NoBs Digital Dogbowl
The NoBs Digital Dogbowl Newsletter:
Keeping you up to date and informed on the latest, coolest, and outrageous happenings inside the world of NoBS Photo Success.
Loaded with Free photography tips, Photoshop tutorials, photo reviews,
and other totally relevant essentials. Be sure to check out the whole thing!
NoBS Member of the Month: Peppypea
My name is Amy Coe and I am a happily married mother of three. I never anticipated that I would become a business woman. Never. When I started a family I thought I would be the mommy who volunteered at school, cleaned house and baked cookies. Lots of them. I guess I didn't know myself very well. By the time my youngest was 6-months-old I realized something was missing in my life. I started photographing my children- a lot. My husband bought me my first digital camera- a Sony Mavica. It was a nifty camera that used floppy disks for memory. I was blown away with what that little-less-than-a-megapixel camera could do! Shortly after John gave me my camera my Mom got me "How to Photograph Your Baby" by Nick Kelsh. My world changed that day. I learned about using ambient light, not using my on camera flash and just looking for natural moments, not big cheesy Wal-Mart grins.
My friends started complimenting my work and asking me to photograph their kids. OK, no problem. Then one day, the friend of a friend asked me to photograph her sons. At the end she asked me "What do I owe you?"
"Nothing." *incredulous
"Well, then YOU are going into business." she said while she wrote out a check. I was floored. Then I took her advice and went into business. The next day.
The first two years I was an idiot. I gave people their pictures on CD for $100. Fully edited. Yikes. After a bit, I realized that my earning potential was so much higher than that. When I changed my policies, I ticked off a LOT of people. I also lost quite a few clients. I am glad, though, that I did not give up and held to my policies. The next year was a real learning experience. I had many clients begging for the CD and some who got down-right nasty about it. Since I was still the bargain in town people thought they could bully me. Wrong. I held strong.
On January 1, 2005 I discovered NoBS Photosuccess. Wow. I thought I know SOOOO much. Wrong. Again. I went in feeling like SUCH a hotshot...like I knew everything I needed to know and I was gonna teach these novices a thing or two. Oh my, how embarrassing to look back on myself, LOL! That January I purchased my first studio lights (2 Alien Bees) and I began the slow process of actually learning how to make portraits properly. It was a long road. A very long road.
In January of 2007 we moved our family and our business to Montana. Our homeland (we had been stuck in Wyoming for nearly 7 years.) Our move has been one of the best things we have ever done for our business. Most photographers in my area ave very traditional, while that is great, that has never been my style. My style is much more fashion driven...something that I have found that today's seniors are looking for. When we moved I knew I would have to hit the ground running. Within 4 months of moving we were doing the Home and Garden Show and meeting our new client base. With the profits of the sale of our home in Wyoming we were able to purchase all new equipment, including cameras (we had been using Digital Rebels for 3 years), lenses, lights and backgrounds. With the new stuff I could really make the images I had always wanted to make.
Without NoBs I would NOT be where I am today. With the support of my friends and fellow professionals I have learned my equipment and the business in ways I could never have done on my own. I am the luckiest girl in the world. I have everything I ever wanted...and MORE! All of this because of the cool career I have and NoBS. (No, I ain't kiddin' and I ain't suckin' up. I really DO mean that!)
