The Ritterbin End Card

I really enjoy creating my year end card to send to clients. Over the years, I've done odd fashion shows, a Being John Malkovich type scene with me being everyone in a restaurant, mob hits, and now this year's general financial angst. I try for them to be topical and or humorous. For this year, the one-liner is "I'd rather work with you any day."

So, to make an image like this:
1). Browse Alamy, DreamStime, and Corbis among others looking for royalty free work. Royalty free means you can use the image for whatever you like (including alter it) after the initial purchase without having to pay for each usage or type of usage.
2). Dance and smile when after hours of searching you find an image that will work perfectly. There are two serious financial dudes who are diligent but also seemingly confident in what they are doing. They're the perfect set up for your exasperated clown. And, it's like the photographer left that seat in the foreground open for you to take center stage.
3). PAY for the rights to use the work. This can seem quite odd to many folks, especially the younger you go, but for photographers, musicians, creative types, and more and more just about anyone, to continue their work they must get money for it. Think of it like a public radio donation if you have to. Yes, if you listen to them, you should donate.
4). Set up a table and chair in roughly the same position as the photo. Put your camera on your tripod correctly framed. Put a slight fill flash on the camera and set up another flash across the table from yourself. This is the key light and it should mimic the light in the photograph. Rack it out a bit to make it a harder light but keep a diffuser on it. Also, put up a gobo to block the bottom part of the light. The guys bottom halves are blocked from the light by the bank of monitors. Luckily, you don't need an expensive monitor, just a piece of black foam core.
5). Pre-focus and set your camera to timer.
6). Think about your IRA, 401k, house value, bank fees, career politicians saying Washington DC is the problem, how does one lose $1.2 billion?... alright, stop, stop! That's too much. Take a breath, think about kittens and with your proper level of anguish set, go about mugging for the camera.
7). Snap out of it. This is fun... and hopefully darkly funny. Pick the pose you want to work with, use the Pen Tool to cut it out in Photoshop, and drop it into the royalty free image you PURCHASED.
8). Write a blog about it and share with your mailing list.