New site is LIVE!

Come check out the new Business Basics for Photographers website!!!! It still needs a little tweaking but it's live! The program isn't quite ready to launch, but it will be soon! Busy! Busy! Busy!

CLICK HERE!!!!!

Coming Soon......

After many, many emails from new photographers, I have decided to expand Foundations a bit. Therefore, Business Basics for Photographers will be opening soon! BBP will be a complete program to help new photographers get into the business of photography. Not only will you be able to learn the basics of photography, how to WOW your clients, but you will learn how to open, manage and market your business.

There will be three main areas of the program to start with:

Step 1: Learning Photography
Step 2: Starting a Photography Business
Step 3: Marketing your Photography Business

Step 1 has not changed from the extremely popular Foundations program. This program will help you capture amazing images that your clients have to purchase! You will learn how to compose an image and use your camera in manual mode, plus TONS more.

With Step 2 you will learn all the steps needed to start a photography business. There are many programs like this out there, however, most of them seem to lack in substance. Many programs do not explain how to legally become a business. It's not just about taking photos and selling them. This will help you get everything right (and legal) from the start.

Finally, with Step 3 you will learn how to successfully market your new photography business. What is the point in being open for business if you don't have clients? With this program you will learn how successful professional photographers market their business and fill their schedules with clients.

The best part is that you can purchase each program separately or together. The choice is yours! A HUGE and AWESOME vendor list is included with each program! No more searching for hours on end to find the best proofing solution or template designer. It's all in there! Also, I will be adding a child posing guide later on!!

Each program will be $125 on their own OR you can get "The Whole Picture" for $300, which includes ALL three programs PLUS my popular action set! That's a $410 Value!!

These programs will be debuting soon! Keep checking the blog for more info and introductory rates! Or email at businessbasicsphoto(at)yahoo.com (change the (at) to @).

Lots of stuff happening! Don't be left out! Join the Business Basics for Photographers Mailing list NOW!

Join Our Mailing List

Email:

For Email Marketing you can trust

Wanna Win?

Would you like to win a complimentary copy of my soon to be released Business Basics for Photographers or the Photographers Marketing Guide? If so, hit me up with an email telling me WHY you think you should win. I will announce the winners during the debut of the guides.

byerleyphotography(at)yahoo.com {change the (at) to @ - I do this to reduce SPAM in my inbox.}

Partial Program Options

Now that Christmas is over I have decided to update the Partial Program options. You can either purchase the program with or without my popular Action set. With the action set the price is $150 and without the action set it's only $125. To join, all you need to do is click on the appropriate button to the left of the screen {<---- over there :o)} and follow the directions. The lesson information will be emailed to you within 48 hours (usually sooner). You can also purchase the Action set separately for $35.

The Partial Program is a great way to learn the basics. You still get the same lessons and assignments that was offered with the full program (which I am not offering at the moment due to time constraints and personal reasons). I will continue to offer this deal until further notice (you never know when I will change it - I'm crazy that way). Take as long as you need to complete the lessons!

Here is what is covered in the Partial Program:

Composition
Getting Close
The Rule of Thirds
The Golden Mean
Focus on the eyes
Plane of focus
Your level
Keep shooting
Cropping
Perspective
Room to Look
Frame in a frame
Natural light
The Golden Hours
Broad Light
Short Light
Rembrandt Light
Backlight
Light the eyes
Flash
Clothing
Groups
Phrases
Un-posing
Negative Space
Leading Lines
Camera Basics
Aperture
Shutter Speed
Film
ISO
Grain
Digital Noise
Lenses
Depth of Field
White Balance
Tripods
Metering
Post Processing

When signing up, please make sure that your correct email address is included because that is where the information to view the lessons will be sent.

Special Extended!

I have extended the September Special due to such a high demand! Thanks to everyone that has signed up already! The special will be good through November and maybe longer. It's a great deal so don't pass it up!

