News, Tips, Articles for the Photography Professional

Volume 6
January 31, 2009

In This Issue

Professional Photographers Take
Online Proofing to a New Level, continued.

Are You Charging for the Wrong Thing as a Professional Photographer?, continued.

Your real value is in the professional vision you have that makes you different from every other wedding and portrait photographer out there. The thing that makes you better than the photography studio at Wal-Mart is how you choose to take the photo-not the photo itself. So, if your true value is your photography skills, then why set your prices on the actual print? The photo would be nothing if you didn't have the unique picture-taking skills you have.

You need to make a paradigm shift-for yourself and then your clients-regarding those things for which you are charging.

How to Make the Paradigm ShiftWhat I have found works beautifully for my photographer clients is a complete overhaul of their pricing strategy. The focus should be placed on the photo session itself, not on the prints.

The most crucial part of the photography session is capturing the images-not the printing of the images. Anyone can print an image, but not everyone can capture the perfect moment. It's the capturing of that moment that the client really wants, and that's why he or she is hiring you. Therefore, you need to focus on charging for the photographic process.

How Do I Charge for the Real Value?Sit down and decide the minimum you want to make on each wedding or portrait project. Then, set your prices according to that minimum.

For example, let's say you want to make a minimum of $5000 for each project; simply set your baseline there. Then, create three "packages" that your client can select. The $5000 becomes your price just to take the pictures. Each package selected from there is then a bit more.

Package A could be $6000, package B could be $7500, and package C, $10,000. While your clients can select the package they want after seeing the images, they should be asked to pay the $5000 up front. That $5000 acts as a paid credit toward the selected package.

Stop "Nickel & Diming" the ClientCharge your clients for value and avoid charging in ways that "nickel and dime" them, and they will actually pay you more! Really, we all know the expenses to make a 3x5, 4x6, and 8x10 don't really vary all that much, so why charge the client for a specific size? While some people don't value an 8x10 as better than a 5x7, they do value choosing what works best for them. Rather than giving them two 4x6 images, two 5x7 images, and one 8x10-inch in the package, give them the option of getting five images of their choice up to an 8x10-inches. This approach makes things simpler, and it shifts the focus from the prints to the value of choice.

Now, I know what I'm about to say next is quite controversial, but another way to raise value is to offer what most photographers wouldn't ever dream of in their packages-all the digital images (gasp!). You could, as part of your most expensive package, give the client the digital images to do with as he or she pleases. This will raise the value of your premium package option dramatically, giving the client incentive to pay even more!Really, if your focus is on your talent for capturing the right moments, then why not give the client every digital image should he or she choose to pay for it? It's an option few photographers are willing to offer, and one that would certainly make you and your packages stand out.

Also, stop charging for exact amounts of time or other "nickel and dime" items, such as dinner at the wedding. The client is paying you to capture moments. You shouldn't be charging them for your meals or your time. Refocus how you think about what it is you are getting paid for. Get comfortable pricing those services that the client values, and I promise you, the client will pay the bills.

Every industry has ups and downs, though it's during the down times that the smart businesses succeed. If you want to continue making money in this business, you have to make some dramatic changes in how you charge and for what you charge. Many photographers are killing their businesses by hanging on to the old ways of pricing or doing just what "everyone else is doing." Break away from the pack and start charging for what the client really values , and you will see an increase in revenue and an increase in high-paying clients.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kirstin Carey is the author of Starving Artist No More: Hearty Business Strategies for Creative Folks. Kirstin knows most creative professionals hate sales, contracts and discussing money. She consults photographers and other creative folks on the business side of creativity so they set better fees, make more money and get better clients. Get proven strategies and insider secrets guaranteed to help creative types like you get the business help you want at www.MyCreativeBiz.com.

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Photography: Tips and Methods, continued.

Many professional photographers try to capture their subject’s true essence by using tricks. One example of this is counting to three so the subject prepares and then while they are relaxing after taking a planned photo the photographer will snap a few more unplanned photos. In most cases the subject won’t even know that more than one photo was taken but it’s usually the photos that the subject wasn’t expecting that capture their true essence.

Another more common strategy professionals use is to tell funny jokes that make their subjects genuinely laugh or smile. I’m sure that you have probably experienced something like this yourself.

CLOSE-UP PORTRAITS

These usually have the subject’s shoulders and head or less. They are framed around the face. These are the most common and best at capturing expressions and glamour shots. For these it is very important to have the light coming from a good angle. To accent wrinkles or small details you should have the light coming from the side or from the top. To create flattering pictures you should choose a cloudy day or try to create diffused light so there are hardly any shadows. Also make sure the subject is brighter than the background to reduce distraction.

For close-up portraits you should use a wide aperture (low f/stop) to make the background out of focus and therefore less of a distraction. Professionals commonly use a fixed telephoto lens that’s 90 mm or higher for portraits in order to de-emphasize the subject’s nose or any other unflattering feature. It works because at that distance the nose or any other feature does not seem closer to the camera than the rest of the face.

