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10/29/2005 09:30:14 PM · #26 |
| Yep. I'm not that fussed about the portrait side of things. It's more the landscape side of things that I joined this thread for. Sorry to dominate. |
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10/29/2005 09:39:04 PM · #27 |
| I have thought about a book like the Apollo book to use as a portfolio. Here is my problem with that: I am continually growing as a photographer. My pictures that I took this month are way better than what I took a few months ago. See my point? What if I get the book made and a few months later I think that they are all crap because now my pictures are better? I would like suggestions on a portfolio that I can change out the pictures instead. At least until I feel that I have several masterpieces and I have become the best portrait photographer in the world. LOL ...yeah right. |
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10/29/2005 09:44:30 PM · #28 |
First of all, here's an AU distributor for magazine albums:
//www.images2books.com.au/photobooks.html
There were a few others interested in landscape too so let's go down that path a bit - what level of landscape photography and sales are you thinking about? High class professional landscape photos? Landscape stock for Alamy or microstock? Selling prints at the local fair or setting up through a website.
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to setup a printer is to get a Photoreflect account free. Upload some pictures and advertise your site. It could be //pgatt.photoreflect.com and then you could sell directly off of there. Our site is password protected for almost all the galleries, but one to see is:
//www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?storefront?c=0D37
This guy is a landscape AND equestrian photographer.
One thing to think about is where you can market your photos:
Calendars
Stock (Micro and Alamy)
Craft Fair
Art Gallery
Who will you be showing your work to?
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10/29/2005 09:50:26 PM · #29 |
Originally posted by mandyturner:
Here is my problem with that: I am continually growing as a photographer...See my point? What if I get the book made and a few months later I think that they are all crap because now my pictures are better? |
We've had albums done I think 3 times now in just under 2 years. We JUST got our Illuma books - NO clients or prospects have seen them yet. We have been using MyPublisher albums that we weren't totally happy with, but they were working like crazy!
You'll learn and things will change - but if you're doing good business, $30 bucks won't seem like that much to pick up a new album.
However, that being said - if I were to pick an album that was VERY easy to change pictures: this Adorama album would easily be my choice. We use this album for low end classic albums for clients still and we have one full of prints that we've swapped out a couple of times. It's a bit more expensive and you need the 8x10s for it too (another $50) Soooo ... more up front for the ability to change or $60 for a 12x12" (half off) Illuma? Tough call, honestly.
Adorama has a smaller 5x7" version of that album as well.
M
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10/29/2005 09:50:29 PM · #30 |
Originally posted by mandyturner:
I have thought about a book like the Apollo book to use as a portfolio. Here is my problem with that: I am continually growing as a photographer. My pictures that I took this month are way better than what I took a few months ago. See my point? What if I get the book made and a few months later I think that they are all crap because now my pictures are better? I would like suggestions on a portfolio that I can change out the pictures instead. At least until I feel that I have several masterpieces and I have become the best portrait photographer in the world. LOL ...yeah right. |
What my wife and I have done is to get a standard photo book that has 4x6 slots in them so we can change out photo's. Pictures always seem to look better when printed to me, much bettter than a laptops LCD by any rate I think. I'm sure you could find a book with 8x10 slots also if you wanted. We keep our landscape and other artsy stuff in the back after all the portraits. We only have two good examples, and like Matt said to do, we've been leery of putting our beautiful children in. My wife has taken some lately of friends children that are quite good, and maybe we'll ask if we can use them.
It's a quick and dirty option for your very first clients, but after a few more shoots, I think I'll take Matt's advice and go for the real thing. Probably the Shutterfly or Mpix option first, and then the Apollo one later once the cashflow starts coming.
Good advice. Keep it coming.
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10/29/2005 09:51:06 PM · #31 |
Discover for yourself what it is you enjoy most photographing. Then Perfect it...
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10/29/2005 09:56:20 PM · #32 |
Originally posted by mavrik:
However, that being said - if I were to pick an album that was VERY easy to change pictures: this Adorama album would easily be my choice. |
Darn, beat me to it. I'll leave the suggestions to the Sensei from now on. :o)
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10/29/2005 09:56:52 PM · #33 |
Originally posted by wavelength:
Probably the Shutterfly or Mpix option first, and then the Apollo one later once the cashflow starts coming. |
Shutterfly's 8.75 × 11.25" hardcover is $32.
Shutterfly's 5.5 × 7.5" softcover is $10.40.
Illuma's 8x12 hardcover is $50
Illuma's 6x9 softcover is $10
All-in-all it's probably about the same - save the $18 up front and get the Illuma, or even save another $15 and get the color dust jacket. :)
I thought they were similarly priced - I guess Illuma is a bit more.
*laughing at wavelength*
It's ok - I definitely appreciate the suggestions as well.
M
Message edited by author 2005-10-29 21:58:03.
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10/29/2005 10:01:10 PM · #34 |
| so sorry I was late in the game tonight. I was at a Halloween party slipping my flyers in to try to get more gigs. I alittle about me. I have two cameras, 2 softboxes, one umbrella, the backdrop stand, 3 muslin drops and 4 paper drops. I am really working hard on mastering my lighting and building my portfolio (now that lighting has improved). I guess what I hard is finding building my portfolio and how to branch out to the bread and butter which is weddings. I did run into a lady that will let me follow her at weddings (she has been doing for 5 years if I let her in my studio). Ok now off to catch up w/everyones posts. Thanks for letting me in and taking the time to do this!! |
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10/29/2005 10:14:41 PM · #35 |
| ok it is settled then...I will work on getting a illuma! Now what the heck do I put in it? How many pictures should it include? I guess I need pictures of people in every situation and age? Babies, maturnity, couples, kids, family, senior pictures, etc? |
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10/29/2005 10:19:45 PM · #36 |
At first, you're going to want to do a bit of each type of portrait, yes. I'd say to aim for maybe a 30 page album. Include sections first - couples, maternity, babies, kids, seniors, families (see the order? ;) Then at the back of the book have a bunch of collages with mixed types of pics just to show off the best stuff you hadn't already put in it.
