Elevation Photos Blog

Signing Off For 2008...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Last night’s events closed out our coverage for 2008 and I prepare to head home for a well needed break and Christmas in New York.  There’s nothing like it in the world!

What a year it has been and there are so many people to thank to all the photographers who have worked with me and Elevation Photos, all of my clients and customers and of course my family, friends and my wife for supporting me throughout this exciting year.

I started this company to create an independent, corporate free agency that stood its ground, stayed true to its mission objective and generated quality imagery and sustainable, solid relationships. While others said we were insane to do so, I thought otherwise and here we are today more solid, more experienced and battle tested a year later.

Nothing in life is handed on a silver platter, and for me and those working for Elevation Photos we earned every sale, every placement and every job.   As I once posted early on, it’s easy when you’re on the mountaintop looking down but it’s an even better adventure in life jumping off, starting from the bottom and fighting, earning and proving you can get back up to the top.  YES, that’s the Obama talk coming out right now but just think, two years ago no one knew who he was, what he stood for or how to say his name.  It almost felt like that a year ago right now for Elevation Photos minus the secret service! (LOL)

Validation comes in many ways for us. Whether that’s being hired, getting placed or creating buzz and interest.  So when I see the Best of People 2008 issue out now, boom..we’re in there!  The last issue of US and Life & Style for the year..BOOM…thank you very much.  Its things like that which make it worthwhile and considering the clutter that’s out there even that much better. Despite all the turn of events in our world today, all the talks of ABC company shuttering, that company downsizing, etc. It makes me proud of what we have done.  Like that scene in It’s a Wonderful Life, when the Bailey Business and Loan survived the run on the banks and made it to midnight to live and fight another day while all the non believers, sold out for ½ as much and gave Potter all that they had in hopes of making it to the next morning!  People love Davey and Goliath stories, and as I have found out this year, will always support smart, business savvy, boutique photo agencies just the same.   The X factor will always be challenging creative’s, offering alternatives and sometimes making that simpleton analogy about “ do you shop at Wal-Mart or do you prefer Target? “ 

So as I reflect on 2008, I have had 2009 on my mind for quite some time now. It will be a challenging year for the entire photo industry I have no doubt about that. I expect a lot of things to happen within our entertainment specific industry and I think we will all be better for it.  As we all watch the moves AP and Getty make, it’ll be interesting how much pressure will be put on their sales team to grow sales and increase market share when many of their large contracts are with corporate brands, leagues and media entities. All of which are cutting costs across the board which will have an adverse affect on Getty and AP’s revenue stream. Many forget that editorial sales, for Getty at least, only represents about 15% of overall revenue for them. Can they grow that?  I also think it’s the creative side that’s taking the biggest hit.  And for AP, as newspapers go bankrupt, subscriptions getting cancelled and what seems to be an internal fight between Union and Non-Union employees over pay , things like this take their eyes of the ball and a re-evaluation of their business is probably taking place.  They made a big push for entertainment in 2008 so with a hiring freeze combined with a declining revenue base, it’s going to get interesting and perhaps not as exciting as everyone thought it was going to be. Taking a line from Bravo ..let’s watch what happens!

For smaller agencies  (Elevation Photos included) , it will be mission critical to remain that much more focused while maintaining the bottom line.   Being smaller is better in many ways for all the obvious reasons but the business has to grow and that’s what’s going to separate boutique agency A from boutique agency B and so on.  Otherwise, for those business owners who think that by doing the same old thing will still work, good luck.  It will get even harder for those companies to stay in business that’s for sure.

Having said all that, I will announce in early 2009 some interesting things that will separate this company from those companies. I should have a re-designed website ready by then and will be working on that over the break.  I have some solid ideas about how we will conduct business in 2009 and am still formulating and solidifying those plans over the next coming weeks. There should be no doubt,  I am excited about it and will come out strong out of the gate when we do so.  I will be an expert at Nintendo Wii and will have a sore thumb doing so and I will turn off my blackberry on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and focus on being with my wife and our families and turn all the digital noise off. I will eat as much as possible and gain like 10 extra pounds and of course watch Christmas Story…again.

