Photography Business Marketing

Marketing in any business is tough, and when it comes to a photography business it can also be tough. This is sometimes because of the non-commercial interest that comes in to picture when we talk of photographs adorning walls. However, despair not. You can still make your photography business a highly marketable product or indeed, service. Follow some simple rules and get off on the right track!

Decide what your photography business is going to be like

There are two kinds of photography businesses that you can set up. It can be either Assignment photography or Stock photography. In both cases, the name explains it all. Assignment photography is the kind of business where you are assigned or hired to take photographs of something. It can be any event or just someone. The event can be someone's wedding. And that someone of course could be anyone.

Stock photography, on the other hand, is a business where you already have photographs in stock and you are selling them to interested parties. The stock photographs can be anything from flowers to nude women.

Therefore, you have two options to decide on. Basically, people start with the assignment photography thinking that it would give them a meagre but steady income. That is true to some extent but it will give you a very small audience.

Whereas stock photography business will help you reach a wider target market audience. Stock photography is recommended because that is where the potential of the photographer has better chances to be recognized.

Target your audience

When you are dealing with stock photography, you have a great chance of spending lot of resources without any returns. This is especially the case when you don't know who your audience is. When you are out to click those beautiful moments, make sure you know who you are going to show them to. This streamlines your clients and would also help you take photos that are relevant to your market. Try sending postcards or samples of your photos to your targeted clients and see their response. This way you can make a mark among the circles you want to feel your presence.

Give them what they want

When you do present your customer's photographs, make sure you're giving them what they asked for. So many photographers don't! This is important. They have chosen you because they believed that you were going to supply them with what they wanted. If you make a volte face and give them photos they don't need, you are sure to lose them. Therefore, be very attentive to the details and give your customers what they ask for. Take notes when they tell you what they want. People rarely remember more than 7% of what they've been told in a conversation 24 hours later - so take notes. A happy customer means more business!

Be present at places that matter

- When I say be present, I am not speaking about the physical presence of the photographer. I am talking about exposure of your work. Advertise them wherever possible and that's relevant. Keep the costs in line, advertising can get out of hand. Make sure your advertising in the right places. Publish your work on the net through some of the photography sites or stock houses. This would greatly increase your client base as your photographs are showcased along with the others. The sites may take a percentage of your earnings but it is worth it as you are just building your base while you are being paid. You can always start on your own once you have a considerable presence in the right circles.

- Think about organizing an internet site and drive traffic to it.

- Advertise on AdWords at Google.com and Yahoo.com (you can now target local areas through Google)

Look for local markets too

- Join your local library that may publish your photographs in their weekly or monthly journal, ezine or newsletter. Making sure that your contact details are always available. This way you can get a foothold in your own locality.

- Go to your local florist and leave some business cards with the promise of a tip if work successfully comes your way from their referral.

- Visit your local church, mosque etc. and leave your particulars. You never know when questions are asked in these circles. Reciprocate with some free services from time to time.

- There are many venues you can work with like this, just put your thinking hat on.

Accept help from your peer photographers

Knowing some other photographers can also be immensely helpful. If they are good enough, they can show some of your collections to their clients who have some specific requirements. Even if they don't showcase your photographs, they may help you with some valuable tips to market yourself and networking ideas.

No replacement for quality

No matter how much you market yourself, if the quality of your photographs is not up to the mark, you are definitely poised to face doom. The quality of your photographs should be the best you can possibly present and keep in mind that there's always room for improvement. Quality most often results in recommendation and referral. Once you have a customer, never, ever skimp on quality because it's more costly to find a new customer than it is to keep an existing one.

Photography business marketing is often a case where your photographs have to be in the right place at the right time. Do not think that it is all by chance. The truth is, it is you who will make them available at the right place at the right time just by following a few commonsense marketing rules. All the best and happy marketing!

Bird Photography in Peru

Visitors to the Peruvian coast on photography tours are welcomed by a steady, salt-tinged breeze that comes off the steel-gray and golden panorama that is otherwise known as the Pacific Ocean. The cries of thousands of seabirds and sea lions that fish the rich waters of this dramatic, desert coast carry over the waves and emanate from the mists that occasionally hang suspended over the cold Humboldt currents.

The scenery contrasts dramatically with a turn of the head as a textured, life-filled sea is replaced by silent sands of the visually stunning Peruvian coastal desert. Plants and animals are replaced by a combination of ridged dunes, rocky outcrops, and lunar-like landscapes that are perfect for Peruvian photography portraits that are mystical and starkly beautiful.

