livebooks news

Mashable listed liveBooks as the number 1 most essential website for photographers. Here is some of what they had to say:

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Macworld recommends liveBooks for a gift to your favorite creative professional! Read below to see what they had to say about us.

Time is running out. You put off shopping for the photographer in your life until dangerously late. Now there’s not enough time to have something shipped, and you are far too busy tolerating your relatives and oozing holiday cheer to hit the mall. Instead of resorting to the old “Free Hugs” coupon cop-out, take a look at this handy list. These mostly virtual gifts may be quick and easy to purchase, but they’ll feel anything but last minute to the recipient.

Professional Online Portfolios

If your giftee is interested in marketing himself or herself as a photographer, there are some excellent sites that host portfolios. The allure of these services is that they combine an ad-free, professional-looking photography website with easy-to-use back-end management features. A photography portfolio on Carbonmade costs $12 a month and holds up to 500 high-resolution images and 10 videos. There’s also a free version that allows you to upload 35 images. Moving up the chain you have (much) more expensive online portfolio providers like APhotoFolio ($1,000 to set-up plus $17 a month) and liveBooks ($1,199 one time fee or $39 a month for a predesigned site).

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San Francisco – Nov 2, 2009 – liveBooks, Inc., the leading provider of award-winning websites that allow creative professionals to promote and manage their businesses online, today announced that it has secured $5 million in funding from strategic and private investors to allow the company to expand into new markets and create more flexible and affordable payment and design options for its customers.

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imaginginfo.com, a blog about Photography, product reviews, how-tos, news, and techniques for professional photographers, photofinishers, and retailers has published an article in its magazine this month about liveBooks’ extensive video offerings. The post discusses how all of liveBooks’ sites offer the ability to upload video, whether in the form of QuickTime or Windows Media Player files or as files that are similar to video (such as animated slideshows with music). Photographers can also create Flash movies and upload them to their sites.

Toward that end, liveBooks offers a few ways to take advantage of this capability. We create all kinds of custom video solutions for different needs, and offer a range of features that are included with a package, but we also offer features that cost a little extra but are personal to an individual. The company has partnered with video production company, Cinematic Studios, that can produce the video for the photographer if need be. Luminance is the tag name for liveBooks’ partnership with Cinematic Studios and there are two packages available: The $1,700 package offers an interview-style setup, where the photographer is asked a series of questions or makes his or her own statements, which are then edited together into a video. Then there’s the $2,500 on-location version that follows the photographer around and either shows them in a particular environment or on a shoot where things are happening at a fast, exciting pace.

Adding video to your site can have immediate impact. “One of our clients, Emilie Sommer, posts video testimonials, so instead of her in front of the camera, it’s her clients giving very convincing testimonials of how amazing she is to work with,” explains Matt Bailey, VP of Sales and Design for liveBooks. “You can imagine that has a lot of impact when customers are considering a photographer to capture an important time in their life.”

Read more by clicking here.

PopPhoto.com published a great post about liveBooks’ new blog, RESOLVE. Of RESOLVE PopPhoto says, the blog is “particularly useful in de-mystifying certain aspects of the industry that are rarely taught, like transitioning between photo niches or learning the business ropes. For example, the top story on the blog today is this discussion of what to expect when an agency takes its cut from the sale of your pictures—making the blog perfect for emerging photographers.” We are getting a lot of rave reviews and are so excited to offer this new resource for emerging and established photographers.

To read more click here.

“I’ve been impressed lately with how liveBooks is sharing their knowledge and resources with the photo community. They’re doing a wonderful job of advancing the knowledge of this craft for photographers young and old.

It’s a brilliant move from a marketing point. They establish themselves as experts in their niche and in the process create a loyal following. I know if I was in the market for website I’d give liveBooks some serious thought based simply on how proactive they are in reaching out to and helping photographers.

“Check out the new liveBooks blog called RESOLVE. There’s some great content there already and I’m sure it’ll only get better.”

