Archive for July 2008

30 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn




McDonald’s Worker

Loses Invasion

of Privacy Suit


by Joel Hecker, Esq.

In New York, as in most other states, there is a statutory prohibition from use of a person’s name, portrait or picture, in advertising or trade, without the person’s written consent. There are exceptions to this rule, such as when the use is newsworthy, or simply fleeting and incidental.

A recent case Candelaria v. Spurlock, decided in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, succinctly described the current state of the law in New York and elsewhere while discussing a case which arose out of use of a short clip of the plaintiff while employed by McDonald’s.

Plaintiff’s image appears for at most four seconds in defendant’s documentary film, Super Size Me, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Documentary Feature. The movie followed defendant, who was the writer, director, producer and star of the movie, for a 30 day period as he subsisted entirely on food purchased from McDonald’s restaurants throughout the country. Its announced aim was to educate the audience about the epidemic of obesity and health risks associated with eating fast-food.

At issue was a scene inside a McDonald’s location where defendant was discussing with the plaintiff, a McDonald’s employee, the nutritional content of McDonald’s offerings and the availability of this information to the public. Plaintiff did not say anything, and the clip is part of a montage sequence where defendant requested the nutritional chart from various McDonald’s restaurants, including the one where plaintiff worked. However, defendant did not obtain plaintiff’s consent to use her image, which was recorded by use of a hidden camera.

To sustain an action from invasion of privacy, a plaintiff must prove 1) use of her name, portrait or likeness; 2) for advertising or trade purposes; 3) without written permission. In this case, it was undisputed that her portrait was used without written consent. Therefore, only the nature of the use remained to be decided.

Courts have created exceptions to this prong of the statutory requirement for non consensual use of a plaintiff’s image. One such exception is when the use depicts newsworthy events or matters of public interest. Another exception is for incidental use, which includes “isolated” or “fleeting and incidental” use.

The Court, after reviewing the clip involved and relevant statutory and case law, concluded that both of these exceptions applied in this instance. The Court determined that the movie in fact aimed to educate and address in detail the obesity epidemic and related health risks associated with eating fast-food. The fact that the movie was successful and earned a profit was immaterial because of the public interest involved.

Moreover, the use of plaintiff’s image bore a real relationship to the movie’s point, which is how difficult it is to obtain nutritional information on the food served.

Finally, the Court held that the plaintiff had no reasonable expectation of privacy while meeting dozens if not hundred of members of the public in the course of her shift every day at the counter of a McDonald’s.

The combination of the newsworthy purpose and the very short duration of the use was more than enough to result in dismissal of her case despite the obvious use of her image without her consent.



Attorney Joel L. Hecker lectures and writes extensively on issues of concern to the photography industry. His office is located at Russo & Burke, 600 Third Ave, New York NY 10016. Phone: 1 212 557-9600. E-mail: HeckerEsq[at]aol[dot]com.

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OVER IN THE U.K. -- Review of street photography makes it to the House of Lords -
House of Lords takes the next step in trying to sort out the confusion and hysteria
surrounding photography in public places.
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Review-of-street-photography-makes-it-to-the-House-of-Lords.
TAKEAWAY: This dillema will shine light on a coming worldwide problem. Let’s keep our First Amendment Rights in mind when we discuss it.


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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn






Hold Back Or Move Forward ?

Times are tough and they have been tough for a while. Many photographers are experiencing a drop in images sales and many publishers of magazines and books are trying to cut corners.
Cutting corners is often a necessary business practice when times are tough financially but the key to doing this right and not hurting your business instead of helping it, is to know what corners to cut and what corners to leave alone.

Generally speaking, you want to avoid cutting anything that generates income for you. This would include things like image production, marketing, trade publications, advertising, etc. The reason for this is that even though times might be tough now, they’ll be even tougher in the future if you’re not ready for when the market has a resurgence. .

As you know by now, getting on the radar screens of photobuyers and staying there is the single most important thing for your stock photobusiness.business. Cutting your advertising, marketing and similar areas is a surefire way of falling off that radar screen. The dip in image usage is only temporary and when things get back to normal, you want to make absolutely certain that you are on the minds of all the photobuyers that are important to you.

Many successful businesses have increased, rather than decreased, marketing during rough times. Good, professional marketing is the key to success for any business but this becomes even more important when times are rough. Why does it become more important?

Well, since there are fewer images being licensed there are fewer opportunities for your work to be selected over the work of a competitor. Even though the number of customers may still be the same, the number of sale-opportunities have shrunk.

So, increasing your share of the photobuying market can only be a plus is always a good thing, even when times are rough. Targeted marketing will bring you customers and once you have the customers contacting you, it’s up to you to move forward and close the sale.

Photojournalist Mikael Karlsson has 20 years' experience of working for magazines and newspapers in more than 30 countries. He moved to the United States in 1998 from his native Sweden. He lives in Nebraska and is currently US correspondent for 11 Swedish magazines and a regular contributor to a wide variety of U.S. publications. Reach him at mike[at]photosource[dot]com.


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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn


LET THEM FIND YOU. SEO and Stock Photography Research - More and more, prospective clients are searching for imagery on the Internet, and, more specifically, Google
Images. Yes, the other search engines have image search, but for today, we'll limit this discussion and comparison of capabilities to Google's systems.
http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2008/07/seo-and-stock-photography-research.html
TAKEAWAY: Library Science is not the sexiest endeavor but more and more you’re going to have to learn the ongoing tricks of SEO if you want to be found on the Internet.


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LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP -- Six Vacation Photos That Can Kill You - Take your camera with you when you travel, but photograph with caution.
http://www.popphoto.com/popularphotographyfeatures/5454/six-vacation-photos-that-can-kill-you.html
TAKEAWAY: And remember, pictures taken in public do not need a model release. If you are photographing for a commercial purpose (advertising, brochure, endorsement, highway billboard, etc) then YES, you need a model release.


Combating Gas Prices.


Osceola WI August 1 2008. A crucial ingredient in a photographer’s budget is gasoline. Without it, the output of photos begins to decrease, and so do sales for the photographer.

Rohn Engh, publisher of a nationally recognized marketletter that provides photographers with buyer leads and sales opportunities, has offered his help.

During the month of August, Engh is offering a 25% discount on subscriptions to the marketletter, the PhotoDaily. “The feedback I’m getting from subscribers is that photographers are curtailing speculative trips and assignments,” says Engh. “We can do our part by being sensitive to the rising cost of gasoline by offering a discount.”

David Liebman, a wildlife photographer from Norfolk, VA says, “I’m appreciative of the PhotoDaily people who recognize the situation. I hope other suppliers will recognize how gas prices curtail our photo-taking activities.”

“Every little bit helps,” says Chris Star, landscape photographer, of St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. “This might make a difference whether to go off this weekend on a photo shoot or not.”


