Anne's Weblog

At the moment I am reading “Brand Warfare” by David F. D’alessandro. Another recommendation of Jasmine Star (www.jasmine-star.com). I am not very far till now, I am still at the first chapter. But it is very promising.

I like reading books like that, because I don’t have a lot of marketing expertise and so I might be able to pick one or two things up. I recommend reading Jasmine Star’s blog for more insight in the business and how she managed to build her successful business in just three years. She is very inspiring and gives hope that others can make it too. I love reading her FAQs, because she is sharing so much information and knowledge. It’s a very good help for everyone who’s a starter in the business. Or wants to be.

Not my own though. Last saturday my aunt, my cousin and her two boys came to meet us, that is my mom and my sister and I of course. We aren’t a very close family. I do have some relatives, but we usually don’t have so much to do with each other and so far we’d never missed anything. But two months ago we went to the 95th birthday of my grandma and met my aunt and my cousins again and even though we couldn’t spend time alone, we all felt, that we would like to engage more with each other.

So we invited them to come with the boys. We planned to go to Legoland with them, which is a new attraction in town. My sister and I took the boys while my mom went sightseeing with the other adults. Even though we are in a family generation with my cousin and not with her sons, my sister and I felt, that we belong to the children and not to the adults. Strange, I know. I am 27 years old and still a child.

Legoland was amazing! We had such fun! There was a 4D cinema, a lot of models made of Lego stones like tigers, snakes, dragons, landscapes. There was a Lego factory, where the kids learned how to produce the stones and so on. It was fantastic and even though we are “big children” now, we still had a lot of fun. Later we went to the historical market, that was in town that weekend. We enjoyed the time there even though it was raining quite a bit. Back at home we had some delicious apple tart before they went back home, after spending eight hours with us.

I really enjoyed the time and I truly wish to have more contact to this part of my family. I really do hope we will make it.

On sunday I had the most delicious sushi ever! It was to die for.

Yes, I had an amazing weekend. Tonight I went out with friends but it felt strange. I didn’t feel, well, belonging? It didn’t feel very good to go out with friends and actually hope to be somewhere else, because we couldn’t really connect. Maybe it is because I am feeling so disappointed by all of them due to the whole photography thing. I don’t know. Anyway, it felt strange for the first time ever.

On thursday I’ll attend my first photography workshop. I just hope it will be good and interesting. It is definitely a step in the right direction. And that makes me kind of happy! I’ll tell all afterwards.

At the moment I read “Love is the killer app” by Tim Sanders. I am half way through and I think it is really helpful and makes some valid points.
The author says, that in present day society (and in the future too) is no place for people who are fighting for their own, instead you should become a lovecat. The way to spread bizlove is knowledge, network and compassion. If you share your knowledge you care for the growth of a person, regarding personal and business matters. Instead of keeping your knowledge for yourself you help others to gain the same knowledge.
When you open your address book to others you share your network, thus matchmaking people who might benefit from a relationship. And it is all about compassion. Only when your business-partners feel that you really care you will be a lovecat, thus improving your brand and your business.
I think he makes very valuable points which are helpful for starters.

There is a second book I am reading at the moment: “Free” by Chris Anderson. I will talk about this, when I can form a real opinion.

Yesterday I edited the photos of the World Wide Photo Walk. It was the first time that I had to really edit a bunch of photos and I love Lightroom. I can’t say it often enough. I am going to submit one of the photos to the contest of the walk, but here are some photos.

Yesterday was the World Wide Photo Walk organized by Scott Kelby. I went to the one in Bonn, which took me 90 minutes by train, but I considered it to be worth it. I was very nervous because I imagined that I was the only newbie in a group of only pros. It was so intimidating! The last half hour in the train I was almost freaking out and considering to return home immediately.

I was there very early and saw some other people with cameras. Like six men with the biggest cameras and lenses half a meter in size and meter high tripods. I was too shy to just go there and say “hi”to them. So I waited until I saw someone else with a camera, who was alone and spoke to that person. Soon there was a bunch of people who joined us. I find it very easy to speak to people once the first step’s taken. So we talked, asked, drank and so on.

The leader came half an hour too late, but he was kind of cool. In advance I thought he might be very unorganized, and I think he is, but it didn’t bother me too much, because of his relaxed attitude. So we started the walk and for the first time I really had time to see Bonn. I don’t know too much about it, even though I have family there, but usually it is going to a restaurant and then to the house of my cousin, so I don’t really know the city.

It was a nice trip, even though it rained at the beginning, but later it cleared up.

Conclusion: There was no reason to be nervous, because there were other newbies as well. It was more of a social than a photography event, which made it easy for people with a big variety of skills. But I didn’t learn as much as I actually hoped I would. I thought shooting with other photographers might be a chance to pick something up and I have to say, it wasn’t like that. But Scott Kelby granted everybody a month free of his online training www.kelbytraining.com, which is an awesome ressource! So I will be able to learn really a lot! I am happy about this and I have to say it is amazing! I am sure I will pay for some more months after my free month because it really is a good source.

