Oh.... What to Write... What to write?

Yep, It's another one of those nights where I know I have to do this but have NO idea what to write about. I have a mountainous pile of things on my mind. With it being a new year with new goals and because I am headed in a somewhat new direction, I find myself looking forward to finally adding a few people to my "enterprise" that will be growing with me. I have come to a point in my life where I must simplify in order to multiply. However I often wish God had limited the talents and passions he gave me to make this an easier task. I guess that's why he gave me an obsessive compulsive personality and ADHD... they have been as useful as they are annoying.

As I sit here typing still kind of blabbering... I hope I will keep your interest for longer than I feel I may with my randomness. People seem to really like my writing, and love to hear me speak; being told I had a "presence" more than once was not to be taken subtly. My blog and my book have been incredibly successful in their mission so far although I feel I have barely gotten started in the marketing process; I am truly in the baby steps in my mind and that's both exciting and scary. Yes... I get scared, I don't worry, but sometimes my fears cause me to procrastinate and over think. I have this need to have things "perfect" and well, I need to remember that there is perfection in the process of  tweaking imperfect things and that imperfect things still succeed; it is a process. My fear has always been that if things are not "perfectly ready" that they are simply not ready to be executed or delivered or created or whatever... it really depends on which of my businesses I am talking about. I have also allowed this need for perfection to keep me from getting outside help, thinking nobody would treat it like I will, that someone else won't give it 100% like me, so I have run myself ragged doing everything myself. If I continue this thinking, I will hold myself back from my dream of becoming a well known inspirational/motivational speaker... so I am setting that fear aside in 2014... it's time to move ONWARD and UPWARD.

I have experience in both my professional and personal life that CAN and WILL help people grow professionally and personally. My memoir has already helped so many people simply because so many walks of life can relate to my stories of struggle; for I have had several kinds and after 20 years of knowledge and experience of running multiple businesses, being the owner/ operator, the financial officer, the marketing director... what am I afraid of? For so long I have waited for someone else to take notice so that I would not have so much work to do... I wanted someone else to believe in me as much as I believe in me... it is something I have wanted all my life in the professional world and well, it feels impossible to attain. I did not want to have to learn things that I was uncomfortable learning in order to gain the knowledge I needed to run my own speaking engagements but a few weeks ago, something finally clicked... I CAN do this, I can't wait, because as my history plays... I know I can make this happen. I just need a few people who are willing to grow with me, to be patient and willing to put their passion into the awesome I know it can be and if they do I will be the most generous employer they have ever known. It truly is a big leap for me, but I WANT it,and I tend to get what I want if I am relentless in pursuing it. I know no obstacles...just the journey.

Is fear holding you back from something? Are you afraid to take that leap of faith? Are you too easily kept in the zone of comfort not knowing what people will say or think about you if you actually pursue your dreams? Are you financially where you want to be? Are you waking up every day dreading what you have to do or looking forward to it? Are you willing to do WHATEVER it takes to make your dreams come true?

I found myself in class this weekend... learning something that will help me help others as I pursue a speaking career. I dislike school, I dislike classrooms... unless I am teaching, but it was something that had to be done to complete my puzzle and I know I won't regret it once I pass the exam.

From youth, to adults, to people in the beauty professions... I am ready to inspire, motivate and educate in a BIGGER way. That's my #1 goal for 2014. Are you in?

One of my new branding images 

that I created on whim one day... it was just floating around in my crazy head.

xoxo

~Shells~ 

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Open Minds Will Open Doors

First and foremost, can I share how crazy it has made me that I have been so caught up in work, traveling for work and being in a place that has had very spotty Wifi service leaving me unable to blog for you? Okay... well... I just shared, so I hope it was okay. Now, I will also share that I have had this blog post trapped in my head for nearly a week and THAT has made me even more crazy because I normally dump this stuff out so I don't forget my thoughts.  However when I saw that I was challenged with getting it written and posted, I faced that challenge head on, jotted some notes down, and in the past several days as life has happened, I have been able to take in some additions to what I will be sharing with you today.... see? everything DOES happen for a reason!

