Fall foliage along the C&O Canal is just amazing. In most of my landscape images, you'll notice that I capture water and reflections of my landscapes. I think it adds depth and makes for a stronger image. Do you agree?
Post a comment.
Ryan Shapiro
www.digitalfotopro.com
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Seneca Creek State Park
I thought I would share with you one of my favorite places to create images during the Fall season. Seneca Creek State Park is situated along the sleepy suburb of Gaithersburg, MD outside of Washington D.C.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
2009 Zenfolio.com for Photographers
Zenfolio Promo Code: BER-THH-3WZ
2009 Year End Zenfolio.com Enhancements
Over the past two years as a member of Zenfolio.com, I have seen their service evolve into a truly comprehensive solution for photography hobbyists and professionals. I highly recommend Zenfolio over other similar services. I've researched them all and Zenfolio really adds value to the experience for you and your customers.
I have made note of the following enhancements that I feel are worth sharing. I think these are important from a marketing and viral standpoint. However please visit their site for an in depth description and overview of their products and services.
Social Media Tools
The latest integration of social media tools - specifically the ability to export your photo galleries to Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr, reinforces Zenfolio's commitment to adapt to marketplace trends. I find it particularly important to export to Flickr to reach a wider audience as more photo editors visit Flickr to perform image searches.
Take anywhere Slideshows
Upload your photographs to your gallery and you can "copy and paste" the slideshow code and post slideshows to Facebook, your blog, or where ever you see fit for your promotional purposes.
Google Analytics
Zenfolio's Google analytics set-up is easy and you can start tracking new visitors using Google Analytics dashboard. However, don't expect explosive traffic
statistics as Zenfolio sites, in general, are not optimized well for search engines. For example, you can't change metadata tags and meta data descriptions or optimize your keywords in such a way they get picked up easily. The programmers at Zenfolio recognize this and threw members a bone by allow members to customize their gallery url name which does get picked up in search engines.
Zenfolio Team
You talk, they listen. Zenfolio's approach to providing superior service is to be responsive and to implement a suggested features list. This is their latest list of items implemented and one's soon to be executed.
In the near future, I plan to post a video overview so you can get a feel for what Zenfolio is like on the backend.
Sign up and enjoy. You won't regret it.
- Ryan Shapiro
Receive $5.00 off hosting by using Zenfolio Promo Code: BER-THH-3WZ
http://shapiro.zenfolio.com aka http://www.digitalfotopro.com
http://flickr.com/photos/digitalfotopro
Open Your Own Zenfolio Photo Gallery & receive $5.00 off by using Zenfolio Promo Code: BER-THH-3WZ
Zenfolio Discount Code: BER-THH-3WZ
I would like to thank:
http://GordonW.zenfolio.com/ & http://borishardouin.zenfolio.com/
.... for using my Zenfolio coupon code (BER-THH-3WZ) to take advantage of the best online photography sites for hosting and/or selling your images. Zenfolio.com is an affordable and robust solution for organizing, sharing/selling, and backing up your photographic images.
Ryan Shapiro
http://shapiro.zenfolio.com
http://flickr.com/photos/digitalfotopro
P.S. Check back for my updated review of Zenfolio.com. I have been a member since December 2007.
I would like to thank:
http://GordonW.zenfolio.com/ & http://borishardouin.zenfolio.com/
.... for using my Zenfolio coupon code (BER-THH-3WZ) to take advantage of the best online photography sites for hosting and/or selling your images. Zenfolio.com is an affordable and robust solution for organizing, sharing/selling, and backing up your photographic images.
Ryan Shapiro
http://shapiro.zenfolio.com
http://flickr.com/photos/digitalfotopro
P.S. Check back for my updated review of Zenfolio.com. I have been a member since December 2007.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Once an Amateur Photographer, Always the Amateur...
Once the amateur's naive approach and humble willingness to learn fades away, the creative spirit of good photography dies with it. Every professional should remain always in his heart an amateur.
- Alfred Eisenstaedt
I believe the above quote accurately describes the revelation that I experienced when marketing my freelance photography business from 2004 to 2009. After photographing clients over a period of five years, my passion started to subside and my images became more predictable. My work felt more like a production rather than an artistic vision. My creativity with each assignment began to quietly recede. Following this was the economic slump that dried up business, particularly in 2008-2009.
When I was generating my freelance photography assignment work, the pay was decent and I could have continued on. However being true to myself, I realized my disappointment wasn't the economic slump but it was that I wasn't filling my strong desire to create artistic images for myself rather than strong production images for my clients. Head shots, although fun, just didn't provide this creative outlet.
