Archive for August, 2010

Photography is an important part of social media

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

The more I work with clients related to social media the more I realize the importance of photography.

Photography supports the engagement effort.  Quality photography helps to tell the story clients are enthusiastically trying to share.  Good photography helps brands look professional.

There are times when amateur and candid photography is needed.  Viewers don’t always want everything to look slick and perfect.  Especially when it comes to everyday moments related to the people connected to the brand.

As much as people want things to be real in social media, they still make judgments.  If people look scary, tired, grumpy or unprofessional in their images, that is the impression left with the viewer.  If products are placed against a white wall and shot with an on-camera flash, the inferior image will not instill feelings of confidence and quality.

Bad food photography will turn a prospect’s stomach.  Off-color food and poor lighting will drive people to the door.

I’ve been creating catalogs of images for my clients to use on Web sites and in everyday social media. I spent a few hours on Monday creating 50 images I can use for demonstration and  support of new social media programs and offerings.

Photography is still important.  It’s the photographer’s job to demonstrate this in today’s marketing environment through multiple uses and creative strategies.

Rosh

Evernote for photographers

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

I’ve had an Evernote account for a while.   I think it’s a excellent application, especially for smart phone users.

Since the announcement of the impending demise of Google Wave and my acquisition of an Android phone, I’ve been considering using my Evernote account as a default method to capture inspiration during my travels around the Web.

So far, I’m finding the application to be a winner.

The biggest help has been the addition of the Evernote button on my Firefox browser.  It simply allows me to click a button and save the Web page I’m viewing to my account, along with comments and tags.

It works great for the podcast.  I’ll usually write a highlight note, give it a couple of tags including “pod” for podcast and the link is automatically attached.  The tagging feature makes all my podcast-related notes easy to find.

I’ve also created multiple notebooks so I can keep topics organized.  I have separate notebooks for the blog, marketing ideas, clients and photography.

Evernote also is excellent for capturing great photography Web sites for future viewing.  I can tag fashion, business, food or interior photography for needed inspiration.

The ability to take notes is an added bonus.  Sometimes I’ll come up with a photography idea on the road. I’ll use Evernote to create a voice recording or written note so I will not forget the idea.  Trust me, I’ll forget.

Sometimes I’ll see a great location I might want to use later. I’ll take a quick snap shot with my phone and tag the photo with key information.  The software can read words within your photos allowing subjects such as signs to be found via search. I can even geo-tag my location with my Droid.

Tagging photographs, audio, video, links or written notes is becoming an important and common feature for many online applications. I believe Evernote is one of the best.

Tagging gives you the access to your information quickly. You can access your desired information with a simple search.  You can even save your common searches.

If you feel you are collecting valuable information and don’t want to create a blog,  podcast or tweet the information you can enable the share function so others many view your brilliant finds.

Evernote is a great tool for any photographer. Try it out.

Rosh

Thanks to http://www.damego.com for their review on the Droid application.

Is the Web dead?

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

What do you think of this graphic. What does it mean to you?

thank you techcrunch (read more here)

New Media Photographer Podcast 114

Monday, August 16th, 2010

This week: Rosh interviews photographer Don Giannatti.

Leaving home

Monday, August 16th, 2010

This past week I did something new. I began working in an office away from home. In more than 20 years of my career, I’ve always had a home office to support at least part of what I do for a living.

I still have my studio in Ferndale. Now my desk is at Synectics Media in Royal Oak.  It has been an interesting adjustment.  It reminds me of when I left home for the first time.

I recall sitting down with my parents to break the news that I found a roommate and apartment and I was going to move out.  I was expecting the usual questions: Do you think you can afford it? Is it too soon? Maybe they’d tell me they weren’t ready  for me to leave.

No, my news was met with smiles, offers of help, and discussions about what color they were going to paint my old room.  I swear I could smell fresh paint in the air before the last box was moved from my room.

My home office is now an empty room.  The talk again is about what color we are going to paint the vacated room.

Not being home means I can’t take a break to tickle my little girl at 11:07am on a Wednesday morning.  The refrigerator is not down the hall on the left and I can’t take a few moments to check on my garden.

I’ve always enjoyed the life and advantages of working from home. The downside?  I always seemed to be working in some form. After the first week, I see the advantages of having the office outside the house.  I’m more focused.

Although I still work here and there from home — the office is not the default place I return to during down time. I spend more time with family and work on creating a better home life.  I realize there is limited time before the next day when I’ll need to be at the office or studio.

The same goes for work. I know my time is limited to get the job done.  I don’t work 9-5.  My time is flexible, but I like to be home by 6 p.m. If I have a lot on my plate, getting to work around 9 a.m. is important.

After the first week of me not being home I asked my wife what she thought about the move. She told me it was kind of nice. I had an instant flashback of the smiles on my parents’ faces. She didn’t say she missed me, but she did admit it was nice to run the household without worry that noise would interfere with a work interview or a podcast.

We might settle on the color blue for the walls.

Rosh