<![CDATA[Headshots NYC - NYC Headshot Photographer - Union Square NYC

<![CDATA[Headshots NYC - NYC Headshot Photographer - Union Square NYC - Blog]]>Sun, 20 May 2012 07:37:41 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Week In Review - My 10 Stock Market Investing Tips I Learned 7 Tips To Looking Better In Photos]]>Sat, 19 May 2012 17:56:42 -0800http://www.jaicatalano.com/1/post/2012/05/week-in-review-my-10-stock-market-investing-tips-i-learned-7-tips-to-looking-better-in-photos.html

Did you miss any of my blog this week? Shame on you! How the hell am I supposed to buy 100 shares of Apple when the stock is down 20%? Right now I can only afford 1 share. Actually half. I will have to borrow the other half. :) Anyway, what a week it's been. I had a smoking HOT photo shoot with Aisha Koswara this week. I can't wait to show those photos and trust me you can't wait to see them. Trust me. :)

Question??? What's wrong with the photo above?
2 more weeks of Insanity and I am done in case you missed my Insanity before and after blog. By the way if you google "Insanity before and after" you will see my blog on the first page. Pretty cool huh?

So, I recently started to put my toe in the investment waters and the market has gone down 6 days straight. Naturally I am down on some of my positions. Am I scared? Only me and my underwear know. Don't worry... I am very patient so I am not overly shitting but I guess it's all a test of discipline. Hopefully I will survive.

Well have a wonderful rest of the weekend. I have a husband and wife argument post next week that is pretty... well you'll be the judge. And a 1 year blog anniversary to share with you.

So, If you missed the investment blog or any of my other posts this week please click on the links below and I will see you all next time.

1. My 10 Stock Market Investing Tips I Learned
2. 7 Tips To Looking Better In Photos, Even If The Mirror Says You Are The Ugliest One Of Them All
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Until Monday,
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Jai

]]><![CDATA[7 Tips To Looking Better In Photos, Even If The Mirror Says You Are The Ugliest One Of Them All]]>Thu, 17 May 2012 06:22:07 -0800http://www.jaicatalano.com/1/post/2012/05/7-tips-to-looking-better-in-photos-even-if-the-mirror-says-you-are-the-ugliest-one-of-them-all.html

It never ceases to amaze me how much people hate looking at themselves in photos. How can you enjoy your image when everything you see in magazines or tv is PERFECT? Even the ugly look great. However, if you're as photogenic as a bowl of goulash I have some tips that might not make you America's Next Top Model, but will make you appreciate you looking back at yourself in photos. And guess what? Some of these tips are even good for the impromptu photo moment.

1. Hire A Photographer Who Cares - A truly professional photographer is more than just a photographer. He or she creates experiences and moods with you and your features in mind. We compose the shot and direct you so we can photograph real moments that hopefully you are going to cherish for life.

2. Use A Make Up Artist - Television personalities, movie stars, thespians, models, newscasters, and even the President of the United States uses a make up artist. It's what a lot of people do to even out skin tones, cover up blemishes and accentuate beauty. If the leader of the free nation is getting make up done you should too.

3 - Avoid The Evil Double Chin - A photographer must position the camera properly or else you are photographically screwed. The lens must be at your eye level or higher because even Kate Moss would have had a double chin if shot from below. Bend your knees slightly if you are taller than the photographer, suggest sitting in a chair or lift your turkey neck to stretch out the evil double chin.

4. Tilt Your Head - Turning your head slightly away from the camera will be much more appealing to your eye when you look at your photographs. It creates more depth and is more interesting than looking at a football sized head with a mug shot of you from lobe to lobe. Plus if you have big ears (I have tiny ones) you will undoubtedly want to avoid the Will Smith look.

5. Don’t Smile – Whatever you do... DO NOT SMILE. The word smile is a bad 5 letter word that brings out the constipated fake tooth showing look that will make you run for the hills to burn each photo individually. Let the photographer bring out the special moments by his or her direction. If you hired a bad photographer (or didn't hire me) then just think something funny like if a cow laughed would milk come out of its nose or how cruel it was to put an "S" in the word lisp.

