Why You Shouldn't Cut Yourself Short by Undercharging

i'm gonna be really honest with you right off the bat:  this post is probably more aimed at me than you, friend.

the farther into the world of freelancing (photography + design) i get, the more i'm realizing that what i do is worth what i'm asking for it.  i wrote this post last week on why freelancing is both awesome & awful at the same time, and one of the most difficult things about being your own boss that i've found is figuring out what to charge and how to get people to pay what you're asking.

one of the hardest pills to swallow is when someone tells you "i'm gonna go with someone else because they're giving me a discount" or tells you that their budget is $X when you're charging $X+10.

i love my clients and i always try to work with their budgets, but i'm learning that sometimes, a client will expect way more than what they're paying for.  (for example, if you're shooting a wedding and a bride asks you to cut your prices and add extra things to the package, like a second shooter or an engagement shoot…when that happens, i might end up only charging $1,000 for what should be a $1,600 package.)

yes, it's good to cut deals for clients, especially when your business is just getting rolling.  and of course it's worth it to offer discounts when it will be the incentive a client needs to utilize your services.

but don't sell yourself short by undercharging.  your talents are worth what you think they're worth!  too many freelancers undercharge for their creativity and time just because they're afraid a client won't pay what they're asking.

so here are a few ways to stop undercharging for your services:

1.  compare. // normally, i wouldn't recommend comparing yourself to other photographers/designers, etc.  but in this case, it's good to know what the market runs for similar services.  if you're charging $5,000 to do photography for a wedding, you're not booking clients, and most photographers in your area are only charging in the $2,000-$3,000 range, then you might want to reconsider your pricing.

2.  talk budget. // i always like to get a feel for what a client's budget is when i start a project for them.  (this is really specifically for larger projects that will cost more, like a wedding, vs smaller projects, like a senior photo shoot)  finding out what your client can pay or has budgeted will help you determine what you can actually do for them.

3.  create levels in your pricing. // when aj meets with a client who is interested in his web design services, he gives options.  putting together packages with more/less extensive services (more customization options, more shooting time, etc.) allows your client to feel like they have some control over what they're going to pay and it also allows you to be realistic about what you can offer for what you're charging.

4.  don't be afraid to change your prices. // if it's just not working for you, then remember it's ok to change what you charge!  you need to be honest with yourself about the amount of time you're putting into a project vs how much you're making, but you also need to be making money!  so don't fret about changing your pricing structure from time to time while you figure out what works for your market & client base.

5.  shed the guilt! // there's always a level of guilt for me when giving a client pricing.  (i'm not sure where that comes from, but it's really just annoying!)  stop feeling guilty for asking for a fair payment for your talents and own it!  you're awesome and you deserve what you're asking for.

so what are some ways you determine pricing?  what do you find helpful when deciding how much to charge a client?

5 Reasons Why Freelancing is Both Awesome & Awful...

i never planned on being a freelancer.  (and frankly, i'm not sure i can really call myself one since it's not the primary source of my income…)

but the reality is that i do quite a bit of freelance work on the side.  through photography, graphic design, even blogging.  the extra income is always welcome, and i love having these creative outlets to work through!  honestly, if i was booking enough, i think i could love being a full-time photographer and designer.  but for now, it continues to be a side job that i feel really lucky to be able to do.

if you do any amount of freelance work, then you know that there are moments when you're like... "yeah!  this is awesome!  i'm living my dream and doing what i want to do!"  and then there are also plenty of moments when you're more… "this is awful…i can't book anything and no one wants to pay what i'm asking and why did i ever think freelancing was a good idea anyhow??"

so here are the five highs and lows of my freelancing experience:

1. income! // awesome:  if you're like me and freelancing isn't your only source of income, then it's awesome to make a little extra money by using your creative talents!  awful:  it's not necessarily consistent.  i go through seasons of being really busy and it feels like the money is rolling in, and then other seasons when it just isn't.