PIXIQ gave rave reviews of liveBooks’ new RESOLVE Blog. Of RESOLVE reviewer Damien Franco writes, “liveBooks is really being smart here.  They not only provide a great resource in online portfolios but now offer an abundance of knowledgeable professionals to help the industry stay afloat.  To that I say Bravo!”

RESOLVE is a place for experts from every corner of the photo industry to share knowledge, expertise, lessons from the field, how-to information, Q&As, personal work and educational content.

To read more click here.

Renowned photographer Chase Jarvis talks about the launch of RESOLVE on his blog. Here’s what he had to say about us.

Lots of blogs come and go, but of note this week are two… One coming, the other, well, we’re not sure.

First, liveBooks – known globally for their custom photography websites – humbly but proudly joined the online discussion last Tuesday by launching a new blog titled RESOLVE. (I’ve been a liveBooks fan for some time, having switched over to their smooth setup late in 2007 after being impressed by their ability to serve up big photos, and fast.) Their blog kicked off this week after snatching up editor Miki Johnson from American Photo magazine to run the thing. Good moves. Her stated goal is to create “A collaborative online community that brings together photographers and photo industry professionals of every kind” with the goal of “keeping photography relevant, respected, and profitable.” I’ll raise a glass to that. They’re nice folks over there, and I’ll venture they’ll have something to say in the coming weeks and months. Rumor has it, there will be lots of guest posts from a variety of photo industry perspectives. Pay Miki a visit and say hello as she settles in…

To read more click here.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwire – February 12, 2009) – liveBooks, Inc. (www.livebooks.com), the leading provider of customized portfolio websites and marketing software for professional photographers, today launched a new collaborative online community, RESOLVE, that brings together photographers and photo industry professionals of every kind to find ways to keep photography relevant, respected, and profitable.

RESOLVE is a place for experts from every corner of the photo industry to share knowledge, expertise, lessons from the field, how-to information, Q&As, personal work and educational content. Social Media Editor Miki Johnson has collaborated with contributors, including photographers, editors, curators and agency representatives, to create focused blog posts that will inform photography professionals about the issues their colleagues have faced and how they have overcome those obstacles.

Professional Photographer asked Ellis Vener to work with liveBooks to create a fresh redesign of his website and to report on the process and the results. This report covers the process from concept to design and going live. The next report will cover search engine optimization. Here is what Ellis found about us:

Though it was still generating work and lots of inquiries from potential clients, I hadn’t updated my website in any meaningful way since it was launched in January 2002. Since then a lot of things have changed: I moved from Houston to Atlanta, and I had lots of new work I wanted to showcase.

One of the hardest parts of designing or redesigning a website is figuring out exactly what you want. I knew what I didn’t want in my website this time: a format and structure that required someone versed in website authoring software to make changes. I wanted flexibility and expandability.

Rebuilding a website from scratch is a huge investment in time and usually a significant amount of money as well. LiveBooks is a well established and highly respected company that specializes in designing and building websites for pro photographers with the features we need most, like easy gallery editing, automated metadata upload, visitor tracking and keywording for search engines. LiveBooks packages are priced with non-recurring, one-time fees plus a $90 annual hosting fee. The Basic plan starts at $800, the Select package is $1,700 and the Unlimited package is $3,200. Each package is organized to come with a certain level of design services and features and storage space.

To read more click here.

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PMA covered our launch of RESOLVE. We are getting quite a few reviews and things are looking good! Be sure to check out RESOLVE. Read what PMA had to say below.

liveBooks launches community-driven blog to unite, educate photographers liveBooks Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a provider of customized portfolio websites and marketing software for professional photographers, launched a new collaborative online community, RESOLVE athttp://blog.livebooks.com/resolve. The site aims to bring together photographers and photo industry professionals of every kind to find ways to keep photography relevant, respected, and profitable.

RESOLVE is a place for photo experts to share knowledge, expertise, lessons from the field, how-to information, Q&As, personal work, and educational content, says liveBooks. Social Media Editor Miki Johnson has collaborated with contributors, including photographers, editors, curators, and agency representatives, to create focused blog posts that will inform photography professionals about the issues their colleagues have faced and how they have overcome those obstacles. Johnson joined the liveBooks team fromAmerican Photo Magazine where she was senior editor. Prior to beginning her role at American Photo in 2006, she acted as a freelancer for publications like Editor & Publisher and Specialty Food magazines.

