ASMP Roundtable Forum...

I just got back from the ASMP Roundtable meeting.  It was VERY beneficial.  It was free.  It was filled with industry experts.  If you didn't go, you are a complete and total fool.  Unless, of course, you are just trying to be a casual/amateur photographer...  But then, why are you reading my blog?!?  Pretty much all my blogs relate to professional photography and improving/growing your business.  

In any case, you missed out.  If someone posts an in depth recap of the morning and afternoon, I'll link to it.  But, I am a bit busy at the moment, so I won't be going into any detail.  I know a couple of my readers were there, maybe one of you wants to "guest blog" and recap for us?  I'll post it here for you.  Just email me your summary of the event...

Photojournalist? maybe not...

Isn't it just a great time to be a photojournalist?  Look here:  

www.PDNPulse.com/2009/02/rocky-mountain-newss-final-front-page  

and here:  

www.sfgate.com story 

Still wanna be a photojournalist?  I hope you also want to valet cars, flip burgers, or bartend on the side...

A classic scam...

Internet scams aren't new.  Chances are that you get them in your email all the time.  This version of the classic email scam isn't new to me, but it might be to you:  

Hi,

My name is Mr. Mike Mcgeeb .I am planning to have my wedding ceremony on April 9, 2009 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, Marshfield Missouri, 515 East Washington Street, Marshfield MO 65706 .  I am looking for a good photographer who will come and do the snap shots on the D-day.  

I came accross your listing on the net and decided to contact you. I want to know your charges for the following required services if you are to work for between 6 and 8 Hours on that day.  We will select the best 100 copies of different snaps photos in both black and white and coloured and in Two main sizes and dimensions which is required for my personal use at home,

1)16" x 12" (405 x 305mm) approx. including post and packaging
2)12" x 10" (305 x 204mm) approx. including post and packaging
3) I want just one Panoramic images size 18" x 6.5" (457mm x165mm) 30 10x8 prints in album.  coloured Snapped in the church and at the reception.  I want is for me and my wife, Our parents, the officiating ministers and our guests.

I will be requiring your service for atleast 6 Hours at both occasions (church and at the reception). The church is Holy Trinity Catholic Church - Marshfield Missouri 515 East Washington Street, Marshfield MO 65706 . If you are out of Missouri, I will pay the transportation charges to and from the party venue so I want you to indicate in your email if you are out of Missouri and state what it will cost you to get transport to Marshfield Missouri so that we both can work it out and also the total amount you will receive for the whole services at the occasion.

We will have the photographs snapped at the wedding forwarded to the Publisher of a Magazine Company in U.S so they could feature it in their celebrity journal so due to this, I want the pictures neat and nice.

However,I will be making the payment by means of a Check. Let me have your full Names, Address, Phone Number, where the Cheque will be mailed to for the payment.Moreso, should you be out of state, the Hotel accomodation will be provided for by me. Waiting to read from you soon as regards this.  Thanks and have nice day.

Regards.
Mike  

Well, I have received emails like this in the past.  Usually, it is some preacher from an African country that plans to hold his big wedding anniversary party in america and the church or city is funding it.  Some of the details are different (like the anniversary year - 35th, 40th, 50th), but the idea is always the same.  

They want you to say that you'll book their event, out of state (so it's harder for you to check out it's validity).  They send you a check, often way too big for what you requested.  It turns out that the Church sent you the money for photos AND for booking something else (like music, reception room, etc), and you'll need to send back a couple thousand dollars.  Their money order was fake, your money order was real.  You got scammed!  

The fact that they are specifically seeking out photographers to scam is interesting.  They know this is more believable than the lame emails about some foreign bank employee (or relative of a king/president/whatever) getting access to $3 million USD, and wanting your help to move it into a US account (you are supposed to get a big cut of the cash for your effort).  

Just remember, things that sound fishy ARE fishy.  And if any of you think this is a legit request, I'd be more than happy to give you the guy's email address.  He's your client, if you want him.  I know better...

More Thoughts on Billboard's Second Photo Contest

I looked at some of the recent entries again.  You can see them here:  

www.billboardphotocontest.com  

Since the Recent Entries window only holds so many images at a time, you may not see the Erykah Badu shots I'm referring to; but for now, you can search through the bunch and spot them near the end.  

