New ASMP Resource for Video

[by Susan Carr]

ASMP has a new online resource designed for the still photographer who is moving into motion.  Gail Mooney is chair of the newly formed Motion/Video Committee and she embraced this role with the same gusto she uses in her own work. Gail interviewed fourteen members who have successfully incorporated video into their businesses. The results of this work are now available as the first step of ASMP’s new tutorial on video.

Topics covered include – definitions of the common roles involved in video production, technical concerns, insurance and business issues and how to get started. Here are some sample questions included in this resource:

• What are the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of positioning yourself as a shooter, a director or a producer?
• What markets do you work in when shooting video?
• Do you market yourself as one “production company” or separately as a still photographer and media producer/videographer?
• What are some standards in video? What is considered the pixel threshold for HD?
• Do you edit your own material? What platform and software do you use?
• How do you copyright a body of work that is comprised of video and stills and music?

ASMP is dedicated to making sure you have the tools you need to reach new markets with your work. So, check this out and give yourself a leg up before you move into motion!

Thank You and Happy New Year!

[by Susan Carr]

Dear Friends,
I want to take a moment and thank you, our readers, for making this blog a success. We launched this endeavor nine months ago and our community has been growing steadily ever since. I also want to express my gratitude to our talented contributors for sharing their insights on all aspects of the photography business. Together we are building a valuable resource for the trade.

As we end 2009, please share your blog topic suggestions with us by posting a comment here. What do you want us to talk about? Tell us what what type of information really hits home and what doesn’t? Share your ideas and feedback with us as we plan for the New Year.

The SB blog team is going to take a short vacation to enjoy the holiday season returning on January 4th refreshed and ready for 2010!

Wishing you an enjoyable holiday and prosperous New Year,
Susan Carr, SB Blog Editor

Work Begets Work

[by Susan Carr]

I had the privilege a few years back of hearing photographer Ken Josephson speak at the  Society for Photographic Education Midwest Regional conference. While discussing his own struggle with blocks in creativity or direction, he clearly stated his own mantra, “work begets work.” These three simple words have hung with me and continue to ring true.

The most difficult times for me, as an artist, are those periods between projects. It frequently takes me a while to know when a given personal project is complete, thus, the creating new work slows gradually, the emphasis shifts to exhibitions or other outlets for the project and my lack of producing new work sort of creeps in unexpectedly.  Ideas for new projects start brewing, but the day-to-day work of making a living and getting my existing images seen takes over. Then, what feels like all of sudden, it will hit me that the real love of my life, making photographs, is being neglected.

I moved to Chicago four years ago. Relocating my home after 25 years was a daunting task and my move coincided with the completion of a significant personal photography project. Between actively exhibiting this body of work – a documentary project of home interiors – and settling into a new home and business community, I didn’t think about photographing beyond my commercial client work. Fast forward to this year, I acknowledged that my own photography needed to become a priority again. I simply feel lost without it.

My idea is to photograph my new home, the Chicago neighborhood of Rogers Park. I struggled with how to get started. I predictably tried to answer the why and how of the project before I initiated the work. Then I remembered Ken Josephson’s lecture. Work begets work. The process of creating work is the process of discovering the why and how. I wasn’t going to solve anything unless I simply walked the neighborhood camera in hand.

I am happy to say that this past spring and summer were productive. I walked miles, shot many rolls of film (yes, film for this work) and slowly the project is taking form. My advice for anyone struggling with their own vision is to simply get to work, pick up a camera and stop asking yourself so many questions.

Registration ©ounts!

[by Susan Carr]

The copyright office tells us that only 5% of photographers register their images. ASMP wants to change that and this week at Photo Plus Expo ASMP will launch a new initiative called Registration ©ounts to create awareness of copyright issues, to encourage all photographers to register their work, and to provide the tools and information needed for registration.

Representatives from the copyright office will be at the ASMP booth (#478) to answer your registration questions. ASMP now offers recommended best practices for registering your work and a workshop to help photographers get registered.

ASMP has designated the week of April 19-23, 2010 to highlight the issue of copyright and will lead a number of activities and events for photographers and other visual artists. On Wednesday, April 21st, ASMP will host a symposium entitled The Current State of Copyright from an Artist’s Perspective to explore views on significant issues, challenges and trends in copyright. Experts from leading organizations including Columbia University, PLUS and Public Knowledge will participate.

Join with ASMP to create a powerful voice for the defense of copyright law.

