photography business

Three Conferences Discuss Changes in Photography Business

PHOTOGRAPHERS. While traditional photography conferences help photographers of all backgrounds develop new skills, some new, more specialized events are helping professional photographers adapt to ongoing changes in how photographs are purchased and used. Here are three examples:

May 16-18, 2012
CEPIC Congress 2012
Old Truman Brewery, London

Based in Berlin, Germany, CEPIC promotes itself as the Centre of the Picture Industry. The organization includes nearly 1,000 picture agencies and photo libraries in 20 countries across Europe. CEPIC has affiliates in North America and Asia, and its members include stock photo libraries, major photo news agencies, art galleries, museums, and video companies.

On May 16, the American Society of Media Photographers will be leading a Photo-Centric day at the CEPIC Conference. Experts will discuss “Where Does the Content Provider Fit into the New Stock-Photography Business Reality?” For example, Alan Murabayashi, a founder of PhotoShelter, will discuss whether content creators still need the traditional stock distributor in order to make a profit.

Two panel discussions will examine where the stock industry is today, where it’s going, and how photographers and distributors can work together more effectively. Three prominent intellectual property attorneys will provide an update on legal and legislative copyright issues in the U.S. and Europe.

The keynote speaker on May 17 will be Dittmar Frohmann, director of International Product at iStock and Getty Images. He will talk about opportunities for content creators in the mobile space.

LINK

CEPIC Congress 2012

May 22-23, 2012
Google+ Photographers Conference
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, California

Scott Kelby, president of KelbyTraining.com and the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, has launched the first-ever Google+ Photographer’s Conference. The event brings together some of the biggest photographers on Google+, some of the best instructors of photography, and some social-media geniuses. Bradley Horowitz, Vice President of Product Management at Google+, will be joining Scott Kelby for the opening keynote.

“Google + is an incredibly vibrant community for photographers. It’s exploding and if you’re not a part of it, you’ll be missing out on something very, very special. We are extremely proud to bring together an amazing lineup of experts to teach photography, social media, branding and networking skills to help photographers take full advantage of what’s happening now and in the future on Google+,” said Scott Kelby.

During two full days of sessions (9 am to 9 pm), you can attend live photo shoots, one-on-one portfolio reviews, panel discussions, and photography workshops. In the Google+ sessions, you can get tips and tricks from Google+ power users and learn how to write intriguing posts, grow your audience, and optimize your images for Google+.  You can also provide input and ideas for what you would like to see next on Google+.

Instructors for the Google+ Photographers’ Conference include Scott Kelby, Trey Ratcliff, Jeremy Cowart, Lindsay Adler, Alex Koloskov, Peter Hurley, Brian Rose, Catherine Hall, Matt Kloskowski, RC Concepcion, Brian Matiash, Colby Brown, Erik Valind, Mike Wiacek and special guest Guy Kawasaki. Some of the sessions they will be presenting include:

  • How to Host a Successful Hangout with Trey Ratcliff
  • Building Your Brand on Google+ with Guy Kawasaki
  • The Art of the Headshot with Peter Hurley
  • Crush the Composition with Scott Kelby.

Register by Monday, April 30, the registration fee is $299. After April 30, the fee is $349.

LINKS

Conference Schedule: Google+ Photographers Conference

Google+ Page: Google+ Photographers Conference

September 12-13, 2012
Luminance 2012
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, New York, NY

PhotoShelter’s new Luminance 2012 conference will bring together leading voices from across industries to explore the intersection of business, technology, culture, and photography. Speakers will include distinguished thought leaders from Behance, Blurb, Facebook, Google, 20×200, Tumblr and many more of the companies driving massive changes in today’s photo landscape.

“We’re bringing together a group of photography’s innovators to engage in powerful discussion about the direction and influence of this medium as both an art form and crucial business driver,” said Allen Murabayashi, PhotoShelter Co-Founder and CEO. “Under one roof, Luminance will bring us two dozen perspectives on the dramatic changes occurring in photography. Not simply those who captivate us from behind the camera, but also the people responsible for evolving the way we create and consume photography.”

Speakers at Luminance 2012 will each deliver 20-minute talks in their area of expertise.

