I feel so stupid…

I hope I didn’t screw myself out of a nice gig. It would suck to lose a few grand, just because I didn’t read through an email. I was finishing up business with a band’s management and held an email in my box, so I could reference their billing info when I had more time to type up an invoice. I didn’t immediately print up an invoice and let it sit on the back burner for a week.

Well, I finally got around to it tonight and noticed there was more in that email besides the billing info. The second paragraph said how much they loved working with me and was wondering if I was available to shoot another album cover for a different artist. Oops. Not very professional to take a whole week to answer back, huh?!?
I feel so stupid for not checking through the email for a whole week. I’ve been so behind and playing catch up for the last several days, and was prioritizing the images before I messed with invoices. It IS the professional thing to deliver a finished product before sending a final invoice, but not so professional to inadvertently ignore client questions and requests. I am hoping this didn’t just cost me a nice gig…

Everything is running smooth…

I’m very happy that everything is running smooth at the moment. I like easy days. That’s not to say I’m not busy – because I am… I’m just not dealing with drama. No broken gear, no complicated shooting schedules, no mess.

I just booked a couple new shoots for the month, and my new powermac seems to be plugging along just fine. All very good news!

Don’t forget…

Don’t forget to make time for your personal photos. Take pictures of your family and friends, get them printed, and put them in a real scrapbook or album. It will do a lot to help clear your head. It will make you a better shooter. Don’t forget to take time for yourself and your personal photos every week. Even if it just means looking back through your photo album. Trust me. It will make you feel better.

Think about what you need…

I mentioned a lot of recent business spending in a previous post. This month has been a bit crazy. I don’t usually drop a few grand on new camera bodies every month. Actually, I have budgeted to purchase a new body every two years.

I also don’t spend a lot on computer stuff. I will have to get a new hard drive or two, maybe every six months or so (they fill up fast). I will have to add memory when needed, maybe increasing it every year until the computer is maxed out. But, I try not to get a new computer until I have to (because a machine has died or the newest needed software won’t run on my current machine).
Well, I’ve been lucky enough to buy my last two Powermacs used. One at an auction for a few hundred bucks – it lasted me a few years. The other through ebay – it’s still running fine, and has been for the last three or four years now. It just runs a little slow on some things and won’t really work with Adobe CS4 or the newest version of Final Cut Pro.
Believe it or not, I’ve been able to get by on this G4 dual 533mhz Powermac for the last few years. It cost me around $400 to $500 and maybe a couple hundred dollars in upgrades to keep it going so far. No three or four grand Intel-based powerhouse for me… Why would I spend that kind of money if I don’t HAVE to?!?
You see, all this gear is just a set of tools to help me create my art. I’m not afraid to say that I didn’t go to Apple and spend a few grand for a new unit, plus another grand in memory and other hop-ups. I am not using my computer to impress other people, and I’m not using it to do hardcore 3D rendering or major motion picture video editing. It doesn’t HAVE to be the newest, fastest, flagship model computer.
My new computer purchase is for a older Powermac Quadcore 2.5ghz computer. I figure that will be just enough to get me by for the next three to four years, until I have to find another used unit that is “just quick enough” and “just modern enough” to be relevant for the next few years after that.
I am fine with a machine that is already a few years old. It will work with the most current software out today, and it will run fast enough and smooth enough for what I am currently doing – and plan to be doing for the next couple years. That’s all I ask for.
Here’s the deal, I spent $1,100 for the newer computer. If I add in another $400 in upgrades over the next four years, I’ll have spent $1,500 on this computer overall. Divide that by the years of use and I’m spending $375 per year on my computer to use it. That $375 per year operating cost is on par with what you’d spend per year on a new, but very basic basic Intel-based Mac Pro, if you kept it for the next eight years.
And, just to compare the cost of operating the best, fastest, hottest, newest Mac currently available: If you purchased an 8-core Intel-based Mac pro (runs two 2.93ghz quadcore chips) with 16gb memory for $6,500, you’d need to keep running that machine for almost 18 years to reach the same $375 per year cost!
Sure, there are advantages to getting the newest, biggest computer currently available. I’m not suggesting you should always buy used. I’m really just pointing out that you should get what you need, with some room to grow for a few years. However, you are just wasting money if you don’t really need it, won’t actually use it, and especially can’t afford it.

An expensive month…

So, June was very profitable, but also very costly. Just part of doing business, I guess. Let’s break it down:

* new Canon 5D mkII with some misc accessories: $3,000
* repair my original Canon 5D: $400
* repair my BeachTek audio device for my video camera: $150
* replace some old rechargeable batteries for my flash: $85
* buy a newer Powermac for the office: $1,100
* buy new CF cards: $150
Maybe not a lot of money to some people, but I’d rather not spend so much if I can help it. Hopefully, this gives you an idea of all the things you need to consider when running your own business. If something breaks, you can’t just send it off to the IT department or have the company buy you a new one. You need to factor in all these upgrades and repairs when you are bidding on jobs. You have to pay for it somehow…

zzzzzzz…

Yes, I am so tired and about to hit the bed hard. I’m also a bit sunburned and very sore all over. But, it was worth it, because we got some GREAT photos for the next BFS record.

The art director, who flew in from NY, told me that he handled the artwork on all the Modest Mouse 7″ singles out right now. I’m already a Modest Mouse fan, and had considered picking up the records. Now I definitely want one!!!
That’s it for now. I’ll post again when I get caught up with everything (which feels like never at the moment).

No sick days…

I’m sick.  I feel terrible.  However, I have work that is due Monday morning, and there are no sick days when you are a freelance photographer.  Who is going to finish the work if you call in sick?!?  

Zacuto?!?

have you seen this company before?  They seem to have some pretty unique gear for sale.  As Digital SRL’s become more and more like camcorders, more and more new/interesting/cool accessories will start popping up for sale: