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Make it a Sexy Valentines

Give the gift that will never be forgotten.   An experienced photographer will be able to help you pose to make you look your very best.  And with retouching, any little flaws will be corrected so you will look like you just stepped out of one of the sexy magazines.   Don’t miss out by booking too late.

In Phoenix, see Orcatek Boudoir and Pin-up Photography.

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Orcatek Photography – Phoenix

The Smile

Everyone involved works so hard to make this project a success.

Hope

Please visit their website to learn more about this group and how you can help.

Flashes of Hope

Additionally the professional retouchers and printers that we use get very busy too.  What we could get back in a week before the busy season can take almost 3 weeks during December.

Plan your photo shoot now and get your photos in plenty of time.   Nobody likes the stress of hoping they get delivered at the last second.  No photographer wants to ever disappoint a client, which is why we all want you to know that it is time to start.

Keep safe and enjoy some time with family and friends.

Orcatek Photography, Phoenix, AZ

One of the techniques is perceived value.  The Sleep Number bed uses this technique.  You see the adjustment goes from 0 to 100.  Sounds great, until you see that it doesn’t go by 1, but by 5.  So in reality there are just 20 settings, which is actually plenty, but the perception given is that there are 100, as that is the maximum setting.

So how do we create a perceive value with photographer.  Let’s say you want to do pet photography, but only want to shoot in you studio.   You need to sell this.  You would not say, sorry studio only.  That is negative.  How you might sell it is:  We want your pet to be comfortable and safe to provide the most amazing photos.  Our climate controlled studio is set up to make sure your pet is neither too hot nor too cold.  No distractions make sure your pet will be the center of attention…

As you can see, you sell what some might see as a negative as a positive.  We are not trying to deceive clients, we are just working to help them see the benefits you are providing.

Another technique is use by Apple.   They are the king of marketing.  For example they market Facetime as a feature on their products.  Why do they call it Facetime, when it has been around forever as video chat.   Well first of all so they can say they have and others can’t.  Pesky trademarks.  And since it is a new term, people assume it is something new and they have to get it.  Then they will tout how it can be use on iPhones, iPads, Macbooks and other Apple products.   They don’t mention that it doesn’t work on Windows.   Of course video chat with Skype works on the Apple platform and Windows, actually a better feature, but if you didn’t know, you would think only Apple could provide video chat.  After all, they have Facetime and no one else does.   You will want Facetime, it looks cool and they have it, so I need and iThingy so you can have it too.    Sure Apple makes very good products, but not always the best or even first.  But you wouldn’t know that from their marketing.

So how do you do that as a photographer.  You need to tout what you do that is special.  You are a great photographer, so how do you let potential clients know.  If you are really good at jewelry photography you might use something like this:  By specializing in photographing jewelry for the past 10 years, Acme Jewelry Photography has developed specialized techniques and custom tools that will make your jewelry photographs come to life…

You’ve educated your client and made it sound as if you want jewelry photographed, you are the only choice.  And you should be, as you are great at it.   10 years have allowed you to become one of the best.

And then we can look at Guess.   People will pay $40-$50 or more for a shirt with their name on it.  Sure you can get a plain shirt for 1/2 to 1/3 that price.  But the name has a value assigned.  People want to have Guess clothing.

Can a photographer create this same value?   Look at Annie Leibovitz.   Not every thing she shoots is amazing.  But she has a reputation, so even her average is given a premium price and a perceived value.   She earned her reputation, and you need to do the same so your name is associated with great photography.

When some says they had their photos taken by you, you want people to say “Wow, I’ve heard they are great” or “I just love their work.”  To achieve that you need to create great work, and you need to get it in front of people.

One of the key places to do that is on your website.  But that is not enough.  Facebook, Google+ and Tumblr are a few of the places that you may want to feature your photography.  And better still, get your clients to post your work and their and then their friends will see it.   Many photographers are now including a CD with low resolution photos for their clients to post online.

I may have picked a little on various companies, but in reality they all make fine products – heck I even own some of them.  Why, because of the marketing.

These are just a few things to consider.   Look at successful companies and how they get you to buy.   Then think about their techniques and how you might apply them to your business.

Orcatek Photography Phoenix, AZ

Photographers are required to provide a least one photograph a week.  Each photo must be shot to very controlled methods.  This assures that the photos will be consistent no matter where they are done.

From lighting to cropping to even the lens, everything is specified.   The pose and even the wardrobe is also specified.  In the end you have a consistent look to the photographs, which is the purpose.

This allows the photographs to be taken quite quickly.   The post processing (Photoshop) is all kept to a minimum which assures that people look real.

Now you are just looking at the faces of people from all over the world and seeing that we are all pretty much just people.  The slideshow below shows just a few of the photos I have done so far.

I am always looking for new people to shoot, so if you are in the Phoenix area, visit my website and send me a message.

Orcatek Photography, Phoenix.

But how does someone get caught.  A couple of ways.  First of all someone sees it and tells the photographer.  That is how one of my current cases was discovered.  It seems someone decided that they didn’t need to pay for a photo for their advertising.  As usual, I turned the matter over to a lawyer.   He took it on contingency, which means he gets a percentage.  Lawyers like money, so guess what that means to the violator.

Another method to find the stolen images is via Google image search.   Go to Google and click images and you will see a page like this.

Image Search

Click the camera icon and upload your photo.  The search will then find your image.  It finds images that have been cropped, converted to B&W and even combined onto other artwork.  Of course then it is pretty easy to track them down.

Another method of location is using the search tool Tineye.   This tool is also designed to find images on other sites.

The two should be used together as they use different methods and will yield different results on many occasions.

I do this once a month and typically find 10-20 violations.  This is how rampant theft is.  I don’t have time to search all my photos, but I know which ones are popular and search those every time and throw in a few new ones on each search.

If you want to use a photograph you see on the internet contact the photographer.  You would be surprised at how affordable it can be.  Not sure who the photo belongs to.  Use the same searches we use to find violators to find the photographer.

If a stolen photo is located a photographer may contact a lawyer, you will be found guilty and the penalty are huge.  ”I didn’t know” isn’t protection.  If it is a website the photographer may send a DMCA take down notice to you and the ISP.  This could result in the loss of your website if the ISP is involved.

I do not want to make fees from stolen images a revenue stream, and most photographers I spoke to don’t either.  We just want to be paid for our hard work and get the credit we deserve.

Photographers should make sure to register all you images with the copyright office for maximum collection of damages.  You can register on-line and in bulk for only $35 at the Copyright Office.    And of course put the appropriate information for copyright and contact in the EXIF for every photo.

Often it is the small business that steals the image.  Getting caught can potentially mean the loss of your entire business.  I always ask someone how they would feel if I walked into their business and walked out with their product and didn’t pay.  They all said they would have me arrested.  Taking a photo is the same thing, photographs are our product.

So please don’t steal our photos. It is not worth the risk.

Google is a registered trademark.

Let's Cook Pin-up

For example, waists get tucked, rears get rounded, boobs get lifted and reshaped.  But that is just for starters.  I will also often style the hair as needed to create the look.  All this is very simple process in Photoshop.

I think about how I would draw the pin-up as an artist.  Smooth lines and curves are important.  So the edges are all flatten, removing the bumps in the fabric.  Her jeans were made to fit perfectly and the curve to her back was stylized.

Flying Witch Pin-up

Backgrounds are also part of the process.  The colored circles are real popular right now, and I use those frequently, but I also like use other options.  Such as the clouds and moon in this witch pin-up.

For me I find shooting my pin-ups on a solid white background makes it easiest to extract them and place them on the new backgrounds.  In fact all my pin-ups are photographed on white.  I am a fan of Topaz Remask for extractions, but the new tools in CS5 work very well too.

Vintage Vixens Pin-up Phoenix

The other key factor for me is the reduction of details.  This goes along with the edge smoothing I talked about earlier.  Details such as moles, wrinkles, creases and other fine details are all removed.  All the details I feel I would draw if creating the artwork by hand.  I ask myself if the detail adds anything to the final artwork, if not, it is removed.

This simplification is probably the key to my overall look.   I want that illustrative look to come through and to look less like a photograph.

Pin-up photography is a lot of fun.  I spend much more time on the post production of a photo, but for me it is worth the effort.

Orcatek Pin-up Photography

Orcatek Pin-Up Photography Workshops 

Simple

This photo is a perfect example.  One light, plain background, model and a chair.    Nothing to distract away from what I wanted to be shown.

Of course you can do a fuller set too.

Full Set

Even this is still pretty simple.   I could have easily added a table to the background with some flowers or a vase.    Even a painting on the wall.   I find it very easy for those additional props to become distractions, so I prefer the simpler set.

You really need to consider does the extra prop add value to your photo.  Sometime yes, but often it just becomes clutter.

In design you will often hear, remove one thing once you are done and it will get better.  I think the same concept works for photography.

Orcatek Photography – Phoenix