Okay... rewind to last Friday (Sept 30th) I had an experience that I would like to share that proves a few things that I always say. 1: Everything happens on purpose 2: One thing leads to another and 3: Open minds will open doors... almost always. So here's the story... a few weeks back, a photographer friend of mine called me up and asked if I was available on the evening of the 30th (7-9) to do Zombie makeup for a small video commercial production for a local brewery. It happened to be the same brewery that I had worked on another project for with him several months before which although unpaid was a lot of fun and my work ended up on one of their beer labels... (which I thought was pretty cool and no, I don't drink beer.) I asked some more details like how many Zombies... etc. and then he shared that the budget for the project was $100. I figured... $100 bucks for two hours... something fun and different with a client that already had seen and liked my work... and decided sure, I will nurture this relationship, so I accepted the offer.

I showed up on set and met a lot of really cool people, I was able to actually meet the brewery owners for the first time in person, chat with the "zombies" and in two and a half hours I created 7 walking dead looks, complete with blood, scars, open wounds and the look of death... (it totally grossed me out, HA!) Just before I began to pack up, the owner walked over and told me how happy she was, how much she appreciated the extra time I took to really deliver and well... that in itself made it worth my time. I continued to pack up and as she slipped the check into my purse she said that she "added a little extra". I said thank you... expressing my appreciation for her appreciation and continued cleaning my brushes and packing.  A few moments went by and one of the "zombies" that I did not create (there were a few who were asked to do their own makeup) walked in to give me kudos on a job well done and asks me if I teach. I smiled and said actually, yes, I do why? He proceeds to say that he works for the Art Institute of Tampa and would love for me to come and teach some workshops for them on theatrical/ zombie makeup. I was thrilled and had to smile knowing that this was simply another facet to the amazing journey that I have been on since I truly opened my mind to what I can do for others to help THEM get what they want. (side note... I had never really done Zombie makeup before that night.) We exchanged cards and I am looking forward to this awesome opportunity and as with anything, I will give it MORE than I have and then some.

When I left, I left with an amazing feeling and the "zombies" actually clapped for me on the way out. (Which was SO creepy weird) but it felt really good to be appreciated. As I shuffled for my keys the check the owner wrote fell out of my purse and when I looked down I realized the "little extra" she gave me was double the rate she had quoted. Once again, I had made a wise choice to go outside the "norm" and take the job that most people would have turned down, which is exactly how I have built my career.

My reason for sharing this story is because so many freelance artists/photographers get so hung up on "what they are worth" and refuse to ever work for any less that they miss amazing opportunities. ( I was one of them once upon a time) I have found in my own career that when I keep an open mind bigger doors always seem to open, so I encourage you to stop closing doors that could lead you right to the very door that will help you reach your dreams. I remember years ago attending a motivational conference hearing the phrase... "When you help others achieve THEIR dreams your dreams will also come true." That resonated so strongly with me and it truly changed my path. We must simply "get over ourselves" long enough to see the beauty in helping others and truly caring about doing something that may help them feel important or help them live out THEIR purpose before we can truly live ours. It's a valuable lesson that I leaned that day and when I did, it was not only career changing, it was LIFE changing.

Each year when I work with the world's top photography instructors at Photoshop World, as I sat in the keynote sessions at The Makeup Show last week in Orlando, and as I sit this week in the classrooms here at The Artist Summit  in Provincetown, Massachusetts listening to my amazing peers, the one thing they all have in common is this trait and I feel so fortunate to finally get what they mean and be able to connect with them when those words leave their lips. "It's NOT about you... it is about what you can do to change the lives of others in a positive way that will truly make the difference. That my friends... is the most amazing feeling in the world.

