Submission Guidelines
World Images Today Magazine
Photo and Article Submissions to World Images Today magazine, the official magazine of The World Photographers Organization.
I am open to all sorts of submissions. Photos are always welcomed. We love to get informative articles with accompanying photos. World Images Today (WIT) has some regular features that we appreciate contributions for. These categories include the following:
• Been There—Done That: This is a section were contributors tell stories with their photos of places of interest that they have experienced.
• Pro Pointers—These are just simply tips and techniques to help photographers in day-to-day shooting.
• Active Markets—This is a section where we bring to the knowledge of members and photographers of open markets who will publish, and sometimes pay, for photography.
• Featured Photographers—This is an email interview that I conduct with photographers, both pros and serious amateurs, to open doors to other photographers. Feel free to volunteer for an interview if you have something to share.
• Cover photos are sometimes supplied by contributors.
• Inside covers are often supplied by contributors.
• There is generally a photo showcase that allows photographers to see their work published in an International publication.
• Articles tend to range between 750 to 2,500 words.
• We have regular columnists and welcome more.
• World Images Today does not generally offer payment for contributions. All contributors get full credit for their work and retain all of their rights, with the exception of the use of their work in World Images Today and in The World Photographers Organization (TWPO) promotions. Their work is NEVER sold by WIT or TWPO.
• Our members are truly Worldwide. We have division bureau chiefs in the US, the UK, Australia, Asia, Singapore, India, and the Netherlands.
• World Images Today is open to the public. It is delivered to all TWPO members, to high-level book and magazine editors, production managers at major publishers who choose book covers, literary agents, modeling agencies, stock photo agencies, book and magazine publishers, and other selective VIPs. This is possible due to my, R. Dodge Woodson, connections in both the International photography and publishing market. Google me if you don’t believe these words.
• The World Photographers Organization is an elite group of photographers. Most of us are older pros who cut our teeth on KodaChrome and who have moved into the digital world. Other members are younger, some are much younger. Not everyone here is a full-time pro, but members do have access to us old workhorses when they need advice.
Many of our members are part-time pros. They make thousands of dollars a year part time. Some of our members are serious amateurs. TWPO caters to any serious photographer at any level of experience and equipment.
Members are not judged by their camera bodies, their lenses, their photo income, or other demographics. We judge photos, not photographers. Lifetime Memberships are only $197. We need your support! Join NOW, please! However, you are not required to be a member to be a contributor to WIT and there is no preferential treatment on acceptable submissions.
Submit only low-res photos at 72 DPI with a maximum measurement of 1,000.
Send Queries and Submissions to:
mailto:publisher@wpomembers.com
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Official World Photographers Organization annoucement to all members
To all World Photographers Organization Members:
A lot has happened with WPO in the last year and a lot of new plans are in place for a start date of June 1, 2010.
I warn you that this is a long message, but it is well worth reading.
Many of you have followed the happenings in the WPO Press Room. I am not going to take time here to go into lengthy details of what has happened. What is going to happen is far more important.
Rather than write this as a letter, I am simply going to list key items that I feel you deserve to know about WPO now that it is about one year old.
The organization has been a massive failure financially. It seems that a lot of people want privileged professional information for free. Well, it just doesn’t work that way unless we all join together.
I envisioned an organization that was accessible to all serious photographers at a price they could afford. Apparently, most digital camera users these days, not necessarily photographers, want free services and places to post their photos among the general public and friends for conversational purposes. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, but it is not what WPO was meant to be and it is not what WPO will be.
The financial failure of WPO is all on me. I paid for a pro site. I paid for pro marketing to the tune of $3,500 that did not work. Long story short, I put up more than $10K of my personal money and countless hours of my time to make the WPO successful. I failed, and I failed miserably. This is not something I am accustomed to. I am used to being a winner. But there is no one to blame other than me.
I honestly thought amateur photographers would flock to a Worldwide Organization (that part is working) to learn from working pros who are both part-time and full-time. Maybe I am too old to read the room any longer when it comes to photography. It clearly is not what it once was.
The up side of WPO is that we have a very strong fundamental foundation of serious people who are willing to make commitments and to improve photography in the digital age so that it doesn’t have to be heard at every event, “Oh, it will be okay. I will fix it when I get it on the computer.” Real photographers get it right in the field and touch it up in the darkroom, digital darkroom or physical darkroom.
Don’t get me wrong. I fought off digital for a long time, but now that I have been in it for a few years, I love it. It is like comparing writing a book on a typewriter to writing one with the aid of a computer.
The WPO has some Major Players in it for members. Few of them engage in public forums and such, but they are here. We also have a host of part-timers and pros who work diligently to produce some top-quality photos and to make a few bucks, or a lot of them, along the way. Some serious amateurs are among us, but I find that it is mostly the people who want to get published or what to sell their work who are joining, and this is a key factor in some of my decisions for the future.