September Special

For this month I am offering the partial program and my action set for $125. You can also get 10% off both template sets if you purchase them at the time of signing up. So instead of getting them for $55 you will get them for $49.50. So you can get the partial program, my action set, and both Storyboard and Christmas Card template sets for $174.50. That's a savings of OVER $85! Templates examples are in the previous blog post.

Here is what is covered in the lessons:
Composition
Getting Close
The Rule of Thirds
The Golden Mean
Focus on the eyes
Plane of focus
Your level
Keep shooting
Cropping
Perspective
Room to Look
Frame in a frame
Natural light
The Golden Hours
Broad Light
Short Light
Rembrandt Light
Backlight
Light the eyes
Flash
Clothing
Groups
Phrases
Un-posing
Negative Space
Leading Lines
Camera Basics
Aperture
Shutter Speed
Film
ISO
Grain
Digital Noise
Lenses
Depth of Field
White Balance
Tripods
Metering
Post Processing

To sign up, click on the PayPal link to the left of the screen.

Yes, I'm a slacker....

There has been soooooo much going on behind the scenes lately and I've had to take some time off. I am slowly getting back in the swing of things, however. I'm trying to return all the emails that have been sent. So hang with me, I'll get caught up as soon as possible. :o)

In the mean time I thought I would share the templates I designed back in June. These are all easy to use PSD files, created in PSCS2. Full instructions come with each set. If you have any questions on them please email me at byerleyphotography @ yahoo.com (remove spaces) and let me know.

The Storyboard Collection:

The great thing about this collection is that each template comes with a matching 5x7 of the same design! Therefore your clients can purchase cards that match their storyboards! How cool is that! Included in the set are 10 full size templates and 10 5x7 card templates for $30!



To see each template larger please visit my site at http://www.vickibyerleyphotography.com/, enter the main site, click on the Clients tab and enter the password Templates.



The Christmas Collection:


I really like this set, if I do say so myself. :o) Included in the set is 10 easy to use psd files for $25!

To see each template larger please visit my site at www.vickibyerleyphotography.com enter the main site, click on the Clients tab and enter the password Christmas.

To purchase, email me at byerleyphotography @ yahoo.com.

Foundations Get Together HUGE Success

Last weekend was the first Foundations get together and it was a complete BLAST! We first met on Thursday evening for dinner (yummy Mexican, of course). Then on Friday we headed down to Branson to the Butterfly Palace and to the lake. The kids had a wonderful time playing in the lake and being kids for a while. Saturday I took everyone to my favorite locations. It was a loooong day but LOADS of fun! It was so wonderful meeting other members of the program. In fact, I plan on making this a yearly thing!!

Here are a few of the images I took over the weekend. I hope to share more soon.





Thanks to all the members that came to hang out with me! Thanks to all the awesome models we had! You all made it a great weekend!!!!

June Special and a FYI

For the month of June you can get in on the partial program for $125 + the action set. That's a $225 value! Can't beat that! With the partial program you get 8 lessons with assignments.

Also, between June 5th -8th I may be a bit slower to respond to emails and voicemails. That is because it's the first Foundations get together!!! Members from all over the country are flying in to hang out and talk shop. That means lots of cameras, lots of learning, lots of fun and, of course, lots of images! I'll share some when it's all over. It's going to be a great weekend.

Answering a couple common questions...

This is a question I get a lot. What are the differences between the full and partial programs? Well, with the full program you get 8 weekly lessons and assignments. Every Monday you get a new lesson and then you have until Sunday evening to complete the assignment. You get personal critiques from yours truly. Also included is my action set. With the partial program you get the same 8 lessons and assignments. You do not get the personal critiques or the action set. You get all 8 lessons at once with the partial program, therefore you can work at your own pace. Take as long as you need to complete the program.

