Hiring an Architectural Photographer!

I had the opportunity to write an Article for Hardwood Floors magazine, a trade publication for the NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association). The article is titled Use these tips to invest in the Right Architectural Photographer, here's the linkhttp://hardwoodfloorsmag.com/articles/article.aspx?articleid=1712&zoneid=4.
Enjoy!

Business Management - Use These Tips to Invest in the Right Architectural Photographer

hardwoodfloorsmag.com

What is Commercial Photography?

     Commercial Photographers produce Professional Photos for Advertising and Marketing Campaigns to enhance the sales of those clients. They work in the business community to support the sales force. Portrait Photographers deal with the general public and shoot Families, individuals, weddings and events for their client’s personal use. Commercial photographers shoot with a different mindset as they are selling a product, emphasis on dramatic lighting and composition helps to focus attention and enhance the product for sale. Portrait photographer’s focus on creating a pleasing environment in each shot, their client becomes part of that environment. The job of the Commercial Photographer is to produce images that make their clients money, a well photographed product put into a well designed advertising campaign together will create a very powerful result.

Villa Louis Historical Site

Villa Louis located in Prairie du Chien Wisconsin is an accurately restored Victorian home from the late 1800’s. They are a proud member of The Wisconsin Historical Society and are on the Wisconsin National Register of Historic Places.

In the late 1990’s Dale Hall Photography was commissioned by the State of Wisconsin Historical Society to accurately photograph the completed restoration. Using his 4x5 View Camera Dale was able to create the exact angles and lighting of the Historic Photos shot in the late 1800’s. When each of these shots are viewed side by side they show the great attention to detail that went into this amazing restoration. Please Google “Villa Louis Dale Hall”

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=villa+louis+Dale+Hall&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 and enjoy the images.

Dale Hall is a Madison Wisconsin Commercial Architectural Photographer with over 25 years of producing beautiful photography.

Advertising is Key!

Advertising is the key to the growth of any business. Not only to reach new customers but also keeping your name fresh in the minds of those you have worked with in the past. Advertising Photography gives your campaign the impact of beautiful images that leave a long lasting impression on your customers. Strong lighting and composition is the primary job of a Commercial Photographer, literally showing off your products in their best light. Composition is important to create a visually pleasing image. With the addition of great lighting you (my customer) will receive stunning images that will sell your products. Your product may be an architectural interior, an individual item for a product catalog, an industrial shoot showing hands on processes, whatever you sell is your product. Allow me to show off your products in their “Best Light” and ultimately make you more money, it’s my job.

Sales and Marketing

I was just talking with one of my clients recently about the fact that his salesmen just don’t feel comfortable using computers, ipads, powerpoint presentations, anything digital for that matter to get their sales point across. My thought was they should think of this technology as a way to convey their point quicker and easier thus creating more sales. The bonus is that you don’t have the printing or mailing costs of producing a brochure. Using electronic devices is a very economical way to get your information to your clients.

It is a question of a comfortable workflow, contacting new customers, sending sales material, scheduling a face to face meeting and closing your sale. Photography should be an important part of focusing your clients on the products you sell.

Let my Photography do the heavy lifting for you, use Professional Photography to spark interest in your products.

Usage Rights!

    Usage rights refer to the way Photographers charge for an image, Portrait Photographers charge a small sitting fee for taking the original shots and then charge an inflated fee when you buy prints. Stock Photographers sell Usage rights because they can resell those images for many different applications, so it makes sense to charge based on usage. Commercial Photographers get their money up front with their Professional Fee. Commercial Photographers around the country will charge usage rights depending how you plan on using their photography. Basically if you use the shots for advertising and make Millions of Dollars, the photographer wants his cut! My philosophy has always been to get paid a fair price for my shots and when my client makes a lot of money with my photography they are more likely to buy more shots from me in the future. In fact I encourage my clients to use my photography in as many different ways as possible. I give my clients unlimited usage because I don’t resell those images, my clients are the end user,  I don’t sell that photo to another client. 

Introduction

www.dalehallphotography.com

I will be using my “Blog” as a way to communicate information to my clients. I get many of the same questions day in and day out. Hopefully you will find this useful. Also, I would like to generate a forum for discussion.

I am a Commercial Photographer and have been in the field of Photography since 1977, when I started College. After graduation I held the position of Photographic Assistant and Darkroom production for a Portrait Photographer. This studio averaged 50 weddings, 500 seniors and I couldn’t tell you how many Families, Babies and Pets we shot each year. I decided early on this was not for me. I then Managed a Professional Photo Lab in Florida. While working in Florida I met a Photographer whose specialty was Architectural Photography, I had found my calling and started working as his Photographic Assistant. We shot for Architectural Digest, Southern Living, Interior Design Magazine, Midwest homes, had an office in the World Trade Center in New York. Big time stuff, I learned a ton about shooting on Location, Traveling with equipment and Managing our time.

I started my Commercial Photography Business in Madison Wisconsin in 1987. Specializing in Architectural, Industrial and Catalog Photography. In those days I worked behind a 4x5 View Camera and still do on occasion. Spending time loading sheet film, unloading sheet film and making multiple trips to the Professional Lab for processing, proofs and prints.

I made the jump to Digital Photography in 2004; this was a big change from working with my 4x5. Digital made me much more portable, working without the humidity and dust concerns of film was a welcome relief. The biggest challenge for me was the Workflow at the Photo Shoot on Location and back in my studio dealing with the Computer aspects of working with the digital images. I reduced my shooting time on Location in half but doubled my time in post-production. Lighting and Composition are, and have always been, my forte. The capture device has changed, the workflow has changed, but what hasn’t changed is the ability to produce beautiful Photographs on Location that sell a product for my customers.