Photoswarm (beta)

Recent Updates RSS Hide threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Wedding Photography 101: How to Showcase Your Wedding Photography

  Will 4:33 pm on May 20, 2013 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: how to (5), Tips (3), Wedding Photography, Wedding Photos, Weddings

  Choosing a wedding photographer is one of the most important aspects of planning a wedding and most couples take special care in choosing the best photographer they can find.

  Wedding photography is by far one of the best-selling niches in commercial photography, and its popularity only continues to grow. In order to attract new clients in this competitive market, it’s important to showcase and promote your work effectively.

  

  Today we will discuss some simple ways to showcase your wedding photography, both online and in person.

  Online Promotion

  The most important showcase for your photography is something you may already have; your portfolio. Most professional photographers have an online portfolio, which they consistently update and feature their very best work.

  Photoswarm is a great platform to use when showcasing your photography online as it’s simple to update and includes options for professionals like photo sales and sideshows that allow potential clients to easily view your photography.

  In Person Promotion

  Of course, while it’s important to showcase your work online, don’t forget about offline promotion as well. Having a well polished and put together collection of your work handy to show potential clients is absolutely essential and can make or break in person sales.

  Here are a few ideas for showcasing your wedding photography.

  • Canvas or framed prints
  • Photo books and albums
  • Promotional video
  • Wedding photography displayed in bridal shops, or florists

  Canvas or Framed Prints

  Consider having some of your best wedding photos made into canvases or framed prints to display in your studio or to show clients in their homes. This is a great way to show your work to potential clients, as well as possibly interest them in buying canvas or framed prints with the photos from their own wedding.

  Be sure to invest in some larger sizes, as these are more profitable and have potential to be great sellers. Most couples don’t see the need for a 20 x 24 inch canvas or print, until they see how great one looks in person. It’s one thing to imagine a photo in different sizes, but it’s definitely another to actually see it.

   

  powered by photoswarm

  Photo Books and Albums

  Make sure you always have some photo album / book samples on hand to show your photography to potential clients.

  According to a 2010 survey, wedding photographers generated almost one-quarter of their revenue from the sale of photo products. The best sellers on the list? Photo albums and photo books. Photo albums contributed over 50% of the photo product revenue, while digitally printed photo books accounted for another 20% of revenue.

  Promotional Video

  You could make a promotional video to show prospective clients. Short is good, with about two or three minutes being an ideal length.

  It may be worthwhile to hire a videographer to accompany you on a photoshoot—maybe an engagement session, to capture some footage of a photoshoot in action so that prospective clients can see how you operate, get a feel for your style and see whether you’re a good fit for them.

  Wedding Photography Displayed in Bridal shops, or Florists

  You don’t need a studio to showcase your work in person. Other local businesses that also operate in the wedding market might be willing to promote your work, possibly in exchange for you promoting theirs. You could offer to hand out a bridal shop’s business cards to your clients. Or offer florists some free photography of their flowers for their website. Since you are both marketing to the same clientele, it makes sense to market together.

  And Finally…

  Success as a wedding photographer is largely dependent on how well you market your photography. Try to look out for opportunities to showcase your work, and be sure to constantly watch for new promotional ideas!

  How do you promote or showcase your work?

   

  Reply Click here to cancel reply.

  Name (required)

  Email (required)

  Web Site

   
• 

  Wildlife Photography 101: How to Master Wildlife Photography

  Will 4:12 pm on May 14, 2013 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: how to (5), Tips (3), Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

  When you hear the words “wildlife photography,” images of moose, bears or even Yellowstone Park may come to mind.

  But while it’s true that exotic locations offer ideal opportunities for wildlife photography, there are also opportunities to be found closer to home. Before heading off on a far-away adventure, you can get some practice photographing the wildlife in your area, some maybe even right outside your door.

  

  Here are some tips for capturing wildlife—with a camera that is!

  What to Shoot?

  Birds make great photographic subjects. So do foxes, squirrels, frogs, and insects. Don’t rule out everyday animals. They may be common to you, but they are nonexistent in some parts of the world. And don’t forget about small creatures; spring is a great time to take macros of butterflies or bees in flowerbeds. Try doing some research on the species in your area. Where do the live? What times are they are most active? The more you know about your subject, the better your chances of capturing a great shot.

  Patience

  Patience isn’t always a virtue, sometimes it’s a necessity! Wild animals are unpredictable and constantly moving. Great pictures take patience, so don’t be discouraged if it takes you awhile to get the shots you’re after.

  Gear

  Make sure you bring enough equipment (and that it’s the right gear for the job). If you are traveling by car, bring more than you think you will need. Of course, if you are hiking, you might want to stick with just essentials! A tripod is often needed, but sometimes you can get away without using one. It’s ideal to use a fast telephoto zoom lens to take close-ups of animals from a distance, without scaring them away.

  Camera Settings

  Take note of the lighting, and adjust your camera settings. Fiddling with the camera and tripod should be done ahead of time so as not to scare away the wildlife.

  If you want to capture all the details, try using a smaller aperture f/11-f/22 for a larger depth of field (DOF). To focus on the subject and blur the background, try a wide DOF, f/1.8-f/8. Depending on what aperture size you decide on, to ensure your photos are exposed correctly, you’ll need to compensate by either adjusting your shutter speed or ISO setting.

