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Business
Practice
Photography
for the Younger Set
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One
of my most appealing subjects at horse shows are the participants
in the lead-line or walk-trot classes. With proper marketing and
focus on the importance of these images to the parents, you may
find that you can sell several images or even packages of these
special moments in a young equestrian's life. As with all dealings
with horses and especially with children or inexperienced riders,
be cautious about safety. Use the best/longest zoom available
to maintain a safe distance between young or inexperienced riders
and horses. If a flash is necessary, request permission BEFORE
you start shooting and perhaps firing a test flash or two while
horse and rider are closely supervised would be a good idea. That
said, let's move on to discussing....
Poses That Sell-
- Look up
to your customers" for great close-ups. Keep in mind that
when mounted on an average sized horse or large pony, people
are at just the right height and angle for great close up portraits.
- Cute candids
make for happy parents and a treasured memory of their first
show. Be on alert for those brilliant, "I'm riding a pony"
smiles!
- Lead-line
classes with a grade schooler leading pre-schooler is sure-fire
winner! Try to get both children in one frame either with or
without the equine.
- If your
subject is showing a small pony, get down on your knees, or
actually squat down on ground to get a good angle for the shot.
- If the
sun cooperates, position yourself to photograph each entrant
as they enter the arena on the rail. This may be the only time
besides the line up to get only one entrant at a time in your
frame! At times, I have found it to be difficult to get a shot
while the class is working on the rail because the horse's herd
instinct takes precedence over new riders' experience and the
whole group travels in a herd!
- At the
end of the class, walk down the line-up, getting individual
shots. Most judges and ringmasters are very supportive and allow
extra time for this, sometimes they even help with the "ears
up" if my assistant is not available.
Marketing
During the Show-
Be sure to get the word out ! At one show I photographed, during
the line-up in lead-line, the judge talked with each rider. Most
were very bashful and did not have much to say, but one three
year old ( yes, only three) proudly held up three fingers and
announced to the judge and everyone else exactly how old he was!
Happened to catch this on film, really a "once in a lifetime"
photo for the family. Unfortunately, the family never had the
opportunity to purchase the photo. They had not signed up at the
booth to receive proofs and may never know I have this image available.
This was definitely a lesson learned for me.
To let my customers know they can expect only the highest quality
from their orders, digital "Q&A" sheets are readily
available at my booth. The brief yet informative sheets explain
that I use a professional digital camera, quality zoom lenses,
and high end thermal printers. This equipment produces beautiful,
durable prints that will stand the test of time. Since I now work
with digital equipment, I am able to print proof sheets at the
shows.
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I also make it a priority to provide a written "ad"
for the show announcer to read even before classes start and throughout
the day, so exhibitors know they will have photos available.
When sheets
from particular classes are ready for viewing, either I or my
assistant send a note to the announcer. This has greatly increased
sales and I now attempt to have as much exposure as possible.
My tent is usually set up right next to the entry booth with a
ten foot banner, photos books from previous shows and framed photos
all displayed in plain view. Sending an assistant around to the
barn and trailer parking areas with "goody bags" has
also helped. Each bag contains horse treats, a business card and
flyer explaining the services I will be providing.
Marketing
after the Show-
Each order
form includes a permission statement which can be signed allowing
me to publish proof images to the "Brag Book" pages
of my web site. Each photo is water marked and right click copy
disabled to discourage downloading by site visitors. The Brag
Book pages have generated a large flow of traffic to my site and
promoted future sales for birthday, holiday and Christmas gifts.
The order forms also have a line for the customer's email address.
This is handy for keeping in touch and sending out monthly Blind
Eye Photography E-newsletters. The newsletters include the following
sections: "Show News Is Good News" listing upcoming
shows ; "Tips & Tricks" submitted by customers about
equine care; "Photo Fun Stuff Specials" describing current
specials and new items ; "Blind Eye Photography Calendar"
showing my shooting schedule for the current year, and of course
a link to the Brag Book pages of my site.
