Kids on Film

I am a liar.

A straight up lying liar who lies with her lying mouth (and keyboard).

Despite saying no less than a dozen times RIGHT HERE on this blog, plus another million times out loud to real life people’s ears, I have decided to turn my photography addiction hobby into a business.

There are a lot of ways I’m justifying this change of heart to myself, but it basically boils down to this: I want to get better. I want to be really, really good at photography. I want to take a million workshops and classes and go to conferences. I want to upgrade my camera and my lenses and my editing software. I want – NEED – as much practice as I can get. And having a business is the only way to do all that.

Unless I win the lottery. Then free camera and tiny American flags for everyone!

Photography is not a cheap hobby. I mean, really, almost nothing is a cheap hobby. Please ignore the giant stash of yarn from my knitting hobby, or the giant pile of cookbooks from my baking hobby, or all the dead plants from my gardening hobby – or really, don’t ignore them. Realize that I’m learning from those ventures. I’ve been consistently interested in and learning about taking pictures since I got my Nikon right before Evan’s 1st birthday. I’m not jumping into this. I’m not even going to start charging right away. I’m going to try to do it right, with lots of advice and help from people who can say MISTAKE MISTAKE MISTAKE when I start making stupid decisions.

Please, feel free to roll your eyes at me. Call me just a mom with a camera. You can’t make me feel more unsure of myself than I already do, even though I have plenty of awesome friend who are lovely and encouraging, even if I know they’re thinking “I knew you were a liar!” behind my back. For every second I think “I don’t have to be the BEST EVER to do this – I just have to have work people think is valuable!” a voice in my head says “Valuable? Bish, please, who do you think you’re kidding? If you give a blind monkey a camera he’d get some lucky shots sometimes too.”

So really, I’m somewhere in between. Not there, but on the road. And I guess I just need a little help paying the tolls.

I haven’t been blogging this week because I’ve been editing pictures, and I realize I like doing that almost as much as I like writing words and stories and maybe also just a tiiiny bit more some days? Because it’s 100 effing degrees and I can’t think straight but damn if my kids aren’t the cutest little practice models and taking pictures of them makes me happy.

norwich free academy_-31

p.s. I think I’m going to call the business Ginger Snaps. Get it?

p.p.s. I also think I’m going to try to talk people into letting me do what I do know, just with their families. Go to the park, on a picnic, the aquarium, feed the ducks, the fair, whatever. I’ll just tag along and act like the paparazzi – with maybe a gentle nudge into the best light and cutest poses. Stupid/not stupid?

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23 Responses to “Kids on Film”

  1. Fionnuala says:

    What a fantastic venture! I married a photographer (then worked for him for many years) and I can say, when you have been bitten by the bug, it rarely goes away. If you ever want to talk shop, let me know! Congrats and good luck.

  2. Naomi Colquitt says:

    Ohemgee!! I live it, and the business name, yes!!! You need to run to city hall or whatever you have to do and license that name, stat!!! I say, do what you love. And if you do it with the caveat of “building your portfolio”, heck if I lived there, I’d do it! Who doesn’t want extra pics of their family :)

  3. Naomi Colquitt says:

    Love, errrgh ( fat thumbs)…

  4. raincheckmom says:

    GINGER SNAPS? OMG that is perfect! Your pictures have been getting better and better. You will do great!

  5. Betsy says:

    A thousand likes for the business name, the photo ideas, and your cute, adorable models. You’ll do great, Suzanne! I always enjoy your photos (and stories).

  6. Other Erin says:

    First piece of advice is to fill out whatever form CT has and pay the ~$50 and get a business license. Then save receipts for everything even somewhat related to your business so you can write them off.

