Breaking News: Dead Motherboard!

WE ARE EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES....

Thank God for my Dell extended warranty! Last night, the motherboard on my Dell XPS 710 died a sudden and most unexpected death. I tried to reboot, but nothing happened, save for a steady yellow light on the power button and a continuously moving (and extremely noisy) fan. A few checks on my purchase documents showed that I am still covered under warranty until May 2011, so I called Dell and was thrilled to find out a technician will be out this Wednesday to basically give me a brand new computer....free of charge!

I will be getting a new motherboard, a new power supply and a new front panel on my tower -- something that the technician said would have cost me $1,500 to replace myself, or basically the cost of a new computer.

It may seem like a large chunk of change to add those warranty plans when you are making such a large purchase as a new computer. But it was definitely worth it for me. Even though my current photo editing orders will be delayed, my clients will benefit from a new, more efficient operating system.

STAY TURNED

BREAKING NEWS: My photo to appear in upcoming magazine editions!

An email I received today just blew me away: One of my photos has a chance to appear in upcoming editions of Digital Photo, Digital Photo Pro and Outdoor Photographer magazines!

Back in August 2007, I won the Digital Photo Academy Assignment for "The Allure of Water" with this image of a little girl running through a fountain at Northfield Stapleton:



My photo along with images from other monthly DPA assignment winners were featured in a traveling exhibition in 10 museums and art galleries where DPA classes are held around the country.

And I thought that was cool!

This new development is simply amazing!

The DPA recently secured plans with Werner Publishing to feature my image in upcoming editions of Digital Photo, Digital Photo Pro, and Outdoor Photographer magazines. Six previous assignment winners' photos will appear in the magazines beginning in June congratulating each DPA assignment winner, says DPA's Mike Zeiler. Not only will the displays advertise the great work DPA is doing but expose its students' works to a world-wide audience!

What's so amazing to me is that that photo was one of THE FIRST images I ever shot with my then Canon Rebel XTi in my first digital photography class taught by Efrain Cruz when he worked at the Denver Darkroom. Since then, Efrain started his own company called Illuminate Workshops. I can't even remember what the class assignment had been...shoot outdoors, or urban photography or some such other thing. But I do remember this little girl following me around the shopping center while I was fumbling with and trying to learn how to work my new camera. I told her that if she didn't stop following me, I was gonna shoot her! She and her friends didn't stop, so I shot them while they were getting soaked in the fountains. The image was definitely a foundation for the kind of captured moments I now look for as my professional photography career has progressed. You can even see my feeble attempts at trying to burn out distracting elements (I was taking my first Photoshop class at the time too!)

The exposure opportunities that DPA continues to make available for their students is just unbelievable. If you haven't become a part of this program yet, then do so now. It continues to grow by leaps and bounds, has secured some amazing sponsors, including Panasonic Lumix, has the best teachers available and is always finding ways to get more exposure for their students. For example, students can have their work be showcased on webinars and online classes hosted by instructors for an international wide audience. Our photos appear in online galleries. And the networking possibilities are endless. DPA is available in more than 20 US cities, so there is bound to be one close to you!

This will be the second time some of my photography has been featured in a magazine. This image appeared as a full page feature photo in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's magazine, BUGLE!

Breaking News: Print Packages Now Available!

Picture Your World Photography is now pleased to announce a new client offering: exclusive print packages available for order directly from your private gallery!

The user-friendly feature has been a long time in the making. And now, finally, after endless hours of hard work by SmugMug programmers, my clients get to enjoy the convenience of crafting their own multiple pose packages and having them directly delivered. Ordering is a snap when you have one price for a whole heap of goodies.

So far, I've created four primary packages geared to satisfy everyone from the budget-minded to the big spenders!



"The Perfect Package," featuring two 8x10s, four 5x7s, 2 sheets of wallets, six 3.5x5 and an 11x14 is great when you can't decide which poses you love the most. Cost: $150

"You're So Popular," featuring six sheets each of 8 die-cut wallets is great for graduation announcements or thank you cards. Cost: $50

"The Starter Pack," featuring two 8x10s, four 5x7s and a sheet of wallets will tied you over when you are watching your budget.

