Reviews (3)

A Spell Binding Read
I got my hands on a copy of this book last night, and found it addictive. I noticed the raves from presidents of NPPA, ASMP, and APA on the back cover, and was impressed. Reading it last night, the book met, if not exceeded, the expections set by such prestigious reviewers. It was very real world, with tons of examples of contracts, negotiation tactics (as the author negotiated assignments and stock sales you see the back and forth via emails), and advice on how to avoid the many pitfalls we face as photographers today. I am putting to use many of his suggestions and recommendations starting tommorrow! A definite MUST HAVE book!

A must Read
This should be the book that every photographer should keep on his desk for guidence for all there photographic business.

Looking Forward to an Excellent Book
I have been attending John Harrington's seminars in a variety of locations for the past 4 years. John's knowledge of the photography industry is second to none. In his seminars, John shares what used to be considered "trade secrets" by most other photographers. He captures what he's learned in nearly two decades of successful business and willingly shares it with photographers who can immediately apply to their own businesses what they've just learned.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Career/Job    3. Careers    4. Careers - General    5. Careers / Job Opportunities    6. Photography    7. Business & Economics / Careers    8. Photography & Photographs   

Reviews (11)

A top pick for aspiring wedding photographer and newcomers alike.
What elements differentiate wedding photography from all other types? It's the ability to capture emotion that makes or breaks the wedding photographer - that and etiquette and professional touches in presenting the shot - and these are what DIGITAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: CAPTURING BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS emphasizes. Color photo examples throughout compliments more technical directions on lens choices, settings, composition and art. A top pick for aspiring wedding photographer and newcomers alike.
Great book for beginner to advanced wedding photographers
Dear Glen,
Letter to the Author: The Most Well Rounded Book of its Kind!
Glen,
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Subjects:  1. Commercial    2. Commercial Photography    3. Photo Techniques    4. Photography    5. Sociology - Marriage & Family    6. Subjects & Themes - General    7. Techniques - Equipment    8. Photography / Equipment    9. Special kinds of photography   

Reviews (4)

Part of the equation
Pro photographers use a variety of methods of marketing their work, from advertising to word of mouth, with each method tailored to the particular type of work that the photographer wants to do.Freelance photojournalism and fine art photography and portrait sittings all require their own brand of selling.
great book
filled with tons of contacts this is definately needed for anyone looking for places to sell photographs... thanks!!
Great Resource...
... but a bit incestous. It references itself and has many items listing multiple times. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Careers    2. Commerce    3. Commercial    4. Commercial Photography    5. Marketing +    6. Photo Techniques    7. Photography    8. Reference    9. Media, information & communication industries    10. Photography & Photographs    11. Reference works   

Reviews (15)

The photo studio Bible
The most skillful and creative photographer=the most successful studio photographer(financially)? Wrong.This is THE book everyone who wants his/her own studio should read.Lilley tells how to operate a studio right.No hold back.Not at all.He tells you every aspect you'll run into and what you should do.
Excellento!!!
I have never bother myself to write review on any books that I read :( but this book impressed me so much that I feel it is not fair to be passive and not let the potential readers know how great is this book. I just love how organize and detail oriented is the author and this is one of the best professional book that I have ever read.
Don't Start a Business Without It
I bought this book based on the very positive reviews on Amazon.It's apparent why this book is rated so highly.The author exudes common sense.We all like to think we're common sensical people, but sometimes our opinions and the ideas we form keep us from seeing the entire picture.That's where this book comes in.The author relays his vast photography business experience in terms that we can easily comprehend.His style is very encouraging versus a lot of warnings.Anyone who is even in the thinking stages of starting a photography business - whether on a small scale or large - owes it to themselves to read this book first. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Commercial    3. Commercial photography    4. Marketing    5. Photo Techniques    6. Photography    7. Reference    8. Photographic equipment & techniques    9. Small businesses & self-employed   

Reviews (10)

Lots of filler and not enough insight
I'm very disappointed by the lack of content in this book. After breezing through it in one night I felt like there was so much more that can be covered. Most of the book were pictures the author has taken for portfolios he's build. The quality of pictures are ok at best. It would have been more useful if he used portraits from photographers to contrast to his own style. The reader had to take the authors word on what looks right and wrong. 1 or 2 more view points would have made a huge difference.
A nicely comprehensive guide!
Pegram does an eminently readable job in covering the modeling portfolio process ~ I own several books on the subject, and this volume has superseded them all to become my "go-to" reference.