I taught myself studio lighting and back then I was full of so much enthusiasm. I practiced and photographed everything in sight. Then I experienced what I call a 'leveling off' of enthusiasm after I mastered studio lighting.
Today I am taking a minimalist approach to photography. Working only with an advanced point & shoot camera, I am on a new quest to capture imagery that has soul, that tells a story, and that draws people in.
I am Ryan, I am amateur.
- Alfred Eisenstaedt
I believe the above quote accurately describes the revelation that I experienced when marketing my freelance photography business from 2004 to 2009. After photographing clients over a period of five years, my passion started to subside and my images became more predictable. My work felt more like a production rather than an artistic vision. My creativity with each assignment began to quietly recede. Following this was the economic slump that dried up business, particularly in 2008-2009.
When I was generating my freelance photography assignment work, the pay was decent and I could have continued on. However being true to myself, I realized my disappointment wasn't the economic slump but it was that I wasn't filling my strong desire to create artistic images for myself rather than strong production images for my clients. Head shots, although fun, just didn't provide this creative outlet.
I taught myself studio lighting and back then I was full of so much enthusiasm. I practiced and photographed everything in sight. Then I experienced what I call a 'leveling off' of enthusiasm after I mastered studio lighting.
Today I am taking a minimalist approach to photography. Working only with an advanced point & shoot camera, I am on a new quest to capture imagery that has soul, that tells a story, and that draws people in.
I am Ryan, I am amateur.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Zenfolio Promo Code
Zenfolio promo code, BER-THH-3WZ, was successfully used by Paul Morrison, ReadyAimFrame, and CACCAM to receive a $5.00 discount off their annual fee for their new Zenfolio web site solution/web site.
I wanted to personally thank you for using my promo code to get started with (IMHO) the best web site solution for photographers online. You will be extremely happy with Zenfolio and its versatile service and product offering for photographers. Your clients will thank you, too.
Best regards,
Ryan Shapiro
http://www.digitalfotopro.com
Zenfolio Discount Code: BER-THH-3WZ
I wanted to personally thank you for using my promo code to get started with (IMHO) the best web site solution for photographers online. You will be extremely happy with Zenfolio and its versatile service and product offering for photographers. Your clients will thank you, too.
Best regards,
Ryan Shapiro
http://www.digitalfotopro.com
Zenfolio Discount Code: BER-THH-3WZ
Monday, April 21, 2008
Zenfolio - A Great Web Site Solution for Photographers
May 4, 2009: Update
Zenfolio's lab partner, Mpix.com, is now offering a sample framing corners/matting kit for $40. You can order it from the Mpix.com web site. Once I learned this - I ordered immediately. There's no better way to sell your clients on the quality of your framing options than by allowing them to touch and inspect the quality of your (Mpix) framing.
Another new offering from the Zenfolio and Mpix.com partnership is the new enlargement size of 24"x36". Mpix does not offer framing for this size enlargement but they will optionally mount it. If it's not mounted at this size, they will roll it and ship it in a shipping tube.
I know there's a few other major improvements that you can learn about on Zenfolio's web site, but these really stood out to me as key improvements.
One feature that is in the works and that I would like to see very soon is the ability to individualize my Zenfolio home page with one single image or slide show.
Right now all Zenfolio sites have the same boring thumbnail gallery navigational elements without the ability to differentiate 'the look' of your site to show off your unique images, other than changing their template themes.
In the interim, it would be nice to have the option to upload a custom logo to the header in my Zenfolio web site. For the sake of marketing, I want consistency across the board with my stationary, my blog, and yes, my Zenfolio site.
BER-THH-3WZ for $5.00 off your subscription
Ryan Shapiro
Freelance Photographer
http://www.digitalfotopro.com
January 15, 2009: Update
Since my review last year, Zenfolio has added Google Analytics to track traffic on your Zenfolio site, provided optional larger thumbnail sizes, and they have enhanced their partnership with MPix.com as their dedicated print partner by dropping EZ Prints from their service.
As a result, we as Zenfolio members have many more product options, including ornate (with or without glass) framing options as well as canvas enlargements. There is so many new products, too many to name. Translation...your customer is going to love the new product offerings!
This is a major plus as MPix's/Zenfolio's previous framing and product offerings were weak. This focus on quality is a great thing. Missing is sample framing corners to show clients. I called MPix to learn if they sell samples. They told me they are not selling sample corners yet but are considering it.
Other positive changes include white labeling package delivery to your clients for premium members. Zenfolio is listening to its customers and they are fine tuning what is already an incredible web site solution for photographers.
