eBay Stores and e-Commerce Website Choices - Build It In-House or Hire a Professional?

When you have made the decision to get your products online via eBay and/or your own eCommerce website, what is the next step?

First Question: Build it in-house or hire a professional?

Yes, you can build your companies eBay store and website with talent already existing within your organization.

Website design is taught at most high schools or community colleges these days so, chances are good that your employee pool may have budding web designer talent. Are you ready to trust your company marketing and image to that in house talent is the real question?

eBay provides numerous tools and a great deal of information for anyone to accomplish the task of getting a store up and running. The question is... does eBay provide these tips and tricks to help you as a business or to help their business? Obviously, if you are a seasoned business professional you will soon realize that a company such as eBay does nothing without a reason.

eBay Stores

Most of eBay's teaching tools and to a certain extent, eBay's entire growth strategy is based upon making the process of setting up an eBay selling account and consequently an eBay store easy for home based businesses. eBay wants mom & pop to go garage sale shopping with an eye towards making a few extra bucks for the cookie jar. To that end they want to get mom & pop up and running with an eBay store as soon as possible (and funneling fees into eBay).

Just because eBay has based a majority of their marketing focus on home based businesses does not mean that an eBay store is not a valuable asset for any established brick and mortar retailer or other "real" business concern. eBay is simply going after the largest number of potential users of their products. Unfortunately this also leads to numerous eBay store failures...

These home based eBay store owners do not have the prior background, sources or resources to take advantage of the world wide marketing giant and revenue producer now known as eBay. Therefore, while getting your company eBay store up and running may seem to be an easy in-house task for any intern, or kid just out of college with a great computer science degree... the real nuts & bolts set up and operation of an eBay store or e-commerce solution or both in tandem (the best option) is better left to professionals who work with eBay and e-commerce each and every day. If you are reading this because you are interested in moving your business more into an Internet sales based program you should consider the wisdom of hiring eBay and Internet marketing professionals to help you and your company get a head start toward those goals.

Still Thinking About Doing it yourself?

Building an online business requires ability in several completely different arenas: graphic design, programming, database development, Web design, copywriting, photography, and online marketing. This is just a short list of what is required to start from scratch or to add Internet marketing to your sales operation. If you have these skills in-house or if you plan on learning them yourself, please take this advice to heart.

Make a list of your employees' available skills as well as which skills they can learn. When you have a choice between learning a skill that will directly translate into making more money for your company or learning a skill that will let you do cool stuff on the Web, make a careful choice. Decide how much time you really want to devote to learning and doing things that really don't help you sell more products. Do you want to be an online retailer, or do you want to be a Web developer? The highest and best use of your available time & resources probably isn't learning the ins and outs of XHTML, but taking care of customers, finding new products, and promoting your business.

Making it Happen

Anything you can do yourself on a website design or to a eBay Store can be delegated or outsourced. You can hire eBay Stores Certified design professionals to design your eBay store from the ground up, create a custom logo, develop a corporate identity with unique colors and fonts, build your store product database, take product photos, write sales copy, perform search engine optimization on your site, custom-build XHTML templates that do almost anything you want them to do, and even manage your orders and perform customer service. It all depends on your budget.

After you've decided that you need help, you have lots of choices to make. The first decision is the size of your budget, which determines who you can hire. You can find prices for "building a eBay Store" that range anywhere from $300 to $5,000 and up. You can get a bargain using offshore designers (working anywhere from eastern Europe to India), college kids, or even professional designers moonlighting out of their basement. If you want a more "professional" experience, expect to pay up to $15,000 for a complete branding, marketing, and design package from top-drawer eBay store and Internet marketing firm. Both your web e-commerce site and your eBay store should present your branding and image as you expect them to. Getting the eBay image and your website image to mesh almost seamlessly is your goal, this can be quite difficult for even experienced web designers.

Using a CMS or Content Management System type of website design can significantly reduce your web design costs. There are a huge amount of new and exciting options available for web development, do not think you must use a "hand coded" html site to get your branding and image in front of the public. Some companies are even using simple blogging platforms like Wordpress or Typepad as the basis for corporate websites. These blogging platforms are very inexpensive to set up and the software is free. These CMS or Blogging platforms may also be used in conjunction with an eBay store or a with an eCommerce plug in (or both) to craft a unique Internet marketing funnel for your company.

You get what you pay for...

eBay store designs can run between $2,000 to $5,000 from a qualified eBay Stores designer. eCommerce website designs sometimes run in the tens of thousands of dollars with continual maintenance costs and webmaster fees. If your budget makes you choose between the two options, an eBay store is the more economical and faster route to success when managed correctly. Subsequently an off eBay eCommerce site can be developed for your best selling items. This allows you to use the power of eBay for marketing and SEO purposes while saving eBay fees on sales made through your own eCommerce website.

The best part of an eBay stores set up is that once it is installed as you want it, you have very few outside maintenance costs. Your company will have complete control of the products presentation (with the use of a template) and the inventory management is a simple to learn affair on eBay. Advanced tools are available to help with the management of large inventories and to help you create a listing just as you would within a word processing program or text editor.

When you get a quality eBay Stores design, sometimes the results are more than just superficial. Qualified designers improve the shopping experience, which can dramatically increase sales from your existing traffic by increasing your conversion rate. Also, many designs, when set up correctly improve the way your site looks to search-engine spiders, too! (This is the power of an eBay stores "me" page and other exclusive features and benefits of eBay stores packages).

After you determine what parts of the store building process you can do and what you can't do or would rather not do, you're ready to look for some help with the heavy lifting. First, you have to decide what type of vendor you want to work with because there's a big difference between working with a freelancer or independent consultant and working with a large design company or eBay Stores certified design specialists StoresDesigner.

eBay Stores certified design specialists - eBay Stores Designer

eBay Stores certified design specialists (certified eBay stores designers) provide the best overall experience. Your company will get the personalized attention it deserves and you will know that the design is based upon eBay marketing principles. Look at the portfolios of these certified eBay stores designers and decide which firm best represents your companies' image. Stay away from home based eBay stores designers with frilly eBay templates and flashy bouncing mouse pointers. You should be looking more for a corporate image that sells product and more importantly, cross sells more products for your company.

Look at the online stores you frequent in your daily life, think about the type of image and features you would like to emulate for your eBay store. Look at the designer's portfolios and or ask them if the features you think are most valuable are available in their design packages? Some eBay stores designers can deliver very advanced packages designed to promote more than one primary product at a time. If you are looking for growth in your Internet sales segment, these are the designers to contract with. Talk with several designers to find the one you are most comfortable with and the one who you think will represent the image of your company best with an online design. If the same designer can also develop your off eBay website e-commerce design, you should place that designer high on your list of candidates.

Having a web presence for your company which flows from eBay to your own website with the same "look and feel" is very important. Your goal should be to make your customers feel confident in your products and your company. If you (and your design company) have made an effort to create a nearly seamless shopping experience between eBay and your own e-commerce website, the confidence of the buyer will increase and your conversion rate will as well. Drawing eBay shoppers to your website from within eBay is not only possible, but very probable with a eBay store design done correctly.

Ask your prospective design firm the right questions and you will know immediately if you have made the best choice. Example Questions:

• Are you a certified eBay Stores Designer?


• Do you have examples of cross marketing designs?


• Can you create an eBay stores design which matches my existing website or can you create an e-commerce design to match your eBay stores design?


• Is SEO important for eBay?


• How important is a eBay about me page?


• Do your templates appear correct on all of the major browsers?

What kind of changes can be made to the design after your job is complete? (Can I offer a special sale item in my listing template?)

If your chosen designer is not informed in these questions you should look further. Not every eBay or Internet design firm has the necessary skills or background to help your company effectively cross-market your products. Find the right design firm which will give your firm a solid foundation from which to grow and prosper in the new world of Internet retailing.

Photojournalism - Good Practice Guidelines

Photojournalists operate as trustees of the public. Their photos are used as accurate and trustworthy accounts of significant events. Their primary goal is the faithful and comprehensive depiction of the subject at hand. As photojournalists, they have the responsibility to document society and to preserve its history through their photos.

Photojournalism is facing some new challenges. Everyone is a photographer these days, it would seem. The rise of citizen photojournalism, encouraged by newspapers asking their readers to send in their newsworthy pictures for publication puts the trustworthiness of published photos into question. Recently, the New York Times photo editor, Michele McNally, commented on amateur news photos coming out of Iran, stating that:

"I am indeed troubled by not knowing the sources of these pictures and their agendas [...] and the validity of the captions."

At the same time, citizen photojournalists allowing free use of their photos is making it tempting for news organizations to save money by cutting down their staff of professional photojournalists. But even some of the professional photojournalists have contributed to the demise of the profession. We continue to see examples of esteemed photojournalists falling to the temptation of digitally manipulating their photos. They might be few, but they discredit the entire profession. It is now easier than ever to add or remove objects from a photo, using image editing software such as Photoshop, but long careers have gone down the drain this way.

With this in mind, I think it is important for every photojournalist, professional or amateur, to know what you can and can't do in photojournalism. To have some good practice guidelines. I have put together the following list using sources such as Reuters, New York Times (NYT) and the US National Press Photographers Association (NPPA). References can be found at the bottom of this article.

