A Stunning Photography Book Chronicling International Medical Corps' 25-Year History

International Medical Corps and Three Hawks Press have released "A Thousand Words: Photos from the Field," a stunning coffee table photography book documenting the humanitarian crises to which we have responded in the last quarter century.

Written and edited by Stacy Twilley and with a Foreword by CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour, the book is a collection of award-winning images chosen by renowned Los Angeles museum curators and noted collectors including Mario Testino, Richard Gere, and Anjelica Huston that show International Medical Corps' long-term commitment to healing, training, and self-reliance.

"I first became aware of the extraordinary work International Medical Corps was doing after the tsunami in Indonesia," Twilley said. "I started volunteering with International Medical Corps and that's when I discovered their archive of more than 10,000 photographs. The images were extraordinary. Some were taken by famous photographers and others by aid workers in the midst of crisis. I realized that I had stumbled onto an unprecedented account of history."

The book was more than two years in the making. Those involved worked on a pro bono basis–donating their time, talent, photographs, and in some cases, dollars. "I think the result is an incredibly compassionate and remarkably moving photography book that raises awareness for an organization we passionately believe in," said Twilley.

While the images captured in the book reveal the devastation of war, famine and natural disaster, they also are a testament to the power of compassion, strength and innovation in helping people recover from crisis and rebuild their lives.

"I have witnessed some of our generation's worst human tragedies–and the remarkable resilience of the human spirit," said Nancy Aossey, President & CEO of International Medical Corps. "Each photograph in this book is a profound reminder of the incredible journey of International Medical Corps, and the exceptional efforts of our colleagues who have cared for hundreds of millions of people in these fragile, often dangerous environments."

"A Thousand Words: Photos from the Field" is available at Amazon.com (http://tiny.cc/1000words) and makes thoughtful gift for all those with a compassionate humanitarian spirit.

Net proceeds from the book sales will be donated to International Medical Corps. More information and a preview of the images can be seen at http://www.imcworldwide.org/Page.aspx?pid=736.

Somerset Photographers Create the Art of Science

Most people would struggle to name more than one or two living British scientists. Thanks to Somerset-based professional photographers Anita Corbin and John O'Grady this could be about to change. Portraits of nine British scientists, commissioned by The British Council and taken by Anita and John, have recently been acquired by The National Portrait Gallery, London for its Collection and will be displayed for the first time from 26 August 2009 to 17 January 2010.

Anita Corbin from Corbin O'Grady Studio in Wellington, explains, “The colour portraits were taken in 1989 for the series “Science in Profile" commissioned by The British Council. The pictures were taken by my partner John O'Grady and me over a three month period. There were 24 in total and the resulting set of portraits was exhibited in the early nineties all over the world but never in Britain. The large colour prints will form part of the photographic archive of significant Britons at The National Portrait Gallery and will be exhibited for the first time in the UK in August."

Helen Trompeteler, Picture Librarian at the National Portrait Gallery, says that the Gallery is delighted to obtain these nine portraits which will be displayed within its new Science in Focus display.

Anita remembers each portrait session clearly, "These guys are highly intelligent, but they were easy to talk to and we even understood most of what they were saying! They were all absolutely passionate about their subjects and we enjoyed capturing that passion in their pictures." Anita singles out Joe Farman, an environmental scientist, whose discovery of the ozone 'hole' has had consequences of far-reaching and global importance, describing him as “very intense and very straight talking regarding the troubles of the ozone layer."

One particular scientist, who will ring a bell with many people, is Robert Edwards who pioneered In vitro fertilization techniques at Bourn Hall Clinic at the time he was photographed in 1989 his work had helped to create over 2000 babies.

Anita and John, of Corbin O'Grady Studio, have been working together since 1984 and moved their business from London to Wellington in 2001.

FotoMuse IPhone App Inspires Publishers And Photography Hobbyists

In an age where Photoshop users routinely manipulate photographs to perfection, the thought-provoking depth and artistic value of imperfect "reality" images is often lost.

Now, thanks to FotoMuse ($2.99 in the Apple App Store), anyone with an iPhone can infuse snapshots with artistic depth in just a few simple steps.

"With FotoMuse, we've created a new category in photography - where street glamour meets fine art via the iPhone," said photographer and fitness expert Kris Gebhardt, who developed the app in partnership with WebUrban LLC. Gebhardt initially used his iPhone when an unexpected camera jam threatened to ruin a photo shoot, but he now regularly takes fashion, glamour, beauty, and figure shots with the mobile device. "It allows me to quickly capture real time and unrehearsed moments, without having to lug studio equipment around, pay staff, and deal with the ruckus of a shoot production," he said.

In FotoMuse, Gebhardt's signature effects - grunge, uneven borders, scratches, light leaks, toner stains, bleach, and overlays - are provided to iPhone users so they can apply them to their own images.
The result? Both publishers and hobbyists are transforming photographs into fine art.

Gebhardt notes that online publishers are weary of using the tired images found on stock photography sites. "Online editors and webmasters are embracing FotoMuse's unique filters, borders, and fine art effects to create eye-catching images that pop off of a web page and differentiate their sites from those of their competitors," he said. "They can literally snap a picture, edit it, and upload it in about five minutes."

But it was the reaction from amateur photographers that took Gebhardt by surprise. "When we built the app, we'd assumed that picture resolution was inconsequential, since most people would want to email their photos," he said. "We couldn't have been more wrong. It turns out that FotoMuse users want to print, frame, and hang their images on the wall." As a result, FotoMuse's upcoming release will include a high-resolution option that brings iPhone snaps to life.

Gebhardt is thrilled that both publishers and amateur photographers are using FotoMuse to its full advantage. "So-called 'imperfect' photographs are much more visually interesting than stock images or those that have been Photoshopped to perfection," he said. "I'm glad that FotoMuse is helping to infuse an artistic edge into personal snapshots, and that it's giving online publishers an easy-to-use tool to create visual interest on their websites."

Travel Photo Contest 2009 by Open Travel

Open Travel announces the first edition of its travel photography contest, where visitors to Opentravel.com - at least 18 years of age and planet Earth residents - will have the opportunity to upload and share their works with other traveling and photography aficionados.

While the core idea of photography is not about competing, but rather about capturing the infinitely diverse beauty of the world and the satisfaction that comes from unveiling this to others, Open Travel has prepared two fantastic cash prizes in the amount of $1000 and $500 for Best Travel Photo and People's Choice Best Travel Photo respectively.

As of September 21, 2009 participants are invited to upload unlimited photos taken during their voyages throughout the world, be it a weekend outing to the French countryside, a holiday in the Caribbean, a shopping spree at a souq in Morocco, or an African safari. Focus your cameras on just about anything you feel worthwhile.

Photo submissions will be accepted at http://opentravel.com/photo_contest until October 23, 2009. From the pool of all submitted photographs, a panel of experts will choose one that excels in terms of photographic quality and the extent to which it captures the essence of a travel experience, place or event. Additionally, a separate prize will be awarded for the photograph that is voted best by the users. Winning photos will be featured on http://www.opentravel.com/

Photographers Invited To Submit Favorite Ontario Photos

Copp Communications, a marketing agency in Waterloo, is looking for photo submissions for a high quality calendar that celebrates the beauty of Ontario, Canada.

This is the fourth year that Copp Communications has created a calendar on behalf of one of their clients. However this year it was decided to release an open call for photo submissions to both professional and amateur photographers across Ontario.

Photographers featured in the calendar will receive payment, credit for their photo, and will be acknowledged with a brief bio and web address on the contribution page, included in the calendar. Approximately 7,000 copies of the calendar will be printed and distributed to businesses across Ontario.

"We have received great feedback from photographers who have contributed to past calendars, and we are really looking forward to seeing the photo submissions we receive this year", says Chris Copp, Director of Creative and Consulting.

Copp Communications is looking for photos from anywhere in Ontario; however, there is a particular need for photos specifically from Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Hamilton, Barrie, York Region, Peterborough, Ottawa, Cornwall and surrounding areas of Ontario. Photos from these geographic areas will be given first priority.

The photo submission deadline is October 8, 2009. The selection process will occur at the end of October. Only photographers whose photos have been selected will be contacted.

Deadline for photos is October 8, 2009
Requirements:
* Beautiful, striking nature shots with a sense of place in Ontario
* Looking for wide range of seasonal shots
* Photos must be horizontal
* Maximum submission 6 photos per photographer
* Please include the location of each photo
* Low resolution jpeg photos no bigger than 500kb
Submission Instructions:
* Please title your subject line: Photo Submission for Calendar
* Please email photos to calendar@coppcomm.ca

Please feel free to visit www.coppcomm.ca/calendar to see a PDF version of last year's calendar.

BC Council for Families Announces Online Family Photo Competition

No one knows how to have fun like your family! Now, you could even win a prize for it.

