Art Marketing Buzz

Here is a short workshop presented by myself, Randy and Brett Hampton. We have a blast with this. It is short, informative and inexpensive.

 Dear Digital Photographers,

NEW WORKSHOP SCHEDULED 

PORTRAIT LIGHTING AND REALLY AWESOME WORKFLOW (RAW) 

JANUARY 24, 2009 FROM 10 am TO 8 pm

 This 1-day workshop will give you the opportunity to work’ hands on’ with studio and location lighting equipment. You will learn posing and lighting techniques to improve your shooting skills. There will also be a workflow session that will cover shooting in RAW file format for ultimate quality control.  You will also learn tips and tricks of editing with Lightroom and PhotoShop.

Please go to www.digitalcameraworkshop.net click on the Portrait link for complete details and registration information. 

Session one 10AM to 4:30 PM
THE POWER OF CORRECT EXPOSURE
•    f/stop and shutter speed selection with manual  exposure mode
•    using a flash meter to set light intensity
•    exposure target use for color control in post processing
THE WORKING STUDIO, LIGHTING AND POSING 
•    lighting with main, fill, background and hair lights
•    umbrella vs. softbox
•    background selection 
•    exposure control for a white background 
•    reflectors and light modifiers
•    using window light

Session two 5:00 to 8:00 PM
REALLY AWESOME WORKFLOW – RAW
•    Shooting RAW – a recipe for success 
•    Lightroom and Photoshop production
•    Using actions and other editing tools
•    Photographic painting demo
Lunch served at 12:30 and dinner at 5:00 PM
Two photo studios on site for student use
Students supply their camera gear and laptop.

Questions: call Randy at 402-423-8992
 Nebraska 4H center.

http://www.digitalcameraworkshop.net/Portrait.html

Marketing art seems to be a different animal for many.  Art though is easier than some intangibles though.  As always the “experience” should be high on the list of how you market your unique pieces or art.  We are in a challenging economic time some say.  I still say I refuse to participate, however, the times are unique and it brings s opportunity.  In a recent article from marketer Jane Lee Johnson, it was brought up that continued marketing now can pay huge dividends later, “Those who continue to market through economic downturns are far more likely to benefit than those who cut their marketing budgets too much during troubled times. Think about it – the best time to gain visibility with your prospects is when your competition is cutting back. And because so many are cutting back, your messages have more opportunities to get through.”

Common sense and altruism still rule and maybe even more so.  People are embracing authenticity, transparency and simplicity.  Duh.  Why would one ever move away from that to start with?  I dunno but many have and it has caused most of us to turn a deaf ear to anything from a sales and marketing perspective.  Our BS detectors are on high alert.  Good.  It gives small regional artists the opportunity to capture more clients for the mailing list.  

We are tired of the pundits on high draggin’ the whole system down. As a result, “we are increasingly shutting out “marketing” and “news sources” and turning to our friends and families – our smaller, more intimate and immediate circles of influence – and appreciating them more, sharing information with them, and (likely as a result) bs’ing less” (Janet Lee Johnson, November 25, 2008) 

If you agree with this it means that social media marketing is even more important.  More and more people are exploring the opportunity to use social means as a marketing method.  People trust people they know and interact with. Generally people will ask family, friends, followers for input and advice when researching just about anything.  It again does create a huge opportunity to blast your brand like never before…and targeted.  So just as Janet Lee Johnson suggests it is time to:

Listen more than we speak
Offer expert service more than braggadocio
Engage rather than cajole
And show rather than tell…

Rethink everything.  Be real.  Until next time, Live, Love and Laugh.

Kevin Hulsey has written an awesome tutorial that is especially useful for those who are new to Wacom tablets. In this article he covers the topics of the tablet-to-screen ratio, tip pressure, pen angle, and macro pen button settings, with lots of screen shots to help you along the way.

http://www.khulsey.com/wacom_tablet_tutorial.html

http://guides.macrumors.com/Setting_Up_A_Wacom_Tablet_Tutorial
http://fox-orian.deviantart.com/art/Wacom-Photoshop-Painter-Guide-85536306 http://www.wacom.com/tips/photoshop.cfm

This is an event that will bring your Art to a new level. What is an Artist Rendezvous? Well the Buffalo Bills Artist Rendezvous is in North Platte, NE. This event is put together to bring Western Artists together with Western models. The artist and actors/models work together to organize scenarios for photographing, those images then are used as resource material for the artist. This event is in during the week of NebraskalandDays, which is a celebration of Nebraska’s western heritage. June 20-22, 2009. This is a unique opportunity to meet high-end professional artist working in the western genre. Care is taken to limit the number of artist to 50 to ensure a specific market is not flooded with the same model/location/scenarios. Artist and models are on an invitation only basis.

Artist work directly with the actors/models to create the scenario they have in mind. The event is 250.00 for artist if they sign up by January 31, 2009. After that the entry fee goes to 300.00. That covers the three days of opportunity to work with the actors. The actors are paid by the artist who work with them. So each model will makea different amount of money. A person who has a unique look or regalia may be utilized more than someone else. For Artist bugeting purposes generally artist spend 2000.00-3000.00 in the weekend in tips. A good rule of thumb is $1 a minute forthe actors time. If the model or actor has equine or another animal then it may be 2$ a minute. It really works nicely. It may sound like a bunch of money to some but you are getting access to a model in period western gear, If you work with that model for 15 minutes it will only cost you 15-30 bucks. Oh and also this particular event is held at Buffalo Bill State Park in North Platte. We will ahve access to the barn, cabin and house for images. We also have 240 acres next door with 3/4 of a mile riverfront that we will utilize, and finally we will be able to access the Historical museum grounds where there are over 20 buildings to be used.   As an additional benefit there is also an established art show that artist can jury into to make good use of time and travel expenses.  The Nebraskaland Days Governors Art show is at the Qualty Inn and Suites Sandhills Convention Center.  The art show is a separate event not associated with the rendezvous.  We are working together though to make a better opportunity for artists.  The participation fee for the Governors Art show is only 100.00 and includes a 16′x4′ space to display your work, admission to an Artist’s reception and Buffalo Bill Rodeo on Thursday, June 18 and a buyers reception on Friday June 19.  Their will also be a 25% commission for any sale or commissioned work arranged during the show.  

The artists and models will be invited by a jury process. If you have interest in application please contact Tim ONeill at topimages@msn.com. or 308-520-6512.  You also can view the blog at http://www.buffalobillartistrendezvous.com/