   

  powered by photoswarm

  Capturing Action

  Animals move quickly and suddenly, so shoot fast. Try shooting at a high frame rate. This way you take lots of pictures while minimizing camera shake by only pressing the shutter release button once.

  If you want to freeze some fast moving action, try stepping your shutter speed up to around 1/500 of a second.

  When trying to freeze and blur movement, set your camera to a low shutter speed like 1/60 of a second, and use the flash.

  When composing photos of fast moving animals, try not frame the subject too close to the edge of the picture. Allowing space around the animal means that if it moves you will still capture the entire animal, instead of cutting off part of it with the edge of the frame.

  Many animals are active in early morning or evening, making this an ideal time for photos. Be sure to use a tripod for long exposure shots in low light. Lowlight Photography is tricky, but the results are worth it.

  Include Background and Color

  When taking wildlife photos in a natural setting try incorporating the environment into your photos. Anyone can take close-ups at a zoo, but in a natural setting the background, or foreground, adds to the story.

  Look for ways to incorporate color into your photos. Wildlife photography is fun, vibrant and full of life, and this should show through into our photos!

  Respect the Environment

  Take care not to destroy the animals’ environment. Don’t try coaxing the animals to you, this will only frighten them. Some animals, birds especially, will abandon an area if they detect signs of human activity. This is especially harmful when birds are nesting as they will often abandon their nest, leaving eggs or chicks on their own.

  A Lesson Learned

  Finally, whatever you do, don’t do what I did.

  What kinds of wildlife photography have you taken? Share links to your photos in the comments.

   
• 

  How to Sell Photography and Prints Offline

  Will 12:16 pm on April 30, 2013 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: how (5), how to (5), info (3), Marketing, sell photos (6)

  Where do you sell your photos?

  Most freelance photographers today prefer to sell online, and for good reason, the Internet is the most effective marketing tool available today.

  But while the Internet is the obvious place to promote your work, there are tons of great promotional opportunities to be found offline too. Making the most of these opportunities can help bring in sales that online marketing alone couldn’t.

  

  In this article we discuss some strategies and promotional ideas for selling your photography and services offline!

  Selling Photography Prints Offline

  Target Market

  Who is your target market? What is the specific clientele that you should be marketing to? Knowing who your customer base is allows you to market more effectively, and will also help you to know where to set your prices.

  Pricing Strategy

  Your prices are a key factor in determining the success of your sales. While there’s no one-size-fits-all way to price photography, pricing is best calculated by considering two main factors: the market and the value of your photography.

  The market is the first thing to consider. Just how much are people willing to pay for your photography? Try doing some research to see what other photographers are selling. What price points are they selling at? What are people interested in? Are they interested enough to actually make a purchase?

  The other thing to consider when pricing is the value of your photography. High quality photography doesn’t automatically mean higher value. While quality is important, there are other things that can affect your photography’s value as well. Repeatability is one factor; rare or hard to capture imagery tends to be worth more. Another factor that contributes value is who you are selling to. For example, corporate clients generally pay more than individuals. And of course, images with the subject personally in them sell the best of all, which is why wedding photography and portrait services often do well.

  Get Local

  Selling locally allows you to meet new people in person. This gives you the advantage of being at the front of people’s minds when they next need a photographer.

  Here are a few places to try selling your work locally:

  • Local fairs or farmer’s markets—These can be a way to get your work out there. Greeting cards and prints of local photography tend to sell well at these.
  • Other businesses—Offer hotels, restaurants, or other high traffic businesses some of your framed photos as wall art. Be sure to have your name and website address in plain view just under the picture.
  • Art galleries—Art galleries can be harder to get into then other places, but they offer good publicity and often better pricing.

   

  powered by photoswarm

  Promotion Ideas

  Don’t underestimate the value of promoting your work on a local level. Local promotion can often lead to some great sales.

  Here are some promotional ideas:

  • Get some business cards printed. Hand them out to friends and people you meet.
  • Donate a framed photo or photography services to a fundraiser or charity event. This will promote your work, plus have your name associated with something positive.
  • Get published. Send in your photos to the local newspaper or regional magazines. Or write a press release raising awareness of an issue pertaining to your city or state, and include some references to your work as a photographer.
  • Offer deals and discounts. Keep track of your clients’ email or mailing addresses so you can send them offers. Mailchimp provides a very easy way to help you do this.
  • Collaborate and network with other businesses in the area. You can help each other market.

  Reputation

  When it comes to selling photography services, word of mouth is one of the most effective forms of advertising. Most of your referrals will come from previous clients so it’s important to make sure your customers are happy.

  • Exceed expectations.
  • Network and follow up with your clients. A new service called Five Hundred Plus which is used in conjunction with your Linkedin account makes this process very smooth.
  • Send out promotional items thanking them for their business and encouraging them to come back.

  Go the extra mile with clients and they will be more likely to recommend you to friends or call you the next time they need a photographer.

  What about you? Do you sell your photography offline? What works best for you?

   
• 

  Free Guide: How to Sell Photos Online

  Will 3:53 pm on April 22, 2013 | 1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Online Sales, Prints, pro (18), Promotion, Sell Photos Online, Stock Imagery

  Selling photos online can be a great way to make some extra money.

  In today’s crowded market though, you need to take extra steps to ensure your work gets noticed. So where do you start?  With so many great photographers out there, how can you make your photography stand out?

  In this free how-to guide; we will cover some of the key factors that go into successfully selling photos online.