Best for beginners
Model portfolio photography tends to be a seductive pursuit that attracts photographers who either lack the necessary experience, or shouldn't be doing it in the first place. Portfolios are properly shot by working fashion or product illustration photographers who understand the challenges.
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Subjects:  1. Careers    2. Modeling    3. Photo Techniques    4. Photography    5. Portraiture    6. Subjects & Themes - Fashion    7. Techniques - General    8. Photographs: portraits    9. Photography / Techniques   

Reviews (11)

good for beginners
I have studied "fine art" photography for a long time now. This book was very helpful to me as I've been timid about using my skills & knowledge to start a business. the book is encouraging and informative. For me it was perfect.

Helpful information for budding entrepreneurs
I have to agree, only partly, with some of the previous reviews that say the author is stating the obvious.It may be obvious to a seasoned, professional photographer who has been in business for years - but to someone just starting out, it's valuable information.She uses stories about mistakes she has made, learning the hard way, and gives advice on how to avoid making those same mistakes (e.g. the "use tax" flub and the tax penalties she paid for her ignorance). As she says, good photographers are not necessarily good business people.I think this book does a good job of giving prospective photography business owners a real, down-to-earth, inside look inside the life of a photographer who is in business for himself/herself.Her writing style is very enjoyable to read, too.

Very Helpful
I have found this book to be very helpful.I have learned a lot, and it has been enjoyable to read as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Careers    3. General    4. Marketing    5. Photo Techniques    6. Photography    7. Reference    8. Management & management techniques    9. Photography & Photographs   

Reviews (6)

Great Introduction
This is a great introduction to selling photography by one of the very best in the business. Jim Zuckerman is very diverse in his stock photography subject matter and that diversity shows through in the wide range of knowledge he shares in this book. The best coverage is on selling photography at art shows and advice on submitting article and calendar proposals to publishers. If you're specifically interested in stock agencies, I highly recommend Lee Frost's Photos That Sell (see my review on that book). Mr. Zuckerman's advice on stock libraries is a good introduction but Lee Frost devotes most of his book to the topic. The photography in the book is of course wonderful, but I would have liked to have seen the author share more information about which images were his best sellers, how many times each image has sold and where, and other details which Lee Frost shares in this book in many cases. However, this is very solid introduction to selling photography and I recommend it.

A little light..
A little dissapointed in this title. Photo's are of average quality and the information provided is no where near as good as other titles on this subject. When you see photography like this its hard to get inspired about the text provided also.

Great photos used to illustrate good advice
I found this book very informative.I don't really think its negative on digital in fact he writes with a pretty even hand on film and digital.My favorite part is the that not only does he show some photos that have sold at stock agencies, he goes onto to explain why they sold, and to compare to them to a similiar photo and explain why one sold and the other was rejected.It offers a lot of insight into the mind of stock photo buyers as well as some inside tips on getting in on the business. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Careers    3. Freelance photography    4. Marketing    5. Photo Essays    6. Photography    7. Techniques - General   

Reviews (9)

Good photo marketing and business book
If you've read Rohn Engh's previous book titled Sell and Re-Sell Your Photos, then you might want to skip SellPhotos.com.Approximately half of the information is straight out of Sell and Re-Sell Your Photos. Out of date
The book was decent and informative but out of date.It does give you a good idea about using the internet and setting up a web site to help sell your photos in the marketplace. SellPhotos.Com: Your Guide to Establishing a Successful Stoc
This book does have alot of good information in it about establishing an online stock photography business.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Business/Economics    3. Careers    4. Commercial    5. Commercial Photography    6. Marketing    7. Photography    8. Reference    9. Stock photography    10. Internet    11. Photography & Photographs   

Reviews (7)

Judging a Book by its Cover
Every serious photographer spends time trying to figure out how to make better photographs.But professional photographers also have to spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to market photos, because without sales there is no profession.One of the tools professional photographers use is a "book".A book is a portfolio of the photographer's pictures used to get clients to hire him or her.
Single vision, not single minded
As a professional photographer in the throes of a major repositioning effort, Selina's book provides valuable insight into how to carve out a single vision in 15 to 18 images, wrapped, packaged or otherwise presented in a way that supports that vision. The book doesn't pull any punches. It isn't for the on-the-fence photographer. If you want to win, you have to play to win. There is an investment in time, in money and in patience...none of which are particularly pleasant when faced with the uncertainty of a complex and ever-competitive market. My only disagreement with her - and the reason I rated the book 4 out of 5 stars - is because I feel that the biggest obstacle to getting an assignment is not knowing the right people. Salina thinks it's all about the work. I have found that my biggest assignments came from contacts in the industry. All of us who work on a national level are technically proficient, and most of us are bright, talented and driven. Yes, our styles cover the broadest spectrum imaginable, but what really seperates us is our contacts. With the onset of digital, photography as we once knew it is history. And that's the dirty little secret of this business...If it isn't perfect, we'll fix it in photoshop. My suggestion to anyone entering this field is to network like your life depended on it. Believe me, it's where the line in the sand is drawn.