6. Strike A Pose - Madonna does it why can't you. Put your hand on your hip and sit into it lowering one shoulder. Try turning around then face the camera. Squat down jail style and put a little attitude in your photo. Let your personality shine through your actions and you’ll be surprised at how much more photogenic you really can be. Also keep in mind that if you twist your body slightly you will appear thinner and ultimately happier with your photographic results.

7. There Is Always Photoshop - When all else fails there is always photoshop. The before and after photoshop look is no longer a big surprise because we all know it exists. Every client I have ever had has asked me to photoshop something out of it. I do it all the time to my own photos because I want to look like Johnny Depp. Also, it usually comes with the photographer's package deal. If it's a random photo that someone took and you know it doesn't look good then take the camera and throw it out the window. :)

Well there you have it. 7 tips to looking better in photos, even if the mirror says you are the ugliest one of them all. Without sounding too cheesy appreciate these photographic moments. Even the ugly ones. Who knows... if you are smart it can be the conversation piece to your future loved one the next time you show your driver's license. :)

Until Tomorrow,

Jai

]]><![CDATA[My 10 Stock Market Investing Tips I Learned]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 04:18:45 -0800http://www.jaicatalano.com/1/post/2012/05/my-10-stock-market-investing-tips-i-learned.html

I stopped investing in the market years ago for various reasons that are quite irrelevant now that the past has past, but a few months ago I decided to get back in because I needed to think about my family and my future. My step father, who has been successfully active in the market for 50 years has been cool enough to school me through the process because I consider myself a newbie. 2 times a week for 4 hours he has been teaching me everything he knows and quizzing me along the way.

It's been 3 months and my portfolio and brain have started to see a pulse. Here are some of the tips he has given me or I have concluded along the way. Please read them over and let me know if I am on the right track. If I am missing something please add it as a comment at the bottom because, even though I am picking up a lot, I am still a newbie.

Ask For Help - This one I taught myself because nobody was coming to me to ask if I needed help learning about the market. Yes I could have learned online, read a book or taken a course but the market is serious business and I knew that I needed to talk one on one with someone who knew what they were doing. Thankfully my step father is just the right person.
Know Your Risk Tolerance - One of the first things he asked me when I started with him was, "what is your risk tolerance?" I said to him on a scale of 1 to 10 I am a 5. I don't mind the boat rocking a bit but if I see an iceberg I know I got on the wrong ship.
Put Your Toe In The Water - You have to start somewhere. If you wait you lose the potential for growth. The market is a timing with a lot of patience game. Don't jump head in... put your toe in from time to time and watch your money grow.
Do Your Research - If a stranger came up to me on the street and told me that they wanted me to invest in their company I would say NO! "Why would I then invest in a company I knew nothing about," my step father asked me. I know this concept seems like a no brainer but plenty of times I have felt the urge to invest in what others have researched for me.
Buy When The Market Is Down - When the market is down don't be afraid to invest. The reality is I don't have money like Donald Trump. It's more comparable to Donald Duck. It's a scary thought to invest when the market is down but I totally understand the concept. According to the charts, it looks like what goes down must eventually go back up.
Diversify - Do you want to know how I understand this concept? When I was a young man (I might look young but it's lighting) I wanted to diversify my dating life. I went out with everyone and anyone that I found attractive to diversify my experience. Eventually I found the one company I wanted to invest in for the rest of my life. My wife. :)
Know The Terms - I am not ashamed to admit that 3 months ago I didn't know what an ETF was. I didn't know what a P/E ratio was. I didn't know what an option was. I didn't know what a limit order was. I didn't know much when I was reading investing material or watching MSNBC. I know I know I know... I should have known these things BUT ask yourself this question. Have you ever danced on the Carnegie Hall stage? I was busy doing other things. :)
Think Independently - I would love for someone to hold my hand through this whole process and make me a lot of money. Yes my step father has guided me quite nicely, however, he always says to me that I need to do my own research and make my own decisions because he is not perfect and doesn't want to be responsible for any gaines and losses that will occur. Let me take that back. I think he wants to be responsible for just the gains. :)
You Can Never Go Wrong With Taking A Profit - I love to make money. I am sure we all do but there is never anything wrong with taking a profit no matter what the future holds. That means that if I (hypothetically) make $100 on a stock after selling and the stock goes through the roof I have to remind myself that I cannot be greedy and I will never go wrong with taking a profit... Even if I lose the potential to make more by selling too early.
Be Patient - My step father made me take a look at thousands of charts from 2001 and 2008. The market took HUGE hits. Both times the market rebounded and went beyond the high point of their respective dropping points. Patiences is tough because the unknown is shadowing the future but the one of the keys to successful investing is in patience. I guess I will see how this concept goes for me over time. In essence I will have to be patient to see how it goes for when I really need to be patient.

