Introduction to AI in Businesses

AI has become an integral part of many businesses, from large corporations to small startups. It has a variety of potential uses in business, such as automating tasks, processing data, and interacting with customers. AI has the potential to save businesses time and money while providing them with valuable insights into customer behaviour and trends. Additionally, it can help businesses stay competitive by providing them with an edge over their competitors.

The benefits of AI for new businesses are numerous. For starters, it can help reduce costs by automating mundane tasks and streamlining processes. Additionally, AI can help businesses stay ahead of the curve by providing them with valuable insights on customer behaviour and trends that would otherwise take months or years to acquire. Finally, it can provide businesses with a competitive edge over their competitors by helping them identify opportunities for growth or improvement.

Top AI Tools for Growing Your Business

In this article, we list down the top choices and our favorite AI tools beneficial for business owners. These can help with everyday tasks, branding, content creation, and even hiring! Read through and be amazed of what AI is capable of. We also list down the pricing for these tools and spoiler alert : most of them are free to use!

ChatGPT : Conversational Assistant

ChatGPT is a product of the great minds of OpenAI. OpenAI trained the ChatGPT model which interacts in a conversational way. The dialogue format makes it possible for the AI to answer follow up questions and admit its mistakes. Aside from this, it also is capable of challenging incorrect premises and rejecting inappropriate requests.

Methodology

OpenAI trained ChatGPT using Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF). Human AI trainers provided conversations in which they played both the user and AI assistant. Next, a reward model is implemented for reinforcement learning. The creators collected comparison data consisting of two or more responses ranked by quality. Using these reward models, they fine-tuned the model using Proximal Policy Optimization. This process is repeated multiple times.

Limitations

First, the AI is sensitive to tweaks of user entered queries. For example, a phrasing of one question may be unanswered but rephrasing it can result in a satisfying answer. Next, the model overuses certain phrases such as restating that it’s a model trained by OpenAI. Lastly, the current model guesses answers to ambiguous questions or instructions.

Pricing

As of December 15, 2022 ChatGPT is free to use. This may change in the future as all OpenAI tools come with various pricing.

Brandmark.io : Business Logo Maker

Looking for a logo for your business? Brandmark.io provides creative and artistic options for all your logo needs. They also offer business card designs, social media graphics, app icons, letter heads and more!

Brandmark.io lets users build a beautiful brand on time and on budget. They have a wide variety of assets from logos, animated designs, social profile icons, and many more. It is the only logo maker offering free customization. They’ll personally help in customizing your logo with the purchase of any of their packages.

There is no software installation needed. Instantly customize their assets and export your logos and more straight from your browser. Users are able to export to all major file formats such as SVG, EPS, PNG, and PDF.

Benefits

By using Brandmark.io, you get to enjoy the following benefits. You get your logo instantly – fast and easy. They personally help in tweaking your design. There are no monthly charges, just a one time payment. You also get full copyright of your creations. Lastly, you are entitled to unlimited revisions – modify your logo any time even after the purchase.

Pricing

There are three packages that Brandmark.io offers. First, the $25 Basic package allows you to create and save logo files in PNG format. 

Next, the $65 Designer package offers logo source files, brand style guide, business card designs, facebook cover, profile and app icons, and letterhead designs. 

Lastly, the $175 Enterprise package comes with everything in the designer package with 10 fully original concepts created by their design team.

Namelix.com : Business Name Generator

Namelix is a business name generator. Are you an up and coming entrepreneur? Struggling to find that catchy and witty business name? Namelix.com generates short and brandable business names using Artificial Intelligence. 

Users get name ideas with a state of the art language model. You can also filter results by either prioritizing a shorter name, a specific keyword, or a domain extension. By saving names you like, the algorithm learns and gives you better recommendations over time. The more you spend on generating names, the more appealing the results become.

Pricing

Namelix is free to use! Generate any number of witty business names for no cost. This is great since the more you use the tool, the higher the chance of finding that unique business name for your brand.

Moonbeam : Writing Assistant

Moonbeam is your long-form writing AI assistant. It is capable of writing any form of content such as blogs or social media posts. This AI tool is specifically trained to help write essays, stories, blogs, and other long form content. 

Moonbeam also champions Luna. Luna is the AI behind Moonbeam and is capable of writing a well-written first draft.

