Trends

Whether you are an experienced photographer or you are just getting your career started, you better watch out for this trend. Digital picture albums have been around for a while but lately, they’ve been taking over the online marketing world by storm, acquiring impressive improvements over the years. Take a look at why you mustn’t discredit online photo albums in your promotion strategy.

Creating a digital picture album can be pretty easy, especially if you are using a great online photo book maker. Why? There is a wide number of reasons that sustain our affirmation. Here are the most important ones.

Up to date content

Digital photo album books can be easily used in order to offer clients your pricing information and show off your skills as well. Remember when you used to print a photo album and then use it for the rest of the year…or maybe even more? Well, all that should be left in the past. Digital photo album makers allow you to update your information, pictures or content as often as you want. You can change pictures instantly or even create different albums for different target audiences, in a very short time (wait for it!)…for free.

Diversity

Working with digital materials will actually save you a lot of time and money. Also, you can not only design digital photo albums, but an app like this can help you create materials that expose your work, which can later assist you with your promotion. Shareable flyers, flipbooks or tutorials. On top of all this, there’s the time factor that comes into play. E great photographer knows how important time management is. You need to divide your time between promoting yourself, finding new clients, editing photos and actual photo sessions or events. So why not load your pictures in a cool magazine looking online photo book?

SEO-riosity

Let’s say that I am looking for a photographer for my birthday party. None of my friends or family have any recommendations and I don’t know who to hire. What do I do? That’s right. I am going to Google it. Usually, if you are looking for something on Google, you are usually tempted to choose one of the first options displayed. If you are not placed in one of the first ranking positions, you need to work on this aspect. How? It’s simple! First, you add your location on Google Maps, then, you work on your SEO. Digital photo albums are SEO friendly. Add catchy descriptions with keywords that can help you rank better in searches.

Sharing is caring

This rule applies to your clients too. As long as you keep them engaged, they will keep coming back to you. Digital photo albums are very easy to share, either via email or on your social media channels. Moreover, they can be shared by your clients as well, and you don’t even have to invest in this.

Need we say more?

For more information about this topic, check out 50 ways to promote your photography business.

And don’t forget! Keep calm and say cheese!

DC magazine offers a broad look at different photography trends in popular culture. Before the birth of the internet, the tabloids were filled to bursting with fashion worn by unhinged and glamourous music, football and film stars. There was a definite buzz, and a growing fascination for the rich and famous. Every trend was sneered at while imitation grew, and the term, ‘paparazzi’ was used interchangeably with celebrity. The photography at the time began to change in style. The late eighties and early nineties saw the championing of fit, strong, vivacious and healthy looking ‘supermodels’, with Cindy Crawford et al donning never appearing without a glowing golden tan, bright eyes and shiny, tousled hair. As a backlash to this unobtainable degree of perfection, a new, bleak and gaunt look started to spell change for the fashion world, undoubtedly influencing young, hot mess celebrities.

The Birth

From 1993, emaciated, pale and unwell images of ‘waif’ like models began to appear, with many photographers quickly jumping on the trend while it lasted. Over the past thirty years, no trend or fashion movement has caused quite as much media backlash as Heroin Chic. There was a morbid fascination that captured the concerned hearts of parents reading newspapers while models appeared on interviews regularly to reassure the public that they were in fact alive and well and not strung out – at least not at all the time, blaming the fashion houses and make up for their dark under-eye circles and androgyny. The trend nevertheless drew attention to the exploitation; harsh, shallow practices and the rife amount of drug abuse across the entire fashion industry. No stranger to the world of drugs, it was in the Heroin Chic era South London born supermodel Kate Moss summed up the mindset and the importance of not just being slim – skinny was the absolute standard to ensure work kept coming in. She said – “Nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels”. Models’ addictions to drugs, alcohol were exacerbated by the culture of long days shooting with very little in the way of eating. The shocking images of young models bean to appear alongside perfume, underwear and jeans advertising, and for many this was a step too far in the already broadly misunderstood, contrived world of fashion.

Daniel Gerard of Addictionhelper.com says, “The movement was linked to the changing perception of heroin in popular culture due to the decrease in price of the drug in return for an apparently huge improvement in purity.”

Public knowledge of drugs was beginning to improve due to the widely publicised AIDS epidemic, which educated many on the importance of not sharing needles to prevent catching the disease. Snorting heroin began to appeal to a new demographic; middle class, often wealthy young people began to glamourise its use, despite films such as Trainspotting and The Basketball Diaries often serving as a stark reminder of the realities further down the line.

