I just watched the second episode of Flight of the Conchords. I'm just loving it.
The internet is just getting better and better. All sorts of new programs are suddenly available that I would have never seen before in a million years. Most of them are very good.
I recommend getting HBO or looking for Flight of the Conchords on youtube or some other website. Most of the clips on youtube are from their Comedy act, but there are also whole episodes of their show, split into three easily watchable parts.
-Gary
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Monday, August 06, 2007
Flight Of The Conchords - The Humans Are Dead
I just watched the first episode of a HBO show called Flight of the Conchords.
Flight of the Conchords follows the trials and tribulations of a two man, digi-folk band from New Zealand as they try to make a name for themselves in New York City.
This is a youtube clip of the two stars performing one of their songs. This clip is not from the show itself.
Flight of the Conchords follows the trials and tribulations of a two man, digi-folk band from New Zealand as they try to make a name for themselves in New York City.
This is a youtube clip of the two stars performing one of their songs. This clip is not from the show itself.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Istockphoto
Many photographers complain that microstock agencies are ruining the stock photography industry. That they are charging too little and replacing quality with quantity.
They argue that it is a bad thing that you can make 500 photographs with your digital camera for the cost of re-charging the battery. In the same breath they complain that people are charging less for a copy of the photo than it costs to make the photo. Obviously both cannot be true. I think that the real answer is that microstockers are charging less than it costs traditional stock photographers to make the photos.
On bit of accounting that I admit I and most microstockers overlook is the cost of the camera and lenses etc. Most microstock photographers are probably not including the price of their camera as a cost of making the photo. Even if they did, the cost of the camera would have to be divided between all the photos that they take, or at the very least submit to the agency. For me, from what I have submitted to istockphoto.com, each photo likely cost me around $10 in equipment expenses and maybe $2 each in my own time. I guess that means I have spent $12 per photo on average, to produce my portfolio. Over the last year and four months, I have made about $7 per photo selling them as stock.
That looks like a loss of $5 per photo on equipment, but here's the rub, the thing that the traditional stock shooters don't realize. Most microstock photographers had their camera before they started shooting for stock. The cost of their equipment is sunk. The money they spent is gone already. No matter what they do, that money is gone, they needed a camera to take pictures of the family and now they are using it for stock too. In the eyes of the microstocker, this is a $7 gain per photo.
I know how much I spent and realize that so far I am sitting at a $5 loss so far, but I have a spreadsheet that is predicting that I will break even at the end of November. If I shoot 250 more photos over the next year after that, my equipment cost will have dropped to $5 per photo meaning that suddenly the cost of my photos will have dropped to $7 but my profit per photo will have gone up significantly because on average it is likely the new photos will sell as well as the old photos and the old photos will continue to sell.
Another form of payment the microstockers get is hard to put a monetary value on. Many, many people love taking photos. Their friends enjoy modeling for them. They all love seeing the photos used. When a photo gets used it is an affirmation that you as a photographer are talented and that your friends as models are attractive. That is worth a lot. Self actualization, is worth big bucks to a lot of people. Heck, it is why I have the job I do, sure I would like to be making double what I am, but I love my job more than any other job I have ever had. I can't imagine a better job. I feel a lot the same about microstock. Over the last year and four months 2165 people have figuratively patted me on the back by purchasing my photos. That's almost 5 people per day, and it just keeps on rising.
Traditional shooters are moaning the death of stock as a viable career choice for photographers. What they don't mention is the high barrier to entry into the traditional rights managed stock photography agencies.
I looked into it several years ago, I can't remember what agency it was, Getty or Corbis, but they wanted potential photographers to submit a library of many thousands of photos and then, after a certain amount of time they would accept you or send you packing and by the way, don't apply again. Basically it was impossible for anyone except seasoned professionals with a huge libraries of photos to become contributing members of the company I looked at. Today I checked both of their websites and can't find a link on how to even apply anymore.
Now the barriers to entry to being a stock photographer are gone. Anyone can sign up at istockphoto.com. I've made almost $1600 since March 2006. $1300 of that came since the beginning of 2007. By the end of the year, all my camera gear will be paid off. Depending how hard I work making new stock photos, I will probably be able to buy a full set of studio lights as well. From only 240 photos so far.
