01 Sep, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes



EASY AND FREE: Matt Brading: “A final stumbling block for a lot of photographers wishing to sell stock photos is the belief they need to spend a small fortune on ‘professional’ software like Photoshop. That might have been the case 5-10 years ago, but these days there are some excellent low-cost and free alternatives available. Here are some of my favourites
http://sellstockphotos.biz/software-for-photographers/12-must-have-free-software-programs-for-photographers


STARTING OUT -- What’s It Like to Go Freelance?- Answers from 27 Photographers http://rising.blackstar.com/whats-it-like-to-go-freelance-answers-from-27-photographers.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Black-Star-Rising+%28Black+Star+Rising%29
TAKEAWAY: I’ve always said, “Whoever built the first roller coaster knew something about human nature. You go up, you go down and it scares the hellouttaya but you’d pay to do the thrill again. The thrill of freelancing is the same. One day you’re down in the dumps and the next day you’re riding high! -RE



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25 Aug, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes



BACKFIRE? -- Identification jackets for journalists in Goa (India)
Announced during a function to mark World Photography Day.
http://www.newkerala.com/news2/fullnews-24245.html
TAKEAWAY: Wonder if there’s a big red bull’s eye on the back of the jacket for the convenience of those nice people (politicians) who don’t like to be photographed off-guard.


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11 Aug, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes



RELATIONSHIPPING -- why People Don't Buy - Understanding that your prospects are afraid …is the magic information you need to make sales. You don't have to convince them you're the best photographer in the world or that you have the lowest prices. You need to convince them that you care about them and that everything will be all right.
http://goingpro2010.com/?p=819


USING AN IMAGE? -- What constitutes personal use of an image? - Licensing stock images can be a complicated business. Whether you need an image for an advertising campaign, a company presentation or for your personal blog, you should know the legal ins and outs before you agree to license it. SOURCE: Marco; FastMediaMagazine.
http://www.fastmediamagazine.com/blog/2010/08/02/what-constitutes-personal-use-of-an-image/

FOLLOW THE PRODUCTION -- The Making of Lee Friedlander's America By Car - Book publisher D.A.P. offers a behind-the-scenes look at the process of printing Lee Friedlander's latest book, America By Car. There are also a few shots of Friedlander himself documenting his involvement in the proofing process. Friedlander analyzed each completed print after it was inspected by Meridian Printing technicians.
http://pdnedu.blogs.com/pdn_pulse/2010/08/the-making-of-lee-friedlanders-america-by-car.html

DEAD? -- Neil Burgess: "Photojournalism is dead - agency boss laments the passing of an era. “Magazines and newspapers are no longer putting any money into photojournalism. They will commission a portrait or two. They might send a photographer off with a writer to illustrate the writer's story, but they no longer fund photojournalism. They no longer fund photo-reportage. They only fund photo illustration." SOURCE: Greenslade; Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/aug/02/news-photography-magazines
TAKEAWAY: Maybe we have a venerable career looking for a new title. The speed at which news flies these days, the old way of delivering news via pictures (photojournalism) will be replaced. The vocation of photojournalism is not dead; only the way it is delivered to us is dead.


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27 Jul, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes



ETHNIC DIVERSITY -- Photo Buyers Still Asking for More Ethnic Diversity in Images - For as long as John Griffin has been running CutCaster, he’s been hearing the same request from buyers. They want to see more “everyday” people in stock inventories, they tell him, and in particular, they want to see more “ethnicity” represented. http://blogs.photopreneur.com/photo-buyers-still-asking-for-more-ethnic-diversity-in-images?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PhotopreneurBlog+%28Photopreneur+Blog%29

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21 Jul, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes




DON’T GET HURT -- Eight deadly travel photography hazards
When we travel, there are hazards which can prove deadly to digital cameras, and even modern day film cameras.
When we travel, we need to exercise our “street smarts” to keep ourselves safe and secure, as well as, keep our photography equipment safe and sound. Virtually all traveler photographers worry about keeping their photography equipment safe from theft. Fewer worry about the many other photographic equipment hazards they may encounter, which can do just as much harm.
SOURCE: Ned S. Levi http://www.nslphotographyblog.com/2010/07/eight-deadly-travel-photography-hazards.html


Senate Considers Bills Favorable to Home-Based Businesses and the Self-Employed - SAA urges the U.S. Senate to pass two key tax provisions that will be beneficial to alleviating the tax burden faced by small business owners like photographers. As the Senate prepares to debate Here’s the bill: H.R. 5297 - The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 SOURCE: Stock Artists Alliance; http://www.stockartistsalliance.org/node/813


FREE PHOTOS -- Excuses for Shooting Photos for Free — and Why They’re Bogus - Ninety percent of small businesses fail within the first two years. With few exceptions, working for free is the fastest way for freelance photographers to become part of this 90 percent. John Harrington responds to the excuses he has heard. http://rising.blackstar.com/photographers-excuses.html

PIXEL PUSHERS TAKE OVER? -- It’s official, media and photography break up! - The Long love affair between photography and Media is over. Because the editorial world is replacing experience photo editors with journalistic background for inexperience pixel pushers that are ordered to select the cheapest images, regardless of quality, they are opening the visual airways for steep competition. http://www.fastmediamagazine.com/archives/7421
TAKEAWAY: Maybe in commercial stock photography the landscape is unsettling. But not in editorial stock photography. Let’s make that clear.