"The Waltons," is for those blessed with an extended family. There's enough big photos, regular sizes and wallets to satisfy everyone from grandparents to cousins. It features a dozen 4x6s, six 5x7s, six 8x10s, two 11x14, two 16x20s, one 20x30 and six sheets of wallets. Cost: $750

Package options will appear under your gallery's "Buy button." Once you select the package from your list, you'll be taken to an area to select multiple photos. Mix and match your favorites by clickin and dragging your chosen images into place. When each item in the package is matched to a photo, you can add the package to your shopping cart and check out. Packages make buying so simple! But if you have any problems, feel free to call me directly, and I will walk you through the process!

Don't forget to stack coupons and special promotional offers for even more savings. Join the studio's Facebook Fan Page today to qualify for discounts and giveaways.

Breaking News: America's Cutest Family Could Win a Car!

Are your loved one’s North America’s Cutest Family?

PROVE IT!

Picture Your World Photography is participating in the International Charity Model Search to select North America’s Cutest Family, and you’re invited to enter the competition!

Many prizes will be awarded and the Grand Prize winner receives a NEW CAR! Now is definitely the time to update the family photo!

Call NOW at 303-548-6112 to book your Model Search Special session and be eligible for the contest.

Model Search Special:
$50 entrance fee includes:
60-minute photo session
one free 8X10 and one image submitted to the national gallery



Finalists will be determined by on-line votes. Each vote is $1, and all proceeds from votes benefit the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org). Official voting begins 1/4/10 and ends 4/8/10.

The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation (NILMDTS) administers a network of almost 7,000 volunteer photographers in the United States and twenty-five countries. At a family's request, a NILMDTS Affiliated Photographer will come to your hospital or hospice location and conduct a sensitive and private portrait session. The portraits are then professionally retouched and presented to the families on an archival DVD or CD that can be used to print portraits of their cherished baby. I have known about this program for quite some time, but I haven't yet found the strength to participate because just thinking about the loss of a newborn child brings tears to my eyes and I doubt that I would be able to photograph those final moments. But helping the organization raise money like this IS something I can do!



But wait! For those who did not qualify – you can still earn rewards! Send this email / postcard to friends and families and tell them you referred them to Picture Your World Photography. If they book and complete their photo session with the studio, you can earn the following print credits for 2010 usage:

2-5 referrals:
Receive two 5x7’s from your most recent session or on a future session 2010 (FREE!)

6-13 referrals:
Receive one 8x10 from your most recent session or on a future session in 2010 (FREE!)

13-20 referrals:
Receive one 11x14 from your most recent session or on a future session in 2010 (FREE!)

21+ referrals:
Receive one 20x30 from your most recent session or on a future session in 2010 (FREE!)

I know one of my client's family have GOT TO BE America’s Cutest Family!

The grand prize international winner will be determined from the 52 city finalists. The winners will be selected from the finalist gallery by photography and modeling industry experts. The winning family also receives a session with the renowned portrait artist Sandy Puc and international recognition. Call 303-548-6112 now to enter your family in this exciting contest.

*Contest open to residents of the US and Canada. For more information, visit http://sandypucmodels.com/.

Breaking News: One more chance to get marketing telesummit mp3 for $99

You asked for it! Now the Telesummit Recordings are Back by Popular Demand!

Due to a continual FLOOD of requests, the Master Photographer's Marketing Series Telesummit mp3 downloads are available from 12:00pm Central, November 9 through 12:00am Central, December 13 for $99!

Here's one last chance to learn from the industry's greatest marketers - Kia Bondurant, Rod Evans, John Hartman, Jen Hillenga, Julie Klaasmeyer, Kevin Kubota, Lori Nordstrom, Sarah Petty, Allison Rodgers, Dane Sanders, Marilyn Sholin, Kent & Sarah Smith, Vicki Taufer, Beverly & Tim Walden, Ed Zemba & David Ziser.

Purchase all 16 hours of the Master Photographer's Marketing Series Telesummit, available as an mp3 audio download plus pdf outlines. Purchase the recordings today for the special $99 price. These recordings will be available for a VERY limited time.

