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6 Steps to Growing Your Photography Business Using a Recommended Vendors List

26 Jan

In this article I talk about a technique used in all types of business, but of course will relate it to photography. To make it easy to understand, I am going to discuss the technique specifically for wedding photographers. But it is important to know that the technique you will learn in this article can work for any type of photography niche or genre.

Wedding cake

Utilizing a business partner vendor list to grow your business

How so? By creating something of value to offer website visitors, which will in turn get them to give you their name and email address. When someone offers you contact information in exchange for something of value, they are now considered a lead. From there you have the potential to convert that lead into a paying customer.

Let’s break it down piece by piece. I’ll start with a list and then talk about each individually:

  1. Create a PDF document that is attractive to your potential customers. This PDF is intended to act as a conversion tool – a free offer.
  2. The offer utilizes a business partner vendor list by recommending preferred and partner vendors. This helps add more value to the download and also improves the relationship between you and the vendor.
  3. Create a way for site visitors to enter their contact information on a landing page, a magnetic spot like blog sidebars, or a pop-up box.
  4. Capture emails of website visitors, which then turn into quality leads (because they downloaded something specifically for their intention of hiring a photographer).
  5. The vendors included in the document are also likely to further promote the document.
  6. You now have huge potential of converting those leads into customers, via phone calls and email marketing.

Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty of each of those points. As mentioned earlier, this is geared to wedding photography. So if you are not a wedding photographer, take all I am saying and relate it to the type of photography you do.

Step one – create a PDF

The first step is to come up with a PDF document which you can offer for free on your website. Ideally it will contain everything that your potential customer would need to know about planning a wedding. It’s important that the document is branded to your business, and has an attractive design overall. You can use your letterhead (with logo of course), or a pre-made design for the task at hand (which I have made available) or templates from Keynote or PowerPoint. The important part is that your branding is in the design and that it won’t turn people away by looking unprofessional.

Photographer free pdf

Step two – utilize your list

Inside the PDF categorize it for different types of vendors. You may have a page of florists, and another for wedding venues that you recommend. Ideally make each a two-page spread if possible. One page would provide the information on the vendors, and the other page would contain your photography examples related to the vendor. Think of it like a portfolio of your best work combined with your recommended vendor list.

The beauty of this is that you are getting your photographs in front of couples planning their wedding. Your brand is there as well vendors, which the couple might also hire.

Step three – create the opt-in

Next up is creating a way convert website visitors into leads. This is a bigger section due to the complexity. By this point you will have already created the PDF, which leads will download. But the process of gathering the email addresses confuses many people.

The first step is to use an email marketing service like Mailchimp or Aweber. Both are fantastic. I personally use Mailchimp for its ease of use and pricing.

Both services offer a feature, which can automatically send emails based on certain actions. In Mailchimp it is called Automation, in Aweber it’s called Follow Up Series. There you will set up an automated email, which will be sent to anyone who signs up for the “Free PDF” list that you will have created. Definitely name the list something you will recognize immediately when logging into your account.

These services allow you to attach a PDF to an email, which is what I recommend. But if you are using a service that does not allow attachments then create a Dropbox or Google Drive link and include that in the email.

This is where the fun part starts. There are many places where you can place what’s called an opt-in form. That means, a form which asks a website visitors for a name and email address, or any other information you want to request like a phone number.
Note that the less information you request the higher your conversion rate will be – meaning, the more people will fill it out. So I typically ask for email addresses only (you will see why later).

The first place you want to place the opt-in form is on a landing page specific to the free PDF. The benefit of having a unique page for the document is connected to SEO (search engine optimization). A dedicated page can be filled with additional text and image content optimized to rank well on search engines. It can also increase the conversion rate (percentage of people who sign up compared to number of page visits) for the opt-in because there are no distractions from blog articles or other content available only your website. Services like Mailchimp and Aweber offer embed codes for your opt-in forms. You use it like you were copying and pasting HTML from YouTube, Vimeo or 500px.

The second place you can have the opt-in form is on your blog’s sidebar, or in a pop-up form. These are called magnetic areas because they draw the attention of a visitor’s eye directly to them. There are a few ways you can do the magnetic opt-ins. For sidebars you can use the standard embed code. Some services offer pop-up codes as well. For WordPress sites I recommend services like OptinMonster or Pippity, which come with many design options as well as timing and split testing so you can see what converts the best. I have helped a many photographers with this method.

Optinmonster

Step four – leads versus quality leads

Now that you have the PDF done, and everything set up for visitors to convert into leads – it is important to note the difference between a lead and a quality lead.

