More info please.

OK this may be long but here goes...

I take photos - Love taking photos in fact and will be doing photography as a business in a year or so. My post natal group have got some beautiful photos taken by me of their children since they were little babies.

I take my camera everywhere, I take photos of everything which sometimes is to my detriment as I miss the moment I should be spending with my daughter but I love to have photos of events and days out etc etc...

In the past I heard someone say they don't bother to bring their camera because they know I always do... Pissed me off I can tell you. I didn't take any photos of their kid for a while (chlidish I know but I was very cross)

Anyway... I host the Halloween party every year in my house which gets trashed. I take all the photos and pay for all the decorations. I spend hours uploading my photos to Facebook and tagging etc. As with the Fireworks party and new babies coming along (something which makes me sad as I'm not able to have anymore) but I take photos (proper photos) and upload them.

This is where my gripe is...

They just expect the photos to be on Facebook and they view them but can't be bothered to comment either on a single photo or album to thanks me or say what they think of them but they have the time to tag themselves so their family and friends can see them. I get asked to add some of their friends and family for this purpose too...

I spent hours on Sunday night doing about 5 albums of various events and not one fucking person thanked me or commented... They just tagged themselves...

They sometimes have the audacity to ask me to disc them for them as they saw the photos but still didn't say thanks or comment...

The ones that do bring their camera to things take photos and upload them and are there any of me or my daughter??? No there fucking isn't - NEVER! I'm hardly in any photos as I'm always taking the pics so it would be nice to have one or two of me and my daughter.

Some say at parties and events 'Oh here comes Lazybug with her camera again' - But they're happy to have lovely photos to show their friends and family!!!

My 1st status was what I thought quite cryptic but people saw through it and although it kinda had the desired effect not all the people who I was getting at probably saw it so it just made me look like a desperado and needy...

I tried to make amends by explaining myself a bit in another status but it came across still desperate and needy...

Ive now said I don't want anymore said about it but I haven't seen any of the intended victims in real life yet...

I wish I wasn't so impetuous but it did feel good to get it out.

I have had loads of 'comments' on my photos and messages and comments on my status though so maybe my point has been understood but it's a hollow victory - like asking your hubby to buy you flowers isn't it???

Sorry its so long but I feel like screaming and crying...

Moderation in Reply

OK this may be long but here goes...

I take photos - Love taking photos in fact and will be doing photography as a business in a year or so. My post natal group have got some beautiful photos taken by me of their children since they were little babies.

I take my camera everywhere, I take photos of everything which sometimes is to my detriment as I miss the moment I should be spending with my daughter but I love to have photos of events and days out etc etc...

In the past I heard someone say they don't bother to bring their camera because they know I always do... Pissed me off I can tell you. I didn't take any photos of their kid for a while (chlidish I know but I was very cross)

Anyway... I host the Halloween party every year in my house which gets trashed. I take all the photos and pay for all the decorations. I spend hours uploading my photos to Facebook and tagging etc. As with the Fireworks party and new babies coming along (something which makes me sad as I'm not able to have anymore) but I take photos (proper photos) and upload them.

This is where my gripe is...

They just expect the photos to be on Facebook and they view them but can't be bothered to comment either on a single photo or album to thanks me or say what they think of them but they have the time to tag themselves so their family and friends can see them. I get asked to add some of their friends and family for this purpose too...

I spent hours on Sunday night doing about 5 albums of various events and not one f***ing person thanked me or commented... They just tagged themselves...

They sometimes have the audacity to ask me to disc them for them as they saw the photos but still didn't say thanks or comment...

The ones that do bring their camera to things take photos and upload them and are there any of me or my daughter??? No there f***ing isn't - NEVER! I'm hardly in any photos as I'm always taking the pics so it would be nice to have one or two of me and my daughter.

Some say at parties and events 'Oh here comes Lazybug with her camera again' - But they're happy to have lovely photos to show their friends and family!!!

My 1st status was what I thought quite cryptic but people saw through it and although it kinda had the desired effect not all the people who I was getting at probably saw it so it just made me look like a desperado and needy...

I tried to make amends by explaining myself a bit in another status but it came across still desperate and needy...

Ive now said I don't want anymore said about it but I haven't seen any of the intended victims in real life yet...

I wish I wasn't so impetuous but it did feel good to get it out.

I have had loads of 'comments' on my photos and messages and comments on my status though so maybe my point has been understood but it's a hollow victory - like asking your hubby to buy you flowers isn't it???

Sorry its so long but I feel like screaming and crying...

Ive had to change a few sweary words as my last reply is being moderated ohhh errrr !

No good deed goes unpunished.

Oh dear!

Maybe next time you should just do some interesting photoshopping on the ungrateful bar stewards!

Aww hun. I know it's annoying when people take you for granted and never show any appreciation for your efforts.

I can imagine how you are feeling  there are givers in this world and takers .. enough said

Maybe they will stop taking you for granted now.

Have a hug

Don't be so generous to them in future

I'd be extremely blatant on my status/album title and say something like 'here's another set of photos, you can thank me as quick as you like!' so it's in a cheeky way but getting your point across. Of course all these mums are loving it, by the sounds of it your photography is quite good and they are saving heaps of money and time by letting you do all the leg work. Bloody liberty them asking you to burn to discs aswell.

