Contractor Update

More and more, contractors and service professionals have to rely on the latest technology. Computers, cell phones, PDAs, and the Internet fill our lives. Adding to the ever-expanding list, it would be wise for every company to invest in a quality digital camera.

Reasons to Get a Camera
A camera can be an important new tool for your business.

• You can take Before & After pictures for your website and your brochures.
  
• It would also be a great idea to take shots of details of each project - before, during and after - to help protect yourself in case a problem arises or if there is a dispute with your client.
  
• Photos can be used in your print ads - high quality shots can be inserted in yellow pages ads and door hangers.
  
• Digital pictures can be easily emailed to prospective clients.
  

There is a whole host of reasons to make the investment in a new camera, if you haven't already done so.

How to Choose the Right Camera
There are some very inexpensive cameras out there, but you want to consider what you'll be doing with it. Your new cell phone may already have a camera in it and it may be nice to email those pictures to family and friends but the overall quality and resolution is limited. It's not something you want to use for any type of marketing.

• Because you may be using pics on your site, or in your ads, you'll want a decent camera. Look for something with 3 to 6 Megapixels. The more the camera has, the more expensive they are.
  
• Look for decent storage if taking a lot of pictures before you can download them to your computer. Cameras come with 1 and 2 Gigabytes of storage these days. This will allow you to take as many shots as you want. You may take 100 pictures on a jobsite and only use 10 percent of them.
  
• If you need low light pictures, try to find a camera that has flexible ISO or low light settings and adjustments. Many have a flash, which can be handy, but a flash picture can get really "blown out" and not look great in print or on websites.
  
• Most of your shots will be done "hand-held." See if you can find a camera with some sort of image stabilization mode. This takes the shake and blur out of your pictures that are not taken on a tripod.
  

Types of Cameras
There are many cameras out there, from ultra compact (inexpensive) to SLR (professional), but your best bet is to look for a "compact digital camera". They are low priced and have good features to show your work. A compact digital is small and lightweight, which means you can keep it with you at all times.

How to Take Great Shots
Without going in to a complete photography lesson, here are a few quick tips to getting good shots on your work sites.

• The first tip is an easy one, but you'd be surprised how many people still do this -- keep hands, thumbs, and fingers away from your lens.
  
• Don't go wide. Many amateur photographers stand too far away from their subject. If you're a countertop installer, don't stand back and take a shot of the whole kitchen. Make one end of the countertop start just at the edge of your left frame and the other end of the counter stop at the right frame. Or, get even closer to show the detail of the countertop material with a sink and faucet in the shot.
  
• When taking shots with people, try to get them at about waist-high and up. Showing a full length person standing in front of the entire company truck doesn't really sell the personality. Waist or chest high shots, with the company van in the background work much better.
  
• Also, when it comes to people and pictures in general. Each frame is broken up into "Thirds." A top third, a middle third, and a bottom third. Look at any TV show or movie -- you'll see that all the actors heads are mostly in the top third. Their eyes are right on the line between the middle and top third. There is very little "head room" over their heads. Try to put the main focus of your subject near the top third.
  
• Make sure there is plenty of light. Open windows, doors, turn on lights, and use your flash if needed. A dark shot is basically a useless shot.
  
• Practice a lot. The more shots you take and new settings you try the better you'll get.
  

Labels: Contractor Advice, Small Business Advice, Small Business Marketing