Business

iBook Creatives – A new site about iBooks Author

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I've joined a new website, it's all about Apple iBooks Author. If you missed Apple's announcement, this is the change in publishing that we've all been waiting for.
Be sure to check out iBooksCreative.com

This is the official home of iBookCreatives.com. We’re a community for and of iBook authors.Here you’ll find tips, tools, news, reviews, and tutorials related to publishing e-books with Apple’s free publishing tool – iBook Author.We’re also available to consult with authors who want help publishing iBooks.This site is not affiliated with Apple, Inc.


The site is iBooksCreative.com

Progress Billing for Creative Projects

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Image by iStockphoto – Save 10%

Billing is one of those subjects that can often be an uncomfortable conversation. While you may not be comfortable talking about money, your client will be a lot happier if there are clear expectations that define the business terms. Every video or photo project should be split into progress payments.

The benefits of progress payments are many. First, it gives your client confidence that you have motivation to complete the work and show progress. Second, by splitting the financial payments across progress you ensure protection for your financial security.

Typically, I recommend the use up to five, equal payments. If a project has an extremely short timeline or does not involve a full-service production (such as shooting only) then adjust your payment schedule. This helps you by keeping your work funded and ensures that the client knows what’s going on financially.

  • Project Initiation — Once the project scope and budget is agreed upon, a deposit for 20% of the project should be submitted.
  • Preproduction — This stage encompasses the bulk of project planning. Tie a progress payment to the deliver of the script or other relevant preproduction tasks. Issue a progress payment upon delivery of final preproduction items to the client.
  • Production — I recommend the submittal of an invoice once shooting begins. This is typically the most expensive stage of a project. Be sure that you have received some form of payment before production begins. Do not hand off project footage until at least 50% of a project’s budget is in hand.
  • Postproduction — Once editing begins, another progress payment should be issued. Some choose to watermark projects until at least 66% of a project’s budget is received.
  • Closeout — A final bill that reflects any change orders should be generated at the completion of a project. Be sure that your agreement states that you retain certain rights to a production until payment is received in full.


It's Time You Got on Twitter

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Now, some of you already use Twitter... which means you probably fall into three camps. You either love it, don’t know how to use it, or haven’t gotten past the confusing gibberish to even start. Let me offer some advice to those who aren’t already benefiting.

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Start by Following. Click the Who to Follow button and then look through recommended users as well as search for people you know. Choose 50 people or brands that interest you and read them for two weeks. See what they talk about and what information you’re finding out that you’d likely have missed if you had to search actively for it.

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Complete Your Bio. Make sure you upload a photo and add a descriptive bio. You can also include your homepage which will serve as an inbound link to your site. You are missing opportunities when you don’t introduce yourself properly.

Start Posting. Many on Twitter are simply lurkers. Make sure you get involved. Post updates whenever you add new blog post to your site. Try posting quick tips or observations about photography. Share good news and accomplishments with others. You can also include links to useful articles relevant to your interests. The important thing here is to periodically engage others and comment.

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Don’t Obsess. Twitter is not your email inbox. You do not need to read every tweet that comes in (however be sure to click on the @Mentions and Messages buttons to see tweets about and to you.) You should also not log in and send out too many tweets at once.

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Go Mobile. Put a native Twitter application on your mobile pone. You’ll find Twitter a pleasant companion that lets you keep in touch with your friends and interests. The phone applications make it easy to share photos and video as well as streamline the posting and browsing process.

Switch Your View. You might enjoy your Twitter feed more if you use a helper application. Look at things like Flipboard for iPad or Pulse for Android which turn your Twitter feed into a virtual magazine.

Like all new things, Twitter takes a while to learn and even longer to master. But it does a great job of keeping you informed of important industry news and can lead to a passive intimacy with your clients and fans. This excuse to keep in touch means that you stay in people’s minds... which of course improves your chance of referrals and repeat hires.

Richard Harrington is the founder of RHED Pixel (www.RHEDPixel.com) a visual communications company in Washington, D.C. You can follow him on Twitter @rhedpixel.