  • Jen Bekman, CEO & Founder, 20×200
  • Scott Belsky, CEO & Founder, Behance
  • Lucas Allen Buick, CEO & Founder, Hipstamatic
  • Leila Boujnane, CEO, TinEye
  • Amy Cappellazzo, Chairman, Post-War and Contemporary Development at Christie’s
  • Chris Chabot, Manager, Developer Relations, Google+
  • Eric Cheng, Director of Photography, Lytro
  • Kevin Connor, CEO and Co-Founder, Fourandsix
  • Barbara Davidson, 2011 Pulitzer Prize Winner, Feature Photography
  • Eileen Gittins, CEO, Blurb
  • John Maloney, CEO, Tumblr
  • Michael Muller, Commercial/Shark Portraitist
  • Srinivas Narayanan, Engineering Manager, Facebook Photos
  • Craig Peters (SVP Biz Dev), Getty Images
  • Rick Robinson, Director of Marketing, Vision Research, makers of the Phantom camera
  • David A. Ross, Chair of the MFA Art Practice Program, School of Visual Arts
  • Alan Taylor, Editor, InFocus, The Atlantic (and creator of the Boston Globe’s “The Big Picture“)
  • Jonathan Teo, Managing Director, General Catalyst Partners (and Instagram investor)
  • Peter Yang, Commercial/Editorial Photographer

An optional, limited attendance photography workshop will also be held on September 11, 2012 at Root Drive-In Studios, with renowned pro photographers Joe McNally, Zack Arias, Corey Rich, and Robert Seale.

“Luminance 2012 will be an opportunity for the community to come together around a new topic of discussion that isn’t strictly gear or technique,” said Murabayashi. “It’s a chance to engage in a dialogue with others who are creating the technology that’s driving massive shifts in the photography landscape, to learn from each other, and get inspired about what is still to come for this medium we all both love with passion and equally depend on for our business and livelihood.”

LINK

Luminance 2012

PhotoShelter Updates Social Media Handbook for Photographers

PHOTOGRAPHERS. Are you getting the type of results you want from social-media marketing?  If not, maybe it’s time to try new tactics or focus on a different platform. To give you some facts and inspiration, PhotoShelter recently released an updated, two-part version of their e-book on social media for photographers.

The 2012 edition of “The Photographer’s Social Media Handbook” covers best practices for using Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and Twitter to enhance your marketing efforts and get noticed by potential clients.  Part 1 (44 pages) covers Facebook and Google+. Part 2 (26 pages) covers LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media platforms that matter.

The first edition of this social media handbook was published in 2010. This updated version talks about major changes that have occurred and looks ahead to changes anticipated this year.  You will see why you need different strategies for each social-media site, and learn how to measure your results.

“The Photographer’s Social Media Handbook” includes interviews with photographers who attracted significant online followings. These photographers provide real-world tips on what works and what doesn’t. They agree that developing a strategy is particularly important, “There must be a method to the madness. Blindly posting and interacting with potential customers will get you nowhere. You first need to ask yourself: “What do I want to accomplish and can this platform help me get there?”

Here’s a brief overview of how photographers can benefit from using four of the most popular social-media platforms.

Part 1: Facebook and Google+

Facebook is a daily-destination website whereas your personal website is not.  It has also become an accepted vehicle for business marketing. Developing a Facebook Page dedicated to your photography business can help build your brand and makes it easier for potential customers to find you.  You can use your page to show your photos, ask for opinions, or offer discounts and promotions.

Google+ is a fast-growing social-media platform that could be considered as an extension of Google itself. Your success with Google+ could directly impact your search-engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Google+ is built for photo-sharing, and accommodates viewing, managing, and editing multimedia.

Part 2: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Other Platforms

LinkedIn can be great for marketing photography services to businesses because it includes more than 54,000 people who identify themselves as photo editors, 28,000+ art buyers, 580,000+ graphic designers, and 644,000+ art directors.  LinkedIn can also help you establish yourself as a reputable source and make connections with people who can vouch for your business ethic and photography.

Twitter connects businesses to customers in real-time. It can help you spread awareness to people who may not know about you, drive signups for your newsletter, get feedback for your images and services, and announce news, special promotions, achievements, and events.

The “Photographer’s Social Media Handbook” advises that “Social media is not something you should pay attention to once a week or only on the weekends. Create consistent times to post, share, and interact with users. This will help grow your following, and increase your chances for solid business opportunities.”

