September 2009 Archives

September 29, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - Retouching images always requires an approval process.  Work on the image, get it to the client, have the client review and possibly make further changes and round and round we go.  This afternoon while out of the office and on my cell phone with my client we made changes to several images to the clients approval in that one phone call.

Using the DOUGLAS Photography, Inc. exclusive server my client and I were able to be on the server at the same time.  I was able to make the requested changes to the images and my client reviewed them in seconds.  No emails or no PDF's to exchange. No delays.  Maybe more important no distractions.  In a brief phone call it was done.  Probably the best part was the fact that I wasn't even in my office.  I happened to be in a wireless hot spot when I answered the call on my cell phone.  Using my laptop I was able to connect to my server, make the requested changes and handle this client's requests instantly and much to her surprise.  

When my client called she first asked if the many images she had requested editing on would be done.  She was pleased to hear they were just moments earlier that they were available from my server.  That's where the magic began.  She immediately connected to her account on my server and began to review the images.  She wanted to get this done.  Getting to an image she noted she wanted a change made.  I connected to my server, made the change and in a minute or so later she was reviewing the edited image.  We did this right down the list.  

I could have done exactly what she expected.  Noted her requests and got back later when I made the changes in the convenience of my office.  I knew this wasn't the only project she was working on.  I knew she was getting close to the deadline for this project.  I even knew I had time to wait and make the changes in my office later.  When our phone call ended she was one major step closer to completing this project ahead of the deadline.  We both win.

As a commercial photographer I know that when I take on a project for a client that taking the photographs is just the start of the service.  Unlike retail wedding or portrait photographers I can't tell my customers their photos will be ready in 2 weeks.  As a commercial photographer excuses and delays don't cut it.  With a commercial photography client I have to deliver what was promised when they need it and preferably before.  Investing in the technology to make that happen is vital.

Commercial photography.  It is far more than just taking quality photographs.

September 28, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - Image editing, sizing, cropping, removing unwanted objects etc. is something that I've always provided for clients when needed. Usually this was done in house by my clients.  Now, I am pleased to say, it is a service the clients have asked for along with the photography more now than ever.

This is just one more result of the recession and the layoffs.  Clients with less staff. I do have to admit that unlike the anticipated increase in the use of FTP and my upsizing my server when times were bad, See: Anticipating the Recovery & Now Providing the Service, I didn't fully see this increase in image editing.  I am please to say that while things were slow I did invest in doubling memory, increasing hard drive capacity and up dating software to better serve image editing clients. I also invested time in honing my skills.

One of DOUGLAS Photography, Inc.'s newest major clients just this afternoon ordered a large number of images to be edited, cropped and in some cases have items removed from the images.  They will have them tomorrow morning and their out of state vendor who is using these images in a final product for my client will have them from my FTP service at the same time.

It's more about service and cost effectiveness than ever before.

September 27, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - Two things seemed clear.  When this economy began to recover my clients and my potential clients would be doing far, far more with far, far fewer people.  Especially in marketing departments any recovery would require getting marketing programs back on track and back on track fast but with fewer people.  I believed that would mean they'd need photography and they'd need it now.  

Several months ago that's what I anticipated.  Several months ago I wanted to be ready if and when it came to pass.  At that time my server was more than sufficient to handle my web sites and my client needs.  I believed that the future meant making client images available as fast as possible and that meant FTP service.  I leased a new server with more than twice the capacity.  Even when I was trying to make DOUGLAS Photography, Inc. just survive the recession I bet on the future.  I wanted that new server up and running when needed. It is.

I am pleased to say that one of my newest clients was using my FTP service for their new images I was providing.  I set up a separate FTP service for their web design service so they could access the images specific to their needs.  Last week I was informed that their marketing department was using even more product photography.  Because this need was almost always last minute and it was needed now they had one of their design staff doing the shots.  When they became experienced with the fast FTP availability of their other images from my DOUGLAS Photography, Inc. server they turned to me for these additional product photo requirements.  Not only do they get the image fast but their designer could go back to spending his time designing.

Commercial photography is far more than having the talent and ability to take quality photos.  It's about service.  It's about getting the images where they're needed when they're needed any where in the world.  For me, for DOUGLAS Photography, Inc., that also means finding a way to do it but maybe more important, not charging clients rush charges.  Maybe I could and maybe I should but I don't.  That's not how I do business.  I have had clients with me for over 15 years all based on a hand shake.  I like it that way.

September 24, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio - I take great pride in my ability to work on location.  That means being able to work along with people who have other things to do and maybe don't even want you there.  Construction sites are a perfect example.

A new client makes products used in construction.  In the past their photographers had been refused permission to take photos on actual construction sites.  When they were allowed on a site it was extremely limited.  The result was that construction had to be reproduced in a studio with all of the added costs.  My challenge was to get on construction sites.

In a related story, there have been a couple of times that clients have called me asking why I didn't show up to photograph an event.  When I said I had been there there was some doubt because no one remembered seeing me.  I had the photos.  I not only didn't disrupt the event but I was virtually invisible.  That takes talent.  The same talent that's needed to work on construction sites.

OK, I had another advantage.  Over the years I have had the pleasure of working with commercial and residential developers.  I knew some people I could call.  Better yet they knew me and they knew how I worked.  My experience helps 

For almost 4 weeks I was in and out of about 9 different construction sites.  Before I was done I had guys, who at first wished I wasn't even there, asking how they could help me get the shots I needed.

I now have a very happy client that not only had over 100 photos of actual construction as well as their products being used in actual construction but are also happy that I pulled this off and without a single studio shot required.  They got more than expected for less than expected.

Sometimes being a talented commercial photographer requires far, far more than just taking quality photographs.

September 8, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio based DOUGLAS Photography, Inc. has succeeded in adding several new clients in this tough economy.  "We have added some wonderful clients from a major energy national energy production company, a major U.S. international product manufacturer to a major Canadian consumer product manufacturer," Douglas Konkol, Senior Photographer and owner of DOUGLAS Photography said.  "We have added other new clients in billiards, exercise equipment and even spa's."

"I would love to publish the names of these new clients but especially in this economy that would be stupid," Douglas continued.  "I am extremely pleased that most of these new clients were from referrals by our other clients.  We gained the Canadian company based on a referral by an ad agency we've served in California.  We focus on being cost effective and we work on trust.  I have had clients for over 15 years all based on a hand shake and I believe that's why we're growing today."

DOUGLAS Photography, Inc. is a full service commercial photographer based in Cleveland, Ohio with over 25 years of experience in everything from product photography, big and small, to food photography, to architectural and interior design.  

Now serving clients nationally and in Canada.