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14 Jul, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes



YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT BUSINESS -- Market to Reach US$10.7 Billion by 2015, According to a New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.Growth in the market is especially driven by factors such as ubiquitous need for advertisements and promotions, increasing use of social networking sites, rising eminence of digital photography, and growing niche applications. While many perceive photography as a leisure pursuit, an increasing number of individuals and corporations see commercial photography as a requisite tool for effective business development and social networking. http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20100707/bs_prweb/prweb4215264_1

FOCUS ON FOCUS: -- Five situations when manual focus has the upper hand on auto focus. Digital cameras present photographers with an ever increasing array of Automatic and Semi Automatic shooting modes. Most of these center around different ways of exposing your shots – however many cameras also give options for different focusing modes (auto, continuous focusing for moving subjects and manual). http://blog.dreamstime.com/2010/07/06/five-situations-when-manual-focus-has-the-upper-hand-on-auto-focus_art32828

GET SEEN – GET JOBS -- Photography SEO: Don’t Set It and Forget It – John Harrington: “When Google fiddles with its formula, I always hear from a number of photographers whose Web sites have fallen off the radar. Make no mistake; losing “Google juice” — say, by dropping from page 1 to page 5 in search results — can turn your business’ lights off, too. In my case, my Web site generates anywhere from two to six assignments per month, and that is a substantial amount of money. It’s good reason to take SEO very seriously. http://rising.blackstar.com/photography-seo-dont-set-it-and-forget-it.html
TAKEAWAY: This is important. Print it out, and paste it on your bathroom mirror. And read it twice everyday. –RE

HAPPY RETURNS -- Photography or Greeting Card Business – You Decide --- Americans purchase 7 billion greeting cards every year. The average person receives 20 greeting cards in a year. http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2010/07/07/photography-or-greeting-card-business-you-decide/

GATHER ROUND -- PLUS Registry To Launch This Fall - Unique Identifiers for every rights holder, image and license. By registering with PLUS, each rights holder obtains a "PLUS-ID" uniquely identifying that individual or company throughout the global marketplace. When distributing or publishing images, rights holders may assign and embed a special unique PLUS-ID into each image, allowing image users to easily and quickly access and manage the rights information associated with that copy of the image. Volunteer for Registry beta testing http://plus.useplus.org/PLUSnews/2/PLUS_Registry.htm

AIM HIGH -- Overwhelmed, Ho Hum photos and clients you want to shoot for - Junk mail and even bills, correspondence and newsletters are filled with Ho Hum photos that do nothing to grab our attention. How much more effective it would be to use more dynamic and entertaining imagery, and how much better to shoot with those clients in mind! http://www.fastmediamagazine.com/archives/7315

Photography SEO: Don’t Set It and Forget It - When Google fiddles with its formula, I always hear from a number of photographers whose Web sites have fallen off the radar. Make no mistake; losing “Google juice” — say, by dropping from page 1 to page 5 in search results — can turn your business’ lights off, too. http://rising.blackstar.com/photography-seo-dont-set-it-and-forget-it.html
TAKEAWAY: This is important. Print it out, and paste it on your bathroom mirror. And read it twice everyday. –RE

CRADLE PHOTOS -- Newborn photographer Heidi Guerard joined The Rhode Show to talk about her unique studio. Unique newborn photography at days old. Most moms out there would agree that from the day a child is born, time just flies by. So, make some memories early
http://www.foxprovidence.com/dpp/rhode_show/unique-newborn-photography-at-days-old


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30 Jun, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes



PUTTIN’ IN TIME -- The Fortunes of Dues - Putting in the time, paying the dues is part of the process and for the most part, it is just part of the evolution of a career. But then when you least expect it you get a reward for paying those dues. The Reward http://moosepeterson.com/blog/?p=15690
TAKEAWAY: Ever notice, the most successful creative people are those that sweat the most?

OIL SPILL AFFECTS PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS -- Photographer Jean Williams has owned her beach photography business in the Gulf for 20 years, specializing in family photos with the ocean in the background.As she took pictures of the Schroeder family from Texas, tar balls were washing up. "This is probably going to destroy my business for the rest of the year," Williams said. As the photo shoot continued, the Schroeder family children got tar on the bottom of their feet, and did not like it. http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12704787


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23 Jun, 2010 | Posted by: psn



SHOW OFF -- Portfolio Reviews: Shop Around - Portfolio reviews represent an opportunity to get your work seen by industry insiders you wouldn’t otherwise get the chance to meet. Here, PDN offers a roundup of prices and application fees (when available), featured reviewers, and URLs for some of the reviews featured in the June issue, as well as a couple of upcoming reviews that were not included. http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/features/pdn-online/e3idc38443dc8d2ef1a06ef7b00bf33392f


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09 Jun, 2010 | Posted by: psn



LIKE IT IS -- Photo Editors: Seven Things You Should Know About Them. Photography as a job can be harsh. Reality checks sometimes can soften the blow. In Scott Bourne’s experience, knowing what’s coming makes it easier to deal with than being surprised. SOURCE: Scott Bourne; Goingpro; http://goingpro2010.com/?p=266

TRADEMARK YOURSELF -- Ask just about any photographer what area of law protects his or her business, and the answer you’re likely to hear is “copyright.” However, copyright law only protects a photographer’s work product and doesn’t prevent a competing business from attempting to capitalize on the goodwill that the photographer has built with his or her customers. Trademarks are the key to protecting a business’ goodwill. SOURCE: Samuel Lewis; DigitalPhotoPro; http://www.digitalphotopro.com/business/trademark-yourself-part-1.html

CLOSE CALL -- Today's e-mail scam: friend asking for money via Western Union - After talking with some friends who know her, we realized that it was identity theft. So beware of emails from your "friends" asking for money! http://rickrawrulessammon.blogspot.com/2010/05/todays-e-mail-scam-friend-asking-for.html

SAFE PLAY -- Photographers, Be Sure You Have a Backup Plan. Five tips for creating a backup plan for your photography business. Source: Aaron Lindberg ; Business of Photography http://rising.blackstar.com/photographers-be-sure-you-have-a-backup-plan.html


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02 Jun, 2010 | Posted by: psn



TRANSLATION -- Interpreting Client Speak (The Brush Off and What to Do) - Martha Retallick, a freelance designer and photographer in Tucson, Arizona, has written a great piece entitled What Clients Say vs. What They Mean explaining the off-putting comments we photographers hear every day. Martha Retallick, http://photobiz-infocus.com/2010/05/24/interpreting-client-speak-the-brush-off-and-what-to-do/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+photobiz-infocus%2FMhDm+%28In+Focus%29

STUCK? -- Get Out of Your Rut! - There a re reasons for being stuck in a rut, but there are NO excuses. It's okay to be down in the dumps trying to figure out the best way to jump start your career, but it's not okay to be complacent! SOURCE: Skip Cohen’ Going Pro http://goingpro2010.com/?p=364


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26 May, 2010 | Posted by: psn



More older Americans start own businesses.