They argue that it is a bad thing that you can make 500 photographs with your digital camera for the cost of re-charging the battery. In the same breath they complain that people are charging less for a copy of the photo than it costs to make the photo. Obviously both cannot be true. I think that the real answer is that microstockers are charging less than it costs traditional stock photographers to make the photos.
On bit of accounting that I admit I and most microstockers overlook is the cost of the camera and lenses etc. Most microstock photographers are probably not including the price of their camera as a cost of making the photo. Even if they did, the cost of the camera would have to be divided between all the photos that they take, or at the very least submit to the agency. For me, from what I have submitted to istockphoto.com, each photo likely cost me around $10 in equipment expenses and maybe $2 each in my own time. I guess that means I have spent $12 per photo on average, to produce my portfolio. Over the last year and four months, I have made about $7 per photo selling them as stock.
That looks like a loss of $5 per photo on equipment, but here's the rub, the thing that the traditional stock shooters don't realize. Most microstock photographers had their camera before they started shooting for stock. The cost of their equipment is sunk. The money they spent is gone already. No matter what they do, that money is gone, they needed a camera to take pictures of the family and now they are using it for stock too. In the eyes of the microstocker, this is a $7 gain per photo.
I know how much I spent and realize that so far I am sitting at a $5 loss so far, but I have a spreadsheet that is predicting that I will break even at the end of November. If I shoot 250 more photos over the next year after that, my equipment cost will have dropped to $5 per photo meaning that suddenly the cost of my photos will have dropped to $7 but my profit per photo will have gone up significantly because on average it is likely the new photos will sell as well as the old photos and the old photos will continue to sell.
Another form of payment the microstockers get is hard to put a monetary value on. Many, many people love taking photos. Their friends enjoy modeling for them. They all love seeing the photos used. When a photo gets used it is an affirmation that you as a photographer are talented and that your friends as models are attractive. That is worth a lot. Self actualization, is worth big bucks to a lot of people. Heck, it is why I have the job I do, sure I would like to be making double what I am, but I love my job more than any other job I have ever had. I can't imagine a better job. I feel a lot the same about microstock. Over the last year and four months 2165 people have figuratively patted me on the back by purchasing my photos. That's almost 5 people per day, and it just keeps on rising.
Traditional shooters are moaning the death of stock as a viable career choice for photographers. What they don't mention is the high barrier to entry into the traditional rights managed stock photography agencies.
I looked into it several years ago, I can't remember what agency it was, Getty or Corbis, but they wanted potential photographers to submit a library of many thousands of photos and then, after a certain amount of time they would accept you or send you packing and by the way, don't apply again. Basically it was impossible for anyone except seasoned professionals with a huge libraries of photos to become contributing members of the company I looked at. Today I checked both of their websites and can't find a link on how to even apply anymore.
Now the barriers to entry to being a stock photographer are gone. Anyone can sign up at istockphoto.com. I've made almost $1600 since March 2006. $1300 of that came since the beginning of 2007. By the end of the year, all my camera gear will be paid off. Depending how hard I work making new stock photos, I will probably be able to buy a full set of studio lights as well. From only 240 photos so far.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Work
Karen The Beautiful Bride
This photo is by my sister Jackie and is not
from the shoot that I did this afternoon.
The event of the day was a wedding shoot. It was a really fun one. I did their engagement photo a few months ago and they were really fun people. It is funny how that, with some people you can have the greatest time so easily, and yet with others, you can just be stumped. Like writer's block for photographers.
It is so nice when everyone follows directions well, when they laugh at your jokes and things just seem to flow. At one point I asked the two flower girls to kiss the groom on the cheek. One did, but the other didn't want to. I said to the other, "Well, will you put your hand on his shoulder?" She did, but it was more of a hit to the shoulder than something nice. Everyone saw it, so I said, "I love you Ike" and hit my fist on the table beside me. Everyone thought that this was hilarious.
I'm getting a little more responsibility at work. I'm laminating the photos now. It's a good thing, because this is sort of a slow time for us and I like having something to do.
It also allows my boss to working on programing the databases and other software that we use when we're photographing at the schools. There are several edits that need to be made because we are getting new cameras for the coming school year. Programing is really something that needs to be done without interruptions.
