Tip: Increase auction profits with better photos

It's now par for the course that in order to sell goods on auction sites like ebay the item photographs need to be of high quality. Bad photographs reflect on the seller - a sloppy photograph points to a sloppy seller.

Dennis L. Prince has pinpointed the qualities needed for a perfect auction photograph and outlines very specific actions in his new article 'Propel Your Profits with Better Images'.

Among his tips, Prince, author of How to Sell Anything on eBay, and Make a Fortune, says photographers should use a tripod, natural light, and a solid color backdrop.

His tips, of course, work with any small-item static photography, whether for advertising or another commercial purpose.

Read the article on Auctiva

Tip: How to stand out from the crowd

I have been thinking about how photographers can make money in an era where everyone has a digital camera and digital cameras have increased in quality to the point that the 'point and click' approach can produce some excellent photographs.

On one hand the new digital-camera quality output allows the average person who has an interest in photography, but who is not necessarily trained in photography, to make money from their digital camera. Certainly, with innovation and dedication it's possible to create a viable business this way.

But let's take this a step further and think about how you can stand out from the crowd:

* Establish your own brand and market that brand.
* Develop your own style so your photographs have an 'edge' that is uniquely you. For example, perhaps you only focus on happy/lighthearted photos, or moody photos full of emotion ... or perhaps there is a photoshop technique or special type of paper that gives your photos a unique quality.
* Once you have identified the products and services that are making you the most money then focus on those things/become known for those things. (see point one)
*Make sure you unite your unique style with the products/services you choose.
*You can also set yourself apart by excelling in customer service and product delivery.

Tip: How to Photograph Christmas Lights

This is a timely tip on how to photograph Christmas lights, but applies for festive or decorative lights at any time of the year.

...getting a good photo of holiday lights involves a different kind of light balancing: Continuous ambient with fading ambient. You don't need a high-end camera for great results. You can use a very inexpensive digital camera and do just fine. You don't even need flash. It all comes down to what time of the day you shoot. And a couple of other little tricks.

See the entire list of tips here on the Strobist blog [via Lifehacker, where there is an additional video tutorial]

Tip: Learn how to improve your photos in 60 seconds

So these days it seems you don't have enough time to scratch yourself, let alone read lengthy tomes on how to improve your photography.

Luckily, idigitalphoto has produced an excellent resource for the extra busy among us. Now you can learn something useful for improving your photography in only 60 seconds.

Our tip is to schedule it into your day. Commit to reading one every Monday morning, for example, then try out the tip that week. Put it in your calendar so you don't forget

If you are tired of reading long explanations and confused by tricky photo techniques, here you can have it short and sweet. Arranged by topics, each subject takes less than 60 seconds to read.

Once you’ve read the ideas and tips, picture in your mind some photographs you have already taken. Think of how they could have been improved by applying what you have learned here. Visualize how you might have taken your photos differently. Already your photography is improving!

The link is here

Tips: Twelve Essential Photographic Rules

What happens when your systems go belly-up, when all of that cutting-edge technology dies and you must rely on (gasp!) your own knowledge? It pays to have these basics in your head. They can get you out of a jam and help you get good shots when nothing else will.

Highly recommended. Includes depth-of-field, exposure and camera shake rules.
Read all the tips here ... Popular Photography PopPhoto.com [via Photojojo]

Idea: Create a memory book for parents

While we're on the subject of children and making books. You could also use the self-publishing services to collate a collection of photographs for parents.
This could be useful for:
- Photographs of a baby's birth
- Photographs taken over several years of a child's life
- Photographs you take in a special photo shoot. With this idea, try out several locations, and mix action shots with posed photographs (if the child is willing to sit still)

Book creation sites like Lulu.com offer several formats. This book is going to work better as a hardback, but this format is more expensive, so review your pricing and format according to what your clients would be prepared to pay.