I am not closing WPO to amateurs, although that might be a future change if there is not satisfactory interest for me from them.
I have stopped paying consultants and marketing experts for WPO. Right or wrong, I am going to make the decisions. Ideally, I hope that all WPO members will guide me in making favorable decisions for the membership.
I plan to step up the commercial element of WPO. We will get away from basic photography and get into what it takes to create great, or at least good, photos. I will also focus on the ways to get published and to make sales of prints. Then I will address how to do business on the local level.
Let me give you an example of something I discovered today.
One of our members here in Maine charges less than $200 for a senior portrait. He has a nice, commercial studio with all the overhead and is an excellent photographer as well as a friend of mine. His photos have been published in books and magazines, and he is becoming a decent writer, which helps to sell photos. Now keep this number is your head--$200. (That is two hundred dollars.).
I was reading the member magazine from PPA today. It has an article in it for setting up studio space in your home. I want to commend the PPA for reaching out more than they used to. It seemed like they were locked into wedding work for a long time, but now they are mixing it up, and it is good. Now, follow this example.
A couple in a southern state that is not known for high incomes set up an impressive, in-home studio. They had never done portrait work before. Their first sale of a senior portrait went for $5,000. Now they have a regular clientele with an average price for a senior portrait going for $2,000 dollars. That is 10 times what our member in Maine is getting, and they don’t have the commercial overhead. This is a good example of what I want to bring to WPO.
I think we can create online courses and workshops for our members. This takes a lot of time and they will not be free. However, some mini courses could be offered for free from me and photographers willing to donate some of their time. But, keep in mind that many of us are full-time pros and can’t give our time away but so freely.
World Images Today is going to change. It will still exist as it does today with some modifications. The version open to the public will not have “Member Only Info” in it. You can get that by logging in on the WPO site. Contributions of photos and articles by members are welcome and needed. These can be for public consumption of private use among members.
The Press Room is going to shut down. One of our members brought to my attention what is in the works with Ning. It is unacceptable to me and I will be closing the Ning site before the first of June.
Some of our members are adapt at FaceBook®. I am working with them now to create ONE OFFICIAL page there for WPO that might work. Just one of the photographers I am working with has nearly 600 fans.
WPO could use a Twitter® expert if anyone is willing to take it on.
I welcome anyone who would like to be a monthly contributor to WIT for the exposure. While the membership at WPO is small, the people who see WIT are high-level decision makers in multiple industries and if we allow the public to see the magazine with enough promotion behind it, this could be a good thing.
WPO will not conduct photo contests—unless members contribute suitable suggestions for something that might work. That was a disaster when I tried it. You can submit photos for cover selections if you like. Please send only low res photos.
I am hearing from numerous members how well the Press Pass is working for everything from car shows to sporting events, to musical functions, and so forth. This is good. WIT is being taken very seriously.
Our Worldwide base is broad, dedicated, and very helpful to me.
I need you, our members, to tell me what you want from WPO. In all of this change and my offer to refund dues, only one member has exercised that right. This says a lot about the loyalty of the members.
I am not stupid, well maybe sometimes I do stupid things. But, I know full well that I have not done much with WPO for awhile now. It is difficult to stay motivated when people don’t care and when there is no income for operating costs. I want to change this! I have never been a quitter and I have no intention of quitting now if the membership drops to 50 people, then so be it. I would like to have 50,000, but I always wanted Santa to bring me and pony and that didn’t happen.
I have heard from a lot of members and I know who is onboard for the long haul. There are some that might be iffy, but they are few in number.
I talked with the WPO website guy today. He is going to get me a price for setting up something along the lines of the Press Room on the WPO site. We are also working on a way to make accessing new information or finding older information easier for members. It is not that any of this is difficult for him, but it can be cost prohibitive at this point. But, I am on it.
During this year I have been in an evaluation mode and have not released the full power of what the WPO can do. I wanted to see what the heart of the membership would be. I do plan on turning loose more sensitive information to the members-only section in the coming months.
I plan to add press releases, like one I saw today where Getty ate up another stock agency, to the site.
I plan to add RSS feed articles for what they are worth. Sometimes they have a glimmer of a nugget in them.
I am going to invest the time to seek out and interview many more successful photographers of all types for the Featured Photographers section of the site and may put them in WIT, or at least part of the interview in WIT.
WPO members who want to publish bound books or e-books will get discounted pricing by Lone Wolf Enterprises, Ltd. and Creative Consulting, Inc.
Creative Consulting, Inc.(CCI) will consider paying developers of online photo courses and workshops that CCI will have all rights to. Or, a royalty arrangement could be made.
I have now suspended the refund on membership dues offer that has been in place for the last many weeks. As of 4-28-10, there are no refunds on membership dues.
Press Credentials and Model Consulting Credentials will remain available to WPO members.
WPO will be happy to list Member Links to their web sites at no cost.