I Highly Recommend “Free, The Future of a Radical Price” by Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson’s new book is a provocative look at the growing economy of free. I know many of you may roll your eyes at the thought that “free” is our new competition, but do not judge this book by it’s title. Anderson provides a careful investigation outlining the history and future of this economic driver, and in so doing, removed my fear and replaced it with new ideas for my business.

Like most photographers, it has become increasingly difficult for me to maintain profitable fees let alone institute increases, so when I read, “Products that can become commoditized and cheap tend to do so, and companies seeking profits move upstream in search of new scarcities,” I realized this book has a message for photographers. I kept reading and my copy is now dog-eared and underlined.

Book Review Week

I love reading biographies and these three very different stories are some of my favorites.

Limelight is a memoir by Helen Gee and traces her history opening this country’s first photography gallery. If you love photography and photographers, you will enjoy this immensely. It is a charming tale of Greenwich Village and the coming of age of photography as an art form.

Walker Evans a biography by James R. Mellow. Much has been written about Evans, but this exquisitely written biography is my favorite. Mellow’s carefully researched book rewards the reader with new insights and lots of wonderful stories.

Another biography favorite of mine is de Kooning, An American Master by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan. This biography tells the story of de Kooning’s life, but it also provides an in-depth history into the New York art scene from the 1930’s to 1990’s. The book was published in 2004 and won the Pulitzer Prize for biography.

ASMP Launches New Web Site

New look, new navigation and new resources! Check it out at www.asmp.org.

Quick Tip Week – Let’s Start With Jamey Stillings

© 2009 Jamey Stillings

This photograph by Jamey Stillings of the Colorado River Bridge appeared in yesterday’s New York Times Magazine. I stubbled upon it over my morning coffee and it changed my day. A beautifully executed image and a fascinating subject coalesced and I craved more. I went to Jamey’s web site and viewed the entire portfolio. I know Jamey, he is an ASMP member living and working in Santa Fe. I asked him how this project happened and how the image landed in the NY Times Magazine this Sunday. Turns out, Jamey made it happen. He saw the bridge, was wonder struck by it and started photographing. He wanted to expand the project and get more access, so he approached the NY Times through his rep about doing a photo essay. It took a few weeks, but armed with a letter of assignment, Jamey acquired the necessary permits and permissions to get closer to the bridge construction. The logistics of gaining access to a project like this are overwhelming, but Jamey used his skills as a producer of many advertising photographs to pull together a supportive team and made this project a reality. What is the quick tip here? Find a photography passion and make it happen.

This DAM Stuff Is Important

Managing your digital images can be a daunting task. Imagine a world where you can retrieve a specific image for a client in seconds or pull up everything you photographed on a specific theme instantly. You will not only save time, but you will improve the quality of your customer service, your marketing materials or your next project proposal.  Peter Krogh takes you step-by-step through the process of digital asset management in the latest edition of his book, “The DAM Book.”

This second edition has been almost entirely rewritten, updating the material for the changed technical landscape. Chapters were added that covered the use of Lightroom, as well as an entirely new chapter on backup and validation of image files. Peter also covers the use of GPS devices and software to geotag your images. Check out Peter’s blog and get a taste of the valuable information he provides.

From the Amazon reviews,

“If you want to get your collection of files (note not only photos, videos, music, but all of your files) under control and make sure they are safe this is the book for you. The book lead me to solutions to several of my issues. The book would be worth several times the cost!”
- Scott Buckel

“Peter Krogh’s updated DAM Book is essential for anyone working with a significant number of digital images, if for no other reason than the basic time saved by learning which techniques (and software) are most efficient.”
- Thaddeus Watkins

Business is down for all of us, so use some of your new found time to get your archives in order.

Good Work From Your Trade Orgs

In 2007, two professional photography trade associations, The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) and The Stock Artists Alliance (SAA), applied for and received matching fund awards from the Library of Congress as part of the Library’s National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP). Now that is a mouth full of an acronym, but this is a very cool thing. Two of our pro orgs took the initiative and acquired funding to do mind numbing research and work to make our business lives better. I don’t want to do the work, but I am more than happy to benefit from the results. And, I believe we all will.

ASMP’s “Digital Photography Best Practice and Workflow” project is to create guidelines with the goal of determining and developing refined production workflows, archiving methods, and recommended best workflow practices for digital photography based on image usage and capture methods. ASMP is nearing the end of the research and writing portion of this project. By the end of this year, these workflows will be available online and a nationwide educational tour will be launched.  Richard Anderson is the project manager for ASMP.