And finally, I will do what I have always wanted to do but never got a chance to.  I will actually use my own camera, go to Rockefeller Center and take pictures of the Christmas Tree…..AND THEN…post the images to the Elevation Photos website and credit the pictures to an alias (I’m thinking something like Will I Am or Doug E Fresh..something to that effect) that I want to live by because I can and because it’s the only time you will ever see a picture of mine on the site!!

Be good, eat well and we’ll see you on the other side! Now where's that bloody wrapping paper!

Mick

Sunday Sports Talk

    I am pretty much a sports fanatic and if I'm not watching it on TV, listening to a sports talk radio show in the car or online or reading about all of it in the newspapers (yes, I still buy Newspapers!) there is always a game I have to watch, a score I need to check or a statistic I just need to know about.

And since I don't cover sporting events (not yet at least), the Jessica Simpson image from yesterday sort of has a link to sports. Does being Tony Romo's girlfriend qualify? It's a stretch I know but you gotta work with what you have!  ( Adam Orchon/Elevation Photos)

Anyway, why talk about it this morning? Well, seeing what the Yankees and Mets have doled out in the last 4 days for 4 pitchers at a combined total of some $258 million dollars is mind blowing! Can the industry sustain these salaries? Will the fans reject this due to what's going on in the economy? Will corporate money flow in to the newly built stadiums both the Yankees and the Mets will debut in 2009? Is sports really a recession proof entity?

If you look at the sporting industry today, there are signs that the economy is having a direct effect on many different sports. Let's take the PGA and Nascar.  I can't name one major golf tournament in the country that doesn't have anything to do with an American car company. Buick recently announced that it's pulling its $7 million endorsment with Tiger Woods next year. And the commercial free Masters tournament sponsored by Cadillac is in jeopardy. For Nascar, Toyota is pulling back its team sponsorship and think about how many GM, Chevy and Ford have invested in it already? Imagine cars racing around the track with zero sponsors on its cars? And finally, think about the drop in revenues for an agency like Getty.  Who has relationships with not only the PGA and Nascar but with the NFL, NBA.  It's a model that is as combustible to what the Santa Ana winds can do to a Malibu fire.  It costs a lot of money to cover major sporting events between flying photographers, editors and sales people around the country. Same goes for AP, Reuters, etc who spend the same amounts as well.  My point is that concessions will need to be made somewhere because as revenues decline it will be difficult to maintain and sustain many things that surround these events.

Having said all that, my beloved NY Mets have put themselves in primo position to take back the NL East, challenge and compete with the Phillies and meet the Sox or Yanks in the World Series next year!  I am certain executives from AIG, JP Morgan Chase, Fannie and Freddie Mac will have a great time in their corporate suites/boxes....it's the Joe The Plumber fans like you and me who will be on the outside looking in!

Downturns Force Efficiency

Just like you, I have been maybe too obsessive about watching and reading about all the layoffs taking place, bailouts that seem to lead to nowhere and what the future holds for a lot of hard working people you and I know. Someone I know the other day told me it's almost better to work for yourself since you can't be fired or laid off!  

Which made me step back and realize my own situation and what I have learned since launching Elevation Photos a year ago. Having worked at two of the largest photo companies in the world, you tend to take for granted all that is made available to you as a full time employee. Maybe the first thing I miss the most is filling out what I thought used to be an annoying online service ticket to get let's say your computer working again ( Mick, your power strip was kicked off!) , ordering a messenger for pick up, or needing a CD burned for a client. The smaller things like group dyamics ( I love to talk!), free coffee and soda and earning miles on business trips were also cheap thrill bonuses that passed the time and padded my free trips with my wife to NY!  