   

  

  Prints and Stock Imagery

  There are two main ways to sell your photos online; as stock imagery or prints.

  The great thing about stock imagery sites is that once you upload your photos, your work is done. Stock imagery sites keep a commission from your photos that sell, and you don’t have to worry about promotion.

  Before selling stock imagery, have a look on the stock imagery sites at some of the requirements and images needed sections.

  A few stock imagery sites to try:

  • Dreamstime
  • iStockphotos
  • Shutterstock
  • Stocksy (A relative newcomer but we’re really impressed by the ethos behind Stocksy)

  Selling prints is great because you have more flexibility on pricing. However there are two things that are absolutely necessary when selling prints: a great portfolio or website, and making sure you promote effectively.

  Know Your Market

  To find out what sells, first know who you are marketing to. Are you selling background images to businesses, or wall art to middle aged couples? Be specific, don’t just sell “nice photos” to “anyone.” Unless you know your target market, you won’t be able to market effectively, and it will be harder to generate sales.

  Do some research. What are other people selling? Find out what is actually being sold, and what people have no interest in. People tend to buy prints that mean something to them; like pictures of familiar places, or of their local area. They also buy prints that they have a use for, like a decorative piece of wall art that matches their living room.

  Tag them up!

  Whether you are selling prints or stock images, be sure to use tags—lots of them. List the specifics. Instead of just “river” or “coast,” list which specific river, and which coast. List the city, state and country.  List the colors, and even the setting and mood; is it exciting, serene, or lonely? The more tags, the better the chances of your photo being found.

   

  powered by photoswarm

   

  Portfolio

  Your portfolio is your starting point for selling photography online. Be sure to only include your best work. Think of your portfolio as your online storefront; make sure it’s well presented and updated consistently.

  Photoswarm offers portfolio hosting for professionals, and is a great platform to use for showcasing your photos.

  Get Noticed

  Besides having a great portfolio, your success will be largely based on how well you promote your work. Be sure that you are doing general promotion, as well as targeted marketing.

  General promotion: just getting your name out there.

  Target marketing: marketing specifically to potential clients.

  General Promotion

  General promotion is standard online marketing. It’s important because it generates publicity. One of the first steps is setting up a business page on Facebook; be sure to keep your business page professional. Promote your work on social networks such as Twitter and Google+, but don’t stop there. Gain publicity by writing about photography and sending your articles and photos to online magazines that accept submissions. Register a blog and update it consistently. Link up your blog and social media sites. Post comments on other blogs, and contribute to discussions on photography forums. Most forums allow you a link in your signature; which you can link to your website or blog.

  Target marketing

  Target marketing involves promoting your work on sites that are frequented by your target market. Pinterest, where users can pin things they like and share them, is one helpful site for driving sales. Another way to advertise is by selling your photos on products; like greeting cards or calendars. Cafepress and Redbubble are a couple of sites that make this easy. You could also try selling on eBay or Etsy. If you sell prints or canvases as wall art, don’t rule out things like posting on forums discussing interior design or decorating; you never know where your next potential client may be!

  Do you have any tips for selling photos online? Share your knowledge in the comments below.

   
• 

  [INTERVIEW] Aviation Photographer Brodie Winkler

  Will 12:25 pm on April 15, 2013 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Interview (8), pro (18)

  In this Photoswarm Pro photographer interview, we check in with aviation photographer Brodie Winkler and discover what shooting aircraft it all about, the difficulties in involved and how to handle potentially tricky security situations.

  

  Brodie Winkler

  1. Tell us about your experiences getting started as a photographer?

  Well I would say it has been a major learning experience on many levels. Ranging from how to deal with people in sticky situations, to realizations such as you really do get what you pay for in terms of equipment quality.

  Photography is a journey where just when you think you have mastered it, you learn something new or a new feature comes out and the learning curve starts again.

   

  2. How did you get involved in the field of aviation photography?

  I actually started by doing video initially. The 2010 Winter Olympics had daily fighter movements at YVR and I decided to buy a camcorder to capture these unique flights, and have something to look back at. But after a while I was unsatisfied with having video as it was quite a hassle to post and edit. When the Abbotsford Airshow came around that year I decided to try my hand at still Photography. At the time all I had was our family’s old 35mm Canon with a 35-80mm lens. There was a lot to learn, but I walked away very happy with my results. When I ran into some excess cash later that year, the first thing I did was go out and buy my Canon 7D which is still my old faithful!

   

  3. What difficulties do you have to overcome when photographing aircraft?

  Well the airport environment itself is quite challenging. Wind, runway in use, angle, and lighting conditions are all variables that have to be considered to make a good capture. In addition, the security at different airports is always changing. For example YVR recently raised perimeter fence and added razor wire making it difficult to find a good shooting angle. Many are resorting to ladders or longer lenses to compensate.

   

  4. Do you have a pilot license?

  No, although I have had the opportunity to take the stick in both a T-6 Harvard and a PT-17 Kaydet for some basic flying. I have experienced some aerobatics, but those where flown by the aircraft owner.

   

  powered by photoswarm

   

  5. What type of equipment do you use?

  I have a Canon 7D, and kit 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses. I use four 8GB 200x speed CF cards, and also have a 8GB 800x speed CF card for those times when rapid shooting is a must. In future I would like a Canon 100-400mm IS L lens, but that is an investment for a little way down the road.

