I can get all the support staff I need… grips, makeup artists, hair stylists, set designers… even body painters. The only trouble is that 90% of the “models” here are butter-faces. It makes it very difficult to build up an impressive portfolio, which is critical for marketing the business.

Yes, there is a lot I can fix in Photoshop, but as a wise man once told me… “you can’t put in what God left out.”

I’m constantly flooded with model portfolio requests, and the girls show up looking… well, either old, butter-faced, busted, oddly proportioned, or just downright ugly. Granted, they’re paying customers, so I try to make them look good, but you can only do so much.

I’m not sure how to overcome this problem short of literally scouting my own talent… finding girls who don’t know they’re models yet.

We shall see.

She is an impressive designer, and I have included her holiday cards and her baby announcements.

The designs can be fully customized to include your photos, text, and can even be rearranged to fit what you need.

To order cards in time for Christmas, you’ll want to get your order in soon! Overnight shipping is standard.

Sadly, most of my models have been hideous freaks, so my day will be largely spent using the “Liquify” tool in an attempt to make them look humanoid.

Fortunately there are a couple of pretty girls in the mix, too, but they are the exception. Ugh.

Today after some shooting on blank backgrounds, I discovered that Mr. D2x needs a trip to the service center for a “wet” sensor cleaning. Yes, my D2x has measles.

Sadly, I have a photo shoot on Saturday and I will just have to Photoshop all of the dark spots from the dirty sensor… on every photo.

The good news is a professional shop only charges a few bucks to perform said “wet” sensor cleaning (as opposed to the dry cleaning techniques that I’m comfortable doing myself). I’m scared to actually touch the sensor… I’m happy to pay someone else to take on the liability.

Hopefully I can get it cleaned before the next time I need it.

From the time I shot a photo to the time I saw a decent print was, even under the best of conditions, at least 4 hours of non-stop work.

In 2006 I finally made the switch to digital photography. Why did I wait so long? Well, digital SLR cameras finally caught up with the resolution of film. A 6 to 7 megapixel camera is effectively the same resolution as 35mm film.

My first digital SLR was a Nikon D80. It is squarely in the “consumer” category, and it is a great camera. However, it lacks some of the things I need, like ruggedness, responsiveness, etc.

I upgraded to a D200 shortly thereafter, which is the pro-sumer version of the D80. It’s body is magnesium alloy instead of plastic. Other than that, it’s basically the same camera.

I shot with the D200 until last week, when I had the opportunity to trade it out for the D2x, the professional version of that camera family. The D80 and D200 are 10MP cameras, the D2x is 12.4. The response time for the D2x is 37ms… faster than I can physically push the button.

Best of all, the D2x has 8fps. And a wireless adapter.

The wireless adapter communicates directly with Nikon Camera Control software. Anything you can do with the controls and menus of the camera, you can do wirelessly from the software. Also, when I shoot a photo on the camera, it pops up full-screen on the computer so we get to see instant-proof.

This technology has been around since 2003. However, in 2003, this setup would have cost $6,500, and that wouldn’t have included any lenses or the computer.

The best way to have the best equipment is to be willing to wait a few years.

But then, just when I think I’m ready to give up on old Craigslist, it gives me a gift. Yesterday’s gift was a low-mileage, mint condition Nikon D2x. The Craigslist ad posted it for $900. I offered the guy $750 and he accepted right away. I started wondering if it was all beat up.

We agreed to meet in a public place, where I looked at the camera and even tested it out. It’s in perfect condition, and he even had the box, paperwork, and accessories.

I handed over my $750 in cash and we both went on our way.

After searching the interwebs trying to comparison shop for a mint condition D2x, I found that they average $2,600. I knew they retailed new for $4,000.

So now I have a lovely new camera in Nikon’s “Pro” category. First one for me. I’ve been in the Pro-sumer category all my life thanks to their ridiculously high prices.

Craigslist is, to steal the analogy from Chris Rock, like an uncle that molests you but then pays for your college.

Why do I want the D2x instead of the D200 I already own?

Well, the first reason is ruggedness. The D2x is one piece instead of a camera + a grip. It has high speed capability (8fps). It has a better meter. It’s battery life is ridiculously better (3,700 shots per charge instead of 200).

Now I have to wait and see. Fingers Crossed!