Moving to New Site – ImageMaven.com

Hi Everyone,

This blog may become inactive very soon.

But that’s okay!

I am re-branding and reorganizing my business and my online presence. The best posts from this blog will be on the new and improved site as well.

Visit me now at imagemaven.com.

Facebook and photographers – an interview with Cathie Archbould

Archbould Photography Facebook Page

Recently I have noticed a new wave of small and large businesses getting Facebook pages. For many reasons I have resisted Facebook and so did my photography colleague Cathie Archbould . . .  until now. So, I asked Cathie a few questions about finally joining one of the most popular social networking sites, and here is the interview.

Marlene: Hi Cathie. Thanks for chatting with me today. I’m sure my students and other emerging photographers would love to hear some of your marketing ideas, especially as they relate to social networking, and Facebook in particular. I noticed that you have recently joined the ranks of Facebook with your Archbould Photography page. I know you waited a long time to do this. What made it the right time for you?

Cathie: I researched it pretty carefully and then looked at what photographers and what type of photographers were using it to promote their businesses. Although not new, Facebook has been around since 2004, I feel it is at least in the newer style of advertising and yet one more way to get the word out about myself and make my business stand out compared to others. I see it as just another advertising venue and it only costs the time of setting it up and keeping it up to date.

Marlene: What do you think are the main benefits for your photography business being on Facebook?

Cathie: I  think the main benefit is letting people/clients/friends know on a more regular basis where my assignments are taking me, showing the variety of work I do and how busy I am. So having another venue where I can show my work to more people, and that is done easily on Facebook as well as my blog. I have actually found uploading and writing a brief description of my images is easier to fit in to my schedule than changing my blog entries.

Marlene: I suppose Facebook is also more fun to use because it’s interactive so you can read comments from your fans too. Are there any drawbacks, besides the obvious time drain on your already busy schedule?

Cathie: Currently that is the only drawback I’m finding.

Marlene: Other than Facebook, what other social networking and marketing tools or methods do you use to promote your business? Are there any tried and true things that work for you?

Cathie: I try to do as much as I can using things like: Linked In, embedded galleries from my Photoshelter archive, my photo blog, commenting on other blogs, radio interviews, mail-outs, email blasts about new work. I’m running a few newspaper ads this spring as well, and direct emails to regular clients. This year I also had a calendar designed and printed locally as a free handout to clients this was very well received and will stick around for 12 months.

Marlene: I know that you did the photos for a soon-to-be-published cookbook called the Boreal Gourmet. Tell me the story of how it continues to spread through Facebook.

Cathie: I have a cabin in a very small northern BC town and my closest neighbor is a fan of my Facebook page and a very accomplished and well-connected painter internationally. He commented on the food photography I put up on Facebook. A friend of his in Chicago then looked at my work and did the same, followed by another in Atlanta, Georgia. They are now pre-ordering the cookbook! This from one comment from one person looking at my Archbould Photography page. I think this is the beauty of Facebook, as we all believe business comes from relationships, and you don’t know who your next client is going to be.

Marlene: That’s quite an amazing story, and it happened very soon after you started on Facebook! Hopefully this spins off to more work for you as well as the author, and I’m sure the publisher is pretty happy about it too. Will you be selling the book on your blog?

Cathie: I am going to look into that for sure. As it happens, I am finishing up the photos for another client’s book which I’ll be posting soon and we’ll see if that goes viral too.

Marlene: Well keep me posted on that! I’m sure you have attracted the attention of other book publishers and editors now too. So Cathie, do you have any final comments?

Cathie: You can shoot all the great images you want but unless people are seeing them and your name is getting out, they are not helping build your business, they are only paying the immediate bills. My goal is to keep current with advertising options including social media, and continue to build a bigger and better business. Since I live in a small region in northern Canada, Facebook allows me to do this much easier than a lot of the traditional self-promotion options.

The key to great photography is Composition

Composition is the strongest way of seeing - Edward Weston

You may be struggling with all the technical elements of digital photography like how to set up the camera and how to best post process your files. It can be very frustrating! To reduce the stress of taking perfect pictures, get back to basics.

Get out your camera and take 100 photos of anything at all!

