5.12.2010 Med Share Photos

As I was on vacation last week, I'm behind in my blog. I will do my best to catch up! This is my favorite shot from my Med-Share shoot. More of the work from that day will be up on my website by this afternoon if all goes well. 

© Crystaline Randazzo Photography - All images are copyright of Crystaline Randazzo and in no way are to be used by Google, Google Advertisers or any third party. These are not your pictures. Steal them and I will sue you.

5.12.2010 Black Hawk Down

So this week a great opportunity literally fell into my lap. I was talking to a good friend who works with USAID and we were joined by a military doctor. He told me that he was planning on going to Les Cayes, a coastal city south east of Port-au-Prince the following day. We chatted some more, and it turned out that he that he needed some documentation of the med share clinic that was going on down there. After much finagling and multiple photo calls into the evening, I was scheduled to meet the black hawk helicopter the next morning at 8 a.m. sharp. I was so excited, thrilled, and a jumble of nerves! But really how cool is it when opportunity knocks?

I had no idea what to expect, but I was there at 8:00 a.m. sharp. That big black bird came down and I couldn't believe the size of it. But there was no time to think and we hopped on, I was successful in getting myself strapped in before we took off. And let me tell you, it was a wind beating next 20 minutes. I had the presence of mind to take photos of the adventure, which ended up being a good thing as it was impossible on the way back.

In a matter of hours I visited the Med-Share, an orphanage, and the local hospital. The best photos of the day were from the Med-Share as I had about an hour to shoot there (to be posted later). I think we were at the orphanage for about 20 minutes but we only got to see the small clinic on site, the hospital had the best photo ops but we were there for maybe 10 minutes before we had to haul back to catch our flight back to Port-au-Prince.

On the flight back I was less successful at strapping myself in. I had camera straps, my embassy id badge, and seat belt straps going everywhere! I had no one on the right side of me and I was literally blowing into the big military man beside me. Meanwhile, they were all unfazed and even took a nap on the flight back. I learned a vital lesson about helicopters when my small notebook with all of my notes from the day flew out the side of the helicopter. I'm sure the military personnel had a great laugh at my expense, but what an adventure!!

Here are some photos:
 

The Big Black Bird Lands!

Port-au-Prince from the Air!

 The beautiful mountains in Haiti!

We are getting close to Les Cayes!

My military counterparts napping while I struggle to stay upright!

 

I look exceptionally tiny between these two guys! Little did I know my embassy ID badge would be beating me to death in few moments.

© Crystaline Randazzo Photography - All images are copyright of Crystaline Randazzo and in no way are to be used by Google, Google Advertisers or any third party. These are not your pictures. Steal them and I will sue you.

5.7.2010 Mission Statement

Last week, I finished the first draft of my business plan. What an accomplishment! I admit my nerdy side loved getting back into writing mode, I often forget now that I photograph stories how much I enjoy writing them!

Here is the first draft of my mission statement, it came directly from the list of questions I used on my previous blog posting. And for now I think it is working for me. Though as we know things are always subject to change!


Mission Statement:

My mission is to produce groundbreaking photographs by utilizing innovations in the photographic industry, personal vision, and cutting edge technologies. My goal is to create quality photographs that document the international community with integrity and cultural understanding.

5.7. 2010 How to Write a Mission Statement for Your Business

This week I started writing my business plan. I know it doesn't sound thrilling but the truth is it actually is. Starting out a new adventure and putting myself to the test does have a certain amount of adrenaline involved. Something tells me you guys might be seeing alot of starting your business advice in the upcoming weeks.

The hardest part about the business plan was writing my mission statement. But I found some help at the following link:


http://www.entrepreneur.com/management/leadership/businessstrategies/article65230.html

By answering these questions, I took a closer look at what was important to me in my business and what separates me from the pack. If you do it to, it could help you come up with your mission statement!

* Why are you in business? What do you want for yourself, your family and your customers? Think about the spark that ignited your decision to start a business. What will keep it burning?

 I am in business because I love photography and I am passionate about the work that is being done in third world countries to improve the lives of the people that are living there. 

    * Who are your customers? What can you do for them that will enrich their lives and contribute to their success--now and in the future?

