  Click to view in the SCU Light Box by Skip Cohen It's Marketing Monday, rolling in right after a holiday weekend. It's a great time to consider ways to grow your business, notably by expanding to new products and a new target audience. While wandering through the SCU archives, the artwork above came to light. It's a powerful statement and excellent advice for any entrepreneur. As I thought about how many photographers need to diversify and expand their target audience, I thought back to ideas that came out of the pandemic. Back then, I shared a post about JP Elario doing Facetime portraits for clients as he worked through a small part of the challenge with physical distancing. In contrast, Steven Gotz's idea of converting family portraits to coloring book pages for young children provides an easy way to keep in touch with clients while utilizing archived images from your files. Well, here's another one and the need is still enormous - outdoor seating at restaurants! One ingredient to bring back business following the pandemic was outdoor seating, but most restaurants, especially those that didn't offer table service outside, needed help in the decorating department. Well, it's summertime, and the pandemic is in the past, but the need is even greater today! It's a perfect application for Bay Photo's Performance EXT Metal prints. I wrote about my own experience many years ago. The original EXT Metal print on the right, was physically damaged by a contractor working on the house. However, it was reprinted, and the image has been outdoors for at least five years. While under a microscope, there may be some deterioration; there's nothing visible to the naked eye. It's been outside the entire time, exposed to the sun, heat, and rain of South Florida. The two smaller images have also been outside for approximately the same time, and with even less shelter from the elements. They's just as beautiful today as when they were hung, and have only been brought in during hurricanes! Two Additional Markets to Consider Restaurants: With or without outdoor seating, the demand for food photography has never been higher. It may have started with the pandemic, but it has continued to grow with the Internet and online marketing. Additionally, carry-out ordering remains a popular option. Check out any of your favorite restaurants, and most often, you'll find a massive need for better photography. Consumer Marketing: Take the idea of outdoor prints one step further, and instead of thinking outside the box, let's think like there's no box. Just about every client you've photographed over the years has a back porch or patio, some area outside their home or apartment. Let's encourage people to appreciate artwork outside their own homes. Here's an opportunity to offer something different and exciting to your existing audience. Let's start to plant a few marketing seeds with a new audience. The concept is also ideal for creating engaging content for your blog. So, from restaurants needing a more substantial presence outdoors to photography for their websites to helping clients bring photography to a new location in their home - most of you are sitting on an untapped market. You're the only one who can plant the seed for new ideas with your target audience...but you also need to follow through and take action. You need to be an innovator! "Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things."
Theodore Levit
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  by Skip Cohen
It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday. Over the years, I've shared a few of the pages from Graphi Studio's "Day in the Life of WPPI" albums. These are from 2007, the last year the show was at Bally's and Paris. It's also one of the few pages where I recognize everybody in the images! I shared these many years ago in a post, but they're too much fun not to share again! From top left to right - Cherie Steinberg and Hedley Jones, Mike Colon and David Jay, David Beckstead and Gary Fong and Vicki and Jed Taufer. They were all photographed by Catherine Hall, one of four photographers featured in that year's book, along with Calvin Hayes, Jim Garner, and Victor Sizemore. In the second image, we've got Joe Paulicivic (Joe Photo) and Marcus Bell in the front row. I think that's Brook Todd on one side and Parker Pfister and a hotel staff member in the middle - my guess is it was in the very early morning hours at the hotel. After all, nobody buffs the floors in any Vegas hotel during "rush hour!" And Catherine, as always, captured the essence of enthusiasm! The entire concept behind the project was to document each convention through the eyes of four different artists. The idea for the album was thanks to Maureen Neises at Graphi. The book became a milestone for me each year. It was the perfect way to document the event and capture so many different memories. Throwback Thursdays are the perfect time to take a look in your rearview mirror. Old photographs and videos are a great reminder of the power of the services you provide to every client - helping them stop time and capture memories. Old photos are also one of your best marketing tools for your social media presence or blog. Use throwbacks to help remind "Mom" that it's time for a new family portrait. Use your old images to discuss how quickly time passes and the importance of capturing those cherished memories. It's the perfect way to put those old photographs of yours to work, planting the seeds for new business. And, if you're not blogging about them, take a walk down Memory Lane for your own enjoyment. There are few things to put a smile on your face faster than looking at old photographs! Happy Throwback Thursday!  by Skip Cohen
If your website isn't working the way you planned, there's no way your target audience is going to understand why. It's not like road construction with plenty of warnings, cones, barriers, detours and signage! If a consumer can't get to where they want to go on your website, they're simply going to leave and go somewhere else. Spring seasonality is over. We're into summer business, and for those of you outside the bridal world, it might even seem a little quiet at times...but that doesn't mean there aren't things you should be doing to keep your business going strong. Here's a topic that should be at the top of everybody's list: Is your website working properly? We all have the same challenge: getting our website to look the way we want it, work the way it should, and get the support we need when we need it. The reality is that it's not a perfect world, and every website should be regularly checked and on different devices. If your website isn't working and creating a great experience for visitors, it's the equivalent of not unlocking the front door of a brick-and-mortar building. Customers can't get in, but you forgot to open the door and are wondering why business is so slow! Years ago, I received a great suggestion from an attendee at a marketing presentation I gave at the IPI Summer Convention. "We have six people in the company. Every morning, when they boot up, their landing page is a different page on our website. That's six different pages that get checked first thing before we even start the day!" Your website should be checked on different browsers, viewed on your phone as well as your computer, and links checked to ensure people get to where you want them to go. It's not rocket science—just good business. And according to the latest stats from Google via Statista.com, mobile devices account for almost 63% of global Internet traffic. Many years ago, there was a TV campaign with one line: "It's 11:00 PM. Do you know where your kids are?" Well, it's time to modify and bring that line into business, and 2025... "It's the start of another business day - do you know if your site's working?"  