Save The Date - Pro Roundtable

[Andy]

Tuesday, September 19th, 9pm - 10pm Eastern Time, the first in what I hope to become a series,

"Pro Roundtable"


Our first leader will be our very own Shay Stephens (http://www.shaystephens.com) who will be on hand for discussion on the following photography business topics:

* publicity and marketing
* getting and keeping clients
* pricing photography
* leveraging web resources

It'll be a one hour tele-conference session, details to follow in this thread.

Please indicate your interest so I can get a count of attendees :deal

CONFERENCE DIALING INSTRUCTIONS


Conference Dial-in Number: (641) 985-1200
Participant Access Code: 1094243#

International Dial-in Numbers
Austria: 0820 4000 1555
Belgium: 070 35 9977
France: 0826 100 259
Germany: 01805 00 76 12
Ireland: 0818 270 024
Italy: 848 560 159
Netherlands: 0900 4454545
Spain: 902 886028
Switzerland: 0848 560 182
UK: 0870 35 204 77

The seminar will be recorded. Free Conference Play Back, at the Playback Number: (641) 985-5033. Access Code: 1094243#

Playback will also be made available after the call via RSS Feed and Itunes / Podcast. Details on that to follow.

MISSED IT? No worries! You can catch it via iTunes Podcast or RSS:

iTunes Link (http://www.freeconferencecall.com/itunes/itunes.xml?id=6419851200:1094243)

RSS Link (http://www.freeconferencecall.com/itunes/podcast.asp?id=6419851200:1094243)

[ehughes]

:thumb:thumb:clap:clap:thumb:thumb

[Cindy]

Neat, Neat, Neat! :clap
Will be watching for details.

[docwalker]

Now this is a cool idea. We are working on similar concepts at my work. I am interested in how you pull this off. Count me in.

[JimM]

Please count me in!

[dragon300zx]

I'm with Jim. Interest indicated for head count.

[Sam]

While I'm sure I don't have much to add to this discussion, I sure would like to hang out and learn. I will be watching this thread for details.

Sam

[Shay Stephens]

Sounds fun, count me in ;-)

[claudermilk]

Dang. Interested, but I'll be on the road at that time. Transcripts?

[cornerketch]

One more..

[dogwood]

Sounds like a great opportunity.

[cambler]

Um... September 18th is a Monday, not a Tuesday.

Is it Monday, September 18th or Tuesday, September 19th?

[Andy]

Um... September 18th is a Monday, not a Tuesday.

Is it Monday, September 18th or Tuesday, September 19th?

:scratch it's Tuesday, September 19th :D

[cambler]

:scratch it's Tuesday, September 19th :D
Seriously.

September 20th is a WEDNESDAY.

[Andy]

Seriously.

September 20th is a WEDNESDAY.
:nod

Sorry for the cornfusion - our session will be on Tuesday, September 19th :D

[DanielB]

count me in Andy, i could use this.:thumb

[RTP]

How many can join?

Count me in.

[cambler]

:nod

Sorry for the cornfusion - our session will be on Tuesday, September 19th :D


You just like confoozing me.

[DJ-S1]

Dang. Interested, but I'll be on the road at that time. Transcripts?
:agree

[jerryr]

Count me in - thank you ! :)
- jr

[marklarry28]

Count me in:thumb

[DTMPhotos]

Sounds interesting...

Derek

[georges]

Add one more. gs

[Bodley]

It'll be a one hour tele-conference session, details to follow in this thread.



Okay - what's a tele-conference session?

[claudermilk]

:nod

Sorry for the cornfusion - our session will be on Tuesday, September 19th :D

Well in that case, I will be available to listen in. So, for the clueless, how's this going to work?

[Andy]

Okay - what's a tele-conference session?
You'll dial in by telephone. Details to follow :D

[JamesJWeg]

You'll dial in by telephone. Details to follow :D

Sounds cool if I can make it.

James.

[TristanP]

Count me in.

[mghaner]

I'm in...........................or on, as the case may be.

[fotodojo]

I'd love to but it'll cost me squillions in long distance telepjone charges - a transcript /recording would be nice. Or perhaps a skype cast =).

[bham]

I'm in.

[Barefoot and Natural]

I would love to listen in :D

[PhotoPsych]

Count me in...sounds interesting!:clap

[JBurt]

I'm in. Don't know how much I can contribute but I'm willing to listen and learn.

[Erikmatey]

I with JBurt... I'm pretty new here, but would like to learn more in's and outs

[TomaS]

Bueno - I would like to participate too. :thumb

[Lee Massey]

If there is still room, count me in. :)

Thanks,

Lee

[flyingdutchie]

I'd like to participate as well.
Thanks!
-- Anton.

