by Gavin Seim: Silver Shadows 2, my new black and white toolkit for LR is finally here. This is a really exciting release for me. I’m passionate about black and white, and the refinement that has gone into Silver Shadows 2 has been years in the making.
SS2 has been expanded and revamped from the ground up. I think it will blow you away when you see the efficient high quality silver conversions you can do without leaving LR. I can’t tell you how proud of this set I am. So let me show you. Head over to the SS2 page and check out the brand new video, freebies and more, plus get the special introductory price if you get SS2 before Nov 30th. I may also talk about this new video later. It was quite a project… Gav
You can get the official media kit via the SE Press page.
Color Fantasies came out nearly a year ago and color has not been the same since. The things we can do to subtly manipulate color in LR are amazing. CF has been one of my top selling collections. There’s been a few updates in along the way as I’ve used these effects in my own photography but during that time I’ve been tweaking, analyzing processes and working on new ideas. Today I wrapped up a bunch of loose ends and came to realize this update is loaded with freshness.
There’s six brand new presets in this set, but more than that there’s a large list of tweaks and refinements on existing effects, that make them look better and become more versatile. So on that note, v1.5 is now officially available.
If you already have CF, check your inbox for the free update email. If you don’t see it, shoot me an email, effects@seimstudios.com and I’ll hook you up. If you don’t have them what are you waiting for. Color Fantasies will change the way you look at color manipulation. Check them out here. There’s over 60 presets in this set, but here’s a quick look at a few of the new effects v1.5.
Today I got a new toy. Uhum, I mean tool. It’s a Canon TS-e 24mm Tilt Shift lens. A lot of crazy letters and numbers that add up to awesome. This lens tilts, shifts and twists in more directions than I know what to do with. But not for long.
I’m no expert on it yet, but this is going to give some new powers to my skills. That messed up looking thing in the photo is not a Photoshop job. It’s my lens. In brief in gives me a ton of control over perspective and depth of field by allowing the optic to be moved relative to sensor plane using the knobs and dials. Yes it’s manual focus all the way too.
This is not a review of the lens (though reviews says it’s razor sharp and amazing). It’s just me being excited about the possibilities. You can bet I’ll be talking more about what I learn from tilting and shifting in future posts and on Pro Photo Show. Until then… Gav
by Gavin Seim: Adobe is taking things up a notch once again. Lightroom 3 will bring lots of revamped and new features that should keep it’s current user base happy and continue to bring Lightroom converts into their fold.
Export HD video sideshows with music.
Yep, it just went into public beta and is available for everyone as a free download that stays active until April of 2010, so presumably the retail version will be out near then. The beta does not support upgrading of LR2 catalogs however. Obviously the final version will, but for now it’s still in the feedback stage so you’ll have to make a fresh catalog to use it.
Lightroom 3 will bring major architecture changes under the hood to help speed things up and run faster, but also a host of new features and perhaps even more when the final version ships. Here’s a few quick and dirty screenshots, musings and details on whats new.
19 Tips To Get 300 Client Inquiries: Special guest post byMatt McGraw.
1.
Vendors, vendors, vendors. Their important. From reception caterers to cake makers. I do a pre-questionnaire for my brides and grooms. In that questionnaire I find out who I am working with, from DJs ,to Florist, to cake people, to ministers to, reception places etc. I obtain all the contact information for these vendors. After the wedding I compile a list of photos that each vendor would find interest in. I splash my logo and email them the images, then say if they would like any of the photos in high res and without my logo to let me know.
For reception sites: If it’s somewhere I have never worked I’ll send them a 20X30 print with my logo splashed all over it and 4X6s of the same photo with my contact info to pass out to potential brides. I’ll also send them a disc with images they might be interested in and tell them they can use whatever photos they would like to.
Become buddies with the vendors too. For example, I’m on a “hug basis” with the sales directors of 5 major hotels in town. Their cell numbers are in my phone. I photograph their kids. I’ll sometimes meet them for a beer or two. I never promote my photography. It’s always buddy talk. Sure we talk shop sometimes, but it’s not my goal. They feel comfortable around me.
2.
Newsletter/blog: Start one… I use constant contact set up a page and send mine out once a month. My email list is 6300 strong. Most photographers have a webpage set up. We do not.. I’m not opposed to that but I just prefer the email newsletter.
Next question for you is how we get 6300 people on there. Anyone that emails me gets on the list.
The only people who do not get on my list are emails that are inquiring where I am not available. Also I advertise in two magazines where they provide a lead sheet. I’ll copy and paste emails of brides and grooms where I am not booked. I do this once a month right before I send out the newsletter.
3.
Advertising: In the beginning of your career, spend most of your advertising money online as opposed to print. Print is just name recognition. They’ll see or hear your name and see an ad and say I’ve heard of this photographer.
See the 