Pat Althizer started Photo Safari Yosemite, which takes tourists to the best photo-taking spots in the national park.
Althizer has embraced his new vocation with enthusiasm. He plastered decals that promote his firm, Photo Safari Yosemite, on the windows of his white Jeep Cherokee, networked with the folks who run local tourist attractions, and at his daughters' behest, joined Facebook to promote his firm, which takes tourists to the best photo-taking spots in the national park.
Althizer has embraced his new vocation with enthusiasm. He plastered decals that promote his firm, Photo Safari Yosemite, on the windows of his white Jeep Cherokee, networked with the folks who run local tourist attractions, and at his daughters' behest, joined Facebook to promote his firm, which takes tourists to the best photo-taking spots in the national park. SOURCE: Laura Petrecca, USA TODAY . http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2010-05-25-olderworkers25_CV_N.htm


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12 May, 2010 | Posted by: psn



JUST SAY NO -- Photographers, Don’t Fall for These Client Pick-Up Lines - One of the toughest things for a photographer to do is to say “no” to new business, even if it’s a bad deal. Especially in today’s environment, your prospective clients have an arsenal of pick-up lines — ranging from sweet talk to coy bluffs — to make bad deals sound like good ones. Here are some examples: http://rising.blackstar.com/photographers-dont-fall-for-these-client-pick-up-lines.html#more-11353

NEW REALITY -- John Lund: “I did a search on Getty Images today while checking to see the competition that existed for an image idea I am considering creating. Then, just for the heck of it, I did the same search on iStockphoto. It was a bit of a revelation. Not only were there far more images, a couple of thousand rather than a couple of hundred, the iStockphoto images also included ones that were both higher in production value and more creative. http://blog.johnlund.com/


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28 Apr, 2010 | Posted by: psn



PROBLEM SOLVER -- Shooting Stock. Commercial stock photography is all about problem solving. The first is how to make a living shooting commercial stock. One way to do it, is to solve other people’s problems. http://blog.melchersystem.com/2010/04/19/selling-stock-shooting-stock-its-not-brain-surgery/ SOURCE: Paul Melcher
TAKEAWAY: In theory it sounds good if you can understand the rationale. One important ingredient: persistent.

THERE’S HOPE-- The Future of Stock Photography. Our current economic situation has severely hurt the stock photography market. “Rights managed” sales have plummeted in recent years with many photo buyers favoring microstock and heavily discounted imagery in their projects. Plus, with millions of images available online, an over-saturated market continues to dilute sales for photographers and agencies alike. SOURCE: Dan Bailey
http://thephotoletariat.com/the-future-of-stock-photogr’aphy/

TAKEAWAY: Most stock photographers don’t realize that the “old school “ of buyers acquiring stock photos through online visual services is over, it’s on life-support if anything. The new generation of art directors and photo researchers is using the magic of search engines, especially Google, to locate the must-have on-target photos they need. It’s all headed that way. Take heart! –RE

LISTEN CLOSELY Ellen Boughn and the Future of Stock Photography John: What advice would you give any shooter who wants to make a living shooting stock in these turbulent times? Ellen: Think of your business as a multi-layered cake. Get your work into all the layers of the business. DEVELOP a specialty and be the best at it in the world. Even photographers on microstock sites need to build their brands within the site in order to get maximum downloads.
SOURCE: John Lund http://www.2012-doomsday-predictions.com/5389/ellen-boughn-and-the-future-of-stock-photography/

BE SURE TO REED -- Proof Read Everything You Publish – Then Proof It Again - Many of you are going to be writing copy for brochures, websites and mail blasts. It seems very timely to publish a reminder on proof-reading. You are photographers and artists first, but if you’re trying to communicate via the printed word then take the time to use a few of the tools out there that will at least help you be understood a little better. http://goingpro2010.com/?p=182

NEED A RELEASE? Well, maybe if you’re into commercial stock photography. Pro Models and Their Agencies - Dan Heller got an interesting email from a commercial fashion photographer that warrants some discussion: A model agency booker recently wrote to me saying: "But if you want to use the images for editorial use, we ask that you ask us first before agreeing to the usages used for that magazine. In fact, all magazines require releases...even for editorials. That's where the release will come into play." SOURCE: Dan Heller ; http://danheller.blogspot.com/2010/04/model-releases-pro-models-and-their.html
TAKEAWAY: Not to worry. All magazines do not require releases. Untrue. In fact magazines never ask for model releases when they submit a photo request for our marketletter, The PhotoDaily. If they did, we would consider them amateurs, plus unaware of their First Amendment rights. -RE

PHOTO RULES OF ENGAGEMENT -- Many photographers find it difficult to make small talk while photographing people. Whether they are shooting portraits, corporate headshots or professional models, they have a reluctance to engage their subject on a personal level. That’s unfortunate, because how your subject feels while you are taking their picture is often the difference between a ho-hum image and a great one. http://rising.blackstar.com/break-the-ice-to-get-better-pictures-of-your-subject.html
TAKEAWAY: It’s also a matter of timing. . . Being photographed is an excruciating experience for self-conscious people (aren’t we all?) So the first thing they want to do is start talking about the very thing they’re looking at –your camera. If you let them engage you with equipment talk, you’ve lost the lead, and certainly control …plus the chance to let them talk about themselves.


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21 Apr, 2010 | Posted by: psn



BRING ‘EM ON! -- John Lund: “Increased Competition and Becoming Better . The world of stock photography has become, shall we say, competitive? Insanely competitive. I think everyone of us has done our share of moaning and groaning about that fact. But rather then indulge that downer of a past time; perhaps we should look at the positive side of the new competition in stock photography.” http://blog.johnlund.com/

NOT THE FAST LANE -- Success in stock photography. SOURCE: John Lund
http://blog.johnlund.com/2010/04/tortoise-and-harehow-to-thrive-in-stock.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+johnlund%2FUkbR+%28The+Stock+Photo+Guy+-+John+Lund+Stock+Photographer%29
TAKEAWAY: Maybe a sloer pace will get a faster result.


