B2B Website for Commercial Remodelers and Builders Seeks Photography Pros

DezignwallLRDEZIGNWALL is a B2B social website, specifically for commercial interior design, exterior design, architectural, products manufacturing, supply, contract, purchasing, development, procurement, and service professional, community.

Dezignwall creates a virtual marketplace to showcase and source projects and products specifically for the commercial remodel, new build, and contract environment.

Globally, the commercial construction and remodel industry totals in the trillions. This market includes interior/exterior designers, architects, and manufacturers of products for anything from local nail salons, coffee shops, stadiums, and malls to world-class restaurants, hotels, casinos, and travel and entertainment venues.

According to Dezignwall CEO and founder Joseph Haecker, “I realized that my commercial design colleagues needed a Houzz-like website specifically for our commercial needs. During the recession, I saw businesses close because they could not engage clients outside of their current marketing reach. What makes Dezignwall different is that we are a business-to-business solution, specifically for global commercial professionals.”

The web-based platform mixes a Pinterest-like focus on images with a Houzz-like search functionality. It also offers social-sharing tools for commercial design-team collaboration.

By making products and design images available in real time, Dezignwall wants to make it easy for commercial developers and design team to: (1) find sources of inspiration; (2) engage with manufacturers of products and services; and (3) work collaboratively in a virtual and mobile environment.

Referrals for Trusted Photographers

The site, which is currently in private beta, is seeking photography professionals for their “trusted photographer” program.

According to the site’s founders, “The success of this marketplace will greatly depend on our ability to produce high quality photo images in very large quantities.”

The DEZIGNWALL Trusted Photographer Program is a referral generator for commercial photographers that seek to grow their own business through exposure to new markets. Membership is free, and leads are provided free.

For more information visit the Trusted Photographer Program section of www.Dezignwall.com

LINKS

Dezignwall

Update Your Photography and Business Skills at PDN PhotoPlus Expo

Whether you are in the professional photography business or are serious about updating your skills, check out what’s happening at the PDN PhotoPlus Conference and Expo in October.

The PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo is the largest photography and imaging show in North America. The 2015 Conference runs from October 21-24 at the Javits Center in New York. The Expo runs from October 22-24.

PhotoPlus_220x145Last year, PDN PhotoPlus Expo attracted more than 21,000 professional photographers, photography enthusiasts, filmmakers, students, and educators from around the world.

“Our vast schedule of photo walks, master classes, conference seminars, keynotes, and portfolio reviews, combined with our large expo hall filled with hundreds of exhibitors demonstrating the latest imaging technologies, has created a wonderful playground for anyone who loves the visual arts.” explains Jason Groupp, Director of Education and Membership of the PHOTO+ Group

PPEThe expo features 220 exhibitors and thousands of new products. The educational programming includes over 80 seminars, keynote presentations, and special events. Whether you need to learn basics such as posing, lighting, retouching, editing, and printing or explore niches such as portraiture, commercial, or travel photography, the program has sessions that can help.

Business development programs at PhotoPlus Expo can help you find ways to expand your range of products and services and update your skills.

Sample Courses

For example, here are a few of the courses that will be presented during the 2015 Conference.

The Headshot Game and How to Play it!
Peter Hurley will explain how to forge a career in a hot genre that helps professionals of all ages improve their digital identities and establish personal brands. Hurley offers valuable insights about how he developed one of the most successful headshot businesses in the country.

Learning to Thrive as an Artist: Business, Marketing and Style for Photographers Commercial photographer and director John Keatley discusses one of his biggest passions—business! He will explain why photographers need to develop both an artists’ mindset and an understanding of the skills needed to market your work.

An Artist’s Journey: Surviving the Evolving Photo Industry
Jeremy Cowart, one of the most influential photographers on the Internet, will explain how to stay relevant in an industry in which new apps, new cameras, new tools and new technologies are released every day.

Focus on Filmmaking

It’s Moving! Tips for Photographers Who Start Shooting Video
European cinematographer and filmmaker Nino Leitner will share tips for photographers who are starting to shoot video. Where are the similarities in shooting practices and workflows? Where are the differences? Learn to avoid the typical caveats and get inspired to think about your images in constant motion.

Creative Concepts for Event Filmmakers
From single-day creative shoots to high-end, multi-day scripted productions, cinematic storytelling can reach far beyond a live event and command high value. Learn how Los Angeles–based Pacific Pictures has become one of the world’s most sought after studios by creating and selling some of the industry’s most prolific live event concept films. Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Shahinian explores creative storytelling techniques and cutting-edge, conceptual film productions that can take your documentary filmmaking skills and business to a higher level.