 Enjoy your week... I will be back to write on Friday! :)

XOXO

~Shells~

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I Bought Him a Coke and Got a Smile

Yesterday ranked in my top 10 of all days; it was a day that left me with a cement smile and a wonderfully euphoric high even after only having 3 hours of sleep the night before. It began with 4 wonderfully creative hours with Randy Van Duinen and Lee Burgess, two of my photographer clients and Martin Gudz, President of the Florida Professional Photographers Association. It was an incredible day of photography magic and a ton of fun that ended with Martin being so impressed with my talents that he asked me to speak at next years photography convention. I was blown away and incredibly honored as I accepted the invitation.

When I arrived home, I kissed my kiddos and sat down to check my email. I received a message in my inbox that I had been waiting for. It revealed GREAT news about the new book which I am currently writing for photographers. This email was the game-changer of a lifetime and quite frankly... I can hardly believe it. Needless to say, the smiles and happy emotions were swirling around inside of me so strongly that it was beaming through my chest like a beacon in the night.

I quickly packed for a weekend trip to Orlando and left the house in terrific spirits. Little did I know that my quick stop at the bank would allow me to pass this feeling of joy on to someone in need, but it did. As I was waiting in the line for the drive up ATM to make my weekly after-hours deposit, I heard a man screaming angrily but could not see where it was coming from. As I turned my head around to see if I could figure it out I saw a disheveled young man... probably in his twenties frantically roaming the parking lot of the Walgreen's next door. He was randomly going up to people and as words were exchanged he would walk away shouting as he ran his hands through his sweaty hair. My initial thought was that he must be mentally disturbed and perhaps dangerous as I am sure many would have thought, but as I sat there listening to my favorite Christian radio station.. my thoughts quickly changed. After completing my transaction at the ATM, I drove towards this young man, now sitting with his head in his hands on the curb. I stopped, rolled down my window and asked if he was okay. He said, "Ma'am, I am just so hungry.... I have not had anything to eat in 3 days, and I have nowhere to stay." He was sweating profusely, as the heat outside was tremendous. I said... "I can't give you a place to stay, but what would you like to eat?" He smiled and said, if you could just get me a Coke... that would be great. I told him I would be right back.

I walked into Walgreen's and grabbed a Coke... then loaded up on various hearty snacks packed with protein such as nuts granola bars and checked out getting $10 cash back at the register. With a smile, I walked out of the store and walked right up to the young man as I said... "Nobody should go hungry, here are some snacks for you and also $10 for dinner, DON'T buy alcohol or drugs with this money do you hear me?" A smile came upon his face and a tear came to his eye as he said "Ma'am, thank you SO much, and don't worry, I will buy dinner, I promise." I looked him right in the eyes, smiled and said "you better not" and walked back to my car. A beautiful African American lady that witnessed my kind gesture looked at me as I got into my car and said... "May God bless you lady." I said back to her... "Thank you... He already has." When I looked in my rear view mirror, that young man was devouring what I bought him; and I was left with a whole new meaning to the phrase  Have a Coke and a Smile.

This is what I want you to take away....

 We have become a society that turns our back on our own people, I wonder how many people turned this guy down thinking what I had initially thought. My earlier years of struggle has not only changed who I am, it changed how I look at things and the situations of others. Maybe this guy was crazy... but if I don't eat for 8 hours I turn into a nut myself. 3 days without food? Can you EVEN imagine? I ask that you stop judging situations with a fearful eye; start looking at them with empathy and compassion and perhaps put yourself in that situation. My euphoria continued as I drove to Orlando and I felt something amazing stirring inside of me, I want you to feel that feeling too someday!

Have a GREAT weekend! It's time for me to make a bride and her maids beautiful!!!

XOXO 

Shells!

