The cold, it lingers.
And there have been many times I've wanted to blog lately but had no access to a computer. When I have access, I don't have the time. It really is aggravating.
To keep with the new tradition of crappy in 2007, I spent last night at our local courthouse. Seems my vehicle inspection expired back in October and I never noticed. Even though technically the vehicles are someone else's "area". Still, I drive it and I didn't notice. The policeman did though. The good news is that I got off with just the mandatory fee. The judge let me go on the actual fine. Still, FEE.
The other thing was it was intermittently interesting. The kids (and they were definitely kids) brought in from prison because of parole violations. The kids with lawyers and parents that were obviously not there for simple traffic violations. It made me realize that "Dear God, may I never have to accompany my child to court." It is an experience I never want to have. Now, I'm sure some of those cases were childish misbehaving and some, I'm sure, were more serious. Ugh, I'm so not ready for the boys to grow up.
DJ was pleased that I did not have to go to jail. He was a bit worried.
In other news...
There has been discussion about getting me a NEW and IMPROVED camera. I've been asked to do some photography for actual pay but I need better equipment. No really. I can't do what I've been asked to do with what I have. The other side of it is that I won't be making enough to cover the cost of a new camera & lens. If I did then I'd say, "let's do it!" But no. I don't know how much I'll be making but I do know I won't come close as they are more in the "favor with some compensation" area.
I'd also like to ask for a raise. A big raise but I'm scared. I don't really know how to go about such things and I don't know how to figure out what I should be getting for where I'm working and what I'm doing. This is mostly because I don't have a specific "job". I do a bit of many different things. I'm not a web designer but I do web design. I'm not in accounting but I do the budget reports. I'm not an administrative assistant (what do they do anyway?) as I'd have to be full time and salaried. My official title is Special Projects but it's not something you can look up online and say, "Oh, here is what other people doing what I do make." I don't even know if there is anyone else in this company that does what I do.
When I was hired the salary was discussed and it was decided that after we figured out what my responsibilities were to be and if I could do what needed to be done (remember, never had a "career" and had been home for 5 years) that it would be renegotiated. The thing is that my immediate boss is the one who did my 6 month review and is not the same person who discussed my salary when I was hired (she wasn't even my boss then). So who do I talk to? My new boss isn't comfortable hiking my salary and I don't know if I should jump above her to the original person who discussed it with me. Suggestions?
Accepting all suggestions, advice, donations for a new camera etc.
3 comments:
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Thanks for your comment on my blog today. To answer your quesion, I shoot with a Nikon D80. I also got the 18-135mm ED lens with it, so that covers off most of my everyday shooting needs.
I've been in your photographic shoes before. I often get asked to shoot events, but family and friends figure I'll do it for free or expenses. When I shot with film, it was a major deal, as large-volume processing was and is very expensive.
Digital removes that - well, I DO need more big memory cards, but the cost curve is more gradual here - but the capital cost for a body and lens can be significant.
Two major avenues to pursue:
1 - Rent. Camera shops often rent SLRs and related equipment. They'll even apply some of the rental fees to an eventual purchase if you choose to convert. If you line up a couple of jobs like the one you describe, that might work nicely.
2 - Buy an inexpensive body. Nikon's new D40 drops the floor for an entry-level SLR. When shooting events, you don't need the top-of-the-line body. All that matters is the optics: I suspect I'd take just as great pictures with the D40 as I can with the D80. Combine #2 with #1 and it may not be all that onerous to move into an SLR that will allow you to take on more small jobs like this.
I'm also being approached for jobs. I'm charging - precisely because to not charge anything would devalue the worth of the art - but less than I would a total stranger. I plow any profits back into the camera - more cards, batteries, grips, etc.
Hope this helps a bit. Let me know if I can add more. I'm happy to take the time if it'll help ya!
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