Photographing Nothing

Create an image of what you portray as nothing... this was a head scratcher. After all, how can something be nothing? What represents nothing? How do you capture it in an image.  Well, this is my passion. Solving this dilemmas. 

So I will quote from the book, "Best Business Practices for Photographers" by John Harrington (which is an excellent book if you are interested in starting a photography business) to rally the troops around this situation.   Let's start with my favorite.

"Education. an ongoing and critical practice; Don't rest on your Laurels."  (Chapter 29 - title pg, 475)   Continue the Learning Process: You can teach an Old Dog new tricks!  And finally, "How to grow from the couch." (pg. 479)

True pearls of wisdom. In my case, very appropriate for what I am going through, currently. I have returned to school to get an advanced education, to learn new tricks and to position myself, so for the most part, can work from my couch -metaphorically.

Financial Statement

When creating a financial statement for my business's budgets and sales forecast; I learned a few things.  First it is not an easy task, rather time consuming, actually.  It is not a fun project by any stretch of the word but a necessary one.  The research alone will drown you into a state of deep depression.  HOWEVER -  Thanks to the good folks at Nevada State bank, an easy-to-adapt excel workbook version was available and I was able to plug in my figures and calculations.  I still had to determine what these figures were and actually had to do Math - Yuck! But nonetheless, it has to be done.
Here are few things I observed:

•  Your figures and estimations need to be real - very real. There is not one banker that will view your business plan based on fictitious numbers. Be prepared to explain and justify every expense and earning. Staring with your cash investment and equipment purchases to salaries and profits.  
• You will most likely not get paid your first 6 months of running your business.   If you have a business partner that has shared this investment with you, neither will they.  So expect to continue working your Pizza Delivery job for the first year.
• The Forecast is great guideline.  You spent all this time creating it - Now use it!  This will assist you to stay on budget - avoid over spending. Also your sales forecast will aid you in staying on top of your monthly sales.  Keeping a running tally of what your actually sales are each month and where they need to be is a motivator to get out and make more money. 

Overall, I am having a good experience with my budget & sales forecast. oh sure, my sales fall low one month and then triple the nest, but with this business plan, I am able to keep on eye on my bottom line and anticipate which direction my business is going in.

Photo Challenge: Food Photography

It is said you eat with your eyes first! Food Photography is a dirty little secret game. There is so much styling and prep work that goes into food photography it literally makes it inedible. Trust me, after a few squirts of lacquer and glycerine you would not want to eat it.  Here I will reveal some of my trade ideas to make food looks as appealing as possible but still remain edible.

  Tips for Photographing Food
Make more than you can eat:  invite friends over, so they can help you eat the left-overs, or take them to a neighbor.  The reason you make more, is because like snowflakes, no two pieces of your food are identical. The toasting, the juices, the skin or color...never the same.
 
 Light

Use natural light next to a large window, with a few white boards to bounce nor re-direct your light.  Also consider building a 4 x 4 Light tent out of foam boards and Parchment paper. This will allow you to control your light source and give you a larger range of high key lighting.

Setting

Before you start shooting, make sure there isn’t any distracting clutter in the background of the shot (stray people, silverware, whatever). Using a wider aperture to blur the background will help.  Choose a setting that enhances, but doesn’t distract from your food. Pick a simple, plain background or tablecloth. Use dishes and flatware with color  that either contrasts  or complimentary to the food, this is a good time to brush up on your color wheel.

Details

The devil is in the details. Check the plates and glasses for food, and smudges. Use sauces and garnishes to add color to drab shots (i.e. adding a lemon wedge to iced tea).  I promised I would share some secrets; If you want something to glisten - use oil from an orange peel. Simply peel the rind like and apple- this releases the oil, them use a small brush or Q-tip to apply. Put Olive oil in a small spritzers bottle and add moisture without getting your food wet.  Are you garnishes wilting? Stick them in the freezers for a few minutes wrapped in a paper towel. Looking for the perfect toast?  Use a butane torch lighter and paint it on - but be careful it, too can burn.


This is the time to PLAY with your food. Go ahead! Have fun! And afterwards, you can eat it...Don't forget to share!