This fall, to celebrate Canada's National Family Week, October 5 - 11, 2009, the BC Council for Families is inviting families to show off their fun side with the I Love My Family Online Photo Competition. The Council will be giving away great prizes for the best photos of family fun. To enter, all you need is a photo of your family and a 100-word story telling us what fun means in your family.

"We want to celebrate the incredible diversity of families in BC. Every family is different, but every family is built on love," said Glenn Hope, Executive Director of the BC Council for Families. "This contest is a chance for everyone to share what makes their family unique and wonderful. Families are all about caring for one another, spending time together, and having fun. We're looking forward to some terrific photos and stories of family fun!"

Each day during National Family Week, one winning photo will be chosen by the BC Council for Families as a great example of why We Love Families. The grand-prize winner will be announced in November. The deadline to enter is October 16, 2009. For complete details, visit http://www.bccf.bc.ca/. Join us on Facebook to enter your family fun photos today.

"This is a great time to encourage everyone in BC to enjoy the simple things in life," said Hope. "Having fun with family can be as simple as sharing a joke or taking a walk. That's what makes it so wonderful."

"Show Us Your National Parks" Photo Contest

From September 1st through September 30th, visitors to Fodors.com will have the opportunity to upload and share their favorite photos and experiences of America's National Parks with other travelers. Ten winners will receive a copy of The National Parks by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns as well as a Fodor's guide of their choice. Photographs will be considered for inclusion in upcoming editions of Fodor's National Parks guides and all winning photos will be featured in an online gallery at http://www.fodors.com/.

Said Tim Jarrell, Publisher, Fodor's, "With bigger-than-life panoramas, bubbling mud pots, shooting geysers, raging rivers, black bears, big horn sheep, and spectacular flora and fauna that barely scrape the surface of offerings, the National Parks are a photographer's delight. We are excited to see these sites through the eyes of our travelers."

Photo submissions will be accepted at http://www.fodors.com/ through September 30th, 2009. Fodor's has previously run photo contests for Ireland, Argentina, Turkey, Israel, Maryland, New Mexico, Costa Rica, California, Florida, and Alaska. Winning photos from these contests can be seen on http://www.Fodors.com .

Student Photography Competition

Sony is once again working with the Advertising & Illustrative Photographers Association to run the Sony / AIPA Assistant & Student Photography Competition.

The annual competition aims to encourage photographic excellence and originality amongst up and coming photographers.

To qualify for entry, candidates must either be a photographer's assistant or a photography student currently enrolled at a recognised tertiary institution anywhere in New Zealand.

Sony and the AIPA invite interested photographers to visit www.aipa.org.nz to download an entry form with submission guidelines and competition terms. Submissions will be judged by a panel of photo industry professionals including Sony New Zealand's Marketing Manager for Digital Imaging Products Sam Williams and AIPA's Executive Director, Aaron K.

Prizes include a top-of-the-line Sony Alpha 850 D-SLR camera and lens kit for the winning photographer's assistant and a Sony Alpha A380 for the winning student.

Last year's competition had a number of high caliber entries making it a difficult task for the judging panel. Photographers assistant Kristian Frires was named the winner of the assistant category with his striking series of photographs of cataracts patients from the Solomon Islands.

Rebekah Robinson was named the winning student. Her portfolio consisted of a series of seven well considered and beautifully captured images that cleverly revealed the care given to domestic pets.

This year Sony and the AIPA expect the quality of entries to be just as high and both organisations are excited to see the talent entering the industry.

"We see a great synergy between Sony Alpha and the AIPA and we are proud to be supporting the competition once again" said Sam Williams.

"I am particularly excited to see all the entries as I know there is some great talent out there."

AIPA's Executive Director Aaron K is equally excited. "It's great that we can work with an organisation like Sony to encourage and promote emerging talent in the industry. This competition is unique in that it allows us to reward outstanding photographic achievement while also better educating young image-makers about the profession itself."

Entries for the competition open on 7 September and winners will be announced on 23 November.

ILFORD Photo Kicks Off Film Photography Competition

Calling all ILFORD PHOTO enthusiasts. HARMAN technology - the company behind the traditional black and white photography brand, ILFORD PHOTO - is delighted to announce the launch of a new photographic competition that gives you the chance to see one of your images on the front of the iconic ILFORD PHOTO box.

The "Image on a Box Photographic Competition 2009 – North America" is open to all residents of USA and Canada. Entries must be shot on ILFORD DELTA 400 Professional film and printed on any ILFORD black and white photographic paper. The closing date for the competition is June 30, 2010.

Entries have to be submitted under one theme: 'Fine Art'. Arguably a very broad and interesting category, HARMAN technology is excited to see entrants’ interpretation of the theme. As Steven Brierley, HARMAN’s President of Marketing explains:

“There are countless definitions as to what exactly constitutes 'Fine Art' photography and the debate periodically rages within the photographic fraternity and website forums. Some say it is 'art for art's sake'. Some say it is a one-off staged composition or is simply an expression of beauty. There is also a school of thought that believes it is a combination of things: original composition, technical skill, artistic interpretation and the quality of the photographic products used to capture the image.”

"With that in mind our ILFORD DELTA 400 Professional film competition is quite simply themed 'Fine Art'. We are hoping this will inspire the many fine photographers out there to present their own interpretation on this often discussed genre and that it will add to the general debate."

HARMAN technology has launched special promotional packs of ILFORD MULTIGRADE IV RC Paper to include two free ILFORD DELTA 400 Professional films. These promotional packs, available while stocks last, act as an incentive to get potential entrants looking for image opportunities to then have a chance to win one of three prizes:

First Prize
US $1000 worth of ILFORD PHOTO black and white products
The winning image will be printed on the iconic ILFORD PHOTO box.
The winner will also receive a silver gelatin fine art mounted print of their image.
Second Prize

US $500 of ILFORD PHOTO black and white products
Third Prize

US $250 of ILFORD PHOTO black and white products
For further information on the ‘Image on a Box Photographic Competition' visit http://www.ilfordphoto.com/imageonaboxna09

Developing Skills Through Photographic Storytelling at the Yellin Center

Everyone can take photographs and develop "visual" literacy. With the camera as the technological tool of choice in the 21st Century, students can capture what they see and imagine and describe their photographs in their own words too.

The process in the workshop Myself, My Family, My Community, My Dreams, taught by professional photographer and teaching artist Roberta Fineberg, is a simple one: write, shoot, write; and then begin again. Kids are encouraged to retain their natural sense of play to build upon their strengths so that they can share their lives with others through words (narrative) and images (point of view). Effectively using two languages of imagination, photography and writing, participants learn through art education to communicate emotionally, visually, orally, and in writing; mastering even more complex learning skills.

Ms Fineberg believes that "getting personal--creating a space in which students are comfortable with the realities of their lives, problems, worries, fears, hopes, and dreams"--positively affects the learning process. With a focus equally on task completion, the final project is a professionally designed and printed group book of participants’ writing and photography. "Readers of the group book ultimately bear witness to the world that tweens and teens inhabit," says Fineberg, "fortuitous eyewitnesses to kids' dreams and plans for the future."

Roberta Fineberg is an award-winning photographer, published writer and author, and teaching artist based in New York City. Her interdisciplinary workshops include: Literacy through Photography (LTP), ESL through Photography, Autobiography through Photography (her creation), and signature program, Myself, My Family, My Community, My Dreams.

The 6-week workshop for kids, Myself, My Family, My Community, My Dreams is being offered on Wednesdays from 3:45-5:15, beginning Sept. 30 at The Yellin Center for Student Success (104 West 29th St., 12th fl, NYC 10001). For more information, please call: 646.775.6646.

"Show Us Your National Parks" Photo Contest

Fodor's Travel and Knopf announced the co-sponsorship of a travel photography contest, "Show Us Your National Parks."

From September 1st through September 30th, visitors to Fodors.com will have the opportunity to upload and share their favorite photos and experiences of America's National Parks with other travelers. Ten winners will receive a copy of The National Parks by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns as well as a Fodor's guide of their choice. Photographs will be considered for inclusion in upcoming editions of Fodor's National Parks guides and all winning photos will be featured in an online gallery at www.Fodors.com.

Said Tim Jarrell, Publisher, Fodor's, "With bigger-than-life panoramas, bubbling mud pots, shooting geysers, raging rivers, black bears, big horn sheep, and spectacular flora and fauna that barely scrape the surface of offerings, the National Parks are a photographer's delight. We are excited to see these sites through the eyes of our travelers."

Photo submissions will be accepted at www.Fodors.com through September 30th, 2009. Fodor's has previously run photo contests for Ireland, Argentina, Turkey, Israel, Maryland, New Mexico, Costa Rica, California, Florida, and Alaska. Winning photos from these contests can be seen on www.Fodors.com.

