crap...I'm not ready for this

[thenimirra]

Long story short, since I wasn't able to devote 100 percent of my time to Shades Model Management given the fact that I'm a full time reporter, my position at the modeling agency was taken away and given to a full time photographer.

In a way, I'm very cool with this. Mark is a great photographer, was in IT for 15 years before he finally decided he wanted to be a photographer full time. He just opened his own studio in January. And he loves working with me, so I will be his assistant. I can learn all about lighting and strobes and be a better photographer overall by working with him for a couple of months.

But in another way, it kills me inside. I just can't take that kind of plunge yet...give up my full time career to pursue photography. If I lose this opportunity, will it ever come around again? Dreya said when I was ready to just shoot her models and nothing else, I would be in. I'm still a photographer on the team and I will be shooting at her events, but I just won't be lead photographer.

Sorry guys, I just really needed to vent. Any ideas or suggestions to help me see this more clearly?

[Tiffany]

Opportunities come and go. Either you are ready to make the jump or you're not...only you can make that decision.

I would suggest that before you make the plunge you take some business classes to better understand how to handle the business side of things.

One of my clients offeres many free classes on starting and running a small business. Check out www.smallbusinessdenver.com and go to the workshop and events and see what they have to offer.

Photography is a one to one business most of the time so you need to know how to handle your business as well as you handle a camera.

I wouldn't think of making that leap until you are confident that you can do that.

[ColoradoSkier]

Take this for what it is - an opportunity to learn more without having to split yourself between 2 masters. Taking the full plunge into anything new is difficult. Now you have a shot at learning at your own pace basically, which is not a bad thing. It seems to me that your life is about to change dramatically in terms of work hours, cash flow, time management, etc. Doesn't hurt to learn as much as you can before you are reliant upon this.

From her point of view, I agree 100%. She has a business to run. She needed someone 100% of the time. That decision is a no brainer. Business is business, don't take it so personal (seems we tell you this a lot).

Now, the more important question - did you buy anything cool with the money you made in Breckenridge?

[thenimirra]

Yes, you are both right. I really need to work on that not taking things so personal...it's definitely a tough one for me.

What I liked about Dreya is the fact that she said it pretty much in those terms...that it wasn't personal, that of all the people she's actually working with, I'm one of the only ones she truly counts as a friend. But business is business. And she made that pretty clear too. I might have responded to her needs differently if she were actually PAYING for her positions...I do still have a mortgage to pay and the salary at the Post is still sorely needed! :)

That's a great idea Tiffany...I do think I need more of a business sense. That class could be what I need to feel more comfortable.

As far as the pay from Breck...I used the downpayment to pay off some credit card debt first for all the equipment I've bought. The final payment may be what I use to get a laptop. ;)

[ColoradoSkier]

A friend of mine recently bought a killer Sony at the Sony store that is near downtown. She got a heck of a machine for a heck of a deal. So good in fact, she got another one for her husband for Xmas.

[Tiffany]

Buy a Mac and be done with it

[thenimirra]

why should I buy a Mac when my desktop is a Dell? Shouldn't I stick with Dell?>

[Tiffany]

Stick with what ever ya want. But for photo editing and workflow you will be hard pressed to beat a Mac. I buy the best tool for the job...for photo editing and video editing I will always go with a Mac.

[thenimirra]

one of my new colleagues I met in Breck pretty much said the same thing. Hmm....

[Jeffro600]

Ill tell you what...using a PC and using a Mac is kinda like shooting with a point and shoot and shooting with a DSLR.

Sure, the PC,(point and shoot) will usually get the job done, but they make compromises on quality with cheaper parts, their work flow isnt as fluid, fast and smooth and their stuck running WINBLOWS!

The Mac(DSLR), has the ability to run not only OS X, but also Vista or XP. Their sleek, fast and smooth...run beautifully with photoshop, aperture, lightroom and all other assorted photo and or video editing software. They dont get viruses so theres no worry about losing your work if you do alot of internet surfing. Their screens are WORLDS above what even upper line PC makers are putting out today. Go sit in front of one of Apples newere LED backlit monitors on their Macbook Pro or iMac lines and tell me your not sold!

Well, maybe a bad analogy, but you get my point :P

Dell makes mediocre computers at best. Most are very plasticy, flimsy and have alot of poor components(speaking mostly about laptops here). Go play with some new Macs and i guarantee youll see the light!

[thenimirra]

Thanks for the tips as always guys. I am signed up for two business classes Tiffany!

and I'm looking at a MacBook Pro.

[Jeffro600]

and I'm looking at a MacBook Pro.


I had a REALLY hard time justifying spending 2 grand on a laptop but ill tell you, its worth EVERY penny!!!

[thenimirra]

My colleague has one and she let me look hers over. She says she loves it too!

Hey Jeff, which one did you get and what were the specs?

[Jeffro600]

My colleague has one and she let me look hers over. She says she loves it too!

Hey Jeff, which one did you get and what were the specs?

Ive got the 15" 2.4 Core Duo Two. You can read all the stuff on it here: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/9774000/wo/bI5xKlX6SUED3ak8WzF1hQX6y53/2.?p=0

I got a pretty good discount on mine though. If you know any students or military, have them buy it for you...they knock quite a bit off the price!