Learning on the Job 2010 | Milwaukee Wedding Photographer

With the season winding down and my thoughts turning towards maternity leave, the end of the year, and 2011...I thought it would be a good time to revisit a blog post from last year called "Learning on the Job". I'm still relatively new to this game and I always find it interesting to learn from others, see what they've picked up, and maybe share a few nuggets along the way.

So, here's what I've learned this year....and hope to carry on to 2011.

1. Shiny, Happy People Make My Job Easier.
I'm a bit of a people-pleaser. There is nothing that makes me happier than to hear that I did a good job for someone, that they loved what I did, or that they noticed that I went the extra mile. When my clients are happy, I'm happy. This has been a REALLY great season and my clients this year have been just tremendous. It thrills me to no end....and it makes me want to seek out new and different ways of bringing them a fabulous photography experience. In my old job, I came from a background of dealing with unhappy people all the time. Part of my job was to try and make them LESS unhappy....but it was an uphill battle that was hard to conquer (I worked in health insurance...it's really hard to make people happy when they feel like they're being taken advantage of).

But, now...I get to work with people on the happiest days of their lives...do you know how lucky that makes me? Do you know how fortunate we are to do what we do as wedding photographers. I try to remind myself of that when I'm knee deep in paperwork....or it's the middle of winter and I haven't shot a bride/groom/couple in weeks. We are lucky lucky folks. We shouldn't forget it. We participate in happiness. There is no better job on earth.
2. Stop and Smell the Roses. Or Just Take a Nap.

I have to be constantly reminded to slow down. If I had my druthers, I would be a total workaholic. However, that is a difficult row to hoe when you have kids...and a husband....and, you know, stuff to do outside of work.

I tried, this season, to really not be holed away in my office every night. Some nights this worked...and I got to catch up on my TV shows and spend some time with the hubby. Some nights it was a futile effort. Sometimes, work beckons...especially in the middle of a busy season. But, I have to give myself a bit of a high-five for staying relatively on top of things this summer....even with a big move to a new city and a pregnancy. Part of that making clients happy-vow is quick turnaround. I try to always keep that as my goal.

But, this year, I think I did do a better job of slowing down and taking a bit of time for myself and my family, and I hope to do an even better job of that next season.
3. Don't Fear the Reaper....or the OCF.

Off-camera Flash was my nightmare. I love the look....the drama it can bring to a scene/set-up...but the whole concept of TTL and triggers and what-not scared the living bejesus out of me, to be honest. I'm not a math person.....I'm not good with geometry (just as my high school teachers...I think I failed basic geometry three times).....I just don't think in angles and percentages.

This year...late in the season...I decided to give it a go....better late than never. And the concept is still new. But thanks to a few photo friends and the ease of use brought on by Scott Robert triggers I'm finally NOT as scared of OCF as I used to be. I'm hoping to really use it to my advantage in 2011.

The lesson? Do something that scares you....even if your first few attempts royally suck. New skills take time and patience to master....and patience is a concept that is new to me as well, sometimes!

One of my first OCF attempts EVER....

4. Silence the Inner Critic.

I am my own worst enemy at times. When I present a final product to a client, or even shoot for fun, I find myself being incredibly nit-picky. Its the perfectionist in me....and part of me has had to learn to kind of let that go.

For one, if I continued to be as nit-picky as I want to be I would never get anything done. I need to learn, big time, to ignore what other people are doing...the good and the bad....because it doesn't help further my work in the slightest. It's so easy to become preoccupied with how awesome someone else is...and it can easily make you feel pretty self-conscious.

I'm still working on telling that little voice inside to shut up and go away. It crops up every once in awhile.....but I know that I've done some work this season that I'm really proud of....and I have to remind myself that next year is a new chance to rock it out.

Picture courtesy of Betty Claire Photography

5. Don't Dress Like a Sad Clown.

I've been putting off my need for a new work wardrobe until after Second Shooter is born and I get my old pre-pregnancy size back (oh...it WILL happen....believe me!). Until then, I've been kind of making do....which has led to some..shall we say...interesting combinations.

One thing I learned at the WPPI Road Show this year is, in a sense, dress for the job you want. If one were to see some of my ridiculous get-ups...you would probably think my goal was to join the cast of Cirque du Soleil.

So, one of my biggest goals for 2011 is to stop dressing like a frumpy hobo clown. Because my luck is terrible, and the day I decide to just throw on the first hot-pink coat I can find that fits is the day that my husband decides to take pictures of me "in action".

Awesome.

In last year's post I lectured about shoes. Apparently taking my own advice wasn't in the cards because I went through about three pairs of shoes this summer alone and they were all cheap, cruddy shoes that left my feet in massive amounts of pain.

Come March I'm buying some decent flippin' shoes. Mark my words. Hold me to it, Internet.

Style. It eludes me.

Looking back, I think I'm right where I want to be with Type A this year. I had 32 weddings on the books this year (2 remain....can't believe the season passed so quickly!) and countless family sittings. I met some AWESOME clients and expanded my network around the Madison area....picking up some tremendously wonderful pals in the process. That is invaluable really. The community we have going around here for professionals is really amazing. I can't say enough good things about it.

With 2011 looming, I'm hopeful and feeling very positive about the good things that await. I'm taking on my first bridal show in February (something I've been putting off out of, again, fear mostly....)...and I'm looking to really do some great things with the branding and "look" of Type A during the slow season. So, keep an eye out for some fun updates and changes.

And...if anyone wants to call up Stacey London and Clinton Kelly and get me a new $5000 wardrobe....I'm all for it.... : )