One-Man-Band Filmmaking
Do you shoot by yourself, handling all the lighting, audio, directing and carrying around all your gear? With the right approach and tools, the New Age filmmaker can accomplish anything independently. Joe Switzer will discuss topics such as project management, outsourcing and the corporate project workflow.

Filmmaking Essentials For Photographers
In this class for emerging photographers and professionals pursuing new markets, Eduardo Angel will demystify the most common filmmaking terms and shooting techniques. He will also cover the most essential selection of gear to increase the production value of your video projects and provide an overview of the business of motion. After this class, you will have a better understanding of the similarities and differences between the disciplines of stills and motion.

Printing Skills and Innovations

Another way photography pros can distinguish themselves is through skills in fine-art printing and conservation framing or by offering high-quality imagery on durable, ready-to-hang aluminum or wood panels or as brilliant, extra-large backlits. Four PhotoPlus Expo sessions can bring you up to speed on the latest workflows and options for in-studio and lab printing.

The Craft and Passion and Fine-Art Digital Printing
According to Stephen Johnson, making a photographic print has always been a challenging process. It could involve days in the darkroom, and deep consideration of the results and possibilities. He contends that the time, craft, and care needed to make a fine print in this digital age is not dissimilar. The processes are very different, but the attention to the craft and need for passionate concentration on the potential beauty of the photographic print remain. Focusing on pigment-ink photo printers, he will discuss workflow issues, color management, adjustment layers, color-cast corrections, custom profile generation, editing, and inspection. He will also explore print aesthetics in the digital age: What makes for a beautiful print? Do new possibilities enhance our notion of what photography can be? Or are we merely trying imitate traditional photographic processes?

The Basics of Fine Art Printing
Rocco Ancora will encourage photographers to take control of their own printing. He will explain how to choose the right printer for your business and how to determine the right media for the print. As he demonstrates how the digital capture-to-print process comes together, he will explore a world of new possibilities and digital imaging practices.

The Basics of Custom Framing: An Overview for the Photo Industry
Framing industry expert John Ranes will explain the essential elements and equipment photographers need to expand into custom framing. Topics to be covered include: conservation framing, sourcing options, and revenue-enhancement offerings. John will review pricing, costs, margins, and volumes to help you determine whether custom framing is right for your photography business.

The Latest Technologies for Large- and Very-Large-Format Printing and Production of Brilliant Backlits
Renowned image permanence expert Henry Wilhelm and several of the world’s most accomplished printmakers will show how new printing processes are expanding the definition of photographic prints. For example, new flatbed printers can use very long-lasting UV-curable pigment inks to produce visually stunning prints up to 10 x 20 ft. on a wide variety of substrates including acrylic, sheet aluminum, Dibond, glass, plywood, uncoated artists papers, and traditional gesso-coated artist canvas. When UV-curable inks are back-printed on acrylic or glass, you can produce brilliant LED-illuminated backlit images at a wide range of sizes. With the dye-sublimation process used to make ChromaLuxe prints, images are infused directly onto specially coated sheets of metal or wood, and table tops. Photo labs can ChromaLuxe prints in sizes up to 4 x 8 ft. The ChromaLuxe prints are extremely resistant to scratches and abrasion and require no additional mounting or framing for display.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

PDN PhotoPlus International Conference and Expo

 

Is There a Secret to Selling Photography as Fine Art?

Selling Fine Art Photography” is the focus of a free educational resource guide from PhotoShelter. The guide’s authors acknowledge that there doesn’t seem to be a single ‘how-to’ formula for selling photography as fine art. But when they asked art-world experts for tips and profiled photographers who are succeeding in the fine-art world, there do seem to be some steps that might increase your odds of success. A lot of the advice focuses on making the best possible work, then focusing on building relationships with people who respond to it.

Part 1 of this guide includes:

  • Six tips to get non-profit galleries to feature your work
  • Six tips to get your work featured online
  • Insights from the owner of fine-art printing business

Part 2 profiles seven photographers who have found their way into the fine art world.