Photo Critiques: I will offer pro photo with the form that can be reviewed on the WPO site for a fee of only $10 per photo for our members. Other pro members are willing to do critiques, but I do not know what their fees will be. I would suspect they will be closer to $15 to $20 a photo. I can’t speak for them. If you want a pro in a specific field of photography to give you a critique, ask me and I will put you in touch with the pro. WPO and I are not trying to mark up the cost of the service.
I plan to review articles, services, sites, and products to increase the number of No-Bull Reviews.
I plan to add more Pro Pointers. It would be nice if other members would submit their own pro pointer for the site and for WIT.
In closing, I am going to continue to add to WPO when I can. Since there is no real income from the site, it will limit my time. I have to make a living. I invite all members to coordinate programs through me. I will delegate out certain duties to certain people, but I will control most of the organization for the foreseeable future.
At the moment, I do not have a viable plan for increasing membership. Nothing I have tried as worked in volume. If any of you have ideas, I am more than willing to listen.
I will be posting this letter on the Press Room and on the WPO Blog. I will also email it to each member, but some members may get it before others. I am not sure I can get it out to all members at the same time.
Please email me at publisher@wpomembers.com with your thoughts, desires, and if you are willing to assume any of the time-consuming elements of the organization. WPO may die with me, but not before, and I have no intention of rolling over anytime soon. But, it can be a much greater force if we do this as a team. I am not much of a team player based on history, but I can compromise for the greater good.
Let’s make this happen. It is our organization!
Dodge
A lot has happened with WPO in the last year and a lot of new plans are in place for a start date of June 1, 2010.
I warn you that this is a long message, but it is well worth reading.
Many of you have followed the happenings in the WPO Press Room. I am not going to take time here to go into lengthy details of what has happened. What is going to happen is far more important.
Rather than write this as a letter, I am simply going to list key items that I feel you deserve to know about WPO now that it is about one year old.
The organization has been a massive failure financially. It seems that a lot of people want privileged professional information for free. Well, it just doesn’t work that way unless we all join together.
I envisioned an organization that was accessible to all serious photographers at a price they could afford. Apparently, most digital camera users these days, not necessarily photographers, want free services and places to post their photos among the general public and friends for conversational purposes. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, but it is not what WPO was meant to be and it is not what WPO will be.
The financial failure of WPO is all on me. I paid for a pro site. I paid for pro marketing to the tune of $3,500 that did not work. Long story short, I put up more than $10K of my personal money and countless hours of my time to make the WPO successful. I failed, and I failed miserably. This is not something I am accustomed to. I am used to being a winner. But there is no one to blame other than me.
I honestly thought amateur photographers would flock to a Worldwide Organization (that part is working) to learn from working pros who are both part-time and full-time. Maybe I am too old to read the room any longer when it comes to photography. It clearly is not what it once was.
The up side of WPO is that we have a very strong fundamental foundation of serious people who are willing to make commitments and to improve photography in the digital age so that it doesn’t have to be heard at every event, “Oh, it will be okay. I will fix it when I get it on the computer.” Real photographers get it right in the field and touch it up in the darkroom, digital darkroom or physical darkroom.
Don’t get me wrong. I fought off digital for a long time, but now that I have been in it for a few years, I love it. It is like comparing writing a book on a typewriter to writing one with the aid of a computer.
The WPO has some Major Players in it for members. Few of them engage in public forums and such, but they are here. We also have a host of part-timers and pros who work diligently to produce some top-quality photos and to make a few bucks, or a lot of them, along the way. Some serious amateurs are among us, but I find that it is mostly the people who want to get published or what to sell their work who are joining, and this is a key factor in some of my decisions for the future.
I am not closing WPO to amateurs, although that might be a future change if there is not satisfactory interest for me from them.
I have stopped paying consultants and marketing experts for WPO. Right or wrong, I am going to make the decisions. Ideally, I hope that all WPO members will guide me in making favorable decisions for the membership.
I plan to step up the commercial element of WPO. We will get away from basic photography and get into what it takes to create great, or at least good, photos. I will also focus on the ways to get published and to make sales of prints. Then I will address how to do business on the local level.
Let me give you an example of something I discovered today.
One of our members here in Maine charges less than $200 for a senior portrait. He has a nice, commercial studio with all the overhead and is an excellent photographer as well as a friend of mine. His photos have been published in books and magazines, and he is becoming a decent writer, which helps to sell photos. Now keep this number is your head--$200. (That is two hundred dollars.).
I was reading the member magazine from PPA today. It has an article in it for setting up studio space in your home. I want to commend the PPA for reaching out more than they used to. It seemed like they were locked into wedding work for a long time, but now they are mixing it up, and it is good. Now, follow this example.
