"RC" Concepcion's latest book reviewed...

Just a few days ago we reviewed the book "Taking Stock" so when I saw the title of RC Concepcion's latest book "Get Your Photography on The Web" I was still thinking stock.

It's not, it has nothing to do with stock and everything to do with creating a web presence that will show you and your work in the best possible light.

But before I go on about how much I love this book let me tell you what I like about RC.

If you read his dedication and acknowledgement at the beginning of the book he shares with us what is truly important to him, it's not Photoshop, not his job as a Photoshop Guy.... it's his family, and he's man enough to put into words why they are so important and exactly how he feels about them.

It tells me that RC is the kind of person I would be proud to have as a friend, and certainly more than happy to learn from.

Now, onto the book.. who is this book for? If you are trying to put together your web presence for the first time, or already have a website (and/or blog) but want to make it better, this book should be in your hands.

I have been writing Weekly Photo Tips for over 4 years and know more than most about the do's and don'ts of blogging (not because I'm smart, but because I made most of the mistakes) and I was surprised how much I was able to take away from "Get Your Photography on The Web" and it even has me doing something I never thought I'd do (more on that later).

Being a visual guy I like images not words and this book has waaaay more images that words. This makes learning so much easier because you're not looking at your screen wondering "is this right,is this what he meant?", you can see that what is on your monitor perfectly matches what RC has in the book.


I love how the book is setup, but even better is the content, the content is king.

RC gives us the complete meal, from appetizers to the post desert cigar and glass of port.

Here is just some of the content:

Chapter 1: "Domains & Space" walks you through creating a Godaddy account, purchasing your domain name, and setting up your online space.

Chapter 2: "Getting Your Images Ready" takes you from resizing and sharpening your images in Lightroom, adding metadate, to protecting them with watermarking and copyrighting. He even shows you how to create your own customized watermark.

Chapters 3 - 7: will teach you how to setup your site using WordPress, how to add content, what menus and plugins are most useful for photography sites, very cool HTML tips and tricks, and how to differentiate yourself using themes.

He then moves on to printing images online, creating portfolios, how to use social media and so much more.

Wondering how to setup and use Google Analytics? RC will show you. How about adding web galleries using FTP? Yup. Don't know what a widget is? You'll learn that too.

If much of this is new to you, you will learn without being overwhelmed, if you are familiar with many of these terms, you will learn without being bored.


But there's more, throughout the book you will find mini-interviews from folks like David Hobby, Scott Kelby, Joe McNally, and others.

But if you order in the next ten minutes RC will include three case studies (Moose Peterson, Michael McCaskey, and Kathy Porupski) on how using the techniques in this book will take large, disjointed portfolios and organize them into a site much easier for both the photographer and the visitor to use.

So what is it RC has me doing that I was sure I never would? Using WordPress. He so thoroughly demonstrated the power, the ability to customize, availability of plugins and themes, and the ease of use of WordPress that I am in the process of setting up my own WordPress site.

You only get one chance to make a first impression and "Get Your Photography on The Web" will help you make the best first impression possible.

(click on any image to view larger in a new window)

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!!

Photo Credits: Robyn Guy Photography

Look at this picture...

This picture came from the blog "Assignment Chicago" written by Alex Garcia.

The caption he put on this image was:

"Was this picture at a firefighter funeral absolutely necessary? Is camouflage proper attire? Just askin'".

From my perspective we as photographers are supposed to capture a moment, an image without being part of it. We are should hang at the outside edges looking in (isn't that why they make 70-200 lenses?), not get up close and personal standing on a ladder.

But that's just my opinion. I would love to hear what you folks have to say, so please, tell me what you think.

You should be sure to check out "Assignment Chicago", you'll see some great images and read very provocative stories.

Chess

Photographer: Avipatra (picxy team)

A camera bag "must have" for under $10...

Here is a tool you should have in your camera bag... NO exceptions.


It's a multi purpose air blower and it can be yours for only $5.75 (with free shipping).