On a different note: Today I watched a movie about Alice Paul, one of the women who fought for womens right to vote. It was very touching and I cried almost all movie long. I just can recommend it.

Yesterday I met with my best and longest friend. We know each other since birth and even though there was a time where we missed each other, our friendship is still strong. With her new job and her moving to a new city we don’t have to many possibilities to meet, but when we do, it is still the same good feeling of being together with someone that knows you for so long.

We met at the train station yesterday and went to a kebap house. They have veggie kebap there and let me tell you it is pure bliss. It is soooo good, I can’t really explain it. It is made of soy, but is spicey and tasty and just so very good. Combined with fresh salad, fresh bred and a nice sauce it was a very good meal.

Later we went to a nice bar and had something to drink and of course we talked about everything. Her new job, my recent problems with my surrounding, wishes, ideas… You get it. Five minutes before seperating I told her, that I want to boost my photographic skills and that nobody really wants to help me. Every time they have some excuses and I am just sick of asking. And then she said: Hey, you can take pictures of us. And I am sure I have lots of friends who would love their picture taken. Sounds like fun. Just write me a mail with the date and we come.

So, of course I was just happy for this offer. And so next weekend or the weekend after – depending on the moody weather – I am going to take lots of pictures.

So, in the end Jasmine Stars advice to rwach out for your inner circle because they can’t say no wasn’t wrong. Even though my other very good friends and my sister said no (well, not no, but there is always “no time”). Now I can focus on my new task and be happy

Since I am back from my sixth months journey to Latin America I am reading quite a few blogs about photography. Some just for inspiration, some for learning new techniques and getting an inside view in the photographer’s life.

One website in particular is very good for starting into the photography world. And it is also good for refreshing the memory on some very important basics. Of course you might not find it helpful if you already know a lot about photography, but for the newbies it is really helpful. That’s the Digital Photography School. They have tons of helpful articles, but this one is the newest: Photography 101. Even though I know about all these things, I found it a good read to refresh the memory.

A wonderful ressource for advice on taking better photos and post processing ist MCP Actions. She also creates amazing actions, some of which she is giving away for free. But the best thing for me are her incredible video tutorials, where she is explaining some great techniques in Photoshop. You should check her out immediately!

There’s a ton of helpful material out there for starters and pros alike. It’s never been easier than now to teach yourself the art and craft of photography with a little help from all the great photographers out there.

I went to a party yesterday and met a friend who moved to the South some time ago. We chatted a bit and tried to catch up with all what happened in our lives. I told her about my photography wishes and she told me that she has a friend in my region who is working as a wedding photographer. And she didn’t study this art. She’s just a self taught photographer. So I know, it is possible here in Germany. To know that helped me a lot to be more optimistic. My friend is going to arrange a meeting.

On a different note: Sometimes I am feeling very blue. Like today and yesterday. In moments like this I don’t have any hope that I will ever be able to fulfil my dreams. I just hope today will pass and tomorrow looks a little brighter.

I decided that it is too long to wait for my friends and family (or good weather) to help me out with pictures. I asked several times now, but now it is enough. When they don’t want, I can’t force them.

I want to learn more about photography anyway. So I booked several workshops. At the end of July I will attend a one day workshop in Essen. It’s about post-processing. First you shoot, then you edit. I think this will be very helpful and at least, I will be able to take pictures of people.

The second workshop is about black and white photography, which will be in August over my birthday. It’s four days and you shoot as well as learn about the best techniques for the transformation to black and white.

The third workshop is in September and will be about portraiture.

As I want to be a people photographer I am sure the last two workshops will be very helpful. I also found out about a workshop specialized in wedding photography and I think about taking this one in September as well. I think and hope that I might be able to network a little and maybe start it.

I also signed up for Scott Kelby’ World Wide Photo Walk in Bonn on the 18th of July. I hope to be able to meet some photographers who will be able to help me. I think it might be a good way to learn, have some fun and take pictures. So I will be able to do some serious photographing, hopefully.

Have a great weekend!

Two weeks ago I ordered two books about photography. One is called “The fast track photographer” by Dane Sanders and one “Digital photographer bootcamp” by Kevin Kubota. Both were recommended by Jasmine Star. Friday the mailman brought me the books and I couldn’t stop reding them. Yes, both.

The first is about a kind of business plan to get started as a photographer. The essence is that one needs to focus on the unique parts of the own business, which means to improve as a person, as a photographer instead of focusing on the generic parts of the business. I think it is a very good approach. I am not finished yet, but I already find it very inspiring.

The second is the perfect workflow for a photographer. It helps a lot to implement a strategy to work with your photos. He starts at downloading your pictures, doing efficient backups, using Lightroom, record presets until the tweaking in Photoshop. It is written in an amazing way and very helpful for a newbie to the world of photography, especially digital photography.

I think both of these books are very helpful and I am glad I bought them. Thanks to Jas!