Top 10 Tips For Better Vacation Photos From Travel Writers and Photographers

The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the world's largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers, recently polled its members to come up with the "Top 10″ tips to help travelers take better vacation photos.

"With digital cameras, it has never been easier or cheaper to take top quality vacation photos," states SATW president and broadcast travel journalist, Bea Broda. "However, there are still some things that travelers can do to help them come back with stunning images of their vacation," she said.

Listed in order of votes with comments from SATW writers and photographers, the "Top 10″ tips for better travel photos are:

1. Shoot photos early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the sun is overhead and the light is flat. Shooting in early morning and late afternoon will add more color and shadows to your photos, giving more definition to the subject.

"Although morning and late afternoon are considered the best light for making photographs, some exceptions apply. In the Caribbean, for instance, to capture the water at its most electric aquamarine, shoot the seascape from on high, preferably at noon."– Patricia Borns, maritime and travel writer/photographer

2. Move in close to your subject for impact (too far back and your photo can be too busy). Get close, and then get closer! Fill the frame with your subject.

"Use your camera to record details you would like to remember later such as street signs, place names and menus." — Shelly Steig, freelance writer and photographer

3. Don't shoot every photo at eyelevel. Don't be afraid to get low to the ground or climb up to get a better vantage point.

"Shooting a scene at other than eyelevel can add drama or perspective to an otherwise static setting. Even if you can't peer through the lens, hold your camera overhead or at waist level and experiment."– David Swanson, freelance travel writer/photographer

Carry a rubber mouse pad in your camera bag. It will make it easier on your knees and clothing whenever you kneel down for a low camera angle." — Michele & Tom Grimm, photographers and authors

4. Pay attention to details and distractions in the back of the photo or behind the heads of your subjects. Frequently, a telephone pole or tree is sticking up behind your subject. Move around until there are fewer distractions in the background.

"Don't rely on your zoom lens to compose your images. You have two feet. Move about for the best angle and composition." — Dennis Cox, travel photographer, director of Photo Explorer Tours

5. Shoot lots of photos and edit and erase at night. Digital space is cheap. Shoot in the highest res possible.

"Bracket your exposures and remember that if the light is low, you can increase your ISO (the equivalent of being able to change film speed) for every shot."– Catherine Watson, freelance travel writer

6. Always show a sense of place as to where you are. If in the tropics, frame the photo with palm trees; if in the mountains, frame it with pine trees.

"On cloudy, dreary days, try to include bright colors such as red (a person's jacket, an umbrella, a sign) in the photo, since reds, oranges, yellows and fuchsias can make a washed-out rainy scene pop with liveliness."– Susan Farlow, freelance travel writer

7. Shoot important subjects from several different angles and vantage points and with different lens and at different exposures. Take an overall wide shot, a medium range shot and a close up detail shot. Check your photos on site to make sure you have your shot.

"When shooting with a slow shutter speed and no tripod, shoot three quick frames in a row, making a better chance one will come out sharp." — Michael Ventura, freelance travel photographer

"Remember to shoot verticals as well as horizontal shots. Verticals work best for covers or full single pages." — Susan Farlow, freelance travel writer

8. Wait before you click! Wait for the clouds to clear, the truck to move away from the front of the cathedral or other distractions to pass.

"Look around you and see what's happening. If a child with a red balloon is coming around the corner, wait until she runs into your frame."– Mary Love, freelance travel photographer and writer

9. Put local people in your photos. Ask permission first and try not to pose them. Put people in your photos to give a sense of size and scale.

"Learn the phrase for ‘Smile, please' in the language of the place where you are traveling, and smile before, during and after you click the shutter." — Maxine Cass, freelance travel photographer

"After photographing a local, turn your digital camera around and show the image to your subject. Everybody is happy to see what a great photo you just took." — Annette Thompson, associate travel and livings editor, Southern Living

10. Use fill-flash, even outdoors, to "fill-in" shadows.

"Sometimes you don't have the option of waiting for the right light. The fill flash will light up a person's face and remove shadows when the sun is overhead."– Laurie D. Borman, editorial director, Rand McNally
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) is a non-profit professional association that works to promote responsible travel journalism and to provide professional support for its members, including travel journalists, photographers, editors, electronic media, film lecturers, television and film producers, and public relations representatives from the travel industry.

