It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Okay, not really, but choosing a camera these days when that same camera can change so much from year to year can make buying decisions all the more difficult.
There has been a flurry of reports about Nikon as the second quarter results hit the press, which show the manufacturer fighting to turn around the business but struggling under the impact of COVID-19.
The commercial photography world is tough to get into, but it is made even tougher if you don't live in certain cities like Paris, London, or New York. Here is how we can get around this.
I had been a photographer long before I wrote for Fstoppers. After a few years writing here I decided to give YouTube a crack. What was very interesting was the response from photographers and agents to seeing me on the platform.
Every time I think about how much 2020 has fundamentally changed my life and my profession, I am reminded that, while dramatic, this is hardly the only period of change I’ve experienced in the business. So today, I thought I’d have a look back at just some of the changes that have impacted my own career since I first started making money as a professional photographer.
Photographer Taylor Jackson shifted his work slightly in the last nine months, and this video gives you a really useful insight into how he has created regular jobs through short photoshoots for local businesses.
I'm always trying to learn from other people's mistakes or experiences. It's served me well over the years, saving me much heartache, healing, and money.
As photographers, many see assistants as superfluous, expensive, and reserved for those at the highest end of the photography career spectrum. But it could be exactly the move that will help your photography business grow past where you can get it alone.
Usage charges or license fees (depending on where you live) make up the majority of a commercial photographers income. However, most of us either don't charge it when we should or simply do not charge enough. Let's look at how we should be doing this.
It sounds like clickbait, but follow me for a minute. I know what you're thinking: "Oh yes, I do. I back up my catalog and my photos!" That's good, but it may not be good enough.
Most gear chatter online tends to center around the endless and ultimately useless debate about which camera bodies are the best on the market and will transform you overnight into a photographic superhero combining the skills of Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz, and James Nachtwey into one without ever having to practice or learn your craft. But with all the focus on sensors and capture devices, we often pay far too little attention to each image's first port of entry: the lens.
You wouldn't necessarily think FBI hostage negotiators and photographers have much in common but they do. These are the psychological techniques they use that photographers should be using too.
Marketing is tough. It is hard, a bit of a dark art, and also very much something that you can't learn overnight. Chances are your photography is good enough, but you are still struggling to get work.
Macro photography is a more specialized genre than most, and as such, if you specialize in it, it can be tricky knowing how to turn your skills into actual income. This fantastic video discusses eight different ways you can create income using macro photography.
Let’s assume for a moment Nikon was a genie and could grant me one wish. Aside from wishing for 1,000 more wishes, here is what I would ask for.
Unknowingly to many Apple iPhone users, the company slowed down devices as the phones got older. A class-action lawsuit sided in the customer's favor and now the tech giant is paying out. Submit your claim today to avoid missing out on your cut of a $500 million settlement.
We all make mistakes in our journey to be professional photographers. In this video, I have put together the biggest mistakes that I made that have slowed down my career in the hope that you can avoid them
Online sales are based on trust. With that in mind, what kind of customer are you expecting to show up at your website, probably for their first time ever, likely for the first time hearing of you ever, and give up their financial information to buy a pretty picture off it and pray it actually comes? That’s a really tough sell.
Many photographers dream of turning their passion into an income — or better still, their full-time profession — but it isn't easy in such a competitive space. Here are five common mistakes you ought to avoid when looking for clients.
The pandemic has forced many photographers to do much less of what they love in 2020. While many have relished in some downtime, the negative effects of having too little on could be doing some serious harm.
Breaking into commercial photography is hard, especially with so much misleading information out there online in 2020. However, there are a few key aspects that will help to get you the big bookings.
What you’re seeing here is a scorpion-shaped chair designed for maximum comfort and productivity when editing photos and videos. The customizable chair currently retails at $3,300 and even re-adjusts so that you can work lying down.
Nikon has had a torrid few years as it rapidly tried to pivot to mirrorless on the back of declining financial results. It ended 2019 with falling market share, losing second spot to Sony. The reason for this is now apparent: low mirrorless sales that place it 5th in the market. What is happening at Nikon?
You can have all the technical proficiency and creative vision in the world, but if you are not good with your finances, you will have a lot of trouble building a successful photography or videography business. This excellent video discusses some common financial mistakes that creatives make and how to remedy them.
A lot of becoming a successful photographer is learning through the process of making mistakes and fixing your errors the next time around, but there are common mistakes most of us make when we are first starting, and it is worth knowing what they are so you can avoid them in the first place. This great video details three common mistakes beginner photographers make.
