Getting Photos with ImpactBy Mark Prince, CoffeeGeek.com

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Getting Photos with Impact:

Topics Covered

• Importance of Photography to Convey Messages

• Importance of Quality – Do’s and Don’ts

• Do it Yourself Tips and Tricks

• Purchasing Equipment

• Purchasing Photographs

• Hiring a Photographer

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The Importance of Photography to Communicate to your Customers

• Photos set a level of professionalism• Photography communicates for you• Pictures do speak louder than words• The Web is a visual medium.

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Importance of Quality – Do’s and Don’ts

• Do:– Go digital – Film is too expensive and limiting these days– Know your equipment – aperture, shutter, ISO Speed, “RTFM”– Learn how to photograph action and stills to their best light and angle.

• Don’t:– Use flash (except for studio lighting flash)– Use posed or staged people photos– Just snap and shoot (with very few exceptions)

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Tips and Tricks for Starting Photography

• White balance is your friend• Having (and using) enough light• Still life stage – easy to set up• Using your lens(es) to their maximum• Snap like crazy – no film costs

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Examples

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Examples

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Examples

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Purchasing Equipment

• Money well spent – the dSLR– Canon Rebel XT with 18-55 Lens, $1,000– Nikon D70, with 18-70 Lens, $1,100– Canon 20D, with 50mm 1.8 lens, $1,600

• The Prosumer camera – a good option• Lighting and staging equipment.

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Purchasing Photographs

• Watch out for everyone else’s “stock photography”.

• Specialized Services and Agencies.• See a photo you like online?

– Contact the owner of the website– Always ask if you can purchase a copy (never assume it

can be given for free)– Never use photos without permission. It’s theft.

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Hiring a Photographer

• A specialist photographer and “food stylists”• How to find one?

– Recommendations from other specialty food companies

– Peruse the local “foodie” magazine or newspaper for ads

– The yellow pages, under “photographers” specializing in food.

– The web, search for “food photographer”

• Get recommendations, view portfolio.

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Summary

• Good photos speak volumes about your company

• Quality is as simple as reading a manual, and thinking through the photography process

• Get the right equipment for the job• Avoid pitfalls when buying photographs• Consider hiring a specialized photographer.