Moonbeam has an honest and transparent team. The success of Moonbeam depends on the user’s success. Their honest opinion policy means they’ll recommend the AI tool if its a great fit for you. They have a 100% money-back guarantee. If you sign up for a paid plan, try it for 30 days, and decide it’s not for you; they give you a full refund.

Pricing

They offer a $15 per month Pro membership that comes with unlimited long form writing, social media posts, and a custom style generator. They also offer a $30 per month per seat Team plan that is best for enterprises and startups. You can try Moonbeam for free for up to 30,000 words.

Hume : Hiring Assistant

Hume is your co-pilot for hiring. They help businesses understand who and how to hire employees. Hume provides a consistent and effortless approach to hiring. Aside from hiring, they also have an Interview Coaching Platform. Hume lets users share and review interviews with AI generated summaries and highlight reels.

Pricing

Hume offers a $99 per user monthly Basic plan and a $59 per user monthly Business plan. This includes all the basic features, unlimited transcription hours, AI notes and summaries, and many more.

Postwise : Social Media Growth

Postwise is a software tool designed to help organizations track, manage, and optimize their social media content. It helps brands save time, manage campaigns, and maximize their social media reach. They mainly help with managing Twitter posts and scheduling.

Pricing

Postwise offers a range of pricing plans to meet your needs. The $29 monthly Basic Plan offers all growth tools on unlimited accounts with 6 months scheduling. On the other hand, the $49 monthly Boss plan offers everything in the Basic Plan with additional 20,000 AI credits for 800 tweets, unlimited scheduling, and the GhostWriter feature.

Other AI Tools for Businesses

In addition to the above tools, there are other AI tools available for businesses to use such as autonomous chatbots, AI-driven customer segmentation, and automated marketing. Autonomous chatbots are computer programs that simulate human conversations and provide customers with prompt answers to their queries. AI-driven customer segmentation uses ML algorithms to analyse customer data and segment them into different categories based on their behaviour or preferences. Lastly, automated marketing enables businesses to create campaigns that target specific audiences and deliver tailored messages at the right time.

Implementing AI in Businesses

When it comes to implementing AI in your business, there are a few things you should consider. Firstly, you should assess whether or not AI is a good fit for your particular business model or industry. Secondly, you should invest in AI technology such as software and hardware that will enable you to make the most out of it. Finally, you should establish an AI-driven strategy that outlines how you plan on using it in your business operations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, incorporating AI into your business operations can be extremely beneficial for new business owners. It can help reduce costs by automating mundane tasks and streamlining processes. Additionally, it can provide businesses with valuable insights on customer behaviour and trends that would otherwise take months or years to acquire. Finally, it can give businesses a competitive edge over their competitors by helping them identify opportunities for growth or improvement.

When it comes to implementing AI in your business, there are several steps you should take such as assessing its fit in your business model and investing in the necessary technology and tools. Additionally, you should establish an AI-driven strategy that outlines how you plan on using it in your operations. With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to incorporating AI into your business operations successfully!

Afterword

We hope that you find this article helpful. Thank you for reading and you’re always free to leave a comment. If you find this article interesting, consider checking out one of our recently published posts. A few of them showcase AI Art Generators in extreme detail. On the other hand, if you’re looking towards Photography, we also offer great articles for your inspiration. We also have multiple articles that talk about the various printing mediums for wall art. May you find these articles entertaining!

Find them here:

The 5 Best AI Art Generators
Why Choose Metal Prints using Chromaluxe?
Guide to Product Photography
Guide to Toy Photography
The Art of Editing Photos
Best Outdoor Print and Signage Options
Best Wood Printing Companies in 2022

We enjoy reading your comments and insights with our posts! Should you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave them below! -Mark

The post Incorporating AI in Businesses : Tips for Business Owners appeared first on Photogpedia.

Decorate your home with photographs of your best work, heartwarming memories, and eye capturing art with the help of the best canvas print companies on the market.

What are Canvas Prints?

Canvas prints are images printed onto a canvas with an inkjet printer. These are often stretched and gallery-wrapped then displayed. Canvas is a final output of an art piece – reproducing other forms of art tangibly.

The Best Canvas Print Companies

The best canvas print companies dedicate their resources in producing excellent products and customer satisfaction. As consumers, we look at the value for money. In this section, a brief introduction to the companies and the prices for the popular canvas print sizes will be highlighted.

1. Canvaspop

Canvaspop is a team that understands how important preserving cherished memories are. They are obsessed with providing the best customer experience. This is instantly visible with their easy to use website, world-class customer service, and top quality products. Their support team is made up of talented designers, photographers, and artists.

They offer free digital proofs with every purchase so that the consumer can approve the design before it goes to print. They also offer a 100%, no-hassle, Love It for Life guarantee. If the customers are unhappy with their order, they make it a point to make it right or they get their money back.

Canvaspop also accepts image enhancing requests. If your photo is pixelated, their designers can smoothen out your photo to make it look its best. 

The usual delivery time for your canvas print to arrive at your doorstep is 10-14 business days with standard shipping and 5-7 days with rush shipping. 

Pricing:
8” x 10” – $76.00
12” x 16” – $90.0
18” x 24” – $128.00

2. Pictorem

Pictorem is based in Montreal, Canada and has a deep passion for art and photography that translates to making the highest quality wall art. They are dedicated to utilizing craftsmanship, innovation, and perfection. 

They show value in their prints with their image enhancement process. Their process allows them to make almost every picture into amazing photo canvas prints. They also provide a 100% Satisfaction 30 Day Money Back Guarantee. If unsatisfied with their product due to factors under their control, they will either replace or fully refund the purchase.

Pictorem also advertises that each order gets a professional art review. Their in-house designers review each order to be perfectly printed. Aside from customer satisfaction, Pictorem also supports environmental efforts. They partner with Trees for the Future, a non-profit organization, to commit 1 tree for every 1 print made by Pictorem.

Pricing:
8” x 10” – $62.00 (due to custom sizing on their website)
12” x 16” – $61.00
18” x 24” – $109.00

3. CanvasHQ

CanvasHQ takes pride in their high quality canvas artwork and authentic and caring customer service. They provide a digital proofing system where the customers are able to see exactly how the desired image will appear on the canvas.

They keep a list of points in their customer service. The thing that stands out the most is their hands-on monitoring of a customer’s order. They spend extra time with graphics work such as removing unwanted objects in the image and noise reduction. They also offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee for the first 30 days that offers a remake or full refund of the purchase. Their canvas prints also have a lifetime guarantee that they will not fade, crack, or bubble.

They advertise their quick turnaround time and free shipping on all orders. CanvasHQ updates their website real time with the number of days for their production time. They partner with FedEx for their commitment of fast and free shipping.

Pricing:
8” x 10” – $44.00
12” x 16” – $67.95
18” x 24” – $111.95

4. ElephantStock

ElephantStock appeals to its customers through high-quality products, excellent service, and affordable prices. They team up with world-renowned artists to support their unique artworks and bring them to people’s homes. 

Customers can browse through digital art and painting works. Explore various styles such as fine art, illustration, typography and abstract wall art.

ElephantStock puts their customer satisfaction as a metric of their success. They offer their high-quality products as well as prompt and thoughtful customer service. They also provide a 60 day money back guarantee which is extended to 90 days due to the pandemic. 

ElephantStock also provides free US Shipping with no minimum purchase required. Customers can expect 3-4 business days for their order to ship out and 4-5 business days to arrive. 

Pricing: 
*9” x 6” – $53.25 
*12” x 8” – $86.65
*16” x 24” – $136.99
*take note of the size difference with the other best canvas prints companies in this article

5. Mixbook

Mixbook allows its customers to create one-of-a-kind photo goods that reflect their personal style. They were founded in 2006 and have been consistently improving their production process. In 2018, Mixbook offered a new design editor making their ordering process faster and easier than ever before.

Mixbook takes pride in its ordering process. It’s easy to create – customers can upload their photos from anywhere then place them in the design with simple and intuitive controls. It’s completely customizable – designing is not constrained to templates meaning customers can change layouts, backgrounds, add graphics, and upload their own.

They advertise the impeccable design of their canvas prints as premium quality canvas designed down to every detail. Each print is thoughtfully crafted and is ready to hang out of the box. 

Pricing:
8” x 10” – $49.99
*11” x 14” – $69.99
*16” x 20” – $89.99
*take note of the size difference with the other best canvas prints companies in this article

6. Shutterfly

Shutterfly is a leader in personalized photos and services. They allow customers to create lasting keepsakes in different mediums such as canvas prints and photo books. 

