I have done a search and cannot find what I'm looking for. At one time I read on one of these discussion threads a sequence of edits and the number used to edit a raw photograph. (For example I usually sharpen to 25 and will do that right before I crop) I use iPhoto and do limited editing however as we know a raw photo will need some post processing. So what sequence do you use and to what degree (number- not sure of the correct terminology). I'm sure it all depends on the photo, but is there a standard that you do with all your photos. Thank you for your help.

I'm sorry, but so many people are missing the point I was asking. I know all kinds of things will be different, but I am talking about magnification - or should I say *apparent magnification*!

Let me ask it another way... I like to take wildlife photos. The SX50 has a lens which can really reach out and *grab* something. Now, if I want to buy a bigger lens for my T4i, say, a 400mm. If I had a choice between 2 lenses, one of which is built for crop-factor bodies only, and one which would also work with my metaphorical *next* camera body, would those lenses both give the same *apparent* magnification, or *reach* when stuck on my camera?

I *know* they are both 400mm, but that is just a label. Ever since they started using different crop sensors, the label is really meaningless. What I, representing Joe Photo out there is interested in, is how close can these lenses get me to the subject - you know, the charging grizzly!

Years ago I had a photography business, mostly selling fine art prints and doing portraits. I lived in a pretty place, and did environmental portraiture and it was reasonably profitable. I mostly did my accounting in a shoebox.

Now there's the internet, electronic ordering of prints from a lab, accounting programs, etc. So I have a few practical questions.

Say you have a internet business, and people order prints and you order them from a lab in another state. If you have the prints mailed directly to the customer, that saves you postage, a trip to the post office or UPS, but you have no quality control over whether people are receiving an acceptable print. If you have the prints sent to you, it roughly doubles your postage expenses, but, of course, you get to see the prints before you send to the customer. It also slows the process. Any thoughts?

Print your own and mail do your own packaging and mailing.

When I've sent prints to people in the past few years, I've had some trouble tracking orders, verifying that the orders were shipped from the lab, and tracking payments received. Does anyone have any familiarity with accounting programs that are commonly used by photographers? Any practical, commonsense advice on this, especially from someone who has experience maybe running a commercial portrait operation in which tracking a fair volume of orders is an issue? Are there any labs that have in-house accounting services as part of their professional services packages? Any experiences with them?
I get payment in advance, so I don't have to track payment. I use a simple spreadsheet to record income, expenses and depreciation. I use a 5 year term on cameras and lenses.

Does anyone have experience with writing off photography gear as a business expense, or do you have to depreciate the gear on a 3-year or 5 year cycle?

Does anyone have any experience selling high-end fine art greeting cards? I live in a high-tourist area and there is an opportunity for some modest income. Do you usually buy the wire racks to hold the cards? What's the normal percentage for the vendor? Any commonsense tips?

No experience here, sorry.

Thanks for any input!
Wayne Keene (waykee7)