A lead is anyone who contacts you about anything. An example of a standard lead is a couple who contacts you for a price list. They might be interested in your services, but there is no way of knowing how interested they really are, how far along they are in their wedding planning, or how serious they are about you.

A quality lead is someone who has taken specific actions to do research and wants valuable information. For example, a quality lead would be a couple downloading your free PDF because it contains information specific to their needs. They understand that it will contain every vendor they need to know about to plan their wedding.

Quality leads have a much higher chance of converting into paying customers over standard leads. That’s because a quality lead is already more interested in your services than a standard lead.

Step five – inform your vendors

If the couple books a venue listed on your PDF, then it is highly possible they will mention you as a referral. Your vendor partners will appreciate that. So, be sure to send a copy to your partners so they know what you are offering potential customers. Then they are also more likely to promote it, and promote you.

Your best sales people are your brand advocates. Those are your customers and your business partners.

Biz partners

Step six – converting to customers

You have your free PDF and are converting site visitors into leads. You are utilizing an email marketing service as recommended. Next is where it really comes into play.

I mentioned earlier that I typically only ask for email addresses. That is because with email marketing you can learn more about your leads, so names and phone numbers are NOT essential. In fact, you may find that through nurturing those leads via email marketing that you will have more people contacting you than you contacting them.

After doing some testing, I came to the conclusion that sending one email a week to my list is most effective. You may find yourself in a different situation. But having an email marketing service that tracks statistics will help you identify the optimal sending scenario – days and times.

One effective trick I find for converting leads into paying customers is to ask a question, which warrants a reply. Whatever the question might be, you will find people replying. That is where the conversation really takes off. Something like this perhaps:

As a wedding photographer I am always so curious what types of gowns brides pick.  Please reply with the type of dress you will be wearing at your wedding.  Or if you already picked it out, I’d love to see a photo!

What have you learned

To wrap-up this article, I want to restate what you learned here and what your first step should be.

Your business partner vendors are more important than ever to your business. You can foster those relationships online, and offline, by creating a free PDF as described here. That PDF will be used as leverage for converting website visitors into quality leads. Using email-marketing you can nurture those leads and convert them into paying customers. All with a little help from a simple PDF that includes super valuable information.

New family

Once again, I used wedding photography as an example, so if you are not a wedding photographer then be sure to think hard about your vendor list and what your clients would need. Then start creating that document.

Hop to it!

Disclaimer: dPS does not agree or disagree with any recommendations made by the author. The author receives no extra compensation for these referrals and benefits in no way. He only recommends them because these are the services he uses – do your own due diligence when selecting any service for your business.

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The post 6 Steps to Growing Your Photography Business Using a Recommended Vendors List by Scott Wyden Kivowitz appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Cactus V6 update adds Micro Four Thirds and Metz flashguns to wireless control list

02 Dec

Flash manufacturer Cactus has updated firmware for its V6 wireless flash transceiver to include profiles for top end guns from Olympus and Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds and Four Thirds systems. Firmware 1.1.004 makes the V6 transmitter/receiver units compatible specifically with Olympus FL-50R, FL-36R and Panasonic FL-500R and FL-360R. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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5 Tips for More Successful Event Photography Using a Shot List

26 Oct

Company parties. Special galas. Nonprofit fundraisers. When someone asks you to shoot one of these events, you aren’t exactly leaping for joy, right?

Event Photo 04

Corporate event photography can get a bad reputation among creatives, mostly because it sounds like an unglamorous style of photography. While it is true that many aspects of corporate event photos can be very rote, these events actually a huge advantage that can lead to even more creative expression. Here’s why: There is almost always a set structure and schedule to corporate events that rarely deviates, meaning it is incredibly easy to build a shot list to get your essential shots out of the way very quickly. That means you have more time on your hands at the event to get creative with the way you choose to take these shots. Whether you’re a budding event photographer, or taking on an event as a favor, use these tips to build an effective event photography shot list that will make your clients happy and maybe even lead to other photography opportunities with them down the road!

Fact: Most corporate clients will not know what kind of photos they need.

At least in my experience working with west coast corporate clients, most of them can’t give me a clear answer when I ask how many photos they need, what they need shots of, etc. While this may seem frustrating at first, bear in mind that this vagueness from your client gives you the perfect opportunity to shine by filling in the blanks for them, because in general, most corporate clients want the same types of event photos.

So what kinds of photos do corporate clients want?

