It's a question I'm asked often: "What's the best way to jump start my photography career?"

There's no secret formula. Everyone knows that. For some shooters, it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time. But for most of us, building a career is exactly that. We advance in our profession brick by brick.

I talk about this process in a new title for lynda.com, Insights on Photography: Business and Social Media. Over the years, I've had to reinvent myself a number of times: moving from the world of print and staff photography jobs to an online presence to social media.

In this movie, Getting Started in the Business of Photography, I discuss how the building blocks of my career helped me through those changes. Taking pictures isn't really that much different, but how we expose them to the world certainly is.

If the embedded movie doesn't play, you can watch it here.

If you like what you see, you might want to check out the other conversations that cover: Exploring options for ways to use social media, Utilizing social media to its best advantage, Looking at how photography gear has changed, and Evolving and expanding the business of photography. They are all part of the title, Insights on Photography: Business and Social Media.

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You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: The new Kodak Pixpro S-1 Micro Four Thirds camera, street shooting in Dublin, new title on lynda.com: Managing Your Mobile Photos - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Nikon D800/E replacement should be announced on June 26th. Highlights include: 36MP full frame sensor, No AA filter like the D800E, higher resolution LCD screen, sRAW, no WiFi, better video, and built-in GPS - est. cost: $3,300. (source: Nikon Rumors).

In other news, Adobe Lightroom, Camera Raw, DNG Converter support more cameras including Sony A7S, RX100 III. Other goodies include support for the OM-D E-M10 and the ability to now use Star Ratings with Lightroom Mobile. BTW: Lightroom Mobile is now available for the iPhone too. (Source for parts of this story: Imaging-Resource).

And finally, Tattly Tattoos Photographers Can Rock via Resource Mag Online. Cool photo-related temporary tattoos that run $5 for a set of two.

Story #2 - Street Shooting in Dublin - I didn't fully realize that my May Street Shooting Workshop in SF would be an excellent tune-up for my European adventure. But while exploring the streets on Dublin, I felt very at ease photographing its Irish inhabitants. More about this in today's second story.

Story #3 - The Nimbleosity Report: "Kodak Pixpro S-1" Created by JK Imaging Ltd and released under the Kodak brand, the S-1 is a 16MP micro four thirds camera body that aims to compete at the entry level of the market. It has sensor-shift stabilization, 3.0" 920k dot tilting LCD that isn't touchscreen capable, built-in WiFi, DNG and Jpeg recording, video, and 3 new lenses. One of the lenses, a 400mm F6.7 with fixed aperture will be very affordable, but it's questionable to how useful it will be. More on this camera and lens during the third segment of the show.

Story #4 - From the Screening Room - Managing Your Mobile Photos with Derrick Story. I've worked on this title for quite a while, and it's finally out. I'll talk about why I think every mobile photographer should watch this one.

You can watch me in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other design, photography, and computing titles, plus every other topic in the library (including my brand new "Photographing High School Senior Portraits."

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (32 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

Virtual Camera Club News

From SizzlPix: they've streamlined the SizzlPix! website, so that ordering is now easy as 1-2-3.

1. From any page, go to "Original Low Prices." Decide on your size and hanging option.
2. From there, click on the big blue button, "From Yours" at the top of the page.
3. After filling in the abreviated order form, you're taken automatically to the upload page to send in your image.

Save on Ground Shipping for Red River Paper: Use coupon code ground50c to receive a 50 percent discount on UPS ground shipping for Red River Paper. No minimum purchase required.

Photo Assignment for June 2014 is "Any Kind of Light but Natural".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

I've just returned from two weeks in Europe traveling with an unlocked iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4S. Both devices used SIMsmart cards for calling, text, and data while abroad.

Over the course of the trip, I was able to post to Instagram and Facebook directly from my iPhones. Plus, I could answer email, browse the Web, and check the weather.

One of the best aspects of the SIMsmart plan is the ability to order the SIM cards ahead of time, install them, and enable their data configurations. By doing so, both phones were ready for immediate use when I landed in London.

I charged each card with an $80 credit. The iPhone 3GS still has about $5 remaining, while the iPhone 4S ran out of data on the second to last day. I could have easily recharged either card online at the SIMsmart site, another nice feature of their service. Fortunately, I was able to use just the 3GS on the last day.

Once you receive the SIMsmart card via shipping, simply install it in your phone and go online to activate. Voice and text will be immediately available. If you want data too (and who wouldn't), then customer support will contact you with a link to their profile. It's very easy to install, and that finishes the set-up process.

For each of my phones, it took about 20 minutes in London before they were ready for data usage. I'm not sure what was going on in the background, but once everything had clicked in, they worked like a charm. I didn't have to do anything on my end to make them work.

I had full connectivity in England, Ireland, France, Scotland, and Wales. Phone service was reliable with no dropped calls, and data streaming was better than many of the WiFi hotspots I tried to use.

If you've unlocked an older smartphone (by request to your carrier), I think purchasing a SIM card with a phone number that's local to your travel destination is an excellent plan. I used WiFi when I could. But when it wasn't available, I was thankful for the SIMsmart cards.