  • Jimmy Williams talks about building a reputation by starting local
  • Greg Marinovich suggests sharing the stories behind your images
  • Brooke Shaden explains why passion is the secret to getting 244,000 Facebook followers
  • James Bouret discusses marketing tactics that can help your work get noticed
  • Pete Carroll emphasizes the need to strive for the best-quality print
  • Matt Suess describes ways to connect with potential buyers
  • Bess Greenberg talks why she founded the 25CPW gallery

“Understand what makes you unique, what story you have to tell, and then refine your skills to try and communicate the message in the clearest way possible,” says Shaden.

PhotoShelter-SellingFineArtPhotography

In her essay about working with non-profit galleries, Hannah Glasgow of The Center for Fine Art Photography advises photographers to “Be bold and true to yourself” and make work that matters to you. 

Some of the more seasoned photographers observed that gallerists and collectors are interested in images with historical value or themes that stand the test of time.

In other words: It’s impossible to know if that young musician you are photographing today will turn out to be the next Jimi Hendrix or Elvis Presley. So always do you best work and keep good archives.

The guide on “Selling FIne-Art Photography” is part of a collection of free, educational guides that PhotoShelter has developed to help professional photographers and aspiring pros take a more strategic and focused approach to selling their images. Other guides in the PhotoShelter Library offer tips related to sell more sports photography, event photography, portrait photography, wedding photography, and corporate and industrial photography.

With more than 80,000 clients, PhotoShelter is a worldwide leader in photography portfolio websites and sales and marketing tools for photographers.

LINKS

PhotoShelter Guide: Selling Fine Art Photography

About PhotoShelter

RELATED GUIDES

How to Sell Prints

Photoshelter Library of Photography Business Guides

 

 

 

Photography Pros and Enthusiasts Are Optimistic About 2014 Earnings

2014outlook-Professional photographers and photography enthusiasts are optimistic about their ability to make more money this year from photography. That’s one finding reported in PhotoShelter’s new report “The Photographer’s Outlook on 2014.”

The report is based on the results of a survey of business goals, aspirations, and priorities that PhotoShelter conducted via e-mail in November, 2013. More than 5,700 photographers responded, with 73 percent from the U.S.Sixty-nine percent of the respondents were male; and 31 percent were female. 

The survey also investigated the differences and similarities between photography pros (those who make most of their income from photography) and photo enthusiasts (those who earn less than 50 percent of their income from photography).

The report notes that because pro-level gear and photographic education is so readily accessible to everyone, it can be difficult to tell whether an image has been made by someone who makes their full income from photography or someone who spend their free time shooting photographs.

“Today, every creative taking professional-quality images is not necessarily doing so as a full-time photographer,” says Andrew Fingerman, CEO of PhotoShelter.

PhotoShelter posed different sets of questions to photography pros and those who categorized themselves as enthusiasts (students, part-time photographers, hobbyists/enthusiasts). For example, enthusiasts were asked what their primary occupation was and if (and how) they ever made money from their work. Professionals answered questions about how they bring in revenue and what tools they use to conduct their business.

Similarities between Pros and Enthusiasts

One key finding was that most professionals and enthusiasts will invest time and money to improve their technical skills and photo-business knowledge. The survey suggests they also plan to attend more industry events and spend more time marketing their work. Both groups said they pursue more than one specialty (96% for professionals and 95% for enthusiasts). The most popular primary specialty is portrait photography (13% for pros; 11% for enthusiasts).

In terms of making money, the biggest challenge faced by both groups was finding new clients. To improve their chances of getting more jobs, many will focus most on word-of-mouth referrals and social media.

Differences between Pros and Enthusiasts

Not surprisingly, photographers who make a living from photography are more focused on marketing their work.

  • 92 percent of professionals have a website dedicated to showcasing their photography, whereas only 65 percent of enthusiasts do.
  • 48 percent of professionals use Facebook as the primary social network to market their photography business, whereas 64 percent of enthusiasts do.
  • 93 percent of professionals plan to make investments to improve their photography skills in 2014, compared to 79 percent of enthusiasts.

One stat worth noting is that 84 percent of the enthusiasts said they had made money from their images. Of the enthusiasts who made money, 87 percent said the money was earned through print sales or commissioned assignments.

The Photographer’s Outlook on 2014 is the latest in PhotoShelter’s ongoing series of free business guides for photographers and marketing professionals. PhotoShelter’s library includes 30+ educational guides including topics such as creating a successful photography portfolio, email marketing, and starting a photography business. All can be downloaded free.

