Business Trends

“Bloggers think that a use of a photograph in a web blog is covered by fair use simply because it is not usually done for profit, and they are ‘commenting’ on the news. This is not necessarily the case.”

Last year in my column I tackled the important issue of copyright. (Editor’s Note: Go to our homepage at www.shutterbug.com and type in Copyrights.) Unless...

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...

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...

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...

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...

“What do you charge?” There is something about that much anticipated, yet dreaded question that causes many photographers distress. There are probably a dozen psychological reasons for this feeling. Rather than take on those feelings, which is beyond my ken and that of this magazine, I’d like to look at specific actions and steps you can take to improve your behavior when it comes to pricing and asking for money.