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14 Apr, 2010 | Posted by: psn




THANKLESS JOB ? -- Survey Results: PDN's 2010 Assistants Survey - Photography assistants have been hard-hit by the recession, and many of them find the work physically demanding and thankless,. Overall, the average number of assisting days was 66 last year, compared to 97 days during 2008--a decrease from about 8 assisting days per month to 5.5 days per month. SOURCE: Photo District NEWS http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/features/pdn-online/e3ia32c20e0500d8fa510da18a1466aa2ea

CUSTOMERS: GO GET ‘EM -- The Knowledge You Need to Sell Your Photos. The difference between a professional who makes a living out of photography and an enthusiast looking for his or her first sale isn’t always talent. There’s no shortage of mediocre photographers using their cameras to pay the rent, and there’s no shortage too of photography lovers with a great eye and a portfolio filled with valuable but unsold images. Much of the difference between a reliable revenue stream from photography and just the thrill of a great picture comes down to a few key pieces of knowledge.
SOURCE: PHOTOPRENEUR http://blogs.photopreneur.com/the-knowledge-you-need-to-sell-your-photos


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07 Apr, 2010 | Posted by: psn



THE $7 COVER -- Steve: “ I post some of my photos to the evil, industry-destroying photographer-exploiting, amateur hour world of “microstock.” In short, stock sites have traditionally sold Rights-Managed licenses for hundreds or thousands of dollars, making life as a stock photographer an easier and more viable endeavor. This model still exists and is used all the time. But now there’s the evil option.
http://www.steveweinik.com/blog/?p=1942

WEB OPTIMIZATION – Dan Heller discusses issues related to managing web presence. Some of these methods directly result in income, such as advertising dollars, whereas others indirectly affect income, such my ranking in search engines or by directing traffic towards monetizable content. http://danheller.blogspot.com/2010/03/2009-year-in-review-web-optimization.html

ONE DEFINITION: -- Stock photography-- WHAT IS IT? Stock photography is existing photographs that are available for specific purpose. Sometimes it is also known as picture library or photo bank and digital stock photography can just simply mean that the pictures are taken digitally. You can see a lot of these digital stock photographs in books, magazines and websites. You might ask why the publishers don’t hire professional photographers for the job. This is because the pictures in photo bank are cheaper than getting someone to do it. Author: Michael Wong; Source: articlesbase.com
http://stockoption.touralive.com/digital-photography-what-is-stock-photography/


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31 Mar, 2010 | Posted by: psn



TRUE GRIT -- The Most Important Predictor of Success in Stock Photography. John Lund “ We learned quickly that the most important predictor of success is determination. At first we thought it might be intelligence. Everyone likes to believe that's what makes start ups succeed. It makes a better story that a company won because its founders were so smart. The PR people and reporters who spread such stories probably believe them themselves. But while it certainly helps to be smart, it's not the deciding factor. There are plenty of people as smart as Bill Gates who achieve nothing."
http://blog.johnlund.com/2010/03/most-important-predictor-of-success-in.html


ALWAYS RIGHT -- Quick Tip: Solve Customer Service Issues Quickly – Skip Cohen is a huge fan of WalkTheTalk.com and other books they publish on customer service, leadership, communication etc. Most photographers do not have the luxury of more than one other person to help solve customer problems, so let’s modify the TWO-PERSON-RULE “Complainers are GREAT! They give you the opportunity to fix their problems and keep them as customers – instead of saying nothing and taking their business elsewhere.”
http://skipsphotonetwork.com/2010/03/quick-tip-solve-customer-service-issues-quickly/

DIRECTIONS -- Creating a Compelling Stock Photo. BLOGZA: “There is just no getting around the fact that we are drowning in images and it will only get worse. As any of you who regularly read this stock photo blog will know, this is something I think about constantly, along with how stock photographers can continue to thrive in such an environment.
http://blogza.in.th/2010/03/21/creating-a-compelling-stock-photo/
TAKEAWAY: Stock photo diversification? Rights managed? He’ll soon find unless he sticks with a specialization, he’ll be on the “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”

HOOK UP -- with digital media buyers and sellers in new community - Fast Media Connect is a specialist network where you can do most things you can do on the large network, but you can do it with those closest to your professionally. This means you can get to the point quicker, find more relevant information and even get down to business. SOURCE: Marco Oonk http://www.fastmediagroup.com/archives/5056

HIGH QUALITY/LOW FEE – “It’s the picture that matters, not who made it.” Is the tune art buyers in the commercial world of stock photography are singers these days. “ There are very few professional photographers who, right now, are not hurting,” said Holly Stuart Hughes, editor of the magazine Photo District News. That has left professional photographers with a bit of an identity crisis. Nine years ago, when Livia Corona was fresh out of art school, she got assignments from magazines like Travel and Leisure and Time. Then, she said, “three forces coincided.” They were the advertising downturn, the popularity and accessibility of digital photography, and changes in the stock-photo market. SOURCE: STEPHANIE CLIFFORD; New York TIMES
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/business/media/30photogs.html?hp
TAKEAWAY: Photobuyers these days are looking for something additional when they license that ‘just right’ photo: It’s called expertise. Editorial photobuyers feel more comfortable when the photographer can bring some knowledge in the specialized area of their photo need. If you are an ‘authority” in a certain specialized field you can establish a lifelong relationship with a publisher whose art budget might be $30,000 to $50,000 per month.


