7 months gone!

Holly hell, its been 7 months since my last post, and I know my one reader (me!) is very disappointed by my absence. In my last post I discussed the new path my life was embarking and I have to say: IT'S BEEN ONE HELL OF A RIDE!

There is no way I can describe everything in this or any number of posts. The proverbial highs and lows would be an understatement! I could have never guessed that in as little as 7 months I could go from 11 years of full time work in various fields (customer care, retail, restauranteur-ing, public service, lower management, training, including my part-time assisting and photography) to full time photography.

Needless to say I have been and still am very excited about this new adventure. I have no business training and have no idea how to run my own. Marketing, income management, costs, taxation are all foreign concepts to me. I'll be honest, I am afraid, for the fisrt time ever, of the tax man this year!

Now i'm sure all will work out. I'm an intelligent, resourceful individual, and I have the drive and confidence in myself to succeed. So far I would say business is going better then expected (now super duper great, but good). There is definite growth potential, to say the least.

What have i been up to? Well, when i say i an now in freelance photography, I mean I am intimately involved in all aspects of my local and international photography market. Since my graduation at Dawson College I have added six new photographers to my list of clients, for whom I offer my camera/lighting/digital assisting services and occasionally act as a second or behind the scenes shooter. Also, I have hired as a consultant/assistant/extra in a TV show called "A Beautiful life". I had the opportunity to work with the staging and props crew to make the scenes I was involved with as realistic as possible. I helped the actor, playing the role of a photographer, look like he actually knew what he was doing. These were all new challenges, but what an incredible time. Unfortunately the show itself wasn't all that great. It was canceled from the CW lineup.

I love my work as an assistant. I was told by my profs that assisting is a great way to learn the reality of my industry. That was an understatement. Not only have I learned more on a single shoot, then I would in any course or workshop, but the people and inspiration are the real worth of the work I do.

Speaking of inspiration, my photography has advanced so much since March, but unfortunately, due to my success as an assistant, I have not had any time to really shoot anything substantial. The motivation is there, but I spend so much time worrying and problem solving and assembling other ppls sets and concepts and designs that when comes the time to turn my vision to reality I am exhausted and try to handle the business aspects that i'm already falling behind on! Its a real challenge.

The little shooting I actually do, has been as a second shooter for a handle full of weddings, some bar mitzvahs, the Montreal triathlon and Marathon, graduation convocations are more. I have a project lined up and in the works to develop a series of close up portraits of people in my surroundings. With the passing of my father last year I put it on hold, but I've been dreaming about it recently (in the last month of so), so it's time to get it going again.

Like i said previously, there is definite room for growth. I have a plan for the next 6-9 months and trust me, it involves alot more of my own work.

Talk soon,

Mike M.