A couple in a southern state that is not known for high incomes set up an impressive, in-home studio. They had never done portrait work before. Their first sale of a senior portrait went for $5,000. Now they have a regular clientele with an average price for a senior portrait going for $2,000 dollars. That is 10 times what our member in Maine is getting, and they don’t have the commercial overhead. This is a good example of what I want to bring to WPO.
I think we can create online courses and workshops for our members. This takes a lot of time and they will not be free. However, some mini courses could be offered for free from me and photographers willing to donate some of their time. But, keep in mind that many of us are full-time pros and can’t give our time away but so freely.
World Images Today is going to change. It will still exist as it does today with some modifications. The version open to the public will not have “Member Only Info” in it. You can get that by logging in on the WPO site. Contributions of photos and articles by members are welcome and needed. These can be for public consumption of private use among members.
The Press Room is going to shut down. One of our members brought to my attention what is in the works with Ning. It is unacceptable to me and I will be closing the Ning site before the first of June.
Some of our members are adapt at FaceBook®. I am working with them now to create ONE OFFICIAL page there for WPO that might work. Just one of the photographers I am working with has nearly 600 fans.
WPO could use a Twitter® expert if anyone is willing to take it on.
I welcome anyone who would like to be a monthly contributor to WIT for the exposure. While the membership at WPO is small, the people who see WIT are high-level decision makers in multiple industries and if we allow the public to see the magazine with enough promotion behind it, this could be a good thing.
WPO will not conduct photo contests—unless members contribute suitable suggestions for something that might work. That was a disaster when I tried it. You can submit photos for cover selections if you like. Please send only low res photos.
I am hearing from numerous members how well the Press Pass is working for everything from car shows to sporting events, to musical functions, and so forth. This is good. WIT is being taken very seriously.
Our Worldwide base is broad, dedicated, and very helpful to me.
I need you, our members, to tell me what you want from WPO. In all of this change and my offer to refund dues, only one member has exercised that right. This says a lot about the loyalty of the members.
I am not stupid, well maybe sometimes I do stupid things. But, I know full well that I have not done much with WPO for awhile now. It is difficult to stay motivated when people don’t care and when there is no income for operating costs. I want to change this! I have never been a quitter and I have no intention of quitting now if the membership drops to 50 people, then so be it. I would like to have 50,000, but I always wanted Santa to bring me and pony and that didn’t happen.
I have heard from a lot of members and I know who is onboard for the long haul. There are some that might be iffy, but they are few in number.
I talked with the WPO website guy today. He is going to get me a price for setting up something along the lines of the Press Room on the WPO site. We are also working on a way to make accessing new information or finding older information easier for members. It is not that any of this is difficult for him, but it can be cost prohibitive at this point. But, I am on it.
During this year I have been in an evaluation mode and have not released the full power of what the WPO can do. I wanted to see what the heart of the membership would be. I do plan on turning loose more sensitive information to the members-only section in the coming months.
I plan to add press releases, like one I saw today where Getty ate up another stock agency, to the site.
I plan to add RSS feed articles for what they are worth. Sometimes they have a glimmer of a nugget in them.
I am going to invest the time to seek out and interview many more successful photographers of all types for the Featured Photographers section of the site and may put them in WIT, or at least part of the interview in WIT.
WPO members who want to publish bound books or e-books will get discounted pricing by Lone Wolf Enterprises, Ltd. and Creative Consulting, Inc.
Creative Consulting, Inc.(CCI) will consider paying developers of online photo courses and workshops that CCI will have all rights to. Or, a royalty arrangement could be made.
I have now suspended the refund on membership dues offer that has been in place for the last many weeks. As of 4-28-10, there are no refunds on membership dues.
Press Credentials and Model Consulting Credentials will remain available to WPO members.
WPO will be happy to list Member Links to their web sites at no cost.
Photo Critiques: I will offer pro photo with the form that can be reviewed on the WPO site for a fee of only $10 per photo for our members. Other pro members are willing to do critiques, but I do not know what their fees will be. I would suspect they will be closer to $15 to $20 a photo. I can’t speak for them. If you want a pro in a specific field of photography to give you a critique, ask me and I will put you in touch with the pro. WPO and I are not trying to mark up the cost of the service.
I plan to review articles, services, sites, and products to increase the number of No-Bull Reviews.
I plan to add more Pro Pointers. It would be nice if other members would submit their own pro pointer for the site and for WIT.
In closing, I am going to continue to add to WPO when I can. Since there is no real income from the site, it will limit my time. I have to make a living. I invite all members to coordinate programs through me. I will delegate out certain duties to certain people, but I will control most of the organization for the foreseeable future.
At the moment, I do not have a viable plan for increasing membership. Nothing I have tried as worked in volume. If any of you have ideas, I am more than willing to listen.
I will be posting this letter on the Press Room and on the WPO Blog. I will also email it to each member, but some members may get it before others. I am not sure I can get it out to all members at the same time.