Also the more I know about running the shop, the more likely and easier it will be for me to buy and take it over in a couple of years.
It's good to be back in business. I really love my job.
-Gary
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Baseball
I went to play baseball with a bunch of kids from church last night. We had a pretty good time, and lots of kids showed up. There were only about 4 or 5 that actually were interested in playing, but most of the rest dutifully stood out in the field.
I hit a line drive into the pitcher's ankle. It wouldn't of hit him, but it scared him and he dodged right into it. I felt pretty bad about it, but he was ok.
-Gary
I hit a line drive into the pitcher's ankle. It wouldn't of hit him, but it scared him and he dodged right into it. I felt pretty bad about it, but he was ok.
-Gary
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Job News
I went to see my boss this morning and I got my old job back. They've done a lot in the last month that I've been away. It looks like there is going to be a few new things, but nothing major.
I'm excited to be back there, I really love the job a lot and really like working for Duane. In the long term I would like to buy the business from him. But that's likely at least two or three years away.
On the apartment hunt, it looks like I may have an in. One of my Dad's renter is moving out and leaving his room mate behind. I may move in there.
So, I guess my ducks are all lining up.
I guess that leaves finding divorce attorney and getting the oil changed in my car.
-Gary
I'm excited to be back there, I really love the job a lot and really like working for Duane. In the long term I would like to buy the business from him. But that's likely at least two or three years away.
On the apartment hunt, it looks like I may have an in. One of my Dad's renter is moving out and leaving his room mate behind. I may move in there.
So, I guess my ducks are all lining up.
I guess that leaves finding divorce attorney and getting the oil changed in my car.
-Gary
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Home
I'm back home in Canada now. I guess that means I'm looking for a place to live and a job again.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
We Found a Flat
Tracie and I have found a place to live. It is in the same building we were in before which is handy because we already sort of know our way around. The room mates are really nice too.
Things are going well, but I am still looking for a job.
-Gary
Things are going well, but I am still looking for a job.
-Gary
Friday, June 29, 2007
Virgin Mobile is Bad
So Virgin Mobile is taking people's photos from flickr to use in a major billboard promotion here in Sydney, Australia.
The photo on the left side has a creative commons 2.0 attribution licence. Which means:
Virgin Mobile is free
- to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work
- to Remix — to adapt the work
But that they must
- attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).
While the photographer presumably doesn't care that virgin mobile is using his photo. I think that Virgin is using the photo that suggests an endorsement by the photographer.
The other problem with this advert is the fact that you can see the model's face. Is there a model release for this photo? How do we know that the model doesn't hate Virgin Mobile. How do we know that the model is ok with being the butt of a masturbation joke? If I were the model I would probably sue Virgin Mobile for using my likeness in a advertisement. One thing companies have to remember is that just because the photographer gives or even sells you a photo doesn't give you the right to use the person in the photo to advertise your stuff.
The photo on the right has a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 licence. This means Virgin can
-copy, distribute and transmit the work as well as adapt the work.
-They must however attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). not use this work for commercial purposes.
-If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar licence to this one.
So Virgin is blatantly breaking the licence on this second fact, not to mention the fact that there is likely no model release for the person in the photo. Another thing is the whole "If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar licence to this one." thing. They put their company logo on the resulting work. Are we to believe that Virgin Mobile is licensing their logo under the creative commons? I doubt it.
This seems to me like a lawsuit waiting to happen. I find myself hoping that one day I'll be riding the subway somewhere and see a billboard of myself so that I can get a $15.6 million settlement.
These aren't the only photos Virgin Mobile has used without proper authorisation, just the two closest to me before I got onto the train.
-Gary Milner
The photo on the left side has a creative commons 2.0 attribution licence. Which means:
Virgin Mobile is free
- to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work
- to Remix — to adapt the work
But that they must
- attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).
While the photographer presumably doesn't care that virgin mobile is using his photo. I think that Virgin is using the photo that suggests an endorsement by the photographer.
The other problem with this advert is the fact that you can see the model's face. Is there a model release for this photo? How do we know that the model doesn't hate Virgin Mobile. How do we know that the model is ok with being the butt of a masturbation joke? If I were the model I would probably sue Virgin Mobile for using my likeness in a advertisement. One thing companies have to remember is that just because the photographer gives or even sells you a photo doesn't give you the right to use the person in the photo to advertise your stuff.