In General

Images that purport to depict reality must be genuine in every way (NYT). Materially altering a picture in Photoshop or any other image editing software will lead to dismissal. (Reuters). Be faithful and comprehensive in your depiction of the subject at hand (NPPA). This is to strengthen public confidence in the profession (NPPA) and to uphold journalistic integrity and not mislead the viewer (Reuters).

Never Do This

There's 3 things that you just don't do as a photojournalist. If you only remember 3 things from this article, let it be this.

• 
  Don't add or remove anything in the photo (fabrication). Neither by re-arranging things in front of the camera nor by changing a photo in post processing.


• 
  Don't stage or re-enact news events such as directing the subjects of a photo. Exceptions are portraits and product photos, but caption must not mislead the viewer into believing these photos are spontaneous.


• 
  Don't use excessive color manipulation, lightening, darkening or blurring of the image in post processing.

Good Practice

Instead, there is a set of long-standing good practices that photojournalists should strive to meet. In short, be truthful and respectful! But if you want more detail, these are some of the points that the mentioned sources emphasize:

• Caption only what you have witnessed. Exact, to the point, without speculations. Double-check all your facts when writing the who, when, where, what and why.


• The presence of the media can often influence how subjects behave. When the behavior shown is the result of the medias presence, captions must make that clear.


• Seek a diversity of viewpoints and work to show unpopular or unnoticed points of view.


• Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy.


• Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups.


• Recognize and work to avoid presenting your own biases in the work.


• Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see.


• Do not pay sources or subjects or reward them materially for information or participation.


• Do not accept gifts, favors or compensation from those who might seek to influence your coverage.


• Do not intentionally sabotage the efforts of other photojournalists.

The Gray Zone

To some extent, it is a subjective matter how far photojournalists can go in their "interpretation" of events. Some of the "illegal" effects mentioned above can almost be achieved with legal means. For instance, photojournalists shouldn't darken an image in post-processing to obscure objects in the photo - but at the same time it's considered acceptable to underexpose the photo, zoom in or shoot from an angle so that objects aren't included in the photo! This is why guidelines like these keeps coming up for debate. Some photojournalists are more purists than others and so, there is a gray zone. Decide for yourself, are the following practices acceptable?

• Using extreme lenses such as long telephoto lenses, wide-angle / fish-eye lenses and tilt/shift lenses, effectively distorting the "perspective".


• Correcting lens distortion in post-processing.


• Using a shallow depth-of-field, causing foreground and background blur way beyond what our eyes see.


• Using flash, thereby creating a light that wasn't there.


• Using polarizer filters and other "effect" filters.


• Publishers cropping a photo without "permission" from the photographer.


• Selective masking / tone mapping in photo editing software.

I hope this list will contribute to upholding professional standards and create some fruitful thoughts and debate!

Online Sources:

Reuters' guidelines for the use of Photoshop.
New York Times' ethical guidelines for photography and mages.
US National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Code of Ethics.

How to Select Best Mass Communication Colleges in Delhi/NCR

Mass Communication has emerged as a very promising career option for youngsters today. This career option is complete in itself if you are looking for a profession which is far from conventional streams. From getting to work at odd hours and fetching information from the places you least expect to make news to being ready for just about anything that comes your way, this profession is for people who have a knack of seeing and doing things differently. The career demands young, dynamic and outgoing people who can make the best of whatever comes their way. However, just being confident and dynamic would not solve the purpose. What it also requires is support of good mass communication colleges that direct you on the right path.

The road to a successful career starts from the kind of institute you have studied in. Good mass communication colleges give a direction to your passion for this stream so that your virtues do not get wasted.

While zero downing to good mass communication institutes, one must check out the faculty of the institute. The kind of teachers and lecturers that a college houses says a lot about the type of college it is. If anything, the faculty must be an experienced one. Industry experience really counts when it comes to training young minds. Colleges are like potter's wheels while the faculty acts as the potter himself. The faculty trains students in the colleges just the way a potter shapes raw clay on the potter's wheel. Good colleges also invite guest faculty who are usually the industry insiders who still have their claws in the industry. It is important to let students meet industry insiders and let them know about the latest trends and happenings so as to prepare them for the ground zero.

There are a host of mass communication streams including advertising, journalism and production that you can opt to make your career in. Most of these mass communication institutes are equipped with experienced faculty who can impart the nitty-gritty of these streams. However, only a few have proper infrastructure in place for the practical training. The infrastructure refers to well equipped labs including camera lab, audio/visual rooms, dark room for photography and an editing room which should be equipped with editing consoles. The idea is to impart practical training to the students apart from the theoretical knowledge so that they may not have to face hard times when they set out to enter the industry.

List of Mass Communication Institutes in Delhi NCR

• The Delhi School of Communication (DSC) New Delhi


• Indian Institute of Mass Communication


• AJ Kidwai Mass Comm Research Centre, Jamia Milia


• Times School of Journalism


• Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan

Enjoy Your Vacation With Mira River Boat Tours

Canada is the land of water bodies. You will find the finest scenery along the rivers and lake shores of Canada. Nature can be viewed in its entire splendor while traveling through the natural decor of Canada. It is no wonder that you will also find the best boat tours available here and since the tour operators are so great in number it is also no wonder that you will get the best deals here too.

One of the best boating spots is the Mira River of Canada. There are plenty of boating companies that offer very attractive Mira Boat tours on the Mira River. This is a very scenic tour that has a lot of foreign and local tourists flocking to take a Mira boat tour and enjoy a vacation on the River Mira with family and friends. Some even venture to go it alone.

The departure of the Mira Rive Boat Tours will depend greatly on the tour company and this will depend on the weather conditions and the other activities the tour has planned for the trip. Many of the Mira River Boat Tour companies offer different packages for their tours. These could include a half-day Mira river boat tour or a full-day tour and even overnight tours on the Mira River. The over night tours are something no tourist will want to miss. The quaint rooms on the boat are romantic especially when the boat is quietly sailing on still waters in the silent moonlight or during the sunrise at dawn. The boating tour company usually offers an option of just bed and breakfast for the more economical Mira River Boat Tours.

When you plan your Mira Rive Boat Tour you should be aware of the necessary things you need to take with you on the tour, especially if you are going on an over night tour. You will definitely not want to leave your photography equipment behind as you will not get any on rent from the tour destination. Binoculars are a must to see the scenery. An overnight bag can be a great help as well in case you find the bedding inadequate, and remember that you will be out on the water in the day time with the sun shining down on you and being reflected towards you from all sides by the glistening water, so take along a lot of sunscreen lotion for the trip along with a pair of good sun goggles.

Swimming clothes, towels and fishing gear are among the other essentials you might think of packing away for the trip, though many Mira River Boat Tour companies provide fishing gear for reasonable rentals.

Knowing what to expect and what to do and see beforehand will only make your experience more enjoyable.

Shhh, A Little Known Way to Use PowerPoint 2007 to Design Photo Books

Using PowerPoint 2007 photobook templates to design your digital scrapbooks!

Making a photo book may seem like a costly option when creating a photo album. The software investment may cause you to delay this process because of the cost involved. Guess what, you can use PowerPoint templates to design beautiful photo books easily and quickly!

PowerPoint 2007 Templates

PowerPoint 2007 has several photo book templates available for use. To see your templates in PowerPoint 2007, open PowerPoint. Select the office button and select new. Type photo album in the search window and press the enter key. You will see several free photo albums to select for your project. They will range from classic to contemporary photo album options. Click the one that best fits your needs and click download.

Once the photo template downloads, press the page up and page down button to see the variety of slide layouts that accompany your photo album. You will see slides that have one pictures to slides holding up to 5 pictures.

To change the default pictures included in the album, right click on the photo and select change picture. Browse your computer and locate the picture you want to use. Once you have made your changes to your album, save it so you can print it later.

When you are ready to print your album, preview the slides prior to printing. Make any revisions prior to the final print. This is also when you will decide if your pages will be single or double sided. This will affect how thick your book will be.

5 Sure Tips To Learn Digital Photography

Have you already mastered the art of taking photos without 'red-eye' syndrome? Are there some pictures that you know you should have turned out a lot better than they did? It happens to all of us - even the expert photographers.

Here are five tips to help you move from beginner to master of digital photography, whether you're using your cell phone or a point-and-shoot camera to snap shots.

Compose Carefully

One of the most basic digital photography tips is to pay attention to what's in the frame of the viewfinder. Fill the frame. Nothing but blue sky, for instance, behind a single subject throws off the proportions of the photo and decreases interest. You can also turn the camera sideways to see if a vertical photo might have more impact than a horizontal shot of the same subject.

You can also try positioning your subject off to the side, rather than in the center of the photograph.

Take Great Close up Photos

Your digital camera has a "macro mode" - think of it as a super magnifying glass. An extreme close up of something like flower petals can bring out textures that you never knew existed, and will add excitement to your photos. Play with this feature, you will find dozens of ways to use it to enhance your pictures.

Buy a Tripod

Digital cameras are prone to blurry photographs if your hands shake even a little bit. Several companies manufacture light, portable, inexpensive versions. Digital photography tips like this can save you hours of frustration and preserve otherwise perfect shots.

