You know that photo workshop I ran yesterday… well the guys that attended were not the only people that learnt something.

I learnt something too.

That I have learnt a lot about photography over the last few years, and I do actually have a skill I can teach someone.

You may think that’s a funny statement to make… but after reading and participating in so many online forums and camera clubs over the years… you do doubt some days whether you actually do know what you’re talking about.

I don’t think people realise how much their glib statements affect you… but eventually you doubt whether you know stuff.

And it turns out I do.

The only problem I had yesterday really, was navigating around Kerry’s Nikon… I need to play a bit with one because the menus are so vastly different to the Canon… but seriously, that’s all.

I can actually do this.  And I think I’ve found a niche… I keep getting more requests for more workshops.

Onwards and upwards…

Yes, I have been running my photography business without proper equipment insurance until now.  Yes, I know that’s stupid.  But it takes time and effort which I just haven’t had!

I actually got insurance on my camera and lenses on my household insurance ages ago, but realised a while ago (not that the insurance company told me) that the household insurance wouldn’t pay out if something happened because I use to generate part of my income.  So I’ve had to get business insurance instead.

Anyhoo, it’s done, but the experience did make me smile and I had to blog about it.

I contacted Outsurance for a quote, after reading a lot on photography forums etc about the pitfalls of the various local insurance companies, and I felt happy that they would understand what I needed.

I contacted them through their website.  I completed the short form with my details and submitted the query.  Seriously, literally 2 minutes later, I had a consultant phone me to get the quote sorted out!! I was seriously impressed!

I did laugh at the guy however, it was clear that it was the first photography quote he’d done.  He exclaimed after hearing the price of the first camera body that he thought that was a lot of money.

And then when I was rattling off the lenses (which I had to ensure him that it would be best to list seperately and not together), he whistled! LOL!! He said that he’d had no idea how much photography cost!

LOL!!

And to think that I need more lenses anyway!! My next new toy NEEDS to be a 16-35mm lens and then I want a 100mm f2.8 Macro lens… etc etc )

I’m just glad that I’m properly covered now!

I’ve been thinking a lot about what to do with my photography and other stuff.  I’m getting asked constantly at work and by friends why I’m not doing photography full time yet.

Thing is, I’m not getting any younger, and as I’ve mentioned before, the fact that I’m close to 40 scares the living daylights out of me when I think about even maybe doing photography full time.

The reason, which may be irrational, or may not be irrational… is that I haven’t seen any successful female photographers have a very very long career, and still make a lot of money as they get older.  Male photographers are different.

And to give up my day job which is providing for my pension is very very scary… considering my age and I have 2 kids in Private school.  If I was 10 years younger, I would have stopped working already.

So, apart from deciding that I’ll make a call at the end of winter and see… that’s as far as my definite plans go.  I may want to reduce my hours and still do both… but I haven’t quite decided yet.

Or, I may decide to reduce my photography, and only do weddings, and 1 or 2 family shoots a month… and carry on with my day career.

But whichever way I decide in the end… I can’t carry on doing what I’m doing now.  It’s too much.  It’s not sustainable.

One of my goals for this year is to get more organised, and spurred on my Marcia, of Organising Queen and 123-Blog fame,  I need to find ways to make my day easier and I need to outsource.

So step 1 for me, was organising a courier service to deliver my photos!

And I’m proud to say, that after a few phone calls, and a house call by a sales rep this evening… it’s done!!

So from tomorrow, I will NOT be tempting fate with the SA Post Office any longer (who have misplaced 2 parcels in 2 months), I’m going to be using a local courier company… and it’s going to work out cheaper than Speed Services… and they collect from my house… and deliver that day if it’s collected in the morning.

I’m trying it out tomorrow when I send a parcel to a client in Germiston, so I’m hoping it works out.  It’ll make my life so much easier.

In fact, not only is it cheaper than sending parcels via Speed Post… but also cheaper than driving there myself!

And it’s a win-win thing because I’m creating work for a local franchisee!

Well, you know that I’ve never actually been on a photography course right?  Apart from the 2 wedding workshops I went on last year… but that wasn’t about the photos really but about the weddings and the posing etc.

I get asked so often about photography courses, and which ones are worthwhile etc.  I only really reply based on what I’ve heard about places… my opinion doesn’t really come from experience.

Anyhoo, I met someone today who wants to get into photography, and she wants to shadow me.  I don’t mind showing someone the ropes, I really don’t, so I met with her to find out more and to give her some pointers after our phone call a few days ago (she’s a friend of a friend)

Now a few months ago I was chatting to another local photographer who got asked to help someone too… and she had this person help her on a shoot.  This person had been on a very expensive course and from what I understand, didn’t actually know how to use her camera afterwards.

I thought that was flook until today.

Seriously!!

Surely a basic photography course should teach you more about your camera than just using the Manual settings?  Surely?! What’s the use in paying so much and not learning the basics about what the different knobs mean that are there?!

Surely a course should teach you to explore the T, and Program and Aperture functions etc… and how to get there, and what they mean?! It’s beyond me!!