2.  pricing // awesome:  freelancing allows you to set your own pricing for things.  you get to determine how long a project will take and what you're willing to do the job for.   awful:  pricing can be super tricky.  personally, i always feel bad charging close friends or family my normal prices for a photoshoot or design services.  and it never feels great when someone either tries to get you to charge less because they don't want to pay what you're asking, or when someone tells you they can't book you because they found "a better deal" with someone else.  but hey, that's the biz.  (check out this article by jon acuff on charging people for your services)

3.  self-promotion // awesome:  you get to say what you do and how you do it…you have control over how your services are branded and represented!  awful:  i hate having to promote myself or my services.  social media definitely makes it a little bit easier, but yeah, i still hate talking about myself or what i can do for people.

4.  business is booming!  ….or not // awesome:  you get to accept or turn down jobs that work for you or don't.  if you're just too busy, you can stop accepting jobs.  awful:  it's really hard to control that flow of business!  and it can be really discouraging when business is not booming or you put a sale out there and no one bites.

5.  time management // awesome:  you have complete control over your schedule.  you can work when you want to and aren't tied down to office hours and stuff like that.  i find that if i love what i'm doing, then i am constantly thinking about it or wanting to work on it.  awful:  if you're not good at managing your time or being self-motivated, then being your own boss is not an easy task.

so tell me…do you do any freelance work?  what are some ways you keep business going?  what do you find awesome or awful about it?

5 Tips for Dealing with Distance

I never dreamed that I'd be in a long-distance relationship.  I guess no one really ever does, but I definitely did not.  Let me preface this post by saying that I'm absolutely, positively no expert.  Heck, AJ and I have only been in this stage of our relationship for a few months.  But as someone who spent time on a daily basis (we worked together!) with her boyfriend, I'll tell you that being long distance has been an adjustment.

When AJ finally made the decision to transfer to Berklee and move to Boston, all of the excitement and support I had been feeling for him vanished for a minute.  I remember looking at him with tears in my eyes and asking "what's my role in this?".  I felt so lonely so immediately, and for me, it was hard to imagine where I fit into his life from a distance.  My mom once said that this was going to be payback for what she did to her mom (my parents met when my dad was living in Ohio for work, fell in love, and decided to get married; their relationship was mostly long-distance, and they missed one another so much that they moved their wedding up to December, just six months after they had met; people said she looked like the most miserable bride when she was planning the wedding, but it was only because she missed my dad so much!).

I was never really worried or afraid of putting some space between AJ & I...we've got a really solid relationship, communicate well, and rarely argue, but of course, I also wasn't excited about it.  It definitely helps that I'm sure that Berklee is where God wants AJ to be.  But it has taken some effort on both of our parts to make this transition an easy one.  So I'd like to share 5 tips that have really helped me move into a long distance relationship.

1.  Be intentional, be there & make time for one another.  Your life fills up, and the time you used to spend with your significant other will get claimed by some other part of life.  There have been times when AJ and I have been on the phone and can tell that the other one is distracted and those conversations are never as fulfilling or as great as the ones when we're both fully "there"!

2.  Make things special!  One of my favorite things to do is to send AJ mail.  He loves finding a card in his mailbox and I love knowing that he's getting to open a hand-written card from me!  I never tell him that I'm sending something so that it's a complete surprise.

3.  Stay busy!  For me, the times when I feel most lonely are when I have nothing to do, so I like staying busy and having something to tell AJ when he asks me about my day!  Specifically, my advice would be to invest time into things that you've either been wanting to do for a while or that fell to the wayside when you started dating.  Have you always wanted to learn a new skill or hobby?  Do it!  (P.S. being in a relationship should never be an excuse for not pursing things that you love, but let's be honest, sometimes knitting takes a back seat to watching a movie with your boyfriend)

4.  Be understanding.  Sometimes it's hard, but understanding that each of you have separate schedules and lives is essential.  There are times when AJ calls me because he's walking home from class and I just can't talk.  We've learned to be good about asking the question "is this a good time?" and not just assuming the other person is available.  And sometimes, there are just days when talking on the phone or video chatting just doesn't happen.  That's life.

