Sick Day

Higgins Beach after the latest snow storm

Even photographers get sick. Today I sit in my pj's surrounded by tissues and battling up and down body temperatures and low energy. There's no one who needs calling with a report that I won't be heading in to work today. And there certainly isn't someone who will pay me to sit home sick. I had already forgotten that many people in our country have that option.

So, I sit surrounded by the many tissues and almost empty cups of liquids and just get to work. Build a new page on the website, contact a local magazine, spend time with the blog, work on some photos. The news shows slowly turn into soap operas (nice to learn Bo and Hope are still on TV...) and I wonder where the remote is and how much effort it will take me to get up and change the channel. Maybe I should make some tea, which will require more effort than finding the remote, but might be more rewarding. Sounds like a lot of things in life.

There is something funny about telling myself I need to take a sick day, and then still finding ways to get things done. Funny I guess, because I am still getting used to being my own boss. I like that I can stay home, feeling far below 100% and still accomplish something. Don't need to look nice to work on the computer. Plus, there are so few distractions for me right now.



Yesterday I left the office after only a few hours. I drove to Higgins Beach in Scarborough and took a little walk with my camera. I hoped the fresh air would make me feel better. I also thought if I wasn't feeling up to getting work done in the office, then at least I could put the camera to use. The air wasn't the right answer, it just made my nose run even more. But using the camera, as always, was a good recipe to make me feel better. Even if it was only temporary.

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The Inspiration I Was Looking For...

... happened when I walked into the Q Street Diner yesterday. A sunny spot in a cold winter day - seriously, the building is painted bright yellow - with walls covered in movie and music and political memorabilia, the Q Street Diner is just what I needed to help shake this case of the blahs.

How can you go wrong with Bogart and Nixon sharing the same wall space?

An empty window after the lunch rush. I could stare at it for hours and still not get every detail...

Here's a story in the Maine Switch, in case you want to go see for yourself. Don't forget to check out the life size cardboad cut-out of of Humphrey Bogart...

Trying to find some focus

A beach in California. Where I wish was right now...

It's cold and it's January and I'm struggling to find some inspiration. OH! It's not January, it's actually February. Ooops. My mind is a month behind. I guess those 2+ weeks I spent in sunny California did something to my concept of time. Anyway, I am still getting used to the idea of working for me and keeping some sort of schedule that doesn't involve my pj's and a laptop and endless cups of coffee. I find myself in this almost weird sort of time warp, struggling between getting lots of little things done and feeling like I'm getting nothing done. I head into the office where I'm happy to find myself around other photographers, all of whom have helped me in some way. We come out of our offices and try to laugh or distract ourselves from the fact that there isn't much work right now. Keeping a positive attitude is essential and yet a struggle.

I spent Tuesday in the lighting studio bonding with my new lighting kit. I have been editing still photos from recent stints on different film sets. Some images for a friend who is working on a short film (that is a continuation of his 48 Hour Film Project), and the other for an independent feature I hooked up with while in Los Angeles. That whole experience is what I really want to write about and I am DYING to post those images on my blog. It was by far the highlight of my trip. But we will have to wait for that project to wrap and hopefully be released before I will share much more. Stay tuned.

So between editing and learning more about my equipment and lighting, there is the need to promote oneself. Everyone in the office is feeling discouraged and worried with what little work there seems to be. Perhaps a good time to update the website, start a new project, or maybe learn more about your craft. I say it's also a good time to work on relationships.

A fellow photographer I have assisted for a couple of times gave me a good piece of advice. He told me the key to marketing yourself is relationships. Take those relationships you make along the way and cultivate them. This makes perfect sense. How else will they know to think of you when they are in need of a photographer? His advice clicked with me and in that moment faces of people I had already been building a relationship with flashed through my mind. It was a moment that helped me to let go of that unhealthy schoolgirl feeling that maybe I'll be bugging someone by contacting them. It's just the opposite. The cultivated relationship is mutually beneficial, and the key to growing success for yourself and those around you.

This is where being a social creature can start to work in my favor. At least, that's my hope. Hopefully this will help me find some much needed focus.

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Baby, It's Cold Outside!

But that's no reason to stay in....

I visited my nephew at an ice skating party in his neighborhood. He ate snow while I networked. Well, my plan was to visit with him after several weeks of not seeing each other, but a little outside socializing led to me working the crowd and passing out business cards. Seems like a good way to spend a Saturday. (And right now those of us who are self-employed need to take every opportunity we can to boost business.)

Even cookies still taste good when sitting out in the cold. Shaw's should be paying me for this amazing product placement.

Sticks, shovels, and hats combined with a little ice can make for a great day. But don't forget your camera and business cards...