   

  6. Which one item of equipment would you say is the most important to you?

  The camera body. Initially when I started I was using an old 35mm Canon film camera and worked with a really old 35-80mm lens. It worked as a starter set-up, but I am a lot happier now with digital photography and my Canon 7D.

   

  7. What’s your favourite photography accessory, other than your camera?

  My car and my 20 foot ladder. The Pacific Northwest has a ton of different photo settings. If you can handle the fuel cost, sometimes the best opportunities are at the smaller airports. My favorite shot was at Squamish Airport, small airport where rarely anything goes on. I happened to be out there for a BBQ when I scored a shot of a Airspan Bell 212 fresh out of overhaul on its way to Vancouver Island. If you didn’t know better you would think the photo was taken in the bush.

  

  Airspan Bell 212 Helicopter

   

  8. Tell us something about you that very few people know?

  Hornet Hunter was actually a nickname I overheard one of the military personnel use during the 2010 Winter Olympics for me when I was nearby. It just stuck with me as it worked perfectly with what I like to do!

   

  9. Have you ever found yourself in a difficult situation while taking aviation photos?

  There is a list. However the first one that comes to mind is McChord Air Rodeo 2011. McChord Air Rodeo is a competition where various countries from around the world will send their best airmen and a transport aircraft to compete in various challenges such as an engine running offload. This is not open to the public but the fence at McChord AFB, is very close to the base at some points offering shots of the aircraft as they taxi by.

  At about 9am of day 2 of the Air Rodeo I had my lawn chair setup and was waiting for the next aircraft to taxi by when I was approached by an unmarked SUV but it was clearly some sort of police vehicle. I was approached by a member of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, my first thought was “This is gonna be rough”. I was wrong; once I explained to him why I was there and that I have a basic understanding of policies such as not to take photos of forces personnel. He was very understanding, and told me which areas to avoid where private property owners may get upset. He handed me his business card and told me to call him if I saw anything suspicious, and then proceeded to thank me for my co-operation and drove away.

  At about 2:30pm there was a Royal Netherlands Air Force C-130 that was starting up so I grabbed my camera and proceeded to the fence. I was standing there waiting for the C-130 to taxi when a pickup truck labeled “Security Forces” pulled up on the other side of the fence. The person got out of the truck and began to tell me I couldn’t take photos. Remaining polite I explained why I was there and that I wasn’t photographing airmen. He told me I couldn’t take photos without a written letter from the base commander and to put the camera away and leave before he called the Tacoma Sheriff Department, promising me they wouldn’t be nearly “as nice” as he had been.

  A little frustrated that I didn’t get a shot of the RNLAF C-130 that taxied by and having him standing there watching me to make sure I leave I decided to call the Special Investigator that I had met and spoken to earlier. After explaining the situation to him on the phone I was told to stay put and he would be with me shortly. I patiently waited as I continued to be watched. About 20 minutes after I made the call the investigator showed up, went straight to the security forces officer and talked to him for about a minute before the security forces personnel got back in his truck looking frustrated. The Special Investigator came over and we had a brief discussion before I thanked him and he drove off. I wasn’t bothered by security forces again that day, although I still wish I had got a photo of that Netherlands C-130!

   

  powered by photoswarm

   

  10. How important is Photoshop in your final images?

  I actually don’t use Photoshop. I use the basic editing software that came with my camera. I prefer not to do a lot to the photo; up the contrast a little, a little crop and levelling, maybe adjust the brightness. I like to keep the editing to a minimum.

   

  11. Do you mainly photograph at airshows or do you have contacts allowing you to work with the military and airports etc?

  I am still an amateur and this is still more a hobby than work, However I do work for a ground handling company as a ramp-lead at YVR which permits me ramp access during the hours I am scheduled to work. If I have free time and if there is something worth taking a photo of, I will usually take my lunch break for it.

  Outside of YVR I have a few contacts here and there but I usually do a bit of fence crawling, maybe some research with various sites as to how friendly the airport is for spotting from outside the fence. When airshow season comes around I like to travel and attend as many shows as I can.

  This season I hope to make it to:

  MCAS Yuma Airshow – March 9, Yuma, AZ
  Defenders of Liberty Air Show – May 4-5, Barksdale AFB, Bossier City, LA
  Skyfest 2013 – May 18-19 Fairchild AFB, Spokane, WA
  Tacoma Freedom Fair – July 4 Tacoma, WA
  American Heroes Airshow – July 13 Boeing Field, Seattle, WA
  Olympic Airshow – July 14 Olympia Regional Airport, Olympia, WA
  Oregon International Airshow – July 26-28 Portland-Hillsboro Airport, Portland, OR
  Seafair – August 2-4 Lake Washington, Seattle, WA
  Abbotsford Airshow – August 9-11 Abbotsford, BC
  Comox Airshow – August 17, CFB Comox, Comox, BC
  MCAS Miramar Airshow – October 4-6, San Diego, CA
  Aviation Nation – November 9-10 Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, NV

   

  12. How important is a great photo website for your photography?

  Extremely important! I initially got this site so I had a proper website name to put on my business card. After the past airshow season and having lots of e-mail addresses on the notepad of my phone, I decided I needed a proper website and a business card to make it easier to promote myself. Having these items has increased my opportunities as time goes on.

   

  powered by photoswarm

   

  13. What aspect or feature of Photoswarm do you most value?

  In terms of cost and ease of use, the site has turned out to be a great investment. It has increased exposure of my photography work and has given me opportunities I might not have received otherwise. A proper website and branding is very important for the promotion of my activities.

