Imaginations

Earn A Fortune With Your Dramatic Photography

Non-Fiction - Art/Photography
124 Pages
Reviewed on 02/28/2024
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Light and imagination are the two key ingredients to being a successful photographic artist. Raymond J. Klein should know. Documenting his life with the camera in his book, Imaginations, the photographic artist shares insight into his lengthy career behind the lens of a camera. He found his passion for photography when he was in high school and he worked odd part-time jobs to pay for the film, processing chemicals and paper, as well as the equipment that would further his passion and kick-start his career. Over the years, he has won numerous awards, seen his work in print in glossy magazines and local newspapers, on large-scale advertising campaigns, processed his pictures on canvas and hung them in art galleries, and photographed countless personalities which progressed his career in portrait photography. But his story is more than just a list of his successes; it’s a guidebook to help young photographers get their start in a business that has the potential of being very lucrative.

Raymond J. Klein’s book, Imaginations: Earn A Fortune With Your Dramatic Photography, is both a memoir and a guidebook to building your photographic career. The book follows the photographic artist’s career highlights, all while providing valuable insight into his techniques. He shares the stories behind the creation of some of his most popular and profitable artworks. If you look deeper, you will discover the many words of wisdom the author/artist shares with his readers. He shares inspirational poetry by Zoe and Lori Loranger, artists in their own right who pen lyrical verse to match the visual power of Klein’s photographs. Everything is summed up very nicely at the end with the author’s final words of wisdom, his Closing Statement. This is a book to be savored, enjoyed for its photographs, as well as studied intently to garner valuable tools that can lead anyone to a successful and profitable photographic career. Be dramatic! Be creative! And use the light to its best advantage!

Captcha Robot Challenge did not load, please refresh the page.

Tommy Wong

Imaginations: Earn A Fortune With Your Dramatic Photography by Raymond J. Klein is designed to inspire photographers. At an early age, Raymond already found his passion in photography. Thereafter, he made photography his lifelong career and he was pretty good at it as demonstrated by many prizes he won, including an international first prize. In the first chapter of Imaginations, Raymond J. Klein describes his upbringing and how he started in photography. His first “success” in photography was when the Milwaukee Journal published his photograph of a Siamese cat, and they paid him for it. In the subsequent chapters, he gives details of his education, endeavors, and achievements in photography. In his closing statement, Raymond offers advice to those who wish to take up photography as a career.

It is not easy to make a living as a photographer, but as an outstanding photographer, it is possible to make a fortune. Raymond J. Klein clearly made money from photography as he included photographs of the checks he received in his book. Imaginations is a useful book for aspiring professional photographers. I really admire the author's dedication to photography. Throughout his career, he produced many stunning and dynamic photographs, which are shared in Imaginations. In the preface, Raymond lists five photographs that had major impacts on his career. These photographs are simply superb. I also liked his 16 Steps to Discovering Value in Your Photographic Imagery, which is a guide for photographers to achieve successful careers. Imaginations is worth a read for both amateur and professional photographers.

Doreen Chombu

Imaginations: Earn A Fortune With Your Dramatic Photography is a memoir and career guide by Raymond J Klein. It aims to inspire upcoming photographers, offering them tips on how to use their imaginations and be innovative when taking photos. Klein shares his childhood experiences and how he became interested in photography after stumbling upon his father's camera. He also talks about his military service and how he continued taking photos and working toward his dream of becoming a photographer. Klein's portfolio was built through advertising projects, learning, practicing, experimenting, and entering competitions. He gradually improved his photography skills and now encourages others to do the same. With the advancements in digital cameras, taking pictures has become more accessible. Klein believes everyone can appreciate the art of photography and take dynamic and inspirational photos.

Imaginations is an inspiring book that highlights Raymond J Klein's career and dedication to photography. It made me appreciate the hard work that goes into constructing creative sets, manipulating light, and editing to produce wonderful photos. Klein offers great tips for photographers, such as seeking out opportunities in the advertising industry, practicing and experimenting, building their portfolio, being innovative, and using their imagination and proper lighting. All these tips are just as relevant today as they were during Klein's career. I appreciate that he honestly discloses the amount of money he made for every project and competition he participated in, as it gives aspiring photographers a clear picture of how much they can make in this field. The book is well-written, authentic, and informative, which is why I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about becoming a photographer.

Olga Markova

Imaginations: Earn a Fortune with Your Dramatic Photography by award-winning and highly acclaimed photographer Raymond J. Klein is an astounding autobiography/memoir spanning eight decades of Raymond’s career in photography. Raymond’s story takes us to the 1940s when he was a teenager enchanted with Popular Photography magazine and started his early steps as the family photographer using his dad’s folding Kodak camera. We then move steadily through decades to Raymond’s amazing triumph as an award-winning professional photographer when his works earned him the Master of Photography degree of the Professional Photographers of America Inc., numerous prizes, and were featured and sold in art galleries. Each photograph Raymond included in this life-long account of his photography career is accompanied by his detailed story of its production, merits, and awards.

Raymond J. Klein’s Imaginations is one of the most fascinating books I have read recently. I enjoyed every photograph Raymond featured in this brilliant collection. I was fascinated by Raymond’s stories of what was involved in the production of each of his stunning works. Reading Raymond’s life story, I had no dull moments. I liked that Raymond’s featured photographs spanned a variety of genres, from product commercials to wildlife and cityscapes, each next work more stunning than the previous. But most of all, I liked how Raymond compared the techniques he employed to produce his early works to the capabilities offered by modern digital cameras. I highly recommend this amazing book to everyone interested in photography, both as a profession and as a hobby.

K.C. Finn

Imaginations: Earn A Fortune With Your Dramatic Photography is a work of non-fiction in the photography, art, and how-to guides subgenres. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience. Penned by author Raymond J. Klein, this fantastic guidebook offers an insightful glimpse into the author's prolific photography career and provides valuable walkthroughs and insider tips for aspiring photographers. Klein's journey began in high school when he discovered his passion for photography after finding his father's Kodak folding camera. From earning his first $10.00 for a published photograph in the local newspaper to embarking on a nearly forty-year national advertising photography career, Klein's trajectory in the industry is both inspiring and instructive.

Author Raymond J. Klein has crafted a useful guidebook in a field for which it’s clear he has tremendous passion, and that passion transfers into every enthusiastic and motivating section of this engaging read. The book has a great flow and organizational structure as it delves into techniques, challenges, and opportunities within the commercial advertising photography realm, offering invaluable insights for photographers looking to navigate this competitive field. Klein's encouragement to pursue imaginative endeavors serves as a motivating call to action for novice photographers seeking to carve their own paths in the industry, and the friendly but comprehensive narrative structure of the work will certainly entertain and inspire just as much as it informs. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Imaginations: Earn A Fortune With Your Dramatic Photography to anyone looking to further their photographic career and make the most of their skills.