To answer this question, put yourself in the shoes of the branding or marketing coordinator who put the event together. Often, their whole purpose to having you there to is capture images that show that they did their jobs right by properly setting up the space and making sure the people they invited showed up and had a good time. They want shots that capture:

1. Setup shots of empty rooms, trade show booths, promotional items, signage, etc.

Event Photo 02

Be sure to arrive early to capture any event setup shots. It was someone’s job to put everything together, so he or she will definitely want images that show off all of the hard work that went into it. Generally, setup shots should be taken before guests arrive so that everything is still intact.

2. Candid and posed shots of VIPs or executives that are deemed important by the company.

Event Photo 01

This can be extremely tricky because often times, you won’t have any idea who the company CEO or big wigs are, even if the event coordinator hands you a sheet with all of their names on it. The best way to handle this is to ask the coordinator ahead of time if there is someone from the company who can accompany you and point out their VIPs and executives on site. Don’t be afraid to ask for help so that you can get your job done right.

3. Closeups and wide angle shots of any speakers.

Event Photo 03

As much as possible, get shots of speakers that include branding and signage somewhere in the photo. Also bear in mind that you will not always have a designated spot to shoot from, so bring a telephoto lens and prepare to possibly shoot from farther away. If you’re shooting from up close, make your shots quick so that you don’t block the view of guests.

4. Guests looking engaged and interested at the event.

Barneys New York And The Parkinson's Project Host A Luncheon In Support Of The Parkinson's Project At The Kingfish Cafe

Try not to capture photos of people (especially VIPs and executives) making unflattering expressions or gestures. It can take some patience, but make sure you get images that indicate everyone was having a good time. If you captured any goofy expressions or moments, you might be able to submit them, but be sure to flag them as optional outtakes.

5. Shots that indicate the event was well attended, such as full room shots with lots of people.

Event Photo 07

While it might still be valuable to include full room shots where only half of the seats are filled, you’ll want to pull out your zoom lens and focus in on larger clumps of people to provide shots that indicate the event was well attended.

The photos that corporate clients DON’T want

While event photography can in many ways feel like photojournalism, this is not the time to take too many images that are overly honest. Bear in mind that many times the photos are intended to be used for marketing purposes, so the last thing your clients want to see are ugly, unfavorable photos. Even though events might be poorly attended and the attendees might not be the most interesting people, it’s your job to make the event look and seem as fun as possible, even if you have to act like a hype person or stage photos to do so.

While there are many lessons and creative inspiration that can be obtained by winging it and thinking quick on the spot, professionals know there is generally more value to preparing ahead of time. One way to effectively do this is to think out every aspect of the shoot beforehand and great a comprehensive shot list. This will help you picture the finished shoot even before you step foot on set, greatly reducing any last minute issues that might arise, and giving you more freedom to take your necessary shots with creativity.

Do you photograph events? Do you have any other tips you’d like to share? You could also read 5 Tips for Special Event Photography here on dPS for more tips on covering events.

The post 5 Tips for More Successful Event Photography Using a Shot List by Suzi Pratt appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Photography Trip of a Lifetime to the Canadian Rockies for Your Bucket List

10 Jul

With thousands of awe-inspiring and exotic places in the world, you have no shortage of places to visit and photograph. If you’re like me and have a bucket list of adventures you just have to shoot before you hang up your camera, allow me to add one more trip to your inventory.  This excursion not only includes heart-pounding scenery, but also what is probably the most expensive piece of photographic equipment you’ll ever get the chance to use – all for the price of “admission”.

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Photographers waiting for the right moment.

The adventure is heli-hiking, in the Bugaboo Mountain Range in Canada but with a twist for photographers. I signed up last September for a trip sponsored by the Canadian Geographic Society Photography Club, and I was so enchanted a friend and I are going back this year to do it again, this time with world renowned Canadian nature photographer John Marriott heading the trip. I wanted to share this photo adventure with you because it’s almost the perfect photographer’s dream destination.

This trip has it all:

  • Rarely seen mountain vistas so your images won’t soon become cliches
  • Soul-soothing Mother Nature everywhere to inspire and energize your imagination
  • All the gourmet food you can eat
  • Genuine, fun and extremely knowledgeable staff
  • First class accommodations
  • Yoga and massages
  • Affordable budget
  • And helicopters

Yes, helicopters – that’s the pricy bit of equipment I was mentioning.  Let’s talk about photography and the helicopters first, then I’ll go into the logistics of the trip and what you need to know if you decide to go.

