In the last couple of years I've done more lurking than posting here and I've seen a couple of photographers ask advice about what to do while running their wedding business and being a pregnant/new mother.
My scenario is different.
For one, I'm a man. 8)
I've been working for this studio that doesn't really click for me. In many ways I feel there is a lack of class and professionalism. I don't feel like I'm a fit with our clients. I don't earn enough. I'm becoming uninspired and I feel like my work is showing it.
My boss and I are the only shooters here. She is pregnant and due next month. I've been working for her exclusively since August, but have never really let go of my business. I haven't been shooting for myself; I've just been continuously working on preparing my business to open back up again.
Now I have the opportunity to leave this boss.
She is often not at the studio while I'm working here alone. The last five or six weddings last season she left early and told me to stay and cover the end of the reception. I'm about to head out to a portrait without her. I shot the last portrait here in the studio while she watched. I'm tired of answering the phone and hearing clients ask about where their album is. She told todays portrait client that I wrote the wrong phone number down when he called (I wrote down the phone number, email, first and last name, city, and the fact that he is father of a bride we shot...not hard to get a hold of him eh?).
On one hand I'm feeling guilty with what I'm going to do because she is pregnant and will have a new baby when I leave. On the other hand, I want you to imagine yourself on a wedding in a po-dunk town in a VFW hall doing your damndest to make the wedding look pretty while boss is calling you 'Mitch Bitch' in front of the client. Then imagine that the client comes over to you and says 'Hey man, we saw your stuff on the blog and we were praying to god that you were going to be here so you can shoot us.' Feels good until you remember that your boss is late paying you....
I shot on Pentax K10D, she shoots on 5D mark 2. Side by side, this is what we get....
(these are adobe rgb hence the flat colors)
Well I see that you're trying to use the rule of thirds here. Shot 1 is stronger because
of their interaction with each other. Also, the first shot is technically better with a bit
more contrast.
The second shot is boring.
In both shots, the background is pretty uninteresting. Whats the difference between
your shots and a better shot? A few stops on a better lens. Get fast glass. Try
shooting the same thing at f/2.8 or wider and on a lens thats longer than 50mm, and
you'll see a huge difference here.
It's hard to just up and leave someone when they're in a tight spot but it sounds like this employer has put you in a tight position an awful lot. No doubt she's aware that you aren't happy in your current position so you have to ask yourself what it would mean for you to stick it out a while longer or go and strike out on your own (especially if you're in podunk).
Is your business plan in place, do you know how you're going to get a different class of clients (ones that you feel that you can click with)? I mean, that situation sucks right now but it seems like you have her business over a barrel and there might be some room to negotiate if you feel like you could stick to things a while longer while you get your own work on your feet.
jprezant wrote:
Well I see that you're trying to use the rule of thirds here. Shot 1 is stronger because
of their interaction with each other. Also, the first shot is technically better with a bit
more contrast.
The second shot is boring.
In both shots, the background is pretty uninteresting. Whats the difference between
your shots and a better shot? A few stops on a better lens. Get fast glass. Try
shooting the same thing at f/2.8 or wider and on a lens thats longer than 50mm, and
you'll see a huge difference here.
I agree 100% with what Jason had to say....
and Mitch Bitch?? seriously? I'd have been gone long ago. Based on the shots you've posted, you are carrying her. Man up, get some confidence and strike out on your own. Does it suck that you might be leaving her high and try, yea maybe... but but perhaps she's just getting what she deserves for treating you the way she has.
in hard terms: this is a business-you work for her-your job is not to support her while she's pregnant-it's her studio, after all-if everything you say is happening is truly happening, i'd personally want out of there-no way would i do the work of the studio owner AND only be paid like the assistant-she sounds lazy but that's really beside the point
the work on your Flickr page tells me you're ready to shoot on your own-it's not like you're learning anything with this photographer so the only reason to stay would be to "help her out"/do her work and be paid a small portion of the profits OR because you're intimidated of going out on your own-the real question for me is: do you feel ready to handle the business side of running your own studio? if the answer is yes, then get out of dodge-any association with her could hurt your name anyways-if you leave, i'd suggest you let her know as soon as possible so she can make the necessary arrangements
I was in a similar, if not as severe, situation several years ago. I was working for a 'family owned' studio (the family was on the other side of the country and had a manager here) doing sports and portrait work. I didn't particularly like the portrait side of it but was pretty good at it. My direct manager was pretty inept in ALL aspects of his job (like getting in focus shots, making schedules, editing, showing up, etc...) and I was getting bored/lazy with the work. I had a part time job working for a local weekly newspaper that pay VERY well for the amount of work that I did, but I couldn't live off of it. I was laid off for a couple of months (a regular occurrence for the school portrait industry) and came back just in time to be offered a promotion at the newspaper. I was offered enough work to replace the studio job (I wound up making about 10% more then the full time job in about 15 hours a week). I could have just told them to shove it and move on. Instead I gave them about a months notice and made sure that they knew I would be more then willing to freelance for them when they needed it. several years later I still work for them on occasion. One of the smaller newspapers in the area that I shoot for covers one of the schools they have a contract for. I often cover an event for both, two paychecks is better then one. It cost me nothing to keep a friendly relationship with them. I make a couple thousand a year extra off of them, they have a little easier time scheduling shoots during the busy months. If they ever stop calling me I'm not going broke. Sometimes it pays not to burn bridges.