Bubble Burst

While the media happily poured scorn upon the models’ emaciated campaigns, any real appreciation of the Heroin Chic photographers’ skills were overlooked by endless outcry. The shock factor had outweighed any artistic merit and the public began to dismiss the trend for its underlying controversies. Public figures such as Bill Clinton damned the movement, blaming the fashion industry for irresponsibly celebrating associated drug culture.

“Heroin Chic became mainstream and commercially present in 1993, with the aforementioned Kate Moss appearing on the 1993 Calvin Klein campaign, with the help of director and actor, Vincent Gallo.” confirms a spokesman for UK-Rehab.com, a UK based  addiction charity.

The trend began to fade away after the public damnation of heroin related death. The famous young fashion photographer, David Sorrenti, died of a heroin overdose in 1997. The boyfriend of model Jaime King, he and Jaime were addicts, and the public exposure of this became all too real – the models’ unwell and distant appearances were clearly not just down to the use of cleverly applied make up.

By 1999, the sexy supermodel was back, an athletic, sinewy yet feminine Gisele Bunchden was heralded as the next big thing in fashion, appearing in Vogue issues around the globe.

Hiring photo booths for weddings is an idea that’s been catching like a bad cold in November and it’s easy to see why. A photo booth is easy to manage, fun to use, has a whole range of features and gives you an almost unlimited amount of photos. More than just a memory capturer, photo booths can be a great attraction and source of laughs for all your guests. It’s a sure fire way to have a wedding that no one will forget.

Have fun

One of the main functions of a hireable photo booth is to make photographs fun. They come with a box of props for your guests to play with that can be coordinated with your wedding theme. You get hats, wigs, sunglasses and signs which, when combined with tipsy relatives, can make for some beautiful and embarrassing photographs for you to remember your special day with. The booths also come with green screen technology to put you and your guests in front of a choice of backgrounds, so you and your guests can make your photographs as crazy or cool as you want.

Do it your way

It’s a bit hard to enjoy having your photograph taken when it’s a professional photographer that’s doing the job. Posing for twenty minutes, shuffling into the perfectly lit position, waiting for him to adjust the camera settings and holding your aching smile for an uncomfortable amount of time sometimes make wedding photography seem tedious. A photo booth, however, takes all the stress of directing and planning and lets you do things the way you want. You can retake the photos as many times as you want and get all of them printed in seconds. You can choose what the booth looks like, the background for your photographs and the layout and design of your printouts. You also have the option of recording videos in the booth, so your family don’t have to wait for the designated cameraman to approach them to make a wedding message. They can record one in the booth and then put a photo in the guestbook with a note for the bride and groom.

Get the best quality for great value

King Of The Booth, a company that provides great quality photo booth hire in London, use Canon DSLR cameras in their booths, which take incredible quality photographs that will last a very long time. They also give you complete online access to all of the photos taken in booth at no extra cost and you can download all of your photographs without any hassle. There’s also no need to haul anything or worry about setting up: the wedding package includes delivery and set up and an attended will keep an eye on the booth to make sure everything’s going to plan.

Sharing your photos

With a hired photo booth you can digital and printed copies of all of your photographs. You can also upload your gallery amazing wedding pictures onto Facebook. Every booth visit ends with a print and you also get the option of double prints, so you can take and share as many photos as you want.

The space of contemporary interior design is very versatile. The amazing thing about incorporating pieces into your interior is that there are limitless possibilities. One of the recognizable trends today, is integrating beautiful Indian pieces into your interior. This has the ability to completely transform your space, while retaining that modern touch.

Intricate Yet Simple

Traditional Indian art is vibrant and complex. The array of colours can create harmony within any space. When going for a monochromatic theme, ideal placement of a beautiful Indian art piece can help bring that pop that works well and complements your space.

Magnificient Pieces

When it comes to furniture pieces, the creative team at Iris Furnishings suggest that a beautiful fixture helps to draw focus to any part of the room, and create a good balance. Using a vibrant piece, such as an intricately designed chest or a patterned couch, introduces a statement design into your interior. With Indian designs, there are bold and beautiful pieces to choose from.

Clocks And Mirrors

A uniquely designed clock can transform your interior, adding an artistic feel while still featuring functionality. It could represent art and still serve its purpose.

