01 Sep, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes




PHOTO-LITE -- National Geographic Veterans Launch Photo Tips Site - Long-time National Geographic contributors Cary Wolinsky and Bob Caputo have just launched PixBoomBa.com, a web site of photographic tips delivered in a humorous, self-deprecating style through video, illustrated text and blog formats. http://www.pdnpulse.com/2010/08/national-geographic-veterans-launch-photo-tips-site-.html


FRESH IDEAS -- The Importance of Photo Projects - Photography projects give a boost to creativity, they also provide an opportunity to learn new techniques and improve upon the understanding of photographic concepts. A few ideas for photo projects from Tiffany Joyce. http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2010/08/the-importance-of-photo-projects/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeyondMegapixels+%28Beyond+Megapixels%29

QUICK CONVERSION -- Snapshots to Great Shots: Make the Picture – Rick Sammon: “After finding a willing subject, who was on her honeymoon, I took a snapshot of her along one of the busy hotel paths. Then, I grabbed a red table cloth and had two assistant hold the table cloth behind her - which created a studio-type atmosphere. Basically, we made the picture.” http://rickrawrulessammon.blogspot.com/2010/08/snapshots-to-great-shots-make-picture.html

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25 Aug, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes



THEIR SECRET -- Practice, Practice, Practice - Pick out any well-respected photographer whose work you admire and you’ll find they’re constantly experimenting. They’re always practicing, listening to their clients and paying close attention to the trends in the market. SOURCE: Goingpro.com http://goingpro2010.com/?p=853


SOLD! -- Photographers Reveal The Details Behind Their First Sales - "What types of pictures are people selling through PhotoShelter?" Grover Sanschagrin emailed 26 random PhotoShelter members who had made at least 1 sale since Jan 1, 2010 to answer this question. http://blog.photoshelter.com/2010/08/photographers-reveal-the-details-behind-their-firs.html
TAKEAWAY: Putting your pictures with a microstock site is like sitting in a chair at a weekend art fair. You meet nice people and get nice comments about your work. Rarely do you make a sale. But in the new millenium, the SEARCH systems on the Internet offer you a better way of getting buyers to come to you. LESSON learned: Start building a strong KEYWORD base for your specialized editorial stock photography.

CLEAR VOICE -- How to Record Quality Sound for Multimedia - While DSLRs that shoot HD video promise an easy way to shoot high quality video, the weakness of many videos photographers have shot this way is in audio recordings. It’s best to have a location sound person to record, monitor and manage audio, especially when shooting sync video with DSLR cameras http://www.creativepro.com/article/webinar-make-websites-live-publish-updates-quarkxpress



HAUNTING -- Infrared photography gives haunting view of Dallas using infrared photo techniques. A tilt-shift lens adds extra shimmer to some of the moody scenes. SOURCE: EVANS CAGLAGE / Dallas Morning News
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/lifetravel/stories/081610dnliv-photos-of-dallas.5c92f0f2.html


WHEN INSIDE -- Dan Bailey: ”As outdoor photographers, we often find ourselves doubling as travel photographers, which means that sometimes we end up shooting inside. And since we outdoor types like to light and fast, we don’t always carry extra strobes or additional lighting equipment that the indoor guys like to schlep around.” SOURCE: Dan Bailey http://thephotoletariat.com/5-tips-for-shooting-beautiful-interior-photography/




WORKFLOW -- The Digital Darkroom, photo editing steps. Hank Plumley: “One of the most frustrating things for me when I was starting out was the number of times I went back into my photo editing software to add to, delete, or change something on an image that I thought was done. http://www.blog.hankplumley.com/2010/08/workflow-digital-darkroom-photo-editing-steps/

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18 Aug, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes



CROPPING -- Old issue, still ignored by most. Dreamstime: “We keep getting emails from buyers where they complain about poor cropping of images. Not poor compositions, but poor cropping in regards for file usability. We were asked to pass the next comment directly to our community.
http://blog.dreamstime.com/2010/08/08/cropping-old-issue-still-ignored-by-most_art33092

WORKFLOW -- David Boswell: “I mainly use 2 programs in my photography: Adobe’s Lightroom and Photoshop CS5. I use Lightroom for all my cataloguing and keywording and for my initial processing of the RAW image (if you are serious about photography you should be shooting in RAW)and then fine-tune the photo in Photoshop (PS).
http://dboswellphotography.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/240/


FROM THE BOAT -- How To Take Great Photos from a Boat; Steve Davie: “When you travel, you’ll often end up using a variety of modes of transport: trains, buses, rickshaws, even elephants. There will also be plenty of times when you will need to take to water. Ferries, kayaks and sightseeing boats can present you with some fantastic opportunities to shoot some unique images, they can also provide countless opportunities for you to ruin your expensive equipment!” http://blog.vtravelled.com/how-to-take-great-photos-from-a-boat/



MAKE IT BETTER -- Can These Web Sites be Saved? - Three photographers get candid criticism and advise from three experts on how to improve their websites.
http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/content_display/features/pdn-online/e3ie16e8b7507e085a965d6f449ef279dee


FRESHEN UP -- Does Your Website Need a Face Lift? - Take a look at your website. It might be perfect or, like so many other photographers, you either need a facelift or you've overdosed on photographic Botox! Two specialties? Don’t mix them up in the same gallery. You’ll wind up confusing your clients and in the end they might go elsewhere, just because they’re looking for a photographer who’s focused on just their needs. SOURCE: Skip http://skipsphotonetwork.com/2010/08/does-your-website-need-a-face-lift/