For more information on the Society of American Travel Writers, visit http://www.satw.org/

Free SEO Toolkit for Photographers

PhotoShelter today released the first comprehensive, free guide to getting photography websites listed on search engines and achieving top results with search engine optimization (SEO). The PhotoShelter SEO Toolkit is essential internet marketing guidance for serious photographers looking to grow their businesses online. It can be used by photographers to understand, plan, and carry out a complete SEO effort. The toolkit can be requested here: http://pa.photoshelter.com/mkt/seo-kit-for-photographers. PhotoShelter also today released an SEO Grader tool - an exclusive feature that scans photographers' websites and rates their progress along 30+ factors within PhotoShelter that can be customized to improve search engine rankings.

The free PhotoShelter SEO Toolkit includes several multimedia components. The primary content is PhotoShelter's SEO Cookbook - a 30-page, step-by-step e-book covering every tactic, on and off the photographer's web page, that can be employed to garner better search engine results. The Toolkit also includes video tutorials and downloadable worksheets to assist photographers in optimizing their websites. No technical experience is required to benefit from the expert advice assembled in the Toolkit.

Photography Workflow - Pre-Production For New Photographers by Murray Edwards

Okay - you have decided to do some work as a stock photographer. We have talked about what you believe to be a good topic or specialization, compared Royalty-Free versus Rights-Managed licensing and discussed the proper releases that may be required. Now let's talk about your workflow. We will need to address both pre and post production, so let's get started.

Pre-Production - "Be prepared" is the Boy Scouts motto, so you should be prepared for whatever might throw you a curve while performing a photo shoot. In many cases, as a freelance stock photographer, you will be shooting on spec, so make sure that you have camera equipment in your vehicle at all times. You never know when a situation will arise that creates an opportunity for a unique image, it would be a shame to miss it. Once traveling in central Alabama, a F3 tornado hit 5 miles from my location. I was one of the first photojournalist to capture the aftermath. Many of those images, were used by area news agencies and three were licensed and published in textbooks.

Here is an idea of the equipment I carry on a normal road trip: Three digital bodies, four lenses of various sizes, flash, batteries, ten compact flash memory modules, rain suit, tripod, monopod, batteries, protective rain shields for gear, gps, light meter, cleaning kit, batteries, releases, portable hard drive and a laptop. By the way, did I mention batteries? You can never have enough batteries. I would also suggest that you get insurance, some homeowners policies may cover your equipment, however, there are companies that will provide policies that not only protect you against thief, they will also cover damage to gear.

Now you are ready to go, you've got camera in hand, selected the correct white balance and exposure and you are ready to make that first shot. Here is your first decision what format do you shoot? RAW, JPEG or TIFF - make this decision wisely, for this will determine how the post-production proceeds once you get back to the comfort of home or hotel. RAW is the natural format used by each camera manufacturer and will provide the most image information. You will not be able to store as many images per module, but the additional benefits it provides in post-production far out way any drawbacks. Everyone is familiar with JPEGs and in most cases this is the format of choice for amateurs, since nearly any image viewer allows you see what you shot without any conversion. You will be able to shoot and store many more images per module, but image quality will suffer as you save and re-save the image in post. The third most poplar format is TIFF. Like RAW, the TIFF format provides a much larger file, so once again, the image count per memory module will be reduced, however TIFF is a loss-less format, good benefits when you start working with the image, but as in JPEG you will lose some adjustment freedoms that you get in shooting RAW.

So when it really counts, shoot RAW, if you are just shooting for practice or experimenting, the JPEG format will work fine.

I'm going to make an assumption here. Most people starting out do not have more than one camera and that is the case, I would like to make a suggestion. Make sure you have numerous memory modules with you. They have gotten rather affordable, so the out of pocket expense will not be to great. Here's where I'm gong with this. When on a shoot, I always have two completely outfitted cameras and will take similar images of the same subject on both cameras. Why? As reliable as these modules are, they do fail. If you have everything on one module, then you have lost all the work you have put in for that project. If you have multiple modules, then you can split your work across multiple chips, thus protecting all that hard work. It only takes a moment to do a switch out and it could save you pain, agony and money should a failure occur. Just keep track of your, naming nomenclature when you transfer the files over to your system, so you won't overwrite an image.

