Whether you just picked up a camera for the first time yesterday, or you are a photo enthusiast, or even a seasoned pro…there are a few things you can learn about photography from using Facebook.  Here we go…in no particular order.

1. Join a group that talks about photography in your area.  If one doesn’t exist start one and invite your local friends to join the group.  This is a great way to ask questions about gear, camera settings, etc.  You can also share your photos to the group and ask for feedback.  A great example of this is an Austin area group called Austin Photogs.  Which has over 600 members and is active every single day with new posts, questions and comments.  It is a great way to learn from a community.  Be prepared to put yourself out there.  There is not hiding behind a funny user name like there is in a photography forum.  People know who you are…but if that doesn’t scare you then by all means go for it…It’s the only way you get any better.
2. Take an informal poll.  Post a few photos and pose the question to your friends to let you know which one they like best.  You can also use the Facebook polling feature to dress it up a little.  This is good practice for putting your photos in front of other peoples eyes.  This becomes more difficult when you start asking for honest criticism.  At least right now you are just asking people which one they like better (You could always ask them why as well).
3. Create photo assignments for yourself and post them in your profile’s photo album.  The photo album feature is a perfect way to start thinking about how to tell a story with multiple photos.  The albums are easy to view and when you post them it creates a great synopsis of your photo story.  This will start you thinking down the path of developing your style.  Seeing several photos from the same event next to each other will begin to show your photographic style and point of view.
4. Speaking of Style (what a great segue)…Facebook is a great show and tell and playground all wrapped in one to help you develop your photo style.  One thing people love on Facebook is photos…but often times people will just glaze over them because the photos don’t strike them as special (minus close fam and friends…they will always comment on your photos.  As they should).  So if you want more people to take notice of your photos on Facebook then developing a style is very important.  We will talk about how exactly to develop your style in a different post.
5. Ask for constructive criticism.  Facebook is full of people who love to give their opinions so why not ask those people for honest constructive feedback about your photos.  Not everyone will take you up on it but a few might.  The best place to ask for this criticism is in an environment where people know what they are talking about when it comes to taking photos.  So this ties back to #1 on the list and joining a photography group.  Again, you will need to have some courage…be brave and put your photo out there and specifically let people know you want feedback and criticism on your work.  It is possibly the hardest thing you can do.  Let’s face it no one likes to hear that something they have done is bad, but that honesty and criticism will make you a much better photographer than if people didn’t tell you what you need to work on.

There you go.  5 ways Facebook can help you become a better photographer.  Remember that Canvas Press is always here to help you out if you need some direction.

Are you thinking about taking the plunge and making photography a hobby?  Congratulations, and on behalf of photo nerds everywhere…We would love to have you!  You are in the Christmas Day phase of the hobby…buying all your gear.  It is exciting and a little nerve racking at the same time because there are so many options out there.  From what camera brand to go with to which lens or lenses should I buy…it can be a little overwhelming.  One thing you should not neglect is what you are going to be lugging that camera gear around in.  Your Camera Bag.

Your camera bag is a very important piece of gear itself because not only will it house and protect your equipment, but it can also make a statement about your personality.  Again, there are a ton of different options and brands of camera bags out there.  But there are really only a handful of different styles and that is what you want to focus on.

1.  The good ‘ole shoulder bag – The tried and true bag used by camera enthusiasts and photojournalists for decades.  This is a Domke bag.

2.  The messenger / satchel bag – A relative newcomer.  The functionality of the shoulder back but a little more slim-lined.  This is a Crumpler brand messenger camera bag.

3.  The backpack – If you are into hiking, traveling, or more active type photographers.  This is a Lowepro camera backpack.

4.  The rolling case – Slightly more professional.  Great for traveling or for wedding and event photographers.  This is a Lowepro rolling case.

5.  The waist bag – Yes, the waist bag is a distant cousin to the fanny pack.  But, it will save your back and shoulders from seeing a chiropractor if you need to carry your equipment for long periods of time.  This is a Tamrac waist bag.