One thing that sets Shutterfly above the rest is their Shutterfly guarantee. They let customers store an unlimited amount of photos for free. They’ll securely store and never delete all those photos in the same resolution they were uploaded in.

Aside from this, Shutterfly also showcases an art library wall art. Here, you can find curated designs from their art gallery. Browse through and gather inspiration from photographs, paintings, and typography wall art designs.

Pricing:
8” x 10” – $69.98
*10” x 14” – $89.98
*20” x 24” – $129.98
*take note of the size difference with the other best canvas prints companies in this article

7. iCanvas

iCanvas takes pride in their love for art. They prioritize doing everything and beyond to make sure that customers find their piece. iCanvas wants its customers to find something that will make them feel happy, inspired and think. iCanvas works with hundreds of leading artists to curate their selection of all styles of art. 

iCanvas brings passion to their business. They create art where quality and inspiration unite. They live art, finding themselves in an ecosystem run by art. Lastly, they give art. iCanvas organizes and participates in yearly school events to contribute artworks.

This canvas printing company also offers free US Shipping. Customers can expect up to 3 business days for their order to be prepared and then arrive at their doorstep within 4-5 days. iCanvas also ships internationally and the shipping prices vary with size and location.

They also highlight a section for product hanging and care guide which can be found on their F.A.Q. section. 

Pricing:
*8” x 12” – $43.99
*12” x 18” – $59.99
*18” x 26” – $69.99
*take note of the size difference with the other best canvas prints companies in this article

8. Photo Canvas Land

Photo Canvas Land brings high quality photo canvas prints to mainstream consumers. They use emerging technologies in devoting innovative photo canvas processes and products that help people complete tasks efficiently with better results. 

Photo Canvas Land offer a unique real-time previewing software so customers can view the canvas before buying. They provide free features in a purchase such as image enhancement, image quality checking, and gallery wrapping. They also advertise their unbelievable low prices.

Lastly, Photo Canvas Land also offers a professional account. They advertise this as a unique program for artists, photographers, designers, resellers, and other creative professionals. Customers can utilize this account for selling their work with their own branding. 

Pricing:
8” x 10” – $18.95
12” x 16” – $36.95
18” x 24” – $68.95

9. Printique

Printique has been a go-to source for highest-quality printing, preserving, and transforming photographs. They put their passion to perfection from their customer service team to their printing and finishing labs. 

They advertise The Printique Promise, their service guarantee. Every order goes through their rigorous quality process to ensure the perfect condition of an order. If the order does not meet the quality expectations, customers can reach Printique to resolve any issues.

Laslty, Printique offers different shipping speeds for their customers. They offer Economy (7-10 days), Premium (2 days), and Express (overnight). They use USPS or UPS as their courier and only ships to the US and Canada including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Military bases APO, FPO, and DPO.

Pricing:
8” x 10” – $29.99
12” x 16” – $104.00
18” x 24” – $224.00

Conclusion

The market and amount of businesses for canvas prints is large. If on a budget, this article can help choose the best canvas print company for you. 

All of these canvas print companies are able to deliver quality in their products. They all use state of the art printing processes in their business. These companies also commit their resources to customer satisfaction.

Although they offer varying prices, they all provide outstanding customer service. They provide different compensations for customers who receive subpar products. May it be money back guarantees or replacement warranties, these canvas print companies dedicate time and resources to make the customer happy.

In conclusion, Photo Canvas Land offers the cheapest canvas prints. Their customers attest to how quality is not sacrificed even with the cheap pricing. The quality of their products surpisie people. Consider this canvas print company when on a tight budget. Note that Photo Canvas Land ships from their headquarters at Atlanta, Georgia. They ship orders within 4 business days upon receipt of your order. 

The best balance for quality, price, and customization is Canvaspop. Most customers prefer Canvaspop because of their easy to navigate website, high-quality products, and top notch customer service. 

Also check out our guides to making that perfect photo for your canvas prints with these articles:
1. Phone Photography Tips & Tricks
2. Understanding Lighting
3. Editing Softwares : Picsart & Snapseed

The post The 9 Best Canvas Print Companies in 2024 appeared first on Photogpedia.

These images are distinctive for their stylistic innovation, their bold social commentary, and their unique composition- not to mention their dazzling commercial value.

However, it’s important to point out that there is some controversy around the title of the “most expensive photograph ever.”