What do you now that you have taken all these photographs? We will discuss this in the next article.

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

ASMP Provides Photographers with Free Education Resource

Eugene H. Mopsik, Executive Director of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) announced that the association has developed new education tools for the industry which are now available free of charge. All interested photographers now have access to the ASMP daily blog as well as the popular and acclaimed Strictly Business 2 series covering topics such as copyright, pricing, negotiating, and building a photography business. ASMP, the premier trade association with more than 7,000 photographers who create images primarily for publication, is a leader in providing business education for professional photographers.

According to Mopsik, "ASMP has created these resources to provide a forum for training in critically important skills and fostering new ideas. Our goal is to continue to support the needs of photographers at all career stages, and to build an informed and savvy professional photography community."

"We are very excited to be able to present videos on topics which are vital to photographers," said Susan Carr, ASMP Education Coordinator. "In addition, we will have featured daily blog posts and links to relevant on-line resources. Our future plans include instructional podcasts and a calendar of ASMP's programs - making this the 'go to' business resource for photographers."

Contributors to the video lecture series include ASMP members Richard Kelly, Judy Herrmann, Blake Discher, Leslie Burns-Dell'Acqua and Carr. The videos also have interviews with preeminent member photographers Barbara Bordnick, Paul Elledge, Steve Grubman, Chase Jarvis, Lou Jones, and Paul Lerner. The videos can be viewed at www.ASMP.org/strictlybusiness.

Clive Barker masters another creative medium… Photography

Visionary. Fantasist. Author. Poet. Painter. Photographer. No one word is adequate to describe Clive Barker, who for more than twenty-five years has expanded the reaches of human imagination as a novelist, director, screenwriter, dramatist and artist.

An inveterate seeker, Barker traverses between styles with ease, from lucid dreamscapes to visceral horror to existential drama to pan-sexual erotica. Barker also has a hand in a range of projects that reflect his grasp of the creative potential in contemporary media. Some arise from his own literary terrain; others are evolving out of his uniquely progressive production company Seraphim Films, whose most recent release, The Midnight Meat Train, garnered high praise from fans and critics alike.

Barker's photography combines narrative imagery, symbolism of ancient and modern cultures, eroticism, religious iconography, vibrant color and dramatic lighting. He demonstrates his intelligence and talent in creating work that is provocative, disturbing, erotic and titillating. Few will be able to view these images and not be stirred – some may be offended, some provoked, some stimulated and others frightened. But for those captivated few that are capable of looking deep into each image and even deeper into themselves, they will discover Barker's wicked genius, unique and original vision of man.

Barker shot 60,000 photographs for a series of books and various media all celebrating the nude male; his vision putting a fantastical edge into the images, transporting his subjects (Barker abhors the word 'model') into a world of dreamscapes and demons. The first volume is to be called Imagining Man. A large exhibition in Los Angeles, featuring hundreds of Barker's photographs, is planned for the autumn of 2009.

Four images were recently previewed at the 10th anniversary show Dirty Detroit an international erotic art exhibition last month. The photographs sold out. View Clive Barker's photos.

ABOUT CLIVE BARKER

Barker's past achievements are as eclectic as his current slate. In 1998 he executive produced Bill Condon's God's and Monster's, which garnered three Academy Award nominations, wining the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. The following year, Barker joined such illustrious authors as Gabriel Marquez, Annie Dillard and Aldous Huxley when his collection of literary works was put into the Perennial line at HarperCollins Publishers. At the same time, HarperCollins published The Essential Clive Barker, a seven hundred-page anthology of selected fiction, with an introduction by Armistead Maupin (Tales of the City).

At its core, Barker's work has always shown an unswerving commitment to spinning a good yarn. He began his odyssey in the London theatre; scripting original plays for the nomadic theatre group he founded, The Dog Company. These works include "The History of the Devil," "Frankenstein in Love" and "Crazyface," and were published in two compendiums entitled Incarnations and Forms of Heaven. They still consistently appear in productions, usually by non-profit or university companies, all over the world. [CONT]

Realizing that a career in writing highly imaginative but immensely challenging plays wasn't going to support
him, Barker turned his hand to writing intensely visual horror stories. They were published in six volumes, and their contents have provided the raw material for several immensely popular movies, including The Midnight Meat Train, Candyman, and the soon-to-be-released Dread.

