From yesterday. Thanks goodness her mommy lets me borrow her and dress her up in fluffy shit. This park is my new favorite place to shoot now. Also, some of you may recognize that blue dress and the remains of my peacock dress. I like it, but it’s waaayyy too big. I need to take a panel out of the back of it.
John’s black belt test started at about 2:00pm and went until about 5:00pm. He showed up and got changed while I got settled and tested the light with the camera. There were about 6 black belts there, one brown, two purples, two oranges and a white. One we got there, John calmed down, but my stomach was flipping around. On the way there he’d said “There’s really only three ways I can fail this test. If I pass out, if I give up, or if I get pinned.” The test got started after warm-ups, but instead of working through less-advanced techniques into more difficult ones, they started him off with the tough ones first. They worked him through all kinds of throws, then a kata, then decided that a randori would be good. A randori (for us laypeople) is where more than one person comes at you, and you need to keep them from attacking you all at once. This is most often accomplished by throwing the attackers into themselves.Anyway, he randori’d with three lower belts, then two blacks. After another kata and some more throws, they put all 12 people up there with him. I was so nervous I bit off all my fingernails. If he was going to get pinned, that was going to be it. I had to get up and leave, actually, I was so nervous. After that was done, more throws, then a blind randori. He was exhausted by the end of it, and I was shaking.
The black-belts went back to the office to discuss while the rest of us talked and John rested. The black-belts were closeted for a good 15 minutes, then came back out. Sensei faced John and said “So… when would be a good time for a re-test?” My heart just sank, and I almost cried right there. John pandered a little about it, then Sensei asked him to stand up and remove his belt. I thought “Oh, it was a joke! They really are going to give him his black” John stood there with no belt on, but Sensei didn’t immediately produce the black and I thought “Oh, shit… John failed so badly they’re taking his belt and kicking him out of the school!” I really DID tear up then, but then Sensei pulls John’s black out of his gi. He’d had it in there the whole time! I was so relieved. I cried as he put the black on John and tied it for him for the first time. It even had his name embroidered on it. Evereyone congratulated him, then bowed out. I wasn’t allowed to be on the mat, so I had to content myself with a flying hug once he got off the mat.
We all went out for dinner, then John came home and crashed. I was too worked up to sleep, and was up until 4am. John’s one stiff puppy today. His arms are a mass of bruises, he got knocked in the head at some point, and his back is covered in pruple too. Anyway, 5 years of work had led to this, and I’m proud of him. You can see all the photos right here.
John is officially a first dan black belt in Akido now. Pictures and longer story to follow.
I’ve come to the uncomfortable conclusion that I’m just being too darn timid about my photo business. I need to get contact info, need to work of following up, generating more excitement.. etc.
Have done:
1. Made a website. www.clportraits.com
2. Put a form on the website so it’s easier to contact me.
3. Made a News and Specials blog so people can see their sessions in progress and check on specials. www.clportraits.com/news
4. Begun a mailing list to prod clients
5. Printed and have handed out coupons for reduced session fee
6. Started a referral program
To do:
1. Get trifold brochures printed when we have the cash
2. Make some small contact forms for people I talk with to fill out
3. Get more postcard coupons printed when we have the cash
4. Beg Larken to re-write my Rates page
5. Finish mailing list ans send out first ‘issue’
6. Take brochures and coupons to local boutiques and schools
7. Advertize in the local parenting mags when we have the cash
8. Find mothers mailing lists here figure out how to advert there w/o being obtrusive
I found out a few days ago that I’m not the only photographer in this city doing what I’m doing. There’s another girl doing on-location stuff. She’s about my age and has two kids herself. This really is only relevant because she has acccess to a bunch of mothers stuff that I do not. I looked at her website and it’s a flash-based site. I looks nice and professional, but not neccesarily better than mine. She does, however, have a better camera than I do.
I’m feeling generally discouraged, because suddenly what I’m doing (or attempting to do) isn’t so unique anymore. I’m also down because all the moms I’ve talked to at the playground and stuff got really excited when they saw my work.. then nothing. All of them are like “Ohhh, I LOVE your stuff, I’m SOOO going to hire you!!!” and then I get nothing. This isn’t a one-time thing either, it’s happened at least 4 times! I mean, do I smell? Do I have a tattoo on my forehead that says ‘Lie to me!”? ::sigh:: I think that I will start saying “I can add you to my mailing list to keep you updated about any specials I’m running.” That way I can get contact info without being obnoxious about it.
I’m tired of not being able to hold up my end of the financial responsibilities here. I’m tired of not being able to do what I want to do because we’re either short of money or I’m short on clients to shoot. I’m taken waaaaayyy too many pictures of Larken’s kids. They must think I have the camera attatched to my face over there. I need to have people beating down my door. You hear that? People with kids: come beat down my door!
This session was really tough. I don’t know these two boys well, and they were all over the place, making it really hard to focus right and get decent expressions.. etc. I threw out fully half of the ones I did take, and I’m still not really happy with the remaining ones. The mother is thrilled however, so it’s not a total bomb. I still think I need to reshoot some of these.
Yikes. The end of October and begining of November iare shaping up to be quite hectic.
Sunday, Oct 29: John’s black belt test @ 1:30
Monday, Oct 30: Practice shoot with Olivia @ 4pm
Tuesday, Oct 31: Halloween!
Wednesday, Nov 1: DITL day
Thurday Nov 2: Business lunch with a doula @ 11:30
Friday, Nov 3: Paid shoot with an adorable boy @ 9am
Saturday, Nov 4: seXXXyhalloween in ATL until 2am
Sunday, Nov 5: Paid maternity shoot @ noon
I get to edit like mad for a week, then K and QJ’s wedding is on November 11th! I get to go up a little early and do some practice bridal portraits before the real photographer gets there. After the 11th, though.. nothing. I sure hope I get some calls soon!
So I go outside to pick up the rest of my laundry and from out of nowhere, this black and white tuxedo cat pops out of NOWHERE and all but jumps into my arms. WTF? The cat starts purring as soon as my hands touch it. I pet it for a few minutes, then figure it must be hungry, so i grab some cat food for it. The cat decided it would rather have pettings than a meal, and procedes to love on me all the way up to the apartment laundry room, still purring. I checked online for lost cats ads here, but found nothing. This poor thing has to be loved. Coat’s in great shape, loves everyone it sees. The Stumpy had a fit, of course, even seeing the cat through the glass was too much for her. Yeah, this is a one-kitty household here. I feel terrible leaving the cat outside with no one to love on it. Anyone need a loving, playful kitty?
Larken: it’s a boy kitty. 
… are the cutest things on earth. Not stunning shots, I know. Just messing around. 
From a practice session with the neighbors’ 3 month old boy. I’m not really particularly impressed with any of these. I guess I need to practice more!