3 months in and I am loving all that I am learning. I credit Yakezie for all the wonderful blogs that make me question my financial future, however without my step father I would have felt completely lost. Thank you Ciro for being a great teacher and allowing me the opportunity to learn from you.

If I am missing some points please chime in as it's all about learning.

Until Tomorrow,

Jai

]]><![CDATA[Week In Review - RIP Rich Ramirez & 7 Reasons Why Mother's Day Should Be The Number 1 Holiday ]]>Sun, 13 May 2012 05:36:33 -0800http://www.jaicatalano.com/1/post/2012/05/week-in-review-rip-rich-ramirez-7-reasons-why-mothers-day-should-be-the-number-1-holiday.html

Did you miss any of my blog this week? Shame on you! How the hell am I suposed to take my mom out for mother's day? Actually how the hell am I suposed to take out the 3 mothers I have for mother's day? Yep when you marry you marry into a family. When you have a family your wife becomes a mother to your kids and sometimes to you. So, I have my lovely mom, my mother in law and my wife mom.

Do you want to hear something funny?

After working out with Insanity, taking my wife to workout out with her trainer, getting my son to swim class and then to the park we somehow found the energy to go home and get dressed up to have a nice Mother's Day dinner together.

Yep daddy made a romantic 8pm reservation at a restaurant we have wanted to try for a while. When we arrived we decided to sit outside which made the night even more romantic. We talked about her being a mom and all the wonderful things that my wife has done in the last 3 mother's days. And, I didn't tell her how great of a dad I am because I do that every other day of the year.

Anyway, we ate a delicious appetizer, a wonderful meal and a smooth tasting dessert. We then decided to go walk around the neighborhood and talk some more about how great of a mother my wife has been. And again I didn't mention how great of a dad I am. Then we stopped to get ice cream. Yep we had a second dessert. We talked some more and then I gave her a card and a gift. She cried and told me how much she loved me and I refused to tell her how great of a dad I am because I was telling her how great of a husband I am.

After all of that we strolled home because we were totally exhausted from a LONG day and night.

Here is the funny part.

Remember we arrived at the restaurant at 8pm. Guess what time we got home?

10:27pm

Happy Mother's Day to all of the women who have pulled watermelons out of their nostrils.

Missed any of my blog this week? Here are the posts.

Until Monday,

Jai

]]><![CDATA[7 Reasons Mother's Day Should Be The Number One Holiday]]>Thu, 10 May 2012 05:43:10 -0800http://www.jaicatalano.com/1/post/2012/05/7-reasons-mothers-day-should-be-the-number-one-holiday.html

Me, my mom & my grandmother

Mothers are, without a doubt, the unsung heroes. From the moment you are born until death do you part, mom will be there for you. She never stops worrying about you no matter how old you get and she will sacrifice anything in her life just to see you happy and safe. Unfortunately, time and time again all her efforts go unnoticed or unacknowledged. However, this mother's day let me remind you about someone who never forgot about... well... YOU!

Mom gave birth to you. Just knowing this should be enough reason to make Mother's Day a national holiday but after watching my wife give birth to both of my kids I realize pulling a watermelon out of a nostril can't compare to Santa squeezing through a chimney.
Mom always knew what you needed at the right moment. From chicken soup to a kiss on the forehead, mom sensed the things that nobody else sensed and it always came with lots of ice cream.
Mom washed your clothes, ironed your clothes, sewed your clothes, folded your clothes, changed your clothes, picked up your clothes from the floor and when your clothes didn't fit anymore she handed your clothes down to someone who was in need of your clothes.
Mom always had 2 shoulders ready for you to cry on whenever you needed. She listened to you, hugged you, kissed you, and stayed up all night with you. Moms are ready for your tears 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year. No one else is.
Mom made a lot of food for you day in and day out while you were growing up. Just think of the countless dishes she prepared for you, the tasty lunchboxes she fixed for you, the cakes she baked, the snacks, the cups of juice and delicious suppers.
Mom was always there to cheer you on and support you through your endeavors. She is the person you can depend upon to stand by you anytime you need her. Ever needed a cheering section? Mom was there with her vocal chords already warmed up.
Mom gives a lot of love. Some people say too much love but if you think about all the stuff she had to go through to make sure you were happy, safe and well fed every single day while you were growing up, than you would be able to understand that her love can't even be measured. It can only be felt.

