FFFC

JLimberg · October 2010

Anyone got anything???

JLimberg · October 2010

Ok, so I need to vent, not sure how much of a confession it is.

I need to throw a pity party for my professional self. I'm a photographer. Yes, by day I am a commercial real estate photographer- and I love it... it's super flexible, the pay is good, blah blah blah. But, I am also a photographer "on the side" and I have been trying to get my company off the ground for the past 3 years. My company has a FB page which has a whopping 120ish friends (mostly my friends.) In order to increase this number, thus increasing the number of people who see my work (because advertising really isn't in the budget right now) I decided to do a contest. The prize was a FREE photo session. All people had to do was submit a photo of who they were nominating, promote the contest, and have their friends "like" the picture. In order to do that though, they would have to "like" my company's FB page. HA! Brilliant! Yeah, guess how many entrants I got? ZERO. I couldn't even give a session away FOR FREE. So. Embarrassing.

I also still give sessions away for free to friends. My MOH just had a baby and I took maternity pictures for her when I was in Dallas for work. My best friend from college is getting married in April and I just did a shoot for her on Sunday. 3 locations (in Tulsa), 2 outfit changes, plus 8+ hours spent editing... She has commented on A picture. My friends know that I am "just starting out" and I need all the publicity I can get because truthfully in this business, all you have to go on it word of mouth. I would assume that since they know this and that I did a session for them free of charge, they would make a big deal about it- post something in their status, comment on pictures, post a link to the album, maybe give me a review... ANYTHING. But, no.... nothing.

I guess I just needed to vent that my friends make me feel like a no-talent hack. Vent over. Happy Friday.

OSUWifey09 · October 2010

[Hey JLimberg - sent you a PM re: pictures]

My FCCC - I don't like people who feel they deserve things because they or their spouse is serving in the military. Someone on MN posted this a week or two ago, and it got me to thinking about all the free/discounted stuff military personnel get throughout the year, and how people still aren't happy about it. Yes, we're grateful for your service...but it's a job, and a choice. You don't deserve a free vacation every time your husband gets deployed.

And I still don't like candy corn. I tried to like it...just can't do it.

kayleeb · October 2010

I'm addicted to Jersey Shore. I have no idea why I like it so much, but I just can't stop watching it.

I can't stand Sugarland. Her accent drives me insane, it sounds so fake to me. I especially can't stand their new song "Stuck Like Glue". Worst.song.ever.

OSUWifey09 · October 2010

kayleeb:
I'm addicted to Jersey Shore. I have no idea why I like it so much, but I just can't stop watching it.

Yeah...me, too. It's such a waste of time, but I always watch. Sad.

oklagirl · October 2010

JLimberg, if I were you, I'd start charging, even your friends, something. They may not view you as a professional because they aren't paying.

amidavey06 · October 2010

I give the side-eye to people on FB who always has posts about how awesome or how much they love their H. I feel like they are overcompensating for something. I don't mind the occassional posts. I even do these especially if DH picks up the throw up off the floor from the dog so I don't have to gag the whole time while I'm doing it.

Snowful · October 2010

Jlimberg - As a marketing professional, I love helping others with ideas on how to promote their business, so if you don't mind, here's my two cents. You mentioned you're a commercial real estate photographer... is there a way you can promote your photography services to new home owners? When I bought my house, my realtor offered me lots of specials and coupons, so maybe a photo coupon could be part of a package like that?

For your current customers, do you tell them how much you need referrals or online comments? I don't think it hurts to reiterate to them that you are starting out and would appreciate their recommendation, especially for those you're doing pro bono.

Do you network with other photographers? Those that are more established can't always handle every project that comes their way and could easily refer work to you.

Limit your free photo sessions. Although offering free services can be a good way to promote what you do, you are a paid photographer by day, so don't downplay your talent by giving it away. You may run the danger of everyone expecting something for free or at a steep discount.

In terms of your online traffic, do you have more than a FB page for your business? I'd recommend not limiting yourself to just one source of online traffic since not everyone uses FB.