Required reading
Regardless of whether you are a professional, student and/or considering a career in photography, this is one of the few books that you can learn from today and in the future. With more than 25 years as a consultant to professionals, Selina has the experience and vision to show photographers how a sellable portfolio can be created: from selecting a visual point of view image selection, editing images, sequencing & all the way to portfolio case selection. The marriage of: concepts, text and photos are presented logically and in a way that makes the information easy to understand and apply. If you really want to succede in today`s market, then this is the book you need to begin your journey. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Commercial    2. Commercial photography    3. Marketing    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photography    6. Reference    7. Advice on careers & achieving success    8. Photographic equipment & techniques    9. Sales & marketing   

Reviews (5)

Photographers!!!
Every photographer wanting to become pro should get this book! :)For a photography book....it lacks nice pretty pictures.It's mainly just plain text, but good info.

A Camel
Amongst professional photographers it's almost an axiom that they knew little about the business end of photography when they started taking pictures for a living.This book aims at remedying that condition.It has chapters on assignment and stock photography; pricing and estimating; negotiating fees and agreements; rights and value; formalizing agreements; copyright; electronic technology, business and marketing strategies; book publishing; and professional services.Unfortunately, like a camel, which is a horse built by a committee, this book varies widely in its usefulness for the business of photography.Among other reasons, this is because the chapters, and sometimes parts of chapters, are written by different authors, so that the work is not integrated and some important business areas are omitted.
Great Stuff!
For anyone in the business or especially getting into it, this is a must have book.Very valuable! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Commercial    3. Commercial photography    4. General    5. Photo Techniques    6. Photography    7. Reference    8. Photography & Photographs    9. Small businesses & self-employed   

Reviews (4)

Blinded by pre-conceived notions?
Engh has, apparently, made a good living in the field of "environmental portrature" -- people in their own natural surroundings.Unfortunately, when all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail; and it seems that Engh's advice is for his readers is that their only chance lies in adopting the exact same approach.
Great style, great information!
If all you want to do is make money -- lots of it -- from your photography, this book will help you a great deal.After all, there's more to photography than artsy stuff. Many photographers take photos for a living, and stock photography is one way to do that.Those who think they can sell landscapes, birds, scenics, and wildflowers probably woouldn't buy this book in any case.The rest of us, who want to make a decent living, can learn some valuable lessons herein.By the way, making money with your camera can lead to a great deal of joy and pleasure.

Anything for Money
Sometimes it's hard to write a review because the author's style is so grating that even though he has a lot of useful information, you dislike the book and wonder if you can be fair.After thinking about this book for some time, I think I can be fair.
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Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Commercial    3. Marketing    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photography    6. Reference    7. Stock photography    8. Photography & Photographs    9. Sales & marketing   

Reviews (9)

By far, my favorite
I am a portrait photographer and I pull this book out all the time to review lighting set ups and get inspiration. A definate must have for any photographer. I especially love that the book extensively covers one and two light set up and using foamcore bookends. You don't need a bazillion lights to create amazing images.

Beautiful photos, inspirational
I've bought three books from this series; the photos are great to inspire you and the lighting set-ups start from simple natural light and move to more complicated, multiple lights. Tells type of lighting used, camera, film, ISO, lens and f-stop and shows diagrams of the set-ups.
Buy This Book!
I do portrait photography (environmental and studio) and this is the first book of the many I've bought that directly addressed my needs for simple, creative lighting set-ups that can be done quickly -- either with available light or with one or two studio strobes with readily-available accessories.The images are very contemporary and the detailed instructions are easy-to-follow.I've bought a dozen lighting books that have cheesy, 80s photos and complicated set-ups; this one replaces all of them.Recommended for serious amateur and professional photographers, especially if you're using studio strobe lighting. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Commercial    2. Photo Techniques    3. Photography    4. Subjects & Themes - Portraits    5. Techniques - General    6. Techniques - Lighting    7. Photographic equipment & techniques    8. Photographs: portraits    9. Special kinds of photography   

Reviews (1)

Make money with your camera!
Anyone who wants to run a successful photographic enterprise should read this book from cover to cover, as it provides a wealth of tips and techniques that will help you keep costs under control, market your services, and grow your business.Whether you're selling posters, postcards, or portraits, you'll find sage advice in these pages.I wish I'd had this book five years ago. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Careers    3. Commercial photography    4. Economic Aspects Of Photography    5. Internet - World Wide Web    6. Internet marketing    7. Marketing    8. Photo Techniques    9. Photography    10. Reference    11. Techniques - Digital    12. Media, information & communication industries    13. Photography & Photographs   

Reviews (10)

Excellent advice, could use an update
Lee Frost is an extremely able photographer who also happens to be quite a practical businessman.In Photos That Sell, he shares a good deal of what he has learned about taking and marketing photos successfully.He begins by walking you through the main markets that are likely to be open to your work and then moves on to what types of shots you can best hope to sell.Helping to iilustrate all of this is a collection of hundreds of Mr. Frost's photos.The variety and quality of these photographs is worth the price of the book all by themselves.It's fairly impressive how deftly he shifts between portraiture, landscape, and still life photography.
Excellent book!
Very well written and contains valuble information for the budding freelance photographer.There's really no reason to second guess buying this book if you're looking for ways to market your work more effectively, well worth the price!

