So, at time I got my first digital camera a friend of mine was playing in a rock band, and needed pictures for their web pages and promotional printings and ads. When I first began to do their photography, I had NO IDEA what it all would lead to... and now I will reveal to you some of MANY ways to make money, part-time, with your love for photography!

Now, at clubs my friend's band played in- a lot of time they would be in a line-up of 3 bands for evening, of which I shot live pictures of my friend's band's performance. Then I got another idea, I'm there already, usually to finish night with band, so I started to take pictures of other bands. Afterwards, as they were breaking down their equipment, I introduced myself as other bands photographer, and explained that I liked their music and look- and also took pictures of them also.

I got names of band members, jotted down notes about which instruments each one played, and then got a mailing address to reach them. I told them that I was going to print up some proof sheets and send them off to them... all were very agreeable and willing (and why not, it doesn't cost them a thing).

Then I printed proof sheet(s), and selected three of what I thought were best- of which I made a little bigger on a seperate sheet and used Photoshop to refine and enhance images prior to printing (all on my little ink-jet printer).

I composed a form letter that I could customize for each mailing explaining details like:

- The first proof sheet was all of raw digital images

- The second one with larger images was digitally self enhanced

Knowing what they do for you ... what you are paying for is vital.

This is part of a series of articles I am writing for you to explain what each profession does in some detail.

So far I have covered:

. The Architect and Real Estate Development . The Structural Engineer and Real Estate Development . The Hydraulic Engineer and Real Estate Development

and now we'll tackle generally mis-understood profession of Quantity Surveyor.

The Quantity Surveyor (QS), can also be known in development and construction industries as a Construction Economist, or even a Cost Manager.

At feasibility stage quantity surveyors use their knowledge of construction methods and costs to advise developer on most economical way of achieving project requirements.

Quantity Surveyors do not usually work on small developments, such as six or ten residential units/condos/apartments.

But when such projects get into higher multiples, I have always engaged them as part of my development team.

It might be timely to remind you of my description of what a developer or development manager does - a developer is a Manager of human - physical and financial resources. S/he is not an Expert - s/he engages Experts to carry out their specialist work so that DM can achieve development's goal.

The DM is not an expert - a DM is a "Generalist" and happens to know a lot about what goes into putting a successful development together.

That does not mean that a DM may not have had a specific building/construction expertise, it is just that s/he engages other to do that work and takes on General's Work of getting entire development off ground and then completed successfully.

So a QS is one of those specialist professions that a DM engages to advise on construction costs.

At start of a project you may have used, what we refer to as, a 'broad brush' price for construction figure or an estimate prepared by a builder or indeed a QS.

However you arrived at figure, it becomes your Construction Budget upon which your projects financial viability has been established.

Well, once you start detailed development of your Projects Design, you need ensure that every alteration, or I should say, expansion of design, is still within original Budget. That's another aspect of what your QS does for you.

A QS estimates and monitors construction costs, from feasibility stage of a project through to completion of construction period and beyond if you require services.

The QS forms part of Design Consultant Team and work closely with developers, architects, engineers, contractors, suppliers, accountants, insurance underwriters, solicitors and Courts and with financiers.

A QS controls design construction costs, and compared them to Budget Cost, by breaking down building into major elements of total cost structure - referred to as "elemental costs."

For instance, if most residential buildings, of type and size you are proposing shows that foundations are usually $X per square foot or per square metre, and your plan design shows $X + per foot/metre, you would want to know why, at a stage of your project, when you have a chance to take corrective action.

Now within major "elemental cost," QS has a further break down of costs.

Staying with example of our foundations, you would have such items as Steel Reinforcing, Concrete. So if foundation costs are high, you can see that cost of steel has increased in past 3 months by 12% due to whatever reasons.

At lease you know reason for increase and if you are stuck with it, you know you have to look for 'cost saving elsewhere' so that you don't break your Budget.

Quantity surveyors can use techniques referred to as Cost Planning, Estimating, Cost Analysis, Cost-in-use Studies and Value Management to establish and control a project budget.