I got mine and have been slowly working my way through all 16 hours of amazing marketing ideas! Don't miss out on this.

Breaking News: Denver SMUG Date Change!

Whoops!

Due to an unforeseen date/venue conflict, the first Denver SMUG meeting has MOVED to:

WEDS, November 18 at 7 p.m.

Speaker, Location & Coolness is the same, just the DATE is changed. Read my blog post to get a refresher on what we will be discussing.

Hope to see more of my SmugMug usergroup buddies at the event at:
Blake Street Tavern (map)
2401 Blake Street (@ 24th)
Denver, CO

Breaking News: And the winners are...

Photo by Kim Shuman

Picture Your World Photography has reached a new milestone. The studio now has 200 Facebook fans (actually now 205 since this morning!) To thank all my new supporters and potential clients, I promised to do a random drawing to give one lucky fan their choice of an 8x10 digital download print from my landscapes, cityscapes or flora and fauna galleries on my website.

SURPRISE! Since I've gotten 200 fans, I thought I would give out TWO downloads. And when I reach 300 fans, THREE downloads, etc. etc.

Each fan has been assigned a number based on when they joined starting with Tiffany Trott as No. 1 to Kristi Crosson, fan No. 204. If the random drawing lands on me, I will redo it. So here goes. Drum roll please....

Using this random number generator and plugging in the numbers from 1 to 205....the first winner is Ian Saunders, Fan No. 79 and the second winner is Alexa Livingston, Fan No. 117.

Congrats Ian and Alexa! Please choose one image from either of these photo galleries:

Cityscapes, Landscapes and Flora and Fauna galleries.

Breaking News: Google Listing, Portfolio Diversity Lands a Client

I just got a phone call from a client needing senior portrait photos for her son. But here's the kicker: when I asked her how she contacted my photography business, she said she found it on Google's local business results by typing in "80022 Denver photographers."

The client said she was initially overwhelmed with her search results, but the deciding factors for her final choice was the fact that my business is located near her home in Reunion and that my portfolio included ethnically diverse clients.
Her son is African American, and she said it was important for her to find a photographer who had experience appropriately lighting and shooting the tones of darker-skinned individuals, such as in this senior portrait of Jordan.



We have scheduled a portrait session for Wednesday and will be signing the contract tomorrow evening.

Breaking News! New Heidi's owner wants my photos back up, displayed at two additional eateries

This morning while walking into the Denver Post building downtown, a security guard stopped me in my tracks when she told me this: "The new owner of the Heidi's Deli said she loved your photos and wants them back up ASAP! She wants to meet you and talk to you about your work right now."

I was so shocked you could have knocked me over with a feather. But the news only gets better. Rosa, who not only now owns the downtown Heidi's location, but two others in the metro area, wants me to hang up my photos in ALL THREE LOCATIONS!

The first thing Rosa said she noticed yesterday when she took over business at the downtown deli was my photos missing from the walls. When the previous owners told me they were leaving (all of the workers walked out yesterday), I was told it would be prudent if I took my photo display down as well because they weren't sure if the space would be maintained as a deli or permanently closed. But Rosa said the deli will remain and she thought the photos gave the deli "extra life, color and beauty."

"It's why I brought flowers in today to brighten everything up! My husband was asking everybody before they left who the photographer was who had taken all the photos so he could convince them to put them back up again!"

Rosa explained her love of photography to me, adding that her father was a photographer for 30 years before he passed away. She misses having photography in her life. Plus, the other stores she owns in Brighton and Broomfield, have even more display space and are in desperate need of livening up.

Rosa told me I could hang up whatever I wanted, including portraits and landscapes, to help gain more exposure for my business! That's a good thing too, since I don't have very many landscapes and my business specializes in portraiture! She wants to put a larger advertisement in front of each store letting people know the art is available for sale, as well as information and details about each shot. And she wants to do it all for free -- meaning no commission fees and I get 100 percent of the profits.

This is an amazing opportunity! I could do different monthy displays to hold customer interest and ask my photography colleagues to showcase some of their work too! I can't wait to put up new images in the downtown Denver Heidi's since those clients have probably gotten tired of seeing the same thing since last August.