40 under 40 in Vegas

The 40 under 40 Awards recognize not only the determination and commercial drive of the nominees but also the philanthropic pursuits that balance their corporate achievements and as such acknowledge their less public contributions to the welfare of the state of residency.
Whew!  This may seem like a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time, but for myself, I know how quickly a plan can come together for great success.  For example: in my twenties i was working in advertising. I received many prestigious awards for my creative work, both on a state and National level.  Although I never really took it for granted, I did not seek these accolades either. They just came with the territory, write a great commercial - win a CLIO.  Cross promote with a non-profit that aids in their fund raising - win an NFPB. Become a top female account executive in advertising - wards from RAB & NAB. The list goes on, but I am not here to look back. Quite the contrary, I am here to look forward.
 I invested in my future to gain a technological edge - to stay on top of the tidal wave prior the crash to shore.  With an ever changing media like digital photography, it is silly to think this can be self taught.  However, the business savvy, ability to communicate with others, express your ideas, do things for the greater good of a community; may be taught in a class but the comprehension and implementation comes from experience in the field. Also, the valuable network group that surrounds you, only grows as you become older, wiser and more successful.
Currently, I see myself growing in the next 10 years, to an award winning, Master Photographer.  Throw in a Pulitzer Prize to the mix and I will still keep striving for more.

Photo Challenge: Barber cuts in

Elvis cuts in 2012© Keri Neal

After viewing the movie, "Roman Holiday" I was inspired by a scene where the characters are attending an outdoor dance and a local Barber cuts in while the two lead characters are dancing. Not to be rude, but rather to join in the festivities and, naturally, to woo the attention of the pretty girl.
Here. I took this image when a Flash-mob broke out in the square at Trivolli Village in Las Vegas. The dance group (including the show girl) that practiced the choreography were pleasantly surprised when Elvis, popped in.
I found this to be newsworthy for several reasons; the flash-mob itself, is always a surprise of spreading joy, the location is a newly opened shopping center in town - the event to celebrate the Grand Opening, and anytime Elvis makes an appearance it is newsworthy.
I took this photo using my "drop" camera; a Canon Rebel on f/16 @1/500 sec with a 75-300mm lens.  It was hard to hold still with all the excitement around me.
Rock on, Elvis, rock on.

Is she fair game?

After watching the movie Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn (Princess Anna), Gregory Peck (Writer; Joe Brady) and Eddie Albert (Photographer; Irvin), they are faced with a dilemma of to publish or not to publicize the quirk events surrounding a Princess.  The statement is made; " ...She is fair game..." implying they (the two male characters) should go forward and publish the Princess' activities.
   When posed with the question of Is she fair game? First we must define just what fair game is. My definition would be, when speaking of a girl, does she have a ring on her finger? If not, she is fair game. In other words, if a lady has not been betrothed to another, than she is fair game.
    With reference to the movie and the issue of printing the story & photographers; I would have to reply... Heck Yeh! After all, the Princess is a public figure. Her image in a public place is completely "fair game" based on those factors alone. Now, the movie is a romance, so Gregory Peck goes soft and decides to not go forward and write the story.  Not only is he out the five grand for his exclusive, he does not get the girl either.  FOOL!
   In conclusion - fair game has a broad definition as a whole, but may be interrupted very specifically when it comes to photography, especially when the image is captured of a public figure, in public.

Photo Challenge: How do you show the light reflection on eyes?

2012© KeriNeal dba KeriLynn Design, LLC

Reflection - inner, exterior of one self or of something. What or who is being reflected? And most importantly, do the eyes tell all?
Or is it what is reflected in the eyes that tells the true story?
In a painting, the light reflection is a white dab of pigment. In a photograph, all will be revealed through the final processing and development.A person in the middle, with lights all around creating the highlight of the pupil.
Here is photograph I took of myself inside the pupil of a friend. I did this with a Canon 7D with a portrait 85-135mm lens. Focusing just on my reflection, I pushed an f8 with a speed of 1/160.
The squiggly colors behind me, where a happy accident from the blinking street signs and evening sun.

Biggest challenge to complete my business plan

I must admit, I have a current active business plan, so ask me what is my biggest challenge in creating a business plan is moot. HOWEVER~ some challenges I face day in and day out is following my plan, altering my plan and adjusting to the ever changing environment of photography and my current economical atmosphere. When creating my Executive Summary, one of the hardest things to do is talk about yourself, sell yourself and by all means, toot your own horn. I fall short in doing this. I can talk about my business, my passion, all day long with those that share the passion; but to discuss with a room of bankers, who probably don't speak the same jargon, is terrifying.

Although the executive summary leads off the business plan, it should be written last. That way, you can gather information from the rest of the report, and make certain there are no inconsistencies.

