The American Society of Media Photographers provides this forum to encourage the development of critical skills and to foster new ideas. Our goal is an informed and savvy professional photography community.
[by Thomas Werner]
So you have your Facebook account set-up, are adding business connections on LinkedIn, and are Tweeting from time to time. You spend “x” number of hours a week posting and building your base, you have “friended” and “connected” and “follow” your fellow photographers, favorite web sites, blogs and Facebook pages, personal gurus, and maybe even a client or two. Now what do you do next as you sit in front of your computer waiting for your efforts to turn in to new opportunities?
The first step is to be sure that you are doing more than just connecting and growing your number of contacts on each site. Spend a little time looking at the message that you are sending through each of these channels, does it match your business plan, your personal goals? Are you mixing friends with business, or are you reinforcing your brand and developing an online voice? Do prospective clients know who you are via your posts, updates and tweets? Are you connecting with your target audience? Do you need to create a separate page or social media identity for your business?
It is essential that you use social media to help clarify who you are, not to confuse your future clients. Align your use of social media with your other advertising and promotions, use it to reinforce your companies brand. Think twice about the images you post, the colors that you use and the links that you send. It can take a lot time and energy to help a client understand who you are as a person, and the kind of work and service that you deliver as a business. Social media should reinforce your message, not undermine your hard work, you do not want to give a client a reason to wonder if you are the right fit.
Thomas Werner is an Educator, Lecturer and Curator. Please see Thomas Werner Projects at Facebook.com for new projects and additional information.
By Thomas Werner
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Posted: July 30th, 2010
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No comments
[by Blake Discher]
Most of us are now using Twitter and Facebook as marketing tools with varying degrees of dedication and success. Did you know you can use social media to keep current about industry news or any other topic that interests you?
I remember at first being overwhelmed by the vast amount of “information” coming through my Twitter feed and someone recommended SocialOomph. It’s great for filtering out the Tweets that are of no interest to you and best of all, there’s no need to have one eye on your feed as you sit at your computer doing other important tasks such as marketing or post work on your images.
To use it, create a free account at the site and then set up alerts to track keywords in the public Twitter stream. SocialOomph will monitor Twitter and periodically email you a digest of the tweets that contain those keywords.
I have alerts set up for the keywords “ASMP”, my Twitter ID “bdischer”, another of my companies “go-seo.com”, my blog “groozi.com” and several other keywords to help run my business. On a personal level, because I have a few vintage Triumph sports cars, I also have alerts for “TR6” and “TR4”.
Even the free version of SocialOomph is a bit like Photoshop in that there are so many things it can do you could spend hours setting up all sorts of social media reporting. At the very least, you should set up keyword tracking; it will help you to more efficiently manage the vast amount of information flowing on Twitter.
Blake Discher is an SEO expert, photographer, vintage sports car driver, and best of all, father of a six-year old boy. Check out Blake’s lifestream at http://www.blakedischer.com.
By Blake Discher
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Posted: July 29th, 2010
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No comments
[by Judy Herrmann]
One of my goals this summer has been to really wrap my head around Social Media – partly for my own business needs and partly to increase my studio’s value to our clients by offering another area of expertise.
One point that crops up over and over (and over) again in nearly every Social Media activists’ activities is the idea that Social Media is a conversation; a dialogue, not a monologue. Some draw the analogy to a cocktail party – Social Media is where you tell a little about yourself, ask some questions, flirt a little and decide if you want to take the relationship to the next level. Others stress that it’s as important to comment on other people’s blogs and Facebook pages, to follow others on Twitter, to recommend others on LinkedIn, etc. as it is to keep your own blog, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitterverse updated.
In other words, Social Media is, well, Social.
So let’s start talking.
Right now, my favorite blog for learning about Social Media is Mark Steizner’s socialmediaexaminer.com, which includes posts from over 30 social media experts including Mari Smith, Chris Garrett, Denise Wakeman, Cindy King, Casey Hibbard and Jason Falls. Each of those experts also offers useful information through their respective SM (no ampersand!) outlets.
