The PDN Photo Annual 2008 Awards have been announced. There's an extensive slew of imagery to peruse through and awards for various categories. Check out the gallery at PDN online.
I cannot wait to go out and get this issue. It makes me love what I do even more.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Artist Friday - Amy DeVoogd
This Friday's artist is a talented illustrator out of Chicago who blends technology and painting in her work. A contemporary style with bold colors and shapes.
She describes her creative process as follows
After I've come up with an idea (or an image has been requested by a client) my illustration begins with a photograph. If I can't get the image naturally, say by happening upon a scenario in the street or on the bus or wherever, I'll stage the shot with friends. I end up photographing myself a lot. After the photos are taken I usually have to rearrange things in Photoshop and will frequently redraw parts. When I get the composition the way that I want it, I either bring it into Illustrator and draw it digitally, or I print it out and paint it. The paintings are made with acrylics on paper. I cut detailed stencils with an xacto knife in frisket and use foam paint rollers to get a screen print look. The paintings are basically one-off prints, with a bit of texture here and there, sometimes an area that's painted in with a brush, and plenty of happy mis-registration accidents!
Reminiscent of screen printing it takes on a beautiful quality and leaves the viewer to interpret the subject in their own way. Her illustrations of people are usually faceless shapes or have minute detail which lends to the simplicity and power of the overall shapes in the illustration. It's fun and clever and can translate to any client. (she's also a dream to work with)
Check out Amy's work at devoogd.com
©Amy DeVoogd, used with permission
all artwork is copyrighted and intellectual property and cannot be used without artist's permission.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
What's the Word?...
Fox Creative is now representing Jennifer Tzar.
Constanza Camargo is a senior commercial agent over at VAUGHAN HANNIGAN
Jason Eagan, formerly of Felix Management, is a photographer's agent and vice president at JGK
Hill Holiday in New York is looking to hire a junior art buyer.
Got any news to share? send it along to me for the Thursday posts.
caitlin_tierney[AT]yahoo[DOT]com
Constanza Camargo is a senior commercial agent over at VAUGHAN HANNIGAN
Jason Eagan, formerly of Felix Management, is a photographer's agent and vice president at JGK
Hill Holiday in New York is looking to hire a junior art buyer.
Got any news to share? send it along to me for the Thursday posts.
caitlin_tierney[AT]yahoo[DOT]com
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Competitions and photo awards
Photographer's Forum Magazine and Canon are sponsoring the 28th Annual Spring Photo Contest for amateur photographers. Deadline is May 12, 2008
Communication Arts is calling for entries for their 49th annual juried competitions for design and advertising. Deadline is June 2, 2008.
The Pilsner Urquell International Photography Awards 2008. Deadline is June 15, 2008. Past winners in different categories include David Bowman, Fulvio Bonavia, Jim Fiscus, and more.
International Color Awards Presents 3rd Annual Photography Master Cup. 21 categories. Final deadline June 20, 2008.
National Wildlife Magazine's 37th Annual Photography Awards. Pro, Amateur and Youth categories. Deadline July 1, 2008.
I think the photo blog world should come up with an award show!
Communication Arts is calling for entries for their 49th annual juried competitions for design and advertising. Deadline is June 2, 2008.
The Pilsner Urquell International Photography Awards 2008. Deadline is June 15, 2008. Past winners in different categories include David Bowman, Fulvio Bonavia, Jim Fiscus, and more.
International Color Awards Presents 3rd Annual Photography Master Cup. 21 categories. Final deadline June 20, 2008.
National Wildlife Magazine's 37th Annual Photography Awards. Pro, Amateur and Youth categories. Deadline July 1, 2008.
I think the photo blog world should come up with an award show!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Invoices
Just as the photography and the production of a job is important so is the follow up. Specifically meaning invoices.
Invoices can be annoying and a daunting task. As far as agencies go, I have found that a project will usually get a 50% advance (sometimes 75%). As an art buyer closing the job is super important and time consuming. I love when photographers/reps send a detailed and comprehensive invoice. Line item by line item with the receipts to back it up. You always have to have the proper receipts attached otherwise the accounts payable people will not always pay them. The backup information is key to the bottom line. Art buyers and accounts payable will go through them (usually) with a fine tooth comb to make sure everything matches up perfectly. I have found both sides benefit... I once had a grocery receipt attached as misc. expenses (had that removed) and I have also found that the rep company miscalculated a cost and had to have additional money added into the bottom line.
Have a detailed and easy to read format and system for your invoice. The more concise your invoice, the easier it is for the art buyer to go through and phone in with any questions and the faster it gets to the accounts payable people.
Tips I have learned:
Lost your receipt: put everything on a credit card. If you lose the receipt you can send the credit card statement with the missing receipt highlighted.
Send back all non-returnable props, wardrobe, etc., no matter how crazy the item. The clients have paid for it and they'll want it back or to at least have the option of keeping it or donating for a tax write-off.
Get overages signed off on while on set with the art buyer/producer and client. I have never experienced a client not paying what is owed but they hate being surprised with overages after the fact. I will always write out what the overage is and have the account manager and client sign off before it is incurred. But it is super important to discuss the overage before it's incurred.