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23 Mar, 2010 | Posted by: psn



TRYING IT OUT -- My Adbase Marketing Campaign: Early Results - Gordon Stillman: In January, I wrote about my decision to try e-mail marketing with Adbase, which bills itself as “North America’s largest and most advanced database of creative buyers.” In this post, he is sharing how his first e-mails performed. SOURCE Gordon Stillman ; Blackstar Rising http://rising.blackstar.com/my-adbase-marketing-campaign-early-results.html

WHAT THEY WANT -- TRUST OVER TALENT. Clients Will Choose Trust Over Talent Every Time. Many photographers, as well as other creative professionals, operate under the assumption that talent alone will carry them through their careers. While this may be true for a lucky few, I wouldn’t suggest you count on it. SOURCE: Martin Perlin. Business of Photography
http://rising.blackstar.com/clients-will-choose-trust-over-talent-every-time.html


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17 Mar, 2010 | Posted by: psn



NOT A GIVE AWAY -- Most of the veteran photographers I’ve talked with had the same problems starting out, so I know it’s not anything new to the industry. The key seems to be getting over it as quickly as possible. http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2010/03/11/stop-accepting-200-assignments/

IT’S NOT LUCK -- He’s a struggling freelance photographer just like many out there, He’s not widely known, nor has he been in the industry for decades with a client list that stretches for miles, but he knows the sooner he learns to value his own work the sooner he’ll learn to value the industry in which he works, the better his business will be, and the sooner those big jobs will start rolling in.
http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2010/03/11/stop-accepting-200-assignments/

HOLD THE COURSE -- Writing Your Photography Marketing Plan: Determining Target Markets - Many photography businesses fall into the trap of trying to be everything to everyone. You are so hungry for business that you will work for anyone and attempt anything. That’s certainly understandable, particularly in this economy. But it’s not a good marketing formula for long-term success. SOURCE: Matthew Kauffmann http://rising.blackstar.com/writing-your-photography-marketing-plan-determining-target-margets.html
TAKEAWAY: Specializing is especially true in editorial stock photography and the secret is to figure out first what you love photographung: aviation; tennis; gardening; elementary age children -- and then find if there's a market for it. Google will show you if there is -just type five or six keywords (one of them being 'publisher') in the search bar. You'll find many markets already waiting for your talents.
And the nice thing about this way of marketing your photography is you can stay with the same target market for a lifetime, (the "theme" publishers never change their industry focus) ...


- - - - - - - - - -


PANORAMA MAGIC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_6vO1vBkpc
http://www.vrphotography.com/

Virtual Reality Photography is an extensive resource for photographers and interactive media producers. It includes four sections; Photography Basics, Panoramic Imaging, Object Imaging, and Business Practices. It delves deeply into techniques and methods, is richly illustrated, and features a number of case studies from real-life shooting situations and industry experts.

Virtual Reality Photography
ISBN: 978-0-615-34223-8
$44.95 (US)
8.5"x11", full color
320 pages with over 300 illustrations

VR photography, or virtual reality photography, is a technique which allows the interactive viewing of wide angle panoramic photographs. A VR Photograph is generally a wide photographic image encompassing a 360 degree circle, but can also encompass an entire spherical view.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_6vO1vBkpc
http://www.vrphotography.com/





Virtual Reality Photography
ISBN: 978-0-615-34223-8
$44.95 (US)
8.5"x11", full color
320 pages with over 300 illustrations

VR photography, or virtual reality photography, is a technique which allows the interactive viewing of wide angle panoramic photographs. A VR Photograph is generally a wide photographic image encompassing a 360 degree circle, but can also encompass an entire spherical view.



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10 Mar, 2010 | Posted by: psn



MOTIVATION -- Sanger: “Getting Out the Door. Sometimes the most difficult part of photography is getting out the front door. All sorts of events conspire against you. Once you get started, creativity can come easily”.
www.davidsanger.com/blog/getting-out-the-door



PHOTO: DAVID SANGER


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03 Mar, 2010 | Posted by: psn



CULTIVATE THE CURRENT ONES -- 8 Ways To Get More Work From Existing Clients - Most photographers spend the bulk of their time and energy trying to grow their business by finding new customers, but few put much effort into generating more work from clients they already have. Martin Vargas doesn't follow that approach. http://blog.photoshelter.com/2010/02/8-ways-to-get-more-work-from-existing-clients.html


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24 Feb, 2010 | Posted by: psn



DON’T READ THIS -- Top 10 ways to make sure you’ll never be a pro. - If you really want to thwart any chance you might have of becoming a pro photographer, here, presented in traditional count-down order, are 10 ways to make sure you’ll never turn your dream into a profession. SOURCE: Paul Burwell http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/2010/02/top-10-ways-to-make-sure-youll-never-be-a-pro/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Wildshots+%28Wildshots%29

TAKEAWAY: Not everyone wants to be a pro, nevertheless, these are some good pointers.

SHOOTING COMMERCIAL -- The best-selling popular photography subjects - what are they? There are topics that are more in demand than others. Whether you decide to compete against the many photographers who put models in suits and hold clipboards or focus on a passion that allows you to bypass the masses and fill a niche, the only way to actually generate those sales is to consistently create good pictures.
http://blogs.photopreneur.com/the-best-selling-popular-photography-subjects?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PhotopreneurBlog+%28Photopreneur+Blog%29

GET IT IN WRITING -- Writing Your Photography Marketing Plan - A marketing plan is a dynamic document that acts as a guideline for all of your marketing efforts. As such, it’s a valuable tool for avoiding “pitifully poor performance.” SOURCE: Matthew Kauffmann; BlackStar Rising
http://rising.blackstar.com/writing-your-photography-marketing-plan.html

http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&um=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=photo+business


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10 Feb, 2010 | Posted by: psn



HOLD IT! -- Ad Agency Guide To Photography Usage Terms - All questionable negotiations have historically defaulted in favor of the artist. Technically, even minor modification of the art requires the artists’ permission. You are RENTING, not buying an image unless explicitly stated on the contract. http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2010/02/05/ad-agency-guide-to-photography-usage-terms/

GET LINKS -- Why People Aren't Linking To Your Photo Website - Ten SEO Tips To Get Websites To Link To You. http://blog.photoshelter.com/2010/02/ten-ways-to-get-others-to-link-to-you.html

FRANCHISE YOUR BUSINESS -- January edition of Entrepreneur magazine dedicated a large portion of the magazine to franchises. Did you know 8 of their top 500 franchises are in the photography industry? Does that tell you photography is still very profitable? People are willing to invest anywhere from $15,000 to more than $300,000 to get involved in one of these photography businesses. http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2010/02/03/how-much-for-a-photography-franchise/

THE FULL SERVICE PHOTOGRAPHER – 10 Ways to Increase Your Web Traffic –This blog post outlines several steps you can take to ramp up your online traffic. Whether you’re seeking new leads or to improve your current customer relationships, you’ll find something that will take you to the next level. SOURCE: Rebecca Ritz. Bauerhaus Design. http://cs.sbtv.com/Post/?id=2735


