by Skip Cohen
This is the perfect post for a Friday before a holiday weekend... For years, I pretty much stopped reading for pleasure or my own personal growth. I was so wrapped up in what I do every day that reading just seemed to be an extension of work. Well, Sheila helped me snap out of that and I read a lot more than I used to and doing my best to make it authors and topics all outside of photography. It sounds so stupid to suggest the obvious, that reading can create inspiration, but so often it’s just a simple one liner that hits home. We’re coming up to the last quarter of the year. I don’t care how good a year you might have had or how positive a person you are, everybody has had to deal with their fair share of challenges. So, I had some fun on the Internet and went searching for some cyber space wisdom and found some incredible thoughts.
Wishing all of you a safe and spectacular Labor Day weekend. And, if you're outside the U.S. then enjoy the weekend and spend some time appreciating friends and fami
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by Skip Cohen
We're down to 120 days left of 2013. The fourth quarter of the year, now just 30 days away, brings with it one opportunity after another for you to get involved in helping to make a difference in the world. Think about it for a second - if every photographer all of us know, got involved with one charitable cause or event in the next 120 days, what an impact we could all have. So, here's my challenge to you: Send me one sentence about the organization you're committed to work with between now and the end of the year. (Skip@mei500.com) Include the URL for the event or group and the URL for your own site. I'll keep a running list and next week, we'll publish a list with the links to each event or organization and your site. And remember, there's no such thing as anything too small. Everything you do has an impact in helping others. I’ve written a lot about fund-raisers, charities and simply being involved in your community, but there’s no such thing as writing too much. Jay Conrad Levinson, who’s best known for his expertise in marketing and coining the words “Guerilla Marketing” lists “being involved in your community” near the top of the 100 things guerilla marketers need to do. Why? Because people like buying products and services from companies they perceive as giving something back. I think it goes a lot deeper. You’re looking for your community to be good to you. So, it’s pretty simple to figure out you need to be good to your community. What amazes me sometimes is how many people can’t find anything in the community. I’ve even heard photographers say, “There’s really nothing going on around here to be involved with!” There are so many ways to get involved in your community:
The list goes on and on with opportunities for you to be involved. Most important of all, your camera doesn’t need to be part of the equation in terms of people getting to know you believe in giving back. In fact, sometimes it’s fun to leave out your photography skills initially, bringing them into play when there’s something to document or a project that you can help create all around imaging. There’s one last reason why it’s so important to give back…it makes you feel good! Paul Newman said it best, “I respect generosity in people, and I respect it in companies too. I don’t look at it as philanthropy; I see it as in investment in the community.” Illustration Credit: © sato - Fotolia.com It's only a minute long and probably belongs in the SmugMug Cinema here at SCU, but what I like about short video pieces like this, it gets you thinking about how you'd tell your own story in a minute or less. I've been on so many sites and seen videos that simply lack personality. I'm a big fan of SmugMug and was long before they were partners here at SCU. I love the features of the New SmugMug and the freedom you have to customize your site and present your work the best way possible. Watch this video from two perspectives - first, it's a commercial for SmugMug - there's no denying it. But second and more important, how are you telling your story? Does your presentation, when somebody walks through the door and into your website, really reflect the quality of your work, the spirit that sets you apart from your competition. So, watch the video with a thought about it being time to upgrade your own site, but then if you were telling a story about your own photography business could you do it as well as SmugMug does here? Welcome to Grab Shots - Just like grab shots in photography these will be just as random. It's a series of random thoughts about the photographic industry, people in general, business and life. I'm going to keep them short and do my best to "plant a few seeds".
