I Need A Cocktail

I like too much stuff.  It’s a curse.  How can I decide on just one thing… are you kidding.  One thing to define me, my taste, who I am!?  Impossible.

Don’t make me, I don’t want to do it.  But wait, I have too… bummer

Oh I like that better.  Love this, no wait, what was I thinking this is awful.

This is how my day went.  A day when you get nothing done (but you learned a lot) yuk.  I want something with pizazz yet it has to be generic enough not to overwhelm.  I’ve decided I want to design something that could be both for glamour and babies.

I’m definitely toying with the idea of baby photography.  I think I have a real affinity for it.  The more I look at it the more I like it.  Talk about accessories!… baskets, bowls, throws, fuzzy furry things galore.  Why didn’t I go this route first?  Oh yeah, now I remember, everything I saw  I wanted to buy because it was so cute.

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Upgrading to CS5 has been hard.  My Digital Gem won’t install (I want to buy Portraiture instead anyway).  My Nik Pro won’t change over.  Keep loosing my brushes… blah blah blah.  Computer freezing up.  Used something called Cocktail to see why my computer is bogging down.  They have a free trial, check it out.

I like the time I’ve spent in Photoshop using lot’s of brushes to make a master background.  Once I have the feel of the background I think it will go faster.  I think to really book from the internet your marketing materials have to be top notch and you need a lot of them.

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I’ve looked into a few products and have narrowed down some pricing for glamour and portrait pricing.  I’ve had a few readers email me privately and they have been a big help, so I want to thank you here.  Big hugs.

I’m still watching awful television while I’m working, eating too many carbs and not exercising enough.  The British Beverly Hills housewife is still yummy rich!

6 comments category: Boudoir,Glamour

1 Dan October 26, 2010 at 2:21 pm

Mary, I’ve been meaning to leave this comment for a while. I am out of town on assignment with a little down time, so today is the day. This is more a comment to your readers, because I’ve already told you this stuff.

I’ve been a working pro for more than two decades. I actually went to college to be a photographer. Thankfully, as *some* types of photography have become a commodity, I have been able to differentiate myself to my clients and I am busier than ever. My clients hire me for me, not for my equipment, not for what I’ve read about photography, but for what I’ve produced and continue to produce under high-pressure deadlines.

The single most important thing I have done to keep my career alive and growing is attend Mary Duprie’s workshop. It wasn’t cheap, but I got what I paid for AND MORE. In fact, I have now attended many of Mary’s workshops (on my own nickel) and I am still growing, still learning. Mary is about much more than the photos, the models, the lights and the sets she designs so brilliantly. To me it’s all of that AND her infectious energy, enthusiasm and passion for what she does….and it’s even the choice of words she chooses to get models to model the way she wants. It makes big a difference.

The funny thing is, I rarely shoot models in my day to day…. Yet, what I’ve learned from shooting models in Mary’s workshop translates to shooting any people in any situation. I firmly believe that.

Do yourself a favor, people. Attend a workshop. Up your game. For the price of a decent lens, you will get more than that lens will ever give you. It ain’t about the equipment. You’ll be taking home a head full of new information, a kick-start….and a great custom-painted background to boot.

Mary didn’t ask me to write this. And, Mary, you have my permission to delete it for any reason you choose. Just felt like it needed to be said — my $.02.

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2 Mary DuPrie October 26, 2010 at 11:09 pm

ummm, not much i can say. but thank you

i don’t advertise as much as I should… i figure word of mouth is best… but the pen is good too

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3 Bruce Albert October 26, 2010 at 8:21 am

Why not have it all, infants and pets are always draws, hard to blow a shot, imediately accepted.
Glamour is complicated, as subject believes they are attractive, your eye must evaluate strong and weak points and shoot maximize the best and loose the not so best in the shadows, or blown away
by some colorful frock. Nudes I charge big $ for because they are really personal, you can shoot
all day, illuminate and pose the model to the point her comfort level rivals that of a spouse as she feels you have served her well, and cheerfully pays, but at the end of the day she seldom shows those images to her friends, passing my name and makeing my phone ring. y experience

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4 Mary DuPrie October 26, 2010 at 11:03 pm

you hit the nail on the head with glamour… like i say “be careful what you wish for”

glamour is hard… too hard

what am I thinking!?

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5 Edward Reed October 26, 2010 at 8:12 am

Hey Mary,

Love your blogs…. I have to say I laughed out loud at the iPhone fiasco, not at you… I love my Macs! You recently went through a stint where you were making books versus albums and now you are dealing with pricing. Are you familiar with “Time Exposure/ProSelect”? Here is a link, it is an amazing application. http://www.timeexposure.com/index.php

Within your professional world I’m sure you’ve heard of them. I downloaded the trial and was hooked.. If you haven’t, take a moment and let me know what you think. No I’m not a salesman for them. Just a guy that wants to one day be able to make money taking pictures.

Have a great day..

Edward

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6 Mary DuPrie October 26, 2010 at 11:07 pm

omg… if i even hear the name AT&T i go ballistic. i still get mail and phone calls from them, it’s actually upsetting

i did love my iphone though, wish i still had it

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