Advanced Photography Services You Could Be Offering
There are some pretty fantastic new photography and videography trends these days. I'm excited to bring these products and services to your attention because your customers will really love showing them off to their family and friends. I'm sure that this set of products and services would be right up a photographers alley for their business.
All businesses need a bit of flash to bring in the customers. Something to show that unique value they offer which some refer to as unique value proposition. In this article I'll show you various ways in which you, a photographer, could add some unique offers to your customers. Check it out, we have:
1. RC Aerial Photography
Using RC helicopters or quad copters to take photographs from above has become a big thing in recent years. Have you attempted to take footage of your events this way? Using aerial vehicles to capture multiple points of view might be a cool thing at a party, wedding, conference, etc. There are premade solutions for people that want to get started right away without having to fuss with mixing and matching parts from other RC helicopters or quad copters.
Quadcopters are going to be far more easy to learn and they are more stable to work with in general. Some even have been able to be setup so if a motor fails that the other three would coordinate to make it stay aloft and not crash. Don't expect that non-crashing system from all of them. They all have different features. My favorite features are when they have a return home feature, allow you to see where it it going through a screen on the controller, and best of all the hover feature in case you want to just have it hang while you mess with the camera or take a drink of pop. Check out these videos...
RC Helicopter
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Quadcopter
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Many folks are raving about the Phantom quadcopter so we will be recommending it. Their website is spectacularly gorgeous and easy to work with. It show the stunning beauty of the photos that the quadcopter can help you get and how easily you can get them. Below is a video of the Phantom in action:
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Phantom 2 Vision Plus - It is a wonderful model as it allows you to quickly get going with your aerial photography. It has a return home function so that you can safely land your quadcopter without damaging it. It also comes with a hover option and a camera setup where you can see exactly what your quadcopters camera is seeing and you can change the cameras settings like its resolution all on the fly. It is setup to really get you going quickly. A unique feature is that it allows you to see straight down where most systems won't allow for that.
- Links: Website | All Products | Phantom 2 Vision Plus (business ready) | iPad Ground Station | Laptop Ground Station
- Cost: $1369.00 (Phantom 2 Vision Plus with extra battery)
Story: A Photographers Experience with Phantom Quadcopter
2. Panoramic Cameras
There are multiple types of panorama cameras right now. These are useful for making panoramas or Google Photosheres. Embedded panoramas that you can manipulate are wonderful to have in websites and shows a lot of value to the visitor. This is a massive selling point for small businesses and a way to create awesome experiences for people and their businesses. Some people may want to have panormas done of their wedding or events as well.
Clients This Good For
- Real Estate agents can scan in the house, the interior, backyard where a pool might be, and more. Then users can interact with the file on their website. Doing this will allow users to easily see the value in what you are selling and enable you to make more sales.
- Entertainment venues such as theaters and bowling alleys can show just how impressive their venue is before anyone ever sets foot through the door. This will help entertainment venues rent out their spaces more quickly by having a powerful and effective marketing tool. Visitors can take a look around without even going anywhere. If you have a restaurant or mall this is also useful as you can show off the unique interiors to potential visitors.
- Coworking environments and other office spaces can show off the spaces they want to rent and let their users interact with the environment before ever taking the trip to see the facilities.
- Bars and nightclubs benefits from this service as people can finally see what the inside of their bars and nightclubs look like without having to take a gamble and see if the cover charge is worth it.
- Hotels, motels, and apartment complexes can use this solution to make it easy for renters to know what they are getting into when renting a room with them. This will help reduce the amount of time it takes to rent out spaces.
- Parks with trails can use this to create immersive hiking trails that can be visited online. This gives people an idea of why they are going where you want them to go. Revitalize your park or hiking trails and get more visitors.
Panono (Panoramic Ball Camera)
The Panono is unique because you throw up into the air and it captures 360 degrees of space at it's highest point using over 30 cameras with a resolution of 108 Mega Pixels.
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Panono (Panoramic Ball Camera)
- Links: YouTube Video | Website
- Cost: $549.00 USD incl. German VAT plus $30.00 USD shipping (pre-order status as of 4/12/2014)
Ricoh THETA Spherical 360 Degree
This device uses two cameras on either side and you just click the snap button and it takes a full 360 picture and has a mount on it for a tripod.
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Ricoh THETA Spherical 360 Degree
- Links: YouTube Video | Website | Buy on Amazon
- Cost: $399.95
Bublcam
This device has cameras in a format that covers all directions and captures video too. It is about the size of a baseball and can be mounted on a tripod. I've even seen it attached to the bottom of a quadcopter.
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We did try to have an embedded version of the panoramic video player by buble but it was bogging down our page loading time. Visit their website using the link below to see the videos and manipulate them all on your own. It is a lot of fun as the screen recording below shows.
