Week 10 - Financial Statement

     I thought the exercise was very helpful. I was definitely dreading doing it. The money side of photography is always a little intimidating to me. I have had sometime to play with excel but I'm not a professional. I had a hard time at first figuring out at first. Excel is a great program for creating a budget type spread sheet. It keeps the numbers neat and organized. I think doing this assignment just scratched the surface of what I will need but it was a great learning experience. 

     I like how the numbers automatically adjusted once I pulled them in. It made it really easy to see how things were lining up. Having to do it all manually would cause an error if not many. The program prevents you from making the one mistake that could ruin it all. When working with numbers and money, I like knowing that I can rely on the program to handle everything smoothly and effectively. Excel lists your information in various colors that made it easy to find what I was looking for.This makes it easy to see different sections and help stay organized. Color coordination is the best way for me to stay organized so that really helped.

Week 9 - 40 under 40

     In Las Vegas there is an event that is called “40 under 40”. This event recognizes 40 people under the age of 40 in Las Vegas that have become successful and made themselves known in the community. I have been asked to explain where I will be professionally, personally and in the community when I am 40. Personally, I don't like looking that far into the future, it just makes me feel overwhelmed but for the sake of this assignment I will do it. I have a bit of time before I reach the ripe age of 40 seeing how I just recently turned 21. When I try to think of where I want to be my mind kind of goes blank. There are so many things I want to accomplish in my life.
     Professionally, by the time I'm 40 I hope to be well in the swing of things with my business. I want to have a great list of clients that keep a steady work flow. I want to have my own studio with all my own equipment to be able to do whatever whenever a client asks me.
     Personally, I want to be happily married with a family. I want to be financially stable enough that I won't have to continuously be in the studio. I want to be able to enjoy time with my family because family is the most important thing to me. I also want to be living somewhere both my husband and I enjoy and are successful in and I’m not quite sure where that is yet.
     In the community I want to be well known. I want people to know my name and my quality of work. 

Week 8 - Is She Fair Game?

     After watching the movie Roman Holiday I find myself on the fence when asking the question "is she fair game?" Normally I would say yes because anybody is has the freedom of press. I'm not going to sit here and say that I don't love seeing the news magazines about the different celebrities now a days because I do. I am just very confused on how to feel. One side of me is saying that with the status of being a celebrity you have to give up some things like privacy, but then anyone has a right to privacy regardless if you're famous or not. Normally I would say yes because anybody is has the freedom of press. I'm not going to sit here and say that I don't love seeing the news magazines about the different celebrities now a days because I do. I am just very confused on how to feel. One side of me is saying that with the status of being a celebrity you have to give up some things like privacy, but then anyone has a right to privacy regardless if you're famous or not.

     I enjoyed the movie. It was predictable though but its an older movie so I didn't mind it as much. The actor in the film had intent to use his opportunity to get the next best news story. After spending time with the princess, he lost sight of his work. He let his emotions get in the way of what he was set out to do. I liked the way that the film ended. It makes it more real I guess you could say. Today movies have the lovers run off into the sunset (very unrealstic) but this story shows what is the truth when that type of situation happens.

Week 7 - My Business Plan

     Business has never been my thing and when writing my business plan I feel awkward. I believe the hardest part of finishing my business plan is actually sitting down and doing it. I seem to get distracted very easily and since business is not my forte I tend to not want to do it. I believe the hardest part of finishing my business plan is actually sitting down and doing it. I seem to get distracted very easily and since business is not my forte I tend to not want to do it.

     I think it has to do something with the numbers and the fact I have to write several papers. I not good with words as you might have noticed. I can get my point acrossed just fine but I do not have a facy vocabulary like most do. I think it has to do something with the numbers and the fact I have to write several papers. I not good with words as you might have noticed. I can get my point acrossed just fine but I do not have a facy vocabulary like most do. I get nervous when writing because I feel like I could be getting my point acrrossed in a more elegant way.

Week 6 - Ron Galella and the First Amendment

     I have seen a lot of documentary films and videos about different photographers that interest me; a documentary about a paparazzi photographer is the last thing I thought would give me insight to the photo business.

     Ron Galella exercised his first amendment right to the fullest. I think all photographers should go about their work with the same determination and attitude he did. I valued the fact that he did whatever he needed to, no matter the circumstances, to get the next best shot. After watching a documentary about paparazzo Ron Galella, I was inspired. I have seen a lot of documentary films and videos about different photographers that interest me; a documentary about a paparazzi photographer is the last thing I thought would give me insight to the photo business. Ron Galella exercised his first amendment right to the fullest. I think all photographers should go about their work with the same determination and attitude he did. I valued the fact that he did whatever he needed to, no matter the circumstances, to get the next best shot.

     It amazed me on how he slipped out of every sticky situation by exercising his first amendment right. In the eyes of the law, everything thing he was doing was technically allowed by law. Although some of the measures he went to to get a better picture were a little over the top, and sometimes menacing.