5.  Plan visits!  One of the most fun things about being in a long distance relationship is the potential for traveling!  AJ's been home once since he moved, and it was great.  But what was even more fun was the trip that I took to Boston.  Since he lives with my cousin and another roommate, I was able to just stay in their apartment and we got to spend time exploring Boston and spending time just the two of us.  Traveling can be expensive, but be on the lookout for deals on bus and plane fares.  Sign up for email alerts from airlines.  I get emails from JetBlue boasting $59 flights all the time.  Planning your travel well can mean a relatively cheap, (and definitely memorable) trip!

Are you in a long-distance relationship?  What are your tips for dealing with the distance?

DEALING WITH THE DISTANCE

I never dreamed that I'd be in a long-distance relationship.  I guess no one really ever does, but I definitely did not.  Let me preface this post by saying that I'm absolutely, positively no expert.  Heck, AJ and I have only been in this stage of our relationship for a few months.  But as someone who spent time on a daily basis (we worked together!) with her boyfriend, I'll tell you that being long distance has been an adjustment.

When AJ finally made the decision to transfer to Berklee and move to Boston, all of the excitement and support I had been feeling for him vanished for a minute.  I remember looking at him with tears in my eyes and asking "what's my role in this?".  I felt so lonely so immediately, and for me, it was hard to imagine where I fit into his life from a distance.  My mom once said that this was going to be payback for what she did to her mom (my parents met when my dad was living in Ohio for work, fell in love, and decided to get married; their relationship was mostly long-distance, and they missed one another so much that they moved their wedding up to December, just six months after they had met; people said she looked like the most miserable bride when she was planning the wedding, but it was only because she missed my dad so much!).

I was never really worried or afraid of putting some space between AJ & I...we've got a really solid relationship, communicate well, and rarely argue, but of course, I also wasn't excited about it.  It definitely helps that I'm sure that Berklee is where God wants AJ to be.  But it has taken some effort on both of our parts to make this transition an easy one.  So I'd like to share 5 tips that have really helped me move into a long distance relationship.

1.  Be intentional, be there & make time for one another.  Your life fills up, and the time you used to spend with your significant other will get claimed by some other part of life.  There have been times when AJ and I have been on the phone and can tell that the other one is distracted and those conversations are never as fulfilling or as great as the ones when we're both fully "there"!

2.  Make things special!  One of my favorite things to do is to send AJ mail.  He loves finding a card in his mailbox and I love knowing that he's getting to open a hand-written card from me!  I never tell him that I'm sending something so that it's a complete surprise.

3.  Stay busy!  For me, the times when I feel most lonely are when I have nothing to do, so I like staying busy and having something to tell AJ when he asks me about my day!  Specifically, my advice would be to invest time into things that you've either been wanting to do for a while or that fell to the wayside when you started dating.  Have you always wanted to learn a new skill or hobby?  Do it!  (P.S. being in a relationship should never be an excuse for not pursing things that you love, but let's be honest, sometimes knitting takes a back seat to watching a movie with your boyfriend)

4.  Be understanding.  Sometimes it's hard, but understanding that each of you have separate schedules and lives is essential.  There are times when AJ calls me because he's walking home from class and I just can't talk.  We've learned to be good about asking the question "is this a good time?" and not just assuming the other person is available.  And sometimes, there are just days when talking on the phone or video chatting just doesn't happen.  That's life.

5.  Plan visits!  One of the most fun things about being in a long distance relationship is the potential for traveling!  AJ's been home once since he moved, and it was great.  But what was even more fun was the trip that I took to Boston.  Since he lives with my cousin and another roommate, I was able to just stay in their apartment and we got to spend time exploring Boston and spending time just the two of us.  Traveling can be expensive, but be on the lookout for deals on bus and plane fares.  Sign up for email alerts from airlines.  I get emails from JetBlue boasting $59 flights all the time.  Planning your travel well can mean a relatively cheap, (and definitely memorable) trip!