Photographer Bryan Formhals notes that, “You don’t have to be on every platform! Choose the few that you enjoy and commit to them.”

PhotoShelter is a leader in portfolio websites and business tools for serious photographers. It offers a host of social-sharing tools that can help you promote your work via multiple platforms.

LINKS

The 2012 Photographer’s Social Media Handbook

About PhotoShelter

 

Meeting the New Demand for Facebook Cover Photos

Here are two examples of how entrepreneurs are capitalizing on the capability to add larger cover images to Facebook pages and Timeline profiles. The new cover photo option lets users of the Facebook’s Timeline format post a lead image that is 850 pixels wide and 320 pixels tall.

Free Stock Cover Photos 

Logo for Cover Photo SiteCover Photo Site is a new website that offers a selection of free, pre-sized, stock cover photos for Facebook accounts. It provides a fast, straightforward way to change Facebook cover images.

“Most people want to have a striking and memorable image on their Facebook profile,” said Ivan Tokic, the owner of Cover Photo Site. Image categories range from abstract to clouds and landscape to textures.

“Once you find an image you like, click the ‘download to Facebook’ button to log into Facebook and make the required changes,” Ivan explained. “Alternatively you can download the image directly to your computer to adjust the size or use it in some other way.” You can save a selection of images to use on their Facebook profile in the future.

The Cover Photo Site offers Facebook Cover Page images in categories such as abstracts, 3D, aviation, food, cars, clouds, creative, water, textures, landscapes, and flowers.

Cover Photo Site is based in the U.S. It is updated daily, and accepts photo submissions from members. Registration is required only for uploading images but it is free.

LINK

Cover Photo Site

Portrait Photographer Helps Clients Create Cover Images

In a recent newsletter sent to current and potential clients, portrait photographer Teresa Nora (www.fotosbyt.com) offered to help create hip and attractive cover photos for Facebook timelines.  She notes that having a professional-looking cover image is particularly important for people who use Facebook for networking and business contacts.

Facebook Cover Page Layout by Fotos by T (www.fotosbyt.com)

“Whatever you do, don’t take one of your profile pictures and try to stretch the darn thing into a panoramic,” Teresa writes. Whether you are a current client with images on file, or would like to have new photos taken, the photo-graphics specialists at Fotos by T can supply you with a cover-photo layout that meets Facebook’s new format.

LINKS

Fotos by T

About “T”

Interactive Menus Use Food Photography to Attract Customers

PHOTOGRAPHERS. Here’s a splendid example of how a marketing-savvy photographer is cooking up a new niche for his photography business.

In an online press release, George Soules Photography announced a new service to create online interactive menus for restaurant websites.

Interactive menus let people view mouth-watering photographs of the food items that interest them. For example, when they select “Veggie Sandwich” 0r “BBQ Burger” on the menu, an image pops up showing exactly how the restaurant serves the sandwich. The interactive menus can also display detailed descriptions, ingredients, and prices.

Showing food images online can help restaurants attract new clients and remind regulars why they should return.

People can view the interactive menus on their iPad, iPhone, or other mobile devices when they are making a decision about where to go for lunch or dinner.

Pricing starts at $299 for an interactive menu with up to 50 photos (not including the photography). Restaurant owners can provide George Soules with existing images of menu items or hire George to shoot new ones.

According to Soules, adding the interactive menu he creates to a website is as easy as pasting a few lines of HTML into a web page. Restaurants that don’t have a website can use the interactive menu as a standalone site.

“Adding enticing food photographs to an online menu helps convince customers to walk through your doors,” says Soules. “Combining beautiful images with an easy-to-use interactive experience is one of the best ways to make your restaurant stand apart.”

The January 2012 Restaurant & Foodservice Industry Review conducted by AlixPartners found that 42% of customers now rely on digital media to make dining-out decisions. And that percentage will continue to increase. Consumers want to be convinced of the value of what they are paying for and want to be assured of a first-rate dining experience. Offering excellent food photos and an interactive menu gives restaurant owners a good way to connect with customers and increase sales.

LINKS

George Soules Photography

Examples of Interactive Menus

What’s Next for Creatives? A Tale of Two Videos

Now that everyone can create and distribute their own books, recordings, films, photographs, and art, is this the best of times for creative professionals? Or is it the worst of times?