• Put your camera on Program mode
• Set your camera to ISO 200 if you are outside and ISO 400+ if you are inside
• Use Auto White Balance for this exercise
• Don’t worry too much about exposure
• Just concentrate on taking your photographs with basic composition in mind

Use these compositional elements to start:

• Rule of thirds
• Simplicity
• Framing
• Angles
• Patterns
• Shapes

If you need a review or would like to see some samples of basic compositional elements, see this presentation. And remember, good composition gives immediate access and attention to your photographs.

While you are out and about taking your 100 photographs, try to notice the quality of the light.

• Is it soft with no shadows?
• Do the shadows have distinct edges to them?
• Is it bright?
• Does it come from one direction or many directions?
• How does the light affect your subject?

Have fun! If you get something interesting, send it to me for the Student Photo of the Week right here on the sidebar!

Creativity vs. technical proficiency

Unbounded

I teach photography from a technical perspective as I believe that once you understand the technical side of any art or craft, your creativity can emerge unbounded. That goes for many things like knitting to cooking to photography.

I also view photography from that same perspective. If a photo is technically off I tend to dismiss it. It’s just the way I’m wired. Plus I see hundreds of photos every day so I’m really saturated with imagery.

Same goes with writing. My writing isn’t perfect, and I may not always put commas in the right spots, or have perfect tenses, but I am a stickler for a few things:

There and their.

It’s and its.

We’re, were, and where.

The misuse of these words bugs me a lot!

Some things just jump out at me when they are wrong. I have no problem with slangy, highly stylized writing, in fact I really think it brings out people’s personalities and voice. However, I can’t stand it if people don’t even use a spell checker! Okay, back to the topic at hand.

But what if you are new to photography or another highly technical endeavor?

Where do you start? All those menus on your sDLR camera . . . How do you get the guts to show anyone your photos, let alone me, your teacher? How about that class critique at the end of the course? I know that my students are usually petrified by this public process, yet the most common question I get asked, is “Can you tell me what you think of my photos?“

A good place to start is by learning basic composition.

As Edward Weston said, “Good composition is the strongest way of seeing.” And here’s the kicker, it doesn’t matter what kind of camera you have or what settings you use to be able to produce good composition. Once you are relieved of that pressure you can start to work on your technical skills, and that’s where I come in. I have simple ways to teach complicated concepts to a diverse range of people with varying skill sets. At least that what’s my students and workshop clients tell me.

So start today by checking out my presentation on basic composition. Then, put your camera in “Program mode” and let your creative energy start to flow unbounded.

Finding your online voice, your style, your personality

This boy can't talk but he has a BIG voice!

The past few days I’ve worked like a madwoman to catch up on my coursework. Not the course I’m teaching, but the course I’m taking. As I have mentioned in other parts of this site, I’m building an Interactive Learning Environment (ILE) to teach photography (shameless plug). Anyhow, part of that work is researching other people’s sites and checking out their ILEs.

One thing I have noticed is that I’m hugely attracted to online businesses that have a relaxed, funky, modern, open and honest presentation and writing style.

More and more highly successful people are using their own quirky personality to sell themselves and their services. It’s so refreshing from the usual average typical safe protective voice that my corporate photography clients use. (Sorry guys! We expect you to be that way though.) Coming from a never-let-them-see-you-sweat background it has taken me a while to trust my inner voice and to share all for the public to see. I’m open like that when I teach, so why not be more like that on the Internet? When I teach at SAIT, my students don’t really have a choice on their instructors. But when they ask what other courses I teach, it says they want to learn from me because they connect with my personality and my deep passion about what I teach. By the way, I also go to great efforts to make my classes fun and interesting.

Learning from the example of others has given me great insight and inspiration into becoming who I am online. (I don’t want to be like them, but I love that they can be themselves.) It will also attract my ideal students into my photography courses and give me more opportunity for customized training. There are tons of people teaching photography online and in schools.

What separates me from other photography schools will have to be something really incredible to get their attention, and that my friends is ME!

I know what you’re thinking, “How self-centered is that?” Okay, I’m not naïve. I know that I’ll also need stellar content and a great site design to keep you coming back. My point here though, is to be yourself! That way there is no split personality thing going on. People either dig you or they don’t, and if they don’t maybe you shouldn’t be working with them in the first place. Stretch that a bit further to: People will either dig your photography or they won’t. Don’t sweat it if people don’t. As my mom always says, “Do what you love and the money will come.” (Okay, but why does it have to take so long, mom?)

