Author Archive

Building a Good Mailing List – DIY is the Best Way

Posted: April 23rd, 2012

[by Gail Mooney] I’ve been building mailing lists since the very start of my career, over 30 years ago. I’ve bought lists, subscribed to lists and built my own over the years. How I target potential clients has changed as technology has enabled other means of accessing information as well as how you reach people, [...]

The 80/20 Rule

Posted: April 18th, 2012

[by Gail Mooney] To be most effective with social media, use the 80/20 rule. 80 percent of your posts should be sharing knowledge with your “friends” and 20 percent should be about you. If you can do both in one fell swoop then great – but people quickly tire of self promotion that brings no [...]

Tell Them What You Can Do For Them

Posted: April 16th, 2012

[by Gail Mooney] It might seem obvious, but when selling your services and/or yourself to a potential client, talk about what your imagery can do for them and how it can help in delivering their company’s message. It’s fine to talk about your photographic skills and attributes, but don’t fall short by not connecting the [...]

Frame Grabs – Don’t Leave Money on the Table

Posted: March 16th, 2012

[by Gail Mooney] When shooting video footage for a client, make sure you include in your SOW (statement of work) that no image licensing rights are granted for frame grabs pulled out of the footage. Otherwise, you’ll leave money on the table and eliminate the need for your client to hire you to shoot still [...]

Collaboration is Key in Video

Posted: January 25th, 2012

[by Gail Mooney] “Collaborate”. That is my mantra and the one piece of advice I give to any still photographer who is thinking of getting into video. Many photographers are overwhelmed at the prospect of having to learn new skills, like how to capture good audio and how to edit. I tell them, even if [...]

Why Blog?

Posted: December 5th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] I started writing because I couldn’t sleep. I would wake up, tossing and turning over something negative or positive, keeping myself awake playing out the different scenarios in my head. So, I would get out of bed and write about what was on my mind. When I first thought that maybe some [...]

No Validation Necessary

Posted: October 31st, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] I recently had the honor of having one of my still images on display in the Senate Rotunda in Washington DC. It was one of eleven photographs in the Copyright Alliance exhibit, “Recording Our History: Faces Behind the Camera“. It was this portrait of blues drummer Sam Carr that I shot in [...]

Video is no Longer a Market Genre

Posted: October 19th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] When I started giving seminars about video for ASMP a few years back, video was a separate genre of “photography.” In fact, most didn’t even consider it a genre of photography at all, but rather a totally different skill set and craft. Fast forward three years and video has infiltrated just about [...]

Tips From a Road Warrior

Posted: September 21st, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] I’ve been a traveler since I was 19 years old. Not only have I spent a big part of my career shooting desirable destinations all over the world for magazines like National Geographic and Travel & Leisure, I’m also on the road a lot shooting for corporations, institutions and non-profits and speaking [...]

The Monster Under My Bed

Posted: August 12th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] When I was a very young child and I couldn’t get to sleep at night (yes even then I found it hard to sleep) I used to play a game. I’d pretend that there was a monster who lived under my bed and I would tease him by sticking my foot out [...]

Post-Production for Video

Posted: July 27th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] The post-production process for video is far different than it is for still photography. Most people think of post-production in video as “editing” and that’s certainly true to some extent, but the word “editing” in video production is far different than what that word means for still photography. Editing is not just [...]

This Couldn’t Have Been Possible Without Social Media

Posted: June 20th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] I hear it all the time from people who question the value of social media: “Have you ever made any money by being on Facebook or Twitter?” They are generally people who don’t quite understand the value of social media because they either expect an instant pay off or they are not [...]

Pricing Video

Posted: May 12th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] I get asked this question all the time “How do I price video”. First of all I need to state that I do not position myself as a DP or Camera Operator. I want to take the lead on a project and handle the entire video production. So when I talk about [...]

Estimating Video

Posted: May 9th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] First let me say that I position myself as a producer and that I estimate on the entire video production. I do not hire myself out as a Director or Director of Photography or as a Camera Operator. Many times I may also direct and shoot a project but when a client [...]

The Collective “A-ha”

Posted: April 11th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] I’m just back from Chicago where I was a presenter at SB3. It was the last venue stop for this event in a series of conferences. I wish there were more coming up because each and every one of those conferences in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Chicago charged me up in every [...]