About The National Parks by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns
The companion volume to the twelve-hour PBS series from the acclaimed filmmaker behind The Civil War, Baseball, and The War. In this evocative and lavishly illustrated narrative, on sale September 8th, 2009, Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan delve into the history of the park idea, from the first sighting by white men in 1851 of the valley that would become Yosemite and the creation of the world's first national park at Yellowstone in 1872, through the most recent additions to a system that now encompasses nearly four hundred sites and 84 million acres.

Photography Scholarship Opportunity to Onondaga County High School Students

Green and Seifter Attorneys, PLLC is excited to announce the "Impressions of Syracuse" Photography Contest for Onondaga County High School Students in grades 9 through 12. Inspired by the upcoming "Turner to Cézanne" exhibit at the Everson Museum of Art, young artists will have the opportunity to express their impressions of the beauty and unique character of our city or region through photography.

The contest is open to all Onondaga County high school students in grade 9 through 12. Entries will be judged on composition, creativity, and effectiveness in conveying the beauty and/or unique character of our region. The deadline for entries is October 16, 2009. The selection of the top twenty finalists and grand prize winner will be made by a panel of artists, teachers, and photographers. The winner will receive a $500 scholarship and have his/her photo featured on the 2009 Green & Seifter Attorney holiday card. A special section will highlight the young artist. In addition, a $500 donation will be made to the winning school's visual arts department to be used for further art education.

The top twenty finalists will have their artwork on display in a special week- long exhibit at the Redhouse Gallery. The winner will be announced during a private reception for finalists, their families and teachers on October 29.

"Green & Seifter Attorneys has been a long-time supporter of the Everson Museum and the Redhouse and values their contributions to our community," said Larry Bousquet, a Managing Member of the firm, "Sponsoring a scholarship to students in the community to promote art education was the logical next step. We hope to help spread the word about these outstanding art institutions that are right here in our backyards."

More information and entry forms can be found at www.gslaw.com. Any inquiries can be directed to Kathy Ryan at 315.701.6458 or at kryan (at) gslaw (dot) com.

How to Create an Effective Marketing Copy For Freelance Photography Services by Gina Nuqui

Writing your marketing copy is a crucial part of your advertising campaign, because it should be compelling enough to motivate clients to hire you. While the design of your printed materials captivates people's attention, your marketing copy sells your services to them. Think of your marketing copy as your key to gaining your customer's trust, respect, and approval. This should be well-constructed, informative, and persuasive in order to achieve your goal.

* Effective Text Formatting: Text formatting is often disregarded in many marketing campaigns. The truth is, this can either make or break your campaign. Come to think of it, clients won't read your message word-per-word. They will most likely to skim over your printed materials. So, you must pay attention to proper text formatting to make sure that the most important information gets read. Use headings to make your copy more organized. Write the most important information in bold letters to make them more noticeable. Make use of bullet points and summarize features or benefits to make them easy to read.

* Call to Action: Give clients an unbeatable offer that they will find difficult to refuse. Use words that convey excitement to spark their curiosity and interest. Clients should know what to do after reading your marketing copy. Should they visit your studio? Check your website? Or take advantage of your discount? Telling clients exactly what you want them to do helps elicit a positive response from them.

* Personalized Sales Message: Talk to clients like an expert, but in a friendly and conversational manner. This will engage them to read the rest of your promotional material. Clients will most likely respond to you if they feel that you are communicating directly to them.

* Testimonials and Reviews: Adding testimonials and reviews on your marketing copy helps build your credibility; which helps convince customers that you are the right choice. Contact recent customers and ask them to give their feedback about your service. But, if you are still new in the business, you can offer free services in exchange of reviews.

Aside from your photographer portfolio, your promotional materials also contribute to the success of your profession. You have to ensure the quality of your marketing copy and your printed materials. So, whether you are printing business cards, posters, or brochures, it would be best to opt for professional color printing services. Professional online printing companies print full-color promotional materials that aid in your campaign.

More topics on Print Full-Color can be found at Color Printing.

Top 5 Tips For Perfect Wedding Photography

Internet journalist Matthew Connors caught up with the amazingly talented Wedding Photographers from Precise Moment Photography in Melbourne to find out just what it takes to get those perfect Wedding Photographs.

There response was amazingly simple yet very informative. "Wedding photography is not just our job it's our passion. Getting the perfect shot for our clients wedding memories is the goal, but it must be done in a natural and fun way that adds to the enjoyable memories of the wedding day".

When asked how that is achieved they said that "while every wedding we do has different people, lighting issues, weather and a number of other variables to deal with, our focus on capturing the natural expressions consistently delivers amazing results".

They went on to explain that there are several really great tips that can help achieve the perfect shots and a more enjoyable wedding day for all Brides and Grooms.

Precise Moment's Top 5 Wedding Photography Tips For Brides and Grooms

1. Just relax and enjoy yourself. Be your yourselves and your true personality will show through. If you are relaxed you will enjoy yourself more, the smiles will flow and the memories will be genuinely happy ones.

2. Make sure you let your wedding photographer know in advance what style of photography you prefer. Some couples prefer traditional photos, some like candid or contemporary. It's entirely your choice, but letting the wedding photographer know is paramount to getting the perfect results you're after.

3. Wear comfortable shoes. It's hard to genuinely smile when you're uncomfortable or your feet are killing you. In fact it often pays two pairs handy for various situations, especially in wet weather.

4. For the ladies, make sure you have matt looking make-up so you don't have shiny faces.

5. Don't be afraid to have a cuddle or a kiss at any time. These spontaneous emotions make the best photographs. A great wedding photographer will always be watching and ready and it's important you feel comfortable to be yourself and express your love in front of your photographer.

While these tips seem straight forward and simple to implement it takes a true expert to be able to implement them under the pressure of a wedding day and capture all those exact moments for your cherished memories.

Website: www.WeddingPhotographyMelbourne.info

International Photography Contest for Best Erotic Tribal Art Image

Healing Research Institute announces the 2010 competition for the Hertzberg Prize for best image in the erotic tribal art category. The 2009 winner "Mayan Breasts" won the unanimous nod of all three judges and is featured on href="http://www.erotictribalart.com/">www.erotictribalart.com for sale for a limited time. The 2009 winner created an intense sensuous image of decorated breasts with a complex Mayan overlay which produced a remarkable and striking image. The winner wished to produce a picture which honored the female breast , but which was not lewd or offensive.Those interested in the photography competition can view this image and gain some idea of the winner's image, but it is not designed to be limiting in any way Entries are to be sent to HRI PO Box 1968 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504.

"River to Well" Worldwide Photography Competition

A Lawrence, KS, community group has organized a worldwide photo competition called River to Well. The entry fee to submit a photo is $15, two photos for $25, or three photos for $30. All of the money from the entry fees will go to building a well in South Africa.

Any person can submit entries to this competition. There are three divisions for this photo competition: 1) Students 2) Amateur Non-Students 3) Professional photographers.

"We want people who are passionate about the campaign of bringing clean water to people who don't otherwise have the 'luxury' and actual photographers who want to get their name out, enter a photo competition, and at the same time give to a great cause," said Ken Chang, one of the River to Well organizers.

Deadline for submissions is September 15, 2009. The Entry Form and more information about the competition can be found at: http://www.rivertowell.com/.

"Best Of Summer" Travel Photo Contest

Los Angeles-based Tours4Fun is taking entries for their "Best of Summer" travel photo contest. Photos must be originals and of landscapes, not people, and prizes include a shopping tour of Niagara Falls, a Washington, DC tour, or Grand Canyon helicopter or airplane highlights tours. The entry period begins today and voting will start on September 1st. Winners will be announced in October.

The contest is being promoted as an opportunity for travelers and tourists to submit their best photographs and share their unique views of the wonders they have seen. It is hoped that sharing these photos will not only benefit the winners but offer a chance for all to see locations they may not have visited before.

Tours4Fun is an industry leader in travel that specializes in tour packages to North American and European cities, landmarks, and national parks. Last month they introduced their "Circle Line" European tour packages of Western, Central and Eastern Europe. Tours4Fun also offers affordable tour packages to Asia, Australia, Africa, South America and the Middle East.

The "Best of Summer" travel photo contest is the latest in a series of incentive contests that have been offered by Tours4Fun. In order to be eligible, contestants must register and each vote will be credited to a specific email address. Only three votes per email will be allowed. The deadline for final votes to be cast will be September 30th.

"By offering North American tour packages as prizes we hope to spark a renewed interest in travel within the United States," said Maggie Lang, Co-Founder and Product Development, Tours4Fun, Webeez, Inc. "The Department of the Interior has done their part by offering fee-free admission weekends to our national parks this summer. This is our way to keep the ball rolling into the Fall."

North American numbers are already rising with increased admissions at the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the American side of Niagara Falls. Travel to Washington, DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York is also up with many Americans choosing not to stay home for vacation this year. This contest should help to keep those numbers rising.