Please email me at publisher@wpomembers.com with your thoughts, desires, and if you are willing to assume any of the time-consuming elements of the organization. WPO may die with me, but not before, and I have no intention of rolling over anytime soon. But, it can be a much greater force if we do this as a team. I am not much of a team player based on history, but I can compromise for the greater good.
Let’s make this happen. It is our organization!
Dodge
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wedding Photography by R. Dodge Woodson
Wedding Photography by R. Dodge Woodson
R. Dodge Woodson is a master photographer with more than 30 years of experience in everything from stock photography to fine art prints to wedding celebrations. Dodge has focused on his work as an author and book producer for many years. During this time he has maintained his work in photography for the non-service sector.
Effective June 1, 2010, R. Dodge Woodson, who is now semi-retired from his work as an author, is once again making himself and his flawless photography available to the general public on a limited basis.
The personal-service photography that Dodge will be offering includes the following:
Weddings of all types and locations.
Powerful Pet Photography in a client's home.
Photography of Babies and Beyond for parents who what to capture the magical moments of their children before they mature into a new phase of life without enough memorable images to share and remember for years to come.
Portraits will be available in Dodge's onsite studio, on location, and in a client's home.
Boudoir photography will be another option for people who want personal photos created in the comfort of their own homes.
Additional forms of professional photography will also be available after the first of June, 2010.
You can view some of Dodge's work at his online gallery: http://www.masterofmoments.com.
R. Dodge Woodson
R. Dodge Woodson is a master photographer with more than 30 years of experience in everything from stock photography to fine art prints to wedding celebrations. Dodge has focused on his work as an author and book producer for many years. During this time he has maintained his work in photography for the non-service sector.
Effective June 1, 2010, R. Dodge Woodson, who is now semi-retired from his work as an author, is once again making himself and his flawless photography available to the general public on a limited basis.
The personal-service photography that Dodge will be offering includes the following:
Weddings of all types and locations.
Powerful Pet Photography in a client's home.
Photography of Babies and Beyond for parents who what to capture the magical moments of their children before they mature into a new phase of life without enough memorable images to share and remember for years to come.
Portraits will be available in Dodge's onsite studio, on location, and in a client's home.
Boudoir photography will be another option for people who want personal photos created in the comfort of their own homes.
Additional forms of professional photography will also be available after the first of June, 2010.
You can view some of Dodge's work at his online gallery: http://www.masterofmoments.com.
R. Dodge Woodson
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The World Photographers Organization Lifetime Membership Price
Special pricing is still in effect for new members at The WPO. You can get a lifetime membership for only $67 if you take advantage of the offer prior to April 15, 2010. This will be the last day of the special offer.
Effective April 16, 2010 The World Photographer Organization is going to add additional member benefits and return the cost of a lifetime membership to $197. By the end of this year I expect the lifetime membership fee to be set at $250.
The focus of The WPO is shifting in two directions. Our pro members will spend more time offering advice on proven ways to increase income made through photography. We will also add an educational element to the site that is not presently available.
Members will have access to free, online, mini-workshops/courses that are not presently offered. They will also be offered deep discounts on full-blown workshops and courses that are now in development.
This may seem expensive to non professionals. The economy is bad. Yet, if you do a comparative analysis of other photography organizations and associations you will find that most of them charge more for an annual membership than what The WPO will be offering lifetime memberships for after 4-15-10.
Times are tough. Money is hard to come by and difficult to part with. But, if you look at it as an investment in your future, a probable tax deduction, and a direct connections to well-established, seasoned professionals for help, I don't see how you can beat the deal.
The goal of The World Photographers Organization is not to make a million dollars. As the founder, my mission for the organization is to provide a portal to professional photography for average photographers. Whether you want to do some pet photography now and then or shoot weddings on weekends for thousands of dollars, The WPO can help you a great deal.
Thank you all.
R. Dodge Woodson
Founder
World Photographers Organization
Effective April 16, 2010 The World Photographer Organization is going to add additional member benefits and return the cost of a lifetime membership to $197. By the end of this year I expect the lifetime membership fee to be set at $250.
The focus of The WPO is shifting in two directions. Our pro members will spend more time offering advice on proven ways to increase income made through photography. We will also add an educational element to the site that is not presently available.
Members will have access to free, online, mini-workshops/courses that are not presently offered. They will also be offered deep discounts on full-blown workshops and courses that are now in development.
This may seem expensive to non professionals. The economy is bad. Yet, if you do a comparative analysis of other photography organizations and associations you will find that most of them charge more for an annual membership than what The WPO will be offering lifetime memberships for after 4-15-10.
Times are tough. Money is hard to come by and difficult to part with. But, if you look at it as an investment in your future, a probable tax deduction, and a direct connections to well-established, seasoned professionals for help, I don't see how you can beat the deal.
The goal of The World Photographers Organization is not to make a million dollars. As the founder, my mission for the organization is to provide a portal to professional photography for average photographers. Whether you want to do some pet photography now and then or shoot weddings on weekends for thousands of dollars, The WPO can help you a great deal.
