Photography Your Way

The other night I decided to pick up my stack of photography books I’ve collected over the years instead of hitting the NYIP books like I’d promised.  The book I decided to start with is called Photography Your Way by Chuck DeLaney.  Ironically, he is the Dean to the NYIP and the very person that "Don" admonishes in the segment I referred to the other day.  I’m not sure where I bought this book but I’m sure I didn’t pay more than $5 or $6 for it and it is worth every penny.  Even if I’d paid retail, it would be worth it.  Despite the fact that it was published in 2000, I found it to be full of sound advice.  I actually put the book down at one point to go hunt down a highlighter!  I suspect that I will revisit this book several more times in the future.

There were a few spots that were out of date – like the chapter on digital technology.  There were a few spots that didn’t strike me as being useful – like the chapter called "Inspiration – Show Me".  I was surprised at the curse words in the book.  Although they were only in a few spots and not grossly out of place, they still caught me off guard.  Still, Part One of the book is something that will inspire you if you are an aspiring photographer.  It  was so good that I couldn’t put the rest of the book down.  I’ve been stealing every moment I could over the past three days to read this book! 

Despite the few parts that are out of date, the majority of this book has some solid advice to give about starting a business, ideas for pricing your work, portfolio tips that will likely not go out of style and, my particular favorite, naming your business.  I love, love, love that he tells it straight when he suggests that a dumb name is a bad idea.  However clever you think it is at the time, it will haunt you.

If you are thinking about taking some pictures for some people and charging them a fee for your service, you need to read this book first.  If you are already an established photographer who is in a lull, I think reading Part One of this book would help you find your drive again too.  I thought it was super and I highly recommend it.