September 30, 2008
You run a small flower shop and a customer asked for a floral arrangement with a type of flower that you don’t carry. She’s visibly upset because none of the other local flower shops are even able to get this rare type of flower and you were her last hope. So you tell her that you’ll make some phone calls and see what you can do, but it might take a few days. As chance would have it, you were able to find a company to deliver it overnight! She is elated, places the order, tips you generously and leaves your shop.
You find out a few weeks later that this same customer recently referred her sister to one of your competitors with a very large order. Any idea what you did wrong? You didn’t ask her for referrals but your competitor probably did. People are generally willing to help you if you ask them, the problem is that most people forget or are afraid to ask. Make it a point to provide outstanding service and ask your customers to send their family and friends to you and your sales will sky rocket.
Jeremy L. Knauff is the founder & CEO of Wildfire Marketing Group, a full service Marketing Firm specializing in helping small companies compete with larger companies.
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September 29, 2008
Prime Minister Gordon Brown plans to reveal a £300 million scheme that is aimed at giving low-income families the opportunity to access internet connections. The full proposal will be revealed at a Labour Party Conference, where Brown will give a speech. It is expected that UK’s poorest families who do not have internet at home, will be thrilled with this scheme. They could get up to £700 in vouchers, which can be used to get them online.
In spite of the fact that an estimated 58 percent of British homes have a broadband connection, there is still an average of 1.4 million children who live in homes with no internet access. These are the families that this scheme will target, and the families in these homes are believed to be UK’s poorest. They will receive assistance to enable them to gain access to a broadband connection, and in some cases they will even get help to obtain a computer and software.
Brown’s goal is to ensure that parents can connect with their children’s school and their teachers. They will also have the opportunity to get help with homework and coursework. Research results have indicated that computer-literate children get more advanced academically, and eventually end up having good paying jobs. The proposed means-tested education technology allowance will give everyone a chance to a better future. The program will run for three years, and during that time, the government will provide funds to one million more households, to help get them online. The amount on the vouchers will range from £100 to £700 depending on the household’s income/need.
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September 25, 2008
There are some disadvantages of putting your photos online but I believe the
benefits out way the disadvantages.
1. Your photos can be used as an inspiration for others to learn and try out the
technics that you have implemented or executed on a photo. You can serve as the
online guru and the viewers your students. People always admire good photos and
will go out of their way to let you know if you have done well and at times will ask
for advice on how to capture and achieve the same effect.
2. You give people a opportunity to experience and see what you have shot even if
there are miles or maybe continents away. The story you paint in your photo can tell
a thousand words. The visual impact gives the viewer a first hand experience into
your photo whether it be travel, food or even a wedding photo. Your photo tells
them a story, how you tell the story is up to you.
3. Your online gallery can be used as your very own online a stock photo bank.
There are always people or agencies looking for photos online and maybe you can
use your gallery to show of your diverse collection of photos. Good Travel Photos
are always in demand.
4. You can use your gallery to share your photos to friends and family and keep up
to date about each others events. You can send photos of your birthday parties and
other personal events to give others a chance to see your joyous moments even if
your family or relatives are half a world away.
5. Lastly, you are given a venue to express your own creativity without limits. Not
everyone is blessed with a chance to share their gift of photography with others so
use your online gallery and share what you can and show the world and how you see
it through your photos.
Anton Sheker is a professional photographer based
in Philippines. Owns and operates Philippine Online Photo Gallery
http://www.photo.net.ph and founder member of
http://www.worldphotodirectory.com - a free professional photographer
resource guide and directory
For more photography articles visit his site
online at http://www.photo.net.ph/blogalicious
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September 24, 2008
Alrighty. Now that we pretty much have an idea why we want a camera and what we’re going to do with it, let’s get to the next steps.
Shop Smart, Shop Used-Mart
This is the secret many of us photographers don’t like to admit to each other but we do it anyway. You would be surprised how many cameras and electronic gadgets sell on the most popular auction sites, which are basically new, and are only a few months old. Why is this? Well, it goes back to the What Are Your Plans question. Many don’t ask themselves this question, and after a few months, come to discover the camera they purchased is just not for them, and they might as well sell it, and get something else that takes their fancy.
