Photo Hosting

[SensoVision]

wish you luck in selling disks! Let me know if it would work for you as I'm really curious if it's work or not.

Later I can implement a shopping cart for individual photos. How much would you charge for individual photos? What would the licencing terms be? I would probably use PayPal who charge 2.9% + $0.30 USD per transaction. I have no idea how to value individual photos. It seems like the income potential of photo collections on DVDs will be low but it is a good learning curve to go through. Later I can sell video tutorials on stuff to do with webmaster topics for example.

it's all depends, you can find on the web prices ranging from 1 dollar to 100 or even around 5k for exclusive rights(I've read about 5000$ in photo magazine, in article discussing stock photography) when your picture rights transferred to other owner. So it's completely up to you how to choose your price as there is no universal formula from what I could see. Some companies seems to price pictures according to it's resolution but other's don't...
For example I've sold one 2megapixel photograph for 15$ for advertisement purposes. Currently my gallery contain many 2 megapixel photos and I offer rights for them in exchange for credits to non-profit projects for and either payment or credits for commercial ones. 

[Andy]

I don't like the idea of transferring rights unless it's for substantial money. And if your whole collection is up for sale with rights transfer on each photo it stops you selling the collection on disc to multiple buyers. So you might only sell a few pictures a year when you could be selling the lot over and over for years on end.

It would be a different story if I was a stock photo broker. Then I would want to sell other people's stock photos on an individual basis.

Now I'm thinking of further ways to leverage the web site. Possibly marketing a digital camera such as the Nikon F40 as an affiliate and maybe have a guide to setting up your own photo site.

[SensoVision]

Maybe I've told this incorrectly but I not transfer rights to anyone, I gave them royalty free rights for using photograph for their purposes.

Regarding marketing camera I probably return to this idea once buy my first dSLR, I was going to market Konica-Minolta Dimage Z3 with  http://www.z3club.org/ and maybe make some fan club of Konica-Minolta camera's users.
But KM sold camera business to Sony so I've stop developing this project.

Anyway I think that pushing good model could be beneficial to you so as to people who will buy it.

[Andy]

Ah, I thought you were transferring all rights over to the buyers. Now I get it. My thinking is to give royalty-free rights to all customer4s too.

Today I did a custom design for my DVD cover and disc since I wasn't happy with the quality of the auto-generated text. The new design looks much better but I'll wait until the new disc is live before posting the image.

I was looking at DSLRs in a shop and I like the Nikon D40 physically. I expect all these top end cameras are going to be great. My freind with the Sony alpha 100 offored to let me have it for a while but I have used it a few times and find it a bit bulky and the camera action is noisy. Canon also have a smaller SLR but it was expensive so maybe Heidi steered me towards Nikon?

If I can pay for the camera via my web site affiliate commission it would be very nice. I could start with my research on the camera and follow with experience of use posts.

[SensoVision]

Canon also have a smaller SLR but it was expensive so maybe Heidi steered me towards Nikon?

Previously I was fan of Nikon as well, but now I'm actually look closer to Pentax products, the reason for this is their new camera Pentax K10D, unlike Nikon D40, Pentax is marketed not as an entry level camera and cost almost 1000USD. I just cross fingers and hope that Pentax would move in same direction and that till the time I've got enough money there would be some affordable model from them with same features(Although Pentax support denied that they are going to develop something like this). Link to review of Pentax K10D.
Right now it's have image stabilization to which I've got addicted, could clean it's sensor just like those models from Olympus, kit seems to have better lens comparing to those shipped in D50 and D40, and overall photo look pleasant to my eye(not on default settings).  And most important, my first digital camera was made by Pentax

Regarding advertising particular model, I would be glad to do so and write review and my experiences with it but I don't feel that advertising product which I didn't used myself and base opinion on feedback of friends and online reviews would be very ethical even if I state that didn't used it myself. Wish I could find some shop or company which would let me borrow(or give as present ) equipment for testing so I can write reviews about them, but till now that's in my dream. Anyway I'm thinking about creating at some point reviews about equipment I'm using, if it didn't bring any revenue to me it would probably help to others choose good equipment.

[Andy]

Thanks for the tip on the Pentax K10D. Why can't these cameras be perfect? Grr! This one seems like a must have until you read about the poor jpeg images. I would be gutted if I bought a DSLR and the shots were worse than my non-dslr. Is it no problem to make the manual changes for all time that the reviewer suggests? I love the idea of the dust shaker and the image stabilization. Also, the instant ability to power up and shoot is good.

