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Key words in this issue: CONTROL | Search Engines | Camera Sales | Monopoly | Trademark | Statutory Damages | Cozumel |
Newswords: Ansel Adams | Getty | Frans Lanting | Elisar | Rodale | AP | Digital vs. Film | Blue Pages 2004 |
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## PhotoAimLite monthly newsletter for December ## 399
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PhotoAimLite, the monthly newsletter from PhotoSource
International. <http://www.photosource.com> ==>
ISSN 1530-0511
If you no longer wish to receive PhotoAimLite, see the instructions at the end of this newsletter.
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The Benefits of Independent Editorial Stock
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Editorial photography receives generally modest sales fees, but editorial photos have a tendency to mature and endure and enjoy repeat sales, while commercial photography initially commandeers high fees, but then sputters with a short life span, and becomes 'dated.'
Part of the advantage of being an independent editorial stock photographer is that your editorial stock photographs and their sell-and-resell value pass on to your spouse and heirs. Why will your editorial pictures maintain their value, and not commercial advertising pictures? Because your editorial pictures, by their nature (and your interests) focus on specific subjects, thus making them uncommon. When researchers of the future are looking for pictures in a specific subject area for their TV documentary, movie, textbook, coffee table book or magazine article, they'll go to the repository of images in that interest area that will have accumulated over the years, and focus their search on the exact picture they need, not a generic picture. And they'll go to the best source for these kinds of photos, independent photographers.
Want to read more of this article? Go to: http://www.photoaim.com/gen591.html
ON-LINE
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Let Photobuyers and Photo Editors Find You
It's fast becoming apparent to photo researchers that the easiest way to find a particular image is not to look for the image itself, but to search for a word(s) describing the image. Very often the searched-for image is an isolated cafe in Chicago, a museum for model railroad cars in Pittsburgh, or a mountain wildflower in Wyoming. Major search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Alta Vista, HotBot, Lycos, Infoseek, etc., continually use their webcrawlers to capture such words (text) that describe images on the Web.
It's more important than ever that your image(s) posted on the web be accompanied by a lengthy caption that includes words that would help a photo researcher, using a search engine, land on your site (rather than someone else's). Even if you don't have images posted on the web, post your text description. The search engines will find them and the photobuyers will contact you with more information about their hard-to-locate photo needs.
Want to read more of this article? Go to: http://www.photoaim.com/onlin139.html
BUSINESS NOTEPAD
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DIGITAL CAMERAS -will sales surpass film cameras soon? According to InfoTrends Research Group, digital camera sales in North America are expected to win the battle by Christmastime. Crank up your knowledge about digital cameras and what photobuyers expect in the way of image submissions. Keep up with the times by learniung what photobuyers expect from you in the way of digital submissiopns. Our 2003 Photobuyer Survey will help. www.photosource.com/101/survey2003.php
THOSE SPECIALIZED PHOTO AGENCIES -- They're springing up everywhere and more are coming along. If you focus your photography on one or a few specific subject areas, you position yourself to be represented by one or more of these focussed agencies.
One example is Australia-based Lonely Planet Images (www.lonelyplanetimages.com), focusing solely on travel imagery. Their USA office is based in Oakland CA 1 510 547-2020; Fax: 510 547-2496;
e-mail: jainl@lonelyplanet.com.
Have You Become a Monopoly Yet?
POSITION YOURSELF
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The marketing approach of many photographers and mini-stock agencies today, could fit nicely back in the 60's or 70's when markets looked for lots of "general pictures." Back then you could gather a few local photographers who produced good work, set up shop, and start letting photobuyers know you existed.
In the 60's and 70's the magazine world operated this way, also. Most magazines were "general interest" magazines. Today, the only major general interest magazine left is the Reader's Digest.
In spite of the change in focus in the market place today, most mini-stock agencies and most photographers operate their business as if they were living in the 60's and 70's.
This `general interest' marketing strategy is the same that Ma and Pa corner grocery stores operated under in the 60's and 70's, and Ma and Pa retire, sold out, or re-thought their marketing strategy.
The stock agency world has seen a parallel entrance of large super agencies, helping to cause the same kind of marketing shift, but many photographers don't recognize it.