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LIGHTING TECHNIQUES: for Middle Key Portrait Photography, by Norman Phillips. The author covers a little-expored area of photography, showing you how taking a conscious approach to each element in your middle key images can result in more cohesive and appealing portraits. The book includes images from more than a dozen top portrait photographers, with Phillips revealing the elements in each portrait that make it a success. Clear-cut diagrams show you how subtle changes can produce dramatic lighting changes, enhancing your ability to make every subject look their best. (ISBN-13: 978-1-58428-231-0; $34.95; 128 pgs) Contact: Kate Neaverth, Amherst Media, 175 Rano St, Ste 200, Buffalo, NY 14207. Phone: 800 622-3278; Fax: 800
622-3298. Email: kneaverth[at]amherstmedia[dot]com Web: http://www.amherstmedia.com


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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



To see this week's Video Click Here

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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



DIGITS VS PAPER. -- Flat World Knowledge, a publisher of free and open college textbooks, today announced it will soon begin the nation's larges t in-classroom test of open college textbooks. Flat World Knowledge's free and open textbooks will replace traditional textbooks in a single class or class section at each participating institution. The crisis of high textbook prices was the subject of a 2007 report from the Student Public Interest Research Groups. TAKEAWAY: College textbooks, which routinely run students over $900 per year, could make higher education unaffordable for many students.
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/web_tech/flat_world_knowledge_challenges_textbook_industry_89187.asp


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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn




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ALL RIGHTS? SHOULD YOU SELL THEM? Only if the fee is substantial enough to justify giving up your resale rights for your rights-protected (RP) photo. What to charge? Usually three or four times the fee you would charge that same market for one-time use for the same picture. But what if your photo does not qualify in the RP category. Then it plummets to Royalty Free (This makes your photo open to negotiation) but take heart. There’s an in between. Unbeknownst to many photographers, buyers of Royalty Free are often more interested in content than price. Be prepared to negotiate correctly and your RF photo might gain a PR fee.


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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



CAN’T FIND IT ? – Don’t know who owns that image? The American Society of Picture Professionals (ASPP) has produced guidelines on finding the owner of the copyright of a photographic or visual work. In light of the Orphan Works pending legislation, these guidelines could serve as a model for making a "diligent search" for a copyright holder. Check out "ASPP's Best Practices to Locating Copyright Owners of Photographic and Visual Art".
http://www.aspp.com/users/ASPPSite4390/ASPP_Best_Practises_v2_7-8-08.pdf


PACA, the Picture Archive Council of America. PACA has implemented a lowtech solution to assist buyers in finding the creator of an image that does not contain the copyright holder’s name.
Contact PACA, the Picture Archive Council of America. PACA has implemented a lowtech solution to assist buyers in finding the creator of an image that does not contain author attribution. When a buyer has an image without copyright information, they simply email a copy of the Orphan Work to orphansearch[at]pacaoffice[dot]org. The email is validated by the moderator (a PACA staff member) and automatically sent out to all PACA members and affiliated associations.
orphansearch[at]pacaoffice[dot]org.

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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn





NEED TO FIX THEM? -- Can a Little Maintenance Increase your Microstock Earnings? - If you've assumed you can just upload and forget your microstock photos, you may be missing out on the opportunity to increase the earnings from your existing
portfolio.
http://www.microstockdiaries.com/can-a-little-maintenance-increase-your-microstock-earnings.html:
TAKEAWAY: If you are shooting for the editorial market you may want to consider not changing a thing. However for the microstock audience, yes, bring ‘em up to date.

SHOOT ‘EM UP The Day Inspired Hundreds of Thousands of new stock photos – (The PHOTOSHELLTER SHOOT…)An estimated quarter million stock images were captured during the event...many of which will be available to be licensed soon. It is believed to be among the largest single-day contributions to the stock photo supply in history.
http://www.stockphotographer.info/content/view/695/92/
TAKEAWAY: HEY! That's a lot of photos -or are we now calling them commodities?

LET THEM FIND YOU. SEO and Stock Photography Research - More and more, prospective clients are searching for imagery on the Internet, and, more specifically, Google Images. Yes, the other search engines have image search, but for today, we'll limit this discussion and comparison of capabilities to Google's systems.
http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2008/07/seo-and-stock-photography-research.html
TAKEAWAY: Library Science is not the sexiest endeavor but more and more you’re going to have to learn the ongoing tricks of SEO if you want to be found on the Internet.


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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



by Paul Courtney
In the early days of my photography career my photos were snapshots at best and many negatives and prints ended up in the trash. I remember my frustration at the wasted shots and the opportunities missed. And then I started studying how the pros did it.

Once I got it together, I vowed to help others learn how to take better photos, -- to show them how to capture that moment in time where family and friends are together enjoying life.

Learn how to creatively photograph your subject, no matter their age, natural beauty or size. You will acquire the knowledge of how to prepare the shot so that the camera captures only the highlights you wish to include.

How do your photos compare to those you see in magazines and books? You can be among those photographers who have their images published in your favorite periodicals.

Click Here!

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SHOWOFF -- dotPhoto EuroBook Hard-Bound Digital Photo Books - More interesting than traditional photo albums, customizable dotPhoto EuroBooks are available in over 200 configurations that vary in size, features and price, and bring a new quality standard to photo books. http://shutterbug.com/news/072108dot/


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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn






TO CATCH A THIEF. -- Stop Whining About Copyright Infringement and Start Doing Something About It - When photographers have their work stolen and used by businesses, publications and individuals without permission and in violation of the photographer's implicit copyright, it is usually the photographer's fault. It is also the dividing line that separates professionals from amateurs.
http://rising.blackstar.com/stop-whining-about-copyright-infringement-and-start-doing-something-abo.html
TAKEAWAY. We’ve ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Soon we’ll be dealing not with millions bur billions of images. This thief is going to be mighty hard to catch. If you’ve get an answer to this ever expanding situation, let this fella know about it.



COPYRIGHT POSITION STATEMENT (Publishers please take note.) Our PHOTOLETTER and PHOTODAILY subscribers consistently supply professional-quality photographs to the publishing industry. These pictures are provided on a rental basis. They are not provided on an all-rights, work-for-hire basis, which would conflict with both the letter and the spirit of the current (USA) Copyright Law enacted into force on January 1, 1978. We urge our subscribers not to endorse checks or sign agreements (`work for hire') which would imply that rights to a picture are transferred to the publisher (or person making the assignment.) Such rights are transferred only through special agreement and substantial compensation.



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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



QUICK DIRECTIONS StockMaps.com Offers Royalty-Free and Rights-Managed Maps - The new service offers base maps for custom map creation, as well as market-ready finished
maps for media, marketing, publishing and display.
http://www.creativepro.com/article/stockmapscom-offers-royalty-free-and-rights-managed-maps
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PHOTO SAFE II (PST-251). Photo Safe II from Digital Foci, lets you travel light and still quickly and securely save your digital photos where ever you go. No need to carry a laptop to download your photos for safe-keeping. Frees you from worry about losing important pictures or running out of memory card space while on the road. Provides portable on-the-road digital photo storage with 80GB and 160GB hard drives and built-in memory card readers. Photo Safe II copies the entire content of your memory card with a one-touch Auto Copy button. It works with all popular card formats, and is compatible with PC and Mac computers. For more information, see http://www.digitalfoci.com or
http://www.digitalfoci.com/photo_safe.html



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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



SHOOT ‘EM UP The Day Inspired Hundreds of Thousands of new stock photos – (The PHOTOSHELLTER SHOOT…)An estimated quarter million stock images were captured during the event...many of which will be available to be licensed soon. It is believed to be among the largest single-day contributions to the stock photo supply in history.
http://www.stockphotographer.info/content/view/695/92/
TAKEAWAY: HEY! That's a lot of photos -or are we now calling them commodities?


