Short Skirts and Lace Fronts

Its an epidemic! I haven't been out in a while so a few weekends ago, my friends and I decided to dust our clubbing shoes off and hit the town. It was confusing. Are those clothes really dresses and skirts? Bending over would have been TMI and it wasn't just one or two or ten girls! A lotttttt! And to add to the confusion, they were swaying their hips and tossing their newly done...badly if I might add...lace front wigs. I truly detest the wigs I see here in Nigeria, I thought the whole point was for the wigs to be seamless? Some people do a nice job of it but most are actually not flattering except the idea is to let people know you were able to pay for a lace front...in that case, I hail you!

Picture from HERE

Don't put all your eggs in one basket!

I read somewhere that one should have multiple streams of income. I currently have only one now that I have quit my job. And its not like the money is currently pouring in from that one stream either.  I thank God that I have been called for some jobs, but I'm going to have to get some repeat clients if I'm to make the kind of money I planned for each month (which is quite a reasonable sum). Being an entrepreneur is not easy and I never thought it would be, do I'm pleased with the challenge. This week I plan to  meet with two of my mentors. I think its important to have mentors who can guide you. I've chosen one for his experience in photography and the other for his business acumen. I hope they will accept.

I'm also attending an entrepreneurial workshop hosted by the British council meant for entrepreneurs in the creative field. I'm looking forward to it because you get to meet gurus from your industry and learn a lot about getting your business off the ground.

Its a bit scar not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from. I had a bit of money saved up so that what I'm using as a cushiony cushion right now ( I haven't received it all from my ex company but its still mine :)). I don't expect to be making millions in the first year but I would like to do as many jobs as I possibly can so I can so my I can increase my presence in the market. 

So back to the streams of income. I have only one...yes...one measly stream. I have to think of more. I could

1) Finish my book

I've been writing a book for the past two years. Its actually quite embarrassing. I think I'm going to just have to schedule regular hours to complete this book.

2) Find a writing job (short articles)- 

I was freelancing for a new newspaper but it was difficult to meet deadlines while I was at work but now I have more time on my hands (at least for now), I can actually go back to freelancing.

3) Marry/Date a rich sugar daddy(he heeee)

Don't think I need to explain this. Don't think a certain someone will be happy with this option lol. 

4) Create my website and upload stock photo's for sale 

(I've started the process). This will mean  have to keep my camera handy as well as come up with creative concepts for my photographs as well as travel around taking shots of monuments etc around Nigeria.

5) Team up with my mum to run her boutique when its opened

Which will be pretty soon. 

6) Think think think!

I really need to think up viable sources of income! 

I'll be putting up samples of my christmas photo card offerings on Wednesday.

Picture from HERE

Pay me my money!

I've had a good break from the working world but I've got to get my business on track now. I'm currently focusing on the photography side of things, E Etomi photography but will eventually expand into production. I've been trying to think up creative ideas to make some money with my photography aside from the regular client sessions. Please share any ideas you might have.

One thing I'm really bad at is collecting the money who people owe me. I feel bad 'bugging' them...for my own money! Imagine. So I really have to work on that because people definitely take advantage and end up owing me for months. Now that I'm a broke ass entrepreneur, it doesn't really worth it (I love how bad the grammar is!). From now on I will be collecting a 50% deposit upfront. 

I'm having problems setting my prices as well. People always want to haggle no matter how reasonable the price. Photography is not easy, after hours of running around capturing images, I still have to sit for hours editing each picture. Its very time consuming. The funny thing is that Nigerians seem to equate quality with outrageous costs. People like to say, 'David and Newton provided flowers for my wedding, Astoria is doing the catering' etc etc. So maybe one day they will pay me stupid money and say E Etomi is taking my pictures lol. 

I also have to find a niche so I can separate myself from other photographers in the Nigerian market. I'm looking at concentrating on maternity and women, and children's portraits but I also love pictures of my surrounding environment I'll put up some pictures from my last maternity session in my next post.

IMG:http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/money.jpg

I QUIT MY JOB!

In the time of economic instablility and credit crunching and purse tightening, I, Tminx have quit my job. Not so bright eh? Well the future will determine that. I've decided to pursue my photography full time. That's the answer I give whenever anyone asks..So you have a better offer somewhere else abi?' and then they roll their eyes and say 'Yeah right. You are such a liar!' Why is it that Photography sounds so ridiculous to people?

This decision didn't come easy. It took months and months of prayers and  deliberation and analysing and sleepless nights. Eventually I just had to go with my heart and put all the negative comments in a huge wide box.

So i'm free from the 9-5 institution and have registered my company. Its not going to be easy, infact its going to be a lot of hard work and I'm sure I'll meet many 'special' clients but I know I wouldn't be doing anything else. 

Wish me goodluck!

May

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I wasn't too excited to be turning a year older but there was really nothing I could do to stop the clock from ticking so my friends and I went drinking... enough to make us all merry and form choreographed steps to Wande Coals songs..

See this lepa,
lepa ko bad oh oh, lepa ko bad oh,
lepa ko bad oh, lepa ko bad oh
Orobo,
Orobo ko bad oh....

and

Girl you know that you got me going barnanas,
barnanaaaaassssssssssssssssssssssss



You haven't heard his cd? Seriously slacking is what you are. Grab a copy.

So I'm a year older

This blog still exists you ask?? Yes it does, I've just become really indisciplined and thats bad...I know, I know. It's my birthday today though so I'm giving myself a break for all those days I haven't blogged.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

GOSPEL CONCERT IN LAGOS THIS WEEKEND 13TH DECEMBER

Gospel concert at Calvary House Church, Dover Hotel opp Tantalisers, Lekki Phase 1! I'm sure it will be a lot of fun.

Looking forward to seeing anyone who still reads this blog there :). I promise, resurrecting my blog is my new years resolution! Hope all of you have been good!

Tminx!