Photography Conference Stresses Need for Both Artistry and Profitability

Can I stay true to my artistic spirit and make money, too? That question has always bedeviled professional photographers and other creative souls who want to earn a decent living doing something they love. But finding a satisfactory answer has become more urgent as the recession has deepened and droves of newcomers and part-time photographers have entered the photography business.

Many photography pros are likely to be ready for some fresh ideas and inspiration come January when they start analyzing their financial results for 2009. That’s when some other tough questions tend to crop up: How can I do better financially next year? What can I do to bring in more revenues?

iusa_logoThat’s why it’s encouraging to review the conference program planned for the Professional Photographers of America’s Imaging USA Conference, Jan. 10-12 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN.  Along with sessions focusing on technical proficiency and photographic artistry, the PPA conference organizers have lined up sessions that explain how to differentiate yourself in a crowded market, sell new types of photo products, and update your marketing efforts.  The titles of some sessions are self-explanatory. For example:

  • Standing Out from the Crowd-Guaranteed
  • Achieve Amazing Results Against the Odds
  • Facebook was Made for Photographers
  • The One-Two Punch: Rockin’ Images + Social Networking = Business Explosion
  • Take Your Studio to the Next Level
  • What It Takes to Make the Salary You Need: New PPA Financial Benchmark Survey
  • Stop Wasting Your Time: Manage Your Workflow
  • Creating the Red-Hot Wedding Studio

In a session entitled Standing in the Shallow End of the Pool and Looking Good, Parker J Pfister will suggest many ways to differentiate your studio, including new shooting styles, unique products, and sales techniques.

During a session entitled Making the Most of Your Talents, photographers Tina and Michael Timmons of The Portrait Gallery will discuss how to diversify your portrait business by photographing, manipulating, and selling customizable portraits as interior décor. As they point out in the course description: “Every home and business is an opportunity—each has a need for imagery to be part of their surroundings.”

In the class called A Cut Above, Julie Klaasmeyer will talk about custom wall art and ways to create a demand for products that are cut above your competition.

And in the workshop entitled Product Design: Plain, Simple, and Profitable, Allison and Jeff Rodgers will discuss how to present clients with photo product designs that work in their own personal spaces.

If you start to feel overwhelmed by all of the business and sales advice, you can attend creativity-inspiring sessions such as Where Have All the Artists Gone? and The Portrait As an Art Form.  As always, one of the very best ways to differentiate yourself is to shoot visibly superior images that make a lasting impression and emotional connection.    

Newcomers to the photography business may want to arrive at Imaging USA early to attend half-day, one-day, or two-day sessions on topics such as:

  • Photographic Essentials When Turning Pro
  • The Business of Photography
  • Business and Financial Management
  • Sales and Customer Service
  • Marketing and Promotions

Other sessions cover specialties such as baby and children’s portraiture, wedding photography, and sports photography. There will also be an outstanding exhibition of award-winning prints and an expo of new equipment, software, and services.

You can keep up with all of the plans for Imaging USA 2010 through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the RSS Feed from the Imaging USA website.

In the meantime, if you’d like some personalized advice on fresh ways to grow your photography business and differentiate yourself in a crowded market, call one of the helpful account specialists at LexJet at 800-453-9538. We have a lot of ideas, too!

All of the Imaging USA events will be held in the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, the largest non-gaming facility in the continental US.
All of the Imaging USA events will be held in the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, the largest non-gaming facility in the continental US.

Why Portrait Photographer Steven Kops Prints His Own Work

By Michael Clementi

When Steven Kops opened Main Street EFX Photography 13 years ago in Laurel, Montana, he didn’t think twice about sending all of his print work to a lab. That was simply standard business practice.

But three years ago, Kops decided to do most of his printing in his studio, taking advantage of some of the big advances that had been made in pro-model inkjet printers, software, and color management.

Steven Kops prints all of the images for his clients' wedding albums.
Steven Kops prints all of the images for his clients' wedding albums.

Today, he prints nearly everything in his studio, including a wide range of senior and family portraits, dance-team and sports posters, and photos for his client’s wedding albums. He even creates his clients’ wedding albums in-house, using the self-mount albums from General Products.  He backs up the quality of his work with the type of replacement guarantees that the large, consumer retail labs simply can’t match.