I have one in my camera bag and another one in my flash bag and use it for things like blowing of around the lens mount before I change lenses. I use it to blow off dust from either end of a lens and for blowing gunk out of my camera body (just be sure to hold the body with the lens mount facing down).

They have a check valve in the back so it is not sucking the dirt in that you're trying to blow away.

These are from Adorama are made of a nontoxic, environmentally friendly silicon rubber, and are resistant to both high and low temperatures.

It also has a removable nozzle so it can easily fit into your bag.

So head over to Adorama and get yourself a blower (or two).

Our review of "Taking Stock"... a great book!

I just finished the book "Taking Stock: Make money in microstock creating photos that sell" by Rob Sylva and it's coming to you with a two thumbs up recommendation (if I had more thumbs it would get them too).

Rob comes at the subject of stock photography from both sides of the fence, he is a stock photographer AND an image inspector for iStock Photo.

This book is well written, it has a ton of images that help demonstrate and reinforce what he has to say, and is very easy to follow and understand.

One of the things I really like about the book as the inclusion of the images from other stock photographers, including their thoughts and ideas behind that image, and their advice to those considering entering the field of stock photography.

Some of the chapters are:

* Tools of the Trade

* Shooting Tips From the Pros

* Digital Darkroom

* Digital Editing

And these incredibly important topics:

* Avoiding Rejection

* Seeing Like an Inspector

These two chapters alone are worth the price of admission and who would know better than an image inspector?

Rob asks a simple (but powerful) question, "are you working inside the sweet spot of your equipment?". Great question. Why ask your gear to do something it was not designed for, know your limitations and work within them.

He also provides a download link to a group of his own images that he rejected and includes text explaining the reason for their rejection, a great learning tool.

And he wraps up the book discussing the importance and the "how to" of meta data, titles, descriptions, and keywording. It doesn't matter how good your images are if a potential client can't find them while searching.

This is just some of the great information you will find in "Taking Stock", but if you want to find out how well the chapters are put together and how much information is included you don't have to take my word for it, you can (download and) read the entire third chapter of the book right here.

Oh, one last thing... MONEY.

How much money can be made in stock? Take a look at the Christmas tree on cover of his book, it is a tree in Rob's yard that as of the books printing has made him over $13,000.

And this is not as rare as you think, take a listen to this interview with Rich Legg, in it he talks about many things (regarding stock) including the importance of having your camera with you all the time, which allowed him to take a picture of a flower while waiting at a fast food drive drive through, an image that has made him thousands and thousands of dollars.

I am not suggesting you stop shooting portraits, weddings, or whatever your photographic specialty is, or that you will retire from one stock image, what I am suggesting is that what you will learn from "Taking Stock" will help you refine your eye to make the images you are already shooting attractive to those who purchase stock and might just add some jingly in your pocket.

But wait, there's more, Rob will be the guest speaker for the May meeting of the Maine Photographers Coalition, so go get the book, come to the meeting, and learn from Rob directly (and ask a question or two).

Here are a few links for you, first for Rob. Here is his stock Flickr page, his main Flickr Page, and, and because he is a Lightroom expert you will find Rob doing a Lightroom Pro Q&A over at Matt Kloskowski's blog "Lightroom Killer Tips".

We have posted several times on the topic of stock photography, you will find thoses posts here, here, and here.

Little House on the Prairie...

In all my years in medicine I NEVER saw a case of scarlet fever.

In fact the closest I ever came to it was on an episode of "Little House on the Prairie".

Well, guess what has invaded my house this week? Yup, scarlet fever. It is absolutely debilitating but thankfully it responds beautifully (and rather quickly) to antibiotics.

Today is the most normal day we have had around here in about a week, so starting tomorrow things should be on their way back to (our version of) normal here on the blog.

I have a pile of boxes, one or two arriving every day this past week, each containing a photographic do-dad (or two) for review. So I am waaaaay behind.

See you tomorrow with a review.