Steven Lama Photography

Business and Marketing stuff...

Over the years I've gained some experiences that I'd like to post and share with some noe to the business of photography...or in general.

So, I've created this page to share some of those items with those who care and those who have asked for them. Where appropriate (and when I could remember the exact source) I've credited them accordingly otherwise, all material is © 2007 Steve Lama.

Hourly pay chart

Salary pay chart

Here is one of my more requested items. A few years ago while negotiating a job, "salaries" were being tossed around either in terms of hourly or an annual salary. So, I decided to create a spreadsheet that would allow me to quickly and easily scan hourly or annual wages and compare the two against one another. The following spread sheet can be used to look up what one would make if given an hourly rate or if offered a salary, what that amount would break down to in terms of hourly. Let me know if this is usefull or not...most I've showed this to did.

Penny a Day

Ever heard the question of what would you rather have, a million dollars today or a penny doubled for a month? Most people opt for the million dollars not realizing how doubling a penny over 31 days will grow...to an unbelievable amount. Well...just for fun, I created a sheet to show just how much that amount would grow to. Click on the link below to view or download that chart. It is really amazing. It also can be used to demonstrate how compunding your money really does make a difference with time.

Better PowerPoint™ presentations
(PowerPoint™ Microsoft and iTunes™ Apple)

Here is a really good piece on PowerPoint™ presentations. I found this actually on iTunes™ and it is actually a pdf file. I've been preaching on the KISS method of creating any type of presentations. Back in the days of actually hiring a commercial photographer who would combine images and title slides to creat an effective and well thought out slide program, the computer has made everyone and their uncle "Charlie" a designer. This short pdf is a great reminder of the real purpose behind making a presentation.

There are wonderfull tools at our disposal, but keep that point in mind...they are TOOLS. You need to have a good, clear, effective message before creating the presentation. I personally make very simple, reversed type on black (similar to this except for the font) PowerPoint™ presentations and so far all my classes (studetns) have approved of my overly simple approach compared to all the other horrible presentations they are exposed to in classes. i'm not saying mine are the best...but they are very functional.

If you'd like to have a copy of this (and the author does say on the first page that this can be shared freely), click on the link below.

REALLY BAD POWERPOINT
by Seth Godin

HOW MUCH SHOULD or CAN I CHARGE?

Coming soon, a page on how to price your work. This is a lecture I give my classes on basic business concepts and methods for calculating a price for your work. Too often "art" classes do not cover business basics and I try to show my students how to calculate the value of their work, determining fees, and how to actually make a profit, better yet, how they can actually make a living doing what they are doing. Anti trust laws prohibit a group for setting prices in an economy and I emphasize that fact. How to calculate hard costs is a "simple" formula we all should be aware of in the business world. What one adds as their "creative" fee is an individual aspect that each and every individual has to calculate or determine.

Doing the job alone

Not only is this VERY funny, it has a great message about teamwork!
When I heard this at a conference I was attending, I knoew I had to add it to my site...
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Copyright document

This is a topic of great interest not only to me but so many of us in the "creative" profession. I see the abuse of using others work all too often in my classes and repeatedly preach the case of watch what you use and how it's used. If you'd like to read what our government has created in response to the question of copyrighted material, click on the link above to download a 290 page pdf on copyright law.

Standing Out

Something to think about when creating a marketing position or as often coined "USP" (Uniquie Selling Point/Position), click on the link above to hear/watch a thought provoking presentation by Seth Godin.
Also note the date of his presentation.

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	Business and Marketing stuff... Over the years I've gained some experiences that I'd like to post and share with some noe to the business of photography...or in general. So, I've created this page to share some of those items with those who care and those who have asked for them. Where appropriate (and when I could remember the exact source) I've credited them accordingly otherwise, all material is © 2007 Steve Lama. Hourly pay chart Salary pay chart Here is one of my more requested items. A few years ago while negotiating a job, "salaries" were being tossed around either in terms of hourly or an annual salary. So, I decided to create a spreadsheet that would allow me to quickly and easily scan hourly or annual wages and compare the two against one another. The following spread sheet can be used to look up what one would make if given an hourly rate or if offered a salary, what that amount would break down to in terms of hourly. Let me know if this is usefull or not...most I've showed this to did. Penny a Day Ever heard the question of what would you rather have, a million dollars today or a penny doubled for a month? Most people opt for the million dollars not realizing how doubling a penny over 31 days will grow...to an unbelievable amount. Well...just for fun, I created a sheet to show just how much that amount would grow to. Click on the link below to view or download that chart. It is really amazing. It also can be used to demonstrate how compunding your money really does make a difference with time. Better PowerPoint™ presentations (PowerPoint™ Microsoft and iTunes™ Apple) Here is a really good piece on PowerPoint™ presentations. I found this actually on iTunes™ and it is actually a pdf file. I've been preaching on the KISS method of creating any type of presentations. Back in the days of actually hiring a commercial photographer who would combine images and title slides to creat an effective and well thought out slide program, the computer has made everyone and their uncle "Charlie" a designer. This short pdf is a great reminder of the real purpose behind making a presentation. There are wonderfull tools at our disposal, but keep that point in mind...they are TOOLS. You need to have a good, clear, effective message before creating the presentation. I personally make very simple, reversed type on black (similar to this except for the font) PowerPoint™ presentations and so far all my classes (studetns) have approved of my overly simple approach compared to all the other horrible presentations they are exposed to in classes. i'm not saying mine are the best...but they are very functional. If you'd like to have a copy of this (and the author does say on the first page that this can be shared freely), click on the link below. REALLY BAD POWERPOINT by Seth Godin HOW MUCH SHOULD or CAN I CHARGE? Coming soon, a page on how to price your work. This is a lecture I give my classes on basic business concepts and methods for calculating a price for your work. Too often "art" classes do not cover business basics and I try to show my students how to calculate the value of their work, determining fees, and how to actually make a profit, better yet, how they can actually make a living doing what they are doing. Anti trust laws prohibit a group for setting prices in an economy and I emphasize that fact. How to calculate hard costs is a "simple" formula we all should be aware of in the business world. What one adds as their "creative" fee is an individual aspect that each and every individual has to calculate or determine. Doing the job alone Not only is this VERY funny, it has a great message about teamwork! When I heard this at a conference I was attending, I knoew I had to add it to my site... I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Copyright document This is a topic of great interest not only to me but so many of us in the "creative" profession. I see the abuse of using others work all too often in my classes and repeatedly preach the case of watch what you use and how it's used. If you'd like to read what our government has created in response to the question of copyrighted material, click on the link above to download a 290 page pdf on copyright law. Standing Out Something to think about when creating a marketing position or as often coined "USP" (Uniquie Selling Point/Position), click on the link above to hear/watch a thought provoking presentation by Seth Godin. Also note the date of his presentation.
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