“I know that many owners of small studios are scared to think about jumping in and doing their own printing,” says Kops. “I was one of those people. I love taking photographs, but I’m not enthralled with color management. Like other small studio owners, I worried about who would be there to help me when something went wrong.” 

But he decided to take the plunge. Some of his customers had started grumbling about the quality of the prints they were getting from the professional lab that Main Street EFX was using.  So, when Jamie Walters at CJ Creative and Consulting called and promised she could set up a “drag-and-drop” inkjet-printing system for Main Street EFX Photography, Kops decided to listen to what she had to say.

After Kops bought an Epson Stylus Pro 4800 printer and ImagePrint RIP software from LexJet, Walters spent two days setting everything up for him. She not only set up the printer and installed the RIP, but also loaded all the profiles and layout templates for the print packages that Main Street EFX sells. Kops says it truly is a drag-and-drop system.

Kops hasn’t regretted the decision to print in-house for a minute: “The customer service at LexJet is awesome,” he says. “I’ve only had a couple of crashes over the past three years, but LexJet’s technical support staff quickly told me how fix the problem.”

Plus, Jamie Walters continues to be available when he needs help. “If I don’t want to color correct my own stuff, I let her do it,” says Kops. Because he uses the ImagePrint profiles supplied for LexJet materials he rarely has to reprint a job because of color issues. Kops particularly likes printing on LexJet’s Sunset Photo eSatin Paper 300g because its heavier weight and thickness provide a quality difference that customers can feel.

In-house printing not only gives Kops greater control over print quality and turnaround times, but it also allows him to be more creative in how he markets his work. He makes photo enlargements and canvas prints that he can either sell after a presentation or use as an incentive for customers to order higher-value print packages.

The ability to design and print custom posters helps Main St. EFX Photography attract new clients.
The ability to design and print custom posters helps Main St. EFX Photography attract new clients.

Recently, Kops bought a small, compact display system from LexJet. When he sets up a table to sell prints at sports events, he uses the display to show the other types of photography services he offers. So, parents who buy prints of their young athletes can immediately see that Kops shoots senior portraits and dance-team pictures as well.

When Kops first got into the business, there were far fewer photography studios in the Billings/Laurel area than there are today. But he says that the new competition has only “energized us to be more creative. We’re exploring all the time, to figure out what else we can do to make our clients excited about our work.” This challenge is made easier with in-house printing, a partnership with a great graphic designer, and a steady flow of marketing and new-product ideas from the account specialists at LexJet.

You can read more about Kops and Main Street EFX Photography in Vol. 4, No. 7 issue of LexJet’s In Focus newsletter, which is scheduled to mail July 9.  Click here to subscribe to In Focus.

In the meantime, if you’re interested in learning more about how to print more of your photos in your studio, call me or any of the other account specialists at LexJet at 888-873-7553. We’d be happy to help!

Portrait Project Looks at Homelessness, Hope, and Gratitude

By Rob Finkel

At LexJet, many  customers tell us about how they are using their photography and printing skills to support worthy causes in their communities.  Jim Spelman of Jim Spelman Studios recently told me about the Hope in Focus  project that he is working on to support Carpenter’s Place, an agency that serves the chronically homeless in his hometown of Rockford, IL. 

SpelmanIMG_7950 emailBetween now and November, Spelman will capture at least 1,000 portraits and stories from individuals from throughout the Rockford community. One of the goals is to “shatter stereotypes about the homeless” and inspire us all to feel more grateful for the things we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have.  The portraits and stories are being gathered along with videotaped interviews to produce a traveling exhibition that will help raise funds to support Carpenter’s Place.  

The mission of Carpenter’s Place is to provide tools for rebuilding lives. It is a safe daytime, drop-in center that aids chronically homeless people, many of whom suffer from mental illness, substance abuse, or learning and emotional disabilities. Instead of simply providing a meal or a bed for the night then sending the person back to the streets, Carpenter’s Place helps each “guest” develop and implement a comprehensive Life Recovery Plan.  Homeless visitors to  Carpenter’s Place can store their personal belongings, shower, make phone calls, receive, and wash their clothes. When they are ready to move into more stable housing, donated furniture is made available to them.  

