'til my head falls off

Father's day?

Again? Really?
Man, I've got to get something together for that. I know it's a huge cop out, but I always give everyone pictures of the kids. I know. But everyone always likes them, and luckily for me, it's what I do. And I like to think that they're not too shabby.
Crisis averted.

Oh, except for that other thing- the one that's keeping me awake at night and has me doing that thing... I know I'm not the only one- where you say, I could do this, and maybe this, but then this other thing won't work. Or I could try this thing, but thenthat other thing won't fit. And then you just work around in circles in your head for a while and it seems like you're getting someplace but then you're nowhere again? Yeah. That's driving me totally crazy.
See, here's the thing. I have had this business idea. I've had it for quite a while, it's one of those things that just kind of rolls around in the back of your head. I went to a studio outside of my local area for a lighting seminar, and the photographer there had the thing that was in my head.
And it was very, very cool.
And I wanted it.

But I'm not at a place where I can comfortably open a brick and mortar studio, and I'm not the 'in my house' studio type, and that's ok. So I keep on being an exclusively on location photographer.
Well, then this thing happened, and this other thing happened, and then my mom decided to put a garage on her property. With a little attached studio. Well, it's really not a studio, but it's going to be. So, yay!

And that gives me the space to do the really cool thing that I wanted in the first place, but the sheer volume of choices to make has me absolutely boggled. I just have to make the choices, so I can start the real planning, but I'm totally stranded in the pre-planning, because I can't make the decision. It's a tough life.

I have this condition- we joke about it, but it's kind of weird- I either want or need something (always specific, but could be anything) and I can't find it, within about six months after it's too late (for my purposes) that thing is everywhere. Drives me crazy. Also, it worries me a little, in particular with this project, because I want to be the only one in the area with this awesome idea. At least I think it's awesome.

So, here's what I'm planning (but in miniature):
So far, the best example I've found
A very small cottage facade, with full garden in front. Good for fairies and princesses. Also a small barn facade, with some barn-y type props. A bale of hay.
Either brick or flagstone patio with some type of sitting area- bench, low wall, a fountain or something. A sand area with palm tree and a couple little kid-size Adirondack chairs.
My big problem is that I have too many ideas and not enough room or money. I have to pick the most viable, the ones that will be most productive. I have some ideas about asking for an exchange with local businesses- maybe I could get a local playhouse builder to work with me for advertising. I haven't gotten that far yet, because I'm still trying to figure out exactly where I'm going to put things... and which things will be there at all. And I'm stuck.

But I'm really excited, because the in-studio/outdoor thing is exactly what was floating around in my head. It's just hard getting it from in there to out here.

posted by steph at Thursday, June 18, 2009