National Geographic Announces Fourth Annual International Photography Contest

National Geographic readers around the world are invited to take part in the 2009 National Geographic International Photography Contest. Readers of National Geographic's English-language editions in eight countries as well as readers of 20 of the magazine's international local-language editions are eligible to participate. The international grand-prize winners will receive a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., and their winning entries will be published in all participating editions of National Geographic magazine. Winning entries from each territory will be featured in their local editions of National Geographic magazine.

English-language-edition readers in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom are eligible to enter up to a total of six photographs across three categories: People, Places and Nature. Entries should be submitted electronically to www.ngphotocontest.com. The contest began Wednesday, Aug. 5, and ends Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time (ET). Photos can be black-and-white or color, shot with a digital camera or with conventional film, and must be submitted digitally. Each entry consists of an entry form, a single image and an entry fee. The entry fee is U.S. $12 per photo for entries received before 11:59 p.m. ET Oct. 15, 2009, and $22 per photo for entries received between Oct. 16 and Oct. 31. For details and official contest rules, visit www.ngphotocontest.com. Void where prohibited.

English-language-edition entries will be judged at National Geographic headquarters by a panel of three judges: National Geographic staff photographer Mark Thiessen; design editor of the international editions of National Geographic magazine Darren Smith; and White House photo editor Jenn Poggi. First-place category winners of the English-language-edition competition will win a digital camera kit.

The participating international local-language editions will submit their winning entries in each category to National Geographic headquarters to be judged alongside the winning English-language entries by Thiessen, Smith and Poggi. The judges will announce three international grand-prize winners in December 2009.

Photo and Essay Contest

PIC Corporation (PIC), a multi-national provider of insect and rodent control products, is now accepting entries for its Healthy Home Photo and Essay Contest. One winner will be awarded a prize of $500 (U.S. dollars) for submitting the most original and creative essay and photo showcasing the use of PIC Corp. pest control products – including the mosquito coil, a popular deterrent since 1953.

To enter, visit and http://www.healthyhome-smartsolutions.org/Aug09Contest provide your contact information and a short (no more than 500 words) essay about how you use PIC Corp. products responsibly. When we receive your entry, we will send a confirmation email asking for a photo of you using the product mentioned in your essay.

Providing both a photo and essay via email completes your submission. There is only one entry per person. The contest begins at 12:01 AM Eastern Time Wednesday August 5, 2009 and ends 11:59 PM ET September 5, 2009

Contest Seeks Photos of Most Epic Adventures for Chance to Win Ultimate Surf Trip

Pacifico beer is asking fans of the authentic pilsner to upload photos of their adventures for the chance to live the Pacifico lifestyle and win an "Epic Adventure" of their own. The contest, which launches on www.MexicoViaPacifico.com, enables consumers to submit photos for the opportunity to win a surf trip for four with professional surfer Joel Tudor, along with other great prizes.

Pacifico has always been a beer for the adventurous, fond of off-the-beaten-path destinations, especially given that the beer was originally discovered by west coast surfers on trips to Baja California, Mexico.

Prizes for the Pacifico Epic Adventure Contest include:

* One grand prize winner will win a trip for four to the Moana Resort on Waikiki Beach in Oahu for five days and four nights and surf lessons from professional surfer Joel Tudor, considered one of the best longboard surfers in the world

* Five first prize winners will receive their choice of a shortboard, longboard or stand-up paddle board from Surftech

* 50 second prize winners will receive a one-year subscription to Surfer Magazine

To enter, consumers can submit up to three photos of their own epic adventure on www.MexicoViaPacifico.com from July 8 to September 15, 2009. Upon completion of the submission period, the photos will be judged by a panel of experts including a Pacifico representative, professional surfer Joel Tudor and Grant Ellis, photo editor of Surfer Magazine. Photos will be judged on aesthetics as well as the degree of epic-ness of adventure, but Pacifico is leaving it up to consumers to decide what they consider an epic adventure.

World's Worst Photographers Wanted

Southern California photography instructor, and founder of PhotoWalkingTours (www.photowalkingtours.com), Ralph Velasco seeks the World's Worst Photographer and is offering a Grand Prize Photography Learning Package as bait.

Valued at over $1,000, the package consists of two private classes, five One on One PhotoWalkingTours, and much more. People are encouraged to nominate any who they think has most room for improvement and would most likely benefit from his services.

"Do you call your husband 'Henry VIII' because he cuts the heads off of everyone in his pictures? Does your girlfriend insist on taking pictures with telephone poles sprouting from her subjects' ears? If this is a common occurrence in the photographs of someone you know, then surely you're obligated to nominate him or her for my World's Worst Photographer contest," said Velasco.

He has a mission: Rid the world of bad photography, one image at a time. "I'm confident that I can help improve the photography of even the most self loathing 'photographer' out there, so I'm challenging spouses, friends, and all others, to nominate one person that they think could most benefit from one on one time spent with me in my photo classes and on my PhotoWalkingTours, Velasco continues.

"With the explosion in digital photography, there are more and more good people taking bad photographs, and I'd like to be a part of reversing that trend."

Velasco has spent the last 30 years photographing his travels to more than 35 countries on 5 continents, and he currently teaches photography in classrooms from San Diego to Santa Barbara, as well as guides people on a series of what is now 18 unique PhotoWalkingTours that he's developed. Needless to say, he doesn't agree that one must be born with a photographic eye to capture great images, but that it can be learned.

The winning entry will receive the Grand Prize Photography Learning Package valued at over $1,000, which includes participating in any 5 of Velasco's 2-hour One on One PhotoWalkingTours in Orange County; 4 hours of One on One classroom instruction including his "Improve Your Travel Photography" and "Capture the Essence of a Place" private classes; as well as several other prizes to be announced later. In addition, the winner will take home a limited edition, autographed, 16" x 20" gallery wrap of one of Velasco's photographs.

Three runners up will each receive a single 2-hour, small group PhotoWalkingTour in Orange County and participation in both of Velasco's classes with a small group, a package valued at over $135 each.

In order to nominate someone for these prizes, one must explain, in 50 words or less, why the nominee most deserves the Grand Prize Photography Learning Package and include this in the body of an e-mail sent to PhotoWalkingTours at gmail dot com, no attachments will be opened. Deadline for entries is October 31, 2009. Only qualified entries (those of 50 words or less) will be considered and the winner and runners up will be announced by 12/31/09. All entries will be judged by Ralph Velasco and the decision of the judge is final and in his sole discretion.

Pacifico Beer Launches Epic Adventure Photo Contest

Pacifico beer is asking fans of the authentic pilsner to upload photos of their adventures for the chance to live the Pacifico lifestyle and win an "Epic Adventure" of their own. The contest, which launches July 8, 2009 on www.MexicoViaPacifico.com, enables consumers to submit photos for the opportunity to win a surf trip for four with professional surfer Joel Tudor, along with other great prizes.

Pacifico has always been a beer for the adventurous, fond of off-the-beaten-path destinations, especially given that the beer was originally discovered by west coast surfers on trips to Baja California, Mexico.

Prizes for the Pacifico Epic Adventure Contest include:

One grand prize winner will win a trip for four to the Moana Resort on Waikiki Beach in Oahu for five days and four nights and surf lessons from professional surfer Joel Tudor, considered one of the best longboard surfers in the world
Five first prize winners will receive their choice of a shortboard, longboard or stand-up paddle board from Surftech
50 second prize winners will receive a one-year subscription to Surfer Magazine
To enter, consumers can submit up to three photos of their own epic adventure on www.MexicoViaPacifico.com from July 8 to September 15, 2009. Upon completion of the submission period, the photos will be judged by a panel of experts including a Pacifico representative, professional surfer Joel Tudor and Grant Ellis, photo editor of Surfer Magazine. Photos will be judged on aesthetics as well as the degree of epic-ness of adventure, but Pacifico is leaving it up to consumers to decide what they consider an epic adventure.

"Pacifico drinkers tend to live life to the fullest and find adventure wherever they are," said John Swiatowiec, director of off-premise national accounts retail marketing for Crown Imports, the U.S. importer of Pacifico. "Whether it's a photo of someone scaling a mountain top or celebrating a big night on the town, we're interested in seeing adventures from all fans of Pacifico."

Consumers must be over the age of 21 to enter the contest. Due to legal restrictions, residents of California and Utah are not eligible to participate.

ASMP Receives Funds from Authors Coalition

The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) has announced that the association has received $263,000 from the Authors Coalition of America (ACA), an organization which distributes money collected for copying non-title-specific works abroad, primarily in Scandinavia and Europe. Non-title-specific works are those that cannot be identified individually or by copyright owner.

Distributions are made periodically by ACA to visual arts organization members on the basis of an established formula, and funds are designated for use solely in industry education and advocacy. ASMP is the premier trade association for photographers who create images primarily for publication, and the association is a leader in providing professional photographers with business education and protecting their rights.