What a great day and a great blessing for Picture Your World Photography.

Breaking News: Enter drawing to win "Teri's Rose"

Now that I've reached a milepost of 100 fans on my studio's Facebook fan page, the public now has a new way to stay in touch with Picture Your World Photography online! My Facebook page now has its very own vanity url!

Just type in this new username/url address at www.facebook.com/PictureYourWorldPhotography and be the first to know about free giveaways of digital downloads of my top print sellers and exclusive discounts on sessions available only to fans.

As promised, I will be giving away a free digital download of an 8x10 print of "Teri's Rose" to one lucky fan. I will use a random number generator to choose the winner. To be eligible, you must leave a numbered comment on the Fan Page explaining what you think about this image. The number generator will draw your number and I will email you the download!

You have until midnight mountain standard time to enter. Good luck!

For example:

1) Sheba Wheeler: I like the use of selective coloring in the image, leaving the rose in color while the rest is monotone.

2) John Smith: The image is sensual but elegant...

Enter to win "Teri's Rose" today. You have until midnight Mountain Time on Sept. 11 to leave a comment on the Fan Page.

Breaking News: Call for Entry!

Kim Sporrer, one of my sources and the spokeswoman for the Humane Society of Boulder Valley asked me to get the word out about their first annual pet photography contest. Enter to win! And if you do, drop me a line and let me know! Good luck!
How fun would it be to see your pet featured in our publications that encourage other people to adopt more animals and learn more about humane education and training from the Humane Society of Boulder Valley? We’re looking for your best furry and feathered friends’ mug shots, so pull out your digital camera and start shooting photos. The Humane Society of Boulder Valley is announcing its first online photo contest.

We believe the relationship between a guardian and his/her pet is unique, so feel free to have people in your photos, too. If you include people in your shot, tell us how the photo demonstrates the special relationship between the person(s) and the pet, other family members or other animals.

All pet types are encouraged to enter, although we expect that dog and cat photos will be the bulk of our entries. Know that our judges will ensure the contest is fair and equal for all of our animal friends.

Photographs may be entered into one of the following five categories:

Best Baby Photograph
Best Glamour/Costume Photograph
Best Smile Photograph
Best Humane Society of Boulder Valley Alumni Photograph
Digitally Altered/Artistic Images
All entries must be submitted online by 3 p.m. MDT on September 1, 2009.

$15 donation per photo

To submit a photo or for more information visit this website.

Breaking News: Photo Booth snags a new client!

I'm pleased to share that Saturday's photo booth has netted me a new client! A woman who stopped by and picked up one of my cards called to book a senior session for one son who is graduating as well as a headshot session for another son who will be acting in a local play. We have arranged to split the session up, shooting both sons for an hour in studio this Saturday and another hour on location outdoors in another week or so.

One of the things that I think is neat about this experience is that the client lives a few blocks from me! However, she would never have known that a professional photographer lived so near to her had I not been essentially marketing my services while working at the photo booth. It's good to know that I was able to benefit from the event even if people weren't interested in getting their picture taken that same day. Hopefully in the future, when any of the people I met on Saturday need images, they will remember the day they met me, shook my hand and asked questions about what I offered at a local fair.

Breaking News: Business is heating up!

Woohoo! Things are starting to cook at Picture Your World Photography! I was shocked when I received an email on Facebook from another woman interested in having me shoot her wedding in June 2010! I thought her message was so cute...she was worried it was unprofessional to try to contact me through Facebook. I think it's WONDERFUL and definite proof that people are using Facebook for more than just socializing. Donna is actually a friend of Jessica, the client I spoke with earlier this week. I haven't even officially shot for Jessica yet and it's clear she has enough faith in my ability to refer me to her friends! If Donna books me to shoot her wedding, Jessica will receive $25 worth of free prints!

Breaking News: Someone tried to break into my house!

The police officer said I did everything I could to prevent a burglar from breaking into my home yesterday. Knowing that should have made me feel better, but it's going to be days before I feel truly safe in my home again.