So, what’s your favorite resource? Who’s helping you figure out what to blog, tweet or post about? Or how to add all these posts (and comments) to your already crazy schedule? Or which technology to use and which to avoid?
C’mon, have a drink, grab a canapé and let’s build a great hot-list of the best Social Media resources out there together.
Judy Herrmann uses skills gained over 21 years as an award-winning photographer, small business owner and creative problem solver to help companies grow. Judy@HSstudio.com
By Judy Herrmann
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Posted: July 28th, 2010
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2 comments
[by Todd Joyce]
I like facebook. I admit it. I only have one identity too.Friends are people from college, family and clients. I try to keep it professional, but I don’t mind that my clients see the real me. I post some images just for fun or feedback and I don’t pester my clients with constant comments or posts on their walls.
I bring this up because I’ve seen a lot of hard sell photographers using facebook as a business tool. I realize facebook isn’t exactly a “private” place. The problem is that if you use it to push yourself in front of your clients too much, you may find yourself labeled a stalker and un-friended.
I have a less obvious way of using facebook. I find that reading client posts gives me a topic to talk about on that cold call. Obviously, I’m looking for work, but if I can start off with a fun comment about something they posted, it makes the conversation easy. It’s a way to stay lightly connected without seeming like a stalker.
Todd Joyce is a recent Past President of ASMP and specializes in conceptual people photography for advertising. See Todd’s work at joycephotography.com and contact him at todd@joycephotography.com
By Todd Joyce
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Posted: July 27th, 2010
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1 comment
[by Rosh Sillars]
Imagine it is 1995. You are sitting across from a prospect with your portfolio laid out. She flips through the pages of your book and stops at one of your beautiful images. “Wow!” she says. “This is an incredible photograph.”
At this point, she might call a few people to her office to see your work. Chances are, they will not be available. Imagine if she could have pushed a button and sent a copy of that incredible picture along with a big endorsement to all her friends in her business and beyond? In 1995, that button wasn’t available.
Of course, as you leave her office you bump into a familiar face. It’s one of the many photographers you know who is also presenting work that day. The next question you ask yourself is how do you follow up on a regular basis without being a pest?
What about the clients that disappeared, lost their jobs or moved? Where did they go? How could you keep in touch for future opportunities?
What about competing with the photographers on the coasts who always seem to know the latest styles and equipment in 1995? Wouldn’t it be nice to have access to that information without waiting months for the photography magazines to publish? How about easily accessible, in-depth how-to information from the top professionals — anytime or place – with the option to ask follow-up questions?
What about the ability to share your images around the world without a large marketing budget, or the power to monitor the local or international markets for people in need of your service? None of this was possible in 1995.
This is 2010 and what I’ve described is what social media does for individuals and businesses. The magic buttons for people to share your portfolio with all their friends is available. The ability to have buyers subscribe to your latest images, purchase select images at 3:00 a.m. at your price or view your photographs passively at their leisure is a reality. Access to the newest information and the world is here.
Are these stupid and a waste of time?
Rosh Sillars is a media and corporate photographer, host of www.newmediaphotographer.com and co-author of the book Linked Photographer.
By Rosh Sillars
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Posted: July 26th, 2010
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1 comment
[by Paul Bartholomew]
Shortcuts can add up and save a lot of time. Try memorizing keyboard shortcuts to your most used tasks or tools. Keep a list on your desk for reference and you will soon catch on. Once it becomes intuitive your work will move much more efficiently than clicking around.
Paul S. Bartholomew is an architectural photographer based in the Philadelphia & New York region. His work can be seen at www.psbphotography.com
By Paul Bartholomew, ABIPP
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Posted: July 23rd, 2010
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No comments
[by Kevin Lock]
For every job, pack as if you were going on a family vacation. Lay it all out the night before, inspect it, cross it off a checklist and put each item in its proper place. This will relieve a lot of stress and besides the rest of your creative team will be pleased if you decide to show up at the beach and have not forgotten your swimsuit.
