3 Things I thought I knew about photo marketing and becoming a professional photographer - WRONG!

Back when I first decided to become a professional photographer and get involved with photo marketing on a full time basis, I thought - foolishly - that all I had to do was practice and study all the latest techniques for creating stunning images! Then, once I learned to consistently do brilliant work, my career as a professional photographer would be more or less cast in stone.

Boy was I wrong! If you want to earn great money in photo marketing (I've lost count of how many 00 days I've had) by becoming a professional photographer and working in the career of your dreams - here are 3 vital things you NEED to know. BTW - you can and should start part time!

First, let me establish a few assumptions on my part. I assume you are interested in photography and that you have dreamed about working in a career that you love.

I also assume that you are either considering/dreaming about becoming a professional photographer or possibly have already tried your hand at photo marketing - at least part time.

Note: I didn't assume you are a brilliant photographer. That was the first huge hurdle I faced when I wanted to start my photo marketing career. I just wasn't that good. I was and still am competent, but I don't see myself ever winning any major creative awards.

I'd shoot and shoot. Remember - this was in the olden days of film, when every shot cost about a dollar after considering time, film, developing and printing costs. No matter how much money I pumped into my "hobby", no matter how many credit cards I maxed out buying the latest and greatest, I just couldn't measure up to the photos I was seeing in all the photo books and magazines.

My dreams of a career as a professional photographer seemed totally out of reach.

Wrong. That's myth #1. You don't need to be Ansel Adams! Just competent!

I don't remember where, but somewhere I stumbled across someone who said, "There's room in professional photography for every skill level."

That sentence changed my life. I'd buy the originator of that little snippet of gold a beer, if I could remember who it was.

For some reason, it really hit home and I decided to give photo marketing a try. Bottom line…I found out that 90% of all your photo shoots are going to be the same types of subjects, lit and posed the same basic ways.

Don't get me wrong, every session you do should be your absolute best work, but save the creative stuff for contests - not day to day photo marketing. (Actually, if you are too creative, your sales will drop. The clients expect traditional portraits and don't like it if you deviate very far from their expectations.)

My second major hurdle to getting started as a professional photographer was getting the money to open a studio. After all, rent is fairly expensive and when you add in decorating the space, signage, hiring a receptionist, utilities and all the other doodads involved in opening a physical studio - it can all be rather daunting. Particularly when you've never done any photo marketing and this dream of becoming a professional photographer is getting more and more expensive by the minute.

Before I launched my photo marketing career, I did a little research and discovered that the best professional photographers do a lot - if not most - of their work "on location"! In other words, they aren't even using the studio! Plus, their customers were so happy the photographer was coming to them, they were willing to pay extra!

So I said to myself, "I can pay a ton of money for a studio I won't be using, or simply do everything 'on location' and get even higher fees! Hmmm…what should I do?"

I've been a professional photographer for over 16 years, have over 6000 past clients and have NEVER opened a studio.

Myth #2 - You need a fancy studio to be a professional photographer. WRONG.

Myth #3 - As a professional photographer, once people see your stunning images they will flock to you with checkbook in hand! WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

Sorry to say it but your images have little to do with your success as a photographer. It's all about your marketing. Once you get your marketing right, people actually will be clamoring for your services, but not before - no matter how good you are.

In fact, many of my best promotions get new customers lining up to be photographed without ever having seen any of my work at all! So, if photo marketing and living your life as a professional photographer sounds even a little intriguing, respond by enrolling in my Part Time Photography newsletter. You'll get a free ebook and daily tips on how you can turn your dreams into cash.


About The Author-- Dan Eitreim has worked as a professional photographer for 17+ years. With over 6000 past customers he has the experience and knowledge to teach YOU how to succeed in photography. Getting started making money in photography is fun, quick and easy. You can start full or part time and be making money THIS WEEK! So, to get your free copy of the e-book "How To Make 0 per Week With Your Digital Camera" go to: http://www.PartTimePhotography.com

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How to Make Money with Adobe Photoshop

You probably already know that Adobe Photoshop is great for making your digital and online pictures look more professional. But do you know how to make money with photoshop? Learn how to use photoshop to make a profit.

Any photoshop tutorial will tell you how to edit your images, how to add attractive framing and borders, and how

to work with layers and masks to give your images that perfect professional look. What standard tutorials don’t tell you is that you can actually use photoshop to generate some personal income. How to make money with photoshop is one of the best-kept secrets that adobe photoshop tutorials won’t teach you.