My ADT security alarm went off Tuesday at 2:59 p.m. I got a call from the company that someone had tried to enter my home through a basement window and that the police and my emergency contact, aka my neighbors, had been notified. A few minutes after that, I got a call from my neighbor who was checking out the scene with two patrol officers. The would-be burglar had disappeared, but I had a cut window screen, a pried open basement window and some highly agitated dogs to prove a stranger had been there.

Nothing was stolen, save for my sense of security. It stops my heart to think about how close I came to having someone take all of my camera equipment, my laptop, my computer and anything else deemed valuable.

Here's want the officer said I had going for me:

1) An active alarm system: Economic woes have made many people shave off costs anywhere they can...including the monthly service fee for a security system, according to the officer. Even more troubling is the fact that many homeowners may have an active system, but don't set it when they leave.

2) Keep doors and windows locked: Stats show that thieves enter through an unlocked door or window in more than 30% of all residential burglaries. While this won’t prevent all burglaries from occurring, it certainly will deter the opportunistic burglar from making your home his next target.

3) A stick in the window track: The stick I have in both of my basement windows tracks detered the criminal. My sliding glass door has a locking mechanism at the base, but placing another stick there will be helpful too. Also, place a security pin (a large nail will also work) through the frame.

4) Two large dogs: My dogs will bark relentlessly at ANYONE who gets into my backyard or even near the locked back gate. Although it makes me wonder who would be willing to leap a gate into a backyard with two dogs unless the dogs already knew them to begin with....hmmmm

5) Vigilante neighbors: It may seem as though I live alone and am vulnerable, but people in my neighbohrood have banded to create an informal watch group. I've been taken under at least two sets of neighbor wings who keep a watch out for one of the single females living in a house on the block.

The officer said it was typical that a break-in would occur in the middle of the day because it's less likely that someone will be in the home. Colorado's "Make My Day Law" (shoot first ask questions later) gives homeowners the legal right to use deadly force to defend their home from violent attack or intrusion. So no thief wants to be confronted by a gun-packing homeowner. The officer said he thought it might have been a teenager since the attempt took place right around the time school lets out. Thank goodness I also have insurance covering not only my home but my photography business equipment as well so that I could have made a claim had the thief been successful. But who wants to go through the headache of having to replace so much that they've spent hard money and time trying to be able to afford?

Need more household security tips? Check out this link at howtodothings.com.

Breaking News: A fond farewell to old friends

I am so sad to learn that one of my favorite local photography stores is closing! The Wolf Camera store at 1802 S Havana St., in Aurora is shutting down. The email just came across my email today from David Ritz:

"Over the past few months, most of us have become painfully aware that that the U.S. economy has tumbled into very turbulent times. At the same time, Ritz Camera has invested millions of dollars in many of our stores to bring you the latest in digital imaging over the web. As an unfortunate consequence of these economic difficulties, the store you have ordered from has closed.

Please use our Location Selector to find another store conveniently located in your area of work, shopping, or home.

If your search returns no stores in your area, we encourage you to try our mail order service. Get the same great quality, delivered right to your door!

We would like to take a moment to express our thanks for your continued patronage, and as a special "Thank You!" we would like to offer the opportunity to receive 30% off the combined total of your next order. Simply enter the promo code THANKYOU30 at check out and hit "apply" to receive your discount. Treat yourself or a loved one to something special, without putting a dent in your wallet, at your NEW location!

THIS IS A ONE TIME OFFER FOR OUR SPECIAL RITZPIX.COM CUSTOMERS
This offer may not be combined with any other promotion currently advertised.

This offer is valid on all of the hundreds of items available on Ritzpix.com, including:

Prints & Enlargements
Custom Photo Books
Picture Perfect Photo Greeting Cards
Calendars
Personalized Photo Gifts
So much more!

We thank you for your continued use of Ritzpix.com to fulfill your printing and image product needs, and look forward to continuing our relationship in the months and years to come."

The staff at the Aurora store have been instrumental parts of my journey to become a freelance portrait photographer. Several of my first classes were taken with Terry who was always quick to help me with advice on equipment or business strategies whenever I walked into the store. And if you remember, Jeff Lawson answered a Q&A about aspect ratios that helped me understand printing. I will always appreciate both of your time and willingness to help a newbie like me out. I also wanted to wish all the staff there the best of luck, and I hope to be seeing you at another Wolf in the metro area. I will miss the convenience of the Aurora store, which was closer to my home.

