Over the last ten years, I've repeatedly shared Bleu and Alison Cotton's holiday card. Every year I get their card, laugh and think, "There's no way they'll top this one next year!"  Well, a new year rolls around and *poof* they do it again.

Most of you are professional photographers, and while it's too late to do much for this year, it's perfect to think about your 2019 card. No professional photographer should ever be sending out a store-bought holiday card!

Create your own card using one of your images for the front, or put your creativity into staging a photograph like Bleu, Alison and Fisher do every year. Then, include a message that extends your wishes for the holidays with a tie-in to your URL, address, phone number - anything to link people back to what you do as an artist.

Just to add to the fun, the return address on this year's card was from the Marx Brothers! So, to one of my favorite families in photography, Happy Holidays and thanks for never slowing down on the creativity from year to year.  And, to Fisher - thanks for feeding your parents all these creative ideas - I know they'd be boring without you! LOL

Here are a few below I've saved over the years and in fact, featured in previous blog posts.

It's Mirrorless Monday, but it's also holiday time, and at the risk of sounding like an infomercial, here are two LUMIX cameras you should know about. With fixed zooms and minimal weight, both under two pounds, they're my favorite cameras to travel with. Plus, you'll find the FZ300 under $400 and the FZ1000 under $500 this time of year...and both with Panasonic's promotional warranty extension to three years, good on purchases through 3/31/2019.

Since most of you are working professional photographers, I don't have the level of expertise the LUMIX Ambassadors have to explain why they're shooting LUMIX for their professional work, especially with the LUMIX GH5 and Lumix G9. 

However, I'm well-qualified to share my favorite cameras to travel with. Plus, on many occasions, especially if we're on the road, my wife has wanted to grab a camera, and she's got the passion and the eye, but not the technical background to think through the best way to capture an image.

​What I love most about the entire LUMIX line is how compact and light they are. Then comes their ability to shoot in low light situations at times when I would never have anticipated being able to handhold the camera for the exposure. Last on the list, but really first in priority is the quality of my images. I know a few of you will roll your eyes at the idea of shooting in "IA" mode (Intelligent Auto), but it's incredibly accurate.

Check out this very short video with LUMIX Ambassador, Suzette Allen taking you through how IA mode works on LUMIX cameras.

​Every Sunday I go off track from the business of photography. I write whatever's on my mind and I'm always surprised when what seems like a boring topic that could put a rock to sleep seems to hit home with so many of you. Well, today's one of those mornings, because it's been a pretty fantastic run of just feeling great about life and being happy.

Being "happy" and content with your life isn't something that happens on its own. Happiness runs in waves, but as I've gotten older, I'm finally realizing the timing between waves is up to me. 

Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like.
Unknown Author

​So here I sit this morning pounding away on the computer with this stupid smile on my face, just because I'm happy. That doesn't mean everything is perfect in my life, only that I've learned to appreciate all the good stuff and moved the bad stuff outside! 

Over the years as Sheila and I battled the naysayers in our lives, we started to think of our home as a castle with a moat around it. And, when the sadness and stress from somebody ugly got inside, we'd accuse each other of leaving the drawbridge down for too long. There's a great comment I read once about dealing with challenges in life - "grow through what you go through." Well, that's exactly what we learned to do.

As I write today's post, I hardly have a perfect life. However, I do have a perfect way of appreciating it. The "Negators" can't make it in if I don't let them. The door is always open when they learn to behave with love instead of anger and fear. 
 
I'm just going to start to wrap this up with a terrific quote that covers it all:

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right.Forget about those who don't.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it.
Paulo Coelho

​The year is rapidly coming to a close, and December is always the perfect time of year to be grateful for the smiles in your life. Just like a squirrel putting acorns away for the winter, cherish the people you care about most and build a stash of memories you can draw from when your happiness is challenged by the baggage people and events leave on your doorstep. Appreciate the now - this very moment in time when, with a smile on your face, you feel like you could take on the world.

I get that it sounds sappy and hokey, but it works. Your life is never going to be perfect, but that doesn't mean it's not a great life and filled with incredible opportunities that can make you smile both inside and out.

Make it a great Sunday. Go for those eleven-second hugs I've written about for years and make it a day filled with memories that will become daily vitamins when times are tough. And, from me this beautiful Sunday morning, thank you for your support, your inspiration and your contribution to the smile on my face right now!

Happy Sunday!

Be Happy!
Not because everything is perfect.
But, because you choose to focus on the perfect moments.
Author Unknown

Since February the SCU Diner has served up thirty-nine new blue-plate specials. The project started because there are too many of you who ignore the operational side of your business. You need a quick reminder now and then about operational components outside your gear. It's not because you don't care, but that you're artists, and more focused on capturing and creating the ultimate image than worrying about the business.

