https://apalmanac.com A resource for working professional photographers and design industry professionals featuring news, commentary, equipment resources, and original articles Tue, 26 Mar 2024 19:25:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 156681027 https://apalmanac.com/business/breaking-barriers-overcoming-mindset-hurdles-for-artistic-freedom-184710 https://apalmanac.com/business/breaking-barriers-overcoming-mindset-hurdles-for-artistic-freedom-184710#respond Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:50:58 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=184710 I’m writing this because I believe there’s someone out there who needs these words just as much as I do—a reminder of the mindset needed to navigate the hurdles we face in our work. Many of us in creative industries grapple with the challenges of business, personal life, and seeking fulfillment.]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/breaking-barriers-overcoming-mindset-hurdles-for-artistic-freedom-184710/feed 0 184710 https://apalmanac.com/opinion/adobe-lightroom-or-capture-one-a-subjective-comparison-part-two-182325 https://apalmanac.com/opinion/adobe-lightroom-or-capture-one-a-subjective-comparison-part-two-182325#comments Mon, 09 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=182325 In the first part of this series, where I discussed my subjective reflections related to photo post-processing in Lightroom and Capture One, I covered topics such as types of licenses, program interfaces, tethering, and the difference between a catalog and a session.]]> https://apalmanac.com/opinion/adobe-lightroom-or-capture-one-a-subjective-comparison-part-two-182325/feed 4 182325 https://apalmanac.com/business/what-makes-a-great-client-180351 https://apalmanac.com/business/what-makes-a-great-client-180351#respond Mon, 02 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=180351 If you’ve been in this photography game for any amount of time, you most likely have some clients that you love, and perhaps a few who you’d be happy to never meet again. Having high-quality clients is the bedrock of a fruitful career. Without clients, photography is just your hobby. ]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/what-makes-a-great-client-180351/feed 0 180351 https://apalmanac.com/opinion/adobe-lightroom-or-capture-one-a-subjective-comparison-part-one-182043 https://apalmanac.com/opinion/adobe-lightroom-or-capture-one-a-subjective-comparison-part-one-182043#comments Wed, 30 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=182043 I remember the first time I used Adobe Lightroom. It had to be around the year 2008. It was a shock to me back then. I mainly had used Photoshop before, which is a powerful tool, but especially at that time, it wasn’t well-suited for quickly editing a large number of photos.]]> https://apalmanac.com/opinion/adobe-lightroom-or-capture-one-a-subjective-comparison-part-one-182043/feed 8 182043 https://apalmanac.com/business/scotus-win-for-photographers-181294 https://apalmanac.com/business/scotus-win-for-photographers-181294#comments Mon, 05 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=181294 On May 18th, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down its decision in the case of Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith. In a 7-2 vote, the Court ruled in favor of photographer Lynn Goldsmith, finding that pop artist Andy Warhol had infringed Goldsmith’s copyright in a photo she took of the music artist Prince in 1981. The outcome of the case hinged largely on the Andy Warhol Foundation’s assertion that Warhol’s use of the photo constituted “fair use.”]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/scotus-win-for-photographers-181294/feed 1 181294 https://apalmanac.com/business/7-ways-to-help-you-win-your-next-photography-gig-180464 https://apalmanac.com/business/7-ways-to-help-you-win-your-next-photography-gig-180464#comments Wed, 19 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=180464 After 10+ years of working in the industry, I have tried a lot of different processes for winning jobs. There is always a lot to learn from the sales process and while I have not figured everything out, I wanted to share some things that have helped me get to where I am today.Here]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/7-ways-to-help-you-win-your-next-photography-gig-180464/feed 1 180464 https://apalmanac.com/business/how-food-beverage-photography-helps-shape-the-hospitality-industry-180470 https://apalmanac.com/business/how-food-beverage-photography-helps-shape-the-hospitality-industry-180470#comments Tue, 21 Mar 2023 12:38:58 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=180470 Let’s face it when photographing in the world of Architecture & Design photography, there are often other components that we are requested to capture by the client. A staged portrait of the client, lifestyle images, or food and drink photography for the hotel or restaurant.]