To read more click here.

liveBooks Hires Former American Photo Magazine Senior Editor Miki Johnson as Social Media Editor

SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwire – February 11, 2009) – liveBooks, Inc. (www.livebooks.com), the leading provider of customized portfolio websites and marketing software for professional photographers, today launched a new collaborative online community, RESOLVE, that brings together photographers and photo industry professionals of every kind to find ways to keep photography relevant, respected, and profitable.

RESOLVE is a place for experts from every corner of the photo industry to share knowledge, expertise, lessons from the field, how-to information, Q&As, personal work and educational content. Social Media Editor Miki Johnson has collaborated with contributors, including photographers, editors, curators and agency representatives, to create focused blog posts that will inform photography professionals about the issues their colleagues have faced and how they have overcome those obstacles.

“RESOLVE is one of the most significant ways we can extend liveBooks’ long-standing commitment to uniting the photo community and helping photographers build successful businesses,” said Andy Patrick, president and CEO of liveBooks. “Miki’s vast understanding of and passion for photography, along with her deep relationships in the industry make her the ideal person to shepherd this initiative.”

More than just providing inspiration and advice, however, the blog unites professionals from an array of photo markets (fine art, editorial, fashion, commercial, photojournalism, wedding and more) to discuss photography’s most pressing issues and encourage photographers to collectively find innovative solutions. Johnson will welcome and coordinate content from some of the most respected experts from the photography industry in the world, including Reza Deghati, GregGibson, Michael Jang, Ed Kashi, Garth Lenz, LouLesko, Rachel LaCour Niesen, and Chris Rainier.

“I’ve always admired liveBooks’ commitment to empowering photographers. RESOLVE extends this commitment by providing a new resource for photographers to inform, inspire and incite positive progress in the community,” said Johnson. “By taking advantage of the latest online and social technologies, RESOLVE provides a robust platform for individual photographers to immediately and collaboratively share ideas and content.”

Johnson joined the liveBooks team from American Photo Magazine where she was senior editor. Prior to beginning her role at American Photo in 2006, she acted as a freelancer for publications like Editor & Publisher and Specialty Food magazines. Johnson has a Bachelor of Science degree in magazine journalism from Northwestern University.

RESOLVE is available through at http://blog.livebooks.com/resolve.

About liveBooks

liveBooks builds award-winning websites that feature innovative marketing tools to help professional photographers grow their businesses and build successful careers. As an active participant in the photo community, liveBooks provides educational content through its blog, webinars and seminars. Additionally, its philanthropy supports organizations and individuals who seek to drive social change through photography.

1TimStreet Digital Video & Social Media Marketing, a blog about marketing products and services with web video and social media, discussed liveBooks’ ability to use video to market its clients. Here is what he had to say:

Cinematographers / Directors of Photography have been using Internet video to market their services for years but now many web companies are using video to explain the benefits and features of their products and services with web video including web sites for still photographers.

liveBooks builds award-winning websites that feature innovative marketing tools to help professional photographers grow their businesses and build successful careers. As an active participant in the photo community, liveBooks provides educational content through its blog, webinars and seminars. Additionally, its philanthropy supports organizations and individuals who seek to drive social change through photography.

In addition to that livebooks has a video series. Once a month they bring you behind the imagery straight to the heart of what makes leading photographers tick. “Each video uniquely portrays the personality of the featured photographer so much so that these photographers have all said “wow that is really who I am.” You may love some and hate others, the goal is that you enjoy the series overall.”

To read more click here.

MediaStorm featured liveBooks’ ”Photographers in Focus” video series interview with legendary photographer Harry Benson.

Perhaps most well known for his images of the Beatles, he is one of the most accomplished photographers in the business, having won numerous awards from around the world. Benson, originally from Scotland, was recently honored with a CBE by the Queen of England.

To read more click here.