Practice those photography skills !!

[Ann K. Johnson]

In this world of ezines, picturetrail albums and websites, it is very important to take the time to get optimal pictures:

Before pictures. I have seen dreamDraper renderings sell treatments on dark, fuzzy pictures. So, a perfect 'before' photo is not critical to selling a job. But an imperfect before photo is also not a great picture to put on your website or ezine. If you are going to go through the effort of taking the picture and importing it into DD, shouldn't you have the reward of being able to proudly post it later?

After pictures. These are your proud accomplishments. A great picture of the finished treatment can be used in so many ways to promote your business:

Postcard to the client to carry and show off to friends.

Ezines and marketing literature. Use Winkflash or Shutterfly to create albums. I've seen calendars with treatments that are printed and distributed to clients. What a great way to put yourself in front of them all year. It shows your professionalism and really sells a client when they see that the before pictures/renderings you can provide them really does look like the finished treatment.

Local press releases. Put those pictures in the paper. Let everyone know what it is you offer.

Trade magazines. Do you realize that all of the trade magazines - both hard copy and online - are always looking for professional before and after shots? There is absolutely no reason not to get yourself published! Just think how good that magazine page will look framed and hanging on your office wall for clients to see. Or in your portfolio.

Contest entries. The professional trade magazines also run contests. They are looking for a sharply professional image - not only in your work but in the photos you provide.

Portfolio. A slide show or a printed portfolio of your work.

But all of this comes down to taking good pictures. Digital cameras are awesome in that you can see the picture immediately after taking it. I love that !!! I could never take good pics before digital. But now, I have a problem with lighting. I need to step up my quality of pictures of interiors. Maybe we can work on this together.

I found this site, the New York Institute of Photography

They have a page of technical tips you might find useful.

And specifically this article on photographing interiors:

Sign up for their ezine. Scroll all the way to the bottom of this page for a list of photography articles.


In case you missed it, I also posted a thread awhile ago with tips for better pictures: http://www.evanmarshdesigns.com/xcha...ght=silhouette

One of the bonuses of taking the time to bump up your photography skills does translate into your personal life. Just think about how much better your family pictures will be. You cannot go wrong there.