In 1987, Barker took on a whole new challenge by adopting his novella The Hellbound Heart and turning it into a film he could make for a tiny sum of money. It was called Hellraiser, and it was to become a cult classic, spawning eight sequels, several lines of comic books, and an array of merchandise which elevated the demonic torturer Pinhead to a figure now recognized worldwide. It was followed in 1990 by Nightbreed, which Barker adapted and directed from his novella "Cabal." Here, in a prophetic reworking of horror's conventions, Barker turned the monsters into tragic outcasts, prefiguring the same devices later used by Tim Burton and those paid homage to his style.

But it was his debut novel, The Damnation Game – a modern reworking of the Faust myth – that really put Barker on the literary map and widened his growing international audience, bridging the gap between popular genre writing and the work of British literary figures, such as J.G. Ballard, who was, with Stephen King, an early champion of Barker's taboo-busting, sexy, yet sophisticated and electrifying prose.

As a writer, Barker persisted in defying expectation winning a new generation of fans with such best-selling fantasies as: Weaveworld, Imajica, Everville; The Thief of Always; Sacrament, and Galilee, and Coldheart Canyon. The first in his most ambitious project to date -- the Abarat series -- was published in October 2002, to resounding critical acclaim, and is currently published in 42 languages. A five-volume series, Abarat will eventually be a million-word journey into the fantastical with over one thousand oil paintings by the author. Next on the Abarat horizon is Abarat III: Absolute Midnight, waiting to delight readers across the world in 2010.

As much a visualist as a wordsmith, Barker frequently turns to the canvas to fuel his imagination. He has had hugely successful exhibitions across America, and his neo-expressionist paintings have been showcased in three large format books: Clive Barker, Illustrator, volumes I & II, and Visions of Heaven and Hell.

What gives Barker's work its strength bringing audiences across the world back to his alchemical cosmos over and over again is his passion: for colour, for words, for life; and his belief in the collective unconscious, its power to inspire, terrify and ultimately heal.

Copyright Registry Benefits ASMP Members

The Copyright Registry will provide free upgraded participation in the registry for members in good standing of the The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP).

ASMP members can use The Copyright Registry at C-Registry.us to display their contact information, to link each image to its official registration at the U.S. Copyright Office, and to connect potential licensors to the e-commerce or licensing process of the photographer or their agent for each image. The registry also locates online uses of duplicates of each photographer’s images.

With a single click of a browser bookmark, The Copyright Registry enables users to find the copyright owner of images and other content from any web site, regardless of language. This is useful for publishers and other users who want to do a reasonable search for the copyright owner of content. The Copyright Registry reduces the risk that a photograph might be mistaken for an “orphaned work”, which is a creative work for which the creator or copyright holder might be unknown or known, but who cannot be located. By using The Copyright Registry to find owners of images that are thought to be orphaned, users create sales leads for creators and owners who have identified their copyright claim in The Copyright Registry.

At C-Registry.us, photographers can also add the Veripixel copyright notice to their images, a visible mark that announces that an image is copyrighted and enables a link to information in The Copyright Registry.

This free upgrade for ASMP members, which includes the ability to prevent changes by locking records and to access bulk user functions, can be initiated from within the members only login area at ASMP.org. Founded in 1944, ASMP is the leader in promoting photographers' rights, providing education in better business practices, producing business publications for photographers, and helping to connect purchasers with professional photographers. ASMP has 39 chapters across the country and more than 7,000 members, including many of the world's foremost photographers.

The Copyright Registry launched its beta web site in 2008 in anticipation of passage of an Orphan Works Act by the U.S. Congress. The registry provides easy public access to ownership claims by creators and rights holders of specific creative works, as well as general advocacy and education on the importance of copyright.

Destination Halifax Launches Halifax, Nova Scotia Photo Contest

A perfect moment in Halifax, Nova Scotia, captured in a photograph, could lead to many more photo opportunities -- in the form of a $2,500 vacation package prize. From HH the fall colours in Point Pleasant Park to romantic sail around the Halifax Harbour or an outdoor concert on Citadel Hill, perfect moments abound in this beautiful destination.