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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



AUTUMN IN KOREA, October 25 - November 12, 2008, with Michele Burgess. South Korea rose from the ashes of war to become an industrial giant. Yet behind the modern facade is another Korea, the one this trip explores amidst the vibrant hues of autumn foliage -- serene temple and monastery complexes, traditional villages and agricultural activities, forested mountains and national parks. Cost: $5,895 from Los Angeles. Tour price includes: Air Transportation, Hotel Accommodations, Meals (breakfast daily, 3 lunches and 12 dinners), Sightseeing, fees/guide, Transfers, Service charges, Taxes. Contact: In Focus with Michele Burgess, 20741 Catamaran Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92646-5513. Phone: 1 714 536-6104. E-mail: maburg5820[at]aol[dot]com . Web: http://www.infocustravel.com .
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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn

1840 - August 18th - Class photograph of the Yale College class of 1810 at their 30th reunion, New

Haven, Connecticut was taken by Professor Samuel Finley Breese Morse. He made 35 daguerreotypes, each a half-inch square.

29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn

GIVE 'EM FIRST CLASS

Advance Notes: There’s an old saying, “You never get a second chance at a first class impression.” In stock photography, follow this homily and it will help you overcome barriers.

Here at PhotoSource International, we see many examples of promotional materials from photographers. A surprising amount is inadequate and even unprofessional. Surprising, because it comes from accomplished stock photographers who are either full-time pros or committed part-timers. I can understand their thinking: "Why should I spend hundreds of dollars on promoting my work when I know it is topnotch. The images sell themselves. I don't need a fancy brochure."
But look at the PR question from the focal perspective of a different situation. Let's say you are going on vacation for three weeks in the Caribbean. At a travel agency you browse the display shelf and narrow your destination search down to five spots, take their brochures home, and you decide on Aruba.
What led to this decision? Was it the brochure? Without a first class brochure that could compete with all the other brochures on the display rack, Aruba would probably not have been considered.
What if the officials at Aruba had said, "Let's save money! We know we've got a garden spot here, let's mimeograph our brochure." The result: disaster. Tourists looking for the "right place" could very well pass by a mimeographed hand-out.
If you want first class response from your photobuyers, give them first class. Don't expect the fine quality of your images to carry the banner for your promo materials. To photobuyers, you are another talent among so many talented photographers. Give your promo materials the attention, support, and dollars they deserve. You don't get a second chance at a first impression.

Rohn Engh, veteran stock photographer and best-selling author of “Sell & ReSell Your Photos” and “sellphotos.com,” has helped scores of photographers launch their careers. For access to great information on making money from pictures you like to take, and to receive this free report: “8 Steps to Becoming a Published Photographer,” visit http://www.sellphotos.com



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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn

Travelwriter Marketletter… for writers and photojournalists.

Travelwriter Marketletter is a monthly publication available online
( http://www.travelwriterml.com ) and in hard copy format. Travelwriter Marketletter is in its 28th year.
If you’re a travel writer or photographer, TWM tells you about new markets, payscales, editors, specs and trips. Contact Mimi Backhausen Phone: 703-879-6814 Fax: 208-988-7672
If you’re in travel PR, TWM tells you which publications are likely targets.
If you’re a travel editor, TWM tells you about trips, and about your competitors.
If you’re a photo researcher TWM will direct you to travel photographers.
Request a sample copy of TWML: 703 879-6814.



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29 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn

Have you missed
receiving a PhotoStockNOTES issue?

Check your SPAM/BULK folders for an email from info[at]photosource[dot]com or psi2[at]photosource[dot]com.
AOL members – if email from us stops coming to you, request to AOL that our address (above) should be included in their “O.K.” list. –Thank you.


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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn


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July 30th



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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn




Note: Need the answer to a stock photography question? At our Web site (www.photosource.com/board) you'll find our Bulletin Board, called "The Kracker Barrel."
Check it out. Our staff answers marketing questions; fellow photographers offer their input and experience. The following is a typical exchange:


MAKE YOUR

WRITING…RIGHT

"I think I have pretty good pictures, at least they look as good as the ones I seen in books and magzines. Just how do you go about getting your pictures published? I've seen sevral books on the subject but haven't really red any of them. Is there a quik answer to my kwestion? all hepl would be gfreatly apprciated."
: Bobby Reynolds

; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Bobby, if the letter above is an expression of how you plan to enter the business world-- then my advice would be to run, not walk, to a local VoTech school and sign up for their next mini-course in writing.
Your pictures may be A+ but they will not be seen by professionals in this field of stock photography if your written communication is D-.

It may be unfair for photobuyers to take this attitude, but let's turn it around with this example:

Let's say your top-of-the-line TV is broken and you call a repairman out of the Yellow Pages. He arrives in a rusted-out van and wearing an unwashed T-shirt and knocks on your door. Would you let him in? (Remember it's YOUR TV.) On the other hand, if he arrives in a freshly painted van and wearing a neatly pressed uniform and hat -you'd probably welcome him.

The irony is that the initial repairman might have graduated first in his class at TV-repair school.

Keep this in mind when you design your stationery and website.


If your budget will allow it -go not for the level that is economy, good, better, or best --but go for the deluxe. (You never get a second chance at a first impression.) to the externals first. If you expect first class treatment from a buyer, shouldn't you give the buyer first class treatment?
Unfortunately -that's the way the visual world works.

Photobuyers tell me that when they receive emails from photographers, they note attention to succinctness, professionalism, and plain spelling. Experience has taught them that any lack of attention given to communication basics is usually also given to the photos available: poorly edited, out-of-focus, scratches, washed-out color, etc.

I have given this commentary my full care and attention. What I say and write continually reflects on me as a businessperson. I guard my reputation in the photography world - so I went over this piece many times before I hit the SUBMIT button.

Often, here at PhotoSource International, I will receive letters written to me with ballpoint pen on lined paper or flowered, scented stationery, explaining that the writer has wonderful photos, but complaining that editors and art directors don't respond to their queries. Now you know a major reason why.

GETTING FEEDBACK


In my books, "Sell & ReSell Your Photos" and "sellphotos.com," I drive home this point. However, I don't know if the reader is already aware of these important points about dealing with photobuyers. Thankfully, on a bulletin board like this one, other contributors and I can talk directly with a reader --one of the main benefits of the Web.
n Most photobuyers won't take the time to make corrections and give advice -no matter how outstanding your pictures are. Photobuyers are usually harried and hurried people, looking for photographers who will cause them no grief and make life easier for them. Photobuyers don't want to hold anyone's hand through the learning process. They'd rather find someone who has already gone through the process and is "hassle-free."
Marketing your stock photos can be described as a train track. One rail is talented photography; the other rail is business etiquette and knowledge. If you have both - the locomotive will move along swiftly.

It may be a struggle for you to write a letter with a dictionary beside you. But the work will pay off --whatever career you choose. The two rails go together - 100%.
If you choose to get information from this website in the future, but abhor the thought of the task of getting the spelling right, here's a method you can use. Type up your question off line, spellcheck it off-line, re-work it, then cut and paste it into the Kracker Barrel.
Just for the record, I wasn't "born with a talent for writing." In grammar school I was never chosen when they picked up sides for the spelling bee. In high school I barely got through the English course. All this is to say that you shouldn't hide behind the excuse that, "That's easy for Rohn to say, he's a natural-born writer..." It took diligence and persistence for me to get this far. Two simple words and you probably have both of them in your gut. Apply them.

And, oh, yes, your question on how to get started in stock photography, here's how: From your library or bookstore, get hold of the two books mentioned above. Many readers write to say they were the launch pad for them.
Write to me again in a year. If you've applied my advice, we will probably be seeing your credit line in books and magazines worldwide! -- Rohn Engh

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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



You Win!
Our collective cries have been heard in Redmond, WA. Microsoft has agreed to continue support for Windows XP till April 2014, including security patches and program updates. That=s three years longer than any prior version, and extends support for 13 years. That does not mean, however, that you=ll be able to BUY XP for several more years. June 30 was the cutoff date for retail selling of XP.
However, many retailers with master licenses can continue to sell computers with XP preinstalled, and large companies with master disks can continue to install XP on their new computers. And, as a last resort, you can still get a computer with Vista installed, then downgrade (for a fee) to XP.

