Profound Thoughts

Sharing some profound thoughts. Sometimes as a professional photographer I get asked a variety of questions, requests and also demands. As I mentor young and upcoming photographers I am met with similar questions and because of this, I am going to share some of my thoughts on a few business thoughts. I am confident that for the most part Photographers are Artists and they want people to enjoy, love and ultimately want their images, so much so that some photographers are known for giving away their images either free or at little cost. Now this isn’t a bad idea if you want to be a hobbyist photographer, and advance some of your skills. However; there is a stigma that comes along with not charging for your work and like it or not you may find yourself in a position which will feel like forever as being known as the “Cheap picture person, photographer, artist, creator (you pick the title, it still is the free or cheap photographer at the end of the day)”. It is extremely hard, if not sometimes impossible, to break out of the stereotype of giving away your images without any regard to your talent once that opinion is set in concrete. That doesn’t even touch on the issue of giving away your digital files to be modified or compromised, that is simply a slap in your face. It takes time to learn and perfect your craft, it takes money to purchase quality professional cameras and lenses (and yes you can purchase a digital SLR and set it to AUTO and shoot in JPG, but that doesn’t make you a professional photographer or an artist) it also takes money to continue your ever growing education, supporting professional organizations in the industry such as PPA, WPPI, etc. (I’ll only add one thought to think about, do you go to a doctor that isn’t board certified or doesn’t hold a license to practice medicine?). Ultimately the “Free/Cheap” photographer is damaging the Professional Industry and not only leaving a forever scar on their potential professional future but the overall integrity of quality portraiture and professional images. I could spend so much time on this that it could bore the frost off of a frozen steak but I’m not going to. My point is simple, you get what you pay for, the experience and ultimate final images are forever and I prefer to think of myself as an image maker and story teller, not a picture taker. Be proud of what you are getting, the piece of art which is being created personally for you of you or your family is not to be taken lightly, it is an heirloom in the works. If you go to an auto dealer, don’t expect your car purchased at “Bullwinkle’s Used Car” to roll out like a new Cadillac Escalade. It just doesn’t work that way. My clients do not go to auto dealers and say “show me the cheapest thing you have on the lot”, they educate themselves in what they are looking for and shop appropriately. Have you ever thought of going to a quality auto dealer and if they have a “cheaper model”, do you not want to ask “WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT”.
Now on the flip side of that coin, I’ll tell you I do want people to love my work and ultimately I make many avenues available so that Katherine Payne Photography is affordable even when it doesn’t appear to be possible. Between my promotions and referral programs, my return clients find updating their wall portraits a matter of routine. I do offer web share/digital files so my clients can share their personal images on Facebook or MySpace or their personal blogs with limited restrictions. I am also willing to sell my digital files on an individual image basis if that is something my client is looking for. I’ve kept an open door to listening to all possible questions and sometimes the answer is yes, so I guess in closing, the best advice I can give is if you want it, need it or desire it, you must first ask for it. My crystal ball doesn’t read the minds of potential clients so make the call, start the dialogue and start a lasting relationship capturing your images and writing your stories.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Best Regards Always

Katherine

Christmas in July - New Promotion Hits the Web

Everyone has heard of Christmas in July and my new promotion is just that. When was the last time someone gave you $500.

This new promotion is awesome. The promotion is easy, when you make your initial $200 investment towards your finished prints prior to your session date, you qualify for the standard session at $50.00 (Standard Session $350, so that is a $300 savings) and for a limited time you also qualify for 2 for 1 prints. So your $200 has a potential $400 print value. That breaks down to your $250.00 investment, easily becoming $750.00 in value and there you have your $500.00, what an exciting deal. This deal is not available on Super Senior Sessions, Ultimate Senior Sessions or Weddings. The 2 for 1 prints are for ordered prints, and cannot be used for Canvas Wall Pieces or Albums. This promotion will run through October 1, 2010 and then it will be pulled, without exception and will not return until 2011.

