I recently raised my prices on all my digital products I create for Studio Scratches.

Why?

The prices didn’t reflect the effort that had gone into making them and the value people get out of them.

Whilst they do attract many casual customers, I would rather attract people that really value what I do and the products I create to help them with their DJ practice. These customers usually return as repeat buyers for all new products.

Otherwise my cheap products become just lost amongst all the many other cheap products.

I want people to use my products deliberately not just buy them because they are cheap.

My guiding force is always for people to receive more in value than the actual price they pay.

I get people writing to me everyday wanting free information, information that I have spent 12 years researching and working out for myself. I don’t mind sharing and helping out, but perhaps it is time to value what I do more highly and put a better price on it. Then it becomes a win win situation for all involved.

The people that really want to know more are usually happy to pay and support what I do, the rest move on to the next person offering everything for free.

I used to release a free something every week. I put 2-3 days work into it. People hadn’t had time to fully digest the first freebie when I released the next. The value was seriously diluted.

Since I slowed down on the release of products, my work has a higher value. I don’t break myself trying to respond to everyone. Instead I consider what people are asking and how I can make this into a product or fully featured post that benefits a lot of people including myself. I’m always thinking win win.

As I write this post, I received a bulk order for 8 items, all paid for and delivered digitally without me doing a thing, as if to confirm I am on the right track. It’s so awesome when that happens.

Is it time for you to raise your prices?

Have you ever done this? What were the results?

You can tell me in the comments below or on G+.

A little photo I took on a photo walk today.

The spring blossom is here and it is a real picture. The bees are loving it!

At the beginning of this week I booked a flight in June from my home in the UK to San Francisco, USA.

Why? Why not! Life is for living and getting out into the world and experiencing all it has to offer.

I’ve always wanted to experience this city.

I’ve never had the *ahem* balls to just book a solo trip with no idea of what I am doing, where I am staying, or what I’ll do when I get there. I’ll be there for 12 nights.

I have a few classic ideas of places and things to experience when I get there: the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, a road trip to Yosemite.

Sure I will experience some tourist things, but I will also discover new places, people and find out more about myself, which is where the real adventure lies.

Sometimes the only thing to do is take a risk, jump into the unknown and see what happens.

I have no real plans. I’m a little out of my depth. I’ll be travelling light.

I am reminded by Lao Tzu that “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.”

The last time I hopped on a plane into the unknown was in August 2004 to work on the Paskowiz Surf Camp in San Diego with people I had never met. I surfed all day, lived out of a tent for 4 weeks and had nothing but a bag of clothes and a minidisc player. It was truly awesome!

I’ll keep you updated on this new adventure.

Perhaps i’ll write and share a journal of my experiences. I’m taking a camera.

What should I do when I get there? Would you be willing to share suggestions?

I would love it if you would tell me here.

One of the greatest gifts people give me is the simple art of listening.

They don’t try to fix things.

They hear me out patiently, only adding words if needs be and never just for the sake of it.

They are patient and understanding about the fact that I am, more often than not, working out there and then how I actually feel and what I think about something by verbalising it to their ears.

They know that they do not have to create a solution on the spot, rather, they let me think it through myself as I talk it out.

I always feel better after and usually no action has been taken, other than the fact that I have got clear about how I feel and I know how to deal with whatever it was that was bothering me. I know then what I have to do.

I cannot put a price on that.

Thanks for listening to me.

How do people help you by listening? How do you help others by listening?

Tell me here.

I haven’t written much lately.

I finally got over what some might call ‘writers block’ last night.

Here is my suggestion list of what worked for me:

• Write SOMETHING, anything.
• Write about something you don’t care about, something you have no attachment to, just to get in the flow again.
• Write a list. About anything.
• Play with words, write random words in handwriting.
• Write some things you did in bullet points.
• Write a journal. Not long, maybe even bullet points as above.
• Take a walk.
• Get outside.
• Do something worth writing about, staring at a screen won’t help.
• See the world.
• Ask some questions on your favourite social gathering space.
• Talk it out. If you have things on your mind, that you cannot seem to write about, how about talking it out with someone who will listen. I mean really listen. Many times I find it enough simply to verbalise it and then POW, its out and gone and life can move on.

Refuse to believe in writer’s block. That’s just an excuse we tell ourselves and we know it!

What will you write today?

Let me know in my comments here.

Today I got out and about with my Canon 600D.