Overstock.com Reacts to New NY AAmazon Tax@ Law
As we reported previously, New York enacted a tax law effective June 1, 2008, that requires online retailers to collect and remit NY state tax for products shipped to NY addresses, regardless of whether the shipper has a nexus in NY or not, the prior standard for imposing sales tax collections. The NY law says that affiliates count as a physical presence and thus it should collect sales tax.
Amazon is challenging the law in court, and Overstock.com may join in. Meanwhile, Overstock.com has terminated its association with its affiliates in NY, believing that in doing so it can avoid collecting NY sales tax on products shipped there. How all this plays out in the courts will be interesting, and perhaps precedent-setting.

Conserving Energy
No, we don=t mean sitting on the couch watching that new flat panel hanging on your wall. You=d be surprised at how many of your electronic gadgets continue to suck power even when you think they are off.
DVD players, VCRs, stereos, your computer and/or monitor in standby/sleep mode, and anything capable of remote on/off. Here=s an idea: Plug all those devices that don=t need to be on all the time into a power strip/surge protector with an on/off switch. That way, you can switch your equipment on with the flick of a switch, and yet conserve power all other times.
Even that 7-watt nightlight that=s on all the time, for Ajust pennies a day,@ does add up. Using a national electric average of about 9 cents/kWh (and that=s before local taxes, surcharges, connect fees, etc.) that one little lamp costs you about half a buck a month. So, unplug and help save the EarthBand a little cash on the side. Here=s an inexpensive device that will allow you to see how much power a particular piece of equipment consumes: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000RGF29Q/photosourcefolio -BH



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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



Digital Reality
There's no doubt that digital technology in the stock photography industry is advancing constantly. But how far has it advanced, where is it going to and when will it get there? Having recently finished a survey of editorial stock photography buyers, I've come closer to understanding where we are when it comes to digital submissions to photobuyers.
Most photobuyers welcome digital previews with open arms. But many are still reluctant to accept digital images for the final submission. Most editorial photobuyers have been disappointed with digital submissions from stock photographers in the past. They say they are not getting the digital quality they want and the way they want it.
With digital images - be they from a digital camera or a scan - the accuracy in how you submit to a photobuyer is crucial. A slide is a slide is a slide, but a digital image can be saved in the wrong format, the wrong size, the wrong resolution and so on. If one this is wrong, that might be enough to make the image unusable for the photobuyer and the photobuyer is forced to select a different picture for publication.
Photobuyers often prefer that you have scans made at a local professional service bureau, or allow the publisher to utilize their own in-house services for the final scanning of the original slide or neg. -MK


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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



DO-IT-YOURSELF – "How I Created My First Coffee-Table Book. I decided after reading positive reviews online. What sold me was it’s ease of use, as well as being able to produce my book and market it through their bookstore commission-free. http://rising.blackstar.com/how-i-created-my-first-coffee-table-book.html
TAKEAWAY: Self published books can also serve as a catalog.


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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



(From Sell & ReSell Your Photos, Page 275.) As a stock photographer, you will rarely need a model release when taking pictures of people in public. Book and magazine editors fiercely protect their First Amendment rights, which allows us to know what's going around us via the printed word and the photograph. Don't be confused by service photography (advertising, commercial use of pictures) - they do require model releases.

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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn





BITING BACK – “How Getty Is Killing the Stock Photo Industry - Klein, Getty CEO, stated in a Seattle Times piece that the deal ‘for us is not significant, but it'sstrategically extremely important.’ It's about locking out competition from the industry to ensure a continued, virtual monopoly.”
http://blog.photoshelter.com/corp/2008/07/how-getty-is-killing-the-stock.html
TAKEAWAY: So, if it's not really about making money, what is it about?

FOR PHOTOJOURNALISTS. Aurora In Deal To Distribute Agence VU Photography - Portland, Maine-based photo agency Aurora has reached a deal to be the U.S. distributor of Agence VU, a French photojournalism agency.
http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/newswire/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003827356

THE PRICE IS RIGHT -- “A few photo agencies have come out with special pricing plans for blogs ( non commercial ones). It appears compete against microstock, with very, very low prices. These days, images are sold based on usage and never on content.
http://blog.melchersystem.com/2008/07/19/two-thoughts-exactly-nothing-more/

AT YET ANOTHER. AOL and Photography - AOL announced the launch of PIXCETERA,
http://www.pixcetera.com, a new site focused exclusively on top-quality photography. http://blog.melchersystem.com/2008/07/16/aol-and-photography/


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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn




On a commercial assignment? Can you sell the “extras”? Yes, the Copyright Law says that unless you’ve signed a “Work-for-Hire” agreement, YOU own the pictures. You can sell whatever and whenever.


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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



MOVIN’ ALONG Orphan Works: Some important Q&A’s.
http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2008/07/orphan-works-faqs.html

YES I CAN! Amateur and professional photographers in the UK are facing an up-hill struggle when trying to take photographs in public places, after misinformation has been taken as fact. As part of its campaign for photographers' rights, every UK photographer member is being issued with the BFP "Blue Card". This card asserts to people the photographers' rights to take pictures in public places.
http://www.huliq.com/64310/bfp-campaign-photographers



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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn


=
NO SNAPSHOTS PLEASE. Was camera too candid for police officer? It's not everyday someone gets arrested for photographing a cop. But that's apparently what happened in Mountain City in Northeast Tennessee.
And, when that news broke, bloggers pounced.
Chief among them was Knoxville lawyer Brendan Loy, who blogs at The One Blog, http://theoneblog.brendanloy.com
Darius Radzius, a reporter for WJHL, wrote at Tricities.com that an area man, Scott Conover, was arrested for "illegal photography." " 'He says you took a picture of me. It's illegal to take a picture of a law enforcement officer,' said Conover.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/20/was-camera-too-candid-for-officer/



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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



BACK THEN -- In Thousands of Images, a Photographer Builds a History in Harlem
For nearly three decades, Alix Dejean has been an unofficial Harlem
photographer, chronicling the famous, the infamous and the anonymous
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/nyregion/21photographer.html


23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn




Flash memory manufacturer SanDisk has today announced the market availability of a new product The new SanDisk SD WORM card - WORM being an abbreviation of "Write Once, Read Many" - is based on the Matrix 3D technology which was shown by creator Matrix Semiconductor at that year's Photo Marketing Association tradeshow.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/NEWS/1216161827.html

BIG Kodak Shows World's First 50 Megapixel CCD Sensor - Eastman Kodak Company has achieved another breakthrough in imaging technology innovation with the introduction of the world's first 50 million pixel CCD image sensor for professional photography. http://shutterbug.com/news/071608kodak/

FLYING HIGH Soaring High to Research the "Rainforests of the Atlantic Coast". Professor Jon Grant outfitted a blimp-shaped helium balloon with expensive photography equipment and sent it soaring a few hundred meters in the air to acquire much-needed aerial photography.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/542767/?sc=rssn

