The Business of Photography

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
October 7, 2013

Pay Attention To The Details

The social world of the Internet gives pros a lot of benefits, but you need to understand the Terms of Use to understand what rights you’re giving up

By Samuel Lewis
In the course of setting up an online account, I was presented with a license agreement spanning 24 screens. As I started to review the terms of the agreement, I was struck by the thought that most people’s eyes would glaze over by the third or fourth screen, assuming they even made it that far. And since the window with the license agreement... Read more
June 2, 2013

Search Engine Optimization

How to get your name and website to rise to the top of a potential client’s search

By Jim Goldstein
Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the most important tasks you can undertake for your photography business website. SEO is the art and science of optimizing the code and content of your web page so as to maximize the likelihood your website will surface to the top of search engine results pages (SERPs) when someone makes a search query pertaining... Read more
April 5, 2013

Make An Impression

The 11 secrets to creating a successful online photo portfolio

By Grover Sanschagrin
How is your portfolio website like a car door? Give up? At PhotoShelter, we like to use this analogy to explain how people perceive the experience of interacting with a website in ways that you may not realize or expect. It’s common for car shoppers to slam a car door and make judgments about the car based on the sound the door makes. In many... Read more
February 20, 2013

Click On The Dotted Line

From model releases to job contracts, know how to use electronic signatures to get the most benefit for your work

By Samuel Lewis
Technological advancements are being made in photography at such a tremendous pace that it’s often difficult to keep up. Increasingly, letters and faxes seem downright antiquated, having given way to email and text messaging. Even the act of entering into a contract has changed. The days of the parties to a contract meeting for the purpose of... Read more
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