The photo on the right has a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 licence. This means Virgin can
-copy, distribute and transmit the work as well as adapt the work.
-They must however attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). not use this work for commercial purposes.
-If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar licence to this one.
So Virgin is blatantly breaking the licence on this second fact, not to mention the fact that there is likely no model release for the person in the photo. Another thing is the whole "If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar licence to this one." thing. They put their company logo on the resulting work. Are we to believe that Virgin Mobile is licensing their logo under the creative commons? I doubt it.
This seems to me like a lawsuit waiting to happen. I find myself hoping that one day I'll be riding the subway somewhere and see a billboard of myself so that I can get a $15.6 million settlement.
These aren't the only photos Virgin Mobile has used without proper authorisation, just the two closest to me before I got onto the train.
-Gary Milner
Monday, June 25, 2007
Please Step Inside
Attention everyone!
Saying, "Excuse me" to someone exiting an elevator as you are trying to enter it doesn't make any sense. There is no where for them to go except off of the elevator.
Saying, "Excuse me" doesn't make the person suddenly take up less space on the elevator.
What you should be saying is, "Excuse me for being monumentally stupid" because that is what you are.
It is much faster *for everyone* involved to just get out of the way and let people vacate the elevator.
Oh and by the way, the same thing goes for entering and exiting public transit. I am a fast walker, I want to get out of your way, I really do.
In the words of Jerry Macguire, help me help you.
Saying, "Excuse me" to someone exiting an elevator as you are trying to enter it doesn't make any sense. There is no where for them to go except off of the elevator.
Saying, "Excuse me" doesn't make the person suddenly take up less space on the elevator.
What you should be saying is, "Excuse me for being monumentally stupid" because that is what you are.
It is much faster *for everyone* involved to just get out of the way and let people vacate the elevator.
Oh and by the way, the same thing goes for entering and exiting public transit. I am a fast walker, I want to get out of your way, I really do.
In the words of Jerry Macguire, help me help you.
Overheard
"I looked it up on google, but couldn't find anything."
"You were probably using Chinese google. It's censored."
"You were probably using Chinese google. It's censored."
Monday, June 18, 2007
Back Up Your Files All the Time
A while ago I learned that backing up your files is important. I learned it the hard way.
While working on my old desktop computer I had come to the conclusion that the best way of proceeding would be to format and re install Windows 2000. I figured that it would make things on my old computer better, and besides, I had copied all my photos onto my laptop anyway.
Well, a few days later, my brother-in-law Dan called to ask for a copy of the pictures I took of his lizards. I looked for them on my laptop and what did I find? A big hole occupying the space of what I thought was supposed to be 2003, 2004, and the first half of 2005. Oh crap! I was pretty sad about this but resigned myself to the error.
Learn from your mistakes. I backed up the rest of my photos over the next few days.
Then yesterday, I was telling Jeff, my brother, that I had lost all those particular photos and he asked me if I had checked my parents computer because I had copied all my photos onto their new computer before I went to Australia in 2005. Apparently, I was worried about the state of my desktop computer for a while and wasn't sure if the hard drive would live.
Jeff was right I had copied all my photos onto their computer. I was sure that they had had several hard drive issues on their computer but they never did. Talk about a pleasant surprise. I copied them back onto my desktop computer (it has a new 200gig hd) over the network, just because it is a good idea to back up your files.
It took about an hour over our network, which surprised me but I guess over those two and a half years I had accumulated 10 gigs or so of photos. I'm sending them all to flickr now, but I don't think I will get through them all before I go to Australia.
-Gary
While working on my old desktop computer I had come to the conclusion that the best way of proceeding would be to format and re install Windows 2000. I figured that it would make things on my old computer better, and besides, I had copied all my photos onto my laptop anyway.
Well, a few days later, my brother-in-law Dan called to ask for a copy of the pictures I took of his lizards. I looked for them on my laptop and what did I find? A big hole occupying the space of what I thought was supposed to be 2003, 2004, and the first half of 2005. Oh crap! I was pretty sad about this but resigned myself to the error.
Learn from your mistakes. I backed up the rest of my photos over the next few days.