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27 Jan, 2010 | Posted by: psn



FREE ADVICE -- New Online Marketing Help - Aquent has launched a free Web site called internetonlinewebsite.com that teaches marketers and designers what and how they need to create Web sites. http://www.creativepro.com/article/new-online-marketing-help

GETTING IN TOUCH -- Stillman: “Why I Chose an E-Mail Marketing Service to Boost My Photography Business - To help market Gordon Stillman’s photography business in 2010, he decided to try an e-mail database and distribution service called Adbase. This post shares his reasons for choosing a service like Adbase along with his initial experiences. SOURCE: BlackStar Rising
http://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html

BOOK COVERS -- Covers are always a point of pride for photographers. They have a shelf life longer than a magazine inside photo and can sometimes lend themselves more to the photographer’s own creativity. Example: the new cover of Viva Vegan, shot by Miha Matei! http://stone-thrower.com/2010/01/12/viva-vegan/


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20 Jan, 2010 | Posted by: psn



BE PREPARED -- The 10 Things All Staff Photographers Must Do Right Now - With all the layoffs we've seen in the industry in the past few years, what surprises me most, however, is how common it is for a staff photographer to be "surprised" with the news of their own layoff. They are very often leaving themselves totally unprepared for life as a freelancer.
http://blog.photoshelter.com/2010/01/10-things-all-staff-photographers-must-do-right-now.html?utm_campaign=misc%20blog&utm_medium=link&utm_source=harrington&utm_content=staffphotogs

MIRACLE-GROW FOR THE STUDIO -- 26 Ways To Generate Business Into Your Photography Studio - Want to grow your business? Take action. And if something hasn't worked in the past, try something new. Here's 26 things you can do to start taking action today, and start bringing in the leads.
http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2010/01/14/photography-26-ways-to-generate-leads/

LOST & FOUND -- How to creatively recover a lost camera - Australian writer Andrew McDonald has a humorous way of getting a lost camera back should someone find it. He records a series of images in his shooter's memory card with messages scrawled on a whiteboard and his contact details. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10433216-1.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=Crave


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13 Jan, 2010 | Posted by: psn



WHERE DO YOU RANK? -- SOURCE: Derrick Story. The profession, "Photographer" Ranks 126 on 200 Best/Worst Jobs List - Of course things could be worse: You might want to be a photojournalist that ranks #189.
http://thedigitalstory.com/2010/01/photographer_ranks_1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDigitalStory+%28The+Digital+Story%29
TAKEAWAY: Are we talking about, "How do you want to spend your life?"

TWO GOOD PHOTOBLOG SPOTS -- John Harrington – Photo Business News & Forum – This blogs focuses more on the common and not-so-common experiences that photography professionals share. Read on for occasional musings and news about the business of being a photographer. http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/

Bert Stephani – Confessions of a Photographer – This guy doesn’t play by the rules…add that he’s from Belgium, and we’ve got a great recipe for a good read…let’s hear what he has to say. “When I set myself the goal to become a successful professional photographer, I started a blog. I did it because writing always made me see things more clearly. The goal of the blog was to push myself and at the same time share technical and business stuff with photographers in a similar position. This may have gotten a bit out of hand but I strongly believe in sharing whatever I know and do this through many different channels.” http://bertstephani.com/blog/


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06 Jan, 2010 | Posted by: psn



GOOD TIMING – Sean Locke: “Sometimes, when creating content and putting it up for sale, you just get lucky when it comes to timing. In the last several weeks I uploaded some content of plastic airport security bins filled with various objects, like the one below. SOURCE: SEAN LOCKE
http://seanlockedigitalimagery.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/good-timing/


AIM HIGH -- Want to Achieve Your Photography Goals for 2010? Start By Writing Them down - If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail. Write out your vision for whom you want to be as a photographer in 2010. Write down what you want to be shooting, who you want to be shooting for, and how you're going to make his happen.
http://rising.blackstar.com/want-to-achieve-your-photography-goals-for-2010-start-by-writing-them-down.html26

NOT: -- Handy Excuses for Missing the Shot - Every photographer has their favorite excuses for not coming back with the goods on a shoot. SOURCE: PETER PHUN http://rising.blackstar.com/26-handy-excuses-for-missing-the-shot.html


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09 Dec, 2009 | Posted by: psn




ALL YOU NEED – New Photographers’ Resource Website Initiative by ASMP – A new resource hub brought to you by trusted trade organizations, The Library of Congress and American Society of Media Photographers. It’s chock full of valuable resources like “best practices”, “workflow”, and a “quick reference guide” designed just for you. http://tinyurl.com/resourcewebsite
TAKEAWAY: Your first holiday gift!

THERE’s HELP -- Have you considered hiring an assistant? – This week’s Photopreneur.com blog post brings up what might seem like an impossible option for career photographers; however, keep an open mind. Someone you know may know someone…and they might be just what your business has been missing… http://tinyurl.com/photoassistants
TAKEAWAY: Someone to boss around.

PROMOTIONS -- Top ten things you can do to promote your stock photography and vector portfolio and get more sales -
http://blog.cutcaster.com/2009/11/18/top-ten-things-you-can-do-to-promote-your-stock-photography-and-vector-portfolio-and-get-more-sales/

LEDGER LOOK -- End of Year Planning Now for Your Photography Business - The holidays are a wonderful time to relax and enjoy time with your friends and family. The Holidays are also a good time to assess your photography business to make sure that you are doing what you can to protect yourself and your assets. SOURCE: PhotoAttorney.com ; http://www.photoattorney.com/?p=866

BE A BRAND -- As a freelance photographer, you might not think you have much in common with global brands like Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, Apple or Nike. But no matter how small or large your business is, branding can be just as important to you as it is to these corporate titans. You have the opportunity to brand your business whenever and wherever you make contact with a prospective client. It’s important to create a consistent look and feel for your Web site, mailers, invoices, letterhead, and all of your other communications. SOURCE: Wayne Ford in Business of Photography . Rising.Blackstar.com http://bit.ly/6n8Vu8


