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This section contains a variety of articles on the business of publication photography that cover topics ranging from legal and marketing matters to the intricacies of doing business in the digital environment. Periodically, we will be adding new articles, so please visit again.
Bill Miller’s Strategy for Working with Nonprofit Organizations
Oregon photographer Bill Miller provides insight into the strategy he developed to make his nonprofit work a financially viable enterprise for his business needs — and a win-win situation for all.
Employee or independent contractor?
When are the people who work for you contractors, and when are they employees? The way you handle payroll, taxes and insurance depends on the difference. Here's a short checklist to help you stay out of legal hot water.
Opportunities and hazards in reprints
Reprints can be a nice supplement to your revenue stream, provided you price them wisely and have a strategy for policing their use. We asked members about their experiences.
ASMP members' strategies for diversification
Several months ago we queried the general membership of ASMP about strategies they have used to successfully diversify their businesses. The responses ranged from success stories about the expansion of members' client bases to the diversification of income streams and other methods used to add unique, value-added services.
Surfing for Great Locations
From discovering specific locations through online databases of images to finding the perfect scout on the ground, the Internet offers photographers a wealth of avenues for improving location scouting efficiency. Here are some Web sites with good resources to help you on your way.
Custom Profiles for RGB Printers
By John Blaustein
If you've struggled to get desktop prints that match the color you see on your monitor, you may be interested in this product review of ColorVision's PrintFIX Pro software.
Black & White Inkjet Printing Comes of Age
In a print article on pages 14-15 of the Year End 2005 issue of the ASMP Bulletin, fine artist and master of inkjet printing John Paul Caponigro, explains why black-and-white inkjet printing has finally come of age. Read the article.
From Pixels to the Printed Page
Eight photographers discuss the pros and cons of digital photography in their businesses: How they use it, what they like and hate, what the clients think, how to bill for post-production time, where the technology is going and where it needs to go. Read the article.
CMYK: Is it the devil's color space?
To provide a forum for further discussion about the issue of RGB-CMYK conversion an e-mail was sent to ASMP General members aking them to voice their opinions and experiences. Read their responses.
Photo Annual Awards
By Bill Kouwenhoven
There are dozens of competitions and juried awards that acknowledge the best of creative endeavor across the entrie spectrum of photography: from commercial assignment, photojournalism and documentary work to self-promotional and personal projects. View the list of resources with contact information and Weblinks.
Marketing Strategies
By Ethan G. Salwen
Gary Kessler collaborated with two other presenters on a seminar about how to increase your Website traffic. You will find the roadmap here.
Getting What You Need: Part 2
A Roundtable Discussion on the Sea Change in Stock with Roger Ressmeyer, Patrick Donehue and Betsy Reid. This version posted on the ASMP web site is the complete discussion that took place. A shorter version excerpted from this discussion is published in the print issue of the Year End 2004 ASMP Bulletin. Read the complete discussion.
Going Portal
By Ethan G. Salwen
In just the past couple of years, stock photography portals have come into existence, multiplied and diversified. And they continue to grow and evolve rapidly. Theses portals now offer photographers an impressive range of resources. Indeed, the most promising feature of portals is the flexibility they offer all kinds of photographers. Read additional information on Going Portal.
Communicate a Better Value to Your Clients
By Ira Gostin
Manage and market your photography business with help through a series of business articles by Ira Gostin. Ira's articles are informative, and are researched by a fellow photographer. Topics range from mundane (yet necessary) concerns such as buying business insurance, to ways of keeping your existing customers happy, to promotional ideas that you can turn into noticeably increased sales. Read the articles.
Marketing Trends - Survive and Thrive
By Angela Wolff
It takes more than great photos to be a successful photographer. Not only do you have to create the image, you also have to market your talent, network and negotiate pricing and contracts. Additionally, as digital moves from the wave of the future to standard operating procedure, a whole new set of marketing opportunities and challenges loom on the horizon. ASMP is offering seminars to help photographers not only survive in this tough market, but to thrive. Susan Carr, co-owner of Carr Cialdella Photography in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and head of the ASMP Education Committee, answers a few questions about this new education program.Read the article and seminar testimonials.