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11 Aug, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes



TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT -- Shooting Challenge: Abstraction We usually take pictures of people, places and things. But sometimes there's value beyond the subject itself, found in the aesthetics of the photo alone. SOURCE: Mark Wilson http://gizmodo.com/5604338/shooting-challenge-abstraction

Ten Things You Never Want To Do With Your Online Photography Portfolio - "Why isn't my site getting any traffic?" and "Why aren't people contacting me online?" Here are 10 frequent mistakes- do you see yourself here? http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2010/08/10-things-you-never-want-to-do-with-your-online-photography-portfolio/

BE PREPARED -- Tips for Successful Stock Shoots. John Lund: “ I asked this woman model if her family might like to model for a shoot and the answer was a resounding "yes" and a great concept stock shot of ethnic families facing adversity with togetherness and teamwork.
http://blog.johnlund.com/2010/08/tips-for-successful-stock-shoots.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+johnlund%2FUkbR+%28The+Stock+Photo+Guy+-+John+Lund+Stock+Photographer%29



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04 Aug, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes



CIRCUMVENT GETTY -- Be a Good Photography Seller - “I have never had such a horrible time trying to acquire rights than when a client wants something off Flickr, DeviantArt or Twitpics, or similar,” one designer told us. “I’ve had several instances where people on those sites were hiding behind aliases and either don’t check their comments, PMs or email, or they just don’t believe we are offering them money to use their photos or they may think we are scamming them somehow.” http://blogs.photopreneur.com/be-a-good-photography-
seller?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PhotopreneurBlog+%28Photopreneur+Blog%29
TAKEAWAY: Getty takes 70% for their services.



Backing Up: 10 Steps to Peace of Mind When Traveling in the Digital Age - The best system is one that is not only simple but also one that is redundant and safe. Here is what Greg Downing does step by step, to ensure his images are safe, easy to access and redundant! SOURCE: Greg Downing http://www.naturescapes.net/docs/index.php/category-technical/44-technical/417-greg-downing

YUM! YUM! -- 11 Essential Food Photography Tips From Top Food Photographers - Some great food photographers shared how they advanced in food photography and gave some very practical and useful tips that we all can use when we take food photos. SOURCE: http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/11-essential-food-photography-tips-from-top-food-photographers/#utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FoodPhotoStyling+%28Learn+Food+Photography+and+Food+Styling%29#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=11-essential-food-photography-tips-from-top-food-photographers


GETTING IT RIGHT -- Group photos. Ugh! Here are five tips from a pro. Any group shot has the potential of becoming a train wreck — an out-of-control portrait But when the photo is an assignment you at least have the opportunity to prepare for what might go wrong in advance. http://rising.blackstar.com/five-tips-for-better-group-photos.html


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27 Jul, 2010 | Posted by: psn




FINDERS KEEPERS -- Ansel Adams Trove, or a Pile of Glass? Negatives Purchased for $45 a Decade Ago at a Garage Sale Stir Controversy Over Authenticity; 'It Could Be Anyone'. Experts enlisted by the negatives' owner said the images were early works by Adams, famous for photographing the West. If authentic, they would represent rare works from the '20s and '30s. A set of 65 glass photographic negatives was identified Tuesday as vintage work of Ansel Adams by a team of experts enlisted by the owner, eliciting cries of skepticism.
If authentic, the negatives, purchased for $45 at a garage sale 10 years ago, would represent a major addition to the body of work attributed to the iconic American photographer. SOURCE: Wall Street Journal. Lauren A. E. Schuker at lauren.schuker[at]wsj[dot]com http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748703292704575393671879091924-lMyQjAxMTAwMDIwODEyNDgyWj.html



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27 Jul, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes




NIGHT WORK -- Night Photography Tips For Exceptional Photographs. Photographs taken between the hours of dusk to dawn are generally referred to as night photography. Photographers taking photographs at night usually have a choice between using a long exposure, exposing the scene for seconds or even minutes, or using artificial light. http://photographytechniques.phoenix-blogs.com/night-photography-tips-for-exceptional-photographs/


BE YOUR OWN MODEL -- From HINXU. “If you can stay aware and observant you will find your own life can provide some great inspiration, locations, models and more. Your life can be a great source of inspiration for your stock photography. I am going to provide a number of examples of how I have used my life experiences including visits to the doctor and even my own surgeries to directly benefit my stock photo career. Stock pictures are all around us, but often we just fail to realize it. SOURCE: HINXU. http://www.hinxu.com/turning-doctor-visits-into-hot-selling-medical-stock-photos.html
TAKEAWAY: Ths idea is laudatory but the part about avoiding people in your pictures is faulty. –RE

PLAN AHEAD -- Often times we find ourselves just being wherever we are, taking advantage of what light is available, taking pictures of what sights are available. It really helps to know, ahead of time, exactly what you want to photograph, and how you want to photograph it, for any particular destination. Here are a few tips. http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2010/07/plan-your-shots-ahead-of-time/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeyondMegapixels+%28Beyond+Megapixels%29


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21 Jul, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes




An Approach for Building Your Portfolio

It's one thing to sit down and think of ideas to submit for stock, but I see a lot of people taking the same approach as I do: We mainly shoot what we know. Specifically, we work within our comfort level and skillset. I don't have a studio nor do I have access to models so I generally revert to do the same types of images. Keeping your portfolio growing is a challenge if you're going to continue in the same rut. SOURCE: Wisconsinart 's Blog; http://blog.dreamstime.com/2010/07/14/an-approach-for-building-your-portfolio_art32893

SHOOTING FOOD: -- Joe Routon is a longtime contributor to Budget Travel, and we've spotlighted his images on our site and on the cover of Budget Travel's June 2009 issue. We recently noticed he often takes sharp images of his food, so we asked him for some insights.
SOURCE: Sean O’Neil http://current.newsweek.com/budgettravel/2010/07/food_photography_done_for_fun.html


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

IDEAS -- Make a Masterpiece from Your Contact Sheets - Create art IN your camera! Martin Wilson did, and the results are incredible: each contact sheet is a self-contained work of art, made of cleverly-composed patterns and words. http://content.photojojo.com/photo-projects/contact-sheets-as-art/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Photojojo+%28Photojojo+-+Peace%2C+Love%2C+and+Photography%29



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14 Jul, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes



THE RIGHT WAY -- Exposing to the right is to deliberately over expose the shot without clipping. When you take your next shot have a look in the LCD screen and look at the histogram, if the graph is mainly to the left the shot contains more shadow detail, if it's in the centre it will contain both highlight and shadow detail, to the right it contains more highlight detail.
http://blog.dreamstime.com/2010/07/04/expose-to-the-right-_art32807

Five Ways to Elevate Your Game - If you think you’re not worth it, neither will your client. So here are some ideas that will helpfully get you to move in the right direction. http://goingpro2010.com/?p=605

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30 Jun, 2010 | Posted by: psnotes




WANNA BUY A FLICKER PHOTO? -- Flickr Adds "Request to License" Feature - There are billions of photos on Flickr, which is a whole lotta pretty to look at. But, if you're a budding photographer, how do you get noticed? And, if you're looking to use an image for your work, blog, ad campaign or more, how do you find just the right one and make sure you have the appropriate rights to use it? When Flickr members turn on the "Request to License" feature, a link will appear next to the license information on your images. People who click that link can request to license the image through Getty Images. http://www.creativepro.com/article/flickr-adds-request-license-feature

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23 Jun, 2010 | Posted by: psn



SLIDESHOW -- Web Design Concepts for Non-Web Designers - The Chopping Block's Matthew Richmond has created a slideshow that's an excellent self-guided tour of web design concepts and resources. http://www.creativepro.com/article/web-design-concepts-non-web-designers



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16 Jun, 2010 | Posted by: psn





DOWNTOWN -- Great City Shots - 5 Tips. Tiffany Joyce posts a handful of tips on how to get some great city shots. http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2010/06/five-tips-for-great-city- Source: Tiffanet Joyce http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2010/06/five-tips-for-great-city- Tiffany Nelson; beyond mega pixels
shots/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeyondMegapixels+%28Beyond+Megapixels%29



YOUR CAMERA BAG -- What Are You Packing For the World Cup? - This month, hundreds of photographers around the world will be descending on stadiums in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other spots around South Africa to cover the month-long sports story that is the World Cup. Find out what gear World Cup veterans and newcomers are bringing. SOURCE: PhotoDistrictNews http://www.pdngearguide.com/gearguide/content
display/news/e3i8f23a69d15c6258d2db6421ccfcb867f


VACATION PHOTOS -- 25 Travel Photo Tips. Want to bring back better pictures from your vacation? These are some tips for taking better pictures that will make your vacation memories even more special.
http://www.travelphotographers.net/article/GEI/25_Travel_Photo_Tips

PEOPLE -- If you want to take pictures that sell very well – particularly in stock photography portfolios – you need to be taking pictures with people in them. SOURCE: Kathy Burns-Millyard http://blog.royaltyfree-stockphoto.com/?p=3157


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09 Jun, 2010 | Posted by: psn



FREE HELP -- Google Will Help You Market Your Photography Business - Love them or hate them, there’s no way to deny the fact that Google is a major force right now in the online world. Fortunately, if you’re a savvy photographer, they can be a major force for good. Scott Bourne http://goingpro2010.com/?p=442

TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW -- Travelling is all about adventures and experiences. For photographers traveling is all that and more importantly it's about capturing the moment so the experience can be forwarded to those who weren't there (and sometimes for reliving the trip themselves) SOURCE: Mike Panic; Light Stalking http://photography.wix.com/2010/05/10-easy-tips-for-great-travel.html






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02 Jun, 2010 | Posted by: psn



COMPOSITION 101 -- It is one of the most essential elements to taking pictures. It can either make or break a photo. Entire books could be, and have been, written on the subject. As an introduction to composition, this article aims to give an overview of the main points on how to compose photos and improve your photography. http://www.fastcashphoto.com/2010/05/beginning-in-photography-composition/

PHOTOSHOP SKILLS -- Be A Better Photoshop Artist. John Lund: “ I have been invited to make a presentation at the San Francisco Photoshop Users Group next Thursday. I spent the better part of today going through my images and putting the presentation together. That process reminded me of a couple of things. First, how much I love creating images. Ten years ago I thought I would become rich creating stock photos...and I have. But that wealth is not in money, but in being able to spend my time doing something I love so much. http://blog.johnlund.com/2010/05/how-to-be-better-photoshop-artist.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+johnlund%2FUkbR+%28The+Stock+Photo+Guy+-+John+Lund+Stock+Photographer%29