Have a really you day!

p.s. Here is a list of some of the people I really like. A couple of them are even a bit weird.

Naomi – IttyBiz

Chris – The Art of Non-Comformity

Pace & Kyeli – Freak Revolutionists

Pamela – Big Brand System

There are many, many more people who inspire me, but these particular ones are under my lens this week.

Getting ready for the year ahead

Since it is a slow time of year for many people, it makes good sense to get organized, clean up your office, file important papers away, and back up your computer files so that you start off the new year fresh! I recommend backing up your files on a regular weekly basis, but like a weight-loss program, we start off with the best intentions, and somehow our enthusiasm fades. Like anything that is good for us, we often don’t follow best practices.

Why is that?

Time and procrastination are probably the top answers to this question. We skip our weekly office and computer clean up once, twice, or ten times and the pile builds up turning the usual 2 minute job into a massive project. Then we end up with a mountain of notes, magazines, junk mail, business cards, paper clips, receipts and what-not on our desk, plus our computer to back up, and we avoid it even more. There’s something about a clean desk that is inviting and productive looking. It’s easier to get down to work when our workspace is clear.

You’re probably wondering why I’m on this track. Well, this past week I started reading a book called Getting things done, by David Allen.

I really didn’t think I had the time to read another book, but since it was Christmas break, I took a couple of hours to do it anyway.

Wow, in the first 50 pages I learned several new tactics on how to break the cycle of things and projects sitting there waiting to get done. One of the best things I have put into use already is: Do the simple 2-minute tasks immediately as they come up, things like backing up your files. This advice works in all areas of your work and life. By the way Allen says that life and work are the same thing to him. I must agree. As a self-employed SOHO type the line between work and life is non-existent.

So as you start the new year, clean up your office, back up your computer files and start getting things done!

Happy New Year!

Photoshop for Photographers @ SAIT

This just in!

I’m teaching PHOT 222 – Photoshop for Photographers again at SAIT starting February 24 to March 31, on Wednesdays from 6-9pm. There are two classes running that night. Make sure you ask to get into my section, that is if you want to. Check out the SAIT Photography Certificate Program web site for more information.

The lure of the big box stores when buying photo equipment

Big box stores aren't always the cheapest

As you scramble through the stores for last minute Christmas shopping, beware of buying your photo equipment at big box stores. I have had a number of students who had problems with photo gear they bought at Future Shop, Costco, Best Buy, London Drugs, WalMart and the like. These aren’t dedicated photo retailers and they sell consumer-grade equipment for the most part. Typically they don’t know much about what they are selling, and they tell you what you want to hear. Some of the problems I have heard about are:

• up-selling people something they didn’t need like extra lenses and cheap UV filters
• selling crappy accessories like no name tripods that don’t fasten the camera properly – lots of complaints on this one
• malfunctioning cameras that no one knows how to deal with when you bring them back
• lousy and rushed service overall

In Calgary the prices at major photo retailers will usually be lower than the box stores without even asking.

A couple of years ago I was in the market for a high-end compact camera to take on vacations. It was advertised in the weekly flyers on sale for $499 to $549. When I got to the photo store I was thinking I’d have a closer look and if it was a lot more than $499, I’d turn around an buy it at the other place. To my delight, I was told the price was $482! Even less than the “on sale” prices I had seen in the flyers that morning. Plus, I got a whole load of extras thrown in for the store’s Christmas promotion. I didn’t even have to ask if they’d match the box store flyer price. The lesson I learned that day was to trust my photo retailer for the small as well as the large purchases.

Incidentally, my favourite photo retailers in Calgary are:

• Vistek
• The Camera Store

These retailers support the local photographic community by sponsoring student photo exhibits, trade events, and participating in city-wide photography festivals. And, they will give you a student discount if you ask, so don’t forget your ID.

When was the last time Future Shop organized a book signing for an up-and-coming local photographer?

Visit and support these stores often and get to know one or two sales reps a bit. The next time you are in the store they will remember you and you will have a wonderful time spending your money. It’s a lot easier to part with your money if you get a higher perceived value for it and have a learning experience while you’re at it.