by Skip Cohen I saw this piece posted on my FB notifications a few weeks ago. It hit me hard then, and I've since read it several times. For the most part, I've stayed out of the social media battles over the current state of America. I've stayed away from all the bullshit...even held back on commenting on all the fake news that people from both sides jump on. When I read this piece by Elayne Griffin Baker, written in 2020, I couldn't get it out of my mind. It's not just about the lack of joy but also about pride. I've watched friends withdraw; friends leave the country and done my best to search out the truth in the news, a virtually impossible task. The poem says it all...no need for me to comment further...and if it results in some of my readers no longer following me, our "friendship" would have disappeared sooner or later anyway. There's no art in this White House. There's no literature, no poetry, no music. There are no pets in this White House, no loyal man's best friend, no Socks the family cat, no kids science fairs. No time when the president takes off his blue suit red tie uniform and becomes human, except when he puts on his white shirt-khaki pants uniform and hides from Americans to play golf. There are no images of the First Family enjoying themselves together in a moment of relaxation. No Obamas on the beach in Hawaii moments, or Bushes fishing in Kennebunkport. No Reagans on horseback, no Kennedy's playing touch football on the Cape. Where'd that country go? Where did all the fun, the joy and the expression of love and happiness go? We used to be a country that did the Ice Bucket Challenge and raised millions for charity. We used to have a President that calmed and soothed the nation instead of dividing it, and a First Lady who planted a garden instead of ripping one out. We are rudderless and joyless. We have lost the cultural aspect of society that make America great. We have lost our mojo, our fun, our happiness, our cheering on of others. The shared experience of humanity that makes it all worth it. The challenges and the triumps that we shared and celebrated. The unique can-do spirit that America has always been known for. We are lost. We have lost so much in so short a time. -Elayne Griffin Baker- My apologies to the author of this footnote below. It was on the FB notifications page with the poem above. If someone knows the author I'll update this post.
Across the world, we are watching the rise of strongmen who sneer at laughter unless it's aimed downward. Who confuse control with leadership. Who rip up gardens instead of planting seeds. And people feel it. Even if they can't name it, they know something is missing. The absence of joy is not visible. It's a heaviness that settles over everything. It's the dull ache of a country that no longer pauses to cheer for each other, to laugh, to mourn, to dream. Without joy, what are we even fighting for? What are we building? Power alone is not a vision. Authority without empathy is not greatness. A nation without joy is not leading the world, it's warning it. So let's stop pretending this is just about policy. The mood of a leader shapes the mood of a country. And when that tone is mean, vindictive, hollow, and cold, it spreads. It settles into the bones of a nation. People are not machines. We are not here only to consume, to obey, to win. We are here to live. To feel. To connect. And to make something beautiful together, even if just for a moment. There's nothing more I can add...except that it's going to take each and everyone of us to get America back.  So, if you got a fire, don't lose it If you got a do-or-die dream, do it If you got something to prove, go on and prove it Don't let nobody clip your wings Keep your head down, keep on the blinders Tune out the doubters and all the closed minders If it's in your blood Fallin' down ain't enough to change who you were born to be Gettin' back up, that's the only backup plan you need. by Skip Cohen I don't usually quote lyrics from country songs, but I just heard "Backup Plan" by Bailey Zimmerman and Luke Combs, and the lyrics to the chorus are perfect words to live by! It's Friday, and this is a short post. Everyone, at some point, hits a wall when something they were working on or hoping for just doesn't happen. But here's the point - listen to your heart first. Next, stop listening to people who don't share your vision. It's hard enough to be in business today without feeling like you're swimming upstream because the doubters in your life seem to think they have the right to redirect your energy! Wishing everyone a weekend with time to relax, dream, and make a little progress on whatever vision you have for your future. Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision,
hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe. Gail Devers  Senator Baker loved photography. Joe McNally sent me this shot and a comment about being jealous of the Senator at the time, he had the best seat in the house! Yeah, there he is with his Leica. Image copyright Joe McNally. All rights reserved.  by Skip Cohen
The SCU blog has been actively running for over twelve years. As a result, there are some great "Throwback Thursday" posts in the archives. This is one I want to share again. In 2014, America lost one of its greatest statesmen, Senator Howard Baker. He was a fantastic contributor to this country, but I'm not sure how many of you realize his passion for photography and his support for our industry. You'd often see him wandering the floor of some of the bigger photo shows just to check out what was new in gear. I don't want to make it sound like we were such good friends and we were about to buy a boat together, but we spent enough time together for me to look back on the friendship as one of the highlights of my career. In a throwback post just a few months ago, I wrote about our first meeting. Finding the image above brings back to many great memories, and like all throwbacks, stories. We met in his office. He sat in a chair with his feet on the edge of the coffee table and just wanted to talk about photography. In the middle of the table was a big basket of Tennessee's favorite candy, GooGoo Clusters, next to a couple of photography books. Somewhere in