Have you ever heard of a photoshop freelancer? Once you hear about freelancing with photoshop once, you’ll start to notice references and resources for photoshop freelancers all over the web. Not mentioned in photoshop tips and tutorials, many photoshop freelancers have learned how to make money with photoshop – and now you can, too.

Graphic design is one of the hottest new trends in the online market. As web site competition heats up, everyone is looking for their own personalized graphics and logos for web pages, and this is how photoshop freelancers make their money. Because there is a huge demand for unique, stylized graphics and logos, adobe photoshop has suddenly become a viable money-making tool for those interested in doing a little freelancing. Logo design is very much in need by corporations and companies looking to personalize their web pages and set themselves apart from other businesses and web sites. Graphics that look great online are very much in need, and photoshop is the perfect tool for create logos that businesses will love.

A photoshop freelancer can find plenty of work on the web, where very few people know the ins and outs of graphic design. Even those who know how to use photoshop often don’t know how to use photoshop to its full potential despite the amount of tutorials they may take. Someone who can create unique logos and images using photoshop can find a new career path open to them by using their skills to become a photoshop freelancer. This can be a highly lucrative choice in today’s highly modernized world, where so much is happening in the online world. Adobe photoshop is not only great for improving your digital images, but can also open a new door in your freelancing career. Graphic designers, and those who know how to use photoshop well, are always highly in demand.

It’s an aspect of using photoshop that tutorials won’t teach you, no matter how many adobe photoshop tutorials you may take. But now that you’ve heard about freelancing with photoshop, you’ll find much more information on the Internet than you ever knew existed about this exciting career path. Photoshop, an easy software package to use, can turn anyone into a photoshop freelancer and experienced graphic designer. Though it may not be mentioned in photoshop tips, it is one aspect of adobe photoshop that some freelancers have learned to use to the fullest advantage.

It doesn’t end with logo design, either. Photoshop freelancers may be called upon to polish web site images or pictures taken by digital camera. Many businesses


like to post real pictures on their web sites, and the services of a photoshop freelancer can be used to make those pictures look great. The skills of a photoshop freelancer are needed all over the web, and you’ll find many opportunities to put your photoshop skills to good use.

Freelancing can be your key to self employment, and you’ll find that you can turn a quick profit by doing a little photoshop freelancing. When your skills can be used by many businesses and web sites on the Internet, why not share your knowledge and benefit a little from your photoshop expertise? Working for yourself can be a very enjoyable and financially beneficial experience, and all you need is a working knowledge of adobe photoshop to get your foot in the door of this career path.

You’ll find many resources for photoshop freelancers on the web. Everything from adobe photoshop tutorials and tips, to discussion pages, chat rooms, and forums are available to help you perfect your photoshop skills.

Getting Mildew Off Photos

Mildew is often synonymous with mold. Mildew is a type of fungus that attacks organic material. How, then, does mildew occur on photos? The answer is in the fact that the photographic paper used for pictures contains cellulose, which is an organic material. Mildew spores exist just about everywhere, but they do not normally germinate profusely unless the humidity level reaches about 70 percent and the temperature is above 68 degrees.

For the most part, mildew on photos will manifest on the darker areas of the picture and then spread. For pictures kept in a dark and damp place, such as a basement, the danger of mold is relatively high. This is because most basements, while they feel cool, are not actually cold. Most of them remain temperate at between 65 and 72 degrees. Additionally, because they are often damp dude to moisture in the ground and water pipes, there is usually more moisture in the air in a basement than in the rest of the house. The conditions are idea for the development of mold and mildew on photographs.

While you are likely to see stains, no matter how you clean off the mold, you can minimize the damage by following a few simple steps to removing mildew from off of your photos. The first thing to do is to isolate the photos in a cool, dry location. If possible, outside is best. The mildew spores are carried on air currents, and can remain floating in the air within your home. The mildew will turn dormant in the less favorable conditions. It is important to note that the mold is not dead. If it is carried to ideal conditions, it will “wake up” again and start to spread.

