Beautiful-Shots, LLC is a professional photography business that specializes in capturing stunning real estate, commercial, and architectural images. Based in West Chester, PA, the company proudly serves the Greater Philadelphia Area, providing clients with top-notch photography, videography, and drone services. We also offer cutting-edge 3D imaging solutions, including Zillow 3D and Matterport, which provide immersive, interactive experiences for potential buyers or renters. In addition to their real estate services, Beautiful-Shots, LLC also offers professional headshots for individuals looking to enhance their personal branding. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, Beautiful-Shots, LLC ensures that their clients receive beautiful, high-quality imagery that helps to showcase their properties and their brand in the best possible light.

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If you manage an online marketplace that relies on user engagements and social sharing, user-generated content and images (UGC/UGIs) are some of the most valuable assets. Review sites like Yelp let users rave about or bemoan the quality of restaurants through photos. Travel sites help proprietors attract visitors with beautiful shots and videos. Finally, photo-sharing sites like help photographers showcase their unique sensibilities and gain exposure. Unsplash However, UGIs are tricky to work with, and the penalty of getting it wrong can be steep. In this article, we’ll show you how to process UGIs programmatically, so you can build trust, improve user experience, and simplify your workflow. The Benefits of User-Generated Content User-generated content, especially images and videos, is great for building an ever-growing user base. If you build a healthy ecosystem on your site or app, you can harness the power of UGIs in these three ways: Friends, neighbors, peers, and colleagues trust each other much more than they trust marketing messages. A recent study by Stackla found that 60% of consumers based their buying decision on advice from family and friends. When the connection is authentic, there is more trust. Trust: People's tastes and preferences are unique. In a world of increased individuality, users want personalization. User-generated content is a great way to reach niche audiences and cater to their needs. Personalization: What's more, getting images from users is often the more practical and cost-effective way to generate content, especially for online marketplaces. Cost-effectiveness: What to Focus on When Processing User-Generated Images If you are working with UGC, chances are you're dealing with thousands, if not millions, of UGIs daily. The images may be from inexperienced influencers, seasoned photographers, or anyone in between. As a result, these images likely have a huge range of formats, sizes, and qualities. On the other end, your site visitors who consume the content still expect the best experience, which includes the following: Fast image loading and page speed Responsive design and device adaptability Standardized format and composition Brand safety and content moderation Bridging the gap between user expectations and the challenges of UGI processing can be daunting. And finding a simple solution that solves all these needs can seem nearly impossible. However, there are cost-effective, reliable, and scalable solutions, and in the rest of this article, we’ll show you exactly what they are and how easily you can deploy them. 1. Optimizing for Fast Loading and Page Speed Images and videos, particularly those generated by users, are often the largest files on a web page, leading to slow page speed. If SEO is important to your business, you should try to optimize and compress images, which can improve your page speed, , and in turn, your search results. With Imgix, you can combine three common techniques to reduce