Calling 360 photographers

[Sandi Djoulfian]

Hi guys, I’m working on a project to support the community and would love the photographers backing me up with answering some research questions. Non-photographers, if you’ve got an input, please shoot away :)

1- How did you get into 360 Photography?
2- Which category do you specialize in?
3- How do you see the ecosystem 360 Photography? In which areas does it soar most?
4- Where and how do you find your clients?
5- What is your rate?
6- Do you think you get enough exposure or would you like to join a group or platform that would exhibit you?
7- Would you pay for it? Why? And would you pay if it got you projects?
8- Are you a Google Trusted Photographer? If not, why? If yes, what do you personally get out of it?
9- Do you work with any other companies or platforms?
10- Where do you think 360 wins over VR
 and if there’ anything you’d like to add from your experience, shoot away :)

Just VR IT!
www.vr-it.co

[Keith Martin]

Hi Sandi, that’s a lot of questions! Some are potentially contentious, so I’ll think them through rather than just rattle off quick thoughts.

I’m also curious – what’s the project, who is it for?

Keith Martin
PanoramaPhotographer.com and ExifFixer.com

[Keith Martin]

1
I’ve been interested in 360 photography since Apple first showed QuickTime VR, over 20 years ago! I got into it properly (as opposed to just experiments) around 2005, with the help of a friend.

2
I enjoy many different kinds of 360 capture. I particularly love the creative and technical challenges involved in festivals, clubs and similar dynamic environments, although ‘specialise’ is a more exclusive, limiting term than I would use.

3
Could you give a bit more context to this question? It’s a bit vague…

4
Hmm…

5
This has been a topic that has caused a lot of vexation over the years. I don’t think it’s a good thing to throw out numbers without a TON of context, and even then there’s the question of whether this strays into price fixing territory to consider.

6
What are you proposing? Are you launching a service?

7
See number 6

8
No. It’s a personal decision: I didn’t want the hassle of having to follow requirements that didn’t fit my aims or keep on top of the shifting sands.

9
Yes. I’m looking forward to reading your responses to number 6 (and 7). :)

10
‘360 over VR’? Please don’t go down the route of saying something isn’t VR unless it’s in a headset! That’s IMMERSIVE VR, a very effective way to deliver 360 media but not the only thing that can claim the VR term. QuickTime VR was launched over 20 years ago. 360 content can be delivered in many ways, all different forms of delivering VR experiences. Perhaps our glossary might help? https://ivrpa.org/about-ivrpa/virtual-reality-photography-glossary/

Keith Martin
PanoramaPhotographer.com and ExifFixer.com

[Bill Bailey]

This is an interesting thread as we get similar questions quite often. It’s great to hear Keiths perspective. As a hardware manufacturer our barometer in the panoramic arena draws an interesting light so I’m happy to share our perspective as well so others might learn.

1- How did you get into 360 Photography?
A: With the advent of growing technology, (ie. software, digital cameras, internet) Virtual Reality photography “is” the fastest growing genres in photography.

2- Which category do you specialize in?
A: Since our inception in 2004 VR photography has been spreading and evolving like a wild fire. Nowadays we’re found surprised if we find someone who has never heard of virtual reality photography. Some the the industries and areas of interest we see companies and people are using include (but certainly not limited to):

• Media/Production Companies
• Educational Institutions
• Engineering, Survey & Architectural
• Governmental Agencies, Law Enforcement, Forensics
• Museums, Parks
• Landscapes, Cityscapes
• Super High Resolution Imagery
• Head set Virtual Reality
• Google Street View and mapping
• Hobbyists and Artists
• and heaps more…..

3- How do you see the ecosystem 360 Photography? In which areas does it soar most?
A: Google! Google maps, Google Street View, Google Earth – Google is a major player in the industry. Self driving and autonomous operation of vehicles and services which use 360 degree technology are rushing to market. With the addition of photogrammetry (measuring of distances inside a space) we can now survey, measure buildings and even calculate land mass.

4- Where and how do you find your clients?
A: Creative marketing and outreach. Depending on your special area of interest each requires a bit of thought and planning. You need to be proactive and not afraid to knock on doors.

5- What is your rate?
A: A loaded question. There is no one rate. If you treat this as a business you have to weigh in many factors to include (but not limited to):

• Local demographics (economy, trends, etc.)
• What you can bring to the table that others are not.
• How much money do you have invested in equipment and overhead to run your business.
• How much is the competition asking.
• How much money you want to make.
• Experience – the more you know the more you can charge.
• Base your rate on what “you” feel comfortable with and market that rate with confidence.

6- Do you think you get enough exposure or would you like to join a group or platform that would exhibit you?
A: Aside from the old school knocking on doors the internet has valuable tools at your disposal. It takes trial and error and expanding on the ideas that prove to work better than others. We call this return on investment (ROI). For every $1 you spend what return will you see with resulting work or sales. A good start is Google Adwords. Participating in trade shows and conferences can be very expensive but in addition to actual sales (some trade shows don’t allow for actual sales) you have to give weight to exposure, networking, and gaining new aliases and partnerships.

7- Would you pay for it? Why? And would you pay if it got you projects?
A: Assuming you’re referring to Q#6 again it’s all about “ROI”. Study and learn about the groups you are participating in and reach out to other vendor and sponsors for questions. Some sponsors and vendors have paid as much as $40K on a conference or as little as $5 (Google Adwords) it’s about ROI. Explore your options and set a budget.

8- Are you a Google Trusted Photographer? If not, why? If yes, what do you personally get out of it?
A: No but we know a few that are. The whole GTP program as relaxed over the years. We know of GTP’s that are very successful and many that are not – you get out what you put in. Being pro-active and passionate about what you do and services your provide will drive any business in a forward direction.

9- Do you work with any other companies or platforms?
A: Networking, building alliances and working with other companies is important to a companies success as long as each is able to bring benefit to the other.

10- Where do you think 360 wins over VR
 and if there’ anything you’d like to add from your experience, shoot away :)
A: They tie together. 360 degree photography can be viewed flat in a photography (equirectangular) or viewed as interactive media allowing viewer to rotate around and zoom. Some applications also allow for distorting (as with little planet views) and viewing with headsets. The trend is moving towards more interactivity with and endless amount of tools become more available to the viewer.

Your questions would suggest you do not have much experience in this genre. I recommend viewing some of the videos presented by IVRPA from their conferences. Also search Facebook for groups on panoramic photography and google panoramic photography forums. Be creative and try to think outside the box.

Hope this helps.

Bill

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