Analysis Project
Steven Camp
IT/235
May 31, 2015
George Cognet

Analysis Project
Kudler fine foods is a rapidly growing online retail business that needs photography services just like any other business. This makes the company reach a decision-making point on whether or not to outsource its photography services. Such initiative has both advantages and disadvantages that come the managers of all the decision-making must put in place before making a move.
Some of the disadvantages of outsourcing photography services include: the possibilities of losing total control over the process of the professional resulting in results that may have not been envisioned by the company owners. The photography process is always an internal and in-line with the photographer’s imagination that an external party may not fully understand. After photography charges or costs may incur, a professional photographer is likely to charge extra costs and what would obviously be attained at minimal cost is conducted internally by the company representatives. The risk of privacy and confidentiality issues may occur, and external photographer may not put into considerations the necessary security and privacy needed in using the company images and information. This may result in some images going to the competitors business and may work against the company owners. Outsourcing professional photographer may eventually lead to job losses within the company.
However, there are some advantages to outsourcing photography services for Kudler Fine Foods. First, outsourcing provides an opportunity for a company to focus on other relevant duties and leave the job to a professional who will deliver quality work. This implies that it taps from the expertise of the photographer. Outsourcing the photography would also be cost-saving, compared to the rigorous process that the company would otherwise undergo in setting up a photography department in buying equipment such as: cameras, and computers for editing and training photographers. It also promotes easier access to professional services and quality work to be delivered. The company needs clear photos of goods for the products it seeks to market online. The services of a photographer working as a freelancer will enhance diversity and offer wide choices for the company. This will make the company have a competitive edge because of the appealing photos taken by the best talent. Should the company ought to create a complete infrastructure of in-house photography services, then certain legal issues must be considered. These include the copyright issues that must be acquired to protect the images taken for exclusive use within the company events or the need to grant permission for external users in need of the photos. In regards to photos that have been outsourced, space than the company needs to seek authorization to use such photos from the original photographer (TUCK, 2010). The company must also seek a business permit or license allowing for photography services and settle tax payment methods. The benefit of creating such an infrastructure is that it is cheaper in the end of the costs are majorly incurred on the setup level. Once all of the equipment is in place, the operating costs are likely to be minimal compared to the continuous process of outsourced services.
Day-to-day operations would depend on the staff and how experienced they are with the equipment and the needs of the projects. If done in house, space the staff would have to be trained to use the equipment and the software in order to achieve the desired results for the projects. Depending on the company and what is needed on a daily basis this may require that extra professional staff be hired for that part alone. The photographer would need to be available when the need arises and must also be able to deliver the photos to the in-house staff before a deadline is reached. Outsourcing the photography will also require specific set of task to be performed by the staff on a daily basis. The outsourced company would need to be briefed on the project’s needs which would be designed by a team of people with the knowledge of the specific projects at hand. Other staff members would have to keep track of the progress made by the outsourced company periodically. Basic information would need to be delivered to the team in charge of the project’s completion as to maintain a grip on the progress. In the online world websites are never finished for more than a short period of time. Because still websites discourage visitors who lose interest if they see the same unchanged content each time they visit your site. You should consider your site as a continual work in progress keep updating, streamlining and improving. Going by this, new photographs should be continually updated or even changed. Using either model means extra costs for new photographs.
A professional does not only take the photographs, but the skilled staff will be able to make sure that the photos are not only high-quality, but layout to best represent products the Photoshop techniques used will enhance the photos and color schemes adding texture, style and art to each photo. Picture art is eye-catching attention getting styles that will keep the consumer’s attention and gain their business. With in-house photography, the skills and experience may not transmit the quality that you will expect of your photos. According to Heeley, (2012) “one use of photography which we have been using since the 1800s and right up to present day is advertisement photography. This form of photography takes advantage of the interpretive qualities of photographs to benefit sales of the products”. Opportunities in which new photographs could benefit a company would include special events, grand openings, space renovations, space promotions, or newly hired employees. Photography like fashion, space advertising, beauty and many more, the photography can be used for things like: magazines, newspapers, flyers and leaflets.
While in-house and outsourcing photography come head to head with both of their benefits and drawbacks, in housing is the model that most photography and IT businesses will use in the near future. It can be argued that in-house photography appears to be the most effective and highly beneficial for companies because of its accessibility and reduced financial burdens compared to outsourcing photography and training which companies really need. Photographs can be used in a wide array of advertising mediums that includes marketing and even training. Many view outsourcing photography and hiring professional photographers as less accessible in comparison to doing the photography in-house.

References:
Tuck, K. (2010). Commercial photography handbook: Business techniques for professional digital photographers. Buffalo, N.Y: Amherst Media Inc.
Greenspun, P. (1999, June). Studio Photography. Retrieved from Photo.net: http://photo.net/learn/studio/primer
ADORAMA. (2012). Photo and Video. Retrieved from Adorama Camera Store: http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=category&cat1=Cameras%20%26%20Lenses
Heeley, E. (2012). Uses of photography . pp.1. Retrieved from site http://heeleyphotography.weebly.com/uses-of-photography.html