Another question I am asked a lot: Is this program made for professional photographers? And the answer is a big fat NO! It was not created for the professional photographer. ANYONE can join the program. I don't care if you plan on going into business someday or not. If you just want to take better photos of your family, then you are welcome! This program covers the basics of photography. It's not an advanced course. Therefore it's relevant to anyone. I have members that have gone into business, however. I also have members that only want to better their scrapbook images. The only stipulations that I have is that you do not live within 150 miles of Springfield, Mo, you have a SLR or DSLR camera and a desire to take better photos. That's it. :o)

If you have any questions about the program please feel free to contact me at byerleyphotography(at)yahoo.com.

May Special

Contest time!

Every week for the month of May I will hold a contest. It's simple, really. Everyone knows I'm a HUGE goofball and I love to laugh. So the person that comes up with the funniest photo will have their name placed into a drawing for a FREE spot to the partial program! FREE I tell ya! So every week the funniest photo gets a chance to win. At the end of the month I will draw the winner.

All you need to do is email your funny photo to me at byerleyphotography @ yahoo.com. It needs to be in by Friday of each week. Please make sure you don't send the full size file. I recommend sending it at 5x7 at 72dpi.

For everyone else, the partial program will only be $125 this month. That's $50 off the regular price!

Now, go make me giggle!

Also, the St Jude Special is now over. THANK YOU to everyone that donated! My daughter raised $300 for St Jude Children's Research Hospital! That is AWESOME!!!!

April Special

I just love having monthly specials!

For the month of April you can join the Foundations Partial Program for $95! That's $80 off the regular price. No, this isn't an April Fools Joke! It's an amazing deal! This special is good from April 1st through April 30th (2008).

With the Partial Program you get 8 lessons and 8 assignments. You also get full Foundations forum access where you can upload your images for comments/critiques from members.

Here is what is covered in the lessons:
Composition
Getting Close
The Rule of Thirds
The Golden Mean
Focus on the eyes
Plane of focus
Your level
Keep shooting
Cropping
Perspective
Room to Look
Frame in a frame
Natural light
The Golden Hours
Broad Light
Short Light
Rembrandt Light
Backlight
Light the eyes
Flash
Clothing
Groups
Phrases
Un-posing
Negative Space
Leading Lines
Camera Basics
Aperture
Shutter Speed
Film
ISO
Grain
Digital Noise
Lenses
Depth of Field
White Balance
Tripods
Metering
Post Processing

To sign up email me at byerleyphotography@yahoo.com and I will get you all set up!

Click here to sign up for the Foundations Forum.
Please note: When signing up you MUST use your real name, first and last as your user name. For example Vicki Byerley. Nicknames or partial names are not allowed.

Side note: This image is of fellow Foundation's Member, Amber and her amazing family! We had a great time on her session. I was so honored that she wanted me to photograph her son and that they traveled to see me. Thanks Amber! :)

April Full Program is full

Registration for the April Full Program is now CLOSED. Thanks to everyone that joined. If you missed out on this group you can still join the Partial Program. The March Madness 2 for the price of 1 sale is still going on until March 31st. The Partial Program covers the exact same information as the full program. If you are interested in the Partial Program then email me at byerleyphotography @ yahoo.com.

A Plea for Help....

Imagine having a beautiful child.
Imagine finding out your beautiful child won’t survive past two years old.
Imagine having ONE wish for your child.
Imagine everyone banding together to make the wish a reality.

This is the story of Lilie’s family, and this is me (and hopefully all of you), committing myself to find a way to make this happen! Lilie is terminally ill. She has been diagnosed with GM1 Gangliosidosis. It is a rare, incurable lysosomal storage disease (enzyme deficiency) that will ultimately take her life by what research shows. . . by the age of two. She will continue to degenerate, go blind, have seizures, and eventually lose all ability to move and succumb to this disease. She is all but blind and her mom (Jen) is spending her last days enjoying what life is left in her daughter.

All Jen wants to do is take her daughter to the Ocean before she dies and Make a Wish will not grant them the wish because she is under two and they believe that Lilie will not get any benefit from it that it would only benefit the FAMILY… Jen is devastated.

