Do I sell photos? Yes I do... and I am always thinking of ways to promote myself and my photography.
1. Develop a target market and focus on who and what you want to sell. That's your first objective.
2. Give your customers a DVD with all of their photographs so they can easily order their photographs. The DVD should start with your business logo and then display their photographs in a slide show. It is a very easy procedure for your customer to order photographs. All they have to do is write down the number on the photograph as it appears on the screen and give you a call. When they have a DVD, you never know when they might want to order some more photographs at a later time (even when they already have ordered some photographs).
3. Create a portfolio DVD for potential clients. It is very easy for them to view your portfolio on their DVD players at work or at home.
4. DVD How To: A multi-card reader allows you to create a DVD on a CD. There is software available to select the photographs and the music that you want to play along with each photograph. Each photograph should contain a file number, a copyright notice and your name.
5. Consider building a small office in your home. I go to a customer's home, to their business or a customer comes to my office. I built an office/lab where customers can discuss jobs. It's small (9'x11'), comfortable and includes a wet and digital lab. The office has definitely helped me develop business.
6. Always take photographs of any public event such as: grand openings, dog shows, sporting events, graduations, church events and public concerts. There might be an opportunity later when someone needs photographs of that event. At the same time, you will be seen photographing the event and people might come up to you with a possible job opportunity.
7. Always carry a binder with some of your work in it in case you have to opportunity to discuss some potential jobs.
8. Constantly try to get your name out there and everywhere. People will start to contact you because they heard of you. Word of mouth is a great form of publicity for you.
9. Take as many photographs as possible. Remember, any photograph can be sold the week it is taken or or a year later. You never know what photograph will sell or when a photograph will sell. If you have a large inventory, the better off you will be. There might be instances when a newspaper needs a photograph of someone who you've photographed recently.
10. Take many candid photographs around town... all I can say is take photographs and more photographs. If you have a digital, it costs almost nothing to store it on a CD. One day, that photograph is going to be wanted by someone. Guaranteed.
11. Look for photography opportunities and create your own. Don't just wait around hoping that some opportunity will just appear.
12. Get invited to private events because people will hope that you'll bring your camera along... which you will do!
13. There is an excellent book on how to make a profit with photography. The book is "Photography-Focus on profit" by Tom Zimberoff. Mr. Zimberoff will guide you on how to make a PROFIT, not just make money... and there is a real difference.
14. Always think of new and creative ways to promote yourself each and every day. And always carry your camera with you. You'll never know what opportunity may come along. My camera is constantly glued to my face at all times.
Good luck!
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
How To Get Stock-Quality Shots
If you look at the sort of shots that get printed in travel magazines and expensive coffee-table books, they tend to share similar attributes. Look for pictures that you admire and try to analyze why you like them. These are some of the features I like:
Include People
Magazines in particular always like people in the shot. It gives the viewer a human connection, a sense of being there, and a sense of scale. Photographs evoke emotion and empathy comes with someone's face. Avoid crowds and simplify the shot down to one person. The young and old are preferred subjects, with their innocent expressions and weather-worn faces respectively. People make your shots warm, friendly, and personable. Just like you are.
Simple, Clear Layout
A good shot focuses your attention on the subject by using a sparse background and a simple but interesting composition. Always remove clutter for the picture - this is a real skill. Like a musician, it's always difficult to make things look easy. Zoom in, get close, get to eye level, find a simple backdrop, look for balance.
Bold, Solid Colors
'Stock-quality' images make great use of color. Look for solid primary colors: bright 'sports-car' red, emerald green, lightning yellow, and ocean blue. Use a polarizer to bring out the colors. Avoid patterns - keep it simple. Bright afternoon sunlight will add warmth. Alternatively, look for 'color harmony' - scenes restricted to similar tones and colors, or even a single color. This presents a calm, restful image where the eye plays with the differing shades and intensities. Look for pastels, cream, or delicate shades.
Depth
Always include some pointer about depth. A photograph is two-dimensional but we want it to appear three-dimensional. If you're shooting a background (mountains) include a strong foreground (people). If you're shooting people (foreground), add an out-of-focus blur behind them (by using a wide aperture - small f-number).
Use a wide-angle lens for exaggerated depth. With a 20mm to 28mm lens, get just a few feet from your subject and, with a small aperture (large f-number), include an in-focus deep background too. This exaggerated hyperfocal perspective is used in a lot of magazine shots. What impact!
Alternatively you can remove all depth by using a long, telephoto lens. This compresses or compacts the image, making your 3-D subject appear flat.
Dramatic Lighting
Photographs that win competitions are often ones that make interesting use of light. Look out for beams of light shining through clouds, trees or windows, long shadows, and the effect of side- and backlighting. Shoot in the warm golden "magic hours" of early morning and late afternoon.
Preparation
"Chance favors the prepared mind." - Louis Pasteur.
A great shot takes time. Scout out the area, make mental notes of important features, unusual and interesting angles, and changing crowd levels. Take time to prepare the shot. Get there before the best time of day, clean your lenses, set up a tripod or mini-tripod, add a cable release, try out different filters, wait for a good foreground, and talk with people who may be in the shot so that they're comfortable and will pose well.
Include People
Magazines in particular always like people in the shot. It gives the viewer a human connection, a sense of being there, and a sense of scale. Photographs evoke emotion and empathy comes with someone's face. Avoid crowds and simplify the shot down to one person. The young and old are preferred subjects, with their innocent expressions and weather-worn faces respectively. People make your shots warm, friendly, and personable. Just like you are.
Simple, Clear Layout
A good shot focuses your attention on the subject by using a sparse background and a simple but interesting composition. Always remove clutter for the picture - this is a real skill. Like a musician, it's always difficult to make things look easy. Zoom in, get close, get to eye level, find a simple backdrop, look for balance.
Bold, Solid Colors
'Stock-quality' images make great use of color. Look for solid primary colors: bright 'sports-car' red, emerald green, lightning yellow, and ocean blue. Use a polarizer to bring out the colors. Avoid patterns - keep it simple. Bright afternoon sunlight will add warmth. Alternatively, look for 'color harmony' - scenes restricted to similar tones and colors, or even a single color. This presents a calm, restful image where the eye plays with the differing shades and intensities. Look for pastels, cream, or delicate shades.
Depth
Always include some pointer about depth. A photograph is two-dimensional but we want it to appear three-dimensional. If you're shooting a background (mountains) include a strong foreground (people). If you're shooting people (foreground), add an out-of-focus blur behind them (by using a wide aperture - small f-number).
Use a wide-angle lens for exaggerated depth. With a 20mm to 28mm lens, get just a few feet from your subject and, with a small aperture (large f-number), include an in-focus deep background too. This exaggerated hyperfocal perspective is used in a lot of magazine shots. What impact!
Alternatively you can remove all depth by using a long, telephoto lens. This compresses or compacts the image, making your 3-D subject appear flat.
Dramatic Lighting
Photographs that win competitions are often ones that make interesting use of light. Look out for beams of light shining through clouds, trees or windows, long shadows, and the effect of side- and backlighting. Shoot in the warm golden "magic hours" of early morning and late afternoon.
Preparation
"Chance favors the prepared mind." - Louis Pasteur.
A great shot takes time. Scout out the area, make mental notes of important features, unusual and interesting angles, and changing crowd levels. Take time to prepare the shot. Get there before the best time of day, clean your lenses, set up a tripod or mini-tripod, add a cable release, try out different filters, wait for a good foreground, and talk with people who may be in the shot so that they're comfortable and will pose well.
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