Professional Photo Books.com

Building your brand is an important aspect for every business. It doesn’t matter if you sell clothes, sports equipment or your photography services; your brand is what most people remember you by. Your brand is what your photography business/studio stands for and acts as an assurance of what client’s can expect to get when they hire you.

Part of building your brand is having a compelling logo that people can easily recognize. Think the Nike swoosh; even if Nike isn’t written next to the symbol, people know what company it belongs too. Don’t expect to have the kind of national brand recognition as a brand like Starbucks or McDonalds, but there is no reason you can’t become a well-recognized photographer in your own community.

Your photography website is also essential in building your brand. The Internet is how most people are going to find you, view your work and reach out to connect with you. Every photographer should have a well-designed website that showcases their talent and skill level, as well as demonstrates their experience as a photographer. Being able to view your work from their own computer helps inspire confidence in potential clients and encourages them to call/email you for a face-to-face meeting.

Developing a brand is also about establishing connections. It’s entirely fair to ask former customers to recommend you to friends, or use them as references and include their reviews of your work on your site. It helps to have these relationships in place, because would-be clients are more likely to hire you if you can prove that you’ve done successful work for previous clients.

The key to building your brand as a photographer is to pick something and go after it. You can’t be everything to everyone. So decide what the main focus of your business is. Are you a wedding photographer? Do you want to be hired by all the local schools for yearbook portraits? Or are you looking to get your work in galleries? Once you determine what you want to known for, you can build your brand around it.

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Home is a very important thing to people. It’s where they come from, it help defines who they are, it where they return when times get rough. They don’t call it “hometown pride” for no reason. A lot of passion comes out when people talk about or defend where they come from. Whether they are from Manhattan or a small farming community in Iowa, everyone thinks their town has something that makes it extra special, sets it apart and gives them something to brag about. Why not use your skills as a photographer and create a professionally printed photo book celebrating your home town?

First off, a photo book of your home town is going to help generate a lot of buzz about your studio and your work. It gives you a common enough subject that everyone will be interested to talk about, see and share. Again, that hometown pride makes a person want to promote something that celebrates where they come from. The photo book can help get the word out about your studio and may be even attract a few new clients who are hunting for a photographer. It’s a great addendum to your regular portfolio.

Second, a professionally printed photo book centered on your hometown is something you can easily sell in local businesses, as well as from your studio. This is especially true if you live somewhere that gets a lot of tourists. Local boutiques, restaurants, historical sites and other businesses can promote your book as a souvenir and herald you as the resident photographer. This can introduce your work to a new audience and build your reputation and brand as a photographer.

Creating a photo book of your home town also gives you the chance to explore a familiar setting in new ways. When we live somewhere, we often overlook the little details that make it unique to those just passing through. Taking the time to create the images for a hometown celebration photo book helps you reconnect with where you are from and learn to appreciate the town’s personality.

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There is a lot more drama in a frame when one or multiple elements are actually doing something! It can be a lot more interesting for the viewer and a lot more fun to shoot as a photographer. But capturing objects in motion requires a certain level of awareness and preparedness you don’t always have to have if your object is sitting still and waiting for you.

Here are a few tips of getting the best action photography shots you can:

Practice your timing
Action photography is all about capturing a moment. Missing the game winning catch at a football game because you were slow on the uptake is no excuse. If you’re going to be shooting something like a professional sporting event, maybe go to a few local games to practice your timing. It will help you get an idea of what players do before a really spectacular action like a dive or slide. Noticing those little movements will help you get ready in time for the important shot.

Pick a new point of view
If it all possible, try to change the point of view you are shooting from. Getting up close and personal with the action can provide really interesting and engaging shots that most photographers don’t capture. If you’re photographing a car race, for example, try hanging out around the corners of the track. That’s usually where cars have to slow down and get pushed together, giving your more objects to focus on. Move around to get the action from different angles, heights or in different lighting situations to capture a range of photos.

Shutter Speed
If you want to freeze the action completely, use a faster shutter speed. If you want the image to be a little blurry, pick a slower shutter speed. Practicing will help you determine what shutter speeds you need to capture various objects in motion (person vs horse vs car, for instance)

Autofocus is your friend
Some photographers feel like using autofocus is a little bit like cheating, but sometimes action photography doesn’t provide you with an alternative. There just isn’t time to manually focus the shot.

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From a client’s perspective, one of the best parts of using a professional photographer is getting to sit down and sort through the images. Many clients spend a lot of time getting ready for a professional shoot, whether in your studio or at an event, and they are excited to see how your work turns out. They probably have an idea of what the photos will look like, and are hoping you captured the event the way they were expecting. Why not create a professionally printed photo book to organize your contact sheets from the shoot so your clients will be able to compare them side-by-side and have a good idea of what to expect from the final printed images.

Creating a professionally printed photo book to hold your client’s contact sheets is a great way to stay organized and simplify the decision process for your clients. They can compare images side-by-side, making it easier for them to pick their favorites. Since it is a printed photo book, your clients will have a better idea of what their images will look like when they choose to have them printed and framed. Sometimes looking at an image on a computer doesn’t correlate with how the image looks once it’s been printed. A professionally printed photo book removes any guessing.