SWINGER -- Sweeping Panoramas, Courtesy of a Robot. ROBOTS already cut the grass and vacuum rugs. Now they are helping with a more artistic job: creating vast photographic panoramas with ordinary cameras.
A new, inexpensive robotic device from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University attaches to almost any standard digital camera, tilting and panning it to fashion highly detailed panoramic vistas - whether of the Grand Canyon, a rain forest or a backyard Easter egg hunt. The robot is called GigaPa
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080720/ZNYT05/807200405/2073&title=Sweeping_Panoramas__Courtesy_of_a_Robot


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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



PHOTOGRAPHY AS ART - Architectural photographer enjoys revival at 97. Julius Shulman took a photograph in 1960 that made millions dream of a perfect life: two women seated in a glass house seemingly suspended in mid air as the twinkling lights of Los Angeles beckon below.
Nearly 50 years after the famous photo of Case Study House #22, the man many consider the finest architectural photographer in history finds himself a cult figure for a new generation that covets the minimalist mid-century modern architecture he took around the world.
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN1836945220080718

Roland Roldan, a tongue-twister name with the ability to record eye-popping
photographs,is proud to have developed his third eye or what for him is ‘the eye for details and sense of design.’ http://www.mb.com.ph/PIPE20080721129854.html

SOCIAL PIONEER -- Jim DeBoth probably made enough money to live off the interest when he sold the Interest.com site and an associated mortgage information company to Bankrate.com back in 2005. So he's started a new site, this one entering the crowded and, so far, comparatively unsuccessful field of citizen journalism. The difference with WeSay.com, though, is that instead of treating the news primarily through text, he does it with photographs.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-hypertext-wesay-0716jul16,0,7457653.column




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23 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



‘Accidental' Images Result In New Artistic Direction. There are no shortage of words that can be used to describe a human face. The hurts and happiness of lives reflect in blue eyes, in taut lips, in wrinkles, in furrowed brows.
The adjectives come quickly. Pensive. Nervous. Amused. Melancholy.
Those moods and features stare, begging the viewer to question a subject they may have never met. It is a deceptively simple conundrum in "Strangers & Not So Strange," a collection of intimate portraits taken by Fayetteville photographer Craig Earl Nelson.
http://nwanews.com/nwat/Living/67315/



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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn


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July 16th



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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



Sell To The General Markets


Advance Notes: Search engines are a boon to stock photographers. Photo editors use Google to find photographers who have a hard-to-find or out-of-the ordinary photo. By giving keyword descriptions for each of your photos based on what search words you think a photo researcher would use to find the photo, you can make more sales.

Thanks to the Internet, search engines have now made it possible to sell those images in your photo files that are outside of your main photo specialization areas. Example: You may be known as an aviation photographer, but you have an outstanding picture of a particular waterfall in Oregon – in the wintertime. It may be just the image a photobuyer needs. How can you let potential buyers know about such images in your stock photography files?
Here’s how you can make contact:
List all of your images on a text-based website, either your own or a database that provides you with your own web pages, like the PhotoSourceBANK. (See http://www.photosource.com/products/psb.php) Label your photos with highly specific descriptive keywords (describing each of your photos). Photobuyers seeking content-specific pictures enter keywords for their search, describing what they need. If you have a match or near-match, your information will jump up for them. They will find the photo’s source: you.
HOW-TO
Anticipate how a photobuyer might search for a highly specific image. If you were a photobuyer that needed a photo of a pileated woodpecker in wintertime, you wouldn’t list “bird,” or “woodpecker, “ but “pileated woodpecker in winter.”
On your own website, or your personal web pages in a photo-search database, make your own “text” pages, listing 3 and 4-word descriptions of your photos. The “web crawlers” that capture information from the web, search personal databases as well as the massive ones.
If you get in the habit of entering brief descriptions of each of the marketable photos in your database (not only the main photos you feature at your site), you will have sales come your way.


Rohn Engh, veteran stock photographer and best-selling author of “Sell & ReSell Your Photos” and “sellphotos.com,” has helped scores of photographers launch their careers. Increasing numbers of photographers are putting text-based lists on the Web of the photographs they have available, either on their own web sites or on high-traffic photo databases like the PhotoSourceBANK (see www.photosource.com/products/psb.php). Photobuyers use such databases to find photos and to save research time. To receive the free report: “8 Steps to Becoming a Published Photographer,” visit http://www.sellphotos.com


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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



To Sharpen or

Not To Sharpen


Digital images, especially those from digital cameras, very often need sharpening. How do you determine how much sharpening to do? If you are working on an image that will be published, there's a basic rule: "don't do any sharpening at all."
FINAL USE SIZE

The reason you should do no sharpening of digital images sent off to a photobuyer is that images are best sharpened at the final usage -- size.
Let's say that you have an image that is roughly 3000 by 2000 pixels. If you sharpen the image at this size, and the photobuyer you send it to wants to use the image at a smaller size, the quality of the reduced image will be poorer than if you had not done any sharpening at all!
Photobuyers often ask for "unsweetened" images. This means images that have no sharpening applied and very little other manipulation. Sharpening is the most critical issue, because as illustrated above, an image that is sharpened at the "wrong size" might be unusable to a photobuyer.
The actual size an image is used can vary from what the photobuyer initially asks for. Even if you think you know what size the image will be used, there's no way to know with certainty. Not knowing with certainty is the same as guessing.
OTHER MANIPULATIONS

Features such as using the clone stamp to remove dust-spots and to color-correct, are manipulations that are, more or less, expected of you. But, again, remember that specs vary from photobuyer to photobuyer. There's no universal formula when it comes to digital submission preferences.
Ask the photobuyers you work with for their digital specs. Keep them handy in your files. This way you'll have this "digital-preferences" information at your fingertips whenever you need it, for each of your buyers.
CAUTION: Ask your photobuyers from time to time if their digital specs have changed, and update your file accordingly.

Photojournalist Mikael Karlsson has 14 years' experience of working for magazines and newspapers in more than 30 countries. He moved to the United States in 1998 from his native Sweden. He lives in Nebraska and is currently US correspondent for 11 Swedish magazines and a regular contributor to a wide variety of U.S. publications. Reach him at mike[at]photosource[dot]com.


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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn




FINDING WORK: -- How they got their jobs. - PDN talks to over 20 professionals anonymously who work in the photography industry (but don't take pictures) about the things they like about their jobs, the things they aren't crazy about and, most intriguingly, what they earn in salary and other perks
http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/features/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003826339



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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



A WAY WITH WORDS – For ten years, Jerry Greenberg has claimed that the National Geographic has violated his copyright by reproducing images shot for the print magazine appeared in the NG CD compilation. The court originally found that the product presented on the CD retained “contextual fidelity” because it compiled previous issues of National Geographic exactly as they appeared in print, adding only an introduction and functional elements.
Well, different courts have ruled differently on the Jerry Greenberg case over the last decade, often in Greenberg’s favor. But In 1998, the Georgia federal district court ruled in favor of NGS, citing a 1997 decision in Tasini v. New York Times Co., that determined that re-using freelancer-owned work in databases and CDs did not constitute copyright infringement, even without obtaining the author’s permission.
Now, for the second time, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with the National Geographic Society in this case. What’s next? http://www.selling-stock.com/?p=2812 (www.selling-stock.com.)
TAKEAWAY: Well, I guess this one will go to the Supreme Court (who wants to foot that legal bill…?). If it doesn’t, the Greenberg case will stand as a precedent for publishers to “re-sale” some of the pictures that they’ve published earlier in certain formats, and not give a dime to the photographers. And if you think about it, that might also apply to you designers, artists, and illustrators out their.