Mountain Landscapes Like You’ve Never Seen Before

In the Purcell Mountains (generically referred to as the Canadian Rockies), in eastern British Columbia, Canada, just west of the famous town of Banff,  is a remote mountain range known as the Bugaboos (PDF map). It’s not easily accessible, and the rugged terrain limits visits to only those die-hard outdoor adventurers. There are almost no roads into the area, and climbers and hikers are warned that it is a “wilderness area, without supplies or equipment of any kind”. Fortunately for us photographers, the helicopters allow easy travel to the most photogenic locations, and the company that runs the trips also has two first-class lodges high up in the hills, so all your creature comforts are taken care of.

Bugaboo mountains for photographers

The Bugaboo Spires, as viewed from the Lodge.

Each morning the helicopter, transports you high into the alpine meadows, glaciers, hanging valleys and azure blue mountain lakes, that very few people ever get to see. I visited several locations last year that were around 9000 feet in elevation. All the views were heart-stopping!  Each day is like this, the tour guides – specialists in interpreting mountain environments, safety, and photography – along with an expert professional photographer, provide advice, help and expertise in shooting mountain landscapes. From selecting the best locations for the day, to determining when to set out in the morning to get the sweet light, all the hard stuff is taken care of for you. It allows you to devote your creative energy to capturing what your imagination perceives. Imagine being immersed in beauty, with ten other photographers, and having an expert photo instructor at your side for four days – what could be better than that?

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Your ride for the weekend – transporting you to the peak.

Photographic Tips and Advice from a Pro

It’s an education like no other, in a real world classroom. It’s camaraderie and fun with other photographers who think like you do. At every location, the tour photographer will help you set up, explain the best lenses to try, what settings you should start out with and generally give you some direction to ensure you shoot some great frames. But at the same time, there’s plenty of room for innovation and your own individual shooting and subject preferences. One thing that I kept having to remind myself of is that the alpine environment is also prime scenery for macro photography too. It’s not just the “big picture”. When I was there in September, the wildflowers had already finished flowering, but between craggy rocks all sorts of vegetation was making an appearance. This year I’m going back at the beginning of August – the peak of wildflower season. There are spectacular details in everything. Don’t forget to look down.

Alpine Abstract

Alpine Abstract

 Spend Every Minute Immersed in Your Passion

No time is wasted on a photography heli-hiking trip. At least once, you’ll be up before dawn to fly off to a place where sunrise will be dramatic.  Even if no pre-dawn flight is planned on that day, sunrise from the lodge is always a wonder. The coffee is always ready for you no matter when you roll out of bed, so there’s no excuse for sleeping late. After your sunrise shots, a full breakfast will be waiting for you, hot eggs, healthy grains, whatever you could imagine is all there. Back on board your helicopter ride and it’s off to another location. You even get gourmet picnic lunches on the mountain, where you can take a break and compare notes and images with your group, or just keep shooting.

The wh-early bird gets the worm.

The “wh-early” bird gets the worm. 

_DSC7151

On top of the world at sunrise.

_DSC6180crop

Would Ansel Adams approve?

Sunrise over the Spires, view from the Lodge

Sunrise over the Spires, view from the Lodge

More Photography, Food, and Fun

When the day is done, your helicopter will bring you back to the lodge where you can have a massage for your tired body before the gourmet dinner. Depending on your program, you may have a photo class after dinner, a show and share session, or another helicopter trip to catch the golden hour on a mountain lake or peak, for that once in a lifetime shot.

Aptly named Cobalt Lake

Aptly named Cobalt Lake

In fact one of the more delightful aspects of these trips happens back at the lodge. Not surprisingly, the staff are the coolest and most genuinely friendly people I have come across in any of my travels anywhere in the world. Everyone sits together for dinner, family style. Your helicopter pilot may be serving your wine, and the person who made up your room in the morning might be handing out the appetizers. Everyone pitches in where needed, although only the pilots ever fly the helicopters. The atmosphere is encouraging and supportive; informative and humorous.

Fun, whether in the field or at the lodge, is definitely a key item on the overall agenda. So besides sharing photo tales and techniques with your fellow photogs, the guides and staff will keep you more than amused with stories of their adventures in the Bugaboos (and if you’re like me, you’ll also be planning your next visit).

Sunset godrays

Sunset godrays

What You Need to Know

You’ll want to seize the experience up there in the mountains so a bit of basic preparation will go a long way. You don’t want to be lugging 40 pounds of gear up those trails, and despite loving the helicopter rides you won’t want to have to make an extra trip back to the lodge because of an injury. The company that runs the tours has all the info you need as far as mountain safety and fitness is concerned, and they will provide you with all the hiking gear you’re likely to need.  But as a photographer who’s made this trip, I have some recommendations based on my mistakes.

