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I tell story with style.

Why so expensive? — by Ken Tam — posted on Nov 16, 2008 05:25 AM — 0 comment(s) — Professional

Don't laugh, it's what I have hear everyday.

Today ... many of the companies ignore their design / production house, and direct go to ask a quota from the photographer. Most of then are office admin or so call marketing manager that know nothing about advertising production, They think it's the clever way to cut their budget(in front of the boss). And finally they most complain that the out come is non acceptable.

If you are reading, and you want to use the same trick to treat your creativity talents (model, photographer, mua), please think twice ... do you really want some good photography to improve your sell (maybe someone will say "it's none of my business") and corporate image (and someone will say "I seeking new job online everyday") or do you want a one time cheap labor to make you look good in front of your boss (boss I just save the company to save huge budget for choosing a lousy photographer).

Professional talents have years of expertise, this make them carry a reasonable price tag. And this also mean they will not fail as the services that they can provide.

If you are looking for a cheap labor, please go away.

Rev. Thomas Bill is coming to your town — by Ken Tam — posted on Nov 11, 2008 05:25 PM — 0 comment(s) — Scam

Strange enquiry normally mean SCAM. Beware.

To Prevent the scam you can easily put their email address i.e. rev.bill17@msn.com

in google search, then you may come up some clear of view behind the smoke.

Hello,

I have a group of people coming to your town for a tour and i want you to cover this tour based on your expertise in the feild of photography.

They are 10 in number and the period of work is 3hrs every day on their outings, they will also take you in their vehicle so all i need is for you to confirm the availability of you to cover this event for 10days.

Date of tour : Nov 20-30th, 2008

Number of Persons: 10

Kindly get back to me with the availability and i will send you my credit card for an upfront deposit. note you will print all the photos and your balance will be paid after checking at the end of the tour.

Regards

Rev Thomas Bill

Nothing can eat — by Ken Tam — posted on Nov 01, 2008 02:47 PM — 1 comment(s)

chicken
fish
pork
milk
milk productssssssssss
egg
orange

Whats next?

Photography ... How much is it? — by Ken Tam — posted on Oct 23, 2008 03:15 AM — 0 comment(s) — Photography Professional

Please stop asking for such a question.

I have done annual report projects for US$1,000 per image.

and also selling my stock image as high as US$ 2,727.67 for just one image.

But it does not mean all, If you like my photography please send me your requirements and budget so lets see how can I arrange.

A professional photographer just like a killer, they are professionals.

Just send in your mission, and money. And your target will get shot / shoot in the date you design.

Will you bargain with a killer? or Will you ask him to do a test kill before offer them a job?

I am serious, I am not joking ... I am a professional.

Free Trial ... NO — by Ken Tam — posted on Oct 16, 2008 09:40 PM — 0 comment(s)

Internet and software based services confused the client by provide free trial as their marketing tools. But some business will never provide free trial services.

McDonlod (food)
Apple (computer)
Photographer (creative)
...

A Photographer can't provide a try session for free to prove what he can do. (i.e. travel to your facility then do a demo shot, it's because every single thing is cost for doing a photography production, this include assistant man, travel, logistic and more...)

Please stop send me photography enquiry with a wrong email address. — by Ken Tam — posted on Oct 14, 2008 03:43 AM — 0 comment(s) — Professional

I don't know why you doing it, and don't want to guess your intend.

I just understand this waste both our time, and the limited internet bandwidth.

It will not help you to get a better photography.

New 1TB eSATA 裸族 array arrive — by Ken Tam — posted on Oct 14, 2008 03:30 AM — 0 comment(s) — Photography Professional Toys

The new eSATA array have arrive with 2 Segate SATA HD, and one the Harddisk is DOA .

What the hell is it? This so call server grade Harddisk?

But no worries, we normally test all new storage media for a period before put them on services. So it will not affect your photographs.

New bodyscape images added — by Ken Tam — posted on Oct 03, 2008 02:30 AM — 0 comment(s) — Lighting Photography Professional

Here in China we are in long holiday, so I finally spare some time to go on my personal photography project.

Nude 4

Professional vision and experience — by Ken Tam — posted on Sep 22, 2008 02:32 PM — 0 comment(s) — Photography Professional

How important of the professionalism ?

Original

After

Most client today don't have the idea and background of productions, and they just hire someone who have a camera and bet they can finish the job.

We are not just a man with a camera, we take care all the small things in behind the lens, and control the location for the best shots.

This is very important for doing assignment in CHINA, if you have been here deal with the local management of the facility, you will know why ;)

Eee PC 901 suck — by Ken Tam — posted on Sep 21, 2008 06:52 PM — 0 comment(s) — Toys

It another IT weekend, I am so tired after the Volex corporate video assignment.

And just got the Eee PC 901 arrive, everything looks ok but the live update is suck.

Still doing research on the web to find solutions about the update and wifi issues.

Volex corporate video production day 1 — by Ken Tam — posted on Sep 18, 2008 10:05 PM — 0 comment(s)

It was raining in the morning when we start our trip, and this make the client worry a lot and keep calling from their Singapore headquarter.

But when we arrive the facility the weather change and everything is work smooth as our plan.