So, we started a series of relatively short tips to help you build a better biz, reach more clients and build lasting relationships rather than just purchases.

I've written about playing offense many times in the past, and since this is an active month for wrapping up the  football season, it's a great way to look at the new year. Playing offense is always easier than fighting to build your livelihood as a photographer on defense. Even in business, we'd all rather carry the ball than chase it!

Today's special is a list of seven key things to think about in the year ahead. And, while you're hopefully buried in holiday orders right now, there's no excuse not to be ready to kick the year off right in January.

1) Marketing: Many of you already have ideas for 2019, but you haven't turned those mind's eye visions into reality. You should plan at least one consumer promotion a quarter. Start to think about things you could be doing to create some excitement for your business in the form of consumer/client-based promotions. 

2) Conferences: What programs or workshops are you going to attend next year?  Not every conference requires you to hit the road for a week of hotels, air travel, etc.  Should you be at one of the big convention/trade shows?  The year kicks off with IUSA in Atlanta, WPPI in Vegas, ShutterFest in St. Louis, Photoshop World in Orlando and Las Vegas, ClickCon in Chicago and PPE in NYC in the Fall.  These are all big conferences - but don't forget a lot going on closer to home you should know about. Check on the dates for your own state or regional conference.

3) Credit Line:  Establish a credit line with a leasing company - even if you're not buying anything right now! Here's where you can utilize somebody else's assets without depleting yours!  You need the credit line in your back pocket so when you do need new gear; you're ready to obtain it without hitting the panic button because you don't have the funding. Your camera is your lifeline along with lenses, lights, printers, and your computer!  Most of you are always flying without a net - having the ability to obtain gear on a lease will give you a little extra security when you need it most without tying up cash flow.

4) Insurance: Fifty percent of the wedding and event photographers in this country list themselves as part-time.  That means many of you are playing Russian roulette with your home insurance policies, which generally don't cover equipment used for business purposes. Check with your insurance agent and make sure your gear is covered under your policy.  Also, do you have indemnification insurance?  Are you covered if you shoot a wedding and you lose the images before they're downloaded? PPA's insurance policy covering you in this area is outstanding.
  
5) Backup: Everyone talks about backing up their images and backup gear, but what about you? I wrote about it a few years ago - when I battled it out with the gallbladder from hell. I lost two solid weeks in my own business and had never thought about backup. Fortunately my good buddy, Scott Bourne stepped in to help.

There's a great line I read about safe driving on a billboard once: "Accidents only happen to other people. So, all you other people, watch out!" You need a person or two you trust to know the critical aspects of your business just in case you're caught in a bind. 
 
6) Diversity in your skill set: What's your specialty? Are you a one trick pony or do you have a couple of other tricks up your sleeve?  If business disappeared in the specialty you're strongest in, what's your game plan to still have a company?

7) Your Network: If you got a call to shoot the biggest wedding of the year and needed help, who's on your list to call? The same would go for all you commercial photographers - if you had a job more significant than anything you've ever done how would you do it?
  
I started this Fast Food Friday post talking about offense versus defense.  It's also called being proactive rather than reactive.  In a successful business you've got to cover both, but then Murphy jumps in with Murphy's Law, "If anything can go wrong it will!"  Well, I'm a big fan of Murphy's second law - "Murphy was an optimist!"

Fast Food Fridays are brought to you by:

I'm not sure when Photographers Ignite got started, but I do know for several years it was one of my most favorite events at WPPI. Kevin Kubota made it all happen, and the concept couldn't be easier to understand.  

​Each speaker had five minutes to make their presentation with 20 slides that automatically advanced every 15 seconds. The speaker had no control over their slides except in the initial creation before submitting their program.

Think about the concept of having to be so concise that you had to cover all your key points in just five minutes!  There were some stellar presentations, and this one from my buddy Scott Bourne was one of the best.  
 
Well, it's Throwback Thursday and this video from seven years ago is a classic and the perfect reminder of so many different ideas to help you build a stronger better business. And, looking back there are some fun things to point out:
​

• Scott is introduced as a heavy hitter on Twitter with 90,000 followers - Today he's got 221,000!
• Kevin mentioned "GoingPro." Co-authoring the book with Scott, it's one of the highlights of my career. The book is still one of the best publications out there for artists getting started in the business of photography.
• Pay attention to each of the points in Scott's presentation - this is a lesson in building trust, relationships, and all the ingredients to make yourself habit-forming to your clients.