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Photoshop World 2013 Las Vegas: Makeup, Family, Flash Mobs and Book Deals

It's been a little over a week since my last blog post and as always when this happens... you know it's because this girl has once again been out of town and unable to blog on the spot, so instead of giving you some lame pre-written, no-heart-in-it blog post, I just refrained from it all together so I could come back and give you the real me, off the cuff as usual. Last week was my fourth year in Vegas for the Photoshop World Conference, and just as years before, it was a GREAT time... despite the smoke-filed air and low humidity that always makes my eyes water and nose run. I recall the first year I was hired as a makeup artist for this event. My client, Scott Kelby, shared with me the "KISS" inspired theme and asked me if I could do that kind of makeup. Without a hitch (and without ever doing that kind of makeup before) I said SURE, and quickly went home to research where to get that kind of product so I could order it and prove myself right!

You see, I have a Cosmetology background... and I graduated beauty school in 1991; long before "makeup schools" as we know them today existed so I did not learn makeup in a classroom as many of today's makeup artists have. In fact... there were only about 7-8 celebrity artists back then and the big "brands" were Max Factor, Maybelline and Cover Girl. Department store and independent brands were not the hype as they are today and makeup schools were predominantly California based schools geared for film and creature creations. Therefore in my day, a Cosmetology degree was the ticket to a makeup career if you lived outside of California, so that is what I chose to do. I always loved makeup and fashion and knew I wanted to make people feel good about themselves, so it seemed the right  path for me to take. I never knew what direction it would truly take me in exactly, I just knew I wanted to succeed no matter what.

After I graduated beauty school at the young age of 17, I quickly fell in love and became comfortable with cutting, coloring and styling hair. Makeup became a side note being that we did not really learn much about it beyond  face shapes, eye shapes and  how to highlight and contour. I do not even recall learning the chronological order of placing products on the skin, but I learned to apply makeup in the 80's... so I knew you used foundation first, powder, then blush; you applied a lot...and then a little more. We had foundation sponges which were typically thin, flat and rectangular used mostly for "pancake" makeup, a powder puff, a blush brush and an eye shadow pad glued to a plastic stick... THOSE were the essentials of my day. Brushes were not known by numbers, hair type or fancy names. Frankly, it seemed kind of boring, so I spent several years of my career focusing on becoming a platform artist doing hair while continuing doing makeup on the side. Then in 2002, just as I made it to "Platform Assistant", the company I worked for got bought out by L'oreal and I jumped ship. By then, the makeup industry had started to shift in my favor and I had jumped back on the wagon with very little "schooled" knowledge, lots of hands on  practical knowledge and a basic set of makeup brushes.

So... back to the initial story... (apologies...I was reliving a memorable time in my life and took you with me) Fast forward many years later to 2010, I was asked to do this "Kiss" inspired makeup on a bunch of Photoshop guys... (never saw that coming) and I said yes, and was introduced to this incredibly inspiring and creative event called Photoshop World. I was nervous the day I was called in to come create my magic on Scott Kelby, Matt Kloskowski, Felix Nelson, and Dave Cross at the home headquarters. They were shooting their production and keynote videos for the event and I had to paint some faces; tackling something totally new for me... but I had the products I needed and the guts to give it a shot. That day... for the first time I did theatrical makeup, with products I had never used on people that had trusted in my talents for a few years already.  I successfully painted "KISS faces with "Photoshop tools" instead of the iconic stars and flames.

The feeling was amazing and I realized that not only could I do beauty and glamour makeup, which is what I had mainly done... but that I could do any kind of makeup that I wanted if I just put my mind to it; I felt like a real artist. That year I was able to attend both the Orlando and Vegas Photoshop Worlds as part of the Kelby team and I have traveled with them every year since! It has been truly amazing meeting and working with some of the best photographers in the world, and mingling with the fans... some of whom have become great friends. Every time I go it feels like a family reunion.

The highlights of this year include having my oldest daughter there as an attendee as she begins her photography and design career, being interviewed by well-known Netherlands Fashion Photographer Frank Doorhof, being a key part of Kevin Ames pre-con class, being asked by Scott to start a flash mob at the Adobe booth as a prank and having a pivotal meeting with Peach Pit about the new book I am writing for photographers. Overall Photoshop World Vegas 2013, was the best one yet.

