New Year New Deals

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Now that that's out of the way lets get back to work. Start as we mean to go on because before you know it the Christmas ads will be back on and you'll be wondering where the year went and why your 'To Do' list is still two pages long !

    So to kick things off I have put together some packages for my photography business. This achieves two things -

It helps me define my own Brand Identity and it position me within the market place. 

This is something that I have been thinking about over Christmas. I asked myself - 

                                                    What kind of photographer am I ?

                                                    What is my style?

                                                    How much do I need to make to cover expenses ?

                                                    What does the local market charge ?

    

    A lot of people make the mistake of undercutting the competition and so becoming known as the 'Cheap Guy' who most probably is not making his fortune just yet. In fact he will probably go out of business because to pay the bills he will have to get a day job which will then prevent him from committing any time to his photography.

    When you do your research in to your local competition look at how long they have been in business and whether they work from home or have a separate business address. Then look at what they charge for specific services.

    If someone charges £180.00 to £220.00 for a days shoot it is because that is what they need to charge to keep themselves in business ! More importantly they have clients willing to pay that amount !

    Look for at least five local competitors and look at their rates. Most of them will be fairly close to each other, with at least one exception who will either be way out of your league or too cheap to be doing this full time.

    

    The simple maths of it are that the average of these rival rates is what your local market currently supports. So why would you price yourself out of it ? Too cheap and people will ignore you (waste of their money) Too expensive and people will still ignore you (You're not competitive enough or just plain egotistical).  

    You need to get into the game so price yourself accordingly. Position yourself - 

within the marketplace

not outside of it !

Immediately you are making yourself comparable to the successful photographers in your area the difference of course will be what makes you stand out. Your Unique Selling Point. 

This is where you have to sell yourself and what you have to offer. This is the reason that clients will come to you and not the competition. Not how cheap you are but how good the services are that you offer !

    So start the new year off right and reassess your place in the market place and reposition yourself in a more realistic position and then work damned hard at justifying it !

More t.k.

Grow Your Network

We all need to put ourselves out there if we want to be noticed. To build our on-line presence and connect with fellow creatives and clients. So when I was invited to join a new networking site called *Modeling Stage* I was happy give it a try. The site is currently open to photographers, models & actors. It just takes a couple of minutes to set up a profile and, because the site is in beta, you get to be in at the beginning and help shape the network as you build your following and audience.
    Here is the link - modelingstage.com

Black Friday !

Black Friday 50% Print sale ! - runs all weekend till Cyber Monday 1st Dec - Christmas starts here ! 

Here's the LINK

Ying & Yang or The Need for Personal Vision

So back when I shot the  A Distant Shore Series with Jodie Winyan there was a second series, Tempest

Tempest was shot on the same day in my living room with the same Bowens Gemini light & 1.2 mtr Octobox. Oh, and 10 metres of white, sheer, material.

Now whilst I had had plenty of time to prepare for this shoot most of my energy had been focused on the 'Distant Shore' theme. This second theme was always about two distinct images and how to achieve them. The first theme had a story to guide it. Give it a direction to develop in as we shot.

Whilst having two distinct images in mind for the second 'look' may have proven enough for, say a fashion shoot or advert, I was in full on story mode and keen to shoot as much as possible. I already knew the first series was going to yield some great shots so I was determined to make the most of this new setup.

After twenty minutes of trying every possible pose we decided to stop and so avoid repetition. All that was left was for me to pick out the best shots and edit them. No so easy when your vision only went as far as two key images. Coming off of the success of the first series my expectations were high but without I a clear story in my head I was struggling to build a sequence that was of any merit. Not to mention the editing and post processing was just a series of experiments as I looked for something that would work.

All the while this is going on I also have real life to contend with. Which means these images were taking longer than usual to complete. Then one morning I turn on my PC load up Lightroom and hate what I see ! There was too much Photoshop, too many layers and manipulation. The focus of the pictures was lost because the 'over editing' was destroying them. I needed to start again, strip back, simplify. Only now I had a better idea of what to do.

An important part of any story is the journey and that includes the creation. This set of photographs was being difficult. I was not making it easy for me to see past the surface. So I made that part of the story. I made our 'Tempestuous' relationship the thread that linked the images in the series and informed the style of edit.

