Show notes
Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We have Sarah Winchester with us today! Sarah is a Boston based photographer specializing in interiors and fine art photography. Social media has really raised the bar for photographers over the last few years, and as a result, the world of interiors photography has been getting a lot of recognition. So investing in an excellent professional photographer has become a valuable way for new interior designers to become known. In today's episode, Sarah talks to us about styling, copyright, what it takes to be a great interiors photographer, and she also explains what you, as an interior designer, need to look for when hiring a photographer. Listen in today, to get Sarah's practical tips and advice for showing yourself in the way that you want to be seen.
Raised in Atlanta, GA Sarah brings her southern sensibility and style to her work. After years in the corporate world as a creative director, brand manager, and in-house photographer, Sarah opened her own studio in 2009. Sarah’s strengths lie in blending the needs of the client with her own unique and artistic approach, to create beautiful and effective images. Sarah graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor’s in Art and Art History and received her Masters in Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was also able to spend time studying art in Florence, Italy. Tune in now for more!
Show Highlights:
Sarah believes that you have to have a script, or a shot list to know where you're going, where to start and to keep things organized.
Amazing photographs are essential for interior designers.
Social media has raised the bar for photographers.
Finding the right photographer.
Photographic shoots are creative and fun, and also exhausting!
What to look out for when choosing a photographer who will be the right fit.
Getting as much out of a photo shoot as you possibly can.
Copyright versus usage right... it can all be very confusing.
Paying for usage rights for the images you've shared.
Having the conversation about who owns the rights to the images on social media.
There's safety in integrity so it's important to be clear right from the beginning.
Partnering with local brands in order to style a project.
Developing relationships with local businesses and highlighting their products in your photo shoots.
Using images to sell a feeling.
Bio:
Sarah is a Boston based photographer specializing in interiors and fine art photography. Raised in Atlanta, GA she brings her southern sensibility and style to her work. After years in the corporate world as a creative director, brand manager, and in-house photographer, Sarah opened her own studio in 2009. Sarah’s strengths lie in blending the needs of the client with her own unique and artistic approach, to create beautiful and effective images. Sarah graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor’s in Art and Art History and received her Masters in Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was also able to spend time studying art in Florence, Italy–one of her favorite cities in the world. Sarah has worked with clients, which span the creative and professional world, from magazines and fashion houses to advertising campaigns and construction companies. Sarah feels photography is about creating, not just capturing and brings that emotion to her work.
Links:
Website: Sarah Winchester Studios
Instagram: Sarah_W_Studios
Austin Mill PR
Previous episodes mentioned in the show:
Stephen Karlisch # 369
David Livingstone # 51
Raquel Langworthy # 343
Sarah Winchester Studios - Pitch for LuAnne Nigara Podcast
About Sarah Winchester
Sarah is a Boston based photographer who shoots all over the country, specializing in interiors and fine art photography. Raised in Atlanta, GA she brings her southern sensibility and style to her work. After years in the corporate world as a creative director, brand manager, and in-house photographer, Sarah opened her own studio in 2009. Sarah’s strengths lie in blending the needs of the client with her own unique and artistic approach, to create beautiful and effective images. Sarah graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor’s in Art and Art History and received her Masters in Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She was also able to spend time studying art in Florence, Italy–one of her favorite cities in the world.
Sarah has worked with clients, which span the creative and professional world, from magazines and fashion houses to advertising campaigns and construction companies. She also creates a series of fine art photography stemming from a passion for art and travel; creating beautiful images to live with and love.
Sarah feels photography is about creating, not just capturing and brings that emotion to her work.
OVERVIEW:
PHOTOGRAPHERS - How to choose one? What sets me apart?
In an increasingly growing field, how should a designer choose?
In turn, how can a photographer set him or herself apart? (I know lots of interiors
photographers who listen to the podcast)
SOCIAL MEDIA - Still photography, moving images, videos
Social Media v. Website/Portfolio
Instagram shooting tips. IPhone v. Professional
Engagement, Stories, connecting with followers.
CONTENT - Still photography, moving images, videos
Should you be doing “more?” What does that “more” look like?
Online and social media are perfect for playing with this. Places where
traditional print media can’t go
COPYRIGHT - Who “owns” the images
Copy Right v. Usage Rights
2 - 3 party usage - reduced rate
“Other Parties” wishing to use the photos. Publications, vendors, etc.
STYLING - The discussion continued…
Such an important aspect of interiors photography. Could parent more discussion.
Photographer as stylist…is this the new norm? Perhaps, but only if it fits the project and photographer.
Partnering with a local business. Helps the shoot, the homeowner often buys the pieces and helps the designer finish out the project.