Orders are shipped with a price list, business card and postage-paid
comment card and hand written "thank you" on the back
of each package. Occasionally a greeting card with hand written
thank you note is also included. Be sure to include a recent price
list and any special package offers that are available, these
types of images make for great grandparent gifts.
In closing, I would like to add that you should NEVER publish
a youth photo with out a written release form from the parent
or legal guardian. This is especially true with youngsters. Make
your customers at ease by letting them know your privacy policies.
Some people are thrilled with the idea that their images may be
published in some form of media. Others are horrified and skeptical.
Protect your professional image and customers trust by obtaining
your release forms and respecting their wishes for privacy.
Suzanne Fischer
Blind
Eye Photography... more than meets the eye
Sardinia, Ohio
phone/fax (937) 446-4095
mail@BlindEyePhotography.com
www.BlindEyePhotography.com
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Inspirational
Moments . . .
"The
pictures you want tomorrow, you have to take today." -Kodak
advertisement
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DIGITAL
CONNECTION:
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Converting
to Digital-
One Persons Experience
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The
camera, whether it is film or digital is only a tool to take the
image from your mind and put it into your hands.
For me, making the switch from film to digital has simply been
a dream come true. I’m very comfortable in saying this, because
in a previous life (before I went digital and took the BIG plunge
to full time photography) I worked in Computer Science. I worked
for several years as a Systems Analyst AND an Equine Photographer!
Now, I have finally married my two loves together - technology
and photography - into a single profession.
Years ago when shooting horse shows, my biggest frustration in
shooting film was how little control I had in the printing of
my images. Sometimes the prints looked great and sometimes they
didn’t, depending on who was working in the lab at the time.
Now that I do all my own printing on my dye sub printers I have
complete control from beginning to end. For me, this is the biggest
advantage to shooting digital over film.
For 18 years I shot with a Nikon FM-2, so when it came time to
switch to digital I knew I would go with the Nikon D1x. In April
of 2002 I took all the money I had and plunked it down on a camera
body, Nikon 80-200mm ED AF-S 2.8 with its super fast focusing,
256MB flash cards, Photoshop 7.0, Front Page, an Olympus P-400
Dye Sub, and a WinBook J4 with 1.7 GHz Celeron processor, 768
MB of DDR266 SDRAM and Windows XP. I was really as scared as I
had ever been in my life to spend so much money just to shoot
horses! But, there was no turning back now. With my family’s
blessing, I quit my job and spent every waking moment getting
up to speed on Photoshop, creating my web site, reading my camera
manual over and over, pouring over all my old equine publications
and test shooting with my new camera learning what all the little
buttons and menus were.
When I thought I was ready to tackle shooting for horse owners
again, I threw my hat in the ring and photographed a couple of
horse shows. That was in June of 2002. I was actually hired to
photograph a show, and the funny thing was, I had photographed
that same show 16 years ago! It was interesting to see how the
show grounds had changed so much - just like the camera I held
in my hands.
Now, with one show season under my belt shooting strictly digital,
I can look back and say it was the best decision I could have
made. There are of course trade offs in anything, but I think
the decision to go digital was well worth the effort.
Here
are some of the advantages that come to mind in shooting digital:
- Total
control of your image – calling all you control freaks!
- Viewing
your image immediately to check for exposure, ears up, etc
Yep, I got ‘er
- Never
having to worrying about using too much film - click and click
and click and cli…
- Editing
on the fly - Nope! Client ain’t ever gonna ever see that
one!
- Eliminates
the need for scanning - Now I have more room on my desk
- Ease
and quickness of sending images to advertisers, and magazines,
especially for deadlines - You say you want it in 2 seconds?
Well, no problem!
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- Having
the image already in a format ready to edit in Photoshop - Lets
see…how about unsharpened…and more color in this sky...take
out that fence
- Doing
a photo shoot and showing the results on my laptop to my client
immediately - They’re impressed, pick images, give me check,
I go home and print images and send out...Next client!