When the mildew on your photos has turned to a powdery and loose substance, it is time to gently brush it off the photo. Use a very soft brush or cloth so that the photo is not scratched. Outdoor removal is best, in order to prevent the spread of dormant mildew. If you do remove mildew from pictures inside, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to clean up the powder. Non-HEPA filter vacuums will simply re-circulate the mold spores throughout your home.

Be careful when working outside to remove mold form photos. More than a couple hours’ exposure to the sun can result in significant fading. While the photo may fade initially even if it is outside for a very little time, it will probably be unnoticeable and preferable to having mildew completely destroy your photographic memories. If you have very important photos, or antique photos, you can take them to a professional conservator who can do a careful job of preserving your important photos.

Watch the photos carefully after removing the mildew. If the mold returns consistently, you may need to have a copy made of the old photo and dispose of the moldy one, in order to prevent the mildew spreading to attack other pictures. There are many companies capable of creating almost perfect reproductions of your photos.

Photographing Kids Video Review

I recently purchased and have been viewing a DVD by Jim Miotke titled, Photographing Kids—which is also part of his Adventures In Photography series—and I have to say it’s been very informative and helpful. It’s definitely something I’d recommend to anyone who wants to take better pictures of children. Parents, grandparents, hobbyists, amateur photographers, and professionals can all benefit.

Jim doesn’t spend a lot of time discussing the technical aspects of photography, such as what aperture means, how to use a metering tool, or things of that nature. Instead, he acts as a personal mentor, taking us out in the field and showing us what works and what doesn’t. In other words, he’s actually in the middle of very informal photo shoots with his children and a few neighborhood kids.

In Photographing Kids, you’ll discover:
• how to interact with children to get the perfect picture,
• why it’s important to be flexible and work with what you have,
• why shooting from different angles is vital to obtaining good shots,
• how to use natural lighting,
• when to use lighting fixtures,
• the difference between close-up shots and distance shots,
• the difference between portrait shots and candid shots,
• how to shoot sporting events,
• and so much more.

If you’re serious about improving the quality of your children’s photos, I encourage you to pick up a copy of Photographing Kids today—even if you only walk away with one new tip, it’s worth the $24.95 price tag.


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About the Author: Alyice Edrich is the author of several highly praised e-books designed to help you work from home. To discover how you can earn $50 in two hours or up to $10K in your spare time visit her store: http://thedabblingmum.com/ebookstore

Commercial Product Photography: Three Product Photography Techniques for Great Catalog Online Store Pictures

Author: Alejandro Esparza

1) The Importance of Lighting
In commercial product photography, light plays a great roll in the way in which we will portrait and show products on an online store. Professionals use special lighting techniques to bring dramatic effects and crystal clarity to the images. When not using proper lighting products will look poor in quality and unappealing to the eye making a potential buyer deviate from your website. By using lighting correctly, you can bring a three-dimensional feel to a two-dimensional product image; making it seem more tangible to the viewer - as if they could touch it with their hands. In most cases, typical lighting techniques use in commercial product photography will include strobe lights, soft lighting boxes, powerful strobe lights to gain depth of field, a High resolution camera, reflectors and special macro lenses for close up work.
2) Creating the stage

Creating the right environment or scenario in commercial product photography will tell or play a big part in producing the right mood for your products. Whether you are photographing a fashion garment piece or a pair of glasses setting an atmosphere that makes the customer want to buy the product is vital. A professional photographer knows how to create a mood instead of just documenting a product. For instance, Throwing an apple fruit product on a white background will not appetite the buyer as much as if you set that same apple on a home made table and on top of a plate, saying this as an example the buyer will be reminded of his home and will want to have that apple served on his plate.
3) Image quality

Professional image quality can be achieved by having the right type of equipment and knowledge of the formats in which the image will be displayed. In commercial product photography, photographers should have a keen sense for marketing and should ask questions about the type of products to be about photograph. Knowing the audience that is target it to will help in decision making and best lay out to be created to produce attracting high quality images for an online store product display.
Following these three simple photography techniques will successfully produce high quality product images. Whether you need to create a catalog with pictures of your products or build an online store to settle for less than professional product images is a decision that will pay off dramatically in both sales and the way in which buyers will perceive the quality of your products.

www.camerawiz.net/Commercial_Product.php" target="_blank" title="commercial product photographer">https://www.camerawiz.net/Commercial_Product.php" target="_blank">www.camerawiz.net/Commercial_Product.php">https://www.camerawiz.net/Commercial_Product.php• COMMERCIAL PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY LOS ANGELES, CA. We specialize in Product photography in Los Angeles and are adept at photographing a diverse number of Products including: Dresses, tops, shirts. blouses, hand bags,jewlery, sun glases and more in Los Ageles California.
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http://www.camerawiz.net WEDDING AND EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES LOS ANGELES, CA. Camera wiz is the best online wedding photography service at affordable prizes. Wedding photography and wedding photographer in Los Angeles, CA.