Scott continues to share a lot of wisdom to help you build a stronger business and raise the bar on your skill set. The best way to keep track of what he's doing is to follow him on Facebook. As the President of Skylum Software and a spokesman for Olympus, he's sharing outstanding content every day!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

Note: After I wrote this the other day I realized I was confusing the issue with two points. Of course everyone is frustrated with the challenge of trying to talk to a real person at Facebook. However, the real issue for me is whether or not I'm alone in being bothered by the number of people who have passed away who still have FB pages. I'm not trying to launch a campaign, just curious.

Is anybody else frustrated with the challenge of trying to talk to a real person at Facebook? So far it seems impossible.  Here's the latest challenge and I know not everyone is going to agree with me. 

• A few months back I got an IM on Facebook from an old buddy, Jim Jernigan. He just said, "Hi! How are you?" Seems pretty harmless, except Jim sadly passed away a couple of years ago. 
• Over the last few years, I've tried to shut down my Dad's Facebook page. I don't know his password, and he passed away three years ago. While it's a nice memory, having his account still active leaves his account exposed to hackers.
• The other day, Jerry Hammond's name came up on Facebook because it was his birthday. I met him several years ago, but when I went to wish him Happy Birthday, I noticed he passed away in 2013.

And the list goes on with other friends like Bill Hurter and Arnold Crane, to name a couple more. 

Look, I get the sentimental attachment to people we've loved and lost. There are a few times when I've even posted something on their old page.  It's almost therapeutic to remind them how much they're missed. But, overall, as Facebook is in the news lately talking about how they're working hard to clean up the challenge with fake people/profiles, it seems like they could do a better job with people who are no longer living.

I hate the fact that my father's account, along with other friends who have passed away, is just sitting out there vulnerable and waiting for somebody to take it over.

I'm obviously a fan of Facebook, and there are more good things it's done for all of us as opposed to bad. However, their customer service model is a perfect example of what NOT to do in your own business. Respond quickly to customers; give them solutions to help address their concerns and remember, silence is not part of your skill set.

By Chamira Young

Despite the fact that winters in Michigan are considered gray and devoid of color, I firmly believe there are still interesting photos to be made. In today's featured photo for our Luminar Corner, it's a winter photo of the St. John's Marsh preserve area, located about 45 minutes northeast of Detroit. I used to live all of 2.5 minutes away from it, and it was one of my favorite places to hike through and explore.

It was a walk down memory lane finding this image on my hard drive. Let's have some fun with it and see what we can do. Here's the original image:

The Process
 
I recall the day being so cold I was in a rush to take the image: hence it's crookedness. First I straightened out the image by using the Free Transform Tool.

From there, I played it by eye. I applied the "Impressive" Preset from the Travel Category, which gave it some immediate pop. I left the Exposure the same, but decided to turn down the Highlights just a little. Then, I turned up the Shadows, which brought out the contrast in the golden marsh grass. I raised the Clarity, and raised the Vibrance ever so slightly. 

Finally, from the blue "Add Filters" button in the upper right corner, I selected the HSL filter, which allows you to control the Hue, Saturation, and Luminance (Brightness) of the individual colors in your image. I turned up the Aqua and Blue settings to bring out the blue hues of the sky a bit.

Below is the final image. It definitely has fresh life breathed into it. Have you tried Luminar yet?

Six years ago I did a two-day program on marketing and business for Creative Live. I’ve often referred to it as “the most fun I don’t ever want to do again!” The amount of work and the number of slides to teach marketing as an online program bordered on overwhelming. Remember, it’s not the same as being able to step away from your slides and explain lighting, work with a model and demonstrate a point with the results. 

Still, it was a fantastic experience, but the best part of the event had little to do with marketing and business, but the friendships that came out of my live audience. Three great friendships came out of that event, Sherry Hagerman, Carlos Zamora, and Jared Burns. Yesterday Jared posted this on Facebook referring to it as celebrating Independence Day.

“Five years ago I was working in corporate America for a lesser known aerospace company who was very proud of their work/life balance values. During my time, several members of management stated I was one of the best employees to ever fill that role with specific remarks about dependability, organization, and innovation. Six months in, my wife was hit as a pedestrian by a drunk driver.

Notifying my superiors, I left work 1 hour early to take care of my family. It broke my perfect 6-month attendance record and management told me I was not eligible for a raise as a result. That moment revealed their true values when it came to work/life balance.

A year into my employment, we had agreed on a review to talk about my future path and development in the company. Management refused repeatedly to meet for the review. At that point, it was clear I needed to make my own way.”