Destination Halifax launched its year-long Perfect Day Photo Contest, and the grand prize is a fully-customized and personalized Halifax vacation package. Favourite snapshots representing a special day or moment in Halifax may be uploaded to the contest website. Finalists will be chosen monthly by a panel of judges, with first, second and third prizes awarded quarterly. The grand prize will be drawn on March 31, 2010. Photos may be submitted at http://aperfectday.destinationhalifax.com/.

The Perfect Day Photo Contest launch coincides with Destination Halifax's incorporation of social media tools into its marketing mix, starting with a Facebook page for Halifax. The Halifax facebook page allows fans to post their own videos and photos, and will include links to the Perfect Day Photo Contest as well as information on quarterly winners and new finalist photos. The winning photos will be featured on the Facebook page, and the Destination Halifax website as e-postcards.

For more information about Destination Halifax or the Perfect Day Photo Contest, visit http://www.destinationhalifax.com/.

UNCCD International Photo Contest Seeking Entries

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCDD) has issued a call for photographers to participate in the Second UNCCD International Photo Contest – part of a global effort to raise awareness about the issues of land degradation and desertification in drylands, and their social consequences.

“Without proper action, both in developing and developed countries, some 50 million people could be displaced by desertification and land degradation within the next 10 years,” UNCCD Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja warned at an international conference on these issues late last year.

UNCCD works with other UN agencies, scientists, non-governmental organizations, civil society and local communities – as well as the governments of the 193 parties to the Convention – to prevent and reverse the encroachment of deserts in once-fertile regions, and to mitigate the effects of drought.

Contest rules and guidelines

To highlight the urgent need for action, UNCCD’s photo contest seeks images that depict the efforts of people conserving soil, land or water in drylands, which cover some 40 percent of the world’s land surface and in which nearly 2 billion people live. Photos can also illustrate the relationship between affected communities and ecosystems in these areas.

The contest jury includes, among others, Mali’s Minister for the Promotion of Women, Youth and Family, Maïga Sina Damba; world-renowned photographer Michael Martin; National Geographic Germany editor Jürgen Nakoff; and French environmentalist Nicolas Hulot.

The first-prize winner will receive a prize of 1,500 euros and will be invited to participate in an award ceremony during the UNCCD’s Convention of the Parties, to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in late September. The second- and third-prize winning contestants will receive 1,000 and 500 euros, respectively.

Photos should be submitted by e-mail by 17 June 2009, the World Day to Combat Desertification. Click here for complete contest rules and submission guidelines.

Renowned Photographer to Conduct Free Wedding Photography Webinar

Bogen Imaging, a leading distributor of top quality photographic support products and accessories in North America, announces a free webinar titled "Fashionable Wedding Photography: Roundtable with Claudio Basso." 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, April 17th. Seasoned fashion photographer Claudio Basso and David Fisher, Bogen Imaging's Metz and Gossen Product Manager, will discuss new techniques and what photographers need to know when it comes to capturing stunning and fashionable wedding photographs.

Internationally renowned in the fashion-photography industry, Claudio Basso's work has appeared in magazines including American and Italian Vogue, New York Woman, French Elle, Vanity, and Grazia. Basso's remarkable images have also been featured in high-fashion catalogues, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Bonwitt Teller. With over 20 years of experience, Basso currently shares his talents and knowledge with others as the primary trainer for Renovance.tv (http://www.Renovance.tv).

Topics for Discussion Include:
-- The importance of understanding the concept of fashion and how it is
created

-- Making the most of one's environment

-- Avoiding the "cheesy" image

-- What is "Fashion Flair" and how to successfully add that style to your
photography

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 Metz 45 CL-4 Digital Handle Mount Flashes, each valued at $474. 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 http://www.bogencafe.us/.

Adobe Announces Free Lightroom and Photoshop CS4 eSeminars for Professional Photographers

Adobe has announced a series of free online seminars for professional photographers who want to learn more about Adobe Lightroom 2 and Photoshop® CS4. In these eSeminars you learn from Adobe software experts how to use Lightroom to create amazing results from every shoot, the advantages and new features found in Photoshop® CS4 and how they can significantly enhance productivity, and how using the two applications together for the ultimate in flexibility.

