The last few weeks have been a mixed bag. A lot of really good things but a few really terrifying things. I met with a client last week who is working with a really interesting startup company (due to my confidentiality policy I won't disclose that here) that I'm super stoked to work with. On the sad and bad side things, the graphics card on my desktop computer crapped out.
"No Silicon Heaven?! But where do all the calculators go?!" —Kryten, Red Dwarf
SILICON ICU
Before I go into this I want to make it clear to every client I have ever had who may be reading this, I back up all of your stuff, so your files were safe, to begin with. This is where we're at with my iMac. The graphics card is toast. Thankfully, it's not the logic board or the hard drive. All of my files are safe, but I guarantee you I'm going to be a hot paranoid wreck when it comes to backups now. I'm talking, type-a-character-save-backup-four-times paranoid. Ok, probably not that ridiculous, but at least three times a month I will be running TimeMachine (Apple Backup software). In addition, with all the hard drives I will acquire I will be buying a label maker with embossing tape. You know, the kind that makes the letters stick up and they look all vintage? Yeah, one of those. I can't promise I won't label EVERYTHING, including the label maker.
For all of you creative pros who have never lost anything so you don't back anything up, BACK EVERYTHING UP. The $65 – $130 to get a backup drive is worth every penny when you consider the cost of a new computer or a data recovery service. Never keep all of your files in only one place. If you're a professional photographer, use smaller memory cards (4–8GB is what I use), and get things backed up right away. I was very fortunate that it was just my graphics card.
UPDATE: My computer came back and nothing was lost. Everything's fine.
WHEN YOUR TEAM IS SCATTERED
So, I've been MIA for the last few weeks because I've been working on building a Squarespace site with a team of people whom I've never met, and who live nowhere near me. Brad, our project manager, lives in Chicago, and Christie our accountant-turned-developer, lives in Phoenix. I'm not sure where Missy, our UX expert, lives. We were able to connect through Slack and create a website in about two months. It was really fun to work with both Brad, Missy and Christie, and develop those friendships. We had a few late nights, and some stressful moments, but ultimately, we make a great team! I should be back a little more regularly, but I wasn't gone for nothing.
It was a great learning experience and really my first experience working with people without having met any of them. I cannot wait for our next endeavor!
NEW CLIENTS + NEW BOOKINGS
I suddenly got very, very busy. A new client committed and I booked 7 wedding dates this summer where I get to second shoot for other photographers. People often say that second shooting is what you do to learn wedding photography. This is true. It's a great way to learn when you already have your craft reasonably up to snuff. I believe in serving the photographers around me. I shoot weddings as a lead photographer, and I'm doing it for the sake of "getting good enough" to shoot on my own. I'm doing it to serve my community, and yes, to learn more. If you are a photographer and you think you have nothing to learn, you are sorely mistaken. There is always something to learn, always places you can grow.
NEW SPECIALS
I will be coming out with some specials later this summer and into the fall! They will include wedding package discounts for 2019 and perks for design clients! One thing I always have running is for startups. If you are a startup or your company is less than a year old, I offer half off of my design services for a year! Stay tuned, and if you know someone who is getting engaged or married or you know someone starting their own business, spread the word!
That's all for this week!
happy trails!
—emma