   

  14. How has Photoswarm helped with what you want to achieve with your photography?

  I have gotten several great opportunities as a result of having an online portfolio. Just recently I had the opportunity to photograph two helicopters up close as they were taking off, as a result of Photoswarm. I feel this site has helped me get my name out there, and with recognition of my work. With airshow season very soon, I believe the site will help me get noticed even more!

   

  15. How long have you been doing Aviation Photography?

  In absolute terms I am a relative newcomer. I really only got into serious photography about two years ago. I am still learning a lot of things and am working hard to refine my technique, and to get my name out there.

   

  16. What is your personal favorite photo you have taken?

  An OH-58 Kiowa as it departed the American Heroes Air Show in Seattle last year. I just really like the composition of the shot and how it turned out. I have plans to print it and have it framed.

  

  OH-58 Kiowa Helicopter

   

  17. What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

  “Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator” by Gary Noesner. Simply because it is a very interesting read and it helps kill time while waiting for the sunset, the next airshow performer, or just simply when there is nothing going on.

   

  18. What advice would you have for photographers interested in mastering aviation photography?

  Confidence is number one! I have had my fair share of close calls with security, police, and the military, and I have found the key to dealing with these situations is confidence. In a situation where you are deemed “suspicious” the best thing is to be confident. If you are nervous they usually see that and think you are hiding something. Confidence can also lead to some opportunities. If you are at the local airport and a military aircraft is in town, talk to the crew if you get the chance; ask them if they can take you on the apron. If you are confident and they are not on a mission at the time they will usually take you out!

  Ask the community. When I first started I had no experience at all. I learned all I know about photography from scratch without classes. The community is a tool that’ll help guide you when you feel lost. When I had issues I asked questions on forums. For example my first photos where incredibly grainy. I found out about ISO, F-stop, long exposures, and shooting stances by asking around in the community.

  Dedication pays off. I have had countless times where I’ve spent 8 hours at an airport and walked away with nothing out of the ordinary. But dedication pays…I have captured lots of aircraft people had no idea were arriving as a result of this dedication and waiting. From a Qatar Amiri Flight executive 747-8I on a delivery flight, to a Swedish Air force C-130. Aircraft such as these often cannot be tracked, and can pop up anytime.

  Finally, take the time and put your camera down once in a while. I find this is important to help keep it an enjoyable experience. If you are always shooting and never just taking the moment in, then it begins to feel too much like a job and you begin to lose the passion for what you do.

  Happy Shooting!

   
  ————————————————————————————————————–
  Brodie’s work can be found on his pro Photoswarm portfolio and you can also read other pro photographer interviews.

   
• 

  Couples Photography 101: How to Sell Couples Photography Services

  Will 12:58 pm on April 9, 2013 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Couples, Guide, Tips (3)

  I recently sat down with a couple, who were celebrating their second year wedding anniversary. I asked them what they would look for in a photographer, if they were to need one to document their special occasion.

  While they both had different ideas regarding photography services, their main points were the same: quality came first, followed by pricing. “We would rather pay a bit more money, and have better photos,” they said.

   

  

   

  While there are many different factors that people consider when choosing a photographer, when it comes down to it, there is no competing with quality.

  Couples Photography 101

  Preferences

  When selling your photography services to couples, be sure to include both of them in the decision making process. Both parties often have different ideas about what they want in a photo session so listen carefully when discussing ideas with them. She may want a candid photoshoot with lots of scenery incorporated in, while he may be less certain about it. Make sure you pick a location and session that they are both comfortable with, and don’t forget to keep the whole process relaxed and fun!

  Prep Work

  Meet with your couple before the shoot to break the ice. Instead of just boring studio shots, offer customized photoshoots that are catered specifically for each couple. Each couple has a unique story; your job is to tell that story through your photography. Maybe your couple first met in a park, or even in a restaurant. You could take them back to that place to recreate this special event. You can also get ideas by finding out what common interests that they have. Maybe they both like horseback riding, or beachcombing. You could set up a photoshoot of them having fun together on location. This will create an environment to produce photography that is special and meaningful to them, as well helping to set the stage for better natural and candid photography.

  Portfolio

  Your success as a photographer is largely determined by the quality of your work. Having a great online portfolio is essential, not only for showcasing your best work, but for giving potential customers a view of the different services you offer. Try to use photographs that will appeal to a wide customer base.

  If you do engagements for example, show several different styles of engagement photography. If you don’t have a portfolio already, it’s a good idea to start working on one, as portfolios can take time to build up. You can create a free portfolio quickly and easily with Photoswarm now.

  Packages

  One of the best ways to sell photography services is to offer packages. Packages make it easy to price your photography, and are great for selling additional photography services too. One example of this is including engagement shoots in wedding packages. Keep your packages uncluttered; only include features that people actually want. More words don’t mean more value; simply worded packages are more attractive than busy ones.

   

  powered by photoswarm

  Promote, promote, promote!

  While there are many ways to promote your photography, not all promotion is created equal.

  Ads, social media, and networking can all help, but the most effective form of advertising is from satisfied clients telling their friends about you. Most of your business will likely come from either repeat customers or referrals, so treat your customers well!

  Ask your clients if you can add them on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, and offer specials and discounts through those platforms. Offer clients freebies, give discounts, and deliver more than they expect. Go the extra mile.