They know it's a hobby you love but are clearly taking the pish (dunno if I'm allowed to say the other word now with all the censoring). Start biting back. It's your life, your hobby and your time and you need to get some control back. Dont take no crap girl!

You see I knew you guys would understand. It's funny isn't it. All my internet friends on Facebook and on here are so much more caring and understanding than my real life friends...

I do love taking photos and will continue to do so but maybe not quite so many of other peoples kids...

I can't wait until I start my business - I'll need to get more of a back bone though

The problem is while you have enjoyed this as a hobby, other people have exploited it. I think you need to really start talking about you starting this as a full time business and explain that you will have to charge a fee if they want prints as you have to make a living. If they are your friends they wont begrudge that. I don't know your set up, but maybe you can offer enlargements/professional finish for a fee of the ones already taken?

Once you have your business set up you need to send out a list of services you offer. But stand your ground x

You sound a nice very giving person Lazybug.  It's in your nature to be that way so don't make too many big changes (in your back bone lol) or you won't be you.
Maybe just learn to say 'no' more often .... that would be good.

Thanks for the advice Karma and Aquarius

It's gonna be difficult when I do start the business as up until now my 'services' have come free and with no limits (well until now they've started being ungrateful and unappreciative) limits will be set soon.

My parents have had the same problem as they bought a run down old farmhouse in North Devon and renovated it and started a holiday cottage let business - but who do they charge and who don't they charge? Friends, family and the like seemed to 'take advantage' and it got rather nasty at one point resulting in my mother not speaking to her brother in Holland now for over 5 years!!!!!

I don't want that to happen...

Some friends have said they'll be happy to pay for a 'Bug' original but some in jest say I can 'practice' on their kids and 'get mates rates' etc - many a true word said in jest though... I'm not totally opposed to mates rates but in business you have to be strong and make money as what's the point?

I will need to accept criticism a bit more though when I go public as I am sure there will be some ungrateful eejits out there...

Thanks for listening to me ramble guys

Hey not at all mate, ramble all you like! It's important you set a precedent as to how you run the business.

You will need a portfolio when you start to showcase your work, so maybe you could offer these friends one last freebie by using them and their kids as part of the portfolio? Dont feel too guilty about it LB, everyone knows that to succeed in your business you need to make a profit. As for the mates rates, that is at your discretion but you still need to ensure your profit margin is protected. And I would also expect these friends to help promote your business in return.

I really do wish you the best of luck with it and I'm sure people here will help promote it for you on FB and with friends and family (inlcuding me!) Dunno where you're based but if you offer other stuff like prints on t-shirts or plates that would widen the scope for you aswell.

OMG I sound dead bossy

Hey boss away all you like Karma - You can be my sounding board and advice manager... You sound like you know what you're talking about!

I am in the process of setting up a website to showcase my photos to start with.

I don't know whether this will make any sense, but couldn't you add a caption to all photo's in big letters COPYRIGHT LAZYBUG. I've seen people do this on EBay.

Yes Essex Angel you can get copyright on your photos but I'm not too sure how you do it

I've never run my own business but I've worked in advertising for years and have had to advise on campaign exposure and stuff like that. As soon as you get that website sorted put up a linky 

And feel free to rant on here anytime you like missus we'll make sure you wont get taken for a ride

Trying to add a photo...

My daughter

Oh she's gorgeous!!! Lovely, lovely pics

Hi Lazybug
Try here http://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/protect/
The current charges for online registration are £37.00 for 5 years or £62.00 for 10 years per work. Uploads over 10MB are also subject to a fee of 2p per additional MB, but there is no limit to the amount of data you may upload within the registration.

You will need to do this anyway when you start up your business. and I hope it goes well.

 

Wow thanks Essex Angel Will definitely look into this...

Thanks also Karma

She's a wee beauty Lb  

Ooh, I've just seen your daughter, she's beautiful. I'd be happy to pay you for photo's if they come out like that.

Lazybug, your Daughter is beautiful, and the pictures are stunning...you really are talented

Your daughter is beautiful  I love black and white photographs, those photos of your daughter are  very professional, you are a very good photographer,please try not to be taken advantage of

You know you said that your friends go "oh here's lazybug with her camera" in a roll eyes kind of way if I read between the lines correctly, well as far as I can see they are horribly jealous of your prodigious talent and artistic eye. Your photos of your daughter are tremendous and I hope very much that you make a success of your new venture.

Lovely pics of your daughter, truly gorgeous.

If someone annoys me, i upload a face photo of them to www.yearbookyourself.com  The results are hilarious and i post them to FB.
Mind you its only my mates of course, as they take it in good form.
Good fun though to put in an album LOL

Lazybug

Your daughter is absolutely beautiful  and I agree with the others, you have a talent

Lazybug, those photographs of your daughter are gorgeous. What a beautiful little girl and what a talented mum.

Thank you all for your lovely feedback - I will set up my website and put the link to it when it's ready - lots to do and it's pretty difficult with a 2 year old demanding ones time lol

To you all

Wow, gorgeous!

what beautiful photographs and  a gorgeous little girl  - what a shame your RL friends don't appreciate you

Awww your daughter is gorgeous..... and what lovely photos