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Business
Practice
Getting
the Most Out of a Photography Workshop
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Sunday,
Feb 16th, 2003, The EPNetwork is hosting a Photographic Workshop
with Patty Hosmer and Susan Sexton at the Red Vista Ranch in Cave
Creek, AZ. It is one of the features of the EPNet Winter Conference
in AZ. Information about the Workshop is included here, but for
additional information on the Conference, go to www.equinephotograpers.net.
Whether or not you are attending, this is an interesting read.
After reading it, you might decide to attend, which would be a
good thing for all of us.
The Workshops
are designed for people who have some experience with cameras
and horses. The program includes classroom instruction as well
as hands-on work. Generally speaking, we'll discuss methods and
goals, and how to achieve them. There will also be mechanical
information about equipment (digital, film, lenses, etc.) Techniques
that will be covered include exposure, depth of field, panning,
effective shutter speeds, filters (on the camera and in PhotoShop),
angles, moments, etc.
If you are
attending the Workshop, bring the following items: two pictures--a
good one and a bad one--a pad of paper and a pen, water, a camera
and film (or not, depending) and a hat.
You'll want
to bring something of yourself, too; an open mind, questions,
and opinions. (An "open mind" and an "opinon"
do not need to be mutually exclusive.) All these are the best
tools in the classroom. We'll discuss your questions, comments
and ideas, analyze them and maybe even reconstruct them to suit
individual styles and needs. This is how we learn, through open
minds and the experience of free flowing ideas and information.
Bring the
desire to participate, too. You won't be required to teach anything,
but others learn from your questions. Our workshop leaders specialize
in their particular topics, but there are never too many good
ideas, and you can't ever have all the information. Your workshop
leader knows this and encourages you to talk and talk. And to
think and think. Ideas change shape as they are handled (kind
of like warm taffy), becoming ever more useful to our group.
But unlike taffy, they're calorie free!
In my section
of the PhotoWorkShops, we will look at pictures (yours and
mine), and discuss what we like and how to achieve it; what
we don't like and how to avoid it. We will discuss how to capture
that perfect moment in the stride and a great expression in the
eye; how to flatter a horse's conformation, and what the owner
is looking for in a conformation picture.
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We'll discuss
what effect the different lenses have; what depth of field is,
how to get it, how to use it, and other technical topics. And
art. After a couple of hours of intense discussions, we'll go
outside and work with horses. There will be a dressage rider so
we can shoot under saddle work. We'll also use the horse for conformation
and head shots. While we're working with the horses, we'll discuss
the following topics: timing, balance, frame and expression.
You never
know what you're going to hear, what you're going to learn, or
how you're going to learn it. You never know when you're going
to use your new information, or even how, so come prepared for
anything. We are not always aware of it when we are impacted,
not aware of the levels within ourselves that have been tapped
when we experience something. Look at a picture, go to a museum,
read a book, go to a movie, have a car accident, go to church,
read the cereal box, have a dream--nighttime, daytime, any time--
you just never know, but if you come to the EPNet Workshop, you
can be sure of a variety of learning experiences. Come to the
Workshop. You'll be glad you did. Promise!
My session,
Photographing the Sport Horse, runs from 8:00 AM to noonish on
Sunday, Feb 16th. Patty Hosmer's session, Shooting the Western/Stock
Breed Halter Horse, runs from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM the same day.
Each division, Sport Horse and Western, runs about four hours.
Visit our websites for examples of our shooting styles.
My site is:
www.susansexton.com
and Patty's is at : www.hoofprintsphoto.com
For additional
information about the Winter Conference, visit www.equinephotographers.net
and click on EPnet Winter Conference.
See you there!
Susan Sexton
photos@susansexton.com
www.susansexton.com
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Inspirational
Moments . . .
"The
mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior
teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."
-William
A. Ward
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DIGITAL
CONNECTION:
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DIGITAL
STORAGE -
Solutions or Setbacks?