As I close today, I want to say something that I say to you all of the time... Whatever you do, NEVER give up on your dreams. We all have circumstances, hiccups, hills, valleys and hurdles... but all of those things can be overcome with the right attitude. Always believe that you can do whatever you set your heart on, and never give up an opportunity to grow, learn and mold yourself into the best that you can be. In 1991, I had no idea where this career would lead me, there were times when people around me tried to get me to quit and get a "real" job with predictable income and normal hours, but I never gave up because there was simply too much to lose. I stuck with it, and here I am 22 years later still loving what I do. If I had listened, I can guarantee I would not be as fulfilled in my heart as I am today. I am not rich, wealthy, or financially free... but I am happy, fulfilled in my career and I never work a day in my life because I LOVE what I do for a living.

Keep those chins up and those hearts strong! Have an awesome week!

Here are some more pictures from my years at Photoshop World

The look I created for Daniel Presedo with Adobe

Me and Randy breaking it down PSW DC 2012 

               
                                                              Me and Daniel Presedo

                                                             
                                                              Photoshop World 2012

                                                               
                                                                Photoshop World  DC

                                                 

                                                         Me, Corey and Joe Glyda 2012                                                                    

                                     
                                                            Me and Mike Kubeisy 2012

PROJECT PHOTOSHOP 2011

Me and my daughter PSW Vegas 2013

                             
                           My work on the big screen in Frank Doorhof's Friday session 2013

                                              2013Another look for Kevin Ames' Friday Session

Walk the Walk... Don't Just Talk the Talk

I want to start off by saying that I love all of my readers, you guys are truly awesome. I love your emails, your loving support and well... it gives me a reason to keep typing these words. I truly am thankful for ALL of you. Now... I meant EVERY word of what I just said, and I hope that you know that. However, I am hoping that one of the reasons that you love me is because I am real... no "faux" going on here and with that comes brutal honesty, my favorite thing to receive, because I learn from it and quite honestly, my favorite thing to give because YOU learn from it. Brutal honesty is NOT negative, it's simply the "real" and not so fluffy stuff that can either put you on your butt or get you off of it; a reality check in a loving way... at least it is when it comes from me.

So... here it is, tonight's topic, and although it is geared more towards the self employed freelancers out there, anyone in business for themselves can take the advice; and perhaps even those who are employed can find a hint of something in here to take to the "thought bank". Because of my vulnerability and openness regarding the adversity and life struggles that I have faced and overcome, I am sought out for advice from all angles all of the time. Most of the time, I freely give that advice to those who ask. (freely AND for free.) That is how I roll... I love to teach; an educator at at heart, as well as several times in real life over the past 22 years in my career. I LOVE TO TEACH and have people GET it, seeing that light bulb go off is exhilarating. However, once in a while, I am asked advice by someone whose lack of knowledge makes me scratch my head.

Now, before you jump to conclusions thinking I am knocking some one's intelligence... hear me out. I do NOT mean this disrespectfully at ALL. I am however baffled at how many people are out there like that little cartoon dude saying "which way do I go...duh? Which way... tell me, tell me." They have SO little knowledge about what they are doing that I am shocked that they even feel comfortable and confident enough to get up and say that they are in business every day, let alone to be taken seriously. Am I THAT much of a nerd? Makes me wonder.