As I was looking, I spotted a few obvious amateur entries, a few obvious pro entries, and a bunch that were hard to tell which category they entered.  I knew the Erykah Badu shots were in the pro category, simply because they had access to a very restricted area.  To shoot from the photo pit at ACL means you MUST have credentials and MUST be with a legitimate publication/media outlet.  

So, here are my thoughts...  These Erykah shots are OK, but they sure aren't amazing.  They really aren't even memorable.  They are fine for publication, but are they the best shots around?  Are they worthy of winning an international competition?  Hmmm...  I don't really see it.  

Here are a few of my Erykah Badu shots from the exact same performance.  Are they my best shots?  Probably not.  Would I enter them?  Probably not.  Anyway, take a look:  

Maybe I'm very biased on this subject, but I think my shots are much better than the ones already entered.  What's my point?  My point is that many other people have some good images, and many other people have some killer images.  These people may be entering against you.  This is why you need to edit and think hard and long before wasting money on images that might not be worth entering.  Don't submit something if it's not your very best work.

I'm not saying to avoid entering all together.  It's OK to enter, just don't submit anything and everything, hoping to win.  Be hard on yourself, because the judges don't care how sentimental an image is to you.  The judges don't know that your mom likes the image.  The judges just want to pick the best shot.  

And someone else just may have a better shot of Erykah.  If you truly feel like your Erykah shot is totally killer, then submit it.  At some point, you can't worry about other people in the competition.  Just think your entries through first.

Music Photo Contest, Part Two...

So, Billboard has teamed up with PDN again.  They are doing another photo contest.  I guess the first one was enough of a success?!?  You can find more info about it here:  

www.billboardphotocontest.com  

As usual, there are a few great shots (you can see some of the recent entries on the website), a few average shots, and a lot of bad/blah shots.  I contemplated entering last year, going back and forth, but never did.  Maybe I will this time...  or maybe I won't.  Who knows?  

They have a page up with last year's winners, incase you missed it in a recent PDN issue (you DO subscribe to PDN, don't you?).  As you can see, even the winning images are mostly just OK, but there ARE a few really great shots in there, too:  

www.pdngallery.com/contests/summermusic/2008/  

By the way, if you plan to submit any images and want some advice before you do, let me know.  I'd be glad to look over your work and give some pointers.  At $20 to $55 per submission (depending on your category), you may want to get a second opinion and save a few bucks, uploading only your best stuff.

If you build it, they will come?!?

I found this thread on a local photo forum, and thought it was a great example of what NOT to do:  

Link to www.texasphotoforum.com  

Do you think you can just build a photo studio, and people will magically start showing up?  Nope.  Do you think you need to pound the pavement and tell EVERYONE about your business?  Yup.  If you are planning to have a studio space, you should start drumming up business before and during the building/renovating/moving in process.  Otherwise, you may have a month or more of just sitting inside your nice, big, empty studio space...  

Always plan ahead, because a self-employed photographer needs to find his next paycheck.  It won't just come walking out of the corn field, like in the movie Field of Dreams.  That's why it was a movie.

Other blogs...

Did I mention that you can find an even BETTER blog about DFW photography here:  

http://photopol.us  

I don't want you to forget about this blog, because I'll have some great posts to check out... but, I definitely DO want you visiting photopol.us on a regular basis...

You NEED to go...

If you are or plan to be a professional photographer in the D/FW area, you NEED to go to this event on Saturday:

ASMP Dallas February Meeting - Roundtable Forum on Professional Business Practices

ASMP Dallas will present a Roundtable Forum on Professional Business Practices covering the following topics:
Cost of Doing Business
The Business Model
Insurance, Why You Need It
Overhead
Taxes
Pricing, Bidding and Negotiating
Negotiating Tips
Licensing, Usage and Contracts
Self-Promotion - What's Hot and What's Not
Workflow
The Impending Orphan Works Legislation
Why It Will Drastically Change the Business of Photography

Panelists include:
Spook Bolt, owner Bolt Productions, http://www.boltproductions.com
Stewart Charles Cohen, owner Cohen Pictures, http://www.stewartcohen.com
Stephen Karlisch, owner Karlisch Photography, http://www.karlischphotography.com
Todd Joyce, ASMP National President, http://www.joycephotography.com
Al Satterwhite, owner Al Satterwhite Photography, http://www.alsatterwhite.com

When: Saturday, February 28, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Bolt Productions, 2410 Farrington Street, Dallas, 75207, (214)688-5208

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Melody Hamilton, Programs Director, at (214) 236-4806.

