Would you like to swing on a star?

Photography news that fit to blog (this week)
by Kerry Raminiak

Howdy from Texas… where the weather is splendid (for the time being) and energizing. January, by the way, is named after Janus, the god of the doorway (of Roman mythology) and was adopted in the calendar as "the open door of the new year." I am often inspired by the originations of terms, especially this time of year when we are thinking so diligently on new resolutions, both personally and professionally. I hope you are too when you read our little blog, which is designed to invigorate your photography business senses.

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This week’s spotlight is on: 

Funky photography insights are found in surprising places

Last week a couple of PhotoReflect engineers and I were at lunch. They started a conversation based on an NPR piece that used landmark photography to superimpose this visual: What if the earth had rings like Saturn? What would it look like from us earthling dwellers? (I say affectionately, that when our engineers, a fantastic cross between brilliants and eccentrics, tell me to check something out, I have always found it worthy of further investigation.)

Well, that had me pop right over to NPR’s website for personal examination which then lead me to read about how Charles Darwin was the first person to move from drawings and in to photography to illustrate in publications of his studies.

Who knew that when in need of “photography news” a quick visit to the news source would be so plentiful? I had no idea until today, and thusly have since put their home page in my “favorites” folder whenever I need a good, albeit funky, source.

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More fun fun photography stuffs

Going to a dinner party or networking with photographers and need some good conversations starters? Try these (and be sure to bookmark our blog if ever in need):

*** Haiti relief is using high-tech photography to map the disaster zone in order to aid in crisis management. Funded by the World Bank, scientists from the Rochester Institute of Technology are sweeping the leveled city with imaging systems attached to a Piper Navajo (a small airplane). Read more about the initiative here. See the interactive visuals here. ***

*** Winners have been selected for the Hasselblad Masters Awards. They are exquisite illustrations of professional photography. They doubled the number of entries this year to 3K, which is why their press release states, “Given the exceptional talents of the 100 finalists, though, it was very difficult for the…panel to select only 10…” The winners get the title and a bunch of great gear. Click here to read more and see winning entries. *** 

 *** Here is a great editorial on how a South Cheshire (UK) studio went to the Focus tradeshow in order to find a solution that would not require them own a full lab set-up to conduct their school photography contract. New Photo Digest reached out to me via Twitter to tell me, that while Fujifilm developed this piece, the software solution detailed was indeed DARKROOM. If you see the conversation on Twitter between me (@ExpressDigital) and @NewPhotoDigest you will see our chat on the sadness of DARKROOM going un-credited in this piece. Oh well… any good news of small businesses profiting by using our software is still great news. *** 

 *** If you ever wanted to know how easy it is to sell your photography online (and for free!) check out the PhotoReflect webinar series. This week there is a “Getting Started” session on Tuesday and an “Advanced” session on Thursday. ***

 *** Extensive DARKROOM training is one week away in Las Vegas! If you ever wanted to learn the ins-and-outs of the software, we highly recommend you attend, even if you don't own the software. Click here for some details. ***

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See ya’ next week!

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Elvis still lives (in my heart) and DARKROOM training

Photography news that fit to blog (this week)
by Kerry Raminiak

Aaaa… aaaah… chooo! I assure you it’s not H1N1, but it’s pesky nonetheless. I hope you are staying healthy and to help you continue to do so, I have a link to this article with simple diet tricks designed to ward off the cold. Let’s keep you on track to kicking off 2010 with tons of new business and a lot more great shots.

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This week’s spotlight is on: imageTech Marketing
Long-time friends of ExpressDigital are digging into their own pockets and imagination to put on a comprehensive DARKROOM training event

To coincide with the Antique & Amusement Photography International Convention and Tradeshow in Las Vegas, imageTech Marketing is reserving space the day before the show, on February 1st to conduct a full-day and formal DARKROOM training event. They have hired Warren Baum of See It Now Photography (whom also used to work for us as a corporate trainer) to serve as your personal tutor on all things DARKROOM.

