Custom Order

Here is my first custom order to be mailed.  It wasn't as tricky or expensive as I had expected, so bring them on!  At Under the Same Sun, custom orders are as they should be:  Cheap and easy!  
Only $2 extra charge for a custom 5x7 print mailed right to your house.  So, pick some out, and at shows, keep that in mind to get just the print you're looking for!

50/50

This weekend was a great example of what it means to be a successful crafter.  With only a year in and about five shows under my belt, I seem to have a 50/50 chance of getting it right.  It seems that half of my time I have chosen a good venue, had fair weather and patrons have turned up.  When this happens, I sell a bit and feel right with the world.  The other half of the time, it rains, no on comes out, and the wind blows too hard.  When this happens, I freeze, get wet, or am scared the whole time and don't sell much.  This very small business seems a game of chance, and hopefully in a few years I'll have a handle on all of the variables that I can control.

On Saturday I as at a lovely event that started out very well. Let's just say that I love events that start at noon.  I was also thrilled to get to park right behind my tent.  Knowing that wet weather was coming, this made me feel far more secure.  There was chili and beer as promised, but the whole event was closed down 2 hours early due to the severely dark cloud that was looming over us.  I think I set a record in packing up and got everything back in and safe minutes before the weather hit.

On Sunday I went to my biggest event ever.  It was really wonderful as it was full of crafters, very well organized and overpopulated with arts and crafts hungry patrons.  It was certainly the most exposure I've gotten in one day and the most I've ever sold!  It made up for Saturdays' losses and then a bit more.  This is sure to be a regular UTSS event.

So thanks to all who came out to buy from, help, and support me this weekend.  It is truly appreciated!  If you are reading this, you are awesome!

Facebook

Just a reminder that you can 'like' Under the Same Sun on facebook.  Keep up with the latest schedule of events and new pics!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Under-the-Same-Sun/160240764053968

Crafting Mania!

Well, mabye I exaggerate, but this weekend I am doing two craft shows, two!

Firstly I will be at the Sykesville, MD Chili Cook-off and Beer Festival.  This event is on Main Street in Sykesville from 12-5, this Saturday!  Really, you had me at beer festival. 
http://www.sykesville.net/main.html

Secondly, I will be at the Catonsville Arts &Crafts Festival on Sunday from 10-5.  This is a big even on Frederick Street in Catonsville, MD.
http://www.catonsville.org/events/artsfest.html

Come on out and get yer craft on!

Autumn is the Best

We are rapidly and thankfully approaching my favorite time of year. With Autumn comes better clothes, cooler nights, beautiful colors, great holidays, and some potentially sucessful crafting. I am sorry it's been a while since a new post appeared, but I've sort of resovled not to craft in summer because I hate the heat. That, and summer shows are hard to get into. All complaining aside, I have three events lined up this fall, (possibly a couple more). Fall is the best time to be a crafter as people snap into Christmas shopping mode and hopefully will enter my tent and be overcome with joy and buy everything for their friends and family members. Hey, it could happen.

On September 9th, I am attending the Catonsville Arts & Craft Festival from 10-5. I am uber excited about this one as it is short, and allegedly very intense. There will hopefully be a lot of people there, including you!
 In October, I will be at Oktoberfest at Schifferstadt for a weekend of Beer, Brats, and Arts and Crafts.
 In December, the Fredeick Arts Council is hosting an Artists Market for first saturday celebrations. This is a fun event full of local artists, and if you're lucky, free wine. FREE WINE. That's all I have to say about that.

More info and helpful links can be found in the Upcoming Events section to your right.  Hope to see you under the little white tent. 

Thoughts on Local Interest

"Can I offer you some constructive criticism?" the officious lady loudly asked.
"No." I replied.
It didn't really matter what I said, as she intended it to offer it anyway.
"You need local interest pictures." she began (and never ended) "I think you'd catch more peoples' attention if you had some local interest here.  The other photographer," she gestured to the other side of the show, "has pictures of this town.  This town!  That's getting him a lot of business.  That's what you need.  I mean from a marketing stand point.  That's what I'd do."
"I..."  I attempted to answer.
"Yep, these are okay, but really what people want is local interest.  You know what I mean?  That's what people expect."
"Okay.  That's great.  I know that other photographer, and that's his thing.  All he has is local interest.  This is my thing.  Besides, I have some local interest.  Just not a lot."
"Well, what you need to do is come to the town you're going to be in, take some shots beforeheand and then you'd be set."
What's sad is that she thinks that she is the only person with this idea.  How did she think the other photographer got pictures of that town.  He's retired, and with that time he recons places and takes local pics.
"The thing is, I already have all of these pictures, and it's not cheap to make them.  I'm just starting out, I don't need to boost my inventory right now.  And, I like to think they're pretty pictures and it doesn't matter where they were taken."

It was about here that this ladys friend started to flip through the 5x7s.  She pulled some our showing to her friend and asked me where they were.  "Gettysburg.  Harper's Ferry.  Boonsboro.  See, maybe I don't need local interest after all."
She seemed to soften.  And backpedal.
"You know what, I think you're going to do just fine."  She continued to browse and repeated  "You're going to do fine, honey."

Oh, God would you please buy something or leave.  The whole interaction lasted far too long and earned me no money. What's nice about having my own business is that I don't have to worry about them complaining to anyone when I dismiss their suggestions immediately.

I'm often asked if I have local interest pics.  And, I do have a few, but the majority are non-local.  I used to apoligize for not having local pics, but I don't bother anymore.  It's not my thing.  At least not now.  The non-local pics are what I have and if you don't like them, no one's got a gun to your head.  I think I've sold enough non-local stuff to have confidence in it and I'm not too worried.  People largely want pretty pictures and I like to think I have a few.  

I meet all kinds at these shows and that's half of what keeps it entertaining.  I hate to rant, but the local interest thing was getting to me.  Thanks to all who come out and enjoy the pictures.  Thanks more to those who don't ask for local interest. 

Green Fest

I had a great time today at Boonsboro Green Fest.  This local festival celebrates all things reducing, reusing, and recycling.  I've missed it the previous three years, but I plan to keep this a regular stop on my photography selling tour.  It was full of good people, cool products, and great upcycled and green products.
It was a mild success for me, but It was a great day to sit outside and enjoy the weather.  I'm proud to have been a sponsor of this event, and I hope it continues to grow!
And, no one asked for local interest pictures, score!

Greenery

Join me tomorrow to green it up at the Boonsboro Green Fest. This 3rd annual even features green solutions, recycling, and recycled/upcycled products. I'm sure to stick out as not green enough among 141 other vendors. Come on over the mountain and check it out!

http://www.boonsborogreenfest.com/index.php 

Fine Art and Wine Festival

This Sunday, join me for the Sykesville Fine Art and Wine Festival. 12-5pm on mainstreet Sykesville, MD. Free admission, and, did I mention wine?

More infor here! http://www.sykesville.net/minutes/sykesvillefineart2012.pdf