Are you in a long-distance relationship?  What are your tips for dealing with the distance?

5 Tips For Portrait Photography

Hi!  Life is busy, yada yada, I haven't posted this week.

I crafted this post for Iris last weekend, and she shared it with her readers on Monday, but I thought that I'd share it with you today!

So here are, in my opinion, the 5 big things every photographer should think about, particularly about snapping photos of people, because that's what I do.

1.  Composition
Composition is what makes your photo pleasing to the eye.  Any photographer you talk to will tell you about the rule of thirds.  Imagine breaking your frame into thirds and position the subject of your photo in one of the outermost thirds.  There are times when it's appropriate to put your subject dead center, but often, the most interesting photos are when your subject is positioned to the left or right.  Also be aware of where your light source is and pay attention to the lighting in your frame!

2.  Focus
Its SO important, when photographing people, to make sure your focus is in the right place.  Keep the focus of the photo tack-sharp on the eyes...that's what draws the viewer into the photo!  I love these photos of Kathy and Amanda because the background in both photos is blurred...they have great depth of field, and the focus is sharp on their eyes and face.

3.  Details
Its easy, when shooting portraits, to make sure you get good shots of your subject's face.  But what about all of the other details that make up the shoot?  The thing is, your subject has probably put a lot of thought into their outfit.  If you're doing an engagement shoot, there's a ring involved.  Some of my favorite photos from shoots don't even include the face of the subject!  I love how coordinated Nora and Brad were for their military-inspired shoot, and the way Brad folded Nora's hands into his was just precious...this photo communicates their love for one another without even showing their faces!

4.  Subject
Who is the subject of your photos?  If you're doing a shoot with just one person, the answer is obvious.  When you're doing engagement, couple, or family shoots, you have the ability to switch things up.  Often with engagement shoots, the bride-to-be is featured (and she should be!), but I like to make sure I also get a few shots where I focus on the groom-to-be.  These two photos from my cousin's engagement shoot show examples of featuring both the bride and groom simply by varying who is looking at the camera.

5.  Keep it Fun!
Any time you're taking photos of people, there's the potential for them to be stiff or nervous, and those emotions will come through in their photos!  Look for ways to keep it fun and loose, especially when you're working with kids.  I did a family shoot this fall, and we took advantage of the fall leaves and incorporated them into the shoot!  Sure, we also took serious, posed family shots, but having spent time playing and loosening up at the beginning of the shoot made everyone more comfortable, and made the entire experience fun and exciting!

So those are some of my tips.  I'm definitely still learning and growing as a photographer, but these tips are just some of the things I've learned over the past few years.

You can also find more articles about photography here!

5 TIPS FOR PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Hi!  Life is busy, yada yada, I haven't posted this week.

I crafted this post for Iris last weekend, and she shared it with her readers on Monday, but I thought that I'd share it with you today!

So here are, in my opinion, the 5 big things every photographer should think about, particularly about snapping photos of people, because that's what I do.

1.  Composition
Composition is what makes your photo pleasing to the eye.  Any photographer you talk to will tell you about the rule of thirds.  Imagine breaking your frame into thirds and position the subject of your photo in one of the outermost thirds.  There are times when it's appropriate to put your subject dead center, but often, the most interesting photos are when your subject is positioned to the left or right.  Also be aware of where your light source is and pay attention to the lighting in your frame!

2.  Focus
Its SO important, when photographing people, to make sure your focus is in the right place.  Keep the focus of the photo tack-sharp on the eyes...that's what draws the viewer into the photo!  I love these photos of Kathy and Amanda because the background in both photos is blurred...they have great depth of field, and the focus is sharp on their eyes and face.