COLOR -- Color is the one of the most essential aspects of design – even in cases when you use no color at all. Color, or lack thereof, helps convey your message, so it’s critical to choose the right colors for your projects. The right combination of colors can evoke intrigue, hunger, happiness, and more. The possibilities are endless. http://www.bigstockphoto.com/blog/thedownload/2010/05/what%E2%80%99s-in-a-color/


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26 May, 2010 | Posted by: psn



KEEP IN TOUCH -- Whether you are a professional working photographer or just a weekend hobbyist, subscribing to a photo newsletter can be an invaluable tool.
If you are a working professional photographer, either artistic or commercial, a photo newsletter can help to expand your business through advertising or perhaps help to put you in contact with other local photographers looking to collaborate on work.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Photo-Newsletter---Opportunities-For-Professional-Photographers-Or-Weekend-Hobbyists&id=4295953


DO IT DRAMATICALLY Diagonals And Perspective - For Photography and Photographers . Getting key lines in your shot to run at an angle is one of the simplest ways of making your shots more dramatic.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Diagonals-And-Perspective---For-Photography-and-Photographers&id=4262789




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19 May, 2010 | Posted by: psn



CONSISTENT INCOME -- Instant Strategies Anyone Can Use To Market Their Online Photography Services. No one would trust their wedding day in the hands of an amateur with an expensive camera. They’ll hire a professional. You want to venture out into this world, hopefully make a small profit doing something you love and know you’re good at. And you’re aware the online industry is the place to start, but how? Where does a solo service professional begin to make a name for himself online?
http://www.jonorana.com/strategies-market-their-online-photography-services
Volcanic landforms, anite domes, gushing geysers, and majestic waterfalls are just some of the natural wonders you’ll encounter during a trip to a United States national park.
http://uniquephoto.blogspot.com/2010/05/tamron-summer-travel-photography-tips_11.html


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12 May, 2010 | Posted by: psn



FOG, MIST, RAIN PHOTOS -- Photography in bad weather. The weather in most parts of the world is not always picture perfect. Where I live on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada we have our share of rain and what I like to call heavy mist. As a photographer what do we do to prepare ourselves for this? SOURCE: Kevin ; Nature Photography. http://www.naturephotography.info/photography-in-bad-weather-botanical-beach/

OUTLASTING THE NON-PROFITS -- Free Photos - Carl Skolai had another photo request for free use of my images today. How does one find that confluence of non-profit and profit, that junction of free and I can eat this week? So, I made up a little Action in Photoshop that solved the problem. http://skolaiimages.com/journal/2010/04/06/free-photos-bull-elk-photo/

GETTING PUBLISHED -- There’s no singular secret to getting published. It’s a combination of networking, quality, timing and patience. Being published is about recognition and the result of staying focused SOURCE: Skip Cohen. http://goingpro2010.com/?p=219
TAKEAWAY: The secret to getting published is 1.) Decide what YOU like to photograph. Learn all about the subject. (You probably already know all about it. 2.) Using Google/Yahoo/Bing make a list of all the publishers in that singular category: books, magazines, calendars, posters. 3.)With your deep selection of images, start selling your ware. They all will ask you, “Where have you been hiding all this time.?” Yes there is a singular secret to getting published. -RE

OBSTACLE FREE -- Your Photo Sales - If you’re struggling to find buyers for your pictures, it’s likely that you’re putting one of these common obstacles between the buyer and the sale. You’re shooting the Wrong Kind of Image. SOURCE: Laurie http://blogs.photopreneur.com/photo-sales-obstacles?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PhotopreneurBlog+%28Photopreneur+Blog%29

BE NICE -- Top 10 Ways to Make a Photo Editor fall in love with you – Grover Sanschagrin gathered information from a panel of photo editors in an attempt to find the quickest paths to their heart. http://blog.photoshelter.com/2010/05/top-10-ways-to-make-a-photo-editor-fall-in-love-wi.html

FIVE5 HIKING TIPS -- Photography and hiking have gone together for years and years. Whether you’re planning a day hike with friends or a 7-day solo trek, here are 5 tips to carry you through your journey. May your photos be second only to your adventures SOURCE: David Flores http://photography.bhinsights.com/content/5-hiking-tips-photographers.html


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05 May, 2010 | Posted by: psn



CHEEZE -- Three tips for making your subjects smile - It’s hard to get your subject to smile in a way that looks natural. While a highly exaggerated smile can be hilarious, it might not be quite the natural look that you were going for. SOURCE: Sherry Osbourne Beyond MegaPixels ; http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2010/04/three-tips-for-making-your-subjects-smile/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeyondMegapixels+%28Beyond+Megapixels%29

GET ORGANIZED -- Do you need an editorial calendar? - A calendar helps people avoid reinventing the editorial wheel. Once a plan is in place, the project becomes more about producing great content to fulfill the plan than wasting time or discontinuing the effort attempting to figure out what to do next. http://www.newmediaphotographer.com/2010/04/do-you-need-an-editorial-calendar/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NewMediaPhotographer+%28New+Media+Photographer%29



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21 Apr, 2010 | Posted by: psn