A few thoughts to consider if you are thinking about using this exciting offer. This is the perfect time to capture your images for Holiday Cards and Gifts so when you are ready to start your holiday shopping, you have one more exclusive gift idea to consider for those special people in your life and on your gift list.

Do you know someone who is expecting, what an awesome gift to give a Maternity Session using this program which will not only allow for priceless maternity images, we include with every Maternity Session a complimentary New Born Session, where within 2 weeks of the new baby coming home we capture priceless images. Here again you have some amazing professional images to use when creating your unique birth announcements, available exclusively through Katherine Payne Photography.

We have lots of sessions available to select from: Family, Children's, Maternity, New Born, Couples, Pet and much much more. The possibilities are endless, if you need some more ideas please feel free to contact me personally I would love to share how we can capture your memories to last a lifetime.

So in closing, "Santa Claus is coming to town.♪♫♪...Santa Claus is coming to town..♪♫♪...Santa Claus is coming to town....♪♫♪......" Happy July and Happy Holidays.

Keep seeing the light....

July 2010 - Update and Thoughts

The past 8 weeks have frankly been a blur. On May 18th, my Mom went into home hospice and her journey was complete on June 4th just after midnight when she went home to be with the Lord. We had her funeral on June 8th and my daughter gave a beautiful eulogy of my Mother's Dash in her eyes. The poem "The Dash" by Linda Ellis was a piece that my Mom personally requested we remember during this time. It is a story of a man who is speaking at a friends funeral and refers to the dates on a headstone, the date you are born and then a dash and the date that you die. The dash is the "important" stuff, its the nuts and bolts of your life, the good, the bad, the crazy, the pain, the excitement, all that is in your life on earth. I become overwhelmed with emotion when I try to express what I am feeling about her passing but what I will say is I do miss her and most of all I miss being able to "give her a call" for all the silly stupid things a daughter calls her mother for.

In an effort to get back to business if that's the PC way, I'm looking at my travel calendar and trying to work out the details. So look for my travel log for dates that I may be in your part of the world. I am sifting through the missed trips since January and will hopefully get those stops back on my books.

Subsequently, I have not updated my blog or the website with new promotions yet, they are coming. This short post is to give a quick note to let you know that I haven't forgotten, just haven't found the energy to sit and contribute. I am still honoring the previously posted promotion which allows for the session to be included when you pre-pay towards finished prints, I expect to change the promotion before the 15th of July so if this is something you are wanting to take advantage of, give me a call.

I have just a couple of spots left for Senior Partners/Reps so if you are interested in being one of Katherine Payne Photography's Senior Partners or Reps please don't delay I really don't like telling people no.

So I'll close for now with a thought in honor of my Mom.
If the dash between the dates is the "important stuff", don't let that pass you by, embrace every opportunity, love one another, especially tell them you love them and believe me, Photographs and Portraits do capture your memories that last a lifetime, take time to schedule those lasting memories.

Keep seeing the light!

May 2010

Wow........sometimes it becomes difficult to talk and share the thoughts that race through my mind. As many of you know, I am facing the end of life with my Mother. She is now on home Hospice and as expected, not doing well, each day has struggles and the sadness continues and the stress mounts.

I'm continuing to work and also spend some much needed valued time with my family, I cannot stress how important these special times are. My grand daughters are the brightest spot in my heart. I'm very lucky to have the opportunity to spend as much time with them as I have.

I am continuing to honor the prepaid special which includes the session fee when clients prepay $150.00 towards their finished print orders. This is an incredible deal so if you are looking for a way to have professional images there is no better way.

I am still waiting for the winner of the "Climb the vine" silent auction certificate.

I will be interviewing for second shooters so if you are interested in working with me on a professional level, please contact me privately.

Senior Reps/Partners will be finalized for the class of 2011, so if you want to be considered as a Katherine Payne Photography Senior Rep/Partner and will be graduating in 2011, I still have a few openings for this awesome experience, so don't wait, contact me soon.

