Review: “Photo Video Fusion” ProShow Workshop DVD
While already familiar with Photodex Proshow Gold, after getting to review Proshow Producer for Professional Photographer (review scheduled for April issue), I have to admit I felt a little out of my element. Creating slideshows is easy for me, but integrating still images with video? That’s another thing. [...]
Layout the Easy Way!
Designing albums from scratch can be a hassle. First you have to come up with a creative look, and then you have to manually lay out the pages. For the studio owner, the time it takes to produce an album would be better spent on marketing and growing the business. If you’re looking to lighten your album workload without hiring another employee [...]
Review: Album DS Design Software
If you’re looking for an album design solution that integrates with Photoshop, then you need to give Album DS Design Software a shot. Let’s just say there’s a reason that Professional Photographer’s Hot One Award judges picked Album DS (version 6.1.1) as the winner for Album Design/Layout. [...]
Checkout: RedCart, Photo Cart, Lightbox
Online commerce is a norm in our daily lives. If you adopt it in your business, look for an ordering and payment solution that will work for you and your clients. [...]
Get more, stay sharp: AF-S NIKKOR 70-200MM f/2.8G ED VR II
Nikon released the AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens last November. If you own its comparable predecessor, the VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED, you might be wondering if this second-generation vibration reduction image stabilization could really be such an improvement. [...]
Sneak Peek: AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
When I heard about Nikon’s new VR II lens, my first thought was, “how much better could it really be?” You see, I own the VR version of this lens, which has what I would consider a great vibration reduction system. After getting a chance to shoot with the VR II system, I get it. As efficient as my VR lens is, the VR II lens blows it out of the water
Smart Outsourcing: Good help isn’t so hard to find
We spend our work hours capturing the relationships of others. Yet all too often, we find ourselves catching up at the studio after hours, slogging through post-capture tasks instead of being home with our own family. Maybe you’d like to hire a retouch artist, but can’t spare the money. What if you could outsource some of your post-processing workflow to a qualified company that would respect your style and your vision? Here are a few resources you may not have heard of: [...]
Review: Tenba Small Photo/Laptop Roadie
I recently had the opportunity to try out Tenba’s Small Photo/Laptop Roadie. In addition to cramming it chock-full of equipment, I was curious to see if it would really fit under the seat on an airplane. The Small Roadie has a lot of features and enough compartments to satisfy most pocket fanatics. According to Tenba, the Small Roadie holds 1 or 2 SLRs with 5 to 6 lenses (up to 300mm 2.8) [...]
Review: Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II VC LD Aspherical [IF]
Tamron’s 17-50mm f/2.8 lens has a minimum focus of 11.4 inches (0.29 m) over the zoom range, with macro capability to 1:4.8. Equipped with Tamron’s proprietary Vibration Compensation (VC) image stabilization mechanism, the 17-50mm allows photographers to capture hand-held images in low-light conditions (up to 4-stops more than without VC). [...]
Keep it reconciled: StudioPlus and QuickBooks
Studio management software makes life easier—if you do it right. Learn to seamlessly integrate StudioPlus and Intuit QuickBooks. …StudioPlus is designed to transfer sales and deposit information to QuickBooks, so you don’t have to spend time re-entering data to get to the bottom line. [...]
Product Roundup: Packages and presents
Unique and thoughtful presentation improves the perceived value of your products. Featured products: 100% recycled portrait cases, ribbon tie wallet purses, round CD/DVD tins, non-woven portrait bags, and presentation boxes.
Review: Eneloop Batteries
Sanyo’s Eneloop batteries are a new twist on the traditional rechargeable battery; they can retain 85 percent of their capacity over a year’s time. Because of this unique characteristic, Sanyo is able to package Eneloop batteries so they’re ready to use when you need them. The question is: Does this convenience factor come at a cost in performance? Can professional photographers really rely on a battery that is only rated at 2,000 mAH (compared to the more typical 2650 mAh or 2900 mAh)? [...]
Preliminary Review: StudioPlus Overview
Managing day-to-day operations can be a complicated task, and finding the right piece of software to manage your studio’s data can be equally challenging. StudioPlus has been around for 11 years and was developed specifically for photographers. The company emphasizes that StudioPlus is [...]
Review: Animoto, Custom Video Slideshows
Animoto productions aren’t really slideshows; they’re professional looking music videos created with your images.By Betsy Finn, CPP Animoto blends video and music with still images to create a dynamic, interactive video. A relative newcomer to the photographic industry, Animoto has [... ]
First Look: StudioPlus Software
It’s a photographer’s dream to be able to create art day in and day out. Only problem? As professionals, we have to do more than photograph; the books need balancing, and finances need tracking. Since its inception, my studio management [...]
Expand Your Web Presence – Be Where Your Clients Are
It used to be that having a website was optional; you didn’t need a web presence. But today, a website isn’t just a necessity; it’s the absolute minimum. You probably have a blog (or have been told you should start one). And you may have heard about social sites [...]
Pro Review: Alien Skin Snap Art 2
Alien Skin’s Snap Art 2 is a natural artistic plug-in for Adobe Photoshop that allows you to choose from different media and to perform limitless combinations and adjustments. My college art training regimen included painting, drawing, and [...]
Pro Review: Alien Skin Bokeh
Bokeh is a Photoshop plug-in by Alien Skin Software that allows photographers to manipulate focus and depth of field. The plug-in simulates the feel of specific lenses, and allows photographers to apply a range of creative focus [...]
GLIP! What it is, and Why you should go!
If you don’t know what GLIP is, you’re definitely missing out. The Great Lakes Institute of Photography (GLIP) is a yearly opportunity for continuing education and a chance to “escape” from the grind of business for a week. The classes are great, and it’s fun to be around other photographers who share a common love of learning. [...]
The Mystery Behind the Certification Process—everything you wanted to know, even some things you didn’t!
Going into the certification process, there was not a lot of information available to me as to exactly what I needed to do to become certified. Of course there’s the certification website, which does provide the basic information; but to get a full feel for what the process into, you really need to talk to someone who’s been through it. With that in mind, I wanted to share my experiences with you [...]