Kevin Lock is a photographer based in southern California. He is a national board member of The American Society of Media Photographers. Contact Kevin at kevin@lockphoto.com
[by Gail Mooney]
Audio is everything with video. When shooting with a hybrid camera like the Canon 5D Mark II, never use the camera mic to capture your audio. Always use an external mic and either use with a pre-amp like a Beachtek or JuicedLink or capture the audio independently with a high quality digital recorder like the Samson H4n Zoom
Gail Mooney runs a video production company www.kellymooney.com.
[by Thomas Werner]
If you want your prints to stay clean, always bring a set of new white gloves when dropping off your portfolio or meeting with a gallery or reviewer, to take a look at your work. Never assume the person viewing your work will have them, they most likely will not, and please don’t give them your old gloves….
Thomas Werner; Educator, Lecturer, Curator. Please see Thomas Werner Projects on Facebook for more information.
By Thomas Werner
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Posted: July 20th, 2010
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No comments
[by Carolyn Potts]
Do some research about what you’re being asked to photograph.
If you take the time to read up on the product, company or event you’re being asked to shoot (you know you can Google ANYTHING) you appear to be someone who will be a partner in problem-solving. Demonstrating that you’ve actually taken your own time to learn about the client’s product can be a powerful way to show that you’re truly interested in their needs–and everyone finds that attractive and very compelling.
Carolyn Potts, perpetual photo evangelist; international consultant & speaker; and former rep, shows seasoned & proactive photographers how to get more work. Find her at www.cpotts.com , http://bit.ly/FaceBookPottsConsulting and http://carolynpotts.net.
By Carolyn Potts
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Posted: July 19th, 2010
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No comments
[by Paul Bartholomew]
We live in a highly saturated world of images and as photographers our profession is rapidly changing and at risk if we don’t adapt. I hear a lot about photographers losing projects because an amateur or new photographer was “good enough” and got the job. Some blame it on digital technology, but haven’t we dealt with this problem before? The equipment changed but we always have amateurs trying to get work because we have a desirable profession.
Does digital make the amateur a better photographer? I’d say true to a certain extent but there are limitations such as the need for natural talent, dedication and passion. These are things that filter some people out of the profession but some may still linger and we get that gray area that borders “good enough”.
The amateur may have climbed up the ladder closer to the professional, but what happened to the professionals? Instead of occupying valuable time by yelling down the ladder at the person catching up, perhaps it’s a good idea to motivate and start climbing too.
Stay out of the gray area and create a greater divide. Digital improved the amateur, so it should have improved the professional too. Instead of thinking how technology makes work easier, think about how it can make our work better. Research high quality photographers and do personal work that helps you evolve. Experiment and push the limits. If you feel uncomfortable and uneasy, then congratulations you’re making progress!
Paul S. Bartholomew is an architectural photographer based in the Philadelphia & New York region. His work can be seen at www.psbphotography.com
By Paul Bartholomew, ABIPP
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Posted: July 16th, 2010
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1 comment
[by Gail Mooney]
These days many still photographers are frustrated when their clients decide to take their own pictures or get photos from amateurs who take photos that are good enough. And sometimes “good enough” is not only good enough – it’s pretty good because technology has enabled just about anyone to take a reasonably good photograph.
Indeed technology has lowered the bar to the entry into the realm of professional photography. But any pro knows there is more to “making” a good photo than the actual execution of an image. There are many problems to solve, and there’s the matter of being able to consistently make good photos.
But I must tell you, over the past year I have seen still photographers exhibit the same attitude that they abhor in their clients when it comes to the medium of video. As more and more still photographers embrace video because of hybrid cameras like the Canon 5D Mark II, many fall victim to the same line of thinking and that is if they buy a “good” camera that shoots “HD” video – that’s all they need to throw out the “video shingle” and they’re in business.
