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 station”. I think it would be valuable to back up a bit and discuss pricing and the value of photography in a broader sense. Without an underlying understanding of …

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 expert Photoshop user and enjoys a good challenge.
Shown here is an example of when we rely heavily on retouching and I thought you might be interested in the back …

Today’s around the ‘net is jam-packed with links to web solutions for photographers and an interesting Harry Benson interview.
The first mention I’d like to make is the beautifully presented website of Maria Angela Photography. Maria left a comment and I followed the link to her site and was really impressed. The home page automatically filled the screen and the whole experience was professional. Sometimes Flash sites seem bulky and slow but the Flash effects loaded quickly and effortlessly, adding up to a notable website experience for potential clients.
Are …

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 reasonable price when freelancing for commercial photography and selling off the rights to a photo(s)? Sure we charge for our time and a final product with limited use, but what …

When I first began in photography the square format was intriguing. My Nikon FE used 35mm film (a 3:2 ratio) but many of the admired professionals were shooting with Hasselblads and Rolleiflexes, capturing square images (1:1 ratio) on 120 film. Eventually I worked up to a Yashicamat 124G, a twin lens Japanese cousin of the Rolleiflex. The big negatives would yield beautifully smooth tonal gradations and greater detail than my little 35mm negs. Plus I really liked shooting with the square format, looking at the world in a different way.
Over …

The new studio is "box city".
It was easy to find links for this week’s around the ‘net, there’s a lot of great posting going on. Here are my favorite six for this week, ranging from pretty photos to the business of photography to some info for the tech junkies. Hopefully something for everyone:
National Geographic Photo Contest
Looking for inspiration? The results from National Geographic’s 2008 International Photography Contest have been posted. The winners and honorable mentions appear, most with judges comments below them. If you haven’t been to National Geographic’s online …

It’s no secret that consumer spending has slowed dramatically in America, right on the cusp of the holiday shopping season. Consumers are being more conservative with purchases and credit is tightening. This Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) is known as Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year and expectations are always high, despite the conditions.
While I would enjoy seeing a brand new DSLR in the hands of every prophotolife reader this season that seems pretty unlikely. Just for the sake of discussion, I set a photo gift target …

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 and running at the new address.
It’s a dramatically different photo studio layout and design, going from a 4,000 square foot facility down to 1,000 square feet. We won’t have all …

Though we all enjoy discussing photography, I admit there’s something I do like better: actually taking photographs. That’s why I’m pleased to be a part of DIYPhotography.net’s latest project titled “Something New – A Photography Project“.
Udi at DIYPhotography.net is always sharing great DIY tips and ideas to bring photographers together and he has a wonderful concept here. There are many aspects to the project and they all have to do with sharing and learning, both photo equipment and ideas. Photographers worldwide are encouraged to pair up with another local photographer …

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 that I can relate.
My studio has a wonderful client that imports printing presses and we’ve worked together many times on various projects. Last year we flew to another Midwestern city …