the conversation, we discussed the challenge of communicating ideas in writing, and he told me that he once sent a letter to another congressman, writing, "I'd like to make this shorter, but I just don't have the time!" That led to a discussion about how difficult it is to be concise, and the conversation came full circle because a picture really is worth a thousand words. A year or two later, I talked him into speaking at a PMDA dinner in New York. I was the program chairman for that dinner, and he flew in. We grabbed a quick drink at his hotel and then headed to one of the function rooms at the UN, where this special evening meeting was to be held. He needed to leave immediately after his presentation. As I walked him out, he talked about loving the opportunity to speak to so many people from the photo industry, and then he thanked me for getting him a private car and made a comment, "I sure hope you didn't get me one of those big obnoxious limos. I hate the things...just love a simple Ford. I like to sit up front and talk to the driver." As we walked through the door to the outside, all the blood drained out of my face...not only did I get him a stretch, but because he was Senator Howard Baker, I got him the biggest one I could find. Not only that, but it was white on white and couldn't be more ostentatious. It was huge, and a family of twelve could live in it for a lifetime! He gave me a look that most of us only see from our spouses when we're in trouble...but for some reason, I held my ground, looked back at him, and said, "Admit it, you love it!" He cracked, climbed into the front seat next to the driver, and headed to the airport. A year or two later, he was in NYC again and called me. He was open for dinner on just one of the nights, and I invited him to Gramercy Tavern. Knowing almost nothing about politics, I decided we needed another photographer with us who could discuss politics as well as photography. I made a quick call to my buddy, Denis Reggie, who grew up in the political arena. An hour before dinner, I had another panic attack; Denis was a diehard Democrat, and Baker, the leading Republican! The truth is, it was a fantastic dinner, and a month later, the Senator called me and asked if I thought Denis would photograph his wedding. One call to Denis, and an hour later, they were on the phone together going over plans. I'll leave you with one last story... Somewhere over the years, he told me a story about once being introduced at a political dinner in Tennessee as the third most famous person to ever come out of the state. He smiled and said, "I sat there trying to think of who the other two were...turns out they were Dolly Parton!" We didn't just lose an amazing contributor to the country but an artist with incredible passion and an unmatched love for life. He loved photography, published several of his own photography books, and you couldn't help but enjoy his company, especially when he was in photo mode!  If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito! Dali Lama  Images by Steven Gotz by Skip Cohen
Technically, spring seasonality ended with Father's Day. Now that we're in summer, it's the perfect time for you to fine-tune your presence in the community. I've spoken with so many different artists over the years who tend to view summer as limited to what can be done to capture the attention of their target audience. After all, except weddings and event photography, there's not a lot going on, NOT!!!!! Let's start with community involvement, a topic I've written about numerous times before. Everyone can make a difference. In a world that's currently upside down, imagine how much better your community could be if everyone got more involved. There are so many different ways you can help: Blogging: A blog that regularly (at least twice a week) shares new content that's relevant to its readership helps establish your authority as an expert and builds your personal brand. Posts don't have to be long; they just need to be interesting to your target audience. For example, start and maintain a calendar of events related to non-profits in your community. And with each passing event, be there! Put yourself in the position of a photojournalist, sharing images and the stories behind various events. Within a very short amount of time, you'll be recognized as an Ambassador for the non-profits you're writing about. Your goal is to build a reputation for giving back to your community. You're not just another retailer! Additionally, being a photographer gives you the advantage of displaying your skills alongside your empathy for support. Social Media: While I firmly believe in the effectiveness of a good blog, for those of you who don't feel the same, then use social media to create awareness. As much as we all have a love-hate relationship with Facebook, it remains one of the most effective ways to reach your audience...but stay focused on your target demographics. Live Support: Just about all of you can teach a class in photography. It doesn't have to be an advanced technique, just helpful. For example, consider organizing a program in your community to help your audience capture better vacation photographs, July 4 fireworks, or storytelling. If you've got clients with young children, suggest they put a camera (or phone) in the hands of one of their kids to document family events and vacations. (It's incredible when you see the world through the eyes of a child.) Family Coloring Books: The idea is thanks to Steven Gotz, and it came out of the pandemic. Steven took images of clients as well as some of his animal shots, then pulled the colors and turned them into line art for a coloring book. Imagine the fun kids would have with a personalized coloring book of images of their own family! Even better, imagine the reaction from the parents as you help them document the summer ahead. Publicity: Summertime can be anything but slow! Utilize your network of community leaders, companies, and associations to share updates on your initiatives. Remember, it's all about building brand awareness. From local publications to community-centric websites - it's up to you to deliver a never-ending stream of information. The bottom line is simple: there's no such thing as support that's too small. But it's up to you to remind people you believe in your community!  "The future of marketing is not just getting attention, but keeping someone's attention." Tagline from a Spotify webinar ad by Skip Cohen When I saw the quote above in an ad format, it made so much sense. It's the ongoing challenge of marketing, especially for small business owners. Plus, we're through Spring seasonality with Father's Day batting cleanup. So, what can you do to continue building momentum and increasing brand recognition for your business? Just like Subliminal Man on an old SNL routine, you've got to maintain a presence with your target audience. It doesn't always have to be direct contact, but a continual flow of branding is necessary to build recognition and top-of-mind awareness.