Breaking News: I Booked Back to Back Weddings!

This week I booked my first two weddings of the season....but I just found out last night that they are happening on the same weekend!

On Monday, I met with Julie H. and her future parents-in-law to iron out details and sign a contract for her wedding happening on May 23. It was a great meeting, and I could tell that Julie and her future in-laws had done some research about the kind of images they wanted. Julie had initially wanted a quickie, cost-effective wedding where I and an assistant would be shooting for just two hours, focusing on the 45 minute ceremony and portraits of the family and wedding parties. Julie didn't even want her luncheon reception photographed.

But I think the consultation went so well that Julie and her in-laws decided to book a four-hour time slot (at double the rate) so they could have more time to get the images they wanted without feeling rushed. Julie prefers natural, candid images while her fiancee loves creative post processing with selective coloring and artistic uses of shallow depth of field. The mother-in-law wants a large panoramic photo showcasing the church. And their main concern was making sure that if something happened and I couldn't shoot the wedding that I can access to equally talented photographers who could step in.



I've asked Julie to allow me to take shots during her wedding rehearsal because I think everyone will be more relaxed and comfortable, which should lead to some great candid shots. I walked away from the meeting feeling very excited.

Then last night, I had a consultation with Harriet and Peter N., a young couple from Kenya. Some of their main concerns included customizing a wedding package to fit their needs (minus the photo coffee table book, 4x6 proofs and DVD slideshow). Peter just wants the images on CD so he can have fun creating books, calendars, etc. for family members and friends. Harriet told me about a horror story suffered by one of her relatives when a wedding photographer took nearly a year before he gave photos to her cousin. So she was pleased to know that I guaranteed they would be receiving my images within a month (and I even aim for two weeks, but that might be difficult this time since I'm shooting two weddings in the same weekend.)

Because they are paying for my exclusive Ruby Package, Harriet and Peter got to choose a free engagement session as well. Peter wants some shots outdoors while Harriet wants them in studio, so we are still working out those details. :)



Plus, this couple wants more coverage, meaning a photographer for the bride, another photog for the groom and a third photog waiting at the church to take pics of guests arriving? How am I going to afford potentially two extra assistants? And WOW...two back to back weddings? How will I find the energy to pull that off?

Breaking News: Booked my first wedding of the year

I hope this great week will foreshadow an equally great coming year. Not only did I make a sale from the Heidi's exhibit, but I just got an email from a client saying she has chosen me to shoot her wedding in May!

I want to publically thank Illuminate Workshops Director Efrain Cruz for referring me along with several other of his students to the client. She had a wealth of talent to pull from, and I'm honored she choose me. We will be meeting next month for me to get a better idea of the kind of photos she wants as well as to hash out the contract details. Her photography budget is very small, but I told her we would work out something based on her needs, especially considering that she only wants a photographer for 2 hours shooting a 30 minute ceremony and then doing family and bridal party photos. I plan to ask one of my colleagues to be a second shooter for me so she can build her portfolio and gain location experience. Wish us both luck!

BREAKING NEWS: Baby on the way!

Guess my maternity photo session today is a bust! I have learned when babies are ready to be born, there is no stopping them! Baby Edie decided she was done with the whole womb thing and wanted to make an early debut several weeks ahead of schedule. So her Mom is busy delivering her right now!

Hopefully instead of maternity photos, Mom will let me take portraits of a newborn Edie with her parents in a few months to come.

Congratulations to Mom and Dad, and welcome to the world, daughter-to-be.

Breaking News: Flickr Upload Chosen for Possible Inclusion to Schmap Guide

Getting Ready to Walk the Parade Route, originally uploaded by Sheba Wheeler.

I just got an email a few minutes ago from Flickr that one of my uploaded photos has been short-listed for inclusion in the fifth edition of the Schmap Denver Guide to be published late October 2008.

Schmap Guide is an online interactive experience that includes maps and guide content allowing intuitive, real-time access to reviews and photo slideshows for places of interest.