Then yesterday, I was telling Jeff, my brother, that I had lost all those particular photos and he asked me if I had checked my parents computer because I had copied all my photos onto their new computer before I went to Australia in 2005. Apparently, I was worried about the state of my desktop computer for a while and wasn't sure if the hard drive would live.
Jeff was right I had copied all my photos onto their computer. I was sure that they had had several hard drive issues on their computer but they never did. Talk about a pleasant surprise. I copied them back onto my desktop computer (it has a new 200gig hd) over the network, just because it is a good idea to back up your files.
It took about an hour over our network, which surprised me but I guess over those two and a half years I had accumulated 10 gigs or so of photos. I'm sending them all to flickr now, but I don't think I will get through them all before I go to Australia.
-Gary
Thursday, June 14, 2007
The Climber
I went to Drayton Valley over the weekend to photograph a wedding with my sister Jackie. It was a really fun time. I was acting as her assistant. I took pictures of the guys getting ready at the groom's house while Jackie took pictures of the girls back at the hotel. We shot the ceremony together then I helped Jackie with the lights and group formals at the hotel. Once the family shots were done, we took turns shooting the bride and groom.
I really like working with Jackie a lot. We have very complimentary skills and styles. I think that I'm a lot stronger with the technical side of shooting and equipment as well as controlling and posing larger groups, while Jackie is a lot stronger with more artistic posing in small groups and individuals.
Jackie wants me to open up a studio with her a lot and I think that it would be pretty fun.
While I was there, I had a good time visiting with Jackie and playing with the boys. Those kids are so fun, but a lot of work too. Ryker is a star with the Wii, he plays bowling, golf and boxing. He does pretty well at boxing, I think he randomly flails his arms at pretty much exactly the correct speed to do serious damage to his opponents. Eric likes to grab the other controller and wave it in the air like his brother. He doesn't even care if the Wii is turned on while he does it.
Those boys are really cute. I had a really good time visiting them.
-Gary
I really like working with Jackie a lot. We have very complimentary skills and styles. I think that I'm a lot stronger with the technical side of shooting and equipment as well as controlling and posing larger groups, while Jackie is a lot stronger with more artistic posing in small groups and individuals.
Jackie wants me to open up a studio with her a lot and I think that it would be pretty fun.
While I was there, I had a good time visiting with Jackie and playing with the boys. Those kids are so fun, but a lot of work too. Ryker is a star with the Wii, he plays bowling, golf and boxing. He does pretty well at boxing, I think he randomly flails his arms at pretty much exactly the correct speed to do serious damage to his opponents. Eric likes to grab the other controller and wave it in the air like his brother. He doesn't even care if the Wii is turned on while he does it.
Those boys are really cute. I had a really good time visiting them.
-Gary
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Vomitational
This is an example of panning. One of the easiest ways to pan in fact. Here's how to pan in a few simple steps.
Set your camera to Aperture Priority and stop down to f22. It doesn't really have to be that high, anything that will slow your shutter speed down to about 1/30 or 1/40 should do just fine.
Then get on the merry-go-round and have someone spin you and your model. Remind your model to hold as still as she can. You should hold your camera as still as possible as well. Then your assistant spins the ride.
Because the ride and the model are still in relation to the camera and the rest of the world is not, she will be in good focus, but the world will not be. The further that both the model and the camera are from the centre of the ride, the more pronounce the blur will be even at low RPMs.
Lost of cameras should be able to do a photo like this. Check to see if you can adjust the aperture on yours and give it a try. If you do, post a link in the comments!
-Gary
Set your camera to Aperture Priority and stop down to f22. It doesn't really have to be that high, anything that will slow your shutter speed down to about 1/30 or 1/40 should do just fine.
Then get on the merry-go-round and have someone spin you and your model. Remind your model to hold as still as she can. You should hold your camera as still as possible as well. Then your assistant spins the ride.
Because the ride and the model are still in relation to the camera and the rest of the world is not, she will be in good focus, but the world will not be. The further that both the model and the camera are from the centre of the ride, the more pronounce the blur will be even at low RPMs.
Lost of cameras should be able to do a photo like this. Check to see if you can adjust the aperture on yours and give it a try. If you do, post a link in the comments!
-Gary
Sunday, May 27, 2007
The Walk
We walked from our house down to Kin Coulee and took some photos this evening. We had a pretty good time.
