Norm Edwards: Photographer / Photographe



Since my humbling beginnings in 1999, I've been guided and supported by many of my piers. So I feel that it's my time to give back. Here are some valuable information to all of you that have been in business for many years or are just beginning.

*MARKETING YOURSELF:

My beginning in the world of photography really began when the internet began its ascension. I had put little galleries on a website called xoom which later on was bought by geocities. The next thing you know, my website got more popular I felt that I needed to get myself a domain name. Hence began www.normedwards.com and it is where I am now.

However, this website is very generic and sometimes I found that I maybe lost customers as they were looking for different things.

*SOLOMODELS:
So then, I began my modeling website and named it www.mondofocus.com . The website was good but I had no "flash' experience and I also wanted something to catch the eye of my potential customers. In one of my travels I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of Solomodels and he told me about what his services were offering. I reviewed it all and in less than a New York minute, I knew that I needed their services. Now my www.mondofocus.com is fueled by Solomodels.

Why is Solomodels important to me? For many reasons. One of them is that the website is mine. The domain name is mine. Solomodels only accept professional work. So no "cell phone pictures", no "webcam pictures", no amateur pictures and no nudity (*only if it is very artistic). Another reason is that there is absolutely no advertising like you'll find on myspace. They have various packages and once you pay for a year, your renewal is 50% off. But there is so much more. You'll have to find out for yourself.

As Lee Iacocca said when he introduced the K-car back in the early 80's, if you can find anything better than this, go ahead and take it!

*SHOCKFOLIO:
I love my solomodel/mondofocus website. However, I can only put modeling pictures on it. But that is good when I approach modeling and fashion companies. These customers are only interested in this type of work. But I do other things. I like to shoot nature, architecture, children, weddings, sports, landscapes, families etc...and those type of pictures are not for solomodels. The owner of solomodels realized that and has now expanded his services to photographers of all styles as well as other artists such as comedians, magicians, entertainers, singers, bands, agencies etc...

Again, it didn't take me long to realize that this would be far better for me than "onemodelplace". Not that OMP is not good, but it's not as good as it used to be. They do not control the quality of ones work and accept practically anything but porn. As for the pricing, from the get go, shockfolio is a little less but the kicker is the renewal which is also down to 50% rebate. No such thing for onemodelplace.

You really have to look at shockfolio as a combination of "onemodelplace/myspace/flickr/facebook" on some super steroid.

I know that many of you pay thousands of dollars for a website and have problems to know how it works after leaving all the control to the designer. With shockfolio, no need. You can do it all yourself. Believe me when I tell you that it's simple and easy.

*PHOTOSTOCKPLUS:
I, probably like you have thousands if not millions of pictures stored up on DVD's or CD's and collecting dust. Some of those pictures are some of your bests and you wish that you could make money out of them, right?

Well I'm selling my pictures through PhotoStockPlus and within the first week, I began making money. Not only that, but I've also added another portfolio: EVENTS. Now I shoot many events and put those pictures up on this website and make money instantly. For example: during a recent event, I shot 1,600 pictures and within 5 hours, all of my pictures were up and the sales began.

I haven't found yet a service and stock photography website that gives you all the tools to make money on a regular basis. Isn't that what you want anyway?

*UJENA TALENT:
Now, if you're a bikini/swimsuit photographer, I strongly suggest that you check out Ujenatalent. Ujena has been in business for over 20 years and has launch the careers of a few celebrities such as Cindy Margolis and Amber Lee (the Obama girl). Ujena has frequent bikini and photographer competitions in various locations around the world. Namely in 2008, the Bikini Jam will be held in Cancun, Mexico (January), Sitges, Spain (May) and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (August/September). The Puerto Vallarta is the greatest of them uniting over 75 photographers and 150 models from around the world.

Where else can you get the opportunity to shoot so many world wide models from all over the world in one of the most exotic locations? Where else do you get the chance to mingle and exchange ideas with your piers? As one photographer said: "The bikini jam is too much work to be a vacation but too much fun to be work".

Look at the bikini jam as an intense photography workshop. My time with the Ujena Bikini Jam is the best money I ever invested in myself to learn the trade.

Take your time and register yourself for free. Upload as many picture as you can and begin to network yourself with the guys of Maxim, Playboy and various TV channels!
Get more information of the Bikini Jam here

*GO FLASH GEAR:
This is my pride! I've designed cargo pants that are tailored for photographers. Teh right pockets at the right places. You can wear them long or short as they are convertible. Extremely resistant to usage but light in weight. Available at this time in black and in khaki. Visit www.goflashgear.com to see them for yourself.

