E.W. Faircloth’s diverse photography career spans almost four decades. Here, he highlights his creative motivation and gives small businesses advice on their photographs. Check out his photos at his website (http://www.faircloth.org/faircloth) or read his daily blog of “personal statements” (http://www.faircloth.org/blog1).

Mindspring Design: Why do you enjoy taking photos?

EW: For the creative challenge. It’s the same reason I like doing computer programming. I like creating things.

MD: How long have you been taking pictures?

EW: Since I was in the army in Vietnam around 1970, I guess. My first real camera was a little half-frame camera.

MD: How did you get started?

EW: With a mail order course — I’d get my lessons, and I would do my little assignments, and send them back in the mail. And since it was costing money, one of the things the course said to make money was to sell pictures to your local paper. (Burlington County Times)

So there was a fire in my little town, and I took a picture of the building that was raging away, it was really on fire. I took a picture of a fireman with a hose, but the fireman was silhouetted against the raging building, It made for a nice picture. So I ran down to my little local newspaper, and asked did they want a picture. And they actually bought and used the picture. The picture editor took my name and address.

Then another day, I was going to the camera store, and there was an accident. I think a kid may have fallen out a window, but I didn’t have a camera with me. So I went to the camera store, because I knew the guys, and I bought a camera. So I made a picture and I sold it to the same newspaper. Then I started getting little freelance jobs at the newspaper. At the time I was working full-time in the health care industry. Then I ended up working 2-3 jobs per week freelancing for this newspaper.

When I first started it was B&W photography, and I learned how to develop my own negatives and make prints. I was doing so much freelancing I ended up renting myself a little apartment. I remember I had a darkroom on one floor without access to water, so I had to go up and down the steps every time I needed water.

Eventually, as luck would have it, one of the photographers quit to have a baby and decided she wasn’t coming back. I was lucky enough to get her job. This was in the heyday of photojournalism of newspapers in the 1970s which meant there were big picture stories, full pages of big pictures. And even though circulation was only 40,000, I had a lot of freedom which I really appreciated.

After about 9 years of that paper, I went to the Philadelphia Daily News, a tabloid, while my previous paper was a broadsheet. I stayed there for 26 years of my remaining career. I saw photojournalism go from B&W to color to digital, and finally we didn’t use film at all. However, I enjoyed from a creativity standpoint that small paper in New Jersey, because the larger paper was so formatted I didn’t have the freedom I enjoyed at a small paper.

If I was still in the newspaper business, what I would like to see is newspapers do photographs on the editorial page the way that cartoons are used. I don’t want to do what people have always done before, I want to do new stuff. That’s why newspapers after a while just bored me.

MD: What type of pictures do you specialize in?

EW: I like people, emotional, a little humor … I like to take pictures that are out of the ordinary, not contest winning pictures, because a lot of the time you’ve seen those pictures before. Pictures that make you think about things. I don’t like sports. Once in a while I do weddings. And even though I’m retired professionally, I still work for our newsletter in our retirement community.

I recently did product photography for a book by Don Russell on Christmas Beers. And there’s my daily blog of personal statements. I am very opinionated about certain things.

MD: How do you find clients?

EW: Usually word of mouth. That’s mainly it, referrals. Since I’m semi-retired, I don’t actively advertise. Repeat customers also, every year I get some of the same groups.

MD: Do you have any tips or advice for small businesses who need pictures?

EW: Well, for product photography you don’t need the expensive electronic units that professionals use. You can use these $5 shop lights that you can get at Home Depot or your hardware store. On small stuff, use background paper. Buy a short roll for about $30, that makes a complete difference.

Or go on the Internet and buy some backgrounds. You can light a product with 2 to 4 lights. That really makes a difference. Also you can make your own light tents that professionals use all the time. When I shot the beer project, I used PVC pipe and materials you can get from fabric stores. Once again, go to the Internet to find out how to make these things and save a ton of money. It’s such a wonderful source of information and tips for professionals and amateurs alike.

If you’re a member of a chamber of commerce, sometimes photographers who are members might give you a break. Or here’s a racket: if you’re looking for someone who’s trying to build a portfolio, work out a deal with a newer photographer to take your photos and ask for digital images.

Ask for 300 dpi images for print. That has enough resolution to make nice prints, and blow ups for advertising or whatever.

Look for a camera that has interchangeable lenses, something that allows you to have external flash units. And don’t get carried away with megapixels. Seven megapixels is more than enough for your average small-business needs.

If you’re on a limited budget, or just need a quick photo, try some of these sites.  I tried to post sites that allow commercial as well as personal use, but make sure you read their terms of use and give photo credit where it’s due.

• Stock.Xchng
  
• MorgueFile
• FreeDigitalPhotos.net
• BigFoto.com
• FreeImages.com
• Wikipedia Public Domain Image Resources (scroll down)
• 123rf.com
• TurboPhoto.com
• ImageAfter.com
• Dreamstime.com

Be sure to choose quality images with good contrast, color balance, sharp focus, etc. At full size, web images should be 72 dpi, and printed images should be at least 300 dpi. (Learn how to check this here.)

Of course, nothing beats an original, commisioned photo for your website or printed material. But if you need quick, free visuals, I hope this list is helpful.

Remember, if it looks free, that’s because it is! So use good judgment and make sure the photo reflects well on you!