- Having
proofs ready at a horse show within a couple of hours after
each class - It’s a lot of work, but boy you sure do sell!
- Ease
of backing up images - A CD writer is second only to the paper
clip
- No
time lag (at least on mine!) - You shoot a horse over a jump
and the image actually shows a horse over a jump!
Some disadvantages:
- There
can be more points of technical failure such as laptop, flash
cards, camera, and printer - Whoa! Bad day when the camera fails,
or hard drive decides to go bad at the show!
- Dust,
and heat can be lethal to dye sub printers - Help...get us out
of this dust bowl!
- Costly
to provide digital backup equipment - “Show me the money!”
- Lighting
and exposure can be tricky sometimes – Hey, that wasn’t
an albino it was a gray!
- Start
up cost can be very high - Empty that piggy bank!
- Shutter
lag in some digital cameras – I thought I shot him jumping
over the oxer but there he is walking out of the ring!
- Keeping
up with the ever revolving merry go round of new technology
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Everybody ready for Photoshop 8??? This can make a lonely Friday
night even worse!
To the converts: May your thoughts be ever of JPEG’s, TIFF’s
& RAW’s, and never again NEGATIVE.
Jennay Hitesman
www.ManePhoto.com
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The
Vintage Image
I
have a photo that's been in my family for a long time. I
restored it with about 40 hours in Photoshop. It is of my
great- great- grandfather, John Frederick Quensen on his
horse, Stonewall. He is leading a parade in Stauton VA around
1900. While working on it, I noticed the band leader was
watching something going on, in front of him. I looked carefully
and saw a man being led across the street in hand cuffs.
There is also a photography studio in one of the buildings,
the sign says, "Velcome" not Welcome. There are
quite a few interesting things going on in the photo. It
was torn off right across the horse's front legs and was
a mess to boot! I re-created his feet and the street as
well as many of the people watching. The Clock Tower still
stands to this day.
Gary Knoll
www.Photos
of me.com
For all your photographic needs.
http://www.photosofme.nikonpro.com
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FOCUS
ON MARKETING :
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Advertising
That
Gets
Noticed
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In my "day"
job, I sell print ads daily to many different types of businesses.
Sometimes my clients want to put everything in their ads while others
don't put enough. They also want their ad to do ALL the selling
for them. But, it won't. It can, however, motivate some action.
If your ad gets noticed and leads to an action, then it has accomplished
much more than all the ads that get passed by. What action do you
want from your prospective client? Do you want them to visit a booth
to look at photos from the show, call on the phone to discuss a
farm call shoot, sign-up for pictures before a show or email you?
In order to build an effective ad, you'll need to think through
what you want prospective clients to do after reading the ad. You
also need to give them the information they need to take the desired
action.
Here are the
things that I tell my clients their ads must have in order to be
noticed and responded to:
1. A Dominant
Graphic Image
For photographers, this would be a strong photograph. Select the
type of photograph that your prospect would like to imagine of themselves.
But, having a dominant image does not mean that you cannot have
one or several subordinate images as well. What is most important?
Then, what is 2nd most important?. The most important will be the
largest image - THINK DOMINANT! Capture the attention with the larger
image so that they will then move to the other images and information
on the page. If all the images are equally sized the ad will not
flow. With the internet consumers are also seeing many more of what
I call swooshes. Many major internet home pages are getting away
from a boxy look on their page. There are more dominant images that
are cut out and overlap onto other parts of the page. What is the
dominant image on your ad design?
2. A Category
Defining Headline
People do not spend a lot of time looking over ads, studying them
to see what is being advertised. Your ad needs to quickly tell your
prospect what it is about. Today's consumer are not patient and
if they have to study your ad to figure out what you are offering,
they will just move on and not take any action on your ad. Brain
storm with associates or even with customers to come up with something
both descriptive and motivating.
Capture a Moment
for a Lifetime
Show photography provided by...