Here's the bottom line: Summer is here, and you need to maintain your presence in a way that is supportive without being overly aggressive. It's about keeping that top-of-mind awareness I mentioned earlier. "The best marketing doesn't feel like marketing,"
Tom Fishburne "Whether you're doing B2B or B2C, marketing is all about reaching the right person, and talking to that person in a way that makes them feel comfortable," Adam Spawton-Rice   Click to enlarge in the SCU Lightbox by Skip Cohen
A few weeks ago, I announced I was putting Sunday Morning Reflections on the back burner and taking a break for a little while, but it's Father's Day, and I can't let the day go by without a "Happy Father's Day" to all you Dads out there. I already ran a tribute to my Dad earlier in the week, so today is focused on all of you...with just one story about my Dad. I was around seven years old when my mom found out I'd ridden my bike with the Jackson boys over the railroad tracks about a half mile from our house. The train tracks were on the 100% taboo list. Mom was furious and screamed, "Wait until your father gets home!" Dad got home, heard my mother's request for my punishment, and came into my room with his fraternity paddle from college. We talked about what I had done. Whether I was really filled with remorse or in fear of the paddle; he knew I wouldn't do it again. So, the conversation went like this: "Your mother wants me to paddle your butt...I know you'll never do it again, and you've learned your lesson. So, when I hit my leg with the paddle, you better scream and cry like there's no tomorrow!" He hit his leg, and I screamed...he hit it a second time, and again, I screamed and cried...on the third time, my mother beat on the door - "That's enough Ralph, let's hope he learned his lesson. My performance was flawless, and had there been an award for best supporting actor in a home parenting drama, the Oscar would have been mine. And that was my Dad - it never mattered to him how the lessons were learned, only that he achieved the results that helped me grow. Hanging on the wall of my office is his paddle, and next to it, my grandfather's pocket watch, a Gruen that still keeps perfect time. The paddle represents one of my favorite memories...and sharing the story opens the floodgates for more stories, and that's what great memories are all about. Happy Father's Day everybody. Cherish the moments that got you here because they go by too fast, and before you know it, they're gone. Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead and time to kick back and chill. Tomorrow isn't going anywhere, so why worry about it? And to my Dad, who I miss every day - you gave me a foundation of memories that have made you a legend. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't cherish growing up with you by my side. Love ya Pop!  Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles. It takes away today's peace. There is no greater wealth in this world than peace of mind. Randy Armstrong by Skip Cohen I started this series after reading a few great quotes I hadn't heard before. That led to wanting to share them, especially when they seemed relevant to many of today's challenges. It's a short post going into what's about to become a pivotal weekend in America, June 14. With protests all over the country and an estimated 46 million dollars being spent on celebrating the army and Donald Trump's birthday, there's a lot I just don't understand. Understanding is only half the challenge - because what we read or what's reported in the news can't be trusted. Sheila and I have chosen to simply keep focused on our life together and what we can support or change. We're doing our best not to let the fear of the future interrupt our peace. I heard a comment back in January from an unhappy photographer, "I'm just going to live in a snow globe for the next four years." Well, our snow globe is our local community. I miss the America I've known most of my life. I miss respecting our government because it was made up of people smarter than us. Well, the true experts have been fired, and the country is being run by a group that has forgotten about being for the people. In fact, for our own businesses, most of us wouldn't hire the majority of the people we see in the news these days. I'm trying hard not to make this into a political statement, and it's impossible. So, I'll wrap it up with another great quote. We spend countless hours reading, listening to, and watching other people's opinions
about what we should do, how we should think, and how we should live, but make comparatively little effort applying that knowledge and making it our own. Tiago Forte  Dad over the years - 1) The little kid in the front 2) Basic training in WWII 3) Dad and I taking a shot at Meyer lemons after my Aunt told us how sweet they were 4) He loved onion rings 5) Mom/Dad - award-winning Halloween costumes in 2012  by Skip Cohen It's Throwback Thursday, and this weekend is Father's Day...so it's a multi-faceted blog post. The portrait of my Dad and me on the right, which I've shared before, was captured in a booth at PPA National at least twenty-five years ago by Don Blair. I cherish the portrait, but there are a couple of additional points it makes. First, you don't need a fancy studio if you understand lighting and posing! Second, memories captured by old friends are definitely the best. "Big Daddy" Blair and I wrote our first book together in the 90s. It was a kick to do, and it remains relevant as a guide for outstanding portraiture. One of the highlights over the years was Dad coming to conventions with me. And when he and Don got together, the laughs were non-stop. They both served in the military in WWII...and I'm convinced the war might have ended earlier if not for these two knuckleheads! (And the way I'm using the word knuckleheads is filled with love, respect, and the biggest smile!) There's rarely a week that goes by that something doesn't come up that makes me think of Don. And when Gary (Don's son) and I get together, even on a phone call, there's an ongoing contest to see who can imitate Big Daddy's best "Hey, hey, hey, my man!"
