Da Goddess

I’m so far behind reading Go Fug Yourself that I need about six months to catch up.

I’m not quite so far behind on CakeWrecks.com, but that’s still 3 months of steady reading.

The major project on my plate at the moment is the editing of three weddings I shot on Saturday. Now, these aren’t big ticket jobs or anything and I don’t want them to be. But I still take a great deal of pride in the work I turn in. Ceremonies are about 7 minutes long. Then we spend 45 minutes getting photos. You know, that sort of thing. I can take longer if I want. Or I can snap a lot of mediocre images and turn those in. The thing is, whenever I shoot, I want a decent number of images that I’m proud to show someone. So, today, I grabbed MOBD and hauled his ass down to the chapel with me while I turned in the wedding images I shot Thursday. I wanted his input on how I can light areas better, how to achieve better results, etc. And also to have him talk me out of a couple crazy ideas I had…for a job…that pays me less than $100 every gig. For the time being. Cuz, you see…part of me thinks if I can really find a way to create beautiful images that will sell above and beyond the few images included in the package the couple buys (I get commission on any extra purchased photos)…If I can conceive of something new and gorgeous and inspiring, 1) I am sort of branding myself as the creative who can increase the quality of the images and increase the bonus sales, thus, hopefully guaranteeing I work there regularly, and/or 2) I’m making more work for myself on jobs that go very quickly and require nothing spectacular from me. Sometimes creative is just more work. Sometimes creative is genius. I fall somewhere in between on that wide spectrum. I want to keep doing…keep trying…keep…on…going…

I lean more toward #1. I wanna be that kind of photographer. I want to keep working with this lovely group of people. How did it even happen? Music community connection. The videographer is someone I know through music. Took us months to meet after we became FB friends (we have a lot of the same friends in our musical gang), but when we did meet, it was very cool and easy and we fit. He lost a photog at this chapel where he works and thought to call me and now I just want to show him he can count on me 1) to be there, 2) to do the job that needs to be done, 3) get my work back to him on time, and finally 4) want to raise my worth as a photographer in his eyes where I’m the first person he wants to book, pay more, and help me create better images that will profit the chapel and me. Pretty reasonable goal, I think. The rest of the team, the coordinators, are lovely women who are just so sweet and funny and incredibly good at their jobs. I truly enjoy the time I’ve spent with them. So, to my musician friend who hired me for this gig, THANK YOU!

To my dear friend of a musical young lady, THANK YOU! for your kind and generous support, and for sharing some music that is always on my playlist. (Working on something visual to go with the written portion of my lovefest…you’ll see.)

And really, truly, mega THANK YOU to my bff, CWW. You have officially pulled my ass out of the most depressing fire to which the world would have ever born witness. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! You made me go back to the bathroom three times to reapply makeup before I could head out and take care of business. I love you, girlfriend! THANK YOU! Check your email.

Back to randomosities:

I need to get a new lens to replace the one that has died. DIED. And I need to get my own flash unit(s) since I’m shooting a lot of events where I need to use flash. I still also need to get my 7D, but that’s a biggy and I’m not near ready to even put one on layaway. I will get there though. Once I repay bff CWWW.

Did I blog about Little Dude’s miracle report card? I know I posted to facebook, but….4 As and 2 Bs. Yep, for a young man who was sinking last year, he’s done a magnificent job of pulling his ass out of the fire and getting back on track. Can’t wait to see him and give him a big hug for that! Just as I can’t wait to get back and give Mojo a big hug for completing all her community service and taking care of business after her little Labor Day weekend problem. I am so proud of her for facing this head on and making things right. That takes guts and she has ’em.

I’m desperately in need of some family time. I miss them. Don’t know how I’m going to pull it off since this “check engine” light went on. I popped open the hood, checked the engine, saw it was still there, and yet the light continues to insist I check it again. I think a good oil change and maybe new plugs will take care of everything. It hit 92,000 miles when the light came on. It should be a simple fix. Again, my check from the four weddings, the rebate on my phone that I had to get when the other day, the rebates on my gallons and gallons of anti-freeze, and the check I get from the record label for my photos and minimal design work…whatever’s not spent repaying bff CWWWW…goes into the car. Hoping it all happens within the next week. I like to maintain forward momentum.

I love y’all.