Kat's EVENT

yes, the EVENT is over. No I did not have a good turn out. Yes I am bummed about that. I sent out 200 printed invitations and 45 electronic invitations I had three call and book appointment times, two showed up! I rented the whole building. I got up at the butt crack of dawn (6 am) and I hauled EVERYTHING over there. I set up three tables of promotional samples. I constructed a TOTALLY killer holiday set (blew way too much money on that) and a simple set. I had a digital camera, portable computer so that the proofs were shown IMMEDIATELY after shooting, instant gratification. sales were okay, very respectable for two customers. made enough to cover my expenses for the day (hired an assistant, rent on the building) I got some great images, and I think I did make two lifetime customers so that is not a bad thing. if each of them come back and refer me to two more customers, I am definately money ahead. I just hope that next weekend will be better. will post photos tomorrow. sample of 'assistant' (daughter) in holiday and simple set http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?eventthumbs?event=0BXN004W

Sorry for your disappointment. I love the set. My husband and I want to have a holiday pic taken and this would have been perfect. I wish ya lived closer this is exactly what we are looking for (since our house doesn't have a fire place!) Rachael

awe thank you. my husband was pretty critical of this set, said it was to FAKE. he said, who wants to take a picture of a fake christmas morning with fake christmas presents and a fake tree in someone else's fake living room? heehee he totally doesnt get it. in order to get the christmas cards out in time, you gotta do the deed and no one really wants to put up a tree this early. but me. I am a sadist. snicker. btw, check this little one out. *sigh* it is not chistmassy but I am loving this image that I got from my last client. http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?eventorder?photo=0BXN004X000000

Hi Kat! I'm sorry to hear you didn't have a huge turnout! Bummer! But, if those couple people hand out photos and people ask who shot them, you will get great word of mouth advertising. It could really add some new customers to you that way! I think your pictures are gorgeous and I only wish I lived by you so you could shoot my family!!! Deanna

Miss Thang, I was in Portland for a family shoot summer of 2005. so I do travel around the country to 'share' my talents. BTW.. am I the only one that cringes when I say that? do you have a TALENT? do you tell anyone that you have a TALENT? do ya? do ya? yes. I have a couple of TALENTS. I have the patience of JOB with children. (everyone but my own. hehehe) and I am a talented with a camera, (most of the time) see, I do it, I constantly qualify myself. I just can't seem to be able to say. I AM TALENTED. and shut up and leave it alone. ;) I hear compliments, but I really do not see the talent. I see all the mistakes, all the oops. I really do not see anything brilliant in my work. I sincerely find myself biting my tongue or changing the subject when people compliment my work because I sincerely do not see but 1 in 5000 shots that I love.

Oh Kat, you definately struck a cord with me on the whole "owning up to your talent" thing! I have a degree in Graphic Design but my insecure self never allowed myself to get a job in the field because I was so afraid that people wouldn't like my designs. But, I know deep down that I'm artistically inclined and I am talented in my artwork! I took a photography class in college and I LOVED IT! But I never proceeded in that direction because I was too afraid. Why the heck do I do this to myself? I'm just now getting to the point where I am building my selfconfidence to try to put myself out there. I am so impressed with you that you did this the past weekend! You should be so proud of yourself!!! And yes, YOU ARE VERY TALENTED!!!!! Deanna

wanna help me with a brochure? heehee

OK first of all you should not be bummed at all. Did you lose money on the event? No. Did you gain customers? Yes - repeat ones at that. Did you go on a massive learning curve? Yes. Most importantly, did you step out of your comfort zone to do this in your new level of confidence? YES YES YES YES YES. DO YA HEAR ME????????????????? Richard Branson & Bill Gates NEVER have failures. You know why? They have learning opportunities - their words not mine. How do we measure success? Do we say we've failed if we haven't reached our goal weight yet? NO. Because it's a journey we're on and we are learning new life patterns on the way. We say we are having success because we are in the process of loosing. Why should you judge yourself and what you do any different? OK, so you put in tons of work, and it would have been nice for it to have met your expectations, but be kind to yourself. I think you did a great job, just organising the whole thing, let alone getting any more out of it. What is the next project that you can do, using what you have learnt from this one (and no I don't mean never to do it again ha ha!) BTY, I love the 'set'. Men don't get it. They would leave it all to Christmas eve if it were up to them. I love the fact that your daughter is showing off her expanding waist, while we are all showing off our decreasing sizes and the baby pic is just adorable. I've gone all gooey and broody just looking at it. PS. Just a note of caution - don't hit the food coz you are feeling down............if you have to hit something hit DH (no only kidding)

I am not 'bummed' thankfully. Krys and I set a goal before we even hit the door and we did make that goal. so we were really happy. she was really happy that she was not EXHAUSTED as she normally is after working with me for a day. ;) poor mutt. I do work her like a dawg (which I will on Tuesday and Wednesday this week). so it was a success. just not as much as I had 'planned' but you know, taking the time to give 150% to two customers I think will really pay off rather than giving 75% to 5 customers. I demonstrated to those that their time is valuable as well and that I did not over book to make more money in less time. says that I put my money were my mouth is when it really counts. as for my comfort zone, YIKES. yes I did, and it will get better if I do it more often. but let me tell you, it is very UNCOMFORTABLE to do this. and I really think that 'all ya'all' should too. ;)

You are an inspiration to us all Kat. Yes, we all should get out of our comfort zones - maybe I should start a post to get people thinking what they can do? Now the only trouble is that it puts me next in line behind you to come up with something that I can be brave about