Jared gave his notice and left on December 9, 2014, to start a full-time career in photography. There are a couple of points that come to mind this morning, all thanks to his post:
​

• Jared didn't just leap into photography. He attended every possible workshop he could. He practiced, and he surrounded himself with positive people who watched his back and added a very special ingredient to his dream - their friendship. 
• If there's one lesson that's been consistent throughout my career, it's that things always work out for the better. I remember having a conversation with Jared around 2010. His dream was to be a professional photographer, FULL-TIME, but he also had the responsibility of a family. Working for corporate America, he had benefits and stability. The timing wasn't right then for him to take the risk of a career change.
• There's that old expression, "It takes a village." Well, Jared had a village of supporters behind him. And, the Mayor of that village was his wife, Beth. She's his number one fan and was there to support him, and they made the career change together.  So often we take on the stress of new directions thinking we're alone when our best supporters are right there with us.

Last year I caught up to Jared and Beth for lunch at WPPI. It was a kick to meet her finally. A few minutes later Sherry Hagerman came by and joined us. It was one of those moments that to anyone else would seem like four people having a rushed slice of pizza on the run at a convention. But for me, it was unique and memory-making because it was part of what I love most about our industry.

Here's my last point, and I've said it a few hundred times over the years. The best thing about this industry has NOTHING to do with photography, but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Jared and I crossed paths in Seattle at Creative Live and as hokey as it might sound, nobody could be prouder of what he's accomplished as an artist. Even better are the friendships we share and wondering what the future holds for all of us!

​Sports photographer, Brad Mangin was our guest for this eleventh podcast in the Beyond Technique series. Without question, PhotoShelter is home to some of the most talented and diverse artists in photography. We all know the expression, time flies when you're having fun. Well, each podcast seems to go by in a flash as each guest shares so much insight into their careers and the challenges of being in business today. 

Just like the artists who have joined us on Beyond Technique, PhotoShelter never compromises on the tools they provide for outstanding presentations. Living in an Internet world, each photographer we've interviewed has stressed how much they depend on their website and how the team at PhotoShelter has never let them down.

Brad Mangin was a kick to interview because he was so candid about his love for sports, the importance of the relationships he built over the years and even a few of the frustrations of dealing with the publication world today. 

What I enjoyed the most, besides getting to know Brad, was wandering through his portfolio. Although baseball is obviously one of his greatest passions, there's nothing he can't photograph. And, if you take the time to wander through his portfolio, it's like taking a walk through a sports Hall of Fame and following the history of so many iconic moments.

I pulled a few of my favorites, but they represent the tip of the iceberg in a lifetime career of one of the finest sports photographers in our industry. Every image of Brad's captures the emotion and action of each game.  

Interested in seeing more of Brad's work? Click on any of his photographs in this post to visit his website, blog and store. You won't be disappointed in any of the images he shares. And, follow him on Instagram as he regularly shares great images!

A big thanks to Brad for joining us.  And, a big thanks to PhotoShelter for the services and products they offer each client, and their incredible focus on customer service.  

When I grow up, I want to be Ben Grunow!  It's that simple - he's traveled and captured some stunning landscape images, and he just sent me an IM that he's headed to Patagonia next month.  Another place in the world on my bucket list, and I'm betting a lot of you have many of the same places on your list that I've got on mine.

Ben was in Iceland when he captured the image above with a LUMIX G9 and the Leica 8-18mm lens. I shared a few of Ben's images of the Northern Lights from this same trip to Iceland in an earlier post. With the photograph above he wrote:

...We had not planned to see this site. Earlier in the day we had longed to follow a road out to the receding glacier. We basically had gone as far as our smaller SUV rental car could take in the rivers. We made a wise decisions and decided to stay and camp to assure we made it to the airport the following morning with only minor river crossings on the way back.

Knowing we only had a hour before sunset, and being down in the flood plane from the melting glaciers we had to get higher and see if we could find some better ground. This was just before sundown as the last light hit the top glacier and moss covered volcanic peaks.

He added one short comment about post processing:

I combined two images that had been shot as auto bracketed exposures...I picked a dark and neutral image and hand blended them in photo shop - real quick post processing! (5 min)

​I've written a lot about networking over the years and my good buddy, Scott Bourne has shared a lot of thoughts too. Parts of this post he first shared in 2013, but as this year comes to a close and so many of you plan which conventions you're going to be attending in 2019, the timing to remind you about the basics, couldn't be more relevant.