The problem is they lose sight of some very important things:
1. Shooting motion requires a different thought process
2. Audio is everything
3. Post production is very different for video than for still images
4. Video is a collaborative process
So when I get a question from a still photographer as to “what is a good video camera?” – I bounce the question right back at them and say – when an amateur photographer asks you what still camera takes good pictures – what do you say? Most quickly get the analogy and realize that while they are pros in the still photography world – buying a video camera or an HDSLR doesn’t make them professional a videographer. Motion is a wonderful medium, but get to learn the craft because it’s more than just the camera.
Gail Mooney runs a video production company www.kellymooney.com.
By Gail Mooney
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Posted: July 15th, 2010
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3 comments
[by Judy Herrmann]
I recently stumbled upon a fascinating essay by venture capitalist, Paul Graham, called What Business Can Learn from Open Source . Written almost exactly five years ago (!), the essay offers remarkable insights about business, many of which have played out with startling accuracy. One key point Graham raises is that amateurs (in this case bloggers and hackers) bring so much passion to what they’re doing that they’re frequently able to out-perform people doing the same work as a job. This observation has huge implications. As he notes:
“Users don’t switch from Explorer to Firefox because they want to hack the source. They switch because it’s a better browser. It’s not that Microsoft isn’t trying. They know controlling the browser is one of the keys to retaining their monopoly. The problem is the same they face in operating systems: they can’t pay people enough to build something better than a group of inspired hackers will build for free.”
Many photographers complain that amateurs are stealing assignments because they’re willing to work for little to no money. But I’m not so sure that’s the core problem. Sure there are certain clients for whom cost is the only deciding factor but let’s face it, if someone really wants something, they’ll pony up. Look at how well the new iPhone is doing in the midst of a global recession of epic proportions. It’s hard to find a more discretionary purchase than a new cell phone when your old one still works and yet it’s flying off the shelves.
As people who earn a living performing work that we’re passionate about, photographers have a rare opportunity to act like amateurs but earn like professionals. Far too often, though, photographers I meet have let their passion become a job. It shows in their faces when they talk about their businesses and it shows in the images they’re using to promote themselves. If I can see it, clients can too.
Albert Einstein once said “We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” As I work on adapting to business realities that seem to change daily, this has become one area I refuse to compromise on. Not because I’m unwilling to do drudgery but because I’ve learned that the moment I lose my enthusiasm, I’ve lost so much more.
Judy Herrmann uses her 21 years of experience as a photographer, business owner and digital technology educator to help small businesses grow. http://consultations.HSstudio.com
By Judy Herrmann
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Posted: July 14th, 2010
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1 comment
[by Rosh Sillars]
Trying to compete with someone whose purpose is to make a little extra money on the side without the overhead of a professional business is not realistic. It is a quick path to business failure.
Technology has set the bar lower then ever for entering the field of photography as a hobby, part-time job or career. The mystery of the photographers’ black box has been made simple and easy for anyone to use. The best way to build a career in photography today is create new mystery and magic that cannot be easily replicated.
Today’s professional photographer must set himself apart from the pack by offering advanced style, unique concepts, and an incredible photographic experience.
It’s easier said than done. Professional photographers cannot market solely on 20 years of business experience, great service and a portfolio of famous clients. If people don’t see the magic in your portfolio, they will be unwilling to pay the premium price you deserve.
Rosh Sillars is a media and corporate photographer, host of www.newmediaphotographer.com and co-author of the book Linked Photographer.
By Rosh Sillars
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Posted: July 13th, 2010
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8 comments
[by Leslie Burns]
I hear photographers complain about amateurs cutting into the market. Here’s my advice: if your business is threatened by the work of amateurs, you need to work on your work.
Technology has lowered the bar of entry in photography just as it has in writing, graphic design, fine art, advertising, product design, even architecture and, well, just about every creative profession you can think of. The tools for creativity are simply easier to use and more affordable. More people can buy them and use them with ok results. Sometimes, they get spectacularly great results. And sometimes someone who never would have been a professional creative in the past gets paid now because of this shift.
But these people are not your competition unless your work isn’t any better than theirs. And if your work isn’t any better than theirs, that is your problem, not theirs for existing.