Increase Sales
Today
Stallion photography by... |
Capture the
Joy, the Challenge, and the Moment
Photography by...
Relationships
Cherished for a Lifetime
Personal Equine Portraiture by ...
3. An effective
offer or a call to action
This can be a special offer or package or it can be some other compelling
call to action. Limited time offers can get people to take action.
Sometimes just availability is enough to motivate people to take
action. Show photographers can stress the importance for riders
to get over to their booth before the end of the show. Your headline
or sub headline can sometimes accomplish this by touching the right
hot buttons. Your photographs can also create desire. Make it very
easy for them to respond by telling them what you want them to do.
For example, instead of just saying, “See your photographs
at our booth,” why not tell them where your booth is located?
Or tell them there is a special discount for those who visit the
booth within one hour of their ride time to review their proofs,
if you are delivering on site.
If your ad
has these three elements, you will be well on your way to ads that
work for you. These ideas are only meant to get the ball rolling
on your own brainstorming and designing efforts. As you learn more
about why your customers buy from you, more of your advertising
effort can be directed to catch the eye of similar potential clients.
Good luck.
If you would
like your ad reviewed by me, feel free to email an attachment (.pdf
or .jpg) to me at
pdemott@multi-ad.net
. I will offer some ideas and thoughts that may be what you need
to get your creativity and brainstorming flowing for a more effective
ad.
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 for 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.)
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I
am preparing images to send into the the Copyright Office,
they ask if the images are published or unpublished , Question
is...I have not sold the images to anyone (yet!) but am
wondering if being published on my website constitutes publication?
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Answer:
The
answer to this question is not entirely clear since the
courts have not made any definitive decisions. The statutory
definition of publication distinguishes between works that
have been distributed (e.g., music CD's) and those that
have been merely displayed (e.g., music played on a television
program). However, the statute was enacted in 1976 before
the Internet. When preparing an application, the U.S. Copyright
Office basically takes the position that you can decide
[and let the courts clear it up later]. However, offering
images for sale on the Internet, even if none have been
sold is a different matter. The reason is that offering
a work for sale is considered distribution. Offering the
images for free downloading would be definitely be considered
distribution, but allowing viewing only as in a photographer's
online portfolio is subjective.
Absent
the issue of an offer to sell or download, it is unclear
whether the posting on a website constitutes publication.
One could argue that posting works on the web merely constitutes
a display that is analogous to performing a song on television.
The counter argument is that the printing of web materials
is integral to the medium and therefore posting is the equivalent
of distribution (i.e., computers have printers, televisions
don't).
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
Rebecca
Baucus:
It's not just the camera...
Since I grew up in a family that is decidedly non-photographic,
it was up to me to develop my craft and love for photography.
As a visually oriented adult, I now realize that I tend
to see things through a lens more clearly than without.
My childhood is mostly a blur of hooves and horsehair
with a few images from the family's 110 Ektralite thrown
in... my horse- loving mom loved anything with 4 legs
and a whinny. On a limited budget, we trained our horses
ourselves to show at open, local breed and 4-h shows.
We mostly had grade horses and ponies, but my mom did
put a lot of money into the most expensive magazines and
books available, especially Arabians, dressage and jumping.
She read them voraciously, but to be honest, I just looked
at the pictures! She also insisted on years of lessons
from great local trainers as one of her mantras was, "Every
time you touch that horse, you're training it for good
or bad". Starting at age 4 until 17, I had lessons
in saddleseat, huntseat, jumping, dressage, western, reining,
barrel racing and vaulting. 4-H offered experience in
horse judging and public speaking as well as general horse
knowledge in "horse quiz bowl" and "hippology"
competitions. After I left the horses and amazing equestrian
experience behind to attend college and start my adult
life, I thought I was done with the beasts....gosh they
were a lot of work! I stretched my creative muscles and
found the camera a willing partner as I attended faithfully,
earning minors in marketing, photography, music, majoring
in communication.
