Monday, April 02, 2012

Hey Mac users! You’re not tied to Apple any more!

Sara Frances | 04/02- 05:30 PM

Cheaper alternatives to upgrade your Apple computer.

My new MAC Pro 8-core was in serious need of additional RAM to run the bigger applications and shove around the pixels from the Canon 5D Mark II. Apple didn’t tell us about this little RAM problem up front, but they were happy after the fact to price additional 8G memory at $400!!!!! You’ve got to be kidding! Big no sale from us.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

How to remove the worry of outsourcing photo retouching

Sara Frances | 02/28- 04:35 PM

Creating a firm relationship with a retouch outsource removes the fear of placing your image files in unknown hands.

Creating a firm relationship with a retouch outsource removes the fear of placing your image files in unknown hands.

Saturday, February 04, 2012

Keyword editing made easier

Sara Frances | 02/04- 11:54 AM

Composition 101 trick simplifies keyword selection and organization

Effective keywording is one of the three most important ways to get your site or post found on the internet - along with title and description. But I’ve always found keywording a disorganized chore. Here’s a way to make the job simpler, quicker and more logical.

Remember how in composition 101 class you had to make an outline of topics, content, facts etc.? We used to do this on index cards, one card for each separate fact or topic. We wrote these in no particular order, just as they came to mind or emerged from research. Then we rearranged the stack of cards to create the logical skeleton of the essay. Done this way it was easy to see if there were any gaps in the content or if further rearrangement were needed.

I’ve found this analog approach works well for proposing, editing and sequencing keywords.

Once you’ve done your research, possibly on Google Adwords, to propose keywords, then you’ll also try to think inside the head of your audience to imagine what they might search on. I always make a big list of potential keywords, even if some seem a bit far out or not fully on target. For something as important as your website, you can never have too many keywords to start the edit process. Don’t forget keywords that speak to business products or services you may not do right now, but are targeted in your business plan.

Here’s my system to edit and organize your search keywords. My example is done on a blank file folder, easily preserved for future reference or for colleague comment.

• Write down each proposed keyword “candidate” on a separate sticky note. I use the smallest size sticky notes and cut them in thirds to save space.
• Arrange the stickies on your desk or a white board to get a good look at the total field.
• Re-arrange them, grouping categories like Photo services, Photoshop, Album design, etc. (or whatever is your business)
• Select the 2-5 most important keywords, then second tier from ones to be discarded.
• Re-arrange again in a logical, customer-friendly sequence.
• Generally choose no more than 25 keywords for your main core list (federal governments site limit). This is hard for us because we do so many things related to video, stills and productions.
• Rearrange as many times as needed, because individual pages or blog posts will need different, specific keywords than those for the site in general
• Keep a dated record of your final edit, and don’t throw away the de-selects, because they will eventually find a use - no need to rethink totally from the ground up

Monday, December 19, 2011

My Experiences With Graph Paper Press & Photoshelter For Website Creation

Dan Carr | 12/19- 09:54 PM

I recently overhauled my personal portfolio website using a combination of services from Graph Paper Press and Photoshelter, two popular Photographer’s solutions, and I wanted to share my experience about the product and service that both companies offer.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Eliminating Fear of Retouch Outsourcing

Sara Frances | 12/19- 09:10 AM

Third in a series of conversations with Neale Narang of ReadyRetouch.com. Compare sample retouch versions at end of the article.

Creating a firm relationship with a retouch outsource removes the fear of placing your image files in unknown hands. Strangers no longer! Art professions are traditionally perceived as hands-on, hand made, raw materials to finished art work. Digital photo and video just changed the tools and expanded the options - otherwise art is still art.

Friday, December 09, 2011

Jewel Box Boutique for a Gem of a Photographer

Sara Frances | 12/09- 08:13 PM

Larry Johnson’s photography gallery at the Streets of Southglenn, Littleton, Colorado is a master class in the business of art.

A beautiful presentation awaits the visitor at Larry Johnson’s gallery. Landscape photographers may be a dime a dozen, but the moment I walked in, I recognized quality work displayed with all the panache of a Tiffany’s window.

Monday, November 14, 2011

The Easiest Way To Be Able To Accept Credit Card Payments

Tony Donaldson | 11/14- 09:00 AM

It’s free and you don’t even need a merchant account!

This is a sample transaction using Square to accept a credit card payment

If you want the simplest, easiest way to accept credit card payments, now you have an option. Square (http://www.squareup.com) offers a free credit card reader for iPhones, iPads, and Android smartphones and tablets. Yes, free. All you need is a smartphone or tablet and a bank account.

Monday, November 07, 2011

The Economic Advantage of Outsourcing Photo Retouch Services

Sara Frances | 11/07- 06:40 AM

Photographers both make money and save money by paying someone else to do a significant part of their image retouching and enhancement needs. Second in a series of conversations with Neale Narang of ReadyRetouch.com.

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Designing a Photo Website in WordPress #11

Sara Frances | 11/01- 07:23 AM

How to rework keywords and titles for best search engine visibility

After launching a website, what’s your next step? Reworking it of course! Your objective? Matching, tuning and tweaking page titles, descriptions and keywords.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Why outsource portrait retouching?

Sara Frances | 10/27- 06:42 AM

Somebody out there actually cares as much about your portrait images as you do. The right relationship for image retouch and enhancement out of your studio can make your life faster, easier and cheaper while maintaining consistent quality.

This article begins a series of conversations with Neale Narang, head of business initiatives for ReadyRetouch.com. I really didn’t believe that anybody could or would be able to handle my images as well as I can. In the far distant past (2 ¼ and 4x5 film!) I did for a time outsource serious negative retouching - incidentally to a lady who did significant work for Penthouse and Playboy magazines. But I personally did all the print work with liquid dyes, flexichromes, lampblack and oils.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Trendy Cycle in Wedding Album Design

Sara Frances | 10/22- 10:13 AM

There’s a blast from the past in album design for weddings, events and portraits. Could matted albums be the very latest trend?

I almost couldn’t believe it! An email in my in-box from a trusted supplier is touting a new product line that flies gracefully out of the past with some new twists. Check out this new line from ImageBooksInc. that could give you a creative edge.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Designing a Photo Website in WordPress #10

Sara Frances | 10/15- 11:50 PM

Everybody’s a critic; that’s good and bad.

Here’s the challenge: post your comment listing your own site if you’re proud of it, or any site you love and admire for appearance, navigation and info. Let’s get a discussion going that will provide good comments for how creatives can demonstrate that they really are, well, creative!

Thursday, October 06, 2011

Designing a Photo Website in WordPress #9

Sara Frances | 10/06- 11:45 AM

Creative websites should feel like treasure hunts.

A fun experience on the web is equivalent to the pleasurable entertainment factor of an exciting brick and mortar store.

Sunday, October 02, 2011

Designing a Photo Website in WordPress #8

Sara Frances | 10/02- 11:26 AM

Matters of type and text are the realm of the “Mad Men” of advertising.

WordPress do it yourselfers need to get smart fast about what words to say and how the words appear in type. Here are 15 tips for easy enhancements.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Microstock CEO Calls For Photographers’ Union

Tony Donaldson | 09/30- 02:21 PM

At least one microstock company seems to get the fairness issue

Linda Johannessen, CEO of microstock website YAY Micro, realizes something that most microstock photographers don’t. That the photographers are getting a very unfair deal.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Designing a Photo Website in WordPress #7

Sara Frances | 09/06- 08:49 AM

The rocky road of WordPress doesn’t mean ice cream.

It seems I’m both getting smarter with WordPress and finding out more and more layers of hidden details that I don’t know anything about.

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