Why pay a pro to photograph your knives?

HTMD

HTMD

Joined
Feb 15, 2002
Messages
1,705
I used to think I didn't need to have any of the knives in my collection professionally photographed. After all, I could take a pretty good picture myself - plus it was fun for me.

But here's what I learned:
1. A pro can do it better than me.
2. A pro will distribute images to the magazines through established channels of communication that I don't have. As a result those images have a very high chance of being published.
3. The knife and/or maker are better served by a professional image than by even the best that I can do. Part of that is about name recognition and the connections a pro has developed over time.
4. You will have a professional image of your knife for documentation and/or in the event you want to sell the knife. A potential buyer will be impressed and the percieved value of your knife will go up in his or her eyes if you provide a nice pro photo prior to or at the time of sale.
And there are more reasons.............So....

I sent some knives to the moderators over on the KN Photography Discussion Forum, Terrill Hoffman & Jim "SharpByCoop" Cooper. Us aspiring knife photographers would do well to try and duplicate their results - the even lighting, the 'pleasing arrangement', the absence of odd color casts, distracting shadows and irritating reflections. Both photographers' images are attention getters - wouldn't you agree? Click to enlarge.





 
Just one word of caution. If you let images of your collection to be distributed along with the name of the owner, you open yourself to thieves. Although I've never heard of this being a problem in the knife world, I have read articles of this type of thing happening to other collectors.
 
Why? Because my pictures are barely adequate to where you can recognize anything. :)
 
I've had both Jim and Terrill do some photography for me and in all cases it made the sale of the knife easier. Some guys here do take amazing photos but the money spent with a pro is not wasted. IMHO

Win
 
From a makers standpoint professional photography seems to be very good deal. I have had Terril Hoffman take some photos for me and almost everyone he has taken has ended up published in a magazine or the knives annual book. Witht the knives being published I ussaully receive a few orders from the pics. I hope I didn't just jinx this trend, but it has been well worth it for me!
 
Anyone can learn to take good pics of their knives, you may even take a great pic every once in a while. A professional photographer has to be able to take a great photograph every time. That's the difference.

After looking at some of Danbo's most recent pics, I'd like to change my first to statement to, "Almost anyone can learn to take good pics of their knives...
 
Could not agree with you more.

BTW it was a pleasure eating dinner with you and your son last year at the A.B.S. Blade Banquet.

Gus
 
PhilL said:
Anyone can learn to take good pics of their knives, you may even take a great pic every once in a while. A professional photographer has to be able to take a great photograph every time. That's the difference.

After looking at some of Danbo's most recent pics, I'd like to change my first to statement to, "Almost anyone can learn to take good pics of their knives...
Click to expand...

Phil, you're kidding, right? These are by far, Dan's best work to date. :) Dan isn't into the pics like some of us, he's into the knives, nothing wrong with that.

My goal is to take Coop-like pics, it'll be a while... :)
 
Well, this post coming from one of the better knife photographers on the scene is flattering indeed. Thank you Buddy! And... he makes some nice valid points.

Q: Who needs better pictures of their knives?
A: ANYONE who is interested in promoting OR selling their knife and getting the full value of it in return.

That would include knifemakers and collectors alike. That might be you. Without having a knife in-hand, the two-dimensional image is our second-best chance. For any sale to take place from a photograph, it is imperative that we form a picture that creates a desire for the knife. Simply showing any fuzzy dim profile is not fulfilling enough to lure the buyer into an emotional purchase. Remember: few people need a Custom Knife--they must want it! Smart knifemakers chronicle their work for portfolios, publications, and to ensure future sales. Collectors rotate their pieces often, and need good records for resale or insurance.
Click to expand...
This is a direct quote off of someone's savvy website. ;)

Time and again I have seen good knives posted by makers or collectors that do a disservice to themselves. The added value of a good image will almost always cover itself in cost upon resale.