The BEST book on Stock Photography
I've read a lot of books on the stock photography industry and this book is by far the best. When I first got it a year ago I paid too much attention to the extraordinary photography and not enough to Lee's text. Recently, I went back and very carefully, slowly (one or two pages a day) studied Lee's advice. I've sold images myself to clients around the world and can tell you this book is what you need if you're interested in selling images. It's accurate, complete, and packed with tips that few others would be willing to share. I have and will continue to look back to this book for ideas in producing my own work. The author provides great advice across the range of stock subject matter as well as the various markets.
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Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Commercial    3. Commercial Photography    4. Freelance photography    5. Marketing    6. Photo Techniques    7. Photography    8. Techniques - General   

Reviews (1)

Well worth the money and the wait!!
Dan Heller has been sharing his insights and experience on his web site for some time. Now, this book has captured just that insight and experience in one, easy to read volume. For anyone who is thinking about making photography their livelihood or for amateurs who are interesting in what it takes to succeed, this book is a goldmine of information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Commercial    3. Digital techniques    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photography    6. Techniques - Digital    7. HOME REFERENCE - DECORATING TRD PB    8. Photographic equipment & techniques    9. Photography / Commercial    10. Special kinds of photography   

Subjects:  1. Commercial    2. Computer Graphics - Photoshop    3. Desktop Applications/General    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photography    6. Subjects & Themes - Portraits    7. Techniques - General    8. Photography & Photographs    9. Photography / Techniques   

Reviews (4)

A photo-specific business guide
Richard Weisgrau's Real Business Of Photography is copublished with the American Society of Media Photographers, draws on the author's decades of experience as a working photographer and photographer's advocate, and provides a candid assessment which debunks many popular myths of a photography business. A healthy dose of business savvy lends to a photo-specific business guide.
Excellent source of practical advice
I was really impressed with this book. I've read a quite few books on the business of photography lately, and along with Lou Jacob's "The Big Picture" I think this book should be essential reading for all commercial photographers.
Very useful tool!
This book has really set my wheels in motion for fine tuning my photography business approach. Though I've had a successful studio for 22 years, this book has so many good business ideas and details, I can really apply it directly to my operation. The deal negotiation analysis is fascinating, and based on real-life situations. Thanks for a great reference source!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Careers    2. Photo Techniques    3. Photography    4. Reference    5. Business & Management    6. Photography & Photographs   

Reviews (1)

Covering All the Bases...
Although my interest is mainly focused on wedding and portrait photoghraphy, the other chapters were informative. They explained how to deal with editorial, advertising and corporate clients, to name a few.Throughout the book the author gives helpful sources to follow up on,including questions and anwsers with experts at the end of every chapter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Careers    3. Commercial    4. Commercial Photography    5. Photo Techniques    6. Photography    7. Reference    8. Business & Management    9. Illustration & commercial art    10. Photographic equipment & techniques   

Reviews (3)

Essential Gear
Beginner,amateur or professional; "Photography-Focus on Profit" by Tom Zimberoff is a must have for all photographers. Tom provides a written road map that is invaluable to not just the individual, but to photographers as a whole. He guides you from the basics of starting out; continues through the do's and dont's on up to maintaining profitability in this tight market. AnUnbeatable Resource
I would consider this book required reading for anyone interested in ensuring their photography career is a profitable one! Focus On Profit is a sensible, easy read with a wealth of information about running a successful business. An essential, basic guide
Photography: Focus On Profit isn't just another beginner's how-to guide on taking or marketing pictures. Photography: Focus On Profit culls the industry's best practices, using software to put its lessons into practice. Photographers are given all the information needed to incorporate profitability into their efforts. Chapters provide specific guidelines geared to profitability, from buying equipment only when and as needed to generate an immediate payback, to defining a potential customer base. An essential, basic guide. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Careers    3. Commercial photography    4. Marketing    5. Photo Techniques    6. Photography    7. Reference    8. Photography & Photographs    9. Small businesses & self-employed   

Subjects:  1. Business methods    2. Business/Economics    3. Commercial    4. Crafts & Hobbies    5. Economic Aspects Of Photography    6. General    7. Hobbies/Crafts    8. Photography    9. Small Business Management    10. Crafts & Hobbies / General    11. Photography & Photographs    12. Small businesses & self-employed