LensThe Lens blog
Plain-English, practical guides from MAD Monkey Media for businesses that hire creative pros and for the pros they hire.
For customersHow to hire a product photographer: a 12-point checklist
What to check before you book a product photographer: portfolio fit, deliverables, file sizes, usage rights, samples, timelines and the questions that prevent reshoots.
For customersTeam headshots that match: how to plan a session once and reuse it for years
A practical plan for consistent company headshots: background, crop, lighting notes, wardrobe, scheduling and how to onboard new hires into the same look.
For customersHow to write a shot list in 20 minutes (with a copy-ready template)
A simple shot list template for photo and video shoots: purpose, must-have shots, nice-to-haves, crops, people, props and approvals, so nothing important gets missed.
For customersPhoto and video usage rights in plain English
Who owns the photos you paid for, what a usage license covers, and the questions to ask before you use images in ads, print or resale. General information, not legal advice.
For customersEvent photography brief: what to send your photographer before the big day
An event photography briefing checklist: run of show, VIP list, must-have moments, venue rules, lighting, contacts, delivery timing and sponsor needs.
For customersHiring a drone photographer? 7 questions to ask first
What to ask before a drone pilot flies for your business: FAA Part 107 certification, airspace authorization, weather plans, safety around people, deliverables and usage.
For prosHow to write a Lens pro profile that gets shortlisted
A step-by-step guide for photographers, videographers and creative pros: headline, bio, portfolio projects, availability, service area and the details clients scan for.
For prosPackages or day rates? How creative pros can price so clients say yes
A practical guide for photographers and videographers on packaging services, when day rates still make sense, and how to show fees and add-ons clearly.
For prosYour Lens profile and search: what a public pro page does and does not do
How the public Lens pro page works for search engines: crawlable HTML, structured data, clear titles and portfolio text, plus honest limits and what you can do to help.
For prosLead a crew with Team Builder: one quote for a whole shoot
How clients and lead pros use Lens Team Builder to pick a project type, fill roles like director, camera, sound and editor, set shoot days and see one combined quote.