A method for electronically generating and assigning a photograph is
provided. The method employs a server-based control program and
preferably utilizes an Internet web browser to interface with users. The
control program receives a photograph request from a user and issues a
user identification and an access code for that specific user. The
control program then receives a photograph specification from the user,
the specification detailing the criteria for the photograph, such as
size, style and media. The user may be a single customer or a group. The
user searches a photographer data base for a photographer that
corresponds to user's needs. The program then transmits the
specifications to the selected photographers. The control program
co-ordinates the user's review and/or approval of submissions by the
photographer in response to the user's specifications. When the
photographic assignment submittal is finally approved as submitted, the
transaction is closed, with the control program performing appropriate
notification and billing functions. The time and complexity involved in
photographic assignment is significantly reduced, while still meeting the
needs of the users in providing a private and secure photographic
assignment. For each progressing project, the photographic assignment
control program can receive revisions and comments from any number of
users, and track the revision history of a current project or a past
project, from initiation to completion.