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Photography, Video-Photography

Barrel Racing Photos for Social Media – Common practices that are not ok

Aug 21, 2019 by Riverbank Products 0 Comments #Barrel Racing, #Copyright, #Event Photography, #Rodeo, #social media
Friends of the Mac 2019

I get asked a lot about digital versions of my photos for facebook use. I also see a lot of people taking photos of their printed photos or photos of my computer screen at the runs for facebook. Or even screenshots of images from a website or facebook.

I hate having to address this type of thing because I’m a very giving kinda guy, and this is not directed at any one person but this is just not cool y’all. Although this seems common for barrel racing photos, these same issues affect all of my photos and other photographers as well. Some photographers may have different views on the use of their copyrighted images so if in doubt always check with the photographer.

We live in a social media world. I understand the desire for social media photos. I understand the culture we live in and that we want to share our lives with our friends as soon as possible. But lets face it, these photos of photos always look terrible compared to the actual photo. I know you love your horse and are proud of your run. Taking action photos in these settings is very difficult anyway and a photo of a photo of you run is not the best way to share the success of you run with your friends that you can be proud of. So help me help you!!!

Purchasing Images for Use

Digital versions of my photos are available for purchase online as well as prints. I offer several different digital options and licensing options of photos. This ranges from small easily sharable photos all the way up to the original image. I also offer personal licensing and commercial licensing options if you’d like to use my images when you get ready to sell a horse or if you have a sponsored product that you need help marketing. If you contact me, I can even do custom editing or graphics to help you better market your events or products.

Online digital orders such as these, do not contain a watermark and you are free to share those photos anywhere you like provided you comply with the personal vs commercial use licensing agreement.

How to Share an Image

As an added service, most of the time, If you order photos online I try to pick the best image ordered and post it to facebook or instagram so when you order from me, you are getting a digital version as well that I don’t mind you sharing directly from my facebook page.

The images that I post do have a small watermark at the bottom and if you save the photos and create your own post, please don’t edit this out but you are welcome to share that image so long as you tag me or my page in your post.

The preferred method is to just share directly to your page from my original post. This gets the image on your page and still contains a link back to my page which helps us both.

  • Run For The Roses Barrel Run
  • Run For The Roses Barrel Run
This image shows a recently purchased photo that was shared to facebook on the Riverbank Products page and shared to my personal facebook page

I appreciate the work you put into your horse and I appreciate the power and intensity of the sport. If you appreciate the images I take, the best way to show that is to share the love by purchasing the images. I work hard to get the best profesional images I can but if it’s not profitable, then I can’t shoot barrel racing events. I’ll be more than happy to help you in anyway I can if you’ll just ask.

Outdoor Industry

Lessons for the outdoor industry from the Alex Jones social media ban

Aug 9, 2018 by Riverbank Products 0 Comments #alex jones, #infowars, #social media

Alex Jones is a controversial figure in politics.  He is considered by some, a far right wing commentator.  A conspiracy theorist by others.   This blog post isn’t interested in getting into whether Alex Jones is good or bad, right or wrong.  However, this week in what seems to have been a concerted effort by big tech/social media companies to silence his free speech rights, Alex Jones has been banned from most common social media platforms.  The thing is, he is not alone.  It happens to all of us.

Many of the same companies that are actively banning Alex Jones are also banning and removing content that supports hunting, The second amendment, and even fishing and other wholesome outdoor activities that they deem wrong.  YouTube recently removed all of Brownells content from their site.  The content was eventually reinstated but still cost them.  Many others that are still allowed on a variety of social media platforms have been blackballed and are not allowed to promote their content, even if the content doesn’t violate their policies against the second amendment or other free speech rights.  The mere fact that sporting goods stores sell guns as well as other sporting goods, causes Facebook to reject sponsored posts promoting for example a Photos with Santa event.

How can you prevent this type of thing from happening to you?

Diversify your social media presence

As the old saying goes, “Don’t keep all of your eggs in one basket”  When marketing your company, whether its an outdoor company or not, its important to diversify your marketing efforts across multiple channels.  Not only does this keep you from loosing your audience if your content does get banned or removed for some reason, but it also allows you to reach people you might not other wise reach.

Social media is ever changing.  Facebook users are declining but they’ve also changed drastically.  Facebook was once targeted at young consumers, but that age demographic is changing.  More and more older Americans are turning to Facebook while younger demographics are turning to instagram and other platforms.

We can help you create content and manage your social media presence and diversifying your social media portfolio helps, but as is the case with Alex Jones, a concerted effort among multiple platforms essentially wiped out his entire social media presence.  What else can you do?

Websites and Blogs

While social media is the rage, do not underestimate the power of a well designed website.  Especially a blog.  This doesn’t mean you can’t have a social media presence.  In fact blog posts on your own website where you have more creative freedom, make great content for your social media profiles.  They also aren’t limited by length or design. You are in the driver seat so you control your users experience.  Blog posts help keep your audience aware of the latest happenings with your company or organization. If you need a website, We’ve got you covered or Riverbank Products can help you create content for your existing blog/website.

Build Relationships

The thing about social media platforms is that they are intend to be social.  To pull a reference from my favorite book, the bible says in Proverbs 18:24, “ A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.”  The same goes for consumers.  Social media should be but one tool in your bag to help build a relationship with customers.  Build their trust, get to know them.  Host an event or sponsor a local event.  With each sponsored event you participate in, make sure you actually participate.  Make sure a representative from your company is there in person to shake a hand and answer questions.  Serve hot dogs at your store.  No matter what business you are in, we’re all in the service industry so serve others whole heartedly.  This builds trust in the market and will hands down be better than any social media post you can possibly make.

These are just a few of my impressions and take aways.  I’m sure there are others and I’d be glad to help you talk over some ideas for your business.  For additional information on how Riverbank Products can help you and your organization, Contact me I’d love to help your business succeed.