Photographer sitting around looking glum.

This story I’m about to pass on to you is common place and yet many photographers in the early days of their careers make small mistakes they could have avoided. I’m guilty of many of these little learning curve events. None more common than the customer or client exclaiming that you hadn’t told them it was going to be this expensive.

The Ugly Scenario

I was recently contacted by a subscriber who had produced magnificent pictures for their client’s wedding. Really went out on a limb and used an assistant, ladders, extended rods/poles, pre visted the church and reception locations and planned everything down to a detail etc. There was only one thing missing…

The photographer (remains nameless) visited the  customer with proofs to discuss how many and which photos, enlargements and so on. I might add this photographer is a really nice, friendly and passionate photographer. Some might describe her as too meek, caring and forgiving for her own good.

The client waited for the presentation to end and said they were disappointed because the photos were average, would not present them to others from the wedding and rudely demeened her in front of their family by stating the photos were a rip-off! Why were they not told the prices before hand!

The Rude Self Centred Client

It’s true that many hard working photographers who make an above average effort enjoy a more than reasonable income from photography but you will not enter a career in photography without eventually crossing the path of a rude, shrude, nasty customer. Get ready for it if it hasn’t happened to you yet. Similar things have happened to me over the years.

The case above eventually moved to the customer showing their hand by making a stupid and unreasonable offer ie. less than half of the asking price of each shot. This resulted in the photographer being brought to tears and was left sobbing as she quickly walked to her car and drove off in a state with the customer calling out behind her “What about my offer cry baby?”. Remember, she went the extra mile for these people.

The Problem

As it turned out, she hadn’t discussed the prices clearly and not presented them with a list of fees and package options. I learned early on (due to this kind of thing) you must always get their signature verifying they understand the prices and their options. There should always be a minimal cost too!

The Solution

When I received her email (same day as the altercation). I suggested she learn from the incident but keep all the images because there’s still a chance to receive compensation. I have also learned that if you are holding the only wedding photos and the customer has seen them (and they’re good) you are by default in a position of negotiating strength in instances like this.

I suggested she write a polite letter (yes, polite) immediately indicating the photos were being held until such time as the customer felt they were ready to pay and pick them up. Rather than leaving it there. I also suggested a negotiated 5% discount would be considered but no more. The levels (bullet pointed) she had gone to attain these wonderful shots and how wonderful they would look as enlargements. There was no retribution, mention of poor behaviour or lack of integrity.

The Outcome

The customer did return and purchased more than what was expected. Why?

• Because the customer had time to think on the fact that there was only one source for the photos

• The photographer had not retaliated with insults and threats but instead avoided confrontation

• The polite strategic letter allows the reader to read it a few times and get the message without distraction

• The discount offer from the photographer still allowed the wedding couple to ’save face’ and be more comfortable in paying a reasonable price (they got 10% discount)

My 2 cents worth – If you do go through this type of painful dilemma, make sure you only do it once!
Roy.

PS. The photographer in this story now has strategic, well written documentation pre printed for signing for every future wedding shoot.

If you like this piece, please bookmark it below so you can find it later or leave a comment below that.

Original post by Administrator

Imagine yourself standing in the middle of a commercial area of a city, such as the heart of a normally bustling, city street, once the day is ended or perhaps on an evening or weekend. This is a rare photographic opportunity to begin shooting empty city streets and many unique buildings. Such opportunities like these are important in your photographic journey. Shooting empty streets can also be seen as a chance to explore the many ways that a good wide angle lens can be used to take pictures in a popular city environment. This is because the impressive array of tall structures and the interesting panoramas of the neighborhood are all great subjects for the wide angle lens.

It is necessary to first view the range of lenses that fall under the wide angle description. These can be the more traditional 24 and 35mm options. Alternatively, they can range from 14 to 21mm (known as “UW” or Ultra Wide), and even to the 6 and 15mm versions which are called “Fisheye” lenses. Each will create a very distinct set of results, and a photographer will have to know when to use, or when to entirely avoid using, such lenses.

Let’s just look at the very farthest extreme – the Fisheye – in order to determine its “useability”. The entire purpose of a Fisheye is to create an interesting distortion because it is geared at photographing in an almost 360-degree fashion (when at the 6mm setting). It almost looks as if the pictures peripheral view is being stretched beyond the normal boundaries and limitations of normal lenses. It curves and bends the image significantly. We use these lenses of very, very large views. These are also used in advertising and promotional photography.