And ladies, you will be very happy to know that there are several lines of camera bags that are made especially to fit your lifestyle.  Purses and satchels with a more designer look to them have gotten pretty popular these past 2-3 years.  You may pay a premium price for them, but hey it can be a purse and a camera bag.  So you really are getting 2 for 1 when you think about it.  There are a few great brands out there.

Epiphanie – I have met the owner (Maile) and she is super cool and I think offers a fantastic product.

Kelly Moore Bags

Jill-E Designs

*Emera Bags

Now that you know the different styles of bags out there let me give you a few tips on what to look for in a good camera bag.

1.  Excellent interior padding.  (note: exposed foam will deteriorate over time and will leave nasty black residue on your gear)

2.  Buy a little bigger than you think you need.  You never know…you may need that extra room when you start expanding on your lens collection.  This is also a good idea because there is nothing worse than trying to pry your camera out of a stuffed little camera bag and you end up missing a photo-op.

3.  The ability section your bag based on your gear (ie moveable separators).

4.  Made of durable material.  Make note if the exterior is padded too.  You may not need that option, but in case your lifestyle is a little more rough and tumble it is good for the bag to be able to absorb those shocks.

5.  Accessibility – how quickly can you get into your bag and your camera and lenses without missing the shot.  This is where the shoulder and satchel bags have an edge.  You can quickly unbuckle and grab your camera as where a backpack you have to take off and unzip.

6.  Comfort – This is where backpacks take the cake because you are dispersing the weight across two shoulders rather than one.

7.  Style (the cool factor) – If style is important to you than don’t overlook this important option.  If you want to go really out of the norm than check out Etsy and look for some homemade camera bags.  Then you will really stand out.

There you go.  Now you are in the know when it comes to buying the bag that your camera gear will live in.  It can be a daunting choice so hopefully it was made a little easier or at least more bearable.

Father’s Day is what some of us would refer to as the followup holiday for Mother’s Day. However, at Canvas Press, we like to look at it as a day to celebrate everything different from Mother’s Day.

Instead of celebrating baking cookies, or flowers, or making lovely greeting cards, Father’s Day is a day to celebrate cookouts, fishing, and doing absolutely nothing. Who else is better at shrugging off doing the laundry? Or who is usually guilty for eating the last Girl Scout cookie but still placing the empty cookie box back in the pantry? Or better yet, dads are the best at acting like they had no idea the family dog had an accident in the living room carpet in order to avoid cleaning up the mess.

But before we dump on Dad for his supposed shortcomings when it comes to housework, his fatherly qualities outshine all else. Who’s better at teaching you how to clean out the exhaust port on a Lawn-Boy mower? Dad. Who’s always the first to vanquish even the ugliest of spiders? Dad. And who can develop some of the most unorthodox uses for duct tape? Dad.

So, for this Father’s Day, we challenge you to go beyond the safe zone of getting Dad a new tie. Forget the golf supplies and tacky shirts. Get Dad something that is just for him, maybe even something that Mom would never approve of hanging on the wall. Whether it’s a Gallery Wrap canvas of his favorite longhorn bull, or an Alumiprint of his latest hotrod addiction, Dad deserves a gift that makes him smile every time he walks past it in the man cave.

Dads, this one’s for you. From all of us at Canvas Press, we appreciate all the dads out there keeping it real. Happy Father’s Day!

*photo credit above: courtesy of Dustin Meyer

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Thinking about starting your own photography business, or already have one up and running? Have you thought about all the legal requirements of running your own business including things like tax reporting not only to the federal government but your own state as well?

Austin photographer and artist Eric Setter is diving into the world of sales tax for the State of Texas. Down here, the law is that photography services, not just products, are taxable and to sell those you are required to have a Sales Tax Reseller License from the state. If they find out you’ve been selling products and not charging sales tax it can get ugly, and can ruin a fledgling small business.

