Your Images and Video

Amazing Body Boarding!

A Holiday from Edward Saltau on Vimeo.

This is very well done on some amazing body boarding.

Video Art

This is wonderful video art!

New Business Is Like Fishing

So you go out and buy all the gear. Then you get the perfect bait and find the perfect fishing hole. You are so excited as you have done everything right. The first hour is exciting as you use your new pole, change bait several times and just enjoying the day. Now the next hour you begin to wonder if you picked the right fishing spot. Sooner than you think the day is over and you caught no fish! On your way home you are considering giving up on the sport altogether. You are a failure and now people will just laugh at you. The family was looking forward to a fish dinner and you couldn't deliver! Well if you ask a long time fisherman he will tell you to have patience. You don't catch a fish every time and there is joy in the hunt not just the catch. A new business is just the same. You might have all the gear and knowledge but that is not a given for success! People are hard to catch in this crazy world. So what do you do? After all you have bills to pay and a family to feed. Well have patience! be persistant, don't give up so easily! Focus on delivering your best work, treat each customer as if they were your only customer. Be friendly and be willing to listen to people and their problems. Everyone wants to be heard so take the time to listen to your customers even if it sounds crazy to you! How do I feed my family shooting stock? I just keep shooting, I try to find ways to benefit others not just myself. I keep my quality high and aim higher everyday. No matter what business you are in these rules apply! Don't be so hard on yourself and remember why you wanted to start this business in the first place. Now get out there and catch some fish!

Do You Need Amazing Advice?

I can truly say this is some of the best advice I have ever heard!

Unfair Advantage

     What is your unfair advantage? This is a question you need to ask yourself in your photography and video business! Yes, for me it is access to the medical field since I have worked in it for 15 years and understand my way around it. I have access to places a lot of people can not get to so I use that to my advantage in my stock work. Now think about who you may know or the places you have access to that others do not. You need to sit down and make a list of the people and places you know. Once you have a working list then make a strong shot list. If you work in a bakery then make amazing images of baking with good light and unique angles. All of us have access to something unique if we stop and think about it. If you don't then I bet someone in your family dose, so work with them. The only reason I call this an unfair advantage is that others don't have the same access as you. No matter if it's people or places or things you can have your advantage! You might be a stay at home mom, well I bet you talk to a lot of other moms! so kids are a tremendous asset to your video or photography! Keep in mind the only thing that is holding you back from true success is usually you!

Finding Models

     If you want to do photography for a living, there is a good chance you will need to get comfortable taking pictures of people. From weddings to babies and everything in between that is where the majority of the market is. So how do you get comfortable directing and photographing people? Simple you start with family. This picture is of my little boy who is a very challenging model because a 3 year old just can't sit still that well! I did a photo session with him and the practice was well worth the time. Don't be afraid to ask family to pose for you! People will usually be willing to help you out if they can. After the family seems to wear out try your friends! they will be happy to help you as well.
     Another way is to look for ways to use your photography to help others. You might know of someone who is getting married and has no money for any photography. Theses situations are priceless as they allow you to help someone and gain a lot of experience. Don't charge money and tell them you would just like to get a few shots. Then do the best work you can, like you were being paid six figures to shoot this wedding and over deliver to them. This is how you will build a name for yourself. This method applies to all kinds of events and people will be surprised and happy then you give them memories of a life-time. This will not hurt your business! When you do decided you are comfortable enough to charge then there is a good chance you will already have a base to start with!
     For stock video or photography you will need a model release for any people in your shot. Being up front and honest about the use is very important! I tell people the photo can be used for just about anything and here are the restrictions on the release. If they still don't want to sign after you have explained it to them then move on! Do not pressure people to sign a model release ever! Having your picture on Facebook is more dangerous than a stock site! Stock sites have to play by certain rules that Facebook dose not. I am not saying Facebook is bad for pictures but people need to be educated on digital images online. I often find models for stock from Model Mayhem there are other sites like this as well. I have used college students and retired people and the list goes on. The key to success is how you approach a person. Like I said before people will usually want to help you out so if you approach them like "I need a modle for my stock video and I think you would be great! would you be willing to help me out?" They will usually say yes and have some questions, answer them honestly and you usually have a model to work with!
 Now get out there and start practicing and giving value to people with your skill! It's fun!