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11/12/2005 02:34:16 AM · #1 |
Okay, it is all starting to come to a realization just what I'm getting myself into and quite frankly, I'm terrified, literally scared to death right now. My heart seizes up, my head starts to spin, I look around me and think, "JUST WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?"
I put out flyers today with some good reception at several places, don't expect ANY response so if I do get any I'll be happy and surprised.
I told everyone that from now on when you answer the phone, if you don't know who it is you answer is, "Neufer Photography, may I help you?"
I still have to put together price lists and product lists. I still have to figure out just what I did with my brain because I must have lost it when I thought I could do this. This is truly one of the most terrifying moments of my life and I've had some pretty scary ones considering I almost died when I was 14!
But still, product list, price list, invoices, check into credit cards again on Monday (I will call some different banks and get their fees and policies), check on taxes, incorporating and work on the business plan, get the final figures in so I can start to really look for sponsors and business loans. I have several options, just need to find them!
And I feel so alone, Terry and the girls have been wonderful, don't get me wrong. Practicing with me, helping me with the promotional stuff, letting me vent but still, it's like this is my baby, mine alone and if it fails, I just don't know what I will do. I'm on the verge of tears when I think about it not making it but almost to scared to move further ahead, ya know?
Everyone tells me I can do this, everyone tells me how determined I am, everyone tells me how talented I am but I have so many doubts about all of it. I wish my Mom could be here with me, I could really use that swift kick in the arse about now, LOL :)
Terry's attitude the other day when we talked about a studio space was, "Well, if we are going to do this, let's do it right and max everything out so that we can to make it happen. It's do or die time, right?"
But I don't' want to max everything out, I want to have some security there. I want to know I have SOMETHING to fall back on in case the water heater breaks or the stove quits or the heater (God forbid, knock on wood) needs to be repaired, I mean it's bad enough I won't allow anyone to turn the thermostat above 58 right now because of the high costs of heating. Heck, last month my bill jumped $60 and the heater barely ever came on.
I don't know, maybe I should just stop right now before I do get in deeper than I can handle, I'm could just be kidding myself into thinking I can do this, I want it, I really do but I just don't know if I can handle all of it, ya know? So many things to think about. So many ducks to line up and they are harder to work with than the kittens! I keep finding stray ones all over the place!
I just needed to vent, to get this out of my system before going to bed, otherwise I'll never get to sleep, it's hard enough getting any sleep these days with everything going on. Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers if you believe in that sort of thing, hope that some good karma comes our way for a change and that this almost overwhelming feeling of self-doubt can be worked through and quickly. Remind me again that I'm doing this for my kids, for my family, for myself. That my kids are really thrilled that I'm following through for a change, that I'm really trying to make it happen this time and that I have totally and completely lost my mind but they still love me anyway, LOL :)
Deannda |
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11/12/2005 02:44:03 AM · #2 |
Relax, Deannda. Don't max out the cards (trust me on that one). I would recommend the "Build as you go" approach. Do what you can with what you've got and if you can book a big ($$$) gig that requires more firepower, THEN go buy the stuff you need.
I've been running a business for over four years from my home and used credit cards, cashed in both my 401k's from previous jobs and am about to suck the rest of the equity out of the house for the final push into black ink. It takes time to build a profitable business and you have to pace yourself and grow it slowly and methodically. Be patient and be CONFIDENT. And remind yourself every day of why you are doing this.
That's my tidbit of advice for what it's worth. Check with me a gain in a year and see if I don't end up in one of pawdrix's pics. ;-) |
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11/12/2005 02:52:30 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by Neuferland:
I put out flyers today with some good reception at several places, don't expect ANY response so if I do get any I'll be happy and surprised. |
Keep this in mind when you look at $1000 a month studio space as well. If you don't expect any response, which is probably "mostly" accurate when you first start, you're much better off doing on location stuff.
Originally posted by Neuferland:
I still have to put together price lists and product lists. |
Yes, before prospects start calling, you need to know what you're offering. Otherwise "Neufer Photography, may I help you?" won't help when they say "I'm looking at getting a 16x20 family portrait on canvas. How much is that?" (First of all, you won't know how much it costs you, costs them, where you can get it, IF you can get it, and whether or not you should answer that question (never succinctly if you can ask more about their needs first).
Originally posted by Neuferland:
But still, ... check into credit cards again on Monday (I will call some different banks and get their fees and policies) |
We use Paypal cuz it's free to setup an account, the rates are passable for a new business, and most people are familiar with it.
M
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11/12/2005 02:55:10 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by kpriest:
Check with me a gain in a year and see if I don't end up in one of pawdrix's pics. ;-) |
Too late.
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11/12/2005 02:56:36 AM · #5 |
DON'T max out the cards. DON'T overextend yourself. It's not necessary, once you have the basics. need a studio space? Move everything out of the garage and fix it up, or whatever. The thing you DON'T want is overhead. Once you have overhead you're living on the edge, you have no idea yet how much income you're gonna generate, the pressure is terrible.
When my wife and I divorced, she kept the studio (all 2,300 square feet of it) and I started working out of my home. She kept the mortgaged equipment, I kept my own, paid-for gear. She kept the employees, except I took an assistant with me. In the 12 months following, I took in a third what she did, cash-flow wise, and made twice the profit she did. THAT's what overhead does to you. Od course, I didn't NEED a studio for my bread-and-butter business, but I did use the spare room in the house to shoot architectural models.
In the big studio we had strobes, softlights, soft boxes, a cyclorama, you name it. At home I bounced floods off the ceiling and walls. Worked just fine, thank you :-) It was wonderful being free of the overhead.
And have a little faith ok? There are plenty of really mediocre photographers earning very decent livings in their niches. You're better than that. You'll do fine if you just forge ahead a step at a time.
