Saturday September 24 2016  THE PASSAGE OF TIME

It seemed like a long ways away a few months ago when I agreed to assist at the wedding taking place today.  And in the snap of a finger, summer is over, and the wedding date has arrived.  I report to the photographer’s home, pack my gear in her car and she is in charge from there.  We’ve worked together for years and we always have a wonderful time being together as friends as well as working together.  Next week we will do the same thing again; another wedding, different bride and groom, different location.  And the Saturday after that; you guessed it, another event.  The only thing about that third event is that I am the primary and only photographer for a celebration of 35 years of marriage.  I will leave that celebration and high tail it to another photography event.  So, the next few Saturdays are fully booked. 

It is always easy to commit to events way ahead because the calendar looks so clear at the time.  But, by the time the date arrives the calendar has somehow filled up and must be shuffled to make everything fit in.  However, the photography sessions for weddings are not one of those events that get shuffled. 

AND THEN…since I retired I decided to no longer photograph schools due to the all the post production time needed to create the packets of photos for the students.  Remember, I am a one woman operation and must do it all.  I know it sounds simple with “digital” photography, but believe me, when I changed to digital photography years ago it increased my workload by 100 fold (yes, seriously).  Due to the expense of buying the needed equipment it takes to finish the end product, it is financially astronomical for the photographer.  The cost is in expensive cameras, computer equipment, programs which will run the digital RAW photos, to the finished proofs being sent to a lab for printing.  Overall, it takes longer, costs more, and the end product is not nearly as beautiful as film prints.

Even though I am no longer photographing schools I have committed to help my friend through her first year’s session with a school I referred to her.  It is a big shoot, a big endeavor, and takes lots of extra setting up of equipment.  One of the photos I do has about 100 students in one photo.  Lighting and staging takes a lot of extra time and work.  I agreed to go because I actually have that day available by shuffling some things around.  I am leaving on a trip with a girlfriend early the following morning and I had planned to prepare food all that day for our four days away.  I will need to back up my plans in order to make certain I am prepared for the early departure the next day.  But you know what the good thing is?  I will be leaving all the post production work behind!  YEAH!!!

It is so fun to be retired!  When I am employed by another photographer all I do is hand the digital camera card to the primary photographer, go home, and I am done.  The business owners have the pleasure of using their hours to do the editing, corrections, proofing, special effects, orders, all the sorting, packaging, and whatever else needs to be done.  It is so nice to no longer have every evening scheduled with possible bookings for next year’s weddings, and then staying up until 2:00 a.m. each night to finish the post production work.  My daytime would be taken up with studio sessions and location events such as high school seniors and family portraits.

And just some inside information between you and me, I think all these sessions have solidified the fact that I think I will sell my equipment and keep one camera for personal use.  No equipment equals NO JOBS!   Hmmm….

 

IF I COULD SING IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

Kathleen Martens

September 24, 2016

 

If I could sing it from the rooftop

I would let the world know

How much I love being retired,

And how free I am to go.

 

Calendar stands quite empty

Of appointments galore,

And all that I love to do,

I can now do so much more.

 

Nothing makes me happier

Than seeing a blank page,

My calendar now so docile

And no longer in a rage.

 

Lines are empty with promise

Of what is yet to come,

And I’m much more available

To go and have some fun.

 

Yet my days are busy

But it is me who decides,

What and when, where and who

And how my day divides.

 

My promises are commitments

And some take lots of time.

But I create the timetable

As to how my day will climb.

 

And I have also gained insight

Which took many years to learn,

Purposefully, I can now say “NO”,

And precious hours are my return.

 

And so, I SING IT FROM THE ROOFTOP

Which is actually my office chair!

I have more hours to create,

Which means, I have more words to share!

 

It is 9:37 A.M. as I conclude my poem (approximately another half hour before I will be published).  In the scheme of my day that is actually quite impressive to me.  I may even have time to go watch a movie with Dave before I leave.

 

Thank You God for the lovely day that awaits me.

Thank You Lord that I am healed enough to actually handle another nine hour work day.

Thank You Lord for Your love today.

Thank You for the joy You have placed in my heart.

Thank You that I am alive!

 

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY FOLKS!

GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU!