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.
Friday, May 25, 2007Workshops For The ProsWorkshops aren't just for amateur enthusiasts. You can take your business to a new level by attending an intense, professionally oriented program. Making the move to a fully digital workflow can be like trying to merge onto the information superhighway in a brown Dodge with a yellow door and white smoke pouring out the back. You sometimes feel like you're only seconds away from getting creamed by a semi with Digital Asset Management written in 10-foot letters on the side. To get turbocharged and start your trek to the fast lane, you need to get some high-horsepower help. |
Thursday, May 24, 2007Hustle & Flow - Self-Marketing SecretsThe art of getting a job and staying on a buyer's speed dial is as much about your photographic talent as it is about your self-promotional talent The compulsive urge to panic while waiting for a job should be recognized as a physical condition. Many times over the last 20 years, I've found myself on the edge of a complete breakdown, spending huge money on promo campaigns, e-mails and sourcebooks as I try to figure out the magic method for getting noticed by the people with the work. There were times when resources ran low and the whole effort seemed overwhelming. Then, out of the blue, often on the day that I was using the same coffee filter for the third time, a phone call. |
Thursday, May 24, 2007Trademark Two-StepChanges in the law could make it more necessary than ever for professional photographers to pay attention to what's in the frame before shooting New legislation now winding its way through Congress may change the way photographers do business. Called the Trademark Dilution Revision Act, the bill has civil liberties and arts groups representing photographers, illustrators and other artists concerned that First Amendment protections now given to images showing famous corporate logos could be eliminated. |
Wednesday, May 23, 2007Your Home On The Web, Part 2If you're interested in getting into e-commerce through your website, there are some good services to check out In part one of this article (Digital Photo Pro, March/April 2006), we looked at a number of options for creating an online presence for the busy pro photographer. Just being online is enough for many, but more and more pros are discovering that the web is a great way to market their work and generate revenue with online sales. In part two, we take a look at what's involved with setting up an Internet storefront and selling your work online. |
Wednesday, May 23, 2007Your Home On The Web, Part 1Making a polished and professional-looking website doesn't have to be an all-consuming endeavor. A number of companies can have you up and running at a low cost and with a minimum of hassle. Let's face it—most of us already spend more time behind a computer keyboard than we'd like, dealing with Photoshop, digital asset management and e-mail. The last thing anyone has time for is learning HTML and how to create a website for showing and selling our work. In recent years, a number of options have become available to pro photographers who want to have a compelling website without requiring a lot of time, energy and money to maintain. |
Wednesday, May 23, 2007The Keys To Proper Print DisplayThere's an art and a science to framing photographs. Steve Gorman is a professional photographer who also runs one of the most respected framing shops anywhere. When I was growing up, my parents had a framer. I don't mean we went to a framing store like Aaron Brothers; I mean we had a framer. He was an artist by trade and had opened a small framing shop where he'd contemplate the perfect complement to whatever new piece of artwork came in from his clients. The shop was small and cluttered and, as a kid, I was admonished not to touch anything—an impossible request of a boy surrounded by such cool props as mat boards, framing rails and specialized tools that he had never seen before. |
Wednesday, May 23, 2007On The Set With Douglas DublerCreating a cover image for a major magazine, Douglas Dubler accepts no compromises As a beauty photographer for the last three decades, my obsession has been for ultra-high quality in the images I create. When film ruled, my primary tool was a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II fitted with a Mamiya 210mm APO lens and Fujichrome Astia film. That combination gave me the sharpest image with the most neutral skin tones possible. |
Wednesday, May 23, 2007It's About Sexy, Not SexIf you want to have the respect of your models, give them the respect they deserve—and leave the rose at home “Are you gay?” The question came from an 18-year-old model wrapped in a partially see-through blouse. “No. Why do you ask?” I responded. She explained that in spite of my being very young, backstage at a fashion show and surrounded by stunning half-naked women, I was acting surprisingly professional. I was 19 and on the first fashion assignment of my career. |
Wednesday, May 23, 2007Dealing With Image TheftMaking your site stand out in the vast universe of the World Wide Web is key to generating interest and ultimately business, but the hot design also can attract some unscrupulous and sticky fingers In fashion, we use the word “look” to describe someone's style. Why we don't use the word “style” to describe someone's style, I'll never know, but there it is. It's a person's look that differentiates him or her from the rest of society at large. Oh, you know, “She has such a fabulous retro–'80s twist on a contemporary red–carpet look.” Our look is important to us. |
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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
