Patented In China!

22 05 2012

This photo is our new patent for China.  It’s for the GearGuard line, the only security system for cameras and lenses.  I have a locking lens cap, and bag locks, and a body lock that fits in the tripod socket.

I have a number of worldwide patents, and once you know the procedure, it gets a lot less intimidating.  It is expensive (especially to secure worldwide rights) and for most people it really isn’t worth the expense.  The first part is to know if your product is marketable, but then you also have to protect it in case of counterfeits.

The nice thing is, the process of protecting your idea doesn’t have to be expensive.  And if you are thinking of hiring one of those “invention” firms, I haven’t yet seen one that is worth it.  They’re like modeling agencies that charge you a fee.  They kind of prey on people’s dreams.

So if you want some free advice for inventors, it’s on my YouTube Video here.

I think everybody is a budding inventor.  If you’ve ever said, “Why doesn’t anybody make a _________”?  Then that’s the mindset for creativity.

For me, I’m the ultimate consumer.  I buy gadgets, and often nobody makes the gadget I want.  So when I say the sentence above, we start the product process.

Below is the product that just got patented.  If you have ever lost a camera or lens due to theft, it seriously makes you SICK.  I’ve had an entire collection of gear taken once ($55,000) and thank goodness I was insured.  But still, I wish I had locked the stuff up after it was too late.

Click on the image below to see product details, and enter product code GFPATRON for a special discount.

Thank you!

gary fong GearGuard

GearGuard™ Locking Lens Cap

Gary Fong GearGuard DSLR security lock for digital cameras

GearGuard™ Tripod Body Lock





Who Is Going To Protect You?

21 05 2012

ImageAfter the big MeaganK photo news (where a photographer stole the images off of other photographer’s sites, and then made up stories about the couples in the pictures on her blog post), here comes another controversy of ripoff published by a photographer. (click on image to view).

These are weird times if you are interested in being a professional photographer.  I have never seen a declining industry (in dollar volume) have such a surge in “get rich quick” workshops and seminars!  And most of them are seriously fake.  No track record, and very little honesty.

I made a promise to myself.  When and if I ever got to a level of success, I would do what I can to help people not as far up the road.  I never charge a speaking fee, and as many of you know, I answer emails personally.  But I didn’t think I would take the role of consumer advocate.

I first learned of the topic of this latest controversy when a photographer reached out to me and explained that she had paid like $600 for a skype consultation.  She was told to “triple her prices” straight away, with no background information otherwise.  She did, and her business stopped, as common sense would dictate.

So many people call themselves experts or portray themselves as rich and famous, I guess to sell workshops and seminars.  To those of you outside of the portrait/wedding photography world,  I know you are going, “huh?”.  

To avoid the scam workshops, go to http://www.fisheyeconnect.com  Or contact me on my facebook page or twitter.  I’ll give you the truth about what I know.





For The Love Of Photography!

20 05 2012

Heather Byrne-Farley and her daughter, Macy

Yes this is a brand new blog.  I have other blogs out there, one is quite silly, the other one deals with blah blah blah world news, but then I realized… I don’t have a photography blog!  OK it wasn’t just me who realized it, it was my friend Heather Byrne-Farley, who I’ve known for about 30 years.  This makes her sound old but she’s 35.  At one time we were running around Disney World together, I as her “uncle” Gary and she a little bitty thing.

She’s a whiz at social media, and the first thing she noticed when I had her give us a look over was we had no single “landing” place for someone to look for my photo-related things.  Yes I have a video site (http://www.flashdiffuser.com) but I didn’t have a place where I could comment on my equipment… like why I am so fascinated with my Sony gear.  So it will all be here in one place, and the twitter and facebook sites will all go here, rather than bouncing all around the place.

It’s badly needed.  Our customer service people have no freaking idea where I said what, save for a Google search.  So I’m marking this day- the beginning of “ThePhotographyscoop.com” – don’t go there yet, I haven’t programmed the redirect as of today May 19, 2012.

Oh and this is Heather.  She will also be chiming in on our different broadcast places.  This type of position is quite common now, and has the official title of, “corporate lovecat”.  It’s true – google it








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