Crafting

So as most of you know I'm a big artsy fartsy person. I love to create. Not only with my cakes and photography but I love making crafts. So I'm at a craft show today. It's from 7-4 at Methodist (nursing school area.) I have made fairy wings, boo boo bunnies, crocheted hats, a crocheted blanket (yeah I know only one but it took forever to make so I decided to move on after that one), hooded towels, framed words (family/Joy/faith stuff like that) and then I made some cookies. I have post cards, business cards, and senior photo fliers... I'm hoping to get my name out there at the very least. Selling a few things would be nice too though.

Playing with Photoshop

I have been learning some new tips in photoshop. I think people might get tired of all the photos I'm playing with though. :D I can't WAIT for this summers weddings so I have more photos to choose from!

My clients will buy the rights to all the regular photos, and then the photoshopped ones they will buy prints from me directly!!

CD Covers

I just bought a program that allows you to make and then print CD covers... I LOVE it!! I even put the copyright release right on the cover so that when people print photos they don't have to take a separate piece of paper in. (Of course I'll give them a copyright release form too but this seems nice.)

Business Updates

My website is suppose to be done by April 1st so I'm going to be able to upload this summers photos right away. I have a photo shoot planned for just about every weekend starting in two weeks. I have trash the dress sessions/prom dress sessions, families, kids, weddings, and hopefully a few more engagement sessions (since I have a bunch more ideas I'd like to be able to throw up on the website.) Have I mentioned I'm very excited about this website?!!?

I now have CS4 with bridge and photoshop and everything .. not just photoshop elements (not that it wasn't working for what I needed) but it's nice to have it all now!! And on my new computer so I don't have to run back and forth all the time. My next "big" purchase is going to be an external hard drive so I don't have to put all the photos on my computer and slow it down.

I can't wait to see my senior photos add in the newspaper too! That is going to get printed on March 30th and I'll be going to 22,000 homes. (I didn't pay the extra money to go to the other 5k homes. Just didn't have the income for that yet.) The city of Elkhart also has a newsletter that they will be printing sometime in April and for $10 I can get my name in it too!

In two weeks time I'll be going to another craft show. I'm hoping to make enough money to get me set for awhile. I need this hard drive and then start saving for extra special lighting for Churches/weddings.

Exciting new products...

(my banner)

I'm getting a couple more new items for my business. I only spent $35 to get all this too...!!!! yay.

100 Fliers for senior photos.

100 Post cards for senior photos.

1 Banner for craft show tables and event tables.

_______________________

with the purchase of my last business cards I got a bunch of other stuff free!!!!!:

250 business cards

another car magnet

1 rubber stamp with my address

1 free pen with my name on it (FUN)

I'm rather excited!! NOW .. one more purchase of $100 to get me into the newspaper and I should be set!! I have fliers to pass out and business cards to write appointment reminders on... business is good!!

Design for T-Shirts

I made this design for my new t-shirts for now until I have the money to buy more professional looking ones. I'll wear my shirts on senior shoots/ meetings and whatnot and then for weddings I'll just dress up nice like.

More Advertising

Making fliers has proven to be difficult since I have templates on Microsoft Works and PCPrinters in Ankeny use Microsoft Word.... /sigh. Not sure why everything must be so frustrating!!

I decided to just go with what I know and use Vistaprint.com. They are proving to be wonderful in my time of need. Although they do cost an arm and a leg in shipping... I am ok with that because the quality of their products exceed my expectations. Once I have the money for it I will be getting a banner and t-shirts from them also. My t-shirts will have "Michelle Lindell Arts" and then a photo of mine on the front- can't wait!

The upcoming craft show I have scheduled on May 31st (yes I know it's on a Wednesday) looks to be coming together quite nicely. I have a lot of left overs from the November craft show and have made a lot of baby hats. I plan on making cupcakes (and this time I'll be putting them in boxes- people were too scared of the last batch I had just sitting on the table.) However- not planning on having cookies on a stick.. perhaps just a photo and let people know I can make cookie bouquets- I had FAR too many cookies left over last time!!

I should be getting my business cards here in a week or so... I am very excited!! VERY excited!!

Also- getting ready to place my order for the add in the Ankeny Press Citizen/ Register. Honestly I think this will be a huge step for me. After talking it out with Josh (who thinks I need to wait until I've gotten more clients) we have both decided that the craigslist just isn't doing it for me. Yes I've gotten a wedding from it.. but I just don't know how many seniors are interested in looking for a photographer on cl.

Ah yes well I'm going to go watch some TV with the hubs. Please keep thinking of me if you have anyone in need of photos or a wedding cake!

Much love to all my fans (hehe)

Michelle

Advertising

I'm taking on the venture of advertising- which is a hard thing to do when you don't have enough clientele to pay for anything yet. I trust that this advertising will help me get clients though.
Ankeny Press Citizen has adds that will be put into books that are put in with the newspaper and these books will be sent to 27,900 homes- some of those homes are bound to have a 2011 senior right?? I know this is the path I'm suppose to go down so the money will be spent well!! Next year once my website is up and running I will be trying to make it to more shows. This is very exciting to me!