In 2014, Australian photographer Peter Lik claimed to have sold an image titled Phantom for a grand total of $6.5 million. However, this claim is disputed, and the “anonymous buyer” has never come forward. This has led to accusations that the sale never took place, or that it was a publicity stunt. Though a lawyer has asserted that the buyer apparently does exist, there remain significant unanswered questions surrounding Lik’s claim to the title.

Phantom is certainly a distinctive piece of work, but as its claim to be the most expensive photograph cannot be substantiated, we have opted to exclude it from this list. With that in mind, here is a run-down of the twelve most expensive photographs whose sales have been proven beyond doubt:

List of the Most Expensive Photographs

1. Rhein II by Andreas Gursky

German Visual artist Andreas Gursky created Rhein II in 1999. Gursky is one of the most revered landscape photographers in the world, and Rhein II shows the artist at the top of his game. It is an image of exquisite symmetry and simplicity, which shows a stretch of the River Rhine. This masterpiece of overcast starkness spliced by color was in fact digitally enhanced by the artist in order to remove what he considered to be extraneous details, such as a factory building and a few dog walkers. The resulting photograph was sold at auction for $4.3 million dollars to an anonymous collector in 2011.

2. Spiritual America by Richard Prince

Richard Prince is a pioneer of what has become known as “appropriation art.” As such, he makes extensive use of existing photographs by other artists, re-photographing and reframing them to create a fresh work in a new context. As such, his work is frequently taken as a comment or critique of mass-media and marketing, examining as it does the proliferation of images in Western culture, and the mimetic quality of advertising.

Spiritual America is a startling and highly controversial critique of the cultural preoccupation with sexuality which depicts a 10-year-old Brooke Shields standing in a bathtub- in fact it is a 1983 “re-photographing” of an earlier image by Garry Gross. In the face of considerable outcry among the artistic community, it was sold by Christie’s for just under $4 million in 2014.

3. Untitled #96 by Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman has carved out an interesting niche as a self-portraitist, creating many photographs of herself in different scenarios ranging from the mundane to the outright fanciful.

Untitled #96 has been characterized as a feminist work, challenging the conventional representation of women in art. It shows the photographer lying on a tiled floor in a domestic setting. The look on her face is pensive and enigmatic, and has invited a wealth of interpretations as to its intended meaning.

There are many seemingly minor details which require careful consideration, such as the way in which the shade of the subject’s clothing seems to blend into the color of the tiles, or the fact that she is holding a torn scrap of newspaper in her right hand. It was sold by Christie’s in New York for $3.9 million in 2011.

4. Untitled #93 by Cindy Sherman

As with Untitled #96, this work depicts the artist herself. Untitled #93 has proved highly provocative for its image of a young woman lying in bed with full make-up and unkempt hair in beaming daylight. However, any sexual interpretations of the work have been disputed by the artist; Cindy Sherman claims the photograph is an evocation of a hangover after a whole night’s partying. Untitled #93 sold for $3.8 million in 2014.

5. To Her Majesty by Gilbert & George

The eccentric British duo Gilbert & George have been producing calculatedly controversial works for over 50 years. By their outrageous standards, To Her Majesty is comparatively tame. It is a sequence of silver gelatin prints depicting the artists themselves in various stages of drunkenness – the title is an example of the pair’s ironic self-aggrandizement, as well as an alcohol-fueled toast: “To Her Majesty!” Christie’s of London sold the work for $3.8 million in 2008.

6. Untitled (Cowboy) by Richard Prince (1998)

This is another example of Richard Prince’s trademark re-photography. It depicts a Time Magazine ad featuring the famous “Marloboro Man” in full cowboy gear, attempting to rein in a horse which rears up dramatically. The image itself is a bold composition evoking archetypes of Americana and masculinity, but the act of re-photography places it in a more critical perspective. Using the motif of the cowboy, Prince raises big questions concerning American identity and commercialism. This image was sold for $3.7 million dollars in 2014.

7. Dead Troops Talk (A vision after an ambush of a Red Army patrol, near Moqor, Afghanistan, winter 1986) by Jeff Wall

Dead Troops Talk is a fascinating tableau depicting the aftermath of a fictional battle from the Soviet-Afghan war. It is a highly surreal and macabre piece of work in which the dead Soviet soldiers have returned to life, albeit still bearing the mortal wounds they sustained in battle.