Picture copyright http://www.highcontrast.co.uk/

Interestingly enough, this is the sort of lens that could be applied in an interesting way when used in all aspects of city photography. For example, let’s return that semi-abandoned street scene, at night time, and turn the lens directly across the street towards and old building, with perhaps a moving car for a different effect. If we are standing on a relatively quiet street at night time, with very little traffic then we can easily capture an image not unlike the inside of a cathedral. Clearly this means that we might find a few creative ways to employ a fisheye lens in a traditional urban setting.

Next, we can think about using the Ultra Wide angle lenses in a way that is productive and effective. If we understand that landscape photography is often the major area where wide angle lenses are used, we can figure out a few good places to put the Ultra Wide into use while in the city. We might head to the park to get a panoramic view of the surrounding neighborhoods, or we might head down to the waterfront to capture the nighttime skyline and its impressive reflection in the waters below.

There are many types of beautiful wide angle lenses, the Ultra Wide type of lens, such as the marvelous fisheye is just one of the many available on the market today. It’s important, however, when you do choose a very wide angle, that they won’t apply in all situations and that they are designed for a certain effect.

Otherwise you may prefer your traditional wide angle lens, which can offer simply stunning results. Depending on what you prefer, a 35mm lens will work well for landscapes as well as some room and garden shots. You can get a lovely perspective on these scenes around the home. Using a soft morning light with a 35mm lens in a garden can offer some beautiful results, just as an example.

It is important to remember that perspective is always affected by the wide angle lens, and paying close attention to the distortion of the foreground or the horizon is an absolute “must” in order to obtain the best results.

Article provided by Amy Renfrey

Original post by Administrator

In researching this article, I did a Google search for “great photography blog” and it gave me 45,800,000 results.  Where would I even start to look for other great photography blogs (besides the one you’re reading now? )

To narrow down the field, I looked at several pages of results and noted the blogs that were mentioned multiple times in different articles, and then did quite a bit of browsing on each of those blogs.  Here are some (other) great photography blogs that are worth taking a look at, in no particular order:

1. Digital Photography School   
http://digital-photography-school.com/

Digital Photography School offers online photography courses, as well as sections on photo tips and tutorials, cameras and equipment, and post production editing and Photoshop tips.  There’s also a place to showcase your photos and get feedback from other photographers.

2. All Day I Dream about Photography   http://www.adidap.com/

This blog has lots of great tips and also features photographers and their work and tells how they went about getting the shots. Additionally, contests, news, interviews, and tutorials keep the site interesting.

3. The Imaging Buffet     http://imagingbuffet.com/

Gear reviews, imaging news, podcasts, newsletter, tips and resources, along with interviews and digital photography tips.  It also has a good list of books and workshops that may be of interest to those with photography in the blood.

4. Photoinduced   http://www.photoinduced.com/

Photoinduced has lots of photography galleries, a good listing of events, lots of photography news, product reviews, and weekly giveaways of great photography accessories.  This blog also has links to photography books, galleries and museums, news sites, stock photo sites, blogs, education for photographers, contests and competitions.

5. Shutter Sisters   http://shuttersisters.com/

Shutter Sisters is filled to the rim with extraordinary photographs of ordinary things, taken by women behind the lenses.  With their monthly “One sweet shot” contest, they believe in showcasing the varied talent and experience levels of their blog’s subscribers. They also have “Picture Hope” and also the “One word Project” which attempts to capture that one word in a photo. This month the word is “nurture.”

6. Camera Dojo   http://cameradojo.com/

Weekly podcasts with photography experts spice things up on Camera Dojo. There is also news, reviews of products, tutorials on cool stuff like Lightroom and Photoshop, and all sorts of lighting and shooting techniques and tips, and all sorts of cool Camera Dojo tools to take a look at.

7. Endless Years     http://endlessyears.com/

Endless Years reviews cameras, photography gadgets, and video equipment—geared specifically to baby boomers and their families. Things are explained in laymen’s terms, and the very latest in new gadgets and equipment are discussed, along with the pros and cons of each new product.

8. Pay it Forward Photo    http://www.pifphoto.com/

The point of this blog is to help each other as a community. If you’ve learned something—action, information, or experience that could help other photographers, the site asks you to post it and share it. It has a lot of helpful resources, like interviews and tips, as well as sources for freebies.

