The True Costs of Your Options

Hey Peeps,

Sometimes we think we know what's best for our clients, our businesses and ourselves.

What is fast, cheap, efficient is always searched for, but sometimes the most obvious options aren't that obvious.  Sometimes what we think is fast is actually inefficient, and what is cheap will often cost us a lot in the long run.

I had a client that loved their images.  The prints arrived, but when we went over them not everything was what it seemed.  The images online showed everyone in perfect clarity, the printed version however showed a lack of sharpness on some people, while others were fine.

And when I say "lack of sharpness" - I actually cringe at the memory of reviewing those images that should have been a great experience between my client and I.

So who's to blame?

Answer: ME.

It is me.  No excuses and I give none either.

I knew exactly what happened - my depth of field was too narrow for the subject matter I was capturing.

Now you photo-enthusiasts out there understand what I just said, but most of my clients don't - and even if they did, they shouldn't care what went wrong.

All they need to care about is getting the quality product that they spent their hard-earned cash on, right?

Answer: Right.

I don't need to explain the technical issues to my client, all I need to do is tell them exactly what they want and need to hear and what I am going to do.

So what am I going to do?

Like some photogs that are hard-assed business types but lack the tact that comes with basic human interaction, I could have looked at only the financial side of things, or only the time management side and said nothing and let the client keep the awful, awful representation of my work.  Or I could have really insulted them and asked if they wanted a reshoot - for a fee. 

What?!

Wait, didn't they just pay me for these images already?  

That's right, some photogs do this.  I find it so backward, blind and suicidal to their business and not-to-mention - quite a dickish thing to do to anyone.

But no, instead my instincts kicked in immediately.

We will reshoot any selected image that does not meet theirs or my expectations.  And the added fee?  What added fee!?!? 

Answer: This is my mistake - so it is my dime.

See?  Evolution is real.

We went through them all.  Some images the clients picked out, some others I picked out.  We set a date for the reshoot and I went immediately to my studio for testing.

What?  Testing?  For what?

Answer: To eliminate the DOF issue from the coming reshoot and for all future shoots in the future.

See what I did there?

Let's recap in case you missed it.

If I were to brush off the client, many things would happen:

• I would be a dick
• My client would think I'm a dick(and rightly so)
• I would save a piddly amount of money and time from having to reshoot and reorder out-of-pocket
• This would eliminate repeat business from the client
• The technical issue wouldn't be resolved and therefore would repeat in future shoots
• I wouldn't grow as a photographer or a business owner
• My business would grow a horrible reputation and fail

But instead, if I give my client a 100% guarantee on the product(my photography), and what happens instead?

• I wouldn't be a dick
• My client wouldn't think I'm a dick(YAY!)
• My client is 100% happy with their shoot, prints, service - everything
• My client is sure to repeat business with me
• My clients positive opinion of the experience would spread to their friends/family - therefore supplying me with free, positive testimonials/business
• The technical issue is resolved from the present and future shoots
• I grow as a photographer and a business owner
• My business grows a terrific reputation and succeeds
• Technical issues drop and therefore reshoots do as well

Now I know you're thinking,(in a whiny voice)"But Michael, if you kept doing this, you wouldn't make any money!  You would have to keep footing the bill and your business would fail!"

Answer: NOOOOOOOOO.

Look, what was the last thing listed above?

Answer: "Technical issues drop and therefore reshoots do as well."

So as I go - I grow.

I take care of my clients by taking care of my photography, my style, my technical ability, my business.  

As I eliminate the issues that pop up, the number of them occurring drops.  

My clients are happier and bring me more business.  I save more time, do a better job, get better in my art, my costs of time and money drop and I have time to do the things and projects that I want to do - which is what we all want, right?

So which faster, cheaper and efficient route would you go?

Fast, cheap and efficient short term?  Or fast, cheap and efficient long term?

What are your "true costs of your options" stories?  I want to hear them!

Laters,

Michael Carty

Michael Carty Photography Webpage

Michael Carty Email

Natasha + Derrick = LOVE!!

Hey Peeps,

I can't believe that it was February since last I blogged - you can tell I have been busy.  But I HAD to post my first wedding of the New Year!

I've already written about Natasha and Derrick last year with their engagement shots.  Now, finally we have the wedding ones!

Luckily, my lovely wife Sandra came with me to assist and second shoot a bit(she is a great second pair of eyes), and we had a great time throughout the whole day!  The lighting was good, the house was incredible and the reception was full of candy and great food(I know the caterer, one word - YUM).

So without further ado(yes, I really said ado), here are some of my favorite shots of the day!

First, getting ready:

Loved this arrangement

We grabbed this wicker arrangement from the living room to position the rings

Loves the camera!

Loved the light here

I think Koi Shoes are becoming a signature shot for me

Sneak peek on mommy and bride

 

Captured joy between mother and daughter

Then we shot the girls and ran over to the guys:

Smile #1 check!

Smile #2 check!

Smile #3 check!

Bride is ready - Check!!