We're all busy and while we try and always answer emails and return phone calls, every now and then you miss one, but here's a frustration I have. I'll get a call or a direct message on Twitter from somebody asking for help on something. I'll respond and then not hear from them for weeks. The point is, just get back to people when you've asked them to get back to you, even if it's a "Thanks, I was able to find the answer I needed" kind of response. by Skip Cohen
One of the key traits of photographers we admire is their ability to multitask. Recently I've read a number of articles that suggest people who stress their ability to multitask often lose site of quality related issues. In an effort to do several things at once, they become masters of mediocrity and incredibly inefficient. Whereas if they stayed focused on one project/action at a time they'd be more efficient and consistent in their production values. Personally, I don't agree. I've spent years working with a lot of amazing people. There are some who simply have a unique ability to stay focused on multiple projects and priorities. So, pick whatever side you want to be on, but I'm talking about many of the leaders in our industry who multitask and never drop the ball. Maybe it's not so much multitasking but having multi-vision! While it’s a definite trait of the photographers we admire the most, it’s also one of those traits that’s so universal to successful people in general. Somehow they seem to be able to be in two places at once. They have so much going on in their lives, yet from our perspective they teach, write, photograph and create all with an effortless ease. Each of you have photographers and business people in your own community who might not be well known, but have these traits. Here are a couple of great examples. We all try and multitask, but nobody does it better than good buddy, Kevin Kubota. He does it so well that many new photographers don’t know he’s one of the best photographers in our industry. They think he’s a software developer creating products for Kubota Image Tools. The reality is that he’s a teacher, a wedding photographer, a commercial photographer, an author, a lecturer, a great dad, husband and friend. What’s the secret ingredient? You’ll have to ask Kevin, but I think it’s just plain passion for being on the planet. And there’s another ingredient/trait of great photographers. And another multitasker is family photographer, Michele Celentano. She's a photographer, educator, author, fitness instructor, mom, wife and also a great friend. Having spent a lot of time with her and her family recently, one of her secrets is setting priorities. She maintains a balance between all the hats she wears making sure that her personal priorities for her own health and family are never in second place. The challenge in multitasking is learning to prioritize and move from project to project, never losing sight of the importance of completion. Everyone has a certain bandwidth and sooner or later you simply run out of space in your head, as well as your heart to tackle one more thing. So a really good multitasker puts one project on the back-burner, ties up some lose ends on another, takes it to completion and then can come back to the original priority. This isn’t a personality trait or skill by itself. It ties together with time management, learning to delegate, judgment, awareness and again passion…all traits and skills that will continue to come up in posts down the road. Business and motivational writer Mitch Thrower wrote, “Spend time to understand your own multitasking capacity, and your projects and goals.” The key word here is “capacity” – People who are good at multitasking recognize when they’re out of bandwidth. Illustration Credit: © Creativa - Fotolia.com by Skip Cohen
Sunday mornings are pretty much always the same, it's a time to get a little reflective, not just for me, but for you as a reader. For whatever reason, this morning my mind is simply on how we resolve the challenges in our lives. It doesn't matter whether it's business or personal - whatever it is has created a situation that needs to be addressed. It won't work any longer to sweep it under the rug and you can't just turn down the volume, because whatever it is, is still too distracting. So, you've got to look your demon's square in the eyes and just do the best you can at resolving the challenges and moving on. You can only do your best. I just submitted my article this month for Sal Cincotta's Shutter Magazine and the title is "Everything Always Works Out for the Better." That doesn't mean you can just let challenges go and ignore them. What it does mean that no matter how hard something is to do, whatever it might be, it's part of your growth as a photographer, an artist and oh yeah, a human being. Make it a great day everybody - enjoy a Sunday hopefully filled with lots of smiles, family and friends.
The advantage of a video introduction on your website is simply giving future clients a stronger peek into your hearts. This video is a classic and was done by Bob and Dawn in 2010. I'm sharing two different videos here, because both are promotional pieces giving you a look at Bob and Dawn the artists, followed by Bob and Dawn the educators. There are two different approaches for two completely different audiences.
However, there are some terrific common denominators - the sincerity of each and the production quality. They each do a first class job of telling a story, but if you know Bob and Dawn, then you'd expect nothing less!
Photographer's Showcase started with a promotional video Brook Rieman did for Giovanna Mandel. Well, it's only fitting for the second in the series to be Brook's own promo video targeting seniors, but shot by another local photographer and competitor.
Once again, there's a circle of competitive friends involved in these projects. This video started with Katie Destry, a local Indy photographer and Ryan Arford, an aspiring professional, Brook has been working with. Brook, later on, shot a promotional video for Katie.
