huga

Morning before work for my two. It's at 5am and horribly dark and cold Sid isn't too keen until a few minutes in. They are alone all day, so really need the walk in the morning. I don't have time at night anyway.

Oh yeah, that party was just breathtaking. Honestly, the work that went into it was astounding. So lovely to shoot. Daneve (who owns Ah Tissue, the pom pom making business) is super talented. She did so much of that by herself.

Well done, LL. It's tough taking photos of the same things all the time, isn't it? Mine are: dogs, kids, the odd other thing... And now most of mine have to be taken at night, so I use flash, which feels even more limiting. Gah. Mid week catch up from me: Day 149 - 28.05.11 Grateful for... Plays in the park. Day 150 - 29.05.11 Grateful for... Learning 'wait'. Day 151 - 30.05.11 Grateful for... This face at the end of the day. Day 152 - 31.05.11 Grateful for... Playtime for all my boys. Day 153 - 01.06.11 Grateful for... The start of winter and a new coat.

It's been a while since I updated this thread, so here are a few pics taken tonight Sid is now 5 months old and starting to get chunky. He started at obedience a couple of weeks ago. Things he loves: Lola, chicken wings, scratches under the chin, zoomies and jammies. Things he doesn't love: cold wet grass, 5am walks and baths. Lola both loves him and hates him. But she now lets him sleep with her and tonight she even gave him the honour of nomming on his ankles (something that she has only ever done to Harry). In turn, he has left her with nice little scabby patches on her jowls You can see Lola's funny little teeth in this one

More catching up... Day 143 - 22.05.11 Grateful for... My pretty lights. Day 144 - 23.05.11 Grateful for... Early nights. Day 145 - 24.05.11 Grateful for... The one meal that I can guarantee will get eaten - spaghetti bol. Day 146 - 25.05.11 Grateful for... My favourite socks. There's a bit of history in these socks. I bought them to wear in labour when I was pregnant with Ed. A touch specific, but my feet froze when I was in labour with Ollie. I was so glad to have them the second time around. I nearly lost them at one point when my temp got too high, but I bargained with the midwife to keep them on. Love my labour socks. Day 147 - 26.05.11 Grateful for... The comforting way that some things never change - Playschool. Day 148 - 27.05.11 Grateful for... Lola's expressions. They crack me up.

In QLD it's 30. But I'm not sure it's the same for every state. Actually, I think it might be, as all prefixes get sent to VIC for approval. ETA And names get pinged if they are too close to a financial prefix.

I am lucky enough to be able to do a lot of second shooting (for you guys and others) and I am so grateful for that. There is absolutely nothing like being out there learning with such knowledgable professionals. Kirislin, I'm honestly not sure what to do in your situation. I would still charge though, at least something. The RB idea is a good one Think of it this way too - each shot you take is coming off the life of your camera and lenses. There is also that Flickr Pro account to think about I went off on the wedding tangent because it's something that I have been thinking about a lot lately. I get enquiries though, but I am yet to make a booking. They always end up getting back to me and saying my friend/cousin/uncle bob has a 50D and is going to do the photos for me for $200/free. It makes me cringe because they are leaving the memories of one of the biggest days of their lives up to this person. But if they don't want to pay my (still very reasonable) prices, that's fine, because I'm not spending a day (and lots of nights processing) from my family for $200. ETA I would just like to add, that I never, ever set out to become a 'professional'. It kind of grew. Which is how it happens for a lot of people I guess. But it did take me by suprise. If you told me two years ago I would be shooting with the likes of Savvy, I would've laughed in your face.

The short answer is that selling images too cheaply devalues photography. Using wedding photography as an example: 8hrs of shooting, plus many hours of culling and processing. Joe Bloggs is a shoot and burner who charges $300 for a disc of images for a wedding. He has a day job, this is just a hobby, so $300 sounds pretty great to him. He may or may not be good. Doesn't matter really. Professional Photgrapher sells wedding packages from $2000. This his business, his life and he takes it very seriously. So how does the Professional Photographer compete with Joe Bloggs? Obviously some will be able to see the difference in quality, but you know what? Lots of people can't. If you are just starting out, work out your pricing (the hours you spend, what you're worth) and discount it while your are portfolio building. Let people know that it is a discounted rate for PBing.

Just checked, mine is due on the 17th of June.

Actually, now that you mention it - I think I should have had one by now too.

Catching up again! I refuse to give up Day 138 - 17.05.11 Grateful for... A snoozy pug. Day 139 - 18.05.11 Grateful for... Bedtime rituals (and Ed getting his cast off!). Day 140 - 19.05.11 Grateful for... Purple sneakers. Day 141 - 20.05.11 Grateful for... Ed's kiss face. Day 142 - 21.05.11 Grateful for... RACQ and tow trucks.

Aw thank you!! I was so upset when I saw the grainyness of it (which was when I really sat down and figured out why it was happening!!). I don't think it's bad noise. We're our own harshest critics though, I hate noise in my own photos.

LL - that last one is stunning. Absolutely gorgeous, I love it.

He didn't enjoy sitting on the wet grass But he did really well, picked things up quite quickly and was pretty focused on me when he realised I had the treats! I think he will go ok.

Struggling at the moment - not enough hours in the day! Day 137 - 16.05.11 Grateful for... Enjoying the first night of training.

I have a crop (D300), but will upgrade to a full frame (D700) when the time is right. I'll keep the D300 as a back up.

G'day Huga, I think the tickets (or the website) stated that people wouldn't be allowed to leave until 10:30am, but yeah it would've been pretty frustrating if you didn't happen to read that info - or even if you had - especially if you had to be somewhere else Really? I should have read it, I suppose. But I didn't buy tickets. I didn't even think about it to be honest.

I thought it was so badly organised this year. Too many dogs and not enough space. I tried to leave at 9.20 and it took me over an hour to get out! Apparently we couldn't leave before the walk was over. I only wanted to go to visit a friend. Never again.

Ed is ok. Still have to wait until wednesday for more xrays to see whether he will be put into a full cast or not. Catch up for me: Day 130 - 09.05.11 Grateful for... The first day of kindy. Day 131 - 10.05.11 Grateful for... Home/bath/dinner achievements. Day 132 - 11.05.11 Grateful for... My patch of sun at lunch. Day 133 - 12.05.11 Grateful for... Unexpected bonuses. Day 134 - 13.05.11 Grateful for... This new independence. Day 135 - 14.05.11 Grateful for... Cute egg cups. Day 136 - 15.05.11 Grateful for... Getting away with dressing the boys up as fairies.

Really Gila? I find my 24mm sharper than my 50mm. I use it way more than I thought too. I'm a bit different with lens choices, I will only ever have primes I think.

Sorry, I only ever saw the blue one.

My son has this one by Hiccups:

She's made out of pure awesome :D

No Day 129 - 08.05.11 Grateful for... The Royal Children's Hospital and Hungry Jack's. In that order. Yesterday I tripped over Eddie and stood on his poor little ankle. He wasn't putting weight on it, but otherwise he was ok - minimal swelling, no bruising. But when we woke up this morning and there was no change, we decided to pop down to the RCH. He might have a fracture in his tibia, but apparently it could also be a blood vessel, no one can be sure. So he got a back slab just in case and will be checked again next week. I'm so sorry, Ed

Day 27 - 06.05.11 Grateful for... No tears this time around. Me, on the other hand... Day 128 - 07.05.11 Grateful for... Him, just being him. Our 6th wedding anniversary today