If you buy used, you may even find yourself a DSLR with a lens or two, for the same price as a DSLR-Type camera. Camera manufacturers are producing more DSLRs than ever before, and more camera owners are selling their DSLRs in a short period of time, more than ever before. If you have doubts, check eBay and other auction websites. There are virtually endless lists of sellers.
Another reason why you should buy used, is many photographers are upgrading quicker than ever before. Technology is evolving so fast, a new DSLR is announced almost every 3-6 months, and compact digitals and DSLR-Type cameras are introduced almost every 3 months. This is another subject for another article altogether, but the reason for this, is the purposeful actions of manufacturers to flood the market with their own particular brand for recognition. Some say it’s technology working its way into the market replacing the old–some say it’s a plan to overwhelm a particular sector with a particular brand due to marketing behavior. I think it’s a combination of the two. In any case, we have photographers who are upgrading their barely-used models for the latest and greatest Techno Shooter.
A Few Things To Consider When Buying Used
I won’t go into extreme detail when purchasing a used camera, but let’s take a look at a few factors and options.
eBay Protocol
My advice when searching for used cameras on eBay, is to look for a few distinguishing factors that I have found attribute to a legitimate seller:
- Positive Rating of 25+
- Has no consistent negative ratings
- Several images of the product being sold
- Responds to inquiries with direct anwswers, not vague generalities
- Has knowledge of the equipment they are selling
Yes, a seller can have negative ratings. Some people who give eBay advice say never buy from a person who has even one negative rating. That’s just unrealistic, and is very uninformed about the buying and selling sector. As an example, I will use myself. I purchased a vehicle on eBay for $5000. The seller had negatives. However, when I corresponded with the seller, he responded within 24hrs. We sent several emails back and forth, and I even talked with him on the phone a few times. It’s been over 18 months since I purchased the vehicle and it hasn’t given me any problems other than having a very small coolant leak which only does this in the winter months.
When you’re thinking of dealing with a seller, be sure to read the comments. Most of them if you can. This will give you an idea of the overall profile of the seller.
Buying From Outside The US
This is risky. I won’t deny it. In fact, since you’re reading this article, you probably are looking for a first-time digital camera, so I recommend avoiding this option altogether. Personally, I’ve conducted transactions outside the US, which include Germany, the UK, France, Belgium, New Zealand, Japan, and others. In time, you may do the same. However, the key in dealing with anyone anywhere, is knowing the equipment you want.
eBay Is Not The Only Place For A Deal
Believe it or not, you can find some good deals online besides eBay. For example, one of my favorite used camera stores is KEH–a new and used camera equipment dealer out of Atlanta, GA. They have a very strict grading system, and you can be confident when they mark a camera as “Like New”, it will be like new.
There are other shops like this located throughout the United States, and conducting a simple Google search should give you a used shop that is within driving distance. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you might be limited to online purchasing, as camera shops and cities are not as closely populated farther East.
Ma & Pa Shops
It is true that many “Ma & Pa” shops charge much more than what you would find online. However, there are a few deals you may discover when you’re browsing. Also, start to forge a relationship at the camera shop. If you like the owners, and the only thing preventing you from buying from them is the higher prices, commit yourself to buying from them exclusively, and they will more than likely give you a nice discount which would almost be similar to buying online. Remember these shops are physical buildings, located in a business district, and they have many more overhead costs than your typical online store. Thousands, and I do mean thousands, of online “stores” could actually be storefronts, who merely go through a larger distributor. This is fine, and there’s nothing really wrong with this method of selling, but the seller is mostly someone who’s looking to make a fast buck, and may not be concerned when and if your camera equipment is defective. In addition, the store may actually close and then your hung out to dry altogether. Your only recourse is going through the manufacturer, which can take several weeks, and even months, to get a replacement.
So, don’t give local Ma & Pa shops the cold shoulder automatically. Give yourself a little time to initiate a relationship, purchase a few items here and there, and see if the store owners pick up on it and reward you with your committed purchases.