  Your website can also be optimized to promote you better. Be sure to keyword your images to make them easy to find through search engines and also add information to your website about you, what you do and where you’re located. Google Analytics is another great tool to use when trying increase your online presence as it can tell you what people are searching to find you.

  Don’t be afraid to promote. Offer additional services to clients; be sure to let your family portrait customers know that you also do couples photography, and give discounts for bigger purchases. Just avoid using aggressive sales techniques—no one likes pushy salesmen.

  Remember, couples photography is all about capturing the feelings and interactions between two people. This is true whether it’s an engagement session, an anniversary shot, or any other special occasion.

  What about you? What is your niche in photography? What have you found helps you promote your work?

   
• 

  10 Amazing Photography Blogs for 2013

  Will 5:18 pm on April 2, 2013 | 1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: blogs, Inspiration, sharing (3)

  One of the best ways to find inspiration is by browsing the work of others. In photography this is especially true. Looking through photography blogs can give you a fresh perspective and tons of new ideas to work with.

  Here are ten amazing photography blogs that have great content and presentation.

  Browsing them is sure to leave you inspired!

   

  

  Amazing Photography Blogs 2013

  1. Bobbi + Mike

  Blog: Bobbi + Mike

  Mike and Bobbi are a husband and wife photography team located in Indiana. They specialize in weddings, portraits and lifestyle photography. Being a two person team allows them to capture a double perspective, and takes you behind the scenes in some of their photos. Their photography is real, candid, and alive.

  2. Shelly Paulson Photography

  Blog: Shelly Paulson Photography

  Shelly Paulson is a wedding, portrait, and equine photographer. Most of her photography takes place in Minnesota, but she is also available for travel both within and outside of the US. Shelly lives through photography, and is passionate about capturing the beauty of life in her photographs.

  3. Cornforth Wilderness Photography

  Blog: Conforth Wilderness Photography

  Jon Cornforth is the photographer behind the camera at cornforthimages.com. He is an internationally acclaimed wilderness photographer whose work has received various awards and widespread recognition. Jon goes to great lengths to photograph animals such as penguins, bears, and whales in their natural environments. Check out his spectacular scenic photography too.

  4. Jasmine Star Photography

  Blog: Jasmine Star Photography

  If you’re looking for inspiration, Jasmine’s website is the place to go. Her blog has a sleek design, and is full of amazing photography, everything from weddings to portraiture. She also has an incredible writing style that is engaging and makes you feel as if you’ve known her a long time.

   

  powered by photoswarm

  5. Daily Walks

  Blog: Daily Walks

  While her website is called “Daily Walks” Diane’s photos are far from just being “every-day.” Each of her photos is a spectacular display of the natural beauty found in everyday life. Diane’s work also has received many awards and much recognition.

  6. Stuck in Customs

  Blog: Stuck In Customs

  Trey Ratcliff’s website “Stuck in Customs” is the number one travel photography blog on the Internet. Trey travels the world taking photos and writing about his experiences. His photos get over a million views a week, and it’s easy to see why! With his awesome photography, fun and engaging writing style, and the promise of a photo a day, his blog is nothing short of amazing.

  7. Eye Poetry

  Blog: Eye Poetry

  Irene is a fine art and wedding photographer based in Montreal, Quebec. Her photographs have a surreal dreamlike quality to them, and are best described as visual poems. Irene lives in Canada, but travels the world from Paris to San Francisco taking artistic photographs. Irene is currently the top selling photographer on ETSY, and has had her work featured in shows such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Her work has also been in various film sets, design blogs, and various gallery shows.

  8. David Kleinert Photography

  Blog: David Kleinert Photography

  David is a nature and wildlife photographer located in Victoria Australia. After being inspired by other photography sites, David decided to publish his photography as well. His photos of the natural world in Australia offer an up close and fascinating look at the birds and wildlife that live in that unique part of the world.

  9. Natalia Maks

  Blog: Natalia Maks

  How you view life, shines through your photography in more than one way. Natalia Maks has a passion for life, photography and travel. Her enthusiasm shows through into her photography.

  10. Jeremy Cowart

  Blog: Jeremy Cowart

  This blog definitely deserves a mention. Jeremy Cowart’s website is full of various portraits of well known celebrities: including Taylor Swift, Tim Tebow, and the Kardashians. His website is also packed with many other projects he does as well. Jeremy is a world renowned photographer, speaker, and artist. He is also the founder of “Help Portrait;” a community of photographers using photography to give to people in need. Be sure to check out his website for inspiration on photography, and on helping others.

   

  powered by photoswarm

  BONUS EXTRA – Meeno Peluce

  Blog: Meeno Photo

  Aside from being an incredible photographer, writer and actor, Meeno is also one of the nicest guys we’ve ever met. He’s also got an amazing life story.

   

  Photoswarm has seen its share of amazing photography too, and has even had the chance to feature some interviews with great photographers like Patrick Ward and Alex Callister. We’re always on the lookout for new photographers to feature, so if you know a blog that deserves a mention, just post a link in the comments below.

   
  • 

    Jurnee Katzel 5:38 pm on April 2, 2013 Permalink
    

    I am a budding photographer and i have a blog worth checking out.

• 

  How to Set Prices When Selling Photos Online

  Will 4:13 pm on March 26, 2013 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Business (2), how to (5), Pricing, pro (18), sell photos (6)

  Selling photography online is becoming increasingly popular.

