to my dismay, my iMac monitor quit on me. rather than cough up $800 to repair the built in monitor, I am going to go for an external monitor as I feel it is a better long term investment. I have been driving myself nuts shopping around, and I am having a great deal of trouble deciding. I have another wedding next sunday, so time is of the essence.</p>

<p>Here is the short list. I am mac based, running leopard. I primaraly edit in lightroom 2 with some work in cs4. I don't care about video, gaming etc... just photo editing. my budget is around $400/500. The $1300 monitors are not doable right now.</p>

<p>I think I have narrowed down to the dell 2209wa and the hp 2475w. I read great reviews on the dell, but I like the 24" of the HP. I am honestly a bit nervous about HP products, as I sold cameras for a long time and all of HP cameras/printers/accesories had a poor track record... but this monitor gets decent reviews.</p>

<p>I have heard some negative talk of the wide gamut range of the HP, but I am not too familiar with it, and don't know how much that will really affect what I am doing. Any thoughts between the two?</p>

<p>I always keep a cooler in my car with some snack foods, water and a sandwich. I pack hi-protein foods like yogurt and almonds. I eat in-between the wedding/reception etc. when in transit. If we are at one venue, I play it by ear, but I never work on an empty stomach. -too much is at stake. </p>

<p>I have some pretty strict dietary restrictions, so when the couple has gone through the trouble to provide a meal, especially for me, I make a point to eat. However, I never eat at the same time as my assistant. I usually allow him to eat first while I get the cake, details, rings etc. Then, time permitting, I'll grab a quick bite while my 2nd does some table shots. I keep a watch on the room and have my camera strapped to my side just in case. </p>

<p>Most of my clients become friends through the process, and most genuinely want me to eat. In some cultures, it may be considered impolite to refuse a meal. I shot a wedding a few years ago where the FOB was practically shoving food down my throat. He was so thrilled that I liked the indian cuisine, that he had the caterer pack me some food to take home. I ate it for 2 strait days, lunch and dinner! </p>

<p>for around $65 whcc has beautiful press printed books.</p>

<p>$65 30 minutes of shooting, 30+ Pictures???????<br>

$ 100 1 hour, 60+ pictures?????<br>

seriously? over a picture a minute? </p>

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<p>My prices were factored considering my local market. This is how I came up with my album prices.</p>

<p>Design $200- I can either spend this $200 on paying a design service to save me the time, or the money comes to me and I design the album. This depends on how busy I am at the time and the type of layout the client wants. (There is also a bit of mark up here for the paid design- I still have to upload the images and go back and forth between the designer and the clients)</p>

<p>Album Cost x2 plus the design cost. My albums include a 4x4 cameo and branding factored in. Things like larger cameos, additional spreads, box branding etc., are all add ons that the clients can choose. All of these items are marked up about 75-100%.</p>

<p>My base price is for a 10x10 leather album, 4x4 cameo and branding with 20 spreads. </p>

<p>So far, all of my clients have given me credit on their facebook pages. They were thrilled with the work and seemed happy to provide credit for me. When I provided the images for them, they were re-sized for web and NOT watermarked- I simply asked them to provide credit to me if they chose to post them. One couple even went so far as to tag every image with my website address!</p>

<p>What I would be more concerned about, is why these people don't want to give you credit. When I have found a professional whose service I am pleased with, I can't wait to sing their praises to everyone I can- 90% of my business is word of mouth- I would take the time to figure out why these people are not eager to send more business your way. I would image you stand to gain much more from that information than you would from a link to your fan page. </p>

<p>best of luck.</p>

<p>-J</p>

<p>pictobooks has great options and excellent customer service.</p>

<p>I don't really see it that way. Lets say you work 5 days per week and have weekends off. That would not be paying for those 2 days off as there is no work to take on. However, if you worked a 5 day per week job, and your boss offered you additional hours on the weekend, and you turned it down- I would see that as paying for a day off. Why loose that additional income? (it is the same way I feel about calling out sick)</p>

<p>Now, of course, I usually work 12-16 hour days, 7 days per week anyway, so it doesn't really matter to me. If, on the off chance, I manage to score a day off, I certainly won't go out of my way to book it, but I'm not gonna turn work down. If no work is available, I don't look at it as paying for a day off, as I have no real choice in the matter.</p>

<p>However, as long as taking on additional work is not going to affect the turn around time and quality of the work I have already promised other clients, I'm gonna go for it. I'll sleep when I'm dead, and I don't like my family that much anyway. I'd rather know that my bills are paid and I am earning another potential referral. </p>

