As an editorial photographer living in Pittsburgh I am not really in the center of the magazine publishing world, but by subscribing and reading Meg Weaver’s weekly newsletter, Wooden Horse Publishing, I feel connected to the who, what, when and where of the publishing world. Like any resource, especially online, I only consider it one source. It is always a good idea to confirm business news and gossip. It seems every week, I learn of…

Good negotiating skills are critical to the success of any independent photographer, yet this talent is frequently not what comes naturally to us. Listen to some tips and insights on this difficult issue. (12 min, 9 sec)

A recent bout with bronchitis got me watching TV for practically the first time since my 2-year-old was born.  In the middle of CSI New York, I was struck by an ad for Verizon featuring a Blackberry Storm being used to access Bank of America’s online banking system.  Verizon, Blackberry & B of A all in one ad.  “Wow”, I thought, “that’s really smart.” In a later commercial break, Duracell ran an ad showcasing the…

This next SB2 interview video installment (10 min, 30 sec) gives us a wide array of perspectives on our industry’s evolution and ideas on how we can make that work for business. Take a look and then share your thoughts. We have lots to learn from each other.

Part of preparing for any negotiation is preparing yourself. Knowing the market, both geographic and specialty, in which you’ll be competing is critically important. A very handy tool right on your desktop is your computer. Mine is always on, always connected to the Internet, and I use it when a new client calls for a quote. As soon as the person identifies the company he or she works for, I can “Google” the company’s name, click on the…

Nothing. I know that sounds harsh, but anything you could do that might possibly bring in business now will, in the long run, hurt your business. Things like lowering your price, offering unlimited rights for the price of a year of web use, or shooting (heaven forbid!) on spec, might possibly get someone in your door today, but when the market turns for the better, you will be known as the place to go to…