The executive summary is the best place to illustrate your mission statement. Develop a brief description, no more than a few sentences, which explain:

• Why your business exists
• What its goals are
• How you will achieve those goals

“…your plans must incorporate the idea that the business of photography is constantly changing. You not only must plan for what you expect, but you must establish responses to unexpected events and response to those responses, and so on and so on.” (Best Business Practices for Photographers; John Harrington, pg 7)

Next, develop the business concept; details about the type of business you want to open, who the customers will be and what the competitive advantage is. A competitive advantage explains why customers will chose your business over marketplace rivals. Your reasons may include:

• Filling a void in the marketplace
• Offering a better product than what currently exists
• Offering a comparable product, but at a better price than your rivals

From there, give a brief description of your financial stance. This part of the executive summary should mention the expected start up costs, as well as your short and long term financial projections.

“Statistics show that an invoice more than 60 days old has only a 70% chance of being collected in full. After 90 days, the chance of collecting the invoice in full drops to 45% and after 120 days it falls to 20% It diminishes form there, so make sure you get paid sooner than later.” (Best Business Practices for Photographers; John Harrington, pg 365)

The next issue to address is your business status. It may still be only in the idea stage. Perhaps you've already raised a little money. Or, it may be that you are fully operational and looking to expand. Investors will interpret your current business position as a signal as to how much capital is needed to advance your company, and whether or not this equals the type of opportunity they are looking for.

The final part of the executive summary will focus on critical aspects that will determine your chance for success. These items will be specific to your business, but may include:

• Low staff turnover
• A technology patent
• A strategic partnership
• Externalizations, such as the continuation of a marketplace or economic trend

“If you have been telling yourself that you can’t cause for your success to happen, then you are a victim, but not a victim of circumstance, a victim of your own thinking.” (9 Lies That Are Holding Your Business Back...and the Truth That Will Set It Free; Steve Chandler & Sam Beckford, Career Press, 2005 Pg. 163)

Generally, the executive summary should offer a glance into what the business plan holds. Highlight the important points; if you refrain from composing it until after you've written the rest of your business plan, it should virtually write itself.

Photo Challenge: Paparazzo Style

2012© KeriNeal dba KeriLynn Design, LLC

In the style of the great Ron Galello, I was hunting on the streets of Las Vegas Strip hoping to come across a celebrity. I spotted this guy and his buddy, dodging and weaving through the crowd, as if the were important.  As he came into my frame, he had a scowl on his face. His mannerisms and his scoff as he spotted me with my camera, easily made a great target for this shot, I can almost see a disgusted Marlon Brando attitude in him. I am so grateful he did not reach out and break my jaw.
I shot this image with a Canon 7D with a 135mm lens at a fast rate of speed. I wanted to ensure getting his photo before he passed me. The expression I captured was a bonus of being in the right p[lace at the right time.

Ron Galella & the 1st Amendment

Prior to the intrusive, aggressive paparazzi of today, there was Ron Galella, a photographer who made history. Smash His Camera is a documentary about the life and career of Ron Galella, the man who fundamentally gave birth to the stalking methods of today’s paparazzi. Galella cultivated fame in the 1970s and 1980s. For over ten years he set his sights on Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, although he also photographed any other celebrity he could find.

Galella has a list of dos and don’ts for students in the art of paparazzi. His first rule is to sneak in. He also advises photographers to dress the part, know where the kitchen is as that is an easy access point, forge credentials, and shoot fast. He enjoyed capturing surprised expressions of his subjects.

The ironic circumstance is he can get away this, simply because he is shooting celebrity figures; the legal term is public figures. When shooting a citizen who is not a public figure, a photographer should always obtain a signed release. Whether it is for location, property, or person, this release gives the photographer the permission to use these photographs as they see fit with regards to reproduction, publication, printing and distribution.

A model release being the most common, and it is executed by anyone over the age of 18. Or in rare cases, the person, signing the release could be deemed to be a legal guardian if the subjects considered not capable of executing a release.(John Harrington; Best Business Practices For Photographers, Pg. 344)

Failure to get these signed releases can result in a messy law suit. however, what if you are a paparazzi photographer and the public figure you are chasing down feels you are stalking them? Well, in all reality, you are. So how do you deal with this? How does the 1st Amendment address this? First let's look into the details of Ron Gallella's case:

Ron Galella vs. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

“I do not have any guilt,” he says about what he has done through the years. Yet he was in a famous court battle with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Galella followed Jackie and her kids all around New York City. Jackie once asked her bodyguards to “smash his camera.” Galella sued Jackie O who counter-sued Galella. The First Amendment rights were on the table as personal privacy went up against freedom of the press and free speech. Jackie’s attorney’s argued that Galella’s tactics worried Mrs. Onassis and frightened her two young children, who were under the age of 18, therefore still under the protection of the Secret Service. (Prime Time TV, Francine Brokaw, May 30, 2010)