The gruesome nature of the subject matter is actually a carefully crafted visual effect, designed to evoke Goya’s famed print series The Disasters of War. As such, the piece is a visceral comment on the nature of conflict.

The artist, Jeff Wall, is a leading exponent of the “Vancouver School” and his work (and Dead Troops Talk in particular) has been praised by such luminaries as Susan Sontag. Specifically, she has referred to Dead Troops Talk as “exemplary.” It is a decidedly eerie and hallucinatory piece of work of undeniable power, which was sold for $3,666,500 at Christie’s of New York in 2012.

8. Untitled (Cowboy) by Richard Prince (2000)

Another appearance in this list for Richard Prince, and another of his famed cowboy prints. As with the 1998 photograph, this is an example of Prince’s audacious re-photographing technique, and again it is a reproduction of an image which evokes the ultimate in both masculinity and the American ideal.

In this image, the cowboys march in silhouette through the morning mist. In its own right it is a haunting work, but thanks to Prince’s bold re-contextualization, it becomes a challenge to consumer culture and the very nature of American identity in the latter half of the 20th century. It was sold at Christie’s for $3.5 million in 2016.

9. Untitled (Cowboy) by Richard Prince (2001-2002)

A fourth appearance on this list for Richard Prince, and a third of his cowboy images. Significantly, this work dates back to the aftermath of 9/11, which gives its subject matter all the more poignancy. It is another image of the fabled “Marlboro Man,” this time sitting alone against a backdrop of a setting sun. It sold at Sotheby’s for $3.4 million in 2007.

10. 99 Cent II Diptychon by Andreas Gursky

Here, Andreas Gursky presents an image of the interior of a supermarket, with the neatly arranged shelves and boldly-colored products create a sense of almost phantasmagoric larger than life brashness. As with Gursky’s image of the Rhine, this has been digitally altered to reduce perspective, which gives it even more of a dizzying and hallucinatory quality. It can be read as a comment on consumerism, with rows upon rows of products all but blinding the viewer with their ferocious color. It was sold for $3,346,456 at Sotheby’s in 2007.

11. Chicago Board of Trade III by Andreas Gursky

By turns stunning and horrifying, this image demonstrates the inestimable power of the almighty dollar. It shows stockbrokers hard at work on the trading floor, and evokes both adrenalin-fueled enterprise and desperation. In a way, it serves as an effective counterpoint to the 99 Cent II Diptychon, as the composition of the herd of stockbrokers is no less bewildering and challenging to the viewer than that of the sea of supermarket products, vying for attention. It sold for $3,298,755 at Sotheby’s in 2013.

12. Noire et Blanche by Man Ray

Something of an outlier among the other artworks on our list, Noire et Blanche was created by the world-renowned surrealist Man Ray in 1926. As the title indicates, it is a black and white image depicting the model Kiki de Montparnasse posing with an ornately carved African mask. It was sold at Christie’s of Paris for $3,131,533 in 2017.

The post The 12 Most Expensive Photographs in the World appeared first on Photogpedia.

This means that jumping into the photography business can be pretty easy, but actually earning a living as a photographer is a different story.

There’s a big difference between being a great photographer and running a successful photography business.

The aim of this article is to provide a simple formula to help you get started as a professional photographer without spending a fortune.

Becoming a professional photographer may seem like an impossible dream but with passion, dedication, talent in abundance, and the right business skills, achieving that goal is not as impossible as you think.

Getting Started

Before we begin, we’ll assume the following:

• You’ve selected your focus area/genre (portraits, sports, photojournalism, travel, street, landscape, adventure, etc)
• You own at least a basic entry-level camera and lenses (you can get started for less than $500 worth of gear)
• You have a few years experience under your belt and a solid foundation

Now ask yourself the following:

If I had millions of dollars in my bank account and I could do anything for the rest of my life, what would I do?

Stop and think about it…

If photography wasn’t your first answer then stick to what you’re currently doing and follow your true passion instead (whatever that may be).

The two most important days in your life are when you are born and when you find out why.

Mark Twain

If you did answer photography then you’re ready to move on with the rest of the article.

Be Honest With Yourself

Owning a camera and taking good photos doesn’t mean you should quit your job and be a professional photographer. People might compliment your work but the problem is:

You can’t cash compliments at the bank.

