Kevin Meyers Photography Blog

I just returned from New Orleans. If you told me what I'd see there, I wouldn't have believed you.

Did you know that schools are at only 30% of pre-Katrina enrollment? The city estimates that 75% of people are back based on the number of households receiving mail. Yet many homes can't be entered because the pile of mail behind the door blocks the way. What will a city become without education?

Did you know that the wide open green fields were once fully developed neighborhoods? At first glance, I saw many urban parks, but upon closer inspection found rows of steps leading to porches that no longer exist. What can that homeowner do when all they own is an expensive weed patch?

Did you know that many temporary living trailers provided by FEMA were built without ventilation? The fortunate ones can open a couple small windows. Others have children whose ears bleed for unknown reasons. Unknown until three inches of mold is found growing under the bed. Many trailers were taken back before homes were repaired. One woman couldn't even enter her trailer because the doors were locked and she wasn't given keys. Six months later, they came back to remove the trailer and found the keys locked inside by those who delivered it (they still removed it). What could you do in that situation?

Did you know the total amount of stolen financial aid in a single church body totaled $250,000? Imagine your house in a state of destruction like those pictured below. You've been given $18,000 to fix the whole thing. Most of it, if not all, was used as a downpayment. The contractor left town with it all. What do you do to repair your house now?

Did you know that in one neighborhood, shootings occur 4-5 times per day? A 17-year old has a wall full of rags hung from nails. Each represents a witnessed murder. Who else did we think would take over the streets in a time like this?

So is this a hopeless situation? After all, what can these people do? On their own, almost nothing. The question is, what can WE do? Collectively, almost everything. It's a hopeful situation.

Helping hang sheetrock in a neighborhood church didn't seem like much. But when visited by people who attended the church before the storm, it was clear that it meant the world. One man had attended the church since it was built in 1923. He turned the first shovel of dirt in a groundbreaking ceremony. He loved attending that church so much that the only way his family could get him out of New Orleans was to wait until it was time to drive to church on Sunday morning, and then head past it to the freeway. Visitors were left speechless and most communication was done through tears.

Help is needed, wanted and appreciated! Find your own way to help if you'd like, but here's one way...

Touch Global

The final impression I left New Orleans with is that this isn't an effort in rebuilding structures, but it's one of saving lives. I mean this very literally. Relatives of those we spoke to had died just recently at ages much less than normal for their families. They understand clearly that it's due to complications brought by living conditions after the storm. The man who broke ground at the church was in his nineties and his son says all he's living for now is to see it full again.

I made it back last night from the WPPI convention. What an experience! I'll post more when I get the time to do a worthy job of it.

Usually when you travel, it's that first shower at home or the first good night's sleep in a familiar place that one experiences the fact they're finally home. For me...and many Portlanders...it's that first cup of Stumptown Coffee!

I'm going to have to drink a lot of it today while I have the chance. :) After an engagement shoot this afternoon it's back to packing! I'm headed out tomorrow to join my Dad in New Orleans to lend a hand in rebuilding. I'm somewhat conflicted because my purpose there is to build, yet I know I'm going to be cringing every time I see something that cries out for a photograph. Something that needs a voice in order to be heard. Or in this case, to be seen. One storm has passed, but an even stronger one lingers in the lives of many NOLA residents and it's easy to forget that once the media determines it's no longer newsworthy. I'll try to bring back some photos!

In the meantime, how about a contest to lighten the mood? :) See the cameras behind my coffee cup? Name them and I'll send you a bag of Stumptown Coffee! The last two should be easy, but the first behind the coffee cup may be worthy of a couple hints. These were made in Germany as some of the first conveniently sized 35mm SLRs and served as a more portable option to their big brother made by the same manufacturer. It has a pop-up waistlevel viewfinder just like the two cameras behind it. Don't worry about the model names, just the make. Good luck and I'll check the answers when I get home!

Well it's off to Vegas for WPPI! This is one of the most fun weeks of the year as I get to catch up with so many fellow photographers. A lot of them are really good friends that I only get to see a couple times a year. I'll post some pics when I get back.

In conversations about business, I find that most photographers look at accounting as a means for figuring how much they owe in taxes. While that is a purpose of accounting, it's not the only purpose. In fact, accounting done well is what makes the biggest difference in your knowledge of the health of your business.

Accounting for taxes and reporting is "Financial Accounting." But what if you want to look at your numbers to guide you in the decisions you make? This is an introduction to "Managerial Accounting." The best part is that it's accomplished with the same set of numbers as those you use for taxes. So, if you're already doing that, just do it slightly better and you get so much more out of it!

The obvious things we know from accounting include how much clients have paid and have remaining to pay, what bills we've paid, profit margins, operating budgets, account balances, etc.

But with more advanced (but not impossible to understand) accounting practices, we can track so much more. How good is your payment collection system? A quick look at "aged receivables" will answer that for you and perhaps prompt you to improve how you handle that.

What is your most profitable activity? Profit margin on a package alone won't answer that, but in conjunction with sales volume and activity based costing, you'll find if a certain activity is worth continuing or not.

Have you ever missed your budget goals and just shrugged your shoulders not knowing why? Find out with budget analysis tools so you don't get caught by surprise again.

Okay, some heads may already be spinning. Some of us don't have the time to take on this level of involvement with accounting. Whatever reason there is for avoiding it, find someone who will do it for you! I've found Peachtree Complete Accounting. It's the only thing I've found that allows for such complete knowledge, yet takes so little to learn. It also works on a "double entry" accounting system...remember that a payment from a client effects more than just your checking account balance. Peachtree will keep you accurate by reflecting a payment in the client's balance, accounts receivable, the appropriate sales category, etc.

So if you're struggling in this area, check it out!.

PS - This is just one solution for better accounting. I just happen to love it. :) The main purpose of this post is just to get you all thinking about how important this not-so-fun topic can be.