Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Questions & Answers!
I'm going to make this a reference post that you can always be referred back to! So, please leave your burning questions in the comments link below and we'll do our best to give you answers! If we find that there are many similar questions, we may create an entire post around that question! Thanks again! Also, if you have an article or topic that you'd like to write about as a guest blogger, feel free to let us know by dropping us an email at photolovecat (at) gmail.com!
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43 comments:
Hi Anne,
thanks for this opportunity.
One thing I'd love to hear more about is your post processing. Maybe an example step by step to see what you do to your photos.
I've already found one earlier post: http://anneruthmann.blogspot.com/2006/12/holly-sam-engagement.html
where you show some before and after examples. Your photos always have this "pop" that makes them stand out. I know it's not only about PP but it certainly does add a lot to a picture, doesn't it.
Cheers, Christian.
How do I run a successful blog? I know how to get other photographers on my blog but how do I get the potential customer there?
I would also like to learn more about your workflow and post processing.
what kind of glass do you bring with you on a typical wedding day?
Yes, post processing info, please! How do you get that pop? I know some, but would like to know more.
These are great! Looks like we'll definitely do a post on workflow in the future! There's already a pretty lengthy post about what to blog in order to attract clients. Here's the link...
http://photolovecat.blogspot.com/2007/02/why-blog-making-most-of-your-blog.html
Kate, my glass collection can be found on my anneruthmann.blogspot.com blog in the left sidebar under "What's in my bag" Just click on the title to see everything in my bag.
Hi Anne!
Where can I find unique marketing materials like packaging, business cards, pre-printed CD's and CD cases...?
I just saw the b school blog post on presentation and I'm obsessed.
I'm not obsessed enough to hire a marketing company, but would like to know where I can get some cool stuff to help showcase my brand.
any suggestions/ideas about finding or creating "green" business cards and other marketing material? do you know of any vendors that service being green?
thanks!
kp
www.kellypowersphotography
Wow!!! I just came across this blog today. I think I've spent 3 or more hours going through it! Thank you so much!
I'm not sure if there are past posts that cover it, but could you go over contracts a bit and maybe give some examples?
I would also love to hear what you do for client proofing.
Thanks again for being such an amazing source for so many people.
Mike
I am with Chelo. I want to have a definitive style and brand throughout every part of the client's experience, from the first time we meet and the general information I give them, to the last time they recieve a product from me after the wedding.
I don't have the kind of business that would justify something like a marketing marketing company either, but I do want to stand out! A post about that woul be awesome.
ps- you shot my friend Kattie Hammond's (now Woods) wedding and I just had to say that her photographs turned out beautifully!
Hi Anne! My burning question is about your portfolio - I LOVE the music player at the bottom; it's exactly what I've been searching for for my own site. (I really dislike portfolios with music that you can't turn off/turn down/switch). Can you let us know where that is/how we can get it? Or who designed your site, so we can hire them? :)
Can you post your workflow please
You have a great style to your photos, I love your making technique
Hi Anne,
I'm new to the photography world ,and budding quite nicely. I work in the fitness industry and was wondering if you have apost on Model Releases... where would I find that informatino at?
Congratulations, Anne!
I was just watching Photoshopuser tv - www.photoshopusertv.com -
March 10 episode #124 - and was pleased to hear Dave Cross give you and Photo Lovecat a plug!
Thanks for giving so generously of your time and energy.
Dear Anne,
I've followed your development since Photo.net and I am very proud of your evolution.
Just wanted to ask you about a topic it may have not been asked before. It's about the business side.
Taxes and Depreciation.
I just found out that none of the tax preparers I hired in the last 3 years have accounted any depreciation expense (computers, lenses, cameras, lighting, etc.). I am at a loss, big time!!!
Can you share any information about this subject?
Best regards,
-Vladimir
Hi Ann,
I'm looking for a outsourcing company that provides good design, print and binding service.
Also, what should be the average price that I should pay for design and print per page?
Any referer or recommendation would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Charlie
Hello I love your site and would like to be a part of it my site is www.inspired4photographers.com lots of costumes!
Hi Anne,
I'm just starting to charge for my work and am trying to come up with packages for clients. (And pricing...ugh.)
I'm concerned about providing the images on a cd. I don't recall photographers giving away or even selling negatives in the old days. Do all clients expect to own all images on a CD? Doesn't that cut into the photographer's profits v/v providing the prints themselves?
Also, if the files are unedited, then they can print them out and your work looks shoddy. I don't know how to meet this need and make money and not feel that I'm giving away the farm.
Is there a middle ground?
Argh, I just posted a comment somewhere else asking if you were accepting topic ideas,and then saw the link to do just that! Doh!
Okay, I would love to hear more about starting up relationships with vendors. Everyone recommends doing so, but what exactly do you do? How do you approach them, especially if you are new and don't have a lot of samples to give out? I feel like wedding planners and related vendors must have photographers bugging them all the time. How do you differentiate yourself and come across as a useful resource for them and not a nuisance?
I cannot find information about using music on my website. So my question: How can I play a song on my website without getting into trouble? glad I found you!
Hi Anne!
Can you offer a good recommendation for online proofing for clients? One company has suddenly left a lot of photographers stranded and in need of a new cart option. I'd love to know what you use.
Thanks for all the great advice!
Best, Heather
I can't believe I didn't know about your blog until now! You have so many helpful tips :) I have been running my pictures and other info on my blog page for the past few months and am looking to create an actual website. I think something more formal will really help boost my business. Do you have any suggestions of who I could go through to help get this set up? I have checked and found that the domain name I want to use is available, but am not sure who to go through to actually get this set up. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks :)
Hi Anne!
