| With the arrival of the video on a dslr, the fusion | | | | many times before, you've got to keep re-inventing |
| between stills & video and getting closer and | | | | yourself and your business. If you are static and |
| closer. New software & workflow techniques will | | | | don't change, your business won't survive for long. I |
| need to be looked at to adapt to this changing and | | | | want to offer my clients something different than |
| very dynamic media. So will this have a big effect on | | | | others are offering. I want to be able to use my |
| the end products i.e albums, prints, traditional wall | | | | both the stills & video capabilities of my 'hybrid |
| frames etc. Well I think so and the change is | | | | camera', add music to it and create an unforgettable |
| happening at a fairly frantic pace. | | | | multi-media experience for my clients. I think I can do |
| A good example is the advertising billboards on | | | | this and give something which is a far more |
| buildings, near flyovers, etc. Traditionally we'll see 2-3 | | | | interesting product viewable on a plasma TV, laptop, |
| persons plastering the prints and putting the | | | | iPhone, iPad, iwhatever... |
| advertising message up on the board. Not any more, | | | | But what about the cost factor? It's not too bad |
| I haven't seen this for quite a while now, specially in | | | | actually if you look at it. Currently a wedding album |
| London. These billboards are now being replaced with | | | | may cost anything between £300-£600 |
| digital billboards. Initially they may cost a bit, however, | | | | depending on the specifications of it from the lab. So |
| cheaper to maintain in the long run as the adverts | | | | replacing the album with a digital album is not going to |
| are changed electronically and the long-winded print | | | | be that drastic. The clients will love it, they can use it |
| process is taken out completely. Another great | | | | for uploading their own images / movies as well. Plus |
| example are the advertising boards at major Premier | | | | (this is a big one), as they'll use it regularly and not |
| League Football grounds. Most are now electronic. So | | | | put away like a traditional one after the first few |
| why change. Two simple reasons, they are more | | | | weeks of using them, you can brand the digital |
| eye-catching with transitions and movie-like effects | | | | device with your branding. Keep your name in front |
| and secondly advertisers get the best bang for their | | | | of them at all times. |
| bucks. | | | | A lot of the photographers have just got to grips |
| So why am I talking about these billboards. I see the | | | | with firstly, transition from film to digital, then learning |
| same going to happen in the social traditional albums | | | | the new workflow techniques and now we need to |
| market. Specially the portrait & wedding sector | | | | learn more video editing stuff. The simple answer is, |
| is going to see a huge & probably dramatic | | | | you've got to. Initially I wasn't keen on video on a |
| change very soon. How soon? Your guess is as good | | | | dslr when they were first introduced in late 2008. |
| as mine. I'll take one and I think within 2 years, 3 | | | | However, I'm getting more and more into it and |
| years at the max, the market place will have | | | | learning new things. I love switching between stills |
| completely changed. With the launch of the iPad | | | | & video and not having to carry two different |
| (which I want one BTW), we'll be seeing more | | | | pieces of equipment. |
| gadgets like this being released, the quality of them | | | | For environmental portrait photographers like me, this |
| improving and the prices going down. | | | | is exactly what I need to re-invent my portrait |
| Lets take a closer look as to why I would consider | | | | business and I'm really looking forward to a couple of |
| something like an iPad (or something similar) as a | | | | really exciting next few years. |
| replacement for a traditional album. You've heard this | | | | |