Making great images on a trip like this requires that you’re fully prepared, energized, and organized. You’ll spend some time walking and perhaps hiking (depending on your group), and you don’t want to be all tuckered out before the end of your day.

_DSC7324

The air is thin up here. Pack light.

Pack Light

Bring the minimum amount of gear necessary, and be strategic. Remember you have to pack your lunch and water as well, and a tripod is a must. If one of your telephoto lenses has macro capability bring that one, rather than two separate lenses.

For my trip last summer, I bought a light-weight Sirui carbon fibre tripod and ball head. That was a smart move. The dumb move was bringing three camera bodies and five lenses. I’m a girl from the prairies and hiking with all that gear at 9000 ft was just plain dumb! What was I thinking? If you sign up for the John Marriott workshops, he will send you information regarding the equipment you should bring, but I recommend a wide angle, a small macro and a telephoto (70-200mm range) plus polarizers, and a neutral density filter. Less stuff challenges you to be a more creative photographer.

A little exercise before you leave home won't hurt.

A little exercise before you leave home won’t hurt.

Get in Shape

Even though there is little serious hiking on the photo tours, a short uphill climb can feel like a marathon with a backpack full or gear, thin air, and an out of shape body. You don’t have to be an athlete, but again every little bit of fitness helps. My dumb move – last year I did nothing, plus I was in a car accident the week before I left and fractured two ribs. Walking to the bathroom was painful, never mind an uphill climb with too much stuff in my backpack. This year I am so far not injured, so I am running flights of stairs, walking around with my full backpack and doing the 7-minute-workout three times a week. I have five weeks to go, and I know I won’t win any gold medals, but my time in the mountains will be a little more enjoyable this year because of my preparation.

Just sit and enjoy the experience for a few minutes.

A little uphill walk can feel like a marathon.

Take a minute enjoy the moment.

Take a minute enjoy the moment.

Try Not be be Overwhelmed

It’s so very easy to be completely blown away the first time you get off the helicopter. You’ve never seen anything like this before, and for many, you won’t have a chance to see it again. But when you get to a location, put all your gear down. Rest for a minute. Take a few deep breaths. Snap a few iphone photos at first so you have the memories, but just sit and  feel how you are feeling. Take a few minutes to let it all settle in your brain. There’s no need to rush, trying to capture everything. Relax, you’ll be at this spot for a while, and the day is long.

The CMH Bugaboo Lodge

The CMH Bugaboo Lodge

The Logistics

I tend to rave about this trip for many reasons but what was outstanding was how thoroughly well organized everything was. Everything! Given all the complexities of booking and moving so many people (about 40 guests are participating in various heli-hiking tours along with the photography groups) to a remote lodge, and planning flights around weather, and light, and all those people, the fact that nothing went awry was such a huge surprise. All the details from making my reservation, taking care of answering any questions, call backs if needed, were handled so well. If someone said they’d call back they did. They send extremely detailed emails containing everything I needed to know from packing lists to travel insurance.  Everything is taken care of.  If you decide to embark on this adventure, you just have to get yourself to Banff, Alberta. That’s it.

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You’ll need to spend at leat one night in Banff, because your trip to the helipad starts very early. Most people fly to Calgary, Alberta, and take the shuttle bus to the hotel in Banff or Lake Louise. In the morning you take a cab to the bus depot where you meet the coach that will take you to the helipad. The tour company pays your fare for the cab and the bus. Once on the bus you’re served coffee and breakfast, and you’ll get a lively and comical conversation from your bus guide. It’s about a two hour trip.

Once you arrive at the helipad, the helicopter will transport about 8-10 people at a time to the lodge, about a ten minute flight. When you arrive at the Lodge, you get lunch, a safety orientation, get fitted for your hiking equipment, and then before you know it, you’re on your first helicopter ride to the mountain tops for the perfect photography experience of a lifetime. It just gets better and better after that!

_DSC7575

The company I went with is CMH – Canadian Mountain Holidays. They’ve been doing this for years and the founder was the person who invented heli-skiing so they know the mountains. There is one more photo trip in September this year (2014), but my friend and I got the last to spots for the August photo trip with John Marriott.  The cost for the heli-hiking photo tour is about $ 3280 CAD + taxes, and it includes everything except alcoholic beverages and your massage treatments.  Photography in the Bugaboos – the perfect photography trip.

What was your favorite bucket list photo trip?

There’s a good chance I’ll be back again next year – I’d love to take a group of photographers to this magnificent place to experience a real Canadian photography bucket list trip.   Anyone keen on joining me?