It would appear that Jackie O feels she is not a public figure and should have the same 1st Amendment protection as any other citizen, but this is not the case. She is a high profile public figure (especially at the time of this case) and has to accept that she will be a highly desired subject to photograph.
Ron Galella ran into a similar situation from Marlon Brando.  While walking down the street with Dick Cavett, after a taping of a 1973 show, they were met face to face with Ron's camera. After several dozen images, and a few blocks, Marlon became irritated and literally cold coked Ron and broke his jaw. Yes, they went to court, but as Ron says, "It was never about the money" he just wanted celebrities to understand, they are public figures making their daily life a desired community to the photographic community.
So, the next time you are shooting on a public street and Mathew McConaughey walks in front of your lens, SNAP AWAY. you are protected under the 1st Amendment to do so, just be smart and don't piss him off, or you may be looking at a trip to the E.R. or worse, dental surgery.

Photo Challenge: Light Play

"Tunnel Vision" 2012© KeriNeal dba KeriLynn Design, LLC

Pueblo Picasso, although not the first artist to do light play, made the process popular with his works.
Here is my version of light play.
I made this by setting steel wool on fire. WHAT? Yes, it can be a flammable product. By spreading the steel wool, allowing air to pass through it, then placing it inside an old metal whisk, then attaching it with a toggle to a cable, I lit the steel wool. Then I began twirling it around me, in a circular pattern, be aware of every movement I made. The steel wool burns out in about :30 seconds, so you do need to work rather quickly. However, :30 seconds in shutter speed time is slow. Please note: SAFETY FIRST! I covered my exposed skin with hats, gloves, bandana over my face and had a jug of water with me. Also, I chose the cement flood tunnels for safety reasons and knew it would contain, allowing for a higher concentration of the light and sparks.
I shot this with a Canon 7D on a long exposure rate of BULB, ISO 100, standard 18mm-55mm lens and using my wireless remote.
Not only was this project fun, it gave my creative mind an opportunity to work in overdrive. Loved it!

Race Horses not Unicorns

In layman terms, a racehorse represents a worker; a unicorn represents a dreamer (or what I call delusional).   As artists we all dream, but are you doing anything about it? In other words, what are doing to self-promote? Have you published a book of images to submit to Art Directors? Do you have a hit list of top Editors for national publications? Are you networking with professionals current and actively working in the field?
I am -making me a true Thoroughbred race horse!!
My choosing filed is Editorial / Commercial photography.  Confident this genre of photography utilizes my past 20 years experience in advertising and photojournalism,  I can now combine my artistic style into my images. Oh sure, I am positive there will be some assignments that I will do begrudgingly,  for the money, or probably be a favor to a friend, but these will be few and far between.
Armed with these skills, experience and knowledge,  it is my goal to bid and obtain contracts from major publications from leaders like LIFE, TIME, Word Press, Associated Press, for national clients like Coca Cola, Walt Disney, Kellogg and other major corporations.  Specializing in commercial photography (in order to pay the bills) and seeking editorial assignments, will balance my business bottom line.  As always, I will continue my "hustle' all along the way.

Who won the Super Bowl

Who won the Super Bowl

Ok, yeh sure, the giants won the Superbowl, but the real winners are those advertisers that ran successful advertising campaigns - The ones that go the attention of the viewers with distinct, unique ads.  Here is my choice for the top 3.

1.)  Chrysler delivered authentic emotion. As images of Americans flash on the screen, the director of "Gran Torino," gives a stirring monologue about America's – and Detroit's – ability to come back from hard times: "This country can't be knocked out in one punch,"  Clint Eastwood, said. "We get right back up again, and when we do, the world will hear the roar of our engines. It's half time, America."

2.)  Audi took a strong 2^nd place with their Vampire ad campaign. Going all “Twilight” in their choice of approach, this ad featured the first hash tag.

3.)  Being a fan of Ferris Bueller’s day off, Honda knocked it out of the park. I actually saw the teasers posted on a Google+ page promoting this ad with more yet to come. This pre-release gave attention to Honda Corp on a International level prior to the Superbowl airing of the Ad.

Source: Wall Street Journal 2/6/12

Competitive Analysis

The hardest task when starting your business is figuring out where you fit in. Which niche can you fill? The goal of the competitive analysis is to better position your organization to leverage your competitive edge. How is your company different from others? In what way does it stand out? Is there a sustainable value that you can maintain and develop over time? The effort to express your vision combined with the battle in the crowded marketplace to sell your talents during the worst economic crisis in history; well it's dauntingly sisyphean. I believe I can. I know my style is unique and personal to me and my clients.More importantly, I learned three valuable life lessons: 1.)Say No, to any job that does not fit into my plan. For example, I am not equipped to do wedding photography, have no desire, therefore, it would result into a financial and creative failure. 2.)Let go of the fear. For too long I worked out of fear of financial failure. In turn, I never enjoyed my successes. Instead, I let go and my fear slipped away as my failures led to great successes. 3.) Don't pigeon hole yourself. I may never shoot a wedding, but I allow myself to shoot in other various genres. If it is something that inspires you, interests you, then do it.  This is how I have carved my edge over my competitors. Here is how they size up.