the image file size and speed up page speed: Core Web Vitals Serve images in next-gen formats such as AVIF or WebP Properly resize image dimensions Let Imgix apply best-effort compression In the examples below, the original image has a file size of 3.3MB. The optimized image, despite looking identical, has a file size of only 215kB, which is 93% smaller than the original. This would improve loading speed significantly. It’s achieved by using three simple transformations as an URL query string - . fm=webp&auto=compress&w=2000 Original Image - 3.3MB . Click on the link and see the size reduction. Optimized image - 215kB 2. Responsive Design With the proliferation of devices and browsers, you simply can’t rely on one image version to adapt to different environments and look good in each. Conversely, manually generating derivative files for different dimensions is labor-intensive and hardly scalable. Fortunately, the attribute alleviates that need by directing the browser to identify the best image size based on available options. Additionally, you can use Imgix and element for Art Direction. <srcset> <picture> Srcset for resolution switching <picture> for art direction 3. Standardize Visual Quality and Composition Most user-generated images aren’t created professionally. They are often too bright, too dark, or simply too inconsistent from one another. To improve the visual quality and cohesion, you should consider a standard set of image enhancements. And if you’re processing thousands or more UGIs a day, automation can help you save a massive amount of time. — makes the image more vibrant by adjusting the distribution of highlights, midtones, and shadows across RGB channels auto=true — provides red-eye removal auto=redeye Focusing and framing the faces are also important. The facial expression of a news subject, if zoomed in and cropped appropriately, can often tell a more nuanced story than any words. And if you host product reviews from users, user avatars would add authenticity and credibility. Several Imgix API parameters make it easy to detect, frame, and crop to faces: — selects a face on which to center an image. You can isolate a particular face or include multiple faces. In the example below, we selected the child’s face using and a few other parameters. faceindex faceindex=2 — defines the amount of padding around the faces. In the example below, along with a few other parameters, we zoom into the model’s face using . facepad facepad=1 — sets a mask over an image. In the example below, along with a few other parameters, we put a circular mask around the model’s face using . mask mask=ellipse Just to note, Imgix does not store face information or identify any individual in the pictures. All detection occurs on the fly and complies with EU Data Protection regulations. 4. Content Monitoring and Moderation With UGIs, content safety is another high-stake consideration. The Imgix can help you automatically detect potentially violent, adult, or otherwise questionable content. Content alerts make organizing user-generated images faster and easier, and you can automate content moderation more effectively. Asset Manager Get Started With User-Generated Image Processing As the volume, variety, and complexity of user-generated content increase, it can exacerbate the strain on you and your team. We built Imgix so you can deliver the best visual experiences to your visitors, improves page performance, and eliminate redundant work for your developers and designers. Also published here. What's shown in this article simply scratches the surface of what Imgix offers. Check out the following resources to see how Imgix can help you with your visual media needs. Learn about the common UGI transformations Create a free imgix account Read these case studies to see how our customers have worked with UGIs. Eventbrite Pexels Real Estate Wire (REW)

