In case you missed my blog post yesterday about charging for telephone quotes, it’s not because I’m arrogant, nor is it because I’m running low on cell phone minutes. It’s really because my wife is giving birth in the next 24 hours!
I’m now driving to Paradise Valley Hospital with my wife Lynda to (help) deliver my first girl. Acmebaby v3.0 which has been in development for the past forty weeks. We are ready to release the new addition to our family of Acme’s.
If you’d like to follow our progress this weekend, please follow me on twitter. You can watch these accounts.
@AcmePhoto – My main account
@acmeBaby – Yes my daughter like social media.
I might work 1/2 days for a few days our baby is delivered, however I should have time to reply to any requests for photography quotes. I have one more mouth to feed, so l free to fill out the estimate form at the bottom of this post.
I came home yesterday to see this flier my Arizona “lawn” also know as a rock garden including 1/2 dead weeds because I sprayed them and have not yet taken the time to remove them. I guess Phil thought I was too lazy to pull the weeds in my own front yard.
I’ve decided that Acme Photography is not going to not be like all the other guys. I’ve seen many general contractors, lawyers, and builders in Phoenix not charge for an estimate or consultation. From small business to large corporations, this is a very common practice.
In evaluating my photography business and I’m pleased to announce that I’ll have options for those who would like a paid quote and those who would prefer the free quote. We’ll test this and see how it works. This policy is trial and will be evaluated after 1-2 weeks based on your feedback and our analyisis.*
* UPDATE* – This test run is now over…..
The real reason I didn’t want to be bothered for a week is because AcmeWife & I were expecting acmeBaby v3.0. Izzy arrived safe and sound.
You may now call for a quote.
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The rules are simple
Rules:
Phone Estimates & consultations are a paid service and will incur a fee.
Phone Estimates have tiered rates, standard rate & peak rate.
It’s no surprise that shopping for your wife, girlfriend or any any woman can be a challenge. I’m not sure if the challenge is because some guys don’t get it, or simply by “pressure” from the advertising industry with the commercialization of Christmas holidays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, etc.
We know that a “diamond is forever” and as a male I KNOW that a woman loves jewelry, however, we also know that relationships are build on human interaction. If a diamond is forever, how about this, actually work on your relationship so that marriages are forever. The best relationships don’t just happen, it’s a continual process.
I found an awesome video with some tips for guys in this video.
While I realize you can’t just drive to a store and purchase some of these ideas, it’s good to remember some of these concepts. (or maybe all!) With a down economy, this has a great value and maybe we should all try a little harder instead of buying “stuff” to show our love.
I found a short film the other week which after I watched it I realized that it was the best 15 minutes I had spent on the Internet THAT WEEK. Looking back I would say THAT MONTH.
As described by the creators, “Validation is a fable about the magic of free parking.” Yet I say it is so much more. From Flixxy.com, ” A short film about the magic of looking for the best in people. This movie has played at 34 film festivals worldwide and won 17 awards.”
Starring TJ Thyne & Vicki Davis. Writer/Director/Composer – Kurt Kuenne. Please if you do not have 15 minutes right now to watch this, come back at the end of your day and watch this short movie. You’ll thank me later.
Now that you’ve watched this film, please share this link. This film was great to me as a photographer because part of my job is to capture the emotion in a person’s eyes and the part of them that makes each person unique.
I see beauty in every person, and capturing that emotionthrough a one still photograph is equally as important as the best lighting or great composition. I’ve photographed teens who have self esteem problems as well as beautiful women who believe that they are sub par or barely average. I’ve photographed corporate businessmen who are handsome, yet don’t smile because of a tooth which he think looks funny, so he never smiles. In the corporate business world if we tell someone they look great (and if the person takes it wrong) it may border on sexual harassment, yet how often do we give somone else a true compliment.
I see it in one’s eye when I tell a client that they look good, or that what they are doing is working. A smile or a 1/2 smile instantly goes to a full or real smile. I get to compliment people when I’m behind my camera, but I try to carry this into the “real world”. How about you?
This is my second year photographing Christmas caroling at Freedom Inn with James Telich and friends. I had a great time last Sunday and thought I’d share some photos for those who follow this blog as well as those who attended this year’s event.
Below is a is a slideshow of all the images. You may also view the same slideshow large by clicking here.
If you would like to individually click through the photos in a gallery format, click here for the event photos on flickr.
A few of the best photos from the event:
Happy woman - Music Makes people happy
Santa Greets a guest
Last year Santa said some really nice things to me about my photography. He said I was famous in the North Pole, but this year Santa didn”t even talk to me. I wasn’t even sure if it was the same guy, he looked thinner. (Maybe it’s recession or the economy?!)
I felt like doing something, crazy or silly, like the guy below, but I held back…. Trying to maintain a professional demeanor.
Man makes a silly face
Take that Santa Clause.
Flowers are great, there’s always a lot of floral goodness, which is donated by somone. If you know, drop a comment at the bottom the the article and I’ll update this post w/ some credit and “link love” to them.
Teen gives flowers to elderly resident
Elderly woman enjoys music
Sometimes other photography “geeks” like to know how photos are made….
On the photo above I bounced a Nikon Sb-800 into the ceiling (and slightly to the left) to bounce some nice light from a direction creating nice soft light which is not standard for “flash on camera” . I also was using a high ISO to capture some of the ambient light. The strobe was gelled with CTO (color temp orange) to balance for the tungsten light.
Some exposure settings:
Exposure:
0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture:
f/4.5
Focal Length:
120 mm
ISO Speed:
1000
One can never go wrong with photos of cute children.
Cute girl with mom
James Telich and happy woman
I nearly forgot, people came to sing, so here are some singers.
Christmas carolers singing
There was also some dancing. This was the mild dancing. I heard rumors that things go “crazy nuts”, then was told that I would get in trouble if I posted those photos.
This is the end.
Remember all the photos are here. If you like what I do you could always *cough* hire me.
