November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 28

When you need to find a photographer, do you prefer to look at portfolios or websites? “It is incredibly important for a working photographer today to have a well designed,…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 27

Is there a self promotion or type of self promotion from a photographer that really jumped out at you? “Yes, I once received a metal first aid kit like you…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 26

Don’t call to early and don’t call to late. You don’t want to catch them before they have their coat off nor when they are putting it back on at…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 25

A self promotional piece landing on a photo buyer’s desk today will have an impression of some sort, especially if it is only one of a few that arrived today….

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 23

Social Marketing: There is no doubt about the importance of social marketing.  I could certainly write a whole chapter on social marketing and find it obsolete by the time I…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 24

Strategy Now if you feel your head is swimming at this point as what to do and where to start, here are my suggestions; 1) Research. Decide what you like…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 22

Business sucks so what are you going to do about it? I think it is fair to say the business sucks in professional photography these days. I know a lot…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 23

A few tips on art fairs and what you sell: 1) In the beginning , create a wide selection of subjects and test the waters for a few shows to find…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 21

Nature and Outdoor Photographers: Why you are better off being a local hero than an international nobody. The world of photography has changed immensely and if you have been a photographer for…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 22

There are many options here as far as printing companies that you can work with. Keep in mind some of these books are very expensive and are really targeted for…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 20

WHEN ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER Many, if not most photographers are stock photographers, photographing their favorite subjects and then finding markets for those images. Some are stock and assignment…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 20

Blogging Besides a website, you may want to seriously consider blogging. Many photographers are finding the power that blogging can bring to their brand. Blogging started in many ways as…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 21

PHOTO BOOKS Most photographers in the nature and outdoor business dream of publishing a book of their work. When they do it validates their work and they are a qualified…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 19

Props, Models, and Location Scouting Adventure and recreation assignments are common for outdoor photographers. In many cases these assignments require specific locations where the client wants to shoot and whether…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 19

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETING There are probably more clients for your work in the national and international arena than around your home base. In today’s market, you must find ways…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 18

Invoicing The last step in negotiating your transaction will be the invoice. It is imperative that you state the terms of the sale in your invoice or you could be…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 18

Estimating The Photography Assignment A stock photo client has just called you about an assignment. They like your photography, working with you, and now want you to shoot a project….

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 18

One of the best approaches is to let the client set the tone and pace of the meeting. Let them ask the questions and you provide the answers rather than…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 17

THIS IS THE BACKSIDE OF MY ESTIMATE FORM

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 17

Portfolios This might be the most important tool you will use to earn business. Today there is a general feeling that a portfolio is not really needed because clients can…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 16

Networking One of the most important aspects of marketing is networking. Using contacts and clients you work with as a tool to earn more business is one of the most…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 15

Selling Yourself When it comes to marketing your photography business, you need to break down what you are selling and to whom. While many things we sell as photographers are…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 14

I hate cold calling and here is what I do about it: Yes, photographers have to market and sell to stay relevant in this business. There is no way around…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 15

Some additional pricing strategies Many photographers charge digital capture fees. This is based on each image that they capture and I have seen a range averaging between one dollar and…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 14

I constantly discuss with my clients what I think will work and will not work based on what they told me they want. For example, I’m in a manufacturing plant…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 13

You can’t just wait for the phone to ring! Any photography business will not be successful these days if your marketing effort consists of sitting by the phone and waiting…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 13

The following charts provide the base price guidelines and are simple to calculate the base price. From there you consider all other factors.  What you will not see in these…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 12

E-mail marketing The real advantage to e-mail marketing is of course the cost. It’s very cheap and cost effective. These days you can track and observe how many were opened…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 13

Nike was a huge client of mine in the 90’s and I shot about 1.2 million shoes for them (really rough guess), actually I just shot a lot of shoes…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 12

Non-Profits You may at some point find yourself negotiating with a non-profit or asked to provide an image pro-bono. Letting images be used by non-profits and whether or not to…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 11

