The Business of Photography

October 5, 2015

Move Forward With Social Media

Introduce and publicize your photography to others without falling into a time-wasting black hole

By Jim Goldstein
It could be said that half the battle for photographers, beyond taking a great photo, is finding a way for people to see that great photo. The ability to find online exposure of your work has evolved from photo forum websites to photo-sharing sites and now social-networking sites. At each step of this evolution, it has become easier to have one’s... Read more
September 22, 2015

DPP Solutions: Establish Your Value

How you’ll be valued is at least as important as how you structure your pricing for a wedding job

By Staff
In The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, a young d’Artagnan asks the brooding yet wise Athos for advice in a matter of the heart. Athos pointedly refuses even to hear the question, saying that people ask for advice for one of two reasons: So they can blame someone afterward or so they can go ahead and ignore it anyway. For wedding photography,... Read more
August 4, 2015

Business Tech

Make Instagram work for you

By Jay Goodrich
Instagram made its inauspicious debut as an app for the iPhone on the social-media circuit on October 6, 2010, and it’s now the seventh-highest ranked social-media platform out there. Unlike any other social-media platform, Instagram focuses only on photography, which means you need to care about this platform. Yes, Facebook is number one, with... Read more
May 12, 2015

Save The Date

In a field that’s crowded with talented competitors, we get some insight from a group of innovative and successful wedding pros about what works

By The Editors
Wedding photography is a fierce sport. Ferocious technical skill and a jam-packed mental playbook are the fundamentals you’ll need just to step foot on the field. And, of course, a well-defined, signature style keeps any star in the mind of the public. But what truly wins games, separating the pros from the fauxs, is a sharp business mind. With... Read more
February 24, 2015

View From The Top

Energy, flexibility and a fearless attitude—pro beauty photographer Courtney Dailey shares insights on how to keep clients coming back

By Kristan Ashworth, Photography By Courtney Dailey
When trying to put together a portfolio for her makeup work while living in Detroit, Michigan, Courtney Dailey couldn’t find anyone doing the New York-style beauty shots she had in mind so, since she had a camera and experience photographing friends in college, she decided to shoot them herself. "Really quickly, my photography business... Read more
January 20, 2015

Persuasive Promos

DPP talked with professionals about their creative stand-out promotional materials

Photography By Jenn Ackerman And Tim Gruber, Dan Bannister, Trent Bell, Chip Kalback & Natasha Lee
Anyone outside the photographic industry may assume that all photographers simply have a line of clients waiting for their time. But we know that beyond the location scouts, production meetings, gear rentals and shoots themselves are hours spent working on self-promotion. In addition to social media, e-newsletters and events is a niche realm entirely... Read more
January 6, 2015

DPP Solutions: Self-Promotional Mailings

Beyond email, think about using hard goods to promote your business

By David Willis
While there’s lots of emphasis on skills and gear in professional photography, getting your work and name out there is equally important. You can be the best shooter in the world, with the best equipment, but if no one knows about you, you’re not going to get a lot of work. Self-promotional mailings are one good way to get your name and... Read more
November 18, 2014

DPP Solutions: Drone Laws

Can you legally use a drone for a work shoot? Well, it’s complicated.

By Staff
Unmanned aerial vehicle-based photography and videography are on fire right now. Better known as drones, small remote-controlled quadcopters fitted with GoPros or similarly sized cameras are being used by hobbyists to capture amazing footage. The DJI Phantom has become the de facto standard, thanks to its combination of simplicity, compact size, low... Read more
August 12, 2014

Mini Docs

Learn storytelling in motion and promote yourself through short documentaries and behind-the-scenes videos

By David Willis
With the Nikon D90 and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, video was introduced to the still camera. The immense popularity of the devices for filmmaking caught the manufacturers by surprise in many ways, as they had originally intended the feature as a way for photographers to provide supplemental material for still clients. Only five years later, and video... Read more
February 12, 2014

Promotional Benefit Or Rights Grab?

Is social media synonymous with a loss of rights over your images?

By Samuel Lewis
There seems to be no shortage of commentary regarding the potential pitfalls associated with posting photographs on social media. Even discounting the more emotional aspects of the debate, there’s reasonable concern among photographers that posting images to social media will result in a loss of rights and/or control over such images. One aspect... Read more
December 19, 2013

Make Use Of Instagram

The service is frequently scoffed at by professional photographers, but it can be a boon for your business

By Jim Goldstein
Among professional photographers, Instagram may be one of the most reviled photography websites today, but its success is a reminder that we need to remain open-minded to succeed in our quickly evolving market. Looking past the novelty of photo filters and a square format, Instagram has filled a large hole—easy publishing and distribution of images... Read more
November 13, 2013

DPP Solutions: Model Release Basics

When it comes to both image sales and protecting yourself from liability, this simple form can be a lifesaver

By Staff
A model release is simply a liability waiver from the subject of a photograph that allows the said imagery to be published. Model releases can be complicated, but they don’t have to be. Even a handwritten note with signatures, if properly documented, is all that you’ll need to cover your bases. If snapping a picture of an interesting subject... Read more
Menu