Business
The Business of Photography
Operating a digital photography business is no small task. Our experts cover all the issues related to the business of photography from copyright issues to studio concerns, here.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007Cash Flow 101Inside every successful photographer there's a successful businessperson. One of the most important aspects of making a living in this field is managing your resources to keep your cash coming in. I don't subscribe to the notion that artists should be starving—unless, of course, that's your look. But beyond that, the market concepts that shape the most successful businesses in the world also can shape the business that we build as photographers. Understanding primary concepts like cash flow can go a very long way to adding some bucks to the bank account. |
Wednesday, June 27, 2007Next-Generation NetworkingFor wireless networking in your studio, Apple's new AirPort Extreme offers a major upgrade of performance and features For the ultimate wireless networking experience, Apple has completely reinvented the AirPort Extreme. Its flagship router got a major speed boost, plus new functionality that can improve your workflow. If you're already wireless or thinking about making the switch, you can take advantage of the latest wireless networking technology for about $200. |
Tuesday, June 26, 2007Professional Rental StudiosFrom the economic advantages to the benefits of good on-site support, DPP recently spoke with a number of veteran studios to get the inside take on renting the right studio space A personal studio is a luxury these days, largely impractical and far too expensive for most. With leasing rates and real estate prices beyond ridiculous, revenue going down and a high percentage of shoots being done on location, a growing number of photographers find it's better to rent what they need, where and when they need it. |
Tuesday, June 19, 2007Web Services For ProsReduce your workload while improving services for your clients Imagine the increased profit of selling images you make during an event—a portrait, a wedding, a large corporate function—to hundreds of potential buyers instead of the small circle of people who originally set up the shoot. By uploading your images to a website, anyone to whom you give access can view and purchase these images. If your portrait studio is in Denver, for example, a family member living in New York City can easily order an 11x14-inch print. Beyond the obvious advantage of making the extra sale, there's also the plus of providing an important service for your clients—you take care of their worries about getting a print out to everyone who wants one. |
Tuesday, June 19, 2007Build A Book To Blow Away The BuyersPromote your photography with a short-run publication There's much more to a successful photography business than taking a pretty picture. It's a business where there's no shortage of shooters who produce consistently excellent work. In this competitive environment, you need to step from behind the camera and market yourself to create an awareness of you and your work. For some, this takes the form of a promotional card that's sent out to thousands of current and hopefully future clients. For others, it involves the production of short-run bound books designed to serve as an introduction or a refresher of a photographer's work to a client. |
Tuesday, June 19, 2007SecurityFor security and convenience, take a copy of your photo library with you Think “insurance policy.” Your digital files are your most important asset as a working photographer. No matter how secure your studio or how frequent your backups, if you lose your images, you lose income. |
Monday, June 18, 2007Digital Asset ManagementKeeping track of the images that pay the bills requires a foolproof system Film required a simple filing system. Mine consisted of slide sheets grouped by subject and stored in a file cabinet. I maintained simple notes on the slide mounts for dates, subject and location, plus a basic database. This worked well for me—until I went digital. |
Monday, June 18, 2007Sometimes A Lens Is Just A LensBeing a professional photographer is full of emotional ups and downs. Managing the rough times leaves you in a position to reach ever higher levels of success and creativity Within the psyche of the creative photographer resides a delicate balance between knowledge and ego. We're a band of visual storytellers. Perceptually, we're consumed by capturing or creating moments, those instances when an accidental collision of timing, your library of knowledge and a splash of instinct occur to yield an epic photo. And while we live for those precious few moments, the time in between them can be about as smooth as a rubber raft in a monsoon. |
Monday, June 18, 2007Rental Studios 101Whether you want to avoid the expense of maintaining your own facility or need a place for a special job, rental studio space offers a lot more than a big room With skyrocketing real-estate prices and leasing rates, there's a clear trend among professional photographers to unload the expense of a studio space, bringing the administration of the business into lower-cost environments. If you're considering this kind of a move, it's likely because your cost-benefit analysis works out better without a full-time shooting space at your disposal. |
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Contender: Nicholas Mele
It can happen in an instant -
Contender: Cindy McDaniel
Going underwater for an unpredictable look -
Contender: Martin Christopher
“Angel Face” was photographed for a local hair salon’s ad campaign -
Contender: Bruce Roscoe
Meticulous attention to the lighting creates strong chiaroscuro and a dramatic effect -
Contender: Kevin Ziechmann
Reality and photography collide in this self-portrait -
Contender: David Miller
Rendering a split look in a “Frankenstein” photo -
Contender: Jeff Nadler
Black and white film and natural light gave this image its distinctive look -
Contender: Jessica Christie
Capturing emotions and creating a retro look -
Contender: Laura Bello
A little bling and vibrant color demand a viewer’s attention -
Contender: Dhrumil S. Desai
Style and substance came into play in making this warm-toned black and white portrait
