In this blog I am going to be researching different ways in which photographers present their images and will also research how this is done on the high street to compare.
I will then also be looking at the different steps used to get to the final stages of presenting the images such as printing, sizes, colour and design.
This will then show me and give me ideas of how I would like to present my final images for the course and the steps I would need to take to make it successful.
Methods used for presenting photography
People rely alot on the visual aspects of life and so photography and how it is presented needs to have a visual impact and photographers selling their work or service need to make a good first impression. This also applies for the high street and below are some examples of how photography can be presented.
Internet -
There are many reasons why professional photographers have their own websites. Having your own website as a photographer makes you look professional, it helps sell your work, it helps to promote you as a photographer and it can allow you to earn advertising revenue.
For example, fashion photographer Sarah Bird has her own website where she displays all different types of galleries showing different aspects or her work and which also helps to advertise the fashion used in the shots. See below link to her website -
Advertising
If you click on the link below this will take you to Jason Christopher's website. Jason is another fashion photographer but here he has displayed the work that has been used for advertising which is another way to present the images.
Below are a few examples of some fashion and nature shots that have been used for advertising -
These images all have a visual impact on the person viewing it which in effect sells the product making advertising an effective form of presentation. It not only sells the product but it shows the skills of the photographer.
Magazines
One of the reasons why professional photographers put their work in magazines is to give their work exposure and allows their work to be seen by many people which gets their name known. Not only is their work seen by the general public it also allows potention clients to view the calaber of the photographers work.
Wedding photographers for example may wish to combine the two elements of advertising and magazines and advertise their services in a magazine such as bridal magazines:
Wedding photographers
Wedding photographers offer lots of different packages to display your photographs in.
Looking at David Day, who is a wedding photographer based in Nottingham, he offers the below options when choosing how you would like your photographs displayed:
Albums
Contursi Reportage
Contursi
Art Editorial Service - specialist desktop publishing and imaging software
Contursi
Milano - Italian album, supplied in a brief case
See below link to David Day's website:
High street presentation methods
'Snappy Snaps' are a high street store which offers a wide range of photo and digital services to customers. They have stores all over the country and they strive to use the best materials ensuring they get the best results.
Below are some examples of what services and products they offer to display photographs for paying customers....this can then be compared to how professional photographers display their work.
Canvases
Canvases are quite a popular choice of presentation for photographs as it is affordable and is a simple way of turning images into wall art.
'Snappy Snaps' can print images onto all different sizes including A3, A2, A1, A0 and even square frames.
Posters
Personalised printed posters are also offered to customers which can be taken from media such as memory sticks, mobile phones and even using existing photographs. These images can be adjusted and cropped to improve the overall appearance if needed before transferring onto the posters.
Again, customers can choose from different size posters, from the standard 'A' sizes to bespoke sizes.
Collages
Collages are a great way of displaying a selection of photographs taken from a variety of different medias and existing photos. You can also choose between the more contemporary 'arty' collages to the more 'standard' style like the ones shown below:
Photo Art Effects
Photo art effects is a more fun way of displaying photographs. They simply take an existing image and transform it into something completely different:
Photobooks
This service allows customers to go into one of the stores with their digital media and create their own photobooks. This is a great way for people to record lots of memories and keep them in one place.
Prints from slides
This allows customers to make use of any old slide photographs they may by turning them into high quality prints with a range of sizes on offer. You can also have a choice between gloss and matt finishes.
Photo mugs and t-shirts
Photo mugs and t-shirts are very popular gift choices with 'Snappy Snaps'. They take images and transfer them onto mugs and t-shirts which are particularly popular for stag do's and hen nights.
Frames
As well as offering the service to print out your photographs they also offer a range of frames to go with your images or simply to buy individually. They also offer bespoke made to measure frames.
Albums
Albums are a great way of presenting your images and you can choose from lots of different styles of albums and different sizes to fit your photographs. You even have spaces inside the books for notes so that you can jot down memories and facts about the photos.
Digital Printing
Digital printing is referred to when you print from a digital based image onto a variety of media (like the examples researched above with 'Snappy Snaps') and first came into use in the early 1990's. It is normally achieved by using a large format or high volume laser or inkjet printer. This method of printing has a higher cost per page than the more traditional methods such as, offset printing (from a plate to a rubber blanket then onto the printing surface), but there are less costs where labour is concerned.
Digital printing takes up less space than the traditional methods, the machines do not have to be manned, there are no plates and yet they can still produce high volumes of print for when professional photographers work is in demand.
The way they work
Laser or inkjet printers deposit a pigment or toner onto printing surfaces such as, paper, canvas, glass, metal and photo paper. It assembles the image from a set of numbers and mathematical formulas, so is quite technical. These images are then 'digitised' which means they are captured from dots, or pixels as they are better know. This is then used to determine and control the deposition of ink, toner and exposure.
This should then give you a clean and sharp image.
Inkjet printers on the market
Canon PIXMA iP4850 - £69:
- Photolab quality 9600dpi and 1pl
- 10x15cm photo in 20 seconds
- Produces detailed full coloured photographs
HP PhotosmartA532 - £149:
- 100x150mm
- 130x180mm
- 600dpi
HP DesignJet Z2100 - £1,920:
- 2400 dpi x 1200 dpi
- colour inkjet printer
The next thing to consider is the type of printing paper you can use to print your images. Below are some examples of what is on the market.
Types of printing paper
HP Advanced glossy photo paper -
100 sheets
100 x 150mm
Cost = £6.81
Colourway A4 Matte photo paper 120g -
100 sheets
Instant dry
Cost = £2.99
A3 Satin photo paper -
25 sheets
210 gsm
Cost = £23.50
(This is also known as Pearl Satin or Lustre Paper)
Now that I have explored the different types of printers, presentation methods, costs and paper types this will now help me consider how I would like to present my own images for this course.
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