Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Mid West

So starting on April 20th I will be traveling to the mid west area for a client.  This project will take about 3 months to complete.  I will flying to each state and then driving to each location within the state (KY, IN, OH, PA, MI & WI).  So I decide to capture my own version of "Americana".  I will be posting images along the way and also would post a schedule of my driving.  And if you know of anything that I should see and shoot...post it!


Thursday, April 2, 2009

Keira Knightley stars in Women’s Aid ad

This is powerful

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Harlan Ellison -- Pay the Writer

So this bring up a good point and how most industry are going it seems.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Did the Digital Camera kill the biz?

Has the digital camera killed the photography business?  


The Federal Bureau of Statistics states that "pro photography is one of the the only professions that has not had any income growth in 14 years. Only 5 percent growth in 27 years. Equipment costs 10 times what it did 30 years ago".


Since the digital camera has come into main stream hands, there has been a lot more competition with the average amateur.  That has also driven down the fees.  Should professional photographer be worried?  Yes and no.  I think digital camera has killed the "traditional business" of photography.  Meaning on time you had to know how to light a subject, product, interior or whatever.  You had to estimate the number of polaroids in your bid.  The more polaroids you used the more it was charge to you or the client.  Now with digital there is none of that.  You can keep deleting the file until you get it right.  You could shoot 200 frames to get it right from one shot.  Imagine 200 8 x 10 polaroids or 4 x 5 polaroids for on shot.  Cha Ching.   Not only do you have to know about the cameras, but the editing programs that go along with it.  


Personally, I find it a very exciting time.  With more people going after the same work it makes you step up your game.  For me, I feel I have an advantage....experience.  The longer you have been doing something , the more comfortable you become.  Can I handle 20 person production in several locations, of course.  Could I have handle it say 10 years ago.  Not on your life.  


So has the digital camera killed the business?  It has just changed it.  The camera is just a tool.  Same with all the all the other software programs.  You have to know how to work the tools,  of course.  But talent trumps all.  My experience has been the longer you are doing something the better you become.  Which in turn is the experience.  Having the new latest camera / program is not going to make you a better photographer.  You taking more pictures is going to make you a better photographer.


I write this to remind me that I need to practice what I preach. So off I go and shoot to become a better photographer.


Tuesday, March 24, 2009

What Magazine are looking for

I created a few of the most asked questions to me about magazines.  So I asked the people I have relationship with.  These are magazine that represent perhaps the top 5 home decor magazine.  These answer have not been doctored in any way.  They have asked to remain anonymous for legal reasons. 

 Here are the questions and answers....Each color represents the magazine's response

 HI XYZ,

 

I know your crazy busy. I was wondering if you can help me out for a second. I'm doing a "how to" or "do's and don't" video with interior designers that want to be published. Sorta like this one I did on a shoot on my blog: http://scottvandyke.blogspot.com/

 The idea is to inform interior designers what magazines are looking for from the source. I think this would be very good for interior designers not to waste the magazine time or get their expectation up. So if could just answer a couple of question that would be so helpful.


1What is the biggest oversight or mistake with submissions? You can limit one answer or add as many needed. (example...someone sent you a "heavy" country home look and we a contemporary magazine)

 

We need a very extensive explanation of the home’s green features. Also, we need scouting photos of both the exterior and interior (every room). Both of those are often overlooked.

 

#1 biggest mistake? When the person submitting hasn't looked at recent issues of XYZ home. Not understanding that a review process takes time and not understanding a monthly magazine's lead times.

 

I think the the biggest mistake is that people THINK they CAN’T send in a submission. They’re under a misconception that you have to know someone or that we’re looking for a particular style. We consider every submission equally.

 

it really  doesn’t matter if someone sends me contemporary homes even though that’s something we don’t cover...it’s the quality of the photographs that I’m interested in...only problem I have is with digital images – if they take long to open

 

I would agree with the above. Sometimes I get submissions of homes that are not appropriate to the magazine. Not be be a snob, but the home will not be "High-end" enough for the XYZ reader.

 

people sending content that doesn't match that of our publication.  

 

 

2. How does your magazine like to see submissions? (examples...Hard prints, prints with captions or digitally).

 

Digital is great…j-pegs and a Word document listing green features and other pertinent information.

 

how to submit? When someone doesn't know me or XYZ home....with a cd of low res images plus a project description sent in the mail.

 

Hard prints or laser printouts are the best way to present projects these days. 4x5 or 2 1/4” transparencies are still ok. Emailed submissions or disks aren’t good because we don’t have the manpower to make printouts of all the submissions. Captions aren’t necessary.