According to ASMP President Richard Kelly, of Pittsburgh-based Richard Kelly Photography, "We are pleased that this distribution enables our association to continue to support the needs of photographers at this pivotal time of change in the profession and the world." ASMP Executive Director Eugene Mopsik added, "This funding allows ASMP to further our educational outreach to the photography community by providing training in vital skills and fostering new ideas for our 7,000 members and many others." ASMP recently announced the development of educational tools for the industry which are available free of charge to all interested photographers at http://www.asmp.org/strictlybusiness/.

DSLR Short Film Contest Seeking Entries

StudioDaily's Dailyfilm.tv has announced the DSLR Short Film Contest, seeking to benchmark the top narrative short, documentary or music video. The winners will be showcased in an online film festival in the fall.

Sponsored by Redrock Micro and presented by StudioDaily, filmmakers will be challenged to create a video using a DSLR camera (such as the Nikon D90, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II or the Panasonic DMC-GH1). Video entries will be judged based on the following criteria: originality, technical ability, creativity, and appeal to worldwide audience. The call for entries deadline is September 18, 2009.

Entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of photographers, cinematographers and filmmakers including Vincent Laforet, Michael Grecco, and Rodney Charters from the Fox television series 24.

All participants can enter online at http://www.dailyfilm.tv/festivals/dailyfilmtv-dslr-short-film-contest

The Dailyfilm.tv competition includes more than $10,000 in prizes - awarded weekly. Prizes are professional accessories for DSLR cameras in each of the three categories (narrative, documentary, music video).

First Place Prize: Redrock Micro eyeSpy Deluxe Bundle DSLR rig (retail $1,445)

Second Place Prize: Redrock Micro Captain Stubling rig (retail $975)

Third Place Prize: Choice of a Redrock Micro microMatteBox Deluxe ($735) or microFollowFocus v2 Indie Bundle ($675).

Additionally, each week accessories from Redrock Micro will be awarded.

Winners will be announced in early October. The winning videos will be hosted in the Winners Circle on Dailyfilm.tv and highlighted on StudioDaily.com, as well as promoted by Redrock Micro. PLUS videos will be featured on CableFAX.com - seen by top executives from all major cable networks.

Last Call for Entries: American Humane Association's Pets & Pals Photo Contest

Time is running out to enter photos in American Humane's 2009 Pets & Pals Photo Contest to compete for two $1,000 grand prizes and four $500 category prizes. This popular annual competition encourages photographers of all skill levels to send in shots of companion animals and farm animals, as well as photos portraying the bond between people and animals. There is no limit on the number of photos each participant may submit, but entries must be postmarked no later than July 31, 2009.

2009 Pets & Pals Photo Contest Categories:

1. Pets -- Whether they're dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, birds or lizards, they're your pets and you love them!
This category is open to pictures of one or more pets or companion animals of any species.

2. People & Pets -- What are we without our pets, and what are our pets without us? Honor a special human-animal bond.
This category is open to pictures of one or more companion animals with one or more people.

3. Down on the Farm -- Take your pick of the many animals found on a farm and capture a unique shot.

This category is open to pictures of one or more farm or ranch animals.

4. Shelter Life -- At an animal shelter, amazing, devoted people take care of homeless animals waiting to be adopted. Snap a shot honoring both the animals and the professionals.

This category is open to pictures of shelter staff, volunteers, veterinarians, and animal control professionals and/or animals, in shelter settings.

Entries, including Official Application and Release Form, should be sent to American Humane at 63 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, Colorado, 80112. All entries must be postmarked no later than July 31, 2009, and received no later than Aug. 7, 2009. Visit www.americanhumane.org/petsandpals for submission guidelines, the required form, and rules.

Vistek launches "Capture Canada" summer photo contest

As photo contests go, they don't get any bigger than this: Vistek's Capture Canada Contest - the challenge to capture a country as big and as beautiful as Canada.

In this photo shoot that goes on until September 13, photographers are given the whole country to work with and are challenged to digitally capture an image that smacks of Canadiana. And that image can be of a famous landscape, an individual, a scenic site, a city, or a shot of Canadians enjoying summer. The options are wide open.

Vistek's Capture Canada features tons of prizes AND chances to win. In addition to a GRAND PRIZE WINNER there are a total of 16 incredible prize packages - worth over $12,500. Packages include Louis Garneau touring bikes, a Nikon camera, Epson printers, and paper packages from Moab. The contest is open to photographers 18 and over.

Full contest details and rules are available at www.vistek.ca/marketing/contests/photo-contest

Seeking Best Original Pet Photo Book

Bark Avenue Press, the publisher for pet lovers, is launching a Dog Days of Summer promotion, looking for the best original pet photo book designs. Each new photo book entered between June 22 and September 22, 2009, using the free BAP!t software, will be eligible. The Top Dog and two runners up will receive cash prizes, and have an equal amount donated to a pet-related charity.

"Dogs will share the stage as we encourage pet owners of all kinds to participate. We want to show people just how easy and rewarding it is to create a custom, professional quality book. Animals are a special part of the family and photo books make beautiful keepsakes to showcase special occasions, share vacation memories, or just for fun," said Linda Kush, President, Bark Avenue Press. "At the same time, this is a great opportunity to give back to the pet community to help animals in need."

Bark Avenue Press helps pet owners unleash their creativity and design beautiful and unique photo books, pet calendars and other printed products through its easy-to-use BAP!t software. Simply download the free software. Use the templates and backgrounds provided, or create a unique design. Add photos, text, then, when finished, hit the "send it to BAP!t" button. The design is professionally printed and mailed in about five days.

Contestants are not required to purchase a product for the Dog Days of Summer promotion. For any photo books designed and purchased, Bark Avenue Press will donate 25% of the sale price to charity. Complete rules, guidelines and a list of charities are available on the BAP!t site at: http://www.bapit.com/s-29-contest.aspx.

Viewbook PhotoStory Call For Entries

Viewbook PhotoStory, a new contemporary photography contest opened its submissions today, encouraging all documentary and conceptual photographers around the world to submit their most compelling series of photographs; photo stories that are judged by the public and an internationally renowned jury.

Viewbook PhotoStory 2009 challenges documentary and conceptual photographers around the world to create compelling stories with a linear series of photographs in an online gallery. Every professional photographer or emerging talent can easily submit their series free of charge using a 60 day, no obligation, Viewbook Pro account. ’With this competition we aim to inspire each other with photographic creativity and generate international publicity for the most talented entrants.’, says Peter Bas Mensink, publisher of GUP magazine and co-initiator of the competition.

An international jury consisting of Marcel Feil, (curator of FOAM museum) Lauren Heinz (Editor Foto8.com) and Alison Zavos (editor Featureshoot.com) and other industry professionals assess the photo stories on their overall impact and photographic excellence. The first price winners receive international publications & lifelong subscriptions with a value exceeding $12,000. The best photo series get published in the Viewbook PhotoStory 2009 book.

All pre-selected entries appear on the viewbookphotostory.com website, where everyone can view the photographic narratives and vote on their favorites. ’We want this to be an online event that everyone can be part of, says Peter Bas. The public decides which photographers win the special public prices.’

Viewbook PhotoStory is initiated by www.viewbook.com and GUP magazine, backed up by Blurb, Workbook and many supporters. The organization encourages photographers to submit their work as early as possible to get the most out of the public voting. Submissions close on 1 October 2009.

For more information and to submit, please visit http://www.viewbookphotostory.com/

Real Kids Photography Launches New Site with Free Report

Real Kids Photography has launched a new website at http://realkidsphotography.com/ and are offering a free report via an E-book titled, The 6 Essential Tips Everyone Should Know When Photographing Children. The E-book is written by Real Kids, LLC owner and life-long child photographer, Betty A. Muscott.

"We recognize that many parents are not satisfied with the traditional posed studio portraits," said Ms. Muscott. "Instead, more and more parents want to learn about photographing their own children. With today's digital cameras parents can take hundreds of photos of their children and simply choose to keep and print the ones they want."

The free E-book can be obtained by visiting Real Kids Photography and clicking on the appropriate box.

John White, spokesman for Real Kids Photography, notes that "Within minutes parents will have all the information they need to educate themselves on how to improve their photography skills and get the natural expressions they want for quality photos of their children." Totally free, the only thing necessary to receive the E-book is to complete a simple form and press the "Send it Now!" button. Once the request has been confirmed download of the book is immediately available.

"This free E-book provides valuable lessons learned over the years" said Ms. Muscott, who has been taking children's photographs for many years. The oldest of five children growing up on a dairy farm in Michigan, Ms. Muscott earned money babysitting in order to purchase the first thing she ever really wanted in life - a camera. At that very moment, a young aspiring photographer was born. Ms. Muscott has taken thousands of children's photographs since then and has learned something new with each one. Her free E-book will assist parents in doing the same.