There are a few select states that have no sales tax, and kudos to you if you live there! Just don’t forget about your State Income Tax reporting… For everyone else, make sure you check with your State Comptroller’s Office to find out if you should be charging sales tax. When you do, anything you buy in order to resell should not have sales tax charged on it so make sure your vendors have your ID number on file (again, this is your State Sales Tax Reseller ID number and not your Federal EIN or SSN) and the products aren’t double taxed.

Once you’ve got that all setup come check us out at Canvas Press Pro, which offers special discounts and products just for professional photographers and artists who are reselling the things they buy from Canvas Press.

Read Eric’s story as he learns about charging sales tax for his photography business:

As part of my evolving self-education in the realm of entrepreneurship, I recently was alerted to the fact that there are several things one needs to really get set up right.

• Set up your business structure (which can be as easy as setting up a DBA)
• Get a Tax ID (Also pretty easy)
• Get a Sales & Use Tax permit (not the same as the Tax ID)

The last one there is what just bit me. The permit is what many of you have probably seen hanging up in a public area of any business you’ve been in in Texas. It’s a piece of paper with a Texas flag watermark and basically it allows you to collect the sales tax you’re supposed to be collecting. Places get shut down if they’re not in compliance or don’t have one. The standard nowadays is to file quarterly and pay the state comptroller those sales taxes you’ve collected. Again, this is completely separate from your income tax filing.

I’m in the process now of filing an annual report for 2010 and another for the first quarter of this year. Let me tell you I’m not having fun finding out I’ve not been in compliance. In case you missed it, you need to file (and pay) sales & use tax reports quarterly. Also, know that photography as a service is still taxable. I am not a tax professional but so far what I’ve been directed to is a special publication by the Texas comptroller that directly addresses photography businesses. That publication is located here. One of the opening statements contradicts what had been my (mis)understanding of taxable products has caused me to re-visit my pricing structure and categorization of products in Quickbooks. Here is that paragraph with my added emphases underlined:

Luckily, I’ve not been busting at the seams with business and hopefully the burden will be minimal. Still, I owe the government money and they can be jerks about charging interest and fees. Let’s hear it for mercy for the little guy! I encourage anyone out there with a small service based business to check into what their responsibilities are because it’s something you want to deal with sooner rather than later. As I think I mentioned before, the government tends to be pretty unforgiving in their charging of interest and late fees…

Alison of No. 16 Photography has some unique and creative photography. When she contacted us about doing a large restaurant project we were excited to help and see what amazing shots would be included. Here are a few pictures of the finished results and a testimonial from her, we’d like to thank her very much for the kind words!

I couldn’t be more pleased with Canvas Press’s quality and service!

As a professional photographer, I do an extreme amount of research before committing to a product. Past reviews, incredibly helpful and pleasant customer service, and extraordinary offers and pricing convinced me at once that Canvas Press was the right choice for my photos.

My first order with Canvas Press included three custom sized black and white images. When I received them, I was incredibly happy to see that they were just as the way I had previewed them on the easy-to-use website. When I was contracted to do 33 photo canvases for a restaurant, I knew that Canvas Press could handle it and guarantee the quality I desired. ALL 33 canvases were perfect. Canvas Press’s safe shipping of all 33 canvases was and is unsurpassed.

There is no doubt that I will continue to use Canvas Press for all of my photo canvas needs. The quality of canvas and use of inks is superb. Each canvas that I have ordered is clear, sharp and rich in color. The stretching of the canvas itself on my gallery wrapped projects is just as superior.

I thank you for all your wonderful help and support. Your customer service reps are the best I’ve ever dealt with. The friendly staff is always so very helpful with any and all of my questions and/or concerns.

Thank you again for your wonderful business!