<p>Can't give any advice on hiring someone for post-production, but I'll say this... My Wacom tablet is the single best investment I have made. It has cut my editing time down to about 1/3, and enables me to produce better results. I love it. If I could marry it, I would. </p>

<p>I will second Hill and Usher. I did a good bit of shopping around a few weeks ago and determined that they offer the most coverage for the the money. Not the cheapest, but the most value. </p>

<p>I agree. I shoot the exchange more for the expression - it is such a climatic moment for the B&G. I then do detail shots of the rings alone at the reception. </p>

<p>Lots of people work holidays. I would look at it as unexpected, additional income. Look at it this way... How much would you PAY to have off on the 4th of July? $3000? Not me, I would never PAY $3000 for a day off. By turning away the job, you are essentially paying for a day off. Not smart business if you ask me. I say take the job, at your normal rate, and be this couple's hero. <br>

Just think, you can make added income, earn good Karma and have a happy B&G singing your praises to all of their friends and family. seems like a no-brainer to me!<br>

Best of luck!</p>

 

<p>9-14 months to is the average for me. I booked one that was only 4 months away.</p>

<p>i would forgo the d300 and step a bit higher for wedding work. the iso capability is lacking in the d300- i'd go d700 at minimum.</p>

<p>I have 8 cards ranging from 2gb to 8gb. they are each numbered 1-8 and I have a card wallet with 8 numbered slots. each card has its own slot. this way, i know instantly if one is missing. once the card has been used, it is returned to its slot and the red flap is left out.<br>

when shooting a wedding, all of the pre-ceremony/ceremony shots are done on the smaller cards. I have more time to change cards in these situations and they tend to be more important than the reception shots. i would rather loose 8gb of reception than 8gb ceremony. by having my assistant shoot everything i shoot at a different angle, i am covered even if one of my cards fail. </p>

<p>this is what works for me.... just figure out your own system. i don't think i will ever fell comfortable enough to shoot an entire wedding on one card though. best of luck.</p>

<p>Mike, thanks for your reply. I have never had any trouble getting through to the PPA, but I have had several failed attempts at getting through to Marsh. I feel very uncomfortable dealing with a company that I can never get a hold of. Have you ever had to file a claim with them?</p>

<p>I use instaproofs. They do not fulfill the order, but I prefer to quality check the prints before delivery anyway. Plus I have my own packaging. I have been very happy with them to date.</p>

<p>Hello, <br>

I have been bouncing around on the forum and on the web looking for info on small business insurance for a home-based photography business and I just can't seem to find what I need. So, I started my own thread.<br>

I am NOT interested in doing an umbrella policy to my homeowners. I need to cover a total of about $17k in equipment both on and off of my business premises. I want personal and professional liability, owned and rental equipment coverage, theft, burglary, coverage for my computer, etc. <br>

I have looked at a few companies and I am getting quotes with a staggering difference in cost ($400-900 annual). Now I know that coverage varies, but on average, what do most of you pay for similar insurance? (The high quote was from a local company that a friend of the family uses... excellent service, but man, not budget friendly.)<br>

Also, does anyone have experience with the company that Photo.net offers for its members? Have you been happy with the coverage/service?<br>

I am also considering Hill & Usher Insurance. Anyone have experience with them?<br>

I am currently a member of PPA, but I can't seem to get a hold of anyone at their company for a quote. If I can't get in touch with them to give them my money... how would I ever file a claim? Thanks, but no thanks. <br>

Anyway, thanks in advance for the replies. I really just want to get this done and over with... I'd rather be shooting/editing right now! This is the kind of stuff I dislike about having a business!</p>

<p>-J</p>

 

<p>If possible, I shoot the bride alone and with her family and bridesmaids before the ceremony... while she is fresh. I try to do the same with the groom and his guys. Then, after the ceremony, I shoot the formals, starting large and working down to small, until I am left with just the B&G. <br>

Prior to the wedding, I try to find out how many family photos they will want and tell them how long I will need to do them. I also suggest they have a relative act as a 'photo wrangler' to keep the family in line while we do the formals.<br>

This way I have plenty of time to shoot the B&G together and since I don't have to worry about single photos or most of the family stuff (since I got most of it before the wedding) I usually have plenty of time to be creative.</p>

<p>I just received my first ordered album from pictobooks. It is absolutely stunning! </p>