Doug Johnston, creator of the D*I*Y Planner kit that I reviewed here has released the D*I*Y Photo Planner Photo Release kit to get you to start getting those model releases that are so essential when you want to sell your images.

Doug does a fantastic job and really follows the spirit of the open source movement by making things available and listening to feedback.

Doug is always open to new ideas or feedback that could make the D*I*Y series better. I've already implemented version 2 of his planner kit and has made me much more organized in a short amount of time.

Bottom line: It works.

For anyone who doubts the power or the benefits of blogging, I'm proof that it does work if you put the time into it.

I just got my first quote in a major online publication!! Ziff Davis Media's 'Publish' did an article entitled Corbis Expands Royalty-Free Offerings. My quote is towards the bottom.

The real kicker is that the writer found out about me through my blog while doing a search on photography and apparently loved my writing.

It's a real kicker to see my name in an article, especially one that deals with my profession. I hope to continue to expand this blog to serve the readers. That is the first thing I've learned from all the other probloggers out there, the reader is of the utmost importance.

So thank you again to all who have continued supporting my blog, this is a great milestone for me.

Backup, backup, backup your data!! I can't say how many times I exhort my friends family and colleagues to backup their data since it's not a matter of if, but when a hard drive will crash. However, if the inevitable happens sooner than you would like, and you can't bear to lose your hard earned data, there is hope.    more »

The NYTimes has an interesting article on the various uses of the Junxion Box that allows those who have a celluar internet account to share their connection with others. Find out how this could be useful for those of you who shoot news and events.    more »

If you told me 3 months ago that I'd be starting a photo blog, writing for two other blogs (Digital Photo & Printers) AND being interviewed by a Ziff Davis publication called Publish, I'd call you crazy!

But it has happend and I couldn't be more thrilled. Last night, a reporter doing an article for Publish contacted me asking me a few questions about the royalty free market and what it means for freelance pro photographers. She apparently found me via my blog and loved what I had written before.

This could never have happend without the support of my readers, friends and mentors who have helped me in the past. It is starting to pay off and I hope it leads to other things.

So a big thank you to everyone who has supported me in this endeavor, I can only hope and work towards fulfilling your expectations.

How many of us can say we challenge ourselves constantly? Whether it's photography, blogging or our own personal goals, it's hard to step out of comfort zones on a regular basis. What do you do to push yourself beyond the norm?    more »