 Freelancers galore.... everyone is an expert these days... buy some "high-end" makeup at Walgreens, some fancy brushes from MAC, (which you can name by number) watch a few makeup tutorials on You Tube taught by a 15-year old with killer eye shadow skills and VOILA! You are a makeup artist charging $75 an hour for your "expertise." Drop some coin on a Nikon or Canon DSLR, an umbrella light and a fake brick backdrop and BAM! You are a photographer. You have no website, no portfolio, no identity on Social Media and no plan, but you want to make the money I make doing what I do, or what he does, or what she does after we have spent many, many years of sweat equity, thousands of dollars in tools, gear, business essentials, seminars, training and hours of actual WORK, some paid, and some which we did for free just to prove what we can do because of all the "Fakefessionals" out there. We have a website, taken the time to build a reputation, developed a business savvy nature and have become successful at what we do because of all this which is why WE get asked for advice. It's like it is assumed that we have some sort of "easy button" that you can borrow to become an overnight Rock Star.

I hate to break your hearts...mainly because of how much you mean to me... BUT it does not work that way. Quit being lazy, become PASSIONATE about what you do and INVEST in your career, and I mean way more than fancy tools and equipment. PLEASE EDUCATE yourself; GOOGLE is FREE for goodness sake. If you don't have the money to attend seminars spend a few hours a day, a week, online learning from the pro's. There are plenty of free or extremely inexpensive online courses to take and you will find the time to take advantage of them if you stop watching reality TV and worry about your OWN reality. Don't tell me you cannot afford a seminar when you drink Starbucks every darn day. Excuses... excuses; they get you nowhere or even worse. Stop watching Joe Blow Camera and 15 year old girls with fierce eye shadow skills, learn from your peers... the people who count, the ones that can HELP you build a REAL career and take it to the next level. There are some amazing beginners out there, and I am in no way discrediting them because I have learned from students... but my point is there are way too many people not willing to put in the time, money and effort to become a true professional.

As I prepare to head out to Las Vegas on Monday for Photoshop World 2013, I am excited to be surrounded by these pros yet another year. It's energizing and I am not even a photographer; I am just their makeup chic. They make ME want to pick up a camera though... I can't lie! Good thing for them all of those buttons intimidate the heck out of me because with my makeup, hair and wardrobe skills I could probably give them some serious competition. ;)

Once I come back, I will be prepping for an amazing makeup and business training event with The Powder Group; "THE ARTIST SUMMIT" held in my home state of Massachusetts at the tip of the cape in beautiful Provincetown. I am investing in my career once again... and know that it will be well worth it.

So here is my advice to all of you reading. PLEASE... if you are going to be in business BE IN BUSINESS. Before you worry about getting clients and work, LOOK THE PART, HAVE THE ESSENTIALS AND GET THE TRAINING. Stop trying to make what I make when you have not done what I have done to get where I am. Plain and simple, with hard work, money invested, dedication, and true conviction... YOU WILL GET THERE... but if you don't have a business card, a portfolio, and at minimum a basic website, go back to the drawing board because THAT is your beginning. I don't care if you do makeup, hair, photography, write books, food service, jewelry making, carpentry or any other freelance career or small business... you need these things. I have had a website since before websites were necessary because I learned "first things first", and whatever I did not have I figured out how to get it and IN THE RIGHT ORDER. When you climb the Empire State Building, you don't start at the top.

Last but CERTAINLY not least realize that if you want to make a living in your craft one day, you are ruining it for everyone including yourself by being out there "pretending" to be what you are not yet. You may charge less for lower quality work, but by doing so, you devalue the industry you are so desperately trying to be a part of. Then when the ones who are pro's show up with rates that are equivalent to their knowledge and true expertise, we get looked at like we have three heads and have to explain why we charge what we charge. Let's ALL join hands and put the value back into our industries because trade work and bartering will NOT put food on anyone's table, and I don't believe the power company will accept a makeover on trade. I am thankful to have clients that value my expertise but I want EVERY client out there to value YOU the industries that I love so much.

