R2 Photography Now A State of Louisiana Certified Small Entrepreneur (Hudson Initiative) (SEHI) Vendor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (December 12, 2011)

French Settlement, LA - R2 Photography, LLC (r-squared), one of the regions only photography services that specialized in architectural and aerial photography, is now a Certified Small entrepreneur (Hudson Initiative) (SEHI) vendor for the State of Louisiana.

The Small Entrepreneurship (SE) Program, also known as the Hudson Initiative, is a goal-oriented program which encourages state agencies to contract with certified small entrepreneurships (SE's) as well as encouraging contractors who receive contracts from the state to use good faith efforts to utilize certified SE's in the performance of the contract.

R2 Photography is also registered with the Louisiana Office of State Purchasing (OSP). This registration is on the State of Louisiana Procurement and Contractor Network (LaPAC). Utilizing LaPAC, State procurement officers can easily find information on the services that R2 provides as well as complete contact information.

R2 is proud to be supporting the State's efforts to, "…continue to look for ways to improve existing programs and create new and innovative programs to obtain the best value for goods and services."

About R2 Photography, LLC

Commercial Photographer Kimberly Blom-Roemer, Owner of southern Louisiana-based R2 Photography, LLC, has been photographing industrial sites, architectural buildings, real estate, and construction sites from the ground and the air since the early 1990's.

R2 Photography, LLC covers the Gulf Coast from eastern Florida to Texas, based in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area. However, we have clients and projects throughout the United States and Canada.

Successful Architectural Photography (SAP) eNewsletter-Introduction

One of the things we hear most often from clients is the anxiety of planning to photograph projects. We want to make this easier, so we have created this newsletter series, "Commissioning Architectural Photography." The information is based on the Best Practices developed jointly by the AIA and the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) to illustrate the fundamental principles involved during a typical architectural photography project. By defining key terms, answering commonly asked questions and using easy-to-follow case study examples, this presentation will guide you through the entire process of working with an architectural photographer:

Topics covered:

- Selecting Projects to Photograph for Your Portfolio

- Selecting an Architectural Photographer

- Understanding the Estimate for a Photographic Assignment

- Preparing for the Location Shoot

- At the Location Shoot

- Post Production

- Controlling the Cost of a Photographic Assignment

- Licensing Photographs for Publication

- Continuing the Alliance

- Preparing for Professional Photography: A Checklist

Kimberly Blom-Roemer of R2 Photography, LLC has been both an Affiliate Member of the AIA-Kansas City and served as both the President and Vice President of the ASMP-KC/Mid-America chapter. R2 Photography specializes ONLY in architectural photography services. We believe the unique needs of the architectural, interior design, and construction industries absolutely require a 100% focus on this specialty in order to provide the exceptional our clients demand.

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

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Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com
866-722-9506

R2 Photography, LLC Now Registered State of Louisiana Vendor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (October 10, 2011)

French Settlement, LA - R2 Photography, LLC (r-squared), one of the regions only photography services that specialized in architectural and aerial photography, is now registered with the Louisiana Office of State Purchasing (OSP). This registration is on the State of Louisiana Procurement and Contractor Network (LaPAC). Utilizing LaPAC, State procurement officers can easily find information on the services that R2 provides as well as complete contact information.

R2 is proud to be supporting the State's efforts to, "…continue to look for ways to improve existing programs and create new and innovative programs to obtain the best value for goods and services."

About R2 Photography, LLC

Commercial Photographer Kimberly Blom-Roemer, Owner of southern Louisiana-based R2 Photography, LLC, has been photographing industrial sites, architectural buildings, real estate, and construction sites from the ground and the air since the early 1990's.

R2 Photography, LLC covers the Gulf Coast from eastern Florida to Texas, based in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area. However, we have clients and projects throughout the United States and Canada.

Architectural Photographer Kimberly Blom-Roemer and R2 Photography, LLC Have Relocated to Southern Louisiana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September 2011)

Kimberly Blom-Roemer, owner and lead architectural photographer with R2 Photography, LLC relocated to southern Louisiana in September 2011. This relocation provides the unique opportunity for firms in the region to work with a leading architectural photographer.

"One thing our clients can always count on is projects completed on budget and on time. We work closely with our clients to ensure their vision of their project is captured with dramatic imagery. And, it is the little additions, the added value of providing basic retouching and image correction as part of our proposed services that sets us apart in the industry," says Blom-Roemer proudly. "Our clients can trust they are working with a professional, from the first phone call through to the final image delivery. We view ourselves as a long term member of your team, and not a project to be nickeled and dimed to death."