Below are links to two videos that address these questions in slightly different ways. “PressPausePlay,” by the creative agency House of Radon, looks at how digital technology has affected filmmaking, music production, and photography.  “Creative Collision: Where Do We Go From Here” was produced by Agency Access to help photographers and illustrators better understand what potential customers want.

PressPausePlay

I first learned about this video while reading the “Beyond the Lens” blog of Robert Rodriguez, Jr., a former music producer who now makes his living as a landscape photographer and photography workshop instructor. In his post entitled “The Digital Revolution and the Impact on Photography,” Rodriguez wondered how we separate the good from the great in an era in which everyone has affordable access to the tools to be an artist: “We all have access to the gear and technology, therefore getting the next best lens or camera body, or improving your HDR skills is not necessarily going to help you say something meaningful.”

PressPausePlay from House of Radon on Vimeo.

In PressPausePlay, one grumpy critic complains that a lot of the work being produced and posted online is nothing more than “digital masturbation” that forces all of us to wade through a lot of garbage to find what we like.

Other commenters are less harsh, noting that “Everyone’s equally excited and afraid.” It’s wonderful that we call have the tools to express ourselves, but if we want to make a living as a creative pro, it has become much harder to break through.

The mystery of how books, records, and films are produced has disappeared, and production steps that once took months to accomplish can be done in minutes.

Personally, I agree with the observer on PressPausePlay who emphasizes that “The artist comes after the technology.” He cited Jimi Hendrix as a creative who demonstrated what could be done with an electric guitar.

I have watched many creative pros experiment with new technologies over the years. Those who have thrived have been those with a genuine curiosity about testing the limits of the new technology. They also have confidence in their vision and the perseverance to keep putting themselves and their new work out there until they connect with people who really appreciate their work.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The PR people from Agency Access called my attention to this video. Agency Access provides direct-marketing support to photographers and illustrators who don’t have the time (or desire) to actively promote themselves to the extent that it is required today.

Creative Collision: Where Do We Go From Here? from Agency Access on Vimeo.

This video was produced in response to a question raised by one of their customers: Where is the industry headed?

Kelly O’Keefe, professor at VCU Brandcenter notes that “Most enlightened creatives have an understanding that doing fewer, simpler, more impressive pieces will make your recognition grow faster than doing hundreds and hundreds of things.” He pointed out that Steve Jobs sold to Disney for $7.4 billion after Pixar had only made 6 movies—all of them hits.

“We will be best remembered as creatives based on a few great pieces and not on a huge body of work.” says O’Keefe. He urges creatives to focus time and attention on those few pieces, make them relevant, and make them stand out.

Cabell Harris of Work Labs notes that many people wonder “Where is the industry going?” But he admits that, “I don’t even know what the industry is.”

He’s not alone. Technology is transforming publishing, marketing, communications, and entertainment in ways that are both scary and exciting. So far, no one seems to know for sure what the formula for success in any of these fields will be.

Harris agrees that it’s great that every creative pro can now go into business for themselves. But, he says, “It’s important that you promote yourself, and do things that you are interested in and are proud of, and become your own judge.” He emphasizes that, “You have to be inventive, start fulfilling some needs, but you also have to have some fun.  No one does good work unless they have fun at what they are doing.”

LINKS:

Robert Rodriguez Jr.: Beyond the Lens Blog

About Agency Access

About House of Radon

 

Photographer Uses Aurasma to Bring Still Photos to Life

PHOTOGRAPHERS. Have you heard people talking about Aurasma yet? You will soon—particularly when ad agency, editorial, and marketing clients start asking you to shoot videos along with your stills.

Aurasma is free “augmented reality” platform that can be built into apps for higher powered Android devices, newer-generation iPhones, and iPad2 devices.  Aurasma-equipped apps can then blend still images with rich, interactive content such as videos and animations.

For example, when you point your mobile device at a print ad in a magazine, bus shelter, or retail store, the ad will transform itself into an interactive video. Aurasma can be used to create “auras” for printed images, product packaging, instructional manuals, clothing, and physical places.

One professional photographer who has incorporated Aurasma into an app is Sam Robinson who provides photography and filmmaking services for commercial and editorial projects.

He says that when he first saw Aurasma demonstrated, he was completely bowled over: “This technology is a completely new medium that dissolves all of the boundaries between photography and film.”