Peter From© Peter From (2012)

One of the photographers I faithfully follow and is a type of virtual mentor is Peter From. His site, although extremely professional, has altered its appearance to a type of glamor style in order to showcase other "up & coming" photographers. The layout looks more like a magazine, rather than a standard photography website: http://peterfrom.com/ Born in Finland, raised in Sweden and spent many years in Germany and time in the US (NYC). His main interests (beside the obvious): particle physics, cosmology, astronomy, fishing, nature hikes to mention just a few. He is an author (historical books), photographer, web-designer and editor of the WordPress Web Magazine WP-Magazine.SE and Google+ Contest Page, PeterFrom.com.  Wearing these many hats, Peter still finds time to take walks and shoot images on a daily basis.  His published several historical books. He also manages a Photoshop Tutorial page, with great videos doing step by step processing of images.

Mark Fisher© Mark Fisher 2012

My second competitor is so far up there, star quality, to be in his company would just make me giddy like a school girl. it is the infamous Mark Fisher.
Mark Fisher's images have appeared on Covers as well as in many campaigns and fashion editorials. His natural beauty images are known worldwide. His work contains many models including the cover Models of Fashion, The beautiful Agyness Deyn and the incredible Stella Maxwell.
His work with the camera started in 1966 and he shot every subject that came in front of the lens.

The image maker grew up in the United States. He served in the U.S. Military as a Medic, then a Press Liaison Officer and Photographer. He continued Photography and captured hundreds of landscapes and scenes of life. Many of his landscapes have been used in advertising and University syllabus. His landscapes were shown in the National Gallery in 1988.

In the 1970's Fashion appeared to become the main subject. Music Images were a detour from boredom. Capturing the live essence of the musician became the main focus. The Band Promos as well as the arranged session work look as if the group is about to go on stage.  Everything looks "Now Now Now, Timeless".  His work contains many well known musicians. He has captured several thousand portraits from the unknown and to the famous-his Portraits are full of life and are hard to rival. The images invoke deep feelings. Many have tried to find ways to get the same feeling without success. His images are published monthly. You may find more work on the web by putting two words in Google “American Photographer” and watch the suggestions, click his name and then hit images to view five pages of history.  www.fishercreative.com/

Doug Menuez©2003-2012 Editorial Photographers

My third choice of competitor's, is another Master Photographer, Doug Menuez.

Award-winning documentary photographer Douglas Menuez began his varied career shooting first for the Washington Post followed by Time, Newsweek, Life, People, USA Today, Fortune Magazine and many other publications worldwide over the past twenty-five years. He’s covered major news stories including the famine in Ethiopia, the destruction of the Amazon, the AIDS crisis, drug wars, and presidential campaigns, the Olympics, five Super Bowls and the World Series. His portraits of key figures range from Mother Teresa and Robert Redford, to President Clinton and Bill Gates. Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, With unprecedented access to almost every major technology company, he covered digital pioneers such as Steve Jobs, Andy Grove, John Warnock, Bill Joy and John Doerr. Working first for Life Magazine, Menuez continued covering start-ups and established giants until the collapse of the dot-coms. Stanford University Library has recently acquired this work along with his entire archive, and created “The Douglas Menuez Collection at Stanford University Library.”

Menuez’ advertising campaigns for global brands include Chevrolet, Nikon, Siemens, Hewlett Packard, Northwest Airlines, Coca Cola, Nokia, and Microsoft. His work has been honored by many organizations, including the Kelly Awards,  His most recent one-man shows include “Heaven, Earth, Tequila” at the Holbrook Arts Center, Millbrook, NY and “Transcendent Spirit” at Farmani Gallery, Los Angeles.  menuez.com

Rita Rudner; © 2011Sampsel/Preston

Sampsel & Preston Photography, as they should.
Oh, did I mention, they are also my Instructors at the Art Institute, and yes, I see them as direct competitors.