About the Author:

About Alejandro Esparza

Wedding photographer Alejandro Esparza owner of http://www.camerawiz.net has provided for over 10 years wedding photography and Event photography services in Los Angeles CA. A journalistic style with an elegant, fashion artistic approach would well describe the style I approach when taking pictures of a beautiful bride on her wedding day. I have always been fascinated by the magic of photography since I was 10 years old. Photography is the art of making a painting using a camera, a lens and a flashlight. The angle in which the lens is placed on a subject and the way we focus the subject will dictate the type of composition we will get. I been photographing people for over 10 years and is one of the Greatest job In the World. I get to spend the day with a Bride and Groom at Their Wedding photography Event, Take pictures of a beautiful Quinceñera , meet families and have fun with children when I work, to have the opportunity to do all that I call it a privilege. I have taken pictures of Weddings, special occasions, Events, birthdays, headshots, Families portraits, Fashion/Modeling and Commercial product photography.

To those of you who have allowed me to photograph you, I thank you all and look forward to working with you again. To anyone I have not yet photographed, I look forward to meeting you.

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Photo Storage Comes In All Shapes And Sizes

Professional and amateur photographers alike can build up a huge collection of photos in a relatively short period of time. Without a way to categorize and store those important artifacts, they can become lost or damaged. Many photographers use photo boxes, bags and tissue as a way to preserve and protect their fine photographs for the long term.
Photo storage boxes offer a preferred way to store many photographs safely. In fact, archival photo storage can include archival-quality photo boxes, the same type used by museums and fine art galleries to store their fine photographs. This type of photo storage offers several advantages to the photographer. First, the boxes are of ample size and depth that a large number of photos can be stored together in the same box. Sizes for photo boxes range from eight by ten inches to twenty-two by thirty inches, and all with a three-inch depth. Secondly, box photo storage offers you several different ways to sort your photos.

You might sort by photographer, by year, or by subject matter. In this way, you can easily retrieve specific photographs quickly and easily, especially when you label the outside of the photo storage boxes with their contents. Third, a quality photo storage box will be reinforced at stress points, notably the corners. If you plan to stack your boxes in storage, this becomes important, because you do not want the boxes sagging and crushing under their own weight. Instead, boxes that come with corners reinforced with metal will be durable, and offer better protection for your fine photographs than plain paper boxes will. Finally, photo storage box should be made of acid-free materials. Acids can stain and yellow the surface of your photographs, damaging them beyond repair. By avoiding acids wherever possible, you can prolong the life of your artwork. The best museum-quality photo storage boxes are always made with acid-free interiors in order to better safeguard their contents from harm not only from acids, but also pollution and ultra-violet light.

Photo storage is also available with clear plastic bags. These archival photo storage bags allow you to easily see what is inside, and you can store single photographs inside them. Along with proper photo storage in the form of boxes and bags, you may also want to consider using acid-free tissue paper. The tissue is placed in between photos, which provides an extra layer of protection so that no corrosion or damage can occur to the photograph's surface. All of these items can be used together to form an organized and effective photo storage system for any photographer

Digital Photography vs. Filmed Photography

by Becky for BoomerYearbook.com
We all know how as times change, technology changes along with it. When boomers were growing up, good old film was used to take photos. I myself am an echo boomer, in my mid 30s, but I remember the 110 film, the 35mm film, as well as Polaroid Instant Film. The film was also sold based on how many photos you wanted to take. These amounts were usually 24 exposures, or 36 exposures. I know you can still purchase a Polaroid Instant Camera, as well as cameras that will use the 35mm film. However, according to the research I have done, the only way to find cameras that take the 110 film, are through a site such as Ebay.

