Virginia Photographer - Mark Finkenstaedt

My PhotoShelter -

2011-07-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

Photoshelter is one of the best photographer solutions available and has for over a year has honored me by having my site as one of their showcase examples for future users. That's high praise indeed with over 50,000 users.

Photoshelter.com

Working out with 202Fitness - Arlington and Falls Church Personal Training

2010-12-02T12:07:00.000-08:00

This is a test of test

iPhone Backup .99c for Photographers

2010-02-07T21:36:00.000-08:00

This is a just a little helping hand to any fellow photographer or iPhone user.

I recently found on eBay a very handy and cheap backup battery for the iPhone. Too many times whilst on assignment the phone is on it's last gasp. Enter the .99c backup a ($9 shipping from China)

Here's the test timeline from 10% to almost fully charged. The battery is good for one full charge of your phone if left alone. (I did use it a little for a few voice calls)

Just plug it in to your cradle or stack them together to charge the backup or the iPhone.

Search eBay: 1900mAh Power Station Battery Charger For iphone 3G 3GS

ThinkTank - VisibleDust - This Washington DC Photographer taking advantage of foresight

2009-11-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

The NYC Photo Plus Expo lead to a few purchases mostly to enhance the "workflow" of our everyday lives here at the studio, be it my assistant or just me.

100% of the time we out in the field so making it look as seamless as possible is really important. I had fully expected just to wander the Expo and attend various seminars with no intention of purchasing gear. However, a few items jumped out at me and an idea started to formulate. - A different "decisive moment" for the digital age -.

There are several moments during my work day that have been really important to me and one in particular has come to light as the absolute defining moment.
Here's a few examples of this Virginia photographer's idea of what is important:- appearance of my crew, the gear's appearance, quality of gear, punctuality, communication skills, personality, competency and execution.

The defining moment - as I wandered the vendor stalls is the instant the image pops up on the screen for the client's approval.
(100% of the time I'm tethered to a computer).

At that moment - nothing else matters, the lighting can be changed, the set or model finessed, but quality is the watch-word so this is the "decisive moment".

Too often a photographer's sensor can be mucky or the computer screen being used has mismatched color. Now, I've never been this sort of sloppy technician but things have snuck up on me during busy periods.

There is nothing worse than excusing sensor dust on a client's product or likeness. All day long - "I'll fix that in PhotoShop!" Once your at on the assignment it's too late to clean and calibrate. Something I have work to avoid but ti was adding so much time as the last task of the night.

NYC got me thinking about that moment and finessing out these aggravations. Money must be able to make this easier on me.

VisibleDust based in Canada got the jump many years ago on the digital camera self-cleaning accessory market. I've been a user or many years with their high end Sensor Clean and rather ordinary early model brushes which ran several hundred dollars.
Now they have in the product lineup the Sensor Loupe, Sensor Swabs and the Arctic Butterfly which I have ignored until now, but in light of my revelation I couldn't resist. ChaChing - more money! Problem no longer.

Before each shoot I now inspect my sensor and clean it if necessary. The Arctic Butterfly works wonders - zip, whirl -and my images are as clean as a whistle.

Next, I color calibrating my monitors before each shoot.

This may seem very laborious but compared to spotty images and a client wondering why they look a little jaundice it is well worth it.

I also of course grabbed PhotoShelterand ThinkTankPhotos' Airport Takeoff. I didn't want a defining moment of stupidity at the airport departure gate so I purchased the ultimate airline "approved" photo kit bag. My back also thanks me since it has wheels and I feel like I'm permanently off for my holidays. Fat Chance!

This Washington DC Photographer has PhotoShelter!! -

2009-11-10T11:52:00.000-08:00

My friend John Harrington has been pestering me for years about having a PhotoShelter account but I just didn't get it.

Finally, the combinations of such features as SEO, client delivery, stock portal, client proofing and ease of job completion I made the leap at this year's 2009 NYC PhotoPlus Expo with just 20 minutes to spare.

So far it's amazing to use PhotoShelter and I'm eager to load more as stock which has languished all these years.

