Get the Job Done: Auraria Campus Gear and Logos Shoot

Whew...talk about a busy weekend! I shot three photo sessions with Auraria Higher Education Center students modeling university gear and logos for Metropolitan State College of Denver, Community College of Denver and University of Colorado Denver. Marketing directors plan to use the images to advertise the clothing line. And several of my photos will be displayed in large 20x30 poster size prints around the Tivoli Student Center as part of that marketing effort!



I have only touched the surface of the 400 or so images I need to sort through, but my contact at the campus is already requesting a CD today of the first 25 images I've processed. I've included some of my favorites from the shoots held Saturday, Sunday and Monday.



Seems they are in a hurry to get some newer images up as soon as possible, which is understandable given the fact that many of the ads they have up now were shots taken in the 1970s and 1980s. The original images lack the diversity in student population that exists on campus now. So it was important that we showcased the fact that a large percentage of the student body consists of ethnic minorities, including a growing Latino population and nontraditional students, such as seniors and the mother featured below with her daughter.






One of my main jobs will be to gradually update those images with some fresh perspective of how the campus buildings and students look now. I've got to get a shot of someone pounding away on their laptop since nearly every student has one. And I think this photo I took on Monday showing a group of students all texting or talking on their cell phones portrays the current environment of the Auraria Campus.

Get the Goods: Prophotolife.com Educational Videos

Prophotolife.com offers free educational videos and tutorials every Monday. I would like to start sharing this information on my blog as well. Many photographers fear they can't get results taking photos in studio without big-budget lighting kits, but "Episode 13, Beautiful Photo Studio Portraits with One Light" explains in great detail how to get wonderful results with just one light source.

I just subscribed to Jim Talkington's website, and I highly recommend you do the same. His videos are extremely helpful and easy to follow. While I have books that explain how to get Rembrandt, Butterful and Edge lighting, being able to see a photographer in action while achieving these effects makes for infinitely better learning and retaining for visually minded people.

Get the Job Done: New Freelance Position At College is a Done Deal!

I received my purchase order yesterday from the Auraria Higher Education Center confirming that I am now on retainer as a freelance digital photographer for the Student Auxiliary Services Marketing Department!

The contract is effective now until June 2009, and my new boss said she could have my first assignment ready for this weekend. I had to turn in a W-9 and other documentation for proving my sole proprietorship and resident status at with the State of Colorado. I also had to show some letterhead for my company, which I really didn't have at the time. So I reworked the banner I have at the top of my blog in Photoshop to create my letterhead until I can hire someone to design a logo for my business.

I blogged earlier about the fact that I shot the 50th year anniversary rededication ceremony for the parents of client Cheryl Carter last year. A few months ago, Cheryl referred my services to the bride and groom whom I photographed in May. The wedding was held at the St. Cajetan's church (featured above) on the Auraria campus. I didn't realize that Cheryl was the marketing manager for the university as well as the wedding planner.

But after I turned in my photos to the bride and groom, Cheryl called and asked if I could work for Auraria shooting other events held on campus. Cheryl said that there are weddings happening on campus just about every weekend, not to mention all the other events and gatherings held at the popular Tivoli Student Union that need to be photographed. Cheryl wants to beef up Auraria's marketing campaign, and she has already asked for night time shots showcasing the Denver cityscape.

Value every connection you make in your own entreprenuerial journey. Good deeds as well as a job well done speaks volumes about what potential clients can expect to receive from you. And you never know when one contact will lead to another, so make ALL of them count.

Breaking News: New Freelance Photographer for Auraria Campus!

Nice! I had no idea that the woman who referred me to shoot the wedding last month is the new PR person over at the Auraria Higher Education Campus. The campus houses not only the Metro State College of Denver, but the University of Colorado at Denver and the Community College of Denver!

The PR person just called to tell me that she wants to hire me to be a freelance photographer for the campus. She says they have events there every weekend and haven't had the kind of photographic coverage they've been wanting since she got hired. Heck ya! What a blessing!

Now...what do I charge? She said an hourly rate would be good and that I could expect no more than a couple hours per event, but you and I both know those few hours will translate into a ton of editing and traveling time. Plus, I'm thinking I should charge something for corporate use of the photos in their fliers too. What do you think? Any suggestions?