You may be doing all of this already so feel free to ignore. My boyfriend has gotten into photography and although he's done a few free photo gigs for friends, he's contemplated making a side business out of it. I know there's a lot of competition out there, but since this is your real job, I'm sure if you stick with it you'll get lots of customers coming your way. Good luck!

JLimberg · October 2010

kayleeb:
I can't stand Sugarland. Her accent drives me insane, it sounds so fake to me. I especially can't stand their new song "Stuck Like Glue". Worst.song.ever.

Her accent is the second worst thing to happen to country music. The absolute worst? The "country rap" she does at the bridge of "Stuck Like Glue." O.M.F.G.

BoyMom21 · October 2010

I went to a home party last night and all of the women were oohing and aching over this four month old baby that another woman had brought. The woman holding the infant (not her mother) looked at me and said "do you not think babies are the sweetest?!?". I replied "no, right now she probably is a blob that wakes up every two hours to eat and cries at the drop of a hat. I'm into older kids that can talk to me". I think I sprouted a second head to her after that. A couple of minutes later, the mother of the infant stated she's absolutely exhausted because Lily woke up to eat every two hours last night and she couldn't figure out why she was crying...and her schedule is so off so she is cranky...blah blah blah. Case in point.

oklagirl · October 2010

amidavey06:

I give the side-eye to people on FB who always has posts about how awesome or how much they love their H. I feel like they are overcompensating for something. I don't mind the occassional posts. I even do these especially if DH picks up the throw up off the floor from the dog so I don't have to gag the whole time while I'm doing it.

http://www.stfucouples.com/

And for extra fun: http://stfuparents.tumblr.com/

JLimberg · October 2010

Snowful:
Jlimberg - As a marketing professional, I love helping others with ideas on how to promote their business, so if you don't mind, here's my two cents. You mentioned you're a commercial real estate photographer... is there a way you can promote your photography services to new home owners? When I bought my house, my realtor offered me lots of specials and coupons, so maybe a photo coupon could be part of a package like that?
For your current customers, do you tell them how much you need referrals or online comments? I don't think it hurts to reiterate to them that you are starting out and would appreciate their recommendation, especially for those you're doing pro bono.
Do you network with other photographers? Those that are more established can't always handle every project that comes their way and could easily refer work to you.
Limit your free photo sessions. Although offering free services can be a good way to promote what you do, you are a paid photographer by day, so don't downplay your talent by giving it away. You may run the danger of everyone expecting something for free or at a steep discount.
In terms of your online traffic, do you have more than a FB page for your business? I'd recommend not limiting yourself to just one source of online traffic since not everyone uses FB.
You may be doing all of this already so feel free to ignore. My boyfriend has gotten into photography and although he's done a few free photo gigs for friends, he's contemplated making a side business out of it. I know there's a lot of competition out there, but since this is your real job, I'm sure if you stick with it you'll get lots of customers coming your way. Good luck!

My degree is actually IN marketing, which is what makes it all the more sad...

My day job is in the commercial real estate business; we don't do residential- otherwise I would be plugging myself like crazy. I just moved in to a new neighborhood recently and put 100 flyers in my neighbors mailboxes- It was like a "New photographer in the neighborhood, just introducing myself..." kind of thing. I offered a $20/hour discount off my normal rate. No phone calls, e-mails, nothing.

I was planning on e-mailing past clients to see if they would write a review for me on my FB page. I'll have to get on that...

I do network with other photographers. The girl who shot my wedding swapped my bridal portraits for a family session that I did for her. But none of them have ever sent me any outside business. B!tches.

I have only publicly given away that one free photo session. Anything else that I have done for free has been "This is my wedding gift to you" or "I couldn't come to your baby shower so I'll do a session for you" etc etc.

And, I do have an actual website that I spent a year and WAY to much of my money having a professional design team in Tulsa create for me. It's an edgy, professional-looking site... But I can't use it. I have to pay them every time I want to change something, I can't upload new pictures, and the blog I paid them for doesn't work. So I never use it. I'm actually just waiting until I get some money saved up so that I can create another site on my own using another "do-it-yourself" design firm. So... Once that happens, a millennia from now, I'll have two online "presences."

Good luck to your bf... And thank you for the comments.

oklagirl · October 2010

JLimberg:
Snowful:

My degree is actually IN marketing, which is what makes it all the more sad...