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Bublcam
- Links: YouTube Video | Website
- Cost: $579
Gigapan Panorama Camera Rigs
These camera rigs are for capturing ultra high resolution panoramas using an automated robot type rig that spins the camera at just the right speeds to capture the perfect photo sets for the panorama.
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Gigapan Panorama Camera Rigs
- Links: YouTube Video | Website
- Cost: $319 - $479 - $995
3. 3D Pictures and Scans
Most people take pictures in 2D. Why not offer the service of taking 3D scans of things? They are like pictures but in 3D instead of 3D. There are a couple of amazing tools that will help you do this. You will be giving them a file vs a print and that is ok. You can also use these methods to produce the 3D file that is necessary for the other services I am going to describe after this one.
You might think that taking pictures of things in 3D would go against your code of taking nice pictures, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. The thing is that people want to preserve a moment in time that looks nice and brings back those feelings they had when the were in that moment that you captured for them. Many people would enjoy receiving a 3D model of themselves, things they love, or products they want to promote. You can do this quite easily these days with some powerful software that Autodesk has come out with.
Autodesk came out with an app that you can install on your mobile device that will allow you to go around an object and capture it in 3D. You can get images done of groups of people, one person, your dog or other pet, favorite sports car, or whatever else you can think of. If you don't have your phone or tablet that is fine. You can use the online interface to upload multiple images taken from multiple angles using your normal camera.
There is one problem with this tool. It is best used on things that can keep still. People have a habit of not keeping still. You could use multiple cameras setup at the needed angles and snap a picture on all of them at once to provide the perfect 3D image. This isn't necessary, but might provide you the best picture possible. You could have one of the only photo studios around that can capture HD 3D images that go together to make a perfect 3D model print. Check out this video below to see what you can do with this app and then we will show you where you can get it and the items printed at reasonable cost.
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Autodesk 123D Catch
- Links: YouTube Video | Website
- Cost: $319 - $479 - $995
4. 3D Printed Keepsakes
You can get a nice colored print of whoever or whatever you have scanned in with the tools above. You can do this using Shapeways and their sandstone colored printing. You just upload the file, pay, fill out the info, and wait for your model to come to you in the mail. Check out the video below to see what I mean...
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Shapeways
- Links: YouTube Video | Website
- Cost: $0.75 per cm3 (visit website link for examples)
5. High Quality Colored Holographic Wall Prints
Zebra Imaging associated with Autodesk has given the public the ability to get custom holographic images printed. You can hang them on your wall and have a bright light pointed at it and see amazing holographic images. They presented it at a show and that is what you will see in the video below.
An extra bonus for making this so that people can hang it on the wall would be to model up a recessed framed box / cubby hole so that you can place the 3D image inside of that area and when people walk past, they will think it is recessed into the wall. It would be an interesting and creative way to display the image. You could go even fancier and make it so that you recess a scene into the image and make it look like the image is in that scene. Perhaps you can make it look like you are floating the people on some clouds or in space. You could do all sorts of neat 3D backdrops. Backdrops aren't just for 2D photographs now.
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Zebra Imaging
- Links: YouTube Video | Website |Buy Here
- Cost: $319 - $479 - $995
6. Make Augmented Reality Cards
Augmentedev has a wonderful marketing tool that helps out both big clients and regular consumers. You upload a 3D model that is either a scan using the method shown above or you can make a model using 123D Design by Autodesk.
This basically lets your users hold your products in the palm of their hands. The user can look through their phone or tablet at a card or paper printed out with a special tracking pattern on it. Using the tracking pattern the camera can figure out how big the card is and overlay the 3D image on the streaming video you are seeing from your mobile device camera. The 3D image is at scale and when you move the card or mobile device in relation to each other, the view of the 3D model is perfectly shown in that space you are looking at. This lets people hold objects in their hand and spin it around. You can even have video versions showing. This is useful for showing electronics, new products, cars, large machinery, and more. See the video below to see how useful it is.
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Augmentedev
- Links: YouTube Video | Website |Pricing
- Cost: FREE - $29/mo - $59/mo - $249/mo
7. Like YouTube but for 3D Models
Sketchfab allows you to embed colored 3D models seamlessly into your website for people to zoom, pan, and rotate. This is great when you are trying to show off electronics or any other products. Have videos, sure, but with this the user can manipulate and explore your products to their hearts content like they would in person. Below we have a YouTube video and a model you can view and manipulate right inside this webpage.
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Sketchfab
- Links: YouTube Video | Website |Pricing
- Cost: FREE - - $10/mo
8. Custom 3D Etched Crystal
You know those crystals that have things etched into them at the mall? Well you can get them custom done for yourself, clients, and customers now. Some companies allow for 3D models while others just use an image you upload. The choice is really yours. We will put a couple of links and videos below. If you are super interested in doing this and want to buy your own machine, you could do that as well. That might take time and money but if you are selling them like crazy, it might do you ok. It is always good to at least know the choice is there. The video below is from a company that is no longer around but the things they do in the video give you a good idea of how much you can do with this image based product.