Minor wardrobe malfunction fixed by the bridesmaids

The guys in their "Reservoir Dogs" pose

After the ceremony, we went to the marina where the light was just perfect, bright but soft:

The AWWW Moment

What a great bunch of fun people

I LOVE this shot, clean and kind of mischievious, lol

And then, PARTY TIME!!

Three words: I...

WANT...

CANDY!!

 I mean, back to the lovely couple - and dancing!!

Another AWWW Moment!

I love this arrangement...

 

and caught the background arrangement with this one

NOW DANCE!!

Needless to say, you can tell it was a fantastic day for a fantastic couple.  I truly hope the best for Natasha and Derrick in the years to come, and when you're looking for maternity shots.... well, you have my number... ;).

Laters,

Michael Carty

Michael Carty Photography Website

Michael Carty Photography Email

My First Bridal Show

Hey Peeps,

This month, I attended my first bridal show as a vendor.  It was interesting to say the least.

It was the 3rd Annual Southern Nova Scotia Bridal and Prom Show in Yarmouth, NS.  Held by Enaira Marketing and put together by the gracious Ariane Anderson of Designs by Ariane, my wife and I had a great time.

I've realized that shows like this aren't designed for getting clients instantly.  Everyone attending was doing their homework, collecting information to be reviewed later in deciding if they want services from anyone there.

Not only that, but we vendors are doing our own homework.  

Testing what works, what doesn't.  Collecting information on other vendors set ups that seem successful and warmly welcomed by potential clients.

We also make new friends and affiliates to network with and support each other in our businesses.

Here was our set up

that's my wife in the center, we already have design changes for next show

nice professional samples/cards using my own work

slideshow and trusty cell phone

nice sized canvas on classic black aisle of my own work displayed

 After lunch there was a fashion show with wedding dresses, bridesmaids dresses and prom dresses

It was definitely a good experience to have and now a bunch of us photogs are meeting up in March to do an on location shoot with some models, MUA's and stylists - I can't wait.

Laters,

Michael Carty

Michael Carty Photography Website

Michael Carty Photography Email

My Facebook Page

DIY Beauty Dish, Awwww Jeahhhhh!!

Hey Peeps,

A lot of you know how tempting it is to spend money you don't have on gear you desperately want right?  

That's why I LOVE DIY's!!

So what I did was make my own Beauty Dish - and it rocks!

For a fraction of the cost of your high-end dish, I have made one that looks and works just as well and of course, I have documented it for you!

First off, I got all of my materials together and went to my step-father's shop(thank the gods for his love of power tools).

as you can see, I am VERY organized

ring bracket, 9" pizza plate, 20qt bowl

These were the first things I needed, I wanted to design the dish to attach to my Canon 580EX II flash.  The ring bracket didn't have holes big enough for the bolts that I purchased, so we drilled some new ones.

don't cry, it didn't feel a thing...

Using the bracket, we measured where they would go in the bowl, hammered the spots and drilled those holes.

marking where we will drill, see me in the reflection?

a nice spike to mark the holes

holes drilled in dish

same thing with pizza dish

After the holes were drilled, we marked off a hole to cut out of the bottom of the dish that would fit the head of my flash.

would it be considered overkill cutting this out to get rid of the sticker?

We used a grinder to cut out the bottom.

I so enjoyed shooting these sparks

Next, we assembled the parts to make sure everything fit correctly.

three long bolts with nuts to hold them in place

these same bolts hold the bracket on the back of the dish

two more sets of nuts/bolt hold the pizza dish in place out from the main dish

I fell in love with this dish already.

Now it was time to get painting!!

We took everything apart, sanded down both dishes to make the paint stick, and painted the pizza dish and inside of the bowl with white aerosol paint.

yes, we used my childhood Dukes of Hazard bedsheet to catch drippings

tremclad paint, great stuff, dried within minutes, put several coats on

taped the back side of dish to keep paint from going through holes

After the white was finished drying, we flipped the main dish over and sprayed the back side with black paint.

so shiny and nice!

we used 6 small nails to keep the dish off the table so it wouldn't stick

 We then applied a polycrylic protective sealer to protect the dish from dings(at least as much as possible) on both dish and bowl and sanded down the first few coatings.

Great stuff, nice shine

nice finish, but look out for using too much and getting drippings on the surfaces

protected the white side first

love the seamless edge!!

after the black side was coated, I used the bolts and nuts to keep the dish off the table to dry

After several coats, we then put it back together and tested it out.

I don't have images here yet of the dish in action, but I will in one of my upcoming shoots and I KNOW you will all be pleasantly surprised.

So how much did this set me back?

Well, a Profoto beauty dish from B&H is $373US(the Broncolor is $496.62US).

But this project - which also took a lot less time than shipping, cost just under $130.00 CANADIAN.

Yes.  YES.  YES!!!

I can't wait for my next project, I'm feeling a softbox/octobox in my future.  Anyone have a suggestion on the size?(Go big or go home!)

Hope you enjoyed this one!  Let me know what you think!

Laters,

Michael Carty

Michael Carty Photography Website

Michael Carty Photography Email

My Facebook Page