[anwmn1]

I would like to be a part of this as well.

Aaron

[digismile]

Marked in my calendar :thumb

[cwphotos]

ooo yeah im in for that.

[BeachBill]

Tentative -- added to my calendar.

[Retagger]

Count me in.................:eat

[Nutter]

count me in!

[sserra]

:thumb:thumb:thumb:thumb
count me in! I'm a noooooobie, I need all the help I can get!

[ziggy53]

I'd love to, if you'll have me.

ziggy53

[digital_gopher]

Sounds interesting. Please include me on the list.

Jeremy

[Andy]

bump, conference call dialing instructions in the first post.

[Andy]

bump!

[CAS]

Include me, please. Thank you.

[TJMc]

I would love to sit in and learn!!

TJ

[Andy]

bump

[Andy]

Bump!

[rdlugosz]

Please indicate your interest so I can get a count of attendees :deal


I plan on attending.

[Andy]

Bump

[Andy]

b u m p

[lynnesite]

did I say, "me too"? Me, too. :-)

[Andy]

Start dialing :D

[BeachBill]

The roundtable was awesome! Thank you to Shay and Andy. Please accept this as a vote for more!

[Andy]

iTunes Link (http://www.freeconferencecall.com/itunes/itunes.xml?id=6419851200:1094243)

RSS Link (http://www.freeconferencecall.com/itunes/podcast.asp?id=6419851200:1094243)

:bow :bow thank you to Shay, and the 40 pros who attended and made this conference a success!

[Shay Stephens]

Thank you thank you! I had a great time :-)

[ziggy53]

Absolutely great to hear voices, to attach to the faces.

I have some follow up questions which relate to the teleconference topics. Where would be the best place to ask?

Thanks everybody,

ziggy53

[Andy]

I have some follow up questions which relate to the teleconference topics. Where would be the best place to ask?

Right here!

[ziggy53]

In the teleconference, you both touched on image security and copyright.

1) Is anyone using "hidden" watermark or use of steganographic processes to embed copyright information?

----------------------------

Shay talked about using an assistant.

2) How does one locate a suitable assistant?
3) What qualities are you looking for?
4) Would you (have you) work(ed) as an assitant?
5) How do you determine compensation for assisting in photography?

---------------------------

6) Do you do all of your own post-processing?
7) Do you ever use a "service" for post processing?

--------------------------

8) How do you handle a double-booking or last-minute emergency, when you might not be able to cover an event personally?

Thanks to whomever wishes to respond to these questions.

ziggy53

[Andy]

Shay talked about using an assistant.

2) How does one locate a suitable assistant?
3) What qualities are you looking for?
4) Would you (have you) work(ed) as an assitant?
5) How do you determine compensation for assisting in photography?


FWIW, there's a big piece of American Photo devoted to Photography Assistants (http://www.popphoto.com/americanphotofeatures/2642/the-best-photo-assistants-in-america.html)

[Shay Stephens]

1) Is anyone using "hidden" watermark or use of steganographic processes to embed copyright information? I have not done this other than putting a visible copyright notice. But this does bring up another method. If your work is recognized, you run a good chance of having someone who knows you to have seen it and inform you of it. From there you take whatever steps you deem needed.

Remember, just like with computers, security through obscurity doesn't work very reliably. So I don't put a lot of trust in hidding copyright info in the photo.


2) How does one locate a suitable assistant?
The plague of all business...good help is hard to find. A pro photographer will likely get plenty of unsolicited offers from hopeful photogs out there. Taking the time to review portfolios and interviewing will go a long way to helping to weed them out. But in the end, only their actual performance will reveal all.
3) What qualities are you looking for?
The ability to anticipate, which by the way is also an important quality for a photographer to have. Being able to work consistantly (routines, techniques, etc) is also very important. Consistancy shows in portfolios, so pay attention to that. And they have to be moved emotionally by imagery, if they are not touched, they can't see it to begin with and won't be much good for anything more than sherpa duty.
4) Would you (have you) work(ed) as an assitant? I find an assistant invaluable. It frees your mind to concentrate on imagery and the technicals instead of the minutia of the day, food, drink, etc. An assistant has a tough job.
5) How do you determine compensation for assisting in photography? That depends on area mostly and your market, but there is a value to the photographer. So just like determining prices for other products and services, you have to take into account what it costs you and what it brings in for you. There is a balance there where the photographer comes out ahead and the assistant goes home satisfied too.

Secondarily, is the assistant a sherpa or do they do more than just tote luggage? What would be an equivalent job description in your area, and what do they make per day? That can at least give you a starting point.


