SteveAnderson.com or visit his Web site (www.steveanderson.com).
The quality of digital photography continues to improve while the cost of the equipment continues to drop, making now a good time for any agency to replace its Polaroid camera with a digital camera. We have had the opportunity to ask a large number of agents about their use of digital photography and are amazed at how many agents still use a Polaroid or a 35mm film camera.
There are a variety of digital cameras to choose from. Good quality, stand-alone digital cameras cost between $300 and $500. A new and interesting device from Kodak (www.kodak.com) leverages the popularity of the Palm Pilot digital organizer. The Kodak PalmPix Digital Camera connects to a Palm Pilot handheld organizer to create a new kind of digital camera that may be an alternative for producers to use when they are at a client's or a prospect's location. The street price of the PalmPix device is $180.
The PalmPix camera is easy to operate and uses the Palm Pilot to store the images. You can then transfer the images to your desktop computer using the Palm's Hotsync technology. Once the images are on your desktop computer you can view the image and use it with submissions and proposals.
The PalmPix camera is compatible with Palm III, IIIc, IIIe, IIIxe, or VII handheld organizer running the Palm OS 3.0.2 or higher. It also works with the Palm V or Vx with an adapter, an IBM Workpad, or a TRGpro handheld organizer. The PalmPix is not compatible with the VISOR handheld from Handspring, any Windows CE-based device including the new PocketPC, nor can it be used with a Macintosh computer.
The camera has two image quality settings: "good" which has a resolution of 320 x 240, and "better" which has a resolution of 640 x 480. The images are saved in either a JPEG (default) or BMP (Bitmap) format file. You should use the better image quality setting when you want to print out the image. The good quality setting would be adequate for simple viewing or if you need to conserve memory storage space for more pictures. Even though only the Palm IIIc has a color display, the images you capture and transfer to your computer are in color. What you see on the Palm display is a monochromatic view of the color scene.
The camera does have some limitations. It does not have a flash, a Ready light, a memory card, or a zoom lens. This means that it will work inside only if there is enough light available. It does have a 2X digital zoom to allow you a little flexibility. The camera uses its own set of batteries and can capture and store over 1,000 images on a fresh set of AAA alkaline batteries.
When you take a picture, the image is stored in the memory of the Palm organizer because the camera itself has no memory. Using the Palm Hotsync software makes the process of transferring an image file to the desktop system as easy as transferring contact or calendar data from the desktop system to the Palm and back again. The number of pictures that you can store varies with the available memory on the organizer. In general, a picture uses 100K of available memory on the organizer.
One of the best uses of digital photography is as part of a submission to the insurance company underwriter. Because the cost of using digital photography is essentially nothing, it makes sense to include photos as part of your submission. Whether you elect to purchase a standard digital camera or a device like the PalmPix, one of the problems you will have to overcome is actually getting the photo to the underwriter.
One option is to print out the photo and include it as part of your paper submission when you mail it to the underwriter. This, however, ignores the efficiencies to be gained by dealing with our carriers electronically. Another option is to include the photo as an attachment to an e-mail sent to the underwriter. Problems, however, can arise when the e-mail is received. First, does the carrier have any restriction on the type and size of attachments an employee can receive? With the valid concern about viruses, largely due to the "I Love You" virus (which was an attachment to an e-mail message), many companies restrict what is allowed into their e-mail systems. Also of concern is if the underwriter can actually receive the attachment file, does he/she have the necessary software to actually view the file, and does he/she know how to use it? These issues have complicated the practical benefit of using digital photos.
Store and share photos on the Web
A solution to these problems is to store your photos on a Web site and let anyone who needs to view them go to the Web site. Several Web sites provide just such a service. These sites have been developed to appeal to individual consumers but can be a useful tool in your own office.
One site we tested is PhotoAccess (www.photoaccess.com). You have to register with the site to use its features. To register, you simply go to the PhotoAccess Web site and click the "Sign Up Now" button. Once you have completed the registration process, you can immediately start working in your photo area (e.g., uploading images, ordering prints, etc.). Currently there is no charge to register. The site's income comes from selling photographs and other merchandise as well as ad space.
There are two ways to upload photos (or any JPEG-formatted files) to your private photo area: directly from your Web browser, or by using PhotoAccess.com's PhotoStreamer application. The benefit of using the PhotoStreamer program is that you can upload multiple images simultaneously. With the browser, you can upload only one image at a time. If you have a large number of files, the PhotoStreamer program makes sense and is available at no cost.
The photos you upload to the site are stored in an "album." An album is simply a collection of images with a name attached. PhotoAccess.com uses the album concept as a way to collect, organize, and store your photos where you can easily find them again. It's similar to a traditional photo album; only you can view, organize, describe, and share your photos simply by clicking your mouse. You can have as many albums as you want, and each album can contain as many photos as you want. You also may copy or move photos between albums to better organize them. To organize photos in your office you could create a separate album for each client. Currently there is no limit to the number of photos you can store, and photos will be stored for as long as your account remains active.
Allowing others to view the albums you create is easy. Any album in your private photo area can be shared with others by creating a link that you e-mail to your underwriter or client. They can use this link to view your album and order prints. You can set the sharing level for each individual album you create. The sharing options include: Not Shared, View, Print and Copy, View and Print, and View Only. You have complete control over access to the photos.
Sharing your photos is safe, because others have access to only the album(s) you make shareable. When others use the link you provide, they can view that album and place orders for photos and merchandise, for which they will be billed directly. They will not be able to edit or delete your photos. They also will not be able to view any other photos in your photo area, and they have no access to your personal account or credit card information.
The following link will allow you to view a shared album we created: http://www.photoaccess.com/share/guest.jsp?ID=A83D31C109
PhotoAccess also offers a photo printing service. You select the digital photos you want actual prints of and PhotoAccess will process and mail them to you. The 4x6 prints are 45 cents each. We ordered some prints and received them in about four days. We were impressed with the quality of the prints we received. Other sites providing similar services include www.shutterfly.com and www.ofoto.com. (Editor's note: See "Picture This," on page 109 for another solution to the digital photography transmission issue.)
Using digital cameras along with a photo sharing service just makes good business sense. It is time for every agency to abandon its Polaroid and move to the digital world. *
The author
Steve Anderson has been a licensed insurance agent for more than 20 years. He is president of steveanderson.com, Inc., which provides products and services that help agents maximize profits using commonsense technology. He can be reached at (615) 599-0085. E-mails are welcome at steve@
SteveAnderson.com or visit his Web site (www.steveanderson.com).
The PhotoAccess Web site, one of several such sites, allows you to store photos in an "album" for access by anyone who needs to view them.
Web site: www.photoaccess.com