Things have been going well. I went to Fox Valley Saskatchewan to do their grad formal photos. The other photographer, Marley, did all the individual shots while I worked on the family groups. We did 15 families. It was a long gruelling day, considering that we had to leave at six in the morning to get everything set up and then by the time we finished shooting everything at about 5pm we still had to pack up and drive for a little over an hour to get back home.
I miss understood my boss when he told me he wanted to set the studio props back up in the morning. He had intended that we unload the truck that night, but I took off thinking that we were going to do it in the morning. I was really glad to get out of there though.
It looks like we will be having a few relaxing days before another hectic day of grad formals when we have the CHHS banquet. Since all the girls are having their hair and makeup done that day, they all want to have their photos done that day too. No to mention the fact that all the boys will have their rental tuxes too. Luckily the word is spreading among the girls that you really should have a practice hair and make up day, that is to say get your hair and make up done a week before the event to make sure they aren't going to screw it up on grad night.
Pure marketing genius. Makeup artists and hair stylists double their business and give the photographers a chance to fill up a lot more appointments for an entire week before the grad ceremony, not just the day of.
I really love my job. The thing is, even when you have a really full, stressful day, you know that the next day will be better because you don't have as many appointments or if dealing with a person that just can't keep their head from tilting to the side or nose pointed at the camera you know that you'll really only be dealing with them for an hour. If you can't stand the stupid kid who doesn't want to stand by his sister or the dumb uncle who really doesn't want to be there you know that you can just shoot faster or only take 3 shots per pose rather than 4 or 5. Really you'll end up with the same photos at the end any way.
The good days more than make up for the bad days. You'll get 3 or 4 really pretty girls that really want to be there, that are excited to be graduating, that are really fun people and you really have fun doing it. You realize that if you won the lottery, you would still want to work there doing the same thing only for free.
Life is being really good to me right now.
-Gary
Things have been going well. I went to Fox Valley Saskatchewan to do their grad formal photos. The other photographer, Marley, did all the individual shots while I worked on the family groups. We did 15 families. It was a long gruelling day, considering that we had to leave at six in the morning to get everything set up and then by the time we finished shooting everything at about 5pm we still had to pack up and drive for a little over an hour to get back home.
I miss understood my boss when he told me he wanted to set the studio props back up in the morning. He had intended that we unload the truck that night, but I took off thinking that we were going to do it in the morning. I was really glad to get out of there though.
It looks like we will be having a few relaxing days before another hectic day of grad formals when we have the CHHS banquet. Since all the girls are having their hair and makeup done that day, they all want to have their photos done that day too. No to mention the fact that all the boys will have their rental tuxes too. Luckily the word is spreading among the girls that you really should have a practice hair and make up day, that is to say get your hair and make up done a week before the event to make sure they aren't going to screw it up on grad night.
Pure marketing genius. Makeup artists and hair stylists double their business and give the photographers a chance to fill up a lot more appointments for an entire week before the grad ceremony, not just the day of.
I really love my job. The thing is, even when you have a really full, stressful day, you know that the next day will be better because you don't have as many appointments or if dealing with a person that just can't keep their head from tilting to the side or nose pointed at the camera you know that you'll really only be dealing with them for an hour. If you can't stand the stupid kid who doesn't want to stand by his sister or the dumb uncle who really doesn't want to be there you know that you can just shoot faster or only take 3 shots per pose rather than 4 or 5. Really you'll end up with the same photos at the end any way.
The good days more than make up for the bad days. You'll get 3 or 4 really pretty girls that really want to be there, that are excited to be graduating, that are really fun people and you really have fun doing it. You realize that if you won the lottery, you would still want to work there doing the same thing only for free.
Life is being really good to me right now.
-Gary
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Microstock
I've seen people complaining that not many microstock photographers are posting their statistics online, so seeing no reason not to, here are mine.
Of course, May isn't over yet but you get the idea. It's pretty obvious that I need 1800 more uploads. Well, probably less, because as you build your portfolio, you clue in to what sells, and also become a better photographer. Another factor is the growth of the site itself, with more and more buyers joining everyday, each photo will perform that much better for you.