Adobe Tips & Flicks Event in DC on February 22

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Join Adobe, Government Video Magazine, and industry experts for a day of valuable information concluding with complimentary pre-release screening of the groundbreaking new film, Act of Valor. This event is targeted for those working in the government or military.

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Jacob Rosenberg, Director and CTO of Bandito Brothers will share his experience in the post production workflow and editorial process for Act of Valor. The film Act of Valor straddles reality and fiction, military messaging, and entertainment. It features real life SEALs—not actors—strike scenes written by the SEALs themselves, and jarring live-fire footage.

This information-packed day will provide valuable knowledge you can use in all your work—from everyday government video projects to more complex productions. There will be something for government employees or contractors doing government work, followed by great entertainment. You can register here – http://gov.adobeeventsonline.com/TipsAndFlick/2012/Feb22/registration.php?source=004.

Agenda
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Registration and Lunch

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Adobe Creative Suite®5.5 Production Premium: High Performance for a
New Generation
Colin Smith
Senior Solutions Consultant, Adobe

12:45 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Beautiful Graphics for Video Editors
Rich Harrington
CEO, RHED Pixel

1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Software Raffle and Break

1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Join the New Digital
Video Publishing Revolution
Jerry Silverman
Adobe Solutions Consultant

2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Software Raffle and Break

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Mixing formats, frame-rates, and bullets in Act of Valor
Jacob Rosenberg
Director & CTO, Bandito Brothers

3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
All Star Panel Question and Answer
Jacob Rosenberg, Rich Harrington, Christina Clapp, Editorial Director Video for New Bay Media, and Colin Smith.

4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Popcorn and Snack Break

4:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Screening Act of Valor


Adobe Clarifies Upgrade Policy for CS6

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Recently, there was a lot of online static about Adobe changing its upgrade pricing. There were some conversations, overheard statements, and misinterpretations on what they were going to do. Many thought the only option to upgrade for CS6 was going to be a CS5 customer. I started digging into this a while back and have had a few conversations with folks to get clarification.

I am glad to tell you that Adobe has made an official announcement today about what user's can expect. I have put Adobe's statement in bold and added my commentary in italics.

We’re very excited about the upcoming release of Adobe® Creative Suite® 6 software and Adobe Creative Cloud™. CS6 will be a major new release of our creative desktop tools, with huge improvements for every type of creative professional.

  • I'm excited. More than anything in the past 7 years.
  • You will be too.

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Adobe Creative Cloud will be our most comprehensive creative solution ever, giving members access to all of the CS6 desktop software plus additional services, new tools, Adobe Touch Apps, and rich community features.

I am not clear on all that is in the bundle… but what I hear sounds good. A subscription based plan that looks to be about $50 a month. With access to apps as well as many online services for publishing and collaboration. Here are more details – http://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud.html.

In addition, Creative Cloud members will receive continuous upgrades and updates to all products and services as part of their membership.

This is the biggest news. The next thing I am going to say is a little complex, but the Sarbanes-Oxley Act prevent publicly traded companies from doing free software updates after a certain period of time. It's a convoluted law that grew out of the Enron scandal that places limits on how companies can sell products and realize revenue if they are publicly traded. This is why Apple has to charge you 99¢ for FaceTime because you licensed the OS once, but can push out free updates for the iPhone because it has monthly services fees. See these articles for more details –


What's really cool is that apps could see more frequent updates. So support for new file formats could come out as needed. Adobe could be more nimble and release new features officially (instead of trickling out public beta versions through Adobe Labs). This could really increase the pace of innovation and has a lot of potential.

Adobe’s new Creative Suite upgrade policy, which goes into effect in the first half of 2012 when Adobe Creative Cloud™ and Creative Suite 6 are released, will require customers to be on the most current version of Creative Suite in order to qualify for upgrade pricing when new versions are released. This means that customers need to be on CS5 or CS5.5 in order to receive upgrade pricing when CS6 is released.
This is why everyone freaked out… take a breath and keep reading.

With these great new releases coming in the first half of 2012, we want to make sure our customers have plenty of time to determine which offering is best for them.

YIPPEE!!!