Ryan Shapiro
Freelance Photographer
http://www.digitalfotopro.com
Zenfolio Promo Code: BER-THH-3WZ for $5.00 off your subscription
-------------------------------
For a while now I have been maintaining two web sites. One was my flash-based site (I pulled it off the Internet over the weekend) and the other is my Zenfolio for online viewing, online archiving, and customer proofing.
Although my former site was a very attractive site, it was lacking some important functionality issues on the back end (i.e. no batch uploading, no auto-resizing, etc.).
On the other hand, Zenfolio is maturing and is really coming into its own. If you visit their forum section on their web site, you will learn about the exciting changes that are in the works. I find that Zenfolio serves 97% of my needs, therefore I have made a decision to make Zenfolio my main photography web site.
There are three area's that are weak, however their programmers are working on incorporating these features that are essential for serious photographers.
Zenfolio's lab partner, Mpix.com, is now offering a sample framing corners/matting kit for $40. You can order it from the Mpix.com web site. Once I learned this - I ordered immediately. There's no better way to sell your clients on the quality of your framing options than by allowing them to touch and inspect the quality of your (Mpix) framing.
Another new offering from the Zenfolio and Mpix.com partnership is the new enlargement size of 24"x36". Mpix does not offer framing for this size enlargement but they will optionally mount it. If it's not mounted at this size, they will roll it and ship it in a shipping tube.
I know there's a few other major improvements that you can learn about on Zenfolio's web site, but these really stood out to me as key improvements.
One feature that is in the works and that I would like to see very soon is the ability to individualize my Zenfolio home page with one single image or slide show.
Right now all Zenfolio sites have the same boring thumbnail gallery navigational elements without the ability to differentiate 'the look' of your site to show off your unique images, other than changing their template themes.
In the interim, it would be nice to have the option to upload a custom logo to the header in my Zenfolio web site. For the sake of marketing, I want consistency across the board with my stationary, my blog, and yes, my Zenfolio site.
BER-THH-3WZ for $5.00 off your subscription
Ryan Shapiro
Freelance Photographer
http://www.digitalfotopro.com
January 15, 2009: Update
Since my review last year, Zenfolio has added Google Analytics to track traffic on your Zenfolio site, provided optional larger thumbnail sizes, and they have enhanced their partnership with MPix.com as their dedicated print partner by dropping EZ Prints from their service.
As a result, we as Zenfolio members have many more product options, including ornate (with or without glass) framing options as well as canvas enlargements. There is so many new products, too many to name. Translation...your customer is going to love the new product offerings!
This is a major plus as MPix's/Zenfolio's previous framing and product offerings were weak. This focus on quality is a great thing. Missing is sample framing corners to show clients. I called MPix to learn if they sell samples. They told me they are not selling sample corners yet but are considering it.
Other positive changes include white labeling package delivery to your clients for premium members. Zenfolio is listening to its customers and they are fine tuning what is already an incredible web site solution for photographers.
Ryan Shapiro
Freelance Photographer
http://www.digitalfotopro.com
Zenfolio Promo Code: BER-THH-3WZ for $5.00 off your subscription
-------------------------------
For a while now I have been maintaining two web sites. One was my flash-based site (I pulled it off the Internet over the weekend) and the other is my Zenfolio for online viewing, online archiving, and customer proofing.
Although my former site was a very attractive site, it was lacking some important functionality issues on the back end (i.e. no batch uploading, no auto-resizing, etc.).
On the other hand, Zenfolio is maturing and is really coming into its own. If you visit their forum section on their web site, you will learn about the exciting changes that are in the works. I find that Zenfolio serves 97% of my needs, therefore I have made a decision to make Zenfolio my main photography web site.
There are three area's that are weak, however their programmers are working on incorporating these features that are essential for serious photographers.
- Optional Slideshow Feature on the Home Page (instead of just displaying thumbnail galleries)
- Google Analytics for Detailed Web Statistics
- Ability to set prices for digital downloads
I also love the fact that I can upload large TIFF files so that customers can order 20"x30" + enlargements without encountering any quality control issues or print size restrictions. Batch uploading is important and they've got it!
Zenfolio has three pricing levels and I highly recommend you check them out - particularly if you wish to remain organized and offer your customers a one-stop shop. Their lab partners are MPix.com and EZ Prints.
Use code: BER-THH-3WZ for $5.00 off your subscription. It's not much but every little bit helps.
Keep smiling...
Ryan Shapiro, Freelance Photographer
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