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/how-food-beverage-photography-helps-shape-the-hospitality-industry-180470/feed 5 180470 https://apalmanac.com/business/photo-contracts-are-useless-and-you-dont-need-them-says-some-photographers-179180 https://apalmanac.com/business/photo-contracts-are-useless-and-you-dont-need-them-says-some-photographers-179180#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=179180 I wouldn’t necessarily call it a trend, but something that I’ve noticed recently is (some) professional photographers advocating for NOT using contracts. I don’t think there are a ton of photographers doing this, but I’ve seen random comments in Facebook groups and YouTube videos suggesting that you as a professional photographer should NOT be using contracts.I’m]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/photo-contracts-are-useless-and-you-dont-need-them-says-some-photographers-179180/feed 2 179180 https://apalmanac.com/business/7-tips-for-shooting-interior-design-photography-179463 https://apalmanac.com/business/7-tips-for-shooting-interior-design-photography-179463#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=179463 Even within the category of A&D photography, shooting interior design can be its own “beast”. Not only are there nuances to shooting techniques, but (some) interior design clients can be a different breed altogether…and that’s not a bad thing.]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/7-tips-for-shooting-interior-design-photography-179463/feed 3 179463 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/stream-these-architecturally-influenced-movies-series-over-the-holidays-179473 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/stream-these-architecturally-influenced-movies-series-over-the-holidays-179473#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2022 20:16:18 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=179473 Once upon a time, whenever I’d watch a movie, I was focused on who the characters were and what the plot was about.Now, I also look a lot at the cinematography, because if beautiful cinematography isn’t a complementary course in filmmaking and learning about light that’s going to help me with my interiors and architectural photography, I don’t know what is.]]> https://apalmanac.com/architecture/stream-these-architecturally-influenced-movies-series-over-the-holidays-179473/feed 1 179473 https://apalmanac.com/business/mentorship-matters-a-perspective-shift-178731 https://apalmanac.com/business/mentorship-matters-a-perspective-shift-178731#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2022 12:34:48 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=178731 Throughout my years in business, I have been fortunate enough to have various mentors specializing in different areas of life and business. Whether it was my therapist to help with life challenges, a social media consultant for social strategies, or a photographer to aid with the development of photo and business techniques.]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/mentorship-matters-a-perspective-shift-178731/feed 9 178731 https://apalmanac.com/interviews/architectural-photography-and-nfts-a-revised-bold-new-world-with-intention-178896 https://apalmanac.com/interviews/architectural-photography-and-nfts-a-revised-bold-new-world-with-intention-178896#respond Wed, 23 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=178896 In the summer of 2022, a lot of buzz and hype was created around AI visual generator tools that would allow enthusiasts to create images simply by describing them with keywords. Artificial intelligence research firm OpenAI conducted a wide-scale beta test of DALL-E, a cutting-edge software that creates images from textual descriptions (APA writer Kyrre Sundal shows a great example of its functionality here).Before]]> https://apalmanac.com/interviews/architectural-photography-and-nfts-a-revised-bold-new-world-with-intention-178896/feed 0 178896 https://apalmanac.com/business/a-crm-built-by-photographers-for-photographers-178712 https://apalmanac.com/business/a-crm-built-by-photographers-for-photographers-178712#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=178712 Disclaimer: I loved Sprout Studio so much that I became an ambassador for the brand back in 2020. While I do receive a commission for new users signing up, this application has been a staple in my business since 2015. For anyone interested in trying out the program, please know your support is greatly appreciated and I am here to help if you have any questions.]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/a-crm-built-by-photographers-for-photographers-178712/feed 6 178712 https://apalmanac.com/business/all-of-my-gear-was-stolen-it-can-happen-to-you-too-178039 https://apalmanac.com/business/all-of-my-gear-was-stolen-it-can-happen-to-you-too-178039#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=178039 For the past few years I’ve been focusing my energy on establishing myself as an interior design and architecture photographer and with that came a lot of very expensive purchases. The type of equipment we need to develop ourselves in this industry is very specialized and is often accompanied by a hefty price tag.]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/all-of-my-gear-was-stolen-it-can-happen-to-you-too-178039/feed 9 178039 https://apalmanac.com/business/could-linkedin-be-a-powerful-social-networking-tool-for-photographers-177994 https://apalmanac.com/business/could-linkedin-be-a-powerful-social-networking-tool-for-photographers-177994#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=177994 LinkedIn is a robust B2B social media platform with an abundance of business networking features that can often cause confusion on how to get the most out of it. I like to look at it as an in-person networking event, where you selected everyone in the room to be there.]