WHERE’S MY CHECK? Struggling picture agency owes photographers thousands - A picture agency, Red Cover, based in Balham, South London, owes nearly £500,000 to creditors has told freelance photographers and writers it will not be able to pay them for up to two years. http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=41501&c=1

GETTING BIGGER -- Shutterstock's Image Library Hits 4 Million Images
http://www.stockphototalk.com/the_stock_photo_industry_/

BIGGER -BUT BETTER? -- Agency Portfolio Growth - Here's a visual representation of what agency portfolio growth over the past year looks like for the agencies who publish their portfolio size.
http://www.microstockdiaries.com/agency-portfolio-growth.html



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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



A PROFIT CENTER NO MORE? -- Revisiting the news - Here is the dilemma with journalism today: It is still trying to be a profit center when obviously it cannot be one anymore. News used to be for sale and people would gladly pay for it.
http://blog.melchersystem.com/2008/06/29/revisiting-the-news/

MORE STOCK SCHLOCK? Getty Images and Flickr Announce Exclusive Partnership to Offer New Collection of Creative Imagery - Getty Images and Flickr are working together to establish the first commercial licensing opportunity for photo-enthusiasts in the Flickr community. The Flickr collection will feature photography selected by Getty Images editors based on their expertise in licensing digital content.
http://www.creativepro.com/article/getty-images-and-flickr-announce-exclusive-partnership-offer-new-collection-creative-imagery
TAKEAWAY: It’s pretty, yes. But where’s the substance?





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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



CITIZEN PHOTOGRAPHERS -- Happy snappers zoom into the industry frame - Amateur photographers are shaking up the global market for licensed images far quicker than video is for broadcasters, and even Bill Gates's privately held image bank, Corbis, is having to reinvent itself.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/happy-snappers-zoom-into-the-industry-frame/2008/06/26/1214073401115.html


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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



DO YOU KNOW WHERE THOSE PHOTOS ARE? A bill slowly moving through Congress threatens to change the copyright law in ways that have artists, writers and other creators fighting to keep it from passing. Titled the Orphan Works Act of 2008, the bill, if enacted, would alter the copyright protection of certain intellectual property. Artistic, written, musical, scientific and photographic works seemingly without a noted author would be open to free use, providing that the user shows proof of a "diligent effort" to search for the author.
Although many artists are passionately fighting to preserve their names and their creations, the legislation seems to be sneaking in under the radar of many local creators. Several artists, writers and musicians contacted for this story were unaware of the proposed law. http://www.newburyportnews.com/punews/local_story_189210217.html


WHEN DO YOU NEED ONE -- Kelby Interviews Lawyer on Copyright Law and Model Releases -
http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2008/archives/1645



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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



NEW RULES -- NYC sets formal film permit rules. - Filmmakers and photographers who shoot on New York City's famed streets and sidewalks now have a clear set of rules dictating when they must obtain permits, after years of relying on loose guidelines that civil liberties advocates said were too vague. http://www.amny.com/news/local/ny-bc-ny--filmpermitrules0714jul14,0,5846784.story?track=rss

CELEBRITY PHOTOS Brown Estate In A 'Cold Sweat' Over Image Use - The case concerns whether the licensing a photo of a celebrity is considered a commercial use in every situation. If the case is decided in favor of Brown's estate, it could open a flood of legal challenges against anybody who licenses celebrity photos, even for editorial use.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92433895


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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



HUMANKIND: An Emotional Journey, with Yoshio Komatsu and Eiko Komatsu. http://www.photosourcefolio.com/bookstoreone.htm#1586858254. This stunning collection of photography by renowned photographer and author of Built By Hand, Yoshio Komatsu, documents our undeniable human connectedness—as we pass each day alone, with family, with friends, engaged in the simple journey of life. (ISBN: 1-58685-825-4; $39.95) Gibbs Smith Publisher, PO Box 667, Layton, Utah 84041. E-mail: Jessica[at]gibbs-smith[dot]com . Web: http://www.gibbs-smith.com

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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



SAY CHEESE! -- Man Arrested For Unlawful Photography Nearly everyone carries a cell phone and it’s hard to find one without that camera feature. It’s convenient when you want to take that impromptu photo, but a Tri-Cities area man ended up behind bars after snapping a shot of a Johnson County sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop.
http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/man_arrested_for_unlawful_photography/11576/
TAKEAWAY Lest we forget Rodney King

NO RESTRICTION -- NUJ Secretary Jeremy Dear writes to Home secretary about surveillance - Ironic to recent situations of photographers clashing with the police, Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith's response to the matter also stated that "the Government greatly values the importance of the freedom of the press, and
such there is no legal restriction of photography in public places."
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/NUJ-Secretary-Jeremy-Dear-writes-to-Home-secretary-about-surveillance


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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



Phase One P65+ is First Full-Frame Medium Format Photo Sensor, Packs a
Gaudy 65 MP. Last week Hasselblad was holding down the largest-sensor-available title
with its 50MP H3DII-50, but now Phase One's P65+ digital back matches the size of a standard piece of 645 film at 40.4 X 54.9mm—a first for digital sensors—for a
final resolution of 65 megapixels.
http://gizmodo.com/5024849/phase-one-p65%252B-is-first-full+frame-medium-format-photo-sensor-packs-a-gaudy-65-megapixels




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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn




IT’S DIGITAL NOT DOCUMENTARY -- “When I first saw Denis Darzacq's photos of people floating in urban spaces, or falling from buildings (just about to hit the pavement), I was unnerved. They looked too real, I thought, but they couldn't be real, they must be the result of digital manipulation, putting two photos together as one.
http://www.lensculture.com/webloglc/mt_files/archives/2008/07/behind-the-scenes-video-magica.html

BIGGER -BUT BETTER? -- Agency Portfolio Growth - Here's a visual representation of what agency portfolio growth over the past year looks like for the agencies who publish
their portfolio size.
http://www.microstockdiaries.com/agency-portfolio-growth.html


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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



TALK ABOUT A HANDICAP -- Photographer without legs tells life story from ground up - It becomes clear his photos tell a much more complex story--the split-second shock and
curiosity on strangers' faces when they encounter a man with no legs, gliding past on a skateboard, propelling himself with his hands. Connolly, 22, was born legless.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9982308-93.html?tag=bl

RINGO RULES! -- Working with legends. The last we heard about Norwood Young, American native, Rob Shanahan, he was drumming in a successful band while making a name for himself in the photography business in California. Shanahan was appointed Ringo Starr’s official photographer late last year.
http://www.waconiapatriot.com/articles/2008/07/14/norwood_young_america_times/news/news01.txt


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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



COTTON MILL KIDS. .Photos document a dark era . Upcoming exhibit at Gaston library focuses on century-old images of child labor in mills. The haunting portraits photographer Lewis Hine made in November 1908 of Gastonia's cotton mill kids were meant to document abuses of child labor laws.
One hundred years later, the images are returning to the community as a permanent exhibit on the vanishing textile culture. http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/698700.html

EXHIBIT SHOWS EXAMPLES OF ABUSE Pasadena mom among subjects of domestic violence photo exhibit. Nine years ago this fall, Lisa Spicknall's worst nightmare came true when her two young children were murdered. The killer was her estranged husband, Richard Spicknall II, against whom she had gotten a protection from abuse order only months earlier. Since that time, the Pasadena woman, now 33, has spent nearly a decade as an advocate for domestic abuse victims, working to prevent similar tragedies from happening to other families. She was honored for her efforts in a traveling photography exhibit held earlier this month.
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/07_02-43/NBH

NEW GLORY -- From Ground Zero to the moon to Iraq, the stars and stripes stand for America. A photography exhibit by Seth Butler, which opened on the eve of Independence Day at the Picker Building in Dover, seeks to better understand the way the American flag has been used and misused by the nation.
http://www.wirenh.com/Art/Art_Show/%93tattered%94_flag_photos_in_Dover_explore_America_200807103040.html








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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn




RINGO RULES! -- Working with legends. The last we heard about Norwood Young, American native, Rob Shanahan, he was drumming in a successful band while making a name for himself in the photography business in California. Shanahan was appointed Ringo Starr’s official photographer late last year.
http://www.waconiapatriot.com/articles/2008/07/14/norwood_young_america_times/news/news01.txt


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16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn




1850 – First photograph of a star (other than the sun): Vega, which was made at Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, Massachusetts, July 17th, by Whipple, a professional photographer. A 15-inch telescope was used as a camera lens and a daguerreotype plate was set up at the eye end.