Since Father's Day is Sunday, this is also about my Dad. He was my best buddy. Although he passed away over ten years ago, that doesn't diminish the appreciation and love I have for everything he taught me. I used to say there weren't many guys my age who still had their parents around, let alone liked them! He also possessed an amazing level of integrity, still conducting business on a handshake right up until his passing at 93. I convinced him to write the post below, which I share once a year. It makes a great point - stop worrying about everybody else's business and stay focused on your own. Wishing all the dads out there a terrific weekend and a chance to simply kick back and relax. And to Dad and "Big Daddy" - I picture the two of you hanging out together and watching over all your "chicks and grand-chicks," as Don used to say. Happy Father's Day everybody! by Ralph Cohen
Yesterday was my 88th birthday. I have been happily retired for many years, and unemployed for at least 15 of those. Now, out of the blue, comes our son, Skip, threatening me with employment! The pay he considers adequate is $.02 per word. So gathering together, my 50+ years in business experience, I thought this would be a good time to put my two cents in. I am not a plagiarist, but I must quote my father who spent the last months of his life writing advice to his children: “Conduct your business in an upright manner and remember, the most important thing in one’s life is to be honest with one’s self. Maintain the high standard and dignity that your business requires. Do not go into deals hastily and be visible in your business as much of the time as is possible. If you take time to play, do it away from your business, because your livelihood needs all the attention you can give to it.” Early on, I concluded that the best testimonials came from my many friendly competitors. We didn’t really compete with each other, in the true sense. True, we were in the same field of endeavor, but we all knew we were there to help each other. Happily, the “tough competition” fell by the wayside. I remember giving Skip driving lessons and I told him, “Watch the left front fender…..the rest will take care of itself!” I’ve found this is really true of everything in life. An old axiom says “If you tell the truth, you never have to remember what you said.” That is all part of reputation-building. I found that, sadly, in the field of real estate, truth is hard to come by for many. In our case, it was a major building block in the reputation which we enjoyed, and helped us to thwart the competition. Goodwill is all of the above, plus a lot of caring for your clients as well as your competitors. If life is a give-and-take situation, giving is the more important of the two. The taking will come with time and be far more appreciative. Just remember - you heard it here! Ralph Cohen, Founder and Creator of Skip Cohen!  Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together! Vest Kelly  Click to view in the SCU Light Box by Skip Cohen I've managed to stay away from comments on just about everything related to politics. I rarely believe anything on the news or Internet...but I do put weight on what I directly hear and witness myself. The bottom line is I'm just as upset and concerned as most Americans right now. This weekend, I know many of you will be supporting the thousands of protests around the country. Together, American citizens are creating a storm of hope for the future. It's a "storm" that could never exist on an individual basis. And while none of us know the outcome, we're all focused on getting the government back on track - of the people, by the people, for the people. However, today's post isn't just about the government forgetting that they work for us... but about the quote above and how it goes far beyond the political climate. A few months ago, I wrote about the Memory Clinic Pioneers Get-Together, an event celebrating hope in the treatment of Alzheimer's. Out of 50+ patients on the new infusion treatments, 42 joined us, along with their caregivers, members of the Memory Care Alliance, and a few members of the medical community. There were 120 people at the event! That single event has led to additional support groups and a heightened level of hope for the future and slowing down Alzheimer's. "Hope" has never been a word used in a conversation about Alzheimer's. Yet, the attendees at this event couldn't have been more focused on the future. It was inspiring, and the room was filled with a level of energy thanks to each attendee's passion for life and their commitment to finding solutions to the challenges of the disease. There have been thousands of people involved in the research to develop a cure for Alzheimer's. While there is no cure yet, the new drugs and treatments are creating a significant speed bump to slow down the disease. I guess my thoughts are about hope this morning... not just for getting America back on track, but for all the diseases and pain doctors, researchers, and chemists are working together to help make our lives better. "A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle."
