So I know I’ve gone about two weeks since the last update.? I’m still here – it’s just that season.? We’ve been meeting with brides a lot, shooting some early season engagement sessions, finishing taxes for 2008 and yes, working on a business plan for a new software we are developing.? So let’s take that in order.

Brides and weddings and such are the main thrust of our business.? We own a studio of 4 photographers, each shooting 15-30 weddings a year.? I do all of the editing, most of the marketing and a good deal of the shooting for it.? It has been interesting balancing a “shoot and edit quickly” type of thing like weddings with a “Shoot and then photoshop as good as you can no matter what” type of stock shoot.? I think sometimes I try and edit stock too fast which is why it ends up in rejection mode.

Taxes basically suck.? The more money I make from stock, the more I pay in taxes.? With our wedding business we have figured out where the expenses will go, what we’re spending on so we’re not paying taxes on EVERYTHING, etc.? Stock is basically using the same gear I already have, a few travel receipts and tons of income proportionally speaking.? Making $6000-10,000 in a year is good.? But when you only keep $3500-6000 of that, you have to wonder what you’d need to make for it to be worth it!

Oh and our business plan – we are creating a software for small service business management that will basically do everything – track clients, appointments, shoots, income, invoices, tasks to be done, everything.? It’s going to be amazing and should be done late summer, early fall assuming we can find ANYONE to finance us.? If and when that happens I’ll be sure to post about it as well.? I’m really excited for the possibility of solving some of our problems as well as helping others with it.

So that’s my last few weeks – Sarah’s still shooting and I’ve done some editing.? I think I have 300 edited but not yet keyworded to get on.? That should be a good goal for the next few weeks – keyword everything, edit more, get a few 100s submitted.

Coming up soon on NiltoMil: Picniche’s toolbars, Photoshop tutorials including “Editing without a mouse” and “Workflow Speed 2.”? With the trouble Cushystock has given me lately I may also pull out a Prostockmaster vs. Cushystock post.? Stay tuned (and visit the sponsors to the right who help keep us here!)