The Scoop with Sosastone

LESSONS from a MOTHER

I am officially back from Maternity Leave and I was thinking how could I bring what I have learned from this new experience back to my clients.  After reviewing "my" lessons I have learned so far...I realized they are basic life lessons we all should be reminded of and practice often.  Here are a few lessons that can be brought into your own photographic business and life. 

1. Take a nap or just take 5 minutes to regroup (sit and just be quiet).
2. Don't expect perfection - and don't be so hard on yourself!
3. Take a risk and have faith in what you are doing (we have instincts - USE THEM)
4. Take a nap - or did I already say that? 
5. Ask for help - there are people out there who either have the answers or who are willing to give their time (but you have to ask).
6. Focus on what you have in front of you.
7. Be flexible.
8. Be as prepared as you can be (but always go back to #7 - be flexible).
9. Be calm and have a good attitude - the people around you and your work will reflect your attitude.
10. Take a nap!!!!

Regardless if your baby is in the human form or in photographic form (i.e. a new personal photographic project or an assignment for a client) - enjoy the process and know all will be as it is meant to be. 

HAPPY MOTHERING in all forms!

THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S SURVIVAL GUIDE - BOOK RELEASE

I AM PROUD and THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE BOOK RELEASE I CO-AUTHORED with SUZANNE SEASE. 

The Photographer's Survival Guide
How to Build and Grow a Successful Business
by Amanda Sosa Stone and Suzanne Sease

NOW AVAILABLE WHERE BOOKS ARE SOLD:
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE

10 days left to enter Communication Arts Photo Annual

Deadline March 6th
http://www.commarts.com/competitions/photography

I highly recommend entering this contest!

FIND A NEW WAY TO GIVE BACK...

Recently I had a client send me an email about GIVING back and with a new CHANGE in our government and an energetic shift in all of us (both from our economic needs and a place of feeling new HOPE) I felt it was appropriate to share (with his approval of course).  I hope with this email you will sit back and see - even in tough times how can you give back (not monetarily - but of yourself and of your time).  As you all know I am very dedicated to Dress for Success.  Go out and find an organization that touches your heart.  You will be rewarded in so many ways and I think NOW is the time to start really making some changes. 

EMAIL FROM MARK ESTES:
As you know I signed on with Now I Lay Me down To Sleep (http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/) and actually became the SF area coordinator. This past Tuesday, I performed my first case. I know this is one of my callings to assist families who are grieving the loss of their infants. I got the urgent call from a nurse at UCSF Medical Center informing me that 50-day old Leonardo had just died. I knew I had to do this and accepted the case myself instead of putting the word out on the NILMDTS photographers network I am creating. I crossed the threshold into the world of the grieving and in-shock family. They spoke little english but I was able to gently convey that I was there for them and explained how I wanted to conduct the photo shoot.

The shoot went well. I was professional, focused and confident as I did the shoot. I put my own emotions aside temporarily as I had learned in my hospice volunteer training to be an emotionally stable "place holder" for the grieving family.

Here's the unexpected experience for me. I processed and edited the images. I created the most amazing, touching b&w images. They are completely private and confidential as is the arrangement with the family and NILMDTS. I do not charge anything for the services, time or expenses. I may never hear from the family again after I send them the images. I look at the images and see that I have never created more touching and pure images in my life. I have created images of little Leonardo that more than likely will have more impact on the viewer than any I have ever done. A kind of pure photography driven by compassion is what I have discovered. In the past, I have always "validated" myself with my images in some way- by sharing and showing them, getting praise, getting them published with my credit and getting paid. Isn't that an amazing realization, so foreign to an artist or professional image maker, that there is no real room ego in this process?

Over the past three days, I have looked at and absorbed the images over and over. They are such beautiful images telling a very important  and very sad story.

Mark then followed with a few other emails - doing this first assignment has not only rewarded him personally and spiritually - but it has also inspired him creatively and new projects are flowing out of him.  Again, don't do a project because you expect something out of it - but if you give from the heart with no expectations - sometimes little gifts do come your way.  Sounds like Leonardo was a gift to his family and to Mark.  May his little soul rest in peace and may Mark's images bring joy and peace to the family.

To learn more about volunteering with Now I Lay Me down To Sleep - please visit: http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/

Support Creatives

Whenever I hear of someone venturing out on their own to start something new - I SUPPORT and RALLY behind that person.  It's bold and always stressful - yet exciting.  Here is a friend who started his own gaming company and I want to encourage everyone to either support him by downloading this game and trying it out.  Or if you are not a gamer (which I am not - but my husband is) find some inspiration for your own business and how you can push your company to the next level (especially in this climate).

