It's a typical Sunday morning. I'm working on this post, Sheila's still asleep and Molly is stretched out at my feet. The house is quiet except for the rolling thunder of a storm coming in. It was 6:40 am, and the sun was coming up. I don't usually grab a camera first thing, but the shot above is facing southwest, and the color was amazing, washing the entire neighborhood in the epitome of "sweet-light."  

I started this Sunday Morning Reflections series because it's one of my favorite times of the week. Sunday mornings are always quiet, and it's developed into a time to reflect on the past week. Mostly I do an inventory of the week's memories. Just a few minutes ago I closed my eyes and thought about the last few days.
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• Shauna Gartz shared a Facebook post about a dream she had about Bill Hurter, past Editor-in-Chief of Rangefinder Magazine who passed away a couple of years ago. We all worked together, and her post brought out one memory after another as old friends responded with their thoughts.
• Earlier in the week, I tracked down Dick Roesler, an old friend from my Polaroid days. I have no idea why he was on my mind or Polaroid going back thirty years ago, but the conversation brought back a long series of smiles about funny moments from our past.
• I recorded a new episode of "Why?" on Friday with Andy Marcus, which will air tomorrow. Andy and I go back to my Hasselblad days, and the podcast got me thinking about everything from Dean Collins to film.
• Last but not least, I had a problem with our wifi and while on the phone with Tech Support at Frontier Communications there was a lot of waiting for the system to reboot. The Tech Rep was based in Rochester, and we started talking about Kodak. My relationship with them began when they were a powerhouse in the late 80's. In fact, if not for Kodak I never would have met some of my best industry friends.

​There's a quote I've shared before by Alfred Lord Tennyson, I am a part of all that I have met.  Well, the memories of this week clearly support that. Everybody we meet becomes a part of us and in turn, create the memories we learn from and cherish the most.

And I guess this brings me to my point this morning - take the time to appreciate your journey and your memories. Check your inventory regularly - don't let special moments slip by as time served, but learn to savor everything and everyone who comes into your life. 

As usual, I went searching for an appropriate quote and *poof* I was drawn to it immediately:

Why do we close our eyes when we pray, kiss or dream?
Because the most beautiful things in life aren't seen, but felt from the heart!
Author Unknown

Trust me for a second. Find a comfortable chair and close your eyes and think about the highlights of this past week. No matter how much intermittent stress there might have been, there were moments of brilliance where your soul had a chance just to soar.

We're an industry founded on helping people capture memories they can see and hold on to. However, like the quote I found, your power as an artist isn't really in your photographs. It's in those beautiful closed-eyes moments that tug at people's heartstrings, thanks to your skill set with a camera in your hands.

Wishing everybody an amazing Sunday with memory-making moments that make your heart skip a beat. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people most special to you, and take the time to appreciate the face in the mirror! Everything you do today is a foundation for something tomorrow.

Happy Sunday everybody!

Each week I've been sharing ideas on marketing and business in the hopes these topics will help you fine-tune those areas of your business needing a little attention. 

I called this series "Fast Food Friday" because most of you are right-brain dominant artists, and need reminders on building your business in the form of fast, easy to implement ideas. And, whether you believe in left vs. right brain theories, the point doesn't change. You're artists, and you'd rather capture and create great images than deal with the operational side of your business. 

This week summer officially kicked off. The busy season is back and in full swing, but that doesn't mean you can kick back and ignore marketing. 

Unlike a lot of past blue plate specials, today's topic is the equivalent of one of those big Las Vegas-style all you can eat buffets. The topic is brand-building and it's the big picture for every Fast Food Friday special to date.

Building a strong brand and creating top of mind awareness for your business should always be your goal. It doesn't happen by accident, so I'm going to give you a fourteen things to think about and then fine-tune wherever you feel they're most appropriate.  Remember you don't build your business and walk away - a strong brand is about continually fine-tuning and creating awareness.

Missed any of the past Fast Food Friday specials?

There's a lot of great content with each post covering another aspect of running a stronger business in photography. They're all just a click away.