My day job is in the commercial real estate business; we don't do residential- otherwise I would be plugging myself like crazy. I just moved in to a new neighborhood recently and put 100 flyers in my neighbors mailboxes- It was like a "New photographer in the neighborhood, just introducing myself..." kind of thing. I offered a $20/hour discount off my normal rate. No phone calls, e-mails, nothing.

Maybe it's just me, but this would have annoyed the SHIIT out of me, and I wouldn't have called either.

Are you on Twitter? It's a great way to meet new people and promote contests, etc. As in "When I get to 500 followers, I'll give away a free family session. RT to win." Stuff like that.

JLimberg · October 2010

oklagirl:
JLimberg:
Snowful:

My degree is actually IN marketing, which is what makes it all the more sad...
My day job is in the commercial real estate business; we don't do residential- otherwise I would be plugging myself like crazy. I just moved in to a new neighborhood recently and put 100 flyers in my neighbors mailboxes- It was like a "New photographer in the neighborhood, just introducing myself..." kind of thing. I offered a $20/hour discount off my normal rate. No phone calls, e-mails, nothing.
Maybe it's just me, but this would have annoyed the SHIIT out of me, and I wouldn't have called either.
Are you on Twitter? It's a great way to meet new people and promote contests, etc. As in "When I get to 500 followers, I'll give away a free family session. RT to win." Stuff like that.

Haha. It's a good thing you don't live in my neighborhood then. It wasn't an obnoxious flyer, it was a typed out "introduction"... I'm nearly positive that half of the people who saw it just threw it away with the rest of their junk mail but I wasn't about to go door-to-door and introduce myself.

Yes, I'm on Twitter. When I upload new photos on FB or when I have contests, it posts directly to my account.

JLimberg · October 2010

OSUWifey09:
[Hey JLimberg - sent you a PM re: pictures]
My FCCC - I don't like people who feel they deserve things because they or their spouse is serving in the military. Someone on MN posted this a week or two ago, and it got me to thinking about all the free/discounted stuff military personnel get throughout the year, and how people still aren't happy about it. Yes, we're grateful for your service...but it's a job, and a choice. You don't deserve a free vacation every time your husband gets deployed.
And I still don't like candy corn. I tried to like it...just can't do it.

I replied to your PM.

And I don't like candy corn either. My sister got me a bag and instead of eating them, I decided to make a Halloween wreath for my front door out of them.

oklagirl · October 2010

JLimberg:
oklagirl:
JLimberg:
Snowful:

My degree is actually IN marketing, which is what makes it all the more sad...

My day job is in the commercial real estate business; we don't do residential- otherwise I would be plugging myself like crazy. I just moved in to a new neighborhood recently and put 100 flyers in my neighbors mailboxes- It was like a "New photographer in the neighborhood, just introducing myself..." kind of thing. I offered a $20/hour discount off my normal rate. No phone calls, e-mails, nothing.

Maybe it's just me, but this would have annoyed the SHIIT out of me, and I wouldn't have called either.

Are you on Twitter? It's a great way to meet new people and promote contests, etc. As in "When I get to 500 followers, I'll give away a free family session. RT to win." Stuff like that.

Haha. It's a good thing you don't live in my neighborhood then. It wasn't an obnoxious flyer, it was a typed out "introduction"... I'm nearly positive that half of the people who saw it just threw it away with the rest of their junk mail but I wasn't about to go door-to-door and introduce myself.

Yes, I'm on Twitter. When I upload new photos on FB or when I have contests, it posts directly to my account.

Is that all you post, though? Are you engaging with people on there, reply to them, RTs, etc.?

ETA: I guess my point is, I'm all over the twitter, follow a bunch of OKC people, and I've never seen you come up in a follow friday, or a RT, or a contest or anything. I do follow a photographer who I know has gotten business solely through twitter. DM me your name and I'll follow you.

fuzzylogic · October 2010

Putting flyers in people's mailboxes is illegal...perhaps that's why they ignored it.

amidavey06 · October 2010

oklagirl:
amidavey06:

I give the side-eye to people on FB who always has posts about how awesome or how much they love their H. I feel like they are overcompensating for something. I don't mind the occassional posts. I even do these especially if DH picks up the throw up off the floor from the dog so I don't have to gag the whole time while I'm doing it.

http://www.stfucouples.com/

And for extra fun: http://stfuparents.tumblr.com/

I think I found something to take up the rest of my time today! Too funny!

