PhotoStock Source Book 2007

http://snipurl.com/photosource

Rohn Engh got my career in Stock Photography started. Eventually I ended up writing some books on where to sell your photos ... and Rohn and I became friends.

I personally think that Rohn's books are the best in the business ... and I know that Rohn is responsible for getting thousands of photographers into the business.

If you are in the stock photo business you know that there aren't many chances that come along for independent photographers to have a direct channel to powerful markets.

Which is why I want to recommend The PhotoSource BOOK 2007 photographers directory. This will be the seventh year for this directory, considered by many photobuyers to be one of the most useful in the business.

This directly is sent out to 3000 ACTIVE photo buyers who keep it on their desks all year round. It is a beautiful book printed on high quality stock and the photos are breath taking (which is WHY the photo buyers keep the book!).

The print directory also has an electronic partner, the PhotoSourceBANK. The PhotoSourceBOOK/PhotoSourceBANK combination gives photographers a chance to make their work accessible to photobuyers who then contact the photographers when their coverage matches the photo needed by the buyer. Each photographer can enter 3,000 keywords and phrases describing their photos. The directory is distributed free to 3,000 active top-paying photobuyers, which include the major publishing houses, Time-Life Books, National Geographic, specialty and regional publications, agencies, and more.

So what's happening here is Rohn's fire sale. For ONE week only you will be able to purchase a listing in the 2007 book, get listed in PhotoSource Bank and get a pile of add on bonuses.

I can't think of any better way to join the roster of well-known photographers who produce professional-quality images.

The Fire Sale is ONE week only, from Sept 12th to Sept 18th. After that the price goes up.


Here are some testimonials:

"I've known Rohn since meeting him at a seminar back
in the 90's and have been a fan of him and PhotoSource
ever since. As an award winning travel photographer, I
have photographed on all seven continents and have
specialized in China since 1976.

I also represent over a dozen Chinese photographers.
They were intrigued that Rohn's book, sellphotos.com,
was translated into Mandarin. I publicize my work
through the directory, the PhotoSourceBOOK, because it
reminds photobuyers that when they need pictures of
world travel, and particularly of Asia, my name should
be on their list on contributors. I believe in having
an ad annually in the PhotoSourceBOOK. It builds
recognition. And I believe in this business, they have
to remember you... - to call you."

- Dennis Cox, Photographer, Ann Arbor, MI.

http://snipurl.com/photosource

"So far I have made 10 sales and made several thousand
dollars as a direct result of being listed in the
PhotoSourceBOOK."
- Sam Pierson, Photographer, Houston, Texas

The PhotoSourceBOOK directory is an inexpensive way to get
year-round advertising. It's aimed right at the people who should
recognize your work: photobuyers at national and international
publications who are continually searching for specific-content
photographs for their publishing projects.

The time and opportunity has come for your name and your
photography to get the national circulation that it deserves.

BEST OF ALL GUARANTEE

Best of all: Rohn is so sure you are going to experience sales by
being in the PhotoSourceBOOK that he offers you a money-back
guarantee. Providing you enter your 600 photo-descriptive key words
and phrases into the PhotoSourceBOOK and your 3,000 keywords into
the electronic partner, the PhotoSourceBANK, Rohn will refund your
entire fee (you'll get to keep the bonuses) if you don't make at a
minimum the cost of the book.

http://snipurl.com/photosource

Good News from Smugmug!

Smugmug just sent an email telling me that their 14 day no-cost trial no longer requires a credit card. Basically you get 14 days to try out their system with NO strings attached.

This is good news to anyone who is even slightly suspicious of having to give out their credit card information in order to get something for free. I never understood why they wanted a credit card number backing up their freebie ... maybe they thought there would be less abuse of their system, or that anyone who gave their CC number would be more likely to purchase their service later.

I regularly see companies asking for $1.00 to $5.00 for their trials in order to keep the tire kickers (with no intention of purchasing) away. However I really hate giving out my Credit Card information when I'm not making a purchase, so I really understand that others feel the same way.

So ... if you've been hesitating feel free to go and kick the tires at Smugmug to your heart's content. Take the system out for a thorough test drive. You might just like it because it is ONE option that allows amateur+ and professional photogs to sell their stuff.

Start your FREE Trial

Selling Photo Prints

I know two photogs who sell prints at local, regional and national Christmas craft shows. One of them does shows back to back all through November and right up to Christmas ... and basically makes a big chunk of her annual income in those two months.

Throughout the REST of the year she spends a chunk of time applying to the shows [the BEST shows are juried], and then making sure her inventory is up to the challenge.

When I talked to her about how she got started she said "start small" there is an investment that is necessary for prints, mats, frames and in developing a good booth set-up. As she made money she reinvested it back into more shows and more inventory.


If you are interested in selling prints in this way ... you have to START NOW, in fact you may be too late for some of the bigger juried shows.

You will need to prepare your best samples, send them in to be juried and then work on having enough stock to sell.

Some of the juried shows give you a booth for free, but you pay a large (up to 50%) percentage of all sales to them. Most shows charge for the booth AND ask for a smaller percentage of sales.