DSLR Video Quick Tip

Posted: February 28th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] When shooting video in the field with a DSLR camera here’s a tip that will help manage your footage. Create a disk image (DMG file) of your card and back it up to several places. It will keep all files in the DCIM folders which is essential when using the Final Cut [...]

Quick Tip – Edit With a Story in Mind

Posted: February 17th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] If there is one big bit of advice I would give people in regards to video editing, it would be to always keep the “story” in mind. Make sure every cut you make drives the story. Every clip that stays and goes is to further the story line. Think of the highs [...]

Thinking of Blogging?

Posted: February 4th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] I’m looking out at the harbor and the mountains in Santa Barbara, California. It’s still pitch black even though it’s 6 AM and I can see millions of stars in the clear dark sky. My body is still on East Coast time, so I’m up early and there are a thousand memories [...]

Biggest Mistakes Made Shooting Video with DLSR’s

Posted: January 19th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] I’ve been working quite a bit lately with both the Canon 5D Mark II and the Canon 7D, shooting video. I’ve been shooting video with traditional video cameras for the last 11 years so I wasn’t in the dark as to how to shoot motion. But I’m not ashamed to say that [...]

Using PR and Personal Projects in Your Marketing

Posted: January 13th, 2011

[by Gail Mooney] These days you can add to your marketing efforts without breaking the bank by taking advantage of social media and electronic delivery to do a little PR for your photography business. Think about jobs you recently shot, that you are pleased with or personal projects that you are doing and talk about [...]

The Power of the Collective

Posted: December 21st, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] I’ve had an incredible year. Economically speaking, it’s been sub par and dismal, but I’m grateful that I’m still afloat and hopeful that things will improve. I don’t think my business will ever go back to the way it was pre-recession, but it has changed for the better in many other ways. [...]

Work and Pleasure are One in the Same

Posted: October 19th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] Seth Godin recently wrote in his blog about professionals and amateurs: “If you want something done, perhaps you would ask a professional to do it. Someone who costs a lot but is worth more than they charge. Someone who shows up even when she doesn’t feel like it. Someone who stands behind [...]

Excess Baggage and Flying

Posted: October 14th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] Baggage charges have really mounted in recent years and media rates have disappeared. On top of the normal bag charge and the limit of two checked bags per flight, charges for anything beyond two pieces is even more costly, running between $70 and $90 per bag – per flight. That means that [...]

Quick Tip for Better Video

Posted: July 21st, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] Audio is everything with video. When shooting with a hybrid camera like the Canon 5D Mark II, never use the camera mic to capture your audio. Always use an external mic and either use with a pre-amp like a Beachtek or JuicedLink or capture the audio independently with a high quality digital [...]

Still Photographers as Amateur Videographers

Posted: July 15th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] These days many still photographers are frustrated when their clients decide to take their own pictures or get photos from amateurs who take photos that are good enough. And sometimes “good enough” is not only good enough – it’s pretty good because technology has enabled just about anyone to take a reasonably [...]

My Number One Reading Recommendation

Posted: July 1st, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] #1 Reading recommendation: From Still to Motion by Richard Harrington – Peachpit Press Harrington has written 27 books on everything from Photoshop tips to Final Cut Pro and other software applications. In his current book “From Still to Motion” he documents a field case study creating a video with the hybrid camera [...]

Using Video to Promote Photography

Posted: June 7th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] Video is the hot topic these days. You’d think it was a new thing. But there’s nothing new about video – it’s been around almost as long as TV. What is new is that broadband has made online video viewing integral to the Internet experience. In the last year alone we’ve seen [...]

Copyright and Video

Posted: May 10th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] As still photographers move and expand into video because of the convergence of their tools, they often ask me about copyright, licensing and usage and how to apply that to video. Essentially they are trying to apply a licensing business model from their still photography and sometimes that doesn’t work in video [...]

Unlikely Parnerships

Posted: April 28th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] Got a call a while back from a guy selling training seminars for NAB Post Production conferences. I have been a past attendee and the training they provide is top notch. I’ve never attended a poorly taught seminar – the instructors know their stuff and know how to teach it. I mentioned [...]

Network

Posted: April 15th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] Network with your peers and others. For example: If you are interested in getting into video production, get to know creatives who are already involved – sound mixers, camera operators, editors, writers etc. Go to trade events and meet ups like Final Cut Pro meet ups to network with editors or [...]

