Description
Price: $24.95
(as of Mar 25, 2025 11:59:56 UTC – Details)
Photographers now have the ideal resource to build a solid foundation for success. The Art and Business of Photography takes an honest approach to the photography profession and is a guide to the artistic and business skills that are the foundation of a career in photography. Professional photographer and former ASMP president, Susan Carr, discusses the realities of the photography industry along with the struggles of expressing creativity and producing quality photography. Topics in this distinctive guide include the balance of being an artist and a business person, the basics of copyright, pricing skills, how to find future prospects, and the importance of craft and creativity. Firsthand experiences and sample photographs by top photographers–pursuing various photography subjects and different types of clients–serve to enhance the unique combination of art and business included in this book. This volume also covers the history of the profession and the current state of the industry. Anyone with a love for a photography and the creative process will benefit from this realistic yet inspiring approach to the photography industry.
Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don’t aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.
Publisher : Allworth; 1st edition (February 15, 2011)
Language : English
Paperback : 256 pages
ISBN-10 : 1581157592
ISBN-13 : 978-1581157598
Item Weight : 12.8 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 6.1 x 9 inches
DenverPhotographer –
Loving this book
I just started reading this book today and so far I would have to say it is the best book for photographers I have come across. The creative arts are surrounded by a number of “authorities” who seem to specialize in creating lies that work to the detriment of the artist… In the first three chapters Susan punches holes in several of these lies. For example the well promoted lie that doing commercial work pollutes your own work. Susan call this belief “nonsense” and she is right. Subscribe to that belief and you will starve. As much as art critics love to talk about the hardship of some dead artist (whose work is NOW worth a fortune), economic hardship does not foster creativity. It hampers it.One of my pet peeves of late is the mantra pushed by the numerous consultants to photographers and some art buyers that “you can only shoot one thing” and that if you do shoot more than that you should only show one style and subject matter in your portfolio. Most photographers strongly reject that notion knowing it will cost them a lot of business and opportunities for creative fulfillment. But the pundits continue to preach it… to the detriment of many photographers. The truth is the market is such that very few photographers who limit themselves will do well as a result. Susan shines the light of truth on this and states “the successful contemporary photographer needs the ability to work in and for multiple outlets.”hearing someone else say what I know (and I believe any professional photographer knows) to be true is correct had the effect of lifting a large weight from my shoulders….And the best part is something I discovered that I always thought I had. Susan talks about the need to separate your commercial work from your own creative work and to be as dedicated to doing your own creative work as the commercial. I always thought that I had my own vision and style, but I found myself grabbing my camera and going into one of the most photographed landmarks in the city. And I discovered something interesting… I was looking at it in a whole new way, shooting angles no one else had done before. It was as if I had discovered a whole new way of looking at things… MINE. I realized at that moment that I had been seeing what I created through what I thought to be the eyes of my prospective clients and in doing so was cheating myself out of the best reward for doing the work.I highly recommend this book. It validates what you know is true and helps you to navigate the lies and confusions that have entered into and muddied up the waters in our industry
Ray K. –
A great book that was full of exactly what I expected
A great book that was full of exactly what I expected. There are tips about how to navigate setting up a photo business that come from the business AND artist angle and that is really helpful.Read it twice and there are things I will continue to get out of this book for quite a while.
Deborah L Hughes –
Good, sound advice
Starting a business is not for the faint of heart. Starting a photography business where melding your heart’s passion with making a living is a difficult, tedious road. This book gives some down-to-earth pointers on how to get started and the pitfalls to watch out for.
Winder –
Not sure
The book is not really what I expected, but then I’m not sure what I expected if that makes any sense. It is a not a really hard look at the Art or the Business of photography, but more of a brief editorial. Short pieces of interviews from friends of the author make a large portion of the book.
Matthew J. Simpson –
Another Free Amazon Ebook
This is one of Amazon’s periodically Free Ebooks. Pick it up when free.
Geoffrey Manasse –
Just what the doctor ordered
Susan Carr has been running ASMP’s education programs for a while now and she understands how to motivate professional photographers. She links the necessity of keeping your personal art and your commercial work going simultaneously in addition to discussing the latest on copyright and licensing. All good stuff.
lisa Palmer –
very helpful
Helpful direction and transition in this changing profession. liked hearing her story and learning business applications. Loved that she talked about the pioneers of this fascinating profession.
Thomas D. Stillman –
The Current State of the Photography Business
The business of photography has gone through significant changes over the past few years. This book addresses those changes and helps professional photographers figure out how we can all survive in the new photography market. A must read for anybody looking to make a living as a professional photographer.