What could have been a disaster was saved by using the experience of creation as a key part in the presentation and style of the work.

'Every project is personal'

I've always believed that. Now more than ever !

More t.k.

We Tripped the Light Fandango...

Or so the song goes.

    Anyway, a few weeks ago I finally got to do a photo shoot with Jodie Winyan and give my 1,2 mtr octobox a real workout. Think 'The French Lieutenants Woman' & 'Wuthering Heights' for the concept. A solitary woman lost in her thoughts about a lover who may or may not be returning. 

Oh the drama !

    Anyway it was shot in my living room next to the TV and fireplace. No, seriously. I pulled the sofa out into the dining room put up a collapsible backdrop in front of the living room window. Bowens Gemini 250 watt studio light (about 1/3 power) with my 1.2 mtr octobox, on a light stand, up against the wall to the left. An optional reflector, against the bookcase, to the right. Then the backdrop was a black bed sheet with a length of 1.5 mtr wide black fine netting. Importantly the creases were left in for texture.

    A black dress fro Ebay, some artificial lilies and red ribbon for symbolism, then throw in an electric fan to create movement (only for it to die after 5 mins).

    Note, the main light is aimed passed the subject, not at her, this way the light can wrap around her more easily. This makes the reflector optional.

    The numbers:

                           ISO - 100

                           Focal length - 80 mil

                           Aperture - 3.5

                           @ 1/90 sec.

    All that was left was to go into Photoshop do a little retouch and post processing with a couple of custom filters and actions. Then release into an unsuspecting world.

Full picture set here

                        

                                                                                  More tk...

The Little Things

    OK so call me a geek, call me a big kid but sometimes the simple things make me happy :)

For instance Velcro !

I decided that securing filters and flash triggers to my equipment with elastic bands was not very professional or reliable. Then I went to Maplins (UK) ans spotted these little Velcro rolls...

And they are brilliant ! Each role is a metre long, you can cut them to length. A choice of colours,  if you want to colour code your gear. 

Wrap a strip around the head of your speed light and it will grip a piece of coloured gel. 

Flash trigger hanging off the side of your strobe by its cable ? Use a strip of Velcro to secure it.

Packing gear, Wrap around loose light stand legs. Group gear together.

My Bowens studio flash does not have a hole to fit an umbrella shaft. So two lengths of Velcro wrapped around the body of the light gripping the umbrella shaft. Easy !

did I mention the choice of colours ? OK, so you get the point.

Here is the Maplins link

                             More t.k...

(The author will not be held responsible for the fate of small children and animals when using Velcro.)

Time to Mean Business

     I've decided to dedicate more time to developing my photography and the possibility of generating more paid work. This means developing my online presence and building up my audience and potential client base.
    Whilst the internet makes it easy to reach out globally it is still just 'virtual'. Even in the 21st Century it pays to have something tangible. The simple answer is of course the humble business card, only they aren't so humble any more !
    There are plenty of firms that offer cheap deals on print runs of 100 cards, or more but they are cheap for a reason. Thin flimsy paper, poor colour reproduction, soaks up water like a sponge.
    It's true that some people think that business cards are dead. that you just need a persons email address and share a selection of images with them. That's just too impersonal for my liking. Pictures on your computer or phone are now too easily disposable and forgettable, because 5 mins later they are replaced by new ones.
    A photographic business card, on the other hand, has weight and texture. The stiffness of the card and the finish on the image indicate an investment in quality. This is a card worth keeping. If you invest in it then so should the recipient. The simple fact is that if you care about your photography then you should care equally for all things connected to it. Potential clients will sense this. That means spending money and investing in a product that will reflect positively on you and your business.
    I had heard about MOO from various sources and have never heard anything bad so I decided to give them a go. 100 matte finish laminated cards with the extra touch of rounded corners.

    The cards are stiffer than playing cards and the matte finish gives them a lovely feel between the fingers. You can order thicker and posher card stock but I love my choice and being able to have multiple front images gives people a choice when taking one of your cards and giving it pride of place in their wallet. These are cards I am proud to offer to people and for that they are worth every penny.

    Here's the link MOO cards so you can check them out for yourself.

                                                                                         More t.k....