6) Do you do all of your own post-processing? I do all my own processing. I still learn by reviewing the shots that worked and the ones that didn't and figuring out how to do it better in camera next time. Perhaps in the future I might farm it out, but I have no plans to do so at this point.
7) Do you ever use a "service" for post processing? No


8) How do you handle a double-booking or last-minute emergency, when you might not be able to cover an event personally? In both cases, you have to work extra hard to help them find a replacement. There are usually photographers you know and trust who you can call in an emergency and if they are free, they will most likely help. If that doesn't work, then dig deeper to find the best replacement you can.

On the Digital Wedding Forum (http://www.digitalweddingforum.com/), there is a special forum for emergency requests, calls for assistants, etc. Many people read that forum regularly. Other associations that one may be a member of have something similar. The important thing is to do whatever you can to make sure the client is taken care of.

[ziggy53]

FWIW, there's a big piece of American Photo devoted to Photography Assistants (http://www.popphoto.com/americanphotofeatures/2642/the-best-photo-assistants-in-america.html)

Thanks Andy, that's exactly what I was looking for.:clap

ziggy53

[ziggy53]

Shay,

Don't you guys ever sleep?:scratch

Fantastic being able to get ideas from your, and Andy's, experience.

Thanks so much for your time and trouble making this teleconference such a success.

ziggy53

[Andy]

Don't you guys ever sleep?:scratch

I can sleep when I'm dead :D

[lynnesite]

:bow :bow thank you to Shay, and the 40 pros who attended and made this conference a success!

Thanks,guys! 40, wow.

[bham]

Great first roundtable and look forward to more.

Just some ideas for future ones. Maybe dedicate an whole hour to one topic say publicity and marketing and then have us dgrinners post possible questions in the forum so that may give the pro an idea of what those attending are specifically looking for. Just an idea.

I think this went well and look forward to more in the future. Could this be a monthly or biweekly event.

Also Andy I would be curious as to why you licensed your umbrella print instead of selling a print and how you determined you would do that. Not that the cost info, that would be interesting to know, but what made you think to license the image. Is this something you do exclusively instead of prints?

[Andy]

Also Andy I would be curious as to why you licensed your umbrella print instead of selling a print and how you determined you would do that. Not that the cost info, that would be interesting to know, but what made you think to license the image. Is this something you do exclusively instead of prints? It was a huge ginormous brokerage firm, and they have their own art department. I let them make the prints, it was far easier to let them make the prints :D For the 6' x 4' versions, I had the printing done, and licensed those for X period of time. After X time, they had option to give them back or purchase. They purchased (more $$$ :) )

[bham]

It was a huge ginormous brokerage firm, and they have their own art department. I let them make the prints, it was far easier to let them make the prints :D For the 6' x 4' versions, I had the printing done, and licensed those for X period of time. After X time, they had option to give them back or purchase. They purchased (more $$$ :) )

The license part is what is interesting to me. Why kind of license, some exclusive? I am curious as to why they license at first and then purchased. Was the license part initated by you or did they ask to license for X period. Do you license prints like that for display in locations, more or exclusively versus selling the print? Is it just a philosophy or have you found that easier approach? I love the idea. I would love some more info (not necessarily $ amt) but do you approach people about this, do you target certain business, have many business' contacted you initially, etc?

[Andy]

The license part is what is interesting to me. What kind of license, some exclusive?
Licenced for one building, 14months. Option to renew, or negotiate purchase price at end.


I am curious as to why they license at first and then purchased. Was the license part initated by you or did they ask to license for X period.
I initiated it. Reason? So I could get more money later :D

Do you license prints like that for display in locations, more or exclusively versus selling the print?
depends on the client and the image(s).

Is it just a philosophy or have you found that easier approach? I love the idea. I would love some more info (not necessarily $ amt) but do you approach people about this, do you target certain business, have many business' contacted you initially, etc?
Think about law firms, doctor's offices, real estate storefronts, hotels, corporate lobbies, anywhere where "appearance" really matters.

[bham]

Great info Andy. My brain is cranking out ideas as I type. A few more questions?

Was there anything special about the license in terms of exclusivity or the such at that location? How many images do you have in lobbies, hotels, law firms, brokerages, etc? And do have you found a correlation of the images you use to the different industries, or are all the images pretty much NYC images that the firms therefore have an natural interest in since their local?

[Andy]

Great info Andy. My brain is cranking out ideas as I type. A few more questions?

Was there anything special about the license in terms of exclusivity or the such at that location?
yes, very specific. Know your buyer, and get as specific as you can.

How many images do you have in lobbies, hotels, law firms, brokerages, etc? And do have you found a correlation of the images you use to the different industries, or are all the images pretty much NYC images that the firms therefore have an natural interest in since their local?

Many - and varied - and different types of business and locations.....