Want to learn how to be a better photographer? Need help with how to get your business off the ground? I can help! This contest is for fellow photographers that are looking for a mentor. I am holding a contest to find one special person that I will mentor for six months for FREE... Yes, FREE! I will help you learn how to run your business, and everything and anything in between! You do not need to be local as I will set up phone calls and email correspondence with you. All I ask, is you have the drive and excitement to learn and want to grow as a professional photographer. So, post a comment about WHY I should pick you and I will read the comments and pick the one I think is best! The contest ends June 26th - just one week from today!
Your comment does not need to be long, just powerful!
Good Luck,
Melinda
Melinda Bunker Photography
26 comments:
WHEW.. I don't know what to say to make you think I deserve this.. I have two daughters, I'm married to the best man ever for me.
I do this - photography - because it is who I am - I have spent so long trying to find the right path the right thing to do that would make me be able to be happy with everything God has given me - and it was right here all the time. This is my thing, and I need to be a sucess at a this like I need to take my next breath. I don't ahve a sob story, my family is healthy - we are blessed - we have a home - it could use a Ty pennington makeover but it is ours and we love it. We got debt, and we are trying to shake the fear of leaving my fulltime job to chase down the photography - which make me like countless others out there - I once had a gentlemen tell me at a seminar "the difference between you and everybody else here has to be that 90% of these people will walk out of here and list every reason why they cannot apply what they have heard.. you must always strive to be part of the 10 who hear and learn and DO" THat is hte difference between me and everybody else - I am committed to doing..
What a wonderful inspiring way to give back. I really hope to be in your shoes one year from now. Maybe you're the mentor that will help me get there!
You should pick me because I really need some guidance here. I have a dream to provide for my family by taking pictures. I dream of traveling the world telling the stories of the people I meet when I'm doing those destination weddings I hear so much about.
After being 14 years of marriage my husband left me for another woman. I was shooting a wedding on the day the affair began. My world crumbled. I am in the process of re-building it. I want my children to know that dreams can be realized. Besides that, they all love photography, too! You should see them fight over who gets to take pictures next!
Hi Melinda. I would love to have you as a mentor. I am at a point where I need to make changes, but first I need to understand this business, MY business, first. I am still on a high from the Dane Sanders workshop, so I am ready to continue the momentum! Thanks for your giving heart!
Hi Melinda. It would be great to have you as a mentor. I am at a point in my life where I need to make changes, but I also need to understand this business, MY business, and any help would be awesome. I am still on a high from Dane Sanders' workshop. I want to keep the momentum going. Thanks for your giving heart.
Melinda,
I would be so excited for this opportunity! I was a teacher up until last week. My job of 8 years ended due to low enrollment, and I am still reeling. I finished my master's last year, and planned on being a teacher for a long time. God has a sense of humor though! He has other plans, and I am not sure they involve teaching right now. I have loved photography for my whole life, and have just recently been preparing for the potential for a career change. Since the layoff went through, I have been looking at websites,talking to photog friends, attending practice photo shoots, and recruiting friends and colleagues to pose for me so I can get more practice and get my name out there. Facebook has been a friend lately, helping me get my name and images out there, but I don't know the first thing about starting a business. I roped my sister into handing out flyers for me in her hometown in Virgina. I have some casual shoots planned with many of her friends who are willing to do sessions with me during my vacation to help out my portfolio and my bank account. I just want to learn, and I will take whatever comes my way. Thanks so much for considering me for your generous offer!
It was not until 6 months ago did I wake up one day and realize the meaning of what it means to take a photograph. A photo-graph.
My name in my language means 'light'. I have always been drawn to the visual arts, but for some reason, was too timid to express myself through them.
A series of events in my life lead me to photography about 6 months ago, and I cannot look back. The more I learn, the more I'm realizing the essence of ME within the photos I take. Is it a coincidence that I'm following an art that captures my namesake? Or is it a humbling destiny?
It's inexplicable - but it's intense, and it's present.
I would love to have a mentor to help me uncover what it is I've missed out on all these years of being oblivious to this gift I knew I always had, but yet denied myself of experiencing.