Want more Information on ASMP Dallas? Go here: www.asmpdallas.org/contact.htm

Marketing Webinar?

As a professional photographer, you NEED to get your name out there.  Marketing yourself is confusing, tricky, and just plain hard.  Modern Postcard, a company that caters to photographers, offers several choices when it comes to promo cards, mailers, and tri-folds.  

I just received an email from them, and it appears they are doing a short web-based seminar to help educate consumers on the best ways to promote yourself.  I'm sure they will be pitching their products and services throughout the webinar, but hey, it's free and I'm sure there's going to be plenty of valuable info to take in.  

If you want to sign up for it, go here:  

Link to the webinar  

Speaking about marketing yourself, the ASMP is having a roundtable meeting that will discuss the topic, as well as other things concerning professional photographers today.  It's on Saturday, February 28.  It is open to all photogs, not just ASMP members (though you SHOULD be a member if you are serious about photography as a career).  I'll post more about this event next week...

GRO

I'm happy with the way my Quick cover photo of Green River Ordinance turned out.  Really, I'm happy with almost all of my Quick covers to date.  I shoot for several publications nationwide and several corporate clients.  But, it seems like I'm always happiest with my Quick shoots.  They jsut know how to treat a photo with respect...  

If you don't know what I'm talking about, you have either a.) never had something published, or b.) been lucky enough to work with some REALLY talented design and layout people.  Let me say this much, many/most design and layout people are NOT photographers.  They may understand visual design, but that doesn't automatically mean they know how to maximize a photos potential.  

Heck, I've had some great page designers absolutely butcher my images, just so the picture would fit their awesome layout.  My thinking is this:  If the picture now looks like crap, your awesome layout now looks like crap, too.  

Anyway, I'm starting to ramble.  The point is that Quick rocks!  I saw this cover and for a second I thought to myself, "Wow!!!  Who took THAT photo?!?"  

They actually made my image fit in with the design so perfectly, that I didn't even recognize the shot for a second.  To actually elevate the image to something higher, making it truly part of the entire layout takes talent.  

Now, I'm not saying this is some amazing image.  It's a good photo, but it's not my best work.  But that's the point here.  Quick took my decent (maybe above average at best) photo of GRO, and they made it look impressive (thanks to great font choice, size, placement, angle... heck, everything).  

So, to wrap up a blog post that went on WAAAAYYY too long:  Sometimes you will shoot some purely amazing stuff, only to be disappointed with it when it hits stands.  You have no control over the images at some point.  But sometimes, you'll fall in love all over again.  You'll see those shots used perfectly, in harmony with the text, with the entire layout.  That's just one more reason I love shooting for Quick!!!

Think the law is on your side as a photographer?

If you think you are safe, just because the law states you SHOULD be, well... think again.  Taking photos in public can get you arrested:  

ImagingInfo.com story on Subway/Public Transit Photography  

So, be careful when shooting in public, even if you are allowed to do so.  Remember, the police department doesn't need to worry if you are actually breaking a law to arrest you.  They may get in trouble for false arrest after the fact, but they can still arrest you no matter what.  

And don't take this as some sort of anti-police or anti-government blog post.  That is far from the truth.  I have met several nice and caring police officers while shooting pictures.  The story linked above even mentions that Robert Taylor had been stopped by other, normal officers in the past - ones who just asked him what he was doing and then left him alone.  

No, this merely points out that every once in a while you may be unlucky enough to run into one of the few bad apples.  The ones who don't care much for the actual laws they uphold.  So, again... Don't think you are safe, just because the law says you are.

Objects of desire...

Look at the link and you will understand:  

Beautiful TS lenses from Canon  

Will I have the money to buy either of these beauties?  Not anytime soon.  Will I have enough of a need to use these lenses every day or every week?  Probably not.  They are specialty lenses that would be used maybe once a month, like my Profoto ringflash is a specialty flash that only gets used once or twice a month.  But still...  They are SOOOOOOOOOOO nice!!!

Sharing tips...

Everyone wants more work (at least I assume everyone does).  The best way to get more work is to help your friends get more work, too.  Seem like a backwards idea?  If someone else gets a gig shooting something, isn't that one less job I can get?  Glass half empty people may see it that way, but not me.  I know from experience...  

I try very hard to help other photogs.  When they have a question, I try to answer it.  If they want a tip on how to do something, I'll show them how I do it.  I've even loaned out gear to close peers/friends when their equipment broke down at the last-minute.  