 

It doesn’t really matter but websites are easiest and portfolios are becoming more of a problem to deal with

 

I prefer digital submissions, with some sort of brief description of the home, and what makes it special or unique

 

we have an online submissions process through our website that is the best way.  second to that is someone emailing one of the editors with a story idea, and images of the project

 

 

3. Do want the submissions to be professional shot? (examples...no, it would be helpful or does not matter we send our own photographer's out...ect)

 

No…amateur scouting shots are fine. We will send out a photographer to do professional shots if we choose to feature the home.

 

professionally shot? No, we generate our own pix.

 

Submissions do NOT need to be professionally photographed. It absolutely does not matter

 

I think however it is executed would be in the best interest of the interior designer – so I would suggest professionally shot.

 

I prefer digital submissions, with some sort of brief description of the home, and what makes it special or unique

 

It makes it easier for us if the homes are already well photographed, and all the important rooms are pictured. If they are stunning, I also like to see an exterior and/or view and landscaping photos, as well.

 

We have accepted jobs that are pitched with only scouting shots. I prefer to use the photographer that submitted the home if possible (as long as their portfolio is good quality)

 

we will send out photographers on anything that we choose as a feature or my house, so all we need for those types of stories are good scouting shots.  if someone is submitting a smaller story, such as houses we love, then they will need to have good images in keeping with the style of photography in the magazine.  If something that would be a feature has been professionally shot, that is fine, but the photographer who worked on the story/shoot, should know that we might assign the story to someone else and have it re shot if the look is not in keeping with our style of photography.

 

4. Any other comments?

 

We are happy to send over a checklist of green features that the designer can fill out and send back to us. This guarantees we get all the information we need to consider the house.

 

The pictures need to fully portray the project, and we must see an image of the living room, dining room and master bedroom in order to make a decision.

 

You hit the nail on the head with number 1. I have received many submissions where the photographer was not familiar with our audience, and sent photos of homes that we would never be able to use.

 

 

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

This goes under WTF?

This nuts...as if  the police did not have enough to do.  Wait till your mother gets stopped!




Photographers Rights UK from Nick Turpin on Vimeo.

Friday, February 6, 2009

MET MUSEUM AD campaign image came from Flickr

In today NY Times "weekend arts" section, at the bottom of the page ran the Met Museum Ad campaign "It's Time We Met".  Clever and I like it.  It shows a couple kissing in the 19th Century Galleries.  The most interesting thing about this picture is the photo credit and it reads:  "6:35 pm  19th Century Galleries.  Photo by Laura P Russell via Flickr".  Yes Flicker.  So look up Laura profile.  


In short, she a mom and happily married.  Loves to take pictures and is not a professional but would love to get paid by it.  Read if you will.


What strike me is that this a national if not a worldwide AD campaign for the Met.  They pulled an amateur photograph to do the job.  I think the photo works well for the campaign.  It shows everyday people doing everyday things at the Met.  Very human and believable.  When I did some research, the Met has their own Flicker page which is great.  They are doing a contest and rules are there.


So, the prize if you win is $250 cash plus a one year Met Net membership at a $60 value. I did e mail Laura to ask if she was paid and Laura did e mail me and said "Thanks for the shout out. Yes, we got paid, got credit, and retain rights".  If you look up on Corbis Stock site, an images with 1/8 in size worldwide rights, in a Newspaper for three months is $1925 priced out.  You can argue this is not a professional who took the picture.  I would say, this an image being "used" professionally for an advertisement.  So what is the difference?  If an images is going to be used professionally does it matter who took the picture?  Should they not all get paid about the same?


So, could this be the new wave of Marketing?  Put up a contest and and the winner get a much "under value" price to use the image for however long? Or do people want to have less of "polished" look.  Chase Javis right hand man Scott talks about "imperfect" image on Chase Blog the other day. 


I know contest have been around forever.  I just wonder though is this ploy to take advantage of the amateur photographer or just a new look, trend or economic hard times?  Should the professional be worried?  I say no for now.  Not until creative start pulling from the social web sites for other campaigns.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Creative Consultants
















I have never seen so much  promotion with creative consultants then I have these past few weeks.  What is a creative consultant?  A person to help or guide you in a direction that will benefit you with your creative endeavors.  For the most part they help you pull your portfolio together/ website.  Some are former Reps or worked in Åd agency's.  My concern and caution would be to make sure they have an understanding of the type of photographer you want to be.  I have seen it first hand myself and with others, how some just slap a book together.  Some are nice, some are well.  I'm not coming from a place bitterness or anger.  I have meet several consultants that are fantastic.  But in hindsight, I would have asked better questions.  I would have check with reference that they have worked with.  


I'm not here to say that all creative consultant are bad or not worth the money.  But I find it very interesting that several come out of the wood work in such a down economy.  I would hate to use prey, but proceed with caution and ask lots of questions.  Make sure they are right for you.  Like anything, do your research!