Twenty first century technology and digital photography have given Ms. Muscott new avenues to create, educate and share the art of photographing children. Both the free E-book and child photography blog available on the new website are just a couple of those new avenues. Also available is a bi-weekly email feature that will provide photography tips to help increase parent's ability to make better pictures of their children.

"This free E-book will assist people in making quality photographs of their children now, so they can enjoy them in the future," said Ms. Muscott. "Learning how to photograph children is an excellent way to preserve generations of fond memories and family history, and this makes for a great deal of joy."

The new website offers, in addition to the free E-book, information on ways for parents to share, protect and display photos of their kids. Also included is information about free photo contests, ways to use these precious photographs to create personalized gifts, and tips on finding the right digital camera equipment for parents to use in photographing their children.

Ms. Muscott also recommends an excellent digital photography course which can be previewed with a free demonstration of the digital interactive photography course. Mr. White notes that this new website "is a one-stop shopping venue on how to photograph children."

In business since 2005, Real Kids Photography is located in "The Cozy Forest" at 4234 Driftwood Drive, DeWitt, Michigan. To receive the free E-book and learn more about the services Real Kids Photography offers call toll-free 1-866-440-2461or visit their website at Real Kids Photography.

Real Kids Photography Launches New Site with Free Report

Real Kids Photography announced today that they are launching a new website and offering a free report via an E-book titled, The 6 Essential Tips Everyone Should Know When Photographing Children. The E-book is written by Real Kids, LLC owner and life-long child photographer, Betty A. Muscott.

"We recognize that many parents are not satisfied with the traditional posed studio portraits," said Ms. Muscott. "Instead, more and more parents want to learn about photographing their own children. With today's digital cameras parents can take hundreds of photos of their children and simply choose to keep and print the ones they want."
The free E-book can be obtained by visiting Real Kids Photography and clicking on the appropriate box.

John White, spokesman for Real Kids Photography, notes that "Within minutes parents will have all the information they need to educate themselves on how to improve their photography skills and get the natural expressions they want for quality photos of their children." Totally free, the only thing necessary to receive the E-book is to complete a simple form and press the "Send it Now!" button. Once the request has been confirmed download of the book is immediately available.

"This free E-book provides valuable lessons learned over the years" said Ms. Muscott, who has been taking children's photographs for many years. The oldest of five children growing up on a dairy farm in Michigan, Ms. Muscott earned money babysitting in order to purchase the first thing she ever really wanted in life - a camera. At that very moment, a young aspiring photographer was born. Ms. Muscott has taken thousands of children's photographs since then and has learned something new with each one. Her free E-book will assist parents in doing the same.

Twenty first century technology and digital photography have given Ms. Muscott new avenues to create, educate and share the art of photographing children. Both the free E-book and child photography blog available on the new website are just a couple of those new avenues. Also available is a bi-weekly email feature that will provide photography tips to help increase parent's ability to make better pictures of their children.

"This free E-book will assist people in making quality photographs of their children now, so they can enjoy them in the future," said Ms. Muscott. "Learning how to photograph children is an excellent way to preserve generations of fond memories and family history, and this makes for a great deal of joy."

The new website offers, in addition to the free E-book, information on ways for parents to share, protect and display photos of their kids. Also included is information about free photo contests, ways to use these precious photographs to create personalized gifts, and tips on finding the right digital camera equipment for parents to use in photographing their children.

Ms. Muscott also recommends an excellent digital photography course which can be previewed with a free demonstration of the digital interactive photography course. Mr. White notes that this new website "is a one-stop shopping venue on how to photograph children."

In business since 2005, Real Kids Photography is located in "The Cozy Forest" at 4234 Driftwood Drive, DeWitt, Michigan. To receive the free E-book and learn more about the services Real Kids Photography offers call toll-free 1-866-440-2461or visit their website at Real Kids Photography.

Website: http://www.realkidsphotography.com/

Freelance Photographer - It's a Career Worth Pursuing by Roelof Kiers

Ever wondered if you've got what it takes to be a freelance photographer?

You've been told your photos are good, even great. You've likely earned some money shooting a handful of assignments, but you're not quite sure if you can make it as a freelance photographer. And you've likely got a lot of questions. Questions like: "where will the assignments come from", "how much should you charge", and "how much equipment do you really need?"

These are just a start. Once you jump in and become a freelance photographer, you quickly understand that there's a big difference between the creative side of the business - taking photos and the business side, where you actually have to go out and find the work.

Two of the biggest factors influencing your future success, will be how well you manage your new business and the skill you apply at marketing yourself.

Because once you decide to become a freelancer, you're in business. It's no longer a hobby. Every decision you make, from the field of photography you pursue, to how you position yourself in the market, to promotion becomes a business decision.

Seeking input from others in the business prior to making those critical decisions is important. You want to really understand what's involved before committing months, years and perhaps even your entire career to the path you choose.

First steps would include finding out what other photographers earn in your preferred niche. Fashion, advertising and corporate photography pay far more than photo journalism, family, stock or wedding photography. Fine art photography is a very tough area in which to make a lucrative living. So choose wisely. Photography stops being fun, when you're starving and the bills keep piling up.

The geographic area you choose to live and work will also influence how much work you are likely to find. As expected, the larger the metropolitan center, the more likely it is you'll attract the clients wanting to hire you.

Some fields of photography require frequent and extensive travel. If that's what you want, you'll want to know what's involved.

You'll also want to find out what clients expect of you as a freelance photographer. Each client will have different expectations and experience in dealing with photographers. This is something you'll learn and gain knowledge in as you pick up more and more assignments. Best to be flexible and be ready to negotiate.

Knowing what to charge for an assignment, preparing quotes, copyright, licensing and usage fees are just a few of the new areas you'll quickly need to become familiar with.

The type of equipment you'll need will depend on the photographic niche you've chosen. Again do the research necessary to make sure you've got at least the basic equipment. You can always rent what you don't have as assignments come in.

A marketing plan and budget is a necessity. Without one, you'll be going off in all directions, chasing prospects and likely spending hard earned money on promotional tactics that often don't work. There are multiple methods you can use to promote yourself, from websites, to directories, postcards, direct mail and personal presentations.

Assuming you're shooting decent quality photos, how well you market and sell yourself will often define your level of success. These are two skills you'll want to master, along with managing the financial side of the business.

Add it all up and the hurdles to earning a lucrative living as a freelance photographer can be formidable. Each can be overcome. But it does take preparation, research, some soul searching and a commitment to succeed.

Like any business, those that work hard, do their homework and are prepared to ask questions and learn from others will quickly move up the ladder of success, while their colleagues who think they can do it all on their own, will often stumble and struggle to survive. There's no sense in "reinventing the wheel", when it comes to becoming a freelance photographer.

Talk to other freelancers and find out what's working and not working for them. Also don't overlook all the other resources you can quickly access to help you not only in making the right decision but also growing your freelance photography business.

Click here to access your free e-Course on building your own profitable freelance photography business -> http://www.photobusinessblueprint.com/

Roelof Kiers has over 25 years of experience as a successful photographer and marketer.

For your FREE exclusive step-by-step blueprint explaining EXACTLY how to succeed as professional photographer - please visit http://www.photobusinessblueprint.com/

Children’s International Photography Contest Focuses Worldwide Lens On Biodiversity

Youngsters around the world are invited to enter the "See the Bigger Picture" photography contest by submitting images illustrating plants, animals or anything else that captures biodiversity to www.seethebiggerpicture.org. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will meet with renowned photojournalist Joel Sartore, a contest judge. Entries must be received by Sept. 8, 2009.

"See the Bigger Picture" is a joint project of Airbus, National Geographic and the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity in support of "The Green Wave" — an outreach program that promotes the goals of the United Nations biodiversity treaty and that will contribute to the celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010. As part of "The Green Wave" project, children and youth in schools worldwide plant a local tree species on May 22 each year, uniting to send a "green wave" across time zones from east to west.

The organizers hope the "See the Bigger Picture" contest will encourage children around the globe to snap and submit a photograph illustrating biodiversity in their community or from their travels and help to create the world's largest biodiversity outreach program.

"I am thrilled that Airbus is getting behind the biodiversity photo contest" said Sartore. "If we stand a chance of preserving the delicate balance of life and protecting the future of the fragile planet I've been photographing for 20 years, big business must be involved. It's great to involve kids, too, and to motivate them to take notice of the environment around them. I hope this will be a fun summer project for them"

Sartore, one of National Geographic's best wildlife photographers, suggests a few photo tips to get the perfect shot.

-Shoot early in the morning or late in the day for the best light. This is also when many kinds of animals are at their most active and interesting.

-Work all the angles; walk around your subject 360 degrees to find the best background, then also go from a bird's eye view (up high) to a worm's eye view (low to the ground) to get photos that are fresh and unexpected.

-Study your subjects, and have patience. While nature can be unpredictable, some animals have routines just like people. Spending a little time observing what your subjects do and when they do it can pay off with much better photos.