Alison, No. 16 Photography

This summer I ordered 10, 8×8 canvases of different locations all around the world. Each of the places was one of the destinations that my husband (at the time I ordered everything fiance) and I visited. Instead of numbering the tables at our wedding, we used the canvases set up on easels as table names. With the left-over canvases, James and I made a collage on our kitchen wall, and it is the first thing everyone notices when they walk in. We love it! Thanks for always making great products, and being part of our special day. -Natalie

This was a great idea Natalie! We love to see how our canvases end up being used. Thanks also to Whitney Lee Photography for the amazing shots and sharing the images with us.

We just received our order and they all look great!  We could not be more pleased with how well our photos turned out and the quick shipping.

Dustin from Washington

Christmas and Halloween seem to get the lion’s share of everyone’s holiday decoration budget, but there’s no reason to leave out Thanksgiving, especially when photo to canvas prints make such unique and beautiful decorations.

While the images of Christmas – Santa, reindeer, angels, stars, and evergreen trees – and those of Halloween – jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, witches, and black cats – are quite particular, those associated with Thanksgiving are somewhat less so.  Halloween shares its pumpkins with Thanksgiving – though they have generally become pies by then – and Christmas shares its turkey and lavish family dinners.  Crisp days, autumn leaves changing color, and football – either participating in friendly family games, or watching the pros on TV – are things we associate with both Thanksgiving and the fall season.  The only things that Thanksgiving doesn’t seem to share with the rest of the season are the images of our pilgrim forefathers.

With so many possibilities, Thanksgiving really should get more decorative attention.  Thanksgiving reminds us of family, friends, and food, and the memories that combination can make also serve as great ideas.  A few examples:

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  Norman Rockwell’s ‘Thanksgiving’ painting of the family seated at the table in the foreground as the grandmother presents the golden turkey and the grandfather prepares to lead grace is a true American icon.  Why not re-enact the painting with your own family?  A white table cloth, an oven-roasted turkey, and enough people are all you need.  A photograph like that would be not only a one of a kind Thanksgiving decoration but a treasured family photograph.

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  Another family picture idea: dress up as pilgrims.  Costumes are available or easy to make if you’re a bit crafty with a sewing machine and a glue gun.  It’s something that will make a great memory year after year.

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  Football season – and football weather – is another great idea to explore.  Some families play touch football before Thanksgiving dinner – to work up an appetite – or afterward – to work off the pumpkin pie.  A photo of your family scrambling around in the fall leaves would make a beautiful printed canvas; even better if you have family team jerseys.  If your clan is more the ‘weekend warrior’ and ‘armchair quarterback’ type, snap of shot of everyone on the couch in the living room watching the game.

Once you have the digital photos you want to transfer to canvas, send them to Canvas Press and we’ll take care of it from there.  Your holiday printed canvases will be not only beautiful, but durable and easy to care for.  Gallery wrapped canvases need no frame, so there is no glass that might break while hanging or storing.  While the quality of your printed canvas will be such that you may want to display it all year, if you do want to use it just for seasonal decoration, just keep it in a cool, dry place where it’s safe from moisture.  When you bring it out for the holidays, your stretched canvas will need only a light dusting – if that – and it’s ready to hang.

If you want to know more or get some guidance on a project, visit www.canvaspress.com and let us show you how Canvas Press can make your holidays brighter.  Email us at the website or call (888) 784-5553 and we’ll be glad to help.

-Karen from Canvas Press

We had so much fun with our summer photo contest on Facebook and we hope you did too. We’re bringing it back now for a Halloween Photo Contest! Send us your cutest costumes and scariest pictures. Kids, pets, families, even photo art of creepy places like abandoned buildings or cemeteries… Show us your creative side.

Accepting submissions from now until Sunday October 25 at Midnight. It is very important that you follow all of the instructions for submissions or your entry may not be accepted.

• Each entrant may submit only ONE (1) image
• Image must be in .JPG format
• Image should be of good resolution, but no more than 5MB in size
• Only images received through 11:59 pm CST October 25, 2009 will be considered.