I know some of our points might seem almost childish, in the category of your mother, when you were a kid, reminding you to say "please" and "thank you."  But, we live in a world of email and texts, and it's surprising how many of you have forgotten the art of conversation, the importance of a firm handshake and eye contact when you're talking to somebody. Scott hits on seven basics to help you launch each new friendship and "invitation" into your network in the right direction. ​

"Sometimes, idealistic people are put off with the whole business of networking
as something tainted by flattery and the pursuit of selfish advantage. 
But virtue in obscurity is rewarded only in Heaven.
To succeed in this world you have to be known to people."
Sonia Sotomayor

I want to add three more tips to Scott's conversation starters below because networking is at the very top of the list to why you should attend every possible convention!

• Never eat alone! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are the perfect times to get to know somebody new or for that matter catch up to old friends. And, the topics to talk about over a meal are endless.
• Make a few reservations at restaurants in advance. No matter where the convention is held and how many restaurants are in the area, it's nice to have a few tricks up your sleeve when it comes time for dinner. Check out the area you're headed to online before your arrival and lock in a couple of dinner reservations for groups of four.
• Design a marketing piece to show a little of your work. The days of carrying a big portfolio of images are long gone, as are showing dozens of images on your phone. However, an over-sized postcard with 3-5 great photos is a perfect leave-behind piece for new friends and vendors you meet at a conference.
• Arrive at classes/presentations a few minutes early. Give yourself time to meet the speaker and the people sitting around you.
• Use Scott's "ice-breakers" to start conversations with people sitting on either side of you at every program you attend. Every presentation is an opportunity for you to meet more people and b

Remember, successful networking is about your number one best marketing tool - building relationships!

by Scott Bourne

With the annual trade show and convention season almost upon us, it's never too early to start thinking about how you'll get the most out of each event. Here are some networking conversation starters and tips to get you going.

• When you shake hands with someone, look them in the eye and repeat their name - twice if possible. This shows you're engaged with them and helps you remember who they are. If you're comfortable doing it, lean in to the person when you shake hands. This is a sign of acceptance and warmth.

• When you're talking to someone look them in the eye - not over their shoulder to see if someone more important is nearby.

• Put away the cell phone when you're meeting face-to-face. Tweet later. Update Facebook later. For now, try some old fashioned HUMAN networking.
• Listen more than you talk and ask lots of open-ended questions. If you want to be a successful networker you're going to have to learn that it takes caring about the other person's needs to get yours met.
• Ask what one big problem or challenge your new friend faces and if you have a possible solution, offer it - don't sell - just offer to help.

• Be sincere. Don't make promises you can't keep. If you're not truly interested in someone, spend enough time to be polite but move on. No sense in building false expectations.

• Introduce your new friend to at least two of your old friends, preferably before you leave your current conversation. This way you're not just walking away, but you're doing something that might turn out to be super helpful.

Great networking requires unselfish acts. A hard concept to grasp in today's ME ME ME world. But try it, you might get more out of it than you realize.

And remember as always, Skip and I are rooting for you.

"Don't let yesterday take up too much of today."
Will Rogers

​As I sat down to write Reflections this morning, I turned to Google for a little help, typing in "quotes about life." That lead me to Will Rogers' quote above, and that got me thinking about a series of events in my life. I found myself letting thoughts of the past take up too much time in the present.  I understood what I was doing, and before the "dark side" consumed me, I chose to write about it this morning.

One of Sheila's favorite expressions is "Don't should on yourself!" All of us do it, with a few people I've met over the years turning it into an art form. Instead of just appreciating the moment, they spend hours analyzing what they should have done instead. It's an analytical defense mechanism as they look at the results from a path they chose, instead of just appreciating what they did, learning from it, and moving on.

Like most people, I have regrets for a few things I've done, but more for things, I didn't do. We all do a little Monday morning quarterbacking from time to time as we look at our decisions. It's okay to look in the rear view mirror as long as you appreciate everything you see is behind you!

"In the end we only regret the chances we didn't take."
Author Unknown

​For years I lacked the confidence to go out on my own. From Polaroid to Hasselblad, PhotoAlley.com and Rangefinder/WPPI I always worked for other companies. I lived vicariously through so many of you, admiring your drive and entrepreneurial spirit.  Had it not been for Sheila, I doubt that I would have ever stepped outside my comfort zone almost ten years ago. 

And that brings me full circle with today's post. At the risk of sounding like a bad rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way," we all have regrets. We all have those chances we wish we'd taken and didn't. But here's one of the very best things about life...we've all got today and tomorrow! 

Wishing everybody a day with no regrets, time with the people you love and smile-making moments that help you build a never-ending supply of memories to cherish tomorrow. The year is quickly coming to a close and December is always an amazing month to spread a little cheer and pave the way for a new year.  Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs, but at the same time, don't be afraid to tell the people most important to you how much you appreciate the role they play in your life.

Happy Sunday - and if it's Monday where you are, I'm wishing you the best for the new week ahead.