MORE THAN POTENTIAL -- An author from FreeStoneStock says, “How To Take Stock Photo Images With Good Sales Potentials. Taking stock photo images that sell is not difficult at all. In my opinion, it is actually a lot easier than when I took photos that were artistic and had very complex meanings and messages woven within them. Stock photos that sell have usual characteristics within them. If you try to follow these characteristics your photos will most likely sell much better. http://www.freestonesoft.com/?p=31732
TAKEAWAY: The author needs more experience in the stock photo field before giving this kind of advice. –RE

FROM HOBBY TO BUSINESS -- The statistics overwhelmingly show that people love their cameras. So why not take something you love anyway and turn it into a business? Maybe not a full time business, but something you can make money at here and there. Increasingly, that’s what the photography industry is facing. http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2010/04/15/moving-from-hobby-to-business-with-your-photography/


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14 Apr, 2010 | Posted by: psn



BUILD IT RIGHT -- Seven Tips for Building A Portfolio - Unfortunately, there’s no EASY button to press that will yield you the perfect portfolio. Building a portfolio requires brutal honesty and dedication to the truth. http://photofocus.com/2010/04/10/seven-tips-for-building-a-portfolio/

LEARNING -- Introducing creativeLIVE.com: Worldwide FREE Creative Education - Chase Jarvis and super-tech friend Craig Swanson bring you the world's first LIVE creative education internet channel.. All live feeds from some of the world's best creative instructors. Tune into creativeLIVE.com and check it out. Calendars, courses, archives, etc. http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2010/04/introducing-creativelivecom-worldwide.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChaseJarvis+%28Chase+Jarvis+Blog%29

PROMOTE IT -- How to Promote Your Stock Photography Business. Top 10 things you can do to promote your stock photography and vector portfolio.
SOURCE: John W Griffin http://sellingstock.cruisehigh.com/how-to-promote-your-stock-photography-business/

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07 Apr, 2010 | Posted by: psn




SOMETHING TO CHEW ON: Product photography. This post is about product photography, with a focus on the use of props. This time we leave the lighting stuff on a side a we talk a bit more about we approach a food shot. http://foodpixels.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/food-product-photography/

D-TOWN TV is a fresh approach to and photographic techniques to today's digital photographers with Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski as its hosts. No matter what the skill level or interest, each episode covers a wide variety of topics
http://kelbytv.com/dtowntv/

EASY WEB DESIGNS -- Webdesign: Stinge Sitebuilder - BeyondMegapixels has decided to work with Stinge Sitebuilder. Our main reason for choosing Stinge Sitebuilder was primarily due to its easy use. Over the next couple of months we will be showcasing sites developed using its technology, so you will see and hear more.
http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2010/04/webdesign-stinge-sitebuilder/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeyondMegapixels+%28Beyond+Megapixels%29

GET PUBLISHED -- Are You Trying to Get Published? Editing Counts - When it comes to selecting the best photos to show buyers and publishers, most photographers show far too many images. What’s worse, many of the images they end up selecting are not their best. http://goingpro2010.com/?p=60
TAKEAWAY: If you want to sell to books and magazines, you’re soon going to learn that the photo that the editors choose from the selection you sent for consideration is rarely the photo you thought would be chosen. Why? Editors choose their photos on how well the photo blends with the article’s storyline. S0 –don’t let other photographers, pro or con, judge you photos, and certainly not Flickr enthusiasts –unless they are the photo editor of the magazine or book you’re submitting to.

ONLINE NATURES PHOTOGRAPHY LESSONS -- Learn Nature Photography from the BBC - The "BBC Wildlife magazine" has posted PDFs of its photo master classes online. You can download them all for free. http://www.creativepro.com/article/learn-nature-photography-bbc



GET THE BASICS -- New Training for Emerging Pro Photographers - GoingPro, a totally new program providing educational opportunities and business advice for emerging professional photographers interested in all styles of photography including wedding, portrait, nature, commercial, stock, photojournalism, fine art and more. Monthly educational webinars and podcasts will be beginning next month, http://www.creativepro.com/article/new-training-emerging-pro-photographers


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31 Mar, 2010 | Posted by: psn



LEARN TO LIGHT -- Free Expert Lighting Technique Tutorials - The new ‘bite size’ videos reveal lighting techniques favoured by leading photographers Christian Hough and Christopher Reeve and will build into a comprehensive ‘lesson bank’ for photographers over coming months. http://shutterbug.com/news/032410bowens/#

5 WAYS – To Get Them To Say Yes - After you’ve spent an hour with a potential client showing them your work and talking straight from the heart, watching them walk out the door knowing they will never book can be very difficult. Being good at photography isn’t enough. You also have to be great at selling. http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2010/03/24/5-ways-to-get-them-to-say-yes/

BACKDOOR SIGHTS – Town photography tips - Photograph your home town - Towns are full of photographic opportunities. When are you going to take your camera to yours? http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Town-photography-tips-13273

ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS -- There are ten of them. Photos That Sell. Stock photos are used for countless different purposes these days, so it’s easy to imagine ‘anything can sell’, but realistically photos that sell are usually going to meet some fairly standard criteria. Obviously there will be exceptions, but more often than not, the best selling stock photos will usually share some of the following traits …
http://stockphotographymarketing.com/selling-stock-photography/photos-that-sell-10-essential-ingredients . SOURCE: MATT BRADING; Ozimages.com
TAKEAWAY: And what is #11? Symbol. If your stock photo includes a symbol that is representative of the subject matter, and a person interacting with the symbol, -you are in a position to enhance the marketability of your photo.