Digital photography became popular with consumers in the 1990s . The first digital camera that was available commercially was the Dycam Model 1; which also sold as the Logitech

Fotoman. Instead of different types of film like the older cameras, digital cameras are designed to produce photos of different levels of megapixels. For those of you who may not know, a megapixel is 1 million pixels. A pixel is a tiny square on a computerized display that is so small it appears as a dot. The display screen is a solid grid of these squares or dots. I have seen digital cameras that produce photos with as little as 1 megapixel up to as many as 10 megapixels. The more mega pixels you have the better quality the print. My personal digital camera is a 3.1 megapixel and the photos are impeccable both on the computer and when printed. Digital cameras have affordable memory cards to insert into the camera to store hundreds of photos without having to print them.

There are pros and cons to both digital and print. Here’s just a few:

Film Photography: Pros: A film camera is slightly more affordable. Cons: You don’t know how the photo will look until it’s printed. You have to purchase film each time you use the allotted exposures for that roll. You are paying for the film, and then paying to have each photo printed, which can become rather costly. Once they are printed, you have no other way to preserve the photos other than in an album book.

Digital Photography: Pros: You can view the photo before printing. You don’t have to purchase film each time you want to use the camera. You can take hundreds of pictures with just one memory card and won’t have to worry about missing that great photo opportunity. You have the option of picking which photos to actually print. You can store the photos on the camera or upload them to your computer for safe-keeping in case the prints get destroyed. Cons: A digital camera is slightly less affordable.

As you can see, baby boomer photography may have evolved, and I along with other echoes probably prefer digital photography. I rarely took photos before digital cameras were available, but now, if given a choice, I am digital all the way. Especially as a parent, I cant imagine having to change the film in order to capture my son’s handsome smile when he opens gifts or sees the animals at the zoo.

So for those of you that have used both kinds of photography, do you have a preference? If you are stuck in the boomer years and still use the film cameras, tell us why? Head over to www.boomeryearbook.com and share your thoughts with us.

www.boomeryearbook.com is a social networking site connecting the Baby Boomer generation. Share your thoughts, rediscover old friends, or expand your mind with brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join today to discover the many ways we are helping Boomers connect for fun and profit. More details

Photography ISO

Using ISO on your camera to calculate a change in photography exposure.

ISO stands for International Standards Organisation, a governing body based in Europe that provides standards for a large variety of subjects. The initials are used for film speed or camera speed in photography which rates light sensitivity. In the past it was known as ASA.

Most good digital cameras have an interchangeable ISO rating system. A camera with an ISO setting of 100 is twice as light sensitive as a camera with an ISO of 50. The faster the film, the more sensitive it is to light. If you are taking a low light image with a digital camera use a slow ISO rating of 200 or upwards.

Most digital cameras have changeable ISO settings which should be used according to different types of photography. If you are shooting on a bright day a fast speed or low setting of ISO 50 or ISO 100 should do. On low light scenes an ISO of 400 or higher my be a better choice.

This is the same for photographic film you buy. Each film has an ISO rating and work with the same principles as your digital camera. A film speed of 400 is twice as fast as a film speed of 200, which means that it allows twice the amount of light.

Also note that if you use a high ISO number your image may appear to have noise. Noise will give your images a grain affect when enlarged. All photographers like to have noise free images so selective use of ISO is important.

If you are unsure which setting to use you should keep your camera set on ISO 100. With this setting you will have a good colourful image.

ISO settings can also be important when calculating exposure. As you know, the aperture and shutter in your camera control the amount of light entering you camera. The ISO of your camera or film will also help to calculate tricky exposures.

Lets explain using this example.

You are at a scene and you want to use an exposure of f/22 with the shutter set at 1/2 second and your camera is set at an ISO of 100. The scene you are about to shoot will give you a good shot but there is moving water in the scene and you want to give a steamy effect to the water.

A shutter speed of 1 second will do this but if you keep the aperture set at f/22 you will overexpose the shot. The easiest thing is to set the ISO of your camera to 50.

A setting of ISO 50, and f/22 at 1 second is the same as a setting of ISO 100, and f/22 at 1/2 a second. If you are shooting with a film camera you will need to change the film to ISO 50.

As mentioned earlier, a photography setting of ISO 100 is satisfactory for portraits, landscape and wildlife. Just remember if you are shooting on a very bright day change it to ISO 50 and on a dull day change it to ISO 200.


TJ Tierney is an award winning photographer and a freelance writer. To find out more information visit his photography site and photography forum His site also contains a free photography directory.