Bob Ragland

It’s okay to do something because you enjoy it – not every passion and hobby has to be a career.

There are a lot of people that love to cook, that doesn’t mean they should be working in a restaurant. Enjoying a glass of wine doesn’t automatically qualify you to be a wine connoisseur.

Are You a Maniac?

Next, read the following quote from Richard Avedon:

I believe in maniacs. I believe in type A’s. I believe that you’ve got to love your work so much that it is all you want to do. I believe you must betray your mistress for your work, you betray your wife for your work; I believe that she must betray you for her work. I believe that work is the one thing in the world that never betrays you, that lasts. If I were going to be a politician, if I were going to be a scientist, I would do it every day. I wouldn’t wait for Monday. I don’t believe in weekends. If you’re headed for a life that’s only involved with making money and that you hope for satisfaction somewhere else, you’re headed for a lot of trouble. And whatever replaces vodka when you’re 45 is what you’re going to be doing.

Richard Avedon

Do you consider yourself a maniac? If yes, move on to the 3 Steps below. If you’re not a maniac, then return to the million-dollar question again. You have to eat, sleep, and breathe photography if this is to be your career.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Confucius

3 Steps to Becoming a Professional Photographer

Step 1 – Walk Before You Run

Before you begin it’s important that you’ve already got some photos that you can add to your portfolio. If not, then use what you have and keep learning your craft before even considering a career as a photographer. Average won’t cut it.

You only have one chance to make a first impression. If you show shoddy work to begin with, that’s what you’ll be known for throughout your career.

Learning your Craft

The difference between a professional and an amateur is: A professional borrows from a master and an amateur borrows from an apprentice.

Author Unknown

Forget learning from glorified amateur photographers on YouTube. The best professionals are busy out shooting, not on YouTube. Their tutorials are perfect for the beginner photographer and weekend warriors but not for you.

Learn from the best; the second-raters have nothing to offer.

David Hurn

Determine your Niche

The best professional photographers have a look and feel that defines their work. In order to compete in today’s market, you must develop your own style (or product) and market aggressively.

For commercial clients, there is no value to a photographer who shoots many different types of photography with many different styles.

The problem with having no visual identity and focus is that anybody can do it. The chances are where you live there are at least dozen or more photographers that are average at shooting everything but excel at nothing.

They then complain that they can’t make a decent living off photography…

Niche will make you rich. All will make you poor.

Unknown

These photographers are not your competition.

When looking for photographers, clients will select one whose visual approach matches an assignment.

You wouldn’t select the star striker in a Football (Soccer) team to play as a goalkeeper; it’s a waste of their talent. Your team will be 10-0 down before half-time. So why do people think it’s okay in professional photography?

Stick to what you’re good at (and what you love). Forget about being a jack of all trades and instead focus on one area only. Be the master of that niche.

Your Mastermind Group

Now select 3 master photographers who have a similar visual style and learn everything you can about their work, shooting technique, and career.

If you want to be the best you have to learn from the best.

Study their images in detail, learn how they light, read interviews, and watch documentaries and video clips about them. Fully immerse yourself in their work.

When looking at their photos ask youself:

• Why their photography appeals to you?
• How does the image make you feel?
• Why did they compose their shot a certain way?
• What’s the story? Purpose?
• Is there an interesting juxtaposition of objects or a visual joke?
• How have they framed or posed their subject?
• What colors have they used? Are they saturated or desaturated?
• How did they light it? Where’s the light coming from?

Their images are now your standard for good photography. Eventually, your own distinct style will emerge.

Tip: Why not write an article about them? Send it to us and we’ll publish it and include a backlink to your website. Not only will it help you learn about their work but it’ll also improve the google ranking of your online portfolio at the same time.

Excellence is a better teacher than mediocrity. The lessons of the ordinary are everywhere. Truly profound and original insights are to be found only in studying the exemplary.

Warren G Bennis

Remember, you are your environment.

There are so many photographers out there today that it’s difficult to stand out from the crowd. Do not copy your competition, otherwise, you’ll just be another hack photographer for hire fighting for scraps.

Collaborate with models, actors, businesses, bands (or whatever relates to your niche) and shoot for free (to begin with) and get those much-needed portfolio images. 

Now, you’ve got some great photos that look different from the competition, it’s time to move on to Step 2.