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Therefore, we’re pleased to announce that we will offer special introductory upgrade pricing on Creative Suite 6 to customers who own CS3 or CS4. This offer will be available from the time CS6 is released until December 31, 2012. More details on this offer, as well as any introductory offers for existing customers to move to Creative Cloud membership, will be announced when CS6 and Creative Cloud are released later this year.

In other words, read between the lines.

  • Just like recent releases, you can only upgrade from 3 versions back. They are going to continue this policy for a short while longer.
  • Buy the upgrade to CS6 when its released if you want to own the software. Expect upgrade pricing to be similar to past pricing.
  • If you have CS5, CS4, or CS3, upgrade to CS6. You will not be able to upgrade after December 31, 2012, unless you are a CS5 customer (or CS5.5).
  • When CS7 rolls around (I AM NOT STARTING A RUMOR HERE) it sounds like you will need to be a CS6 customer in order to upgrade.


Read the details about our Creative Suite upgrade policy – http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/faq.html#upgrade-eligibility
Learn more about Adobe Creative Cloud – http://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud.html

The lesson here is:

  • Keep calm and carry on.
  • You will be able to upgrade to CS6 if you own CS3, CS4, CS5, or CS5.5.
  • Sounds like CS6 is around the corner.
  • You can already subscribe to the Creative Suite bundles here – http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/cssubscription.html for between $65 and $130 a month… so the new $50 a month pricing is going to be even sweeter.


Hope this clears things up.

Trends for the Photography Indutry

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I spend part of my career speaking at industry conferences. This gives me an opportunity to see who’s exhibiting, as well as talk to vendors and photographers to see what’s on their minds. I wanted to quickly share five things that I’ve noticed popping up more and more. Consider adding these areas to your service offerings to expand business opportunity:
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3D Photography

Right now, this is actually starting as a consumer trend. We’re seeing cameras like the Sony Bloggie 3D as well as some mobile phones starting to pick things up. But 3D is on the rise and I expect things like iPad, phone, and computer displays to not be far behind. If you’re into product or location photography, give it some serious thought.

  • Here’s an example of web usage that’s pretty cool from Vision3 Imaging
  • You should also check out lenticular printing such as Snapily.com

Video

I know for some this is old news… but interest continues to skyrocket. My dSLR classes at Photoshop World sold out in record time. I was amazed at how many people in the photography world are interested in video and have clients willing to pay.

Time-lapse Photography

A close cousin to video is the art of time-lapse photography. In this case the photographer shoots several stills sequentially using a timer or intervalometer. An exposure can be taken as often as every second, but often longer intervals are used to show the passing of time. There is high demand for time-lapse photography within the stock community and it’s a heck of a lot of fun.


Metal Printing

One of the most popular output options these days is metal printing. Whether it’s large sizes for walls to smaller panels for installations, you’ll find that many vendors are now offering this service. Two things to think of – first shop around… because this is a new service… prices are vary wildly. Second, most printers tell me to reduce the contrast and saturation a bit as the metal will intensify both.

Know Your Oponent

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There are several reasons you might not be paid by a client (and most have little to do with a dissatisfied client, aggressive behavior, or conspiracy).  Here are a few practical strategies I employ at my office.