Week 5 - Racehorse not Unicorns

     The business I would like to have is one that focuses on commercial and food photography.  I have always loved to work in studio. Having to tinker with every little detail, there is just something about it that makes me feel like I can truly be creative. However, commercial photography is not all about still life, I will also be shooting portraiture, architecture, really whatever the clients requires.
     As far as how big my company will be, I would like to maybe have no more than 4 people (including myself). Obviously one of the people would be myself, and then I would have my person who handles all the business stuff/money, and then maybe one or two assistants. The assistants are not necessarily set in stone but I do need someone else there to help me with the numbers side unless by some miracle I start to understand how to be organized with my money.
     I would like to have a storefront. First I would start small but then progressively expand. I still am debating on the location of my studio. Las Vegas is not a very big town for food photography (as of yet) so I would probably have to move to either New York or California. I don’t really like moving but I think if I stayed in Las Vegas I wouldn’t be able to make enough money to support myself but I have to also keep in mind my family. Hopefully by the time my business is up and going I will be married and have a family started.
     I see my clients mostly being restaurants. I would take pictures for their menus, promotional usage, really anything. Also I see myself shooting up and coming chefs (or established chefs) who are publishing cookbooks.

Week 4 - Scary Legal Issues

     I'm not going to lie; business stuff scares the crap out of me. There are so many different little things to think about and have to remember. It all can be overwhelming. There are contracts, insurance, releases, permits, copyright, and publishing, just to name a few things that make me nervous. I’ve heard that majority of businesses end up going out of business, which so also very intimidating very someone new like myself.
     One of the biggest issues I'm afraid of is taxes and the money side. Each year when tax time comes around I always get nervous. What if I fill wrong and get audited? My parents have gone through so crazy IRS stuff and I see how much that stresses them and I do not want to put myself in that situation. That's why a good accountant is great to have. “If you are operating a business, you need an accountant.” (Best Business Practices for Photographers by John Harrington Pg 155) Numbers always fly over my head anyway so an accountant is extremely important for me personally.  Accountants can save your life by helping you make sure you are making money and not losing or having to owe money. Make sure you keep all your receipts that have anything to do with your business. Stay organized. For me this could a bit crazy. I can hardly keep my room clean; just think of having to keep all recipes and paperwork organized. I think I will have to hire not only an accountant but also a very OCD assistant.

Week 3 - Where are you now and where are you going?

     Where am I and where am I going? That’s a very good question and I’ve been trying to figure it out for sometime now. As of right now I have a somewhat of a good grasp of who I am. I am a young age of 20 (almost 21) and still have a lot to learn. I am currently in school to try and become a well-rounded and more knowledgeable photographer. Since I don’t get many freelance gigs lately I work part time at Old Navy as a sales associate.  I enjoy working there. I have meet several people who are willing to model in my many school assignments.

      Where am I going? In September of 2012 I will (hopefully) be graduating with my Bachelors Degree. Hopefully by then I have a solid entry level position at a local food and commercial photography studio where I can learn more to perfect my craft. However if I don’t get a photography related job right away I do see myself working at Old Navy for at least the couple years just to insure I have a form of income. I do not want to work in retail my whole life though. I love people, don’t get me wrong, but I cannot stand folding and refolding the same shirt over and over again. In a perfect world I see myself assisting for at least 2 or 3 amazing photographer and then after building up clients starting my own studio. Talking to some of my photography teachers here, most of them say that assisting and interning is where you learn the most. In ten years I see myself having my own studio, married, with at least one kid, but of course that’s in a perfect world and we all know this world is far from perfect.

Week 1 - Haute Couture

     What does haute couture even mean? Haute Couture comes from the French phrase, "high fashion." The word couture means dress-making, sewing, or needlework and the word Haute means elegant or high quality. It's basically highly impractical, completely unaffordable and often unwearable high fashion clothing.

     In the book Best Business Practices for Photographers, John Harrington states, "What you do for your earned revenue is your choice as well. However, over a period of time, what you earn must exceed what it costs to earn it-- not just now, but projected into the future as well". What’s the big deal about haute couture? I think what’s so special is the fact that it’s so different from the norm. The bold color and unique shape is nothing like I’ve ever seen before. It’s like a piece of great art that can be worn (somewhat). Also the materials used in making haute couture are superior. In our 'wear it once, throw it away' society, buying haute couture might be seen by the super-rich as an investment. So not only are haute couture outfits one of a kind but they are expensive.

     Also haute couture sells a dream. Almost everyone I know dream of being rich and famous. Haute couture is known for being expensive and one of a kind. Owning a piece of haute couture would prove that you have money. I guess that’s why they are so appealing.

Week 1 - My Voice

     My name is Allyson Limon and I am based out of Las Vegas, NV. My passion is photography, more specifically food and commercial photography. One of my best hobbies is cooking so loving food and photography for years I naturally turned his lens on food photography. For my work in food photography I use unique and imaginative lighting techniques, both with natural lighting and artificial lights, I create tantalizing works of edible art. My aim is to create the most authentic food photography images as possible. I use the freshest foods from location that are local to get the best result in my image. Currently I am working with on my collection that I’m titling Sinfully Sweet, the name to play off of Las Vegas’ nickname “Sin City”. In the collection I will be using unusual and more gothic type background and take pictures of different types of sweets like cakes, candies, cookies, cupcakes and other delicious I use the same attention to detail, visualization, and planning with my commercial photography.