Calm Photos

Updated 4-8-08: Well, so much for that donation. Word got out that I’m relocating to Texas come June, so I’m no longer considered a “local” creative type, not that it made much of a difference anyway.

It’s great in Dayton.

DaytonCREATE

Another cool (and authorized) use of my best-selling Dayton skyline photograph.I like and support what DaytonCreate is doing. They have one heck of a challenge, but at least this is a grassroots effort coming from outside the tired and old way of doing business. So much of what we’ve seen in the past has come from the same ‘ol power/social circles that have dominated other efforts at marketing and growing the Dayton region.New blood + creative thinking + new ideas = change. That’s the only hope for Dayton.

Translated version of http://calmphotos.com/ - Japanese

オハイオ州の美しい自然や風景の写真

(Beautiful photography and photographs of nature and landscapes)

I Recently noticed a new URL popping-up in the referring web sites listed in my Awstats - the tool I use to track web visitors viewing both calmphotos.com and www.jimcrotty.com. The URL was the beta version of a new Google tool called Google Translate. Granted it is still in beta and doesn’t perform perfect translations, but it is a huge step forward in allowing web site owners and web browsers to cross international lines and overcome language barriers. Because this tool specifically addresses text within the HTML, images and photographs are dropped from the translated version of sites.

You can also type in a phrase, sentence and paragraph and have the tool automatically translate it to any one of an impressive list of language choices.

Google is the best.

Jilleen Dennis Photography- Weddings, Models, Business, Art..etc..

I had the pleasure this afternoon of exchanging links with a fellow Ohio photographer, Jilleen Dennis, who is based out of Cleveland. Jilleen obviously has a trained eye for capturing images that clearly show her original, creative vision.

Jilleen offered to make a banner link for my static site, at www.JimCrotty.com. I said “sure, go for it.” Below is her creation, and I have to admit, I really like it. Clean, simple and engaging - thanks to my little test model, Chloe.

Below is the HTML for this link banner. If you are a fellow photographer or owner of a photography based web site, please keep me in mind for a link exchange, on this blog as well as on my “Photography Links” page of my base site.

<a href=”http://www.jimcrotty.com” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://jilleenphoto.com/promotions/jimcrotty.jpg” border=”0″></a>

Since July 2006 I have been using ImageKind.com as my primary resource for managing online sales of fine art prints of my original nature, landscape, wildlife and cityscape photographs.

Before ImageKind I tried to manage order fulfillment by myself here in my studio. The following are the steps that took place:
1) A visitor to my main web site would see an image that he or she wanted to purchase a print of
2) They would select and purchase using my previous service for online credit card orders via buttons and size choices listed below the image
3) I’d receive a notification from my online credit card processor that a purchase had been made as well as the image #, print size selected and shipping address
4) I would fire-up my Epson 7600 large format printer, making sure I had the correct 24″ roll paper loaded and plenty of available Epson Ultrachrome ink cartridges
5) A typical 16″x24″ print, at high resolution and at the top of the line print settings, would usually take about an hour to run
6) I’d manually prepare the print for shipping, rolling and packing it in a shipping tube and then placing that package within a FedEx triangular shipping container
7) I’d go to my online FedEx account and que for a package pick-up
The print would be shipped to the customer along with their receipt as well as some of my promo material

Now here is a lesson in basic economics. Look at all the steps above. Each one has a price tag. Either in the way of my time, material, and/or fees. There was no way I could price my prints high enough to 1) recoup my costs, and 2) allow for a profit margin. Also, the customer has very limited options. They get the print, and that’s it. No mounting, mat or framing. No choices in paper and maybe three size selections.

The process wasn’t much less expensive for me when it came to local walk-in and phone customers. In fact sometimes it would be even more of an expensive proposition when I would hear those dreaded words “can you get it framed for me.” Uuuugggghhhhh !

Now enter ImageKind.com.

For a minimal annual fee, as well as a very low cost per image sold, I have unlimited memory capacity for uploading my high-res JPEG files of the images that I would like to offer for sale as fine art prints, ability to set and mange my own margins, opportunity to create and manage as many separate online galleries as I like, create custom HTML code for each image and gallery and leave the entire credit card processing and order fulfillment process in the hands of the capable staff at ImageKind. Not only that, but customers have a HUGE online selection of custom papers, mats, mounting and frames that can be applied to each and every one of my photographs posted for sale on my ImageKind storefront. In fact any online customer can preview exactly how their selected print will look with their mat and frame choices.

And here’s the best part. I love the print quality and care in shipping that ImageKind provides. In fact it is just as good (if not better) than what I was achieving with my Epson 7600 (which by the way, is for sale as part of my moving/liquidation sale prior to my upcoming move to Texas).

The following is a recent YouTube posting of a Seattle (where ImageKind is based) newscast featuring the president of ImageKind showing just how easy it can be to select and purchase artwork online. Watch it all the way through because at the end Kevin announces a special promo code for free shipping.