As part of the SCU Summer Session program, each attendee is involved in working with me on an informal business review. This morning I spent some time on the phone with Giovanna Mandel, a photographer from Indianapolis, who specializes in people, specifically high school seniors, families, kids and bridal couples.
Talking with Giovanna, I got an idea for a new series here on the SCU blog. Welcome to Photographer's Showcase. As I find more of these little gems, with the permission of the artists involved, I want to share their promotional videos with you. With hybrid e-products, you've got an incredible opportunity to create videos to promote your business in a way photographers have never really had before. There's a secondary aspect of this video that I love. It was done by Brook Rieman, who's not only a friend of Giovanna's and all of us at SCU, but in reality a competing photographer. It's an outstanding testimonial to what competitors and good friends can create together. Welcome to Grab Shots - Just like grab shots in photography these will be just as random. This is a series of random thoughts about the photographic industry, people in general, business and life. I'm going to keep them short and do my best to "plant a few seeds".
So, I've got one of these situations going on right now, a favorite pet peeve. Photographers who link you to an image on Facebook that's totally irrelevant to anything you're working on or interested in. They seem to think that by linking you it's going to help them increase their own brand awareness. Unfortunately it backfires. First, because you're linked to the image, you get stuck reading what everybody else has to say about it. Second, instead of appreciating the work and the effort that went into the shot, you get aggravated. It's like being spammed! Eventually you just go in and pull yourself out of the list. Here's the point...If you want somebody to see your work just ask them. by Skip Cohen
Ever notice how the photographers we admire the most have certain characteristics that help secure their position and make them both iconic and legendary? One of those is their ability to hold focus. I love talking about holding focus, because it’s such a pathetic pun on both the techniques you use in capturing an image and a trait that great photographers seem to have in the way they address their craft. Think about the intensity of any great photographer you admire. Each one is able to hold focus on whatever they’re doing. John Sexton, John Paul Caponigro, Scott Bourne, Kevin Kubota, Lori Nordstrom, Bobbi Lane, Matthew Jordan Smith, Brian Smith, Michele Celentano, just to name a few of my favorites – they all hold focus. They all multi-task, but manage to stay focused on projects, concepts and actions until they’re completed. Like a great chef, they stay focused until the meal is served and then move onto the next dish. They don’t walk away in the middle to do something else and leave you hanging, wondering what’s next. I’ve met so many new photographers over the years who are overwhelmed with how much they need to learn that they panic and flounder. They jump from one project to the next, never mastering any of the most important skills, but becoming masters of mediocrity. Successful photographers hold their focus and if it’s something you can’t seem to do, then as simple as it sounds, step back and analyze each step you’re taking to be a professional. Maybe you just need help from somebody with more experience. Maybe you need to attend a workshop or just the local chapter meeting of professional photographers like yourself. Maybe you need to start over and just slow things down a little. Are you committed to being a professional photographer? Business author, Jim Collins wrote, “The kind of commitment I find among the best performers across virtually every field is a single-minded passion for what they do, an unwavering desire for excellence in the way they think and the way they work. Genuine confidence is what launches you out of bed in the morning, and through your day with a spring in your step.” Illustration Credit: © Stephen Coburn - Fotolia.com by Scott Bourne Assuming that we can all buy the same gear, and we’re all dedicated to our craft, and that we are good at what we do, what separates us and makes some of us successful while others fail? I’ve been researching this topic for decades and I’ve identified some traits that successful marketers share. And these traits apply to the marketing of photography as well. Here are some things to ponder: 1. Successful marketers are ahead of the curve not behind it. If you’re still not using social media; if you’re in denial about new technology, it’s unlikely you’re finding the kind of success you could if you moved into the fast lane. Be a trendsetter. 2. Successful marketers own their local market first, but always play for the national audience. Find ways to do the things the big boys and girls do, but do it on a local level. 