Maria Piscopo
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Business Trends
Maria Piscopo Sep 01, 2010 4 comments

Like many aspects of commercial photography these days, the music industry has seen many changes that affect how a photographer finds clients and promotes their talents. One of the biggest changes, according to photographers we talked with for this story, is that there is no one single “contact” person anymore and that to broaden your scope you have to deal with numerous individuals...

Business Trends
Maria Piscopo Jan 01, 2011 4 comments

There is a long tradition of photographers giving workshops, either self-sponsored or within an established workshop organization structure. Workshops cover a wide range of topics, from fashion/beauty to nature/travel, and take place all around the world. Workshops can serve as both a marketing tool and an additional source of revenue, and while there are some who are constantly on the workshop...

Business Trends
Maria Piscopo May 01, 2009 1 comments

For every photographer success and self-fulfillment are common goals, but the desire to help others is something that many photographers bring to their work. You may feel that today’s economy makes helping others difficult, especially as you focus on the daily effort to grow your business. How can you use your talents to help others and pay the rent at the same time? How can you spread...

Business Trends
Maria Piscopo Dec 01, 2007 0 comments

Is your website working as hard as it could as an online portfolio? I have been back and forth for years with photographers and their clients on website marketing and not everyone agrees on their value. Certainly, websites are an important marketing tool when used as advertising--they broadcast your marketing message to potential clients. But how well do they work as...

Business Trends
Maria Piscopo Apr 16, 2013 Published: Mar 01, 2013 0 comments
The world of portrait photography is defined by its differences—all potential clients, whether they are individuals, families, or professionals, are different people with different imaging needs. There is a difference in style and approach in making commercial, professional, and social (family) portraits. Commercial clients have something to sell or someone to influence; consumer clients have something or someone to remember. And, at any point in time, a photographer’s style may be so strong or special that it transcends these categories and enters the “fine art” field.
Pro Techniques
Maria Piscopo May 01, 2007 0 comments

The legal issues of privacy rights and copyrights in photography are usually not covered thoroughly enough in photo schools. Many professionals don't take the time to learn the law. This often leads to confusion and chaos when photographers start selling their work. Whether you are part-time or full-time, amateur or pro, one of the most important legal issues you will...

Business Trends
Maria Piscopo Jun 01, 2007 0 comments

Twenty years ago, business software for photographers was limited. The move from paper to software was a big and risky leap of faith. We talked with a number of photographers to get their take on how, and if, software holds the key.

Geoff Manasse (www.manasse.com): I'm the sort of software user...

Business Trends
Maria Piscopo Mar 01, 2009 4 comments

One of the growth markets for photographers these days is consumer event photography, including youth sports. This is a very specialized business; often, event photographers must be equipped to print and sell photos on-site, offer a variety of photo-package choices, and, in many cases, include green screen technology in their photo shoots. In preparation for this article I began by talking with...

Business Trends
Maria Piscopo Nov 01, 2008 0 comments

Many commercial buying patterns have shifted from hiring for assignment to buying stock licensed images or royalty-free images. This shift has greatly decreased the value per image for all but the most creative or unique stock images. But it has also opened markets for still photos previously unexplored. Stock is no longer just for print use; clients are buying still images for website...

Business Trends
Maria Piscopo Apr 01, 2009 0 comments

As the markets for both consumer and commercial photographers keep warping and changing, many photographers are looking for alternative revenue paths. A fine art photographic sale by a gallery always gets high interest from photographers, but what about the gallery owner’s perspective? What factors influence their choice of the photographers they represent? How do owners view fine art...