  Many professional photographers are using online photo sales to make some extra money and as a way to increase publicity.

  But while selling photos online can be a rewarding experience, pricing your photos can seem like a daunting task.

  With so many different pricing methods available, as well as a wide range of pricing on photography prints and imagery, how can you decide what amount to charge for your photos?

  While there is no one-size-fits-all way of pricing, with a little research and some practice you will soon become adept at accurately pricing your photos.

   

  

  Selling Photos Online

  There are two common ways of selling photos online.

  First, you can sell through stock imagery sites.

  The second is creating a website portfolio or portfolios.

  While both of these options have advantages and disadvantages, it’s often a combination of both that produces the best results.

  Stock Imagery Websites

  The advantage of stock photo websites is that they take much of the hassle out of the process.

  You can upload your images, making sure they are well key-worded so customers can find them and then forget about them, leaving the promotion and pricing to someone else.

  However, the downside is that you have less control over the pricing, and stock imagery websites take a large commission from each photo that sells.

  Website Portfolio

  Website portfolios allow you more flexibility than stock imagery sites, giving you the option of selling your photos as either imagery or as prints.

  Photoswarm offers free online portfolio hosting, with an optional upgrade to Pro and Studio accounts, which allows you to sell your photography directly from your portfolio.

  Selling through a portfolio is a great option for professional photographers as it gives you complete control over pricing and with Photoswarm, you can sell your photography commission free!

  You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got your own domain name and all of the benefits that provides you as a professional photographer.

  So just how much should you charge for your photos?

  How to Set Photography Prices

  Most basic prints usually sell for anything from $4.00 to $140.00.

  Images have a wide range of pricing too with some images selling for pennies and others reaching into the hundreds.

  Here are a few of the different factors that can affect photography prices.

  Licensing on Images

  When you license an image, you sell permission to use that image in a particular way for a certain length of time. Licensing doesn’t matter if you are selling prints however when selling images, licensing is a major factor that affects pricing.

  While you might charge $35.00 to allow a company to use one of your images in brochure, selling off the exclusive copyright causes the price to be considerably higher.

  Read up on the different licensing rules so you know what you are selling when you sell image rights.

  The Buyer

  The customer you are marketing to will have a big effect on the price. Whether you are selling photos to magazines or marketing your images to corporate clients, keep your target customer base in mind and know their average budget.

  Repeatability

  Aim for uniqueness. If your image is unique, or is a photo of a onetime event, it will be more in demand and worth more.

   

  powered by photoswarm

   

  Packages

  Offering packages is a great way to price your prints.

  Price your prints in a way that will encourage customers to buy more.

  For example, selling one matte 5×7 print for $29.00, two for $49.00 and three for $55.00 will encourage bulk buying.

  Pricing Barriers

  Try to keep your prices below “pricing barriers.”

  Keeping prices under barriers is a strategy retail stores use to make prices more attractive. Use prices such as $48.00 instead of $50.00 or $99.00 instead of $100.00.

  Pricing Calculation

  One standard way of calculating print prices is to find out how much each print costs you to produce, then to multiply this figure by four. This gives you a standard retail price.

  Say a framed and matted print costs $40.00 for the cost of goods sold (COGS) including the cost of framing materials. Multiply this by four and you have a total of $160.00 for your selling value.

  Of course, this is just a starting point; you may have to adjust the figure to make it work for your market.

  Remember, there is no definite right or wrong way to price photos, it’s all about finding what works for you and your customers.

  What methods do you use when pricing photos? Do you prefer to sell through stock imagery sites or your own portfolio?

  We’d love to hear your thoughts!

   
• 

  What Is Freelance Photography and How You Can Become a Professional Freelancer

  Will 7:15 am on February 20, 2013 | 1 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Business (2), Freelance, how (5), pro (18), sell photos (6)

  So you take great photographs, and maybe you’re thinking of starting your own freelance photography business. How can you tell if you have what it takes to make the leap from part time professional, to full time business owner?

  What is Freelance Photography?

  Freelance photography is photography done on a per contract basis. Instead of working for an employer, a freelancer works on multiple projects for different clients.

   

  

  Know the Business

  Freelance photography is more than just taking pictures; most freelancers find that much of their time is spent doing other things. Business, dealing with clients, invoicing, estimates, paying bills and marketing are some of the things you will take on if you go into business for yourself. Dealing with people is a huge part of the business too, so it’s essential that you enjoy doing this.

  Equipment

  You will need a DSLR, several lenses, memory cards, flash, and a spare battery pack. One idea is to buy used equipment, saving some money. You are looking at somewhere between $1000 and $1500 for these initial purchases, but of course you probably have some of this equipment already, making your initial expenditures less.

  Experience

  As a freelancer, it’s important that you have plenty of experience. Take your camera with you when you go out. Offer to shoot for friends, doing portraits or even birthdays. Remember though, that the field that you specialize in is one that you want to fill your portfolio with. If you want to do real estate photography, having a portfolio full of pet portraits obviously isn’t as helpful to you as house photographs would be.

  Pricing

  How do you know what to set your prices at? This is something that even experienced freelancers struggle with. One option is to ask your customer what their budget is. This gives you an idea of how much they are prepared to pay, and lets you know if they are serious. If the customer gives you a quote that is ridiculously cheap, you know that the job may not be worth your time. I have found that customers who don’t want to pay very much are often the ones who are the hardest to please.