"Be spontaneous. Be crazy. Leave your comfort zone and live with no regrets."
Author Unknown

​Every week since mid-February the SCU Diner has shared a "blue-plate special," just like those great diners in New Jersey I used to enjoy in my Hasselblad days.

The whole idea behind Fast Food Friday is to give you a taste of things you should be doing to build a stronger business. And, while I know this is your busiest time of year, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be looking ahead and building a stronger foundation for establishing better brand awareness!

Today's special hits on a favorite challenge for every business - finding new customers. There are too many of you who thought just by opening your business and hanging a sign; customers would flock to your door. 

Well, it doesn't work that way. Think about how much noise is in our lives. You've got to find ways to get through that noise and utilize your very best marketing tool - building relationships.

To figure out today's Fast Food Friday menu I started looking for motivational quotes, and I ran across one of my favorites above.

It really hit home for me personally and fits for so many of you. Whether you've recently just started as a professional photographer or you're a seasoned pro trying to jump-start an established business, you've got to look for new opportunities.

​Every business, no matter what line of work you're in, has the same challenge, finding customers and keeping them. You've got to find that sweet spot that makes you different from what everybody else is doing.

Own your zip code: When was the last time you got out and literally knocked on doors to introduce yourself to every business in the community?

When I was a kid, I remember moving to a new neighborhood and a woman from "Welcome Wagon" came by the house to introduce us to the vendors in the community. She left a basket of goodies, coupons, and information. You need to do the same thing, with or without a goodie basket.

And, it's holiday time! This is the perfect time of year to be meeting every business owner in your community. You don't have to sell them anything, just wish them "Happy Holidays," and remind them as a photographer and artist, you're there to help with any help they need in imaging.

All of your past clients: Everybody is busy looking for new clients, but they forget about building relationships with their existing base. These are people who already know you and have other photographic needs or friends who do, but you've got to stay in touch. Holiday cards, email, phone calls and even a personal visit here and there are all perfect to keep in touch. Remember, a great business is built on a foundation of relationship building!

Partnerships: Other businesses, including photographers, are the perfect partners to create excitement in the community. New alliances can be just what you need to "build some new doors."  It can be as simple as sharing the cost of a mailing to actual cross-promotions of each other's products/services. Again, it's holiday time, and you're going to be meeting so many different people at community events as the year comes to a close. Think about those people you meet who might be terrific partners in the future.

Social Media: Each day you've got an opportunity many of you miss to expand your presence in social media. Without question, for photographers, those new doors are through a well-done blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest when it comes to reaching new potential clients. However, you've got to pay attention to your presentation, the quality of your images and being helpful in what you're sharing.

You know how to focus your camera, but what about your business? Opportunities are everywhere, but you're the only one who can go out and find them!

Fast Food Friday is brought to you by:

​It's Throwback Thursday and while I shared these techniques many years ago, the more photographers I "meet" online, the more relevant understanding lighting technique has become. There are so many of you who could raise the bar on the quality of your portraits with better lighting!

In 1999, Don Blair and I published Don Blair's Guide to Lighting and Posing Body Parts. That's 19 years ago, and the information we shared in this book will never go out of date. The whole idea for a book like this started during one of Don's programs when somebody sitting near me said, "This is great stuff - there should be a book on this!"

Well, the sweetheart of Don's life, his wonderful wife Donna, had passed away a year or so earlier and the project started with a dual purpose - to help photographers improve their portraiture and to give Don something to help take his mind off the pain of a broken heart. I remember being on the road with him several times, and he'd always buy a rose and put it on the pillow next to him as his own tribute to Donna.

We did all the photography for the book in Las Vegas with models from the area because we wanted to introduce the book at WPPI the following year with a program that included the same models. Tony Corbell, Terry Deglau joined us as we storyboarded each page on the wall of the hotel room where we were shooting. Remember, there was no digital imaging then - every shot for the book was first captured on a Polaroid proof. Bambi Cantrell later added the finishing touch with the author's portrait for the back page on the right.

The fun of today's post has two parts. First, so many of you need to understand the basic principles of good lighting, and it doesn't get any easier than to share Don's examples, complete with diagrams. Second, what a kick to take this walk down Memory Lane. Even though I've shared some of the backstories about Body Parts before, "Big Daddy" was one of the most loved photographers in the industry. I think about our adventures together all the time.  It's a great reminder why the memories we help people capture are so important!

If you need help in improving your portrait technique, technology has changed a lot, and Marathon Press can still print the book, but no longer have it in stock. If you've got an interest let me know in the comment section and I'll pass on the information. 

​Happy Throwback Thursday!