Once you do a LOT more, you'll obviously want specialized books - but you will know when you need it. Like with these Illumas we just got - it was like "ok the MyPublisher is looking worse and worse.." then "I can't show this crappy work!" Then "OMG WE HAVE TO ORDER SOMETHING ELSE!" It came on us pretty strong. Once you have a LOT of one type - get a book for that type. For now, get something to show the different stuff you do - maybe on the cover design it to have a bunch of different things. You can add text, logo, etc.
(Ooooh Logo - we can get into true "startup" soon)
M
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10/29/2005 10:24:00 PM · #37 |
| Oh by the way as people are posting equipment, soon (this week sometime) the 828 will become my backup/alternate camera, as I am getting a 20D with 10-22 to start with, and a 580ex plus some borrowed lenses (35-80 and 80-200) |
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10/29/2005 10:38:30 PM · #38 |
What about something like THIS to start? Has the advantage of being flexible for removing/changing photos.
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10/29/2005 10:40:15 PM · #39 |
Originally posted by jpochard:
What about something like THIS to start? Has the advantage of being flexible for removing/changing photos. |
hehe, they don't do Ebay at my work. "forbidden by rating check". I could probably find porn easier than getting on ebay.
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10/29/2005 10:45:40 PM · #40 |
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10/29/2005 10:49:18 PM · #41 |
Originally posted by mandyturner:
It looks kind of cheap. |
hehe...that's because it IS cheap! Ideally, I'm looking for something similar to this only with a leather type cover. |
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10/29/2005 10:51:22 PM · #42 |
| I have a photo job tomorrow. I have to take pictures for this girl that is going to be entering a beauty pageant and her cheerleading pictures. I will keep my portfolio in mind when I shoot. I think I will take double the amount of pictures I usually take. |
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10/29/2005 10:51:30 PM · #43 |
Originally posted by wavelength:
hehe, they don't do Ebay at my work. "forbidden by rating check". I could probably find porn easier than getting on ebay. |
This is the link to it, wavelength: //www.artsupply.com/portfolio/itoyaevo.htm
Before I got that, I'd get this:
//www.shop.com/op/aprod-p13801148?sourceid=13 And fill it with 4x6's. We use this as our proof album and it's great! It's cheap and will take up to 200 4x6's in it.
M
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10/29/2005 10:55:16 PM · #44 |
This one is a little pricey for me, but it looks better. I would get the black cover.
I've seen some at B&H that arent' too bad also. I'd like to be able to load larger than 4x6 for my own portfolio, but that is a nice album for proofs.
Portfolio Album |
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10/29/2005 10:58:16 PM · #45 |
I wouldn't use 4x6 either, but I'd use that Malden over the Itoya.
As far as the last one you posted - I stay away from the comb binding, ring binding and D ring, 3 ring stuff. Clients HATE HATE that stuff. We don't do ANYTHING but book bound, library bound and perfect bound. You want your clients respect up front - that's important.
I'll look for other folios - something nice...
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10/29/2005 10:59:21 PM · #46 |
Before I go any further:
//www.perfectiondistributing.com/
Go here, order their free catalog. Do that tonight (or as soon as you see the link) so that everyone has their catalogs as early as possible. It will be important later. :)
M
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10/29/2005 11:00:00 PM · #47 |
Actually, going back to the first ebay link and the one you gave mavrik, the cover looks different than the close up shot shown on the ebay listing. The close up looks more like a canvas type material - like a school binder. The other looks like the more sleek leather-like material.
~sigh~ I wish I had some bucks to invest in this idea. I have some framed and matted prints that I'm going to try and sell this week. That might get me some money to work with. |
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10/29/2005 11:00:07 PM · #48 |
| If you use an album that you can change out pictures. Where would you recommend getting the pictures printed that you put in the album? Should a photolab do them? What about printing them yourself at home? Which would be better for the album? |
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10/29/2005 11:03:16 PM · #49 |
I would get the prints done professionally - either a local lab or online at MPix.com or All American Photo. Even DPCprints through Ezprints does a reasonable job (sketchy on color sometimes tho).
You've got the right idea too Judy - sell something, put the $ towards the folio. Do a job, save the $ for the next thing you need. It ALWAYS works like that. My budget for 2006 works like that too. Figure out what we need next.
"You know what I need..."
That's the most familiar refrain in photography. :)
M
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10/29/2005 11:14:38 PM · #50 |
Originally posted by mavrik:
I would get the prints done professionally - either a local lab or online at MPix.com or All American Photo. Even DPCprints through Ezprints does a reasonable job (sketchy on color sometimes tho).
You've got the right idea too Judy - sell something, put the $ towards the folio. Do a job, save the $ for the next thing you need. It ALWAYS works like that. My budget for 2006 works like that too. Figure out what we need next.
"You know what I need..."
That's the most familiar refrain in photography. :)
M |
Just be sure your good at telling the difference between the "I need's" and the "I want's". Also keep in mind that you save money by buying right the first time. You'll also save lots of frustration in the long run.
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