For tips on how to take photographs of children, see:
Digital Photos 101
Kodak

Tip: Enhance your photographs with classical colors

This tip comes from unfocusedbrain.com (via Lifehacker)

Adjusting your photographs to get the color 'just right' can be a chore. Think about this: The Old Masters of painting spent years of their lives learning about color. Why let all their effort go to waste on the walls of some museum when it could be used to give you a hand with color correction?
When Photoshop entered the CS series it included a new tool called 'Match Color.' This tools was made so that you could match a series of photos to one another.
But there is another thing you can do with 'Match Color' that is much cooler: You can match the colors in your photos to those in famous paintings.

If the examples on the site are any indication, the results can be dramatic and impressive. I wonder if a classical art lover would be instantly drawn to a photograph treated in this way, even if they didn't know the technique had been applied.

Try making a thematic group of photographs applying the colors from one famous picture, like a Van Gogh. One idea is to create a product like a calendar using the photographs, or an impressive thematic wall display.

Read the tutorial here, and view more (great) examples here

Tip: Licensing your photos

As a general rule you should always retain the copyright to your photos then license use of those photographs to other entities. This way you can 'sell' them again and again.
Beware, some photographic competitions make you give up your copyright as a condition of entry. This would mean you wouldn't be able to use that photo elsewhere without their permission.
PhotoCritic has an excellent guide on this topic...

Read about it at PhotoCritic

Tip: Take blink-free group photos

Yes, you wouldn't think it was possible to take a photo of a group without at least one person closing their eyes. But it is possible. In fact, there is a scientific formula to help you - it is based on the number of photos you need to take to make sure you get a good one (well 99% confident anyway). Beware ... when the group gets to over 50 it is close to impossible to get everyone with their eyes open.

Read CSIRO physicist Dr Piers Barnes' practically fail-proof method on the Velocity science in motion website.

Tip: Give your photos an unusual-film look

Unusual and innovatively doctored photos can be used in many products for sale, like say a compelling calendar or something as simple as a framed shot. The key is in choosing the right photo and adding your own splash of creativity.

You can give your photos the look of A Scanner Darkly, the recent film based on a Philip K. Dick book and as equally quirky as Dick's writings. For the film, the movie makers used a posterized live-action animation style and had to repaint each frame, but to make your photos look this way is easier of course. You need Adobe Illustrator and a suitable photo. Photos of people seem to work better.

See the tutorial (written by one of the film's animators) here at IllustratorTechniques.com [via Photojojo]

Tip: How to photograph smoke

Photographs involving smoke can make for interesting and unique images that you can use in a number of the money-making ideas we outline.

Not sure about the best way to photograph smoke? Photocritic interviews smoke-photography expert Graham Jefferey, of Sensitive Light fame who outlines these methods. Read this instructional article

Idea and Tip: Photographic Christmas Decorations

Make beautiful ornaments using your photos. These are perfect to sell at a market stall or Christmas fair close to Christmas (and good for gifts too).
Scenic photos work the best here.

See how to make them at Photojojo

And our tip is to sign up for the Photojojo e-newsletter. It's full of fabulous ideas - just adapt them to make products you can sell.

Tip: Create a fake miniature-model effect

This tip comes from the Receding Hairline website.
Using Photoshop, it is possible to make everday photos look like they are pictures of miniature models.
These photos can then be used as unusual online or printed cards, postcards or even an entire calendar of miniature-model-type photos.

Click here to read and follow the tutorial

Tip: Print and sell photos on the spot

There is a new generation of printers that can make selling photos super easy for the photographer wanting to make money with a digital camera.
There are now printers were you can plug your digital camera memory card directly into the printer and print from the card.
This is really handy if you are at events like weddings etc. You can sell prints on the spot to visitors/guests after taking the photos. With a wedding, for example, this gives you the opportunity to get more customers by selling to guests, rather than just being paid once by the wedding couple.
Note: This plan only works at places where you can easily plug in the printer; so inside, rather than outside events. And don't forget to take high-quality paper with you.