rachel_stephens1

<p>I should also note that I only use octoboxes so I would like a light that has that option. I love the Lowel Rifas but they don't come round.</p>

<p>What are the best most durable hot lights for use with soft boxes? I travel a lot and ship my gear and my Smith Victor open faced tungsten is on its last leg.</p>

<p>Hi there,<br>

I am looking for a quality printing service that will print one 12 month calendar. I want to offer these to my clients but I can't find a printing service that will only print one (there a quite a few that will do bulk) and that has any nice looking calendars as I don't want to print them with the tacky wire spiral binding.<br>

Thanks and happy holidays!</p>

I'd go with a vertical layout...

Hi there all,

 

I recently shot my first group of seniors and had an absolute blast. This is DEFINITELY something I want to

pursue however I don't know squat about the senior portrait market.

 

What months are the Senior season?

 

When is it best to market for Senior portraits?

 

What are the top products for Senior portraits? I offer prints, gallery canvas wraps and coffee table books in

5x7, 8x8, 8.5x11, 10x10 and 11x14 but am not sure if there is anything else (other than graduation announcements)

that are "hot sellers" for the Senior market that I should be incorporating into my pricing structure.

 

Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you kindly,

 

Rachel O'Riordan<div></div>

Thanks Will. Why not buy the new 1Ds MIII? Well, two simple answers there: I wish I had that extra $1500 laying around and I don't need 21mp.

I am a professional portrait photographer working in a variety of situations,

using natural light and strobes, often in the confines of hotel suites with less

than generous square footage and I am completely torn as to what camera I should

upgrade to. I have been using a Canon 1D Mark II N which I have loved but I

really want better image quality, a full frame sensor and better low light

capability. I know that the Mark III doesn't have a full frame sensor but it is

better with low light and it is NEW...I guess what I want to know is whether or

not it is a wiser choice to purchase a used 1Ds Mark II that is several hundred

dollars more expensive than a brand new 1D Mark III?

BLUDOMAIN

I'd feel the same way you do about it and honestly, regardless of the potential positives, your work is your signature and the work you put into your studio reflects that for you as much as the images you shoot in it. If it were me, my peace of mind is more valuable to me than making a few extra bucks. I would only do it if the photographer wasn't local competition in my field. If you want to rent your studio, there are plenty of photographers who don't shoot kids or senior portraits who would be in the market for daily studio rentals. Try posting ads on Craigslist. I am sure there are a lot of photographers looking for location studios to shoot headshots or fashion for model portfolio development or samples for designers. I travel with my work and am always looking for cool studios to rent. I'm sure I'm not the only one out there :) If you do go ahead with it, make sure you have ins waivers and a strong written contract. I am sure you can find something on the PPA website. When I rent studios, I usually have to pay either a half or full day and the studios that charge by the hour are usually $100 an hour. If I rent more than 8 hours, I can usually secure the space for a flat discounted rate. Those are the studios I will use again. Hope this helps! Good luck and if I ever add Detroit to my tour schedule, I will contact you to rent your space! :)

Google Checkout! Easy, secure and FREE!

Thanks Dave! I was thinking about offering free shipping for orders coming in within 15 days and a 15% "archival fee" for orders coming in after 45 days. Does 15% sound like a reasonable amount or should I do a flat fee to create urgency and as an incentive for them to get their orders in within 45 days?

Hi everyone,

 

My portrait business is starting to take off and I have noticed that some

clients will wait months before ordering prints. I don't impose a print order

minimum or require them to pay for anything towards prints and don't want to do

either. Is there a way to establish a deadline? Like they have to get their

print order in within 45 days or they incur a processing fee of X amount or

something?

 

I'd love to know what other portrait photographers do to encourage clients to

get their print orders in.

 

Thanks!

Hi all,

 

I am looking for a company who makes custom packaging items like boxes with

embossed logo that fit prints up to 8x10 or even pouch like envelopes if done

right. I looked through the PPA vendors and didn't find anything.

 

I want to present prints and products in a more high end fashion to my clients.

 

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks!

 

Rachel Stephens

Thanks William. I have a set up like that with Google Checkout and it's free for all transactions. It's awesome. I get a lot of would be clients who can't afford my services and who don't have enough room on their credit cards so I was hoping there was a financing company I could work with to make it doable for them. I wouldn't be financing them, they would be financing through a company I recommend as an option so they can afford my services. I guess there is nothing out there like this. Bummer!

I would like to start offering financing to my clients and I was wondering if

anyone knew of a company that works with photographers and finances the client

directly? I would be the middle man I guess.

 

Thanks!

Hi!

 

I am starting to do some travel and need to buy a hard case for my two strobe

heads, stands, two reflectors, reflector stand, snoot and barn doors and I have

no idea what to buy. What is the best choice for airline flight travel?

 

Thanks!