Indeed, what better way of bringing a bit of India into your interior than incorporating mirrors therein. Mirrors, like clocks, are elements which can combine functionality and art. Mirrors are reflective, and so, they are useful for giving an illusion of space and making a room appear larger than it really is. Also, one with traditional Indian designs, enhance their tastefulness, elegance and creativity in your interior.

Weaving The Elements In

Indian art has the power to turn the mundane into the magnificent. For that effect, weaving in elements such as carved designs, art, sculptures and paintings in bright and exciting colours goes a long way. Common prints used in India include warli or paisley (aambi). These could easily be reflected in cushion covers and the advantage is that they can always be changed if you decide on a makeover.

Antiques can also add that authentic Indian flavour. Lamps and ornaments can help give that exotic elegance. Rugs and carpets are also a good idea, and help as a starting point, with planning the general outlook of the room.

For The Pop In Your Contemporary Design

Interior design experts suggest that, when attempting to achieve a monochromatic setting, a pop of colour is necessary to take attention off the general colour theme. Accomplishing this in a stylish manner can be done by incorporating a beautiful Indian-themed painting. Modern interiors do not always appear cozy. A touch of India adds a colourful, delightful and emotive touch to your interior.

A Variety Of Patterns

Traditional Indian art is rich in patterns and colours. Modern Indian art also follows this trend, but with a Western touch. Incorporating patterns in your interior helps to create balance. With Indian designs, these patterns could be incorporated in a beautifully embellished or patterned cushion cover, an intricately designed chest or cupboard.

The character of your contemporary interior is depicted in a rich and unique way, when you bring in a bit of India.

As we prepare for 2017 (I know, it’s been so fast!), there are some trends that made 2016 a great year for photography, and we believe they will continue in subsequent years. Designs will escalate into a deeper focus on mediums used, complex understanding and application of colour, and connecting deeply with the moment instead of creating faux poses.

We should drop false imaginations, and actually focus on the real things that make us happy; the now.  According to photography expert Emma, of EmmaMay Weddings, professionals should break standard rules in photography and make up their own. The best way is to explore.

The following trends will continue to remain evergreen.

360 Degree Photo Angles

From the traditional style to modern methods, the new spherical cameras like Samsung Gear’s 360 and LG’s 360 Cam will capture everything around you, up, down, in front and at the back.

These 360 images can be seen with VR goggles to let you discover pictures as they truly are. Conversely, smartphone apps like Google Street View allow you to upload them and view them from all angles by rotating your phone or camera. The 360-degree photography is still in its early time and the huge files mean viewing mean slow, delayed response on devices. No doubt, it will get better with time.

Mobile Apps Over Traditional Websites

This one is more of a behavioural trend than design. As more people own smartphones and tablets, there is an increased search for businesses via mobile devices. The number of mobile apps being developed is phenomenal- both native apps (the ones you see on app stores) and web apps (shared via links, like regular websites) are easier to adopt because features such as fonts and buttons are optimised for mobile.

Hence, photographers can benefit from this by creating a mobile app for their studio and using it as an online business card to share their portfolio. Include the logo and link to your website to get many leads as well.

Flash Is Mainstream

Flash and its harsh shadows have gone mainstream. It was first seen in youth lifestyle magazines, adding a touch of edge to real moments and giving party ambiances a tangible feel. In the evenings, the lighting is usually poor and ISO is no longer a priority. This style take over the moment for all its exciting appeal.

Also, perfecting the suitable amount of direct light without spiralling things out of proportion can be more difficult than it looks. Experiment with several light sources, and you may discover welcome accidents.

Drone Photography

This is yet another trend driven by technology. Radio controlled drone camera like the DJI Phantom 4 are letting photographers capture scenes that would have normally been physically impossible or very expensive to take. Drone photography is quickly becoming part of standard professional photography. Wedding Photographers are hopping onto this trend too. It is awesome to give couples an aerial record of the wedding using a drone camera. Here’s a collection of some amazing drone shots.

Modern and contemporary interior design are often used interchangeably. Contrary to what a lot of people think, they do not mean the same thing. So, what is the difference?

Modern Design

Modern design refers to a historic design movement that was prominent within a certain period of time (between the 1920’s and 1950’s). It is a defined style that does not change. The elements that make up modern design are peculiar to the modern style, and are easily recognizable.