About PhotoShelter

PhotoShelter helps people and organizations who are passionate about their photos do more with them. From creating beautiful websites and securely backing up their best images to building an audience and selling photos online, PhotoShelter is trusted by over 80,000 enthusiasts, freelancers, and established pros worldwide.

LINKS

The Photographer’s Outlook on 2014 Survey Results

PhotoShelter Library of Business Guides

PhotoShelter

New Business Plan Workbook for Photographers

PHOTOGRAPHERS. If you want to take a more focused, methodical approach to upgrading your photography business in 2014, download a free new workbook from PhotoShelter, a leading provider of photography portfolio websites and marketing tools for photographers. The 2014 Photo Business Plan Workbook is a hands-on resource designed to help photographers strategically grow their businesses in 2014.  

2014PhotoShelterBusinessPaln

The 2014 Photo Business Plan Workbook coaches you to critically think through key areas of your business and check off action items as you go. There are tips and concrete examples on how to:

  • Define products and services
  • Determine an audience and addressable market
  • Create a marketing plan
  • Fix finances
  • Tune-up a website
  • Build Search Engine Optimization
  • Optimize social media
  • Create an advisory group
  • Follow up with old clients to generate new business

“If you want to be smart about your photo business and reach more clients in 2014, you need a plan,” said PhotoShelter CEO Andrew Fingerman. “This workbook will help photographers define tactics to elevate their presence online, fine tune their marketing efforts, and approach photography from a focused business perspective.”

The 2014 Photo Business Plan Workbook is the latest in PhotoShelter’s ongoing series of free business guides for photographers and marketing professionals. PhotoShelter’s library includes 30+ educational guides including topics such as creating a successful photography portfolio, email marketing, and starting a photography business.

About PhotoShelter

PhotoShelter helps people and organizations who are passionate about their photos do more with them. From creating beautiful websites and securely backing up their best images to building an audience and selling photos online, PhotoShelter is trusted by over 80,000 enthusiasts, freelancers, and established pros worldwide.

LINKS

The 2014 Photo Business Plan Workbook

PhotoShelter Library of Photography Business Guides

PhotoShelter

2014-01-08-b_GUIDE_ThePhotoBusinessPlan_infographic_web1 (1)

 

 

Hybrid Photographer Will Crockett to Show Photo Pros How to Produce eCards for Clients

PHOTOGRAPHERS. Do you know how to produce an eCard to promote your photography services? Are you prepared to begin offering eProducts to your customers?

During the pre-show DIMA conference before the 2014 PMA@CES event, Hybrid Commercial Photographer Will Crockett of PHOTOchannel.pro will show professional portrait photographers how to create non-printed e-products that combine images with motion and sound.

WillCrockettatDIMA

Crockett will explain why the popular “eCardPRO” provides an exciting replacement to the printed business card, You will also see that  the eCard is just one type of eProduct that can generate new revenues for your professional photography business.

Crockett will demonstrate how photographers can capture photo, video, and audio files that can wirelessly move from a remote location to a post-production workflow in seconds. After the files are edited into a short video clip by a hybrid-capable pro lab the lab will install the clip on a specialized delivery platform that gives the professional photographer complete control over how the files are delivered to clients for use on their smartphones and tablets.

In Will’s own eCard, he defines a hybrid commercial photographer as one who uses videos, graphics, images, audio, and new media to sculpt the perfect message for a company’s products or services.

The seminar will be held live from 3:00 to 4:15 on Sunday, January 4 and streamed out to the world through a Google+ hangout. It will be recorded for playback just in case you need a second look.

LINKS

eCard for Will Crockett

Pre-show conferences at PMA@CES

About PMA@CES

PMA@CES is the overall presence of PMA at the 2014 International CES produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

As part of PMA@CES presence, DIMA (Digital Imaging Marketing Association) PSPA (Professional School Photographers Association) and SPAA (Sports Photographers Association of America) are hosting their annual pre-show conferences at Bally’s Las Vegas January 5-6, 2014. Additional conference programming is offered by the AIE (Association of Imaging Executives) Future Imaging Summit.

The 2014 International CES®, runs Tuesday, January 7  through Friday, January 10, 2014. It will include PMA@CES conference sessions, the PMA@CES Exhibits plus other events at The LVH (formerly Las Vegas Hilton) next door to the Las Vegas Convention Center and just a short monorail ride away from Bally’s Las Vegas.

The International CES is described as the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for more than 40 years, and has become the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace.