Las Vegas Photographers Sharon Sampsel & Greg Preston have been doing amazing advertising, Commercial, Editorial & Resort Photography in Las Vegas for the past 20 years. Sharon Sampsel & Greg Preston graduated from the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and had the good luck to pick Las Vegas as the up and coming place in which to open their studio. Riding the wave in as Las Vegas came into its own in the last 20 years has been a blast for these two partners. Although they concentrate mostly on Resort and Casino work, Being in a town like Las Vegas gives them the opportunity to shoot just about everything, which is fine with them. Their studio is a wonderfully located 4000’foot space right across the freeway from Mandalay Bay Resort, with two shooting bays, a full kitchen, a make-up area, and a relaxation room. 2009 holds in store the opening of their new space, as they are hot on the trail of a property that is really innovative and "outside the box" of the ordinary studios in Las Vegas.

The disadvantages I have versus my competitors, is they're established. One is a Senior editor for a major publishing organization, another has so many national based connections and a network of major publications. The local team of Sampsel & Preston have an established business of 20 years, along with local publications and a local studio and Mark Fisher has been doing photography since before I was born. So my competitors work have legs, stable network and contacts, along with years of experience.
So I ask myself, are my three life skills enough to give me a competitive edge? With additional business sense and the savvy tenacity, I have to go after what I want,  and my new, fresh creative edge, I am confident in saying, "Yes, I can meet and potential exceed what my competitors have accomplished." Until that day, I will continue to be inspired by their work.

Photo Challenge: Wedding Photography

 Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue.

I am far from inspiring to be a wedding photographer. So far, the Grand Canyon is not deep enough to maintain a safe distance from the perpetual joy weddings are suppose to portray. When asked why I don't shoot weddings, my response it quick and to the point, "Too much work, too many WP's in Las Vegas." Although this satisfies them for the moment, it's far from complete truth. Which is; they terrify me!  I am an extrovert, but Weddings turn me into a frighten child.  Maybe it's the pressure of getting the shot, or the approval that has be sought from the bride (and her posse), but I do NOT do weddings, shoot, attend, participate or otherwise.

"Wedding photography can be perhaps the most critical and stressful type of photography. At a wedding, the total focus is on the bride and groom - they are the event! Therefore, the photography needs to maintain this strong focus  and convey the image that the couple are first and best in every way of that occasion. The whole concept of a wedding is always romantic, fashionable, and gushing with optimism. The photographs visually document the bride, the groom, and the event." (Frank Pinto lecturing in class)

For my photo challenge, I chose to do a still life.  This is how it works; the stone heart bracelet is new, the dinner mints in gold satchel are blue, the diamond earrings are borrowed and the herringbone necklace was old. I shot this image with Canon rebel with a shallow depth of field (4.5) blurring out the back ground and giving the viewer's eye direction to the diamonds.

Scary Legal Issues

In photography, the most scary issue you will probably encounter is protecting your intellectual property after is has been stolen. Can you imagine creating a beautiful image only to stumble across it on someone elses page where they claimed your work as their own? How does one go about rectifying this situation? My response; GET A LAWYER! It never hurts to have a legal representative at your disposal. Someone who can review your contracts, assist in your negotiations, and protect your imagery.
Let's explore contract negotitations.


1.  Contracts: Editorial publications. One of the biggest challenges is negotiating your contracts. First you need to understand who your are negotitating with. In many cases the APE's (Assistant Photo Editor) and the PE (Photo Editor) / DOP (Director of Photography) role is one person. In very small publications there id no AD (Art Director). For a publishing conglomerate, one AD handles multiple titles. the key is to know who has the power to sign off on your negotioning points. Always ask your prospective client, "What is your budget for this assignment?" You will get sveral different responses and here is how one expert handles this situation:

"Regardless of whether I'll take the assignment, I want to know where thay are so I can guage the likelihood that I will get the assignment. Even the first response - seemingly too low to consider-I'll send them my paperwork. I do this for several reasons. Many clients who call have experience with a lower rate in their town and will experience a sticker shock when trying to book in a larger community." (Best Business Practices for Photographers; John Harrington; pg.179)

Some prospects willtry to get their work done for cheap. They figure if they start low and see who bites. others will do this too weed out those who accept the low offers.  Once a client gets over the sticker shock, you want to stay in the bidding pool, as your competitors offers come rolling in and educates your prospective client of the market. Always send out an estimate, the worse they can say is no.


2.  Bids, quotes and estimates: Commercial / corporate photos. During the negotiation process, you will want to know what process you are preparing. A bid or a quote requires a great deal of refinement. You are commiting to that cost to produce the outlined project on the bottom line of your bid. A clever way to go about this is process called triple bid the project. You and two other photographers present your combined bids to the client, and the client decides who will shoot the project. Estimates, on the other hand, allow for a bit of flexibility on the bottom line, allowing for change orders to occur.  It is a good idea to carry a change form with you.