Get Active

Take your shot from the top of a teeter-totter, off the side of the boat, or standing on your head. Thinking outside the box can really pay off in unexpected ways. You will truly get once in a lifetime shots by adding a bit of creativity to your thinking.

Take a Class

Are you still hungry for digital photography tips? There's nothing like practice to improve your photography - except practice plus experience gained by learning from a pro. You can find photography classes online, at your local recreation centers, and community colleges.

Becoming an expert at digital photography takes time; you won't become a professional photographer in your first week. Just keep trying new methods each time you use your camera, and before long, your friends and family will be admiring your newfound skills.

The Best New Digital Cameras Are Very User Friendly

The best new digital cameras that are available on the market today are extremely user friendly. For instance digital cameras allow you to be able to view the pictures that you take the instant that you snap a picture. This will allow you to know right away how your photograph turned out. You can also take large numbers of pictures, due to the capabilities of the memory card, in addition to being able to capture both sound and video. Many photography enthusiasts really appreciate the ability that the best new digital cameras give them to be able to edit and delete the images that they take.

Fuji is one of the top producers of today's best new digital cameras available on the market today. For example the Fuji Finepix is packed full of interesting and exciting features. For instance it boasts a 7.1-mega pixels so you are able to take high quality photographs with incredible resolution. The Finepix has a 10x optical zoom, which will make anything that needs a little bit of extra magnification look fantastic.

There are many of the best new digital cameras available on the market today that are equipped with live preview capabilities. This application allows camera users while in movie mode to be able to capture images at a frame rate that is acceptable for video. There are also many new models of digital cameras that are quite compact without skimping on any features and very portable. Compact digital cameras are extremely popular with those that do a good amount of traveling. Some of the very best new digital cameras including models such as the Fujifilm Fine Pix F40fd and the Panasonic Lumix FX30 are able to produce some of the most brilliant images able to be created by digital cameras.

There are many retailers both online and locally that offer an excellent selection of today's best new digital cameras. It would be a very savvy decision to do a little planning before you purchase a new digital camera. You want to be certain on what features that you want your camera to have so that you will not end up with a digital camera that you are not able to properly use. Looking for reviews of the newest digital cameras in specialty photography magazines as well as on online websites will also be incredibly helpful in your decision making process. Of course you should always comparison shop before making a final purchase so that you are positive that you are getting a great deal.

Can An Art Degree Get Me a Job?

Creative people who are interested in working in an artistic capacity may find it beneficial to get a degree in art. There are many people interested in the arts, and an art degree gives you an edge over the competition when it comes to finding a job. Making a smart decision about which degree to get can make a huge difference in how likely it is that you'll get a job that satisfies you.

What Kinds of Art Degrees Are There?
It is important to understand that there are many different types of art and design degrees. Although you can get a general art degree, it is usually more lucrative to focus on a niche area of interest for your degree. Common areas of specialization for people interested in this degree include:

• Animation, Film, or Audio/ Video Production


• Fashion Design including Jewelry Design


• Fine Arts including Drawing, Painting, and Photography


• Game Design, Web Design, and other High Tech Design


• Interior Design or Landscape Design


• Visual Arts and Performing Arts

What Is It Like to Study Art?
The niche area of art that you choose to study dictates what you learn in your art degree program. However, there are some general things that all art students learn including:

• Art business, marketing, and sales


• Art history with an emphasis on the area being studied such as the history of fashion design


• Art skills, including drawing techniques, pattern making, etc.


• Technology of art, including the use of computer hardware and software to facilitate design


• Portfolio creation for future job placement

The most common is a four-year degree obtained from an art school. However, there are two-year degrees as well as advanced art and design degrees.

Job Prospects for Students with Arts Degrees
What you are probably most concerned about is whether or not you can get a job once you graduate. More than sixty percent of students with an art degree are self-employed, however jobs for artists can be found in a wide range of industries, depending on your specific skill set.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of artists is expected to grow approximately 12 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is the average rate of growth for all types of employment. The greatest demand is for art directors, computer-knowledgeable illustrators, and multi-media animators.

Income from an Arts Degree
What type of income are you going to get after graduating with an arts degree? The answer varies depending on your exact position, of course. Craft artists earned a median annual wage of $28,960 in 2009, whereas art directors had median wages of $78,580. Most artists fall somewhere between these two positions, earning a moderate income as freelance artists, salaried fine artists, and animators. There continues to be a lot of competition in this industry but there are regular positions opening up for hard-working artists with creative vision.

How to Aerial Map

There are no guidance institutes that train aerial mapping in particular as a subject; however those paying attention in this area of study have many opportunities depending on what feature of the field they are paying attention to. Aerial mapping can be grouped into three parts:

o The photographer who acquires the aerial pictures that will be utilized for making the maps

o The pilot who takes the plane or helicopter to the air

o The cartographer (mapmaker) who interprets or decodes the aerial photographs into maps

There are a few definite necessities to think about if you would like to look at career alternatives in cartography. With technology playing such a vital role in map making, particularly aerial mapping, it pays to have a background in computer science.

If you want to be an expert cartographer, a college or university degree in the discipline is essential. Most degree programs run from 2 to 3 years and can include associated disciplines, for example, computer science, mathematics (for calculation of distances and other calculations depending on the application of the maps), photography, and map making associated areas: geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and surveying.

You'll find many colleges and universities worldwide that offer cartography education and also train the subject as an add-on in a different program like civil engineering and architectural engineering.

There are also a few additional people who decide to learn on the job, and for those who prefer this alternative, there are a lot of firms that accept interns. In addition, for uninterrupted improvement of the skills learned, cartographers band together into organizations and or subscribe to business journals in that field; as a result they can carry on shoulder to shoulder with changes in a very active career field.

The Reality of the New Photography Business Model

A business model is a written description of how a business makes money. It is a broad overview of how a business creates and delivers its products and/or services. It can be broken down by market segment, location, pricing, competition, strategy, and financial planning. Perhaps the most important part of a business model is the Customer Value Proposition - a strong customer value proposition means your product or service helps to solve a problem or provide a benefit. The CVP needs to be clearly described because of its importance in the framework of a business model (Bloomberg Business Week, February 7, 2009). Every photography business should have a written business model that utilizes all seven components; it will provide a road-map for its success.

Recently, the photography business model has evolved with the development of digital cameras and the internet. The sudden increase of new photographers entering the profession has also resulted in the transformation of the entire business. With more competition, prices have crept downwards; new strategies have emerged to keep a business afloat. Niche markets have emerged as a means to focus on a narrower segment of the population. Reaching out to customers has changed dramatically with the advent of social network marketing. The internet has changed the way photographers market. For example, snail mail is no longer the preferred method of contacting new clients. Digital cameras and Photoshop have spawned new, innovative products, which could not have been imagined twenty years ago. Along with the increased variety of novel products, the delivery of products themselves has also changed. The photography business once operating in a studio or retail location can now be successfully managed as a home studio, on location, at customers' homes, or as a hybrid. The changes in the photography business model are apparent in all seven components.

Perhaps the most profound effect on the photography business model has been the digital camera. The explosion of the availability of digital cameras to the masses has resulted in many new people joining the ranks of the professional photographer. As a result, the market has become highly saturated Just look in any area now and you will find dozens of photographers advertising their services. Added to this onslaught are the folks who have lost their jobs due to the recession, and have become overnight photographers. With more photographers spread out, it is more important now than ever to specialize and develop a USP. The adage "being everything to everyone" is no longer a viable business model. Diversification is still important; however, be sure that you still diversify to a degree so you can have multiple income streams. The key to being well-positioned in a photography business is to focus on creating value for a narrow audience and create unique, signature products for your market segment. Choosing a niche market will create more value and desire for a product line and ultimately more revenue. In summary, the digital camera has changed the photography business model from a general to a more specific market.

The internet has affected nearly all business, and the photography industry is no exception. First of all, the internet has changed how photographers communicate with customers. Everything from online scheduling to email marketing has drastically altered how photographers contact new clients. More traditional forms of marketing, are being replaced with social network marketing, emails, and websites. As the outdated mode of marketing becomes less effective, photographers need be educated on the new strategies of using the internet to get their word out. Becoming well-versed in internet communications using Facebook, Twitter, and blogs is a critical component of the new business model. Second, the internet has changed how products are delivered. Online previews are becoming more common in the photography industry. However, photographers should think very carefully about adopting this as a part of their business model. Forgoing the one- on-one contact of an intimate sales environment can dampen sales. Nonetheless, there are two schools of thought on this matter. One group believes they are saving time by having the sales process automated online and can therefore concentrate on what they do best - SHOOTING PHOTOS. The other group believes selling comes first and photography comes second. The emotional ambience that can captivate customers during a photography sales session, in which one uses numerous selling techniques, cannot be replicated on the internet. It has been proven that photographers who sell by projection make more money (PPA Benchmark Study 2006). The two foregoing examples illustrated aspects of the photography business model that have changed rapidly in recent years.

A photography business model can certainly vary, as each business has its own set of circumstances that will govern how their model should be established. What it ultimately comes down to, however, is how a person wants to run their business. Everyone wants to make money, but for some the passion of photography is the most important goal. Consequently, every business model can and should be different to reflect the personal inclinations of the photographer.

