Jess Bishop Photography » Your Life as Art

This week is busy…and pretty much next week looks the same but I will go for next week to round up the information to show you all. I’m excited for the interest and I hope that whatever my journey and insight can be helpful to you.

And I’m gonna find some pictures to post. Found some and I can’t believe I never posted these from when I met up with Keith Bryce. Remember he has a workshop this weekend that is going to be AMAZING! It’s still not to late to sign up.

extras

and smiles

they liked us (photo of me taken by Suzanne)

I got to meet these wonderful girls Suzanne (the photo above is Suzanne) and Andrea. Seriously there is so much talent here in Utah.

Keith and I (photo taken by Suzanne)

This is a long post so go get something good eat and prepare yourself to read my WONDERFUL insight…he he and all the links I have.

Though it’s been 2 months that I had posted about my changes for this year. I talked briefly on my business and losing money. My husband had to remind me I didn’t loose money. You see, my goals for my business was to  be a HOBBY and pay for itself…and it did!

It paid for
all my workshops (Brianna Graham, the Image is Found, Skye Hardwick, Rock that OCF, Keith Bryce Big Bang)
my studio lighting (alien bee 400, soft box, light stands, backdrops)
all my cameras (Canon 20D, Canon 5D)
lens’s (50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8 24-70mm 2.8, 70-200mm 2.8 ISM)
my flash (580 EX ll)
pocket wizards (2)
my computer (an old school Mac that should be upgraded),
my hard drives (I have 4 external hard drives),
my props (couches, hats, clothes)
my photoshop CS3,
my templates (for Christmas cards, & albums)
all my marketing (CD holders, albums, photos, & advertising)
my website (blu domain website, my blog from Pro Photo)
Spent a lot time on developing myself and networking that I really didn’t get paid for that (countless hours in front of the computer, blogging, facebooking, answering emails…like I started this post at 1 and had many interruptions and now its 9 p.m.)
I should have paid for rent and utilities…even if it is out of my home.

As I got caught up in the business of photography I thought I was a horrible business owner. I wasn’t keeping up with everyone else out their in the market and it started to take a toll on me and my art. I decided to look at my business as a business and I wasn’t making anything more than to pay for itself and I felt like a failure. I do about 1-4 shoots a month (those were my goals) and let’s say if my husband died and I needed to provide I would need to 4-6 shoots a week to make money. You have to decide what it is you want out of PHOTOGRAPHY everyone loves it and lets face it, it’s NOT for everyone. If you’re going to make it a hobby stay within the range of what is being offered out their. Don’t undercut all the other photographers around you. You will get over worked and under paid. It’s not good business…believe me I have been there and for me it was a reflection in my confidence. I have many photographer friends outside of the state of Utah that continue to tell me I should raise my prices but I am in the right place for my market (Utah County alone is very saturated with photographers).

I have found the best article about this topic and quiet frankly she says it better than I would…check it out here. If you are really really wanting to get into the business I suggest you read this and this

A quote from MCP Actions that I have said to myself is, “Artists work from emotions, and you better step outside of that for a moment and keep those emotions and business separated, or you will BE a starving artist who will one day look back and say “my kids are grown, where did the time go?  I sat in front of that computer for hours for less than minimum wage… I wish I had that time back with my kids….”  No one looks back and says “I wish I would have worked more away from my family….”

This is were I’m at with my career. I am pregnant with number 5 and for some reason this has created for me some anxiety. I have children that are in extracurricular activities that will consists more of my time. Honestly, I don’t know how people do it.  I don’t want to look back and see what have I missed out on or what my kids missed out on but I also look back and see what have I gained from all of this too.  I love photography I don’t think I will ever quit but I am going to slow down…this doesn’t mean I am not doing sessions so don’t hesitate to contact me it’s just time to BREATHE and reflect on my photography and what’s in my heart. I think I have gotten a little lost with the COMPETITION.

So WHY do I share my experience HONESTLY I don’t know. I have just felt I should. So, any of those deciding to start a business REALLY THINK about it. It’s a lot of work and you should get paid for it. I hope that this hasn’t offended any but have given you a greater understanding from my perspective.

In conclusion I have some photos to share…how could I not.

These photos pretty much describe this little girl.

She is starting to pull of the model look.

Love the little ones. Sometimes it make me baby hungry….sometimes Julie!!!!

My how time flies. It happened 6 months after she was born I got my first film SLR camera it was a Canon EOS rebel …LOVED it. I have always loved to take photographs, it started in high school, I had a relationship with my point and shoot it went everywhere with me…it was like cell phones these days. I even had a photography class back in the day and failed it…it was my only “F” I ever got. To this day I still have no idea why I got the “F” I like to think it was because I didn’t have an SLR to shoot with.
Back to when I got my first SLR I had signed up for a class at the college and didn’t have my camera yet so my smart “nerd” husband did his research and got me the Canon Rebel. I started out my community class to understand how the thing should work and I would practice all the time by writing down my settings and then developing the film to see what I got. Then technology caught up and here we are now with the digital SLR that everyone can buy and become a professional photographer even if that means your own business or just for your own personal family photos.

Now it’s too bad I’m not gonna spend the time to scan the very first photos I took of Miss Bryn but I will show you what I got a few weeks back.

I just have to say I laughed a lot!!

Good Times!

I like that he is sticking his tongue out at her.

She is 1 and she was so FUN!!!!! This is Maddie my cute little niece.

I don’t post much of this one because he will not let me take photos of him. So we had the talk about how I will remember his milestones and the funny faces you had to make or the shoes you liked at the age of 10…or when you decide to get your hair cut short for convenience purposes. By having the talk he is now willing to let me take a shot or 2…it all depends on the day.

I was able to talk him into a shoot and I’m glad we did we had a blast. I love this boy he is so smart and so grown up and I love that he is a big brother he takes care of everyone.

My canvas is bigger than yours 30×48x3″ that’s 4ft wide…I LOVE IT! Thanks Jason you are the best canvas guy. If there are any photographers out there and I know you are…give him a call. Plus, his turn around time is fast sometimes the next day! Email me thru my contact and I will give you his info.

Oh, and not the best product photo mostly cause my house is in remodel mode and I can’t hang it were I want it.

I hope that everyone has a beautiful day.