What I don't miss are endless confrence calls about nothing, meetings about nothing and post report meetings about a client visit that seemed to have never been read by anyone!  I can go on but you get the point.  And don't get me wrong, some people need that and couldn't think about working any other way. Those that are succesful in this environment won't ever be let go since the company values their loyalty, hard work and most importantly the steady stream of revenue they can produce and bring in.  Do you think Yahoo is laying off their ad sales people today?  No, it's the corner accountant, the lonely HR people with no budgets to hire, the person that everyone always asks about (What does that guy do again?) and the cleaning staff that comes in after 6pm to clean up after everyone's mess!

Which brings me to the point of all this.  Downturns, good or bad, will bring out and force companies like the ones I worked out towards efficiencies.  Yes, good people may lose their jobs but my experience has and always will be predicated on three things;  1) Does he/she generate revenue? 2) Are they good at only one aspect of the business or can they adapt and do many things efficiently and effectively? 3) Are they a YES man/woman 100% of the time?  ...If so, you're a gonner! Challenging the status quo in these times, if you do it right, will benefit you because there are too many YES folks at companies that I have seen been shown the door and out on the street!

Speaking of efficiency, I am now a semi-expert in crappy VISTA for Windows, found the cheapest messenger service on the West Side to pick up our packages, switched from FEDEX to USPS for all overnight deliveries ( it's costs 50% less) , learned how to burn DVD's ( I know pathetic right?) and having never imaged a photo in my life learned Lightroom with a little help from Quindell out in NY!  Who says you can't teach old dogs new tricks!  

About the free coffee and soda, I'm working on it......

"Analog Dollars To Digital Dimes"

"Analog Dollars To Digital Dimes" - Jeff Zucker President and CEO Of NBC Universal describing the slow migration for media companies to enter into the digital marketplace.

I love that quote on so many levels but it's one to watch and one where will be a dealbreaker moving in to 2009.  Our industry is under fire and you are seeing it play out where the old mentality of doing business is losing out to how it's done today. And thank god for it since I have blogged about how much our industry needs to get out of the 20th century and create a new way of business in the 21st!

Now that the Tribune company is in trouble ( owner Sam Zell bought the company and took it private), you are all seeing the difficultites the old media is having converting dollar ads into the digial world. He will declare bankruptcy sometime this week, massive layoffs will take place and a sure file sale of many local, treasured newspapers will be sold off or shut down for good.   I expect many more of these companies that have went from going Public to Private realizing the current market, making adjustments and laying off more people.  It sucks but in this economy companies need to really evaluate their staffs and see where efficiencies can be made.  It's nice to have a waterboy fetch you a glass of water but when you realize your own job is on the line because of it the trip to the water cooler ain't that bad!

(Katy Perry By Mark Savage/Elevation Photos)

Thank you!

 

(Kristen Bell By Adam Orchon/Elevation Photos) 

It's friday, and I have a ton of stuff to do today so I'll keep it brief and let the images speak for themselves today.

Thanks to all for your kind words on the Elevation Photos anniversary!  Early next week, I will launch a more interactive place where I can have more of a dialogue, interaction and create a discussion board for my clients, interested parties and for general dialogue on the state of our industry. So come back for that link and/or announcement. 

Have a great wekend and see you on the other side! 

(Hilary Duff by Adam Orchon/Elevation Photos)

Elevation Photos Marks One Year Anniversary Today!

    Today officially makes it one year since we launched the website to our customers and I couldn't be more proud about what we have accomplished so far. They say time flies when you're having fun but when you're in the driving seat to an exciting, new company it makes that much more worthwhile. 

Since day one, the goal of the company and the vision I have for it hasn't changed.

- Secure quality assignment work

-Generate grade A content

-Stay committed to combining both new and veteran talent to our ever growing photography roster

-Establish the Elevation Photos brand in print, web and the industry..check

I remember how excited we were when after only posting our 4th event to our website ( Eva Longoria Launching her new restaurant BESO) , our first pick up was that following week in Life & Style Magazine!  We all knew things were only to get better.