This mix of life, landscape, and good lighting makes the coast of Peru an excellent area for both nature photography in Peru and landscape photography in Peru.

Birds to photograph on the Peruvian coast

There are a number of photogenic bird species that soar above, dive into, and pose for photography near the waters of the Peruvian coast. Many occur in large flocks, the following of which are the most emblematic:

• Humboldt Penguin: Despite being situated so close to the equator, these comical birds are right at home in the cold waters of the Peruvian coast. They also occur off the coast of Chile, but are easier to see and photograph around scenic Peruvian islands. Threatened by habitat disturbance, some of the best places to photograph them in Peru are at Paracas, the Islas Ballestas, or around the Islas Palomino.
• Inca Tern: One of the most striking of Peruvian seabirds, the dark gray Inca Tern has a coral-red bill and feet, and what appears to be a long, white moustache! They are easy to see and photograph as they perch on the craggy rocks and islands that dot the Peruvian coast.
• Peruvian Pelican: They look like Brown Pelicans but are larger, have a lighter colored head, and more colorful bill. Like the Humboldt Penguin and Inca Tern, they are also only found in coastal Peru and Chile.
• Guanay Cormorant: These striking, black and white seabirds with a red eye ring often make good photography subjects in Peru because of their tendency to pose on craggy, wave-washed rocks.
• Red-legged Cormorant: Often seen on islands off of the Peruvian coast, this beautiful cormorant species has deep red feet, a yellow and red bill, and a white patch on the side of the neck.
• Peruvian Tern: The Paracas Peninsula is the best place to go on a Peruvian photography itinerary to get images of this small tern species. There are few photos of this endangered bird and it is found at few other accessible sites.
• Chilean Flamingo: Looking absurdly long-legged and long-necked, with pink and white feathers, Chilean Flamingoes make good subjects for photography in Peru. This is especially the case when a flock of these gangly birds are mirrored by their reflection in the glassy waters of the coastal lagoons they frequent.

The Humboldt Current (or "Why bird photography is so good on the coast of Peru")

In one of nature's great ironies, the Peruvian desert can support so few living things for the same reason that the offshore waters are so incredibly rich with life. The cold waters of the Humboldt Current aren't warm enough to produce the amount of evaporation needed to make rain clouds but they are infused with such a huge amount of upwelling nutrients that Peruvian coastal waters are considered to be the most productive marine ecosystem in the world. In photography language, this translates into a stunning desert coast bordered by a sparkling sea that hosts massive flocks of photogenic seabirds (as well as good numbers of sea lions).

The Peruvian coastal desert for photography

Peru is famous for Incan culture, photography of macaws and other jungle wildlife, Macchu Picchu, and the Nazca Lines among other highlights. Because so much of the wildlife photography in Peru and cultural photography in Peru is found in the Peruvian Amazon or high up in the incredibly scenic Peruvian Andes, many people often forget that Peru has a huge coastal desert.

The very dry conditions of coastal Peru made the Nazca Lines possible and have also preserved them for centuries. Although some Peruvian photography itineraries may include flights above these enigmatic glyphs for photography of the Nazca Lines, the stony plains, shadowy ravines, and windswept dunes that are backed by huge distant mountains make for abundant photography opportunities in the Peruvian coastal desert.

Photography at Paracas and Pisco, Peru

The Paracas Peninsula is the most prominent peninsula on the coast of Peru and has been set aside as a national reserve to protect the huge numbers of birds and marine wildlife that live in the area. Located just 120 miles south of Lima, near the seaside town of Pisco, the beautiful landscapes of seaside cliffs, sandy desert, and ocean with distant rocky islands on the horizon make Paracas a popular destination for photography in Peru.

In addition to the abundance of seabirds and occasional sightings of whales and dolphins, Paracas is also famous for a strange, huge, chandelier-shaped series of lines that were scraped onto a large, sea-facing sand dune. Known as "El Candelabro", they are easily viewed and photographed on boat trips to the Paracas Peninsula. Such boat tours can be arranged through travel agents in Pisco but are included in most photography tour itineraries to Paracas, Peru.

Photography at the Islas Ballestas, Peru

The Islas Ballestas, Peru are a series of small islands near the Paracas Peninsula that are often called "The "Galapagos Islands of Peru" because of the large numbers of birds and sea lions that live on them. Such a huge number of cormorants, penguins, pelicans, and other seabirds of the Peruvian coast have nested on the Islas Ballestas for so many centuries that most of the "soil" is actually "guano" or accumulated bird droppings.