Planning For Your Family Portraits

Here are several points to consider when planning for your family portraits.

How Often? Generally, every three years, or after a major change such as birth or marriage. Any longer than that, and people will have changed enough that the old portrait on the wall looks like someone else.

What Time of Year? You can choose any time of year. If you are winter people, why not pick a ski or other outdoor setting? If you are boaters, late summer is a good time. Many family images are captured in early autumn. The weather is cooler, things may have calmed down a bit from summer, and you have the opportunity to capture fall colors in many areas of the country.

What's the Occasion? Most family portraits are not centered around any specific occasion - they are scheduled and conducted independent of other life activities. However, if you have a special gathering of relatives for a family reunion, holiday get-together, wedding, baptism or graduation, it is a good opportunity to get extended family images taken.

What Location? Think about what kind of images you would like to have preserved. Are you interested in formal, indoor portraits, or more casual, outdoor images? Are you fond of beach or woods settings? Determining how you want your family represented is an important step in planning for your family portraits. Destination Images are one option you may not normally think to consider - if you hire a photographer to take your images while on a trip, or travel with the photographer to a special location, you can capture some truly special images.

Where Do You Want to Display? Your family portraits should command the center of attention in your house. Be certain to think about the locations where you would like to display the images. Your photographer will consult with you on the size and type of images that would work well in each setting, as well as some color scheme ideas for clothing and setting that would compliment the decor. Also think about your work and second home for possibilities to display wall portraits and desk images.

What/Who Do We Include? Well, the core family is a must. You may want to add extended family such as husbands and wives and their children for some images. You will have to consider whether boyfriends and girlfriends are in your main group shots - it may be best to have smaller images with them and a smaller group. If you have a property, setting or toy such as a boat, camp, farm or club to which you belong, you may want to have those featured as well.

What Should We Wear? It will depend on the setting of course, but the key is to be compatible in color and dress. For beach, it is common to have either khaki or denim bottoms and white or other solid-color tops, and often, bare feet are better in the sand than footwear. For fall photos, denim and solid colors are appropriate. For special setting or destinations, you just need to plan and communicate before the day of the event.

How Long to Plan for the Session? You'll want to block off a couple of hours for an average family session. To make sure the session goes well, plan to have your clothing laid out before that day, and make sure any small children and pets are well rested and fed. Family sessions should be relaxed and pleasant. In fact, many customers comment that their family session was one of the more enjoyable events that their family has had.

What to Budget? Family portraits are not like school pictures. They are an investment and works of art, and they are not generally taken more than once every few years. So be prepared to invest in the legacy and memory. The actual cost of the images will depend upon your photographer and the products that you choose, and you should discuss the financial deatils during your planning sessions. 

So, that's not so bad! You now are prepared to search for and contact photographers who can guide you through your family portrait experience. As you screen your photographers, see if they ask you these questions. If they do not, then you need to question their ability to understand and meet your needs. And if it's been more than three years for your family - start planning for your portraits today!

Photographing a High School Prom

By photographing a prom, a photographer can earn money while expanding her presence in the large high school senior market; however, photographing a prom can be a challenge. The following are some suggestions for the photographer who is shooting a prom for the first time.

1. At the prom, have your business cards and other promotional material available. If your personality is a good fit for these young people and they like your work, you will sow the seeds of a number of high school senior portrait session bookings. Offering to put a digital image of the prom on Facebook will also be helpful in getting your name out. Posting the image will allow all of the person's friends to see the images and decide to book a session.

2. When shooting, choose one or two poses and stick to it. The prom only lasts a few short hours and you will need to photograph a large number of couples and groups. There really is no time to experiment. You will only have a couple of minuets or less to spend on each couple.

3. Utilize a dye-sublimation printer. The key to making money when shooting a prom is having an efficient process. Eliminate all unnecessary steps. A dye-sublimation printer allows a photographer to print quality images at the prom (while the couple or group waits). Thus the photographer can shoot, print, deliver, and collect payment while at the prom. When he comes home from the event he is done. He doesn't need to post the images to the web or send out reminder or collect checks. This one step alone can cut the total work time of a prom in half.

4. Bring an assistant. You will need to move quickly to complete all of those couples in a few hours. It is impossible to shoot that many couples and print and collect orders without an assistant.

5. Arrive early. You need time to test your equipment. Have backup equipment available. It can be a nightmare if clients show up and your equipment is not working.

6. If you have to order backdrops, order it well in advance. Don't leave anything to chance.

Shooting a prom can be a profitable and rewarding experience. The above steps will help a photographer sidestep any challenges which might throw him off course.

Mass Communication - Recent Courses and Updates

Media is global and mass communication is a course which trains you to excel in the field of media. Media has various forms such as TV, newspaper, radio, magazines etc. Today mass communication has become one of the most popular courses among students. There are special courses and degrees offered in mass communication which provide detailed knowledge in media such as journalism, advertising, press relation, event management, print media, animation etc.

Media has become a very powerful medium to reach people around the globe. The cut throat competition among various TV channels, radios, newspaper etc has made a promising career. Journalism is the field of endless opportunity and once you firm you feet in this domain then there is no looking back. This is the reason Journalism has become one of the most demanding courses in India. Mass communication is booming in India, there are number of prestigious colleges that are offering mass communication courses and degrees to its students. Some of the prestigious college of mass communication are listed below:

- Indarprastha college
- Kamla Nehru college
- lady Shri ram college for women
- The Delhi school of communication
- YMCA center of mass media
- Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan

Just to name a few in New Delhi

All above colleges offer diploma, degrees in bachelor and post graduation in various form of media such as journalism, communication, print media etc. However, before you opt for any college it is advisable to do your homework properly. You should keep yourself updated about all the procedure required for taking admission. Most of these colleges conduct an entrance test which checks your general knowledge about the current affairs happening around the world and your command over English language.

Below are the important media courses in India

- Public Relation and Event Management
- Film Direction
- Cinematography
- Creative writing
- Screen play and dialogue
- Television and journalism
- Radio Jockey
- Anchoring and news reading
- Acting and modeling
- Sound recording and audio engineering
- Fashion photography and Videography

Mass communication is considered as a lifeline of our society. Journalism is an apt career for the students who are creative, good speaker, extrovert, broad minded etc. This career gives you lot of exposure of the modern society and tacking with different sets of people.

Become A Better Photographer With Free Online Training

If you have just started selling your photography you have probably realized that it is worthwhile learning everything you possibly can about professional photography techniques. But how can you take some photography training while your income from selling photos is still building, without breaking the bank?

That is the question many new freelance photographers face, as they move from taking photos as a hobby to professional photography that needs to pay the rent. Fortunately there are some great training videos available online, and they are free.

Without a doubt, freelance photography is one of the best businesses that you can operate from home. You can work when you want, and - in many instances - where you want. If you want a day off you can take it. And as a freelance photographer you have several alternatives when it comes to selling your photography. You can sell your photographic services for weddings, portraits and even corporate business needs, or you can sell your collection of images as stock photography.

Your success as a freelance photographer will come down to your ability to consistently take high-quality photos that clients will pay for. And that means knowing the same techniques that other professional photographers use.

So where can you learn these techniques online for free? One of the best places is YouTube, where people post videos on all sorts of topics. To get to the photography training, go to YouTube and search for "photography", "photography lessons" or "photography techniques".

You will be pleasantly surprised at the high quality of training videos that are available. Discover how to position your models, how to set up a studio, how to arrange lighting and reflectors, and how to frame your subjects in order to get the best image. You will be able to choose from lessons on portrait photography, baby photography, night photography, using light meters, advanced digital camera techniques, and more.

Don't forget, after watching all these training videos, you will only really learn it by doing it. Get out there and practice the same techniques. By doing this, over and over again, it will become second nature to you. Then you can concentrate on taking some more great photos to sell.

Embark a New Beginning

"It is the road you take that decides your destiny and not your destiny that decides the road you take."

The big question is that are you satisfied with who you are? Are you doing what you are capable of doing? Do you get excited about what you are going to do when you get up in the morning? Have you stopped asking yourself these questions? If yes, it is high time you ask these uncomfortable questions that reflect the truth about your life. More often than not we have the ability to achieve much greater things, but we get caught in the mediocre things in life and waste our potential. When there is nothing higher to be achieved all energies are simply scattered in the ordinary and mundane pursuits.

Are you living with many unexplored avenues waiting to be unleashed? Each one of us has immense ability. But most of us fail to use it. Why?

1. There is no definite purpose of your life.
2. Underestimating yourself.
3. Too busy to think about anything, living life mechanically.
4. You are in a comfort zone; embracing mediocrity.
5. The fear of failure, what if I fail?
6. Inability to take initiative and take charge of your life. You are living life reactively.
7. Burden of expectations. Bogged down with other people's approval and expectations.
8. Who cares? I am okay and love status quo.
9. Ignore the voice within, which is continuously telling you that something is wrong.
10. Compromise at each step and live a life of convenience. Don't dare to challenge yourself.