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LINKS
- Uses pictures: 3d Laser Gifts (Website | YouTube Video)
- Uses pictures or 3D models: Fine Awards (Website)
- DIY & Buy your own machine: Shining 3d Laser (Buy page | 3D camera for it)
9. Apparel and Housewares
You probably already know about this but you can get your images printed on shirts, mugs, mousepads and other neat items. You can see these items on Cafepress.com, Zazzle.com and more. See the video below for a quick peak into what you can do.
Zazzle is a bit interesting though because it goes far beyond most customization houses. You can get custom prints on skateboard decks, covered canvas prints, posters, pillows, and much much more. Definitely take a look at the customized stuff that you can offer your clients. I would suspect that posters, shirts, and covered canvas prints, and pillows would be big sellers to people with pets and kids.
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LINKS
- Zazzle: Website | YouTube Video
- CafePress: Website | YouTube Video
10. Custom Photo Blankets, Rugs, and More
Some people want to have a nice quilt printed up that has a family member or pet that they miss. Some people may want to print a scene from a place they used to be that they miss. It is a great gift idea and keepsake. This would be excellent to offer people who have kids, pets, or pretty much anyone that likes pictures and getting neat items custom made for them. You can get this done at Walmart for around $80 and then sell it at a profit to your customer or clients. Below though we are going to show you Vision Bedding company that makes more than just custom photo blankets. They make custom photo rugs, shower curtains, pillows, fabric for your sewing projects, banners, curtains, and more. You could make an amazing offer to your customers and clients with this set of photo products. They even have multiple different types of blankets you can order including the classic woven style blankets.
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LINKS
- Vision Bedding (recommended): products page
- Walmart: info page
- Cafepress: info page
11. Custom Bobbleheads
It is great to recieve a bobblehead and even better if it looks like you or someone you care about. There are services that can easily set you up with a bobblehead and if you tell your clients you can get them one with their face or someone elses face on it, they might just want to buy one from you. This is a very unique visual keepsake that could be offered alongside other photography products and services.
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- Links: Website | YouTube Videos
- Cost: $79 - $360 ($99 average cost)
12. Custom Wood Carving 2D and 3D
You can actually get stuff laser engraved into wood. You can do this in 3D so you have depth or you can just have a picture etched onto a flat surface. It can be hard to find the services but what you are looking for is a CNC service that will do 3D carvings. They are out there and I have listed some options below. There are no mainstream options that I was able to find. Some services use lasers while others use a CNC machine that uses a spinning cutter similar to a drill bit to cut away the material.
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LINKS
- Link 1: Classic Custom Wood
- Link 2: Four Corners CNC
- Link 3: Jaygee Wood
- Link 4: LCI Signs
- Link 5: Mainland Wood Works
- Link 6: Saunzee
- Link 7: Art Sign Works
- Link 8: Phoenix CNC Creations
13. Pictures Printed Directly on Glass
Glass pictures are an interesting thing. They are really nice looking and definitely different. This would be a great product to offer customers.
LINKS
- Link 1: Fractureme
- Link 2: Image on Glass
14. Color Pictures on Wood
This is a creative method of printing allows you to get back to nature while still being able to view your pictures in color.It is simple and very beautiful looking. Even more, you can custom print onto all kinds of wood items. He has a nice wooden tote showing things. Check out both videos. The guy is a blast to listen to.
The guy will tell you that you cannot print white which is technically true. What you can do however is print very light brown or white. I would print a very light gray so that you can make it look white. Most white pages on the internet are actually off white to protect the eyes from strain.
With just a little bit of work, you could be making quite a bit of cash using this product to sell. If you want to get really interesting, you could have a carved frame surrounding the flat area that you lay the print into. Or you could make the wood big enough to put framing pieces around and then set the print into the middle on the flat space. There is a lot of room for creativity here.
How to Print a Wooden Picture
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Print on a Wooden Carry Tote (skip to 6:10 in the video otherwise you watch him build the whole thing)
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Link: Avery Labels on Amazon
15. Portrait Puzzles
Puzzles are a good way to relax and do something with family, friends, or a partner. It helps create memories and remember things they do like. Giving people the ability to create a puzzle of almost any size of a photo they want to remember is going to be a good gift.
You can get them in many sizes and piece counts. I really like the large floor puzzle shown here for the kids. You can see that by clicking here. You can get really complicated ones with piece counts up to 2000 pieces and a whopping size of 26x40 inches. View that one by clicking here.
LINKS
Website | Large Kid Puzzles | Large 2000 piece count 26"x40" sized puzzle