The Complete Commercial Photographer - Succeeding in Assignments and Stock
Instructors: Bryan Peterson /David Langley/Sara Wight/Pete Saloutos/Charlie Borland/Dave Nitsche Duration: 6 Months            Cost: $2,995            Starts: Jan 9, 2009

A PPSOP Exclusive Not Found at any Photography School in the World!!!

Beginning with Lesson#1, every student in this course will have the immediate opportunity to have their work represented by both Corbis and Fogstock Stock Photo Agencies AND 8 of your 28 lessons/assignments will be taught and critiqued by Sarah Wight, an Art Director at Corbis Stock Photo Agency, New York.

UNDERSTANDING STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

What is stock photography? Stock photography refers to a 'library of pictures' that a photographer has taken, usually with a specific theme and/or client in mind, and he/she in turn attempts to “rent” that image(s) to potential clients: Advertising Agencies, Graphic Design Firms, Magazine Publishers and Fortune 500 companies. Some photographers choose to manage their own stock photo library while others prefer to place their images with Stock Photo Agencies who, in exchange for a commission, market the photographers work to these same clients, freeing up the photographers time so he/she can spend all their time shooting more and more stock.

Shooting stock is perhaps the most challenging career a free-lance photographer can embark upon, since in every respect you are 100% responsible for your success. It is you, after all, who sees the idea from its inception and executes it to completion and it is you who is ultimately and promptly rewarded for your efforts via monthly stock photography checks.

Do you 'think' conceptually or are you more likely to see the world "as it is"? How would you choose to illustrate the following word: AMBITION? Let's make this assignment even more challenging and make it a rule that you can't photograph people or anything man made to illustrate ambition but rather it has to be a composition shot only in nature. Likewise, how would you choose to illustrate INDIFFERENCE? In this case it MUST be done only with people! When was the last time you shot pictures at the grocery store, a parking lot or in a doctor’s office? Believe it or not, these are locations where photographers who shoot stock, can make money, IF they know what to shoot and how to shoot it!

If you hesitate when taking a shot due to the "embarrassing" point required to get the shot, or you hesitate because you are too shy to talk to that stranger who is a great subject, you've just chosen to lose potential income! If you are unwilling to become a morning person, preferring to shoot only in late afternoon light, you've just chosen to cut your income in half and if you are NOT interested in shooting people, capturing them at work and play, then you have just closed the door on about 80% of your income potential.

What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Are you a walking encyclopedia of technical wizardry but lack any real creativity or ideas for compelling imagery? Are you swimming in an ocean of ideas, but lack the "know how" of bringing these ideas to fruition? What is your skill level in PhotoShop - a beginner or a consummate pro? All of these topics and much much more will be covered over the course of the 28 lessons/assignments that are offered from March 28th through November 7th. (See complete schedule of class dates below).

COMMERCIAL/FREE-LANCE PHOTOGRAPHY

Is it really true that commercial photographers can get paid $1,200, $2,000, $5,000 per day and more-PLUS EXPENSES for a corporate or advertising assignment? Yes, and they often get to travel to some pretty exciting locations, but then again, any destination is pretty darn exciting when you know you are getting paid that kind of money! Have you ever dreamed of shooting a corporate brochure, annual report or a regional or national ad for some of the Fortune 500 companies?

Do you think you have what it takes to be hired for this kind of commercial assignment work, but have no idea who to call or who to see? Do you now what needs to be (and what should not be) in your portfolio to get these kinds of jobs? What is the biggest mistake you can make AFTER showing your portfolio? Who is the most important person to know when seeking advertising jobs? Of the three most common methods of advertising your services as a commercial photographer, which ONE is the most widely used and yet the worst at getting results? Is having an agent a good idea? What is the difference between a graphic designer and an art director? Which one is more important in showing your portfolio to? Do you know what ONE letter to send in the mail that will open more doors to success than any other? Do you know how to estimate a job so you don’t end up giving away the farm? What two magazine subscriptions are an absolute must IF you plan on staying ahead of the competition? What are the right tax forms? What is a deductible expense-what isn't? Should you be a sole-proprietorship or perhaps form an LLC?

