Creative, commercial photographers.

Using web video for real results

January 30, 2011

It seems in these economically challenged times, seeing a proper return on investment from a brand’s marketing activity has never been more important. With the explosion of online marketing through advertising, websites and social media such as Facebook, brands can now easily measure response rates that help determine a campaign’s success. One of the newest and increasingly popular online marketing methods is through the use of web video.

Many businesses are now regularly using web video to promote themselves as it lets customers interact more closely with the brand. However in order for your web video to be successful and show some real results, here are a few helpful hints:

• Set clear objectives at the outset – as with any marketing campaign you need to establish what you want to achieve from your web video so you know what to measure. E.g. increased sales, boosted search engine rankings

• Include a strong call to action – make it easy for your viewer to take that next all important step. Whether it be contacting you for more information or buying from you. Direct links should be included on the video such as ‘Order now’, ‘contact us’ and ‘online forms.’

• Go viral – Use social media sites such as Twitter or Facebook to share your video to a larger audience, who then share it with their friends and so on making it easier to get your message out there.

All businesses want to increase their profile, and an incredibly effective marketing tool is through web video. Across the UK, from Yorkshire to Gloucestershire, businesses are using web video to help increase profits. Maybe it’s time you did too.

Filed under: Photography News — written by Jane

Pack shot photography in the retail world

January 28, 2011

When you look through a supermarket catalogue that’s showcasing its latest specials, what you are actually seeing is examples of pack shot photography. Pack shot photography is favoured by supermarkets who want simple clean shots of their products, without the distractions of busy or crowded backgrounds.

Pack shot photography involves shooting products on a blank background so that it becomes the (more…)

Filed under: Pack Shot Photography — written by Robert

Sony’s cameras increase UK market share

January 26, 2011

Sony has long been recognised as a leading brand that offers high quality electronic products such as TVs, games consoles and laptop computers. However latest figures by consumer research agency GfK has revealed that Sony is also a leader when it comes to photography. Sony now claims a top two position in the UK as at December 2010 for sales of its DSLR cameras knocking Nikon off the number two position and ranked just behind Canon.

Sony UK’s Rachel Banin said:

“Achieving number 2 position in the December GfK data for DLSR cameras is a fantastic milestone for Sony. We recognise the challenge in maintaining this position in a very competitive marketplace, but we can see from the data that it indicates acceptance of compact system cameras and a rapidly changing market dynamic in the UK.”

Sony has been investing in innovative technologies of its cameras, just missing out on the Innovation of the Year Award for its mirrorless Alpha NEX-3 and NEX-5 range at the 2010 Pocket-Lint Gadget Awards. The lack of mirror makes for a smaller more compact camera.

Banin went on to say:

“Sony’s NEX-3 and NEX-5 allow anyone to easily achieve professional quality pictures and movies they can be proud of using a very small camera. We’re really excited that consumers are recognising the value of these cameras and choosing to buy them.”

Sony’s latest camera innovations is one of the reasons amateur and commercial photographers in Yorkshire and throughout the UK are moving away from the more traditionally-recognised camera brands such as Nikon and Canon.

Filed under: Commercial Photography, Photography News — written by Jane

The journey of YouTube

January 24, 2011

If you ever come across a web video called “Me At The Zoo” then take note – as you are actually witnessing a bit of history. This is because it was the first ever video to be uploaded to YouTube back in 2005. The web video features one of YouTube’s founders, Jawed Karim, at the San Diego zoo talking about the elephants he is standing in front of. Since then, as we all know, YouTube has exploded to become the internet’s most visited web video sharing site, reportedly serving more than (more…)

Filed under: Interactive / Video — written by David

Photographer to the poor Milton Rogovin passes

January 22, 2011

The iconic American commercial photographer Milton Rogovin has died in New York at the age of 101. Rogovin became well known as a social documentary photography, focusing much of his work on the under privileged which took him around the world including China, Africa and throughout Europe. Born in Brooklyn in 1909, he starting his career as an (more…)

Filed under: Commercial Photography, Photography News — written by David

The benefits of online video advertising

January 20, 2011

Advertising across the internet has been around pretty much since its inception. As well as being cheaper to produce than print advertising, it also lets the advertiser easily track its effectiveness through web analytics. However, over recent years online advertising has evolved into online video advertising. Lots of brands these days have now turned to using web video to advertise themselves for plenty of different reasons including: (more…)

Filed under: Photography News — written by Robert

Photographer killed covering Tunisian protests

January 18, 2011

A French photojournalist has died from injuries sustained from a tear gas canister, while covering the Tunisian riots. Freelance commercial photographer & journalist Lucas Mebrouk Dolega, a French-German dual citizen, was hit in the head by the tear gas grenade fired by police during the fierce street protests in the country’s capital Tunis on Friday.

He was rushed to Tunisia’s National Neurological Institute where surgeons operated on him, but he eventually succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

“His death is a tragedy and a great loss,”

said the chief executive of the European Picture Agency’s (EPA) Paris office following Mebrouk Dolega’s death.

The Tunisian riots were sparked by wide-spread unemployment, inflation and corruption within the government. Several dozen people have already been killed in the riots and have also led to the resignation of the country’s President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who has now fled to Saudi Arabia.

The riots have also seen steadily increased coverage on social network sites such as Twitter and Facebook, through blogs, pictures and web videos.
Mebrouk Dolega had worked at the Paris-based EPA as a freelancer since 2006 and was described by his colleagues as a passionate photographer.

Cengiz Seren, editor in chief of EPA said that Mebrouk Dolega’s death serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by journalists and commercial photographers when covering news events. Whether it is a student protest in Leeds, or a political uprising in war-torn Africa, Seren acknowledged that those in the profession rightly deserved respect for the work they do.

Filed under: Photography News — written by David

Preparing for product photography

January 16, 2011

One of the main benefits of product photography is that unlike humans or animals, your subject will not get bored, tired, look away or get restless. This affords you that extra time to invest in setting up the shot to ensure all the key elements are just right to achieve that desired effect. Below is just some of the techniques commercial photographers use when preparing for a product photography shoot: (more…)

Filed under: Commercial Photography, Pack Shot Photography — written by David

Facebook users illegally uploading commercial photography

January 14, 2011

Commercial photographers are finding their professional work is being uploaded to Facebook users’ profiles without their permission. Over 750 million images were uploaded to Facebook over the recent New Year’s period, and the company has recognised a growing trend for professional photos being used as profile photos, competition entries or in wedding albums. Often without the user realising they are actually breaking the law.

Steve Hewett of photographer insurer In Focus warned Facebook users to (more…)

Filed under: Photography News — written by Jane

Lifestyle photographers favoured by advertisers

January 12, 2011

Take a look at the advertisements in magazines and newspapers and chances are you will see plenty of examples of lifestyle photography. Lifestyle photography is commonly favoured by advertisers as, in simple terms; it is used to depict real people doing real life things. From walking along the beach, to doing the gardening, lifestyle photography gives advertising the visual imagery that (more…)

Filed under: Commercial Photography, Lifestyle Photography — written by David
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