Because it is produced by the Consumer Electronics Association, the technology trade association representing the $203 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry, it attracts the world’s business leaders and pioneering thinkers to a forum where the industry’s most relevant issues are addressed.

Survey Reveals How Photo Buyers Find and Hire Photographers

PhotoShelter has published results from their 2013 Survey of  What Buyers Want From Photographers. The free report provides insights about how buyers like to be pitched, where they find photographers to hire, and the most important elements of the a photographer’s website.

PhotoShelterCoverofWhatBuyersWant

The survey results are based on 340 responses from photo buyers and creatives at advertising agencies, design firms, nonprofits, editorial publications, book publishers, and corporations who are part of the Agency Access global database. Agency Access is is a full-service marketing resource that helps freelance artists find work.

The most common titles of the respondents were art director, creative director, art producer, editorial photo editor, copywriter, graphic designer, and senior designer. Some of the companies they worked for include Olgivy & Mather, Saatchi & Saatchi, Conde Nast, Harper Collins, McGraw-Hill Education, Texas Creative, IPC Media, and Modern Luxury.

In the 2013 “What Buyers Want” survey report, the responses are grouped into four categories:

  • Hiring photographers
  • Marketing to photo buyers
  • Websites and file delivery
  • Working with photographers

The results answer common questions such as:

  • Do video skills get you a gig?
  • Where do buyers find photographers and photography?
  • Do buyers hire new photographers?
  • Do buyers search for new talent?
  • Is a photographer’s location key to getting hired?
  • Do buyers take in-person meetings?
  • How important are personal projects?
  • Is a photographer’s company knowledge important?
  • How many images should go in your portfolio?
  • How do buyers like images delivered?

Here are some key findings from PhotoShelter’s 2013 survey of photo buyers:

  • 75.6 percent say that compared to 2012, their budgets are increasing or staying the same.
  • 35.4 percent have discovered a new photographer through social media
  • 71.7 percent say they look at unsolicited marketing pitches that are relevant to their needs
  • 33.6 percent cite “easy navigation” as the most important element of a photographer’s website

PhotoShelter has supplemented the statistical data with interviews with major photo buyers and tips on email and direct-mail promotions.

“A direct-mail piece doesn’t depend as much on the quality or size as it does on the image and typography,” said the photo editor at an editorial publication.”I don’t need fancy envelopes or multi-page glossy hardbound books If the image is memorable, I will put it up on my wall or in my box of promos to keep.”

On the importance of personalizing a pitch, one ad agency creative director offered this advice: “Make sure your email comes across as genuine. This means don’t act like a car salesman with gimmicky phrases and subject lines. Make the email personal. We can smell a form letter in seconds.”

Factors that influence hiring decisions include the photographer’s personality, level of interest in the project, location, pricing, and schedule conflicts.

One marketing agency representative said, “Personality and a photographer’s lack of interest can be major obstacles. We have found artists based on their work, but once we call to get to know him or her better, their personality can sway our decision.”

Learn from Previous Surveys

For an even more thorough understanding of what photo buyers look for, download the survey results from 2011 and 2012. The 2011 and 2012 “What Photo Buyers Want” surveys are part of PhotoShelter’s ongoing series of free business guides for photographers. PhotoShelter’s library includes 30+ educational guides on topics such as creating a successful photography portfolio, email marketing, and starting a photography business.

About PhotoShelter and Agency Access

PhotoShelter offers professional, reliable and innovative online tools to build and grow a successful photography business. Its latest release, Beam, offers a suite of portfolio website templates built with the latest technology to showcase images at their best. Over 80,000 photographers use PhotoShelter’s websites, social and SEO tools, online image archives, and image delivery and e-commerce tools.

Two PhotoShelter executives, Allen Murabayashi and Andrew Fingerman, will present a seminar on “Building the Right Audience Online” at PDN PhotoPlus Expo in New York. The seminar is scheduled from 1:30 to 3:30 pm on Thursday, October 24.

Agency Access provides direct marketing for commercial photographers, illustrators, artist reps and stock agencies. They offer educational services, consulting and design services, integrated marketing tools, phone marketing support, and access to a global database of 90,000-plus commercial art buyers at ad agencies, magazines, book publishers, in-house advertising departments, graphic design firms and architectural firms.

LINKS

PhotoShelter

2013 Survey: What Buyers Want from Photographers

PhotoShelter Library of Business Guides for Photographers

Agency Access