Dynamically Processing User-Generated Images for Trust, Personalization and Efficiency

Procesamiento dinámico de UGI para confianza, personalización y eficiencia

Traitement dynamique des UGI pour la confiance, la personnalisation et l'efficacité

विश्वास, वैयक्तिकरण और दक्षता के लिए यूजीआई को गतिशील रूप से संसाधित करना

信頼性、パーソナライゼーション、および効率性のために UGI を動的に処理する

UGIs de processamento dinâmico para confiança, personalização e eficiência

Tự động xử lý UGI để tin cậy, cá nhân hóa và hiệu quả

动态处理 UGI 以实现信任、个性化和效率

A Floating City and The Blockade Runners by Jules Verne, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . Chapter XXXVII here CHAPTER XXXVII. The Niagara is not a stream, not even a river; it is simply a weir sluice, a canal thirty-six miles long, which empties the waters of the Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie into the Ontario. The difference in the level of these last two lakes is three hundred and forty feet; this difference uniformly proportioned the whole of the width would hardly have created a “rapid;” but the Falls alone absorb half the difference in level, whence their formidable power. This Niagarine trench separates the United States from Canada. Its right bank is American and its left English; on one side policemen, on the other not the shadow of one. On the morning of the 12th of April, at break of day, the Doctor and I walked down the wide street of Niagara Falls, which is the name of the village situated on the banks of the Falls. It is a kind of small watering-place, three hundred miles from Albany, built in a healthy and charming situation, provided with sumptuous hotels and comfortable villas, which the Yankees and Canadians frequent in the season. The weather was magnificent, the sun warmed the cold atmosphere, a dull, distant roar was heard, and I saw vapours on the horizon which could not be clouds. “Is that the Fall?” I asked of the Doctor. “Patience!” replied Pitferge. In a few minutes we were on the banks of the Niagara. The river was flowing peacefully along; it was clear, and not deep, with numerous projections of grey rock emerging here and there. The roar of the cataract grew louder and louder, but as yet we could not see it. A wooden bridge, supported by iron arches, united the left bank to an island in the midst of the current; on to this bridge the Doctor led me. Above, stretched the river as far as the eye could reach; down the stream, that is to say on our right, the first unevenness of a rapid was noticeable; then, at half a mile from the bridge, the earth suddenly gave way, and clouds of spray filled the air. This was the American fall, which we could not see. Beyond, on the Canadian side, lay a peaceful country, with hills, villas, and bare trees. “don’t look! don’t look!” cried the Doctor to me; “reserve yourself, shut your eyes, and do not open them until I tell you!” I hardly listened to my original, but continued to look. The bridge crossed, we set foot on the island known as Goat Island. It is a piece of land of about seventy acres, covered with trees, and intersected with lovely avenues with carriage drives. It is like a bouquet thrown between the American and Canadian Falls, separated from the shore by a distance of three hundred yards. We ran under the great trees, climbed the slopes, and went down the steps; the thundering roar of the falls was redoubled, and the air saturated with spray. “Look!” cried the Doctor. Coming from behind a mass of rock, the Niagara appeared in all its splendour. At this spot it meets with a sharp angle of land, and falling round it, forms the Canadian cascade, called the “Horse-shoe Fall,” which falls from a height of one hundred and fifty-eight feet, and is two miles broad. In this, one of the most beautiful spots in the world, Nature has combined everything to astonish the eye. The fall of the Niagara singularly favours the effects of light and shade; the sunbeams falling on the water, capriciously diversify the colour; and those who have seen this effect, must admit that it is without parallel. In fact, near Goat Island the foam is white; it is then a fall of snow, or a heap of melted silver, pouring into the abyss. In the centre of the cataract the colour of the water is a most beautiful sea-green, which indicates its depth, so that the “Detroit,” a ship drawing twenty feet and launched on the current, was able to descend the falls without grazing. Towards the Canadian shore the whirlpool, on the contrary, looks like metal shining beneath the luminous rays, and it is melted gold which is now poured into the gulf. Below, the river is invisible from the vapours which rise over it. I caught glimpses, however, of enormous blocks of ice accumulated by the cold of winter; they take the form of monsters, which, with open jaws, hourly absorb the hundred millions of tons poured into them by the inexhaustible Niagara. Half a mile below the cataract the river again became tranquil, and presented a smooth surface, which the winds of April had not yet been able to ruffle. “And now for the middle of the torrent,” said the Doctor to me. I could not imagine what the Doctor meant by those words, until he pointed to a tower built on the edge of a rock some hundred feet from the shore, almost overhanging the precipice. This monument, raised