Collaborating

Posted: March 23rd, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] I talk to a lot of photographers these days when giving seminars on video. One thing I’ve been hearing a lot lately is that many photographers are collaborating with other creatives to expand their businesses and offer their clients more services. Certainly one area still photographers are collaborating is in video production. [...]

Learn to Edit

Posted: March 18th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] Even if you hire a professional editor to bring polish to your video. Editing your own material makes you a better shooter. You quickly realize what you should have shot.

Video Quick Tip

Posted: February 15th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] Watch TV commercials with the sound off. You’ll quickly see how the footage was cut together in the editing room.

Defining Yourself By Your Vision – Not The Camera

Posted: February 10th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] I’ve been giving quite a few presentations lately for ASMP – “Should I Be Thinking About Video”. One thing I’m finding is that there are always a couple of people in the audience who think that buying a DSLR hybrid camera will get them in the business of video production. Part of [...]

The Business of Video Production

Posted: February 5th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] The “business” of video production encompasses a lot of things – one being good paperwork. From the initial estimate on a job, through the final invoice along with obtaining the necessary releases – good paperwork is essential for a profitable business. I keep a database of past SOWs (Statement of Work) to [...]

Continued Convergence

Posted: January 11th, 2010

[by Gail Mooney] My thoughts on the future – in a word convergence. I see continued convergence with the tools we use as visual communicators – still cameras and video cameras becoming one and the same. And with that, the convergence of the two industries – still photography becoming part of larger production companies that [...]

Are You Thinking About a Video Camera Purchase?

Posted: December 11th, 2009

[by Gail Mooney] Before you decide on which video camera to buy, work backwards and make sure your editing software and platform will be compatible. Check out these compatibility charts from Adobe and Apple.

‘Tis the Season …

Posted: November 30th, 2009

[by Gail Mooney] When my daughter was a young child she always used to draw a picture for our Christmas card. Most times they were quite abstract and if we hadn’t titled her illustrations and written a Christmas greeting, the receiver might not have known it was a holiday card at all. As she got [...]

Time Saving Tips For Shooting and Editing Video

Posted: November 17th, 2009

[by Gail Mooney] The Shoot Have a plan – When I first started learning video at the Platypus Workshop, we weren’t even allowed near the camera until we could articulate our “commitment” or our story in a concise, one paragraph statement. Make a shot list if appropriate – If you go into a shoot with [...]

It is Quick Tip Week …

Posted: October 26th, 2009

[by Gail Mooney] Make sure that when you take a class – like Final Cut Pro – that you have a project to work on. Even if it’s a project that’s self proposed – it will let you immediately apply your new knowledge in a real way. Otherwise, the information you hear tends to go [...]

Tips for Shooting on Location

Posted: October 14th, 2009

[by Gail Mooney] I’ve been shooting “on location” for over 30 years. That’s all I do – location shoots. Each job and location vary greatly, and that is the challenge of location shooting. So the key is to be prepared for a variety of issues, problems and challenges that you may encounter on location. Here’s [...]

Video Editing Tips

Posted: October 1st, 2009

[by Gail Mooney] Be organized – gather and import all your assets (video, audio, stills, logos and other graphics) into editing system before you start the actual edit. Make transcripts of the interviews. I like exacting paper transcripts with all the “ums” and “you knows” included. That way if I’m looking at the paper transcript [...]

Multi-Faceted Marketing

Posted: September 24th, 2009

[by Gail Mooney] Marketing has taken on a much broader meaning these days, mostly because of social media. A few years ago, my marketing may have consisted of an ad in a source book, a mailer every other month and an emailer. I’ve pretty much cut back on any print marketing – meaning source book [...]

What Camera Should I Buy?

Posted: September 17th, 2009

[By Gail Mooney] If I had a dollar for everytime someone asked me what camera they should buy – I could retire. These days I get a lot of “what video camera should I buy?” That question is almost impossible to answer without more information. So I usually reply with my own onslaught of questions [...]

The Problem with Hybrids and the New Business Model

Posted: September 15th, 2009

[By Gail Mooney] I can’t tell you how many phone calls I have received in the last month from photographers complaining that their clients are asking if they shoot video and their frustration in having to say “no.” A sign of the times as the demand for video increases. But what’s most disturbing to me [...]

Free?

Posted: August 26th, 2009

Recently there has been a lot of buzz about Chris Anderson’s new book “Free”. Malcolm Gladwell’s review of “Free” makes the point that even free comes at a cost. Most photographers can certainly attest to that. Marketing guru Seth Godin makes the point that the paradigm is changing and that all the whining in the [...]