It was raining and grim but it’s always good to get off the beaten track.

After a quick tour around some local hills and valleys, the rain hadn’t stopped so I opted for tea and biscuits (oops!) in the warm.

I’ve been learning quite a bit about my camera and photography in general.

Things got interesting today when I shot some pics of the sunset and got to grips with more camera settings, then I decided to see if I could capture some stars in the ‘magic hour’.

You can see the full set here.

The 2 super bright stars planets that look like stars are Jupiter and Venus and apparently will be appearing closer and closer together as the days progress.

It was really very relaxing, standing in the cold, fresh air, waiting 30 seconds for the shutter and each image to appear. It was so quiet and still. I could get used to taking these. I love the wispy blurred clouds. Clouds always make sunsets and skies more interesting in small amounts!

I edited one of the photos with some typography which will be featured on Be Deliberate tomorrow. Make sure you get signed up if you want it in your inbox.

Thats all for today.

Night night!

Today about 4 people inspired and helped me with photography for which I am very grateful. I didn’t know there was so much I didn’t know.

After the shoot / play on the rocky beach, I was discussing how my photos looked with them both and I expressed a few difficulties and that I hadn’t got them looking how I imagined. Turns out I needed a UV filter so I picked one up today along with a simple lens cleaning kit. One also suggested this free photography course so I’m signed up and ready to learn as much as I can.

I also now need a decent camera bag for all these extra bits I never knew I needed. Sigh. More stuff!

The overall goal is to keep it simple, travel light and snap interesting stuff. I’m loving nature and shooting close up objects.

I’m not keen to be an all out “photographer” or have tons of gear. I just want to have enough to get onto camera what my eyes see. The eyes really are the ultimate camera lenses in so many ways.

It’s quite a journey and I have sooooo much to learn! But that is the fun of it.

Practice makes better I heard Kal Barteski say.

Hopefully now I know better, I’ll do better. Ok enough quotes!

Here is some practice:

Onwards and upwards!

Have a great day.

Today I took myself and my Canon 600D to a rocky beach.

I needed some fresh air and inspiration.

It was pretty much grey and uninspiring but I figured it would be better than staying at home looking out at the grey, wishing it was sunny.

It proved to be a breath of fresh air. As soon as I got there and heard the waves breaking I felt instant chill wash over me.

Here are a few pics for you:

I just took some time strolling along, taking pictures and footage of the stream and rocks.

It was so good to feel the cool salty air in my face and when the sun came out that was an unexpected bonus.

I’ve also been experimenting with my photos and words to make things like this for Be Deliberate (my little site / way of encouraging / inspiring people to live their dreams):

I have been thinking of doing something like that for a while and yesterday I stumbled across someone that had done 365 days worth around a similar idea and that was just the inspiration I needed to kick me into action. Hooray!

I’ve also been looking for that font, for like… forever, so after a bit of detective work, I discovered it was Strangelove. So off I went with Photoshop and my little book of quotes.

Now i’m looking forward to taking more pictures and editing them up and seeing what words come to mind.

One of those nice relaxed creative days.

This months theme / question is:

What makes me come alive?

I am exploring and answering this question. Here is my list so far:

• Taking pictures
• Shooting small videos
• Walking
• All 3 of the above together at once with friends
• Being in nature
• Meeting people for coffee and planning how we are going to kick life in the teeth
• Surfing
• Yoga sun salutations
• Eating good food
• Listening to and discovering new music
• Reading
• Watching vimeo inspirational videos
• Instagram / phoneography
• Being with people who know more and have done more than me
• Exploring quirky funky design type shops
• Cycling / Fixed Gear
• Encouraging others

What makes you come alive?

Please share in the comments below if you would like to.

Why not take some time out to think and explore this question with me…

I have recently found that the trouble with following someone else’s “system”, is that when they change or discontinue their system, I end up lost with no guide to help me move forwards.

The answer? I Work on my own system!

This means I:

• Learn through personal experiences
• Experiment
• Listen to myself
• Trust myself
• Have no plan
• Seek out adventure
• Look for the new
• Learn on the fly
• Lead the way

I am of course inspired, informed and influenced by others work, but at the end of the day it’s really up to me to chart my own direction and steer my own ship.

I am reminded of this saying:

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

What trails are you making?

Let’s talk about it here.

So now, are you ready to get out there and kick life in the teeth?!