 

Rachel Stephens

www.rachelstephensphotography.com

I prefer having my rates up for the public to see that way I know that the inquiries that I do get are from my target market. You want to build word of mouth but you don't want *any* word of mouth. You want it building in your target market so I think it's better to be up front with your pricing. You could always be less specific and say something like "Pricing begins at $1400. Please email for more information." You don't want the client looking for a cheap rate if you are providing quality work. I say let them see what you are worth and move on if they don't appreciate quality.

Thanks you guys! I am pretty much doing all that except for the flyer thing. I will definitely try that out!

Hi everyone,

 

I have narrowed my work down to two areas. The stuff I want to shoot for fun and

the stuff I want to shoot for money. While I have fun shooting in general, I

never thought of myself as a children's photographer but it seems to be what is

selling. That and my glamour/boudoir portraits for women.

 

I realize that being successful in photography is more about business sense than

talent and I have and am reading everything I can get my hands on. I keep Dan

Heller's book in my car. It goes everywhere with me. And while I do not hold a

degree in business nor have I ever ran my own business before, three years into

it now, I am still here. I would like to be making a whole lot more money

though. I also know that businesses like ours has a lot to do with referrals.

Good ole' word of mouth. I moved out of state in January so all of the word of

mouth I built up is down in Los Angeles. I am starting over again and I don't

want it to have to take three years again. I am applying what I have learned and

have booked some clients and I am trying to get my name out there and my work so

I am currently doing give aways to a few local magazines and just looking for

moms with babies and small children to approach in person or online, give them

my card and offer them a free shoot and a CD of web ready images in exchange for

a model release to use the images on my site and the agreement that if they want

prints they have to buy them. This is working out well for the people that do

take me up on it but I do feel kind of stalkerish approaching strangers in the

grocery store. I know there has to be a better way that won't cost an arm and a

leg. I looked into mailers but I read that the percentage of people getting

clientèle that way is really low and I don't really have $500+ to just throw away.

 

My question is this:

 

What is the best way to get out there to people with a VERY limited budget?

 

Thanks!

Thanks everyone for your advice and for those of you getting off topic, thanks for your insight. I will keep it in mind in the future.

 

Kelly, thank you. Yes I know this is a problem and has been one for me a few times with people stealing my images and using them as their in their online portfolios and ads but usually an email works. Had a client take usage rights she didn't have and revoke mine through the model from whom I did not have a release. I have been learning things the hard way for sure. In this instance, the guy has been publishing the artwork in the size I posted (the original image he sent to me) on his website as desktops. I never had a problem with his personal usage of the art or sharing them with his fans. The models all know that he used their images for artwork and I sent them all copies of their pieces. I myself am featured in some of these pieces as he used some of self portrait work. No problem. I do have an issue with his selling the images for personal gain when that was clearly not the agreement and if money is going to be made from our collaboration, the profits should be split in my opinion. I use this site as a checks and balances as I am completely winging it in this business that I love so much. Unfortunately, it's complicated because to get anywhere, you need a portfolio and to build a portfolio, you need to work a lot for free, and once you get out there, people get interested. I thought this collaboration was really cool and it was fun to see what he was doing with the imagery but to take it to this level without my consent is not right. I am going to call Ms Carolyn Wright. She has chased down someone for me before and I am confident she can do it again!

 

Thanks again you guys!

There isn't an issue with web use. It's been on the web, in this size, it's the only size I had which he sent me last year. Didn't cross my mind to check the file size. The issue here is the sale of the images without permission.

 

I am asking for advice from people who want to help me. I didn't post on here to be flamed. Thanks.

I emailed him and he said:

 

"Don't worry. I already had them print up Photography by Rachel Stephens."

 

Uh, just photo credit? I don't think so!

 

I can't afford a lawyer. I already had to fork out $500 I don't have for another copyright infringement case from last year.

 

I don't think he is deliberately trying to capitalize on my work or the work of other photographers, I just think he really doesn't understand the situation and his ego can't see past the fact that it isn't JUST his work.

 

I am attaching a sample of one of his pieces featuring my work.

 

Should I quote a flat fee for each image he uses? Like a buyout license? I don't know what to do.

Hi all,

 

I allowed a digital artist to use some of my imagery for his personal website a

few years ago. I just got an invite to a show he is having where he will be

selling his work. I never agreed to the sale of the images and I am wondering

how to go about handling this. He is charging $350+ for each art piece and he

has used about 20 of my images in his work. I am sure that a good portion of the

pieces he is exhibiting and selling are of my work. I own the copyright, I have

the model releases from the models and if he is going to make money on my work,

I think I am entitled to compensation.

 

Advice?

Wal-Mart knows better and is liable. Contact Carolyn E. Wright, Esq., of the Law Office of Carolyn E. Wright, LLC, is an attorney specializing in the law for photographers. http://www.photoattorney.com

You secure your copyright when you create the image and then if you want to register them with the federal copyright office. Watermarking your images is just telling everyone viewing them who created/owns the rights to the image. I do it for of the images I give to models, designers, bands, actors etc for all trade shoots that I do and most images I post on my own sites. At first I did it to "protect" my images but now that I have been doing this longer, I see the real value is getting your name out there and having your work and name being recognized simultaneously.