My customers are nonprofit organizations, ex-patriot businesses, and volunteer groups working in the international community. My company provides professional grade photography that documents not only the process in which they work but the personal lives, that their work touches on a daily basis. These photographs will help them attract donors, grant money, customers, and volunteers. They will inspire people to contribute to a cause that is greater than the company.

    * What image of your business do you want to convey? Customers, suppliers, employees and the public will all have perceptions of your company. How will you create the desired picture?

 The business image that I want to convey is one of creativity, professionalism, and empathy. My job as a photographer is to make pictures that portray the world, both the good and the bad, without compromising the integrity of the subject.

    * What is the nature of your products and services? What factors determine pricing and quality? Consider how these relate to the reasons for your business's existence. How will all this change over time? My main product is still photographs and multimedia projects. The factors that determine pricing are overhead, time, travel, location, equipment, and the client needs. These all relate to my business because I must make enough money to fund my business. I must be able to get to the sites to take the photographs. I will need equipment to perform my job to the best of my ability. And primarily, I want to be able to give my client everything they need for a price that is what they can afford and what I deserve to be paid.

    * What level of service do you provide? Most companies believe they offer "the best service available," but do your customers agree? Don't be vague; define what makes your service so extraordinary. I provide professional grade photography and American company standards. I have both a Bachelors and Master’s degree in photography. I go out of my way to get additional training each year to improve my skills and increase my knowledge of the photographic trade. My ultimate goal in my work is to find out what makes my clients company personal, I want to show more than the organizations day to day operation. I want to show the world how they are affecting individual lives through the skill of my trade.

    * What roles do you and your employees play? Wise captains develop a leadership style that organizes, challenges and recognizes employees. I am the photographer, the editor, the retoucher, the archivist, the manager, and my own PR/Marketing representative. This business is a one woman band. Thank goodness I have an accountant!

    * What kind of relationships will you maintain with suppliers? Every business is in partnership with its suppliers. When you succeed, so do they. My philosophy is communication, communication, communication. I will work to have weekly contact with my suppliers by sending out newsletters, digital postcards, blog postings, and updates to my website. If they see you are working you are more likely to get work. Such is the business of photography. I plan to promote my suppliers, other people in my industry, and items that interest me through social media. The broader I can make my circle of contacts, the more success for my business.

    * How do you differ from your competitors? Many entrepreneurs forget they are pursuing the same dollars as their competitors. What do you do better, cheaper or faster than other competitors? How can you use competitors' weaknesses to your advantage? I am a documentary photographer; I am not a news photographer. I want to build a relationship with my client and with my subjects. Building repor is my ultimate goal because it is evident in the final product when the photographer makes a personal contact with their subjects.

I am also located in the international community, this gives the added benefit of cutting travel expenses for the client, as well as a familiarity with the country that other photographers have not had the proximity to create.

I offer clients in the third world, high-end technology with my cameras, computers, printers, and cutting edge software. I spent the time and money on having resources like electricity and Internet. I invest time and resources in purchasing cutting edge equipment and the latest and greatest photographic techniques.

    * How will you use technology, capital, processes, products and services to reach your goals? A description of your strategy will keep your energies focused on your goals.

Revamping your skill set on a regular basis is a must for the photographic industry. There is always going to be a new version of Photoshop, the latest camera, and the newest industry trend. It is vitally important to stay with the curve, spend the time to keep your photography fresh. This is a vital part of my business plan.

My ultimate goal is to utilize social networking to connect with the international community. Having my website, blog, facebook, and twitter work for me is one of the best ways to get my name out to organizations that are using those same technologies to get their name out. This is going to take follow through and creativity on my part.

Having a quality product is everything! The old adage goes, garbage in, garbage out! You cannot create something amazing out of a mediocre product. So it is up to me to make sure that every part of my product from the conception to the delivery is the best that it can possible be.

• What underlying philosophies or values guided your responses to the previous questions? Some businesses choose to list these separately. Writing them down clarifies the "why" behind your mission.

Communication! Communication! Communication! The more information I receive, the better I can perform.

Reinvent yourself. Take the time to recreate your vision.

Invest in yourself.

Invest in your equipment.

It is my job to find clients.

New Media is the New Way!

Quality over quantity.