Charge for mileage if you're driving around from location to location. Especially with gas prices the way they are you should be charging for mileage (I think the current rate is .485 per mile).
Always state when the payment is due (i.e. 30 days from invoice date is usually pretty standard) and if past due the percentage of interest that will be charged that way there are no surprises. I always try to process the invoices as quickly as possible and submit them but agencies and clients have their own billing cycles which may not match these dates. I have also found that once it leaves my hands I'm not aware of the status until the photographer/rep calls or emails and lets me know they haven't received payment (usually it's 45 days past at that point). Always keep up with your dates and payment, it never hurts to send a follow up or checking on payment status email to the art buyer/producer
Make the invoicing as smooth as possible (just like the shoot and the beautiful photos you produced) and you'll have repeat business.
Invoices can be annoying and a daunting task. As far as agencies go, I have found that a project will usually get a 50% advance (sometimes 75%). As an art buyer closing the job is super important and time consuming. I love when photographers/reps send a detailed and comprehensive invoice. Line item by line item with the receipts to back it up. You always have to have the proper receipts attached otherwise the accounts payable people will not always pay them. The backup information is key to the bottom line. Art buyers and accounts payable will go through them (usually) with a fine tooth comb to make sure everything matches up perfectly. I have found both sides benefit... I once had a grocery receipt attached as misc. expenses (had that removed) and I have also found that the rep company miscalculated a cost and had to have additional money added into the bottom line.
Have a detailed and easy to read format and system for your invoice. The more concise your invoice, the easier it is for the art buyer to go through and phone in with any questions and the faster it gets to the accounts payable people.
Tips I have learned:
Lost your receipt: put everything on a credit card. If you lose the receipt you can send the credit card statement with the missing receipt highlighted.
Send back all non-returnable props, wardrobe, etc., no matter how crazy the item. The clients have paid for it and they'll want it back or to at least have the option of keeping it or donating for a tax write-off.
Get overages signed off on while on set with the art buyer/producer and client. I have never experienced a client not paying what is owed but they hate being surprised with overages after the fact. I will always write out what the overage is and have the account manager and client sign off before it is incurred. But it is super important to discuss the overage before it's incurred.
Charge for mileage if you're driving around from location to location. Especially with gas prices the way they are you should be charging for mileage (I think the current rate is .485 per mile).
Always state when the payment is due (i.e. 30 days from invoice date is usually pretty standard) and if past due the percentage of interest that will be charged that way there are no surprises. I always try to process the invoices as quickly as possible and submit them but agencies and clients have their own billing cycles which may not match these dates. I have also found that once it leaves my hands I'm not aware of the status until the photographer/rep calls or emails and lets me know they haven't received payment (usually it's 45 days past at that point). Always keep up with your dates and payment, it never hurts to send a follow up or checking on payment status email to the art buyer/producer
Make the invoicing as smooth as possible (just like the shoot and the beautiful photos you produced) and you'll have repeat business.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Image Misuse
I'm still amazed that some people think it's totally fine to use any imagery they want without the proper releases. Another example of a big legal issue (similar to Woody Allen vs. American Apparel) has arisen. This time it's Lindsey Lohan and the American Beverage Institute. The ad above ran in USA Today this past Friday... with her mug shot. And the American Beverage Institute somehow is amazed that her lawyers are filing suit. I looked at this and my first thought was.. duh!
Again it is the issue with an editorial image running in a commercial manner. I am not a lawyer by any means, but my basic understanding is that no matter what, if an image is used in a commercial manner or advertising for a specific product or promotion of a message it needs to have the proper clearances, i.e. talent releases, property releases, photographer approval, etc. Just because it is a google image or an editorial image does not mean that it is available for public use.
Not only does this advertisement have an odd message but the American Beverage Institute claims that they are well within their right to use the image. “People magazine, Smoking Gun and a lot of people have republished this mug shot,” said Longwell. “It was publicly accessible. We’re not using it for any kind of commercial gain. So we’re well within our rights to use it.” (see the full article on msnbc.com here).
While the actual photo may be in public domain because it is a mug shot, she certainly is not especially since her image is so well known.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Artist Friday - Lars Topelmann
Lars Topelmann is a photographer in Portland, Oregon and has a serious sense of humor. His portraits are fun, quirky and sometimes downright odd but there is a playfulness to these characters which he captures. Lars has worked on advertising campaigns for the Bahamas, 10 Cane Rum, Converse, NIke, REI, Pacifico and Visa to name a few. His photographs really represent the true nature of the creative idea and in my opinion they bring the ad to the next level to tell the full story. Just looking through his portfolio you can see he loves what he does and has fun doing it. My favorite part of his photography really is the subject matter he captures and how I smile at the photos, I truly enjoy his work and talent.
Check out Lars' work at larstopelmann.com
Lars is represented by virtu, who have offices in Chicago, San Francisco, and New York.
©Lars Topelmann, used with permission
all artwork is copyrighted and intellectual property and cannot be used without artist's permission.
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