Thank you all.
R. Dodge Woodson
Founder
World Photographers Organization
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Certificates of authenticity
Certificates of authenticity (COA) are routinely offered by photographers and artists who are selling their work. What should you look for?
Here is the fact: Most legitimate fine art professionals create their own COAs. This may not seem as safe as some other types of COAs, but don't be fooled.
Look on your favorite search engine and you will find a host of suppliers of so-called COAs. Some of them sell COA templates for around $30. Anyone can use them. More complex offerings get you a fancy sticker at about $30 each to put on work to be sold.
Then there are companies who pay people to witness the signing of a COA to confirm its authenticity. These are pretty safe, but they add a great deal to the cost of a print. And remember this, they are paying a witness. Anyone can do that.
New artists have the most trouble proofing their legitimacy. They often join fine art associations or organizations to help boost their sales. This can be good for everyone, but it still limits your proof of security.
In most cases, you have to trust your artist. Since most people can't find a reliable plumber, how are you to find a reputable artist who's work has collectible value?
Do an Internet search of any author you are considering. New artist may not be easily found, and that is a problem for them. There are some good bargains to be made for collectors and investors who choose to gamble on unknown names.
Established professionals will show up in various search categories. Don't settle for finding them listed only for the site you are considering buying from. If they are good, they will have other listings that they do not control that you can check. Allow me to use myself as an example.
If you run a search on me, R. Dodge Woodson, you will spend a lot of time reading all the entries you find. I am listed as a best-selling author. You can find me listed as an internationally-known photographer. You can look me up at online book stores and find books I have written. You can find interviews I have given to others. Basically, I can't hide from you, nor do I need to.
My listings are extensive and most photographers will not have the diversity or number of listings show up that I do. This is okay. Just make sure they have an established track record. Read their bio on their web page and confirm it. Do your due diligence to protect yourself. The COA that you get is only as good as the paper it is printed on. An artist you choose is only as good as the artist's reputation. No legitimate public figure, such as myself, is going to ruin an outstanding reputation selling counterfeit photo prints.
I assume some people will have other advice for you, but this is the best I can find to give you based on my research and my experience.
R. Dodge Woodson
Here is the fact: Most legitimate fine art professionals create their own COAs. This may not seem as safe as some other types of COAs, but don't be fooled.
Look on your favorite search engine and you will find a host of suppliers of so-called COAs. Some of them sell COA templates for around $30. Anyone can use them. More complex offerings get you a fancy sticker at about $30 each to put on work to be sold.
Then there are companies who pay people to witness the signing of a COA to confirm its authenticity. These are pretty safe, but they add a great deal to the cost of a print. And remember this, they are paying a witness. Anyone can do that.
New artists have the most trouble proofing their legitimacy. They often join fine art associations or organizations to help boost their sales. This can be good for everyone, but it still limits your proof of security.
In most cases, you have to trust your artist. Since most people can't find a reliable plumber, how are you to find a reputable artist who's work has collectible value?
Do an Internet search of any author you are considering. New artist may not be easily found, and that is a problem for them. There are some good bargains to be made for collectors and investors who choose to gamble on unknown names.
Established professionals will show up in various search categories. Don't settle for finding them listed only for the site you are considering buying from. If they are good, they will have other listings that they do not control that you can check. Allow me to use myself as an example.
If you run a search on me, R. Dodge Woodson, you will spend a lot of time reading all the entries you find. I am listed as a best-selling author. You can find me listed as an internationally-known photographer. You can look me up at online book stores and find books I have written. You can find interviews I have given to others. Basically, I can't hide from you, nor do I need to.
My listings are extensive and most photographers will not have the diversity or number of listings show up that I do. This is okay. Just make sure they have an established track record. Read their bio on their web page and confirm it. Do your due diligence to protect yourself. The COA that you get is only as good as the paper it is printed on. An artist you choose is only as good as the artist's reputation. No legitimate public figure, such as myself, is going to ruin an outstanding reputation selling counterfeit photo prints.
I assume some people will have other advice for you, but this is the best I can find to give you based on my research and my experience.
R. Dodge Woodson
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The focus of World Photographers Organization
I can't be everything to everyone. For example, I seem to suck big time at I-Net marketing. Give me direct mail and classified and space ads from the 80's and 90's and I can make them sing. Not so in the case of the Web. Guess I am too old, too stupid, too ignorant, or just too damned set in my ways. But so be it.
I am a pretty fair photographer and writer. As a business owner, I have been self-employed since 1979. In my heyday in VA, I had in excess of 120 employees and subcontractors building 60 houses a year, being a land developer, running a plumbing and remodeling business, and running a property maintenance business.