In the next part of Choosing A Digital Camera, we will discuss even more alternatives to buying new.
©2005 by Jason Busch (DigitalDingus)
Choosing A Digital Camera (Part 2): Shop Smart, Shop Used-Mart
A part of The DigitalDingus Guide To Photography series.
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September 21, 2008
How do I get custom prints online?
Nobody wants a standard printout for a picture that they took of their family. If you are like me you always strive for brilliant pictures that look professional. I say this but my photos are less than professional. Thanks to a little bit of editing and some capable software I can usually fake it. I am going to assume that if you are reading this article that you already know that printing photos online is the only way to go for quality digital photos and price.
How do I edit my pictures first?
When uploading your pictures to a professional printer they usually have some photo editing software available to use. This is usually enough to take care of your standard fixes. If you really want to do a number on the photo you can buy a copy of Adobe Photoshop. This program is very expensive and has a very steep learning curve. If you have Microsoft Office like most of the world there is a very simple editing program that comes with it. You can usually use that program with no prior experience and it works rather well to do some routine fixing to your digital photos. Then next best option is the software that came with your digital camera. This software works rather well and if you did not know that your camera came with it then it is like getting free software.
Will my pictures look like I expect them to?
Printing photos online can and should be exactly what you expect. The catch is you have to know what to expect. Many printers and shops that will let you upload you photos will not alter your pictures or make any adjustments other than size. There are other photo developers who will alter them. This does not mean they make major changes. They will most often change the hue. So in deciding who you will use to process your photos keep in mind that some will print them exactly as you uploaded them and others will apply a little alteration to your pics.
What do I need to watch out for?
The biggest problem with uploading your pictures is that the buyer does not upload the correct picture or they will upload a poor quality picture and when it is printed it is still poor quality. Make sure that all of your pictures are edited correctly and that they have been uploaded in the correct format.
Digital Photo Printing
Utah Wedding Photography
Online Photo Mugs
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September 19, 2008
You may have already started to make money from your photography, but if you are still a gifted amateur, then there are effective methods you can use to kick start your chances of making a profit. At the present time there has never been more opportunities for the photographer. New technologies in the form of digital cameras are changing the face of the industry. However that has always been the case for photographers, and it is no reason to get discouraged.
It has never been easier for the amateurs to take their own photographs. However there are certain circumstances where it is harder than others. An example here is pet photography. There are plenty of people living alone, who have pets, and whilst they can photograph their pets it is far harder to get a photograph of them with their pets. Advertise locally to take pet photos, or take a walk in your nearest park and ask people. If you use a digital camera, you can advertise to people that not only can they have a copy of their pets, as a photograph, but they can have it on their desktop as wallpaper. Digital online printing services will also print the photo on postcards. Get some done and then post them to friends or relations overseas. mugs and serve them in your house to pet owners and see how long it is before someone else wants one.
There are other possibilities, with the tee shirts and mugs, some people will want their own photographs on a tee shirt with perhaps their own caption, advertise these services locally through the means of small ads.
Have some business cards printed, and go and cover local sporting events and contests, there is always someone without a camera, especially if they win, they will want a photograph. Or you may like to consider joining a local society, and advertising yourself as a photographer, there is nothing as effective as word of mouth advertising, all the money paid for advertisements cannot beat it!
Be aware of local activities that take place in your area that you can capitalise on. Graduations are an occasion when people wish to have a more formal record. The cost of graduating itself is so high that what is the cost of a formal portrait in comparison. Especially if you have a digital camera and have no film, you can almost use it in a speculative manner. In other words there are a lot of people together who constitute a market. If you photograph them all then the chances are that you will sell about 40% of your work. There is always someone who has a jammed camera, or in the wrong place, or even proud grandparents who do not possess a camera.
Not everyone lives down the Road from the Taj Mahal, or Gracelands, but many of you will live near a landmark that attracts photographers. Many people will have their cameras but they will not necessarily be digital. If you have a digital camera you should be able to show people a photograph they want in front of something. These photographs, though time consuming to start with, are a start on the photographic market ladder.
