Business Forum

MJB DIGITAL · 07-02-2008, 12:03 PM

Pentax has great color control and lately with the K20D has high resolution cameras.
Pentax is moving more and more into the professional market. Its just a great camera and will continue to get better, stronger, faster, and gain power on the job site.

I suggest that we have a Business Forum so that professionals who shoot Pentax can trade business ideas.

I do it all the time. 8)

Mitch

jshurak · 07-03-2008, 11:15 AM

I think that's a good idea.

MJB DIGITAL · 07-06-2008, 10:08 AM

I know that Pentax isnt the first choice for professionals in the field. In my area, 95% of professionals use canon, followed by the stray nikon i see sometimes.

I have seen a couple of intern shooters with Pentax, but no real business operations going on with Pentax getting their images (that I know of).

My thinking is this:
If we start a business forum/profession forum we will help raise a sort of 'business awareness' amongst Pentax users. I think the effect would be that there would be one more brick lain on the path to bringing Pentax to the professional market because we will be giving it a little spot here on the forum in business.
It would probably be a slow forum for a while but when you look at Ben, Carrie Hunt, Codiac, Myself, 35mm user......you see that we have some serious shooters here.

The business forum would be a place to make business related posts i.e. 'where do i get model releases?', 'what do you think about this clause in my contract?', 'what do i charge for this weird job?', 'what is your marketing strategy?'...stuff like that.

8)

MRRiley · 07-06-2008, 04:47 PM

great idea MJB... I'll second this proposal Adam.

*Mallee Boy* · 07-06-2008, 08:01 PM

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments expressed and do understand the desire of professionals to have that interaction, I also see some dangers with such a proposal.

One of the great things about this forum at the moment is that is very un-pretentious and selfless, where a world class photographer like Ben "rubs shoulders" with the likes of me and the other great un-washed (metaphorically speaking Ben). What the rest of us learn by sharing in the interaction is priceless...please don't deny us our vouyeristic learning opportunity.

The postings and opinions expressed by people such as Ben, 35mm, MJB, Codiac etc are highly valuable to the forum and the danger is that this elite group may retire to their room and not frequent the rest of the forum as much....this would be a huge loss to other members.

There is nothing stopping anyone setting up a pro group to email each other with questions relating to the business aspect of things. Everyone who has been here awhile should feel comfortable enough to do that by now.

Sincerely,
Grant.

*LaRee* · 07-06-2008, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Mallee Boy

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments expressed and do understand the desire of professionals to have that interaction, I also see some dangers with such a proposal.

One of the great things about this forum at the moment is that is very un-pretentious and selfless, where a world class photographer like Ben "rubs shoulders" with the likes of me and the other great un-washed (metaphorically speaking Ben). What the rest of us learn by sharing in the interaction is priceless...please don't deny us our vouyeristic learning opportunity.

The postings and opinions expressed by people such as Ben, 35mm, MJB, Codiac etc are highly valuable to the forum and the danger is that this elite group may retire to their room and not frequent the rest of the forum as much....this would be a huge loss to other members.

There is nothing stopping anyone setting up a pro group to email each other with questions relating to the business aspect of things. Everyone who has been here awhile should feel comfortable enough to do that by now.

Sincerely,
Grant.

Hmmm...you make some good points Grant.

**Adam** · 07-07-2008, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Mallee Boy

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments expressed and do understand the desire of professionals to have that interaction, I also see some dangers with such a proposal.

One of the great things about this forum at the moment is that is very un-pretentious and selfless, where a world class photographer like Ben "rubs shoulders" with the likes of me and the other great un-washed (metaphorically speaking Ben). What the rest of us learn by sharing in the interaction is priceless...please don't deny us our vouyeristic learning opportunity.

The postings and opinions expressed by people such as Ben, 35mm, MJB, Codiac etc are highly valuable to the forum and the danger is that this elite group may retire to their room and not frequent the rest of the forum as much....this would be a huge loss to other members.

There is nothing stopping anyone setting up a pro group to email each other with questions relating to the business aspect of things. Everyone who has been here awhile should feel comfortable enough to do that by now.

Sincerely,
Grant.

While I share many of the same reservations, I've now added this suggestion to my list of future considerations.

*ChipB* · 07-08-2008, 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by Mallee Boy

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments expressed and do understand the desire of professionals to have that interaction, I also see some dangers with such a proposal.