Part of the attraction is adding SEO to the brand "Virginia Photographer" and "Washington DC Photographer" so that I too can compete for some of the work available through Google searches.

Secondly it keeps me to one editing tool, the speed machine PhotoMechanic which loads directly to PhotoShelter. Phew!

Anyway it's making an impact and I think it's the future for all photographers. Check out my new front page here

Virginia Photographer, Virginia Photography, Virginia Photographers, washington DC photographer, DC photographer

I'm no Emile Hirsch - Behind the image (Part 1)

2009-09-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

I've had a few good goes at shooting celebrities recently (see the gallery on mfpix.com) and I think it might get me into trouble at times. Namely, prospective clients who visiting my site might think I must be terribly expensive. Obviously a concern. Photography is always expensive but not for want of shooting the young, rich and famous. It's the value of the image and what it gives in return that should be stressed.

The client should always expect it to be somewhat costly when asking a professional photographer to enrich and enhance their services or likeness. Hopefully, rather than discouraging a phone call I would hope the photos displayed on the site would convey quality and the talent I bring for their investment.

Just for your interest and to show the story behind the "glamour" what follows are a set of photos of my rather unglamorous photo shoot of Emile Hirsh in a hotel room for the Washington Post. Notice - no rich interiors, no assistant as a stand-in/sidekick. That's ol' me using self timer to test the lighting before my 2.5 minute session.

This was for a review of the movie "MILK" in which Emile Hirsch co-starred with Sean Penn. The resulting image even without all the usual basic frills is pretty darn good if you ask me. (this particular frame was a discard)

Sometimes these things are just have to done really simple with very little pomp or ceremony- especially in Washington DC. Annie has her staff and entourage, Platon - well - he's just amazing and then there was Irving Penn and Avedon the greatest of them all.

More photos from this "set" are on my site at mfpix.com

FaceBook Ads You and Your Friends- Not Recommended

2009-07-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

My Friend John Harrington has a very interesting piece of advice and well worth noting and following..

Facebook will, could and will use your photos on their adverts.

The advice is to change your settings to prevent this.

Here's how on John's site - click here

Screen grab from John's site.

Kodachrome the late great film

2009-06-23T23:26:00.000-07:00

Paul Simon sang about it and millions of photographers worshipped it.

Kodak has at last pulled the plug on this classic film stock.

We old folk (I'm only 42) can cry a little at seeing yet another old friend join so many others - so quickly.

Full story - interesting too - here

Finally - someone - charging for value

2009-06-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

As a ex-news/editoral photographer I have lost out on many great photo opportunities as major newspaper's cut away what they consider unnecessary all whilst driving their businesses into the ground with free internet versions.

Why would you buy a newspaper when you can get it for free online?

Here's a newspaper who figured out the basic plan that does work.

So long WP - So long NYT

Newport Daily News: Charging for news online from Nieman Journalism Lab on Vimeo.

Paying Once - the right photographer

2009-06-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

This is really just a brief tale of what might be a false economy.

Go for the cheaper person and the saving might be $100 then again sometimes $1000.

However, a lot might depend on that image let alone the cost of producing a full re-shoot if the photographer entirely chosen for price turns out not to be able to produce the goods.

Recently, due to the economy I've been considered the somewhat expensive freelancer which I of course reject because I bring a lot of gear, creativity and experience. Many times now I've had to save-the-day for clients when choosing the cheaper guy say $50-200 cheaper didn't pan out.

This saving might seem like a good idea to a daily publication where the drop in quality can be absorbed by the daily turnover but to a monthly magazine, corporate client or advertising job it's a big mistake.

Here's the brief:- Tiki-esque cocktails for the cover illustration. (I don't necessarily consider myself a food shooter)

Tiki-esque had me stumped when I walked into a local very high-end white table cloth restaurant.
There was nothing Tiki to be seen, no tiny umbrellas, no palm tables - nothing.

I spotted after some anxiety a dark wooden table and a high back rattan booth. Next - steal palm fronds and a flower from planters down the street. Add light and some gels.

Here's the photo they had done previously before they called me. (Pretty uninviting isn't it?)

Here are the images I produced. (Below)

Presto - instant Tiki and photos worth every penny.

