This thread is different.  I encourage you to post both a positive comment and a useful tip here.   Let's see how far this thread can go.  I'll start.

Comment; I wish to thank everyone for their "get well wishes" ... especially from those who got into some heated disagreements with me on the forum.  There are many caring and wonderful people here, and I appreciate all of you!

Tip:  Follow through! Take care of things like replying to e-mails, making phone calls, writing and paper quickly and in an organized manner. That means don't put it off till later! Other things will distract you and soon "later" will never come! Make it a point to finish projects before taking on others. Follow a daily check list and calendar. Customers appreciate it when you keep your word and communicate when you say you will. If you don't follow through for your customers, then someone else will!

I have a whole lot more ... but let's see what you got! 

Great idea!

Comment:
I want to thank all of the experienced photographers and models who have selflessly shared their experience, knowledge, time, and resources with me while I continue to learn and grow. I've never before experienced such a willingness by a group of people to share their time and talents. And every day I try and honor that spirit of giving by sharing with others that are striving to learn this craft. Thank you.

Tip:
Respect everyone you work with and encounter on your journey. Be open to new ideas and techniques. Never give anything less than your very best effort. And NEVER compromise your vision!

Comment:

Thanks to everyone who has ever helped me along the way, modeled for me, done makeup or just plain put up with me.  Thank you to everyone out there who I've yet to work with.  This is truly a great community and a huge resource of talent and vision.

Tip:

be helpful to others, take the effort to keep the community alive and remember that everyone started somewhere down at the bottom and that you yourself are still somewhere on the ladder up, so why not reach down every once in a while and lend a hand.

Comment:

The skies the limit. We're all looking in that direction. And in the meantime we're all thinking about the people who have helped and impacted our lives. Heart felt thanks to all of you.


Pay it forward:
My challenge to all of you....donate your time and experience to high school children that can't afford to have their school photos done. Your rewards will not be monetarily. Rewards will come from the heart.

Comment:
I love this thread ... I think it was a wonderful idea.  That is all.

Pay it Forward:
Do not have regrets.  We have all done things in our lives/careers/etc. that we are not proud of or that we would do differently if given the opportunity to go back.  You don't have to regret those moments.  Simply accept that they've happened and make a pact with yourself to learn from it.

Comment: This is going good!    So I'm going to go to bed now and see how the seed I planted grows when I wake up. 

Tip:  3. Listen carefully! For a few months, I rented a room in a house
owned and lived in by an amazing salesman. It did not matter what he
sold, but I will tell you that he sold cars and made a very good
living at it. He had an uncanny way of zeroing in on exactly what
the customer would buy! I wanted to know his "secret to success" so
I asked him. His answer was the four words, "Be a good listener."

The above is #3 from "8 Simple rules for getting me to pull my wallet out for you." Something I wrote back on Oct. 30, 2005.

Good night!

Comment: MM has already, in the couple of weeks I've been on it, contributed enormously to my growth as a photographer. This kind of site is what the internet was made for!

Also, this thread is a wonderful idea

Tip: Don't read your email every time you see a new one has arrived - let it accumulate for a few hours, then deal with all of it at once. If you set aside 2-3 times a day to deal with email, you'll be a lot more efficient than if you respond to each individual message you receive right away.

Comment: Thank you to all the photographers that gave me a hint, tip or trick to help me with my photographic journey. Thank you to those that have taken me under their wings and guided me and reminded me to do the same for others.

Tip: We all have a talent that some charity would love to make use of on a volunteer bases. Pick one and share those talents. If your a photographer your photos may get published, who knows where.

Comment:  Today is another day!  It's 4 weeks since I broke my neck because of falling from the roof of a barn.  It was a stable break, and I can walk, etc.  I'm getting better each day, and soon will be able to go back to shooting by mid March.  I'm a lucky guy!   

Tip: Be a team player! You can get much more done by delegating the work load. In performing a song, musicians play a simultaneous combination of notes in a chord to achieve harmony. In football, a quarterback calls a play where as the team attempts to work in harmony to gain yardage or a score. It is a dreamer who will visualize the big picture, while it is a leader who can delegate duties to the group. Being a team player is how we achieve the end result of these goals. There is no "I'" in "Together, team or harmony!"

Comment: Even on those days that it rains, it is still good to go for a walk.  Even when I had congestive heart failure, I still got up every day and walked ... in the hospital and at home.  There is no way I'll lay in bed.  If I'm tired, I'll sit, otherwise there are things to do.  There will be plenty of time to rest when I'm dead.  So I am about to go on my daily walk now.  See ya!

Tip: Enjoy Life! If your life is not balanced between work, home, and recreation, then your heading for a break down! Forcing yourself to do anything that does not agree with your heart is not being respectful to yourself or your customers. Be as good to yourself as you are to your customers. Do find pleasure in your work, but also other aspects of your life. Work because you want to, not because you have to. Life is so much more enjoyable if you love what you do.  Peaple will notice it in your better attitude!