Join a photographic club, and talk to other photographers who are making money now. Not only will you make contacts, but you will have the opportunity to refine your techniques. Even in this digital age, it is vital that you keep abreast with technology, and you will be able to compare the value of equipment, that is being used now.
If you have a digital camera, take it in your local nightclub, there is always one in any time, which are new and trendy, take photographs of the range of cocktails on offer. Attractive looking drink will sell better with a photograph, see if you can sell the photographs, or better still negotiate a price for new printed menus. Speak with other local businessmen and see if they can improve their marketing techniques with the use of photographs. A second hand car dealer can increase his business potential with the use of photographs.
Remember when you are starting to make money from photography that you may feel as though you will attract more market share if you sell your work cheaply. Before you take this strategy though, think about some of the implications. It will have a short-term increase that is for sure, but in the long term how many businesses and families want to hire the cheapest photographer in town. People know that they rarely get good quality for super cheap prices and photos,…well, they’re special items to most people. Don’t be too expensive but don’t be cheap either!
Your technical ability is sufficient to represent your client’s marketing in a visual statement, that requires more than point and shoot. Do not sell these skills short. You have to be aware of the hidden costs of doing business; all to often it is easy to absorb a little loss of profit, because it is only small. These costs can add up to a sizeable amount. Ask other local photographers price their market, this may seem a strange technique, but they have a vested interest in not letting a new comer under price their market.
Take into account your realistic overheads, that is the depreciation of your equipment, your insurances, legal fees, accountancy fees, repairs, travel time and costs, subscriptions, and possible rent, both of equipment and studio space. Educate your client explain to them what the higher technology costs, but also what it can offer them. All businesses have to be made more profitable, and it is difficult but not impossible to find a balance between the price you need to charge, and the price the customer will pay, the more the client understands new technology, the less likely they are to balk at paying for it. After all it is cheaper to ride a bike to work than invest in a new car, but who realistically wants to do it.
It is a good idea to sit down and write a business plan to define where you want to go and define your target audience. This is a good marketing strategy; it stops you wasting time effort and money, targeting areas that will provide you with little or no return.
Publisher & author: Roy Barker. A 40 page guide to many more important & exciting categories of potential photography businesses are revealed at http://photography-business.blogspot.com
Roy is the author of the popular ebook, Income from Photography - a downloadable ebook which guides the reader on how to easily start up and market your profitable photography business. It can be found at http://www.profitable-photography.com
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September 18, 2008
Have you noticed that sometimes your images have a funny colour cast over them? Was this something that was not present at the time you took your shot?
If so, then you need to think of colour balance (often known as white balance).
It sounds technical, and it can be very complex, but basically, each scene you shoot has colour characteristics depending on how it is lit.
In this way, morning and evening sunlit scenes will be lit by orange light, midday scenes by bluish light and flash scenes by high intensity flash light. If the weather is overcast or you are shooting by light indoors, then the ambient light will change accordingly.
This means that the camera is presented with different “ambient” light which it can see but the human eye can’t (the brain compensates to think of the scene as a uniform one in all lit conditions).
What does this mean for you and your camera?
Many cameras have an “automatic white balance” (AWB) setting. This is fine as far as it goes and it will detect the overall colour of the scene and automatically compensate. Thus, with flash, the camera detects, via AWB, the flashlight and averages out the colour rendition to an “average” acceptable to the human eye.
The trouble is, the average may not be suitable.
Consider a sunset. The sky is a range of deep oranges, yellows and pinks. Beautiful. You capture this on camera but your AWB setting averages out the “excessively orange” scene to a murky and dull hue. Your photo will look good but not spectacular.
This can happen in all situations where the overall light is “different” to what the camera considers to be “average”.
The way around this is first of all to be aware of the issue and secondly, to switch to “manual white balance”. On manual you can set the camera for daylight, cloud, flash, indoor light etc. By selecting the correct setting you will get he most pleasing and intense result which will mirror the scene you visualised.
But be careful!! - if you set the wrong custom setting (for example daylight when you should be switching to flash) then you will get an artificial and unattractive colour cast.
Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com
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September 15, 2008
Though the Property Index is only a new kid on the block concern, (they were registered only in March of 2007), they were very swift to prove their expertise. They’re a extremely straightforward concern specialised in proposing expert advice to anyone who is meaning to let, sell, rent or buy property across the globe. What they assure you of is to help you discover precisely what you crave quick plus, obviously, straightforwardly.
Real estate is in most areas of the world currently, one of the most fashionable areas being property available in Dubai. It should really be simply to write a list of the tremendous real estate you can purchase in Dubai, one argument for choosing real estate here being the houses and apartments available and the possibility of being able to live amongst this keen and vibrant people.
It is one of the truly trendy areas currently, and with the gorgeous landscape and great climate surrounding you all year long, how could you ever say no… Real estate in Dubai is steeped in history, art and culture, this country has been and still is home to quite a few cultures.
About 25-30 years back there was just a trickle of Britishers looking for real estate in Dubai. Just ask anyone who has emigrated to Dubai and they will tell you the same thing. Well, some would are tagging it a brief fashion and others are tagging it a that’s more or less a compulsion! People keen on repairing here may range from young families looking for an exciting life perspective to older generations who are looking to enjoy themselves and loosen up.
Note that there could well be hindrances when attempting to buy real estate abroad: it stands to reason that there are hundreds of actions to care about whether organizing, sightseeing or signing up. If you only miss but a single minor action that may definitely engender insurmountable hindrances plus, more important, a failed investment.
Naturally, as is to be supposed with this trendy destination, real estate can be expensive in this region and this, of course, is unquestionably owing to the wide spread market pressure. Nonetheless property buyers are pretty much spoilt in an area so richly blessed by golden terrain and setting. It actually has practically all a buyer may possibly itch for, and plenty more.
PropertyIndex.com make it easy to find property in Dubai, whether you are looking for a villa or an apartment, they can help you find the right property.
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September 11, 2008
The Pretty & Pink has remained amongst the best selling dongs over the past three years. It’s success is due to it’s mind boggling performance. This little beauty would make a ideal compliment to any double ended dildo enthusiasts collection. The Pretty & Pink can be used for the stimulation of both female erogenous zones. The perfect vibrating dildo for lonely nights home alone. Men both gay and straight also find enjoyment with the Pretty & Pink. This sex aid is also a marvelous first time product for any individual who does not already possess such an aid.
The Pretty & Pink is also shipped with a add on vibration booster, this is a sex toy of the best quality. This dildo has been designed with bulbous heads, which will help raise your your nighttime adventures to new heights. The Pretty & Pink moulded from easy to wash material, making it very safe to have fun with. This dildo is available with a choice of different colours, widths and lengths. The flexible material of the Pretty & Pink allows for penetration at angles that are rarely achieved during intercourse, making it possible to dabble in never before experienced found enjoyment and hither to un-discovered erogenous parts of your body.
The manufacturer responsible for this sex toy, LexToys are amongst the the most widely known and liked trade marks involved in the design and production of dildos. They are manufacturers of a range of alternative top of the range sex toys including the Flexi Dong and the famous 7 Inch Soft Dong. LexToys are known for being cost competitive, so you can be confident of the fact you will not see a better deal any where else.
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September 10, 2008
Quilting is already a fun hobby but did you know that their are thousands of other quilters out there just like you with an undying passion to quilt and learn about new techniques and patterns? What if I told you that you could get free quilting patterns online as well as connect with some incredible quilters? On this site I found you can do all of this and this is one powerful tool because it makes quilting a lot more fun than you were already having! Imagine sharing your ideas, concepts, quilt pictures and even patterns, with other enthusiastic quilter? I’m glad I joined!
Just about every hobby has its own corresponding social networking site such as forums, groups on the big five social networks and web 2.0 sites and even chat rooms. What would you say to a membership site dedicated strictly to quilters with all the bells and whistles of any social networking site? What if I told you this site had free quilting patterns, advanced communication tools like video chat, voice chat, and much more? You’d probably say where do I sign up right? I know that’s what I said when I saw this site in a Google search for my quilt patch, while looking for patterns by private users on the web. I found much more than I ever thought was possible!
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