Short Travel Video Vs. Still Photo: Increase Your Camera’s Income Potential
“I remember the first time I learned the real value of what I am doing,” Tom told me. “I was in Tanzania and a British couple on their honeymoon told me they paid $10,000 to be there for two weeks. I was stunned. I’d just come back from a diving trip on Mafia Island, a…
Improve Photo Quality For Stock By Downsizing
Stock agencies need near-perfect photos, with little-to-no noise, compression, or focus issues. Even the very best photographers encounter all of these issues in their images now and then. The way around it? Downsizing. Now, this doesn’t work on every image. But if one of your photos has very SLIGHT noise, compression, or focus issues… often…
Why Savvy Travel Writers Should Start Experimenting With Video
Most marketing experts agree that video is the future of online content. Don’t worry—this doesn’t mean that writing and still photography are going away anytime soon; people love reading and gazing at beautiful images. However, it does mean that savvy travel writers and photographers would be wise to start experimenting with video. Now, there’s no need to…
How Taking Short Video Clips Can Enhance Your Writing
I was talking recently with a fellow writer about the state of magazines when the topic of video came up. He rolled his eyes. “I want nothing to do with it,” he said. “I just want to write. I don’t want to have to worry if I framed the shot correctly.” While I could sympathize…
Shoot Travel Videos: How I Earned $28,000 From A Single Trip
I had always wanted to visit Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia. It’s a beautiful tropical island with miles of stunning shoreline, gorgeous green lakes surrounded by white-sand beaches, rainforest areas, natural rock pool formations, and even a shipwreck. Since I was living in Melbourne, a three-hour plane ride away, I contacted several tour and resort…
Great Escape Radio Episode 99: Master of Light
“Why should I pick a favorite destination for photography when I can enjoy them all?” – Daniel Nahabedian Host Jody Mayberry and Director, Lori Allen, introduce us to professional photographer, Daniel Nahabedian. Light is so important to Daniel that Lori refers to him as the “Master of Light” and looks to him on a regular…
How To Write A Travel Article Pitch That Commands An Editor’s Attention
In the early days of my travel-writing career, I worked as a magazine editor. My duties encompassed everything from writing, commissioning, and editing stories to making sure our page proofs got to the printers on time. In addition, a big part of my day-to-day involved reading query letters and submissions from freelance writers, many of…
Have A Rejected Stock Photo? Let’s See It.
One of the scariest things when you’re starting out with stock photography is the idea of your images getting rejected. It sounds so stern and final. But the truth is, many ‘rejected’ photos can actually be re-submitted and turned into great sellers with just a minor tweak or two. While some stock sites give specific…
Why The Good Travel Writer Can Look Forward To Upgraded Experiences
In the summer of 2000, I was a struggling-to-make-ends-meet newspaper reporter when I received my first magazine travel assignment. It wasn’t big or glamorous, but I felt like I’d won the lottery. I was asked to visit a Vermont ski resort to take a mountain-biking lesson. I was an avid cyclist at the time, and…
A Rewarding Second Career You Can Easily Transition To
“I spent 34 years saving lives. Now I’m saving mine.” This is how I explain my transition from full-time registered nurse to travel writer. The transition didn’t happen overnight. But the moment I realized that travel writing was my answer to retirement and the rewarding second career I was seeking, I was determined to make…