OpLove: OKlahoma Photogs needed!

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by andyz

Part of me wishes I could get involved in this. I see photogs who are, and like Susan are an hour away. I can throw a rock from my house and hit Ft Hood property. But I am not a pro, couldn't pay for albums to give away (as I thought pro printing was on the menu) fearing I'd end up spending hundreds a month, and I can't do this at the drop of a hat as seemed to be the norm for a deployment/arrival event.

For me, it would be practice and experience and they want the seasoned photog who can deliver a professional product.

Andy - do you know that when NILMDTS started - we would use anyone warm body with a camera because the NEED was there.... it was only later that they got the numbers high enough that then they started focusing on quality. A bad picture of a precious moment is MUCH MUCH better than NO picture. Plus....seriously....I've seen your images... lol...and it might be 'practice' to you...but you do amazing work...so I'd be pretty confident they'd be happy with your images.

As far as your 'other' concerns...

We knew a YEAR in advance about Brad's deployment....and we know months in advance around when he was coming home... and he didn't even come home with the 'group'....

So there isn't much 'last minute' requirement - although there are families that might find OUT about Oplove last minute and ask you to squeeze them in... but you aren't REQUIRED to do so.

As far as costs...

The poster after you said $50/$75 dollars....

Holy cow....

Okay - maybe I'm the queen of freaking cheap...actually... I know I am... I take it as a huge source of pride.

But here's my breakdown of costs....

Album:
$6/hobby lobby... that's for the nice Itoya album. You can pick up a $1 album at the $1 store if you like. Or buy the Itoya albums from Amazon for $4...

$15 - 4x6's - printed through Millers...(use proofs for best price @ .40/each if you do uncorrected......60 corrected) To be honest - I've had them printed at Sam's a couple of times when I had several that needed printed and I was trying to do it fast... I promise...they DO NOT CARE! That drops your pricing to about .13/print if you do one hour... or .08 if you have them mail them to you... ;-)

Shipping: FLAT RATE BOX....the SMALL box...$4.95 (all military packages are treated as being shipped in the US).

Grand total...with my high dollar $6 album... is around $26.00

Obviously if resources are limited....that $26 might be a huge sacrifice... I know there have been times when that might have been more than I had in my checking account... ;-)

Hope this helps! ;-)

[andyz]

NILMDTS requires a photographer with inner strength I don't think I have. It would be a huge challenge. I recognize the value of those images, but how can your heart not break every time? You really have to be focused on the treasures those images will be.

[karakelian]

Thanks! I signed up. I am in Dallas but you never know if someone has family here or is looking around here. I would even be willing to drive. (Brother-in-law is Texas Army National Guard).

I was worried about the albums, thanks for clearing that up!