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02 Dec, 2009 | Posted by: psn



WHO? -- When Names Change to Anticipate the Future. APPLE dropped the word "computer" from its name in January 2007, soon after it introduced the iPhone. Likewise, Fuji Photo Film shortened its name to Fujifilm in 2006, when sales of its photography products slipped to less than one-third of total revenue. These moves symbolize fundamental shifts in how these companies see themselves and how others perceive them.
http://bit.ly/67Jvpi
TAKEAWAY: No longer does your ‘mark of trade’ need to describe what you do. Pepsi and Coke recognized this way back. Brand-building is more important these days. Witness Yahoo!, Google, BING. CORBIS

OPINION -- Microstock Creates New Markets? - No, It Devastates Existing Ones. http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2009/11/microstock-creates-new-markets-no-it.html
TAKEAWAY: Hold on. People Buy Where Talent Lies. The businessperson/photographer asks, “Should I under-price or over-sell ? The protectionists may complain but the world will move on without them.

SIGN HERE -- Get It In Writing. A poorly drafted written agreement is worth little more than the verbal contract, and in some cases, even less. http://www.digitalphotopro.com/business/get-it-in-writing.html

GETTING NOTICED -- Online Photography Portfolios: Answering Your Questions - Wayne Ford answers a few of the most common questions following his column on Online Photography Portfolios.
http://rising.blackstar.com/online-photography-portfolios-answering-your-questions.html
TAKEAWAY: Ultimate traffic to your site comes from the “Twin Approach”, which is a combination of both a website and a blog.


WORKING AT HOME? Be prepared.

Click on this enlightening VIDEO here:
http://www.photosource.com/video/homework

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25 Nov, 2009 | Posted by: psn



WHAT’S YOUR “PLAN B?” – In the UK, freelancers are riding the ups and downs of the economy. Instead of sulking, take these action steps to ensure they keep the attention of clients. TAKEAWAY: Top ten tips to get ahead or stay ahead in the crowd.
http://tinyurl.com/freelancersridethewave ; http://www.freelanceuk.com/news

THE DOTTED LINE -- Wedding Photography Contracts - A Cautionary Tale. A bride has filed a lawsuit in the Manhattan Supreme Court alleging she instructed her photographer, of the highly regarded wedding photography studio Christian Oth Photography, to refrain from taking photographs of her while getting ready, and in some degree of undress. So the question is - what are the photographers rights and obligations? Let's take a multi-facted look at the circumstances surrounding this issue. http://bit.ly/639Efk


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11 Nov, 2009 | Posted by: psn




FREE FOR ALL? From BlackStar Rising, by Harrison McClary, A Photo Credit Doesn't Pay the Rent - In the belt-tightening world of editorial photography, many media outlets now offer a photo credit, rather than monetary compensation, for the use of your photo. If you're not getting paid, how are you different from the millions of hobbyists uploading their photos on Flickr and all over the Web? SOURCE: Blackstar Rising, http://rising.blackstar.com
http://rising.blackstar.com/a-photo-credit-doesnt-pay-the-rent.html

TAKEAWAY: There is a deadly hidden secret of all professional freelancers. It’s the RULE of the freelance jungle. Will the creative pro please step forward who has not in her/his early entry days as a professional given away a free article, a free photo, a free garage band concert? Sure, as a professional freelancer you have to be protecting yourself and excluding competition by doing a better job than the youngster who is coming up from the ranks and getting known by an age-old marketing technique of getting your foot in the door by giving away a gratis sample of your work.

It’s a given -no working pro stock photographer, except hobbyists, can exist very long unless they get paid for their photos.

But isn’t the chat session at this sire ‘preaching to the choir’?’

Somehow, the picture is painted in the forum responses that photographers never have given away their work.

In other professions, as we all know, the emerging talented people produce enticing freebies to introduce themselves, get their foot in the door, when they’re just starting out. We all love the ‘free offer.’
They do it. We take it.
We all encourage it. And don’t feel any guilt.
For example:
Accepting a free pass to the new theater down the highway
Accepting a free ticket to the new dance studio or stage play
Or accepting a PR person’s free pass to the basketball game
Or the garage band’s opening night concert
Or a sample of the new product being introduced at Wal-Mart
Or a grocery store coupon
A free article from Ezine or similar website
Or a free meal at a place where kids eat free
All potential clients can recognize the “newbie”. They are looking out for Numero Uno too.
Not unlike us when we accept that “familiarization tour” of a flight and lodging to Guatemala or the free pass down at the local sports stadium.
--Rohn Engh


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04 Nov, 2009 | Posted by: psn




YOUR PORTFOLIO -- Wayne says: “I've spent some time over the past couple of weeks looking at photographers' portfolios in search of new talent for upcoming projects. Print portfolios, on the whole, are similar in format and presentation. The same can't be said for online portfolios. And this can present challenges in fairly judging the talent and experience of different photographers.” SOURCE: Wayne Ford in Business of Photography; thru Rising Black Star. http://bit.ly/qKphG
TAKEAWAY: Always ask, “What is my target market?” If you’re a commercial photographer…yes, this information works. If you are an editorial stock photographer, the “to-the-point” submissions you make to your specialized periodical or book publisher are at the top of the photobuyer’s list, not your prize-winning exquisite clichés or edgy website design.

BUSINESS IS WAITING -- Four Steps to Determine Your Rate as a Contract Photographer. As media organizations continue to trim staff positions, they are hiring contractors to do more of their photography work. For laid-off staff photographers, this presents an opportunity - if you know how much to charge for your services. http://bit.ly/3UIDGJ

DISPLAYING YOUR WARES -- Portfolio Updates - How often should a photographer update their print portfolio? How about the website? Does putting new work on a blog count? http://stone-thrower.com/2009/10/28/updating-your-portfolio/
TAKEAWAY: Editorial stock photobuyers are less interested in newsworthy photos and commercial stock photos (the kind you find on strictly microstock and RP (rights-protected) site) than photos (recent or archived)that are on-target for the readers (and advertisers) for their specialized publications.