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Without
the ability to draw upon a database of files that is dependable
ten years down the road, our work today could be in vain. In our
previous articles, we discussed the need for long term, dependable
archival storage of our digital images and the potential means
of making it happen. This is the last of our series discussing
some of the ins & outs of digital storage. In this installment
we discuss what this writer has landed on for the most dependable
and economical method of storage. I will present this information
to you as I have determined that it is best suited to the average
digital photographer with regard to size and volume requirements
as well as computer needs.
This is what
I will be working towards in the next few months, but first, a
little background. I have a desktop that I do all my digital manipulations
on. This is the workhorse of my system. Not a souped-up job by
any means, but sufficient for now. I also have a high end (or,
at least it was a year ago!) IBM ThinkPad that actually has
more number crunching ability than my desktop. This is what I
take on the road for when I need the portability, and it has all
the software my desktop has. Our third computer is my previous
work computer, which is now the "family" desktop. All
three are linked with an Intel Anypoint Wireless network, using
my desktop as the server, which has the DSL line connected. All
share that DSL connection.
I have broken
my proposed archival system down to three areas:
First is
an annual back up. This single device will contain all my work
for the calendar year on a single component. Due to the sheer
size of my image database, I need something that will have plenty
of capacity. That is going to be either a tape drive or a hard
drive. My experience with a tape drive is that they are fine for
running back up's at night, while the computer is not in use,
but that for every day use, they are a bit too slow. The tape
drive is also rather cumbersome in trying to retrieve files. This
may be old news to many of you, but to those not yet familiar
with tape back up systems, you don't want to use them like a hard
drive.
My choice
for the annual back up device is the hard drive. Using the desktops
regular hard drive for everything else, a second hard drive can
be used for photo & document storage. The second hard drive
can be either installed as a slave to the regular hard drive,
by using fire wire technology or by using a modulated system that
treats a hard dive like a floppy or CD. I opt for the first choice.
Using a second hard drive as a slave is fast, convenient (hook
it up once and your good for a year) and I like the idea of handling
it less, which means fewer opportunities for damage. I'll change
out the hard drive once a year and store the back up wrapped in
bubble wrap, static bag and sealed hermetically in a Zip Lock
bag with desiccant to absorb moisture away from the drive. The
archived drive is to be used as a last resort. If I find that
I have frequent need for it from storage, I will consider adding
something like the InClose Mobile Docking system to make those
installations easier. My intention with the hard drive though,
is to never need it, which leads me to the next storage device
for my digital archival system.
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The
DVD burners are coming! The DVD burners are coming! Just as the
CD changed the way we stored stuff, so will the DVD. Face it guys,
if you don't have one already, your gonna get one eventually.
With 4.76 Gig's (9.4 Gig DVD-RAM) of storage capacity,
with the potential for more later, it WILL BE the "floppy"
of choice. I say "will be" because I think the jury
is still out on the burning convention. Just as with 8-track &
cassette and VHS & BETA showdowns of yesteryear, one burning
rule will become dominant very soon. That's when I'll pick one
up for use as my monthly back up. For now, the Panasonic LF-D321U
DVD-RAM/R EIDE is recommended by ZDNet as "…the drive
to get if you're into digital video or want a good backup system
for your computer". Also, as with CD's, I think that we'll
see the 2.4X speed increase dramatically, as time goes by. And
don't try to save a few bucks on the media. Use quality DVD's.
store them in jewel cases and keep them from humidity and sunlight
(UV light).
And my third
back up system is the CD. I just replaced my old Sony 4x burner
with a brand new Memorex 52x ($69 at Sams Club, or COSTCO to
you folks on the left side of the country) that flies like
the wind! I'm burning a CD every 6 - 7 minutes including formatting,
protecting and preparing for use in standard CD-ROM devices. It
used to take 35 - 45 minutes, if I was lucky! I actually avoided
using the thing, and then had trouble getting CD-R's that were
actually SLOW enough nowadays to use in it. Whew! - Anyway, the
CD will be used as a back up for each show, event or category
(like farm calls). Each show/event/category will have it's
own CD(s). CDs will be stored in the jewel case to help prevent
scratching and will be stored near my computer for easy access.