One of the great things about this forum at the moment is that is very un-pretentious and selfless, where a world class photographer like Ben "rubs shoulders" with the likes of me and the other great un-washed (metaphorically speaking Ben). What the rest of us learn by sharing in the interaction is priceless...please don't deny us our vouyeristic learning opportunity.

The postings and opinions expressed by people such as Ben, 35mm, MJB, Codiac etc are highly valuable to the forum and the danger is that this elite group may retire to their room and not frequent the rest of the forum as much....this would be a huge loss to other members.

There is nothing stopping anyone setting up a pro group to email each other with questions relating to the business aspect of things. Everyone who has been here awhile should feel comfortable enough to do that by now.

Sincerely,
Grant.

Grant, you do make some good points, but, I for one, think the business focus on using Pentax equipment outweighs these concerns. Heck, think of it as a sub-forum where all the professional wanna-bee's can lurk and learn!

MJB DIGITAL · 07-09-2008, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Adam

While I share many of the same reservations, I've now added this suggestion to my list of future considerations.

Great!!

Originally Posted by Mallee Boy

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments expressed and do understand the desire of professionals to have that interaction, I also see some dangers with such a proposal.

One of the great things about this forum at the moment is that is very un-pretentious and selfless, where a world class photographer like Ben "rubs shoulders" with the likes of me and the other great un-washed (metaphorically speaking Ben). What the rest of us learn by sharing in the interaction is priceless...please don't deny us our vouyeristic learning opportunity.

The postings and opinions expressed by people such as Ben, 35mm, MJB, Codiac etc are highly valuable to the forum and the danger is that this elite group may retire to their room and not frequent the rest of the forum as much....this would be a huge loss to other members.

There is nothing stopping anyone setting up a pro group to email each other with questions relating to the business aspect of things. Everyone who has been here awhile should feel comfortable enough to do that by now.

Sincerely,
Grant.

These are very insightful thoughts. I'll go ahead and share in them, too.
I'll hope that even if the 'retiring to the business forum' does happen, anyone who comes in there and posts something like "Question for you Pros" will get a professional answer from every pro who frequents that thread.
I think it will be good to have a concentration of business knowledge in one spot, dedicated to Pentax and Pentax users/business owners/pro photogs.

...sometimes, I need to find a release or a contract or I need to know some tax info, or ask about how to bid on a particular job, etc etc.
The Forum for Professional Photographers is the place to do it.

8)

yay!

Thanks Adam
and thanks Grant for your insight.

Mitch

*babelphotos* · 07-09-2008, 06:23 PM

People go on my site and always guess that i take my racing pictures with a Canon...are they stumped when they notice its done with a Pentax!!

Yep they are getting there

MRRiley · 07-10-2008, 12:49 PM

Mallee Boy,

I personally didn't see MJB's idea as a "Pros Only Section" (correct me if I am wrong MJB). I assumed he was talking about a forum for "business" issues like pricing photos, how to handle copyright/licensing, tips on keeping the books while keeping yourself out of jail, etc...

I do not think there should be a Pros Only section (elitist and divisive) , but do think that an area for business issues would be extremely valuable in that it could focus comments better.

Mike

MJB DIGITAL · 07-10-2008, 01:48 PM

Mike, you are totally corrrect.

Yeah, pros, non pros..whatever.

A place that knowledge of professional business can be traded will be awesome i.e. 'what should I wear to shoot a bar mitsvah?', 'how do i determine my rates in the marketplace?', 'where do i get the best camera insurance?'.....

any question or bit of knowledge about starting, improving, designing a business or agtetting help with a professional shoot can go in there.....

8) the business forum.

*Mallee Boy* · 07-10-2008, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by MJB DIGITAL

Mike, you are totally corrrect.

Yeah, pros, non pros..whatever.

A place that knowledge of professional business can be traded will be awesome i.e. 'what should I wear to shoot a bar mitsvah?', 'how do i determine my rates in the marketplace?', 'where do i get the best camera insurance?'.....

any question or bit of knowledge about starting, improving, designing a business or agtetting help with a professional shoot can go in there.....

8) the business forum.

Thanks for clarifying that. If I am understanding the proposal a little better, it is more about the process of business, open to anyone?.... that would be very useful.

Cheers.
Grant