"When the parameters or circumstances change for a shoot, so do the figures involved in the estimate. As with an editorial assignment, in which the concept of a change order is less common, change orders are a frequent neccessity for corporate and commercial assignments." (Best Business Practices for Photographers; John Harrington; pg.222)

3.  Weddings and rights of Passage: Think about all the grand events we go through in our lives, from birth to death. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, engagments and more, where you will negotiate your photography. Often these contracts need to be specific, to the letter. If you don't want to "Uncle Louie" popping in with his inst-o-matic as you are working, put it in the contract. And as all other types of contract negotiations, know who to be negotiating with, in this case, the bride, groom and probably the paying parents.  Most importantly, as the event photographer, take control.

"If a client hires multiple photographers for an event, they are all goping to want to get the same angle/shot. Yet, if you're the photographer who subcontracts the others, you are in charge-you choose coverage perspectives, and as such, you can significantly enhance the event coverage."(Best Business Practices for Photographers; John Harrington; pg.271)

Our challenge as photographers, is convincing the people hiring you that you have to be in charge of the photo shoot. If you're not incharge, make sure your role is clearly defined. Personally, I try to always be the one in charge-that's my nature.

Photo Challenge: Sports Photography

"Saved by the Balls" won the Championships!

Sports Photography is actually something I have had a lot of experience of doing lately. it seemed, for awhile, the only paying gigs I could find was shooting sports; softball, kickball, cheer squads, gymnastics and softball. the pay is not great at a local level, but wonderful to assist in honing my skills.
Attached is a photo I took, at night using a Canon 7D with a 400mm lens pushing for a 1/1000 shutter. Being inside a stadium at night posed a new realm of problem solving. With a higher ISO, I am confronted with higher noise issues in my images. However, most of this can be resolved in post or in camera using sub-folder adjustments. Yes, this is one of those special situations where you will want to pull out the manual that you received with your camera, and actually READ IT!

Where are you going and where are you now?

2012© KeriNeal dba KeriLynn Design, LLC

Where are you going and where are you now?
This is a relatively simple question for me to answer, as I am a mature photography student that has accomplishments on my bio.  I left working for a newspaper company and advertising agency to go freelance and update my education -where I am now. Where I intend to go is grow my business and get big publishing opportunities. With that being said, I am often asked how do I make money this way?
~Show Me the Money!
One of this most controversial arguments among professional photographers is pricing. What to charge, when to reduce your rates, when to charge more than your listed price, etc. My standard answer when asked, "How much do you charge?" is "..as much as the client is willing to pay."

"Never be the cheapest-it's true. you never want to be the cheapest. I don't want to be the 'always low prices, always' Walmart version of photography. Nor do I want to be the Target version. I want to be the Nordstrom's, Saks, Tiffany or other high-end exclusive boutique version of photography. Further, I believe that's the level of service, quality and commitment I bring to each assignment." (Best Business Practices for Photographers; pg.96)

This is an art form after all. Warhol charged different prices for different art pieces. Freelance photographers like Dorthea Lange or Gary Weingard probably started out working for peanuts (especially when working under Federal subsides grants and the FHA programs) and earned more when their popularity and demand rose. And then there is markup...

"One way to evaluate your fair markup rate is...look at the items you typically use for assignments -seamless backdrops, film, packaging materials, shipping, etc. and that you will be carrying these expenses over a period of time..between 30 to 45 days.With all this said, understanding markups are a common practice, you should be more empowered to charge markups on everything and not feel guilty about it."(Best Business Practices for Photographers; pg.110)

I ask myself, what is my time worth? Sure, I may only need an hour to take an image, but I may have an additional 5 hours in editing, so I never want to undercut myself and not be paid for ALL my time.
I was recently aware of this debate when I read a letter -written by a client-posted by a fellow photographer, here is an excerpt:

"...I canceled my $500 photography session with you and this is how I spent the money: $79 for a manicure and pedicure, $180 for a hair coloring and cut, $150 dinner with my husband at a fancy restaurant, and $91 on miscellaneous items I can not recall and probably did not need.  Today, I was told by my doctor, my cancer has returned and given me about three months. So instead of having a lasting professional image of my family that my husband and daughter can have for a life time, I cancelled my appointment with you and foolishly spent the money. Please share this with your customers if they ever feel the need to cancel, I am here to say, they will regret it." 

In most cases, my clients understand, I am giving them quality work that is worth every penny. I have been given the unique privileged of entering their private lives to capture a memory that they will value the rest of their lives. So, I ask you, what is that worth?