The post Photography Trip of a Lifetime to the Canadian Rockies for Your Bucket List by Alex Morrison appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Sony drops list price of Cyber-shot DSC-RX10

03 Jul

Sony has lowered the price of its Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 premium superzoom. The MSRP in the US is now $ 998, down from $ 1299, and prices in Europe have dropped as well (though it’s unclear if they’re official). It’s not known if this was a planned price reduction, or a reaction to the Panasonic FZ1000 which is about to hit store shelves at a list price of $ 899. Read more

related news: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Bucket List: 12 Battered & Abandoned KFC Stores

16 Jun

[ By Steve in Abandoned Places & Architecture. ]

abandoned KFC
There are nearly 20,000 KFCs worldwide but success isn’t guaranteed. Here are 12 that kicked the bucket when the financial chickens came home to roost.

The Bucket Stops Here

abandoned KFC bucket sign(images via: OldOhioSchools and The Morning News/Brian Ulrich)

No one symbol captures the essence of KFC like the spinning bucket sign, and likewise a discarded and decrepit bucket sign perfectly illustrates the downfall of a fast food fried chicken icon. The bucket above, which looks supernaturally spooky by night, merely appears sad when spied by day in a line of other such signs. You’ll find it outside the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Slippery Slope

abandoned KFC Park Slope Brooklyn NYC(image via: Here’s Park Slope)

According to its Wikipedia entry, “Park Slope is an affluent neighborhood in northwest Brooklyn, New York City.” Looks like this affluent area just caught a case of affluenza, however, with graffiti taggers moving quickly to blight the abandoned KFC outlet at the corner of 4th Avenue and Warren. Conveniently, the closed store posts an official sign directing curious (and hungry) taggers to their next nearest location.

Double-Down For The Count

abandoned KFC Hayes VA(images via: RetailByRyan95)

Is Flickr user RetailByRyan95 psychic or something? The intrepid photojournalist must have had a premonition when he visited a now-abandoned KFC restaurant in Hayes, VA in April of 2009. Just over three years later, Ryan was back to record the forlorn state of the abandoned outlet at 2413 George Washington Memorial Highway in the York River Crossing shopping center. Hope he packed a lunch on his return visit. According to Ryan, this KFC closed on October 21st of 2011 and the entire building was demolished in early November of 2013.

Chicken Rundown

abandoned KFC bucket Youngwood PA(image via: paper or plastic)

Somehow this old-style KFC big bucket escaped the fate of its store on Route 30 by the Westmoreland Mall and ended up outside the Antique Co-op store over on Rt. 119, according to Flickr user paper or plastic. KFC chicken buckets can run but they can’t hide, however, and after spending some time in this incongruous location it was hit by a car and completely destroyed. Police are seeking an elderly man dressed in a white suit and black string-tie, last seen licking his fingers and cackling gleefully.

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Bucket List 12 Battered Abandoned Kfc Stores

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[ By Steve in Abandoned Places & Architecture. ]

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Top 40 of the Year: Essential 2013 Article List for Urbanists

01 Jan

[ By WebUrbanist in Culture & Cuisine & Global. ]

urbanist 2013 year montage

As any experienced urbanist can tell you, city life is rarely dull and this year has proven no exception – from traffic-topping articles to staff-picked stories, here are WebUrbanist’s must-read highlights of 2013. Skim below and skip ahead as desired, but be sure to click the blue links inline along the way for full article access. Share your favorites with family and friends … and thank you, as always, for reading!

urbanist secret water tower

Starting with the world of architectural anomalies of the West, a London skyscraper became a global sensation when its curved glass surface began starting fires in neighboring structures. Many readers were also amazed to discover faux facades hiding everything from train tunnels to power stations in plain sight in cities including New York, Toronto and Paris. Speaking of NYC and secrets, don’t forget this temporary abandoned water tower-turned-speakeasy on a Brooklyn rooftop.

urbanist east architecture update

Meanwhile, in the East, we witnessed a Tokyo company add a top-down twist to building demolition in Japan. Nearby China, in turn, presented designs for an incredible car-free city whilst simultaneously making the news for an array of deserted urban endeavors, including a surreal smaller-scale replica of Paris.

urbanist space sea technology

In the realm of futurism and fantasy, this year included a Russian space hotel design and artists making floor plans from famous American television shows. But fact can be stranger than fiction, as many commented on how much this dark tower in South Africa resembled the setting of a dystopian film. And in a bid to push urbanism beyond the borders of continents and countries altogether, one entrepreneur floated the idea of an entire high-tech offshore city. In turn, IKEA is also stretching the boundaries of architectural interventions with its portable $ 1000 flat-pack refugee shelter.