  • Use s systems of deposits. We will bill incrementally for work.  An initial deposit, another if substantial pre-production is required.  A bill upon initiation of shooting.  Another after post-production.  By spreading out your payments, you aren’t serving as a bank to your client.  You can also catch a flaky client before you’ve handed over assets and lost power.
  • Take credit.  While you’ll take a small hit in fees, the cash in hand is better than you paying interest towards your own debts.  Credit card fees for payments are typically less than credit card finance charges.  Take a look at easy solutions like Square to process cards with no account setup fees.
  • Ensure the final bill is accurate. Did you go through and reconcile all the changes the client made? Look though the initial quote and proposal.  Have you delivered everything you promised in writing?  Don’t get hung up because your bill has mistakes.
  • Don’t skimp on information.  Make sure the invoice has the project name, project or PO number, as well as your full details such as address and Tax ID. Make sure the Due Date is clearly visible on the invoice.
  • Ensure delivery. Make sure that your contact gets the actual bill. Send a draft as an email asking for confirmation of accuracy. Include hard copies in the mail and with deliverables (people are overloaded with email).
  • Close the loop.  Call the client a few days after sending bill to confirm receipt.  A few days later call the Accounts Payable department and confirm that they actually got the bill.
  • Run a report. Know who owes you money by generating a report in your accounting software.  Make sure you reach out within 3 days of a late payment.  Be sure all subsequent invoices are marked with the due date and point out any finance charges.
  • Pick up the phone. If you are actually owed money, pick up the phone. Call the client or the accounts payable department.  Be polite and ensure that the invoice was actually processed.  If you’ve done the previous steps, be sure to cite your previous calls where you confirmed receipt.
  • If all else fails.  If you’ve gotten to this point you either have a deadbeat client, one who is experiencing sudden economic hardships, or a dissatisfied customer.  The deadbeat client you should have spotted through the use of progress payments.  The economic hardships are a realty, but work out a payment solution and suspend rights or future work until the get caught up.  An upset client, you better get to work and resolve it.


Remember:
Be polite, but firm.You are not a bank. Accept credit cards and let someone else be the bank.

This post sponsored by iStockphoto – Save 10% – Get a Free Audio Track

iTunes Searching: How Will You Be Discovered?

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Whether you're publishing a podcast or an app, you'll be found in one of three ways on the iTunes store. Understanding how these methods work will improve your chances at success.

1. Search

The iTunes Store contains a search field. Results are returned based on popularity and relevance. Popularity relates to the number of new subscribers you’ve had in a given period (which is an uncontrollable factor). Relevance is due largely to your show’s description and keywords (which you have complete control over). Be sure to write an accurate description that addresses your show’s topic. You can also use keywords to address misspellings or additional search criteria.

2. Featured Content

The iTunes Store routinely features content. There are several factors that contribute to a show being featured. First and foremost, the quality of content is considered. Second, your show must have attractive artwork (which does not include Apple items like logos or iPods). The staff at the iTunes Store also favor shows with consistent content that is released regularly (e.g., weekly or daily). It should also go without saying that your feed needs to be valid, so periodically check it at www.feedvalidator.org.

3.Top Lists

On each page of the iTunes Store there is a “Top List.” These lists showcase the top shows in each category. Making these lists is based on new subscriptions. We often recommend launching a show with four episodes (simply pre-date the first three to offset their “release”). This way a new show offers visitors multiple options. This initial surge can help you make a splash. Once you are on a Top List, it is essential you maintain your release schedule and quality. Staying on a Top List is very helpful, as it makes it much easier for visitors to discover your show.

Want to Recharge Your Video Editing Mojo? Join Me at Editor's Retreat 2012 (Discount Code)

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I have been going to the Editor's Retreat event for almost 15 years (back when it was known as the Avid Master Editor Workshop). This is a great event that lets professional editors get together for several days of learning and networking in a small intimate event. The next time its being held is February 1–5 in Austin, Texas.

Editors Retreat from Editors Retreat on Vimeo.

Now in its fifth year, the Editors Retreat has become an annual gathering for the post-production elite. Highly experienced editors from the worlds of film, TV and video come together to network, exchange ideas, share tips and of course, have fun! To ensure that only the best of the best attend, participation is subject to an application and screening process.


The Editors Retreat is an intensive, interactive environment for TV, video and film editors that fosters creativity and the exchange of ideas at the highest level.Now in its sixth year, the Editors Retreat has become an annual gathering for the post-production elite. Highly experienced editors  come together to network, exchange ideas, share tips and of course, have fun!  Running for 5 days and 4 nights, the Editors Retreat offers advanced sessions on post, visual and audio techniques and features valuable insight into emerging trends and technologies.  

Keynote attendees have included such names as Alan Heim, Sally Menke, Geoffrey Richman, Dan Lebental and Maysie Hoy.  Retreat attendees are known to walk away with incredible raffle prizes and swag, often worth more than cost of attending!

For more info visit : EditorsRetreat.com
Special 10% Discount Code  :  ERRH12