A visit to these rocky outposts is a must for any photography trip to Peru because not only are they one of the easiest sites for fantastic wildlife photography in Peru, but the arched rocks with the ocean as a backdrop also make for stunning background scenery.

Photography at the Islas Palomino, Peru

Situated just off the coast of Lima, Peru, the Islas Palomino provide another opportunity in coastal Peru to photograph sea lions and a wealth of seabirds in their natural habitat. One of the nicest things about making a photography trip to these Peruvian islands is that it can be easily done as a day trip from Lima. This is very convenient for photographers with one day left on their Peruvian tour, or for folks who wouldn't mind ending a day of memorable, fantastic photography in Peru with some amazing Peruvian ceviche washed down with a pisco sour at one of the many excellent restaurants in Lima.

Modern Photography? Look At What Others Are Doing!

After the popularity and growth of photography and the invention of the camera, it was no surprise that dissemination and mass production of photo prints followed. Due to the art of photography, public as well as personal history, time and perception has immortalized mankind. The concept of privacy altered as the number of public figures increased and the action of man began being recorded. Photographs became proof of any event, experience or state of being.

The art of photography

During the early stages of photography, many hardships had to be faced before it could be certified as an art form. Artists and critics alike challenged this art form on both its mechanical and chemical front. Photography, for a long time, was only considered a craft.

Removing restrictions

When art schools and museums finally accepted photography as a recognizable art form, the trend continued till present. Many photographers moved away from the traditional and conventional norms that dictated documentary and straight aesthetic modes as an expression of individuality. Photography became the major form of visual art by the 1960's. Today, photography has been combined with a number of other forms of expression like mixed media and computer imaging.

Practical applications

There are many practical applications when it comes to photography. Photography has evolved to such an extent that it has become an instrument of expression in fields such as medicine, military activities, education and commerce. The greatest benefit of photography has been felt by science. Other fields that depend on photography are geology, aerial mapping, surveying, meteorology, archeology, and anthropology to list a few.

Digital photography

After the 21'st century, images could now be altered and manipulated in a number of ways with the aid of computer techniques and imaging. Photographic nature and technique was forever changed through digital photography. Conventionally photography involved a lens through which light had to be passed and lead to an emulsifying agent. In digital photography color filters and sensors are utilized for creating the image. Digital photography adopts two kinds of techniques. One involves using three layers of filters where each filter will allow only one color to pass through, green, blue or red.

These are just a few facts about modern photography. The art of photography has been around for almost hundred years and the innovations do not stop happening. There are still many more creative innovations yet to be invented, as the advancement of photography can never stop and it will never cease to amaze us.

Digital Photography Vs Traditional Photography

Digital photography may be one of the late 20th century's most innovative technologies. It is about half the cost of traditional photography, with the results being of equal or better quality. You waste nothing; there's no film required, and since you only print the pictures you need, digital photography is both cost effective and environmentally friendly. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of digital photography is the idea of showing pictures to people wherever they are, as long as they have a computer and an internet connection.

Photography

Photography is a popular hobby, pastime, or even a career for many people. Photography has come a long way since its early days and its popularity has not waned. In fact, digital photography is becoming even more popular and it is slowly replacing film photography, especially in professional environments. Even for experienced photographers, the move to digital capture brings with it a significant learning curve.

The Digital Camera

A digital camera is, in effect, a little computer. Picture quality varies from camera to camera. The quality of digital cameras has increased over the years, yet many people feel it isn't quite as good as a regular camera yet. When you're shopping for a digital camera keep in mind that it doesn't matter how much your camera costs, or how big it is. You're looking for the camera you're happy with, and that is what's most important. One of the things I like about digital cameras is that, unlike film, you can reuse the storage media over and over again with no extra cost. If you've ever used a film camera, you will remember how annoying it was that you could only store a few pictures on the film, without the ability to delete them once they were made.

The Digital Age

In a sense, digital photography adds a whole new step to photography. It is no longer just photography, it is digitally post-processed photography. The digital age has brought about the greatest transformation in photography since photography was invented.

Conclusion

Digital and traditional photography are complimentary arts. They each have their respective places in the lives of amateur and professional photographers. The skills acquired in traditional photography will definitely be passed on to the digital world. We can easily see that the world of photography has room for both digital photography and traditional photography. Let's just hope that digital and traditional photographers can make the best of both worlds and continue to produce great work. After all, digital photography is just another tool of modernization in an ever-changing world.

