Author: Leslie Burns

I’ve just posted a new Creative Lube podcast (also available on iTunes). This one will help you talk about yourself and your business with confidence.

In yesterday’s post I should have made it clear that Jeff Sedlik does not endorse using a media buy percentage system to determine fees. I added the link to his APAnet post (and the thread in general) to emphasize the concept of understanding value, but the way I worded the post, it certainly appears that I am including Mr. Sedlik in those who specifically use and encourage a media buy percentage system. I was wrong to give that impression.

I am sorry for the confusion and my sloppy writing which caused it.

I do want to say that though Jeff and I differ on using a media buy percentage system, he is someone who has consistently stood for photographers understanding the value of their work and pricing appropriately with that understanding. I encourage people to read his posts on various forums (and in all media) with respect and an open mind.

I was going through some files earlier today when I ran across a post from APAnet that I had printed out. I rarely print posts out, so I decided to take a look at it as I must have had some reason for saving this post in tangible form. It was by Tim Olive and dated to early 2004, and it contains some great information about pricing and media buys and negotiating. It’s worth reading again, so here is the link to it on APAnet.

Mr. Olive refers to an earlier post by Jeff Sedlik, but unfortunately does not provide a link to it and it was not of the same thread (I searched). However, I did find this earlier post on a related topic by Mr. Sedlik and think it also is worth a look.

So, the next time someone tells you that pricing your usage licenses using a system related to the media buy or budget is an “antiquated idea that dates back to the pre-usage days” you can say, with confidence, “Bull.” In fact, it is a logical and helpful way to increase your license prices while clarifying their legitimacy to your clients, thus bringing in more money per project and improving your bottom line.

It’s official–with dates and locations and everything–and now I can share it with you:

ASMP presents Strictly Business 2:

Los Angeles – Doubletree Torrance, January 25-27, 2008
Atlanta – Atlanta Marriott Century Center, February 22-24, 2008
Philadelphia – Crowne Plaza Philadelphia, March 7-9, 2008
Chicago – Renaissance Chicago North Shore, April 11-13, 2008

Information and registration will be available on ASMPs site by September 1. In the meantime, here are some basic facts you should know:

• There will only be these 4 events. Yes, the original Strictly Business added event after event after the originally planned ones, but that will not be happening this time. If you don’t go to one of these events, you will not get another chance to attend one later for years. This is to ensure quality over quantity as these events are expensive and complex to produce.
• The featured speakers will be John Harrington, Judy Hermann, Blake Discher, and me. We will cover the business side of your business, including issues of marketing, paperwork, legal issues, copyright, pricing, negotiating, and much more.
• The keynote speaker will be, depending on location, either Sean Kernan or Joyce Tenneson. Either will be a great addition to the events and give us all a needed creative injection.
• The outstanding sponsors are making it possible for ASMP to offer the events at very low prices and to include 2 meals each day of the two-day events–to help you afford the travel needed to reach these events.
• You’ll get the chance to book 30-minute individual consultations on different business aspects with the features speakers (including me), at very discounted rates (I will also offer longer-form consultations the day after in each city but those will be booked directly through me instead).
• There will be both lectures and smaller group work, plus plenty of opportunities for talking with the speakers, asking questions, and learning more (not to mention the book with additional materials you’ll receive).

Those of us involved (including the ASMP folk, especially Susan Carr) have been working very hard to put together fantastic events which will help photographers understand and manage their businesses the best they can. We’ve all dedicated lots of time and effort to Strictly Business 2 and we’re positively excited about how things are coming together. This is a great opportunity for all photographers and I can’t encourage you enough to attend.

I’ve posted the most recent Manual on the Manuals page of the BAP site. This is the very same Manual you could have received a month ago in the privacy of your email in-box, if you had signed up for Free Manuals in Your Email. Next emailed Manual will go out in early September.

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I will be one of the judges for the APA National Photo Competition again this year. Get your images in soon so your work can be seen by some amazing and influential people–people who, unlike me, buy photography. Hint hint.

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Stay tuned for a detailed announcement about the upcoming ASMP Strictly Business 2 events. Things are being finalized and there will be lots of information available by September 1st.

As one of the speakers and therefore someone who has been involved in the curriculum planning, I can tell you this is going to be an amazing series, not to be missed. Worth every penny (and a surprisingly few pennies required) and the travel required to get to one of the 4 (only 4!!!) events.

Plan on attending one of the weekends. It’ll be a great investment in your business and you’ll have some fun to boot.

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Finally, tomorrow is my birthday, so I think I’ll play hooky for the rest of the day and go hang out by the pool. Everyone should give themselves something on their birthdays–it doesn’t have to be something big, just something they want. And I want to go swimming… if I could only figure out a way to waterproof my Mac, I’d be a pruny consultant more days than not. 🙂

Here’s a link to a very interesting article (thanks Clay, who pointed me to Adland for this) instructing how to hire an ad agency. Note number 4 in the “don’t” section in particular (no spec!) and the reasons why.

The other bits are applicable to us as well. For example, the part about geography is a reflection of what I’ve been teaching in the other creative industries (like photography)–it no longer matters where you are anywhere near as much as what it is you offer. Make it special and find the right people who want that kind of creative vision.

Do you have a Plan B? If something goes wrong with your important business systems, do you have a back-up of some kind for all your major systems?

I’m facing that myself today–my incoming email is not working. Seems the servers are being overwhelmed by spam which is choking out all the legitimate emails. The ISP/hosting company is working on it, but the result is I’m not receiving emails today to my main account.

I have a back-up. Good thing, too, since I have some time-critical things going on today. The people who need to reach me have been informed of the situation and sent my back-up email info. Ahhhh.

What would you do if your computer died today? Or if your camera did? Or your cellphone? Or your car (especially if you shoot on location)? Think about all your major systems and make a Plan B for each (btw, your Plan A includes backing up all pertinent systems, including cellphones, regularly, right?). Hopefully you’ll never need to use Plan B (for anything) but it’s great to know it’s there.

Sometimes you just need to be reminded that you’re not drowning alone in the sea of business cliches. 🙂

With the advent of the iPhone and its popularity with the creative class, we should take some time to consider its implications in marketing for creatives. If your website is only Flash-based, your iPhone-wielding audience can’t see your site. You need to have an html version for that.

“So what?” you might be thinking, “if they can’t see it on their iPhone they’ll just use the computer later.” Well, I’m not so sure of that. Creatives are often short attention span folk and if they can’t see it now, they may very well forget to look later. Let’s say you send an email promo with a link to your site. The AD gets the email while on a shoot with a different photographer, on location, and carrying his iPhone. He loves the image on the promo and clicks to see your site, but can’t get it because of the Flash issue. There is a missed opportunity.

I think more and more creatives (ADs, etc.) will start carrying iPhones and using them rather than computers, as much as possible. This will mean redesigning emails and sites to maximize how they are seen on an iPhone, if you want to reach these people on their first line of connection. Yes, they will still use the computer and may, eventually, get to looking at your site using that second line of connection, but I think those who get in first will have a better chance at making a great first impression.

CBS2/KCAL9 in LA, like many TV stations, is trying a rights-grab. If someone submits an image to them, they must transfer copyright to CBS. Here are the full “rules” and yes, they leave all the risk to the photographer (most likely not a pro photographer, but still) while taking all the goodies.

Please contact them today and ask them to change their policies. Be polite, but firm.