I mention this because Rex Curry wanted to see my portfolio and my studio space.  He's a great photographer - at least my peer, if not better than me.  I didn't hesitate to help him out.  I showed him a way to put together a good portfolio, told him where to look for more advice/tips, and discussed other important details.  

Why help someone else who might get a job I want?  Well, it's not really like that.  First off, it is rare that two people will shoot so similar in style that they are literally competing head to head.  An art director or photo editor is going to need a certain style of photography, and it won't always be yours.  I'm not worried about him stealing my clients.  And he's safe, since many of his clients would probably not want my style of shooting.  

So, I help him with his portfolio, and one day he may help me figure out how to maximize my stock image sales or where to buy new invoicing software.  It's a give and take kind of thing.  And trust me, the photo biz is a tough business, so you want as many people on your side as you can find!  

Secondly, many of my best clients have all been referrals (and nobody will refer you if you aren't a team player).  Other photogs and photo editors have passed along my name as the person to go to for a certain shoot.  I have passed along work to other photographers, as well.  I was out of town and missed a couple GREAT shoots last year, but wanted to make sure my clients were taken care of.  I gave them the names of a few friends that I knew would get the job done right.  

It builds a relationship with your fellow photogs, keeps your clients from scrambling to find someone to fill your spot, and eventually pays you back (those same photogs you referred work to will eventually need help covering a gig, you know).  Call it Karma, call it networking, call it whatever.  I always try to share in this business...  

Words to live by...

As I sit here late at night, printing my newest portfolio, I am reminded of how true this is:  

Link to a blog on portfolio building  

I always say that editing will make or break you.  I always say that less is more.  I have sixteen images in my print portfolio.  I have thought that I might have a few too many images on my website, but as the link points out, it is HARD to whittle things down.  It is tough to remove some images, but you have to.  

The other tip mentioned?  Have a theme or specific style.  I have heard both sides of this.  And both sides seem to have a valid argument.

Some successful photogs use a general portfolio, but keep the images and themes somewhat focused.  Like they wouldn't have automobile shots, them wedding shots, then photojournalism shots.  

Other photogs say to be very defined and only show one type of photography.  If you want to shoot weddings, don't waste the viewers time showing Senior Portraits.  You need to look like the best at weddings, not the best at weddings and other things.  

Several photogs have a general portfolio that can be pulled out when ASKED for it, but initially show a very specific portfolio.  I will eventually have this system set up, but not at the moment.  My portfolio is focused, but is still a general portfolio.  Maybe it is a bit too general, come to think of it.  I always second-guess myself.  

I'll show it off when I'm done and you can be the judge. Anyway, read the link and take the info to heart.  you MUST edit your work down and not let personal feelings about a picture get in the way of work...

Want to talk shop?

If you are serious about photography and live in Texas, this seems to be a great place to hang out:  

www.TexasPhotoForum.com  

I just joined, so I can't give a ton of details... but, it seems to be filled with good info and good people.

Starting up this blog...

OK, so I'm going to get this thing moving.  I've been blogging for a long while now, but it's on myspace.  I figured this would be a more efficient way of doing it; plus, I can eventually link this blog directly to my website.  To start things off, I will share a few of my recent myspace blogs with you:  

1.)  About Guy Reynolds - 

I've known Guy for a long time.  I'm glad that another blog site has taken the time to interview him.  Read more about it here:  

Link to Guy Reynolds interview  

2.) About the Canon 5D MkII - 

I think this is going to be a great camera for professional photogs who also want to shoot some video.  Here is a link to some info on how to get the best sound quality for the videos:  

Link to B&H Photo review of external mics on the 5D MkII  

3.) About me - 

When I did this photo shoot of Dallas Cowboys player Martellus Bennett, he had his crew there filming us.  Apparently, he posts videos of his life up on youtube for his fans to see.  You can see me in action, taking photos for the Valentine's issue of Quick:  

Link to the Martellus Bennett video  and a direct link to it on youtube  

By the way, you should keep an eye on Quick's website if you don't already.  You can find the print version all around Dallas, but it may be just as easy for you to check it out online at www.quickdfw.com  

OK, so I'll start posting new (original) blogs here soon and not just rehashing my myspace blogs.  I plan to discuss tips, techniques, and real-life situations that a professional photographer might face.  I'm going to transition the myspace blog to a more personal blog, talking about my boys, wife, cats, etc...