in 1833, by a certain audacious being, one Judge Porter, is called the “Terrapin Tower.” We went down the steps of Goat Island, and, coming to the height of the upper course of the Niagara, I saw a bridge, or rather some planks, thrown from one rock to the other, which united the tower with the banks of the river. The bridge was but a few feet from the abyss, and below it roared the torrent. We ventured on these planks, and in a few minutes reached the rock which supported Terrapin Tower. This round tower, forty-five feet in height, is built of stone, with a circular balcony at its summit, and a roof covered with red stucco. The winding staircase, on which thousands of names are cut, is wooden. Once at the top of the tower, there is nothing to do but cling to the balcony and look. The tower is in the midst of the cataract. From its summit the eye plunges into the depths of the abyss, and peers into the very jaws of the ice monsters, as they swallow the torrent. One feels the rock tremble which supports it. It is impossible to hear anything but the roaring of the surging water. The spray rises to the top of the monument, and splendid rainbows are formed by the sun shining on the vapourized water. By a simple optical illusion, the tower seems to move with a frightful rapidity, but, happily, in the opposite direction to the fall, for, with the contrary illusion, it would be impossible to look at the gulf from giddiness. Breathless and shivering, we went for a moment inside the top landing of the tower, and it was then that the Doctor took the opportunity of saying to me,— “This Terrapin Tower, my dear sir, will some day fall into the abyss, and perhaps sooner than is expected.” “Ah! indeed!” “There is no doubt about it. The great Canadian Fall recedes insensibly, but still, it recedes. The tower, when it was first built in 1833, was much farther from the cataract. Geologists say that the fall, in the space of thirty-five thousand years, will be found at Queenstown, seven miles up the stream. According to Mr. Bakewell, it recedes a yard in a year; but according to Sir Charles Lyell one foot only. The time will come when the rock which supports the tower, worn away by the water, will glide down the Falls of the cataract. Well, my dear sir, remember this: the day when the Terrapin Tower falls, there will be some eccentrics who will descend the Niagara with it.” I looked at the Doctor, as if to ask him if he would be of that number, but he signed for me to follow him, and we went out again to look at the “Horse-shoe Fall,” and the surrounding country. We could now distinguish the American Fall, slightly curtailed and separated by a projection of the island, where there is another small central cataract one hundred feet wide; the American cascade, equally fine, falls perpendicularly. Its height is one hundred and sixty-four feet. But in order to have a good view of it it is necessary to stand facing it, on the Canadian side. All day we wandered on the banks of the Niagara, irresistibly drawn back to the tower, where the roar of the water, the spray, the sunlight playing on the vapours, the excitement, and the briny odour of the cataract, holds you in a perpetual ecstasy. Then we went back to Goat Island to get the Fall from every point of view, without ever being wearied of looking at it. The Doctor would have taken me to see the “Grotto of Winds,” hollowed out underneath the central Fall, but access to it was not allowed, on account of the frequent falling away of the rocks. At five o’clock we went back to the hotel, and after a hasty dinner, served in the American fashion, we returned to Goat Island. The Doctor wished to go and see the “Three Sisters,” charming little islets scattered at the head of the island; then, with the return of evening, he led me back to the tottering rock of Terrapin Tower. The last rays of the setting sun had disappeared behind the grey hills, and the moon shed her soft clear light over the landscape. The shadow of the tower stretched across the abyss; farther down the stream the water glided silently along, crowned with a light mist. The Canadian shore, already plunged in darkness, contrasted vividly with the moon-lit banks of Goat Island, and the village of Niagara Falls. Below us, the gulf, magnified by the uncertain light, looked like a bottomless abyss, in which roared the formidable torrent. What effect! What artist could ever depict such a scene, either with the pen or paint-brush? For some minutes a moving light appeared on the horizon; it was the signal light of a train crossing the Niagara bridge at a distance of two miles from us. Here we remained silent and motionless on the top of the tower until midnight, leaning over the waters which possessed such a fascination. Once, when the moon-beams caught the liquid dust at a certain angle, I had a glimpse of a milky band of transparent ribbon trembling in the shadows. It was a lunar rainbow, a pale irradiation of the queen of the night, whose soft light was refracted through the mist of the cataract. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Jules Verne (2022). A Floating City and The Blockade Runners. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/67829/67829-h/67829-h.htm This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