Ask yourself, what difference am I making in the lives of others? If the answer is not much, then you really aren't tapping your abundant resources. What if your life ended today? Would you be happy and satisfied with what you have achieved? Are you following your passion and the things you love? You must find what you love and gives you fulfillment. Don't be afraid to make a new beginning. Go deep within, be silent and explore the possibilities. There is tremendous reservoir of energy waiting to be unleashed within you. As you go deeper and deeper the energy uncoils and you will begin to add meaning to your life.

You are special, because you have the freedom to choose who you want to be. Don't live a life where your potential is entrapped and you are dying every moment. Come out of this bewilderment, discover your true self and express it to the world. You will never be satisfied with anything less than the highest you can attain. Life is not a thing that will go on forever. Somewhere you have to start from where you are to where you want to be. You are a beacon of strength, power and all the riches in the world. You will be a stranger unknown to the world until you realize that you are here for a reason. You must explore and live it.

Sony A55 - A Perfect Option for Budding Photographers

Many of the budding photographers of today's age don't really like the idea of buying entry level namesake DSLRs, and refrain from investing a fortune in top-of-the-line variants. This is quite understandable as entry level DSLRs often fail to deliver many of the key features photographers need while investing big bucks in something apart from major concerns of life is also unfeasible for many of us. This leads to a continual hunt for a suitable mid-range DSLR camera. Thankfully, with the latest Sony a55 DSLR camera, your hunt for a mid-range camera can very well conclude without having to spend countless hours in checking out innumerable options.

Coming from the reliable arena of electronic industry heavyweight Sony corp., this camera has taken the league of DSLRs under 1000 dollars price bracket by a storm. Though you can find the body of this camera for as low as about 700 bucks, the prices vary with variance in the bundled lens. Typically, Sony a55 comes with an 18-55mm stock lens ideal for newbies and day to day shooting. However, those who are looking for something extra have the option of going for 55-200mm, 18-250mm, and many more compatible lenses. Based on the conditions of the shooting environment, you can easily find a perfect lens for this DSLR.

Coming on to the feature Sony a55 comes bundled with; you can very well expect truly world-class features from this DSLR camera. Some of the key features of this camera are 16.2 effective megapixel with APS High Definition CMOS sensor, electronic viewfinder with 1.15 million dot resolution, dual memory with the option of memory stick and SD card, 1080p AVCHD movie mode with continuous auto focus, external microphone socket, face-detection, and built in GPS. Apart these features, the camera comes with a host of other features tailor-made for budding photographers.

When it comes to such a remarkable camera, it is safe to say that it deserves to be treated with great care. Hence, it is recommended that instead of using the stock bag that comes with the camera, you go for a premium quality camera bag such those offered by Think Tank Photo, Kelly Moore, and other renowned names to take care of your prized possession. Though these camera bags are easily available at all leading stores dedicated to camera equipment, if you wish to experience unmatched convenience and cost-friendliness it is recommended that you buy the bag as well as the camera online.

Get Paid to Take Photos - How to Make Money Taking Photographs

Do you have a hobby of taking photos? Today, you can earn a lot of money from taking photos. I have heard a high school student that makes $5,000 per month from taking photos. Let's take a look how you can do the same:

1. The New Opportunity

The Internet has opened a whole new possibility for you. Using the internet today, you can reach many customers around the world. This is possible through online stock photography sites that will get paid to upload photos to their sites.

2. Do A Research First

Through many available online photography websites, you can even get royalty paycheck. Do a research first to various online photography websites and see yourself what kind of photos that in demand.

Then take a picture that is in demand today. Later on you can experiment yourself with your own style. See if customers like your style, but if you are barely starting I would suggest to take photos that are in demand by your customers. This will give you initial capital that you can use to expand your venture later on.

3. Buy The Right Tools

The rights tools can help make everything different. You can create a professional looking photo with the help of high resolution digital camera, Adobe Photoshop and computer.

When it comes to the world of online photography, it is the quality of your photo that your customers would like to see.

Another tip: you can make royalty income from turning your products into t-shirt or poster. A lot third-party websites such as CafePress will do all the hard work for you.

They will help you promote, produce the physical product and receive payment via merchant account.

As you can see, you can earn a side income simply by submitting photos to online stock photography sites and earning commission.

Leica, The Lens Manufacturer Since World War 2

Among many different manufacturers and brands, one of the world's top lens makers is Leica. Leica is a German branding which are professional in manufacturing lenses. It has existed even before the World War 2. Some said that during the World War 2, Leica was the best lens maker and they are professional in making sniper rifle scopes. The possibility of this rumor could be true, as the rifle scopes are actually lenses. After World War 2, Leica has once again continued to focus in manufacturing camera mount, lens, as well as other camera parts.

During the era where digital cameras are high in demand, the company has been consistently not letting camera fans down by producing high quality camera and lens. Many camera manufacturers such as Canon and Panasonic utilize its camera lens. The ability of the lenses is far more superior on DSLR due to the demand from professional photographers. The company has joint venture many camera manufacturers in different country which includes of the United States, Japan, England and more.

As technology level rose, not only the capabilities of digital camera are more superior but also hasten the success of digital video recorder. One of the necessary components for both camera and video recorder is the lens. This has widened the company market, since then the company also supplies video recorders lens. One of the most successful story of Leica and Panasonic has achieved is that they are the first to have the image stabilization technology apply into their digital cameras.

For professional photographers, Leica made lenses are near perfect and often buying without regrets. If you are a beginner in photography, you might want to invest onto a basic Panasonic Lumix digital camera and get familiar with photography before investing blindly into DSLR. Professional photographers often recommend people to get DSLR as the capabilities of DSLR are far more superior to digital cameras. By investing on a less costly digital camera would help you in justifying your interest in photography. As DSLR does not come in cheap, understand your passion and interest before investing heavily into something that you are sure will it be suitable to you.

Extraordinary Geologic Marvel and Mountain Wilderness Grandeur: The Quartz Peak Adventure Hike, AZ

"Few if any states can match the variety of backcountry terrain that Arizona has to offer. From arid deserts to alpine tundra, Arizona has it all. This diversity translates into a vast and interesting array of backcountry excursions from which to choose from." I think this quotation taken directly from one of my favorite resources, "100 Hikes in Arizona" by Scott S. Warren, really sums up perfectly what the amazing state of Arizona has to offer whether you're a hiker, backpacker, rock climber, or just someone who enjoys getting out into nature and the outdoors. Arizona with its vast variety of topography and climate, really does have it all! Having lived in Arizona now for over half my lifetime, I am still amazed that there always seems to be someplace new to go, and during the winter months, it's an excellent time to get out and explore the beautiful and rugged, Sonoran Desert region. So if you're up for getting out and checking out someplace new and truly unique, an excellent "off roading" journey, that's remote yet still close to Phoenix and a rugged, ridgeline trek and challenging workout with stunning panoramic scenery and wilderness views, then check out the Quartz Peak Trail and Adventure Hike, in the Estrella Mountain Wilderness, Arizona.

On an early March weekend morning I met my friends from the TLC Hiking Club, organized and led by Eric Kinneman, at a meet up location in Avondale, west of Phoenix. By 7:15 am once everyone had arrived, we set out for our hike out to a place I'd never heard of before called Quartz Peak, approximately 25 miles southwest of Phoenix, located in the Estrella Mountain Wilderness, a remote and extremely rugged mountain wilderness area comprised of 14,400 acres rising steeply and sharply from 1500 feet up to over 4000 feet in elevation. We were strongly advised from the onset that the Quartz Peak Hike would also be a real "off roading" adventure and that HCV vehicles with 4 wheel drive were going to be a necessity. So from the meet up location, we got our car pools arranged and all in HCV and 4 wheel drives, we left for Quartz Peak heading out I-10 west for only several miles until we came to the Estrella Parkway exit.

After making a left on Estrella Parkway, our directions were to head south for about 8.3 miles until we came to Elliott Road. At Elliott Road, turn right for 2.3 miles. From here the directions became a bit tricky and a series of zig zag turns and you need to pay close attention otherwise you could get easily lost out in there in this remote section of desert. When we came to the intersection of Rainbow Valley Road, we turned left and headed south for 9.3 miles until we came to Riggs Road. At Riggs Road, you want to turn left again and head east until you come to Bullard Avenue. Turn right onto Bullard, then make a quick left onto an all dirt road which you will find under a set of telephone poles. And here's where our "off road 4 wheel drive" adventure and the fun began!

We continued on this all dirt road, heading east for another 5.3 miles until it came to an end. I really thought the condition of the dirt road, although very sandy and washboard, but overall not bad. It was only after passing Rainbow Ranch, and in this latter section that the road narrowed, and had deeper sand and ruts. Although, we didn't need to drop it into 4 wheel drive as was previously advised, you definitely want to have an HCV to successfully make this journey. After getting our navigation down, I looked out the window and noticed that the desert views and landscape were now becoming more and more scenic and gorgeous the further we made our way out to this rugged and remote, not widely known wilderness area. Beautiful!

Once we had arrived at the end of the dirt road, under a large set of power lines, we located a small sign that said "Trail", then made a right and drove another 1.9 miles until we came to another "Trail" sign, then swung a left and drive another 1.9 miles to the end and finally arrived at the trail head and well developed parking area for the Quartz Peak Trail. Wow, what a fun off road adventure!