I've heard some artisans complain about the commission the show takes, but look at it this way. THEY pay for the space and some of them provide booths, curtains, carpets and the like. And then they bring the customers to you via advertising, publicity, and with some shows ... their reputation.

Depending on where you live and how big your community is, there may be fall and Xmas fairs that are not juried ... you simply purchase booth space.

The important thing to get out of this is to ACT NOW ... get on the Internet, the phone and find out who does the shows, when and how you get in. If you wait till Oct or Nov it will be too late for this year Xmas buying frenzy.

ta ta
Melanie

Managing Customer Expectations

I just participated in an interesting forum in which a relatively new to the business photographer was venting about annoying customers who impatiently "want their stuff NOW."

Now I fully realize that sometimes customers ARE annoying. But I also realized many years ago that YOU are the one who MANAGES customer expectations.

If you tell people that they will get their pizza in 30 minutes ... then you'd better do that because they EXPECT IT. If you tell them their package will be delivered the next day. Then come hurricane or beach weather, you'd better get it there the next day becasue someone is expecting it.

If you don't tell your customers anything ... they will probably expect it sooner because this is a society of instant gratification.

YOU are the one who sets the expectations
1) on your website
2) in your first phone call
3) in your first face to face meeting
4) and as you see them out the door after their photo session.

I work (consult) with a portrait photographer who takes two weeks to get "anything" to his clients. They know that up front. He is BUSY. And yes, he could do it faster but chooses not to.

I work as a SEO consultant with small website owners. I tell them up front NOT to expect ANYTHING for the first six months. Then they are estatic when something happens sooner! If I told them that they would get results in 30 days and it took 32 ... they would be disappointed.

Manage your customer expectations and then EXCEED them.

If you work with the same clients again ... manage their expectations again ... tell them that LAST time was unusual. Then exceed their expectations again.


ta ta Melanie

Can You Make a Living as a Travel Writer?

The answer is YES ... and the topic is the focus of three articles written by Blair Howard. Blair is a travel writer and stock photographer. He has sold hundreds of articles, thousands of photos and has had 26 books books published.

The really FUNNY thing is that Blair tells me he is ultimately LAZY. Oh yeah! But he is serious and goes on to explain that unlike most writers who write an article and then sell it once or twice, he sells his articles dozens or more times.

So if you want to get a glimpse into his genius ... GO AND READ THE ARTICLES:
http://proofpositive.com/feature/travel-writing-pt1.htm


Oh and in case you are wondering that this has to do about selling your photos .... the majority of articles Blair sells are of the photo-essay type. This is the perfect way for photographers to get into the article market because very little writing is necessary.

Showcase Your BEST Work

I got an email from a photographer last week. I was totally flabergasted by his approach and what he said.

The jist of it was: Would I look at his website. Would I take into account that he was displaying second and third best photos on his site because he was afraid people were going to steal the "good stuff."

My question to him was. If you are showing your third rate photos (and they were) that is what people are going to think of you as ... a third rate photographer that is not worthy of their time.

No wonder he had no sales.

You HAVE to show your best work. This is what "brands" you as a photographer. This is how people will think of you. This is why people will HIRE you.

The big fear, of course is ... having your photos ripped off. And in this digital age that's easier than ever before. However, you still have to show your best stuff. No way around it. I have talked before about a low cost service that will check to see if your photos are being used without your permission. If you are worried about rip-offs then pay the small price for your own peace of mind.

What's that song? Hit me with your best shot!

Tips for More Photo Sales #1

Well this seems like a no brainer. So if it is, why aren't more photographers doing it?

Shoot images of subjects that are in demand.

Subjects that are constantly in high demand include "model released" shots of people interacting. This includes "lifesyle" photos, minorities and ethnic mixes, industrial and people working photos and anything high tech and currently in the news (with people).

People shots sell. Period.

How you get the shots willl depend not only on your photography skills, but your equiptment, assess to a studio, access to a variety of subjects and your financial resources. For example, can you utilize existing studio equipment to do "contained" portraits such as someone on a cell phone, playing games or using a blackberry? Do you have access to "good looking" models? Are they free or do you have to pay them. Can you afford to "stage" a day long photo shoot with clothing changes, props.

Don't panic ... you can still get lifestyle shots with your point and click ... on the beach. Good saleable photos!

Access to "models" is a matter of putting on your thinking cap. Do you have a friend who loves to jog? Arrange to meet him/her and catch the action. Take along several changes of clothing (bright colors, subdues colors). Then shoot with sales in mind. Leave plenty of room for captions or headers. Shoot verticals and horizontals.

Does your neighbor have kids? Shoot them in the backyard. Playing, having fun, not having fun. Be sure to have permission and to give prints to your neighbors in exchange for the all imporant "model release."

Get a friend to take you to work with her. Get permission of course. Shoot her at her computer, talking with co-workers. Doing whatever it is she does. And don't forget the model releases for everyone in the photos. Do your homework ahead of time. What are the buyers looking for? What are they buying. What shots are you seeing as the #1 sellers at the stock agencies? What shots are you seeing in your favorite magazines. THAT'S what's selling.

More Tips coming to this blog soon!

Melanie