​In this new episode of One Location, One Lesson, One Lens, David Akoubian shares some excellent tips on bird photography.

Even if you're not a bird photographer, the advice he gives is universal to so many different applications.  And, he's doing it all on location at one of the places on my bucket list, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. He's in New Mexico for the Festival of the Cranes, which has taken place every November for 30 years.

​David's done an excellent job packing in solid how-to content in this three-minute video, but so has Tamron in capturing the power and the beauty of an estimated ten thousand cranes and twenty thousand geese arrivIng during their winter migration.

David's no stranger to SCU with several different posts over the years, although one of my most favorite is his episode of "Why?" from 2017.  To enjoy more of David's work click on any of the two screenshots I pulled from this video and don't forget to check out David's workshop schedule to fulfill your own bucket list of photography trips!

David's "co-star," along with the birds, is Tamron's SP 150-600 G2 lens. It's a remarkable piece of glass, and a necessity for birds in flight:

​This couldn't be a better time to check out Tamron's family of products and especially the instant savings on the SP 150-600 G2 lens.  Tamron's making some of the finest optics in photography today and always staying focused on ways to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images! Just click the banner below for more information.

Chamira Young and I have been having fun with Luminar 2018, taking turns each week and sharing another tool we're working with. However, the true joy of the relationship with Skylum and this terrific software is our ability to direct a portion of sales through SCU to one of my favorite nonprofits; Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. 

The original promotion was initially scheduled to end on November 30, but in all honesty, we can't come up with a reason to not let it run until the end of the year, at which time we'll direct help to another nonprofit. So, for every Luminar purchase through December 31, we're donating $5 to NILMDTS.

The image above is this week's pick and my final image - Instead of using a preset, I chose to use a couple of different tools. Here's the original on the right.

Accent AI Filter:  This filter is the first one on the filter selection list, and it's the perfect place to start. It automatically analyzes the image and makes the necessary adjustments. Remember with all the Luminar filters you can adjust the degree of impact on the image.

Tone Filter: Next step was to adjust the "Tone" - which adjusts overall brightness and contrast. I also went a little deeper into "Smart Tone" along with playing with the highlights, shadows, blacks, and whites. 

Structure Filter: Last, I tweaked the image using the structure filter. It enhances clarity and micro-contrast in the surface areas between the edges detected in an image improving perceived detail.

With what I felt was a minimal adjustment to the image, I chose to crop and enlarge the butterfly 100%.

And, for those of you who don't know how to tell the gender of a Monarch butterfly, a male two black spots on either side of the hind wings. 

​It's the speed and ease of use I love most about Luminar and obviously the results. But, every aspect of the image is adjustable and when you're done, you can click on the history of the changes you made, and they're saved in your archives. The image above is showing the original image along with the changes I made, except for cropping.

​Sheila has a good friend in Naples and headed there to spend time with her this weekend. So, Molly and I headed to Melbourne, Florida to hang out with Vanelli for the day. It's just after 7:00 AM as I write this and I guess I'm about to cross the line into a topic that some of you sadly might find controversial.

Let's start with Vanelli. First, if you don't know Robert Vanelli, he just goes by his last name or "V." He's a three-time Triple Crown Karate Champion, and while it might have been a long time ago, he's still the guy you want on your side in a barroom brawl! But, what many of you don't know about him, is his spiritual soft side; his love for writing poetry and in short being one of the most sensitive and in-tune-with-feelings people I've ever met.

This past weekend, like the last time when he came to this side of the state, we spent a lot of time talking about family and friends we've lost. With each funny story we shared, there always seemed to be a hidden lesson we learned along life's journey. We laughed a lot, but he's one of those people who, if I were telling a story and had a tear in my eye over the memory, I wouldn't feel embarrassed.

Last night over dinner we were exchanging stories, Vanelli about his parents and me about my mine. As he was talking about something his mother said and calling him "Robby," I actually felt like I grew up next door to the Vanellis. I commented, that whether you believe in immortality or not, we've made those special people in our lives, who we've lost, immortal through the love for them that comes out in each story we share. 

I needed to get back to this side of the state and left for the three-hour drive just after dinner. As I drove home I had one wonderful conversation after another with my folks - all brought on thanks to the dinner conversation with Vanelli.

Then, this morning, while reading one of Sheila's Marianne Williamson books, she wrote about healing through the memories of loved ones we've lost. She essentially described the wonderful feelings I enjoyed on the ride home last night.