After arriving at the Quartz Peak Trailhead area by roughly 8:30am. I thought it was really quite surprising to find such a large and well developed trailhead and parking area including a toilet facility way out in this remote wilderness area especially with the rugged roads that you have to take to get there! Nonetheless, it was nice to have plenty of space in which to park and after getting a quick restroom break in, it was by 8:45 am that we were ready to set off on our hiking adventure on the Quartz Peak Trail.

As most write ups accurately describe, for the first few minutes, the Quartz Peak Trail starts out following an old and level jeep trail, then turns to the left and quickly begins steeply climbing straight up on a narrow, but well developed rocky trail. As you start this accent, the views behind you of the pristine desert valley behind you were more beautiful the higher and further up you went. It was roughly by about.6 of a mile that we had made it to the top of the first ridge, and wow, the scenery, absolutely breathtaking!

We got in a very short break, and with Eric and the rest of the group well in front of us by this time, we continued our journey on the Quartz Peak Trail which from here on out would be a very steep, rugged and strenuous ridgeline trek and climb, with spectacular scenery and mountain views of the Sierra Estrellas and Butterfly Mountain to the north and east of you, then turning to look to the west and behind you, you had the views of Rainbow Valley and the beautiful western desert wilderness area, which again, the further and further up you went, the more amazing and incredible the views became!

It was at about one mile that we finally made it to the top of the second ridge, and continued pressing on in order to keep up with our group. Following a narrow ridge, the Quartz Peak Trail continues ventures on but shifts over to the northeast a bit and then stretches out for a little ways on a level portion of ridgeline which made for a great chance for us to catch our breath and also get a few more amazing pictures too. With it being such a bright and sunny, spring morning, and with all the spectacular scenery to either side of us, it was a perfect opportunity to stop for some photography and I eagerly took as many pictures as possible of what I saw of this incredible journey so far!

Now at roughly about 1 翻 miles, the very rocky and extremely narrow Quartz Peak Trail meanders steeply winding, twisting, and ascending higher and higher up in elevation. With the views becoming even more awe-inspiring and impressive as time went on, we excitedly continued our venture and journey, one step after the other, carefully making it to the top of the next ridge, then another, then yet another, one after the other, climbing steeply up and up, until roughly at about 1.79 miles and at approximately 3180 feet in elevation, we finally caught our first sight of the snow white capped top of Quartz Peak! What an amazing and beautiful sight!

After receiving a short radio communication from Eric, and letting him know our location and providing brief backend sweep update, we quickly moved on as it was still a ways to go to make the summit from there. Moving on from here, and with more stunningly gorgeous scenery and views to either side of you, the Quartz Peak Trail switchbacks further on up in elevation. While still trying to capture as many pictures and shots as I could of this incredible mountain climbing journey, now beginning to feel the fatigue set in my legs, together we continued pushing on.

We arrived safely at the top of yet another ridge at roughly about 2.5 miles, when the intense Quartz Peak trail reached a meadow area, then eased up again. After running into a few fellow TLC Hikers who were already on their return from the summit, we happily got a few photos together, said our farewells then we continued to venture on. The journey to the summit from here, we were advised, roughly about the last 1/2 mile or so, would become a short boulder hopping, hand & toe climb and scramble to the top and with no definite trail to follow. However, I thought there was no real need or worry about route finding as the designated path appeared to me to be very well marked with strategically placed rock cairns which made it very easy to follow. So together we slowly scrambled and climbed up and up until only a few short minutes later at roughly about 3.0 miles, we did it! We had finally reached the beautiful and gorgeous solid white capped summit, aptly named Quartz Peak! What an amazing and incredible journey and venture it had been too!

Upon our arrival at the summit of Quartz Peak at around 11am, having successfully journeyed a total of 2600 feet in elevation in just 3 short miles, I have said it before, and I will say it again, there really are no words to describe just how euphoric you feel when you finally and successfully make the summit of a mountain peak after a very long, steep and challenging journey. It's simply beyond words and it's just incredible! And what an amazing mountain peak summit this was too, consisting of huge, gorgeous, solid white quartz rock! It was really amazing! According to geologists, Quartz Peak, located at a point along a spine ridge in the sharp and rugged Sierra Estrella Mountain range, and once an area strong in volcanic activity, consists of a unique "outcrop" of solid white quartz rock. Once you get start getting closer to the peak, you'll begin to notice the white quartz rocks along the trail and also a shiny silver, metallic looking mineral rock called "mica". Overall, I thought it was really quite interesting and amazing from a geological perspective even if you're someone whose interest isn't in geology, like myself.

While resting at the top of Quartz Peak we also really enjoyed taking in the spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding area which were absolutely stunning and gorgeous! To the north, you had a view of South Mountain and the Phoenix area. At the same time, to the south and east of you, there was the ruggedly beautiful Sierra Estrella Wilderness. Then finally to the south and west, you had more breathtaking views of Rainbow Valley and the Sonoran Desert below you. Truly an extraordinary and awe-inspiring experience, I will soon not forget!

While Eric and the rest of the group had already mad their way back, it was about an hour later, about 12-12:15pm, after getting many more great pictures of all of us together including a short and thrilling side trek adventure to climb to the top of a huge rock boulder, that we decided it was time to head back. Only 30 minutes behind the last remaining members, we began our venture back and made our way down the 2600 feet rugged journey and back to the trail head and parking area again by 2:15-2:30pm which according to our GPS, our total hiking distance was exactly 6 miles round trip, with an elevation gain of exactly 2600 feet, which we successfully completed in 5 hours, 40 minutes, at an average hiking speed of 2.6 mph.

Truly an amazing experience and extraordinary hike I will soon not forget. Thanks again to Eric Kinneman of the TLC Hiking Club for yet another very well led, planned and organized hiking adventure. So if you're wanting some place new and unique to go....an excellent "off road" journey I highly recommend, that's remote, yet still close to Phoenix and a rugged, and challenging, ridgeline hike filled with stunning panoramic scenery up to the top of a gorgeous and geologically unique mountain peak summit, then be sure and check out the Quartz Peak Trail and Adventure Hike, in the Estrella Mountain Wilderness, Arizona!

Enjoying Parenthood

Every parent knows those magical moments where we feel truly blessed to have left our old lives behind, and entered into the realm of parenthood. We cherish the flowers our children give us, their kisses and I love yous, and every other special moment that is beyond words. But the mundane time in between, where our day to lives seem dull and boring, that is something we all face and must learn how to deal with in the be way possible.

I was just reading a blog about a mother's tough day. From a child smearing Vick's vapour rub on their faces, to dumping out oatmeal on the stairs and rubbing it into the carpet...the list went on and on of messes and trials. When a child hits toddlerhood, they venture out into exploring what they can and cannot do, as well as testing their parent's patience. It's impossible to always remain calm and just accept the fact they gave the dog your shoes to chew on. Our job is to just do the best we can during hard times, realize they don't know the value of your personal items and are also just exploring the world.

The added pressure in society is that we need to be the 'best' parent. Society itself is beyond disfunctional, so in reality we have nothing to prove to it. Nonetheless, that pressure is there, as is the notion our children need to compete with peers in order to do well in life ( that is exactly what the memorize test system in school is: a method of measuring and competing). The key ( in my opinion) to balancing sanity and parenthood is to be as positive as possible, and creative. If you can retain a small sense of yourself before you were a parenthood, and can enter into the imaginary world of your child, it makes life easier for everyone. Your house really doesn't need to be spotless. The priority is to enjoy your life and help raise healthy, compassionate kids.

Some tips that we use: listen to music you enjoyed as a child, and incorporate games that you used to play into your child's routine. You will have more enthusiasm towards playing with your young one if you have memories of the games being played. Decorate your house in a way that is pleasing to you and inspirational. Don't decorate it to match your neighbor's place. There are many parents who have a lifestyle blog that can give you some ideas with which to make your daily life as a parent more vibrant.

Social-Constructivism - The Importance of Forums, Blogs and Wikis to E-Learning

There are many specific ways that online degrees and e-Learning courses facilitate the learning of students via computer technology. Traditionally, video tutorials have offered instruction in a similar manner that a lecture would, and online chats have allowed synchronous seminar-like discussions to take place. In recent years though, the rise of social web platforms have become included in distance learning (as well as traditional higher education courses) to aid peer assessment; and, arguably, to enhance adaptation into an increasingly electronic world.

The idea of constructivism theory is accredited to Jean Piaget who noted the internalisation of knowledge in learners, and now his ideas inform much of the way education is taught. In basic terms Piaget theorises that experience stimulates knowledge, and today it is generally regarded that, for example, baking a cake would be a better way to learn the process than reading a book and being tested on it. Social-constructivism in e-Learning refers to participation with others to better the learning experience, and forums, blogs, and wikis are increasingly used to achieve this.

Internet forums have been a popular social web tool for many years. This has no doubt been due to the communal nature of their design, and their simple and informative layout. Consequently, forums are particularly important to online education because they are easy for new computer users to get used to and they offer an almost instant community feel. It is then very quick and convenient for students to post work, discussions, links to texts, or anything they deem necessary for their peers to see. There is also the added benefit of forums being asynchronous to allow students to post and respond at any time they like to.

