Aspiring Photographer: Photography Advice and Inspiration

Interesting Food Photography Video

Twelve or so years ago when I still worked worked for America Online, back before I did photography, I worked in AOL's Food channel. As part of my job I got to take trips to some of our food content providers, including Better Homes & Gardens in DesMoines, and Kraft Foods. Both had recipe databases that we were talking to them about integrating into our larger recipe database. Part of my visit to each included a tour of their test kitchen and their photography studio, along with my favorite part, the prop room. I thought it was so cool how they each had a big room with nothing but props for the food stylists to use: plates, bowls, napkins, utensils, etc. in all sorts of different colors and patterns. I remember feeling so jealous of the food stylists and photographers, who had what looked to me to be the coolest jobs in the world.

What struck me the most was everything that was involved in shooting a photo of pizza. At Kraft Foods they were working on photos of DiGiorno pizza while I was there. I thought it was so cool how they perforated the slice of pizza so that when they pulled it up off the pan it had all these stretchy pieces of cheese, and how they had so many people working on just this one shoot. I remember coming back home and telling everyone who would listen about the pizza shoot and the prop room. I really think my exposure to that had something to do with inspiring me to pursue photography as a career. So I loved it when I came across this video of a Domino's pizza shoot this morning.

Starting a Baby & Child Photography Business: Collecting Sales Tax

New photographers -- Are you collecting sales tax from your photography clients? If not, I'd ask you to take one-and-a-half minutes to listen to my message about why you need to and how to go about doing so.

Listen up! Why you need to collect sales tax.

 

Photo Contest: PPA's Summer Shootout

If you are a member of PPA, here's a fun little summer contest you might want to enter. The great part is that it is quite affordable to enter. It's $5 to enter, and then $5/image up to 20 images max. There are even cash prizes awarded for  first, second and third places in 4 categories, and a grand prize of $1,000. I've entered 5 images so far and am going to dig around to see what else I might feel like entering.

• 3rd Place: $250
• 2nd Place: $500
• 1st Place: $750
• Grand Prize: $1,000

Here's one of my entries! One of the other nice things about this contest is that you can pay an additional $10 to have Master photographers critique your submission. This is a nice way to start to see if your image submissions are "merit-worthy" for further PPA competition.

So hop on over to http://www.ppa.com/competitions/summershootout and check it out for more information.

-- Mary Lynne

Mary Lynne's Summer 2010 Workshops: Audio Preview

Hi, for those of you who are considering attending one or more of my upcoming workshops I recorded a little 6-minute overview of the classes in case you're wanting just a little more information. You can listen to me here (just click on the grey button to listen!):

Summer 2010 workshops audio overview

And you can follow this link for the written overviews of the classes.

-- Mary Lynne Ashley

2010 - 2011 Photography Workshops Calendar | Professional Photography Training

I have long wanted to be able to find one single place I could go to find out if there happened to be a photography course that was interesting to me on a specific date. On the rare occasion when I have a break in my schedule I'd like to be able to pull up a calendar, check that date, and see what seminars might be going on. So I have finally sat down and created just that thing! I've spent hours pouring through various schedules, pulling out relevant classes, and posting them here:

2010 - 2011 Photography Workshops around the USA

You can pull up any workshop that is listed, and then follow the url that is posted inside that entry to learn more. The calendar is a work in progress. If you know of a quality upcoming photography workshop that I might have missed, please let me know and I will include it!

I also want to plug my own upcoming workshops, which I am holding here in Colorado Springs on July 30th - August 2nd, 2010. My focus is baby and child photography, and there are three separate workshops:

July 30th: Learn to Use Your Digital SLR to Photograph People with Natural Light

July 31st & August 1st: Starting and Growing a Business Photographing Babies & Children

August 2nd: Photographing Babies & Children in the Studio

-- Mary Lynne Ashley

Starting A Photography Business: Online Photography Forums

I think that one of the most important things one can do when starting out in this industry to to hook up with other photographers as soon as possible. I know that a lot of new photographers are afraid to do that, especially when it comes to meeting other local photographers. And it's true that while many local photographers will be more than happy to connect, there are some who feel threatened by other local photographers and insist on keeping their distance.

Luckily there are lots of online forums where you can connect with photographers from all around the country. They are great for meeting others with your same interests, and for getting the answers to just about any photography question or concern you could ever have. They are one of the best financial investments you can make in your new business. You do have to be careful, though, about jumping on every bandwagon you come across in the forum, not to listen to every piece of advice as ultimate truth, and not to fall victim to every "group buy" (once-in-a lifetime special offers from photography-related vendors for just about anything you could ever possibly buy.) While there are plenty more forums than the ones I've listed below, these are some of which I have some knowledge, know are reputable, and would recommend:

ilovephotography.com I've been a member of this forum for many years now. It is an extremely active forum, and is broken down into several sections based on your experience and skill level. There are free areas where you can start, and paid memberships and different levels of access as you progress. It is a very supportive community and is a fantastic way to hookup with other photographers. This forum has many, many members, so just be sure not to take every word as the ultimate truth. Also, the photo critiques can be a little soft, with everyone giving loving praise to photos that aren't always very deserving. But this forum has launched many careers, and many close friendships. It is an especially great place to go to arrange face-to-face get-togethers with other photographers.

photobizcommunity.com This is a brand new forum for which I just signed up today, which is what inspired me to write this post. Photobiz is the company through which I have my studio's website, and from what I can tell they started this community for those with their websites, but I think you might be able to join even if you don't have one of their sites (it would make sense to me, anyway, because then they would have the opportunity to sell you on their services). Since it's brand new I'm not quite sure how active it'll be, but it is FREE, so perhaps a good place to start if you don't feel ready to make a financial investment yet in a forum. Photobiz is also a great company through which to do your website if you don't already have one. Their customer service is great, unlike the other photography website company I was using before them.

phototalkforum.com One problem with online forums is that you frequently get advice from people who might have no real success in their business. You go off and running based on the advice of people who don't really have any experience, and you find yourself going down the wrong path.This site is Lori Nordstrom's baby. She's all about making sure you connect with real photographers who are honestly successful. She is the most amazing business woman, so I know it has to be good. One of the really awesome things about this forum is that you get lots of free template downloads with your subscription. The price to join the Photo Talk Forum for one year is $129. I've been saying for a long time that I was going to join this one, so I just finally signed up for it today, too.

The Pro4uM.com This forum has more men that the other forums. It also tends to have more experienced photographers, and they aren't as likely to sugar-coat their critiques of your photos as they are at ilovephotography.com. I was a member for several years, but let my membership lapse to participate in less expensive forums. The price to join The Pro4uM for one year is $249.