How is everyone doing tonight? 

Comment: I have discovered that determination isn't enough, being talented isn't enough, but if you add those two together with a dose of really hard work - anything is possible.


Tip:  There are 2 ways to live your life. One is as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as if Everything is a miracle.  (Albert Einstein)

ps - I like this post

Is it "Prime Time" yet?


So any more comments and Tips?

Thank YOu to all those responding to this thread!

You want me to keep adding?   

Comment: Y'all are entertaining and I've made good friends and learned so much here.

Tip: References.  Use them.

Let's see if I can get this thread rolling again?

Comments:  I'm hopeful that even if I didn't have such a good day today after having such a great day yesterday, that tomorrow is going to be better.  It usually works that way. 

So if you are down for the moment, remember that tomorrow is a new day!

Tip: Be honest! Start with the truth and stay with it! To be dishonest means more work trying to remember what you said, and then covering for it. A person it concerns just might find out, but then more importantly ... you have to live with it! Once someone finds out that you were dishonest, they might never trust you again. It's much easier for all concerned if you are truthful!

I like this thread.


I would like to thank my parents for their patience and support over the years.  I am thankful that I have grown beyond my teenage angst years and can now see my parents as good friends and even as admirable people.


Tip:  If you have put off phoning your parents lately, resolve to take action and call them.   Besides the benefit of the relationship itself, you may also discover something: the courage and focus that it takes to call your parents is the same courage and focus it takes to call prospective clients, collect from deadbeats, ask someone for help, or apologize to someone you have wronged.  And when you take action your life changes.  (Taking action is much more important than posting on MM.)

Tip#2:  Always bring extra batteries.

This is so obviously simple, but you'd be surprised how many people don't do this.

Always do the most productive thing possible.

Comment:  It's a sunny day today!  I'm going to take a walk and enjoy it! Hope everyone is having a great weekend! 

Tip:  Take your time with things that alter your body. For example, you should not have a tattoo done impulsively. Be sure that it's what you want because it's not easy to change or remove it if you change your mind.  When it comes to medical issues, always get a second opinion before having surgery.

Comment:
In the last three years, I've gotten into digital in a much bigger way. First with the camera. Going from film to digital required that I learn a ton of new things. It seemed that those who knew didn't share, or purposely mis-led people, or just couldn't explain what they knew. I got off to a slow start.  After about 6 months, I was starting to feel somewhat comfortable with the camera, and knew my way around in Adobe Photo Deluxe. Then I got PS 6. Yeah, that was fun.  LOL. By the time I learned 1/10th of it, everybody started raving about PS7. Ok, so, I got that. What's a plug-in. What's a filter. What the heck are all these tools and gizmos? I was lost again, but I shifted into   2nd gear and started getting serious about this whole digital thing.  Whooooohoooo!  When I started to feel fairly comfortable in PS7 I found an image that bugged me. No way could I figure out how the photographer edited it. So, I called him and asked. He told me! Finally!  Finally I found someone who knew which friggen way was up, and he was telling me! Prior to that, if I found someone who did know something, I had to drag it out of them.  This guy also told me about MM, so I started a portfolio here. Later, he invited me to a shootout, and introduced me to: Peggy Vee, Susan Moody, Southbound, Jessica Bales, Natalie Lyn, Tia Lyn, Mark Schmudde, Dan Tibbets, Paul Carlisle, Ken Erickson, Mandie Mutchie, Mac Davis, Jon Marzu,Michael Lee, Riccardo (Fantasia Images), Michael Rosen, Michael LaPolla,  Michael Brooks, Michael Brouwer, Mike Dixon, Karen Koenig, Feme Turner, Alli Brown, and a list of others that would number about 100 models, MUA's or photographers. This one guy, introduced me to well over 100 poeple! What's even better, is that all these people share and are the nicest people I know.  From these people who I now call friends, I have learned much. I thank them all, but mostly Michael Obradovich (2151) for sharing with me what he knows and for introducing me to all those people!

Tip:
One friend can lead to 100.

comment: it has truly been a pleasure sharing my incredible shooting building location and what little i do know photographically with other photographers and models and enjoying their company and friendship with out any regard to monetary compensation.....  life experience is worth much more...

tip:
100 friends = a lifetime of memories

Comment on Photography - I had no idea that when I switched from landscapes -  to Landscape Nudes - that I would work with so many kind, creative and interesting people.  They have been a delight to work with and has resulted in photographs that I thought would never exist outside of my imagination.  The Vistas that have opened for me, have been amazing.

Tip 1- Deeply critical comments can be phrased in a helpful, or hurtful way.  Why would anybody want go out of their way to chose the later? 

