Customer Reviews

John Shaw's Business of Nature Photography

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

 

 

I am still in the processing of reading, re-reading, and applying what Mr. Shaw wrote in his book--in other words I am not a professional nature photographer...yet! However, I found the information in this book to be extremely informative. He gives great no-nonsense advice about becoming a professional nature photographer. He doesn't give us a pipe dream by saying that it's going to be easy. Like any other business venture, it will take effort to make it work.

Very early in the book he establishes what this book is and what it is not. It IS a description of what has worked for him: publishing his pictures in the printed media. It Is NOT a book that describes the technical aspects how to take great pictures (f-stops, shutter speeds, composition, etc.). He has written a number of other books on those subjects. It is also NOT a book on how to sell your pictures in galleries or how to approach retail buyers about ways to display and sell your pictures in stores.

One of the things I most appreciated was his recommendations about the equipment you will need. He doesn't endorse any particular brand of camera (though it's rather obvious from his captions that he uses mostly Nikon equipment). However, he does give specific advice on the types of lenses you will need and the features that he would look for if buying a camera. He also gives recommendations on the types of filters you might need.

On other (non-camera) items he does, however, give specific name-brand recommendations for such things as tripods, light tables, loupes, slide labels, database software, and other miscellaneous accessories (many of which I hadn't considered before). On most of these, however, he gives multiple recommendations. He even provides a list of manufacturers to contact for more information. I already had a good camera, so I especially appreciated his specific recommendations on accessories. I am quite sure that it has saved me hours of work in looking for and considering what will and will not work.

As mentioned earlier he explains what worked for him: getting his images published in the printed media. His general recommendation for beginning photographers is to first approach (low-circulation) magazines to sell pictures with an article. He gives some very compelling reasons why this is a good idea. He also gives numerous examples of the types of correspondence that you can expect when approaching a potential buyer.

He also explains a little the type of images that photo editors are looking for. (It's unlikely that they'll need another image of a moose, elk, bear, or deer in Yellowstone!)

Another thing that I found helpful was his explanation of his personal filing system. Once again he gives some no-nonsense advice here. His recommendations seem practical but not overly costly. If I have one gripe with the book it's that he doesn't give a complete listing of the categories he uses for his own work. He gives a partial list (which I will probably use as a base) but I wish he would have listed all of his categories. (He indicates in the book that there are roughly thirty.)

Aside from all of the above he has some WONDERFUL photographs in the book. Most of the photos are there without being referenced in the text, but just looking at them inspires me to want to become a better photographer.

This book was a top-notch guide in its time that has unfortunately been overtaken by events.

Shaw tells you just about everything that one needed to know to become a successful nature photographer a decade ago, based upon his own experience. There is nothing in this book about photography techniques (although Shaw has written plenty of excellent books that do just that.) This book is crammed with practical business advice, from broad guidance like what subjects to shot for the most sales, to nitty-gritty advice like how to package your photos for mailing. He answers questions that other photography marketing books don?t begin to address: why is nature photography different from other commercial photography (nature sales are mostly from an existing stock of shots); what is the minimum-sized library needed to go into the business (at least 1000 first-class bread and butter photos of a variety of subjects); and similar questions.

Shaw's writing is direct and simple. Some of what he says I certainly know to be true from my own very brief experience in a commercial photography market and other things he says, of which I have no experience, have the true ring of advice of which I would never have thought on my own.

Shaw includes many of his own beautiful nature photographs in the book. And he at least makes some attempt to tie the pictures to what he is talking about. I?m not too concerned that the connections are sometimes tenuous. After all, how do you illustrate the advice to consider having your contract with a stock agency include the obligation to provide you with tearsheets?

So what's wrong with this book? Well, it's eight years too late. This book was published in 1996. Since that time the development of electronics has changed the photography field. Shaw's description of filing systems was written before some of today?s excellent computer-based storage and tracking systems were available. Most importantly, digital imaging was just a blip on the radar that only merited mention in a three-page appendix. When published, editors would only consider color slides for use. Today, more and more of the people who buy (or really, lease, as Shaw makes clear) photography are willing to consider digital images. And I suspect that the presentation of those images to prospective purchasers and the preparation of those images by the photographer for use have greatly changed the procedures suggested by Shaw.

It is a shame because this book is so clearly and usefully written. No other book on the business of nature photography has been so helpful in the past. Even more of a shame is that I have heard Shaw say he has no present plans to update this book.

So, if you are a nature photographer who wants to learn how to go into business, get this book. But buy yourself of subscription to the magazine Digital Photo Pro. And stay tuned for further updates.