I was shocked that a 1GB card can only hold 60 RAW format photos with this camera  I only managed to fill my IG card with my canon A620 after shooting many minutes of video.

With regard to reviews, I wouldn't publish a review unless I personally used a camera. Otherwise I would just write about my wish list of cameras with the specs and hope some web site visitor with experience of the camera posted some comments about it.

[SensoVision]

I would be gutted if I bought a DSLR and the shots were worse than my non-dslr. Is it no problem to make the manual changes for all time that the reviewer suggests?

I've JPEG settings altered on my two Minolta cameras and didn't have problem with this, I believe that as long as it really improve quality it's not that major concern.
Just take a look on Pentax K10D photos in gallery, some have really good details, especially comparing to Nikon D40 gallery(of course it would produce much better photographs with better lens mounted).

I was shocked that a 1GB card can only hold 60 RAW format photos with this camera  Shocked I only managed to fill my IG card with my canon A620 after shooting many minutes of video.

yeah, sizes keep on growing but it's very good that cameras start supporting open DNG format, this would be guarantee that after time you still be able to read your photos not only in software shipped with camera but in free programs as well. I also suppose that using this format could lead to better file conversion in software as right now each RAW editing software seems to produce very different in terms of quality results reading same RAW file.

[Andy]

Can you buy the pentax with a better lens? In the review they mentioned the kit lens was just $100. That sounds very cheap to me for a zoom lens. I would like to buy a good lens from the start to avoid upgrading later.

[SensoVision]

wonder why Bob didn't join our discussion? Although I know that he's not fan of shake reduction systems it would be interesting to hear what he thinks about this all.

Regarding your question of course it's possible to find body only, e.g. on Amazon here the link to Pentax K10d body only. But as you can see getting it with lens would be a bit cheaper than buy same lens and body separately.
Anyway I'm sure that distributor shops in your areas should also offer body only and let you choose some highend lens for it, probably you'll be able to get discount(at least I know that here we had Nikon D50 sold in kit with lens which originally came in kit with D70 model and have much better quality, of course you got better price for it than if you would buy lens and camera separately).

[Andy]

wonder why Bob didn't join our discussion?

I think his phone line was going to be upgraded so he may be offline for a while.

I used my small camera last night in an entertainment center to take some stealth-mode photos. A big camera may have been a problem there.

My wife suggested I do a photo DVD about hot Japanese girls like I tried to photo last night  I did everything wrong like spending too much time adjusting camera settings and trying to do sneaky pictures. So I got spotted and when I went over to them they were not letting me take any photos. They did seem to find it funny though. It is a tragedy that the world is denied seeing how incredible these ladies can look. Now, the plan is to make a business card to hand them and have a professional-looking camera to get the credibility to pull it off. I was going to visit the fashion districts where they are to be found in abundance. 

[SensoVision]

I think his phone line was going to be upgraded so he may be offline for a while.

I think that saw him yesterday logged, but maybe it was other day.

My wife suggested I do a photo DVD about hot Japanese girls like I tried to photo last night  Grin I did everything wrong like spending too much time adjusting camera settings and trying to do sneaky pictures

wife suggesting you to do such things?

I used my small camera last night in an entertainment center to take some stealth-mode photos. A big camera may have been a problem there.

not necessarily, you can hang it on the belt around your neck and just keep it with one hand, if you see someone or something you need to shot, just pull shutter not moving camera anywhere, from what I've read most people only see that you photograph something if you look into the camera, and if it's hanging on you they don't spot you, of course if flash doesn't fire up

[Andy]

Thanks for the tips 

[SensoVision]

my pleasure let us know if it's worked for you.

[Andy]

Here is an example from manic babe hunter in action  I should be more polite in future or use a telephoto lens. Ahh paradise 


Too good huh?

This would be great for a caption competition I think. The lady on the far right is the focus of attention so what are the others saying?

[Menard]

I actually hadn't paid much attention to this thread as it was originally about photohosting which I am doing through photobucket or from my own hosting.

When I go with a DSLR, it will be with a Pentax. The reason for this is that my 35mm equipment is all Ricoh/Pentax, and I want to be able to use my present lenses with a digital body. It would make a a good compliment to my film outfit.

Things I am waiting for though include a full-frame sensor which matches a frame of 35mm film. I am liking the idea of a more solid and larger body as I don't like these tiny digital cameras which have become the standard. I like to get a good grip on my camera and would prefer a hand full of camera as compared to a few fingers full of camera.

