Nathan Bransford - The Forums

Professional work demands professional rates, as many have pointed out.

But there are many circumstances in which something less might suffice. For example, most people do not have their blogs professionally edited, even though it would improve content (and this seems a closer comparison to an author photo than creating an entire novel, though I admit I'm not too knowledgeable about photography).

If one's needs are modest, a decent amateur job is probably fine. This isn't to say that professional photographers are not worth it, just that many projects may not have the budget or scope to have everything done professionally.

Sommer Leigh wrote:

Nigel Haberdash wrote:I don't understand why you need a professional photo? A friend with a digital camera with a black and white setting should be able to pull this off for you. Just drive out of town wearing a black sweater, sit on the first square hay bale you find, look mysterious, click and you're done. Maybe I'm just gorgeous so I don't have to worry about it?

Isn't this sort of like the same argument people like to make about writing novels? Like, "hey I'm going to spend the next month writing, hire an agent, and by christmas have a publishing contract. I'll quit my job once the contract is signed. I don't see what the big deal is, it's just a book, how hard can it be? I'll have it done in a few weeks then I'll start working on the sequel."

Nothing is every as easy as talented people make it seem.

Are you saying I'm not gorgeous? Pistols at dawn at schramm park? j/k

There's a difference between professional and amateur photography, sure, but is that what is going to get you published? I mean if my agent tells me to get a pro to do it, I won't half-ass it, but if it's for my blog or a self-pub type house I'd try it myself first and then see what packages are available to make sure I can't meet my needs. But the main point that I don't want to lose sight of here is that I'm really good looking.

Perceptions and reality vary. I take my photography skills for granted. Film or digital. I overlook the trials and tribulations of acquiring the skills and only remember the process.

I archive original digital graphics at 600 dpi, for example, so data resolution is as high as foreseeable needs might need. Or do an EPS or SVG export or save the original design in its native application, like 3-D or CGI or CAD, and export to PNG or JPG or GIF for publication purposes.

However, my clients think their end result is a once and done Barbara's your aunt product with no idea what went into it. Can't you just find something online and use it? Heck no, it's copyrighted and express use permission is mandatory. So I do original creations.

Though if an author wants a portrait for promotional uses, it is a once and done product. I've got too many things going on to get lost in licensing minutia. A 600 dpi archival original, a 300 dpi for most reproduction purposes, a couple smaller sizes for websites, wallet size and thumbnails. I can do resizing and export to disc from my camera, or load onto a flash drive, e-mail attachment, etc., direct from my laptop. Anyway, it's usually a matter of click, click, click, once and done. And it's a professional, artful product precisely suited to its purposes and budget.

Nigel Haberdash wrote: Are you saying I'm not gorgeous? Pistols at dawn at schramm park? j/k

There's a difference between professional and amateur photography, sure, but is that what is going to get you published? I mean if my agent tells me to get a pro to do it, I won't half-ass it, but if it's for my blog or a self-pub type house I'd try it myself first and then see what packages are available to make sure I can't meet my needs. But the main point that I don't want to lose sight of here is that I'm really good looking.

Pistols at dawn INDEED. :-)

I don't know about anyone else, but I wouldn't bother getting a professional author photo done until you really are going to be published. I don't think you need one before hand. You certainly don't need a professional one for your blog. If it is for self-pub stuff, I would at least reach out to someone who knows their way around digital pictures to set you up. Not all digital pictures are created equal, even if they initially LOOK the same.

Here's a sampling of a poster project that made me some beaucoup cash, and I hold all copyright licensing for. So you-all know I'm not blowing smoke.

Sommer Leigh wrote:Pistols at dawn INDEED. :-)

Didn't we have a long (one time) tradition at the Bransforum of Dodge Ball Duels, the smell of blood and rubber in the morning and all that?

polymath wrote:Here's a sampling of a poster project...

I quite like that. And that's saying a lot after all the stock images I've been looking at for the last month.

Thanks, Margo. It was a rewarding project all around. Looking at stock images is like reading queries. After a few dozen, they start to run together into a homogenous pea green soup. The meaningful ones stand out.

Fortune cookie fortune from today's lunch: An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision.

Pistol duels would be a good way to drive traffic to your new blog...

But I will demand the presence of a professional photographer to document.

hektorkarl wrote: But I will demand the presence of a professional photographer to document.

Present. ;) I will do the honors.

CV

hektorkarl wrote:Pistol duels would be a good way to drive traffic to your new blog...

But I will demand the presence of a professional photographer to document.

Only if I can get the licensing to use the picture of myself getting shot for my book covers and blog.

It seems the license should go to the winner. Duels are usually winner-take-all.

Whew, good thing I majored in pistol dueling in college. CV, make sure you get my best side, won't you?

Margo- I don't remember forum Dodge Ball...I may have missed that little bloodsport.

I wouldn't get too confident. College learning doesn't always transfer to the real world.

[quote="hektorkarl"]I wouldn't get too confident. College learning doesn't always transfer to the real world.[/quote

True. I learned to pistol duel on the streets!