This has NOTHING to do with photography, but it does show that I am a survivor and often someone who thrives on insight. I have written over 100 books for major publishers and dozens upon dozens of magazine articles. I am a talk-show guest on radio stations in the US and Canada. My photography has appeared in a multitude of places with great reception. I have also been an expert witness and a designated real estate broker and brokerage owner. During all of this, I have always kept my photography work alive.
I didn't want to sell my photography soul. Selling out as a writer didn't bother me, but my photography was my lifelong passion and I would not whore it out for money. YET, I do know how to do it and make it happen.
After a lot of time in the woods thinking, I have come to a decision. WPO is my baby and will be so until I can't maintain it. Frankly, I greatly underestimated the commitment of photographers today when I embarked on WPO.
I know what I am about to say will upset some people, but I am me and I say what I mean and I mean what I say and if someone doesn't like it, they found their way in, they can find their way out!
I grew up during a time when photography was very different from what it is today. Of course we did the dodge and burn stuff and some photographers played with air brushes. For me personally, I shot on KodaChrome 64 slide film. It could not be developed in my own darkroom. I either got the shot or I didn't. Magazines and ad agencies insisted on KodaChrome 64 or 25, or a suitable equal.
My point is this, that is when photographers were photographers and not digital camera operators who manipulate their images on a computer. Ask the old Grey Beards, they will tell you what real photography was.
When it comes to making money with photos, the fundamentals have not changed a great deal. People still get married. Babies are born, and fashion changes. Sure, now we have headshots for dating services online, but that's okay.
Here is my bottom line. I am GOING TO BE ME! I may piss some people off. It is not my intent, but I am going to call the shots as I see them.
I have spent a great deal of time researching potential WPO competition. I won't go into a blow-by-blow breakdown here. What I will say is as follows:
I intend for WPO to be open to all serious photographers, regardless of their skill levels or their equipment.
I am going to focus WPO on making photos worth money. If you don't want to sell them, that is up to you.
I am going to show people how to make a few hundred to even a few thousand dollars a month part-time with their camera, with minimal advertising, and without quitting their day job.
WPO is not reserved for Pros, but I and the other pros at WPO who are close to me, and there are many and there are some real name bangers in the group, will take any serious photographer from baby steps to professional-quality photos.
This site, the Press Room, will be predominately for WPO members and guests for up to 30 days.
This was the direction I had envisioned for WPO to start with. Marketing gurus swayed me due to my lack of experience on the Net. Screw it, I am doing it my way.
We may be a small group of only a few hundred photographers, but we will be a powerful resource to each other.
So much for my time on the soapbox.
Dodge
I am a pretty fair photographer and writer. As a business owner, I have been self-employed since 1979. In my heyday in VA, I had in excess of 120 employees and subcontractors building 60 houses a year, being a land developer, running a plumbing and remodeling business, and running a property maintenance business.
This has NOTHING to do with photography, but it does show that I am a survivor and often someone who thrives on insight. I have written over 100 books for major publishers and dozens upon dozens of magazine articles. I am a talk-show guest on radio stations in the US and Canada. My photography has appeared in a multitude of places with great reception. I have also been an expert witness and a designated real estate broker and brokerage owner. During all of this, I have always kept my photography work alive.
I didn't want to sell my photography soul. Selling out as a writer didn't bother me, but my photography was my lifelong passion and I would not whore it out for money. YET, I do know how to do it and make it happen.
After a lot of time in the woods thinking, I have come to a decision. WPO is my baby and will be so until I can't maintain it. Frankly, I greatly underestimated the commitment of photographers today when I embarked on WPO.
I know what I am about to say will upset some people, but I am me and I say what I mean and I mean what I say and if someone doesn't like it, they found their way in, they can find their way out!
I grew up during a time when photography was very different from what it is today. Of course we did the dodge and burn stuff and some photographers played with air brushes. For me personally, I shot on KodaChrome 64 slide film. It could not be developed in my own darkroom. I either got the shot or I didn't. Magazines and ad agencies insisted on KodaChrome 64 or 25, or a suitable equal.
My point is this, that is when photographers were photographers and not digital camera operators who manipulate their images on a computer. Ask the old Grey Beards, they will tell you what real photography was.
When it comes to making money with photos, the fundamentals have not changed a great deal. People still get married. Babies are born, and fashion changes. Sure, now we have headshots for dating services online, but that's okay.
Here is my bottom line. I am GOING TO BE ME! I may piss some people off. It is not my intent, but I am going to call the shots as I see them.
I have spent a great deal of time researching potential WPO competition. I won't go into a blow-by-blow breakdown here. What I will say is as follows:
I intend for WPO to be open to all serious photographers, regardless of their skill levels or their equipment.
I am going to focus WPO on making photos worth money. If you don't want to sell them, that is up to you.
I am going to show people how to make a few hundred to even a few thousand dollars a month part-time with their camera, with minimal advertising, and without quitting their day job.
WPO is not reserved for Pros, but I and the other pros at WPO who are close to me, and there are many and there are some real name bangers in the group, will take any serious photographer from baby steps to professional-quality photos.