I would love to hear about the start to finish process of your inquiries. What types of questions people ask you, how much info you feel is appropriate to have on your site vs. what you like to talk to them about in person, at what point you show them your price list, how you pursue leads, when and how you follow up with leads. I know most of this will be covered in Mystic but I would still love to hear about it!
Thanks!
Hi Anne,
I'm following advice found here on photolovecat and one of my New Years' resolutions is to get on the blogging train! I'm using wordpress.org and have a bludomain site. Although I have access to my cpanel, I don't see how to connect the blog to the site because I also wanted to make the blog the landing page as was suggested too, not the current splash page. So lost!
Jaylene, I'm going to get together with my husband (my in-house geek support for WordPress) and see if he can write up a tutorial for making the blog the front page on the site. He has done it before on Blu hosted sites, so I know it can be done!
Hi, I worked at newspapers for several years, and now shoot event and family photos. My contracts all contain a model release. I shot family photos for some friends with their babies (didn't get a signed contract, lesson now learned) There friends are now unsure about my use of their photos in self-promotion. I want to use their photos on my website and in ads that I place for my photo business in trade publications. If they protest, do I have to remove their photos since I do not have a model release from them. I know you aren't a lawyer, but I was just curious if you had a general idea or could point me to another web resource.... thanks!
No signed model release, no commercial use of identifiable people. That was easy!
Hi Christine: How can I get a twitter box on my blog? Thanks! Michelle
Hi Anne: In your emails that you have sent to me, I see that you have your information on the bottom of each email. How do you that? Thanks so much.
Hi Michelle! Twitter offers a feature where you can put a box (widget) on your blog - it is available at http://twitter.com/widgets - they provide code that you can copy and paste into your site. You can also use the RSS feed for a more stylized version that matches your blog, depending on what blog software you use. WordPress has several plugins that make doing this a breeze!
Can you do a tutorial on your workflow, your masking amounts, blah blah blah,,,, PLZ
Hi Anne,
I recently lost a wedding customer because I didn't have any affordable albums to offer them. Will you recommend your favorite low cost wedding album solution?
Also, what specific albums do you give away to your cake maker and other vendor/friends? Still looking for pleasing low cost alternatives.
Thanks so much,
Mark
MarkLovettPhotography.com
I just found this site and I love it! The best explanation of what to do to register a business that I have ever seen (fortunately for me I am in the same state, Anne.) I am thinking about transitioning from being solely an "on location" portrait photographer (no weddings for me) to having a small studio to complement this. I was wondering if anyone could write an entry about starting up their studio -- how did you know you were ready? What has hindsight told you about things you should have done? Thanks so much!
My burning question is in person ordering vs. online ordering and how to really do in person ordering successfully. Another part to that question is my biggest frustration. Clients who wait months before ordering. How to handle that.
I see a lot of marketing for wedding photographers, but what about portrait shooters? I own a small portrait business specializing in children, family, and senior portraits. The packages tend to be small but flexible that caters to folks minding the family budget. Any marketing advise for this kind of work?
Hi! I have been really interested in your most recent posting about what clients REALLY order in terms of posed pictures. Here is a related question -- I am explicit with my clients about my "photojournalistic" style when we first meet. All of my clients always say that that is what they want. However, they then give me a list of posed post-ceremony shots that easily taken an hour or more and rarely leave a lot of time for a more artistic shoot with the bride and groom. How do you guys recommend negotiating that? Do you accept everything they ask for? Is there a gentle way to guide them to let them know that if, indeed, you do all of these pictures, there will not be a lot of room for other more artistic shots? THANKS!
I was just wondering if you have any suggestions for unique framing companys that have more of a natural/beachy selection. I know of Kendall Hartcraft, but want to provide something a little more boutique and a little less fussy traditional. Thanks!
I am so glad to have found you. Where have you been all my life. J/K
I am a photographer located in Daytona Beach Fl. I am wanting to know how to break into Destination weddings. Do, you feel doing wedding shows in metro areas work best. What is the best way to get your name out there in different states?
Thank You!
Hey there,
There seem to be a lot of photographers who offer online classes or seminars for the semi-professionals who want to kick their photography up a notch. I'd love a roundup on the goods ones. Basically, I'm talking about classes for people who know *something* about photography (that is, don't use their cameras on auto, know how to do some basic color correcting and lightening in photoshop) but want to have better control over the process.
Thanks!
Caroline
carolinekayephoto.blogspot.com
What are your thoughts about Advertising in the mall? I would have a wall display for the months of Oct. Nov and Dec. The wall display would have some of my work and contact info. Do you think that is a good form of advertising if I am not going to be there to speak to potential clients. It would kinda just be like having a billboard in the mall. I just wonder if people would look at it for 2 min walk go on with their shopping and walk away. Or would they really take down my number and remember to call after they done shopping. Any advice?
I recently photographed a wedding in which a guest with a semi-pro camera followed along uninvited to the formals & portrait session with the bride & groom. She stood close behind (so close that I bumped into her several times, even though I had asked that she back up), and was shooting the images that I set up over my shoulder. It caused additional problems with the formals because the bridal party didn't know which camera to look at, despite my best efforts at instructing them to look my way.
How can I politely tell a guest that I'd prefer if they didn't shoot formals alongside me? Is there a way to put this info in my contract without offending the client?
Any thoughts on which Nikon camera to buy (or wait for) to be able to mix still with video? I'm feeling major envy of those 5D Mark II users and their fusion pieces. Thank you Anne and Co for your expertise and time!
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