In the end moms get a bad rap. Maybe it's because during our journey towards individual independence mom is still trying to hold on but what your mother does for you is absolutely beyond assessment. When the enormity of her love and sacrifice is felt, you realize that your mom deserves a real special treat.

And that is what makes Mother's Day the number one holiday.

On that note... Thank you mom. I love you.

Until Tomorrow,

Jai

Take a look at the father son talk about mother's day I filmed 2 years ago.

]]><![CDATA[R.I.P Rich Ramirez - My Tribute To A Friend]]>Mon, 07 May 2012 06:50:36 -0800http://www.jaicatalano.com/1/post/2012/05/rip-rich-ramirez-my-tribute-to-a-friend.html

Rich Ramirez, who was a funny comedian and a good friend of mine, died Friday night after sustaining severe head trauma from a fall in his home due to his on going battle with liver disease. I had the honor and pleasure of working with Rich several times throughout the years but that was after I had to audition for him. Many people don't know this but he gave me an opportunity that changed my life forever.

In 2001 I was hired to be one of the premier dancers in a dance musical called Latin Madness. Rich Ramirez was one of the writers and stars of the show in which he, along with Herbie Quinones, desperately tried to get their creation on Broadway by taking the audience down the Latino historical lane. At the time I was just a dancer but after the run of Latin Madness I went on to train with acting legend Maggie Flannigan and voice/speech with Shane Anne Younts. I became a commentator for ESPN for 3 years. I made short films, webisodes, commercials, viral videos and have been on several stages for a nice chunk of my adult life. Who do I have to thank for that? Rich Ramirez of course.

One day while I was rehearsing for Latin Madness (which was chaotically funny) I was fooling around with a character voice trying to make my fellow dancers laugh. Rich, listening to the foolishness that was coming out of my mouth, called me over and asked me if I wanted to act in a small scene in Latin Madness. "Hell fu**ing yeah," I said, but I had never really acted before. He explained to me that it was a small part but he was toying with an idea of adding in a gay character and wanted to see if he could use me if I was up to the challenge. He gave me the script and told me to be ready for an audition at the next rehearsal.

The next day my body was rehearsing the dance numbers but my heart was rehearsing the the scene while I was waiting to be called for my audition. In my mind I had come up with a gay character idea that I knew was genius and couldn't wait for the moment to show Rich and the rest of the cast my untapped skills. I was raw but the reality is that my narcissistic side had been stroked. "Jai. You ready?," he yelled over to me. I nodded and ran to the wings for my cue. Then the moment came. I swung the acting bat like Babe Ruth, dunked the scene like Michael Jordan and then knocked out the audience with my one two Muhammad Ali.

Everyone was laughing hysterically and people congratulated me as we continued rehearsal but I was still a dancer and had to get back to why I was hired in the first place. So, with confidence I went back to dancing and graciously (but eagerly) waited for the rehearsal to end so Rich could tell me how great I really thought I was. When it ended, Rich called me over and said that he needed some time to think about it and was going to call me later that night to tell me his decision.

I was nervous. I waited by the phone like a dog anxiously waiting to be fed. The phone rang around 10pm and I answered as cool as I could be. Rich said some small talk like anyone else would do and then said that he really loved my performance. He said he loved my over the top character idea and wardrobe choice but had to cut me out of the show for being too funny. What? Too funny,? I thought to myself. I was too shocked and devastated to speak so I just unconsciously listened. He told me that he and Herbie felt that my humor was going to steal the scene and that having 3 funny people on the stage at the same time was going to be a conflict for the show. Before hanging up he apologized to me several times and then told me how great of a job I did.

