Question #1: “Where is the Ranch and how do I get there?”

Answer: The Workshop at the Ranch is only available on my website. People can find it by logging on to www.daveblackphotography.com and “clicking” Workshop at the Ranch.

Image #1    The Workshop at the Ranch is only a monthly article on my website but here is a rare picture of me working at the ranch.

Question #2: “How, why, when, where, etc., etc., etc., did you get started in Photography?”

Answer: These questions come from a variety of people, mostly students who are writing a report for a High School or College photography class on a photographer who’s work they enjoy. It is a long answer to write and rewrite each time it is asked. In a nutshell, I my first experience with photography was in college. I had a double major in Commercial Graphics Design and Studio Drawing. My thought was to become an illustrator for books and magazines. I was required to take a basic B&W photography class for the Graphics Design major………………………….Rather than continue with a lengthy couple of paragraphs I am going to stop here and refer those of you are interested in my background, career and my thoughts about the photography profession to a website podcast interview that I did for the Nikonians website. It is a 30 minute interview that covers many issues and may answer many questions some of you might have. Log onto http://podcasts.nikonians.org (scroll down to “Nikonians Podcast #2: Interview with Dave Black”) and enjoy the interview.

Question #3: “Do you use Nikon because they give you all your equipment?”

Answer: No. First let me state that I am not sponsored by Nikon and the company does not supply me with equipment. I am a consumer, like all of you, and purchase the equipment I need to conduct business (I buy my equipment from Roberts Distributors in Indianapolis…call Jody Grober at 800-726-5544). I have used Nikon equipment from the very first day of my professional career. I believed it was the best equipment on the market when I started over 25 years ago and I still believe it is the best equipment on the market today. Workshop at the Ranch and On The Road chronicle many of my projects and assignments and lists the equipment I use to capture images so that people can have a working knowledge of how I go about making pictures and ultimately…make a living. I have great confidence in the equipment I use…..my career and reputation depends on it.

Question #4: “How does someone “make it” in this business?”

Answer: This question comes in frequently and involves a lengthy answer…..an answer that is difficult to address because of the complexity involved in a career. First off, I am interpreting “make it” to mean a full time top professional and not a weekend job. Well,…..there are no short cuts. Developing a career in photography whether your subject is sports, portraits, nature, weddings, etc., is not an overnight possibility. It will require more than capturing a good picture. Mastery of the Basics are the key….composition, exposure, use of light, the moment etc. just like the professional athlete or musician who practices basics and fundamentals each day until they become second nature. Then, one must build on that foundation of basics with continual learning and application of new knowledge. Business strategy is also essential. There are many great photographers that have fallen short of success for lack of business knowledge. Supply and demand is the business 101 mantra. A photographer must be great (not just good) at their craft. This means producing great, unique images that others do not produce and they must have the ability to capture these unique images every time they shoot. If football is the sport you have chosen to make your career with remember that there are hundreds of very good football photographers covering games each weekend. You must find a way to make your images the best available so that you can SUPPLY editors with the great pictures they DEMAND. Editors will take notice of your work if you can “knock out” the competition, not just stay in the ring with them.

Question #5: “How do you price your images for stock sales to editorial magazines?”

Answer: Stock sale prices for editorial magazines can be determined with a program called Fotoquote www.fotoquote.com After 25 years of business I have my own price guidelines that I use but feel that Fotoquote is a good standard for new photographers when determining usage fees for editorial magazines and books. Many photo editors at major magazines use Fotoquote as well. By using this program your stock sale prices will be in line with the rates of most publications. Keep in mind that many sports publications are looking for a volume deal if more than one image is being used. Example: Many baseball annuals or magazines that do a season preview issue might need images of as many as 50 players. A photographer might have 20 of these 50 players and the magazine will ask for a volume discount. Also, freelancers are competing with Corbis and Getty for these stock picture sales. One stop shopping for the client usually means volume pricing when you are competing with the mega stock houses. Unless your images are rare, and one of a kind, they will most likely need to be competitively priced.