Creating a marketing campaign for any fine art business may seem like a daunting task, however by putting it into the context of a photography business a business owner will gain marketing clarity.

NO MINI SESSIONS

Fine Art and mini-sessions do not go together. It is not a great idea to market and sell mini sessions and then ask for fine art prices. Promotional materials should focus on fine art that are full-length professional photography sessions.

Santa Sessions are mini-sessions...right?

They can be, however, we choose to only do full-length fine art Santa sessions as we have much art to capture. There are so many details when creating fine art that simply cannot be pulled together when doing Santa mini sessions.

Remember, you are not marketing a mini-session. I want to be very clear on this point. In my humble opinion, a mini-session does not produce fine art.

The mini session.

A mini-session is generally connected to the holiday season and holiday marketing. This is not how we...

The Image Will Always Tell You What To Do

Whether film or digital, the image itself will always have the information you need to make your cropping decision. As you get good at mastering the art of photography, creating, and composition, you will want to create this information and balance in advance.

You can control every element of composition in advance, which will provide the information you will need for correct cropping in post-production. The perfect balance and composition within the frame of your story will carry weight and importance in both a conscious and subconscious way.

More weight and/or emphasis of any element, one way or another, can make your image feel uncomfortable to view. There is a balancing act that is in every art piece. Understanding this balancing act is your responsibility as an artist. Yes, balances matter a great deal when creating.

Give equal effort and focus to understanding all aspects of the fundamentals of art will give your "style" equal and...

How to Become a Master Portrait Storyteller.

Learn to be a master portrait storyteller.

Being a master storyteller is a deeply rewarding and lifelong journey that involves a combination of technical skills, artistic vision, and storytelling abilities. Here are some more in-depth steps to help you embark on this creative path and continuously grow and become a world-class storyteller:

Champion the Technical Skills.

Telling stories cannot be done effectively without understanding your camera, equipment, and basic fundamentals. Delve into the technical aspects of your camera and equipment.

Learn how to control the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance to achieve the desired effects in your portraits. Familiarize yourself with various camera modes and when to use them effectively.

Lighting Techniques.

Lighting is a crucial aspect of portrait photography that significantly impacts the mood and storytelling potential of your images. Study various lighting setups, including...

The Big Question!

The question of whether photographic style or business plan/model comes first is similar to the age-old question of which came first, the chicken or the egg. The answer may vary depending on the perspective and individual circumstances.

Photographic Style.

A photographic style refers to the unique artistic approach and visual aesthetic that a photographer develops. It takes a fearless photographer to create their own photography style and then turn that style into a photography business.

Elements of Style.

A photography style encompasses elements such as composition, lighting, color palette, unique combinations of photo editing, photo editing software, subject matter, and overall creative vision. In fact, it is all of the above and perhaps more depending on the vision of the creator.

Photography styles rarely are quick to develop and require some soul searching, effort, trial and error, and knowledge mixed with frustration and fearlessness.

The development of a...

Having a home photography studio space can be very convenient however, there are certain realities that must be taken into account. Whether you have a retail photo studio or a home photography studio, it still will function as a photography studio and have the needs and demands of a photography studio.

The separation between Home Life and Work Life.

If you choose to do a home photography studio then your "home" will still need proper living space so you can still have a home life. There must be a balance and separation between home life and workspace.

Having and designing a home photography studio comes with understanding just what a home studio entails. It is not just about privacy and access to natural light. A home photography studio space will require you to think and plan well in advance.

The COST to UP-FIT a Home Photography Studio.

There is no question that the up-fitting of a home photography studio space will cost money. There will need to be a budget or the money saved...

The Best Photography Classes

In today's digital and virtual world, there are many online photography courses. But is every photography course or photography class equal? There are free online photography courses on everything from digital photography to wildlife photography.

Online Photography Classes

As online photography classes to become a better photographer throughout the internet, one would think that everything you need to know about photography skills, advanced techniques, camera settings and lighting equipment would be available to a budding photographer. One would think at to be correct, but is it correct?

Free Photography tutorials

Free online photography courses are great if YouTube videos are your thing and you are looking to glean a nugget of information about a specific topic. Aspiring photographers and complete beginners can learn a great deal about photography this way.

Intermediate photographers can learn about different style as free photography tutorials can...

In business few things are more important than establishing pricing that provides the proper profit margin. How is this done? Here I will share with you a simple mathematical system to get pricing that not only makes sense, but will provide you with the profit and income you deserve.

Start with doing an accurate job cost of a printed canvas. Then multiply this cost by 5. This is your retail price for a "Printed Canvas". If you are an established "Brand", you may want to add more to your price to compensate you for your Brand and or talent.

Once you have this done, multiply your Retail Canvas Price by a 2 to 3 multiplier. If you are just starting out, you may want to keep it to 2X however if you are an established brand, 3X's may be more appropriate.

Here is an example if your are just starting out.
If your printed canvas cost (just using an easy number to see) is a total of $500, times a 5X's multiplier, your retail printed canvas price is then a minimum of $2500. Now, if you are new...

The professional photographic community is changing. With smart phones featuring more robust cameras each and every year, photographs are becoming more commonplace. Everyone now can tell their story for free or at least take a shot at it. They may want to tell a story and think their camera will do all the work. A professional photographer knows it takes much more than a good camera to create great photography.

As with a Master Chef, the stove does not make a sumptuous meal by itself. Nor does a good camera make great photography or tell a great story. There must be an artist present for the story to be properly told.

For professional storytelling, the photographer's recipe requires planning, knowledge and application. There will always be no lack of creative and authentic people with wonderful ideas. Actually creating professional storytelling photography that can hang as art, takes the knowledge and ability to bring that idea, story and photography to life. This is what the...

Nostalgia is part of Americana and the history of who we are and where we are going. We have embraced the sense of nostalgia in photographs, film and life itself. Sometimes without even knowing why. We simply know it makes us feel a warmth and seems to create a feeling of euphoria. This feeling of nostalgia is not exclusive to America, it is a global and cultural experience. It is visual and it is emotional. It may be referred to as vintage, old, or retro, however I think nostalgia is something different.

We have witnessed the changes and followed as photographic capture has changed from film photography to digital photos. The art of capturing a photo has changed, however that has only added to the need to capture and love nostalgia even more. And that is only in our lives. People and nostalgia are connected to world events and creation. There seems to be so much more to understand when it comes to how and why nostalgia even exists, let alone how it fits within modern photography.

Have you ever wanted to capture the magic of children with Santa with your camera? Parents understand the value of showing the joy and imagination of kids in Christmas photos. Santa Claus is the perfect character of folklore to catch the wonder and innocence of precious little ones in a picture.

JOLLY OLE SAINT NICK RUNS DEEP IN FOLKLORE

Santa's majestic, magical and giving appeal to kids is more than what they can feel from any digital app. Santa is part of folklore and each and every holiday season. Just like the Tooth Fairy, Ole Santa Nick has been part of every person's family childhood memories. Parents understand this connection to this jolly character of lore and the North Pole, for they felt this wonder themselves each December and throughout the year.

The story of Santa goes back hundreds of years as the character is directly connected to St. Nicholas who was an actual person who gave his riches away to others who were in need. Santa's legacy in reality is the legacy of...