Submit a stories not to exceed 12,000 words.(No minimum, though it’s rare for a piece under 500 words to read as a full story.)with reading fee of $15.

This contest is open to writers whose fiction has not been presented in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000.

Film your cat’s funniest moment and enter for a chance to win $1,000. This contest is open to all legal resident of  USA (50+) & D.C and who are  18 years old and above.

Grand Prize: $1,000 cash and coupons for one (1) years supply of ARM & HAMMER® Cat Litter plus the winning video may be featured on the armhammerpets (funny cats) brand channel on YouTube.

Airing of your video is at the Sponsor’s discretion. There is no retail or other value associated with airing or use of the Grand Prize winning video. (Total average retail value of Grand Prize is $2,620). Three (3) First Prizes: Coupons for one (1) years supply of ARM & HAMMER® Cat Litter.

Deadline of entries is on November 22, 2009.
For more information please visit the site for more information.

Most photographers go into the business of photography because they LOVE photography and because they want to get paid to do more of it.

What they didn’t bargain for was having to make sales, get clients, fix and negotiate fees and prices.

The Photographer’s Guide to Negotiating is a definite MUST HAVE for your reference shelf because it gives you the information and helps you obtain the skills you need in order to keep your business thriving.

In a nutshell this is what the book includes:

• What negotiating is
• The traits of a good negotiator … skills you can learn
• Planning for the negotiation
• The psychology of negotiation  (learn this and you will never be shy about negotiating again!)
• Strategy and Tactics

Here are some of the specific places the book talks about using your newly acquired skills:

• Assignment photography
• Selling your Stock photos
• Contracts
• and … save money by negotiating your purchases with your vendors and suppliers!

Finally, the book includes a chapter of interviews with photographers on how they acquired and use their negotiating skills.

I’ve freelanced for over TWENTY-FIVE years and luckily I learned very early on, that negotiating skills are critical to the success of your business.  If you are shy and hesitant in talking about money, you will be on the loosing end. If you are comfortable about negotiating … you will be happy and so will your customer.

I think the biggest “secret” is to fully understand that your client is probably uncomfortable about money talk because they are afraid of being taken advantage of.  The more you can lead the process and help your client be comfortable with the money discussion, the more money you will make!

Start by getting the book  The Photographer’s Guide to Negotiating … read it and work on the skills that are missing. When you understand the process, your business will grow!

2010 Photographer’s Market

The “2010″ verion of Photographers Market is hot off the press. Filled with over 1500 markets for photographers and coming in at 640 pages, this volume is a bargain at the price.

A current version of this book is critical to any photographer selling stock or editorial photography. It is filled with tips on how to market your photos from successful working photographers.

If you live (or sell photos) in the UK or Europe, another useful reference is:

The Freelance Photographer’s Market Handbook 2010 2010

From personal experience … there is a definite cross-over to the graphics and design end of things:

2010 Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market

Be sure to visit our Photographer’s Book store for great photography reference information.

• The kind of thing you wouldn’t really want your kids, colleagues, or a nosy PC technician to see?
• Or how about PRIVATE FILES – such as your accounts, or job application letters?

Well, if you use Microsoft Windows, you’ll know there’s NO WAY to protect them.

You can’t password-protect a folder. You can’t store them in a “secure zone.” You can’t even password-protect the file itself: most file protection systems can be broken within seconds.

That’s why today I’m writing to recommendation a FANTASTIC little program I just discovered.

It’s called Photo Vault.

And it’s like a real bank vault for your PC files.

Just drag-and-drop the photos and files you want to protect into the vault.

When you want to view your files again, just open the vault and enter your password. You can view your photos and files without leaving a single trace anywhere on your PC.

It’s total privacy.

And it’s available to YOU – RIGHT NOW.

Download your copy of this great little program NOW

GET YOUR FREE CD NOW!

Jeff Mills is the King of Outsourcing and MY Personal Outsourcing Guru.  I met him last spring at a Internet Business Conference here in Vancouver. In addition to being an amazing resource, he is one of the NICEST people I’ve met.

I have transformed my business using Jeff’s tactics and information. I now have several teams of “worker bees” working for me while I sleep.  I wake up in the morning to find that all the work I assigned the night before is done.  I can’t tell you how fabulous that is.

It has taken my productivity and the efficiency of my business UP by over 500%   All my workers are experts at what they do, which has expanded the capabilities of my company.

Jeff’s Free Video Reveals the #1 Secret for Tripling your Time Off and Doubling Your Monthly Income by Working with Virtual Assistants & Outsourced Teams Who do ALL Your Internet Marketing & Money Generating Activities For You!

If you want just a little bit of that for yourself …  CLICK HERE Enter your name and email … then fill out the form. You will get the free CD (just pay a very reasonable shipping charge) AND a 30 day FREE trial of Jeff’s Outsourcing Program. This is the SAME program I belong to. You’ll get 30 days to kick it around and see if it is a fit for you!  In addition to that you will get all sorts of OTHER FREE goodies. Be sure to go and take a peek at everything Jeff is giving away.