It's getting to the point that I can request a cheque about every two weeks or so. It's turning out to be a nice addition to my day job cheque which, although larger comes just about as often. It's like getting a $1.25/hour raise.
www.istockphoto.com is a good way to find inexpensive stock photos as well as a good way to make a few extra dollars.
-Gary
| Month | Downloads | Revenue | Uploads |
| Mar 06 | 1 | $0.27 | 3 |
| Apr 06 | 4 | $2.00 | 1 |
| May 06 | 7 | $3.80 | 25 |
| Jun 06 | 30 | $11.60 | 14 |
| Jul 06 | 63 | $24.60 | 42 |
| Aug 06 | 90 | $38.80 | 44 |
| Sep 06 | 93 | $42.20 | 7 |
| Oct 06 | 104 | $53.20 | 2 |
| Nov 06 | 82 | $33.60 | 14 |
| Dec 06 | 101 | $54.25 | 3 |
| Jan 07 | 169 | $113.56 | 36 |
| Feb 07 | 191 | $136.01 | 10 |
| Mar 07 | 217 | $206.49 | 10 |
| Apr 07 | 223 | $198.59 | 11 |
| May 07 | 160 | $123.25 | 0 |
| 1535 | $1,042.22 | 222 |
Of course, May isn't over yet but you get the idea. It's pretty obvious that I need 1800 more uploads. Well, probably less, because as you build your portfolio, you clue in to what sells, and also become a better photographer. Another factor is the growth of the site itself, with more and more buyers joining everyday, each photo will perform that much better for you.
It's getting to the point that I can request a cheque about every two weeks or so. It's turning out to be a nice addition to my day job cheque which, although larger comes just about as often. It's like getting a $1.25/hour raise.
-Gary
Saturday, May 12, 2007
First Sunburn of the Year
Today we had four outdoor sittings. One family group of about 30, two graduation formals with families and boyfriends, and a wedding. We were outside the entire day, and what a day it was, it was 30 degrees C the entire time.
The nicest day of the year so far.
So nice in fact that I received a mild sunburn for the first time this year. It doesn't feel too bad yet, but it usually takes a little while for the full effects of a sunburn to reveal themselves.
I can't wait to go swimming outdoors.
-Gary
The nicest day of the year so far.
So nice in fact that I received a mild sunburn for the first time this year. It doesn't feel too bad yet, but it usually takes a little while for the full effects of a sunburn to reveal themselves.
I can't wait to go swimming outdoors.
-Gary
Friday, May 11, 2007
30
So I turned 30 on the 8th.
I had a really great day on my birthday, my boss bought me an ice cream cake.
The day after was pretty darn good too. I went out to Schuler, a town so small, they don't have a gas station. I did photos of their volleyball teams, the basketball team, the badminton team and the student council / yearbook committee / entire junior high (They're a hard working group of student politicians doing triple duty like that). School aged kids are pretty fun in 1.5 hour doses.
In fact the last few days have been going very well.
I bought myself a new flash for my camera, and I am really excited about it. The first day of test pictures look great, and I am looking forward to using it more. It is going to be a real benefit to me. It really is working well straight out of the box, which is really good, because today, I tried to read the manual and, well... it made me want to die. So, apart from learning how to add an optional battery to make the flash recycle time shorter. It looks like I will be mostly learning by trial and error.
In any case, I'm doing well just not writing much for the blog. It doesn't seem like I've been in the mood. Hopefully this invigorates me a little.
I had a really great day on my birthday, my boss bought me an ice cream cake.
The day after was pretty darn good too. I went out to Schuler, a town so small, they don't have a gas station. I did photos of their volleyball teams, the basketball team, the badminton team and the student council / yearbook committee / entire junior high (They're a hard working group of student politicians doing triple duty like that). School aged kids are pretty fun in 1.5 hour doses.
In fact the last few days have been going very well.
I bought myself a new flash for my camera, and I am really excited about it. The first day of test pictures look great, and I am looking forward to using it more. It is going to be a real benefit to me. It really is working well straight out of the box, which is really good, because today, I tried to read the manual and, well... it made me want to die. So, apart from learning how to add an optional battery to make the flash recycle time shorter. It looks like I will be mostly learning by trial and error.
In any case, I'm doing well just not writing much for the blog. It doesn't seem like I've been in the mood. Hopefully this invigorates me a little.
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