To sweeten the deal, they have included a special offer that would allow you to put most or all of the entry fees toward the purchase of a new DARKROOM Pro edition or the brand-spanking new (as of November 2009) Core 9.0 edition. But wait! There’s more! To help imageTech and Warren, we will also offer a mail-in rebate for $50 off a Core edition and $150 off a Pro edition purchase, which means if you attend, get well trained and buy at this event you’ll see around 20% in savings. Totally sweet! To learn more, we have put up a lot of these details and more online at our website, click here and enjoy!

(ps. Book your trip now! This event is two weeks away!)

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Fun fun fun photography stuffs

In case you are new to our little blog. My colleagues, tweeps, newsletters and industry buddies send me cool articles, links and other goodies and if I find myself reading the entire article, laughing out loud and/or think the five minutes of reading through would help you take better pictures or market your photography business better, I list them here. And so without further ado…

*** Are you using the video feature in your pro camera? If yes, Canon and Vimeo present a contest for you. Called, The Story Behind the Still, all photogs are solicited to upload a video taken from your DSLR while following some pretty easy-to-follow rules found here. Good luck. ***

*** The story behind that great picture of Elvis and Nixon in the Oval Office has been unearthed by the Los Angeles Times. Ah yes, the man in his purple velour cape and twenty-pound gold belt shaking hands with the most powerful man on the planet is a vision that lingers. Read the story to learn how the two most significant icons of the seventies got the chance to meet-up and how close we were to never even seeing this snap shot. ***

*** Annie Leibovitz is keeping busy at Vanity Fair. This article is actually about the sequel to Wall Street, but if you scroll down there is a short video of Ms. Leibovitz directing the photography shoot and the stunning results. ***

*** Marketing Tips! You can never have enough, especially in January. Although this article is written for “freelancers” you, you photography warrior, may consider yourself a freelancer already or at the very least find this short and sweet article useful in getting your cold gears going. ***

*** News from my desk; next week Tuesday and Thursday we will be holding online selling webinars for those new to the concept and an advanced session, respectively. Click here to find the best time for you. ***

*** In addition, we are still giving away WPPI expo badges to anyone who is interested. ***

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See ya’ next week!

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Baby it's cold outside (so let's click links)

Photography news that fit to blog (this week)
by Kerry Raminiak 

Brrrr! It is so cold! To commemorate the mood, the spotlight photography on the three home pages of PhotoReflect.com have been updated to get us thinking of spring, recognize hockey season and celebrate the engagement of two snow bunnies. Click around and enjoy … and let’s not forget special congrats to Dave Broskley for his submission that earned a photo credit and all the rewards that come with it (check it out at PhotoReflect.com and click “find your photos” to see what we mean).

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Spotlight on: Big winners
Richmond Professional Lab and Foto Club win ExpressDigital’s annual Lab of the Year and Dealer of the Year (respectively)

Recognizing a network consisting of over 250 dealers and labs that were all up for the award, special consideration goes to Richmond Professional Lab, of Richmond, VA and Foto Club, Inc. of Santa Fe Springs, CA for their hard work, ingenuity and integrity during one of the toughest economic climates to face digital photography ever.

The occasion marks Richmond Professional Lab’s fourth year as Lab of the Year and Foto Club’s first year with the title Dealer of the Year. “Allow me to be the first to congratulate Richmond Professional Lab and Foto Club with this award and our highest accolades,” explains Graham McFarland, founder and CEO of ExpressDigital, “These organizations represent creativity and drive during an economic time that has been a challenge to photographers and, it is because of this, they are receiving this award for personifying a value we hold dear: A commitment to helping professional photographers grow their business.”

Since 2002, the Dealer and Lab Awards are announced in the first quarter of every new year to honor affiliated companies that best personify ExpressDigital’s mission to focus on improving the workflow and/or profitability of professional photographers.

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Fun stuff:
Ever lost your camera? PhotoJojo has a pretty clever photo project that will get it back to you, along with a smile. See it in action at Andrew McDonald’s blog and giggle a little bit today.

A good debate is happening via PDN online on pricing on usage rights versus hourly rates. Three different photographers take a stand on how much to charge and whether their pricing model is flexible based upon the client’s budget, the intended use, or standardize rates. While the commercial-work argument doesn’t really apply to me, I found the letter series engaging.