Are you thinking of attending or are you already attending a two or four year photography program at a prestigious photography school, (along with their prestigious tuitions of $40,000 and more) or are you one of their graduates who now finds yourself in the role of a "starving artist"? This exclusive six month course does something those other schools DON'T, CAN'T or WON'T: We will fill your head with so much potential for marketing that you will soon be out the door not only knowing how to speak the language, but who to talk to and what you need to show in your portfolio in order to get the assignment! As the saying goes, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, but teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime!" As is true with every course here at PPSOP, all of our instructors are committed to teaching every student how to fish for a lifetime-failure is NOT an option!

To become a truly successful commercial assignment photographer, you must realize that you are NOT a photographer who is waiting for the phone to ring just so you can shoot images of somebody else's ideas! You must change your thinking into a photographer who is called upon, who is sought out because you are a talented and gifted visual problem solver-you are the specialist! The many assignments in this course will flush out your strengths and weaknesses, offering you much needed guidance and a much tighter focus on where you need to direct your talents so you can in fact achieve your dream of becoming a successful free-lance photographer!

Do you feel you need help in studio lighting, location lighting, portraits or landscape? Do you feel you need help in becoming far more inventive and creative? Do you feel frustrated at being unable to get any real work with your current portfolio? Is Photoshop still a mystery? Have you yet to overcome your shyness when approaching/photographing people? Are you long on ideas but short on knowing how to execute them?

Over the course of these next six months, you will have EVERY opportunity to create a portfolio of images that will get you work and you will finish this course "armed and dangerous" with the vast marketing knowledge that we promises to deliver. Some of these assignments may come easy, while others will truly push you further than perhaps you ever imagined.

THE DIGITAL DARKROOM

Shooting stock is perhaps the most challenging career a free-lance photographer can embark upon, since in every respect you are 100% responsible for your success. It is you, after all, who sees the idea from its inception and executes it to completion and it is you who is ultimately and promptly rewarded for your efforts via monthly stock photography checks.

Do you 'think' conceptually or are you more likely to see the world "as it is"? How would you choose to illustrate the following word: AMBITION? Let's take it even further and make it a rule that you can't photograph people or anything man made, but rather it has to be a composition shot in nature. Likewise, how would you choose to illustrate INDIFFERENCE, but in this case it MUST be done only with people? When was the last time you shot pictures at the grocery store, a parking lot or in a doctor's office?

If you hesitate when taking a shot due to the "embarrassing" point of view you've chosen, or you hesitate because you are too shy to talk to that stranger who is a great subject, you've just chosen to lose potential income! If you are unwilling to become a morning person, preferring to shoot only in late afternoon light, you've just chosen to cut your income in half and if you are NOT interested in shooting people, capturing them at work and play, then you have just closed the door on about 80% of your income potential.

What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Are you a walking encyclopedia of technical wizardry but lack any real creativity or ideas for compelling imagery? Are you swimming in an ocean of ideas, but lack the "know how" of bringing these ideas to fruition? What is your skill level in PhotoShop - a beginner or a consummate pro?

In addition to valuable lessons/assignments that are offered in this six month course, the greatest benefit to be had by all is that you will learn what makes a GREAT image and, of course, WHAT to shoot and HOW to shoot it. Whether you want to learn how to shoot stock and/or assignment work or you have chosen to sign up solely for the opportunity to push yourself photographically in an intensive six-month setting, this is the course for you. Truth be told, it is not just an opportunity to learn all about photography that sells, but perhaps most of all, it's a course that will teach you a great deal about yourself!

So what's the catch? There is no catch, but be assured that over the course of our time together, you will come to face to face with "the wall" and getting over that wall will be your biggest challenge. And what is "the wall"? The wall is NOT a lack of ideas or a lack of subject matter to shoot. It is NOT a lack of locations or people to photograph. It is NOT a lack of having the right camera, lens, scanner or computer. "The wall" is simply the lack of WILL and the absence of self-discipline. IF you will do the work that is found in the many lessons/assignments in this course you will easily knock down that wall!!!

*Throughout this course, each and every month, every student will also receive at least two bonus lessons that pertain to the business of photography, including tax issues, additional PhotoShop 'secrets' and 'must know' rules for stock photography as well as Monthly Shoot Lists/Ideas that can result in producing additional income.

Although the course officially ends April 2009, every student in this course may continue to make monthly submissions to PPSOP's full-time stock photography editor, Jill Fluseman, who in turn gets your material to both Corbis and Fogstock. This assures you of an on-going relationship with both stock photo agencies and subsequently assures you of a stock photography income stream.

All of these details and more will be made available to each student beginning with the first week of class.