Kuyper Photography

September 1, 2009

Marketing Update

We have not been on vacation for the past 5 months, although the lack of postings here may have led you to think so.  We have been diligently increasing our visibility on the internet.

We joined Squidoo last year to promote our photography on products at Cafe Press.  Then Cafe Press changed its business model this spring.  The owners of CP now determine the prices on all products listed in their Directory, not the shopkeepers.  It’s just not possible to maintain a profitable stock photography business with the current arrangement.

In March of this year we began the tedious and time consuming job of duplicating all our photographs used on CP products to products at Zazzle.  Come and visit KPhotos. Our second shop has less photographic value but is a money maker Irish Names.

ImageKind was acquired by Cafe Press last year.  Some of our time was required to re-arrange our work for sale there.

December 10, 2008

Mexican Pictures

On a trip to Veracruz, Mexico, we photographed local people at work. A mask maker invited us into his home where his workbench had the rough beginnings of a face mask.  Bracing up against the bench with an old Leica camera Derk squeezed off a few shots. Then another mask maker posed holding some of the wood masks that would be used in Mexican festivals.

In the blacksmith shop we looked through the open door where the smithy was working.  Our photograph caught sparks flying off the hammer as a glowing iron rod was beaten.  The hot furnace can be seen in the background.

The most unusual work we encountered in Veracruz was a man who chiseled salsa bowls out of rock.  He proudly lifted a finished bowl. We photographed it through his barred window.

In the cities people walking the streets all became photo ops. We photographed a meat marketshoe store, churches and more. It was surprising to see a Nintendo store. And homes with barred windows close to the sidewalk gave glimpses of daily life. All are available on ImageKind as posters, prints or framed  prints.

October 17, 2008

Flip Mino Camcorder

Filed under: Photography — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — webmaster @ 10:01 am

Our beautiful picture of the London, England, icon, Big Ben has found a new home on a flip mino camcorder.  Cafe Press has a new product.  The pocket-sized Flip Video Mino camcorder has a USB arm that flips out and hooks up to a PC or Mac. This charges the battery, and has built-in software to view, edit, and upload video and photos to internet sharing sites.

We are busily adapting our photographs to the new product format.  So far we have the following flip mino camcorder designs available: Big Ben, exit graffiti, Irish shamrocks, kitty cat, and several abstract fractals. 

As of October 26 we have a section of 25+ flip mino camcorders.  Take a look .                    abstract flip mino camcorder cafepress

October 16, 2008

ImageKind Update

water picture at imagekind

We had a nice sale last week at ImageKind. Eight pictures in all bought by an unknown buyer. The picture above is one of the two pictures purchased. The buyer took 4 each of 2 water pictures. The images were made in San Diego harbor. An artist friend suggested the images are so peaceful and soothing they will probably be hung in a spa. The order was originally made for framed and matted prints, but two days later changed to only the prints, no frames or mats. With frames it would have cost 5x more than only prints. Shipping would have cost more too due to the weight of wood frames. We are doing well at ImageKind with 804 fans, too. Unfortunately, although I made the first cut for their last contest, I did not win it.. But, you can’t have everything, can you?

October 1, 2008

Photographing tropical fish

Recently we worked at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida.  They have large, clean aquariums with many species of tropical fish.  Tripods, which are essential when using slow 100 ISO film, are allowed. Only fish in sharp focus will be considered for publication,  so, we always check before traveling to a photo location and make sure tripods are allowed.  Here is a lionfish now on sale at Cafe Press.

lionfish framed print

August 4, 2008

Current Work

We have been busy busy busy working CafePress lately.  There are several new products: embroidery patch on jackets, polo shirts, denim shirt, and hats; ceramic pet food dishes, and a ceramic travel mug.  With over 1,200 sections in 4 Premium shops and a dozen basic shops, resizing designs on all products takes TIME.

Here’s a sample of the new travel mug.iguana lizard travel mug

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