Steven&Jamie · October 2010

amidavey06:
I give the side-eye to people on FB who always has posts about how awesome or how much they love their H. I feel like they are overcompensating for something. I don't mind the occassional posts. I even do these especially if DH picks up the throw up off the floor from the dog so I don't have to gag the whole time while I'm doing it.

I totally give the side eye too! I say stuff about DH sometimes, but the constant "my H is the BEESSSSTTTTT!" annoy the crap out of me. I agree with the overcompensating thing, I think that too.

Steven&Jamie · October 2010

Duplicate

OSUWifey09 · October 2010

amidavey06:
I give the side-eye to people on FB who always has posts about how awesome or how much they love their H. I feel like they are overcompensating for something. I don't mind the occassional posts. I even do these especially if DH picks up the throw up off the floor from the dog so I don't have to gag the whole time while I'm doing it.

I was kinda that wife while counting down to H coming home. Sorry if I annoyed anyone. Eek.

Some of my friends who have newborns post all the time about how great H is with the baby and how much he loves being a dad - and how they're surprised by it. Like, they expected him to hate fatherhood and not be good with the baby...sheesh.

amidavey06 · October 2010

OSUWifey09:
amidavey06:

I give the side-eye to people on FB who always has posts about how awesome or how much they love their H. I feel like they are overcompensating for something. I don't mind the occassional posts. I even do these especially if DH picks up the throw up off the floor from the dog so I don't have to gag the whole time while I'm doing it.

I was kinda that wife while counting down to H coming home. Sorry if I annoyed anyone. Eek.

Some of my friends who have newborns post all the time about how great H is with the baby and how much he loves being a dad - and how they're surprised by it. Like, they expected him to hate fatherhood and not be good with the baby...sheesh.

No I think this is in a totally different catergory. There's a huge difference from your husband being gone for an extended amount of time vs. someone just posting over and over again their love for their H.

JLimberg · October 2010

oklagirl:
JLimberg:
oklagirl:
JLimberg:
Snowful:

My degree is actually IN marketing, which is what makes it all the more sad...
My day job is in the commercial real estate business; we don't do residential- otherwise I would be plugging myself like crazy. I just moved in to a new neighborhood recently and put 100 flyers in my neighbors mailboxes- It was like a "New photographer in the neighborhood, just introducing myself..." kind of thing. I offered a $20/hour discount off my normal rate. No phone calls, e-mails, nothing.
Maybe it's just me, but this would have annoyed the SHIIT out of me, and I wouldn't have called either.
Are you on Twitter? It's a great way to meet new people and promote contests, etc. As in "When I get to 500 followers, I'll give away a free family session. RT to win." Stuff like that.
Haha. It's a good thing you don't live in my neighborhood then. It wasn't an obnoxious flyer, it was a typed out "introduction"... I'm nearly positive that half of the people who saw it just threw it away with the rest of their junk mail but I wasn't about to go door-to-door and introduce myself.
Yes, I'm on Twitter. When I upload new photos on FB or when I have contests, it posts directly to my account.
Is that all you post, though? Are you engaging with people on there, reply to them, RTs, etc.?
ETA: I guess my point is, I'm all over the twitter, follow a bunch of OKC people, and I've never seen you come up in a follow friday, or a RT, or a contest or anything. I do follow a photographer who I know has gotten business solely through twitter. DM me your name and I'll follow you.

YGPM

amanjay · October 2010

I saw a really nasty homophobic comment (NOT from a friend) about Obama's "It Gets Better" video on Facebook.

Seriously, folks? It's 2010. It's time to get over the gay thing. Making out with someone is only about 2% of how you spend your time (unless you're Boymom---then it's closer to 20% Stick out tongue ) Why do some people make such a HUGE deal about that 2%?