-You don't have to travel around the world to view and photograph wildlife. The variety of animals in your own back yard - from insects to birds to amphibians - may surprise you.

"See the Bigger Picture" contest rules can be found on www.seethebiggerpicture.org as well as in the July and August issues of National Geographic magazine and in the June/July and August issues of National Geographic Kids magazine. In the United States the contest is open to kids ages 6-14, and internationally to kids ages 6-16.

Wildlife Conservation Society Photographer To Share Photo Tips And Experiences In Free Bogen Imaging

Bogen Imaging, a leading distributor of top quality photographic support products and accessories in North America, announces a free webinar titled "A Budget Safari - Wildlife Photography at Your Local Zoo: Roundtable with Julie Larsen Maher." Part of the company's Bogen Café series of free instructional webinars, the seminar will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT, on Friday, June 19th. Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Staff Photographer Julie Larsen Maher, and David Fisher, Bogen Imaging's Gitzo, Metz, Gossen and Litepanels Product Manager, will discuss the best practices, gear, and times to visit when shooting wildlife at a local zoo.

Maher was named Staff Photographer for the WCS in 2005 and has since traveled the world, using digital photography to capture the beauty and diversity of the animal residents and their caregivers at WCS wildlife parks. She works with leading scientists and animal experts to create breathtaking photographs that reveal the wonder and importance of wildlife conservation. During this Bogen Café webinar, Maher will share experiences from her recent trip to South America and will report on the ongoing conservation photography efforts of the WCS.

Topics for Discussion Include:

-- The best practices for shooting through fences, wires, and glass
partitions
-- Selecting the best gear for a day trip
-- The best times to visit when shooting at a local zoo
-- How to develop a unique perspective when capturing wildlife

Webinar participants will have access to a number of exclusive benefits, including one-on-one interaction with the guest speaker, and will be automatically entered in a chance to win one of three National Geographic Walkabout Medium Satchels, each valued at $195. Winners will be announced at the end of the webinar, so participants must attend the event in its entirety to be eligible to win. A free recorded version of the webinar will also be available to registered participants within 24 hours of the event. Winners must be US residents.

To register for the free Bogen Café webinar and for additional information, please visit http://www.bogenimaging.us/webinar/

Additional information about the Bogen Café as well upcoming webinars can be found at www.bogencafe.us.

A New Photography Social Network Grows Both Domestically and Internationally

The photography network (www.picturesocial.com) is buzzing with activity from over 10,000 members adding photos, videos, blog posts, discussions and more every day. The site is now attracting over 100,000 visitors every month and has grown in membership by over 15% for the last two months.

PictureSocial is dedicated to creating a friendly gathering place for photographers of any experience level. It offers many more features than other photo sharing sites including profiles that are fully customizable, slideshows that can be embedded on other sites, video functionality, blogging platforms with tools, email, special interest groups, and more.

The amount of photos now uploaded to the site is staggering - more than a quarter of a million. The network now contains more than 2000 discussions, 1,000 blog posts, and 200 special interest groups.

"The feedback we have been receiving is very exciting," says Richard Schneider, a Community Administrator for the photography network. "Members have been thrilled to find such a vast engaging site where all the features are free of charge."

The membership pool is extremely diverse with photographers joining from around the globe. The range of talented members on the site provides a valuable resource to photographers at any experience level. Some members are just starting out with their new digital cameras while others are highly recognized professionals in various areas of photography.

The future looks bright for this rapidly expanding photography resource. To join and setup a personalized profile to showcase your work, visit www.picturesocial.com.

Freelance Photography As a Living by Murray Edwards

So you have purchased a digital camera and now you are ready to go out and make a living as a photographer. Easy you think, take a few pictures, sell them and you are off to the races. Not so quick my friend, unless you are extremely lucky, the road to success is a difficult one. Let us face it, making a living in the amazing world of photography can be fun, but there are many difficulties along the way.

First off, what type of photography are you going to perform? Weddings, portraits, events, editorial or commercial have you given that any thought? Are you going to be one of those who will upload your photographs to a micro-agency and be ecstatic when you receive twenty-cents when someone makes a purchase and downloads an image? Oh boy, you are on your way now!

Wedding and portrait photographers must have the ability to deal with a group of people who are stressed and at times, not very rational. Do you have the right personality to ease a bride to be as she breaks down, or smile while a mother attempts to gather the children for that special family portrait?

Looking to do event photography? You will need to form relationships with the local the baseball and softball leagues, golf courses, racetracks, chamber of commerce, and any form of organization that has or performs civic activities. The ability to review and print on-site is almost a must these days. Be sure that you can accept credit or debit cards for those who do not have cash and desire to a purchase on-the-spot.

Now for editorial and commercial side of things, make sure you understand when and where releases are required. In most cases, the use of an image to tell a story, used in a newspaper, textbook or magazine article, does not require a model or property release, however in some cases a publisher will require one. For any commercial usage of an image that has a recognizable face or facility, get a release. Carry a handful of releases in your camera bag; it will save you much aggravation

Understand your licensing options. If you do not care how the image is going to be used and as long as you have the proper releases then you can provide your customers with a Royalty-Free license, just know that they may, for the most part, reuse the picture as many times and in any manner they desire. You have basically given up your rights to how your hard work is going to be presented.

A Rights-Managed license provides you and your client more control of image usage. Basically, the client agrees to use your picture based of a selection of criteria. An example, suppose a magazine wants to use your image for a inside ¼ page spread with a production run of 25,000 issues and they want exclusive usage of that images for six months, then you charge appropriately.

Having fun yet? You are just getting started, just wanted to begin to educate those who believe that the business of photography is as simple of picking a camera and taking a picture. There is money to be made, just be sure you have a good understanding of the industry before you make the jump and do not leave your daytime job to soon.

Murray Edwards is a freelance photojournalist covering the Southern United States.
http://www.freelancephotog.com/
http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/murrayed

Call for Entries:First Asia Focused International Photographic Competition

Amateur and professional photographers from around the world are invited to enter the 2009 'Asia Without Borders' Photography Competition, the first internationally-promoted online photography contest organised by the award-winning ASIAN Geographic Magazine.

"We are looking for extraordinary photographs from both amateur and professional photographers that capture the striking images of Asia's land, people, architecture or wildlife," explains ASIAN Geographic's Business Development Director, Leslie Quek.

Entries will be judged over three rounds announcing thereafter, one winner and one runner up in each of the four categories. In addition, an overall grand prize award will be up for grabs. Over S$20,000 worth of prizes await the victors of ASIAN Geographic's first online-delivered international photo contest.

Eligible adult participants may enter the contest by submitting up to 15 photos in any or all of the three open categories: Faces of The Earth, Faces of Asia and Faces of The Wild. There is also a Young Photographer's category - Faces of Freedom - for 21-year-olds and below. Entries should be made online at: http://www.awbphotocontest.com/

The closing date for entries is 30 September 2009 at 23:59 hours, Singapore time (GMT +8)

A selection of the best entries will be exhibited at a public show in Singapore where the final shortlist of 20 images will be judged by a panel of professional photographers from around Asia.

All winning and runners up images will also be published in the December Photo Annual Edition of the ASIAN Geographic Magazine.

The grand prize winner will receive a Canon EOS 5D Mk II, a Jet Airways ticket from Singapore to Delhi and a Lowepro equipment. Each category winner will receive a Canon EOS 50D camera, a Jet Airways return ticket from Singapore to Delhi and Lowepro equipment. Each runner up will also receive Lowepro equipment.

New and existing subscribers of the ASIAN Geographic Magazine can enter the contest for FREE. Non-subscribers are required to pay an US$8 fee to submit up to four images to any eligible category or US$15 to submit up to 15 images.

Photos can be black-and-white or colour, shot with a digital camera or with conventional film. For details of official contest rules, visit: http://www.awbphotocontest.com/rules.php

Fourth Annual Photography In The Parks Photo Contest

As springtime rolls in, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, is encouraging Americans to visit their national parks and photograph their beauty with its fourth annual Canon Photography In The Parks Photo Contest*.

The contest invites photography enthusiasts, from May 15th to September 30th, 2009, to enter by submitting their "Inspirational Nature Images" the theme for this year’s contest. Photos taken at any park or monument in America can be entered through the Canon Digital Learning Center Web site at: www.usa.canon.com/parks.

New this year, Canon will have two contest divisions for photographers between the ages of 13 and 17, and a separate division for adults ages 18 and older. This will enhance the contest experience by allowing aspiring teen photographers to compete amongst their peers.

After entering their photos through the Canon Digital Learning Center, potential contest winners will have the opportunity to forward an e-postcard of their submitted images to friends and family as a fun way to share their photographs. Winning photographers from the Photography in the Parks Photo Contest will receive some of Canon’s hottest photographic equipment. Along with some of Canon’s hottest equipment, the Grand Prize winner will receive a trip to a National Park.