Thanks for the opportunity :)
Keep them coming everyone...these are amazing! :)
Melinda
I would be honored to have you as my mentor. I know i kind of started late all this wedding photography thing...i'm already 43, but i'm ready for challenges and hard work. To see how far i got www.intagphotograohy.com. Dane Sanders books, seminar helped me a lot, but one on one mentoring ...pleas pick me, Melinda :)
Hi Melinda,
Well I don't have a long drawn out explanation of why I want to win :) I would love to be able to impove my photography and learn the most that I possibly can. To be completely honest, I am going through a divorce right now, which will mean that pretty soon I am on my own supporting my daughter, who is 3. I would love to be able to solely do photography work, and I am hoping to be able to gain enough clients to do so :) I'm sure you're amazing mentoring would help me along with that. But whoever wins wins and will greatly deserve it I'm sure!
Melinda,
What a wonderful gift you are offering. My husband and I run our photography business together and he has been doing it for several years. He has attend many a convention, just recently OSP West and met some amazing people like Kevin Swan and Mike Larson. We would love the opportunity to benefit from your knowlegde as a business person, we are falling short somewhere and don't have the resources to pay someone for the coaching that we both know that we need to make this be able to support our family and to full fill our dreams of being business owners, who can make a difference in others lives.
My heart tells me that this is what we are supposed to be doing, just need some guidence from someone as where to go now...
Someday we hope to be able to provide people with the same gift that you are giving to others.
Thank you for this!!
How am I gonna choose? Keep them coming!
Melinda
Life happens. Sometimes it doesn't happen the way you expect it. But every little blimp happens for a reason.
My life recently got turned upside down. It was shocking, and scary, and I'm still somewhat in shock. But it gives me the opportunity to work full time on my photography. It was a dream before, now it can become a reality. I don't have anymore excuses. Life told me that it is time to make a difference.
I think it would be great if you chose me. I would work hard and be dedicated to success. But...it would be great if you chose anyone. I can't say that I deserve it more than anyone else. I don't know everyone's story. Whether you choose me or not, I'm going to make this happen. And I want other people to make it happen as well. Mutual support groups. :)
I think that this is a generous offer for you to make and life is smiling at you. :)
Sarah
(blog out of date, but this is my blogger login)
My mom is PERFECT to win this. Not only has she had the roughest 6 months of her (or anyone's really) life so she really deserves something like this, but she is an amazing talent. She loves photography and is always saying she wishes someone would teach her a little more photoshop tricks or how to market herself. She has taken multiple wedding photos and does a lot of graduation and engagement photos but she charges next to nothing! She is really too good not to go professional. I really think that your mentoring would be just the info and confidence boost she needs to get her stuff out there. Oooooh I would love for her to win this. She is a great student and a great person. I know you would love her.
Cool contest, it is like the gift that keeps on giving. Please consider my mother, Diane, for the winner.
Thank you!
I love photography. I love people. I am passionate about marrying the two together to form awesome photo art. My background is in Fine Arts & Graphic Design. My goal is the create beautiful photographic fine art portraits and great experiences, which will be remembered and treasured for years. I appreciate this and all opportunities for continuing education to better prepare my business for growth and success. Thanks!
Hi Melinda,
What an incredibly generous offer! You are such a kind person to give back like this.
Hi Melinda -
What an incredibly generous offer! Thank you so much for giving back. Dane Sanders has been such an inspiration to me, and I love seeing other photographers embodying that giving spirit! This is where it's at.
I would love to be considered to be your mentee. Photography is something I've loved and have been doing part time for the last three years, and I really want to be able to grow my business to a place where I can work on it full time. I am passionate and driven, but have always used those skills to support other companies, and friends businesses - and I feel like it's my turn. My business deserves that same attention, and I know I would really benefit from a supportive, knowledgeable, talented photographer. Frankly, I've been scared to go out on my own, and am tired of being scared! I don't want regret not following this dream any longer.
I also believe mentor relationships go both ways, and I would be happy to support you in any way I could.
Thank you for considering me, best of luck in your search!
Patty
http://www.gavaphoto.com
http://www/gavastudios.com
Thinking about a Canadian or a French photographer to educate? Here I am. I am living above your beautiful country where you can see "Caribou" and drink Maple Syrup. I would like to improve my business and my photographs with your help. I am amazed by your work. Please, pick me, pick me! Also, you could learn french with me...