In terms of categorization of interior design development, modern really refers to a style that eventually develops into ‘Mid Century Modern’ design. Basically, this design style is characterized by clean and unadorned interiors. When you speak of a modern interior in its true sense, you are referring to an interior where the use of natural materials is prominent. The aesthetic character of the interior is simple yet beautiful and functional. Furniture is open and raised off the floor to give an airy feel and there is an emphasis on vertical and horizontal lines showing off structural elements.

Contemporary Design

On the other hand, contemporary design is ever changing. Gaining popularity in the 1970’s, this style is reflective of the moment. When you speak of contemporary design, you are referring to cutting-edge, trending, ever-evolving designs and homestyles. It projects the elements in design that are prominent at the point in time. It is not uncommon for contemporary designs to use elements from different time periods, fusing them to form a unique style. As a result of this diversity and its ever-changing nature, up-to date contemporary design today, may look outdated years later.

Diversity in texture and colour are prominent with this design.

The Blurry Line

When you are able to tell one from the other, you find that the line between the two styles is not so blurry after all.  There are noticeable differences between them. The interior of a modern space follows a definitive and strict format. Colours are usually neutral and natural to give a spacious and airy effect.

On the other hand, a contemporary interior celebrates variety. With this style of interior design, there are no barriers to the colours that may be integrated.

The Similarities

There are also remarkable similarities between modern and contemporary interior design, in spite of the differences. Time and again, modern design elements can be found in contemporary design. They both display simple and uncluttered spaces. Some of the materials used in modern design are equally favoured in contemporary styles such as metal, wood and leather.

What Works For You

In a nutshell, while the idea of modern in interior design describes a distinct style which stemmed from a historic design movement, contemporary design is a constantly evolving style that features current trends. It is eclectic, trendy and diverse. Whatever suits you, works just fine. Both styles have their noticeable features. In making a preference, it is worth knowing that although a contemporary design can have modern features, a modern design can by no means be contemporary.

Another year has come and gone in the evolution of digital marketing. Some strategies that would’ve been considered absolutely crucial a year ago have now died, some former best practices have gone sideways, fading away to the virtual cemetery in the clouds. In the space of 52 weeks so much can change from the demise of Google authorship to the continued rise of video content and the decline of organic reach on Facebook. And now we are predicting what is on the horizon and looking forward to the digital marketing’s future in terms of the trends in 2015 which the brands should be watching. So where do you have to look? In anticipation of the next big change, what new skills will you have to cram up? For the new year, in terms of marketing planning, here are 3 things you should take into consideration.

Content Marketing is Still a Big Focus

Content Marketing came forward in 2014 and was exactly what all business yearned for in order to be taken more seriously. It all began in the middle of 2013, when Google launched their “Hummingbird” algorithm which along with the current “Panda” improvements shifted the emphasis from SEO staples and keywords to content quality. Even though, those elements are still important, using more functional data points, the systems are able to allocate search rank, because they are becoming smarter, further strengthening that the best possible way to rank good in Google is to have content that is highly referenced and highly shared and in order to determine authority and relevance, Google can use the activity signals from users.

Knowing that, it is highly unlikely that the emphasis on content will go away anytime soon, however a change to the creating process is expected. Thus far, the drive has been on creation and the necessity of determining a content process, however in the next year or so we will see the efforts focused on the functional elements and quality aspects required to accomplish it.

In order to guide users to the most relevant material to their queries and to them and help filter the data flood, the development of more measures is an absolute must due to the rise of online content. The most predominant instances of this have been the News Feed changes of Facebook and constant algorithm updates of Google which have smothered the organic reach. Facebook described it like this, with so many posts coming in 24/7, they have made the necessary changes in order to make sure that the most important and relevant updates are highlighted to every user, according to their historic preferences. Meaning that if brands wish to maintain any level of reach they have to start providing and listening to the needs of their fans. The burden has evidently been put on brands to secure highly relevant content, which compels discussion, re-posting and sharing, as well as being social by nature as a part of the community discussion. In order to better rationalize the increasing content flood, online platforms can diminish non-paid reach, however highly shared content will continue to perform well and be exceptional- the purpose of the algorithms is to present the highest relevance content to users, meaning that you have to make sure that yours is that.