I understand that there’s a time issue, and that any course is not going to teach you everything.  But surely a “basic” course should teach you how to use your camera… the whole thing… not just part of it?!

Now I’m not saying that I know everything because I’ve taught myself… far from it… but I’ve learnt at my own pace making plenty mistakes along the way.  And I know where to get help… and where to learn more… on my own.

And I’ve taken photos.  Lots of them.

In the end, that’s what I advised today… to start taking photos.  Every day.  Carry your camera everywhere.  Learn about your camera.  Learn about your eye.  Learn how to edit.  And put some photos on Flickr and on a blog to get crit and praise.  And look for information online… there’s so much around and it’s brilliant… written by people who are struggling just like you are.

I need to slow down and smell the roses.

I know, that statement is becoming a bit of a chant on this blog, but yesterday was case in point.

I drove to Soweto for a newborn shoot, and the dear old GPS (a TomTom that I’m reviewing for GirlGuides, which until then had performed outstandingly) sent me on a long long round about trip to get there.  Now I’ve been to Dobsonville before, so I should probably have followed my nose in the general direction, and then used the GPS when I got into that area… but no… I decided in my wisdom to trust the GPS.

Anyhoo, instead of zooting me through Roodepoort, the damn machine took me via the N12, then R558, right around the outskirts of Soweto.  What it did do however, was show me a part of Soweto that I probably would never have seen otherwise.

If I was a little early, I would have undoubtably have stopped, and if the shoot hadn’t have taken so long, I would have stopped on the way home (but the shoot ended up finishing just before sunset).

The drive in, reminded me why I need another photo excursion into Soweto.  The light is just too amazing.  The vibe is just like nothing else in Johannesburg.  The people are too beautiful, and it’s just SO full of life!!

On the roads close to Protea Glen there were sheep, cattle and goats being sold in pens next to the road… gives a new meaning to street hawkers! And then on the next block, small cages with live chickens. On a few corners, there were magnificent informal veggie markets.

On the streets surrounding the house, kids filled the streets when we left… playing ball in the golden light… dancing at a house party set up in a driveway.

Aaawww man, even writing about it makes me yearn to get back there even for an hour… just to capture what I saw happening around me.

What a lost opportunity!

I asked Bradley to take a few photos of me… and the dogs decided that it was play time… it’s utter chaos at home!!  I think the photos are pretty awesome actually, considering Bradley is 7 years old.  I’ve done no cropping to these photos, just used a preset to pop the colours.

I finally did it… after threatening for the last 6 months… I actually started my admin on my photography business.

Mostly spurred on by the fact that I need to get my ducks in a row for the taxman… but at least it’s started.

And Oh My it’s scary!!

I had NO idea how much I’d spent in the last year on my little photography lark.  It’s no small fry.

What I’m still finishing… and that’s more strenuous because of the way I’ve recorded it… is my income from it.

I’m almost positive I made a loss last year, based on the enormity of my expenses… but I’m sure that this year is a better, more rosy picture.

And I promise to set aside one night a week for this in future!!

Naming your business is important right?  You have one try normally.

When I started my photography blog, my own domain… I decided after searching long and hard on the internet, to use my real name.  Not Jenty.

The thing is, I’m kinda known as Jenty now though, because of all my blogging over the last few years.

In fact, today, Andy Hadfield asked me why I didn’t use Jenty for my photography.  I didn’t really have a reason.  He reckoned that Jenty would suit a rock-star photographer… yet Jeanette Verster is the name for a pro-photographer.

Hmmm…. I like the idea of rockstar. I like to think of myself as not run of the mill, and kinda funky.  Yet, Jim the other day commented that he’s never seen a funky woman photographer… which made me laugh.

Anyhoo, the deed is done, it’s Jeanette for my photography, and Jenty for blogging and other social media… no wonder people are constantly confused

It takes a while for people to connect the dots and realise I’m the same person.  I’m not just a photographer… I do have a day job LOL even at work it’s confusing for people… especially when they meet me for the first time because most people at work call me Jenty too.

… I wish I did photography full time.  I got asked this morning, by a client, when I’m going to take the plunge… and the truth is I’m not ready.  It’s a scary thought, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to earn enough from it… I also think I would have to consult to top up my income.  And I don’t think I’m ready to consult until this project I’m working on is complete.  And then I’m hoping I’m not too old.

Don’t knock me for the age thing… it’s a serious worry of mine… there’s an age thing in my head about funky women photographers and I wonder how sustainable photography would be for me.

Then I got home from the shoot  this morning (which was postponed in the end anyway), and on the way I got an offer for a wedding in the middle of the week, which I had to turn down.  I had to turn down another offer for today from a corporate because I actually need to spend at least 2 hours a weekend with my kids… and I completed an invoice for a company whose function I’m doing in September only because it happens after working hours.

There’s just so much business I’m starting to turn away during the week, because it’s just not possible.  And in fact, I’m even turning away weekend work now because I need some family time too.

I hate turning things down… but I’m still not ready… not yet.  I wonder if I’m ever going to be ready.