When put in permanent storage with DVDs and hard drives, the CDs
will also be kept dark and dry.
So there
you have it. Three back up's for the years work. Sounds like a
lot of hassle, but it really isn't. Hard drive prices have come
down quite a bit, as have CD burners, CD media and DVD burners.
Look to spend around $300 today on the Panasonic DVD burner, $69
on the CD burner and, depending on your annual needs, $100 - $300
for a second hard IDE drive. DVD media should run around $3 -
$9 each, less by the bundle or spindle. I just picked up a 100
spindle of Verbatim CD-R, 48x for $23 at Sams Club. I'll be looking
for the 52x when that's gone. Paula da Silva gave us an excellent
web site that rated media at CDmediaworld.
This site also has reviews & recommendations on CD &
DVD equipment, software and utilities. Total estimated start up
costs is less than $600, which includes a years worth of media,
and annual cost after that is less than $250.
Lastly, I
highly recommend you review your back up needs and system annually.
As the computer industry continues to evolve, new technologies
emerge to enhance our work and make life easier (or so they
say!). What is hot today will be old news in a year, cumbersome
in two years and a boat anchor in less than five years. Anybody
want a 4 x 2 x 6 Sony CD burner? I've got one for sale. Cheap!
Steve Lasko
Stephen E. Lasko Photography
Specializing in things equine
slasko@bellsouth.net
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The
Vintage Image
Although
the photographer is unknown, the image taken to preserve
Barb Young's memory of her pony Rajah is much appreciated!
Known then as Barbara Chisholm, at age 10, she and her pony
won a blue ribbon at Round Hill Stables Horse Show in Greenwich,
CT.
Image
submitted by:
Barb Young
http://www.rainbowfarm.com/photos.html
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FOCUS
ON MARKETING :
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Marketing
Equine Photography and the Internet:
Web Sites are Tools, Not End-all Solutions
in Your Marketing Mix
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Who Needs
Internet Promotion?
Equine Photography
encompasses many types, disciplines, purposes and styles. There
are those who shoot for nationally published magazines like Dressage
Today, Equus and Practical Horseman. Others focus on the advertising
of blood lines and stud services for champion reiners, Quarter horses,
and other breeds. There are show photographers,endurance ride photographers,
driving event photographers, equine art photographers, eventing
photographers, editorial photographers,advertising specialists and
the list goes on and on. Some can benefit more than others from
promotion on the Internet and most of us can use the Internet as
one of many tools for promotion more so than as a low cost primary
marketing tool.
People are Looking for Information on the Web
How then can the Internet be of value for all the specialties listed
above? By far and away web surfers of all kinds use the Internet
for the purpose of gathering information about services and products
that they want to purchase. For your web site to be of use to potential
buyers, it must have the information that they are looking for.
Where do you work? What kind of equine photography do you do? How
can you be reached ? (Please, not just an email address).
Rate information can behelpful, but sometimes rates are more customized.
If this is the case for you, then at least say so. By all means
try to answer at least some of the key questions your potential
clients will have for you on your web site. Ten photos and an email
address just doesn't cut it.
An Internet Store Front or Electronic Portfolio
I consider my web site to be my Internet store front. Potential
customers can look around and see the type work that I do. They
can pick up my virtual pricing brochure. I can set some expectations.
They can find out where I am and where I will go to take pictures.
Others see their web site as an electronic portfolio showing a sampling
of their very best images for review. Of these types that I have
seen, there is many times a scarcity of information for the potential
customer to review. Sometimes I cannot tell if the site is owned
by an avid equine photography enthusiast or a professional. When
email is the only offered form of communication, I wonder if it's
worth the effort to find out and can't help but think the potential
buyer would feel the same way.
Is There Value in Random Hits?
