Shuttermom....

[Boop's_passion]

I have been researching Shuttermom and the shuttermom gold package, and I was wondering if anyone here has purchased it and to see what you could tell me about it.
It's not that I don't want to spend the money, it's just the fact that it is a significant about of money and I want to make sure it's the right choice for me.
So, any help would be appeciated, thank you.

 

[markc]

I wasn't familiar with them, but I took a look at the website.
http://www.shuttermom.com/goldpackage.htm
That's pretty expensive for a packet of information. Great for her that she found another business model to make money off photography other than just taking pictures, but a lot of that information is available in books.
http://books.google.com/books?q=photography+business+books&ots=0nr5pDi7dd&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title
It's cheap from a business investment perspective, but you might be able to get most of it from elsewhere cheaper. It just might take a little searching to find the right book or two for you. Even better, if you have a good library, you might be able to get it for free.

 

[markc]

What is your photographic background? How much experience do you have? Do you have any images you could share?

 

[Soocom1]

Please do not misconstrue what I am about to write here:

I do not know who this lady is, or anything about her.

A while back my wife started to get into the following (in this order):

SMC
Tupperware
Pampered Chief
Coliest lingerie
Stores Online (Subsidiary of Galaxy Mall)
Arbonne International.

Which out of the list would you consider the most legit?

I do not want to say that this lady is a crook or otherwise, because I do not know her, or her reputation. But in my experience, such offers typically are what made the person money. Not the business they say they are trying to help promote.

The list of information she gives I found by simply going over to Barns And Noble, and buying a cup of coffee while reading. Or better yet, Google. Lord only knows the volume of information I have picked up through the internet.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581152256/104-8393654-4698365?v=glance&n=283155"]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581152256/104-8393654-4698365?v=glance&n=283155[/ame]

http://www.studiolighting.net/

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584281820/104-8393654-4698365?v=glance&n=283155"]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584281820/104-8393654-4698365?v=glance&n=283155[/ame]

Read books on business, and read about the new Adobe Lightroom.

Forms can come in a variety of ways, but one of the best for photographers is a book that will run you around $25.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/158115206X/104-8393654-4698365?v=glance&n=283155"]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/158115206X/104-8393654-4698365?v=glance&n=283155[/ame]

This little gem helped me tremendously. I simply modified the forms.

I would really tell you to avoid buying information that can be had for free.
A little common sense along with ALOT of education in business, AND photography is called for here.

Hate to say it, but save the money and buy some accessories for your cameras.

 

[Boop's_passion]

Yes, I totally agree. I thought the same thing, I was just wondering what others had to say.

I have been taking photo's since I was old enough to hold a camera, I didn't get seriuos with it until I was in high school. Now, I am taking the internet course from the NYI of photography, and I am looking into starting a business way way down the line. This forum is helping me out in so many ways. I know you guys get tired of us newbies asking all the same dumb questions but for a mom of two with little time to search the internet you guys are saints. I really appeciate all the help and suggestions.

I would love to host some of my pics. I have shot two of my friends weddings. Is there a hosting site that I can upload more than one photo at a time?

 

[laurielozano]

I dont think she actually takes any pictures of anyone other than her child. The only pics I've ever seen from her are of her daughter. She also runs another website...
http://www.infomarketingmom.com/index.htm

She makes her money off suckers that buy her packages, and her husband probably makes enough money from his full time job that the money she makes is just supplemental income or 'fun money'.

I wouldnt send her your money. Do enough searching and the stuff she is selling is also on various websites. You're paying her $1000 to do some simple websearching you could do yourelf for free.

 

[sabbath999]

Another book I would add to your list is a book that I think EVERY person who wants to start a business should read...

http://www.e-myth.com/

In the book, the author explains how it is far more important to be good at running your business than it is to be good at whatever it is that your business does.

For example, he shows how people who are great at the technical aspects of their chosen professions (say, for example, portrait photography) often put all of their time and effort into becoming even better at photography, instead of working on becoming better at the photography BUSINESS.

The people who work on their BUSINESS succeed and make money, while the people who only care about the technical aspects of what their business DOES often do far less well then they could financially, struggle, and often fail.

I think that photographers, by and large, are VERY good at taking pictures... but you can really tell the difference between the folks that are great at selling themselves and the ones that are just great picture takers... the ones that sell themselves properly are the ones that stay in business.

In a sense, that is what this lady is saying. Save the $1000 or whatever it is she is charging, and buy books like the e-myth for $3 on half.com here:

The E-Myth

 

[ajclark]

There's a shuttermom gold CD for sale on ebay if you want to check it out without spending big bucks

 

[Iron Flatline]

It is kind of icky the way the site is structured like an informercial - where the pricing info isn't available till you get to the end. There's even a lot of "but wait!" and "all-new jam-packed" text - that's not how we're used to interacting with websites.

Regardless of the presentation, there seems to be a lot of info there that actually makes sense. If you're serious about getting into this business, the materials certainly expose you to every aspect you should be thinking about, with distinct solutions and tools.

Look, the info mightl be good, it's hard to say. But I think regardless of what you do, you're going to get a lot out of this community (for free! jam-packed with new friends!) and certain books than just a pre-produced product by itself.