16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



AND ALSO A PHOTOGRAPHER -- When he died on May 12 at age 82, Robert Rauschenberg was described as many things: a beneficent champion of artists and charities; a, cunning artist who wasn't afraid to take on just about everything, including paintings,
sculptures, prints and photographs.
http://www.oregonlive.com/art/index.ssf/2008/07/robert_rauschenberg_at_blue_sk.html


16 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn

Have you missed receiving a PhotoStockNOTES issue? Check your SPAM/BULK folders for an email from info[at]photosource[dot]com or psi2[at]photosource[dot]com. Also, if you haven’t done so already, add these two addresses to your safe list.
AOL members – if email from us stops coming to you, request to AOL that our address (above) should be included in their “O.K.” list.


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09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



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July 9th 2008

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09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn




Are you feeling....



Overwhelmed By Competition ?


You shouldn't be…

>

Does your photo file contain mostly general selections? Or have you have positioned yourself to focus on a select number of vertical markets, in your strong photo interest areas? You will have little competition in the stock photography arena if you shift your aim from general, across-the-board, to target markets. The small amount of competition will turn out to be a plus, to keep you on your toes.

Also in the mix: Are you sales-oriented? If you are a sales-oriented photographer, you may fail at stock photography.
Why? Take a look at those who succeed in the stock field. How do they do it? We've followed many career stock photographers who are successful in this industry, and we've noted a common thread: They become customer-oriented.
Their first sale is usually at a loss, dollar-wise – or at best, a break-even. But if they target their marketing (deal with photobuyers who specifically need material in the photographer's photo strength areas) -- they create long-term financially rewarding relationships with each photobuyer (customer). Their photography focuses on filling the needs of their select customers, and with patience, building gradually to higher fees and consistency of sales to these customers.
Many markets for the stock photographer are publishing houses. Most photographers come to the stock photography arena from a sales-oriented experience, dealing with the large turnover of clients in the commercial markets. It's no wonder many drop out of stock when they don't make sales right away, or find that sales to media markets are at lower fees than they experienced in the field of advertising, assignment, or other commercial photography.

VERTICAL MEDIA MARKETS PAY OFF

It helps to reverse your thinking. Go for the long term, andvolume sales, with dependable customers in your vertical markets. Look to gradually building a steady relationship with your photobuyers. You'll discover that this way you create an annuity, in effect, with each customer.

We have found in our research that a stock photographer will stay with a "theme" publisher on average for ten years. Each time you establish contact with a market in your vertical specialties that yields, say, $1,000 per year in net profits (about $5,000 in gross sales per year), you have actually nailed down a $10,000 assured market for yourself.

Use this marketing technique to build your vertical markets. If you build up 10 new markets per year, over a five year period you will be dealing with a tight and manageable number of dependable vertical markets that will be yielding you $50,000 in net profit per year.

If you've ever wondered how the successful stock photographers do it -- now you know.
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Rohn Engh, veteran stock photographer and best-selling author of “Sell & ReSell Your Photos” and “sellphotos.com,” has helped scores of photographers launch their careers. For access to great information on making money from pictures you like to take, and to receive this free report: “8 Steps to Becoming a Published Photographer,” visit http://www.photosource.com


gen803A




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09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



Are You A Sinner?



(The seven deadly sins of stock photography marketing…)



CREATE FIRST THEN FIND A MARKET
Creative people tend to produce their product first and then attempt to find a market for it. This is a recipe for disaster. The Boulevard of Broken Dreams is strewn with bodies of creative people who never learned: "Find the market first (in the area that you like to work in) and then create for that market."

GENERALIZE
When you try to be all things to all people in the publishing world, the photobuyer's reaction is: "No one can be that good!" Discover your photographic strength areas, and go for them. Become a specialist. If wild horses can't pull you away from your subject area(s), you'll succeed. You’ll fail or get bored if you aim only for those markets that 'pay well.'

FOR SOUL NOT FOR SALE
Writers rarely publish their poetry, and even rarer get paid for it. Don't expect your 'artsy' pictures to sell. Consider them your poetry. Ask yourself next time you're taking (making) a picture, "Is this for sale or is it for soul?"

PASSING THROUGH
Many creative people have a tendency to change their address once every five or six years. Photobuyers have a tendency to shy away from the vagabond, the wanderers, no matter how talented they might be. Buying photos is a business and they want you to be businesslike in their dealings with you, and that means being 'reachable' five days before deadline. Give the appearance that you are a ‘stable’ resident.

LOOKING LIKE A BEGINNER
If you appear to be 'just starting out,' photobuyers will pass you on by. They don't have the time to hold your hand or "train" you. They'd rather spend their time with someone who is "hassle-free.” You should give the appearance of looking like a pro. Your first step is to correspond with professional-looking e-mails or with quality stationery, labels, and envelopes. The photobuyer will set your request in the "TO DO" folder.

TECHNICAL FAILINGS
The controls on cameras today make it nearly impossible not to get a technically good photo. Photobuyers expect technical excellence from you. And it should match their particular guidelines. No matter how excellent your image may be, if it does not meet the reproduction quality for the publishing industry, you'll fail.

HOMEWORKLESS
Do your homework. Know what your strengths are, and then begin photographing in the areas that you love best, where you 'speak the language' of specific photobuyers who need photos in those areas. Do your homework to find such buyers through Google or specialized search engines. You'll find scores of powerful directories awaiting you, listing photobuyers who, at this moment, are searching for your talent and special skills, that match the theme of their publishing operation.

Rohn Engh, veteran stock photographer and best-selling author of “Sell & ReSell Your Photos” and “sellphotos.com,” has helped scores of photographers launch their careers. For access to great information on making money from pictures you like to take, and to receive this free report: “8 Steps to Becoming a Published Photographer,” visit http://www.sellphotos.com

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09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



Each month we report to you moves among, within and between: publishing houses, stock agencies, photobuyers, photo researchers, ad agencies, design firms.

NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM ( 1700 NE 63rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73111) Former Editor: M.J. Van Deventer. Current Editor: Judy Hilovsky, (405) 478-2250, editor[at]nationalcowboymuseum[dot]org.

