Business Act(ions)

Business tasks:

Update the business plan with more specifics on pricing, when to discount and when to not discount.

Update SM website for different printing options, solidifying prices for this year

Generate price sheets to have available at events.

Get into the dgrin coupon thread discussions, since I'm seeing more and more ways I could successfully use these within the business (pre-payments, raffle prizes, etc). chimed in!

Complete banner exchange with Sirens - need to get a banner version for my website put together - http://www.catspawphotos.com/gallery/7343754_JcdMc already has their banner set up.

Insure equipment! Talk to Hartford as well as the PPA's agency. Include liability

Read through the PPA website in much more detail and find out what other benefits I now have.

Start collecting 'good' horse photos for the screensaver picture frame to use at shows. Includes post-processing.

Put together intro post for EPNet with some of the better horse photos. Create a presence.

Keep up Picassa and Flickr sites, using multiple link backs whenever possible.

Play through bracketting shots as well as multiple exposure shots

Mac mini: load CS4, load the HDR software, set up a GOOD backup program.

Decide what to do with the old mac mini? to Erwin

Enter most recent data into Quickbooks

Go through the Nikon lighting dvds - one section a day, let it absorb.

File taxes, schedule C

Research real estate contacts to determine how many packets I should put together

Find the right flash bracket before Jill's October wedding

Write up book reviews for dgrin/Ivar

Sell off extra lenses (old Sigmas, etc) - check with Adorama first

Send in D50 for maintenance ASAP

Integrate this blog with http://www.catspawphotos.com blog page.

fix emails for two domains and get them transferred to godaddy.com

transfer http://www.catspawphotos.com to godaddy.com

set up personalized domin (aka more professional) email account, even if all it does is forward to my gmail account for Catspaw Photos

Set up Etsy shop with details, ideally focusing on foam boards and other 'posters' for barns and barn offices

Work with Sirens' folks about registration packet insert and donations

a solid start

It's been almost a year since I first launched http://www.catspawphotos.com

While I've taken the business side of things seriously, I'm taking more and more of the photography and networking even more seriously. To say the least, this is not the way I ever expected to use my business degree, but it's one I rather like. I can be a business and photography geek all at once. Perfect!

Digital Grin (aka DGrin) is where I primarily hang out online, although I have also recently been directed to a network of equine photographers. Alas, they don't consider you a pro unless you've been in business for two years. Give me time then, I'll definitely be there.

Am I going anywhere? not any time soon! While this might have been a weekend hobby to start, it has grown into much much more. I am a horseback rider as well as photographer, so juggling both aspects of my equine life is always a challenge.

Depending on bookings and shows, every weekend in June, July, August and September is booked. That business is growing is an understatement! My next challenge will be tackling my own organization.... and doing taxes.

With the new D3 and the used D300 I picked up, plus getting into lighting (SB-900, monopod for light on a stick, etc), I find myself almost literally juggling lenses and accessories. Setting this up in a way that lets me grab the items I need for a shoot (and not forget anything behind) will definitely be the next priority.

Next week: San Diego with friends
Weekend after: USDF instructors lunging clinic at Promontory Equestrian Center, Park City UT