His story (told by his girlfriend)
As many of you know, back in October 2008, Scott Rich (my boyfriend) left Electronic Arts (EA) after 11 years to start his own gaming company with two friends. The company is called Dot Matrix Interactive Design and they are designing applications / games for the iPhone and iTouch.

The exciting news is his first game is now completed and available for download on iTunes. The game is called "Croke" and the logo for the game is below. It is similar to shuffle board (more strategic) but you use your fingers to flick the disks. The unique twist to his company's games is you can play people who are any where. For instance, Charnie (in Thomasville) and I (in Orlando) could link up and play each other even though we are 300 miles apart.

If you have an iPhone or an iTouch, PLEASE download the game! The cost is only $1.99 and it is well worth the money! Please forward to other people you know who have iPhones and ask them to down load it as well!! Here is a link to download the game.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=300997198

The more people that download the game, the better it looks for their company and the higher visibility the game gets on iTunes!!

*** Please note - the game is written for the iPhone / iTouch / iTune ve rsion 2.2. This is the latest version of their software. If you download the game and it tells you that you are unable to run the game, you just need to hook up your phone to your computer and sync with it iTunes. It will prompt you to download the newest version of iTunes free. That will fix the problem!!

Thank you for your help and support!!

CONSULT COUPON - My gift to you!

Start the NEW YEAR off right - get your website/portfolio and marketing plan tight!  Book an annual consult before Jan. 31st and get 10% off.  Just mention you saw this on my blog!

WHAT IS YOUR NEW YEAR's RESOLUTION?

I am a STRONG believer in New Year's resolutions and also mindsets.  So 2 things before we ring in the NEW YEAR...

1. What is your resolution?  Do you have one?  Even if it's personal - it will impact you - both professionally and personally.  Try it and see if it works.

2. What is your mindset? Going into this NEW YEAR how do you want to be? Nervous about the coming year (NO WAY) or Positive about what is to come (DEFINITELY).  How can one's mindset be positive when you feel as though nothing around you is positive?  First - start with gratitude...something around you has to be positive.  Maybe your child is the best thing in your life or you just shot an awesome new image.  Find that one thing and be grateful for that and then try to put that same energy and appreciation towards your mindset.  It works! 

I believe you have to have a GOOD mindset to allow GOOD things to happen.  GOOD things may happen - but if you are in the wrong mindset - you may not even notice.  Let's make 2009 a positive one - for you, our industry, our country and WORLD! 

YOUR New Year's CHECK OFF list

Here are 5 BASIC things I recommend you review before the NEW YEAR. 

CHECK OFF LIST:
-WEBSITE  - is it up and running and looks CURRENT and show the work you want to get hired to shoot?
-PORTFOLIO - A printed portfolio sitting on the shelf ready to go
-MARKETING PLAN for 2009 - Do you know what you want to do?
-MAILING LIST - Have you signed up with Agency Access? http://agencyaccess.com/
-ESTIMATE and INVOICE SOFTWARE - Have you purchased and played with BlinkBid? http://blinkbid.com/

WHY...
-website - will allow people to see your work and make a GOOD first impression
-portfolio - you can send it for a book request - but better yet - you can use it to meet with people
-marketing plan - this will help you see what your plans are and get focused
-mailing list - it's an affordable way to get MANY names quickly and effectively
-estimate and invoice software - the way you estimate and how your estimate looks can be the deciding factor if you get that job or not - make a GOOD second impression

REMEMBER: Marketing is key to your success (especially at this moment in our history).

FREE WEBINARS NOW AVAILABLE

Suzanne Sease and I were lucky to be part of a liveBooks webinar.  For those of you who missed it - you can access the 3 part series at Livebooks archives:

PART 1: Marketing Fundamentals & Surviving a Recession - click here to watch
PART 2: Estimating Those Jobs: How to Properly Bid - click here to watch
PART 3: Get a Client and Keep Them: What are You Doing to Ensure They Come Back? - click here to watch

Each series is 1 hour long.

ENJOY!

PDN Photo Annual

Here is one contest I recommend everyone enter (regardless if you win or not).

THE PDN PHOTOGRAPHY ANNUAL
Deadline: 12.19.08**
**Late? Pay $10 to extend your deadline to 1.26.09

Register and Enter Online*
www.pdnphotoannual.com