We are looking forward to meeting with architects, interior designers, quantity surveyors, building contractors, building services engineers, civil engineers, construction, property developers, land regeneration & development, housing associations, asset management, logistical, industrial, environmental, advertising, design and marketing companies throughout the region.

For portfolio reviewing and further information, you can visit http://www.r2-photography.com. Additionally, we can be contacted at 866-722-9506 or via email at contact_us@r2-photography.com

R2 Photography, LLC covers the Gulf Coast from eastern Florida to Texas, basing ourselves in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area. However, we have clients and projects throughout the United States and Canada.

TOP 10 Questions #12. YOU'RE KIDDING RIGHT? I Need to Spend MORE On Marketing? I’m NOT Telling the Boss That!

We’re not kidding, when the industry slows down is the exact time you need to be ramping up your marketing.

The smart marketers know, when things start to get slow in the industry, that is the exact time to pour money into your campaigns. Get the momentum going, revamp what your doing, that way, when things improve, you're already running full steam while others are still looking around trying to figure out what to do.

But, don't do it blindly. Revaluate everything, campaigns, identities, new technology available to refine your efforts, everything.

Completed projects becoming fewer and fewer, but, you need to keep your web site and portfolio looking fresh... reshoot some of your premier projects. You can work with your photographer in many ways to keep this cost down, and especially if you are working with a different photographer than originally shot a project for you, you will receive a whole new viewpoint on an old project. And odds on bet... no one visiting your web site will be the wiser... you look like you have new projects!

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com
866-722-9506

TOP 10 Questions #11. The Economy is Bad... My Marketing Budget Has Been Cut - HELP!

There are very few industries and firms out there that haven't been at least "touched" by the (love the PC-ness of this phrase) "economic downturn."

Sadly, belt tightening needs to occur, and in theory, believe it or not, that can actually be a good thing. This positions you to streamline processes, re-evaluate where your marketing dollars go, and revaluate the effectiveness of your marketing. In essence, this keeps us from doing the same old thing over and over, year after year. Sure five years ago the marketing you were doing was cutting edge and really bringing in the clients, but... now, so many things have changed. Has your marketing? Or are you doing the same thing, with different packaging.

The smart marketers know, when things start to get slow in the industry, that is the exact time to pour money into your campaigns. Get the momentum going, revamp what your doing, that way, when things improve, you're already running full steam while others are still looking around trying to figure out what to do.

Let's get down to it, at the core of your marketing is showing off your latest projects to land new clients. And, how do you do that? Photography. No new photos, no new designs to show off to get more projects. Uh oh.

But wait... your budget has been cut, and that includes your photography budget.

What do you do?

Multi-Party Contracts

Share the costs with your vendors/contractors/clients. Odds on bet they need portfolio photography to land new projects too... why don't you get together with them and share the costs. I personally split the Creative Free evenly between each of the parties what want to sign on to the photography contract. So, if you were going alone, that free may be $2500 for a full day of shooting. But wait, bring in the contractor on the project, suddenly you both now only pay $1250. But wait, there's more. You designed some wonderful lighting in a reception area, talk to the lighting vendor. Now, there are three of you on the contract... your $2500 Creative Fee is now down to... wow... $830. Is that more in your budget?

Please note, each individual party may have separate uses for the images, so their usage costs will be calculated separately. You are just planning on using the images on your web site, so, you don't want to have to pay for your lighting contractors paid advertising usage for their company.

Muti-Project Contracts

When working with your photographer, this can be a great benefit to each of you. You receive a reduced rate for each project, and the photographer has the security of contracted projects coming in.

WARNING. Please be prepared to put everything in writing for each of the projects being included in the multi-project contract. I don't know a photographer alive that hasn't been verbally promised follow-on projects if they reduce the rate on the current one, and, mysteriously the follow-on projects never materialize.

Reduce the Views

In the ideal universe, you could have dozens of images documenting every aspect of your latest project. But, with the economy the way it is, and your budget looking dim, you're going to have to decide, what are the most important aspects of the projects? What will really sell your abilities to a new client? What problem did you solve in your designs? If you prioritize the images you absolutely need, from those it would be nice to have, you can save substantially on your photography.

Timing

Some photographers will work with you on their rates, if you are flexible in your shooting schedule. This allows the photographer to work your projects during slower times. This helps the photographer and his/her crew maintain a more balanced workload. For that benefit to their schedule, they will often work with you on the rate.