A Visual Browser

The Aurasma “visual-browser” platform was developed by the British software company Autonomy, which is now an HP company.  Since being launched in 2011, Aurasma has been downloaded more than 2 million times. Aurasma is being used by publishers, advertisers, and visual communications professionals in fields such as retail, sports, automotive, and consumer electronics.

The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) used Aurasma technology as part of a month-long print campaign in a Chicago commuter-train station. John Monahan, president and CEO of the HVCB, said, “Bringing one-dimensional images to life puts commuters as close to being in Hawaii as possible in a compelling way,”

How Photographers Can Use Aurasma

Sam Robinson is using Aurasma to add a new dimension to the stills he includes in his postcard mailings to prospective clients.  Clients who want to learn more about Robinson’s work can download the free Sam Robinson Photography App, point it to a still image on the postcard, and instantly see videos that are linked to the still photo.

Sometimes clients will see behind-the-scenes video of a particular shoot or examples of the video footage Robinson shot along with the still photos planned for use in a print ad campaign.

 

Aurasma App from Sam Robinson on Vimeo.

Tamas Szabo, of the app-development company Megatomi, said incorporating Aurasma into Robinson’s app was intuitive and user-friendly: “With just two lines of code, we were able to integrate Aurasma into the existing app. From start to finish, it took just a few hours and the result is incredible.”

“Building Aurasma into my app seemed to make total sense,” says Robinson.  “The demand for multi-channel campaigns is growing, and Aurasma’s Developer Studio lets me bring together my stills and film work for the first time. I’m completely hooked.”

Martina King, managing director of Aurasma, believes the creative possibilities are just beginning to be explored: “We’re working with some of the world’s largest corporations, but we’re also working with internationally renowned creatives such as Sam Robinson. Artists, photographers, filmmakers, animators, designers—the creative industries instinctively understand Aurasma’s potential and are using our free technology to push the boundaries and change the way people see and interact with the world.”

LINKS

Aurasma

Sam Robinson Photography App

Sam Robinson Photography

App Developer: Megatomi

E-Book Shows How to Update Your Photography Business Plan

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to adopt a more methodical approach to running your  photography business, check out the free “2012 Photo Business Plan Workbook” from PhotoShelter. The 24-page e-book provides dozens of excellent suggestions, as well as links to PhotoShelter-approved resources. For example:

Update your marketing plan. To get people’s attention and convert them into customers, you may need to conduct multiple campaigns through multiple channels. Plus, your marketing plan should be designed so it doesn’t treat each potential customer as if they were in the same state of readiness to hire you. Plan more nuanced marketing activities that treat those who are closer to making a hiring decision differently from those who may be just beginning to explore their options for buying photography or photo-related services.

Get your finances in order so you maintain a level of professionalism and accountability. Do you have separate bank accounts and credit cards to keep your business expenses separate from your personal expenses? Do you have an accurate bookkeeping system and a cash flow plan that ensures that your spending doesn’t outpace your income? And, do you have the right type of business insurance?

Give your website a tune-up. If you regard your website primarily as a digital version of a printed portfolio, it’s probably time for an upgrade. To compete with other photographers who use their websites as sales and marketing tools, your website should have the following capabilities: image search, e-commerce, file delivery, newsletter signup, a blog, and contact information.

The 2012 Photo Business Plan Workbook also explains how to:

  • Clearly define your products and services
  • Determine your audience and addressable market
  • Use SEO (search-engine optimization) techniques to attract traffic to your website
  • Optimize your use of social-media tools
  • Create an advisory group
  • Generate new business by following up with old clients

“You can’t expect to succeed in the coming year if you don’t have a plan to make it happen,” said PhotoShelter CEO Allen Murabayashi. “We see photographers all the time who have lofty goals but don’t afford themselves the time to make a plan.”

The workbook is divided into easy-to-digest sections, with action-item checklists that indicate how long it should take to complete the items on the list.

“The 2012 Photo Business Plan Workbook” joins PhotoShelter’s expanding library of free business guides for photographers and creative professionals. PhotoShelter’s e-book library includes guides on email marketing, search engine optimization, starting a photography business, and social media marketing.

LINKS

The 2012 Photo Business Plan Workbook by PhotoShelter

PhotoShelter E-Book Library

About PhotoShelter