lights
LIGHT YOUR WAY -- What’s Lighting? … It’s a complicated mixture of knowledge, equipment, and magic. You shouldn’t attempt it unless you’re a trained professional with lots of money and a big studio of your own. In addition, you’ll need to memorize thousands of rules and lighting setups in order for your photos to look decent. SOURCE: By Brian Auer •
http://blog.epicedits.com/2010/03/25/20-resources-that-will-get-you-lit/


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23 Mar, 2010 | Posted by: psn



PEOPLE PICTURES – Rick Sammon: “We prefer pictures of people in which their pupils are open wide more so than when their pupils are closed down. That’s one reason why we like pictures of people taken in subdued lighting conditions, in the shade and on cloudy days - situations where the pupils are open wider than they usually are in bright light and sunny days.
http://rickrawrulessammon.blogspot.com/2010/03/fun-facts-about-people-pictures.html



PHOTO: RICK SAMMON

PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS -- Editorial photography speaks its mind. The difference between photojournalism and editorial photography is about bias and opinion. Editorial photographers look at the world around them and show their opinion of the world --in pictures. SOURCE: Caroline Thompson ; Editor: Rhonda Callow, BrightHub;
http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/photography/articles/66311.aspx#ixzz0iJ7MfEx3
TAKEAWAY: Yes, in photojournalism you “take” the picture; in editorial photography you “ make” the picture. In editorial photography, or “photo illustration” as some people call it, you have many advantages in explaining your message to the reader who can “read into” your picture, eventually becoming a collaborator with your picture because you allow them to.


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17 Mar, 2010 | Posted by: psn



COMPOSITION IN PHOTOGRAPHY – It’s what makes a photograph interesting. It's something in the picture that grabs a person's attention and draws their eye to the image. Composition in Photography: Photo Techniques
http://photography-techniques.suite101.com/article.cfm/composition-in-photography#ixzz0i1usiSYW

GET IT RIGHT -- Do you know why your pictures are good (or bad!) ? - The fact that some people can photograph for years and years and never quite get it and yet others can pick up a camera and shoot amazing stuff from the word go. SOURCE: Paul Dyamond http://pauldymond.blogspot.com/2010/03/do-you-know-why-your-pictures-are-good.html

COLOR MY COLOR -- Put Color Theory to Work in Your Photos – Color is a fascinating topic — one you could spend a lifetime studying. But being aware of just a few of the potential combinations of colors will enable you to choose themes to enhance and manipulate the mood of your photos. SOURCE: JEFF WIGNALL -- http://rising.blackstar.com/put-color-theory-to-work-in-your-photos.html


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10 Mar, 2010 | Posted by: psn



4 WORKING PROS -- The Business Of Editorial Photography; Telling A Story With Images - Today’s market for editorial work has changed considerably in the last few years. To explore both the changes and the marketing techniques that work we interviewed four editorial photographers. http://shutterbug.com/columns/business_trends/0210business/

Creativity Really Can Sell Pictures - When Toyota hired Rebekka Gudsleifdottir to shoot a series of billboard ads for the Prius in 2006, it was an idea they were after. Rebekka, though isn’t the only photographer whose creativity has helped to fill her order book. Here are five others http://blogs.photopreneur.com/creativity-really-can-sell-pictures?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PhotopreneurBlog+%28Photopreneur+Blog%29


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03 Mar, 2010 | Posted by: psn



WHICH STICKER PRICES? -- When it comes to which licensing model to use, there’s no one sticker price Professionals will continue to sell rights managed licenses through traditional stock agencies; enthusiasts will earn small amounts for royalty free microstock images; creative photo sharers will negotiate openly with buyers as they turn up; and niche photographers will create unique models that reflect their markets and the subjects of their images. SOURCE: Dean/PhotoPreneur
http://blogs.photopreneur.com/photographers-struggle-with-licensing-models?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PhotopreneurBlog+%28Photopreneur+Blog%29

MARKETING MICROSTOCK -- Promoting microstock photography is a present day business that a great many photographers have tried recently. Both amateurs not to mention specialist photographers are earning big money from this online business. But yet like all other business enterprise, the requirement within Microstock photography is that you genuinely need the knowledge to "advertise and sell" the Microstock images.
www.articledashboard.com/Article/Marketing-microstock-photography/1363110

COLOR RESOURCE -- New Site Gives Photographers Color Management Tips - XritePhoto.com. is designed for photographers as both a color resource center and online community, the all-new website offers anyone involved in digital photography a robust and interactive learning resource, as well as a fun place to learn, explore, and exchange ideas http://www.creativepro.com/article/new-site-gives-photographers-color-management-tips


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24 Feb, 2010 | Posted by: psn




GET SEEN -- Five ways to make sure your photography stands out. Scott Bourne: “Everyone – and I mean everyone has a camera. So what can you do to stand out from the crowd? If you’ve followed my advice to develop a style and fill a niche, you should have a pretty good idea who your audience is." Here are five tips.
SOURCE: Scott Bourne ; FotoFocus. http://photofocus.com/2010/02/19/five-ways-to-make-sure-your-photography-stands-out/
PHOTO: SCOTT BOURNE
TAKEAWAY: THE NATURE PRO Scott Bourne reminds us that making yourself a nature photographer doesn’t mean photographing ALL nature. (“The master of none.”) But selecting a niche that is meaningful to you in nature, learniung all about that niche –and gong for it!