Having printed contact sheets also makes it easier for you and your client to discuss editing the frames. They will be able to tell you exactly what they like and don’t like about each image, so you know what you need to go in and edit when the time comes. This eliminates miscommunication between you and your client, making them happier and your job a little easier.

If you decide to give your clients the photo book containing their contact sheets, you are inviting them to reach out to you if they want to print more of the photos, or if they need to hire a photographer. That photo book becomes a portable advertisement for your studio and reminds your clients (and their friends) of your skills.

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If you’re going outside of your studio, whether for a client’s destination wedding, an ad campaign shoot or just on your own personal vacation, it pays to be prepared. If you want to be fully ready to seize any and all opportunities, it’s worth doing a little research about the location to find out what you are getting yourself into. Researching your destination doesn’t take away from the “in-the-moment” mentality of the photo shoot; it might just give you a few ideas of what to keep your eyes peeled for.

Check out some guidebooks
While they may not include the pinnacles of artistic photography, guidebooks can give you an idea of what your destination is known for. Is there a historical landmark you can’t afford to miss? A hole-in-the-wall garden that grows award winning roses? Guidebooks are extremely thorough and packed with information that you can use when planning your shoot. For instance, if you’re travelling for a client’s wedding, they may help you select a few unique places to take the bridal party photos. This makes you look more prepared and professional the day of the event. Plus it is one less surprise for you.

Take a look at other photos
If you are going to a well-known destination, perusing popular online photo sharing sites like Flickr will let you know what the favored subjects are, and how they are usually photographed. If everyone has the same frame of the same gravestone at the same cemetery, maybe you should skip that one. Or at least know that you have to take a creative approach with your angle/lighting/framing to make the photo really stand out.

Read the local news
This can help give you a sense of the place you are going. What is important to the areas’ residents? Who or what are the big attractions when you’ll be visiting? You don’t have to subscribe to the local newspaper, but try searching online for recent news stories about the area. You never know what interesting tidbit you come across that could help create a more dynamic shoot.

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It’s hard to learn photography from a book. Reading how ISO and shutter speeds effect exposure is a far cry from having to do it yourself. Learning the basic skills of photography takes a lot of time and dedication. Becoming a professional requires even more commitment. Some books are all about the technical, others more about the photographer and his relationship with his camera and object. But everyone can find something useful; whether a technical tip or creative inspiration, when they browse through a great photography book.

Listed below are just a few titles if you are looking to do a little reading.

“On Photography” by Susan Sontag
“On Photography” is actually a collection of essays that Sontag wrote expressing her views on the evolving role of photography and the photographer in society. It won the National Book Critics’ Circle Award in 1977.

“The Negative” by Ansel Adams
“The Negative” is the second book in Adams’ Photography Series, preceded by “The Camera” and followed by “The Print.” Very much a technical guide, the book discuses various photographic techniques: the use of artificial and natural light, film and filters, creating the appropriate exposures and (now the less relevant) darkroom equipment and techniques.

“The Digital Photography Book” by Scott Kelby
“The Digital Photography Book” is written to be user-friendly, and attempts to avoid much of the jargon that confuses amateur photographers. With nearly 200 photographic tricks, Kelby presents the reader with a straight-forward how-to guide to taking great shots.

“Understanding Exposure” by Brian Peterson
“Understanding Exposure” is a step up from Kelby’s book, written for photographers (both serious amateur and professional) who already have a good grasp on photographic techniques, but are looking for ways to get more creative with their cameras. The book even accounts for the differences in shooting with a film or digital camera.

“The Art of Photography” by Bruce Barnbaum
Often described as the most “readable, understandable and complete textbook on photography,” “The Art of Photography” offer insights and knowledge for photographers of any skill level. Barnbaum takes the how-to guide a step further by actively discussing the philosophical, expressive, and creative aspects of photography, in addition to the technical.

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Everyone wants to be able to learn new things. Whether it be cake decorating, belly dancing or writing HTML code, just about every activity comes with a “How to” book for beginners. The “For Dummies” book series built their empire on teaching people everything from crocheting to personal finance to Dungeons and Dragons. A professionally printed photo book is a great way to create a unique and informative “How to” guide for some of your clients.

Just about every company could use the skills of a professional photographer to better market their products or services. Depending on the company, considering offering to help them create a “How to” book they can use as a promotional tool.

For instance, let’s say you’re hired by boutique that sells wedding gowns to photograph some of their inventory for the new spring catalogue. Why not suggest to the store owner they consider creating a “How to” guide for newly-engaged women who don’t know where to start when it comes to buying a dress. The “How to” photo book can include images of various dress styles, fabric choices and appropriate accessories. Professionally printed photo books also let you add text so each of the dresses comes with a little explanation and could incorporate cost, type of fabric used and what “season” the dress is best suited for.