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/could-linkedin-be-a-powerful-social-networking-tool-for-photographers-177994/feed 10 177994 https://apalmanac.com/gear/why-this-mouse-has-kept-me-from-switching-to-a-tablet-for-editing-177978 https://apalmanac.com/gear/why-this-mouse-has-kept-me-from-switching-to-a-tablet-for-editing-177978#comments Mon, 05 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=177978 It’s my favourite and most indispensable piece of gear.My Logitech MX Master mouse.Now granted, I probably spend a lot more time editing than out shooting than most but still, if I had to judge the most worthwhile investment by the amount of time I’ve used any piece of gear, this would be it by far.This]]> https://apalmanac.com/gear/why-this-mouse-has-kept-me-from-switching-to-a-tablet-for-editing-177978/feed 9 177978 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/stewart-hicks-explains-how-architecture-depends-on-photography-177797 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/stewart-hicks-explains-how-architecture-depends-on-photography-177797#comments Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:46:48 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=177797 A few weeks ago, my colleague Kyrre Sundal wrote a post sharing his favorite architecture-based youtube channels. One of those channels was that of Stewart Hicks. I wanted to hone in on one of Stewart’s videos that I particularly like – as it applies directly to photography and is pretty thought-provoking.]]> https://apalmanac.com/architecture/stewart-hicks-explains-how-architecture-depends-on-photography-177797/feed 1 177797 https://apalmanac.com/business/using-behind-the-scenes-in-your-marketing-strategy-177604 https://apalmanac.com/business/using-behind-the-scenes-in-your-marketing-strategy-177604#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=177604 Marketing as a photographer is more than just showcasing your portfolio. There are many places for you to market your brand like social media, emailers, print mailers, etc. Wherever you are marketing, you’ll need content to go with it. Our instincts are to show portfolio-worthy content but, there is a huge benefit to being real with your audience.]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/using-behind-the-scenes-in-your-marketing-strategy-177604/feed 18 177604 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/architectural-filmmaking-why-you-should-or-perhaps-shouldnt-start-the-journey-177319 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/architectural-filmmaking-why-you-should-or-perhaps-shouldnt-start-the-journey-177319#comments Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:31:13 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=177319 Last year my fellow writer, Veeral, put together a fantastic article entitled, ‘Getting Started in Architectural Filmmaking’ which focused on the new opportunities the medium provides and showcases some beautiful examples of videos that take a more sophisticated and minimalist approach to capturing architectural space. ]]> https://apalmanac.com/architecture/architectural-filmmaking-why-you-should-or-perhaps-shouldnt-start-the-journey-177319/feed 6 177319 https://apalmanac.com/business/why-i-abandoned-a-day-rate-and-charge-hourly-176892 https://apalmanac.com/business/why-i-abandoned-a-day-rate-and-charge-hourly-176892#comments Mon, 02 May 2022 19:50:39 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=176892 We all know that awful, sinking feeling at the end of a long day when the client says, “Oh hey, can we just grab one more quick shot?” When I had a day rate, those feelings of defeat, exhaustion, and frustration were real. Since I switched to billing hourly, those conversations go something more like this:Client: “Oh hey, can we just grab one more quick shot?”Me:]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/why-i-abandoned-a-day-rate-and-charge-hourly-176892/feed 8 176892 https://apalmanac.com/business/four-awesome-ideas-from-around-the-architectural-photography-community-176821 https://apalmanac.com/business/four-awesome-ideas-from-around-the-architectural-photography-community-176821#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:13:01 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=176821 I love seeing the brilliant ideas photographers put into place on their websites, Instagrams, or mention in forums. I’ve noticed that the ones I’m particularly drawn to have less to do with how to make great photos, and more to do with how to run a great business.]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/four-awesome-ideas-from-around-the-architectural-photography-community-176821/feed 3 176821 https://apalmanac.com/commentary/how-to-turn-your-imposter-syndrome-into-a-motivating-force-for-good-176785 https://apalmanac.com/commentary/how-to-turn-your-imposter-syndrome-into-a-motivating-force-for-good-176785#respond Wed, 20 Apr 2022 12:28:59 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=176785 As I sit here about to enter the fourth week of mandatory stay-at-home lockdown in Shanghai, I have had a lot of time to think about where I am in my career as a photographer and inevitably, scroll through social media to compare where my perceived competitors are as well.  ]]> https://apalmanac.com/commentary/how-to-turn-your-imposter-syndrome-into-a-motivating-force-for-good-176785/feed 0 176785 https://apalmanac.com/commentary/a-design-icon-the-cesca-chair-176684 https://apalmanac.com/commentary/a-design-icon-the-cesca-chair-176684#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=176684 Dubbed one of the most important chairs of the 20th century, the Cesca chair quickly became a design icon, showcased in museum collections and movie sets across the globe. Born out of the German art school, the Bauhaus, Marcel Breuer conceived of the chair (then called the B-32) in the late 1920s. ]]> https://apalmanac.com/commentary/a-design-icon-the-cesca-chair-176684/feed 1 176684 https://apalmanac.com/commentary/communicating-a-desired-look-with-your-clients-176512 https://apalmanac.com/commentary/communicating-a-desired-look-with-your-clients-176512#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2022 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=176512 My career began some 20 years ago as a staff photographer for an advertising agency. I was a part of countless brand discoveries where we started from scratch and developed a company’s brand strategy. The style of photography was selected to match the brand that had been devised based on market research, customer analytics, demographics, unique selling propositions and what would resonate on an emotional level to inspire a consumer to buy.]]> https://apalmanac.com/commentary/communicating-a-desired-look-with-your-clients-176512/feed 6 176512 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/10-things-i-miss-about-being-an-architect-176341 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/10-things-i-miss-about-being-an-architect-176341#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2022 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=176341 Last year I wrote an article entitled, Architecture Versus Photography as a Profession: 5 Takeaways a Year After the Transition that summarized some of my initial observations between working as an architect and then a photographer.  Since then, several of my architect friends and former colleagues have told me that they felt the article leaned a bit towards photography as my preferred profession. ]]> https://apalmanac.com/architecture/10-things-i-miss-about-being-an-architect-176341/feed 3 176341 https://apalmanac.com/opinion/lights-on-or-off-the-dilemma-continues-175637 https://apalmanac.com/opinion/lights-on-or-off-the-dilemma-continues-175637#comments Wed, 16 Feb 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=175637 Hatfields VS McCoys. Jets VS Sharks. Scorpion VS Sub-Zero. Lights on VS Light off in your architectural photos. Will these differences ever be resolved?! In this video, I do a quick breakdown of how different lighting setups affect the editing process and the final image.]]> https://apalmanac.com/opinion/lights-on-or-off-the-dilemma-continues-175637/feed 11 175637 https://apalmanac.com/business/the-road-to-success-with-photographer-joel-grimes-175516 https://apalmanac.com/business/the-road-to-success-with-photographer-joel-grimes-175516#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2022 17:10:53 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=175516 While he isn’t specifically in the architectural or interiors niche, Joel Grimes is an impressive photographer. His portraits, landscapes, and composite images are of the highest quality. You could think of him as a performer in the Champions League of Photographers (sorry, I am European, so translated for my American friends: the Superbowl).]]> https://apalmanac.com/business/the-road-to-success-with-photographer-joel-grimes-175516/feed 1 175516 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/back-up-one-of-the-simplest-techniques-for-improving-your-work-175188 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/back-up-one-of-the-simplest-techniques-for-improving-your-work-175188#comments Wed, 05 Jan 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=175188 Like all of you, I am constantly trying to push myself to improve as a photographer.  Honing our craft is paramount to our continued success and part of the fun of our profession.  With that in mind, this year I am looking forward to sharing ideas and techniques that have aided me in my ongoing pursuit of perfection. ]]> https://apalmanac.com/architecture/back-up-one-of-the-simplest-techniques-for-improving-your-work-175188/feed 4 175188 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/the-story-of-an-image-foxconn-shanghai-headquarters-by-kris-yao-artech-75434 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/the-story-of-an-image-foxconn-shanghai-headquarters-by-kris-yao-artech-75434#respond Mon, 11 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=75434 This latest edition of Story of an Image brings us back to Shanghai as we take a look at an image from a commissioned shoot of Foxconn’s Headquarters building designed by KRIS YAO | ARTECH.  The spotlighted image ended up being the final piece of a puzzle to placing the building in its context for the viewer. ]]> https://apalmanac.com/architecture/the-story-of-an-image-foxconn-shanghai-headquarters-by-kris-yao-artech-75434/feed 0 75434 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/the-inextricable-bond-between-the-olympics-and-its-architecture-17138 https://apalmanac.com/architecture/the-inextricable-bond-between-the-olympics-and-its-architecture-17138#respond Wed, 04 Aug 2021 11:46:51 +0000 https://apalmanac.com/?p=17138 It’s (finally) Olympics time again, and you know what that means – it’s time to talk Olympics venue architecture – a topic fraught with divergent opinions on whether or not it makes sense to hold the games (and thus house said games) in a different city every couple of years. ]]> https://apalmanac.com/architecture/the-inextricable-bond-between-the-olympics-and-its-architecture-17138/feed 0 17138