And, I'm just going to say it---that whole "hate the sin, love the sinner" thing is BS. 1., Why does it only seem to be used to describe GLBT persons and not people who "sin" in other ways? and 2., How come the majority of people who have used this phrase in front of me have this super self-rightous look on their faces when they say it? (you know the look...it's the same one that some people have when they hiss the words "I'll pray for you!" at you like it's some kind of threat.)

JLimberg · October 2010

amanjay:
I saw a really nasty homophobic comment (NOT from a friend) about Obama's "It Gets Better" video on Facebook.
Seriously, folks? It's 2010. It's time to get over the gay thing. Making out with someone is only about 2% of how you spend your time (unless you're Boymom---then it's closer to 20% ) Why do some people make such a HUGE deal about that 2%?
And, I'm just going to say it---that whole "hate the sin, love the sinner" thing is BS. 1., Why does it only seem to be used to describe GLBT persons and not people who "sin" in other ways? and 2., How come the majority of people who have used this phrase in front of me have this super self-rightous look on their faces when they say it? (you know the look...it's the same one that some people have when they hiss the words "I'll pray for you!" at you like it's some kind of threat.)

I have a big lesbian crush on you after reading this.

The people who use the phrase "hate the sin, love the sinner" phrase are the same people who say things like, "She looks like death warmed over... Bless her lil' ole' hearrrrrrt." or "He couldn't find a job with two hand and a flashlight... Bless his hearrrrrrt."

Flame me if you want, but I'm one of those liberal Christians who believes things a little differently. To paraphrase Chris Colfer's character on the "Grilled Cheesus" episode of Glee... "Why would God create me a certain way just to be ostracized by the very people who believe in Him..." Get this kid an Emmy.

tjlovesthepokes · October 2010

JLimberg:
kayleeb:

I can't stand Sugarland. Her accent drives me insane, it sounds so fake to me. I especially can't stand their new song "Stuck Like Glue". Worst.song.ever.

Her accent is the second worst thing to happen to country music. The absolute worst? The "country rap" she does at the bridge of "Stuck Like Glue." O.M.F.G.

I completely agree with this. I have always thought they were 'just okay', but it seems the longer they are around, the worse her accent gets. BAH! It makes me want to stab my ears with pencils.

bluekid · October 2010

JLimberg:
amanjay:
I saw a really nasty homophobic comment (NOT from a friend) about Obama's "It Gets Better" video on Facebook.
Seriously, folks? It's 2010. It's time to get over the gay thing. Making out with someone is only about 2% of how you spend your time (unless you're Boymom---then it's closer to 20% ) Why do some people make such a HUGE deal about that 2%?
And, I'm just going to say it---that whole "hate the sin, love the sinner" thing is BS. 1., Why does it only seem to be used to describe GLBT persons and not people who "sin" in other ways? and 2., How come the majority of people who have used this phrase in front of me have this super self-rightous look on their faces when they say it? (you know the look...it's the same one that some people have when they hiss the words "I'll pray for you!" at you like it's some kind of threat.)
I have a big lesbian crush on you after reading this.
The people who use the phrase "hate the sin, love the sinner" phrase are the same people who say things like, "She looks like death warmed over... Bless her lil' ole' hearrrrrrt." or "He couldn't find a job with two hand and a flashlight... Bless his hearrrrrrt."
Flame me if you want, but I'm one of those liberal Christians who believes things a little differently. To paraphrase Chris Colfer's character on the "Grilled Cheesus" episode of Glee... "Why would God create me a certain way just to be ostracized by the very people who believe in Him..." Get this kid an Emmy.

HA! This guy I used to work with and I had a running joke about that very thing. We'd say the most horrible things we could think of and then follow it up with "Bless your heart." It's like people think that just because they said "Bless your heart" they have a license to trash anyone.

oklagirl · October 2010

JLimberg:
amanjay:

I saw a really nasty homophobic comment (NOT from a friend) about Obama's "It Gets Better" video on Facebook.

Seriously, folks? It's 2010. It's time to get over the gay thing. Making out with someone is only about 2% of how you spend your time (unless you're Boymom---then it's closer to 20% ) Why do some people make such a HUGE deal about that 2%?