Getting started with Adobe® Photoshop Lightroom® 2

Thursday, April 9, 2009 10:00 A.M. PT
Thursday, May 7, 2009 10:00 A.M. PT
Learn more ways to pursue your passion for Photography with Lightroom 2 software. In this demonstration you’ll how to use Lightroom to create amazing results from every shot and also import, manage and share your photographs using a simple, intuitive and yet powerful tool

Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 for photography

Thursday, April 23, 2009 10:00 A.M. PT
Learn about the top 10 NEW features relevant to Photographers in Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 software. This demonstration will highlight the more intuitive user experience, greater editing freedom, and significant productivity enhancements included in Photoshop® CS4 that help you achieve desired effects more efficiently.

Adobe Photoshop CS4 + Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 – The pro photo solution

Thursday, May 14, 2009 10:00 A.M. PT
Learn how Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom® 2 software work together so you can efficiently manage thousands of images. In this session discover how using Lightroom 2 for developing images, together with Adobe Photoshop CS4 for retouching, provide digital photographers with the complete and essential photography software toolkit. Adobe’s product experts will showcase a complete software solution for importing, processing, managing, and showcasing your images, as well as pixel-level editing and compositing. Register now.

This series is designed for professional photographers and photography enthusiasts.

What Do You Need to Participate?
Online live seminars are scheduled events simulcast over the web via Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro. You'll need a computer with a browser, Adobe Flash player and Internet connection. Voice-Over IP will broadcast over your computer if you have audio. Alternatively, audio is available via telephone. Access details will be provided once you register.

To register you need your Adobe.com membership login and password. If you need to create a membership, or do not remember your login and password, please go to the Adobe.com membership page.

Freelance Photography - Making Your Hobby Pay by Steve L Thompson

Freelance photography is an exciting way to make a living. Are you passionate about photography? Do you take your camera everywhere you go and never miss an opportunity to take a picture? Are you proud of your photographs?

If the answer is yes, and you possess some skill at camera work , then you probably have what it takes to do well in freelance photography .

Many people successfully turn their hobby into a thriving full time business, or simply make a lot of extra cash doing something they would be doing anyway!

Photography is a good example of this, and if it is your hobby and passion, then there are numerous opportunities out there for you to pursue. If you have the motivation, this is an area that has plenty of room for new talent.

From the very start of photography, people have always loved pictures, and almost any occasion has been an opportunity for a photographer to earn some extra money .

These days, cameras are so user friendly, you don't even have to be an expert, just able to read and follow directions. Of course, having some basic knowledge about composition, depth of field, aperture settings and shutter speeds etc, is always going to give you the edge over someone using a "point-and-shoot" camera. But this information is easily gained, and once learnt can be practiced without cost, thanks to the digital revolution.

But running a successful photography business is not just about taking pictures. You will also have to have other skills such as marketing, promotion, advertising, accountancy and possibly web design ! Again, these are all things that can be easily learnt at evening classes. Or maybe you have a friend or family member who could take on these jobs, while you concentrate on taking stunning photographs.

Established photographers in your area could have expensive studios and staff to finance. Chances are, you already own most of the equipment needed to start, and by keeping your overheads low, you can pass those savings on and still produce the quality images your customers will love.

Whether it's weddings, portraits, stock shots, greeting cards, newspapers, magazines or some other form of photography, the opportunities are endless for the person willing to have a go. You may even find a certain type of photography that you enjoy best, and stick to it almost exclusively.

Photography is here to stay, and the demand is growing - even during these tougher financial times.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steve Thompson is a professional writer/photographer living in the heart of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon. He contributes to leading UK agencies, magazines and local businesses, as well as running a successful website http://www.focus-on-dartmoor-in-devon.com/Photography-basics.html

Photographer Turns Pixels into Nickels

Jim DeLillo a long time freelance photographer has turned to micro-payment stock photography to supplement his income. A fulltime Project Manager in the medical devices industry, DeLillo regularly uploads photos to iStockphoto.com . Each photo is inspected and if approved, is posted to his portfolio. There, the photos may be searched by keyword and if one of DeLillo's photos matches the need of a designer, it is downloaded for a few dollars. DeLillo gets a percentage of the sale.

While this may not sound like much, since 2004 DeLillo has uploaded over 1100 photos that have been downloaded nearly 10,000 times. DeLillo has chosen to be exclusive to iStock, upping his royalty percentage slightly.