Blogs, again, are simple to begin and maintain for a user who is relatively new to the internet. In an e-Learning environment blogs can give a student an opportunity to show work, document their time on the course, or to focus on a subject outside of the curriculum. Subsequently blogs are also a great introduction to getting used to the workings of the web and how to succeed online. Learning how web content travels and what subjects are popular on the internet is now as much of an important after-effect of e-Learning as the most basic IT skills - and becoming of increasing importance to potential employers.

Wikis are increasing in popularity among courses and learning establishments such as colleges and universities. Akin to the inherent community feel of forums, wikis allow all users to edit the content of a collection of web-pages. In the same way that Wikipedia allows everyone to edit and re-write a continually evolving encyclopaedia, educational wikis can be easily set up and run by teachers and course leaders to allow students to upload content that can range from, for example, niche subjects such as photography, or e-Learning in the establishment itself. Arguably unlike forums and blogs, there is more of an incentive for students to uphold the standard of informative quality when contributing to a wiki.

Wedding Photography Business Plan - Marketing Planning

When you plan a wedding photography business, you are joining not just the photography industry, but the huge American wedding industry. There are multiple potential channels for marketing your services in this industry, and your marketing plan should detail how you will take advantage of them to spend you precious marketing dollars.

Print Advertising

Unlike consumers looking for certain products, brides do still look to magazines as a significant source of information about weddings and wedding services. Purchasing advertising in bridal magazines can be a good marketing spend. However, running a public relations campaign which targets these magazines with article ideas featuring your business may be an even better way to pursue this channel, assuming there are specific remarkable stories you can push.

Internet Advertising

Wedding websites, such as theknot.com, weddingchannel.com, and brides.com, are another source of information and services for brides and wedding planners. Pay-per-click advertising with Google AdWords or other search engines is another valuable way to advertise. The upside of internet advertising is the ability to track the number of hits your website receives directly from these sources and the rate of converting these hits to those who request more information or even call. The AdWords campaign manager or free tools such as Google Analytics can supply this information.

Industry Associations

To seek the higher end of the wedding market, you will need to work with event planners who tend to manage the planning process for bridal clients. Join industry associations where wedding and event planners take part, both to gain mailing lists and to learn about events and conferences to attend. Use these events to network and build your reputation with wedding planners one at a time. Many will be interested in a commission relationship, whereby they earn 10% or more of your fees to wedding clients they refer to you. Be prepared for whether you will be happy with this kind of relationship or if it will effectively obliterate your profit.

Duck-Billed-Platypus - An Odd Character

The platypus was first written about in 1797. An account described it as a small fur-bearing animal with webbed feet and beaver like tail. The head featured a flat beak like a duck. The feet were webbed for efficient swimming. Long sharp claws on the feet help it burrow out a den. Thus the platypus lives both in water and on land.

The scientific elite were suspicious that the account was a wild story like sailors of the time told about mermaids. When a pickled pair of duck-billed-platypus specimens were dissected by a noted anatomist, the scientific world was stunned to learn it was a genuine animal. Scientists had difficulty believing there was an animal that could lay eggs and also suckle its youngsters. In 1884 a British zoologist found two platypus eggs. The eggs had soft shells like those laid by a lizard. The platypus is a very old species. It is thought to be a link species between reptiles and mammals.

The name platypus comes from the Greek language for flat foot. Still more was learned about this animal. Its cheeks contain specialized pouches used to store sand and gravel. These minerals are used to grind up worms and small shelled water organisms. The platypus has the ability to close both its eyes and ear openings when it swims under water.

The mother platypus oozes milk from her abdomen. The platy kittens lick the milk off of her fur. The male platypus has poisonous spurs located on his rear ankles. This is used for defence. Platypus are conscientious groomers. They preen their fur with their rear claws after emerging from the water. Their rear limbs have a special ball-and-socket joint allowing them to reach all over their body to groom their fur. The size of the platypus is about twenty inches in length. They weigh between two and three pounds. They are big eaters for their size. Mostly they feed between dusk and the early morning hours. Platypus swim with their eyes closed and sense their prey, guided with their sensitive bill

Platypus have been bred in captivity. Ten years is the longest time a pair of platypus have been kept alive in captivity. They were featured at the Bronx Zoo in New York. The pair were named Cecil and Penelope and they lived on a feast of twenty five thousand worms a month. Their diet was spiced up with crayfish, frogs and egg custard. The Platypus were the most expensive species to take care of in the zoo as they ate a higher dollar amount than the elephants did. The zoo keepers hoped they would produce some young ones and they were watched closely. At one point the keepers thought that Penelope might be expecting young ones as she had secluded herself inside her burrow. Before the cold winter months started they dug her up. She was found alone with no young ones. Later she escaped from the zoo, never to be seen again. Cecil lasted another two years before he died.

The life span of a platypus is seventeen years. They have few natural enemies but these include black rats and carnivorous cod fish.

The platypus is now protected now by Australian law, ensuring their continued survival in the future.

I Am Flat Broke! Can I Still Make Money Online?

The answer to that question depends on whether you are really flat broke, or you are just saying that you are flat broke. You see, there is a big difference between having zero dollars to invest in an online venture and let's say, having a few hundred dollars to invest. And, there is a huge difference between a having a few hundred dollars and having a few thousand. You see, some folks will tell you that they are flat broke when they have several thousand dollars in the bank, or a liquid stock portfolio, or heaven forbid a huge line of credit. These people are not the kind of flat broke we are talking about. Flat broke in my books is not having enough money to by a cup of coffee - going to the store and having to choose between the peanut butter and the bread...that is flat broke!

Now if you are flat broke as in my definition, when it comes to trying to make money online, your options are considerably more limited than if you have a couple hundred dollars to spend. That is obvious. And if you have a couple hundred dollars you are way worse off than if you have a couple thousand. That too is obvious. Let's face it, if you have a couple thousand dollars to spend on your online business, you could be up and running with a professionally designed website, hosting, auto responders, ad campaigns and be making money in no time...

But we are talking flat broke here! Not even a measly $10 on your credit card to buy a domain name, or worse yet no credit whatsoever. So what to do in that case? Believe it or not there are still some options available to you.

For instance, do you have any skills or special knowledge? Of course you do. Then why not tutor online. Tutor.com is a great place to start. Click the 'Become a Tutor' button at the bottom of their homepage.
You might be perfectly suited for this kind of program, who knows.

Another way to make money online is through writing. Web companies are always on the hunt for people with good writing skills, especially to do the grunt stuff that no one else wants to do. If you are a good writer you can always get a job writing for blogs too. Go ahead and type in 'blog writing jobs' in your search engine - you will be amazed at the number of opportunities there are.

You can get jobs writing for web articles, forum posts, ebooks and even just plain old comments - believe it or not people will pay you to write their comments for them - look that one up for fun. A good way to find writing jobs is through Guru.com or of course Elance.com And yes there is Squidoo, but that folks, is a whole other article.

Then there is photography. Are you a photographer, or just a picture taker? If you are the former, then there are plenty of opportunities to sell your work online. Or perhaps you are too broke to own a camera? Then I suggest you are not a photographer, because all photographers, broke or otherwise, have cameras. At any rate, if you do have skills in this area, a good site to check out is istockphoto.com

I suppose I would be remiss if I did not mention the Grand Daddy of them all eBay, but let's be honest, the web is saturated with good information on this well known method of making money online so I won't bother with that for now. Then there is product development, which technically does not require any funds, but the promotion of your product is certainly on the difficult side if you have no money. Cash Surveys? Well, you can go to the forums and read all about those. They're not for me, but hey, maybe they are the perfect fit for you.

So there you have it, there are actually quite a few ways to make money online if you are flat broke, but odds are, they won't make you rich. Their primary purpose as I see it, should be to build up your resources so that you can venture out into more expensive, but lucrative waters of the make money online niche.

Why Does Wedding Photography Cost So Much?

This is a common question that is asked a lot. Here are some things to consider when placing a value of Wedding photography.

Professional prints are a rip off, I can get a print for 0.19 cents at Xmart! That's true you can and all it costs you is a little time. You were at the Wedding having a good time, you pulled your camera and snapped off a shot, easy. What about the Wedding photographer isn't it that easy for him too?

Wedding photographers (the good ones) really care about the bride and groom. We want to take the best photograph possible for the given situation and in order to do so it requires us to be prepared and put some thought into every shot.

First is the equipment.
You must have good quality gear and you must have back up. At any given Wedding we bring 5 camera bodies, 6 flashes, 4 power packs, 8 lenses, lots of AA batteries, 50 GB of memory chips, extra batteries for the cameras, tools to clean and repair cameras or lenses, extra cables. Light stands, reflectors, a white balance target, light meters, 800 watt strobes for formals (3 of these), umbrellas, flash bracket, diffusers, and well you get the idea.

A good camera and equipment (gear) do not make one a good photographer. A skilled photographer can make good images with even mediocre equipment. The reason to get expensive gear is because it can make good work great, but it won't save a poor photo no matter how much money you have spent. Pro cameras focus more accurately, track moving objects better, focus in low light conditions faster and better, they are more rugged, weather sealed, shutters have a life of 250,000 frames. They have larger buffers so you can take more shots with slowing your camera down. The camera is only part of the equation. Your lenses can play an even larger role than your camera body in the quality of the images. In other words if you have an $8000.00 DLSR and put a cheap $300.00 lens on it you just wasted $7000.00.