And, if there's a topic you'd like to see on the "menu," let me know in the comment section below and we'll turn it into a future special!

Besides his work ethic, integrity, diversity and skill set, there's another quality I've always appreciated - he believes in being involved. He's active with PPA both in Arizona and nationally. He's a print-judge and educator, just to name two of the hats he's worn. He's also a NILMDTS (Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep) volunteer photographer. And, his blog, Successful-Photographer is loaded with information to help photographers build a more effective business model.

Check out Bob's work on his PhotoShelter website with a click on any of the images in this post. You'll also find him along with the other LUMIX Ambassadors sharing great content on the LUMIX Photographers Facebook page.  They're always sharing great "how to" content, taking many of us on a creative journey into new techniques, styles and technology.

At the risk of sounding like I'm writing a Sunday Morning Reflections post on a Tuesday, I shared the quote above this morning on Twitter, and it's haunting me. 

I meet so many photographers who waste time looking in their rearview mirror instead of just looking forward. I'm not saying you should ignore the past.  You should respect it, learn from things you've done but recognize the most significant thing about this industry is your ability to keep changing...and growing. Nothing you do is cast in concrete. Your ability to keep expanding your skill set is unlimited as technology keeps changing, and the list of creative tools you have increases every day.

My buddy Bob Coates is a great example. His passion for the craft is unmatched, but so is his ability to keep expanding his skill set and interests. He's a perpetual student, continually testing the boundaries of technology and fine art. As a result, he's one of the most diverse artists I know. Chamira Young and I just had him on as a guest on "Beyond Technique." Bob shares a lot of great insight into special projects and the importance of diversity. (The new episode airs on June 20 on Photofocus.)

So, here's my point, directed to all of you who keep looking backwards and "shoulding" on yourself. Stop wasting energy trying to undo the beginning. Respect the mistakes you've made and look at everything you do today forward as a fresh start. This doesn't just apply to your journey in life, but things as simple as the shoot you're doing later today.

In a couple of previous posts I've talked about a project I worked on with Panasonic and Marathon Press after the WPPI convention. It was the largest size Bella Art Album with an individual page of 19x14. There are 25 artists featured, each one a LUMIX Ambassador. On a double page spread, you're looking at an 19x28 image! Every image is stunning, but more to the point, each image and artist demonstrates the diversity and capabilities of shooting LUMIX mirrorless cameras combined with the quality of Marathon's printing.

The video above is from the LUMIX channel on YouTube and features the work of Ben Grunow, William Innes, Jennifer Maring and Daniel J. Cox. All four have work featured in the album project. They couldn't be more diverse in their specialties and passion for imaging, but there is a common denominator - They NEVER compromise on quality.

The idea for the project started at one of the conventions at least two years ago. I was thinking about the quality of my own images shooting mirrorless with LUMIX cameras and the quality of the complete Bella Art line in both prints and albums. So, why not put them together to demonstrate the best of both worlds - the quality of both?

Interested in finding out more about the LUMIX family of cameras, click on the GX9 to the left, and you'll link to Panasonic's complete line along with each camera's specifications. And, check out the work of the four amazing artists featured in the video with a click on their image. 

Intro by Chamira Young

No matter who you are or how long you've been taking photos, it's an inevitable that your internal well of creativity occasionally runs dry, especially when you get caught up in the daily grind of running a photography business.

It's for this very reason we wanted to bring you a healthy dose of Monday inspiration in the form of poignant motivational speeches. The fantastic folks over at Photodex have compiled four excellent TED Talks that will get your creative gears fueled and turning for the week ahead. These specific pep talks cover everything from facing challenges, finding your genius, tackling leadership, and even mastering creative ideas in photography.

By the way, if you've never listened to a TED Talk before, get ready to take some notes and get seriously inspired!

By Photodex

​Stuck in a creative rut? Sometimes all that’s needed is a good pep talk or motivational speech to give you the kick-start you need. See things from a new and positive perspective with these 4 Ted Talks to help energize your brain and spark that creativity.
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1. Tim Harford – How Frustration Can Make Us More Creative
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“Challenges and problems can derail your creative process…or they can make you more creative than ever. In the surprising story behind the best-selling piano album of all time, Tim Harford may just convince you of the advantages of having to work with a little mess.”

