Tag: business

Personal Photography Projects at the Nature Photography Summit

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At one point or another, most photographers will embark on a personal project.  These projects are ways to more deeply explore a personal passion using photography, whether that be documenting how a single location changes throughout a year, looking for variations on a theme, or recording the health and vitality of a species or habitat.  Personal projects can be global or local, big or small, and most assuredly will provide a satisfying and challenging addition to your photography arsenal.

At NANPA’s Nature Photography Summit, February 21 – 23, in Las Vegas, you can take a deep dive into all aspects of personal projects.  That’s one more reason to register and get yourself (and your gear) to Vegas this month.  Sign up before preregistration closes at midnight, Eastern Time, on Monday, February 4th and take advantage of NANPA’s 25th birthday discount!  Use promo code “Happy25” for $75 off a member, non-member, or student full Summit registration.

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The Business of Photography: A Millennial’s Thoughts on Online Video Courses

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Filmmaker Peter Hoffman on assignment in California.

A great online course offers something bigger than technical knowledge: it offers time hanging out with YOU. It offers the chance to experience your world, to join you in the field, to see, first-hand, your unique approach to the photography process. Here, filmmaker Peter Hoffman is on assignment in California.

Story and photos by Kika Tuff

The world of online education is a new frontier for nature photographers and one that can be quite lucrative. But making money isn’t as simple as building an amazing course and setting it free on the internet. Plenty of thoughtful, well-designed courses go undiscovered every day.

So, before you invest your time and energy into building a course, I wanted to offer some ideas on how to ensure you don’t get lost in the ocean of internet content.

First: know what you offer.

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Five Reasons You Should Be at the Nature Photography Summit

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Still debating whether you should come to NANPA’s Nature Photography Summit and Trade Show, February 21-23 in Las Vegas?  Here are five compelling reasons to pull out your credit card and start making reservations.  And, hey, there’s still time to get pre-conference pricing . . . but only ‘till midnight, Sunday, January 20th.

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NANPA 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award: John Shaw

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2019 NANPA Lifetime Achievement Award winner John Shaw

2019 NANPA Lifetime Achievement Award winner John Shaw

Professional nature photographer John Shaw was the recipient of NANPA’s first Outstanding Photographer Award in 1997.  This year, he’s being honored with NANPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award and will also become a NANPA Fellow.  Registered for the 2019 NANPA Nature Photography Summit?  You can see John Shaw interviewed by Kathy Adams Smith on Saturday, February 23, at 10:30 AM.

He’s written seven books and ten ebooks and his work has been featured in numerous books and magazines.  He’s photographed on every continent and has been recognized by Nikon as a Legend Behind the Lens, as an Icon of Imaging by Microsoft and, since 2001, has been part of Epson’s Stylus Pro fine art print makers group.  Last month we had the opportunity to ask him a few questions.

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Five Big Reasons to Get a Portfolio Review

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Portfolio reviews are an essential part of growing as a photographer.

Portfolio reviews are an essential part of growing as a photographer.
Sign up for one at NANPA’s 2019 Nature Photography Summit and Trade Show.

A portfolio review is when a professional photographer, photo editor or agent examines and critiques your carefully-curated portfolio of top images.  Reviews are often available at photo conferences, including NANPA’s 2019 Nature Photography Summit and Trade Show, where you can sign up for a portfolio review with one of more than 20 top-notch photography professionals.  But, why would you want to do this?

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From the Archives: Making a Living as a Nature Photographer

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© Michael Struble

© Michael Struble

 

Story and photographs by Jack Graham

From the Editor: This article has consistently been one of NANPA’s most popular blog posts, despite being originally published in 2015.  We bring it back in case you missed it the first time and to kick off an occasional series of articles on the business side of nature photography.  If you have tips or ideas on running a successful nature photography business, share them with us at publications@nanpa.org.

I am often asked if it’s possible to make a living as a nature photographer. No matter whether you attempt to do it as a full-time professional or a part-timer to supplement income from an existing job, there are many things to consider. Nature photography is a tough way to make a living. However if you do it right, you can make it work.

Both full-time and part-time photographers need to remember and understand these concepts:

  • You need to get really (and I mean really) good as a photographer. This takes many years of working hard. As the late, great Henri Cartier-Bresson famously observed, “Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.”
  • Be prepared to spend as much or more time in your office as in the field.
  • You must deal with rejection.

Full-time photographers can add these to the list:

  • If no one buys your work or attends your workshops, you don’t eat.
  • You have to know your market and change when necessary.
  • Develop business savvy.
  • Be able to justify expenditures such as travel, equipment and extensive marketing (website, social etc.).
  • Become known.
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The State of Photography as a Career

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What is the state of photography today?  The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts have good news and bad news for photographers in general.

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects that the employment of photographers will decline by six percent over the next ten years.  However, that number masks some major variations in prospects that depend on the type of photography.  Demand for portrait and wedding photographers is projected to remain strong, but staff photographer positions, especially in the publishing world, will continue to decline. The Bureau projects that photographers employed by newspapers will drop by a stunning 34% over a decade.  On the other hand, projections show the ranks of free-lance and self-employed photographers increasing by 12%.

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Instagram for Nature Photographers

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Story and Photos by Greg Vaughn

NANPA-Instagram-profile-page

Fun facts about Instagram: as of January 2016, there were 400 million Instagrammers uploading over 80 million photos every day. The hugely popular social media platform may be best known as a favorite of fan-hungry celebrities and with those who want to quickly share a snap of their latest meal, but it is much more than that. Instagram has become a showcase for outstanding photography of all genres, including nature, wildlife and landscape. Continue reading →

Effortless Marketing for Photo Workshops

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Design your learning events to attract and wow lifelong clients, by Steve Moeller

If you’re offering, or thinking about offering, photographic learning events, let me help you make them profitable and sustainable. First, how would you answer the following questions?

1) How can I design and deliver insanely great photo learning events that instantly attract great clients as soon as they learn about them?

2) How can I create such an amazing experience that my business grows through word-of-mouth marketing and repeat clients? Continue reading →

Being a Mom and a Photographer

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Story and Photographs by Margaret Gaines

Sarah attempting to get all wet without rolling on the ground. I took this image at the end of a hike celebrating the last day of summer vacation. © Margaret Gaines

Sarah attempting to get all wet without rolling on the ground. I took this image at the end of a hike celebrating the last day of summer vacation. © Margaret Gaines

About five years ago, I was taken aback when a female professional wildlife photographer somewhat condescendingly told me she didn’t think it was possible to be a professional nature/wildlife photographer and be a mother of young kids. I’d never met a woman who discouraged other women from following their dreams and trying to make it work, no matter what the obstacles. I was somewhat taken aback. While I can understand and admit that it’s sometimes challenging to get out in the field to photograph, I do not consider having kids a liability to anything I’ve wanted to do. When I met this lady I was near the beginning of my path, seriously following my heart to become a good photographer, and I’m glad I didn’t give up on the idea of being a photographer.

So in honor of the first day of the school year and having the house to myself, I thought I’d share a few ideas on how I’ve been able to mesh the two pursuits and make it work. Continue reading →