Instructions

Email images to info@canvaspress.com with the subject line ”Photo Contest.” Include your name, phone number and a title or caption for the image.

You will receive a confirmation email within 12-16 hours of receipt that your photo has been entered. If you do not receive an email your attachment may not have been received, please try again or contact us for help.

If the winning canvas does not fit as a 16×20 gallery wrap, a canvas of equal or lesser value may be substituted.

The winner will be contacted immediately upon the contest closing time. If the prize is not claimed within 14 days, it will be given to the image with the next highest number of votes.

Starting Monday morning, October 26 the entries will be posted in a gallery on our Facebook Fan Page for voting through Sunday, November 1. The winner will be the image with the most “likes” and that lucky photographer will win a 16×20 canvas gallery wrap of the photo!

In order to vote for an image you must become a fan of Canvas Press on our Facebook page to interact with the photo galleries and tag, comment on or “like” images.

When you’re planning a pet photo for printing on canvas, you’re going to want to make it a special photo. Standard portraits of your dog sitting or even striking a show ring pose will certainly emphasize your dog’s beauty and are a great choice. For many dog owners, though, it’s their pooches personalities that they really want to shine through in a portrait, and less formal poses might be more appropriate for that. Something that can really add to a great portrait of your dog is a costume.

That may sound odd at first, but one of the many joys of having dogs is the fact that they will generally allow you to dress them up in silly costumes. Also, unlike many other pets, e.g. cats, rabbits, and iguanas, to name only a few, dogs actually seem to enjoy playing dress up. Well, some of them enjoy it. Some dogs just put up with it because they know it makes us happy, which is yet another wonderful thing about the canine species. In any case, dogs and costumes just seem to go together the same way kids and costumes do, and when you think of kids and costumes, it’s only natural to think of Halloween.

A Halloween portrait of your dog is a great choice for printing to canvas. If you have children, you can get them in on the act as well, but it’s fine even if your pup is your only ‘kid’. Pictures of dogs in Halloween costumes are almost as common as those of costumed children and a lot of work and creativity can go into these. My friend Bonnie had a Cairn terrier, and what costume idea could be better for a Cairn terrier than Dorothy from ‘The Wizard of Oz’? Bonnie even made her pup tiny red-sequined ‘ruby slippers’ for her paws. ‘Dorothy’ looked kind of lonely, though, so she asked a couple of other dog-owning friends over and before long, ‘Dorothy’ had been joined by a Chow mix ‘Cowardly Lion’, an Airedale ‘Tin Man’ in aluminum foil leggings and a funnel cap, a friendly mutt of a ‘Scarecrow’ and one pug in a Flying Monkey outfit. Once they got everyone settled down, it made a delightful – and very funny – picture. Definitely something worth going up on a wall.

Dog costumes are all the rage and can be bought at most pet stores. Clown costumes are always a hit, especially since most dogs are natural comics, and it’s rare not to see at least one English Bulldog in a pink tutu for Halloween. While you can spend a lot of money on the perfect dog costume, if you’re the least bit creative you can make your own. Ingenuity and a great idea can go a long way in costuming. Witness the Dalmatian I saw at a Halloween dog parade whose owner had turned her into a milk cow with a set of cardboard horns and an ‘udder’ made of pink balloons. One the other end of the scale was a five year old girl in riding togs – jodphurs, boots and jacket, the whole works – leading her ‘steed’: a spotted Great Dane in a saddle and bridle. Now that, I thought, would have made a perfect send-up of the classic ‘equestrian portrait’.

Planning a Halloween portrait of your dog is great fun. If your pooch is on board with wearing a costume, you’re only limited by your imagination. While we can’t dress up your dog for you, if you need help with ideas for your project just call us at (888) 784-5553 or email us from our website www.canvaspress.com and we’ll be glad to help.

-Karen