Words of Wisdom From Women Photographers
By Angela Wolff
This additional information is a result of numerous interviews that were done with women photographers for the "Women Photographers Have Their Say" article that appeared in the Fall 2004 issue of the ASMP Bulletin. Read the additional content.
Taking Stock
By Angela Wolff
Back in the 80s and 90s, "stock" was the name of the game. The economy was good, the market was hungry, and agencies hustled to get their photographers the biggest clients at the best rates. But then came agency consolidation. Read the article.
Assistance Wanted
By Angela Wolff
The job of photographic assistant varies depending on the market, the type of assignment, the assistant's skill level and tenure on the job. Read advice and tips from photographers and assistants.
Going Digital
By Angela Wolff
It's the question every photographer asks when making the switch from film to digital; Which camera is right for me? It should be no surprise that the answers are as varied as their subjects and work styles. Read the article.
Net Casting
By Jill Waterman
Just as photographers now market their services directly via the Web, similar opportunities exist for subjects in front of the camera. New technology and expanding venues allow actors and models engaged as photographic talent to take a more direct role in seeking work. Read the article.
The Tipping Point
By Dave Harp
My name is Dave and I’ve been digital for twelve months. With the exception of one magazine art director who insisted on film, I’ve been lab free for a year. No E-6 processing, no C-41 contact sheets or prints. I’m digital and plan to stay that way. Read the article.
The Next Step
By Mikkel Aaland
During the last few months I’ve had the privilege to interview a number of photographers who’ve transitioned into one or more aspects of digital photography. In the midst of mostly technical and creative discussions a purely practical topic always emerged: how to make a living in these tough times and how to make digital photography pay. I know a lot of smart, business-savvy people are tackling the issues of how much to charge for new skills and services. I have no doubt that useful guidelines will be established soon. Read the article.
Why shoot digital?
By Peter Krogh
The reason that digital photography has taken off recently is not because it is cheaper to produce. Rather, digital photography is being adopted by the marketplace because it provides significant value to the buyer. Read the article.
Strategy and Design
Developing the photographer's Web site
By Don Luce
As the World Wide Web continues to mature, it has become obvious that the Internet is a far better medium for some purposes than it is for others.Where photographers are concerned, the advantages of broad, affordable promotional exposure and extensive search access are proving extremely beneficial for many who have seized upon the Web's potential. Nashville photographer Bob Schatz is a good example. Read the article.
Fortune Telling and Vision
Of Peaks and Valleys in the Economic Landscape
By Richard Weisgrau
Business people often employ vision by forecasting future scenarios for their businesses. It is similar to dreaming about a photo essay or illustration and executing it, or rejecting it after the exercise. Forecasting is like fortune telling. It is a best guess based upon vision. Vision and fortune telling are related. vision and fortune intrinsically entwined. Today, it is time for each of you to exercise some vision by forecasting future scenarios to improve your fortune. Some thoughts and direction on this theme follow. Read the article.
The Myth of Postal Insurance
It Does Not Pay Full Market Value
By Mark H. Barinholtz
Imagine living in Homestead, Florida during the recent devastation of hurricane Andrew, but your homeowner's insurance policy didn't cover damage due to wind and water. Now imagine that you've shipped ten valuable original transparencies via the United States Mail having paid a premium to the post office for $15,000 worth of postal insurance coverage. Then, the shipment is lost at the fault of the postal service. Guess what the postal service will pay? Read the article.
Great Business Tips
And They're Straight from the Client
By Ira Gostin
The following tips were compiled from a survey of several dozen art directors and photo editors over the course of several years. Read the article.
Gray Market Film
It is Not Illegal, But Buyer Beware
By Peter Skinner
Gray market products may be the bane of many manufacturers' lives but they are integrated into today's business world and are a fact of daily commerce. Read the article.
Attitude Counts
Guidelines for Assistants
By Pamela Kruzic
The following is a compilation of responses that the author received after posting an inquiry on the ASMP members-only forum at [www.asmp.org] combined with her own experience as an assistant. Read the article.