Step 2 – Pick Up the Pace

So, you’ve completed Step 1 and have between 12 and 20 photos that show how talented you are and demonstrate your visual style. Before spending a fortune on photography gear, here’s what I would do next:

• Take 2 weeks off work (holiday/vacation leave)
• Rent gear for the 2-week period
• Schedule 2 photoshoots every day (total of 10-14) or set yourself 3 -5 mini photo assignments
• Ensure you have the correct insurance cover
• Return gear to the rental company
• Edit photos
• Upload only your best photos to your website (or Adobe Portfolio) and your Facebook Page
• Promote yourself as a Photographer

This will save you a lot of money. It will also help you identify what gear you need rather than what you think you need.

Step 3 – Going the Distance

If you start booking clients or get inquiries, then I suggest you continue to rent gear and factor in the cost of renting when providing quotes.

Professional photography is about making money from your work. Treat it like a business. Think about your return on your investment.

Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1.

Warren Buffet

Only upgrade your kit when it’s no longer financially worthwhile to keep renting, otherwise stick with what you’ve got.

Once you get to the stage when financially it makes sense to invest in your own gear for jobs then do it. You’ll know when that is.

The chances are at that stage, you would have built a reputation as a photographer and instead of dipping into your savings or paying on finance, you can go to the bank a get a business loan instead.

Don’t Confuse Price With Value

The biggest misconception is that you need to buy everything at once or because some other photographer has all this gear, you need it too. You don’t.

Many professional photographers own a simple kit and rent for larger jobs.

If you need to buy an expensive lens for your work and you use it daily (or even weekly) then you’re getting value out of it. If it’s sitting in your camera bag collecting dust, then you’re not getting value out it and that lens wasn’t a good investment.

The world is filled with individuals who know the price of everything, but the value of nothing.

Phillip Fisher

The Dream Bio

This is a wonderful exercise from the book How to Succeed in Commercial Photography by Selina Maitreya.

When Maitreya was teaching photography workshops, she would get her students to create their own dream bio. The exercise was designed to help them see what success looked like to them.

The exercise may sound simple but it’s incredibly effective.

Regardless of where you are in your career, the Dream Bio will help you identify your goals and where you want to be in the future. It will also help you determine whether you’re on the right track to success.

If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn’t need motivation to speed him up. What he needs is education to turn him around.

Jim Rohn

What does success look like to you? Whatever you want it to be. Now lets get creating…

How to Write Your Dream Bio

Ensure you have a free hour or more with no interruptions. Find somewhere relaxing to sit which is free from distractions. Now imagine that you are living five years in the future:

• What does your professional life look like?
• What are you shooting? Who are your clients?
• Do you have a team or are you working alone?
• How much money are you making?
• Do you have a studio? What does it look like?
• How many days a week do you shoot on average?
• What has been your best experience? What has been your worst?

The most important thing when creating your bio is not to use your head. You are in your heart. Don’t think about the answers; sense them instead. Write them down as soon as they appear without any editing.

If you have been able to write your bio without judgement (no crossed out sentences), then you have created a dream bio that will give you all the information you need about moving forwards in the future.

Don’t bother reading through it or spell-checking the bio. Simply put it away and set yourself a review date two weeks later.

The Next Stage

After two weeks, pull out your dream bio. Take your time and read it with an open heart and forget what is attainable and what isn’t. You’ll most likely be surprised by what you you read.

Once you have read it, examine what you have written. Look to see where your priorities lie within your words. These priorities will begin to help you see what success looks like to you and where you should focus.

Was creativity your most important priority? Maybe recognition? Freedom? What part of your bio did you write about the most? As you read and examine your bio, resist the urge to edit.

Quiet the voice inside your head that tells you it’s all nonsense. Be open to the information that your answers have for you. These were your choices and they need to be heard.

When reviewing, do not disregard any parts of your dream bio that may seem like fantasy. It is all possible. You simply need to determine which of the goals mean the most to you in order to commit to the hard work and time needed to reach them.

Once you’re done reviewing and you’ve got as much information as possible from the bio, look at what you have written and begin to list what success looks like to you.

Got a success list? Great. Now compare it to your life as it is now, and evaluate the different areas of your business that need your attention.

If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.

Seneca

The next step is to set yourself goals and work backwards with small milestones. Eventually this will lead you to be where you want to be.

Good luck on your journey!

Final Words

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