UPPER BODY OR MIDRANGE PORTRAITS

These are easier to capture because the subject is probably more relaxed because it’s less personal. These include a little more of the background than close-ups. These are commonly used for both single subjects and multiple subjects. This is the kind of portrait used to mark occasions such as graduation, yearbook, birthdays and other parties. The ideal lens would be about a 90 mm fixed telephoto or more wide angle depending on how many subjects there are.

ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS

These are the portraits that let you into the life of a subject. They might include the whole subject in a scenario or the subject participating in some hobby that they enjoy. These are best for telling a story to the viewer about the subject. They are almost always used by photojournalists to look into the lives of interesting people. They also make great Black and White pictures.

Use this information to develop what kind of portrait style you would like to take , and then practice it before dealing with any serious clients.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Schneider is a digital photography enthusiast and founder of www.picturecorrect.com which offers tips and news about digital photography, digital camera reviews, photoshop tutorials and computer wallpaper.

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Photography 101: Creating Mood With Color, continued.

Let's understand the core of a photo or a painting for that matter. Human subconsciousness readily sees things in symmetry. Therefore, a symmetrical figurine or view would register faster. Asymmetrical view (in this case a photograph) would also catch attention but with some portions drawing more attention than others.

Next comes the color and texture. Colors in your photograph can have an impact in two ways. One, through the contrast created by using colors of ‘cooler hues' along with colors of ‘warmer hues'. Second, through the use of a color-type in dominance you could create vibrance, tranquility or royal elegance. Red, Orange and Yellow of the spectrum are warm colors. Blue, Purple and Green on the other hand are cool colors

If a photograph is created with a contrast, the warmer tones need to be occupying less space as these colors draw away attention. They have an effect of warmth & excitement, which when used in excess can also be agitating.

Red is the best choice for creating warmth & passion in your photo. Why on earth did you think that Valentine's Day is all about red flowers, red balloons and a long flowing red dress? Red with a background in white adds drastic contrast but has an element of grace to it.

Orange is a mixture of yellow and red. It therefore, brings in enthusiasm and warmth. Nature's best hues are when the sun goes down and colors the sky in a confused array of pink, orange and yellow.

Yellow reflects most of the light and thus draws lots of attention; too bright a shade will leave you irritated. Prolonged exposure can also have a tiring effect. It is best used in down-tones; as background for white articles/figures.

Green is the color of tranquility and vibrance. It's nature's color and often gets used in pro photography for food advertising. It seems perfect when paired up with yellow. They have opposite impacts on your mood. Though it may sound like a garish combination, when used in equal proportions it has lasting impact on your photographs.

Blue produces a sense of calmness, which edges more towards sadness. Someone once said-‘I am felling blue'. Blue is also a very responsible color, very corporate and powerful, when paired with black.

Black has varied meanings in different cultures across the globe. Universally, it's the color of choice for most formal occasions equally for men and women. It magically makes your outline look much slimmer. It takes in all the color and should be used sparingly in photos. Most welcome to be used with warm colors or when the sentiment is serious..

Use white and pink to create a softer look. White creates a sense of space and is ideal to give a deeper look to your photograph. And if you got a flared pink dress , just sit on the green rug across a white background to get clicked….you will appreciate and cherish that photo hanging on your wall for years and years to come.

Now that you are aware of what colors can do to the photographs! Now go enliven yourself with those snazzy snaps in the living room or retire in that lounge area with cool blues. Ah! and not to forget the right kind of shades too.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Domen Lombergar runs a photography portal it's full of tips, tricks, techniques and other photography advice. Check out some photography tutorials today!

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The Rise Of Digital Photography And Photo Editor Software, continued.

Gone are the days where sophisticated software was the domain of professional photographers and the graphic designer. With the growth of the internet, online tutorials, educational services and streaming media presentations provide the ability for anyone with the desire to learn to acquire the skills in a minimum amount of time.

Whether you want to repurpose existing photos, remove blemishes, reduce redness, compile a slideshow or export the finished production to a range of media friendly formats, photo editing software can help you to achieve your goals. With such a diverse range of options, securing software doesn’t have to be costly. In fact, you can get free software by downloading it from the internet. In most cases, the help files are self explanatory and you can bring yourself up to speed in no time.

Online photo editors also provide versatility to edit images on the move. You can upload images to the net, repurpose and distribute via email. For enthusiasts who want to share with family and friends, online photo galleries provide the means to do so. Print Your Photos Online @ Printyourphotosonline.com, Google picasa and photobucket are popular websites that provide a range of digital editing and sharing solutions.

The advancements in photo editing software also provide the ability to create professional grade DVD presentations for personal or commercial use. Burning images to DVD for storage purposes or displaying them as a DVD or slideshow is a quick and convenient way to store and display images. With advancements in printer capability, printing out your own images , either straight from the digital camera or after software repurposing is now a practical reality.

The trend in digital camera use is set to continue and digital photo editing is set to grow in importance as more people discover how easy photo manipulation has become.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew Winthorp is a freelance writer for http://www.photo-editor-resource.com Photo Editor Learn about software solutions, processing, printing and accessories for bringing your treasured memories to life.

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