Finally, this morning I caught a post Vanelli shared on Facebook about a good friend's wife who passed away. He talked about how an old photograph got him talking to her about her husband and their friendship. He closed the post with:

There you have it, my whole point this morning in one stellar sentence from Vanelli. We've all lost loved ones and people who were huge personalities in our lives. They leave big holes in our hearts, but for me, the way to keep them by my side is to have a conversation with them now and then.  Put those conversations together with the memories photographs help capture and I've created a world full of immortality and opportunities to never have them very far away.

The hole in your heart never fills back up, but turning back to a time when life was perfect because of the presence of someone you've lost, does create an unlimited inventory of smiles.  That's one of the things I love so much about the business of photography and at the risk of driving a few of you mad as I quote Jodi Picoult for the tenth time...

​Now, put those photographs and memories together with a conversation now and then with somebody you've lost and miss, and for a few minutes, you'll contribute to their immortality!

Wishing everybody an incredible Sunday, and one filled with great memories and time to appreciate your roots. Everything you are today is a combination of your experiences and things you learned thanks to so many different people, many of whom are no longer with you. Make it a day filled with great memories and take the time to create tomorrow's memories today! Always go for those eleven-second hugs with the people most special in your life.

​Happy Sunday everybody, and to Vanelli, thanks for a great visit buddy!

​Every week the SCU diner has served up one more specialty to help you build a stronger business model. To date we've shared 36 different ideas/concepts, all in an easy to "digest" format, to help you think through how to fine-tune your business.

I called it Fast Food because you're artists. The time you spend on ideas to run a better business are often on the back-burner.

There are very few of you who want to get involved in the operational side of the business. It's not that you don't respect what you need to do to build a successful business, just that your heart is more focused on the creative side of life. You'd much rather discover a better way to light a portrait than put together a direct mail piece....and the list goes on and on.

Well, we're down to the wire with just a few weeks to go for 2018. Hopefully, you're busy with holiday orders, but that doesn't mean you can ignore things you need to do in the future.

Today's "blue plate special" is on the lite side of the menu in terms of anything you need to implement.  It's about four ingredients in your business future - dreams, products/services, profitability, and fun. It's fast food and just requires you to think a little about your business and the future. 

This is a very short specialty today. It's meant to get you thinking about a few of the things you do to compromise your dreams, your products and sometimes even the services you offer.  

Dreams: There's no reason ever to let go of your dreams, and that includes pressure from loved ones who don't understand your passion as an artist. That doesn't mean you don't have to modify them here and there, but if you let them slip under the umbrella that life is a compromise, then you're only going to replace your dreams with regret and sooner or later, growing resentment.

Products: There is no room for compromise delivering anything that isn't "excellent," just like the quote above. There's a standard of excellence in photography, and mostly it boils down to exceeding your client's mindset. You're living in the most competitive time in business history, and every consumer needs to know they made the right choice. Think about how many photographers they had to choose from!

Every product and service you offer has the same goal - exceed client expectations and make yourself habit-forming!

Profitability: Loving what you do, but eating macaroni and cheese every night eventually grows old. Going into the new year, look at your costs, ALL of them. Invest in marketing. Pay attention to consumer trends in your community and price your services appropriately. There's a ton of information out there to help you and even more educators who have focused on the topic. 

Earlier this year SCU diner offered a Friday special on pricing, which included a terrific video from Sal Cincotta. If you missed it, it's just a click away!

Fun: I gave "fun" it's own paragraph. It's the most important word in business today and also the most forgotten. It's not a crime to have fun when you're working. We all have the same challenge - we get so caught up in the pressure of the day in day out business we forget to have fun.  Having fun is critical to your success as an artist and a business person...make it a priority.

                       "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
                                                                                                              Confucius

Fast Food Fridays are brought to you by:

Excire's ability to help you with Search and SearchPro is just a click away on the banner above. 

​If you're not familiar with the product, check out the video below featuring Suzette Allen as she put Excire to the test searching for various images.

You'll also find a wealth of information to help you raise the bar on the quality of your work with a visit to Suzette's blogs and YouTube channel. She's always sharing outstanding information as one of the industry's leading educators. ​

The year is '94 and we're in NYC at Javits for what later would become PPE. This was the Hasselblad sales force working the show together with the some of the staff, Tony Corbell, Chuck Gutierrez, Don Snyder, Rudy Guttosch, Carl Claesson and Jim Morton. For a relatively short time Staffen Junel was world wide CEO based out of Sweden. 

The Hasselblad University programs were becoming legendary with one tour after another of great workshops. Tony joined the team as Dean of Hasselblad Univeristy and was instrumental in putting together some outstanding programs.

Throwback Thursday is the perfect time to wander down Memory Lane. Take the time to look through those old photographs you've got stashed away - they bring back so many memories and are a reminder of the incredible importance we provide as an industry!