Want to read more of this article? Go to: http://www.photoaim.com/gen225.html
Designing a Trademark
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Your photography is your trademark, once you get established. But before you become established, a distinctive 'trademark' may very well be an important impetus on your road to success. A specific logo or design on your letterhead or website can help you start looking familiar to editors -- and help your name to be remembered. And as your photography enterprise progresses, you will build equity in your trademark.
When you design your symbol, or logo (as a trademark is often called), be aware of a common error: the temptation to use the obvious -- a camera, a tripod, an aperture symbol, etc. You will, of course, want to choose from 'things photographic,' but try for a combination or a particular adaptation that's all your own. Make it simple, and easy to remember. Recruit friends who are good at designing, drawing, and critiquing your work. Let them help in the decisions, and benefit from their experience. Flip through the web or the yellow pages to see how others have tackled the issue of a logo.
Don't be 'cute' in your design; it will soon wear off, and even be offensive to clients. Don't be obscure, either.
Some hints: If you are a nature photographer, choose a design that reflects your area of focus in photography. Child photographer? Choose a classic shot of yours that lends itself well to a simplified sketch or drawing. Aerial photographer? Tie into that.
Want to read more of this article? Go to: http://www.photoaim.com/gen542.html
YOU AND THE LAW
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Court Awards Minimum Statutory Damages
A recent decision in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York discussed, and ruled upon, several issues of importance concerning copyright infringement and damages.
The case is Arclightz and Films Pvt. Ltd. v. Video Palace, Inc. Arclightz is the producer of a motion picture entitled Asoka. The film was released theatrically in the United States on October 26, 2001. Authorized DVD's of the film were not slated for release until February 2002. However, in October and November 2001, DVD's and VHS editions of the film were being sold by defendant, a wholesaler and retailer of music and motion pictures.
The plaintiffs obtained an order of seizure and had the United States Marshal's Service seize the VHS and DVD copies of the film. They also discovered over forty video copying machines on the second floor of the store. "Caught red-handed," the defendant conceded liability for copyright infringement, but contested the amount of damages sought.
Plaintiffs contended that the reproduction and the distribution of the material were two separate and distinct infringements and therefore they were entitled to statutory damages for two infringing uses. The court refused to accept this distinction, stating that the number of original works infringed (i.e. one movie) determined how many separate infringements occurred.
Want to read more of this article? Go to: http://www.photoaim.com/legal105.html
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Let photobuyers know where to find you.
Take out an ad in the Blue Pages section
of the PhotoSourceBOOK 2004. Only $99.
< http://www.photosource.com/107 >
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GOODSTUFF
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JOHN SHAW'S BUSINESS OF NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY: A Professional's Guide to Marketing and Managing a Successful Nature Photography Business, by John Shaw, Amphoto, 1996, ISBN 0-8174-4050-X, hardcover, $35, 144 pages. Though loaded with samples of his stunning photos, Shaw devotes every inch of text to selling, not shooting. He covers such nitty-gritty issues as what editors want, specializing vs. generalizing, captioning and organizing, choosing which images to submit, finding and contacting clients, pricing and payment, model releases, taxes, and more. Despite the title, this book provides detailed information for running any type of stock photography business, not just nature. -David Arnold & Gail Rutman
http://www.photosourcefolio.com/bookstoreone.htm#081744050X
CREATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY, by Bobbi Lane. This book contains everything you ever wanted to know about color, from a discussion on the electromagnetic spectrum, to the visible spectrum and prisms, to how humans perceive color. Lane also covers the effects of time of day, weather, color temperature, filters, and gels, on the final color image. ($29.95; 128 page; 250 full-color photos; ISBN: 1-58428-104-9) Contact: Amherst Media, 175 Rano St, Ste 200, Buffalo NY 14207. Phone: 1 800 622-3278. Fax: 1 800 622-3298. http://www.photosourcefolio.com/bookstoreone.htm#1584281049
WORKSHOP
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COZUMEL WOMEN'S PHOTO WORKSHOP, with Karen Schulman. February 1 - 8, 2004. This popular winter workshop takes place on the lively and colorful island of Cozumel, Mexico. Land price: $1,295, includes: accommodations at B&B; breakfast daily; a welcome dinner; mainland day trip with private driver/guide; photo instruction; extensive pre-departure information, services and materials. Contact: Focus Adventures, P.O. Box 771640, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477. Phone/Fax: 1 970 879-2244. E-mail: focus22@excite.com . Web: http://www.focusadventures.com .
