On Tue, 20 Feb 2001 23:48:56 -0000 Dicky (corbettr@dircon.co.uk) wrote:
> You will, at some future stage, have to chose between taking the picture and
> reproducing it, simply because the time scale will eventually force you to
> decide between the two processes. One is creative and the other largely
> photomechanical and therefore technical rather than creative.
Fair point, and I have to agree I spend far too much time nailed to a PC
messing with all this stuff. However my main interest in scanning is
(professionally) being able to shoot colour neg in circumstances which would
defeat tranny, and sort the image out later - just as I have always done with
B&W. Deadlines would usually preclude sending stuff out.
Yes, it adds a large amount of time to a job, and I am often up half or all
night doing it. However I have a number of clients who now commission me for
work which competing photographers have tried to do on tranny in the past, and
made a pig's ear of. It has expanded the possibilities.
Of course I charge per scan, so it's not wasted time either.
Another spin-off has been putting sets of images for press-release on web pages
as thumbnails linked to repro-quality scans. I have several clients who love
this, and were knocked out when I offered it as an alternative to prints,
couriers etc. It works better for them, they just stick a URL in their press
release instead of all that nonsense, and they get to feel deeply cool.
The first time I did this for one client the pics achieved publication in 7
titles including a national daily and all the target mags which matter to them.
This same client has just commissioned me to do 12-15 shoots during the next
year, and scan and web-host the results. Scanning ~5 images, knocking up the
page and hosting adds ~£200GBP to each job, and I'd likely not be doing them
unless I'd been able to offer the service. Net result for me is a significant
lump of turnover I'd not otherwise have had, and some slight possibility of not
dying of starvation after all.
Regards
Tony Sleep
- Online portfolio & exhibit; + film scanner info &
comparisons
