ari hummer photo coming at ya twenty twenty

5 days till Christmas! then another week until the new decade. 

currently I'm at my new job as a building sub, doing absolutely nothing for the 3rd time this week. I'm sure that will change when we come back from break, but I'll take it. Hopefully I have some weeks like this when school starts back up and I have homework out the wazoo. 

Anyway, I'm very excited for Christmas - Christmas at the hummer's is something that I've never experienced but can only imagine is fantastic. I'm sure I'll talk about Christmas another time. Right now, because this is what I do when I'm trying to kill time, I'm going to daydream a bit. I think 2020 could be the year I start my business. I've started to accumulate some photos - I have a good chunk of portraits, some family photos, engagement photos, senior photos, and this year I'll be shooting my first wedding, and have some more engagement photos. If I can, I'll take some more time to do more portraits too, and just shoot some more, that way, hopefully starting around the time of nat and Giselle's wedding, I can launch a website, buy some gear, and get things rolling. Once I move out to CNY, I still want to be shooting weddings - even like 5 per year would be great. 8-12 would be my ideal/max, considering my retouching skills are lackluster. I'm excited to create packages (based on flower names FOR SURE) and to brand myself and make money doing what I love. 

Say my wedding package starts at 2000. 10 weddings at 2000 is 20,000 of income. that's wild. I think periodically this spring, I'll spend some time talking with Natalie about how to get started - the legal aspect, the branding, the website creation, where my profit has to go, how to do as much as possible on my own - things like that! 

between weddings, families, and seniors, it would be great to make 30,000 gross from photographer, combined with like 50,000 gross from teaching. That's a really solid income. And honestly, the 30k? that would be reeeeeally solid for childcare hahah. 

OKAY. so. Here's what I'm thinking. This website will start out basic. There will be a blog space, a gallery, list of services, and we'll just start there. Natalie can give me any other input. 

I need to set prices. Like actually just pick prices and go with it. I can do albums from artifact uprising. once I have my own gear, the cost to me will really just be product and second shooting. second shooters will receive 30$/hour. Wedding packages will come along with time, but for smaller shoots I need to set a session fee. 

For seniors, the cost will be 250$ for 2.5 hours + all of the retouched prints digitally. Additionally, they can choose up to 5 prints up to 8x10. 

Additional time comes at 50$/hour, and prints will be 8$ each up to 8x10. 

Family shoots will be similar, although the cost will be $200 for 1.5 hours. Families will receive any retouched images digitally, and up to 5 prints up to 8x10. 

Engagement shoots will be my specialty - they will be 300$ and up. That cost will encompass time frames from 1.5-2.5 hours. after 2.5, every additional hour will be 50$. They will receive all retouched images, up to 5 prints, complimentary save the date design ideas, and a super fun and luxurious experience. Engagement shoots will feel fun and casual, but we'll definitely pop the bubbly, and make it an unforgettable experience. 

All shoots allow for up to 3 outfits. for all shoots, albums can be purchased. 

Engagement shoots will come with all wedding packages.

WEDDING PACKAGE DRAFT: 

Poppies & Sunlight - $2000+: 8 hours of shooting, all retouched images, 10x10 album, engagement shoot with retouched images and save the date ideas, and 5 prints.

Peonies & Bubbly - $2600+: 10 hours of shooting, all retouched images, 12x12 album, 10 prints, engagement shoot with 5 prints, save the date ideas and retouched images, + guest book. 

Dragonsnaps & Luxe  - $3200+: 12 hours of shooting, all retouched images, 12x12 or 10x10 album, 10 prints, wall piece, 2 10x10 or 8.5x8.5 parent albums, engagement shoot with all images, 5 prints, save the date ideas, and a guest book. 

cost to me for d&l: 

360 for ss

500-600 for albums 

minimal cost for prints 

125 for guest book

wall piece - large format print, framed at couple's desire. 

Profit: 

d&l - 2100

p&s - 1560

p&b - 1906

I'd net around 19,000 if I did 10 p&b weddings in a year. 

Other name ideas: (the ones above really need some work.) 

You & I 

Evermore

Endlessly 

Delight (low end) 

Lovestruck (middle)

Til Death (High end) 

Disclaimer: Everyone deserves to have gorgeous photos to remind them of this beautiful but fleeting day. No matter their budget, they should be able to look back at tangible, concrete memories. 

OKAY SO THERE'S THAT. we'll come back to this.