Cannon G12

When I don’t feel like lugging around all my heavy bulky pro camera gear, like when I am on a casual mountain bike ride or rock climbing, or when I just feel like having a camera I can throw in my pocket at a party for some snapshots, a point and shoot camera is just the thing. I hate the idea of not making high quality salable images however. That’s just the pro in me I guess. So when I discovered the Cannon Power Shot G10 I was ecstatic. Its a fantastic point and shoot camera that does almost everything my pro cameras do. Yet it fits in my pocket. It’s in a solid durable package, shoots high resolution images (10.4 Megapixels) and with the option of doing it in RAW format. It also has my favorite feature, a hot shoe that allows me to use an accessory flash, off camera even. The G10 unfortunately is no longer available. It’s beefed up brother however has just been released, the Cannon Power Shot G12.

The G12 has all the same features I like in the G11 and of course many new ones. I will not list them all here. I’m not trying to write a camera review. You can check the out G12 feature list here if you want. I think this series of point and shoot cameras is about the best out there. I am often asked in my workshops and classes, especially my Digital Point and Shoot class, what camera I recommend. Well,  I say the Cannon G series cameras.

If your looking for a new point and shoot camera, or just want one to supplement your arsenal of big guns like I do check out the New Cannon Power Shot G12. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Free RAW Converter

I only shoot RAW, and for me it works really well. I have a lot of students however that do not shoot RAW. In my workshops I talk about the common file formats, their benefits, advantages, and dis-advantages. For me RAW works best. One of the primary reasons I advocate people not use RAW is because it os not a format you can use right out of your camera. RAW requires you to spend time learning how to make corrections to your images, and this requires a time commitment and software. Software that can be expensive like Photoshop. I recently came across a free RAW converter program however.

RAWshooter Essentials is a Freeware program available for download at no cost. Now I’ll admit I have not fully explored the program and don’t have that much experience using it. But so far based on my initial playing around with it I like it. I think it is a good resource for those that would like to begin learning how to work with RAW files, but are not yet committed enough to throw down the money for a program like Photoshop.

So if you think you want to start shooting in RAW, and I highly recommend you do if you want to be serious about your photography, download the FREE RAWshooter Essentials and give it a try. Let me know what you think of this program in the comments below.

Another useful RAW tool if you are on a PC running Windows XP is the Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer for Windows XP. Download it from the Microsoft site here. 

And from Adobe Labs get the free DNG Codec  for  Windows Vista. The DNG Codec provides a method for Windows Vista users to view DNG files in the Windows Explorer and Photo Gallery.

Do You Have a Sales Strategy?

I came across a blog post on the PhotoPreneur blog.  It’s a quick read and for me the main message is one that we as photographers often forget whan it comes to our business; we need to have a sales strategy.

I’ve often considered trying to market my work on one of the many on-line art outlet sites like Zazzle or Etsy. But I guess I have been intimidated by the task of figure out a new market I don’t know. Do I have the kind of work that would actually sell on one of these sites? In general my price points have been higher than what I see on these sites. Do I want to lower my prices to fit in?

If you are, or have ever, considered selling through these on line sites this article is worth a quick read. To me the most poignant part is the advice to have a good sales strategy.

“It’s also important to have a sales strategy that’s able to deliver those products to buyers. Gina has her own website where she introduces herself and shows off some of her work, but her sales take place primarily on Etsy and Zazzle. Etsy, a showcase for artists and crafters,  is used primarily for original art, while Zazzle functions as an outlet for reproductions where Gina can offer large numbers of relatively low-priced photographic products to customers who are either budget-conscious or looking for attractive but practical objects.”

 This is true for any approach to marketing your work. You have to have a sales strategy. Know your work, know your markets, and now how they will work together.

Here is the full post. Hope you find something in it to help you.