Japanese Proverb  Image thanks to Ken Sklute by Skip Cohen Although I shared this post almost seven years ago, we're coming up on the anniversary of the first Skip's Summer School in 2009. Time definitely flies when you're having a good time! I left WPPI and Rangefinder Magazine in 2009 to follow a dream - starting my own business. We were in the middle of a recession, and I was headed off to pursue a dream to fulfill my entrepreneurial spirit. As I look back to the first program in '09 and the images from 2010, featured here, there are so many friendships that came out of this workshop series. Most of my family thought I was nuts and there were more than just a few friends who felt the same way. But I ran across an anonymous quote around that time that said it all: I do it because I can. I can because I want to. I want to because you said I couldn't. I've shared the group shot above in at least one other post, but this was the team who made it all happen that first summer. We started in Las Vegas at the MGM, and because of the economy at the time and Vegas hurting for business, there was no room block commitment, no minimum food or beverage and minimal charges for everything we needed as long as we booked rooms - and we did! I recently ran across a couple of photographs that bring back so many great memories from those summer programs. In 2010, Sarah Petty offered to fill in for Vicki Taufer, which brings back a whole story of its own. Here's the short version - Vicki and Jed were adopting their daughter and got caught in an immigration challenge and couldn't bring her back into the US for several months. Vicki stayed overseas, and Sarah jumped in to save summer school with an outstanding program. The story goes a lot deeper as dozens of photographers in the industry tried to help with letters to congressman, immigration officials, and a non-stop push to get Vicki home. Friendships are the best part of this industry, and Kay Eskridge spoke that year as well. Kay passed away last year, but the photograph below is one more reminder about the value of photography...capturing memories, especially of people we love and miss! We kept the Summer School programs simple with one big room, no breakouts and a dozen vendors who wanted to support education around the perimeter. Wifi was still a big deal, and the room was set up, so a new speaker kicked off every ninety minutes, but there were charging stations, and you could work at the same time - giving attendees the ability to stay in touch with business, but still pick up great ideas to market and promote their products/services.  Image thanks to Sarah Petty A favorite programs over the years was a completely impromptu panel of experts in the evening after the day's schedule. We got together after dinner for anybody who had wanted to keep things going. We were there to answer questions about business, photography, life - it just didn't matter. That's Clay Blackmore, Tony Corbell, me and my honey, Sheila. We had at least 8-10 instructors join us.  Image thanks to Samantha Photograpy  One of my favorite images of Sheila and me was captured that night and sent to me by good buddy, Brian Palmer. Brian's on the other side of the world these days, but I still keep hoping we'll catch up on one of his family trips back to the US. The shot itself, proves a very special point - you don't have to have everybody looking at the camera all the time. After the 2013 summer workshop, like so many educational events we decided it was time for a change. Workshops events like this are incredibly labor intensive and with so many different events to choose from it was time to move on, but not from the goal of education, continuing to build a business and support an industry I love dearly. With help from good buddy, Scott Bourne, the SCU blog became a reality and my life morphed into that of a blogger, podcaster, and writer. I wouldn't change a thing in my life since leaving Rangefinder/WPPI. The best part of the last sixteen years is the friendships that have come out of everyone's mutual love for the craft and the support we all give each other no matter what challenges life puts in our paths. If the plan doesn't work, change the plan, but NEVER your goal.
Author Unknown  It's no good running a pig farm badly for 30 years while saying, 'Really, I was meant to be a ballet dancer.' By then, pigs will be your style. Quentin Crisp by Skip Cohen Over the years, I've met many photographers who have shared their regrets about the direction their career path took. However, the revenue stream was substantial, and it was too risky to consider a change. Yet, they still have a passion for another specialty and a chance to be more creative. Senior photography is one of those areas that people have found it was hard to break into. So, they gave up chasing the idea. My point isn't so much about what a great direction it can be for a career, but if you're going to take that path, then do it right! If you're interested in the senior market, the first thing you need to ensure is that you've the right skill set, not just with your camera. You need excellent communication skills and the ability to establish a strong relationship with your subject. For many seniors, this may be their first time working with a professional photographer. They're as nervous about getting a portrait done as they are in dealing with some of their own self-esteem issues. That means your listening and conversational skills must be as good as your understanding of exposure, composition, and lighting! But here's the real point of today's post - you don't have to develop the senior market alone. Check out Marathon's "Power of 3" Senior Marketing program. It's direct mail at its best, with the expertise of the Marathon staff to watch your back and help you develop an effective program. For example, check out the strategy and timing below of their 3-point program, as well as the optional fourth "last chance" piece.