Now, I was never insulted or treated bad. No one ever blamed something they screwed up on me. (well there was one screaming match between me and my immediate boss, but that's a whole 'nother story). But you can either tell her to sit on it and spin and walk away. Or negotiate from a position of power. If you're ready to walk away then tell her you want to either change the business relationship or walk away. You want to be paid on time, you want respect, you're going to be building your own business back up, and ::insert other demands::. Either she says yes and you get what you want from her, or she says no and you move onto your own work.
Either way her being pregnant is HER problem, not yours. You can either feel sorry for her running her business into the ground or use it to your advantage.
I worked for a place that did the same. he underpaid me, paid me late, got around reimbursement, asked too much, put me down (we had words) etc. I was so stressed out in the end, its not worth it.
It sounds like there's no appreciation or respect, it shows in payment and in the way you're treated. It's going to take away from your shooting. Don't feel bad for leaving, obviously she doesn't give a crap, so why should you? Besides, this'll be the perfect time to strike out on your own since she'll be having her baby lol. just let her know you're leaving and then, if she still wants you to shoot for her while she's unable (or feeling better), she can hire your business for your set price, it sounds like you're the main shooter anyways. Also, word will get around how much her work sucks since you've left lol.
p.1 #10 · Different Kind of Prego Photog Situation
have you approached her about the behaviors and what a challenging work environment her lack of professionalism creates for you? she's of course in the wrong if these things are happening, but you also bear responsibility if you haven't addressed the issues head on in a frank discussion.
a simple, "it makes me incredibly uncomfortable when you call me a bitch in front of clients," is sometimes all it takes.
if you don't advocate for yourself, no one will. if you're not prepared to do that, just do yourself (and her) a favor and politely resign.
p.1 #11 · Different Kind of Prego Photog Situation
jprezant wrote:
Well I see that you're trying to use the rule of thirds here. Shot 1 is stronger because
of their interaction with each other. Also, the first shot is technically better with a bit
more contrast.
The second shot is boring. In both shots, the background is pretty uninteresting. Whats the difference between
your shots and a better shot? A few stops on a better lens. Get fast glass. Try
shooting the same thing at f/2.8 or wider and on a lens thats longer than 50mm, and
you'll see a huge difference here.
the background is what it is. her dad owns a dairy farm and they specifically requested that background.....nothing I can do about it.
I shot it on my 50-135 2.8 around 70mm @ 3.2. I try to stay off of 2.8 in order to retain maximum sharpness...i see this lens soften slightly when wide open.
I agree it's not the best shot in the universe.....it's just a pair off photos that I set aside one day when she was telling me some reason why I dint shoot well. they are the only twophotos in a folder called 'bitchy jpegs'. I was going to make a collection but decided it would be childish and useless to make an entire collection.
....
I've decided I'll give her two months notice and tell heer I'll continue to second shoot for her when she needs it but that I can't stay committed to her and need to find better success.
p.1 #14 · Different Kind of Prego Photog Situation
Looks like she needs you more than you need her. I wouldn't feel bad leaving...and I'm sure she'll find someone else to treat like crap in your place so I wouldn't worry to much about it.
p.1 #16 · Different Kind of Prego Photog Situation
True, but you're shooting Pentax.....ALL of your lenses are stabilized.
The 50-135 is as good a lens as I've used. My copy was sharp from 2.8 on. It was probably my second favorite Pentax lens. The DA35 Macro cannot be beat!
Back to the original topic....."Mitch Bitch" would've been the last words she every said to me. I'd have walked away right then and there.
p.1 #19 · Different Kind of Prego Photog Situation
I think two months notice is good timing. Gives her time to have the baby and recover before she's shooting solo again. Unfortunately she's at a time in her pregnancy where the slightest thing is likely to make her cry uncontrollably (especially losing her quality "second").
If you're able to continue on afterwards part time as a freelance photog at a more favorable rate, you may want to include that information as well. (I'll continue on under our current agreement until x+60. After that if you still need me my rate would be Y with the following conditions...)
p.1 #20 · Different Kind of Prego Photog Situation
Yeah actually I have a meeting today to line up some dates. I was offered thirteen-ish dates when I first decided to make my move, but it was to early to commit to them. I've also got an investor ready to drop some cash on me.
My business plan has been under re-development for over a year. I'm READY!!
I will, however, continue to shoot with her if she needs the help.
