There has been "consumer" cameras for as long as I can remember. I think sometimes we have worked/photographed for so long that even we take ourselves for granted. I was showing some images that I perceived to be just so-so to a graphic artist that I have a great respect. She made a comment how I anticipated the height/expression of the moment and captured it.
We have so much more to offer than a "snapshooter," I think some times we forget that. I know what my biggest failure is.....................promoting and marketing..........so why don't I do something about it..........it is like a vapor trying to figure which direction to take this marketing thing. I did an outdoor portrait of an extended family this spring, it was booked by the father/grandfather, usually I deal with the woman of the family. I had a 16x20 workprint made, I felt there was several retouching items that should be done, he did not, and approved it as is. He then casually mentioned that his wife was unhappy because she forgot to take a Band-Aid off of her big toe. I told him to have her come by the studio with the same shoes and I would digitally photograph her foot and correct the problem. She comes in and asks to see the workprint again, she said while the image is great, she commented that she did not like her or her son's expression, I said no problem,we can fix it by switching the faces digitally...........well she is now amazed and comments about lines under eyes, dead limbs in the background, stains on the flowerpot, the color of her son's shirt compared to the others, etc. Again, I said no problem........................but there would of course have to be additional retouching charges above what her husband had agreed to, now it was her turn to say, no problem. Now a $550 print was approaching $1000, I made a very nice profit on an existing job and they were thrilled with the final print. When the husband picked up the finished portrait, he asked for the work print to show his friends the changes. You cannot buy that advertising and I will bet money that very few amateurs would ever think about doing something like that. I feel sometimes we lost sight of the forest because of the trees, I have helped companies pick out cameras because they felt that they could not afford to keep paying my fees............some called back and admitted it was more than equipment that got the results they needed. Some did not call back, but I would have lost them anyway. Sorry, this is so long, when asked by a client how we are doing, smile big and say great, clients like to work with others who are successful. Best, John > The consumer uptake of mobile phones equipped with still capture and video > capability has been slow but steady. It takes awhile for the implications of > this (or any other technology) to sink in. When it does, then everybody will > be a photographer. Not become - be. This will be highly influencial in how > professional photography will be percieved, along with a general confluence > of technological - thus social changes. As always, there will be unforseen > consequences. Remember clan, we are the beta testers. > > William Curwen > > PS: The other day, I saw someone operating a gizmo and I honestly could not > recognise what it was. They say that each generation becomes exhausted by > technological change by age 60 ...... better giddy up hadn't I? =============================================================== GO TO http://www.prodig.org for ~ GUIDELINES ~ un/SUBSCRIBING ~ ITEMS for SALE