The positive sign is that we now know what our audience wants, because we are guided by a whole range of data that we have access to. All over the web, our target audience is leaving data clues behind for us to find via the growing use of social media. Within the big data mine, in order to find those nuggets of gold, our focus has to be on locating that data and separating the message from all that noise. This way, the brands can build community relationships that transform into actual results, make informed marketing decisions and create better content. You audience is at the online world, therefore in the online world, the content is crucial. Now, in comparison to any other time in history, you have the opportunity to target your efforts by being receptive and tuning in to what your potential audience is saying. The next goal of the content movement is to create niche-specific, better targeted and high-quality material. In order to break from the pack, it’s not enough to just put out infographics, videos and blog posts like everyone else in the world.

The Continuous Rise of Video Content

In the very near future, in terms of overall video consumption, YouTube is set to be overtaken by the video content’s rise on Facebook, talked up by company’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the recent call for third quarter earnings. He also added that in the next couple of years, he expects the number of videos posted on Facebook to increase substantially and you can already see the indications regarding that statement with the launch of auto-play video that has essentially altered the news feed of Facebook. Even though, there have been some negative opinions regarding the rise of video content, in 2015 because of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge the main focus is likely to remain on the emphasis on video.

Without a doubt, one of the biggest sensations of 2014 was the Ice Bucket Challenge, generating billions of likes and clicks and raising over $119 million for the research of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The video was one of the most resounding feature of the campaign because people could take part in and share their experiences easily and quickly. Amidst the rise of video content, it’s a good idea to consider that access, because back in the days in order to produce quality video work you needed a production budget and expensive equipment. Nowadays, using the online video apps and the camera on their smartphones, anyone can produce a decent quality film. In the rising popularity of video content, the 6-second approach by Vine has also played a key role, seeing what they might do an increased number of online users are trying out and see what is possible in just six seconds.

In 2015, a lot of brands will focus their efforts on UGC-based campaigns, because of the increasing opportunities of making video content and the accessibility of the necessary tools. It’s definitely a smart move, one that works well with consumer trends, especially those targeted at younger audiences. The emphasis was on including images wherever you can and on images in 2014, however in the next year the video will be where it is at. It might be worth considering the opportunities of UGC and video content in your campaigns, as you go about your content planning.

Empowerment of Employees

The role of word-of-mouth messaging has been infinitely expanded by the social media. Back in the day, the practice was restricted by geography however in modern times there are no limits to how wide and far you message can be spread amongst followers and communities. Given that, in your overall marketing plan spreading your brand message through word-of-mouth will play a key role.

As brands acknowledge the power of online individual voices, employee advocacy will become a bigger focus. In this regard, your employees are best positioned to help, because in order to make your business what it is, they are the ones putting in the effort week in, week out. They are aware of the most frequently asked questions by clients, they understand their perspectives and they answer those questions. Clever brands will find ways to authorize their employees to think of their “9 to 5” not just as a job but also something they have faith in, the intention behind all their efforts. By allowing your personnel to communicate on related topics and develop their industry knowledge, through their expertise you are developing your brand and you are also helping them develop their professional profile which in long-term career plans can be quite beneficial.

Of course, the downside is that you allow them too much, they receive job offers from other brands and eventually resign. However, the great Richard Branson once said that the job of an employer is to train his employees so good that they can be ready to leave, but appreciate them on regular basis so that they would not want to. A tough goal definitely but as the leader in your field the advantages of your employees creating their personal online brands will affect your company’s overall standing in a beneficial way. Just image if you could get all the top-notch professionals to come and work for you. That would definitely result in a lot of customers finding your brand name as they were searching online for related information.

In the digital marketing sphere, the change is a constant as it is with all industries, but in comparison to most, the sector is more influx due to the rising adoption of social media platforms and the rapid evolution of online technologies. It’s essential to know what your consumers are saying about your brand, how they are consuming the media, to stay in touch with what is changing and stay on top of the latest industry trends. However, apart from that knowing what your target audience is doing is the most important element to take into consideration. If you are not reaching the audience you are targeting there’s no need to experiment with different trends and if no one is reading your posts you shouldn’t write them. The overall trends alone are not important, what’s important is to do your research and understand your communities by figuring out their specific details.

From a wider industry perspective, it is important to consider the fore-mentioned trends however the biggest obstacle of 2015 will be to learn how all these new platforms and all this data can be best developed for your leverage. Learning what’s out there is the best way to start. After that, you just have to allow the ideas to develop in your mind.