3.  Details
Its easy, when shooting portraits, to make sure you get good shots of your subject's face.  But what about all of the other details that make up the shoot?  The thing is, your subject has probably put a lot of thought into their outfit.  If you're doing an engagement shoot, there's a ring involved.  Some of my favorite photos from shoots don't even include the face of the subject!  I love how coordinated Nora and Brad were for their military-inspired shoot, and the way Brad folded Nora's hands into his was just precious...this photo communicates their love for one another without even showing their faces!

4.  Subject
Who is the subject of your photos?  If you're doing a shoot with just one person, the answer is obvious.  When you're doing engagement, couple, or family shoots, you have the ability to switch things up.  Often with engagement shoots, the bride-to-be is featured (and she should be!), but I like to make sure I also get a few shots where I focus on the groom-to-be.  These two photos from my cousin's engagement shoot show examples of featuring both the bride and groom simply by varying who is looking at the camera.

5.  Keep it Fun!
Any time you're taking photos of people, there's the potential for them to be stiff or nervous, and those emotions will come through in their photos!  Look for ways to keep it fun and loose, especially when you're working with kids.  I did a family shoot this fall, and we took advantage of the fall leaves and incorporated them into the shoot!  Sure, we also took serious, posed family shots, but having spent time playing and loosening up at the beginning of the shoot made everyone more comfortable, and made the entire experience fun and exciting!

So those are some of my tips.  I'm definitely still learning and growing as a photographer, but these tips are just some of the things I've learned over the past few years.

You can also find more articles about photography here!

5 Tips for Combatting the Winter Blues

It's about this time of year that I always start to think that I don't like winter anymore.  And we still have a good two months of it left.  It's been bitter cold in Pennsylvania this week.  Temperatures have been below 10 degrees almost every day, and the wind chill has made that already-freezing temp feel even colder.  Mostly all I want to do is stay curled up in my cozy bed with a good book (currently Tina Fey's Bossypants or Mark Batterson's The Circle Maker...yes, I know...very different), a cup of warm tea, and maybe an episode or two of Millionaire Matchmaker (what? guilty pleasure. don't judge.)

But since that's just not a reality (you know, I'm becoming an elementary teacher and stuff...and that requires me to go to school every day...), I've come up with 5 tips for kicking the winter blues to the curb.  

1.  Exercise.

I know, it's hard to do it in the summer when being active practically comes right along with the sunshine and warm weather.  But get those endorphins going!  You'll be more productive, feel better about yourself, and hey...you'll sweat, which means you'll be warm...at least for a little while.

2.  Read.

I'm a teacher, this is an obvious one.  I always find myself watching more TV in the winter.  And the more time I spend zoning out in front of the screen, the more I feel like my brain cells are dying one by one.  If you're stuck inside, grab a book!  I just finished Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling...hilarious.  I highly recommend it.

3.  Pick up a new craft!

Hello...that's what Pinterest is for.  Make something out of that old t-shirt you keep meaning to put in your "donate" pile.  Use up those scraps of yarn or even those cans of left-over wall paint or that frame you don't have a picture for.  

4.  Rearrange.

You all know I'm redecorating my room (I can almost feel you asking "how many times is she going to mention this??  Sorry.).  But rearranging furniture or even accent pieces on shelves or tables can just breathe fresh life into a space and keep everything feeling new.

5.  Try out a new recipe.  

Winter is one of those times of year that I think it's really easy to cook more.  You're home, it's too cold to go out, so why not cook?  Or bake.  Baking is good too.  

(Oh yeah....and that's what Pinterest is for.)

So those are my 5 top tips for fighting off those winter blues.  How do you keep things fun in the winter?  Are you feeling the winter blues lately?

5 TIPS FOR COMBATTING THE WINTER BLUES

It's about this time of year that I always start to think that I don't like winter anymore.  And we still have a good two months of it left.  It's been bitter cold in Pennsylvania this week.  Temperatures have been below 10 degrees almost every day, and the wind chill has made that already-freezing temp feel even colder.  Mostly all I want to do is stay curled up in my cozy bed with a good book (currently Tina Fey's Bossypants or Mark Batterson's The Circle Maker...yes, I know...very different), a cup of warm tea, and maybe an episode or two of Millionaire Matchmaker (what? guilty pleasure. don't judge.)