This site, the Press Room, will be predominately for WPO members and guests for up to 30 days.
This was the direction I had envisioned for WPO to start with. Marketing gurus swayed me due to my lack of experience on the Net. Screw it, I am doing it my way.
We may be a small group of only a few hundred photographers, but we will be a powerful resource to each other.
So much for my time on the soapbox.
Dodge
Friday, March 5, 2010
Please take note of a needed public correction from R. Dodge Woodson and the World Photographers Organization pertaining to Ms. Margo Pinkerton.
Please take note of a needed public correction from R. Dodge Woodson and the World Photographers Organization pertaining to Ms. Margo Pinkerton.
During a recent posting for photographers who might be interested in contributing their work to World Images Today a clash occurred.
Before explaining further, I want to go on the record with the following statement:
I have researched Ms. Pinkerton’s professional standing and work. Without a doubt, she is a very accomplished individual who deserves full respect. Respect that I did not give her when I should have. I sincerely wish I had contacted Ms. Pinkerton directly to discuss our differences, but I did not. This is a very rare action from me, and I want to go on the record as saying that from everything I have seen pertaining to Ms. Pinkerton, she is a strong role model and an accomplished professional within the field of photography.
Now, back to the disagreement that resulted in unfortunate results.
I was reading a post placed by Margo Pinkerton, the President of ASMP, North Carolina.
In her post, Ms. Pinkerton made a comment pertaining to a previous statement that I had made to someone else in a post as being false. I took great offense at this and responded in a disrespectful manner.
A post showing directly in line with Ms. Pinkerton’s post was derogatory to the World Photographers Organization (WPO). It contained a particular word from a poster who WAS NOT Ms. Pinkerton.
Since this event occurred. Ms. Pinkerton and I have exchanged emails in a polite, professional manner.
Ms. Pinkerton’s comments were what I would consider a common reaction. However, I have been personally involved in situations that would prove out my words in a post that Ms. Pinkerton was responding to. Simply put, I overreacted.
In haste, I responded publicly when I should have attempted to contact the posters individually. I did not do this, and I do regret any trouble that my words may have caused Ms. Pinkerton. Her comment pertaining to me and what I had said in an earlier post was a fair statement, it just didn’t happen to be consistent with actual events that I have been personally involved in.
When I wrote a WPO blog heading I used a word that Ms. Pinkerton did not use. I then pasted in Ms. Pinkerton’s words as they had been copied only from her post. I was responding to a post that said what it said and that I took personal offense to.
I want to stress that Ms. Pinkerton NEVER used the word in her post that I used in my heading.
Margo, please accept my apology for acting too quickly with public words when this encounter would have been much better settled with personal communication.
R. Dodge Woodson
World Photographers Organization
During a recent posting for photographers who might be interested in contributing their work to World Images Today a clash occurred.
Before explaining further, I want to go on the record with the following statement:
I have researched Ms. Pinkerton’s professional standing and work. Without a doubt, she is a very accomplished individual who deserves full respect. Respect that I did not give her when I should have. I sincerely wish I had contacted Ms. Pinkerton directly to discuss our differences, but I did not. This is a very rare action from me, and I want to go on the record as saying that from everything I have seen pertaining to Ms. Pinkerton, she is a strong role model and an accomplished professional within the field of photography.
Now, back to the disagreement that resulted in unfortunate results.
I was reading a post placed by Margo Pinkerton, the President of ASMP, North Carolina.
In her post, Ms. Pinkerton made a comment pertaining to a previous statement that I had made to someone else in a post as being false. I took great offense at this and responded in a disrespectful manner.
A post showing directly in line with Ms. Pinkerton’s post was derogatory to the World Photographers Organization (WPO). It contained a particular word from a poster who WAS NOT Ms. Pinkerton.
Since this event occurred. Ms. Pinkerton and I have exchanged emails in a polite, professional manner.
Ms. Pinkerton’s comments were what I would consider a common reaction. However, I have been personally involved in situations that would prove out my words in a post that Ms. Pinkerton was responding to. Simply put, I overreacted.
In haste, I responded publicly when I should have attempted to contact the posters individually. I did not do this, and I do regret any trouble that my words may have caused Ms. Pinkerton. Her comment pertaining to me and what I had said in an earlier post was a fair statement, it just didn’t happen to be consistent with actual events that I have been personally involved in.
When I wrote a WPO blog heading I used a word that Ms. Pinkerton did not use. I then pasted in Ms. Pinkerton’s words as they had been copied only from her post. I was responding to a post that said what it said and that I took personal offense to.
I want to stress that Ms. Pinkerton NEVER used the word in her post that I used in my heading.
Margo, please accept my apology for acting too quickly with public words when this encounter would have been much better settled with personal communication.
R. Dodge Woodson
World Photographers Organization
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