Getting real potential customers to your site is a challenge. Sure
people from all over the world can look at your photos, but how
many of them are really potential customers? If you live on the
east coast and the visitor lives on the west cost, no matter how
nice your photos look it is unlikely they will pay your way for
a visit to their farm. So random visits to your site are only randomly
productive to your sales efforts. An exception to this might be
the Equine Art photographer whose photos can be appreciated and
purchased by any horse lover. Editorial stock or advertising stock
buyers might also be interested in your work regardless of geographics,
but they are too busy to use search engines and wade through hundreds
of sites to find yours.
Get the Most Out of Your Web Site
For your site to have any value for you, it must be seen. And it
must be seen by real potential customers. In the early years of
the Internet (that's in the last ten years), many thought,
"If I build it they will come." Large sums of money were
spent on photographer web sites and there was little money left
for the outside promotion of the site using other forms of advertising.
Many photographers have gone belly up from the early hype of the
internet gold mine. It has become very clear that in most cases
in order for a web site to be productive, it has to be combined
with other forms of marketing. Your potential customers need to
be constantly reminded and prodded to go see your web site. Your
web site needs to be listed on everything that potential customers
receive, pick up, or see. Your business cards, ads that you run,
flyers that you put out, your email signature file, mailers, etc.
all need to list your URL. You cannot just hope they will come if
you plan to benefit from having a web site.
Is YOUR Audience Using the Internet ?
For some of us, our potential customer base is only 10% Internet
savvy. Editorial and stock photographers have an audience that is
closer to 90% Internet savvy, but even in this category there are
potential customers that will not respond well to the Internet and
will require more direct approaches. Don't let your involvement
on the Internet slant your view or make you assume that everyone
is as active as you. Many of my advertising customers get "excited"
about having a web site. The excitement clouds their vision and
they think hordes of people will suddenly be digging through each
page. If that excitement makes them drop the ball on their other
advertising efforts it soon comes back to bite them. Some have had
their businesses seriously damaged by allowing excitement about
the Internet to slant their view. Here's an illustrative example:
When I was on a dial-up connection, I checked my email about once
every couple of weeks (this drove everyday Internet surfers nuts)
and I went web surfing about once a month. Now with a DSL, I check
my email several times a day and surf around at least weekly. Some
of your clients and potential clients have NEVER surfed the Internet.
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FREE
Internet Promotion of Your Web Site
What's the free, easy solution to bringing the masses to their web
site. Sometimes you get what you pay for. I have been experimenting
with various LINK LIST SITES, WEB RINGS, and DIRECTORIES. Although
all seem to be producing some hits, it is important to focus with
promotion that is as specific as possible. For example I'm on the
Equine Photographers Web Ring which is fairly specific, but I'm
also on the Horse Lover's Web Ring which is extremely broad.
The strongest
and the leader in several ways is the Equine Photography Network
Directory which brings in close to 20% of all the web site referral
hits to my site. Potential customers can select the state where
they live
and visit the photos in the gallery for those photographers near
enough to matter. They can just click on the hot links to be directed
to the photographer's web sites. Another advantage of this directory
is that it lists the types of work each photographer does and potential
consumers have several ways to get to each photographer. If they
look through the gallery and click on the photographs they like
it takes them to that photographer's directory listing. For slightly
increased fees there are portfolio gallery pages on the site and
based on comments from photographers who have them it seems well
worth the minor investment. With it's ability to focus geographically
it has great advantages not seen with link lists and web rings.
The low or
no cost options might help promote your site but you can't always
count on them to perform. I get quite a few hits from an Endurance
Link site and since that is one area I enjoy working in, I appreciate
those hits. I've also joined a dozen or so web rings. But, most
of the web rings and link sites do nothing to focus geographically
for potential consumers and are therefore much less likely to produce
viable clientele. People are sent from sea to shining sea looking
at various sites from all across the country. The possibility that
they will land on the site of a photographer near them is totally
random and extremely unlikely. To see some of the web rings I'm
trying out go to the bottom of my home page. You can also review
hit traffic by clicking on the extreme tracker logo at the bottom
of the home page (you have to ignore "bookmark" and
"topnav.html as those are my hits when making adjustments to
my site). The link lists that I've listed my site on are on
my links page along with my other links. The link lists are FREE
and so are the web rings. If more photographers join them, it can
only add value for the web surfers eager for information who may
then be able to find a photographer that can meet their needs (having
geographic proximity such that they can afford to call).