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27 Oct, 2009 | Posted by: psn



BEYOND GUESSING -- Free Online Stock Photography Income Calculator
A German stock photographer, Robert Kneschke offers in his Blog a free Income Calculator. Stock photographers can use it to calculate their projected earnings with stock agencies for this and the next year. "I calculated these data for years on my own and it helped me to base my business decisions on numbers and facts, not solely on emotions. I wanted to share this possibility" says Robert Kneschke. After entering some information like downloads and earnings so far this year and the size of the photographer's portfolio, the calculator shows the projected income until the end of this year and the next year. http://www.openpr.com/news/102814/Free-Online-Stock-Photography-Income-Calculator.html



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21 Oct, 2009 | Posted by: psn




GET READY -- In the New Media World, Photographers Who Embrace Change Will Succeed. The digital revolution, while opening up exciting new channels of communication, is also rendering some of our pre-existing business models obsolete and forcing the redefinition of others. http://bit.ly/3puWoZ


WHY YOU SHOULD STICK WITH EDITORIAL STOCK -- How Art Producers Find The Right Photographer For The Project - Liz Miller-Gershfeld, VP and Senior Art Producer at Energy BBDO tells the important steps that go into finding the right photographer for any project:
http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2009/10/16/how-art-producers-find-the-right-photographer-for-the-project


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14 Oct, 2009 | Posted by: psn





GETTING GOOGLE TO COOPERATE -- How To Make A URL Disappear From Google - Matt Cutts the head of the quality control at Google, aka the anti-spam department, explains it in the a short 4½mn YouTube video. The video also explains why Google is displaying the web page URL, even though with the robots.txt1 file, you have asked Google not to read that web page.
http://www.foto-biz.com/pmwiki.php/Seo/Robots-txt


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07 Oct, 2009 | Posted by: psn



MAKING THE JUMP -- Is it time to stop assisting? - Jacqueline Bovaird asked photographers about their experiences just starting out….. how they knew they were ready, if they were right, and how they made it work. http://stone-thrower.com/2009/09/30/qampa-assisting-leap/

BIG BROTHER -- An art director’s job is to make sure you “get it right.” As a commercial stock photographer, you need to understand, you are not necessarily the author of your photograph. Here’s an article from Rising Black Star that brings home that point. “Understanding Your Art Director.”
“… - As group design director for a large U.K.-based publishing company, I've found that understanding the photographers I work with is an integral part of my creative process. . . “
http://rising.blackstar.com/understanding-your-art-director.html#more-6771


MOVE OVER PROS -- In Youth Sports Photography, It's Pros Vs. Parents - John Harte watched his client list of football clients plunge to just 5 players this season, from an average of 15 to 20. The reason? Harte says fans with DSLR cameras are offering photos for a much lower price than he can charge, or they are giving them away. http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/features/pdn-online/e3id4b973c6ccee64b474d3cf1897dc9f04

GET SEEN, GET KNOWN -- Want Free Publicity? Join American Photo Flickr - American Photo has decided to start featuring the work of up to three photographers in their bi-monthly magazine. Want to gain some free publicity? It's easy to do.
http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2009/09/28/want-free-publicity-join-american-photo-flickr/


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30 Sep, 2009 | Posted by: psn



SAVING THE CENTER -- The Charleston Center for Photography is on the brink of closure. Seven years ago, local photographer Jack Alterman started what became the Charleston Center for Photography. Former war photographer Stacy Pearsall, who purchased the facility from Alterman in April 2009, is asking patrons to sign up for a class or to join the center as a member.
http://bit.ly/VqIwR



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16 Sep, 2009 | Posted by: psn



GETTIN’ DOWN TO BUSINESS -- An Easy Way for Photographers to Bid and Bill - Lou Lesko started looking for a way to spend more time behind the camera creating and earning.. He created BlinkBid that allows photographers to click and choose their way through a huge range of different options, making creating invoices and detailed bids simple and automatic.
http://blogs.photopreneur.com/an-easy-way-for-photographers-to-bid-and-bill



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26 Aug, 2009 | Posted by: psn



PICTURE PROTECTION -- How Photos Can Be Protected From Natural Disasters - In advance of National Preparedness Month, ScanMyPhotos.com president and CEO, Mitch Goldstone,said, while insurance may cover replacement of possessions that have monetary value, how are you protecting items of emotional value? Those shoeboxes of family photos tucked away are often overlooked until it is too late.
http://blog.scanmyphotos.com/2009/06/how-photos-can-be-protected-from.html


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12 Aug, 2009 | Posted by: psn




SELLING THE WEDDING The 3 S's of Selling Your Wedding Photography Online - What's the purpose of your website? Here are some suggestions. http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2009/08/05/the-3-ss-of-selling-your-photography-online/


SWITCHING PLACES -- Photographers and Designers - What happens when professional image editors - designers who make a living out of their ability to communicate with pictures - pick up a camera? Do they have any advantages in the photography marketplace, and can their successes suggest skills that digital photographers should learn too?
http://blogs.photopreneur.com/photographers-and-designers


- - - - - -


HOW TO EARN 200,000 AIR MILES IN SIX MONTHS
By Cameron Brick

Sipping my complimentary pinot noir in the American Airlines' Admirals
Club, I was excited about my business-class flight to Costa Rica.
Besides the $60 I paid in taxes to book the flight for both myself and
my girlfriend, the flight was free. I "paid" for it with air miles...
air miles I collected without stepping foot on a plane. (More on that
in a minute.)

First, let me give credit where credit is due... I found this
mile-earning technique on Chris Guillebeau's website, The Art of
Nonconformity. <3×5@chrisguillebeau.com>.

I took Chris' idea. And with a little organization and patience, I
have now treated myself and two friends to two huge trips...

First, my girlfriend and I were excited about the beaches of Costa
Rica, so I found front-of-the-plane tickets from Portland, OR for
60,000 miles each on American Airlines. We had never flown first- or
business-class before, so we were quite pleased with our comfy seats
and complimentary champagne.

And then the following week, I took my brother to Alaska, also using
airline miles, on around 35,000 miles each.

In total, I "spent" 190,000 miles and about $75 in taxes for four
flights. And these were all miles I earned without ever stepping foot
on a plane.

How did I do it? I did it by carefully opening new credit cards.

Want to read more?


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