And, I'm just going to say it---that whole "hate the sin, love the sinner" thing is BS. 1., Why does it only seem to be used to describe GLBT persons and not people who "sin" in other ways? and 2., How come the majority of people who have used this phrase in front of me have this super self-rightous look on their faces when they say it? (you know the look...it's the same one that some people have when they hiss the words "I'll pray for you!" at you like it's some kind of threat.)

I have a big lesbian crush on you after reading this.

The people who use the phrase "hate the sin, love the sinner" phrase are the same people who say things like, "She looks like death warmed over... Bless her lil' ole' hearrrrrrt." or "He couldn't find a job with two hand and a flashlight... Bless his hearrrrrrt."

Flame me if you want, but I'm one of those liberal Christians who believes things a little differently. To paraphrase Chris Colfer's character on the "Grilled Cheesus" episode of Glee... "Why would God create me a certain way just to be ostracized by the very people who believe in Him..." Get this kid an Emmy.

Aw, Kurt is my favorite character on TV right now. And his dad. I love their dynamic.

And you have PM back.

amanjay · October 2010

JLimberg:
amanjay:

I saw a really nasty homophobic comment (NOT from a friend) about Obama's "It Gets Better" video on Facebook.

Seriously, folks? It's 2010. It's time to get over the gay thing. Making out with someone is only about 2% of how you spend your time (unless you're Boymom---then it's closer to 20% ) Why do some people make such a HUGE deal about that 2%?

And, I'm just going to say it---that whole "hate the sin, love the sinner" thing is BS. 1., Why does it only seem to be used to describe GLBT persons and not people who "sin" in other ways? and 2., How come the majority of people who have used this phrase in front of me have this super self-rightous look on their faces when they say it? (you know the look...it's the same one that some people have when they hiss the words "I'll pray for you!" at you like it's some kind of threat.)

I have a big lesbian crush on you after reading this.

Right back at ya

critti710 · October 2010

JLimberg:
amanjay:
I saw a really nasty homophobic comment (NOT from a friend) about Obama's "It Gets Better" video on Facebook.
Seriously, folks? It's 2010. It's time to get over the gay thing. Making out with someone is only about 2% of how you spend your time (unless you're Boymom---then it's closer to 20% ) Why do some people make such a HUGE deal about that 2%?
And, I'm just going to say it---that whole "hate the sin, love the sinner" thing is BS. 1., Why does it only seem to be used to describe GLBT persons and not people who "sin" in other ways? and 2., How come the majority of people who have used this phrase in front of me have this super self-rightous look on their faces when they say it? (you know the look...it's the same one that some people have when they hiss the words "I'll pray for you!" at you like it's some kind of threat.)
I have a big lesbian crush on you after reading this.
The people who use the phrase "hate the sin, love the sinner" phrase are the same people who say things like, "She looks like death warmed over... Bless her lil' ole' hearrrrrrt." or "He couldn't find a job with two hand and a flashlight... Bless his hearrrrrrt."
Flame me if you want, but I'm one of those liberal Christians who believes things a little differently. To paraphrase Chris Colfer's character on the "Grilled Cheesus" episode of Glee... "Why would God create me a certain way just to be ostracized by the very people who believe in Him..." Get this kid an Emmy.

I think I have a big lesbian crush on both of you. Wink

prettygirl06 · October 2010

amanjay:
I saw a really nasty homophobic comment (NOT from a friend) about Obama's "It Gets Better" video on Facebook.
Seriously, folks? It's 2010. It's time to get over the gay thing. Making out with someone is only about 2% of how you spend your time (unless you're Boymom---then it's closer to 20% ) Why do some people make such a HUGE deal about that 2%?
And, I'm just going to say it---that whole "hate the sin, love the sinner" thing is BS. 1., Why does it only seem to be used to describe GLBT persons and not people who "sin" in other ways? and 2., How come the majority of people who have used this phrase in front of me have this super self-rightous look on their faces when they say it? (you know the look...it's the same one that some people have when they hiss the words "I'll pray for you!" at you like it's some kind of threat.)

Hmmm, I wonder if it's okay if I hate the person actually hating the sin? Is that confusing? Hope not cause that's me!

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