Search Engine
Tip
By including
your entire web site URL including the http:// in the signature
file of your emails you will increase your ranking on search engines.
All you need to do is go to your email program's preferences section
and find the feature called "signature file". You will
be directed to select the signature file which you create. To create
the file use your word processor and create a TEXT FILE with your
contact information in it. Include your name, your company name,
email address, phone numbers, and last of all include your ENTIRE
URL like this: http://www.photosbypdemott.com. Save it as a TEXT
file in your browser folder. Then select it from that preference
section mentioned above. Your signature file will be added at the
bottom of every email that you send. If for some reason you don't
want it on a particular email, then you just delete it from the
end of your email. Every time that your email is archived on a yahoo
group or other forums that you participate in search engines will
see your web site mentioned more frequently. More frequent mentions
tells the search engine that your site if more popular. Popularity
increasing its rating and bringing it higher on the search lists.
Your Questions, Feedback and Thoughts
I would be particularly interested in hearing from people who have
actively promoted their web sites with advertising and direct mailings.
Send me you thoughts: pdemott@multi-ad.net
. My next step will be a direct mail promotional postcard with an
incentive offer and my web site listed. I would love to see some
examples of mailings that you've done (Just scan them as jpgs
and send them to me as attachments-be sure to list subject as Equine
Photographers Newsletter).
Peter
DeMott
pdemott@multi-ad.net
Equestrian Sport Photography-Photos by Peter DeMott
http://www.photosbypdemott.com
Member of The Equine Photographers Network
http://www.equinephotographers.net
(About
the author: Peter is in full time direct mail advertising sales.
As the top seller in Multi-Ad in Dayton, Ohio he works with over
100 clients on an ongoing basis creating marketing solutions for
their businesses. He has clients who spend as little as $250 per
month and others who spend $15,000 per month. Peter also has a part
time equine photography business called Equestrian Sport Photography-Photos
by Peter DeMott and is a member of EPnet. He posts regularly on
all three of our equine photography egroups)
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Legal
Views
Question:
Can
I sell a group photo to one of the individuals pictured,
even if I don't have releases from all of those who are
posing?
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Answer:
So
long as the photograph is not used for advertising or promotion,
you do not need a release.
Bert P. Krages
Attorney at Law
6665 S.W. Hampton Street, Suite 200
Portland, Oregon 97223
http://www.krages.com/lvaserv.htm
Editor's Note: Bert Krages is an attorney
practicing environmental and intellectual property law in
Portland, Oregon. He is also the author of the Legal Handbook
for Photographers: The Rights and Liabilities of Making Images
information at http://www.krages.com/lhp.htm
and Total Environmental Compliance: A Practical Guide for
Environmental Professionals information at http://www.krages.com/tec.htm.
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Spotlight:
Behind the Camera
Patty McClure-Hosmer
HoofPrints® Photography
Patty McClure-Hosmer of HoofPrints® Photography specializes
in stallion and show horse portraits, as well as advertising
photos. HoofPrints® photographs have appeared throughout
the United States, Canada, and Australia in equine publications,
catalogues, national product campaigns, as well as on
equine related product labels. A lifelong horseperson,
Patty has shown quarter horses to numerous open and amateur
awards including futurity wins, amateur all-around championships,
circuit and state high point awards, as well as world
show placings. She also served for a number of years on
the AZ QH Breeders’ Assn. Board of Directors.
Born
in Illinois, Patty began her riding career as a child
with hunters and jumpers, but her family’s move to
Arizona when she was ten years old sparked an interest
in western riding and quarter horses. While attending
the University of Arizona as an art major, Patty developed
an interest in photography in order to have a resource
for graphite people and animal portraits.