I was devastated. I was confused and I don't mean my blonde hair is getting the better of me confused. I mean I was really truly confused. I thought, you don't take Derek Jeter out of the line up. You don't ask Marlon Brando to be an extra. You don't tell Frank Sinatra to sing back up. Hey this is my blog I can compare myself to whoever I want :). Anyway, I went to bed that night without sleeping because I couldn't handle the pain of hearing how great I was and being fired before I was hired.

The following day at rehearsal Rich called me over and asked me how I was feeling and wanted to know why I looked so tired. I snickered and said something about being over worked and under appreciated. He laughed and said that he really truly enjoyed my scene the night before and then he stared at me. I then looked at him and he continued to look back at me some more. Then he told me the news. "We are putting you in the scene and taking Herbie out because you did such a good job." I screamed like a 13 year old girl at an all boy band concert.

Rich walked away and I had a small but very memorable scene in Latin Madness that lasted for the entire 3 year run of the show. We did tours in New York, LA, and parts of Europe and that scene and I went along for the great ride. That was the first time I had really acted on stage and Rich helped open up that door of desire and I walked through. He hired me a few times throughout the years and I got him a reading for a movie that a friend of mine had written. We remained friends and spoke a few times late last year about doing a comedic video together once his health got better.

Unfortunately that day never came but I am truly grateful for the time that we got to spend together both on and off stage. I learned a lot from Rich and Latin Madness and I am very lucky that I had that opportunity. I will never forget all the fun coming out on stage in my tight pink shirt and red sweatpants that hung low enough to see my black g-string underneath. I am sure Rich didn't have the same fond memory because he was the one who had to look at me every night dressed as I was. However, Rich if you can hear me and there is internet in heaven I thought you might appreciate the video I posted below.

RIP my friend.

Rich Ramirez & Jai Catalano

]]><![CDATA[Week In Review - My Multiple Sources Of Income & Insanity Workout Review ]]>Sun, 06 May 2012 04:13:01 -0800http://www.jaicatalano.com/1/post/2012/05/week-in-review-my-multiple-sources-of-income-insanity-workout-review.html

Did you miss any of my blog this week? Shame on you how am I supposed to add you as one of my multiple sources of income? :) No worries... My daughter started walking so now I have to chase her. And, I have been busy with weekend photography sessions , photoshoping people into art, and sadly having a friend pass away Friday night. Tomorrow I will post a story of a great experience I had with him as a tribute to our friendship.

Anyway, I am going to keep this one short. Thanks for reading, keeping me inspired and caring to come by. It means a lot to me.

If you missed any of my posts this week please check out...

1. My Multiple Sources Of Income
2. Insanity Workout Review - Half Way Through The Pain

Until Monday,

Jai

]]><![CDATA[Insanity Workout Review - Half Way Through The Pain]]>Thu, 03 May 2012 07:17:43 -0800http://www.jaicatalano.com/1/post/2012/05/insanity-workout-review-half-way-through-the-pain.html

Today is a milestone in my Insanity before and after transformation because I am now half way complete with the 63 day workout. When I began working out with Shaun T and his inspirationally fit crew I knew I would see some sort of results. However, I really didn't think I would see the kind of results that I am seeing. Here is a half way review of the Insanity workout in case you were on the verge of taking the challenge.

The Workout

There are 7 different workouts in the first half of Insanity and each disc ranges from 29 minutes to 41 minutes. The Cardio Abs workout which is a 2nd workout on the Pure Cardio disc is 16 minutes long. So combined, those 2 workouts (Pure Cardio & Abs) total 55 minutes.

INSANITY Fit Test - This workout is exactly what the name says. It's a test to see how fit you are. There are 8 moves that are 1 minute long and your goal is to see how many you can do during that time to compare to future fit tests given during the 63 days of Insanity.
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INSANITY Plyometric Cardio Circuit - The main workout is broken into four parts. They’re composed of the Suicide Drills, the Football Drills, the Basketball Drills, and finally the Attacks. The first three are much like the warm-up, in that you repeat them three times each before moving on to the next part, with the last being a straight burn through each punch combination until you’re done.*
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INSANITY Cardio Power & Resistance - The Main Workout consists of two different sets of moves, each set repeated three times, and is finished off by a brutal final minute in where you go through the pain til the end. Thankfully, you get 30 second water breaks between each segmant, and trust me, you’ll need them.
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INSANITY Cardio Recovery - Cardio Recovery is the workout performed once a week in order to allow your muscles and cardio engine to recover from the brutal intensity that is the INSANITY workout. As such, there is no cardio whatsoever in this workout, no leaping or running or anything that would cause your muscles to protest even further. Instead, Shaun will lead you through a half hour’s worth of stretching, yoga poses and deep muscle work.