The SIMsmart card has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

It doesn't get the same press as other big cities in Scotland, but Glasgow is a bustling city with a lot of soul and sense of humor.

Be sure to follow my journal at thenimblephotographer.com

Photo by Derrick Story, Dublin Ireland

Join me on my Instagram site as I explore the world of mobile photography. And now Instagram features 15-second movies too.

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You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: Travel Notes from Europe, Part 1, London and Paris - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - I record this week's show from our ship, docked off the coast of England and preparing to cruise to Ireland. I discuss how my adventures went in London and Paris. Special notes about photography gear and wireless connectivity.

Paris Afternoon - photo by Derrick Story.

Virtual Camera Club News

From SizzlPix: they've streamlined the SizzlPix! website, so that ordering is now easy as 1-2-3.

1. From any page, go to "Original Low Prices." Decide on your size and hanging option.
2. From there, click on the big blue button, "From Yours" at the top of the page.
3. After filling in the abreviated order form, you're taken automatically to the upload page to send in your image.

Save on Ground Shipping for Red River Paper: Use coupon code ground50c to receive a 50 percent discount on UPS ground shipping for Red River Paper. No minimum purchase required.

Photo Assignment for June 2014 is "Any Kind of Light but Natural".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

Have you every been approached about a just-discovered gold ring on the streets of Paris? I have, and I share the story in my latest entry on The Nimble Photographer Journal.

"Paris from Above" by Derrick Story.

I'm also sharing images and anecdotes from London, Paris, Dublin, Glasgow, and more at the TDS Facebook page and directly from the streets on the DerrickStory Instagram feed. So be sure to follow along.

At this point, I had been awake for 26 hours without sleep, and hadn't planned on taking anymore pictures for the day. But this shot came together right before my eyes, so I pulled the Canon S110 out of my pocket and captured it.

Captured with a Canon S110 and processed in Snapseed on an iPad mini with Retina Display. (No laptops were used, or harmed, in the creation of this post.)

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Join me on my Instagram site as I explore the world of mobile photography. I'm posting daily as I explore the British Isles.

Over the next two weeks, you'll see Instagram posts, Tweets, and Nimble Photographer Journal entries from London, Paris, Dublin, Liverpool, and Glasgow. That's because I'm lucky enough to be teaching on MacMania 17 organized by Insight Cruises with sponsorship by Macworld.

While at sea, I'll be teaching classes on the iPad, Aperture, and iPhoto. I'll also be available for photography consulting to help conference participants take the best pictures possible when touring the British Isles.

When I'm not at sea, which is almost every day, I'll be exploring these wonderful cities with my iPhone, Olympus OM-D E-M10, and Canon S110. I plan on sharing photos on the social network sites mentioned above, and on the c't DigiPhoto Instagram page.

I'm sure there will be some irregularity with my posts here on The Digital Story, but I'll return to my normal daily posts once I land in California on June 24th. Until then, I hope you join me on Instagram, Twitter, and the TDS Facebook page.

This adventure will have a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: See iOS 8's Time-Lapse Mode in Action, Instagram 6: It's like a real photo app, and Sailing Off to the British Isles - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: iOS 8's Time-Lapse Mode Demonstrated - Cool movie shows off time-lapse video captured with an iPhone 5S and iOS 8 (source: PetaPixel).

In other news, Adobe Announces Camera Raw 8.5 Release Candidate. Support is added for Fuji FinePix S1, Nikon 1 J4, Nikon 1 V3, Olympus OM-D E-M10, Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GH4 (*) and a batch of new lenses. More information at http://labs.adobe.com (Source: Imaging Insider).

And finally, DxO Optics Pro 9.5 Intelligent Integration with Lightroom via c't Digital Photography.

Story #2 - Instagram 6: It's like a real photo app - Don't get me wrong, I love Instagram. But let's be real, it was viewed as more of a toy than a real photo app. Well, Version 6 just might change all of that. Here's why.

Story #3 - The Nimbleosity Report: "Sailing Off to the British Isles." As of Wednesday, I'm hopping across the big pond to explore England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. I discuss what this trip entails, and how it might prove entertaining for you.

Story #4 - From the Screening Room - Enhancing a Black-and-White Wedding Photo with Lightroom with Jan Kabili. Weddings lend themselves to B&W photography, probably because of their timeless nature. Jan demonstrates some terrific Lightroom techniques to help you maximize this opportunity.

You can watch Jan in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other design, photography, and computing titles, plus every other topic in the library (including my brand new "Photographing High School Senior Portraits."

Virtual Camera Club News

From SizzlPix: they've streamlined the SizzlPix! website, so that ordering is now easy as 1-2-3.

1. From any page, go to "Original Low Prices." Decide on your size and hanging option.
2. From there, click on the big blue button, "From Yours" at the top of the page.
3. After filling in the abreviated order form, you're taken automatically to the upload page to send in your image.

Save on Ground Shipping for Red River Paper: Use coupon code ground50c to receive a 50 percent discount on UPS ground shipping for Red River Paper. No minimum purchase required.

Photo Assignment for June 2014 is "Any Kind of Light but Natural".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (33 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.