Your greatest tool is the way your brain works. Your vision, your way of seeing and creating, comes from inside your brain and only you have that tool. But, like everything related to our bodies, if you don’t exercise your brain, it gets soft and doesn’t work as well. A creative’s work can get safe, complacent, and facile when s/he stops pushing it.
But when you make the work that is really inside of you, when you challenge yourself to do something more with your work, you make something that no amateur can touch.
Buyers value individual vision. The better the buyer, the more they value it. They are looking for something that will help them differentiate their message (or their clients’ messages) from the gazillion out there. They don’t want the generic “good enough” work of the amateurs, they want great, creative work. And only a real pro can give ‘em what they want.
So leave the low-end clients who want to play it safe and for whom the amateurs’ work may be good enough. Make your best work, challenge yourself as a professional artist, and go after the targets who are looking for your creative work.
Leslie Burns is a creative/marketing consultant and not a lawyer (yet). She is taking the summer off from law school to work on a 2nd ed. of her photo biz book. Follow her at burnsautoparts.com/blog, facebook.com/burnsautoparts, and twitter.com/LeslieBAP.
By Leslie Burns
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Posted: July 12th, 2010
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4 comments
[by Jay Kinghorn]
Despite the recent dustup between Flash Video and HTML 5, the majority of online video today is delivered in the Flash Video (FLV) format.
To get the best video quality at the smallest file size, be sure to check out Robert Reinhardt’s Flash Video Bitrate Calculator. Not only does it help you determine which sizes and settings are optimal for use in your video compression software, but it also allows you to download your settings for use in Sorenson Squeeze and On2Flix software.
By Jay Kinghorn
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Posted: July 9th, 2010
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2 comments
[by Judy Herrmann]
Ratings and rankings – the star and colored label system supported by many image browser and catalog applications – give photographers a powerful way to organize images without a lot of effort.
Most of us already apply stars and/or labels as we’re culling through our captures to segregate the selects from the rejects. You can make this process even more valuable by deciding on a meaning for each rating and label and applying it consistently.
For example, our studio uses 3 stars to indicate images selected by a client. As a result, we can find all of the images that a client has ever picked by simply searching our catalog for 3 star images. Since we don’t deliver Raw or PSD files, limiting the search to 3 star plus TIF or JPG gets us everything we’ve ever delivered. Adding in the clients name as a search criteria, returns only the files selected by and delivered to that particular client.
The key here isn’t what we’ve chosen to make 3 stars mean – you can assign any meaning to the stars and the bars that makes sense for your needs. The key is using that meaning consistently so your three star images from 10 years ago have the same significance as the ones 10 years from now.
Already have a bunch of randomly rated and ranked images? Don’t stress. Just pick a date and implement your new consistent system moving forward. That way, you’ll know what any images rated and ranked after that date mean. If you decide you want to bring legacy images into alignment, don’t feel like it has to be perfect overnight. You can re-rank and re-label images organically, as need arises.
By doing nothing more than setting 3 stars and Tif as our search parameters, we can exclude everything but files delivered to clients.
Judy Herrmann has taught seminars on digital photography since 1995 and is a presenter for ASMP’s dpBestflow program, I Need A Workflow That Works For Me.
By Judy Herrmann
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Posted: July 8th, 2010
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No comments
[by Jay Kinghorn]
For most photographers, their Web site is their #1 marketing tool. As a result, your Web site should be compatible with as wide an audience as possible. Increasingly, this includes mobile devices like the iPhone, Droid and iPad.
To make sure your Web site is mobile-friendly, follow these few simple rules:
Make it quick. Avoid long animations and optimize images to improve download speed on slower connections.
- Keep it simple. Reduce or eliminate Flash, Java and other technologies that aren’t supported on all mobile phones. HTML and JavaScript is widely supported across desktop and mobile browsers
- Keep it small. Mobile Safari opens pages at a default view of 980 pixels wide. If your site is wider than that, site viewers will have to scroll side to side. Simplify your splash screen to ensure it all fits on the opening screen.