  Portfolio

  A great portfolio is one of your most important assets. You don’t have to include every photo you have ever taken, just use your best shots. You can include personal projects too; most prospective clients won’t mind if the work in your portfolio is for paid work or personal.

   

  powered by photoswarm

   

  Additionally, creating a descriptive domain name that matches your business is important. It’s important for establishing your brand. You’ll look professional with an email address from your own website and there are also SEO benefits.

  Photoswarm offers online portfolio hosting, and best of all you can try it for free.

  Go Get Them!

  Unless you have been in business awhile, clients aren’t likely to approach you with work; you have to go to them.

  Online is a great place to promote your work and find potential clients. It’s helpful to have a portfolio, a blog, and to promote your work through social media.

  Marketing in person is also important. Have some business cards made to hand out to people you know. Get involved with photography events in your area.

  Be sure to keep in touch with former clients, you want to be fresh in their minds when they next need a photographer. Getting your name out there is essential for your success.

  What about you? Have you made the jump to freelancer? What are some tips you have learned along the way? Let us know.

   
• 

  Automate Your Photography Business - Files & Data

  Will 5:54 pm on January 28, 2013 | 0 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Backblaze, Backups, Dropbox, facebook (9), Google Drive, IFTTT.com, Synchronisation, twitter (7)

  What’s the one thing you love doing as a photographer? Taking photos right? What gets in the way of taking photos? Making a business out of taking photos!

  Help is at hand though. This is the first of a series of posts dedicated to letting you know about the different services, apps and ways of working that can help you automate and better organise your photography business—starting today with the very important but sometimes messy domain of files and data.

  

   

  1. Backups

  When was the last time you backed up your photos? Yesterday? Last week? Last month?! The answer should be continuously.

  Your photos are your business and you can’t afford to take any risks with them. Backblaze is a cloud based backup service that for $5 per month (discounts are available on their yearly plans) will backup an unlimited amount of data from your computer to their cloud based servers.

  This is great for a number of reasons:

  • Backblaze works continuously in the background meaning you won’t have to think about backups ever again
  • You can backup an unlimited amount of data
  • Backups are offsite (away from your home or office) meaning even the worst happens, your data won’t be affected
  • If you use a Firewire or USB hard drive, that will get backed up also
  • If your computer explodes, you can either restore mission critical files directly from their website, or get everything send to you on a flash drive or USB hard drive

  It does take quite an amount of time to complete your first backup (think months not weeks depending on the speed of your Internet connection) but once your initial upload is complete, you can begin to feel a deep sense of calm knowing your important data is safe.

  Bonus super sleuth feature: Backblaze also has a computer tracking feature meaning that if your computer gets stolen, you can turn this feature on and get some incredibly useful information (a handy map of where the thief is currently hiding, the IP address of your computer and what new files it’s now backing up) to allow you, or the authorities, to try and recover it.

   

  powered by photoswarm

   

  2. Synchronisation

  How many machines / devices do you have? A desktop at home and a laptop for traveling? An iPad for meeting with clients? There’s bound to be a smartphone in the mix somewhere too.

  Services like Dropbox and Google Drive bridge the gap between all of your different devices / computers and have all but put an end to the era of burning CDs, transferring files via USB flash drives and emailing attachments.

  Getting this type of synchronisation setup is as easy as installing their software / app onto your computer / device, logging into their service on each device / computer you’ve got, moving some of your files into their synchronisation folder and then sitting back to watch as your files get seamlessly synchronised to every digital device you own.

  You can use these services in your photography business to great effect when sending files and photos to clients also. Rather than creating 23 emails titled “Urgent Photos That Must Each Be Smaller Than A Silly Quota (1 of 23)”, you can compose a single email with a simple link to the file you want to send, or invite your client to view and even edit entire folders.

  Depending on the size of the files on your machine you can under certain circumstances use Dropbox or Google Drive as a backup service although it’s worth noting that they will cover only the files you’ve deliberately moved into their synchronisation folders—Backblaze covers your whole machine (but doesn’t do synchronisation between devices).

   

  3. IFTTT.com—One service to rule them all

  While this post is about files and data, that’s only part of what IFTTT.com does. I wanted to include it in the first post of this series because it’s really a service that sits over the top of many other services and allows you to connect, mash and sync them all together with amazing creativity.

  IFTTT.com works on the basis of channels and recipes. Channels are the different services, apps or things (e.g: email, Dropbox, Instagram, the weather, dates, Twitter etc—the list is long) and recipes are ways of connecting these channels together and making them interact.

  For example, if you want IFTTT.com to send you an email each morning telling you what the weather is going to be like, then you can create a recipe to do that (or more likely someone will have already created a recipe).

  There’s a seemingly infinite amount of recipes you can create and ways you can make services connect and these ways will be unique to you and what services you use however think in terms of automating tasks that you may do manually now.

  When you create a blog post, do you manually post that on Twitter, Facebook and other services etc? Try creating a recipe for it. Want all your Instagram photos saved to Dropbox? No problem. Need your Evernote account to interact with your email? Your Twitter account with your Phone? All of these channels and many more are covered by IFTTT.com.

   

  powered by photoswarm

   
  ————————————————————————————————————–

  Do you use Backblaze already? Does Dropbox already form part of your workflow? Have you discovered any amazing IFTTT.com recipes that we should know about? Please let us know.