At the very least, finding out more about the program should be a no-brainer. It costs nothing for you to get more information. There's an unlimited combination of design components for you to choose from, but everything starts with your interest in expanding your expertise into the community. Even better, to help you build your brand as a senior photographer, the available design for each 3-part mailing is limited to only one studio per marketing area. It only takes a phone call to find out what's being done in your area. You can't create images that tug at people's heartstring if your own heart isn't in it! Skip Cohen If the senior market is something you've considered, then pick up the phone and give the Marathon team a call! Click below to find out how to get your Senior Power of 3 sample pack or call (800) 228.0629 to speak to an Account Representative.   The type of camera you use for photography makes no difference. A loving, open heart makes a photograph, not a camera. by Skip Cohen
I'm having some fun with great quotes, and the one above is one I shared 15 years ago on Facebook. I still hear people asking photographers, "What camera did you use?" Even in a world being touched by AI, it still amazes me that there are people who think it's the gear that makes the image, when it still takes an artist's creativity. So, the next time somebody asks you whose camera you use, there's a better answer. Years ago, I was in Tucson when Richard Avedon turned over his archives to the Center for Creative Photography. His travel camera, which he loved to play with at the time, was an old-style Polaroid SX-70.  May there be just enough clouds in your life to create beautiful sunsets! Author Unknown by Skip Cohen On January 1, 2017, I wrote my first Sunday Morning Reflections post. It was something I wanted to try - sharing something more personal with topics miles away from business and marketing. Now, 8 1/2 years later, I'm finally running out of things to write about. Thanks to all of you, I've managed to survive crossing the line into topics the "experts" say you should never blog about - you know, the stuff in our lives that really matters. (LOL) As readership grew, Sunday mornings became a time for sharing thoughts on the lives we're all trying to live outside of business. NOTE: If it seems like I'm headed down the road of sappiness, it's only because I am. I realized this week that maybe it's time to slow down a bit, and this will be my last Sunday Morning Reflections post. I'll still be sharing a few marketing posts and, of course, Throwback Thursday, but less frequently. I turned 76 last week, making me officially an old fart, putting me in good company with other residents of Sarasota County, typically considered the oldest per-capita county in the United States. Which, by the way, explains why so many people drive at 11 mph with their left turn signal on! So, this morning's post is a giant "THANKS" for your support, feedback, and never-ending enthusiasm for an industry I love dearly and a life I feel so blessed to be able to share. In the second Reflections post in 2017, I shared an outstanding quote, along with the one above: "Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows." Pope Paul VI I also wrote: None of us know what tomorrow will bring, and that takes me to my point this morning. We've got to do the best job we can of living our lives to the fullest. There's a unique level of awareness that comes with age. I realize just how short life really is and how fast time literally flashes by.
It's fine to recognize things you should have done differently in the past, but life isn't about what's in your rearview mirror. It's about the journey ahead of you. Learn from your regrets and move on to that next special moment. Wishing all of you a day ahead and a summer filled with moments that take your breath away. Ignore the "clouds" and appreciate the sunsets, but don't get so busy you miss them! Always go for those eleven-second hugs with the people most precious to you...and include the furry, four-legged critters in the family, too. Thank you so much for all your support. Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the planet.  by Skip Cohen It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday! If I had a closet for all my throwback pics and videos, the shot above, from Adobe Stock, would be precisely what it would look like...although not as organized! One aspect of the fun of #TBT is the simple fact that, due to changing technology, you really don't have to go back very far to find a classic memory. For example, I wrote for Shutter Magazine for six years. Every article included a short video summary. It was just over nine years ago we captured the two-minute video below. The fun of these videos was the challenge of getting people to remember my point. I knew if I could do something stupid in the video, readers might remember my point. The point I made back then is even more relevant today. Why? Because social media has given you even more access to your target audience. But to be effective, you need to define your target's demographics and then be precise in your message. It's called target marketing for a reason. Too many of you think one massive blast that hits everyone is going to bring in more business! Knowing your demographics and then reaching those potential clients effectively is about quality, NOT quantity. For most of you, especially if you're in the portrait/social specialties of imaging, your target audience is Mom! Women make 98% of the purchase decisions to hire a photographer in this category. So, if you're advertising in Men's Health, it's as bad as me duck-hunting from my pool in Sarasota. The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well that the product or service fits them and sells itself! Peter Drucker Happy Throwback Thursday!