Myself, I *always* take the opportunity to display my clients work on the forums. I want to post on their behalf. To me, that's good business. It may only be a portion of the custom knife audience, but it's substantial. Plus--WE LIKE NICE KNIVES! :D

Terrill has taught me and worked with me for years. I owe him more than a word of thanks. Thanks for letting me toot our horn for a moment.

Coop

BTW--you guys are ALL catching up to me. There's room at the top. Danbo? I like the 'lap shots' he takes. Then I get a sense of purpose... ;)
 
brownshoe said:
Just one word of caution. If you let images of your collection to be distributed along with the name of the owner, you open yourself to thieves. Although I've never heard of this being a problem in the knife world, I have read articles of this type of thing happening to other collectors.
Click to expand...
Brownshoe, this is as relevant to this post as a fish needing a bicycle. What the...???!! :p :confused: :rolleyes:

Coop
 
It is a wise investment to have the best photos possible. The publishers choose the finest quality pics from the stack so their magazine looks good. For a maker that translates to future sales, for the collector it gives some bragging rights.

BTW Thats a cool MS dagger!
 
Coop, The comment is relevant in that the original post indicated that proffessional photogs can be an avenue to having your knives published. In some other fields of collectibles (e.g. guns, coins, art) there are specialists thieves who have been known to use magazines to find collections worthy of stealing. As I said, I haven't hear of it happening yet in knives. However, in the knife rags, it is not uncommon for collectors to be menionted as wanting to remain anonymous.
 
Well, BS, all I collect are Sebenzas, so, at the very least, I know you won't be trying to rob me any time soon... :)

Actually, while it pains me to agree with BS on anything, he does have a point, we are talking about the advisability, pros and cons, of having pro pics taken of your knives, or collection, often in the hopes of having them published, and, it is true I believe that some thieves have targeted high profile collectors, but, this shouldn't sour anybody too much from having some of their knives photographed, especially since, as was pointed out, you don't have to have your name attached to the pics if and when they are published.

I make a point of letting anybody know who asks, that the bulk of my collection is tucked safely away in a very anonymous, secure, climate controlled storage facility somewhere in my fairly large city... :) Frankly, we don't have the room at our relatively small apartment. Sure, I keep and rotate a few of them into the apt., otherwise, what would be the point of having them, but, since I keep the majority off site, the only thing a thief would be likely to get by paying me a visit, are lots, and lots, of #1 buckshot pellets in his torso and a trip to the morgue... :)
 
As far as security... A few years ago I talked with a knife dealer at the Winston Salem knife show for over an hour. He had a large collection of Randall knives, many high dollar.. He was an older fellow, and I enjoyed hearing his stories of being in Okanawa, during the war. His name was Ike. The following year I looked for him, he wasn't set up. I asked the man at the next table, he said he had gone missing and there was a murder investigation. There could be many reasons for this... But there was some speculation knives could have been a reason, since so much of what he had would have brought a lot of money and would be easily to sell on ebay or elsewhere. (Maybe this is out of place, I'm only responding to the security issue brought up)

I've only had one knife photo'd by Point seven. They used it in Blade and in Knifeworld mag. but I only found these pictures by chance. It was a great surprise. I only wish I had known, I might have missed seeing them.
David
 
Brownshoe, I understand your point. But it's like chicken little saying "The sky is falling!"

When we talk of publishing images, 99% of the time there is no mention of a collection. The credit is given to the maker. *If* you happen to be the owner of such knife, then you can pump up your chest and brag about it.

To heed to the remote possiblity of theft in place of giving a maker credit for their work is, just, silly.

But, thanks for making us think.

We're cool.

Coop
 
Anonymity is easy. A collector just needs to to tell the photographer to not release his name for any use of the picture of his knife.
 
Proffisional photography is one of the best things going for custom knives. I can sometimes take a pretty good pic but nothing close to the Pro's.
I had already decided to have more of my knives photographed this year than last but one problem is my customers usualy want there knife when I'm done and dosn't want to wait for photography but I'll just have to work it into the schedule. Coop you do great work by the way. :)

Don Hanson lll sunfishforge.com
 
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