I can't list all the high points that Elevation Photos hit these last 12 months since there were too many of them to talk about. But what I will say that in the 12 months since we have been in business, we have accomplished more than anyone thought we would. We have generated revenue, kept over head low and have focused on covering events that make sense, building a strong archive and delivering a message to the boring establishment that independent boutique photo agencies can, will and do make a difference.  Clients and photographers have followed suit with Elevation Photos and we are all grateful and appreciative for your loyalty.

These times have no doubt been challenging for all of us in this industry. 2009 will not be different BUT we will persevere and press on because we have to and because we need to. It's the essence of who we are, what we do and is part of our DNA as individuals and people. Group think, in my experience, leads to mediocrity and an insular almost arrogant way of thinking and while it may work for people working for companies that send that message, that's a company I don't want to work for.  Sometimes in life, it's the obvious things that we take for granted. My experience this year was nothing of the sort. We worked very hard to establish Elevation Photos and everyone wore many hats to make it work.  You definitely learn to appreciate a lot more and this year is one I will never forget!

Last but not least, thank you to the following people for sticking with me and being part of something different;  Mighty Q, Chris C., Chad B., Mark S., Adam O., Devin S., Inka, Hal H., Steven H., and to all the rest of you who know who you are. Thank you!

And last but not least to my lovely wife for all your support and putting up with me. I am eternally grateful....

The Future of Print Publications

Happy December!  

I have been off the grid for a bit with Thanksgiving and all. It was a good break and I needed the time off for sure but now I'm back and ready to go.   The site will be alive again tonight with Samuel Jackson at the American Cinematic awards in Beverly Hills and we are all lined up for the big Grammy Live concert this Wednesday at the Nokia theater.   Should make for choice photos!

I took the photo above at the nearby Barnes and Nobles over the Thanksgiving break.  I haven't been in one for ages but it made me think a lot about what this newstand photo will look like a year from now.  Also, the business of photography, selling to these magazines and understanding that there is a major shift going on ( both consumer and market) that will decide the fate of many of the publications we like to read moving forward.  It had me thinking about not just where my company's images will end up but also those in our business large and small. Just last week, a leading entertainment publication reduced their rates even further blaming the tough economic environment, lack of ad/sales revenue and the increase of production costs.  I think that's code for a lot of things but one of them being, " We have been offered a ridiculouosly low rate from one of the big players in the industry and if you don't agree your business will suffer tremendously!"  Wheter that's true or not, if you believe that or not is one thing but if you look at that photo above and think about the real effects it will have on everyone else the outlook is somewhat grim. 

Having said that, Elevation Photos scored hits in People, OK, In Touch, Life & Style all out on newstands now which is awesome and I am proud of it.  It's a plus and thank all those contributing to that part of the buiness. If you think of the ratio between number of images Elevation Photos has in the system for these publications compared to what's already in there now makes it even that much sweeter. Because for every one photo we have submitted others have done it 30x over! It will be interesting to see those agencies who rely 100% on licensing ( both domestic and agents) what impact all these pressure points will have on them in 2009 and onwards.  The economic global slow down is hitting Europe now so that will place even more pressure on that model making money.  I won't just yet call it a diminishing return on ones investent but if you are an agency now pumping out 10k-15k images a month, the value of those images have already been cut some 50-60% from what they would have been this time last year. Agencies, photographers alike need to ask themselves if that is a sustainable business model.  It's not going to get easier. 

Now I don't want to sound like the grinch who stole Christmas at all!  But a dose of reality coupled with some number crunching, seeing where the industry is headed makes me a realist and maybe I am just the only who wants to admit it.  For those who beg to differ, let me know.  I got it wrong about Black Friday sales plummeting....they were up 3% from last year!  Who would have thought!