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com
866-722-9506

TOP 10 Questions #10. How Much Is This Going to Cost?

If photography was an off-the-shelf commodity, this would be an easy question to answer. There would be one flat rate no matter what it takes to create the image. Well, in the big box portrait studios, that's easy to do. The customer sits down in nearly the exact same position and exact same pose as the 1,000 people before him/her. The photo is taken with the exact same camera, the exact same lens, at the exact same height, with the exact same lighting.

Don't you deserve better than mere snap shots that look like everyone else's? You want to capture the essence of the design! How can you do that with a cookie cutter? What great creative solution did you apply in your project? What "side" of your project is most photogenic? You don't want a "mug shot" of your design. Commercial photography is about capturing your vision with the creativity and talent of your photographer.

There are so many factors that contribute to beautiful architectural photography, lighting, time of day, angle, lens, composition, arrangements, and the tiniest details all together make a the image one that moves the viewer to stop and look closer at the soul of your design. All these factors can play a part in determining the cost of your photography project.

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com
866-722-9506

TOP 10 Questions #9. I Paid You To Take The Photos… What Do You Mean I Don’t Own Them?

This can be a touchy subject with some photographers, and their clients. Just like when you rent a car, you don't own that car. The same is true when you license images from a photographer. The costs of creating your images are probably broken down into three categories, Creative Fee, Usage Fee, and Expenses

Creative Fee is exactly that, the creativity and talent required to capture your vision of a subject by the photographer.

Expenses are self explanatory, these are the actual expenses such as travel, equipment rental, props, etc.

Usage is, to put it as simplistically as possible, is your rental fee to use the images created. Your photographer should be clearly illustrating those terms in their Estimate and invoice. Two years exclusive use for all marketing efforts with the exception of paid advertising. One year, non-exclusive use, etc. If you don't see these "rental" terms on your estimate, be sure to ask the photographer what they are, AND, be sure they are part of the final estimate you sign. This will save you form misunderstandings in the long run.

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com
866-722-9506

TOP 10 Questions #8. Scouting... Why Would I Want to Do That?

Whether you have a scouting trip is completely up to you and your photographer. Scouting can significantly help elevate the chances that the images you receive from the photographer are the images you envisioned.

There are three types of scouting:

• You and the photographer are both present on site. This is the most ideal situation to ensure the exact views and details of an image are exactly what you’re envisioning, but can also be the most expensive.
• You have the only photographer (or one of his/her assistants) go to the site. They take rough scouting images based on a floor plan/site plan with a shot list and angles for images identified. Those images are sent to your office for review, feedback, and approval for the final photography shot list. The margin for error in you achieving exactly the shot you want increases with this option, since you’re not there on site with the photographer.
• You provide rough images. These have been taken previously by yourself or someone on your staff and generally accompany a floor plan/site plan given to a photographer identifying angles and specific details provided. The chances of not receiving exactly what you anticipated is increased further, as the photographer will have never visited the site before the day of final photography and can’t plan for potential issues that may impact the shoot that would otherwise be identified during a scouting visit.

Which type of scouting is also a judgement call based on several factors:

• How confident are you in the photographer understanding what images you want or details to highlight from just a conversation or a floor plan diagram?
• How critical are the images to your portfolio? If these are going to be “flag ship” images, then the more critical it is that you be there to ensure your vision is captured in the images
• Is it a cost effective decision for you to also be at the shoot if it is not local to your firm’s main office?

NOTE: Reshoots are expensive and can be irritating to all parties involved, so, if at all possible should be avoided, and the best way to avoid them is a scouting session.

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com

866-722-9506866-722-9506

TOP 10 Questions #7. Another Firm Gave Me These Images from A Project We Worked On Together, It is OK To Use Them On Our Web Site… Right?

Tentatively Yes, if along with the images, they have provided you a written statement from the Photographer either granting you permission, or a statement that the Copyright has been transferred from the Photographer to the firm giving you the images, and that firm is giving you permission to use them.

Typically… ABSOLUTELY NOT.

If you have received photographs from another person or firm, and you have not seen a document providing written permission for you to use them, it is YOUR responsibility to secure licensing rights before using them. When in doubt, contact the photographer before using the images.

Any copying, reproduction, distribution, public display or creation of derivative works of images without specific permission from the photographer is a violation of Federal copyright law. This includes putting them on your web site.

Simply having physical possession of photographs, slides, prints, transparencies or digital files does NOT grant the right to use them.

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com
866-722-9506