urbanist abandoned wonders series

Our ongoing 7 Wonders Series is a long-standing fan favorite and well worth browsing for travelers and urban explorers. Many of these collections showcased abandoned places around the world, including top-secret buildings and underwater wonders; some were classed by broad type, including military, residential, commercial and industrial architecture, while others were organized by region, like Antarctica and New Zealand. Still others were even more specific, including sets of abandoned ski resorts, swimming pools, bookmobiles and unfinished nuclear power plants.

urbanist interiors rooms furniture

Shifting back to contemporary creations and cutting-edge design, we have seen some great innovations when it comes to modular rooms and convertible furniture, including an apartment where everything its occupant needs is hidden in floors, walls and ceilings. For those with a bit more space (and money) and an eye for luxury, there are also secret in-floor swimming pools that hide right under your feet – perhaps a reasonable place to deploy your fold-up suitcase kayak, too. Almost everyone, it would seem, loves a helpful space-saving design or a mysterious secret room, hidden passage or trap door.

urbanist art technology graffiti

In the arts, we saw everything from invisible-ink graffiti and hyper-realistic artworks to the world’s most-vandalized landmarks and ancient Greek statues turned into modern-day hipsters. In technology, we looked back at idiotic inventions from times past and forward to futuristic materials that actually exist today. And at the increasingly interesting intersection of art and technology, we found graffiti artists tagging low-tech cellophane as well as the most powerful man-made tornado in a museum.

urbanist logo 2013

WebUrbanist has managed a few milestones itself this year, with over 10 million visitors in 2013 alone (60 million+ total to date) and over 20,000,000 article views, also breaking a single-day record with nearly 500,000 pages viewed in one 24-hour period this fall. The site has topped 10,000 followers on Twitter and is nearing 50,000 fans on Facebook; those with a preference for  Google+ can now add WebUrbanist to your circles there as well. We are (as always) working on some new directions and innovations of our own, with more surprises to come in the new year. Meanwhile, it may sound cliche but it bears repeating: you readers, fans and friends of the site who share our articles and support our team … you make all of this possible, and you have our sincerest thanks and best wishes for 2014.

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WebUrbanist

 
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Posted in Creativity

 

Without Reservation: A Recommended Gear List

18 Dec

This is something I get asked about a lot, and its inclusion on the site is far overdue. The following is a list of gear in which I have complete confidence, and would recommend wholeheartedly to any photographer.

The Without Reservation list will be kept up to date going forward, so these are all subject to change at some point in the future. But as of now, this is the go-to gear that I rely upon day in and day out.

Read more »
Strobist

 
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Posted in Photography

 

Get a Jump Start on Your Gift List

12 Nov

The Early Bird may get the worms but trust us, your loved ones don’t want worms as gifts.

We’re here to help! We’ve organized our best phoneography presents by your pals’ preferred gizmos and apps.

Are they an Android Addict? An iPad Enthusiast? A fisherman?

If they’re a fisherman we may have mispoken, they probably want worms. If they’re an avid gadget user read this guide to find out what they really want.

iPhone Lovers
For the iPhone addicted among us (*guilty as charged*)
we’ve got phoneccessories to kick their photo game up a notch.

Impossible Instant Lab

Turn any iPhone photo into a real live instant print, instantly! → More

iPhone Lens Wallet

The perfect carrying solution for five great iPhone lenses. → More

Pocket Spotlight

Add soft even light anytime. Buh-bye harsh flash. → More

The Keyprop

Holds up any phone for shakefree vids and selfies. → More

iPod Fanatics
Fewer phone calls, more photos!
Get the most out of your iPod Touch with these goodies.

Bamboo Solar Charger

Give your pod a boost while you’re photoing the day away. → More

Gorillapod Mobile

A perfectly portable mini tripod, that bends to fit any sitch. → More

Smartphone Spylens

Take photo from new angles and shoot candids on the sly. → More

Jelly Phone Filters

Starburst, kaleidoscope and wide angle lenses add fun FX. → More

iPadographers
The biggest viewfinder in town comes equipped
with quite the camera too! Just add these handy gadgets.

Sony QX Smart Lenses

This pro camera uses your tablet or phone as a viewfinder. → More

Eye-fi Wireless SD Cards

Send files from your DSLR to your iPad with no wires. → More

iPad Telephoto Lens

See 10-12x farther with optic zoom and adjustable focus. → More

iPad CF/SD Card Readers

Get files from a memory card to your pad, on the quick.→ More

Android Enthusiasts
We’ve found that Android Users
(and Androids themselves) love these photo gizmos.