Mantras for a Good Life

Posted: August 18th, 2009

Always have a dream. Believe in it. Believe in your ability to make it happen. Keep your passions alive. For me, my strong interest in cultural stories will always keep me exploring. I need that and it gives my life perspective. Set goals – even little goals are good and then reward yourself. They will [...]

Vertical TV Sets

Posted: August 6th, 2009

Have you ever seen a vertical TV? I haven’t, but I wonder with the hybrid cameras that look like still cameras and shoot video, will we all be turning our TV’s on end? The point is that just because the camera shoots video, doesn’t mean the operator will be thinking like a video shooter. As [...]

Using Headphones

Posted: July 29th, 2009

When shooting video where the audio is also important – always wear headphones. The camera meters might indicate that you are getting sound (visually) but it might not be good clean sound. Headphones are important.

Video Quick Tip on a Budget

Posted: July 6th, 2009

[div hVlog style="text-align: center"][vPIP class="hVlogTarget" type="video/x-mov" onclick="vPIPPlay(this, 'width=540, height=304, name=DiningDolly', '', ''); return false;"][/div] Overusing the zoom feature of a video camera is the sign of an amateur. But there are times when you want to make a camera move. If I’m in a location where I can put my hands on a wheel chair, [...]

“Word of Mouth” in the 21st Century

Posted: June 24th, 2009

You can’t go anywhere these days without hearing someone talk about Twitter or Facebook or You Tube – all forms of social media. But how do you start utilizing these social media networks – or should you? All good questions and ones you should ask yourself before diving into twittering, posting on Facebook, Linkedin or [...]

Interviews

Posted: June 12th, 2009

Whether you’re doing a multimedia piece or a video you will no doubt be doing interviews. So this entry will provide you with some tips for getting better interviews. Number one rule of course is that your audio capture must be good. Make sure your microphone is no more than a foot from your subject. [...]

Prepping Images for Multimedia and Video

Posted: June 11th, 2009

I am often asked the question about the best way to prep still images for a “motion” project. Like anything else there are differences in opinion as to color space, size and type of file. With that said – here is how I prep my still photos in Photoshop. 1. Size images between 2100 and [...]

Audio is Everything in Video

Posted: June 10th, 2009

The biggest surprise (not that it should be) when still photographers start to shoot in a video format is how important audio is. I can’t stress this enough. Your audience can tolerate a poor visual – but never bad audio. If they can’t hear and understand what someone is saying – they turn it off. [...]

Using the Right Tool For the Job

Posted: June 9th, 2009

We are visual communicators. We should choose the right “tool” for what it is we are trying to communicate. With the new hybrid cameras from Canon and Nikon on the market, still photographers tend to gravitate to them because they are seemingly fit into their comfort level. Essentially, still cameras that shoot video. Indie filmmakers [...]

This Week Gail Mooney Shares Her Insights on Expanding Into Video

Posted: June 8th, 2009

Video is a medium ideal for collaboration. There’s a lot of talk these days about partnerships and collaboration. Basically building teams to better serve your client and your business. Video production has historically been a collaborative effort because of the many facets of the craft – pre-production, shooting, sound, post production (editing) output etc. With [...]

To Tweet or Not to Tweet

Posted: May 29th, 2009

Okay I admit it – I started tweeting or is it twittering? But why? That’s exactly the point – ask yourself why. If your answer is because everyone says I have to or everyone is doing it – then maybe you shouldn’t. I’ve stated many times that I am a means to an end type [...]

Traveling Smart – and Cheap(er)

Posted: May 19th, 2009

One good thing about the bad economy is that there are bargains when it comes to airfares. Even without a lot of notice, one can find a good priced ticket to most destinations. However, that bargain can quickly add up to a lot of money when paying for check on baggage. Many photographers need to [...]

It’s The Idea

Posted: May 14th, 2009

I’m often asked by people “What kind of video camera should I buy?” I must confess that question drives me crazy. It’s kind of like someone asking me what kind of car they should buy. But at least with cars – the end result is pretty much the same – you need something to get [...]

Thinking in Motion

Posted: May 6th, 2009

I still have a foot in both the video and still worlds. But it’s tough to be able to shoot both formats on the same job – or that is to go back and forth trying to get both covered. Ultimately you always feel like something is being compromised. But the most important point to [...]

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