  7. Sarah says:

    Ginger Snaps is the Best Photography Business Name Ever. Also? I would *love* for you to act like paparazzi for my kids – I think that’s a great idea. Hmmmm, when will you be in NY again?? ;)

  8. Kitty Conner says:

    a) Best name EVAR. Like ever ever. I might need a business card. (Also, I feel strongly that your logo should somehow involve the tops of certain ginger heads in silhouette.)

    b) Excellent idea. Doing what you know has certainly worked for your writing/blogging. Clients, at least at first, are going to fall in love with your work because they imagine their kids/themselves IN your photos. Who doesn’t want the chance to be like a beautifully lit ginger for a day and the evidence of that to hang on the wall for a lifetime?

    c)For anyone who wants to make you feel bad or claim you discard hobbies … those piles of stuff? That’s how you get to BE a thing. They may feel abandoned now and maybe, one day in the far far future when life gets in the way, photography might be a pile too. But those piles are there to go back to and those piles say that you made yourself a thing. You are a Knitter. You are a Baker. You are a Gardener. No one can take that away. If you ever want to or need to, you can knit your kid a sweater or bake a pie to cheer someone up. In addition to those other things though, You ARE A Photographer. And you’re working to get something back from those specific skills other than a warm kid or a happy friend. Go you!

    d) Bestest of best luck to you, MrsLiarWhoIsAFabPhotographerAndShouldNotFeelBadAboutTheLyingBecauseYouWereMostlyJustLyingToYourself! (And we all know lying to yourself doesn’t count.) You’re going to be amazing. No matter how little or how big this business is or ends up, it’ll be yours and you’ll make your clients happy and most importantly, you’ll be doing something to make YOU happy. I only internet-know you, but I’m so very very proud of the person you’ve grown up to be!

  9. Ginger Snaps! Love it! Based on that picture alone, I would hire you!

  10. Erin says:

    It’s wonderful and I’m so excited for you!!!! You are already a wonderful photography and I’m so impressed with the speed at which you are getting more and more amazing all the time. Pretty soon (if not already) you are going to leave me in the dust and I’m so excited to get to be one of the little people so got you started :) I’m very proud of all your talents and I can’t wait to see what you come up with when you combine all this blogging and a new photography business. Congrats!

  11. molly says:

    Wonderful idea! I think you are a great photographer and you will only get better with time! Congrats on this new endeavor and I wish you the best of luck, friend!

  12. Two thumbs up all around! Love the name and can’t wait to see you grow even more as a photographer!

  13. Laura says:

    OMG — Ginger Snaps. I LOVE IT!

  14. jen_schoeph says:

    good for you! i had a feeling this post was going to come soon! it’s obvious you have been enjoying every moment of this photography journey! why not move forward?? good luck! love the name! and, most of all, CONGRATS!

  15. jen_schoeph says:

    good for you! i had a feeling this post was going to come soon! it’s obvious you have been enjoying every moment of this photography journey! why not move forward?? good luck! love the name! and, most of all, CONGRATS! also don’t forget HAVE FUN, if it’s truly your hobby/love it will never, ever feel like work!

  16. Robyn says:

    First…I LOVE the name! Go get the twitter handle, website, email address, trademark, etc, before someone else does!

    Second…I think it’s an awesome idea and I think you will be amazing! I think your photography is really good already…and I’m not just saying that.

    Third…I think your idea of following a family around like the papparazzi is a fantactic idea! I would love to have someone do that. That’s actually what my sister’s FIL does. She has tons of amazing photos of everyday life stuff and never has to lift a finger!

    Fourth…I think it’s so important for women/mothers (the stay with the kids all the time ones, and the leave the house and get an actual paycheck ones) have an outlet that is all their own. Something independent of their homes and families that they can be proud of. It reminds you that you are a real person and not just mom/wife/whatever. Even though i have an outside job that pays me, I recently started a teeny tiny soap and body product business and the joy it gives me is amazing. It’s so nice to have something that is all my own. I hope your new business gives you that same feelings as mine!

  17. Audrey says:

    Awesome! And no, not stupid! I love when I can convince people to let me just capture their candid moments. Those are my absolute favorite images.

  18. Brigid Keely says:

    This may sound like damning you with faint praise, BUT, I have seen WAY worse photographers-who-charge-actual-money than you. You take good photos and you have a passion for it. Go for it!

  19. Julie S. says:

    GO for it! And like the above person said, I have seen worse from people who charge a LOT of money! :) If you love it, go for it! I did, and its been such a great thing for my creative energy!

  20. Kristi says:

    Okay, the name kicks a**! I love it. I love your photos. So much so that if lived within reasoable distance I would be your first paying customer. Or I could fly you here?
    In all seriousness, I think hobbies and passions change as we grow and change as people. I know you have found yours. You are way too talented not to do this. So, go for it. You got this!

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