Why you choose to become a photographer? (a real story) — by Ken Tam — posted on Aug 22, 2008 10:41 PM — 0 comment(s) — Photography Professional

One day when I am walking around, I meet a guy with a camera, and after some introduction I understand that he is switch from farmer to be a photographer, and here is his real story.

farmer:

When I work in the farm I got about 300RMB per month, so I choose to go out to the city and work in the factory, and my life is improved by getting 1500RMB per month from the factory, after a few months later I discovered photography can make good money in the city, so I go home and borrow a few thousands RMB from my family, then I go Guangzhou to buy a 2nd HAND Canon 350D + Vivitar Zoom Len.

Now I can earn 300RMB per day whenever there is jobs, you see camera is a magic tools I have once improve my life again without need to learn anything.

me:

What make your client choose you as their photographer?

farmer:

I do it cheaper then most of other photographer ;)

Macbook Pro DIY upgrade — by Ken Tam — posted on Aug 19, 2008 08:40 AM — 0 comment(s) — Professional Toys

MBP a standard for World Professional Photographer, and the cost for a Photographer that you can't see.

For faster on location data transfer.

upgraded to 802.11n Wireless Card - US$ 89.95

The original drive is damage on site while doing assignment :(

Faster on location image archive in hurry (Otherwise I will bring my external 1394 DVR-112)

replaced with 8x Macbook Pro SuperDrive - US$ 199.95

There is a lot other parts can order from http://www.ifixit.com

All replacement is done by myself last night, everything seems work well.

Stroblist mean cheap but clever — by Ken Tam — posted on Aug 15, 2008 09:28 AM — 0 comment(s) — Lighting Photography Professional

Have finish the Stroblist DVD set, and one point I do agree very much "Why doing assignment with STROBLIST style", it's because today client can't paid. So the only one way to resolve this, is the photographer choose to provide fewer expensive equipment to avoid the damage. i.e. no PowerPack + Heads and Assistant.

Using the small flash in clever way can have good result, but High power packs + multi heads / ring flash is still have their advantages.

Customer services? Something we not provide to our non customer. — by Ken Tam — posted on Aug 13, 2008 05:35 PM — 0 comment(s) — Photography Professional

It's a long story, and I believe you will not have interest to read it all. So lets make it short.

What will a client do if they cannot ship all products in schedule for photography?

Customer - will try to fix it themself
Non Customer - kick the ball to us and try to find all the excuse to refund

Mr. Benoit is one of our customer who already ship part of their products for photography, and we do finish the shots and deliver high-res images to him after the review produces.

Today I have suggest them to send the rest of their products so we can finish the job, But they can't due to their logistic issues.

So he choose to kick the ball to us.

And insist that it's all our fault.

So he is now switched from a customer to become a non customer ;)

Am I IT geek? — by Ken Tam — posted on Aug 09, 2008 10:30 AM — 0 comment(s) — Professional Toys

This few days I am busy in building a Phone system instead of Photography.

Yes, phone system ... do I tell you that I am an IT guy before ? ;)

Snom IP Phone

I am building a digital phone pbx system with asterisk / Sipx and snom hard phones, so far the system can serve my needs very well. And now I have use most of my time to reading article on the net, and see how can use the full horse power of SIP system.

... maybe after a few more days I can say goodbye with Skype

Being non professional — by Ken Tam — posted on Aug 06, 2008 04:55 AM — 0 comment(s) — Professional

A lady complain that I am being non professional because I refuse to Photography + Videography (will be broadcast in German TV) their event in total budget RMB2000 / Euro188 (for 7 day works include license).

I am still thinking is this a joke or they real think China mean Cheap?

To be frank, for me I do feel China mean Expensive, it's because I get equipments here is normally 150% - 200% higher then Hong Kong.

Whitehead Mann Executive headshot — by Ken Tam — posted on Aug 06, 2008 03:10 AM — 0 comment(s) — Lighting Photography

We have just finished the corporate headshot for WHM, and now retouching their images.

WHM Corporate Portrait

WHM Lighting Setup

X-Rite ColorMunki Photo Arrive — by Ken Tam — posted on Aug 01, 2008 03:00 AM — 1 comment(s) — Professional Toys

New replacement for my eye-one, color management system.

I will do some test and maybe write a review soon.

X-Rite ColorMunki

For more information of COLORMUNKI please visit their website.

If you want to buy one please contact me ;)

Strobist Lighting Seminar DVD arrive — by Ken Tam — posted on Jul 25, 2008 08:10 PM — 0 comment(s) — Lighting Toys

Although I do already know and use the same theory (Less Gear, More Brain, Better Light = Stroblist) for some of my assignments.

But for showing my support, I have buy one set from

http://www.mpex.com/page.htm?PG=Strobist

Stroblist DVD

And it arrive today, I will watch them when I am free ;)

Legend bag photography — by Ken Tam — posted on Jul 25, 2008 12:50 PM — 0 comment(s) — Photography

Legend Archery Ltd. product catalog photography

Legend Archery Bags

A series of bags and packs ( thank you Legend Archery Ltd. ). Simple and clean with white backdrop for final cut out.

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