Why do we need all of that gear? Simple, for backup, reliability, quality, and to create images that can't be created without the proper tools. We want to make images that have a third dimension to them.

It's called the WOW factor.

Yes anyone can buy a camera, flash, flash bracket and run around and call themselves a photographer. It's also a fact that anyone can buy a pair of scissors and cut hair, but I will bet you are going to have a skilled person cut YOUR hair. The same is true for photography, there are skills, technical learning, people skills, posing skills and things you can't learn like having a vision, seeing the light and looking beyond the obvious to create something great from something Others see as common.

Anyone can buy brushes and paint and take art classes, but not everyone will become an artist.

No it's true there are people out there that shoot an entire wedding with 1 camera, 1 flash and call themselves by various popular names (photo journalists). Now I don't want to start any fights but many professionals feel that the majority of PJ shooters and people who don't know how to light, pose or frame their subjects. Don't get me wrong there are a few that are really good, but I do feel that many people whom just one to make an extra buck hide behind the reputation of the good PJ shooters in order to take advantage of their clients. These are usually the guys who at one time realized that anyone can snap a picture, so why not get paid for it? The photojournalist wedding photographers that are really good are in a league of their own. They have unique skills, and have one BIG advantage over the want to be photojournalists and that is they actually have been photojournalists before getting into Weddings.

Ok. I am off that soapbox for now.

Hidden labor and time worked but not seen.
There is a lot of time spent after the wedding for the final production of the images and album that will be created. But before we go into that lets take a look and the hidden time and expenses that you would never know about unless you did wedding photography for a living.

At the initial meeting of a bride and groom we will spend about 2-3 hours discussing their day, giving them ideas and writing down information. We provide forms to help them organize their day (and their thoughts) and to help them plan. Our job is not only to photograph the day but to take stress off the bride and groom by giving advice and helping them plan the wedding day. The photographer you choose will be responsible for a good part of your day. If your photographer only wants to meet with you to take your check and then ask you what time do you them to show up you might want to consider a photographer that wants to actually get involved with the wedding day.

The average bride and groom will spend about 2-4 hours on the phone with us asking questions and preparing for the day. Add more time if there is an engagement session. Let's also remember all of the email's that will be sent back and for.

The wedding day photography schedule.
We will spend 1-2 hours with going over the sequence of the day and helping put in writing a time line of events. The purpose of this time line is to help the couple get the photographs that they want. This is also a major stress reliever for the bride because the photographer becomes that bad guy and gives the wedding party a schedule for the day. There is nothing worse on the day of your wedding then having a wedding party member be a no show until 5 minutes before, especially if you wanted pre ceremony photos. There is always one bridesmaid that takes forever to get ready and is famous for being late of forgetting things, the mean photographer that gives a schedule to the bridesmaids is doing so to help the bride so she won't have to dread dealing with the extra drama that can be created by slow and late bridesmaids, after all its her day.

Scouting the area.
If the events are at an area I have not shot at previously I will go to the wedding site and the reception area and photograph the areas and meet the people who will be in charge on the day of the wedding. I go back to the studio and load up the images and plan out shot I want to get using what is available in the area and then I organize the shots and plan them in a logical order. There is another 3-4 hours of planning, plus travel time.

The rehearsal.
We attend the rehearsal. This is good way of learning about last minute changes, getting to meet the family and wedding party and of course handing out the photography schedule. So there is another 2 hours on average.

The day before the wedding.
All of the equipment is cleaned, inspected and tested. Batteries are charged. Equipment is organized. Cards are formatted, cameras have their clocks synchronized, lenses and sensors cleaned, I organize my shot list, pack up the lighting equipment, tripods, etc. Another 6 hours of work.

The Wedding day.
The average wedding for us is 8 to 11 hours, yes we are not the 4 hour wedding photographers. I always wonder how they can get away with that.

Now it's nice to think that you can plan out a wedding day and after that you just execute the plan. Well now it's time for a reality check.

Weddings are organic.
They have a life of their own and not everything goes as planned. But, that's ok. Part of being a great Wedding photographer is being able to think on your feet, to be flexible and change all of the plans in a moments notice and still get great shots and keep everyone smiling. You want a challenge try squeezing 2 hours of shooting into 45 minutes. Oh yeah, the shots still need to be great.

After the Wedding.
OK the Wedding is over we get home about 1:00 am unload the equipment, start reading the images of the chips. Throw them online and wait for the money to roll in!!! In my dreams.

Just taking the images off the chips take about 3-5 hours. Next the images have to be processed.
We do not shoot in jpg file mode, we shoot in RAW. RAW is to digital what negatives are to film. The files have to be loaded into a RAW editor. We use Capture One.

Processing the RAW files.
The average Wedding will have 1000-2000 shots. I will spend about 10-16 hours processing the RAW file to get the absolute best quality from each one. You can take shorts cut and not be so picky, but any Wedding photographer worth their salt will want to make the proofs look great.

It takes time to do proper color correction (actually correction and white balance begins before the images were taken, that's what the white balance target was for). Files are backed up on three different external hard drives for redundancy. The chips are not formatted until all of the files are backed up.

The Album.
The RAWS are output as high resolution jpg files for building the albums and for posting on the Internet. Now we build the album. The average album takes 40-60 hours. You could buy software that automatically dumps photos from a folder into pre-made templates, and it takes about 20 minutes. But there is no creativity or customization involved. The photographer selects the images for the album and the bride and groom get to make changes 2 times. Many photographers work this way because it is faster. But if the bride and groom really appreciate good images and don't want a cookie cutter album then it requires creativity, communication and time.

Using Professional lab.
Professional photographers use quality monitors and hardware devices that create a profile that
modifies their screen display so when we edit and color correct, adjust the density and sharpen and image the print will come from the lab looking like the image on our monitor. Professional labs charge more because they offer a level of quality and consistency and used calibrated machines that are checked daily.

So let's total it up.
Initial meeting of a bride and groom 2-3 hours.
Time on phone and writing email's to iron out details and answer questions 2-4 hours.
The time line for the day 1-2 hours.
Scouting the area, travel and research, planning shots. 3-4 hours.
The rehearsal 2 hours, plus travel time.
The wedding day 8-11 hours on average.
Uploading data from chips. 3-5 hours.
Processing the RAW files, building web pages for the online shopping cart, uploading files and data back up 10-16 hours.
Build the wedding album pages 40-60 hours.

People who are talented make their work look easy. Talent, hard work, patience, flexibility and a good sense of humor are all part of being a great Wedding photographer. You are inviting this person into your life for the day of your Wedding.

So, when you buy a photo from the Wedding photographer your not just buying a piece of paper with some printing, you are getting a part of the time, emotion and investment that the bride and groom put into their day, and they trusted in that photographer to be there for them.

This person they have put their trust in has done a lot more than just snap a few pics.

Learning Photography - How to Choose the Right Course?

Learning photography has never been more popular than it is now. This is due to the advent of digital photography and the present easy accessibility of the photographic medium. Another major reason is it's considerably cheaper than it used to be! Yet with this revolutionary development, a great deal of questions have arisen about what is the best way to actually learn photography.

Numerous online course have appeared, as well as courses at private schools and a plethora of degree courses at colleges and universities. So, it's not surprising the beginner has trouble choosing which course may be right for them.

Why Do You Want to Learn Photography?

First, it's necessary you decide what exactly you are looking for in view of learning photography. If you are just looking to improve your digital photography as a hobby, and already have a busy career or family life, then you might just be better off checking-out many online web sites offering digital photography tips and tutorials.

But, if you are looking to actually gain a degree, then your criteria will be quite different. Perhaps at this point I should mention private schools that offer photography courses. With these, I would suggest some caution, as many are expensive and do not always fulfill the candidates expectation. A simple online check for reviews by former students is therefore always a must, in my opinion.

Where degree courses are concerned, you should really find out the level and experience of your future teachers. This one factor will govern three to four years of your life, and in theory, your photographic career.

I had the good fortune of having a working professional of thirty years teaching me, and he was at a stage in his life where he wanted to pass on his knowledge to the next generation. So, make sure you find out more about the teachers from former students, or the faculty where possible.

Your Course Content Requirements

Instead of just deciding to do photography as a career in general, it would be better to decide where you feel your main interests is in photography. You can then make sure the degree course you are choosing offers that as a strong part of the course.

There are many different kinds of photographers, such as: photojournalists, wedding photographers, commercial photographers (products and stock photography) and fashion photographers, to name but a few. You don't have to decide on one necessarily before gaining experience, but deciding on your general area of interest is important so you can make a valid course choice.

For example, Brooks Institute gives students an option to specialize later in their degree course, in either advertising photography, commercial photography or portraiture.

Whichever form of photography learning you choose, online courses or even a degree course, make sure you research it fully so that you will not end up disappointed. One final point: Photography can make for a varied and exciting career, but no matter what you choose, personal motivation is always a must and will be needed for a successful career. Good luck.