Spelman has already shot some images of the people who come to Carpenter’s Place for help. But he is also shooting portraits of any Rockford-area resident who will answer four basic questions:

1.            What does Home mean to you?

2.            What are you grateful for?

3.            What brings you hope?

4.            Have you ever been homeless? If so, how long?

SpelmanIMG_7989 emailUltimately, the exhibition will be designed to make people think. It will not only convey some of the hardships of homelessness, but also the deep sense of gratitude people express when they receive everyday items that most of us take for granted (such as a pair of pants or basic toiletries). Executive Director Kay Larrick has observed that “The people who have the least seem to have the most gratitude.”

The Hope in Focus project just got underway a few weeks ago. But Spelman is already finding that people who don’t think they’ve been homeless, actually have been homeless at some point in their lives, even if only for a few days. 

In his photography business, Spelman specializes in shooting highly stylized beauty and fashion images for magazines. He also shoots fantasy/glamour sessions for high-school seniors.

For the Hope in Focus project, Spelman isn’t doing any cosmetic retouching. The portraits are each very detailed and very real. “I think there is such beauty in everyone’s individuality,” says Spelman.  

Although some people are initially startled to see unretouched photos these days, most are intrigued and amazed.

In addition to the shots taken at the Carpenter’s Place facility, Spelman will be shooting portraits in his studio, at the Rock River Valley YMCA, and at various art festivals and events throughout the summer.

 He isn’t the only creative professional working on the project. Brian Anderson of Cain & Company is developing a logo and PR materials. Videographer Andrew Reynolds of uchoosetv.com is shooting videos of several of the interviews and architect Joseph Zimmer is building a special walk-through house in which many of the portraits will be displayed. The Carpenter’s Place also has graphic designs and public-relations people involved.

The exhibition will open with a special event planned Nov. 4 in Jim’s spacious new studios. Representatives of the local news media will be invited, as well as the people featured in the portraits and the extensive network of volunteers and community leaders who support Carpenter’s Place.

SpelmanIMG_7954 emailSpelman plans to print all of the portraits himself using LexJet Sunset Photo papers and Water-Resistant Satin Cloth on his Epson Stylus Pro 9800. He has only been printing in-house for about six months but feels confident he can handle it.  

“I used to send everything to a lab,” says Spelman. “Labs are great, and they definitely have their place, but I love being able to print my work myself. In addition to having ultimate control over the image quality, the printer gives me the capacity to be more creative.”

Everyone who sits for a portrait and contributes comments to the project will receive a digital copy of the photo. Or, they can order large framed or unframed prints of their portraits, with 25% of the proceeds being donated to Carpenter’s Place.

“Right now there’s a lot of energy behind the Hope in Focus project,” says Spelman. He’s not entirely sure what direction the project will take by the time the exhibition opens in November.  He also plans to use some of the portraits in a book project he’s been working on for several years.

But one thing he does know is that many beneficiaries of the agency’s services are grateful to be participating. As Spelman observes, “They want their voices heard, because for many of them  Carpenter’s Place has helped save their lives.”

A Good Deal on Mall Advertising for Photographers

At LexJet, we believe out-of-home advertising is a cost-effective way for wedding and portrait photography studios to make themselves more visible to potential customers. The term out-of-home advertising is what used to be called outdoor advertising.

But now it refers to all of those ads you see as you walk down the street, commute to work, or attend special events. One reason out-of-home advertising works is because you can present your message to tens of thousands of people of all ages who may be hard to reach through fragmented channels such as the Internet, newspapers, magazines, and TV.   

Mall Advertising

A particularly good out-of-home advertising venue for portrait photographers is the local mall. Most malls have a mix of clothing stores frequented by mothers of young children and high schoolers or jewelry stores visited by newly engaged couples. These are just the sorts of people who tend to buy the most portraits. 

Some entrepreneurial photo-studio owners have developed their own connections for getting some of their images displayed in local malls. But if you haven’t had much luck with this approach (or prefer spending your time on other pursuits), the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) can help.