Photos from yesterday's wedding are now up at thereversedlens and the official RLP blog (http://reversedlensphotography.blogspot.com).

d_g post here.

I love sitting down with clients who like the idea of working with you. People you feel like you're really connecting with. That makes my day, sometimes even makes my week.

Needless to say, we booked something last night.

Fun Bat Mitzvah in October with a really cool family. They booked 8 hours of coverage (a significant chunk for a Bar / Bat) plus the photobooth. We threw in an extra session, our new "Full Bloom" session that we do with 10-14 y/o kids. They're a good family I'm going to enjoy working with. Best of all, I think they're probably going to refer a lot of people.

Did I mention things are going well?

It was a good week for us last week.

First of all, we had two wedding consults. One booked immediately (A Monday wedding for next season;) and the other one seemed pretty solid. I have high hopes that we're going to see the second pan out. Both gave us a good indication of where our advertising dollars are paying off, too -- invaluable info for us.

We also had two viewing sessions last week. Both families came in fully expecting to spend a good deal of coin on purchases after the fact. Both ordered over $1000 worth of product. Final orders aren't in quite yet, but we had orders for an amazing amount of product this week. Those two orders just paid for our TV. It also means we'll probably be getting that new lens sooner than expected.

Woo. Too much going on for me to keep track of it. We find out for sure on the second wedding consult on Wed. Thursday night is also another consultation -- this time for another Bat Mitzvah.

Keep talking about us, people! We're getting there!

We got a call back about the studio space we had looked at previously. Not only is it going to work out, I think it's going to work out beautifully. Warranted, it will probably take a fair bit of work to get ready, including installing walls. Nevertheless, I'm pleased that it's going to work out so well and look forward to getting keys soon.

RLP is about to have its own address in downtown Portland. Details to follow as they become available.

Orders to Submit
- G. Bat Mitzvah
- C. Family
- R. Family (3 y/o)
- S./S. Family Shoot
-
- Disks for ritzcrackerman

Design, Retouch
- Rep card basic design, submit for first two reps.
- B. Bar Mitzvah
- S. Family

Follow Up
- N&R: Booking? Wait until Wed.
- C. Family: look for payment today in mail, follow up if not there.
- W. Family: Follow up and confirm appt.
- Reps: schedule shoots with S.B. and A.M.

Research
- Plasma TV (esp. Panasonic). Call Video Only in Beaverton. If necessary, get ref. from Dad or ritzcrackerman about who they talked to.
- Pens for signing prints

After much hemming and hawing, Em and I have decided to take the plunge and purchase Nikon's 70-200 f/2.8 VR. It's a fairly large investment (~$1700), but it's a piece of glass that I suspect will be around for quite a while. In any case, I'm sure we'll use it for a number of years before we replace it. Nikon just released their nanocoat-class lenses (the 24-70mm and 14-24mm), so I suppose there's a chance they'll revamp the 70-200, but the announcement wouldn't even come until November anyway. We need that lens for this season, and I'm sure there will be a good market for them if we ever opt to upgrade.

I just keep counting down what we still need:

2x Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 N
1x Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 N
At least one canvas for display
At least one flushmount album for display (Confirmed: we're buying this as a companion to one of the orders that was put in last month)
2x 13' lightstands
1x Tripod with pistol grip

The flushmount and canvas will probably happen later this month, as will the tripod. The product purchases from our shoots this weekend (Saturday: Bar Mitzvah, Sunday: Family Shoot) should be able to finance at least that much, if not the lightstands as well. The lenses will have to wait a bit longer, though.

I still need to pick up something so we can use the diffusers on the Alien Bees for the family shoot Sunday. I've got the gels for it, I just need something to soften the light a little. Perhaps a trip to Pro is in order.

I'm doing more research for Ye Olde Businesse, so I'm putting up another poll.

Poll #1129977 Photography
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 160

How much are you / did you pay for a wedding photographer in US dollars? Choose whatever value is closest.

View Answers
Mean: 2228.57 Median: 2000 Std. Dev 1591.69

0	3 (2.1%)
500	16 (11.4%)
1000	20 (14.3%)
1500	22 (15.7%)
2000	21 (15.0%)
2500	20 (14.3%)
3000	15 (10.7%)
3500	7 (5.0%)
4000	3 (2.1%)
4500	3 (2.1%)
5000	5 (3.6%)
5500	0 (0.0%)
6000	1 (0.7%)
6500	0 (0.0%)
7000	1 (0.7%)
7500	0 (0.0%)
8000	2 (1.4%)
8500	0 (0.0%)
9000	0 (0.0%)
9500	0 (0.0%)
10000	1 (0.7%)

How many photographers were at your wedding?

How much coverage did you purchase? Please include wedding and any other pre/post events like a rehersal dinner.

Which of the following came with your package:

Did you order any of the following in addition to the items included in the package?

Which of the following factored into your decision:

What is the number one reason you chose your photographer?

Em and I have started up a photo-a-day project on thereversedlens. We're on Day 2 and we're switching back and forth who does it. At some point, we may have two separate journals for it, but we're just not there yet.

I think this might be just the project I needed to get myself thinking about art photography again. I need a lensbaby.

You can find today's post here.

Em and I are already gearing-up for the next couple of weeks, which promise to be quite busy:

- Em and I have a portfolio shoot scheduled for tonight so we can get some good examples of senior pictures. That starts almost immediately after I get done with work.

- Tomorrow, we're going to the pumpkin patch at Sauvie Island (just west of Portland) and then have a total of 3 shoots for the day, two paid, one unpaid. All three are family shoots.

- I'm taking Thursday and Friday of next week off so I can, hopefully, do some shooting and go to some classes about the new D300.

- Next Saturday (11/3) is a benefit event for Write Around Portland that we're shooting as a service to them (and as a favor to a friend of ours). We need to find a babysitter for this still.

If any of you are in the Bay Area, we will be traveling there for the week of Thanksgiving. If you're interested in doing a shoot, please let me know and we can set something up.

Below is a picture of a lady spinning. Don't stare at the lady -- focus on her movement. Is she moving clockwise or counterclockwise?
( Inside )

Poll #1073619 Clockwise or Counter Clockwise
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 19

Which way is the Dancer turning?

The site is live.

http://www.reversedlensphotography.com

Yes, I know it's a mouthful.

Ever since thereversedlens got taken over by the RLP photos, I haven't really had a place to post my own stuff that isn't RLP related. So I'm going back to posting here.

Em and I went out to take some promotional shots for the website and we decided to have some fun cropping them in a 1:1 ratio. That's right, kiddies: they're all squares. Comments/Constructive Criticism/Small Woodland Creatures greatly appreciated.

I'm thinking that when I get all done, I need to set up a whole mood theme out of these. At least one will become an icon. Suggestions are welcomed.


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