Drinks you want to reach in and enjoy on a hot day. (Blur - Canon 45mm Tilt Shift lens - no photoshop)
This is a pretty light shoot with just two lights since the budget had taken a hit from the previous photographer.

PhotographersQuote.com - not likely.

2009-05-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

The internet is amazing with boundless potential so I was really intrigued when I received an email to the newly launched PhotographersQuote.com.

DesignersQuote has been around for a while it would seem with many happy and equally unhappy people. The jist is that an individual can post a job request and a photographer bids on this 'opportunity" with credits purchased from the site.

Each credit costing $4 and each job having a credit score.

This may work in the "designer" site since you can design for anyone in the world but photography is very much bricks and mortar so the job (usually low budget) has to be in your region -okay - walking distance and use your iPhone.

I "had" to sign up to see if my suspicions where correct. Job postings existed in the $100 for headshots and $500 for a full wedding. Locations - North Carolina and Michigan - Good luck getting a real professional for that!

Anyway, it's a great idea in this economy so we'll watch this site for improvements and maybe a realistic job request. It didn't cost to join after all.

Bidding which uses time and paying for the honor be it $4 to $24 for a $100 job just isn't going to catch on.

The belt tightens for Newsweek

2009-05-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Newsweek owned by the Washington Post Company has undergone a new design but also recently announced it's withdrawal from the White House photographer's pool coverage which shares coverage and provides the daily photos from the White House to other publications. I have been expecting such a drawdown for several years so it's no surprise that the axe finally fell in this recession.
Thankfully, two great photographers Khue Bui and Charles Ommanney (freelancers) will still have some sort of work with the magazine.

Ommanney, if you remember created a stunning portfolio from his coverage of Obama on the way to winning the White House. Look here on Flickr for this selection

Anyway, this is just another slow degradation of photography which once was so lauded.

Check out the new redesigned Newsweek and see what you think. The plan is to reduce (drive away) readers by going long form and raising the cover price. What happens if everyone loves it and more subscribe? Seems an odd sort of business plan - kind like giving everything away at wp.com.

Get your newspapers 'err! Going fast - Read all about it!

2009-05-03T12:13:00.000-07:00

The Boston Globe was the first newspaper to enact it's predator freelance agreement and thus lower the boom on it's loyal freelances, me included. Forcing freelancers further into unprofitability and more or less working purely for the cashé. The Washington Post and the The New York Times quickly followed like lemmings off a cliff.

Freelance rates had been static for years as if that wasn't enough but now they wanted even more, multi-use, all rights and much more for no additional compensation.

Notably the heros of the situation were the Globe freelancers, who held out in an unofficial strike to change these policies, only to be overcome by less experienced writers and photographer eager to sell their souls for nothing more than the clip and the web credit.

It it therefore no wonder readership and advertising is down when so little respect is given to the content or those that provide it. Why should anyone care for these behemoths?

The great newspapers are sinking faster than the Bismark but as before they can only follow each other over the cliff, than pave their own way to profitability with sensible business practices and common sense.

As a newspaper buyer, reader and contributor I'm gutted buy this ineptitude - (let alone the goons running the automakers into the ground) - Yup I'm a GMC owner. --There should be panic in the street at this point or at the very least public executions.

Newspapers need some way out and this might just be it. - The irony - this from the BG. - read here

You can see many photos I made for the Washington Post here - Virginia photographer, Maryland Photographer, Washington, DC photographer

The Coolest Mac Ever - Mod that thing!

2009-04-29T16:26:00.001-07:00

Yes, I know this is the most usless post for some but today I got my sticky fingers on the professionally built "mod" mac or ModBook by Axiotron.

What's a mod? From Wikipedia: Modding is a slang expression that is derived from the verb "modify". The term can refer to the act of modifying a piece of hardware or software.

This is model airplane building for the technology geek/creative artist. Yearly their are dozens of Mac addicts who "mod" and pimp out their old Mac's with lights, paint jobs or new shells. Here's a great example of lighting withing an old mac but some if not most are unbelievable (check out the MacWorld link). Here's a wacky one - The Millenium Falcon mod.