The main thing, though, which leaves me out of the DSLR market right now is the cost. They are coming down progressively, as I have predicted on several occasions, It shouldn't be too long before we see a DSLR for less than $400 USD, with lens.

RAW vs. JPEG?

A studio for which I have done wedding photography in the past uses jpeg capture rather than RAW. The reason they do this is due to the extreme difference in size between the files. They can use a 1G card to shoot most of a wedding, if not all, using jpeg capture; where it would take several cards to do the same using RAW capture. They get just as printable of images using the jpeg format as they would using the RAW format and converting it; they just cut out the middleman. Not to mention the savings on not having someone working the extra time to convert the files and not having to allot more CF cards to each photographer when they do a wedding.

We still have pur arguements over quality, as Jim believes that his 10.4 MP digital cameras can produce as good of results, if not better, than film. I try to remind him that his 645 cameras can produce an equivalent 35 MP+ using film. Of course, the rub is that most people are not going to get larger than a 20x24 print, and most won't go above 16x20, so the distinction won't be that noticeable, particularly with using interpolation.

A recommendation for getting shots, and not spending too much time making adjustments and missing shots, is to set and forget. Get a reading of the average conditions in which you are going to be shooting, but keep in mind to keep the shutter speed set at a hand holdable setting, and don't open the aperture wider than f/8. Basically, shooting indoors with a shutter speed of 1/30-1/60 and the aperture set at f/8-f/11, with a flash, and your camera set at an ISO of 400, you should be able to get a high percentage of good shots; provided that the sensor has a decent exposure latitude.

This is how I shoot weddings as there is not the time to stop people from what they are doing to make adjustments. For posed shots, and when you have the opportunity to take the time, by all means fine tune your adjustments. If you don't have the time to make adjustments, just set and forget. Well exposed shots are....well....well exposed shots, but the seconds it can take to make adjustments can cost the split second in which a special moment happens.

Another advantage to set ans forget is that people have the impression that professional photographers do not have to bother with taking time to set their cameras; they have watched too many movies and TV shows where photographers just start shooting and keep shooting.

One thing a good professional photographer does not do is introduce themselves as a professional photographer. I have worked with many professional photographers, and they have never identified themselves as anything other than a photographer. If someone asks me if I am a professional photographer when I am taking casual shots, my reply would be along the lines of 'not today...as I am doing this for free; but if you want me to be a professional today, that'll be $200'.

Being a people photographer is not so much about getting a good exposure as it is about being good with people. When I set up a studio and people come into that studio for portraits, they are stepping into my comfirt zone where I am in control and can put them at ease. When I walk into a room of people, I have the same attitude; I am going to be in control of the room with an air of confidence and putting people at ease.

I had not paid much attention to myself, but Jim had pointed out to me once, when he asked me to help him dress the boys at some schools for senior portraits, that he wanted me to help him because I don't fear people and they respond well to me.

Of course, I don't quite picture Andy as one who has a fear of people either.


"May I take your picture?"

That same question can be used in two different ways and produce different results.

A photographer who asks that question, then timidly waits for an answer, is going to hear no more often than yes.

If I ask that question, it is my polite way of saying 'I am going to take your picture'. Of course, I will have the camera ready and my body language indicates that I am going to take their picture; the question is just one of many ice-breakers used.


"And would you prefer that delivered today, or tomorrow?"

What is missing from that question?

The opportunity to say 'no'.

Obviously, that question is not going to come into play during a photo-op, but it does illustrate a point; it is called an assume close.

When given the opportunity to say 'no', people will take it. The way to eliminate a lot of no's is to not include it as a possible answer.

Wrong: Can I take a picture of you in a fuzzy and soft rodent pose?

Right: This next shot is going to be fuzzy and soft rodent.

My approach: This next shot is going to be fuzzy and soft rodent; or would you prefer...sleazy. (it may amaze you as to how many times the answer is 'sleazy')

Giving someone the option to do something is like giving them permission. Lots of people don't want to make a decision about doing something, even if they might have asked it themselves, as that would be taking full responsibility. Giving the decision as an option gives a certain degree of permission.

Of course, my approach would only be used with someone I have read as being receptive, or as being good humored.



Oh well; I have yammered long enough and pretty much forgotten what I was talking about in the first place.

My internet connection is still active at present. I don't know if he is planning on shutting off the phone line at the end of the month or before then (I had thought it would have been shut off by now), but it has not been done yet. As long as it is active, I will use it.