If you want to GROW YOUR BUSINESS you are nuts if you don’t take advantage of this program.

Melanie

Get all your goodies here

Looking for special photographs from both talented amateur and professional photographers that capture a striking image of Asia’s land, people, architecture or wildlife.

If you are not an Asian Geographic Magazine subscriber you can select one of the following low cost entry options: Enter up to 4 images in any category. For 4 images in any category = $8 USD (One time fee) and for 12 images in any category = $15 USD (one time fee)

Photography categories
1. FACES OF THE EARTH
The mountains, jungles, forests and seas of Asia are unique in the world. Images that capture Asia’s physical beauty and sense of place.

2. FACES OF ASIA
From ancient tribes to modern city dwellers, intimate and evocative portraits of people at work and play.

3. FACES OF THE WILD
Whether deep on a reef wall or deep in a rainforest, portraits of the planet’s creatures, big and small.

Prizes worth a total of over S$20,000 will be awarded to one winner and one runner-up from each category, plus a grand prize for the best overall picture entered.

Deadline of entries is on September 30, 2009. For more information please visit AwbPhotoContest.com

Check out the contest listings to find a Photo Contest suitable to your level of experience!

Submit a Novel+ 1 paragraph bio, a 250 word description of your novel and a link to the site where it can be purchased. Each of 30 semi-finalists will have their novels showcased for a day on the Editor Jennifer website – including their book’s image, a 250 word description, and a link to the site where it can be purchased.

This is International competition and open to anyone who are 18+ or older.

Winner will receive $250 USD.

Deadline of submission is on August 31, 2009. For detail information please visit EditorJennifer.com

Where's YOUR computer?

How many photos do you have stored on your hard drive?

How many client files?

Is all your bookkeeping information on your computer?

Are you just days or weeks away from finishing off that novel or info product?

What would you DO if all that information disappeared tonight when you went to bed?

Some people get an adrenaline kick from disasters … but this is one disaster I can personally do without!

Look at it this way:

You hopefully have some kind of health insurance.

You may have life insurance,

If you drive a car, you should at least have liability insurance.

But there is NO insurance that will make the pain of a complete hard drive failure go away. IF you find someone who is capable of recovering the information from your hard drive, you will be amongst the very lucky and it will still cost you big time … both in cash outlay and in time delays and talk about major stress.

There is NOTHING that will alleviate your anger, anxiety and stress if your precious laptop is stolen.

One study found that 93% of the companies who have had their data disappear are usually OUT of business within a year.

I know you’re thinking … “Duh, I’ll just backup my files once a day or once a week.   Easy!”

Question:  Have you done it? When was the last time you backed up ALL your information.  Where is the backup?

Mozy is the closest thing to data insurance you can get.  With Mozy, you regularly back up your files and if a disaster occurs, you have the ability to easily restore the files.

Given the costs in time, stress and money, Mozy is a real bargain.

For the month of July, it is even MORE of a bargain because you can get a 10% discount off their annual or biannual plans.  Type the code (JULY) into the referral box at signup to get the discount.

Mozy Unlimited Backup – $4.95/Month

The first two are for beginners  and the next three are for more advanced users who have an adjustable camera.

Robert Vasquez, is a photographer from Fontana California. He owns and operates Photo Magic which is an on location photography and video service.

Photography Tutorial 1 (Fundamentals)

This is a MUST for beginning digital photographers. It explains the top three digital photo concepts: aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Just knowing these three things will immediately improve your photography!

Photography Tutorial 2 ( Insider Advice)

Robert is a working photographer, in this video he gives you some advice that comes from his years of business and photography experience.

The next three videos are “the basics” for more Advanced Photographers.

Digital Photography 1 on 1: Episode 1

In this episode Mark Wallace explains how the shutter works, shutter sync, and how to control the ambient light exposure while using a flash.

As I was watching this video I kept on thinking “wow, I didn’t know that.” The explanations are fabulous, illustrated graphically and easy to understand.

Digital Photography 1 on 1: Episode 2

In this episode Mark Wallace describes the two types of light meters. He answers the questions, “What meter should I buy?” and “How do I use a light meter?”

Digital Photography 1 on 1: Episode 3

In this episode Mark Wallace talks about the kinds of lighting equipment you need.

RESOURCES

Portable Lighting Studio

Here is what one happy customer had to say: Great item for the money. Folds up to a carrying case that holds the lights and tripod. Tripos is metal and holds my Fuji S5000 without issue. Feet on tripod need to have a non slip surface though as the tips are plastic and easily slide. But again, you CANNOT beat this deal as it is the perfect choice for a beginner or novice.

Digital Concepts Ps-101 Portable Lighting Studio