As a photographer, one of the most rewarding aspects of the job is working with great clients who appreciate your work and trust your vision. Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to work with many wonderful clients, but two that really stand out are Verizon Media and The Change Company.

Verizon Media is a company that needs no introduction. As a media and technology company, they are always on the forefront of innovation, and their events are no exception. I had the pleasure of working with Verizon Media (now Yahoo) as an event photographer, covering an E3 Verizon Media Cocktail Reception.

What I loved most about working with Verizon Media was their attention to detail. The E3 event was very well planned, with every detail thoughtfully considered. This made my job as a photographer much easier, as I knew exactly what was expected of me and what shots were most important to capture.

Another client that I absolutely loved working with was The Change Company.  As a company their mission is to enable Americans to have access to the financial services they deserve, so they knew they’d need a talented headshot photographer to make the staff look their best.  I was brought on board as their headshot photographer, tasked with capturing the professionalism of each individual in a single shot.

Working with The Change Company was also nice because I got to travel to 3 different office locations.  And since I mainly shot outdoors, it allowed me to use my creativity to semi-match the lighting and background at each location.

Overall, I feel incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such amazing clients. Verizon Media and The Change Company both pushed me to be a better photographer, and allowed me to create some truly amazing work. I can’t wait to see what the future holds, and to continue working with clients who share my passion for photography and creativity.

One thing as a photographer that I have been doing lately is putting my photos on Adobe Stock.  By putting my photos on stock websites I’m hoping to earn some extra income and gain even more exposure as an artist. Here are a few reasons why it was important for me to consider putting my photos on stock websites:

I’m hoping to get increased visibility as a photographer.  In putting my photos on stock websites, they become available to a much larger audience. This can help me gain exposure for my work and potentially lead to new opportunities.

I’m looking to make passive income money and stock photography can be a great way to earn passive income. Once I upload my photos to a stock website, they can continue to generate income for me over time without any additional effort on my part.

This also can help with a diversification of income as a photographer.  I’ve made a lot of my income as a photographer doing business headshots, but this is a way to help reduce my reliance on a single source of income (such as headshot or event photography) and create a more stable and sustainable business model.

By taking stock photos I’m hoping gain more clients.  Stock photography is often used by businesses and individuals who need high-quality images for a variety of purposes, including marketing materials, websites, and social media. By putting my photos on stock websites, I’m making my work available to potential clients who might need a photographer for things other than stock photos.

Overall, putting my photos on stock websites can be a great way to expand my audience, generate passive income, and diversify my income streams as a photographer.

What are your stock photography needs?  Here is the link to check out my photos on Adobe Stock: https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/207058840/Steven%20Hankins%20Photo

Some of you might ask, why don’t photographers give their clients all of the RAW files.  First, let’s define what RAW is.  RAW is a type of image file format that contains minimally processed data.  It is called “raw” because it is the pure, unaltered data that has not been processed.
Unlike other image file formats, such as JPEG or PNG, which are already processed and compressed, RAW files allow for more flexibility and control in post-processing. With a RAW file, photographers can adjust the white balance, exposure, and other settings to achieve the desired look for their images without losing detail or introducing artifacts.
However, because RAW files contain uncompressed data, they tend to be much larger in size than other image file formats, which can lead to larger storage requirements. Additionally, RAW files require specialized software to process and convert them into a more accessible image format, such as JPEG or PNG.

So, here are a few reasons that photographers might not give their clients all of the RAW files.

1. Copyright - Having the RAW files might help prove ownership. By not delivering the RAW files, photographers can protect their intellectual property and ensure that their work is not used without permission or compensation.

2. Creative Control - RAW files give photographers greater control over the final image, allowing them to make adjustments to color balance, exposure, and other variables. By delivering only the edited JPEG files, photographers can maintain control over the final look of their work.

3. Quality Control - RAW files are unprocessed and may contain some errors or unflattering shots that the photographer may not want to be associated with their work. By only delivering edited JPEG files, photographers can ensure that they are delivering only their best work.