Bryan Adams . . Do you remember him as a "rock star"? Well, he is 51 now, still plays about 120 music gigs a year, but is also now in great demand as a photographer, including the queen of England. I saw him on Sunday Morning, and I must say his old songs like "Cuts Like a Knife" were MUCH better than his BROAD LIT portraits. Portraits should portray the subject in the most flattering way possible, NOT as wide as possible. It seems NO ONE can see how bad photographers are now "honored" . . . No one cares . . Rembrandt is turning over in his grave.
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Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The future looks bright!
It looks like I won't be leading a photography class, at least not starting this month. I haven't gotten enough people interested in the Tuesday evening class I proposed. HOWEVER, if YOU would be interested in a comprehensive, portraiture oriented and business-focused class on photography, drop me a line. I would consider it in the future.
Speaking of the future, I am SO excited about 2011 for "IBDG" (Images By Doug Goodwin). I have some awesome ideas, improvements, and big plans for this year . . . Stay tuned!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Speaking of the future, I am SO excited about 2011 for "IBDG" (Images By Doug Goodwin). I have some awesome ideas, improvements, and big plans for this year . . . Stay tuned!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Photography . . . CHANGE is eminent: the future for this "Young-er" photographer
The first of the year is traditionally the time to plan, evaluate, and make adjustments in your "business plan" if you are a photographer. It is usually a slower time in business, and a time to re-evaluate equipment & perform maintenance, update software, and re-do pricing and brochures. It is also the best time to plan expense budgets, make forecasts, and chart your course for the coming year . . . YUCK!, especially on all the paperwork. Who was it that said "I just want to take pictures!" Well, I can sympathize, for I would much rather be involved in the "Act of Creation" rather than all the paperwork. HOWEVER, if you are really a professional photographer, you had better be in this for the money . . . Otherwise, what is the point!?!? I really get SICK of all those "so called" professionals who just "LOVE, Love, love photography (said with a sickening tone of infatuation)." Give me a break! Let's GROW UP and turn our infatuation into a commitment to quality and lose the amateur attitude; let's learn the business of photography!
With all this advice I'm giving, I realize it is time I made some major changes in my business practices. I am going to be re-working all my pricing practices and making them reflect the amount of time and talent involved in what I do. After all, it is not the photographic paper nor even the canvas that REALLY holds the value, it is my time and artistic interpretation that SHOULD determine value for the consumer. I am also re-vamping my "on line" posting of images. I will still post images on line for my customers, but the galleries will expire within two to three weeks, and there will be BIG discounts for ordering within 5 days, a lessor discount for 10 days. Also, there is a premium paid for on line posting-- it is simpler just to come to the studio and order! If you haven't placed your order within a few weeks, you lose your session fee and all payments, plus the images are GONE forever. This is just about good business practices, not because I am a mean guy ;).
Another ingrained practice I am looking at changing is the sale of digital files to the consumer. I have historically shied away from this, but I recall an experience which has caused me to revise my opinions. I have a very good friend who is a professional photographer. Several years back, he asked my wife and I to model for him as he was seeking some prints to enter in competition. We readily agreed, and spent an afternoon traveling around, taking various romantic, non-traditional poses. We went in to view the images, and I am sure he was hoping to sell us some prints. However, we were pretty young, were just volunteering to help him out, and had no budget for the beautiful images he showed us. A few years later, I asked him about the negatives for these images, because I didn't want to lose these to history. Guess what? He had already disposed of them, not even calling me to ask if I wanted them. Ok . . . Now I am convicted . . . How many times have I done something similar? No more . . . I am going to find a way to offer my files to customers who will truly treasure them. This won't necessarily satisfy those looking for a "cheap buy" on the files, but the customer who either purchases a sizable package & wants to add files, or the customer who just wants to purchase files . . . Either should pay approximately the same amount and will receive an "archive-able" DVD they can place in their bank vault to be sure that their treasured images are preserved forever.
About the "young" photographer mentioned, you are only as young as you feel, and I have SO much to offer in experience, knowledge, service and product QUALITY. As a result, I feel I am truly in the "prime" of my photographic life! I look forward to the future and all the images to come. Give us a try and see if we can't redefine your opinion of AWESOME! Change is GOOD . . . I will not necessarily be more expensive, just making sure the bills are paid :)
Doug Goodwin
Images By Doug Goodwin
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
With all this advice I'm giving, I realize it is time I made some major changes in my business practices. I am going to be re-working all my pricing practices and making them reflect the amount of time and talent involved in what I do. After all, it is not the photographic paper nor even the canvas that REALLY holds the value, it is my time and artistic interpretation that SHOULD determine value for the consumer. I am also re-vamping my "on line" posting of images. I will still post images on line for my customers, but the galleries will expire within two to three weeks, and there will be BIG discounts for ordering within 5 days, a lessor discount for 10 days. Also, there is a premium paid for on line posting-- it is simpler just to come to the studio and order! If you haven't placed your order within a few weeks, you lose your session fee and all payments, plus the images are GONE forever. This is just about good business practices, not because I am a mean guy ;).
Another ingrained practice I am looking at changing is the sale of digital files to the consumer. I have historically shied away from this, but I recall an experience which has caused me to revise my opinions. I have a very good friend who is a professional photographer. Several years back, he asked my wife and I to model for him as he was seeking some prints to enter in competition. We readily agreed, and spent an afternoon traveling around, taking various romantic, non-traditional poses. We went in to view the images, and I am sure he was hoping to sell us some prints. However, we were pretty young, were just volunteering to help him out, and had no budget for the beautiful images he showed us. A few years later, I asked him about the negatives for these images, because I didn't want to lose these to history. Guess what? He had already disposed of them, not even calling me to ask if I wanted them. Ok . . . Now I am convicted . . . How many times have I done something similar? No more . . . I am going to find a way to offer my files to customers who will truly treasure them. This won't necessarily satisfy those looking for a "cheap buy" on the files, but the customer who either purchases a sizable package & wants to add files, or the customer who just wants to purchase files . . . Either should pay approximately the same amount and will receive an "archive-able" DVD they can place in their bank vault to be sure that their treasured images are preserved forever.
About the "young" photographer mentioned, you are only as young as you feel, and I have SO much to offer in experience, knowledge, service and product QUALITY. As a result, I feel I am truly in the "prime" of my photographic life! I look forward to the future and all the images to come. Give us a try and see if we can't redefine your opinion of AWESOME! Change is GOOD . . . I will not necessarily be more expensive, just making sure the bills are paid :)
Doug Goodwin
Images By Doug Goodwin
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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