Congratulations to my awesome Seniors for the Class of 2010. YOU ROCK!

I'm going to close this post with hope that all your days are bright and sunny and full of love. Take a moment to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, although we all know the journey we will ultimately make alone will someday come, when those days approach it is never an easy journey.

Keep seeing the light.

Mothers Day Weekend

Good Morning Saturday, Hello World and Happy Mothers Day to all Mothers. I've said it before and I will continue to say it, everyone has a mother, don't delay tell her you love her. Your Mom may live up the street, in another state, on another continent or even in Heaven. Take a moment to pause this weekend and think of your Mom and send her your love. As many of you know my Mother is in her final journey and this Mothers Day I feel the pain of a broken heart. We are all preparing for her leaving and all the complex stages we are experiencing just magnify the pain with bitter sweet prayers. Life is always so busy, so full of responsibility and obligations that they all take precedence over our days, nights, weekends and holidays.

Fortunately, I have found some release in writing in a journal thoughts of this journey. Waking at 3:30am with sadness and adding a few words here and there to release my tears. Spending some me time capturing some personal images and looking at possible print competition options for some of them, using the creative energy to offer some peace during this very chaotic time.

This post came with apprehension because I always hope to share valuable insight into specials, promotions and upcoming workshops, field trips and Safari's along with some housekeeping items. So for those who are reading looking for those tidbits, here you go. I am still offering until Monday Night any session booked "In Honor Of Mother" will receive special pricing for prints, and webshare images of selected images ordered. It could range from a little to a lot of savings, its up to you. We do not have to capture your images before Monday, we just need to schedule it.

Lost ----- The individual who purchased the Silent Auction item for "Climb The Vine" a certificate valued at over $1500.00 has not validated their certificate. We need to hear from you. Your first session needs to be captured before the end of June to take full advantage of this awesome certificate so don't let the time fly by get in touch with me.

I am finalizing my east coast trips so if you are planning to see me out there, awesome. I'll keep you in the loop with my travel plans.

Keep seeing the light.

Some Late Thoughts and Tax Day Bonus

Where to start. Well, lets start with a few thoughts, sorry they are late but here they are.

As with every April, we all face the tax filing deadline, some of us are excited we get a refund, and some of us are not so excited, we get to pay. I'm one of the later. Every year I dread the process, and it really isn't that painful, it just puts my state of mind into a less than favorable position. That being said, I had great thoughts of posting a Tax Day Special. Now it is April 21st and not the usual April 15th deadline but I'm still in April. ☺

What I would like to present to you are a few areas where those of you who did get a refund might consider sharing some your refund money. I'm going to list a few of my favorite organizations, those near and dear to my heart and I ask you to also check them out and consider making a donation. It may just make you feel good......... Now lets talk about double dipping, here is what I'm going to do. If you do make a donation to any of these charities, send me a note, and what I'm going to do is give you a credit for some amazing images captured by me. That is an incredible Tax Day Special, if I say so myself. The organization gets a piece of the action and you get an awesome reward for doing it. WIN-WIN.

Here is a list of three. You will need to show me that you donated, just saying you donated isn't going to cut it, talk the talk and walk the walk.........
1) NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP - I am one of the affiliated professional photographers serving families in Colorado. Information is available through www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org
2) THE CLOUD FOUNDATION - Dedicated to the preservation of wild horses on our public lands, and the protection of Cloud's herd in the Arrowhead Mountains of Montana. Information is available through http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/
3) Wags & Menace Foundation - Seek to provide medical treatment for sick animals in Colorado, to fund organizations and activities that benefit animals, and to inspire, teach and motivate other individuals and organizations to achieve similar objectives. Information is available at http://www.wagsandmenace.org/

I will close with some profound thoughts that I'm borrowing from some pretty incredible people, enjoy and keep seeing the light.

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you;
That is the principal difference between a dog and a man….." Mark Twain

"In the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

"Scars remind us where we’ve been, but they don’t have to dictate where we are going."