SAA’s  “Photo Metadata Project” is to promote the use of standardized photo metadata to photographers and user communities. After extensive research, SAA has recently launched their online resources for this project at www.photometadata.org. And, tomorrow evening, the first free seminar is being held in Dallas, followed by Thursday evening in San Antonio. Check this calendar to see the complete seminar schedule. I know thinking about metadata may not blow your skirt up, but this issue deserves the attention of any artist. The proper management and tracking of our work is critical in this age of digital distribution. Add in the likelihood of future changes to copyright law and proper metadata becomes critical. David Riecks is the project leader for SAA.

So, I offer a round of applause to the hard working folks behind these projects and challenge each of you to take advantage of the work they are doing on your behalf.

Pieces of Your Promotional Puzzle

We end the week with two marketing posts, so don’t miss Richard Kelly’s post on social media sites below … both of these messages have ASMP benefits with deadlines, so we didn’t want to wait to share them with you.

There is not one way or one approach for marketing your business. A successful business strategy requires that you define your message and then get that message out in a variety of venues – your web site, your Google ranking, your blog, posts to social media sites, email promos, listings in online directories, your direct customer contacts, attending client focused association meetings and the list goes on. Through this blog and our education seminars, ASMP is working to help you hone your skills for strategically selling your services. Though we can help with the “how to”, no one can do it for you.

For ASMP General members, I want to remind you that ASMP’s newly designed Find a Photographer is being launched in just a few weeks. Now is the time to take a few minutes and update your profile and images. An email promotional campaign for Find a Photographer is starting in mid June – reaching thousands of potential buyers of photography. Make sure this piece of your marketing puzzle is in place so we can show you off to potential buyers! Or, Maybe you are an Associate member who qualifies for General membership. By upgrading your membership now, you can add Find a Photographer to your promotional plan. You can apply for General membership by going into your member profile and clicking the membership tab.

Keep trying different methods to promote your business and stay out there!

Our Final Video From SB2

We are emphasizing marketing tools again this week because they are so important. Today we offer you the final video drawn from the Strictly Business 2 conference lectures. In this video, Leslie Burns-Dell’Acqua outlines a clear process for defining your message and refining your marketing. (30min, 29sec)

Practical Steps for Control in a Turbulent Time

This video is based on Judy Herrmann’s workshop presented at Strictly Business 2 and now touring ASMP chapters as an evening seminar. Does controlling your career sound like an oxymoron? Listen and consider this alternative. (32min, 24sec)

Be Prepared When the Phone Rings

An extraordinary thing happened to me last Friday. A potential client called for a quote. My business, like many of yours, has been very slow for months and the call caught me off guard. It took me a few minutes to regroup and switch into business mode. My head was racing making sure I asked for all the details I needed to properly prepare the quote while simultaneously selling the value I could bring to the project. Handling those initial client phone calls well is critical to our livelihoods. Help your business by watching “Negotiating Tips for when the Phone Rings” with Blake Discher. (17min, 45sec)

Everything You Do Is Marketing

Continuing our week focused on marketing ideas for your business, Leslie Burns-Dell’Acqua shares her insights on tools beyond your website, portfolio and mailers. Enjoy this video (17 min) and share with us what you are doing to get noticed.

Getting The Attention of Potential Clients

This week we are focusing on marketing and sales – how do you get your potential client’s attention? In this video, Leslie Burns-Dell’Acqua talks about print mailers and emailers. (22 min, 59 sec)

Digital Business Essentials

Today we are going to focus on the business essentials specific to working in this digital age. Do you have increased liabilities? How do you use the tools available to your advantage? Judy Herrmann discusses this and more in this video. (25min, 38sec)

Negotiating Basics from Blake Discher

Today we feature Blake Discher’s video on “Negotiating Basics.” (10 min) ASMP is offering Blake’s full two lecture on Negotiating at chapters around the country. The in-person show includes small group role playing that puts these basics into practice. I know most of us hate role playing, but it really does improve your ability to negotiate effectively with clients.

ASMP Seminar on Multimedia and Video

I forgot to add this to Judy’s post yesterday. Gail Mooney and Paula Lerner are presenting a seminar on Multimedia and Video in Seattle this Saturday. Go here for the details. More of these presentations will be traveling in the Fall, so check in with ASMP to see when and where.

Not Working Enough?

Then take the time to review and update your website and portfolio. Leslie Burns-Dell’Acqua discusses these two core marketing tools in today’s video … (25 min)

« Older Entries