Customer Reviews

Freelance Photographer's Handbook: Success in Professional Digital Photography, 2nd Edition

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent book for someone who is starting out or a great reminder for the seasoned veteran of the fundamentals of a successful photography business. So often times photography books and classes focus only on what goes on behind the camera, good angles and great lighting. As this book points out it is one thing to produce excellent photography and another to sell photography. Cliff and Nancy go through a very clear map of all the necessary requirements for a modern digital freelance photographer. They share their insights into a very competitive and complex field. One thing to point out is that Cliff and Nancy are successful freelance photographers, which gives them a lot of credibility in my humble opinion. As I am a professional photographer reading Cliff and Nancy's books always reminds me of the fundamentals of a photography business. Two of the most important areas that they reminded me of is spending time selling and spend time shooting. It's easy to get caught up in thinking you have to have this latest gear or coolest computer to compete. They remind us that is not true, shoot and sell with whatever equipment you have. Pragmatic is a great word to describe many of their ideas on investing in equipment and and gaining education. All in all it's an excellent book that covers all the areas that are necessary to succeed in this highly competitive business. It's mostly great book to get the beginner focused but it is also a excellent resource to refocus the working pro.

I was excited to receive this book and finally see some concrete advice on how to transition from a hobbyist to a professional photographer. What I got was a slim book with many beautiful pictures, but only vague general statements that anybody could figure out on their own. There is certainly some useful information in this book, but most of it is in the "Resources" section at the back, which directs you to other books to read. Much of "Freelance Photographer's Handbook" reads like an advertisement for the authors.

If you know that you should back up your computer files, take care of your photographic equipment, and act in a professional manner, then this book probably isn't for you. If you are completely in the dark, then you may find it useful.

This is a compilation of decades worth of experience and observation in the photography industry, by someone who knows what it takes to be successful. You can read it fast, even skim, and get a good handle on what you will need to do to enter the field yourself........yet there is a lot of meat in the bones of these pages. If you study and repeatedly review this material, you'll find you are taking the right steps at the right time in your photo business journey.

Be sure to take notes, use the info in this book as a goal-setting framework, and enjoy the images in the process!

The author has other "how-to" titles that will help you grow, if you are serious about the business of photography.

Cliff and Nancy's energy and passion for photography jumps at you as you read through the many pages of the knowledge that they share. It has taken me a while to read through this book as each page seemingly has ideas and suggestions that are worthy of incorporating into my business and my photography. These are "can't wait" ideas that must be tried, implemented immediately, and therefore it's a 'read and do' book and not just a book that you skim through and put on the shelf. Freelance Photographers Handbook is certainly that, and has become a valuable tool for me to use and reference almost daily. The best part - I am making more money with my photography now than I have in over 20 years in shooting thanks to Cliff and Nancy's guidance.

If you have ever given Freelance Photography even a brief thought, then this book is a must read. No need to worry that it will be filled with unknown technical terms or jargon only understood by professionals. Cliff does a wonderful job tailoring this book to photographers entertaining the idea of freelance. It provides step by step information, focusing on everything from choosing your specific field, to prepping your company, finally making the sale and much more in between. It's an easy, quick read but very detail oriented.

Take the advice provided to you; start putting it to good use and you'll be started on a path to success thanks to the words and advice obtained from this handbook.

I thank Cliff & Nancy for writing this handbook for it has given me a much needed push to get my company started in the right direction.

Cliff and Nancy Hollenbeck have produced an invaluable resource for everyone thinking of giving up the old day job for the romance of freelance photography - as well as for anyone who labors under the impression that taking pictures of naked ladies, shiny new sports cars and endangered animals is a cushy way to make a living.

In "Freelance Photographer's Handbook," the Hollenbecks warn readers that nothing is free in the world of freelance photography. The freedom to create and to take pictures is hard-earned..

Only a small fraction of the photographer's life is spent behind the camera, they explain. The rest of it is devoted to the hard work of selling potential clients on the need for the photographer's services, filing thousands upon thousands of images in such a way that the next time one is needed it can be found without the aid of a professional researcher, keeping the detailed financial records required by overlords such as the IRS and the multitude of equally mundane tasks associated with running any small business.

Readers who are serious about pursuing careers in photography will find in the "Handbook" a checklist of challenges that must be confronted and overcome in the process. Obviously the husband-and-wife team's objective is not to discourage but to enlighten. Yet "Handbook" is likely to prove as beneficial to dilatants as to those serious about a career in photography - if nothing else, it will to scare them into less-taxing ways to make a living.

The Hollenbecks teach by example, sharing trade secrets they learned the hard way at the same time they were earning enviable reputations as travel photographers and writers. But the images with which they illustrate their book include more than just photos of exotic locations - they demonstrate the couple's versatility and provide a model to which anyone thinking of taking the plunge can aspire.

This is the most complete book that I have read on how to start and operate a freelance photography business. This book is much more than a how-to-take-a-picture or what equipment to buy. It covers all the necessary details of how to attract and keep clients and clearly explains the necessary contract details and important business and legal considerations involved in these endeavors. Also included are suggested brandnames of software and other equipment to assist in setting up and maintaining files - whether they be of clients, photos, expenses or other necessary details. After many pages of comprehensive and valuable information, the Hollenbecks include additional resources and references. They also include explanations and examples of the various categories of photography. Almost every page has a gorgeous photograph with the details of how and where it was taken together with filter and lighting information. This is a must-read book for anyone planning, or contemplating, a business in freelance photography.

I found this book to be chock full of helpful insights into the freelance photo industry. Considering how diverse the subjects areas can be for freelance, the book does a great job covering many of the bases with tips for what specific equipment might be needed for a certain specialty. It also lists additional resources to seek out for inspiration in those areas. The other half of the book focuses on what a freelance photographer needs to know regardless of specialty. The authors cover legal concerns, business strategies, how to sell your photos and what makes a good portfolio. Essential for aspiring freelance photographers!

Remedial, disjointed, vague and outdated. Much info just repeating the tutorials on the ASMP website. The authors' writing is very simplistic and the concepts somewhat disorganized, which contradicts the professionalism and organization they advocate to readers. Some of the business forms they mention are not even exampled or explained - just that you should have them. The extent of their insights for forming a new business is to talk to an attorney or CPA, contact your local business office, or research online. It's understandable that those forms and procedures vary by city & state and cannot be itemized to accommodate everyone, but many readers probably purchased this book to help minimize their dealings with attorneys, CPAs, business offices and Google searches, whereas this book defers to them throughout. Further, the 2010 edition's digital and electronic terms are outdated. The photo techniques in the sample images are also outdated and/or amateurish (And look it. On-camera flash for every commercial shoot - really?). Technology and photo techniques have apparently outpaced the authors, as they seem a bit out of touch. So I wouldn't trust them with your new business. Overall, this book might serve young amateurs without any basic business experience, but I wouldn't recommend it to any adult shooter at or above advanced amateur levels that possess even basic business and computer knowledge. Readers might be better off reading the ASMP business resources at [...] ... and it's free.

Any freelance photographer needs a good handbook to guide them through the business of successful digital photography, and the second updated edition of Freelance Photographer's Handbook does this, providing a strong reference for any seeking to market their work. From finding an area of specialization to managing image files, planning business, obtaining permits and ethical responsibilities, this covers all the basics and is key to any photographer's business.