If this blog doesn't help you... just wait. I have a book for you, (I just have to finish writing it; hint-hint) Now go have yourself an AMAZING weekend! I love you all and want nothing more than for  EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU to LOVE and LIVE what you do and live your life to it's absolute fullest potential!

xoxo

Shells

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Getting Paid What You Are Worth

First off, I want to say HAPPY TUESDAY and I am sorry that I did not have this post ready for your morning coffee yesterday as usual. I was getting back in my groove because I just got back late Sunday night from a 4-day business trip to Atlanta. I was the personal makeup artist/hair and wardrobe stylist on set for a young new up and coming pop artist named Lia who was shooting the music video for her first single Y.A.L.I. (Young and Living It). I had the privilege of being the same triple threat on set of her first professional photo shoot about a month ago and since she and her parents loved me so much I get to continue working with her as her career rapidly grows and am truly honored! This job was one of "those" jobs... you know, the ones that let you know that all of your hard "working for less than you are worth" jobs do eventually bring you the gigs that make it all worth while.

photo by Russ Robinson Tampa Band Photos

So, as I thought of my blog title, I had a short back and forth conversation with a photographer client of mine who was trying to find out my availability for an upcoming commercial shoot that he wants to hire me for. He was telling me that it was a trade shoot for him,  despite the fact that he will be paying both me and the model out of his own pocket, but that his hopes were that he would get some paid work from them in the future. That inspired my post even more. For those of you who do not know what I am talking about... "trade shoot" is a term in this industry that photographers, models, makeup artists, hair stylists and wardrobe stylists are VERY familiar with and might I add repulsed with. What does it mean? Well it means that you are so awesome that a client wants to "hire" you but that you will NOT be getting paid for your time, efforts, gas, products used or your amazing expertise. It is like bartering with a very short end of the stick that is never being held by the "client".

This term originated and makes sense for people who are "building their book"; industry lingo for needing pictures so you can book paid gigs... it's kind of like proving yourself worthy of hiring. For people starting out, who are not making enough money to fund these expensive projects it makes complete sense. It allows you to work with a team that all have the same goal; to get great pictures that "look" the part even though it cost nothing to put together so you can make thousands of dollars for one day of work. (Hey, it CAN happen) It is also acceptable when an experienced artist or photographer needs some "fresh" stuff for their book, for charity causes or if you are moving into a new genre; say from fashion into swimsuit, but there has to be value to all involved. What is sad and quite ridiculous is that there are WAY too many talented people who are seasoned in this industry who get stuck in this vortex of "working" for FREE. Just because we are "freelance" artists, models and photographers, does NOT mean we are worthless and must work for free. It all boils down to the fact that we get in life what we accept and starving artists tend to accept too much of this. Who in the world works for free? You don't see McDonald's employees working for free until they can prove that they know how to flip a burger or take an order or salt french fries. I just don't understand how COMMERCIAL clients who are obviously making money... in this case,an exotic car dealership, can continue to take advantage of people. Come do this shoot for free so I can use the pictures to make $300,000 selling one car. BLEAGH!

I used to be one of these "starving" underpaid artists, but it came to a point where I decided that I had proven myself, built a book and had a reputation for excellence in all aspects and for the past several years I give people my rates and ask if they are working on a budget the moment someone contacts me. I will work with budgets, not a problem, but unless you are going to add something to my book that is extremely unique or if you have the potential of becoming a frequent ongoing paying client that wants to "test" with me, I no longer work for free. If you cannot afford me then I will help you find someone that needs to build a book. Bottom line, I have a family to clothe and feed and I won't hustle anymore with hopes that I will be worthy enough to gain a dollar later on.

I know that there are some of you who are stuck here... in this pool of unappreciative, blood sucking "clients" that act like you are privileged to be working with them. KNOW YOUR VALUE ; DON'T BE AFRAID of losing people like this. They may keep you busy and you may even get cool pictures, but if they can't appreciate your value then you don't need them in your life. Trust me, someone will come along and pay you more than you are worth, treat you like a rock star and it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

 I will end this with one one of my quotes 

"We get in life what we accept, 

 sometimes gaining respect means not being the yes guy."  

Shelley Giard 

Have a fabulous week! 

xoxo

~Shells~