Friday, January 16, 2009

News is changing

So isn't it interesting how all these social website like Twitter, facebook and flicker are changing the way we see our news instantly.  With heroic landed of yesterday US Airlines, several people we able to shoot with there cell phone and post images before ANY news outlet was able to.  Just a matter of time before that all this changes.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

American Express Publishing Lays Off 33

it keeps coming...straight from ADage.com



NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- American Express Publishing, which publishes titles such as Food & Wine and Travel & Leisure, laid off another 33 people today as part of a drive by its parent company, American Express Co., to cut its head count 10%, a company spokeswoman confirmed.


Travel & Leisure is published by American Express Publishing.

Travel & Leisure is published by American Express Publishing.


"We wish this wasn't necessary, but given our performance outlook, these steps must be taken at this time," she said. American Express Publishing also cut 22 jobs last October. After today's layoffs, about 400 employees remain.


Still struggling

Together with last week's 250 layoffs at Meredith Corp. and another 19 at Forbes, today's cut by AmEx Publishing demonstrates that media companies didn't finish retrenching when they finished 2008. Many are still struggling to handle the recession and, in the case of traditional media, continued pressure from new media.


In another example, Gannett said today that it will force all its employees to take the equivalent of a week off without pay during the first quarter of 2009. American Media, meanwhile, decided it couldn't afford to continue fulfilling more than 300,000 subscriptions to Country Weekly.


American Express Co. said last October that it planned to cut 7,000 jobs, or about 10% of its global workforce, in a bid to cut costs by $1.8 billion. The layoffs at American Express Publishing today bring the division in line with that plan.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Hard Work















Hard work is tough.  Hard work DOES hurt at times.  Hard work is not patience, easy & it is not luck.  But, hard work with a bit of luck..trumps all


You have to put in the hard work to create opportunities/luck for yourself.  But along the way, you will fail at times.  We all do.  That is cool.  It is part of the process.  If I'm not open to fail, then I have close to the door for any possibility to succeed. 


Read biography of any successful people and see the things the came up against and how they overcome them.  Sir Richard Branson is one of my favorites.  

Friday, January 9, 2009

What is your stock "Worth"?
















So since I have posted this video hiring a photographer, I have received several e mails about cost and price.  Things like, What is the price of an average photographer?  What is the cost a typical shoot or how should I price myself.  The answer is .... I do not know.  All of the questions are good and valid.  But what is a "average photographer" price?  I guess you could look up an old Photo District News article and see a survey they came up with.  However, in my opinion those are so bogus.  Everybody wants to show or tell people how much better they are doing then in reality.  It seems to be human nature.  Ask someone "how are you doing"?  They always seems to say good, great fantastic...ect.  Not too often to you hear anything negative.  Until they are on verge of a breakdown.


So why is it so hard to put a cost on our art / service?  How come everyone prices are all over the board?  Well, there are a lot of factors involved, especially when it comes to advertising.  Advertising prices are based on how many eyes are going to see an AD. Or it is a percentage of a clients AD buy.  When it comes to asking for a price, none of us will give up the cards in the first round.  We are all holding out for the best number possible.  This seems to be a game we all play with each other.  The client  play it with the agency.   Agencies play it with us.  Are we afraid of loosing?  Loosing out on money we could of had?  


What if there a system in place that money/price was a set factor.  We could finally be judge on our work alone?  What a concept.  That type of system is not likely to happen.  I think they might call that a union.  But think about the idea of strength in numbers .  Hmmmm....However, one point to be freelance is to have unlimited possibilities with a verity work and earning potential.  


I bring this up, because over the next year we will all be facing some tough negotiating.   How many times has a client ask you to come down on your price and you agreed by just dropping the price.  I'm guilty.  That was early on in my career.  As time goes on and the more experience I gain, dropping a price to get the job is the wrong approach and the wrong message.  UNLESS....get ready, both parties agree to give something up.  Why should it be one person burden?  This goes both ways for all parties involved.  That way no one is LOSING!


So to get back at the questions at hand....What is the price of an average photographer?  What is the cost a typical shoot or How much do you charge?  The answer is .... I STILL don't know.  We are never in a "average time" and certainly not now.  We all charge what we feel we are worth.  And during these tough times that lay ahead.  When your sitting front your computer and the phone is not ringing....your stock in "worth" may tumble a bit... internally.  So going forward, make sure your keeping your "worth" stock up.  Do things that are not going to put you in "funk".  Do some test shooting, blog, read books., talk with other photographers or try a different type of photography.  This could the best thing for you.  I choose to think that there are loads of opportunities coming ahead.  Exciting & tough times ahead.  Just  do things that are going to keep you sharp in this very odd time of ours.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Part ONE of Tip on hiring a photographer

This is a two part video that explains a little bit of information when hiring a photographer

Hiring a photographer Part 2

This is part two of two on Tips on hiring a photographer