Thank you to offer your time for free. Today, it's rare to see a professional photographer to give advice to others fellows.
You already give something to our community trough your blog.
Have a nice shoot,
Bonne journée,
Frederic
Hi Melinda,
I'm not sure I can write anything strong enough to convince you to become my mentor, maybe my work will add to what I have to say...
I would like to have a mentor to help me develop into that artist I want to become... a photographer that is able to transmit emotions felt to others.
I have been working very hard in the past year, and a little bit of help will take me a long way. Please have a look at my work so you can see what I am working towards ...
www.flickr.com/photos/se7enmad
I hope you think I will be a good investment of your time, and promise to work hard to achieve any goals that need to be worked to.
Sincerely
Antonella
Just 2 more days to get your entries in people...
Melinda :)
Wow, what an awesome prize for the winner...thank you for offering it.
My passion for photography really took off about 2 years ago when I had my daughter (she is my 3rd child). I dove in and learned as much as I could about the mechanics of photography and using a DSLR. I stayed up late nights reading everything I could and pouring over blogs and websites of photographers who inspired me. I was stuck in a dead end job doing something that didn't inspire me and wanted so badly to go into photography as a business full time. About 2 months ago I was laid off and looking at the bright side I realized that this is the kick in the butt I needed. So for the last 2 months I have been working on getting my business ready, PBing and LEARNING. There is still so much I need to get my business off the ground and I hope that is where you can come in. Thanks again for your consideration.
Kelly Mendoza
www.trueblissphoto.com/blog
Hello Melinda.
Thank you for offering this up. I must tell you that the opportunity you are offering up is a true gift. I believe you will find this will not just be a gift for the other person but also for you, and more importantly the next person they touch. That is my declaration to you. Once I have reached multiple goals that we agree upon I will give this same opportunity to someone else. I am no way able to do that yet, but that would be my declaration.
I would love this opportunity obviously. I am at the point where I am needing to figure how to really take the next huge step the mountain appears steep but I am ready to climb!
Have a wonderful week friend. You have many generous hearts to choose from I know you cannot make a "bad" decision here.
(thank you for the colorado comment on the blog. it is amazing how green it is right now. so out of colorado character :) )
Hello Melinda.
Thank you for offering this up. I must tell you that the opportunity you are offering up is a true gift. I believe you will find this will not just be a gift for the other person but also for you, and more importantly the next person they touch. That is my declaration to you. Once I have reached multiple goals that we agree upon I will give this same opportunity to someone else. I am no way able to do that yet, but that would be my declaration.
I would love this opportunity obviously. I am at the point where I am needing to figure how to really take the next huge step the mountain appears steep but I am ready to climb!
Have a wonderful week friend. You have many generous hearts to choose from I know you cannot make a "bad" decision here.
(thank you for the colorado comment on the blog. it is amazing how green it is right now. so out of colorado character :) )
Why would I LOVE to be your mentee? Ultimately, I want to BE a mentor. I WILL be a mentor to other photographers, and that's going to be a major part of my business and my life as a photographer. I want to learn how to help others achieve success, whatever that may mean for them!
WOW that is awesome! I am a young photographer who is hoping to start my own business once I get out of highschool right now I do a a couple (1-2) sessions a month though! I would be so honored to be able to mentor with you! You are such a gifter photographer, and being able to learn and talk with someone with experience and knowledge is exactly what I need right now! I am eager to learn all I can so that I can become the best photographer I can be. I love the creative side of it all, but I know there is a lot more to running your own business then just doing sessions I have a lot that I need to learn. I know there a lot of other people who want to mentor with you to, and I honestly don't know why I should be choosen above all the rest, but I thought I would give a shot at it anyways.
You are so wonderful to want to help others out! I can't wait till I am good enough to give to young photographers just like other's have given to me :)
Thanks everyone that entered... You just one more hour to still get your entry in! I will read all the comments tomorrow and post the winner here on my blog tomorrow afternoon/evening. Check back tomorrow night to see if you won! Again, thank you and this is going to be so hard for me to choose!
Melinda
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