Fantastic finds to help grow your
studio
From time to time we
run across special opportunities that we like to pass along to our
newsletter readers. In the past, we have mentioned how F. J. Westcott's
continuous cold lighting is a wonderful photographic asset for special children, and, as a
matter of fact, for any type of subject, because what you see, is what
you get (in reference to light). The lights stay on all the time, can be
more easily adjusted for "sculpting" and do not flash to agitate small
children and animals.
They can be adjusted to a variety of light intensities
through the switches on the back that control the five lights inside the
soft box. No Pocket Wizard is needed to set them off (because they are
already on).
This lighting system is especially suitable for photographers
just starting out because the learning curve and newbie "intimidation factor" is less
than with strobes. The cost may also be less. However, camera knowledge is
extremely important, because it is best to use manual
camera settings. (www.fjwestcott.com)
About framing. There are many wonderful framing companies available to
photographers. If you are not offering frames at this time, it's worth
considering. Customarily, there is a high mark-up on frames—sometimes as
much as 600 percent, even more. Depending on your wholesale investment, the
retail price you charge the customer is generally tripled (at the
minimum).
Sample mouldings (as shown below) are available to purchase at a
modest cost. These can be shown to the customer and set next to the
portrait for a realistic capture of how picture and frame meld together.
Put Velcro on back and stick to a board covered with felt or some other
material that will allow them to stick to it.
Shown below is a small collection of mouldings from Style
Craft in Salt Lake City. This is a frame company that is
a well-kept secret (because they feature wall decor that is inside
the frame. It may seem odd that their photographic-suitable frames are not shown on their website.
It's almost like "you have to know someone" to get in.
Style Craft makes many of their own frames. Their prices and
quality are exceptional. To give an example, many of the styles below are
under $20 for a 16x20. Yes, unbelievable but true.
It is best to contact the Style Craft representative,
Guadalupe Rodriguez (guadalupe@stylecraftframes.com).
The toll-free number is (800) 779-5317. Call Lupe directly at (801)
972-4154, ext. 38. He has images of frames he can email.
Pictured is a small, but select,
collection of frames from Style Craft that are well-suited to fine
portrait images. Wholesale prices from this company are very appealing
to buyers of frames for customers. Acquire sample mouldings and hang
sample images. Customers appreciate a photographer's professional
opinion; select a frame and recommend it to a customer, stating why it's
a "perfect fit" for their home and your art. |
|
Darker walls are well-suited to photographic art. Also, clients like to
see what a 20x30 or 16x20 in. photograph looks like "up close and
personal." Adding a frame helps with the presentation and the
sales. Displayed here are canvas samples, a metallic print,
and a standard print on luster paper in a variety of
different frames that would appeal to almost any customer as well as
coordinate with most any portrait. News Flash: Note the directional
lighting in the picture above. Home Depot has an adapter (about $10)
that converts a canlight into a fixture that will accommodate three (or
more) directional halogen lights (featured in the above studio). This
studio lighting set-up was self-installed for approximately $50 w/o need
to access the attic!
McKenna Lab offers free prints to
SKP-ers
At the SKPA Chicago
workshop in July 2009, Mike Moss, Marketing Manager for McKenna Pro Labs (www.mckennapro.com),
announced that McKenna will provide four free 8x10 prints for SKPA
accreditation applicants to use as part of their application process.
Instructions on how to proceed with this are provided in the SKPA
accreditation workshop. If the workshop has already been completed by a
photographer who is in the final submission stage of the process, please
contact mmoss@mckennapro.com
directly for guidance.
*Watch for more perks from photo industry
businesses that are eager to help photographers who have been
SKPA-trained and are actively working with special children as clients.
Can you SKiP?
Ask your fellow professionals!
(Special Kids in Photographs)
See
www.specialkidsphotography.com to learn about
accreditation.
Sign up with
Special Kids Photography of America
($25) - receive ambassador packet
Las Vegas area workshop -
email us to arrange a date. |