 Faith...is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. Unknown by Skip Cohen While it might seem like a strange post this morning, it's right in line with what I'm feeling after coming off of a terrific long weekend. We all know how to hold focus with a camera in our hands, but what about staying focused on our hopes and dreams? The world is upside down. The quote above is framed and on a wall in our home. While I see it several times every day, that doesn't mean it always sinks in. Blind optimism used to be enough to get me through the craziness of the world, but today, it takes work. The bottom line? I can't fix the world, but I can do my best with my little piece of it and the dreams and hopes I have for myself and my own family. And if each of us focuses on making our little piece of the world better, the big picture might get a little brighter too. It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.
John Wooden  While it may seem small, the ripple effect of small things is extraordinary. Matt Bevin  by Skip Cohen Remember, it's Sunday, and I never talk about business when writing Reflections! It's my time to share and remind you about something entirely outside the daily stress of being a business owner. Today's subject is a perfect example. There's a small porch off my home office, and it's ideal for anything that grows with minimal attention and high heat. I'm not sure why the original owners added it to the house because it's enclosed on all sides without any cross-ventilation. At least eight months out of the year, it's too hot to be on. That's where Sheila decided to put a few cactuses...and she was right! This week, my own private desert came into bloom. In all my travels over the years, I've never caught the desert in bloom. But having a few cacti in the family has given me a front-row seat to what it must be like. (And while I did give the image above one little tweak in Luminar, it was just to play with the background.) As I've gotten older, it's the little things I appreciate more and more every day. Looking out the window yesterday and seeing a cactus flower made me smile. The color, the irony of something that beautiful, which has pretty much been ignored of any care, including water or even fertilizer, is a mini-miracle. There's so much we take for granted and miss! We walk right by all the little things because we're too busy and stressed to notice. After all, how can you take time to appreciate a flower blooming when the world is falling apart? If you look at the big picture, you start losing your focus on the little things. Julius Randle There are so many little things in my life that give me joy...my day starts with Sheila and I getting up together and taking care of the pups...we take them out, get them brushed, and then they get a treat to start the day. Later, Sheila and I have breakfast together - almost always avocado toast with an egg over the top. Meanwhile, the house is always filled with music, and you can never predict what's going to be playing - starting the day with Spa Radio and finishing it with Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, Ed Sheeran, CSN, or some other random artist, usually from the past. Here's my point - pay attention to the little things that make you smile. On the toughest of days, there are always little things that add to your life and give it that extra seasoning, just like the spices you put on a steak before you throw it on the grill. Looking for a little respite from the big pressures in your life? Take the time to notice all the little things - they'll become magical. Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead. If you're in the US, it's Memorial Day weekend and most of you have the Monday holiday to kick back and enjoy all the little things together with the big ones in your life. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about...they're little things that have big meaning because they're reserved for those people most special! Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world. Find magic in the little things, and the big things you always expected will start to show up.
Isa Zapata  This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect. Jodie Picoult by Skip Cohen
As I sat down to search for material for my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday, my good buddy Nick Vedros came up in my Facebook notifications because it's his birthday today. Nick shared the shots above in 2010 and 2011. Well, they deserve to be shared again. The big shot on the right is Nick and Dean Collins...Nick and Dean were the very best of friends, and the "Nicky, Nicky, Nicky" line was Dean's way of greeting Nick whenever he saw him. It included a long sigh and Dean shaking his head in recognition of the greatest practical joke ever pulled, in this case, Nick on Dean. It wasn't until years later I learned the backstory. (Sorry, it's "R" rated, but just trust me, it was a classic.) The two smaller pictures are from the Blue Man Group in NYC one night in the 90s. Nick invited me to join them, and it's one of my favorite memories. And now that the Blue Man Group is no longer playing, it's become an even greater classic. But today's post isn't just about my own fun walk down Memory Lane. It's about great friendships, the ones that stand the test of time, even when some of the friends have passed. Dean passed away twenty years ago this past February. At least a few times a month, I think about our friendship and how much I miss catching up with him. Over the years, I've promised to stop using that quote by Jodie Picoult, but it's the best one ever shared about throwback photographs. And to the birthday boy himself today...Nick buddy, you've enriched my life and created your own unique chapter of adventures. I'm a better photographer for having hung out with you at so many events. And being on the road with you was always a kick! From a friendship I cherish, to all the laughs, and pride I have at being able to say, "Yeah, I know Vedro," what a trip it continues to be! At least thirty years ago, Nick was doing a program somewhere around Phoenix. In the back of the room, the legendary Don Blair was listening and furiously taking notes. Most of you never knew Don, but he was one of the finest portrait artists in the world. At that point, he had taught hundreds, if not thousands, of classes focusing on lighting and posing. "What are you doing? You know all this stuff," I asked. Don just shook his head and said, "Are you kidding me? This guy is unbelievable and I have all these new ideas I want to try!' So, from Don Blair to knuckleheads like me, other friends, and thousands of artists and photographers, Nick, you've been an influence. From your creativity to the way you prioritize friendships and everything in between, the industry is better today because you're in it! Happy Birthday, Buddy! |
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