Photo Challenge: Crime Scene

2012© KeriNeal dba KeriLynn Design, LLC

As a forensic photographer, you will be asked to shoot crime scene photos. it is important to remember to capture ALL the details of the scene; blood splatters, bullets, weapons, the victim, and any other evidence the responding team has labeled. Usually using bright yellow tag cards, these images will correspond with the reporting agents reports.
I have chosen a fatal stabbing for a crime scene. I including the body with surrounding blood splatter, the weapon (Item #12) smeared shoe prints (Item #16) and other blood drops (possibly belonging to the suspect (Item #17) in this image. Taken with a Canon rebel with a 55mm lens on an ISO of 800 with a flash at night...as most, but not all, crimes take place late at night.

Photo Challenge: Self Portrait

How would I create an image that would represent me in several ways? Armed with my Canon 7D with a 105mm lens, light kit and a few spare hours, I surveyed my room for objects that would best describe me.
First and for most, I love film cameras, so including the Mamiya 645 was most important. Second, a picture of my daughter and niece. And third, I love to read and do free writing, so i wanted to represent that.
I positioned myself against my wall with a shelf behind me that contained items - and a few more- representing these aspects about me.  A picture of my life long partner, Joe, skydiving - that's how we met. The metal balls that I used to rehab my broken ankles with. A quill with a purple feather (since I like to write) and of course, Me,

So, here is me,  looking in-reflecting out...which seems like the story of my life. Always on the outside of what is really happening  -  the quiet observer.

My Voice

Hold on world, a new day is coming! With over twenty-five years experience in the field of communication and advertising, I decided I wanted to decelerate. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my work and cultivated a great deal of business knowledge, through trial and error. I spent countless hours meeting with clients, designing ad layouts, planning advertising campaigns, story boarding commercials, scripting radio ads, and list goes on. However, there is one thing I enjoyed the most, taking pictures. So, in 2000, I started my own LLC, specializing in photography and graphic design. The reality is, technology will pass you by, if you let it. Currently, I am a student at the Art Institute Las Vegas for digital photography. Although I love my film cameras, and the anticipation of the developing time, I now have the benefit of doing it myself with digital skills. The ever changing software, search engines and mechanics of the World Wide Web, no longer frighten me. Most importantly, I am able to work at my speed, my time, my choice.

Haute Couture

What is  Haute Couture and why do designer's do it, when most items are nonfunctional? The term "haute couture" is French. Haute means "high" or "elegant." Couture literally means "sewing," but has come to indicate the business of designing, creating, and selling custom-made, high fashion women's clothes. Sounds simple enough. So then, why are these items ranked in a non-functional (not so practical) category? Well, the best example I can think of is Lady Gaga and her outlandish costumes for major WOW factor and stage presence. 

We all know, we would never be caught dead in this bubble dress going to the grocery store. but would you wear it to a party? An evening out with the girls? Let's consider the functionality; can you use the restroom freely? are you able to maneuver  through crowds? more importantly, can you get in and out of your car?  And yet, the designer's continue to produce styles like this - why? For the fame, for the money? 

Because they can!  Like photographers, fashion designers are artist, too! As a photographer, I am seeking bi-lines, credits, money and compensation for my images but I do not take on the task for that reason - I do it because I believe in what it is I am shooting -an artistic connection- to create an photo that promotes feeling and inspiration.

"To many photographers appearing in print and achieving a photo credit in a prestigious publication are the ultimate goals, but as poet Dorothy Parker said, "Beauty is only skin deep; ugly goes clean to the bone." When you encounter an offer to work primarily (or only) for a photo credit, and the costs of doing so are greater than your revenue, the beauty of that photo credit is skin deep, but the ugliness of what you are required to sacrifice in order to achieve that goes to the bone." (Best Business Practices for Photographers pg.xxviii)

 With that said, it is no wonder a designer will create such haute couture when the price is right. Just as a photographer is willing to go to great lengths to create a gorgeous, memorable photograph. In the business of photography, it more than just snapping the shutter button. There are so many other elements (I will be discussing on this blog) to creating a successful photography business, like planning and preparation.

 "Planning and preparation are cornerstones of success. The Roman philosopher Seneca once said, "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

Therefore, be a boyscout; be prepared, even overly so.

"All of the circumstances you could find yourself in, and myriad other things could go wrong, go sideways, or just plain throw you off. If you do not have multiple backup plans and the resources to carry them out (preferably seamlessly), then you are not ready for the unexpected, and this lack of preparation will ruin your shoots(s) at the least desirable times." (Best Business Practices for Photographers pg.20)