Resources

Q) I’ve been approached by a publishing house to produce some new imagery from a remote area of southeastern Africa that will be used both in a picture book as well as for postcards and calendars. While they are a large company for this area, they are not that large on an international scale and they have stated that they can pay reasonable-but-not-lavish rates. They are offering different payment options (per image or per job) and want to know how I want to proceed. A) As in most all... 

As summer is upon us and little league sports are gearing up, here are some things to keep in mind that can make the difference between a good shot and a great shot. 1) Perspective. You have to get on the same level or lower than the players, especially if you want to see under their helmets. Avoid shooting down on the tops of their heads. 2)... 

When you can, use a ladder. If you are forced into a wide composition, you’ll have to use a wide angle lens. Try to get as close as possible with a tight lens (I prefer a 24-70). There were over 100 people in this group. I used a step ladder and my 24-70 for this second shot. There were about 80 in this image. You will need to engage... 

There are people who take money for photography and there are those who don’t. There are some that take money that shouldn’t and there are some that don’t that should. There are many professions that require certifications, licensing, and/or apprenticeships before one can perform services, let alone take money. Photography, in... 

It happens to almost every one that has taken a camera to an athletic event. You’re there, following the action through the viewfinder, and you start imagining that you’re there, shooting for Sports Illustrated! Next thing you know, you’ve spent a couple thousand dollars on gear. You’re hooked. And, whether by accident or effort, you start... 

Q) A friend of my works at a local local graphic design shop and he’s got a great printer. He mainly does car decals and stuff like that, but he also does large prints (like 16×24) for me. Even though I’m really happy with his work, his prices just went up a bit, and I’m wondering if what he’s charging is inline with... 

If you want to make next year a great year, you have to plan for it…and that requires setting realistic, realizable goals. I keep mine very, very simple. At the end of the year, all I want is a calendar – 13 images – that represent the best work I was able to produce through the course of the year. Towards that, I want to try... 

Q) For the past few years, my website name has been my business name, but because of the unique spelling of my name, I’ve had clients tell me they have a hard time finding my site. I’m thinking of renaming everything to something easier to find, like Green Apple Studios or Blue Willow Photos. What do you think? A) If you’ve been... 

When I started college nearly thirty years ago, I went thinking I could write well. Thanks to one amazing professor, I left college knowing I could. Although I took a number of English courses and had writing requirements in nearly every course, he was the one that kicked the stool out from under me, then gave me the tools to learn how to pull myself... 

Here’s a little tip for making some extra money in the stock market: be your own agency. While it’s really not as difficult as you might imagine, it does take a little more work than simply uploading images to be approved by someone else. If you’ve got images, all you need is a gallery with a flexible shopping cart system. I use...