But since that's just not a reality (you know, I'm becoming an elementary teacher and stuff...and that requires me to go to school every day...), I've come up with 5 tips for kicking the winter blues to the curb.  

1.  Exercise.

I know, it's hard to do it in the summer when being active practically comes right along with the sunshine and warm weather.  But get those endorphins going!  You'll be more productive, feel better about yourself, and hey...you'll sweat, which means you'll be warm...at least for a little while.

2.  Read.

I'm a teacher, this is an obvious one.  I always find myself watching more TV in the winter.  And the more time I spend zoning out in front of the screen, the more I feel like my brain cells are dying one by one.  If you're stuck inside, grab a book!  I just finished Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling...hilarious.  I highly recommend it.

3.  Pick up a new craft!

Hello...that's what Pinterest is for.  Make something out of that old t-shirt you keep meaning to put in your "donate" pile.  Use up those scraps of yarn or even those cans of left-over wall paint or that frame you don't have a picture for.  

4.  Rearrange.

You all know I'm redecorating my room (I can almost feel you asking "how many times is she going to mention this??  Sorry.).  But rearranging furniture or even accent pieces on shelves or tables can just breathe fresh life into a space and keep everything feeling new.

5.  Try out a new recipe.  

Winter is one of those times of year that I think it's really easy to cook more.  You're home, it's too cold to go out, so why not cook?  Or bake.  Baking is good too.  

(Oh yeah....and that's what Pinterest is for.)

So those are my 5 top tips for fighting off those winter blues.  How do you keep things fun in the winter?  Are you feeling the winter blues lately?

5 TIPS FOR FINALS WEEK

We seemed to have arrived once again and my (least) favorite time of the semester: finals week.

There's something about this week that energizes me.  Maybe it's the promise of a break not too far in the distance, maybe it's the fact that I just work well under pressure.  Either way, I always feel a sense of exhaustion and being overwhelmed as well as a resurgence of energy and, dare I say, excitement.

Sure, we've all got papers and tests and work, etc, etc.  I could (and have in years past), spent entire posts talking about how many pages I'll be writing this week.

Being that this is my last semester of coursework toward my Masters degree *does happy dance*, I thought I'd share with you 5 tips I've picked up through, well, 11 semesters of higher education.

1.  Stay positive.  But cry if you need to.
This was one of those things that always helped me.  It's a balance.  Give yourself 5 minutes to whine to a willing roommate or parent and get it all out, then get started on the task at hand.  You can handle this.

2.  Take a break.
When I was in elementary and high school and I was working on a project (that I had no doubt procrastinated on) the night before it was due, I'd always end up getting exhausted.  My dad would tell me to take a break, go take a shower, have a snack, take a walk.  When you come back to your work, you'll be refreshed and will be able to see it in a new light.

3.  Give yourself motivators.
Want to spend 10 minutes on Pinterest or Facebook?  Not until you've written two pages. Write a few little post-its with positive or motivational sayings on them and stick them around your work area.

4. Eyes on the prize.
Remember, when you're done, you get to go on break.  No homework, no classes.  You can breathe and read whatever you want and watch tv and see friends and family.  Just get through this week.

5.  Find your study cake.
My senior year of college, I started doing this thing I called "study cake".  I love baking, and it's a stress reliever for me, so whenever I had a big exam or paper coming up, I'd stock myself up with a cake mix and canned frosting (to keep things quick and easy).  I'd mix up a cake, bake it, go back to studying, frost it, and then my apartment mates and I would all take a break from homework to have some study cake.  Maybe for you, it's not cake.  But find what makes you go "ahhhhh," relieves some stress, gives you some social interaction, and gives your brain a break.  Find your study cake.

Hope these little tips help!  Got any more to add to this list?  What gets you through finals week?