LEARN THE BASICS -- More photography knowledge? try these free MIT courses - Have you been yearning to step up your photography knowledge but haven’t been able to afford the required college classes? The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) allows for a large portion of the materials from previous courses to be accessed online by anyone interested in learning. Currently, there are over 1800 courses available, some of which are centered around photography. http://www.yourphototips.com/2010/02/16/want-more-photography-knowledge-try-these-free-mit-courses/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+YourPhotoTips+%28Your+Photo+Tips%29


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17 Feb, 2010 | Posted by: psn



NO FIREWORKS, PLEASE -- What’s Wrong With A Flash Website For A Photographer’s Business? - You don’t need the bells and whistles. You don’t need complicated galleries and Flash popping here and there. With your web presence, you need two things. 1. Simplicity 2. Content. http://virtualphotographystudio.com/photographyblog/2010/02/11/whats-wrong-with-a-flash-website-for-a-photographers-business/

KISS -- Composition Tips – Simplicity - A photograph that is composed with simplicity in mind will often draw the viewer’s attention and emotion in a more significant way than a shot that is too “busy”, has a cluttered background, or has “too much going on”. http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2010/02/composition-tips-%e2%80%93-simplicity/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeyondMegapixels+%28Beyond+Megapixels%29


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03 Feb, 2010 | Posted by: psn



YUM! – Ten 10 Tips for Taking Great Food Photos. Go to a big food website and the food glistens, the light is perfect and everything is in its place. But you`re traveling and you have a pocket or DSLR camera and you have a great spread before you. Conditions are tricky and time is limited. What do you do? SOURCE: Daniel Noll
www.uncorneredmarket.com/2010/01/10-tips-for-taking-great-food-photos/

side dish


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20 Jan, 2010 | Posted by: psn



NOT COMPLICATED -- The 6 Elements of a Successful Photo Website - The secret to a wildly successful photo website isn't complicated at all. It's actually SIMPLE.
http://blog.photoshelter.com/2010/01/the-6-elements-of-a-successful-photo-website.html


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13 Jan, 2010 | Posted by: psn



GETTING RECOGNIZED From the Photo Attorney: When people see your trademark, they will know where the product came from or who is providing the service. Rights to use a trademark come from using the mark in commerce with the product or service. You may use the TM symbol immediately with your trademark, but you may only use the ® symbol after federally registering the trademark. SOURCE: Carolyn E. Wright, Esq. http://www.naturescapes.net/docs/index.php/category-business/33-business/369-carolyn-e-wright-esq
TAKEAWAY: Trademarks are helpful but an inexpensive Domain Name or using the TM symbol usually serves the same purpose in our corner of commerce. But, to be super sure in case you become another Bill Gates - go for it. The cost will surprise you.

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06 Jan, 2010 | Posted by: psn



SPARKLE -- Zap Some Neon Life Into Your Old Photographs. The Kirlian Photography Device uses high voltage discharges to capture beautiful, luminescent images directly from ordinary film. It is not a machine I'd recommend using in the darkroom. http://gizmodo.com/5438853/zap-some-neon-life-into-your-old-photographs?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gizmodo%2Ffull+%28Gizmodo%29

FINDING CUSTOMERS -- Put Your Images in Hotels with Farmboy Fine Arts. Stock companies serve newspapers and magazines, ad companies and Web sites. But they aren’t the only people who need images. The hospitality industry uses photography to decorate its walls, and interior designers can sometimes use photography, too. http://rising.blackstar.com/put-your-images-in-hotels-with-farmboy-fine-arts.html


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22 Dec, 2009 | Posted by: psn



BRRRRR -- Tips on basic digital camera and DSLR cold weather photography . Now that the cold weather has settled upon us, there are a few things you should remember when venturing outdoors with your camera this winter. They may mean the difference between elation and frustration. http://www.examiner.com/x-32308-Portland-Photography-Examiner~y2009m12d16-Tips-on-basic-digital-camera-and-DSLR-cold-weather-photography



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16 Dec, 2009 | Posted by: psn




CLEAN -- Tips for Keeping Your Camera Clean - Even if you don't live in the desert it's hard to keep your camera clean.
http://www.beyondmegapixels.com/2009/12/tips-for-keeping-your-camera-clean/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeyondMegapixels+%28Beyond+Megapixels%29

PASSWORD PLEASE -- Protect your passwords, notes and serial numbers - Although not 100% photography related, this applies to pretty much all computer users. How do you store your important information? Where do you keep your passwords? What about serial numbers? For Mac users the best solution is only a click and $40 away, 1Password http://scottwyden.com/protect-your-passwords-notes-and-serial-numbers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+scottwyden+%28Scott+Wyden+Imagery%29

KNOCK-KNOCK -- Ask the Photo Business Coach: To Cold Call or Not to Cold Call? - Beate Chelette answers the following question and if so, how should I go about it? Video Blog Posts http://rising.blackstar.com/ask-the-photo-business-coach-to-cold-call-or-not-to-cold-call.html
TAKEAWAY: This is good if you are a service photographer. But service photographers rarely read this blog. I like to always say, “The commercial photography workshop is over in Room 17..” It’s a way of orienting photographers that your editorial stock photography marketing approach is 180 degrees the opposite than the commercial service photographer’s. Don’t mix the two. Photo editors stand over a wastebasket when they read their incoming mail. They also use sophisticated screening methods for incoming phone calls and knock-knock visits.
Your visitors (online) should be coming to you, not the reverse. Why? Because your use of keywords on your website or blog have matched exactly what they are seeking through their search methods.


