livebooks blog

As some of you may recall, we recently conducted a survey centered on blogging and the habits of bloggers. We wanted to know why you blog (or don’t), how often you blog, how you promote your blog and more. The results revealed key insights into the blogging world of creative professionals, and we gleaned several important truths which we have captured in our new paper, ‘8 Blogging Truths for Creative Professionals.’

The ‘8 Truths’ help guide you through the world of blogging, provide advice on how to leverage your blog to help grow your creative business and feature tips from influential bloggers in the creative community such as Vincent Laforet and David Airey.

From our survey results, it is clear that most of you experience frustration with how to approach blogging and our belief is that this then deters you from setting up your own blog.

Now, I know that you (like us) hate the idea of ‘shameless self promotion’ – but I think this is one of those exceptions and you will be happy to learn that we now offer a solution to this problem with liveBooks Companion Blogs.  No longer is there any need to spend hours trying to find a template that ‘kind of’ looks like your website, or toil through the troubles of hosting your blog in cyberspace.

While this is an answer to just one of your blogging qualms, we know there are several other concerns you and thousands of other creative professionals face on a daily basis, which is why we encourage you to take a peek at our latest blogging report. Let us know what you think about the report. Do you agree with the truths? Do you have any truths to add to the mix?

If you want to read the paper in it’s entirety – follow this link and request the paper.

The most essential step in creating an effective marketing plan is to first decide who you most want to work with. If you don’t have a specific answer to that question, you will not know where to begin to look for them.

Almost every photographer who calls me for photography marketing help has the same basic issue: “I want more work. How do I get it?” I wish there was a simple solution to offer, but like any goal worth going after, it first takes some understanding of what the end result looks like.

One of the first things I do is ask: “What kind of client do you want to work with? What kind of work brings out the best in you?” or the corollary “What kind of work does NOT inspire you – on any level?”

Many times I get “I don’t really care. I just want work!” While I totally sympathize with that general need (in this economy especially!), any viable photography marketing plan MUST begin with narrowing down the best client/market niche for YOU to pursue.

The process I go through with my clients is, of course, far more individualized and in-depth, but here are a few key questions that will go a long way in helping you choose strategies and tactics to reach YOUR ideal prospects.

They’re simple questions, not easily answered, but ones which are critical to your success. When you’ve found the answers to these questions, you have the start of a road map that can help you avoid marketing activities that will not give you as high a return on your investment of time and money.

-What kind of clients could most benefit from what I bring to the table?

-What do I do that an advanced amateur photographer could not do as well – or at all?

-What market segments will NOT appreciate my level of professionalism?

-If it is an uneducated market segment, am I willing to do “whatever it takes” to help those potential clients understand the real value I add to their business?

-What kinds of assignments/projects do I always love doing?

You’ve probably heard the advice “it’s important to first know where you want to go before picking up a map.” Knowing your destination will determine which marketing map you actually use.

Many marketing resources discuss this concept in depth, but I prefer the succinct wisdom of Lily Tomlin: “I’ve always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific.”

Hundreds of up-and-coming wedding photographers have already tweeted this statement to the world on emerge Photo Contest’s Twitter page in hopes of becoming one of 15 winners in the emerge Photo Contest.

Emerge is designed to give new wedding photographers a way to showcase their work, and for this reason, it is operated differently than most photo competitions. Emerge gives each entrant their very own website to feature an entire wedding photo story by submitting up to five photos in each of the categories: wedding preparation, details, venue, the kiss and favorite wedding. You’re submitting multiple images – not just one!

So why should you enter? We thought you’d ask so here are four reasons why you should break away from the crowd and emerge:

1) Exposure – The top five winners receive a coveted listing on The Knot, the web’s leading wedding planning site, one write-up in RANGEFINDER magazine as an Editor’s Choice, a profile on RESOLVE, plenty of Twitter and Facebook buzz and more.

2) Cool prizes – A Sony camera and lens worth nearly $3000, shootQ, Pictage and liveBooks accounts for one year, Think Tank gear, Induro Tripod Kit and plenty of others.  Visit the emerge website for the complete listing.

3) Low entry fee – You’re entering to win thousands of dollars in prizes and some fantastic exposure for a low entry fee of $29.  Go to www.emergephotocontest.com to get started now.

4) Exposure – did we mention that already?  The value of ‘exposure’ to the modern photographer… priceless

The last day to enter is May 31st, and that is less than two weeks away.  Are you ready to emerge?  If so, check the official rules to register – and away you go.  And for all of you experienced photographers, what are your words of advice for these emerging wedding photographers?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

As sponsors of the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop for the third year, liveBooks recently got an update about the lineup of instructors for this year’s workshop happening from June 20-26 in Istanbul, Turkey.

We have to admit, it’s an impressive list: Maggie Steber, Ron Haviv, Andrea Bruce, Stephanie Sinclair, Ami Vitale, Guy Calaf, Kate Brooks, Tyler Hicks, Kael Alford, Adriana Zehbruaskas, Jared Moossy, David Guttendfelder, Rena Effendi, Anastasia Taylor-Lind, Jon Vidar, David Bathgate, Tewfic el Sawy, Henrik Kastenskov/Bombay Flying Club.

You can read all about the Foundry Workshop in our interview with founder Eric Beecroft from last year’s edition in India (year one was in Mexico). The workshop began in 2008 as a more affordable workshop option that international and emerging photographers could afford.

With such a prestigious list of instructors this year, we thought it would be good to hear from a few of them about the Foundry experience and their advice for workshops in general.

Miki Johnson: What is your favorite thing about being involved in the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop? Do you have a favorite moment from past years?

Ron Haviv: Watching the growth of the students in such a short period of time. The realization from many that this is a great way to spend your life. Seeing that moment on students’ faces is inspirational to me.

Ami Vitale: The collaboration and working with fine photographers and fun people. It’s always a great experience and I’m always inspired by my students and colleagues. Last time I left feeling  full of inspiration and ideas. Watching students grow in the short span of the workshop is incredible.

Tewic el Sawy: My favorite take-home sentiment from participating in the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop is the mutual camaraderie and unfettered sharing of knowledge, information, and support between instructors and students/attendees. As for my favorite moment: during the final screening of the students work at the Manali workshop, learning that Dhiraj Singh (one of my class attendees) had deservedly won the top photography spot/prize of the workshop.

MJ: What is the most important things for students to realize when they participate in a workshop, to help them get the most out of the experience?

Ron: To open their minds to the knowledge that all the photographers, both students and teachers alike, are sharing with them.

Ami: To have fun and not to be too hard on themselves. I think some people come into this and put so much pressure on themselves to succeed.  This should be an environment of exploration and learning — and making mistakes is part of the learning process.

Tewic: The most important lessons that students will learn is to leave their ego at home, to help each other, to collaborate, and to be optimistic. Speaking for my class, they will realize that the more they know of multimedia, the more they’ll progress in their careers.

MJ: Was there a class or instructor that helped you become the photographer that you are now? How did they do that?

Ami: Rich Beckman. I’m back in grad school with him again! He’s always been ahead of the curve when it comes to finding new paths for storytelling. I’m studying Multimedia and Film with him now.

Tewic: I took a class in Havana with Magnum photographer Costa Manos and he told me that my photographs were “too simple.” He was right, and I’ve been trying to complicate them ever since.