3. Successful marketers piggyback all their promotional and marketing activities. Everything references everything. The Tweet stream links to the blog which links to the podcast which points to the Facebook account which refers to… well you get the idea. 4. Successful marketers no longer use purely interruptive approaches. They seek permission, they share information, they provide real value to prospects and they tailor their messaging and merchandising to the right people as opposed to a scatter-shot approach trying to sell ANYTHING to ANYONE. 5. Successful marketers put the needs of their prospects and clients ahead of their own. If you’re not employing these tactics, then it’s highly possible that your lack of marketing skill, NOT your lack of photography skill, is keeping you from thriving as a professional photographer. Illustration Credit: © Welf Aaron - Fotolia.com Those of you who have followed me for awhile recognize the iris image above. It's my wallpaper on my Facebook page, but I was looking at it yesterday, since it's a 36" x 60" framed canvas on our living room wall. That got me thinking about how much we take for granted about photographs. Here's an example:
The image was taken in the gardens of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. My good buddy Taka had spent the day with us playing tour guide. It was an amazing day and the shot was a well thought out grab shot with a $249 Fujifilm point and shoot. Worked a little in Photoshop, it became my own testimonial to two different concepts. First, you don't always have the greatest gear to shoot with and it shouldn't matter. Second, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder or "check holder" as my pal Dean used to say. I love the image and we chose to blow it up on canvas which further enhanced its quality. We love it and that's all that matters. If you haven't read Michele Celentano's guest post from yesterday it's time to take a look. While it might not be the type of images she's talking about in her post, had I chosen to make this just a screen saver, all the impact would have been lost. I love the fact that it's on our wall. I love the fact that it sparks some great memories of time with good friends. Virtually all of you are photographers. If you haven't read Michele's post yet, take the time. Then look around your own house and recognize the stories that each photograph represents in your own life. Yeah, I'm a little sappy this morning, but it's one of those things that comes with the territory - I love this industry. I love and respect what so many of you do as artists and business owners and it kills me when people just don't get it! Michele wrote, "I believe in photography - but more than that I believe in photographs. Printed photographs are tangible. We can hold on to them, pass them around, frame them and hang them on a wall. We can make albums to be treasured and looked through by children for years to come." Well, from my perspective I want to add one more thing, "I believe in all of you as artists, photographers and magicians who capture intangible moments out of time and turn them into memories we can share and enjoy for years to come!" Wishing everybody a wonderful Sunday and one filled with family, friends, plenty of smiles and maybe a photograph here and there that deserves to be printed! Welcome to Grab Shots - Just like grab shots in photography these will be just as random. It's a series of random thoughts about the photographic industry, people in general, business and life. I'm going to keep them short and do my best to "plant a few seeds".
If your heart isn’t in it, then you can’t create images that tug at people’s heart-strings. Photography is about emotion and it won’t show up in your images if you’re not happy with what you're doing. So, if you're unhappy, kick back for a day and first figure out if the issue is long term or short term. Then, go to work on what it's going to take to get you back on track. Sometimes you just need a break to smell the roses and other times it's more complex, but either way you've got to fix the problem. For the first time since I started blogging I missed doing a post yesterday. I didn't tweet either, but it's the fault of everybody pictured above as we wrapped up one of the best summer workshops we've ever done. Even now, as Sheila and I are sitting in Ohare waiting for our flight to board, I'm still smiling over the number of new friends another "Summer School" brought into our lives.
This is just a short post today as I try and absorb, analyze and catalog all that I learned this week along with the attendees. Just saying "thanks" doesn't begin to cover all the feelings we have regarding all the new members, as well as old ones, who joined the family. I've said it dozens of times before, but the best part of this industry has nothing whatsoever to do with photography, but the friendships that come out of everyone's mutual love for the craft! What makes these programs so incredible is the spirit of the group and the way each person is determined to raise the bar in their little corner of the world and make it a better place! Welcome to Grab Shots - Just like grab shots in photography these will be just as random. It's a series of random thoughts about the photographic industry, people in general, business and life. I'm going to keep them short and do my best to "plant a few seeds".