The client came back with a request for more uses as a tourism related advertisement, running nationally in 4 travel magazines with a combined print run of 2.5 million. The…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 12

So what types of clients can you charge usage for? I would say any client willing to agree to pay it. Now the hard part is determining who will pay…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 10

Self-promotion Throughout my career, I have utilized a variety of different approaches to marketing my photography business. I have done source books, including the Black Book for 3 years, Direct…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 11

I was contacted by a former student of mine whom I will call ‘Bob.’ Bob took a commercial photography course from me last year. He is I believe in high…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 10

Other photographers who are working in the high end of advertising photography are not only successful in getting top pay rates, but they also get usage fees, and the client…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 10

If you flew to Africa, hired a safari guide to take you into the outback, you have greater production value than going to the zoo or game park. Be sure…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 09

Keeping clients tuned into what you are doing and on a regular basis helps eliminate that ‘out of sight, out of mind’ problem that will plague every photographer if they…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 09

One photographer friend of mine has a great strategy for dealing with situations like this. The client provides him a list of how many shots are needed and he looks…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 09

How Unique is the Image? Good selling images often are unique in some way, some more and some less. The usage of a one-of-a-kind image is certainly more valuable than…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 08

Finding The Clients You have no business without clients! And how you find them, market to them, and work with them is crucial to the success of your business. You…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 08

Whatever price you establish should be based on your image qualities, the market for that usage, and then input from the client about their budget. Hopefully there is an acceptable…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 08

More on Calculating your fee This is without a doubt the toughest part of your job in trying to earn business. Some photographers charge very little like one half or…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 07

Pros and Cons The good side of either type of relationship is that you get business and hopefully plenty of it. You want to be the first photographer they call….

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 06

How is the image going be used? How the image is going to be used is the first important consideration. Will it be used in an advertisement, an editorial spread,…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 28

When you need to find a photographer, do you prefer to look at portfolios or websites? “It is incredibly important for a working photographer today to have a well designed,…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 27

Is there a self promotion or type of self promotion from a photographer that really jumped out at you? “Yes, I once received a metal first aid kit like you…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 26

Don’t call to early and don’t call to late. You don’t want to catch them before they have their coat off nor when they are putting it back on at…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 25

A self promotional piece landing on a photo buyer’s desk today will have an impression of some sort, especially if it is only one of a few that arrived today….

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 23

Social Marketing: There is no doubt about the importance of social marketing.  I could certainly write a whole chapter on social marketing and find it obsolete by the time I…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 24

Strategy Now if you feel your head is swimming at this point as what to do and where to start, here are my suggestions; 1) Research. Decide what you like…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 22

Business sucks so what are you going to do about it? I think it is fair to say the business sucks in professional photography these days. I know a lot…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 23

A few tips on art fairs and what you sell: 1) In the beginning , create a wide selection of subjects and test the waters for a few shows to find…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 21

Nature and Outdoor Photographers: Why you are better off being a local hero than an international nobody. The world of photography has changed immensely and if you have been a photographer for…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 22

There are many options here as far as printing companies that you can work with. Keep in mind some of these books are very expensive and are really targeted for…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 20

WHEN ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER Many, if not most photographers are stock photographers, photographing their favorite subjects and then finding markets for those images. Some are stock and assignment…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 20

Blogging Besides a website, you may want to seriously consider blogging. Many photographers are finding the power that blogging can bring to their brand. Blogging started in many ways as…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 21

PHOTO BOOKS Most photographers in the nature and outdoor business dream of publishing a book of their work. When they do it validates their work and they are a qualified…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 19

Props, Models, and Location Scouting Adventure and recreation assignments are common for outdoor photographers. In many cases these assignments require specific locations where the client wants to shoot and whether…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 19

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETING There are probably more clients for your work in the national and international arena than around your home base. In today’s market, you must find ways…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 18

Invoicing The last step in negotiating your transaction will be the invoice. It is imperative that you state the terms of the sale in your invoice or you could be…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 18

Estimating The Photography Assignment A stock photo client has just called you about an assignment. They like your photography, working with you, and now want you to shoot a project….