Photography - Did You Know?

Photography is painting with light! It's been said that photography is the one art where you don't need to go to school, nothing separates the pro from the amateur other skill a keen eye or the right moment. Give a camera to a child and they've cracked it, give the same child a keyboard and they'll get back to you in due time.

Most photographs are created using a camera , which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of what the human eye would see. The process of creating photographs is called photography .

The great thing about photography is its outward focus (puns and semi-puns are so hard to avoid) on the world around us, not the art itself. Moving from hobby photography to professional photography is a big jump. It's a jump not just because your ability to pay your mortgage and feed your family will now depend entirely on your talent with a camera and your skills at marketing those talents.

For me photography is about "collecting" experiences and allowing myself to be more than a fly on the wall in my subjects' lives. I don't think photography is dead, I think photography is an extremely young art form. I also look at the history of photography and see that many of its milestones have been based on the technology of the time.

Photography is going through an exciting transition period as many film photographers are beginning to explore the new capabilities made possible with digital cameras. Traditional aspects such as the fundamental techniques and lens equipment have remained the same, however others are markedly different. Photography is acquired when weather conditions, sun angle, and, when applicable, water levels are optimal to ensure that photographs will be suitable for a variety of purposes using standard photogrammetric techniques.

Natural light in photography is crucial if you want to take great portraits. Many assume this means the time of day in which she can shoot her portraits is limited. Photography is used to preserve memories of favorite times, to capture special moments, to tell stories, to send messages, and as a source of entertainment. Photography is an art of particularity, but this doesn't mean that photography must be from "outside in. If photography has too much natural accident, it will hardly carry visual dynamic. But if it has too much photographer intervention and manipulation of the subject, it will paralyze the expression of the subject's essence.

Once you've gotten your head around this and started shooting a few pictures, you might find that photography is quite fun and interesting. At first glance it would seem that unless you are a full-time adventure athlete, adventure photography is something that you will have little opportunity to apply yourself to? However, nothing could be further from the truth. When learning how to shoot action photos, there are many ways you can begin practicing and honing your skills when you are far from the mountains or wild rivers.

Some are able to select a wonderful location to shoot along with having the "artistic eye" to use the natural backdrop to obtain the best photographs possible. Pinhole photography is great fun and it can be the most serious kind of photography. There is the freedom from vying for the latest and the greatest the industry has to offer, and the freedom from the delusion that technically ever more perfect equipment is required for great photography.

Remote photography is used to learn more about things like bears' use of naturally-occurring bear rubs and how they respond to baited hair traps. Information from this work will be used to improve sampling methods and understand bear behavior. Photography is all about selection, first through the viewfinder and second when you look at the results. As long as there's selection involved, there's room for art - if the artist can pull it off. Good photography is all about seeing.

Input relating 'classical' portraiture to photography is not so easy to find. Though we may not want to take this kind of photograph, it still seems that we could learn a lot from the kind of discussion given here. Photography is also increasingly asserting itself on the auction block as an important investment. And its prices in the galleries and at the major fairs reflect its serious status. Photography is finally escaping any dependence on what is in front of a lens, but it comes at the price of its special claim on a viewer's attention as "evidence" rooted in reality. As gallery material, photographs are now essentially no different from paintings concocted entirely from an artist's imagination, except that they lack painting's manual touch and surface variation.

Underwater photography is becoming an exciting field of unexplored areas. Other photographers specialize in areas such as portrait, commercial and industrial, scientific, news, or fine arts photography. Photography is a customer service business. Whether you need family portraits, pet portraits, events coverage or complete wedding packages.

The most compelling part of digital photography is the idea of showing pictures to people wherever they are, as long as they are in front of a computer connected to the Web.

The overwhelming majority of older photographs are catalogued under the term "albumen prints" - the most common type of 19 th-century photographic print. Additional headings are assigned describing the typical cardboard mounts to which these images are attached - stereographs, cabinet card photographs, and cartes-de-viste.

Finally, If you plan on working with older photos, establish handling procedures and adhere to them whenever photographs are being used. View photographs in a clean, uncluttered area, and handle them with clean hands. Most 1860s-90s paper photographs are albumen. Even non-collectors associate horse-and-buggy and Old West images with the soft, sentimental tones that were produced by the albumen process. If only photographs are stored in a given area, 30-40% RH is best. If photographs are stored with paper, parchment, or leather materials, it may be necessary to maintain 40-50% RH to avoid placing unwanted stress on non-photographic materials.