Photojojo Lens Series

Pro-quality telephoto, wide angle, macro and fisheyes. → More

USB Chargecard

A credit card sized charging cable that fits in your wallet. → More

Macro Lens Band

Get incredible close-up shots. It stretches to fit any phone.→ More

Une Bobine

A charging cable that’s also a phone stand. Double duty. → More

Instagram and Vine Addicts
For maximum “Likes” and “Revines”
you’re gonna need just a couple of these…

The Kick Light

Completely customizable light. Controlled by your phone. → More

The Slingshot

It’s a tripod and also a grip for super smooth pans. → More

iPhone Boom Mic

Get a quality audio recording to go with that video of yours. → More

Pocket Reflector

Add light to your photo right where you want it. → More

Related posts:

  1. Photojojo’s Holiday Gift Guide 2012, Part 2! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Some would…
  2. Photojojo’s Gift Guide 2010, Part 3 It’s the holiday home stretch! This mid-December, may you stuff…
  3. Photojojo’s Holiday Gift Guide 2011, Part 1! You calmly plug your ears at the first hint of…


Photojojo

 
Comments Off on Get a Jump Start on Your Gift List

Posted in Equipment

 

Get a Jump Start on Your Gift List

12 Nov

The Early Bird may get the worms but trust us, your loved ones don’t want worms as gifts.

We’re here to help! We’ve organized our best phoneography presents by your pals’ preferred gizmos and apps.

Are they an Android Addict? An iPad Enthusiast? A fisherman?

If they’re a fisherman we may have mispoken, they probably want worms. If they’re an avid gadget user read this guide to find out what they really want.

iPhone Lovers
For the iPhone addicted among us (*guilty as charged*)
we’ve got phoneccessories to kick their photo game up a notch.

Impossible Instant Lab

Turn any iPhone photo into a real live instant print, instantly! → More

iPhone Lens Wallet

The perfect carrying solution for five great iPhone lenses. → More

Pocket Spotlight

Add soft even light anytime. Buh-bye harsh flash. → More

The Keyprop

Holds up any phone for shakefree vids and selfies. → More

iPod Fanatics
Fewer phone calls, more photos!
Get the most out of your iPod Touch with these goodies.

Bamboo Solar Charger

Give your pod a boost while you’re photoing the day away. → More

Gorillapod Mobile

A perfectly portable mini tripod, that bends to fit any sitch. → More

Smartphone Spylens

Take photo from new angles and shoot candids on the sly. → More

Jelly Phone Filters

Starburst, kaleidoscope and wide angle lenses add fun FX. → More

iPadographers
The biggest viewfinder in town comes equipped
with quite the camera too! Just add these handy gadgets.

Sony QX Smart Lenses

This pro camera uses your tablet or phone as a viewfinder. → More

Eye-fi Wireless SD Cards

Send files from your DSLR to your iPad with no wires. → More

iPad Telephoto Lens

See 10-12x farther with optic zoom and adjustable focus. → More

iPad CF/SD Card Readers

Get files from a memory card to your pad, on the quick.→ More

Android Enthusiasts
We’ve found that Android Users
(and Androids themselves) love these photo gizmos.

Photojojo Lens Series

Pro-quality telephoto, wide angle, macro and fisheyes. → More

USB Chargecard

A credit card sized charging cable that fits in your wallet. → More

Macro Lens Band

Get incredible close-up shots. It stretches to fit any phone.→ More

Une Bobine

A charging cable that’s also a phone stand. Double duty. → More

Instagram and Vine Addicts
For maximum “Likes” and “Revines”
you’re gonna need just a couple of these…

The Kick Light

Completely customizable light. Controlled by your phone. → More

The Slingshot

It’s a tripod and also a grip for super smooth pans. → More

iPhone Boom Mic

Get a quality audio recording to go with that video of yours. → More

Pocket Reflector

Add light to your photo right where you want it. → More

Related posts:

  1. Photojojo’s Holiday Gift Guide 2012, Part 2! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Some would…
  2. Photojojo’s Gift Guide 2010, Part 3 It’s the holiday home stretch! This mid-December, may you stuff…
  3. Photojojo’s Holiday Gift Guide 2011, Part 1! You calmly plug your ears at the first hint of…


Photojojo

 
Comments Off on Get a Jump Start on Your Gift List

Posted in Equipment