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This month's featured photographer on PhotoSourceFolio:
Norm Eggert, Neil Roberts, Gunnar Mjaugedal, Philip Baird:
(http://www.photosourcefolio.com)
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PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE NEWS
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Note: If the URL is long, it may extend to two lines. In that case - clicking on it won't work. Instead, "copy and paste" the URL.
Would Ansel Adams have gone digital? http://www.fortune.com/fortune/ontech/0,15704,560361,00.html
SEATTLE: The stock photo agency, Getty Images Inc., recently raised its fourth-quarter outlook, citing the effects of a tax credit. Its stock soared.
http://www.tribnet.com/business/story/4513492p-4490807c.html
Frans Lanting Gallery to open Monday in Santa Cruz
The work of local photographer Frans Lanting, who has
been hailed as one of the great nature photographers
of our time. His images are available for viewing and
purchase at his new gallery. http://www.zwire.com/news/newsstory.cfm?newsid=10616595&title=%3Cp%3EFrans%20Lanting%20Gallery%20to%20open%20Monday%20in%20Santa%20Cruz&BRD=1197&PAG=461&CATNAME=Coasting%2FEntertainment&CATEGORYID=404
Mayor embarrassed by 'private' nude photo
The picture shows Mayor Sharon Smith with a big smile
and wearing only her chain of office at the town hall,
but she's not smiling now that the image has gotten
into public circulation.
http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031212.gtnudedec12/BNStory/Technology/
In tough market,online image security software company Elisar calls it quits citing difficulty raising additional venture capital plus a tough market for its, Albuquerque-based Elisar Software. Elisar shut its doors Nov. 7.
http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2003/12/01/story1.html
Digital cameras snap open market for Web photo
services
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-12-15-photo_x.htm
More photography at Rodale! Rodale revamps sports titles - As president of the Men's Health and Sports Group, Tom Beusse in the past year has spearheaded an all-out effort to improve the quality of enthusiast magazines Backpacker, Bicycling, Scuba Diving and Runner's World, hiring new editors in chief and charging them with doing a better job which includes using more photography.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/mediaweek/20031211/ad_bpimw/r
odalerevampssportstitles
Top Photographer, Time Reporter Wounded in Iraq - Award-winning war photographer James Nachtwey and another Time magazine journalist were wounded when a hand grenade was thrown at U.S. forces they were with in Baghdad.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031211/wl_nm/iraq_journa
lists_dc_4
Two Top Editors Quit AP
http://www.pdnonline.com/photodistrictnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu
_content_id=2050923
Memory Maker Elizabeth Dranitzke, 35, portrait photographer - When I went to prenatal yoga and realized how beautiful it would be to photograph those other women, I started a business focusing on pregnancy and babies. Now, my typical client is a family with a first baby.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58315-2003Dec11.html
Digital photography helps Alpine man see - George Covington never leaves the house without his little digital camera. Not much different from any other photography enthusiast, except Covington is legally blind and has been since birth. He does photography to see the things he's missing.
http://www.oaoa.com/news/nw121403g.htm
Stalking the invisible man in the American landscape - Paul Graham, the British photographer currently living in New York, combines a daunting sense of purpose with an instinctive understanding of ordinary beauty.
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0350/aletti.php
Digital vs. film cameras: no easy pick - Many potential holiday buyers fear the planned obsolescence of cameras that get better every year and wonder whether it's more prudent to shoot film for another year or two. I tested 11
of the latest digital cameras and one film camera in order to answer that question.
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/business/7488916.htm
Want to read more "Photography in the News"? Go to: http://www.photoaim.com/pitn.html
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Let photobuyers know where to find you.
Take out an ad in the Blue Pages section
of the PhotoSourceBOOK 2004. Only $99.
< http://www.photosource.com/107 >
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399
Next Month: The Photographer Whistleblower
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Window for Submitting PhotoSourceBOOK Applications Extended
In response to feedback from our members, the deadline for submitting applications for entries in the PhotoSourceBOOK Directory and affiliated membership in the PhotoSourceBANK, has been extended to December 30th. Please note that the gateway will not accept applications submitted after December 30th 2003.
For more information about submitting your application for the PhotoSourceBOOK, please see http://www.photosource.com/44.