The Niagara is not a stream, not even a river

At first glance, Greg Starkman, founder of , seemed destined to be a mover and shaker in the beauty industry. His experience began when he was just a child, seeing his mother build her own successful cosmetic company. Innersense Organic Beauty This led him to become a stylist, a job he worked for over a decade, learning the tools and craft of the beauty business. So good was his knowledge and talent, that he became an executive in the “Big Beauty” business. For many, this would seem like an admirable and comfortable finish line after years of hard work. However, Starkman had a higher commitment that drove him to start Innersense. If I summed it up in one word, it would be sustainability. He mentioned that the topic would often come up in boardroom meetings, where his candor often illustrated the fake dedication companies had. From one example, he levied against a would-be advocate, “We recycle, too. That doesn’t make you sustainable.” As I’ve seen with his words and deeds, Starkman certainly walks the walk on sustainability, and it's best displayed in three ways, an internal belief, a dedication to people, and a dedication to the planet. Good Ideas Are Nothing Without the Means to Execute Them. It goes without saying that a successful company is one that endures. A business must be able to sustain itself. Now I know this isn't the same definition of sustainability that I touched on earlier, but I think it deserves a spotlight. In Starkman’s case, his commitment to improving lives and the world would not garner much praise if he didn’t have a successful company supporting his many endeavors. One of the first statements he said to me was, “I refused to fail. Nothing is easy. It requires a lot of grit.” One example of a marketing obstacle he has had to overcome beautifully shows the difference between a lasting brand and one that fizzles. In this case, it's the rise of celebrity brands, which have flooded the space within the past few years. They rarely last but manage to crowd the industry and suck up all the attention and revenue for the brief periods they exist. Retailers, editors, and online businesses love them, which has forced Starkman to maintain a constant drive to stay visible and relevant. His business savvy and knowledge of the products provided Innersense with a foundation that will carry them through the tough times. The product line is second to none, and as I’ve seen with many of my interviews, a good product is the best marketing tool. Whether it’s individual items or the entire line, Innersense has received accolades on the pages of Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, InStyle, GQ, and Forbes just to name a few. The complete list can be found . Aside from his determination and quality products, Starkman has built Innersense to be 100% self-funded, without private equity or venture capital. here It literally sustains itself. This type of sustainment provides the resources and flexibility that pursue the type of sustainability that Starkman truly pursues and prides on. The Most Versatile and Resilient Asset for Any Business Is People. One of the prominent sections displayed on the Innersense website is , with an extensive list of charitable contributions and partnerships aimed at helping people. People and Planet As Starkman believes, the idea of sustainability is a fashionable one that many companies try to earn with the minimal amount of effort required. To be completely transparent, this section provides a comprehensive list of all the efforts Innersense has made to place people over profits. With over $300,000 donated in 2021 alone, Innersense is a , meeting strict standards for employee well-being and providing benefits to humanity. The company directly involves each consumer. Certified B Corporation 1% of every purchase is donated to a nonprofit of their choice, such as feeding America or Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. Partnering with organizations like and , Innersense has leveraged its resources to help those afflicted with disorders and illnesses. Williams Syndrome Association Lipstick Angels Aside from financial and volunteer support, the company also aims to push meaningful and beneficial legislation, such as , through the Counteract Coalition. The Personal Care Safety Act With his first-hand knowledge of the science behind the various beauty products, Starkman also spearheads his company's selection of . ingredients This is all to provide customers with a superb product, without any harmful side effects. Starkman said, “When you give to the community, they give back to you.” Although many could see his philanthropic measures as a drag to the bottom line, this kindness has developed into a reliable source of customer loyalty and good exposure, which makes Innersense stand where many others have fallen. We Need to Take Care of the Earth. It’s Where We All Live. The second piece of the sustainability puzzle is to the planet. Innersense is certified carbon neutral, via . It is also certified plastic neutral, through , with nearly 3 million bottles kept out of landfills. Climate Neutral rePurpose Every Innersense bottle is made from 100% recycled plastics. In many ways, Innersense has eliminated its net contribution to two of the worst industry pollutants, fossil fuel emissions, and non-biodegradable waste. The business is also teamed with , donating additional sales revenue to environmental causes. There are other partnerships Innersense maintains, such as the and . One Percent for the Planet California Coastkeeper Alliance How2Recycle Any single one of these various contributions and collaborations would be viewed as exceptional, in the realm of environmental protection and reclamation. The fact that Innersense has achieved all this, while still dedicated to doing more, shows the clear commitment Starkman and his team have towards sustainability. Just as his investment in people, the pursuit of environmental sustainability has developed a business that makes it very easy for people to feel good about purchasing its products. Aside from the direct good Innersense’s actions have had on the world, I believe it provides much greater returns. These can be seen in good public relations, improved employee morale, and expanded customer loyalty. No Paralysis by Analysis. In his final words of wisdom, Starkman said, “When you’re an entrepreneur, self-doubt is part of the creative process, but at some point, you need to take a chance.” In his case, Starkman chose to build a beauty product business, with a passionate focus on people and the planet over profits. Through his unremitted work, Innersense is a company that is as well known for its philanthropy, as it is for its premier health and beauty products. This dedication to sustainability permeates the company’s identity and actions. It is clear that Starkman has developed a unique brand, and the world would be a better place if more people attempted to emulate his example.

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1-10 employees

Since 2021

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BEAUTIFUL-SHOTS

beautiful-shots.com

1-10 employees

Since 2021

COMPANY RANKING

BEAUTIFUL-SHOTS

EVERGREEN INDEX #1752

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