2. Elizabeth Gilbert – Your Elusive Creative Genius

“Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius. It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.”

3. John Maeda – How Art, Technology and Design Inform Creative Leaders
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“John Maeda, former President of the Rhode Island School of Design, delivers a funny and charming talk that spans a lifetime of work in art, design and technology, concluding with a picture of creative leadership in the future.”

4. Erik Johansson – Impossible Photography
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“Erik Johansson creates realistic photos of impossible scenes — capturing ideas, not moments. In this witty how-to, the Photoshop wizard describes the principles he uses to make these fantastical scenarios come to life, while keeping them visually plausible.”
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What are some of the ways you stay inspired? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Photodex is all about the tools to help you become a better storyteller. They never slow down on their focus to help you raise the bar on your business, presentations and finding new ways to help you streamline the creative process. Visit their blog where you'll find outstanding new content being shared every day. 

The SAVE20WITHSKIP code is still active - so, put it in the code box when you purchase any Photodex product for a 20% discount. ​​​​​

I shared a good portion of this post in 2014, but the concept is timeless. And, NOW is the most critical time for you to create excitement in your market.
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We might be an industry with limited seasonality, but that doesn't mean you have to wait for a major holiday to capture business.  With Father's Day over, we're now in that stretch of the year where it's more important for YOU to be creating the excitement in the market. The next big rush, will come in the fourth quarter with the November/December holidays.

It's summer time and you're working to book more weddings, children's portraits, family sittings, business portraits and boudoir sessions as part of your regular business. What are you going to do to create a little excitement in your own market?

You don't have to wait until the next publicly recognized holiday.  You've got a chance to show you're better than Hallmark and create a few events of your own.  Vicki Taufer, the Queen of Promotional Events, has over the years created more programs for her clients than Hallmark ever thought possible. That's her promotional calendar going back at least 14-15 years ago on the left.

Vicki gave me permission to share it years ago in my marketing program and from time to time I still use it. Great promotions have no date stamp - there is no spoilage. A promotion that connects with your community can, if you do it right, be timeless. (Vicki's got a lot of her marketing material on line. It's worth checking out, including her videos.)
 
Just in case you're stumped for ideas, here are a few to consider:

• Look for themes that make sense in your community. What's NOT being done? Are there community events with themes you could piggy-back with? County Fairs, fund-raising events, walkathons, special summer programs, concerts, rodeos, baseball tournaments, summer sports, recreational events, etc.?

• You've got to make it fun! Use a few adjectives to describe the event. It's sad I have to remind people to put a little spice into their vocabulary, but it will help so much. Give it a fun name. Work to create appeal. Make you and your program habit-forming.

• Look for partners. Vicki's original "Dog Days of Summer" done many years ago, became a classic in the industry and launched her business as a pet photographer. It was the perfect promotion with multiple partners and focused on one of the top three reasons people hire a professional photographer, pets!
• When designing your material choose an image or images that will draw people to the event. The image Vicki used below was a classic. Picture this promotional piece plastered all over her community. The result was 120 sessions and 40 people on the waiting list! The program was so well received Vicki had to extend the program and shot over a couple of days.

I wrote earlier that great promotions are timeless. Vicki could use this same mailer below and it would still draw people in. 

It's Father's Day 2018, and it's also Sunday Morning Reflections time. Put the two together, and I'm having a hard time figuring out what to write about this morning, but I want to include my Dad. He passed away almost three years ago, but that doesn't change the love I have for him or all the great memories. 

I talked Dad into writing two posts for me over the years, both having to do with business. He was 91 when he wrote the post below. As sophisticated as we all think we are with the way we communicate, social media, business practices, marketing and living in an era of almost instant fulfillment, nothing has changed regarding the fundamentals of good business: customer service, integrity, and a firm handshake.

My Dad was in commercial and industrial real estate in Ohio for many years, before he retired. Much of this post is based on his experiences in not only his own business but growing up in his father's business as well. This post is like a fine wine - it's getting better with age and what better time to share it again than on Father's Day.