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In 1983, the opportunity to attend a Don Shugart seminar
in Texas presented itself, and Patty thought it would
be a great chance to learn horse photography from one
of the best in the business. She hoped that developing
her skills as a photographer would enable her to gain
enough expertise to film her family’s own show horses
for advertising. The hobby quickly turned into a profession,
however, and HoofPrints® Photography was officially
born in 1984.
Over
the years, HoofPrints® Photography has grown and changed
with the needs of Patty’s clients. Originally, she
traveled throughout the state doing farm calls for stallions
and show horses, with a number of horse shows on the agenda,
however, Patty has since eliminated the shows. Her exacting
standards for correct lighting and set-up, as well as
attractive backgrounds, conflicted with the parameters
of show photography, and with a second marriage and the
eventual arrival of 3 small boys, the time required to
film horse shows became too difficult to juggle while
managing family commitments. In order to spend more time
with her family, Patty, with her husband John, began to
develop their property into a beautiful outdoor studio
with numerous settings that attract clients from all over
the state. Mexican stonework, mowed grass pastures, wildflowers,
sycamores, mesquites, and cottonwoods, as well as a recirculating
stream, are just a few of the features that bring more
and more clients to Patty’s Tucson home/studio for
unique HoofPrints® portraits.
Patty
McClure-Hosmer
HoofPrints Photography
email: hoofprints@mac.com
http://www.hoofprintsphoto.com
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| Photo
Tip . . .Expose it Fast and Correct!
When
shooting horses in snow, remember that action happens fast!
Be prepared as their bursts of energy don't last long but
do make for wonderful images. Accurate light readings are
necessary for proper exposure. If you don't have an incident
light meter handy, take a reading with your camera's metering
system off the palm of your hand. Extend your hand out in
front of you so the light falls onto it at the same angle
you intend to shoot. Try to fill the frame with your hand.
On a cloudy day, take readings often as the sun peeping
through the clouds can dramatically change your settings.
Lori
Schmidt
Equine Prophoto
email : LoriProphoto@skyenet.net
website : http://groups.msn.com/EquineProphoto
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»This Just In...«
The Equine Photographers Network Winter Workshop
will be Feb12-16 2003 in Scottsdale Arizona.
Offering a Members Retreat, Business Speaker, Trade Show, Photo
Show and Competition.
Susan
Sexton: Photographing the Sport Horse Seminar and Patty Hosmer:
Photographing the Western
Stock Horse Seminar. Andrew Buchanan of Editorial Photographers
will be presenting 'Outreach
EP' for
the Saturday FREE educational talk at the Conference and "Getting
Started in Pro Photography" along
with
sitting in at the Member's Retreat Roundtables to discuss paperwork,
contracts, releases and copyrights.
The
Photo Show is open to Amatuer and Professional Photographers
Check
here for guidelines and more!
Check
EPNet Arizona Conference Information for complete details.
Riding for the Blue: A Celebration
of Horse Shows by Cindy Hale,
Photographed by EPNet member Sharon Fibelkorn has just been released
by Bowtie Press!!
Click
here for the Amazon details on this exciting hardcover coffee
table book!
Congratulations Sharon!
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The
mission of EPNet News is to inspire, educate and reinforce
the importance of integrity and professionalism in business practice.
As
a publication of the Equine Photographers' Network, the EPNet
News does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness
of any information presented. One Horse Productions, the staff
of EPNet News, guest authors of the EPNet News and current members
of the Equine Photographers' Network are not responsible for errors,
omissions or for results obtained from the use of such information.
Any reference to specific products, process, or service does not
necessarily constitute or imply endorsement of such. All photographs
and illustrations on newsletter are copyrighted through the respective
photographer/designer and the Equine Photographers Network through
publishing in the EPNet News .These images are not in the public
domain and may not be posted on personal or commercial websites
or correspondence or used in any manner without obtaining permission
of the copyright holder. For more information on images contact
EPNet News Editor.
Editor: rbaucus@chartermi.net
© 2002 Equine Photographers' Network, All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer
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