I often buy or borrow, books, accessories, home goods, etc. for a shoot and let the homeowner buy the products from a shoot…unless they are from my personal collection. - The homeowner gets free shopping and styling
ART + ART SOURCING
Not all spaces and projects have amazing art budgets, but art is a crucial part of a finished project and creating beautiful, finished photographs.
Relationship with art consultants. Finding new a artist who will lend work.
A personal passion: I love finding new artists and helping them.
GETTING PUBLISHED
Writers - In addition to getting to know editors (which can be very challenging because they are such busy people) Develop a relationship with writers.
They get paid by the story to so we all want to find amazing projects.
Local/Regional press and print is still amazing.
Online features - .com arm of publications, blogs. Great in that things can go viral. Also, the reason why it is important to credit everyone when you post things.
SARAH WINCHESTER STUDIOS. | [email protected] | 404.542.2833
IN DEPTH BREAK DOWN
Photographers
- How to choose one?
- I come from a fine art/art history background that is where I start, but I also have some commercial experience so that always creeps in, but first and foremost I LOVE creating a great editorial type shot. One that will draw the viewer into the space. I love the challenge of creating beautiful images but also the effectiveness of conveying the “information” the designer needs/wants to parlay.
- Photographers - Just like designers, there is the right fit for you.
What is their photographic style, their personality, do they assist in styling, and do they fit your budget and meet or talk to them in person.
Crowded field of photographers - photography is becoming more and more accessible which makes the field larger. I say great. A rising tide lifts all boats.
- Look closely at the photographer's portfolio. The feel, the lighting, the angles.
How do you want your work to look? Just like when people choose a designer that best suits their needs and style.
- Photo shoots are long hard days…sometimes overnight trips. You better like who you are working with and shouldn’t it be fun?
They should be creatively fulfilling days that give you the final images that perfectly show your work and you.
- Trust the photographer but also speak up.
If the leather straps on a chair really speak to your work and your design choices, make sure the photographer gets those leather straps! Or tile or built-in design.
- This is the time to get the project the way you want it because when you walk out the door and close it behind you that is it. What do you have left of the
SARAH WINCHESTER STUDIOS. | [email protected] | 404.542.2833
project? A photo shoot is a chance to get the project the way you want it and preserve it for your portfolio.
SOCIAL MEDIA
- Consulting - Social Media v. Website/Portfolio
- How to use Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. Which platform is the best for you?
To expand upon what David Livingston talked about in Episode 51 when
talking bout Houzz. Where should designers be?
- How to use it for your brand/company - for most in our business Instagram is THE tool to use. I have a little PDF I like to share with my clients as an “added value.”
- Instagram shooting tips. I like giving my clients a little cheat sheet on how to use their iPhone and Instagram to their best of their ability. The iPhone is a very powerful camera. It kills me when people don’t use it to the best of their ability.
I also love consulting new designers in this. They may only have the budget to hire me for that one great room they “designed to completion” so I love teaching photography 101 so they can use their iPhone to create content and images for social media.
For website and portfolio purported I still advice to use a true professional.
- Instagram Engagement
Community Building, give credit.
Reply to comments, DM’s, etc
Pose questions. Ask for advice.
- Posts v. Stories
- Authenticity - “Behind the curtain”. About you as a creative/business owner.
Photos of travels
Videos - real life, behind the scenes.
Show your personality
SARAH WINCHESTER STUDIOS. | [email protected] | 404.542.2833
- Give Credit - It takes a lot of people to make a beautiful space and then the image that represents that space. It makes you look better to give credit where credit is due and helps with engagement. The more the merrier!
Designer, architect, Builder, Stylist, Photographer. Try to credit all the people involved. It only makes you look better and it spreads the love/influence.
GIFFS and VIDEOS
- Giffs and video type images.
I have been having fun creating gifts and stop motion images.
Online and social media are perfect for playing with this. Places where
traditional print media can’t go
If your photographer focuses on only still, the iPhone can so much.
Time-lapse, stop motion, videos, etc.
COPYRIGHT
- Who “owns” the images. Such a huge topic these days with photo sharing and the monetizing of Instagram, shopping, etc. It seems to be a touchy subject but an important one.
- What is the difference between usage rights and copyrights?
It is my job a the photographer to educate the designer on the differences. I don’t expect the designer to know this.
- When I was on salary for a large corporation they “owned” all the images I took. Some of my photographs were used in national ad campaigned printed in the likes of Sports Illustrated and This Old House, but I did not receive and usage payment form my company. That was our agreement. Totally fine as I was a salaried employee and that was a part of my job description.
- Now running my own studio I “own” all my images. I maintain the copyright.