- Keep it separate. Increasingly, companies are creating separate, mobile-friendly versions of their Web sites to accommodate mobile visitors. For some sites, this can be accomplished through the use of JavaScript and CSS, but for more elaborate sites, you may need to create and maintain a duplicate, mobile-friendly copy of your site.
Resources:
- iPhone WebDev: http://www.iphonewebdev.com Forums, FAQ’s and tips for optimizing or developing sites for the iPhone.
- SiteCatalyst NetAverages: Free subscription with purchase of Adobe CreativeSuite CS5, aggregates data from Omniture’s web analytics customers to show trends for desktop and mobile browsers
- iPhone/iPad Simulator: Register for the free iPhone SDK to download the iPhone/iPad simulator application to test your site. (Or, save the 2GB download by asking your friends to test your site for you and send screengrabs.)
By Jay Kinghorn
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Posted: July 7th, 2010
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2 comments
[by Jenna Close]
This summer, take the time to delve deeper into the world of blogs. Subscribe to or bookmark your favorites. Each morning you can sit down with your cup of coffee and enjoy all the new updates and information you have effortlessly received in your inbox. Here are a few blogs that I recommend:
1) No Plastic Sleeves: info about digital/print portfolios, marketing pieces and clever marketing ideas, blog.noplasticsleeves.com
2) Burns Auto Parts Super Premium Blog: creative consultant Leslie Burns blogs about absolutely everything that is important to the photography industry, www.burnsautoparts.com/blog
3) The Strobist: very informative blog about lighting, strobist.blogspot.com
4) A Photo Editor: blog of former photography director Rob Haggart, www.aphotoeditor.com
5) John Keatley: www.keatleyphoto.com/blog
6) Robert Benson: robertbenson.com/blog
7) Nick Onken: nickonken.com/blog
Jenna Close, along with partner Jon Held, runs P2 Photography. They specialize in imagery for the alternative energy market. You can find Jenna at www.p2photography.net.
[by Sean Kernan]
I’ve been riding a long slow curve from the activity of making photographs through the question of why I pursue it so hard, visiting the question of how we create, and winding up (for now) at the question of why we create in life-size our versions of how everything should be, using photos, movies, novels, art of all kinds, and also our life stories and beliefs.
So my reading list includes:
First, The Making of a Midsummer Night’s Dream, a diary of the rehearsal of the landmark Peter Brook production of Shakespeare’s play. The rehearsal process was a culmination of many inventions in the way theater discovered a play and what was in it, and people who saw the play say it changed their lives. It certainly changed the way theater was done. But the fascinating thing to me was that whole rehearsal was extremely uncomfortable for those involved. No one really had any sense of the scope of what they were doing or how it would influence things going forward. The experience was sometimes exhilarating and more often frightening at the time, and often seemed doomed…until the play opened and the amazed responses began to come in. I usually feel insecure in the middle of projects too, so this book reminds me that that is what I’m supposed to feel if things are going as they should.
Also, Laurie Robertson-Lorant‘s biography, Herman Melville, whose a vision so great and so far advanced, and his insistence on it so complete, that he gradually cut himself off from those around him. Of course, he didn’t know he was writing the Great American Monumental Novel, and that might not have been a compensation? Did he even have a choice?
And Son of the Morning Star, Evan Connell’s reading of the national psyche’s that led up to Custer’s demise and the exploitive mythmaking that followed. I read it as another kind of insistence, that of a young nation forming its identity by pursuing a belief in its own “manifest destiny” and remaining blind to the consequences on others and on itself. (This is something Melville was particular critical of, as he witnessed missionaries and diplomats taking it on themselves to “civilize” the cultures of the Pacific.)
The thread that I have followed through all of these is that there is often—or always—something behind what we’re aware of that is bigger than anything we have in mind, that leads to a much fuller outcome. It can be for good or ill, but it is there. Can a wider awareness harness it? That’s the next question, isn’t it? Anyone know any good books on the topic?
But I have all of Stieg Larsson series in front of me too. Maybe I’ll run a little sidetrack into that next, lest things get too serious. On the other hand, knowing new stuff is fun too.
