There are many ways to make money with your camera. More and more, in my home town, I am asked to shoot commercial property for clients who want to update their company website, brochures, even grant proposals. The picture you see here was for a local eating establishment that is wanting new menus and to update their website. Get creative with your camera and get noticed in your community! Click on the pic for more photos from the shoot. All were taken without flash with available light. Manual settings on the camera based on light and area covered. Curtis

I recently contracted to shoot a festival in Midland. The customer wanted a unique shot for their brochures and for grant applications and funding. I realized very quickly the best picture to tell the story was an area shot from the tallest point around. The festival was in front of a high rise hotel so I offered the director a copy of the best shot for his office. Turns out he wants a huge print  for their ballroom. This was a great deal for me. I got the shot and a high profile placement of my work through sharing... our philosophy for LTC. Come join us and get noticed! Curtis

I get asked a lot about how to find an event. There are many resources within your community to assist you in locating and contacting event coordinators. The local Chamber of Commerce is a great start, along with the local economic development corporation, newspapers, and even the Permit Department at your local courthouse or records division. These big events must file for permits to be able to have a large public event. Getting to know local t.v. and radio station personalities is also a great way to get in on the front of an event. The radio and t.v. stations usually sponsor such events and know the main event staff. Another suggestions is to browse your local community web sites for upcoming events and announcements. We are members of the local Midland Chamber of Commerce and they have been a wealth of knowledge and contacts from day one. Donating your services to charity events in exchange for a feature in the local newspaper is a great way to get recognized in your community, too. There is no limit when you know where to look. Get out there and get noticed. Good hunting. Curtis

The LTC mission calling is to "Help any dedicated photographer start their own photography business with world class customer support in place from day one of their membership". Keeping to our promise, LTC has signed a business agreement with PPA (Professional Photographers of America) to gather more building tools and information from PPA and extend that wealth of information and technology to YOU! PPA is one of the premier membership program for professional photographers in the USA today. The LTC Photographer Control Panel is being updated to include all new sample contracts, photography laws, help library, and more. We will be forwarding all PPA monthly newsletters and photographer opportunities to all our paying members. Join Us and see how we work for you!

Need help with lighting? We all struggle with proper lighting at every shoot. Why?... because no two shoots are the same and we never get to shoot in a perfect world. Personally I would rather be outdoors shooting real life than in a studio creating fantasy, but both are necessary for any photographer to be successful. One resource I call upon frequently (there are many) is Lighting Essentials for Photographers. What a great site!  Check it out, learn, and ENJOY!. The shot you see here was not staged. Mom was just giving baby a kiss. Being there and knowing how to shoot it was key. Curtis

To celebrate our official public release the first 50 (now only 44) photographers that sign up with LTC between now and the end of the 2008 will receive a free upgrade to our Premium Account. That is a savings of $82.00 the first month and a $12.00 per month savings for life! This will give you a personal bio, gallery, pricing page, photographer support, and Google Maps to your place of business or studio. This is just like your very own website! Get the best prints and customer service available on the market today. We guarantee 100% customer satisfaction on every order. In 3 years, LTC has never had a print order returned or refunded! See before you buy combined with top notch photographers like you is a deal that can't be beat. Don't delay... get started and upgraded today!

What is the one thing that you cannot do with 99% of every professional photographer you know? Buy the original! At LeaveTheCamera.com we let you do that today! You can find your pictures on our web site and then buy a print, a package, or download the original. Yes, that is right... DOWNLOAD THE ORIGINAL FOR PERSONAL USE! Use for web sites, wallpaper, e-mail, and more. Why do we do this when all the other photographers sell you by the print? Because we believe as a customer of LeaveTheCamera.com or QuickSchoolPix.com that you have the right to purchase the image and make all the prints you want. We are turning photography protocol on its' ear and loving every minute of it! Try us and see what makes us the best... You!

Curtis

A customer called to ask about our products and services. When I explained that all products are purchased on-line she seemed disappointed. "Why" I asked?  "Because I can pick up other pictures locally". That is an issue we deal with every day. What some people don't realize is that we have a top quality digital lab staffed with trained professionals who insure that every piece of merchandise from a 4x6 glossy to the 20x30 stretched canvas and every mouse pad and photo item in between is the highest quality available in every aspect.  We even let you buy the original image if you want it. Ask any other photographer if you can do that! Every product is created by professionals that love what they do and just like us they have years of training in their skill. We do not use part time workers who don't know the difference between a crop and a contrast setting to pump out just ok snap shots all day! Every item is individually inspected and approved before it leaves the lab or it is rejected and reprinted. Everything from the paper we use for prints to the packing envelopes and mailing tubes is top of the line. If a customer ever receives a damaged  product we replace it for free. If it is lost in the mail we replace it for free! We stand by every product we sell 100% and a customer can have their prints the next day if they so desire. And, unlike other "fancy" studios and mall franchises, with  LeaveTheCamera.com you get to see your pictures before before you buy them and have your photos in days, not wait weeks or even months to see them at all. Try us and you'll be glad you did. See what our customers say about us on our Testimonial Page. At Leave The Camera we will always treat you like you are the only customer we have! We guarantee it!

Curtis

I spoke to a lady this morning about joining our site. The thing that impressed her the most was not the price or the site, but the fact that she was able to speak to a live person. Every  photographer joining LTC can get one on one tech support from me to learn how to better use your camera. Got a shoot coming up and not sure how to shoot it or just don't understand all those buttons on your new or old camera... contact me and I will personally assist you in learning how to effectively increase you photography skills. Anyone can build a photo sharing web site. Not everyone will take the time to help you become a better photographer. That is the LeaveTheCamera difference  and we stand by it.  Hope to hear from you soon. Curtis

I recently shot a formal party in a huge house. Almost every wall was glass so bounce was a big problem and I was really concerned about exposure because the entire house was very dark, only recessed lighting and a few chandeliers. The saving factor was the entire home had a flat 8' ceiling that was painted white, light brown, and gray in varying locations. I set the flash to bounce the ceiling and set the Flash Exposure to +1/3. I set the camera in P mode and 800 ISO (I really didn't want to do that) +1/3 and fired away. I feel it is the best light I have ever worked with in a non-studio area. NO SHADOWS and very flattering light for any complexion. The entire ceiling was a big reflector and the shots came out fantstic. Check it out if you have a minute. Click here  Good shooting. Curtis