I'm getting somewhere with this to the most practical of them all. But.. here's MacWorld on modding : Here

This Axiotron model I handled at Mac Business Solutions today pictured above is just gorgeous. It's heavy but it would be wonderful for free ranging tethered shooting. Everything is done by the stylus pen with a virtual pop up keyboard.

If your done with your old boring MacBook send it off to be Mod'ed by Axiotron and get this beauty back. They run from $1150 for an upgrade of your own and $2200 or so new. Call MBS if your in the DC area for a test drive or quote. You'll be the "mod'est" geek around.

Makes a great gift for your local Virginia photographer - err - yours truly!

Axiotron Main Page

Mac Business Solutions

2009-04-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, whilst having the pleasure of photographing Dena Roudybush of compliance-counsel.com for her new radio spot of 1580 AM. Dena is one of the good guys helping people save their homes from foreclosure. She was terrific to work with but that's not the point of this note.

Whilst there the reception area computer was having a problemand the human opeartor banged on it and cursing "why won't you print ..." I couldn't help think if it could answer it would say "..because I'm a PC" ( Sorry the Mac user can't resist)

If you need a recommendation for a Mac business overhaul Mac Business Solutions in Rockville are king.

They also offer many free seminars and clinics to the user. I'm off to one Wednesday for a free Aperture 2 workshop. I definately need help mastering this software so that I can possibly fully integrate it into my workflow. Right now I use it for tethered capture and some snazy web galleries via .Mac.

Here's a link to the workshop if any users are interested.
http://www.mbsdirect.com/current/Events/Events/aperture-2-for-iphoto-a-professional-photographers.html

Schefz - Photographer worth visiting

2009-04-23T07:07:00.000-07:00

I had the accidental luck to deal with Paul Schefz and the opportunity to view his work.

He's a wonderful fashion and beauty photographer.

Paul Schefz website click here

Tweet-FaceBook bad for business! Shocker

2009-04-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

Personally, I don't get the Tweet or the minute-by-minute, blow-by-blow updates on Facebook or Twitter. I'm not over-the-hill in age and confess openly to being a bit of a technology enthusiast/geek. However, I'm sort of English by nature - after years of torture living there - so - we all know showing your feelings just isn't cricket!

This fascination with other peoples musing, rants and daily potty habits makes me wonder: - What are the Bookies saying? Fads to be gone in -- 3 yrs - maybe? Place your bets! My Space - How Passe´!

Here's a great story over at AP (A Photo Editor) as to the dangers of the "Tweet" - Watch what you post folks!

"Facebook Ad Twitter Lost Me An Advertising Shoot"

Excuse me, whilst I head off and clean-up my FaceBook account.

Ya, PhotoShop Ya - it's evil and addictive.

2009-04-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

Over on EP (Editorial Photographer) photojournalist Peter Richardson (his blog) bought to our attention this wonderful story about PhotoShop the wonderful but totally addictive photo editing tool but savage beast for a photographer not to lose his head over.
Once again it't the photojournalists who have the toughest time with it. It is so easy to take the mundane - push the contrast - saturate and presto you have something ---unearthly. Apparently Danish photographer Klavs Bo Christensen lost his noodle over the untamed power of PhotoShop whilst submitting to the Picture of the Year contest. The judges where so befuddled by his renditions of the scenes they asked for this RAW images ( RAW format being the untouched- unprocessed image that is created by the camera instead of a processed image like jpeg) Here's the example of the before and after.

The story is reported here with the translation form the judging at the POY in Denmark. Great story read all about it.

This would never happen with Kodachrome!

Cheapening photography - Geeze what's new!

2009-04-14T20:34:00.000-07:00

The wonderful Chris Usher deserves much better than he got recently. The standard thinking among photographers in the film days is that each frame was worth $1500. However, Chris took on Corbis recently doing his best to protect himself and support this notion that our images are still worth something.

Chris has major backbone but he lost his appeal after a seven year battle and in return was handed the princely sum (ruling) that his images are only worth $7 a piece - The loss - almost 13,000 images!

I'm not sure what support if any he got from the trade groups like ASMP, APA but it obviously wasn't enough.