INSANITY Pure Cardio - This workout, after the warm up, is only 15 minutes long. That's it. Just 15 minutes. But NEVER and I mean NEVER judge a workout by its duration. Trust me you will beg the devil to help you. This workout consists of 15 - 1 minute drills that go from one to the next with absolutely NO breaks for water. If you give it your all I guarantee you your body will have to stop.

INSANITY Cardio Abs - The main exercises are composed of two basic sections: the C-Sits and the High/Low planks. This ab workout is different and very intense. Thankfully, there are no crunches at all.
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INSANITY Core Cardio & Balance - The workout is part of recovery week and only lasts 37 minutes. It follows the regular pattern that the others do, which is to begin with a warm Up, proceed into a stretch, then hit the main workout which consists of ten moves. Then Shaun puts you through a hip flexor segment, followed by come core work, and then you ease into the last stretch, and you’re done.
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The Good
I think it's pretty obvious from the photo above that the results are significant and I haven't even finished. It's simple. All you have to do is follow along. In just 32 days I have reshaped my body and feel GREAT about myself more than I have in years. I don't have to travel to the gym. I don't have to wait in line for a machine. I don't have to pay monthly fees. I don't have to feel that some women is checking out my ass. :). I just have to put the dvd in and push play. I absolutely love that.

The Bad
There isn't too much I can say badly about Insanity. However, I live in NYC so I have neighbors who live below me. I have to be respectful that I don't jump too loudly on their heads and have to workout when nobody is around. Is that the fault of Insanity? No but like I said above I don't have much bad to say. The one thing I think that you should take into consideration is that it's very tough on the body. There is a lot of jumping, squating moving left, moving right and every other ing you can think of. If you have knee or back issues then this workout is not for you.

Well, that is it. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would say I am a 10. I mean Insanity is a 10. I love all of your comments thus far. I answer all questions and appreciate you keeping me motivated. If there is anything you would like to know that I haven't already discussed please drop my a note and I will answer it asap.

Until tomorrow,

Jai

]]><![CDATA[My Multiple Sources Of Income]]>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:27:22 -0800http://www.jaicatalano.com/1/post/2012/04/my-multiple-sources-of-income.html

When I meet people for the first time and they ask me what I do for a living I say that I am a NYC photographer who specializes in headshots, portraits and architectural photography. However that is not exactly the full truth. Yes I am a photographer but the only reason I say that is because it is too difficult to say...

PhotographerRetoucherVideographerLogoDesignerBloggerInvestorSalseroEbayerLandlord

So in case you ever wondered or I ever meet you in the future and during our conversation you ask me what I do for a living I can easily point you in the direction of this blog post to save us both a heck of a lot of time.
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Photographer
For the last 5 years I have taken my photography hobby and turned it into a nicely growing career. I usually charge anywhere from $200 to $500 a job (sometimes more) and every so often that number doubles due to the after work load. Word of mouth has been spreading and I am working more and more consistently. This is my main source of income but the 7 below are all competing for my undivided attention which makes me wonder when I should hire an assistent. ent. .

Retoucher
All of those hours upon hours of learning photoshop has paid off and nicely. I usually negotiate and touch up a certain amount of pics per photo session but nearly 100 percent of the time my clients want many more photos to be touched up. Although retouching photos is time consuming I am really efficient and can turn around a photoshop before and after job faster than Superman can save Lois Lane. I charge $25 a photo and can sometimes see a $200 pay day from one job even if I was not the photographer.
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Videographer
Aside from my personal Youtube channel, winning the Secure Denture Adhesive video competition, or going viral on my Doritos Crash The Super Bowl video I make money doing video work for various clients. I don't necessarily promote myself as a videographer because editing is a bitch. However, I can make $100 to $500 on a job and throw that income into the pot for my kids to eat out of.