"Learn as if you would live forever, live as if you would die tomorrow." - Mahatma Gandhi

April Showers Bring "SNOW"

Good April Morning everyone. As I woke this morning to snow on the ground following some soft rain I poured my cup of coffee and started to think, how can I, one person, make a difference? I continued to have this early morning conversation with myself, I reminded myself of the many things I do to make a difference and thought why not share.

Through the past few days, I had the honor of meeting some very special families, through Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, where I am a volunteer affiliated professional photographer. I also met another photographer from Colorado who specializes in weddings and wants to "make a difference" and become a photographer for NILMDTS. I reminded myself of the incredible generosity the gift we give to these families with these priceless portraits of their angels. I also reminded myself of the amazing words I've received from these families who I have served and thank God that I have a gift to give. Not every photographer will become an affiliated photographer with this organization; it is not a reflection of the honors on their walls, or the initials after their names or the awards they have received. My point in saying this is simple, if someone wants to be part of giving this type of gift, it does have a price, and you must commit to participate, commit to take the call, and commit to sit and wait, commit to give without any expectation of return. You must walk the walk and not just talk the talk and most of all be a part, not just pretend to be a part and market yourself as a piece of this amazing group, but take actions to commit to this amazing group. Not every photographer should think they should become an affiliated photographer to add to their every growing Professional Business or because they heard "The best Photographer in the world" is part of this group, so they should be part of this too. It's about giving silently, without branding, you are representing a group not yourself, you are a part of an elite group of photographers who give this special gift to these families suffering loss. There is a time to build your business, there is a time to be about "YOU", and this time giving to these families as part of this group is NOT that time. I honestly believe in paying it forward and in working with this group, I feel truly blessed and honored to be affiliated.

I also work with other photographers, from the aspiring hobbyist to the ever successful professional with all levels of coaching and networking. My personal opinion on "helping" my fellow photographers become better at their craft is hard to explain other than, helping them become better and more successful, I also become better and more successful and in the end the industry of Professional Photography is represented by true professionals who have professional level skills and a passion for their craft keeping the integrity of professional photography at the superior level. I remind myself of the way too often comments I hear about "what camera, what lens, what software, blah, blah, blah, blah....." Do you think Michael Angelo was defeated by the tools he had, NO, he used what he knew and that is the first point in perfecting your craft. Know what you have, don't go bankrupt yourself with the latest and greatest in gear so everyone can see you have this or work with that. Believe me, the industry is not stopping with this latest purchase you have made, by the time you get home with that new tool, the company is already well on their way of making the next "latest and greatest" new tool. For many years, I was an exclusive "Film" photographer; I have an amazing collection of film gear. I shoot 99% digital with the occasional film moment. Now I am not for a moment saying that a professional photographer shouldn't have professional gear. Key word, Professional; if you are a professional, are marketing yourself as a professional, you must back yourself up as a professional, don't just say you are part of a professional organization, apply for the membership, pay the price of membership, continue your education and be the honest professional. Many hobbyist take great pictures and the availability of some pretty good equipment at an affordable price is there too, the difference includes education and affiliations. Like the person who has the library of medical text books and a solid understanding of medicine doesn't make them a doctor. On that same note, do you think doctors don't work with other doctors, of course they do and this is also true with professional photographers. Know the difference between the professional and the self professed expert.

Housekeeping items to mention as I close this post:
Senior Reps for Katherine Payne Photographers for the Class of 2011 are being finalized, so if you want to be one of my personal reps, contact me, the perks are priceless.
The International Charity Model Search to benefit NILMDTS is in the final judging stages. The winner of this campaign will be announced in 17 days.
The Denver Help Portrait Group is actively working on the foundation of this year's Help Portrait Event in December, so if you want to be part of this pretty cool event, check us out, contact me personally and I'll direct you to our website and welcome any and all areas of participation, not just photographers.
My Spring special has not been released yet, look for it around the 15th of April, so stay tuned.

As always, thank YOU. YOU are a large part of why I do what I do.