Your website is more important than ever. It is likely the first place potential clients look when they want to evaluate your work and if you are a good fit for them. So, to increase the chances of landing the job, make sure you do not make this mistake.
One fantastic thing about photography is the sheer amount of genres you can specialize in and all the different ways you can approach it. In order to find success, it is crucial that you not only understand who you are as a photographer but also how that should influence your work with clients. This great video discusses the various types of photographers and how you can move forward in your career.
It’s an all too common question from budding photographers: How do I actually start making a career out of this?
Have you ever had a photo of yours stolen? Here are some important things you should know about.
In today’s article, I thought it might be helpful to those just getting into the business to take you through my real-time thought process when bidding on commercial assignments, from the initial query email to whether or not I take a job. Over the years, I’ve made a lot of good decisions and a lot of bad decisions, and hopefully, you can learn from my journey.
Now, more than ever, there are a ton of reasons to switch to a different camera ecosystem. whether you're making the switch from one brand to another or just switching to a mirrorless system. If you've been doing photography as a hobby for a long time or make a living with it, you've probably built up a collection of bodies, lenses, and even some flashes all within the same system. Sure, you can get adapters from Canon to Sony or EF to RF, but that's probably just going to save you a few bucks.
Making any kind of money from photography is hard, so it would seem counter-intuitive to give away your work for free. However, there are times when I have no hesitation in giving away dozens of images free to people. Read on to see why this might help you too.
There are times when you can get away working with a friend or someone willing to model for you for free, but then there are those times where you save yourself money, time, and effort by simply booking a professional model! How to decide which one to go for?
The economic effects of COVID-19 are still being felt by photographers, but glamour photographer Nino Batista built a strong foundation under his business that allowed him to weather the worst of the storm. What did he do to make his business recession-proof?
It’s a question that everyone who picks up a camera asks at some point. But how do you know if a career in photography is right for you?
I awoke Friday morning to see a heart-wrenching Facebook post from a friend of mine. She had knocked her camera into a lake.
Most photographers work alone. Being able to progress usually means letting go of control over certain aspects of our careers. In this video, I look at the key tasks that I have started to outsource over the past few years.
Unfortunately for professional photographers, according to most current estimates, COVID-19 looks like it will be sticking around for quite a long time — perhaps years.
Knowing when to buy and when to borrow can make a big difference to the bottom line of your photography business.
Sony wants more female photographers for its Alpha Female ambassador program, with grants for projects which offer $5,000, a full frame Sony camera and lens, and more.
The creative industry is a tough one. We are absolutely passionate about what we do, which is different to most jobs out there. I mean, the jobs might be good, be interesting and satisfactory, but the running of your own photography or visual arts business has entrepreneurship, art, traveling, meeting other creative industry types, and the process of making something creative all combined into one job that you consistently spend time on building out, learning, and growing.
Handing over raw files or a full shoot seems to be a real taboo online. However, it is common practice within the commercial ranks for many reasons, some of which I will discuss here.
To save you some time, you probably won't make decent money editing photos on Fiverr; however, if you have some experience editing videos, then you could start bringing in some extra cash every month. This video shows you exactly how it's done.
A trio of questions to keep in mind as you are trying to put your best work forward.
Branding is one of those important things that many photographers get wrong. Follow these guidelines to take the image of you and your photography to the next level.
Current orthodoxy in the camera market is based around the triumvirate of Sony, Nikon, and Canon. They hold the keys to the professional full frame sector, supported by wide ranging lens systems. However the last decade has taught us that change is normal, so would the best future for the sector lie in Nikon ending camera production?
In my never ending quest to state the obvious things that we all tend to forget, today I will talk about another simple truth. To get what you want, you first have to know what you want.
Ella Grace Bell is a commercial photographer based out of Vancouver British Columbia who has worked with brands like Bootlegger Jeans, Poppy Finch, and Mobiado Watches, but freelancing isn't her main gig. She has a nine to five photography job that pays her bills, which seems to be a vanishing commodity outside photography studios.
There are loads of videos showing cool behind the scenes clips from photoshoots and exciting trips. But what do photographers actually get up to in-between shoot days? If you are thinking of turning pro, it is worth paying attention to how most of your time will be spent.
I am sure you have all seen the comments where people suggest that being a pro photographer ruins the fun of photography. I want to dig deeper into this idea. Having spent a good proportion of my working life being a hobbyist and professional, I would like to offer my insight and experiences on the subject.
