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[24 Nov 2010 | Comments Off | ]
evolution of a photographer : November 2010

Testing, testing…is this thing on? Can anyone hear me?
Hey there, I hope you’re all doing well. It’s been 18 months since my last post here on prophotolife, and a lot has happened in that time. Here’s the short version: the recession really rocked the photo business, so I happily accepted a full-time creative position with one of my favorite …

business, preview »

[21 Jan 2009 | 24 Comments | ]
inside the new photo studio

In December I promised a look at the new photo studio when there was something to see – here it is! We’re really happy with the new, downsized digs and it’s probably 90% complete. The new studio is where my time has been going, along with the photo a day project. Sorry I haven’t been keeping up with comments here …

business »

[24 Dec 2008 | 8 Comments | ]
My look back at the photo biz, 2008

I don’t spend a lot of time looking in the rear view mirror but this time of year presents a good opportunity to reflect. Whether it’s the end of the calendar year or the free time created by the holidays, this is the time I sit and ponder what’s been learned this past year. I’d like to touch on some …

business »

[17 Dec 2008 | 4 Comments | ]
donating old photography equipment

A few years ago I spent some time racing vintage motorcycles. It was a great flashback to my youth, working on and riding a vintage 1974 Suzuki motocross bike. Motorcycles (and Steelers football) were the common ground my dad and I shared so it brought back wonderful memories, working in the garage with the same tools we used way back …

business »

[10 Dec 2008 | 6 Comments | ]
not all clients are created equal

Before beginning to type this (is it still called typing?) I took a look back at the comments and some emails received after last week’s post on image rights. The plan for today was to talk about a few general pricing scenarios but I see now (and understand) that more than a few readers may have been “left at the …

business, technical »

[8 Dec 2008 | 12 Comments | ]
“fixing it” in Photoshop

Try as we might, it’s not always possible to capture what’s needed in a single photograph. Though I prefer to do as much as possible in the camera, digital tools now allow us to create most anything. The trick is pulling the elements together to make a quality photo and not a “Frankenshot”. Luckily, my business partner (Bob) is an …

business »

[3 Dec 2008 | 31 Comments | ]
when the client wants all rights to a photo

Today’s post deals with some frequently asked questions regarding pricing commercial photography. Here’s an excerpt from a comment left by Rick D. under random ramblings on pricing photography.
Hey Jim. I was just recently considering some pricing options. Living in LA at the moment, there seems to be an abundance of people willing to work for peanuts.
How does one calculate a …

business, photographers »

[24 Nov 2008 | 24 Comments | ]
downsizing Daylight Photo: the new photo studio layout

It’s been awhile in the making but we’re getting there. The production work is caught up (pretty much), the boxes are packed and heaps and heaps of items are getting downsized. Daylight Photo is getting ready for our next incarnation, instituting changes we’ve long thought about. Monday and Tuesday we’re moving the boxes and the following week we’ll be up …

business, photographers »

[19 Nov 2008 | 13 Comments | ]
ever had a photo shoot gone bad?

Not every photo shoot is created equal. Even when you’re a professional shooting for a familiar client you may be greeted with unexpected twists and turns. This is one of those stories. So, the next time you’re having a rough day at work and think “there has to be something better than this”, well, I just want you to know …

business »

[12 Nov 2008 | 18 Comments | ]
random ramblings on pricing photography

I’ve been receiving a number of questions lately about pricing photography. Pricing photography is a difficult and confusing process and, I’ll be honest, it’s getting more difficult all the time. There are novice portrait and wedding photographers with great websites, experienced photographers with outdated websites, moms with a camera that aren’t preoccupied with profitability and established professionals offering the complete …