You can even use the same images you shot for the catalogue to fill the photo book so you don’t have to do a re-shoot. The “How to Select a Wedding Dress” photo book doubles as promotional material for the boutique and is a unique add-on they can offer the women who come into the store. The high quality of a professionally printed “How to” photo book is sure to match up with the elegance, style and level of service of the boutique.

Being able to offer a unique service like helping create a “How to” photo book also makes your services that much more valuable. It can help you reach new clientele and expand your photography business.

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Photographers aren’t the only ones who can use a professionally printed photo book to help market their business. There are numerous industries that rely on visual examples to attract new clients and show off their talent. Consider offering your skills as photography to one of these other professionals who would benefit from having their work showcased in a photo book. This can help expand your clientele beyond the traditional wedding and portraiture shoots.

Chefs and Restaurants
Food is as much visual as it is visceral. After all, we select what we are going to eat based on how visually appealing it is. Chefs, restaurants and catering businesses are all vying to produce food that looks as good as it tastes. Consider reaching out to local eateries that are looking to attract more customers of their own with pictures that are sure to make the diner salivate. Pastry shops that specialize in cake decoration are always in need of professional photographers to capture their creations before they get carted off to eager wedding guests.

Interior Designers
Most interior designers can’t take their prospective clients to someone’s house or office to showcase their work. A professionally printed photo book filled with your images is a great way to help them build a portfolio that’s a little easier to share.

Hair and Makeup Artists
Unlike interior designers, hair and makeup stylists create things that don’t last for much longer than a day. A photo book allows them to capture and save their best work which helps demonstrate their skill level, style and technique.

Fashion Designers
It’s not exactly practical to carry around a suitcase full of clothes and a few mannequins whenever a fashion designer is looking to impress a prospective client. They can use your skills as a photographer to successfully light, frame and present their clothes so they always look stylish.

Models
Models are expected to carry a portfolio of their work, so why not help them create a professionally printed photo book so they can stand out? Photo books introduce them to designers, casting directors and agents in a unique and memorable way.

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Just about every photographer, whether seasoned professional or budding amateur, has some sort of online portfolio. It’s the easiest way for potential clients to view your work and get a sense of your skill level, style and experience as a photographer. But having a great online portfolio is more than just posting a bunch of pictures online and calling it a day. Your website should accurately reflect who you are as a photographer and you should treat it with as much care as you do when putting together a physical portfolio.

Here are few things to keep in mind when designing your website:

Flash isn’t always the best idea
Flash is great for presenting the actual photos, but don’t build your whole website on it. Some web and mobile browsers (like the iPhone) can’t view flash and you don’t want to limit who can and can’t see you work. Search engines like Google have hard time finding 100% flash sites as well, and you want to make sure you pop up when someone is searching for a photographer.

Make your contact information easy to find
If visitors have to dig through your site to find an email address or studio phone number to reach you, chances are they won’t bother. Just like your contact information is on all your business cards and included in your printed portfolio, you want it on your website. Maybe you even create a “Contact Me” form so potential clients can reach out to you without ever leaving your site.

Layout is important
Just like you carefully arrange the photos in your printed portfolio, you should also organize the photos on your website. You want your work to tell a story and put your best foot forward. You should also keep the overall website design simple so as to not distract or clash from your photography. Keep fonts and colors simple and elegant. The site is all about your photography, not what crazy design you have going on in the background.

Include a customer review section
Nothing helps inspire confidence like a “Hear What Past Clients Have to Say” section. Hearing from previous clients who were impressed and happy with your work goes a long way in convincing a visitor that you are the photographer for them.

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If you’ve been a photographer for long enough, chances are your sources of inspiration, level of skill and artistic style have evolved over the years. Much like painters and musicians, photographer often go through “periods” where they seem to focus the majority of their work on shooting in black and white, perfecting their landscape photography, playing with portraiture techniques, etc. Why not create a professionally printed photo book to document your evolution as photographer?

A photo book that shows your progression as photographer can be kept at home for a keepsake; a way to remember where you started, where you’ve ended up and everything that happened along the way. Maybe you even include a few old favorites that aren’t the best in terms of technical skill, but that you love nonetheless. You can include both personal and professional pictures that you’re especially proud of. This is a photo book about you! So you decide what you want to include and what images you want to show off.

You can also keep the printed photo book in your studio to showcase the wide-range of styles you’ve done over time. Perhaps a client comes in looking for a wedding photographer but notices that you’ve spent time developing your skills as a landscape photographer. It might lead to the sale of some of your other work, in addition to hiring you for their wedding. A photo book that demonstrates your level of comfort shooting in different styles and focusing on different subjects enhances your appeal as a photographer.

The best part of having a professionally printed photo book created is that they are completely customizable; from the size and number of pictures per page, to the layout and inclusion of text and borders. You get to be the designer, so this photo book will tell your story the way you want it to be told. The high quality of the materials used guarantees a finished product that successfully preserves and presents your work and is bound to be something you’ll be proud of.

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