The image above was chosen out of my Flickr uploads to be submitted into the final selection phase for the edition. It is one of the shots I took while covering Bill Coleman's Giant-sized Puppets participating in the Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade earlier this year. The Guide will send a message to my Flickr account when the guide is released, letting me know whether or not my photo has been included.

While the Guide offers no payment for publication, many photographers willingly submit their photos, as Schmap Guides give their work recognition and wide exposure, and are free of charge to readers. Photos are published at a maximum width of 150 pixels, are clearly attributed, and link to high-resolution originals at Flickr.

I emailed the managing editor and let her know I regularly shoot images in Colorado and might have other photos she would like include in her guide. I included a link to my business website and gave her my cell phone number too. Maybe this could lead to other commissions.

This is definitely an example of how advertisers and companies are gaining access to a talented pool of advid pro and semi-pro photographers who regularly upload their images to the online community. It's the second time someone has come across one of my uploaded images and asked to use it. The first time, a nonprofit pregnancy crisis center found one of my Flickr images that they wanted to use for an ad campaign. When I told them how much the image would cost ($150) they said they didn't have enough funds for the image. Even though I blogged about this incident and decried the Freebie Photo Phenomenon, I have often worried if not giving the center the photo for free was a mistake.

In this instance though, I think possibly allowing Schmap to host one of my images for free online might work in my favor because of the worldwide audience and exposure.

Breaking News: Photoshelter Collection Closing

The email I received this morning from Photoshelter was a total shock: The PhotoShelter Collection will be closing on Oct. 10! The letter contributors received this morning is reprinted here for your convenience:

"Dear Friends,
We're contacting you today with some unfortunate news - we will be closing The PhotoShelter Collection, effective October 10, 2008. Going forward, our team will refocus heavily on enhancing our original product, The PhotoShelter Personal Archive, which several thousand photographers use for bulletproof storage and online image sales directly to their own clients. Our financial position remains solid and we look forward to working with the photography community for years to come.

More details about timing and the implications for contributors can be found in a personal statement on our corporate blog, and this FAQ document.

Just one year ago, we started the Collection with a mission to "change the image marketplace for good." Since then, we've amassed a remarkable global community. We've built a unique position in the industry fueled by integrity and a true passion for photography. We've held our commitment to fair treatment of photographers with a 70/30 split of every transaction, opened up your access to information through our School of Stock and symposium events, and gave every photographer - regardless of one's network, location, or level of expertise - a fair shot at selling your work to the industry's top buyers.

However, our approach was insufficient to change buyer behavior on a grand scale and generate revenues quickly enough to satisfy our goals for this product line. While image buyers worldwide appreciated our new approach, the size of our image selection and the incumbent player's entrenched subscription relationships were a persistent challenge. As a result, we saw few strategic options for the Collection that would allow us to stay true to our commitment to a better deal for photographers and our desire to change the industry.

Despite today's decision, we remain committed to using technology to advance both the art and business of photography. Our team's energy and innovative resources will ensure that the Personal Archive remains the best online solution to help independent photographers write their own success stories. If you are not yet a Personal Archive subscriber, we hope you will continue your relationship with the PhotoShelter community through that product.

We want to express our deepest gratitude to our global community of contributors. We've enjoyed a full year of seeing your exceptional images cross our desks, developed warm relationships with many of you through PhotoShelter events, and shared in your excitement when you've achieved sales through our marketplace.

We're looking forward to chatting more with you in person and demonstrating some new Personal Archive enhancements at October's PhotoPlus International Conference.

With gratitude,

Allen Murabayashi
CEO"

Numerous other photographers I know who contribute to Photoshelter are bemoaning its loss as the only agency that really advocated for photographer's interests. I had yet to get any images accepted into its collection but was totally excited about the opportunity to have some of my work included. Now, Photoshelter contributers are left reeling, wondering if they can gain a foothold in other agencies such as Istock.

Is Getty Images to blame for Photoshelter's collection demise, or is this more indicative of a troubled industry? This announcement came at the same day that Corbis announced it was laying off about 16 percent of its staff.