walk

Clouds aren't something you come across often in LA. So, I look down. I haven't seen rain since March, in Nashville.

LA is a small place.

The industry seems better recently. Advertisers and publishers have realized the world has not come to an end. They have definitely slashed spending and are still trying to get something for nothing. I hope everyone keeps strong to their rates. LA sees a just in it population at this time of year. Everyone has taken their summer break after graduation and found themselves here attempting to make something of themselves. I think the number of people entering is equal to those who have left over the past year, unable to find enough work.

I have had scary moments.

I could still use more clients.

Getting someone to pay attention to you is quite a task. If you do get them to acknowledge your existence getting them to call you back for more work is the next step. I come across many who aren't cut out for assisting on photo shoots. It is sad that they steal a day's pay from someone much more capable of preforming the tasks.

Bullshitting is an art I never quite acquired and so many others have. It gets them gigs, but I doubt they are called back.

I was doing retouching in July for meager wages. It was the only work I could find at the time and I choose to stay alive rather than hold out for the proper retouching rate. I came into the project playing clean-up from a mess that three others had made with the images and archives. They had lied about their abilities and knowledge in order to get the job, something I never do. The work they had done was pathetic. I was able complete the job at much higher quality/standards in less time.

Fighting for work with people who lie and preform horribly is just one piece of the puzzle. The industry here in LA is really quite small. Only takes a year before you know most of the names and faces.

Coming into this city without any connections in the industry is very very difficult. I have made it over a year now and am still not comfortable in my situation. Performing the best I can is all I know to do. You can cold call all day everyday, which I did for months, but doing the job well and building relationships seems to be a much better way to keep your head above water.