As part of Canon’s Parks Program, a team of photographers will be touring four National Parks from June through August. At each park, the Canon team will host free photography workshops and provide Canon’s top-of-the-line camera equipment for participants to use at no charge. Each class will teach various photography techniques and explore many of the camera functions as participants take a walking tour of the park. Visit www.usa.canon.com/parks for details and a schedule of workshops.

Online visitors and Web surfers are encouraged to browse the Canon Digital Learning Center and take advantage of the various educational resources that Canon has to offer for novices and advanced photographers alike. The Canon Digital Learning Center provides a schedule for a wide variety of Live Learning classes across the country with renowned photographers as well as online resources and tips. The site also features online tutorials for beginners and professionals to learn their way around a digital SLR camera and inkjet printer and unlock the full creative control of digital photography.

Photo Contest to Showcase Work on the Mission Field

Adventures In Missions (AIM), a nonprofit organization based in Gainesville, GA, launched its first Missions Photo Contest in a quest to gather photographs of ministry in action from around the globe. The purpose is to cast a vision for what God is doing in the mission field through a collection of compelling photographs that tell the stories.

AIM founder Seth Barnes was inspired to start the Missions Photo Contest after seeing an image taken of an orphan at a care point in Nsoko, Swaziland. "I saw this photograph and was so taken by it. It captures a soul, a moment, a place and a ministry. It's like visual poetry," he says. Barnes wants to share this experience with more people -- and he wants more photos. "As I continued to stare at it [the photo], I thought, 'We have so many good photographers...we need to showcase their talent.'"

The ultimate goal is to publish a book of the winning photographs that shares the stories and images of reaching out to people in need. "I think it will help cast a vision for what God is doing," says Barnes.

Anyone is allowed to submit a photo of ministry in action for consideration in the contest. Prizes are $3,000 for first place, $1,000 for second, $500 for third, and $250 for fourth and fifth place. Judging will happen in three rounds, and contestants must enter a photo by June 15th to be considered in the contest. For complete contest rules and submission instructions, visit http://www.adventures.org/.

Profoto $10K Call for Entries for Photo Assistants

Profoto has launched an international photo contest for assistants. Each month a winning photograph will be selected and that assistant will receive international exposure through a full-page ad in photo magazines, be featured in a new web site (http://www.profotoassistant.com/), as well as having his or her work published in web and print articles, blogs and Podcasts. Grand prize, chosen from the monthly winners, is $10,000 in Profoto lighting equipment. Second and third prize winners receive $2,500 and $1,000 worth of equipment, respectively.

"Our objective is to celebrate the creativity and hard work assistants experience every day," said Anders Hedebark, President of Profoto. "In many studios the assistant is responsible for specifying, renting and setting up lighting equipment, so we feel it’s time to provide a community for recognition and exposure."

In addition to the contest, assistants are invited to attend a reception and studio shooting session where they can use and learn about the latest Profoto gear, the Pro-8 Air. The events will be held in many international cities, including Stockholm, Paris, London, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles.

Assistants can send up to four photographs each month to www.profotoassistant.com/gallery/. The contest ends on the last day of each month and winners will be announced the 15th of the following month.

Tips For Breaking Into Freelance Newspaper Photography by Peter Phun

So you've honed your skills to the point where you are confident you can get a good picture in any situation.

Have you thought about freelancing for a newspaper? Photojournalism is one of the most challenging, exciting types of photography.

As a result, it is also the most competitive fields to break in to. So what do you need to start?

Reliable Transportation

This should be obvious, but it's intentionally high in this list. All the skills and the best gear in the world without the ability to get on scene is pointless.

Decent photo gear

I consider these minimum requirements:

2 bodies is a minimum requirement. Though you may use one, the other is your backup. (at least 8 megapixels)

a wide angle, a telephoto, a fast 50mm lens, and at least one flash. As to the exact focal lengths, that would depend a lot on what you plan to shoot. Sports shooters need upwards of 300 mm, sometimes even longer lenses depending on the sport.

a good number of memory cards. If all you're shooting is jpegs, then you might be able to get away with 4 to 6 4GB memory cards. They're cheap compared to the past, so don't sweat it. Exactly how many is hard depends on what you're shooting. Again sports shooters will require more of this as well.

a laptop with a WiFi card. The platform Mac or Windows doesn't matter. Just like for your camera, Nikon or Canon, it's just a tool.**optional Mobile broadband card for laptop**

Photoshop Elements is a minimum, the full version is nice but unnecessary. Most of the time, all you have time for is saving your jpegs to the newspaper's specs, attaching captions and then transmitting it to the paper via the internet by either an FTP client or emailing.

cellphone for communicating with editors at the paper.

Optional but not vital is a police scanner. I don't advocate running off and chasing fire trucks and ambulances but sometimes being at the right place a the right time with a camera is all it takes.

Writing, reporting ability

Writing and reporting go hand-in-hand. You may not need to write a full blown news story, but you do need to be able to write accurate descriptive captions.

So proper grammar and ability to gather accurate caption information like names and ages is very important.

If you consistently provide wrong information and the newspaper has to print a correction each time, they won't be calling you back.

Good knowledge of current events and sports

If you're looking to shoot sports, then good all round knowledge of a variety of sports is important. Since popularity of different sports are very regional, I'll leave it to you to figure that out.

Obviously expect to know Australian Rules football and cricket if you're Down Under, baseball, hockey and American Football if you're in the US and etc. In sports expect to know quite a bit about all types of sports even if you've never played it.

If you're covering a tennis match, for instance, do you know how the players change sides on the tie-breaker? And how do they score the game? If you don't understand how the game is scored, how do you know when the last point of the match is coming up?

Keeping up with news is especially important. When big names come through your community and you're on top of it, this is a great way to get your foot in the door. The newspaper may or may not have the personnel to cover everything so your contribution may be welcome.

Even if they don't use your pictures, you've made first contact. Although it takes years of hard work and dedication to get into the business and there are college degrees offered in photojournalism, starting out as a stringer at a newspaper is achievable if you study publications.
If you're interested in sports, then subscribe to Sports Illustrated. In my next post, I'll discuss how to get your foot in the door at a newspaper.

Read a more detailed article on how to start freelancing for newspapers.

Peter Phun teaches photography at Riverside City College. He does portraits, weddings and editorial work. He writes about photography, Macs and the internet. He also designs websites and is a stay-at-home dad.

Previously, Peter worked as a staff photographer for 18 years at The Press-Enterprise, Southern California's 4th largest daily newspaper. He is the webmaster for the Mac user group in the Inland Empire. For more information about this Riverside based photographer, visit http://www.peterphun.com/

Freelance Digital Photography - Simple Tips On How To Get Started Fast by Terry Edwards

Photography is considered a hobby for many people. It just takes a good camera, a vivid imagination, and a great subject to capture to be in the field of photography. Even little ones can be interested in photography because many cameras nowadays are just as easy as point and shoot. You can even see the image before it actually comes out in print through a tiny LCD at the back of the digital camera. But did you know that if you love photography and are very enthusiastic about it, you have the opportunity to make money from it? Yes, you certainly can and you can even do it online.

One way to earn money from your freelance digital photography is to sell your photos to stock photography sites. This is the first step that you can take to earn money from your photos. This may not give you a big amount of money overnight but in time you will benefit from selling your photos to these sites. You do not even have to quit your day job to upload photos to these sites. Treat this like a second income opportunity and you will do just fine.

Most stock photography sites will pay you a fixed rate based on your photos' sales and there are some that give you entire copyright to your photos so you can charge your buyers with your own rate. You find out much more on this lucrative business at the end of this article.

To achieve effective sales of your photos online, you have to keep some things in check. Since the photos you will be submitting to online stock photography websites, you have to keep in mind the things that the buyers might want to buy so that you can take photos that will be appropriate for their use.

Regarding image quality, your photos must have no noise and be in focus. The colors should also come out sharp and balanced. And since these photos are to be used for a variety of purposes, you should not put a logo signifying ownership to you. You should also be able to categorize your photos correctly with the right keywords so that buyers will have an easier time looking for your photos which can give you impressive sales in the end.

If you are a newbie to photography but would like to try your hand at producing outputs for stock photography, there are certain things that you have to take note of. Of course, you must know how a digital camera works and investing in a good one is probably the best you can do especially if you want to make this a career. To make sure that you are able to update and upload your files as fast as you take your pictures, an internet connection is required.

The most important thing to do when planning to be a provider of stock photos is to take hundreds of relevant digital photos. Signing up with stock photo websites must also be done as well as learning things like coming up with the proper keywords, etc. so that you can start providing photos for your account on these websites.

Now that you have an idea of how to earn money from freelance digital photography, why not try your hand at it? Who knows, it could be the start of a more profitable photography business.

You can find out more about Freelance Digital Photography as well as much more information on everything to do with making money with photography and DigiCamCash at http://www.digicamcashreview.com/