R. |
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11/12/2005 03:08:39 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Rikki:
Originally posted by kpriest:
Check with me a gain in a year and see if I don't end up in one of pawdrix's pics. ;-) |
Too late. |
LOL! Well don't just leave me standing there empty handed...
Great input from bear & Mav, Deannda. I'll second the low-to-no-overhead strategy. |
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11/12/2005 04:06:22 AM · #7 |
((((hugs)))) Believe in yourself Deannda, you can do it!!
Apart from all the wonderful advice from the others, you have an atribute which is invaluable......you have superb communication skills. Talk to your customers, get to know them a little, listen to what they want. Besides the talking will help both you and the customers relax, feel more comfortable and you'll have a better chance of getting 'the shot'......and don't max out the credit cards, I'm going to be paying mine back till I need help to pick up the camera!
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11/12/2005 04:35:09 AM · #8 |
credit is a trap -- don't use it unless there is absolutely no other way, and only then in emergencies. Credit is a crutch, using it is depending on someone else instead of trusting your own ability -- sure it is tempting to 'have it now', but the cost is not worth it.
Don't buy anything for this venture on a 'I might need it' -- if you don't know absolutely 100% that you need it (and I do mean 'need', not want), leave it alone until you have built yourself up to being able to afford to play with new things without putting your life in hock.
Don't max out anything except your courage and the support of those around you.
David |
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11/12/2005 08:19:32 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by Rikki:
Originally posted by kpriest:
Check with me a gain in a year and see if I don't end up in one of pawdrix's pics. ;-) |
Too late.
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ROTFL |
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11/12/2005 09:45:42 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by bear_music:
....there are plenty of really mediocre photographers earning very decent livings in their niches.
R. |
Truer words were never spoken!
I work with great photographers..thats all they do. But many of them would be eating peanut butter sandwiches and living in their mother's basement if I didn't have telent to market them because they don't know advertising and marketing...they are professional photographers..not marketing guys.
When I worked for The Washington Times, I directed several photo sessions for tourism campaigns and I know I got the job more because I bred confidence in the advertiser about my knowledge of marketing more than a great portfolio of past images.
Get your business side squared away first if it's about making money in photography. Lot's of talented photo "artists" are working at other jobs, few are making it on talent alone.
Message edited by author 2005-11-12 09:46:48. |
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11/12/2005 10:28:59 AM · #11 |
Seems like a lot of good advice coming your way Deannda.
I`m not qualified to help in that department but I do want to pass on my best wishes for your future success.
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11/12/2005 11:31:32 AM · #12 |
Deannda,
You've had some great advice about the business side of this venture. Use it. The awesome part of this business is that it is one of the few businesses that can build as you grow. Most require all at once. Use that to your advantage.
I want to talk to you about that self-doubt monster that keeps rising. Self-doubt is so common - that means you are not alone. I work with strong determined women administrators and there is not one of us who hasn't admitted to the "Imposter Syndrome." That feeling that you don't know what the h*** you're doing and someone will find out and expose you for what you are. We all feel it - we just usually keep quiet about it.
When that feeling arises - which it will quite often - have a quick conversation with yourself. Remind yourself of the many times you have tried something you weren't completely comfortable with and you succeeded. Who cares if the success was 100%? You succeeded to some extent and went forward again and had a greater success the next time. You would not be at this stage if you had not had many successes in the past. Of course you've had some set backs, but you used those to create successes down the road. Where you are now gives me the evidence of what I speak.
Next - You don't think you can handle it all. YOU ARE RIGHT! You can't handle it all - TODAY. Over a period of time, you can handle whatever you need to do, taken a step at a time. Keep telling yourself, "I don't need all the answers today. Those I need to have, I'll find," and then do it, plus one more "get ready" answer.
Lastly - You are not alone. You have a wonderful, supportive family, a great mentoring group, friends at DPC, friends in your community and your faith in a power beyond your own. Write your thoughts and experiences in a journal daily. When you look back on the entries, you will see how things work together for your good (when you live uprightly.)
There's a thread of quotes that was posted yesterday. One of the quotes is from a Nelson Mandella speech. Find it, cut it out, read it over and over, beleive it and live your dream. You CAN do it. |
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11/12/2005 01:43:34 PM · #13 |
OK, Deanndra - here is your kickoff speech to fire you up and help you kick some ass: (Stolen and slightly modified from "Knute Rockne: All American")
"Well, Deanndra, I haven't a thing to say.
Played a great game -- you. Great game.
I guess we just can't expect to photograph ‘em all.
I'm going to tell you something I've kept to myself for years. None of you ever knew Ken Priest. It was long before your time. But you all know what a tradition he is at DPC.
And the last thing he said to me, "sometime, when the team is up against it, and the breaks are beating the boys, tell 'em to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Woody.'
'I don't know where I'll be then,' he said, 'but I'll know about it; and I'll be happy and covered in milk.'
Alright."
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11/12/2005 02:05:25 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by rjkstesch:
Next - You don't think you can handle it all. YOU ARE RIGHT! You can't handle it all - TODAY. Over a period of time, you can handle whatever you need to do, taken a step at a time. Keep telling yourself, "I don't need all the answers today. Those I need to have, I'll find," and then do it, plus one more "get ready" answer. |
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Truer words than THIS my friends, have never been spoken. Where I was 18 months ago vs today - there's no comparison. None!
When you don't have clients, you have time. When you have clients, you don't have time. USE that information. When you do NOT have clients, learn. Constantly.
Here's your tip for the day from me:
//www.ilovephotography.com
Join the forums. Trust me. Then read everything ever posted on there. Scan the archives, look at old posts - absorb it all. They almost all started exactly where you are now and some are among the best portrait photographers in the country.
M
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