To contribute to iStock you only need a camera and some basic knowledge of digital photography. Each contributor is required to pass a short quiz on digital photo quality. To be accepted, the photographer must submit a sample of three photos that undergo scrutiny by the inspectors. Approval does not guarantee that photos will be accepted, approved or for that matter, downloaded. The scrutiny continues, as every uploaded photo must meet strict standards.

"The real trick isn't producing pretty pictures, but pictures that sell...pictures that meet the needs of designers." says DeLillo "To that end, I look for stock situations in everyday life, and if I can't find it, I resort to setting up table-top studio shots, or asking friends, relatives, and aspiring models to pose." he continued.

Contributing photographers to iStock can make a supplemental part-time income, like DeLillo, or reach six-figures in a dedicated full-time, very competitive profession.

About Jim DeLillo
Jim DeLillo is a photographer that is an active, exclusive member of iStock.com, the fastest growing micro-stock company, owned by Getty images. His 20 years of experience includes international publications including Woman's World Magazine and many other daily, weekly, and monthly publications. His photojournalist, reality based, eclectic style provides a refreshing break from the stiffly posed studio shots.

For more information, visit Jim DeLillo Portfolio on iStockphoto.com

3 Ways to Create Content Easily & Quickly For Your Photography Blog by Rodney Washington

You can hire a freelance writer to create the articles for you, try using a service like elance.com or guru.com to locate freelance writers that specialize in your subject matter.

1# Speak Your Articles:

Articles no longer have to be written, today, they can be spoken. Basically all you need to do is draft an outline of your article, speak in terms of bullet points that you wish to highlight and record yourself "speaking" your article.

You can use a service like AudioAcrobat.com that will allow you to record your voice for up to two hours. It's as simple as creating a voice mail message and the best thing it requires no more than a phone line and a message.

After your call is completed the service will email you a copy of the recording that you can then download and post it directly to your blog.

If you want a written transcript of your voice recording you can use a transcription service like eScriptionist.com. Just send your MP3 file that Audio Acrobat provides you and they'll produce a written transcript for about a $1.50 per minute.

So for example for a 15-minute conversation a transcription will cost you about $23 dollars. Now you have an audio recording and a written transcript for your blog visitors. Now you have a tangible product.

2# Video & Audio Content On The Fly:

For example, if you're a wedding photographer you could attend a bridal trade show. There you could interview a wedding gown designer, florist or cake decorator, wedding invitation designer for example, (be sure to ask permission first) record the interviews using a simple pocket video recorder.

(I recommend the Flip Video Mino Camcorder you can pick up one for under $200 through Amazon) or you can bring along a simple digital pocket voice recorder to conduct your interview. You can post then post these interviews directly to your blog.

Video Client Testimonials - if your face-to-face with your client ask them if you can conduct a quick & informal in person interview (testimonials are one of the best forms of promotion) again all you need is an inexpensive video recorder and an interested interviewee.

Audio Client Testimonials - if can't do a face-to-face interview you can ask for audio testimonials. All they need to do is to dial into your Audio Acrobat account and leave a personal message. You can then post the MP3 file to your blog.

3 # Create a slideshow montage of your images set to music

Video style montages create an ambience or mood for your prospects; let prospects see what you're capable of doing for them, think of 'visual storytelling'. A video montage can be put together with a video editing software like iMovie or it's equivalent for the PC platform -or- you can hire a professional video editor to do it for you.

Want another quick tip that will help you build your subscriber list fast?

Ask your blog visitors to register for your e-mail newsletter in exchange for a special MP3 recording and transcript. For example if you're a wedding photographer, you could combine your interviews together into a digital product that they can download. You should create a title for the product and give it away or offer it for sell.

If you use (and you should) a mailing list service just add an email subscriber form to your blog and invite visitors to sign up for list.

Just make sure that the recording is valuable and relevant to the needs of your readers. If the content you provide is useful they will gladly give you their email address in exchange for it.

As a bonus you now have permission-based system to contact your prospects about your offerings over and over again.

Your goal is to make your blog a one-stop shop for current news and information that you know prospects will need and appreciate.

And now I'd like to invite you to get instant access to my free 45 minute audio course and special report 5 Secrets To Running A Successful Photography Business That They Didn't Teach You In School when you visit http://photo-marketing-mentor.com/free You'll receive tips, tools, techniques and strategies to help you either get your photography business off the ground -or- increase your existing business by opening new markets today!