Client N - photo restoration

BACKGROUND:

I have been networking for a year now and know that I do not make the most of this - yet. This is because I need to concentrate on my studies. The reason for networking is to get enough work to cover the costs of networking and in the meantime make sure people know and trust me and I will turn up the dial once I have graduated.

However, as Christmas is approaching I thought about parts of what I offer and how to get people to engage with me, spend their money with me and continue to develop my business.

I have often shown a selection of images that I have restored and suggesting that they look out for precious images as they go home over Christmas and see if there are any images that need saving and repairing.

SITUATION:

Client found a couple of images of his grandfather and great grandfather and asked if I could restore them.

PROCESS:

I spent a very pleasant hour or so scanning and restoring these images.

INVOICE AND DELIVERY:

I will not be seeing my client until early new year so I will prepare the invoice, a print and also burn the images to CD so he can use them online ready for when I see him.

IMAGES:

Before restoration

After restoration

I still need to do some work on these as they are not quite right yet - but there is not much more to do.

Reflection:
I realised as I was doing this work that whilst I have the results of some of my previous restorations on my website I have not included how much I charge for this service. I have now updated my website.

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Client M - Photo Book

BACKGROUND:

I have been networking for a year now and know that I do not make the most of this - yet. This is because I need to concentrate on my studies. The reason for networking is to get enough work to cover the costs of networking and in the meantime make sure people know and trust me and I will turn up the dial once I have graduated.

However, as Christmas is approaching I thought about parts of what I offer and how to get people to engage with me, spend their money with me and continue to develop my business.

I have produced many books in the past and really enjoy doing that and so have been encouraging my networking buddies to think about a photo book as a gift idea. I generated a lot more interest when I took the book I had created for Mum for Mother's Day this year - suddenly they could see what I meant.

SITUATION:

Client's parents have just celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary and she had been to see them and stolen all their photographs and photo albums. The book is needed for early January when the family will next be all together - or Christmas if deadlines allow - but not essential.

PROCESS:

I had an initial meeting with the client where we went through all the images she wanted to see in the book - this was a selection of images on a memory stick, photographs stuck into an album and loose photographs in a jiffy bag. I noted all requirements and used post-it notes to show which were required. We discussed the size and style of the finished book and the time scale. I was also going to be sent some high-res images of the anniversary cake from the cake designer.

I began by scanning all the images and making a note of the time this took. as I charge by the 15 mins for this service. The client had asked for all images scanned to also be available on a memory stick once completed.

When I had all the images I prepared a contact sheet so I could monitor where I was with the project and began creating the pages and telling the story she had told me.

 RESULTS:

I got the book created surprisingly quickly. I prepared a quote based on the time each part of the process had taken to make sure the client was OK with the cost of the book before I hit the print book button on the Blurb website. She was more than happy with the costs and so I hit send on the book and hoped it would arrive before Christmas.

INVOICE AND DELIVERY:
Book arrived on 19th December (9 days before the expected delivery date) and I had a meeting with the client on 22nd December where I handed over my invoice, the book, the photo album, the jiffy bag of photographs and the new memory stick with the scanned images on.

BOOK:

Reflection:
I realised as I was completing this project that I had not added this service on my website. I have now updated it.

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Bowens

Lighting kits come in many guises. But if you want the best that will not fall apart after being used half a dozen times then you'll need a Bowens lighting kit.

Having borrowed a lighting kit a good few times I would agree with this. However you also need to go onto some sort of fitness programme to be able to lug the coffin sized bag on wheels around. Also my car is too small to fit it, and an assistant, in! I therefore strive to find something as good but lightweight. The Bowens kit comes out only when I need the big guns.

Images look so much better when they have been taken using good lighting that has been carefully thought through. People also respond favourably to images that have clearly had time taken over their construction.

I have always hated the messing about that some with all the extra kit, the time taken to plug in, screw together, unpack it all. I usually need to capture images in a hurry, and if you are on the clock with a client then you need something that is light, easy, fast and not in their way. However when time is not the issue then there is nothing better than getting the kit out and setting it up and impressing the client.

I am becoming a convert to the whole strobist way of working. It is also presenting me with a challenge which has to be a good thing. I am currently experimenting with flash guns and cold light as these present to me a lightweight way to carry three lights.

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Erik Knudsen

Took notes and reflected.

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Retail

My work is now available for sale in a local shop in Ashby de la Zouch on The Green (opposite the Bowling Green pub).

Locally Green is a new venture offering a retail outlet for local artists. It occupies the shop that was formally called Fair 2 All on North Street.

I took some of my prints, canvasses and greetings cards in for them to display for sale ready for the Ashby Christmas Fair on 3rd December when and the whole of Market Street is closed and everyone is in festive holiday mood.

Will pop into the shop on Monday to see how today has gone and also see if there are things I need to do to my products to ensure they are doing their best to get sold.

Reflection:
In my haste I may have not prepared my images in the best way. Mostly I gave her mounted prints and I think I need to ensure they are wrapped in cellophane to protect them. I also think I need to say what they are on the back. I have put my business stickers on the back of each mount so people know they are mine- but some of them are images of somewhere and I think I need to say that.
The photography really is the easiest part of this work. I seem to spend a lot of my time considering packaging and buying things to protect my work - things that will ultimately be thrown away. I hate it when supermarkets over package things because all you do is throw it away. But I do need to protect my work so that I remains sellable.
My discussions on Monday will resolve this.

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Kindle

No this isn't a list for Santa.

The book by Nick Corbett which features my photography on the cover is now available on Amazon -- at the moment it is the Kindle edition only. But there it sits with my image on the cover. Wont be long now until the hardback and paperback versions become available.

Very chuffed.

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White gloves

Always wear white gloves when:

• handling prints
• mounting and framing images
• preparing a portfolio
• manhandling images into archive slips to be stored in clam boxes.

What is also important is to wear white gloves when handling products when you are shooting them. This not only reduces the amount of dust on the product but makes sure none of your finger prints are transferred onto the product. These will spoil your beautiful image and require lots of  photoshop work to remove the marks.

White Archive Gloves - essential for any photographer

Bought myself a pair today!

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Now it's December

SAY CHEESE ...

It's December - It's official.

This means that now I am going to start marketing my Camera Appreciation Gift Cards with avengence to help people who are having difficulty finding a suitable gift for someone who is interested in photography.

Gift Card

I have organised to attend 7 networking meetings in the next few weeks and will be explaining what I can do for people who want that 1-2-1 attention when learning to get the best out of their camera.

The Card it presented in a plastic card holder and in the holder on the reverse is a booklet explaining to the recipient of the gift card what happens next.

Booklet

To find out where I will be visit my website events page.

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