Ten years later, immersed in marriage and mothering three
boys under 4, I was scrapbooking one day and noticed the
very obvious lack of quality photographs of myself on
a horse. Fifteen years of riding coupled with a decade
of serious photography was an impressive combination to
fuel a business plan to ensure that young equestrians
could have the opportunity to purchase professional photographs
if only to prove to their future families that a long
time ago,yes, mom was cool! I knew the camera and quite
a bit about the horse too, all I needed was confidence
in putting the two together and a bit more business savvy.
I developed packages and marketing similar to a sports
photographer with a custom bend towards equine sports.
A successful first year built my confidence and being
taken advantage of strengthened my business savvy.
My lifelong nemesis, my creative muse, couldn't leave
it at just photography, that darn muse wanted to control
the image as much as possible and I began to experiment
with offering products, editorial, restoration, web site
development, ad design and writing. After a rained-out
weekend event left me with 30 rolls of Saturday's proofs
unseen, I became one of the first equine photographers
to offer proofs online. My online orders increased commensurate
with the increased work and I was able to communicate
more effectively with clients through email. I also realized
the need to educate my clients regularly on copyright,
licensing and also archival considerations for images
in this new electronic age.
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"Eventers in the Midst"
After
three years of event photography, I needed a break. Summer
weekends, ad deadlines and rush orders at Christmas time
don't lend themselves well to the structure needed to
govern my young and active family. I now photograph for
private horse owners, handle the occasional stock or editorial
opportunity and network in my community and online to
protect copyright and encourage professionalism in photography.
We all talk, but it takes a couple of brave souls to bell
the cat and spread the news to protect and promote our
industry.
My skills with the camera have led to diverse paths and
I am curious to see what lies ahead. Though I have recently
slowed my business down to a manageable level, as a founding
member of the EPNet, editor of the EPNet News, volunteer
and executive board member with CANTER, (the Communication
Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses), I
have tapped skills within myself that may eventually lead
to an entirely different career than photography. Images
are more than a print to me, they show my thoughts, my
life. In one way or another, personally or professionally,
the camera and I will always be together. I originally
created my slogan, "It's not just the camera..."
in response to those well meaning people who admired my
images and credited my Nikon. These days, the slogan has
become even more....an invitation to broaden my horizons:
an exciting possibility and a probable reality given my
inclination towards learning, experimenting with photography
and welcoming the opportunities it brings into my life.
Rebecca Baucus
www.rebeccabaucus.com
It's not just the camera...
Founding member of the
EPNet
Board member of CANTER
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Tip . . .Prepare Yourself.
Too
often we photographers' get caught up worrying about our
equipment in winter weather, and we forget about ourselves.
In cold weather, it is very important that you are prepared
for what you might encounter. If you are not prepared for
the elements, you will make yourself uncomfortable, and
that will detract from your ability to focus on creating
images...so prepare yourself.
Wear
appropriate clothing including a warm hat. If you planned
on shooting for an hour outside, wear clothing that will
allow you to stay out two or longer. Wear layers, so that
you can shed some if you get warm...Bring mitts and a pair
of cotton gloves....mitts keep your hands warm...cotton
gloves to wear when you are working the camera. Wear footing
that will allow you to have some good traction and warmth....slipping
on snow-covered ice with your gear is not recommended...and
when you are looking through the view finder trying to get
that perfect angle, the last think you want to worry about
is your footing.
Let
common sense prevail and with a little planning you will
be able to enjoy shooting in the worst of winter's weather....protecting
both you and your equipment.
Peter
J.Minchin Willow Creek Photography
Digital & Conventional Imaging Services
http://www.willowcreekphotography.com
email:
info@willowcreekphotography.com
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»This Just In...«
The
Equine Photographers Network Winter Workshop is happening right
now!
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.
Check
EPNet Arizona Conference Information for complete details.
Click
here to subscribe to the EPNet News
Be sure to read about the Conference happenings in the March issue!
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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
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