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 18

One of the best approaches is to let the client set the tone and pace of the meeting. Let them ask the questions and you provide the answers rather than…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 17

THIS IS THE BACKSIDE OF MY ESTIMATE FORM

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 17

Portfolios This might be the most important tool you will use to earn business. Today there is a general feeling that a portfolio is not really needed because clients can…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 16

Networking One of the most important aspects of marketing is networking. Using contacts and clients you work with as a tool to earn more business is one of the most…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 15

Selling Yourself When it comes to marketing your photography business, you need to break down what you are selling and to whom. While many things we sell as photographers are…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 14

I hate cold calling and here is what I do about it: Yes, photographers have to market and sell to stay relevant in this business. There is no way around…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 15

Some additional pricing strategies Many photographers charge digital capture fees. This is based on each image that they capture and I have seen a range averaging between one dollar and…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 14

I constantly discuss with my clients what I think will work and will not work based on what they told me they want. For example, I’m in a manufacturing plant…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 13

You can’t just wait for the phone to ring! Any photography business will not be successful these days if your marketing effort consists of sitting by the phone and waiting…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 13

The following charts provide the base price guidelines and are simple to calculate the base price. From there you consider all other factors.  What you will not see in these…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 12

E-mail marketing The real advantage to e-mail marketing is of course the cost. It’s very cheap and cost effective. These days you can track and observe how many were opened…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 13

Nike was a huge client of mine in the 90’s and I shot about 1.2 million shoes for them (really rough guess), actually I just shot a lot of shoes…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 12

Non-Profits You may at some point find yourself negotiating with a non-profit or asked to provide an image pro-bono. Letting images be used by non-profits and whether or not to…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 11

The client came back with a request for more uses as a tourism related advertisement, running nationally in 4 travel magazines with a combined print run of 2.5 million. The…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 12

So what types of clients can you charge usage for? I would say any client willing to agree to pay it. Now the hard part is determining who will pay…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 10

Self-promotion Throughout my career, I have utilized a variety of different approaches to marketing my photography business. I have done source books, including the Black Book for 3 years, Direct…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 11

I was contacted by a former student of mine whom I will call ‘Bob.’ Bob took a commercial photography course from me last year. He is I believe in high…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 10

Other photographers who are working in the high end of advertising photography are not only successful in getting top pay rates, but they also get usage fees, and the client…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 10

If you flew to Africa, hired a safari guide to take you into the outback, you have greater production value than going to the zoo or game park. Be sure…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 09

Keeping clients tuned into what you are doing and on a regular basis helps eliminate that ‘out of sight, out of mind’ problem that will plague every photographer if they…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 09

One photographer friend of mine has a great strategy for dealing with situations like this. The client provides him a list of how many shots are needed and he looks…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 09

How Unique is the Image? Good selling images often are unique in some way, some more and some less. The usage of a one-of-a-kind image is certainly more valuable than…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 08

Finding The Clients You have no business without clients! And how you find them, market to them, and work with them is crucial to the success of your business. You…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 08

Whatever price you establish should be based on your image qualities, the market for that usage, and then input from the client about their budget. Hopefully there is an acceptable…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 36: Page 08

More on Calculating your fee This is without a doubt the toughest part of your job in trying to earn business. Some photographers charge very little like one half or…

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 35: Page 07

Pros and Cons The good side of either type of relationship is that you get business and hopefully plenty of it. You want to be the first photographer they call….

Read More
November 20, 2011

Lesson 34: Page 06

How is the image going be used? How the image is going to be used is the first important consideration. Will it be used in an advertisement, an editorial spread,…

Read More