Logo Designer
I was a graphic designer for 15 years and was part owner of a tee shirt company with my step father but I left that lifestyle behind me after my salsa career BOOMED and took me all over the world and back. Recently, since I started the Yakezie challenge, I have been commissioned to create logo designs for both challengers, members and outsiders. I can make anywhere from $25 for a touch up to $200 for a full logo design and avatar.

Blogger
I wish I could say I make a ton of money on blogging but I would be lying to you and more so to me. There are so many people that make a decent amount of money blogging but the fact of the matter is I am probably not the most niche blogger in the blogosphere. However and this is a big HOWEVER, if it weren't for my blogging the 4 income sources I mentioned above wouldn't be a real subject to talk about. In fact, had it not been for blogging I wouldn't have started logo designing, made money on adsense, or had a venue to brag about how great of a photographer I am with a portfolio to match. :). Putting the before stated aside, on average I would say I make about $50 a month blogging.
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Investor
Yes I have saved some money over the years but because of lack of interest I haven't touched my investment portfolio since ET phoned home... To a large degree that is a good thing because I was able to fully recover from the HUGE market dip of 00 and 08. However that being said, ever since I joined Yakezie I have been influenced by all of the personal finance bloggers that I have befriended. In fact, in the last 2 months I have spent several hours a week being mentored by my step father who is a seasoned investor. My portfolio is starting to get diversified and I can honestly say that I am starting to see a little light at the end of the investment chart tunnel. I would say, aside from capital growth and my risk tolerance, I will be looking at an annual return of 5 to 6%.

Salsero
At one time I was one of the most successful salsa dancers in the world. Fortunately I made a career turn in 2004 and have found successes along the way but I have always had my foot in the salsa scene. If you remember, I stopped teaching salsa in December 2011 because my family life along with my PhotographerRetoucherVideographerLogoDesignerBloggerInvestorSalseroEbayerLandlord life were taking up so much of my time. I felt it was the best decision for my students and me because I was no longer able to give 100%. However, I still have a salsa dvd series and a salsa timing cd which I wholesale and retail monthly. On average I can bring in about $75 a month and that's without lifting a foot. :)
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Landlord
Being a landlord was a major source of income for many many years, however, after the housing bubble burst lowering the equity of my home and the tax abatement expiration I have been in the red ever since. Recently the housing market has seen a pulse and I applied for a tax appeal. If all goes according to plan I will be able to get back into the green. You might be wondering why it's on my list. The reason is I can offset any losses with some of the gains I have achieved from what you have read above and if my calculations are right I can be looking at an additional $100 a month by years end. Yes this is speculative but very noteworthy. (Keep your fingers crossed).

Ebayer
Even though this is the last income source on my list and the least profitable it is nothing to sneeze at. I not only liquidate some of my personal stuff monthly but I sell for other people as well. I make about $50 a month. It might not sound too impressive but it takes no time at all and recently I sold a ring on Ebay for $580. Although that's not the norm it might be just the right amount of bling to add in to this post.

How do you make money?

Until tomorrow,

Jai

]]><![CDATA[Week In Review - Announcement Of New Logo Design Page & Time Lapse Lotte Goes Viral ]]>Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:50:15 -0800http://www.jaicatalano.com/1/post/2012/04/week-in-review-announcement-of-new-logo-design-page-time-lapse-lotte-goes-viral.html

Did you miss any of my blog this week? Shame on you how am I supposed to get a personal assistent to take care of the basic needs such as filing papers and washing behind my ears? :) No worries... Business has been growing nicely so maybe it's all just in a days logo work. You heard right. I am now officially open for business as a logo designer. That in conjunction with all the photography sessions should eliminate sleep forever. :)

Oh I forgot... My insanity before and after daddy transformation is coming together. No joke. I am loving the results. Before you look in take a look at some questions I get about the before and after photos.

Q. Why are you wearing a bandaid on Day 0

A. I cut myself shaving for the daily photos? That's as far as I will go with that one.

Q. Did you get a tan?

A. No. I adjusted the white balance on my camera. It adds drama.

Q. Did you photoshop your body into shape?

A. Hahahaha. Why didn't I think about that before I decided to go through this painful shit.

Those made me LOL and LIL.

To read some of the other goodies this week check out the links below.

1. Announcement Of New Logo Design Page

2. Times Lapse Lotte Video Goes Viral

Until Monday,

Jai

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