For a great write up of this travesty can be found here. Bohemian

The business just gets weaker and weaker with rates as far as I can tell plummeting due to a a lack of transparency. Corporate and Editorial photographers need to take a page from the wedding photographers. They keep it transparent and the industry thrives! (difficult I know but something must be done)

We all deserve better and the model Chris sets for sticking up for himself should be followed.

The early days!! A fledgling photographer

2009-04-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

Honda Generator EMS 4500 - For Sale -

2009-04-05T21:45:00.001-07:00

A vital tool is a generator for home protection or photo shoots on location. I have a Honda EMS 4500 120/240 30A beast for sale at $450 on craigslist if interested. I replaced this with a Honda EU3000i so if you need home protection and more this guy might be right for you.

SpyFu .com a way to unravel what some have spent (literally) so much on.

2009-04-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

Spy Fu.com is a brilliant and sometimes unknown tool to peek behind the curtain of your competitors work and advertising methods.

If your competitor is using Google Adwords you simply put their URL into SpyFu.com and presto all your competitions vital statistics from budget to keywords and who their greatest challenges to overcome are and how they rank.

Just passing this on if you have an Adwords campaign brewing in the back of your mind.

So many templates to little decision making

2009-04-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

Contemplation for a new website takes a lot out of you and I'm a shadow on my former self.

I'm a believer in the professional template but which to choose? LiveBooks, FolioLink, NeonSky, SiteWelder...

There are several really great sites I like MarkTucker, he has a wonderful site or is it just his amazing images.
Brandon Sullivan has an exceptional site but I'm not sure where is came from.

LiveBooks almost seems rather tame in comparison to these huge displays and moving images but LiveBooks makes a lot of it's SEO talents.

They all cost a packet in the end.

What's a guy to do?

I need to shed a few pounds so I'll dwell a little longer.

Running the business into the ground - REAL LIFE

2009-03-27T00:13:00.000-07:00

HEY XXXX

I understand you recently bid $700 flat for the XXXX six lawyer portraits (we are all entitled to charge whatever we like but considering your considerable SEO talents it would seem that you could afford to raise your prices considerably due to your search-engine visibility)
In this case the lowest other bid was $1800 (highest $2000+) which they were happy to pay until your $700 bid floated in under the door.
Therefore, it is safe to assume you left behind $1,050.00 - lowest bidder wins.
XXXX lawyers bill $350-500 per hour! Yes, $350-500 per hour!
Therefore on the basis of some actuary's "worth" - surely this law firm could pay more than $20 per person for photography - we aren't Walmart are we ($39.95)?
How do I calculate this random $20 per person - (in fact it's far bleaker as you will see)?
Here's a breakdown as a rough guide to CODB (Cost Of Doing Business).

6 executive headshots - $700 flat.

45% taxable rate = $315 (tax man - cometh)

Remainder $ 385.00

Travel - 2 hrs R/T Wash - Balti. $35 per hour $70
Parking DC $18
Seamless (partial) $20
Post Production/PhotoShop/Elect $85
Delivery (FedEx) $20
Camera (5D II $3,000 /200 approx. shoot p/yr) $15
Computers/Software $20
Car (wear/Tear - Mileage 102 @ .85 p/m) $86.70
Insurance (professional p/day) $10
Insurance (car) $10
Lights + stands + gear $25

Obviously it goes on and on but as you can see..

Expenses CODB - $379.70 - you unfortunately will lose money - $385 - $379.70 = $5.30 remaining

$5.30 remain / 6 portraits = .88 cents per person!!!

This is not a sustainable model based on solid business practices.
Please for your brother and sister professional photographers in DC/MD/VA, charge appropriately based on who, what, why, usage & licensing.
XXXXXX now believe that a photographer should only be $700. They are tainted for life!
The rest of us who imploded on this job implore you to raise your rates and compete on what the market will bear.
We as a community of photographers must consider what we do, unique and extremely valuable or we shall all sink together.
If ever in doubt John Harrington has a great pricing tool (as I'm sure you are aware) available to us all (click here)

Respectfully

Quote Etiquette

2009-03-27T00:08:00.000-07:00

Just a small peeve I'd like to put out the the world.

