I'm taking my own photos at the moment {for a new biz I'm working on} and I'm going to be launching photography for Kochou so...I couldn't justify outsouring. But if you are going to do your own pics you need to make sure you're good enough, nothing worse than rubbish photos to try sell a product
I don't actually sell any products but my blogs do need photos. Mostly I take them myself using my Canon D60 (digital SLR). If it's impractical to take photos myself I sometimes buy from a stock photo site which I'm a member of. (I sell photos on there too.)
[Edit: I've posted an advert for this stock photo service in the Marketplace.]
I don't actually sell any products but my blogs do need photos. Mostly I take them myself using my Canon D60 (digital SLR). If it's impractical to take photos myself I sometimes buy from a stock photo site which I'm a member of. (I sell photos on there too.)
Us too. It sometimes is sooo time comsuming to get the stock photos though that will work. My daughter is the Davina Bailey of photograph in our household
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A Trades person advocate, do the right thing in the right way, for the right reasons and you've found a friend.
... photographer I have to say that the best way is to have your products photographed professionally.
If your business is web based you'll live or die by the quality of your images. If you're in doubt you could always pick a couple of products that sell in similar numbers and try having one photographed by a pro and do one yourself to see what happens.
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Web design, development and online marketing at Ursus Media
Sure, nice photos can help a lot. But I don't think people HAVE to pay a pro to do it.
I used to earn my living as a professional photographer too. Yeah, I know, I've had 47 different careers and people probably think I'd need to be 100 years old to have done all that. (I'm not 100, but probably older than most people I meet online expect me to be. )
People can learn to take better photos. There are a lot of free tutorials and there's lot of free advice out there. I would say that you need a decent camera in the first place - some might argue with that. I've recently been teaching my husband how to get some better photos by thinking more about composition and how to use PhotoShop as a 'darkroom'. He's more proficient than me on PhotoShop but I'm more creative.
Pro photos are great - as I said, I buy some when it's more convenient. But with a bit of learning, most people can improve their photography skills and not need to outsource all of their photo needs.
Sure, nice photos can help a lot. But I don't think people HAVE to pay a pro to do it.
I used to earn my living as a professional photographer too. Yeah, I know, I've had 47 different careers and people probably think I'd need to be 100 years old to have done all that. (I'm not 100, but probably older than most people I meet online expect me to be. )
People can learn to take better photos. There are a lot of free tutorials and there's lot of free advice out there. I would say that you need a decent camera in the first place - some might argue with that. I've recently been teaching my husband how to get some better photos by thinking more about composition and how to use PhotoShop as a 'darkroom'. He's more proficient than me on PhotoShop but I'm more creative.
Pro photos are great - as I said, I buy some when it's more convenient. But with a bit of learning, most people can improve their photography skills and not need to outsource all of their photo needs.
I absolutely agree with this. It's possible to learn anything and given time become good at it.
I still maintain however that a pro will almost always get better results faster. You have to make a judgement call over whether it's worth your time learning to take stunning product shots or whether your time could be better spent elsewhere on your business.
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Web design, development and online marketing at Ursus Media
Yes, I think we're thinking along the same lines here. It's all down to the bog standard economic concept of specialisation and division of labour. Sometimes it's better to get on with your core business and pay someone else to do what you're not so good at.
I pay someone to clean my house cos I'm completely useless at that.
Re your point that a pro photographer will get good results much faster. Hey! Don't tell me about it! I know, but I'm trying to get poor old Dave (husband) up to speed on it so he can take photos while I do the cooking stuff. I've seen some great progress in a matter of weeks. But only because I'm very critical and keep nagging at him.
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Product photography
I had a post here... where did it go ?
and people probably think I'd need to be 100 years old to have done all that. (I'm not 100, but probably older than most people I meet online expect me to be. 
)