So before you go loading up your credit cards at the nearest mall, head out to your local independent photo retailer and discover a whole new community of experts on cameras, lighting, printing and more. And get yourself a good tripod while you’re at it!

How to teach Photoshop to give students the best learning experience

I teach my students Adobe Camera Raw

I have just completed teaching a Photoshop for Photographers course at SAIT. It was a very short course at 6 weeks in duration. The students ranged from absolute beginners to the well-versed. I had to decide how give my students the best learning experience.

For this course I chose to focus on a Camera Raw work flow rather than on the usual exposure and colour correction methods most people teach. Raw files give the most flexibility, and the user interface of the Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) converter is much more intuitive than using Photoshop’s levels and curves. Plus, all the new retouching options right in the ACR converter are easy to master, with the benefit of post processing a finished usable file, ready for print, without having to do more work to it in Photoshop. In my own post processing work flow, this is often the case.

For this class, I also taught non-destructive work flow methods in Photoshop, which meant learning to use adjustment layers and masking right out of the gate. At first this was really hard for the students, but by the end of week 5, they saw the endless possibilities and flexibility this type of work flow provides.

Photoshop can be daunting. It has so many menus, options and tools to learn. In a 6-week course you can’t teach or learn it all, but you have to start somewhere. My goal in this course was to start my students off on the best path by giving them a good foundation in camera raw work flow.

How to Choose Between a Blog and a Web Site

It used to be that anyone starting a business felt they had to have a Web site. Having just completed a Dreamweaver Web design course, and revamped my corporate ImageMaven Web site, I’ve come to the conclusion that a blog is far simpler for the average person to set up. I believe that static Web sites are going the way of the dinosaur (even for photographers) and will probably be extinct soon, (if they aren’t already). Why do I feel this way?

Let’s Compare Blogs to Web Sites

• First off, the ability to create a blog yourself using pre-formatted and customizable templates keeps the control in your hands, not your Web developer’s. (I have nothing against Web developers, by the way.)
• You can also buy more unique custom blog templates from many providers and designers.
• You can set up a blog in less than an hour using one of the many free blogging systems currently available, such as WordPress, or Blogger. (This is a WordPress.com blog. My other blog is made using Blogger.)
• A blog is far simpler for the average person to set up. Plus, it costs far less money. You can get started for under $100.
• Even if you hired a designer or developer to set up your blog, you could likely do it for under $500. Add another $500 if you need a logo or custom header for your business.
• A good custom Web site will cost you upwards of $2000, though template systems using content management systems (CMS) are also available. One I have used extensively is CMSMS, but again, I needed a Web developer to set it up initially.
• It’s easy to make a CMS site look messy because no one can resist the temptation to change the fonts instead of sticking with the built in style sheet. I’m a real neatness freak and I don’t let anybody mess with the fonts on the CMS site I patrol.
• Web sites need regular updating and that means you need to pin down your designer/developer, plus it costs money too. If you use a CMS though, you can update the site yourself.
• Blogs can be updated easily in a diary format, keeping your people (clients, students, teachers) informed about new developments in your business and career.
• Blogs can also have static pages, like a typical Web site, that you can update yourself. (See my pages in the right hand sidebar.)
• Blogs can have photo galleries built into them, and can also link to Flickr galleries, which brings me to the next point about Web 2.0.
• Blogs are social media friendly (Web 2.0), so widgets and embedded files can be easily added that keep you connected to your people (clients, students, teachers).
• To add widgets to your Web site you need to get to the code level, which usually requires your Web developer/designer to be involved, unless you have web site code editing software (as you know, I use Dreamweaver)
• Whatever you choose, it’s probably good (but not totally necessary) to have a basic knowledge of HTML coding, and a little CSS wouldn’t hurt either.

Web sites used to be the standard marketing tool for every business venture. Nowadays, Web 2.0 and blogs are taking over. Perhaps it’s because these tools present an informal and more personal touch to a business. Even CEOs of large corporations are blogging. People feel more connected to you and your services if you blog. And we all want to connect.

If the thought of starting a blog still scares you, I can help you decide which system is best for your needs, help you set one up, or recommend a good designer to customize a template for you. One of my clients is 72 years old, so you don’t have to be a millenial to be a blogger.