TIDE MARK PRESS (PO Box 20, 176 Broad St, Windsor, CT 06095) Former Contact: Carol Powers. Current Contact: Scott Kaeser, Acquisitions Editor, Phone: (860) 683-4499; Fax: (860) 683-4055; scott[at]tide-mark[dot]com

AIR LINE PILOT MAGAZINE (PO Box 1169, Herndon, VA 20172-1169) Former Editor-in-Chief: Gary DiNunno. Current Editor-in-Chief: Sharon Vereb, Phone: (703) 481-4460 ext. 4461; Fax: (703) 464-2114; magazine[at]alpa[dot]org

TRIPLE THREAT TELEVISION Former Contact: Izabel Hoyos. Current Contact: Niki Usbah, (212) 678-7600; usbay.nik[at]gmail[dot]com

SIERRA MAGAZINE (85 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94109) Former Contact: Seth Fields. Current Contact: Adina LoBiondo, Photo Researcher, Phone: (415) 977-5590; Fax: (415) 977-5794; photo.researcher[at]sierraclub[dot]org


09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn





THEY’RE WATCHING. – The NYPD Harasses a Photographer at Coney Island. Manhattan commercial photographer Simon Lund loves Coney Island so much that he treks out there 10 to 20 times each summer to take pictures. But it was only on his latest venture that Lund encountered something he'd never experienced in all his trips there over the years: an unwanted photo editor
from the NYPD. As if he were in a police state, Lund was intimidated by a cop
into giving up his film, even though he was doing nothing wrong and wasn't formally
accused of anything.
http://www1.villagevoice.com/news/0824,shoot-first-hand-over-film-later,464895,2.html ">http://www1.villagevoice.com/news/0824,shoot-first-hand-over-film-later,464895,2.html


WATCHING FROM ABOVE… Photographer Documents Secret Satellites..His shots of 189 secret spy satellites are the subject of a new exhibit -- despite the fact that, officially speaking, the satellites don't exist. The Other Night Sky, on display at the University of California at Berkeley Art Museum through September 14, is only a small selection from the 1,500 astrophotographs Paglen has taken thus far. http://www.wired.com/culture/art/news/2008/06/secret_satellites
TAKEAWAY. Ready Reference: The Inquisition lasted approximately five-hundred years, from the late 15th century to the mid 19th century.


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09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



SAVE ‘EM. Is There Hidden Treasure in Your Digital Outtakes? - Digital images have a
way of hiding in folders that you may not open regularly or that don't make
it to the "best shots" folders. It's important to take time occasionally to
look back through older image folders and see if you might not have ignored
some potentially great images.
http://rising.blackstar.com/is-there-hidden-treasure-in-your-digital-outtakes.html

BRUSHING OFF THE DUST Smithsonian adds historical photos to Flickr Commons - The Smithsonian added 800
photographs from its collection of 13 million images, and 1,200 more will be
added in coming months, “Our goals in participating in The Commons on Flickr are to expose new, larger, broader and younger audiences to our photographic collections and help them discover more of the Smithsonian educational resources," said Richard Kurin, the acting undersecretary for history, art, and culture. ...
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13580_3-9973041-39.html?tag=bl
TAKEAWAY: Smithsonian has over 13 million historical images to share with the public.

IN CASE WE FORGET – "The Race Beat," a book by Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff, which won the Pulitzer Prize for history last year, traces the news coverage of the movement in heart-stopping detail. Now the High Museum of Art opened a large and popular exhibit that brings to light many new images of the era, along with the struggles of the photographers who made them. If ever social change was propelled by photographs, it was during the civil rights movement. Behind the pictures are stories of smashed equipment and journalists beaten, of activists drawn south by images, of amateurs who picked up cameras for the first time.
http://www.prometheus6.org/node/21360

TAKEAWAY: Lest we forget, a camera can still be used for documentation.


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09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



YES. IT’s TRUE. Digital thieves swipe your photos - and profit from them - In an age when
digital photography rules and people post their images online, how can we
stop our photos being stolen?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/jun/18/news.internet
TAKEAWAY: Until technology intervenes with digital protection for our photos, thievery can’t be controlled.


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09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



PHONE/PHOTO NETWORKING – One of the biggest mobile camera phone competitions in the world has launched. Sony Ericsson's World View - This unique online competition gives everyone the opportunity to share their camera phone photography with a global audience.
http://www.symbianone.com/content/view/5560/108/

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09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



CERLEBRITY CHASERS. – The exhibition offers an overview and critical look at the history of a photographic genre dedicated to fame and sensationalism. A genre that continues to feed the Yellow Press with exclusive reports on the comings and goings of the jet set in order to push the sales of their publications ever higher. The Helmut Newton Foundation presents approximately 350 B/W and color prints by Salomon, Weegee, Galella, Quinn, Angeli, Secchiaroli, Pigozzi and Newton, the exhibition presents the forerunners and central figures of the "classic" period of Paparazzi Photography - and provides a visual commentary about the evolution of this phenomenon.
http://www.artknowledgenews.com//Helmut-Newton_Foundation.html
TAKEAWAY: What would the world be without them?

THE WAY WE ARE - - The French photographer's "aerial portrait of the planet" shows how fascinating the Earth is and tells how this planet is being exploited. Striking images of our planet ... and the harm we are causing it. From a white maize stockpile in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya to the Turku archipelago in Finland, Yann Arthus-Bertrand tells hundreds of stories through his photographs taken from above.
http://www.bangkokpost.net/220608_News/22Jun2008_news02.php
TAKEAWAY: Photos will help to convince the public


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09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn





"PhotoDaily Rules!!! Once again no requests posted on AGPix and PhotoDaily posted four today. We are not renewing our subscription to AGPix!"
- Tom Stack Associates, Tavernier, FL


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09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn



FUN FOTOGRAPHY. If you can see it, you can photograph it. This is Mammana's First Law of Night Sky Photography. “When someone reports seeing a marvelous halo around the moon, or the Milky Way rising over a distant hillside, I always ask, ‘Did you take a picture of it?’" “For distant gratification, turn your camera's eye to the sky - it's easy.”
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/science/20080619-9999-1c19star.html

GODS OF THE CINEMA – Seeing stars through lens of a candid camera (UK) Live by the Lens, Die by the Lens, is the major new exhibition staged from today at Bradford's National Media Museum. The show will allow mere mortals to get closer to these gods of the cinema. Garbo, Taylor, Loren, Dietrich, Harlow - the sort of stars recognizable by just one name.
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/highlights/Seeing-stars-through-lens-of.4207149.jp

YUM YUM – Food photography. In this picture, only one of the scoops is real ice-cream. We have no doubt you can tell that the fake one is on the right. The pictures were not taken professionally nor styled by a team of people skilled in the craft of food photography. But can you tell what it is made of? We reveal all at the end of this article. A brief enquiry found that many people buy recipe books for the pictures although they don't cook much. But those pictures that get people drooling aren't always what they seem. http://www.asianewsnet.net/stech.php?aid=17455
TAKEWAY: It looks good enough to eat. Buy don’t

IS THE LIGHT FLICKERING? The husband-and-wife team behind Yahoo's popular photo-sharing service Flickr have resigned, following two top executives that have departed since the Internet pioneer rejected a $47.5 billion takeover offer from Microsoft. Flickr co-founders Stewart Butterfield and Caterina Fake want to pursue another opportunity that they haven't yet revealed, Yahoo spokeswoman Terrell Karlsten said Wednesday.
Fake's last day at Sunnyvale-based Yahoo was June 13. Butterfield plans to leave July 12.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/corporatenews/2008-06-18-yahoo-flickr_N.htm?csp=34

LOOK WHAT WE FOUND Photography finding toehold in Indian art market. The humble camera is now the artist's brush in India. Once dismissed as a mundane device to freeze dull official frames like weddings, births, gatherings and graduation ceremonies, the camera is now seen as an alternative genre of collector's art. http://www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=73895
TAKEAWAY: Have we outsourced photography to India also?


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09 Jul, 2008 | Posted by: psn




Hope you had a GOOD Holiday!
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