If a quote is requested the etiquette should be to respond and inform the photographer or bidder that they won't be required for that job.

Email makes this especially easy and impersonal.

This is just simple manners and we should all abide by it.

I owe a few contractors a call back.

You monitor - Great Article - Spend the money

2009-03-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a great article on why to pay for a great monitor. Time spent in front of it and the other investments whilst most people spend the least they can on their monitor.
What Makes a Good Monitor?

Northern Short Course

2009-03-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

I have the good fortune or knowing two generous and interesting experts in thier field. Bill Foster and John Harrington who allowed me to attend both of their lectures at the Northern Short Course. Bill spoke about SEO and John did a wonderful job as usual with his Best Business Practices. WE always hope that one will rub off the most with other photographers becoming true believers and raise the bar on our beleaguered business.

The Northern Short Course was quite a surprise with first class content and a really enthusiastic and invigorated group of young photojournalists all carrying their big camera everywhere. Don't you find that so sweet!

Anyway I was really impressed with the content and venue and would encourage anyone to attend in the future.

Canon, Nikon, Penn Camera and a host of other vendors were on hand. The too biggest offering much needed free camera clinics. Personally I have no idea why photojournalists take so much pride in carrying worn out and dirty gear. A soldier would never treat his gear the same.

One day I'll figure out what to do with this blog.

95 Million-pixel Image

2009-03-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

What more could we ask for as professionals than a 95 million

pixel sensor. The Kepler space telescope leaves the amateur pixel hounds reeling. The Kepler will be searching for new earth like planets during it's 3.5 year mission. The idea is to prove that life exisits elsewhere in the Universe - finally! It' will aim

at the Cygnus constellation a region of 4 million stars paying even closer attention to 10,000 of them. (Wow, man's ingenuity is astonishing!). For more on this here' the Post's story (Kepler).

2009-03-07T22:11:00.000-08:00

Apple's Aperture a new addition that replaced Adobe's Lightroom proves easier and more elegant to use on the job especially on multiple displays. Here we are working on Mount Vernon's Annual Report and Collections Photography

A Date Not To Be Missed 2

2009-02-27T18:25:00.000-08:00

APA/DC Event Announcement
-------------------------------
The Art of Estimating & Bidding
Applying Creativity to Crunching Numbers

Thursday March 5th - Washington, DC

The bid has always been considered the much maligned "necessary evil" to
getting gigs. It's really all in your perspective. As soon as you step
away from the spreadsheet stereotype that is associated with bidding,
you'll find a world of creative thinking and deal making that can make the
process of bidding an interesting step to getting on the set. The key is
to think like a Hollywood agent. When dealing with talent agencies,
locations and rental houses, there is always a deal to be made. It's just
numbers, and you're the one with the checkbook.

Join APA|DC and our A-list panelon March 5th, 2009 for an informative,
educational and entertaining evening and find out how you too can make
sense of the estimating and bidding process - and set yourself up for a
year of winning bids!

The Art of Estimating and Bidding Panel will feature one photographer, one
rep, one art buyer, and one producer.
Lou Lesko of BlinkBid will moderate the discussion.

THE PANEL
Lou Lesko, founder of BlinkBid
Dwight Loew, Producer, The Martin Agency
Tricia Scott, Photographers Rep, Merge Left Reps
Lisa Nagy, Manager of Photo Services, The Discovery Channel
George Fulton, Photographer

Thursday, March 5, 2009
6:00pm - 9:00pm

Charles Sumner School
1201 Seventeenth Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036

For more information and to register go to http://apadc.com

Keith
Chair APA/DC

--
Keith Barraclough Photography
New York / Washington DC
phone: 703-298-4814

Patrick King - Rugby Portraits

2009-02-27T18:19:00.000-08:00

My friend and colleague Patrick King spent the last few weeks working on permissions and access to a major U.S. Rugby tour held in San Diego.

He just sent me the portraits and you can see them at patrickwking.com. Check it out it's an impressive body of work.

Nice going!

A Date Not To Be Missed

2009-02-27T18:18:00.001-08:00