			*MARKETING YOURSELF:
			My beginning in the world of photography really began when the internet began its ascension. I had put little galleries on a website called xoom which later on was bought by geocities. The next thing you know, my website got more popular I felt that I needed to get myself a domain name. Hence began www.normedwards.com and it is where I am now.

			However, this website is very generic and sometimes I found that I maybe lost customers as they were looking for different things.

			*SOLOMODELS: So then, I began my modeling website and named it www.mondofocus.com . The website was good but I had no "flash' experience and I also wanted something to catch the eye of my potential customers. In one of my travels I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of Solomodels and he told me about what his services were offering. I reviewed it all and in less than a New York minute, I knew that I needed their services. Now my www.mondofocus.com is fueled by Solomodels. Why is Solomodels important to me? For many reasons. One of them is that the website is mine. The domain name is mine. Solomodels only accept professional work. So no "cell phone pictures", no "webcam pictures", no amateur pictures and no nudity (*only if it is very artistic). Another reason is that there is absolutely no advertising like you'll find on myspace. They have various packages and once you pay for a year, your renewal is 50% off. But there is so much more. You'll have to find out for yourself. As Lee Iacocca said when he introduced the K-car back in the early 80's, if you can find anything better than this, go ahead and take it!

			*SHOCKFOLIO: I love my solomodel/mondofocus website. However, I can only put modeling pictures on it. But that is good when I approach modeling and fashion companies. These customers are only interested in this type of work. But I do other things. I like to shoot nature, architecture, children, weddings, sports, landscapes, families etc...and those type of pictures are not for solomodels. The owner of solomodels realized that and has now expanded his services to photographers of all styles as well as other artists such as comedians, magicians, entertainers, singers, bands, agencies etc... Again, it didn't take me long to realize that this would be far better for me than "onemodelplace". Not that OMP is not good, but it's not as good as it used to be. They do not control the quality of ones work and accept practically anything but porn. As for the pricing, from the get go, shockfolio is a little less but the kicker is the renewal which is also down to 50% rebate. No such thing for onemodelplace. You really have to look at shockfolio as a combination of "onemodelplace/myspace/flickr/facebook" on some super steroid. I know that many of you pay thousands of dollars for a website and have problems to know how it works after leaving all the control to the designer. With shockfolio, no need. You can do it all yourself. Believe me when I tell you that it's simple and easy.

			*PHOTOSTOCKPLUS: I, probably like you have thousands if not millions of pictures stored up on DVD's or CD's and collecting dust. Some of those pictures are some of your bests and you wish that you could make money out of them, right? Well I'm selling my pictures through PhotoStockPlus and within the first week, I began making money. Not only that, but I've also added another portfolio: EVENTS. Now I shoot many events and put those pictures up on this website and make money instantly. For example: during a recent event, I shot 1,600 pictures and within 5 hours, all of my pictures were up and the sales began. I haven't found yet a service and stock photography website that gives you all the tools to make money on a regular basis. Isn't that what you want anyway?

			*UJENA TALENT: Now, if you're a bikini/swimsuit photographer, I strongly suggest that you check out Ujenatalent. Ujena has been in business for over 20 years and has launch the careers of a few celebrities such as Cindy Margolis and Amber Lee (the Obama girl). Ujena has frequent bikini and photographer competitions in various locations around the world. Namely in 2008, the Bikini Jam will be held in Cancun, Mexico (January), Sitges, Spain (May) and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (August/September). The Puerto Vallarta is the greatest of them uniting over 75 photographers and 150 models from around the world. Where else can you get the opportunity to shoot so many world wide models from all over the world in one of the most exotic locations? Where else do you get the chance to mingle and exchange ideas with your piers? As one photographer said: "The bikini jam is too much work to be a vacation but too much fun to be work". Look at the bikini jam as an intense photography workshop. My time with the Ujena Bikini Jam is the best money I ever invested in myself to learn the trade. Take your time and register yourself for free. Upload as many picture as you can and begin to network yourself with the guys of Maxim, Playboy and various TV channels! Get more information of the Bikini Jam here

			*GO FLASH GEAR: This is my pride! I've designed cargo pants that are tailored for photographers. Teh right pockets at the right places. You can wear them long or short as they are convertible. Extremely resistant to usage but light in weight. Available at this time in black and in khaki. Visit www.goflashgear.com to see them for yourself.