Commercial Photography Handbook

Targeting new and experienced commercial photographers alike, this invaluable guide explores the different aspects and challenges of succeeding in the industry. Approaching the subject systematically, the topics begin with determining what kind of commercial photography to pursue and how to get the training needed to carve out a niche in the market. Continuing to delve further, the topics expand to marketing techniques, negotiation skills, estimating and charging for work, maximizing profits while minimizing expenses, and ethical business behavior. Armed with this information, commercial photographers who are developing or expanding their businesses will know how to evolve and grow during periods of both prosperity and recession.

Creating mouth-watering food images requires more than just a love of food and access to a kitchen. With the popularity of food blogs and photography how-tos, it’s tempting to think that anyone can photograph food, but it’s another thing entirely to shoot for a tight ad layout with the pressure of your client watching over your shoulder. Commercial food photographer Teri Campbell has been called a “lighting master,” and in this beautifully illustrated book, he not only shares his detailed lighting set-ups and shooting techniques for a wide range of food and drink shots, but also offers candid advice on how to set up a studio, use the right equipment, market your work, find clients, bid on assignments, hire food and prop stylists, and communicate effectively with everyone on the set. Campbell shares his expertise on dozens of commercial assignments–from shooting beignets on location in New Orleans, to creating perfect ice tea pours, to photographing beans on real flames in his studio. Learn how he creates dynamic compositions, uses studio strobes, and arranges light diffusers, reflectors, fill cards, and mirrors, to create the perfect capture. Campbell also discusses his post-processing techniques in Adobe Camera Raw and Adobe Photoshop to create images that are irresistible. This guide for intermediate and advanced users provides the insider details to help you expand your photography skills or turn your passion for food and images into a professional career.

Annotation The most important task for a commercial photographer is to create images that sell - be it a service, a product, a political candidate or an organisation. This guide presents techniques and images from a choice collection of commercially successful photographers, all offering revelations and wisdom to inform readers of the techniques that have paved the way to their success. Each chapter focuses on the techniques and images of a single photographer, providing a workshop in their area of expertise.

With detailed, informative instructions for capturing personable and memorable yearbook photos, this reference presents step-by-step demonstrations on advertising, talking to clients, producing outstanding images, and finalizing a sale. Noting the delicate balance of pleasing parents and teens alike, this resource illustrates how to marry the latest fashion-oriented photography trends with the needs of the family member who is paying for the session. A wealth of lighting and posing techniques combine with tips for analyzing the subject, choosing which features to accent and which to downplay, and creating alluring, fashionable looks that the whole family can appreciate. Emphasizing the value in allowing seniors to personalize their photos by bringing the shoot to their home or a more meaningful location, the guide also includes suggestions for incorporating additional visual elements such as pets, musical instruments, team uniforms, best friends, or significant others.

If you are an aspiring or professional photographer looking to break into advertising, "Advertising Photography: A Straightforward Guide to a Complex Industry" will provide you with an honest and uncensored look at this highly competitive and lucrative business. While working in the advertising photography industry can be glamorous and financially rewarding, it can also be intimidating and difficult to break into, requiring networking savvy, financial know-how, and marketing and business skills on top of photographic talent. Advertising Photography strips away the glitz and presents a candid and complete picture with solid advice to newcomers. You'll learn how to get your business started, including writing a business strategy, successfully negotiating a bid, what to expect during the shoot, post production and delivery tips, and how to properly invoice your clients. The book explores several business management styles supported by the real-world experiences of veteran advertising photographers, illustrated with stunning full-color images of the work that got them where they are today. By examining the methods and strategies used by those who have already made it in the industry, you'll learn smart business practices to apply to your own work, giving you time to focus on the creative aspects of your craft, which is what will ultimately lead you to a successful advertising photography career. Learn from the experiences--good and bad--of those who have been there! -Practical how-to tips, information, and examples from each of the top genres -Learn how to get your business started, including writing a business strategy, licensing and copyright information, creating branding for websites and portfolios, insurance and legal issues, and more -Essential industry resources for estimating and invoicing software, professional organizations, marketing services, and creative consultants

Make Money Doing What You Love The Photographer's Market Guide to Building Your Photography Business, Second Edition is an all-in-one resource full of practical advice to successfully start or maintain your business. Experienced photographer, studio owner, and photography teacher Vik Orenstein provides you with the skills you need for every aspect of your photography career. Whether you're just starting out, are looking to revamp an existing business, or have been in the business for years, find out how to make the most of every photo you take. In this revised edition, you'll learn how to: • Harness the power of digital photography • Target your audience through online marketing • Find your niche (or shift to a new one) • Craft a solid business plan • Network professionally with other photographers • Showcase and price your work • Get support from accountants and lawyers • Create a strategic path for your business at every stage • And more! Orenstein and other photographers from a variety of specialties give you firsthand insight into the many facets of this evolving field. In addition to more than 100 color photos, you'll find the know-how and encouragement you need to successfully build your portfolio and your career.

Presenting ideas and commentary as well as photographs, this collection offers new photographers revelations and wisdom from professionals and informs them how to achieve commercial success. Commercial photographers create images that are designed to sell products, services, political candidates, organizations, corporations, and any other marketable commodity or idea, and their clients range from advertising agencies, manufacturers, retail stores, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. With a section focusing on each of these types of services, this reference provides a quick workshop on an area of expertise, furnishing those new to the business with a wide variety of information about each specialty. Tips for selecting the most effective equipment for each subgenre as well as technical information about each camera combine with business-savvy know-how—from marketing, bidding, budgeting, building referrals, managing the office, and more—making this a comprehensive reference for being both behind and in front of the lens.

Fully revised and updated to reflect current trends and changes in professional practice, this book features 34 fully reproducible forms (on a Mac and PC compatible CD-ROM) which photographers everywhere will find invaluable. Each form is accompanied by step-by-step instructions, advice, and much more.

Michael Freeman has a well-deserved reputation for effectively explaining the concepts behind digital picture-taking to a variety of audiences. Here, he turns his attention to the professionals and advanced hobbyists who are making the move from traditional to digital and want help mastering the technology and meeting their clients' new requirements. Freeman thoroughly answers the most frequently asked questions about the basics of digital capture, from cameras and computers to storage options, printers, and scanners. Photographers will learn the different file formats and how to save images for print or publishing on the web. They'll explore valuable software tools and basic image processing programs that fix common problems, and see how to improve pictures using an assortment of cropping and filtering techniques. The smart, detailed advice will give photographers confidence as they enter this new digital world.

The Focal Handbook of Commercial Photography is a contemporary and pragmatic guide to professional practice and career planning that will help both aspiring and established photographers make appropriate choices in the face on the ongoing changes in this industry. Successful photographers must possess, or at least appreciate, many skills: artist, entrepreneur, accountant, designer, carpenter, chemist, creative director, keyboard wizard, and futurist. They practice elements of a two-hundred year old technology while learning new technologies that are only minutes old. This handbook will help commercial photographers succeed by providing an overview of business and technical strategies together with information to help interpret and apply new developments in the field. Discussing such topics as managing your studio and your business, as well as assistants, equipment, lighting, shooting techniques and situations, darkrooms, marketing, and pricing, this handbook will offer many practical hints on making more money in less time with less effort.