BEFORE YOU BUY THIS BOOK. Understand that this book is nearly 10 years old and focuses on a business model that is near extinct.

When this book was first printed in 1996 it would have been considered a basic "seminar in a book" about selling and establishing income from nature photography. While the book does have some timeless information on common sense, it for the most part is archaic in content.

There are many fans of John Shaw out there but when it comes to buying a book and expecting content that I can use, my own expectations are to get the product as advertised.

If you want a John Shaw book on nature photography, stick to his other publications. This one belongs next to DOS 4 and my Windows 3.1 manuals.

Ah, the glamorous and exotic life of a professional nature photographer. Wouldn't it be great to give up the daily grind and explore wild places while on assignment for a big magazine? That's the first myth of the business John Shaw dispells in this no-secrets-hidden book.

Chapter by chapter, he reveals what has worked for him in his 25 years as a full-time nature photographer. No preaching, no cheerleading -- just the straight scoop on what works and what doesn't from one of the most-recognized how-to authors on the subject.

This volume departs from Shaw's photo field techniques advice of earlier titles and dives head-first into the business end of nature photography. It's full of sound advice for beginner or pro. And the information is written in John's clear, concise, clean style. It sounds cliche, but this book must be read by anyone thinking about this business -- preferably before you give up your day job.

And if going pro isn't what you really want to! do, then learn nature photography techniques from this expert teacher in his four previous books.

So you want to make a living taking nature pictures? John Shaw shows you how in his latest Amphoto book. Subjects covered are getting started, office work, submissions, writing to complement your photography, and money matters. Shaw provides beautiful photos along the way both to inspire and to set a standard for the aspiring photographer.

Shaw gives realistic advice on the difficult work needed to make a living as a nature photographer. He conveys a sense of what magazine editors and other buyers of nature photography want in terms of quality, composition and subject through both his writing and many photographs. Practical advice on the more mundane aspects of running a photography business and the submission process is given in a clear and concise manner. Of note is his advice to start out by learning to write well so that you can submit full articles with photographs that are more likely to get published than stand-alone photos.

This book is well recommended for people interested in making some money off their hobby, serious about making nature photography their career, or just curious as to how nature photographers earn a living. The only drawback to the book is that it is a few years old and some of the material, particularly on digital photography and manipulation, is a bit dated.

John Shaw is a master photographer also adept at conveying his knowledge into a clear and concise writing style. This makes his books highly valued by his many fans. When this volume was first released it was a must-read for those interested in starting a career in nature photography.

Mr. Shaw is quite thorough as he covers the subject. He begins with basic equipment that you would need. This includes both photographic equipment and office equipment. He discusses approaches to finding clients, organizing your photos, and everything else right through to making a sale and calculating your overall profits.

The problem is that while his basic approach is very sound, a lot of the specifics are out of date now that 11 years have passed since initial publication. The entire book is based on the idea that you will be shooting slides and that publishers will want material in that format. As the digital age continues to strangle film, this is increasingly untrue. Happily, a good deal of his advice can still be salvaged. For example, he talks about methods to label and categorize your slides. Using photo management software, you could use an essentially identical method to organize your digital photos so this is still useful information.

Most of the ingredients for a great book are still here. The author's common sense approach to things and years of experience still serve him well. The book is also filled with beautiful photos, as you would expect from such an accomplished photographer. But the focus needs to shift away from film and over to digital where the vast majority of the market now uses. The bottom-line it that the book is still somewhat useful but badly needs an update.

I had read two of John Shaw's other excellent books, so I was pleased to come across this one just as I began to consider going pro myself. This book was virtually perfect for me. (See Alan Nielsen's review for an excellent summary of what Shaw writes.) It seems I now know everything I need to to decide if this profession is really for me, and, if so, how to go about getting started. My only complaint is that it is already somewhat out of date, as 3 of the 6 books from his reccommended list that I tried to buy here are out of print (Amazon said they would look for them.)

This is a great book for anyone who is interested in turning their photography into a business. It is written in laymans terms so anyone can understand it. This book is not only interesting reading but you can apply things from the book to your business. It covers what kind of photos to take,how to label your slides,how to sell your photos,taxes,licenses,etc. After I've finished the book there where only a handful of questions that were left unanswered.

Very well structured book. Cover most of the topics one must know before start selling, example managing the files, labeling, how to write the query letters, what to send with the submission etc. Very helpful. Recommended for anyone interested in selling their work. Do not expect photography tips, this book is not for that.