SARAH WINCHESTER STUDIOS. | [email protected] | 404.542.2833
The question may be raised from a designer ”but that is my work, my project.”
Absolutely. I have been hired for my talents, my brain juice, on how to create a photograph to best showcase that work. That creation…that photograph is my work, therefore the creator maintains the copyright.
- Usage Rights - When I shoot for a designer they have unlimited “usage rights” to the images. My wording goes:
Unlimited digital and print usage is granted to the client. Any editorial rights (digital and print) rights should be settled between Sarah Winchester Studios LLC and the publisher. Images and their rights usage are not transferable. Rights usage by other parties may be obtained for a fee per image. Sarah Winchester Studios LLC is the sole copyright owner (only usage rights is being granted) All photography to be credited: Sarah M. Winchester
- “Other parties” includes, builders, architects, lighting companies, wallpaper, furniture company, etc who see the images and then wants to use it for an ad campaign or marketing tool they need to contact me for a usage fee.
Basically, if they are going to use my image to sell their product. They are usually more than happy to and understand this industry standard. Plus it is far more economical than producing their own photo shoots.
I had a wonderful recent experience where a project for my beloved client Cecilia Walker was featured on domino.com (a connection through written Jaci Conry). Cecilia had used a lot of Hudson Valley lighting fixtures. They then bought some usage rights from me and ended up using the images in their national advertising campaign all over their website and in print publications like House Beautiful.
Conversely, I had a company see a project in a publication, asked to buy some usage but the designer had such a terrible time dealing with them she asked that I not. I of course obliged. My relationship with the designer is worth much more than the money I would have gotten from this other party. I always ask…and get the permission of the homeowner.
So many moving parts involved, but I find being open and transparent is the best way and I pride myself in being clear and honest.
- 2 - 3 Companies Usage
SARAH WINCHESTER STUDIOS. | [email protected] | 404.542.2833
Often times the designer, builder and architect all want photos of a project.
For this, I offer a slightly reduced “combined rate” for the shoot.
So the overall cost of the shoot might be more because there are more people “using” the images, but when split 3 ways is less expensive for each party than if they each hired me separately.
- If copyrights are wanting to be purchased it usually is a much higher cost because I am basically giving away all my rights to that image I created. That case usually only comes up when a photographer is hired by Architectural Digest or some major print publication but even then that is not always the case.
I heard Photographer Lynsey Adario who shoots for the NY Times, National Geographic, etc. speak and she said she shoots as a freelancer for that reason. So she owns the copyrights to her photographs.
STYLING
- Styling Assistance - I have rolled it into my services because I love it and I am good at it.
This was covered greatly in the Raquel Langworthy podcast and I thought she did an amazing job conveying the differences between stying assistance and hiring a professional stylist. It's a new way people are looking at their photographers.
Majority of my clients do not have the budget to hire amazing stylists like Stacy Kunstel or Charlotte Safavi. That is usually a publication level shoot.
- I have relationships with various studios and shops and after scouting with gather information on colors, flowers, accessories, books needed. I borrow a ton of stuff on my own. Inevitably the homeowner buys half the stuff we bring.
Win-win for all.
- If the homeowner isn’t on set (which is usually the case and the preferred option) we send photos and pricing while on a shoot for approval.
- A great way for the designer to finish out the project.
SARAH WINCHESTER STUDIOS. | [email protected] | 404.542.2833
- I know what it “photogenic” I know what has been shot to death. (Ahem…Tom Ford book)I also like that “control” over the shoot. It makes us all look better.
- STORY: I recently shot a gorgeous old brownstone in historic Beacon Hill, the designer hired me to style and shoot the project. I hired my own styling assistant. We spent an entire day styling and then we shot for two days. I helped source art
ART
- Art sourcing - Art is SUPER important.
This is also a personal passion of mine with my Art History major, I love finding new artist, I have a few art consultants I work with who lend me work. One of whom I am giving a Design Week talk with about Art + Design.
To Stephen Karlisch point we can hold art up. No need to bang holes in that Phillip Jeffery wallpaper. And sometimes the homeowner ends up buying a piece. Win-win!
GETTING PUBLISHED
- Writers!!! - In addition to getting to know editors (which can be very challenging because they are such busy people), I have loved developing relationship with writers.
They get paid by the story to so we all want to find amazing projects.
- Local/Regional press and print is still amazing
- We all want national press of course but regional print has amazon coverage
- New England Home, Newspaper magazine, Modern Luxury, Atlanta Homes and Lifestyle
SARAH WINCHESTER STUDIOS. | [email protected] | 404.542.2833
WWW.SARAHWINCHESTERSTUDIOS.COM. | [email protected] | 404.542.2833