This list of the Top 50 blogs on photography caught my eye on Twitter and while, I’m not on it (oh, someday I strive), if you want to take a look at let me know what you think I would appreciate the legwork.

The NANPA Foundation (a nonprofit foundation dedicated to advancing awareness and appreciation of nature through photography) has selected the photographic documentary project, “Sacred Headwaters, Sacred Journey,” by Paul Colangelo and Amanda Follet as its recipient of the 2010 Philip Hyde Grant. Click here to learn more about and donate to Sacred Headwaters.

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From my desk at ExpressDigital:
As mentioned above, PhotoReflect.com home images have been updated and one of the images was submitted by DRBPhotos. Big congrats to Dave and his team for taking this great shot and submitting it to us. If you’ve got a great shot and you actively use PhotoReflect, learn how to submit your images for the prestige and SEO in our New Features Library.

Online selling webinars are back! We have scheduled these-hour long events for every week and have tried to stagger the times and day of the week to accommodate every schedule. Find the current schedule here (and navigate to the right side-bar). The first webinar of 2010 is this Thursday, January 14 at noon Eastern.

DARKROOM training by imageTech Marketing is February 1, 2010. It is an all-day event and promises to teach you the ins and outs of Pro and Core edition so that your 2010 will be as efficient and profitable as it can be. As extra incentive, all new purchases at this event will be discounted up to 20%. Click here to read more about the event and learn how to register.

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Hello 2010.

Photography News that's Fit to Blog (This Week)
by Kerry Raminiak

Greetings and happy new year! We all hope your holidays were happy and healthy. Let’s kick off the new year with some industry goodies of last month that deserve a look:

PDN Online has two articles we have enjoyed and re-read…
1. How to make your photo subjects look like a pop star using Photoshop. Featuring a New York photography exhibition about famous 60’s star Gigi Gaston by Josh Gosfield, this interview gives brief tips on how to shoot and modify images to visually create superstardom using just about anyone as your subject. How does this all come together you ask? Gigi Gaston never existed… but her photography memorabilia would make you think otherwise.

2. Scott Nathan’s ads on Facebook featuring pop musician Katy Perry has been pulled. The Facebook ads were disabled because the photos he took of Ms. Perry were commissioned for a Too Faced Cosmetics advertisement while he was using the photos to promote his photography business. The conflict has nothing to do with ad-rights or usage policies… but rather, Facebook deemed the advertisements as “irrelevant or inappropriate.” Sure, sure… Katy Perry posing like a pin-up maaaay be construed as inappropriate but I don’t think that’s the point (since the booze ads on FB are certainly more scandalous). Do artistic photographers have a unique challenge in promoting their commercial experience? The comments section of the article takes many stances which I thought was rather thought provoking.

Marathon Press offers free blog header downloads…
The first set are holiday themed (if such still floats your boat rather than remind you of bloat) but if you scroll down there are more “generically” themed items for you to use as you wish. Kudos Marathon Press on your work to help photography professionals better market themselves.

Blend Images wins with innovations in stock photography
To directly quote the announcement (found here with the images): “Blend Images, a stock photography agency focusing on multi-ethnic imagery, has won an award for design at the The American Graphic Design Awards, a national design competition sponsored by Graphic Design USA magazine. The ad campaign, with three print advertisement, ‘Strong’, ‘Spiritual’, and ‘Family’, challenges stereotypes by rethinking labels we place on people and culture.” Beautiful photography and buzz worthy, especially if you are seeking a great introduction to the new look, feel and emotion that is the most recent revolution in commercial stock photography.

Update on our tradeshow participation
Just a head’s up… after much deliberation we have decided to not attend any upcoming tradeshows. We’ve got nothing bad to say about them in any way which is why you can still get free badges from us if you are interested in attending ImagingUSA (starting this weekend) and WPPI (in Vegas in early March). Click here for the details. Bad news if you wanted to meet and hang out in person. Good news if you were looking forward to our 2010 announcements to come a little bit early.

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