Most art courses, including photography, will talk about the rules of composition at some stage. They are presented as scientific, historical facts and shortcuts to success. Later you will be told the rules are meant to be broken but you must learn them first. These rules are too often forced on to historical artworks as … Read more
Recently I was invited to speak with students at a photography college on the business of the profession. Here is some of what we discussed. Now vs “Then” How I started out and the way new photographers do today is very different – but only on the surface. Whilst I may have used mailers, the … Read more
Not in a bitter way but to hope you go onto great success. Success never seems to come easy but rather is built upon stepping stones of failed ventures. Many well known and not so famous entrepreneurs have a litany of ideas that did not succeed. But that did not stop them and they ultimately … Read more
This time of year new photography equipment is announced at the world’s largest photography expo, Photokina in Cologne Germany. Just like an Apple event, keen technology followers get excited and discuss the new gear. As a passionate photographer I too follow the reports. As a seasoned professional I also reflect on the key players in … Read more
For over 15 years these are some of the most common questions asked by clients looking for corporate headshots. How long does it take? Schedule 5 minutes per portrait; each person is in front of camera for 2-3 minutes. Set up (and pack down) takes 30 minutes. Where do we do the photography? The photography … Read more
Photography has many uses, more so now than at any other time. Closely linked to advances in technology the scope of how and what we photograph is rapidly expanding. Communication Visual media crosses many barriers: language, culture, literacy and age engaging a diverse audience. With only a quick glimpse an image can tell a story … Read more
I’m a long time user of Media Pro, a visual cataloguing application by Phase One. Starting as iView over 23 years ago it’s one of the longest running DAM apps of its type. It’s also one of the last standalone, single user digital asset management programs. Designed for creatives it’s used mostly by photographers. Like … Read more
The traditional path to professional photography started with a formal education at a brick and mortar college. Students could assist photographers during or after graduation for hands on practical experience before establishing their own businesses. Now, just as with photography itself, education has been disrupted by technology. Potential pro photographers can learn online through random … Read more
There are many aspects to finding a photographer. These may include, experience, location, availability, price and personality. Part of evaluating whether any creative is a good fit for your job involves looking at a portfolio of their work. But what if the work you’re presented with isn’t their own? Stock Photos Many businesses use stock … Read more
As a visual communicator I’m hypersensitive to images that have been badly Photoshopped. Here are some common mistakes in no particular order and how to avoid them. 1. Distorting An Image When Transforming It. A photo has a set aspect ratio and when rescaling it using a tool like Transform it’s easy to accidentally make … Read more