Tip 2 - "In your life - Friends will come and go  /  Enemies last a lifetime"

VintageV

Comment: I just watched "Crash" for the first time!  Even though it was an Oscar winner, it just didn't appeal to me whe it first came out.  Great movie!  I'm glad I finally watched it.  Sometimes we get a second chance, sometimes we don't.

Tip: Take nothing for granted.  Watch a movie with someone you love.

Comment; I am so glad that I have re-kindled my love of photography. It makes me happy (happy-er).

Tip: Our words and our actions are what define who we are. Contracts are fine, but try shaking the persons hand.

Comment: Very new to this group (but not new to the camera) but excited by a lot of the talented photographers and models here!

Tip: Enjoy your work and share that enjoyment with your models in your sessions. Make a good faith effort to maintain great "word of mouth" ...

Oh, and the theory I tested yesterday (which worked for me) always have a sync cable handy in case the "pocket wizard gods" decide to try and interrupt your flow of photos. LOL!

Comment: For those who don't know, I'm recovering from a fall that broke my neck.  It seems like it's a day to day thing. Some days are better than others.  When I have a great day, the next day will pale in comparison.  Then I'll have another great day again ... it's a day to day thing just like recovery from drug addiction.

In another thread I mentioned that I had been a weekend "party" warrior when it came to drinking and drugs ... but that has been 15 years ago.  So I don't like to take pain pills of any kind.  The good news is that I've been able to go without any pain medication for four days now.  It's been four weeks and 3 days since the accident, and I'm able to walk and function fairly well. 

Tip:  Always carry backup gear and extra supplies when doing shoots!  It's best to be ready for the unexpected!

Comment: Stay off Modeling Sites and respect those in the industry. Build your own site.

Pay it forward: Work hard at practicing your craft, study being you and don't let others hold you down. NOTHING GREAT IS EASY TO COME BY.

m

Comment: I wish you the best.

Tip: If your mom's still alive, call her and tell her you love her.

Comment: Fantastic Ideas!

Tip:  "If anything is worth doing, do it with all your heart."  -Buddha

yeaaa i agree with PAYING FORWARD CUZ PAYBACK IS A BITCH!!!

Comment: You are never alone. If you make the effort to reach out, someone will be able to understand and reach back for you.  I've suffered loss in my life. I have had both physical and emotional pain many times in my life.  Life is full of ups and downs, and when something knocks me down, I get right back up. Recently I fell off a roof and broke my neck. Accept for a torn tendon in my right hand, I'm going to be pretty much back to normal soon enough. Nothing and no one has been able to knock me out! 

Tip: There is a yin and yang, as in a positive and negative to all things. Meditation gives strength to control ones thoughts.  Look for the positive and you shall find it.

this is a great thread Patrick, hope your doin well

Comment:
Don't forget from where you came from and those who helped you become the person you are today. A simple thank you, a call or a personal note is something that would be greatly appreciated. Remember that photography teacher in school?

Tip:
Take a budding photographer under your wing - makes you better as teaching is also learning

Comment:  Just woke up, and the first thing I do is go to this Mayhem site.  I need to make some phone calls and do some work online.  So it's going to be a busy day!  Time for me to dink some coffee! 

Tip: Find your path by following your beliefs.  Develop your way of doing things, but do understand that not everyone who does it differently than you is wrong.

Comment:  I have kicked started the activity in my Yahoo group today!  It seems that the MySpace phenomena has caused other places like Yahoo groups to register less activity.  If you want to read the messages ... it is here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internetmodelclub  More postings there in one day than I've had in any given week!

Tip:  Give a great first impression! Make those you meet for the first time feel like they are the most important person to you at that moment. Even though it is possible to make a come back from a less than stellar first impression, it will be more work for you to overcome it. Also to give a great first impression, be prepared for the unexpected. Smile and the world will smile with you!

How is everyone today?

Comment: It's been 5 weeks since I broke my neck.  I think I'm going to the Hot Import Nights in San Mateo this Saturday.  Christina Aguilera is performing in San Jose and I would so love to go to her concert ... but maybe I can catch up with her in Florida.  My friends think it's crazy that I want to get back out there running around with a neck brace on, but this is what I do for life.  If I'm not out there shooting and writing, I might as well not live.

Tip: Follow your passion. Nothing else in this World will give you as much determination as doing what you love!

Comment: It feels good to have my braces off and thank you to everyone that gave me well wishes and telling me I was beautiful with or without braces.

Tip: "Myöhäistä itkeä kun on kakat housuissa" -- Old Finnish Proverb
(translation: "There's no use crying when the crap is already in your pants" Gotta love us crazy Finns!)

Good idea with this thread....


Tip:  Take the time to help others, whether you are a model, photographer, or MUA.  We all did not get here alone and without the help of others.

Comment:  Sometimes I feel like maybe I spend too much time posting on the Mayhem forum.  Sometimes people judge others by what is written by that person here.

Tip:  Don't believe everything you read!