It's time to dump all the negative people in your life! It’s not easy, but they don’t deserve your time and the damage they do to your dreams. by Skip Cohen
Looking for great quotes from Zig Ziglar, a typo in Google took me into Ziggy Marley! Sometimes we stumble on the greatest little gems when we least expect it! I love what I found: “I don't have to wait to realize the good old days.” Ziggy Marley That really says it all. the good old days are right now and I can’t help but think we all spend too much time missing the moments in our own lives. Photographers are hired to capture those spontaneous moments. A great wedding photographer has the responsibility to be the eyes and with hybrid e-products can even be the ears of the bride and groom. A great portrait photographer is hired to capture the personality of the subject. Landscape photographers stop a sunset, a fish mid-stream, again moments out of time that can never be repeated. The list goes on and on, yet so many photographers, miss the most important moments in their own lives with their families and friends. They’re so caught up in worrying about their business they fail to enjoy the most important part of their lives, the reason they’re working in the first place – to enjoy life! Ziggy’s right, why wait to realize the good old days? Photo Credit: © Rui Vale de Sousa - Fotolia.com Welcome to Grab Shots - Just like grab shots in photography these will be just as random. It's a series of random thoughts about the photographic industry, people in general, business and life. I'm going to keep them short and do my best to "plant a few seeds".
I wish photographers would work to own their own zip code BEFORE they decided to take on the rest of the world! Make it a point to get to know all of the businesses in your "neighborhood". They need to know you're available for any of their photographic needs. Owning your zip code means your name is the first one that comes to mind when one of your "neighbors" needs help with things under the imaging umbrella. You need to walk before you can run. by Scott Bourne
Everyone who competes with you may be a better photographer than you are, but if you know these seven golden rules of photography marketing, you'll outsell them most of the time. 1. Be true to yourself. Be you. Be authentic. Don't pretend to be passionate about something you are not. Your prospects will bust you every time. Worry about finding prospects who like YOU and what YOU do,. not trying to make everyone happy who walks through your door. If you try to please everyone, you'll please nobody. 2. Network, Network, Network. Every single time you spend money in your zip code, you should also hand your business card, or portfolio post card to the owner/manager of that business. If you are spending money with them, then you have won the right to be heard, and it's not unreasonable to expect that they may want to do business with you. 3. Go door-to-door. This old fashioned method is harder than it used to be but can still yield great results. Start with businesses (even the ones you don't frequent) in your zip code. Make it a point to visit at least 20 of these each week. Introduce yourself. Let them know that you are their "local photographer" and leave contact info with them. Follow up by phone, email or snail mail every quarter. Eventually they will need a photographer and by then you'll seem like an old trusted friend. 4. Work with your indirect and even direct competitors. I coined a phrase 20 years ago that has served me well. "Coop-etition." I cooperate with people who are in my business by referring them jobs I can't do or don't want. I share marketing materials with them by going in on direct mail campaigns with them. We buy ads together, especially if we do something similar but can articulate something different. Work with these people. They are your best allies if you approach it with an open mind. 5. Become a helpmate to a local charity. Pick ONE. Don't try to get involved in everything there is. Pick one. Be the dominate photographer who helps that one charity. You'll meet tons of like-minded people who will automatically give you first dibs when it comes to photography work because they are familiar with you and what you do. It reduces the due diligence and shopping around time that costs everyone. Be charitable. It also builds good karma. 6. Collect data on everything. Get people to give you their business cars. Then use a contact management program to collate and mine that data for outbound marketing. 7. Join your local Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, or other service organizations and volunteer to be the newsletter or event photographer - especially if you are just starting out. Then all the movers and shakers in your town will see your name associated with every photo they encounter at the organization and you'll be a natural choice when THEY need to hire a photographer. This is all common sense, but as I get older I realize there's nothing common about sense so I thought I'd share this list in case some of you needed a reminder. Go out and implement this stuff now. Don't wait. Skip and I are rooting for you. © vector_master - Fotolia.com Welcome to Grab Shots - Just like grab shots in photography these will be just as random. It's a series of random thoughts about the photographic industry, people in general, business and life. I'm going to keep them short and do my best to "plant a few seeds".
Competition makes us stronger – stop worrying about your competitors and stay focused on what you can bring to the party. Don’t negative sell – just work on raising the bar on the quality of your own images and your business. |
Our Partners"Why?"Check out "Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog. It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound bite. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. We're over 100 artists featured since the project started. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.
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