Profitable Photography in Digital Age: Strategies for Success [Paperback]

Dan Heller (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1581154127 | ISBN-13: 978-1581154122 | Publication Date: June 1, 2005

This groundbreaking resource demonstrates how to use digital imaging and the Internet as the cornerstone of a successful photography business. Topics covered include setting business goals, marketing, setting prices, selling prints, running a Web-based photography business, working with stock agencies, legally protecting images, and more. Both serious amateurs considering a start-up and established businesses looking for fresh approaches need this timely, relevant book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The survival guide for photographers doing business in the new millennium," (Bob Krist, Columnist, Outdoor Photographer magazine )

From the Publisher

The ultimate digital-age resource for the serious amateur considering a career in photography and the professional wanting to take an existing businesses to the next level! Written by a professional photographer and Internet technology entrepreneur, this guide explains the fundamental shifts within the photography industry since the inception of digital imaging and the Internet. By explaining how business is done now, this book helps photographers understand what it takes to sell, deliver, and compete in today’s market. Eschewing the "one size fits all" approach of other guides, this book explores an extensive range of business models to help the reader determine the best approach for selling his or her own photography. Whether working with film or the latest digital equipment, photographers will find real-world insights to crucial topics such as: setting business expectations; applying business sense; marketing photography successfully; setting prices; selling prints; running a Web-based photography business; working with stock photography agencies; legally protecting images; and much more. Profitable Photography in the Digital Age includes special tips for photographers selling images for posters, postcards, and calendars, as well as a photography equipment list. Any photographer wanting to think smartly and analytically about his or her business will need this book.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Allworth Press (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581154127
• ISBN-13: 978-1581154122
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #261,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Professional

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Make money with your camera!, August 1, 2006

By 

FredM (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Profitable Photography in Digital Age: Strategies for Success (Paperback)

Anyone who wants to run a successful photographic enterprise should read this book from cover to cover, as it provides a wealth of tips and techniques that will help you keep costs under control, market your services, and grow your business. Whether you're selling posters, postcards, or portraits, you'll find sage advice in these pages. I wish I'd had this book five years ago.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good dose of reality, August 12, 2007

By 

Super Dude - See all my reviews

This review is from: Profitable Photography in Digital Age: Strategies for Success (Paperback)

The best book on the Photography business to date. It may be hard for some to swallow, but sometimes when you are forced to look in the mirror and evaluate the decisions you have made in your life and career, it's easy to criticize the one forcing you to do so. Dan has written a book that should be a classic for anyone even thinking about making money from photography at any level, be it just an amateur wanting to make a few bucks to support his equipment habit, or the serious photography looking to make a true career in the business. A must read for the new and the seasoned.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bottom-feeding is not the way to go, August 2, 2010

By 

renato "rynato" (in front of my computer) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Profitable Photography in Digital Age: Strategies for Success (Paperback)

I wanted to rate this book more highly. I really did. It does have a great deal of hard-headed insight and advice and things that all aspiring photographers really need to think about.

However, I cannot lightly set aside Mr. Heller's antipathy towards 'photographer solidarity'. Specifically, he spends a fair amount of time criticizing the notion that photographers should uphold certain policies and pricing. I do not know for sure, but I would guess that Mr. Heller has a rather dim view of union organizing as well.

What Mr. Heller advocates, then, is a 'race to the bottom' where each photographer undercuts his competitors. Well, we all know where the 'race to the bottom' ends up. This may temporarily benefit you personally, but in the long run it does tremendous damage to all photographers (definitely including one's self) in a business where already anybody who can afford a digital camera can call themselves a photographer, and where many clients tend to think we should be happy getting paid ANYTHING AT ALL since we are being paid to 'play with cameras' for a living.

What's more, in the long run one does one's self more harm than good by taking on 'grinder' clients - clients who are never satisfied unless they grind your profit margins to nothing. In addition... clients who grind your price down will also try to grind as much work out of you as possible, so that you end up working for less than minimum wage... sometimes far, far less.

If one is to succeed in this business - as in any business - one must spend time learning how to talk beyond price and how to counter typical 'grinder' negotiating strategies such as, "I can get my cousin to do this for $20! He has a Canon Rebel with 10 megapixels!" or, "do this job for $X - I'll have a lot more work after that!" These are clients to WALK AWAY FROM, not ones to appease by working for whatever breadcrumbs they deign to throw your way.