9. Microstock Diaries     http://www.microstockdiaries.com/

This blog teaches you all about making money from microstock photography.  It gives you the nitty gritty on all the microstock sites, including information on affiliate programs  and which photos to take that will bring in some commission revenue for you.

10. Fotohacker    http://www.fotohacker.com/

Fotohacker is written by digital photography geeks that you can trust to tell you how to make your digital images better. They know all the cool things you can do with the camera, with the gear, and with the software.  They offer lots of interesting resources, tips, and techniques that will have you producing better quality photos right away.

This list, obviously, is by no means official or complete. There are literally thousands of photography blogs in cyberspace. The key is to find one which addresses the types of photography that you do, and is on your level.  Too simple and you won’t learn from it. Likewise, if it’s too difficult, it will be hard for you to understand. Aim for that perfect middle ground, and shoot!

Click here for tips, techniques, and advice here on the Photography Business Tips blog.

Oh, BTW if you liked this article you can bookmark it below. Then you can easily find it again and so can others. Simply hover your mouse over the little icons below to find your favourite bookmark or you can ReTweet it.

Thanks – Roy.

Original post by Denise

Ansel Adams photo

Ansel Adams was a great American photographer, most well known as a master landscape artist. Most of his photographs depict natural landscapes of the American west.  Born in San Francisco in 1902, Ansel Adams trained as a concert pianist before deciding to become photographer. He became famous for the technical skill with which he produced spectacular images of the American landscape.  He advocated straight and un-manipulated photography.  His works were exhibited all around the country, and he helped establish the department of photography at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1940, and was awarded a number of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation to photograph National Parks in America.

Influential as both a teacher and lecturer, he was also an avid conservationist. He published many books of his images, and also technical and training guides to teach beginning photographers. In 1980, Ansel Adams was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor in the United States.

Throughout his long and storied career, he also was frequently quoted about photography, and often conservation of our natural resources.  Following are some of his simple, though often deep, quotations, sourced from brainyquote.com.

1. “A good photograph is knowing where to stand.”
2. “A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”
3. “A photograph is usually looked at – seldom looked into.”
4. “A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.”
5. “Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made in establishing tonal relationships.”
6. “I tried to keep both arts alive, but the camera won. I found that while the camera does not express the soul, perhaps a photograph can!”
7. “In my mind’s eye, I visualize how a particular… sight and feeling will appear on a print. If it excites me, there is a good chance it will make a good photograph. It is an intuitive sense, an ability that comes from a lot of practice.”
8. “In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.”
9. “It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.”
10. “It is my intention to present – through the medium of photography – intuitive observations of the natural world which may have meaning to the spectators.”
11. “Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer – and often the supreme disappointment.”
12. “Millions of men have lived to fight, build palaces and boundaries, shape destinies and societies; but the compelling force of all times has been the force of originality and creation profoundly affecting the roots of human spirit.”
13. “No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”
14. “Not everybody trusts paintings but people believe photographs.”
15. “Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art.”
16. “Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution.”
17. “Some photographers take reality… and impose the domination of their own thought and spirit. Others come before reality more tenderly and a photograph to them is an instrument of love and revelation.”
18. “Sometimes I do get to places just when God’s ready to have somebody click the shutter.”
19. “The negative is comparable to the composer’s score and the print to its performance. Each performance differs in subtle ways.”

1. “The only things in my life that compatibly exists with this grand universe are the creative works of the human spirit.”
2. “There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”
3. “There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.”
4. “There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.”
5. “These people live again in print as intensely as when their images were captured on old dry plates of sixty years ago… I am walking in their alleys, standing in their rooms and sheds and workshops, looking in and out of their windows. Any they in turn seem to be aware of me.”
6. “To photograph truthfully and effectively is to see beneath the surfaces and record the qualities of nature and humanity which live or are latent in all things.”
7. “Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.”
8. “We must remember that a photograph can hold just as much as we put into it, and no one has ever approached the full possibilities of the medium.”
9. “When I’m ready to make a photograph, I think I quite obviously see in my minds eye something that is not literally there in the true meaning of the word. I’m interested in something which is built up from within, rather than just extracted from without.
10. “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”
11. “Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space.”
12. “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”

If you liked this article, please be sure to bookmark it below. That way you’ll be able to find it again and so will others. By the way, if you found this article stimulating then you’ll probably like  The Making of 40 Photographs by Ansel Adams. Oh and before I forget, here’s Ansel Adam’s pageat Amazon.

Original post by Denise