Visit their Caring Bridge page here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lilieclark

This family is a dear friend of a good friend of mine. I’m asking for your help. Myself (along with a couple photographer friends of mine) would love to be able to get them to Florida. If we can get them to Florida (there are 6 in their family), they can stay with family…but with tons of medical expenses, right now it just isn’t possible.

So I’m asking for your guys’ help….anything that you could donate to this fabulous cause….$5, $20, $500…I get approximately 500 visits to my blog daily, if each person donated just $10, we could have $5000 in just one day…that would be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! Put yourself in their shoes, imagine having one last wish for your child.

A Paypal account has been set up for the donations. If you are willing to help out, please go to Paypal and send funds to the following address sulrich@neb.rr.com.

Full Program Registration NOW OPEN!

The next Full Program will start the first Monday in April. Registration is now open to everyone. This is a wonderful time to join the program. The weather is starting to get warmer and it will be easier to get out there and find the light.

Here is what is covered in the lessons:
Composition
Getting Close
The Rule of Thirds
The Golden Mean
Focus on the eyes
Plane of focus
Your level
Keep shooting
Cropping
Perspective
Room to Look
Frame in a frame
Natural light
The Golden Hours
Broad Light
Short Light
Rembrandt Light
Backlight
Light the eyes
Flash
Clothing
Groups
Phrases
Un-posing
Negative Space
Leading Lines
Camera Basics
Aperture
Shutter Speed
Film
ISO
Grain
Digital Noise
Lenses
Depth of Field
White Balance
Tripods
Metering
Post Processing

With the full program you get full forum access, 8 weekly lessons, 8 weekly assignments, my personal critiques of your images (the main part of the program for most), my action set (valued at $50). The price for the full program is $325.

Email me at byerleyphotography @ yahoo.com to get signed up!

Within the forum I hold contests for amazing prizes as well. We are a very active forum. Everyone wants to see you succeed. There is LOTS of learning going on and lots of friendships being made. So come on over and join us!

Click here to sign up for the Foundations Forum.
Please note: When signing up you MUST use your real name, first and last as your user name. For example Vicki Byerley. Nicknames or partial names are not allowed.

March Madness - Special

For the month of March I will be running a Two for the Price of One Special for the partial program! So grab a friend or online photo buddy and both get in on the fun for $175 (or $87.50 each)! WHAT A DEAL!

Email me at byerleyphotography @ yahoo.com for questions or to get signed up.

Please note: You must have 2 people in order to get the special rate.

Week 4 winners...

Congrats to week 4 winners!

First Place - Jackie Reynolds
Second Place - Ellen K Pratt
Third Place - Andree Warnock

Email me at byerleyphotography @ yahoo.com for your prizes!

This was the LAST week for the contests! I want to thank everyone that participated. I can't believe how many entries I received! You all are awesome! I hope everyone enjoyed trying to get a self portrait! It's harder than it looks but a lot of fun to do!

Keep checking the blog! More fun stuff to come! In the mean time, come join the FREE forum!

Click here to join the Foundations Forum
Please note: when signing up you MUST use your real name (first and last name) as your user name. For example Julie Robertson. Partial names and nicknames are not allowed. So please use your real name when signing up. Thanks!

Week 3 winners....

Congrats to Week 3 winners!

First place - Karmen Lindner
Second place - Jenna Bell
Third place - Rachel Mazzaferro

Email me at byerleyphotography@yahoo.com for your prizes!

Week 2 winners...

Week 2 winners are....

First Place - Tanya Del Negro
Second Place - Hope Brown
Third Place - Lorena Jamison

CONGRATS! Email me at byerleyphotography@yahoo.com . :o)

Week One Winners!

The winners for the first week are......

First Place - Darlene Jacoby
Second Place - Christie Lamka
Third Place - Penny Murray

CONGRATS! Email me at byerleyphotography@yahoo.com to get your prizes!