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09 Dec, 2009 | Posted by: psn




BASICS – “Preparing Images for Delivery” (A technical paper ) – When you have a few moments, sit down and consider what happens after you take your shot - the period between the captured moment and the delivery of your image to the one willing to put money down for it. Great insight shared along with Photoshop screen shots for image resizing, sharpening, file formats, and a delivery checklist to help keep everything straight . SOURCE: Jeff Schewe. Adobe Systems Incorporated. 345 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110;. http://tinyurl.com/deliveryprep

NEW START? New Year's Resolutions - Project Time - With 2010 just around the bend, it's
time to start thinking about a New Year's Resolution. What a perfect time to start a photography project! http://photofocus.com/2009/12/04/new-years-resolutions-project-time/


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02 Dec, 2009 | Posted by: psn



NATURE TRIPS -- "iFotoGuide: Arches" is the first in a series of digital guides for the iPhone providing nature photographers with a comprehensive resource for planning every
aspect of a photography trip. http://bit.ly/8r2uMs

PHOTOS OF SMALL KIDS. – Whether you join them at #251 or #453, you can count on the bloggers at 5 Photo Tips that we always need to go back to basics. Relearning them in Bite-size Morsels you’ll be able to digest them without that Thanksgiving dinner bloat!.
TAKEAWAY: There’s some bright new tips in here. It’s never too late to teach a new dog old tricks. http://5phototips.com/

LEARN FROM A PRO. – Greg Smith, Pulitzer prize-winning photographer, lays down the law, when it comes to starting out in the business of editorial photography. He pulls no punches, and throws in some great tips for bringing your work to the next level. SOURCE: PhotoShelter; Greg Smith http://tinyurl.com/thebusinessofphotos

DEELISHEEEEIIIIOUS ! -- Tips for Photographing Food - Miha Matei's photography makes you hungry, which is exactly what you want in a food photographer!
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=15748&pq-locale=en_US&_requestid=3838




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25 Nov, 2009 | Posted by: psn



AHEAD OF THE GAME – Financial Planning, Part 1 - Four financial-planning
tools that are part of any business plan. Look at one of these with David
Weintraub - the Break-Even Analysis. SOURCE: BlackStar Rising.
http://rising.blackstar.com/eye-on-image-making-financial-planning-part-1.html

GET THEE A BLOG – Experienced Blogger has Advice for Photographers -- Aaron Hockley, a photographer and geek living in Vancouver, WA, USA has compiled in a video the lessons he learned over several years of blogging and covers how he launched Social Photo Talk. If you’re interested in starting a blog from scratch and wondering about what might be involved (or wondering about details you may have overlooked), his video will get you started.
http://tinyurl.com/launchaphotoblog

DELAYED PAYMENTS -- With the number of media outlets financing and publishing international photojournalism on the decline, many documentary photographers are looking to NGOs, or non-governmental organizations, as an alternative route to shooting in faraway lands and creating work that has a positive impact. SOURCE: John Harrington in Business of Photography. http://bit.ly/7Fi28I
TAKEAWAY: Many editorial stock photographers have learned to work the right deal with NGO’s. The subject matter is usually of social significance. Although the payment is low, photographers consider it just a down payment. The real money comes in subsequent sales of the photos to social organizations, film companies, TV networks, and eventually museums. The secret is to make a “limited rights” agreement beforehand.


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18 Nov, 2009 | Posted by: psn



GRANTS GUSTO -- New Getty Images Grants Schedule: How to Apply
Getty Images will award all five of its $20,000 Grants for Editorial Photography at once next year, instead of breaking the announcements up over two rounds. This means there's now one deadline: Circle May 1 on your 2010 calendars. http://bit.ly/14qvZv

GOOD GUIDE -- Report On Social Networking Sites. A report to address the responsible use of social media by members of the photographic community. The report presents hypothetical situations photographers may face when images are posted on social networking sites. http://tinyurl.com/asmpreport
TAKE AWAY: The report is available at no charge on the ASMP website www.asmp.org





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11 Nov, 2009 | Posted by: psn



SHORT LESSON – a couple of lessons by iPhone Applications.
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/11/video-iphone-apps-for-shutterbugs/


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04 Nov, 2009 | Posted by: psn




JUST FOR STARTERS -- The most important things to know about photography. Whether making photography a career or a hobby there are some thing you should know, be forewarned that photography could turn into a lifelong obsession. SOURCE: Arlington Photography Examiner Nicole Bartlett. http://bit.ly/1zPblb

WATERMARKING YOUR IMAGES – Nicole Young: “Whether or not you watermark your images is up to you, and I personally don't think that there is a right or wrong way of doing it. Ultimately it's a personal choice. SOURCE: Scott PHOTO FOCUS; Scott Bourne; Photo: Nicole S. Young.
http://photofocus.com/2009/10/30/watermarking-your-images/
TAKEAWAY: There’s no fun in defacing your images. Let’s not forget, they are works of art. –RE


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