Yes, there is such a thing as press that’s less than positive. Sometimes it’s completely non-intentional and the negative effects aren’t realized until a few years down the road. Shortly after I started my photography business in 2003, the Dayton Daily News ran a full-page story about my work with nature and landscape photography. It was a good article. I can’t complain about that. The problem is that it ran at a time (early stage of going into business) when I held the mistaken belief that I could actually make a living solely based on the fine art market for nature, landscape and wildlife photography. The lasting negative effect of both that initial belief and particular article is that I’ve been permanently pigeon holed as just a “nature photographer” here in my local market, and I accept full responsibility.

I received a quick and expensive education to the contrary once the payables far outstretched the receivables. Even today people in Dayton keep mentioning “the article” and how much they are a “great fan of my nature and landscape photographs.” Daytonians love my work so much that they email or call me quite frequently asking me to donate a print to some silent auction or donate services or donate licensing rights. Donate, donate, donate. “It’s a great way to get your name out there.”

If I hear that phrase one more time I’m going to go out of my mind. Uh, I’m pretty sure that here in Dayton my name is out there. Perhaps that’s part of the problem ??

Here’s one the few certain things I’ve learned now that I’ve been in business as a photographer in the Dayton area going on five years now. The only thing that results from donations are more requests for donations, plus a whole host of hobbyists fishing for free info (that’s why I added paid workshops and lessons to my list of services).

Anyhoo, the truth is that my bread and butter is my commercial and assignment photography services, particularly in covering events, architectural projects, business portraits, products, processes, and a recent pick-up in activity for family portraiture.

Posted below is a new flyer I put together highlighting some of the recent architectural projects that I photographed. If I had to decide which area of commercial photography that I enjoy the most, I would have to say architecture followed closely by editorial and event work.

And yes, I will always hold-on to my first love of nature and landscape photography. However, I like to consider myself as a “renaissance man” in the field of photography. I can’t stand being pigeon holed - whether it applies to my professional or my personal life. What is it about this area of the Midwest that people feel so comfortable being permanently stuck in ruts - ruts of the same old way of doing business, day in and day out, and of applying convenient labels to one another.

Change, expand, adapt, learn, move forward. When things get too comfortable, then I know it’s time to light a fire under my @%# and get moving. In the words of Martha Stewart, “it’s a good thing.” Yesterday an old friend - originally from Dayton but who has also lived elsewhere (and that means out of Ohio) - commented that there’s just this “negative energy” to the area. I think it comes from so many of my fellow Daytonians falling into their comfortable zones and well, becoming permanent residents in the bland land of security and predictability. That’s not living. That’s just simply waiting.

In our world of instantaneous digital communication and immediate viral marketing, YouTube presents an incredibly convenient “bang for your buck,” particularly due to the fact that little to no “buck” is required. And best of all, you don’t have to learn software or cumbersome code to post videos. Just simply shoot and upload. The difference in quality comes into play on the “shoot” side of the equation, with the advantage going to those who are more adept with a basic understanding of lighting techniques and basic editing.

The video quality of many of the videos uploaded by individuals on YouTube now easily surpass the ancient and amateurish techniques displayed on your typical community access television channel, soon to be rendered obsolete.

YouTube is made for digital video. The challenge for a still photographer is trying to make the YouTube interface work well with slide show presentations. Although convenient, inexpensive and just as effective as a web site in marketing images to a huge audience, the memory upload and hosting limitations (i.e. mp4 file formats) of YouTube cause most slide shows of still photography to be rendered at much lower level of digital image quality than what most serious photographers would find acceptable. This probably due to the fact that YouTube is a universal application designed to present video on a variety of devices, most recently the iPhone. In fact the slide shows I’ve created and posted on YouTube look much better when played on an iPhone as compared to a laptop or LCD screen.

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calmphotos.com » Workshops, Instruction and Presentations

Come this April I will have been in business for five years. Since that time I’ve given away free advice on photography and doing business as a photographer (just goes to show that I don’t follow my own advice) over and over and over again.

That’s about enough of that. No more free lunches. Want advice on how clean your sensor, on what to look for in a digital camera, where the best spots are for nature and landscape photography in Ohio ? Need a portfolio review and help on how to market your work ? Digital workflow ? File management ? Printing ?

Then call 1-877-527-6889 or email me to schedule a consultation. Fees start at $50 for half-hour minimum session, either over the phone or in-person here at my studio. Need more in the way of photographic instruction ? Then how about either a half or full day workshop, either here at my studio or out in the field. I can take check, PayPal, VISA or Mastercard.

I guarantee you will walk away motivated, energized and encouraged to develop your creative vision through the art of photography, and I will walk away knowing that I didn’t give away the store in the process.

Just today a friend of mine who owns a business installing custom AV systems in high-end homes complained about a potential client who took hours and hours of his time in researching and preparing a detailed project proposal, only to turn around and give the business to someone else. I know that problem all too well, especially here in the south suburbs of the Dayton where potential clients like that are almost always going to give their business to a buddy of a buddy, but use you to go on an information fishing expedition.

No more Mr. Nice Guys.