‘Stop telephonin’ Me

[by Ellen Boughn]

Lady Gaga has it right when it comes to the interrupting phone call:
‘Stop telephonin’, me. Stop telephonin’, me.
(I’m busy). (I’m busy)’, she sings.

When you pick up the phone to call a client, it had better be about something they want to hear.  And cold calls? If the reception on the other end is closer to freezing than in the past, there is a reason.

Our means of communication have greatly expanded in the past decade. At the same time, most people are doing the work of the two or three of their colleagues that have been laid off. Nothing starts a conversation off on a worst foot than an insistent ring tone that has shattered one’s concentration.

I talk to photographers every week but I do it at a time that is mutually agreeable and established previously via email. We generally speak via SKYPE as I often have clients in other countries. We have the added advantage of being able to see each other via SKYPE video.

I like keeping up with the industry via blogs like this one and keeping track of my colleagues via twitter and facebook. I use email mainly for important communications with businesses other than individual photographers.

I can’t say how many art buyers feel the same as I do but for me the office telephone is obsolete and its ring makes me want to scream.

Ellen Boughn is a consultant and writer. She offers one-time mini-consults to photographers for $39.00 here: www.ellenboughn.com/ask-ellen

Professionals vs. Crowdsourcing – Who’s Who?

[by Ellen Boughn]

© Pavel Losevsky | Dreamstime.com

Last week I was in Los Angeles on a project and took the time to help a friend start a store on a site for handmade goods. Since this was an experiment on a shoestring, she asked if I would take the photos. After all I’ve been in the photography business for decades so I was the right person for the job. Yes? Answer? NO.

As I struggled with her old and cheap tripod, mounted with a point and shoot, I tipped my mental hat to professionals and their equipment everywhere.  Even with the help of a jewelry lighting setup, she bought online, I fumbled my way through three days of shooting…the result? A few dozen selects.

And those few dozen? Underexposed, blown out, soft, too narrow a depth of field, off colors, bad crops, flat. Ok, so I’m a photo editor not a photographer but geez! (In my defense: like book editors, the business of photo editing is about selecting the best words and pictures not about creating them.)

In my main area of expertise-stock photography, it’s often more about being a professional looking photo than it is about whether or not the creator is a professional photographer.

Many long time professional photographers are still up in arms about the ‘crowd sourced’ photos in microstock collections. But remember: anyone can take a good photo once in a while and these gems often end up in microstock. Even so, look at the poster boys (and girls) for microstock success: these are now all professional photographers with expensive operations.  Even in microstock stock, the winners must come home with the bacon again and again. This makes them professionals, in my book.

Being a pro isn’t about how many lenses you own, if and how big your studio is or even how much money you make. It means that you have the talent, the NECESSARY equipment, the business sense and the personality to solve visual problems under many circumstances again and again.

Follow up note: I’ve suggested that my jewelry friend contact L.A.’s Art Center and pay a student intern who wants to be earn to learn in gaining experience in shooting products.  And to hire, at the first financially feasible opportunity, an experienced photographer.

Ellen Boughn is a professional photo editor, consultant and writer. She tweets @ellenboughn and you can find her on facebook under ellenboughn. Her website is www.ellenboughn.com and that’s enough ellenboughns!

What’s Up With Stock Photography?

[by Ellen Boughn]

A better question might be, “What’s NOT up with stock photography?”  Answer? Royalties, number of paid productions, royalty free and rights managed revenues and photographer satisfaction.

A few points on the graph are on the upswing: number of people submitting photos, number of photos being used, number of photos submitted, growth of the microstock agencies’ revenue and the quality of images available to buyers from microstock.

The scales are overloaded with bad news for professional photographers that have depended on stock sales as their major source of revenue over the past few decades. Hand wringing, doomsday predictions and misplaced insults only create the illusion that one is doing something about the situation.

The industry has radically changed.  It is not likely to ever return to its glory days. What to do about the current state of affairs?

1.   If stock makes up your sole income and your work is so specialized that only a few could fill your niche; congratulations, you are safe for now.

2.   If not, develop alternative income and soon.  What can you do with your skill set outside of stock? The hard fact is that some of you will choose to leave the industry. You will trade places with the amateurs that left their day jobs to become serious about stock.  Those of you who make that decision are not failing but growing.

3.   Create innovative images that will satisfy the most discriminating art buyer and place them in rights managed collections. (The revenues may be in decline but millions are still generated with these licenses)

4.   Shrink your overheads to match your declining stock revenues. You can do it; most of America has figured out how in the last two years. Start with reviewing renegotiating charges for insurance, products and services.

5.   Develop as many revenue streams as possible. That will include participating in microstock for some.

6.   Revitalize your assignment business. Only a few have the talent, equipment, business skills and eye to consistently bring back the money shot. Make certain that that person is you by constantly improving and updating your skills and business sense.  You may be an artist but you must be a savvy business person to succeed.

Ellen Boughn is an author and long time stock photography industry executive and photo editor involved in rights managed, royalty free and microstock. She consults with photographers of all levels at www.ellenboughn.com/ask-ellen

Check Your Vendors

[by Ellen Boughn]

Staying with the same vendors year over year may not be the best strategy for your business.  You should review all your contracts with vendors as well as comparison-shop for regular supplies at least once a year. Pick a date you won’t forget…perhaps the day you change the clocks or the battery on the smoke alarm or your birthday…to determine if you can do better elsewhere. Evaluate your mobile service, Internet provider, insurance of all kinds, and any services that require a fixed monthly fee. Renegotiate with those you want to stick with: you might be surprised at how much money you save. It may not seem polite but don’t feel guilty about pitting one vendor against another to get a better price. People do it to you all the time, don’t they?