I pulled his post out of the SCU archives, and as I reread it, it made me smile. Nothing has changed since Dad started out in business seventy+ years ago. And, seventy years from now success in business will still be firmly rooted in trust, integrity, and relationships.

Wishing all you Dads out there a terrific Father's Day, and time filled with the people most important in your life, the ones that make you smile and your heart skip a beat whenever they walk through the door. Go for those eleven-second hugs and don't forget that without Mom you'd never be a Dad.

And to my own Dad who's been my best buddy my entire life - I love ya Pop, and while I miss you, I know you're watching over us.

Happy Father's Day!

Visibility is a must for any pursuit.  Call it what you like. It starts with a firm handshake, neat appearance and an ability to display integrity. That integrity is always enhanced by knowing the answers before the questions are even asked and that can only come from experience.  All of this has to start somewhere...with YOU!

One of the biggest factors of success, for me, was the rapport with some of my competitors.  With friendly competition, on many occasions we were of considerable help to each other.

Another must of success is visibility and the necessity of going public.  You've got to be involved in your community.  As personal contacts multiply, the rewards will come in the form of your expanding clientele and potential new customers.

Today you guys call it networking and it's everything from attending conventions and local events to social media.   For me it was Exchange Club's monthly luncheons, business cards, a little advertising, even golf now and then, but there was and still is no substitute for word-of-mouth testimonials.

Then there's trust, another critical building block.  The trust you build will be the result of the honesty and integrity you employ.  It's all part of what drives word-of-mouth advertising, especially in a service based industry like photography. Always cherish that trust!  In turn, don't forget that confidentiality is part of that trust. It's so important to retain confidentiality with every client.

Occasionally you may find as I did, competitors bragging about a deal they had just closed. I used to be able to sit down in a booth at the Kenny Kings Restaurant on just about any morning and hear salesmen bragging about the deals they'd put together. The fact was, the transactions had died, along with the confidentiality factor, leaving the vultures to play with the bones that were left!
 
Ralph Cohen, Founder and 1/2 the Creators of Skip Cohen!

Photo Credit: Cantrell Portrait Design

Welcome back to Fast Food Friday. Just like a New Jersey diner we've got a special every week.

I started this series to remind you of things you need to stay focused on when a camera isn't in your hands!  It's summertime and the busy season is back and in full swing. But, while business is good, that doesn't mean you can kick back and ignore marketing. 

This weeks special is all about your blog! You've got two outstanding marketing tools at your fingertips, your website, and your blog, but there's a big difference between the two. Your website is about what you sell, but your blog is about what's in your heart. 

An excellent blog is your opportunity to be helpful and share why you're a photographer. It's like publicity giving credibility to advertising. By sharing your heart, you're giving credibility to your website, which has the same position today as a bricks and mortar storefront before the Internet. 

In looking through the SCU archives this morning, I found this video going back just over five years ago. It's ironic I'd run across this video the day after sharing a post about the importance of partnerships.

At the risk of sounding like I'm beating a dead horse, (hope that expression translates for readers in other parts of the world) it's so stupid for you to take on the burden of promotional costs without partners. And, there are so many partners to choose from. You don't have to do it all alone!

Now to the fun of Throwback Thursday and this video. While it shows only 90 views on YouTube, it got a lot more and was one of my most watched for a long time. The brilliance and fun of Sal Cincotta's magazine is that each online article includes a video at the end from the author. Shutter Magazine launched in 2012, and I'm so proud to have been involved with every issue to date.

Repeatedly photographers, when talking about Profoto lighting, have used the words "game changers," but those words apply just as much to the staff as they do to their Off-Camera Flash System. The members of the Profoto team set the standard for support. So, I thought it would be fun to start a series of very short podcasts to introduce you to some outstanding artists and share how Profoto's changed the way they capture their images.

Sponsored by ProfotoUSA, EDU10 is one more example of how Profoto never slows down on their focus to help photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images. Thanks to support from some incredible artists and educators, we're sharing more ideas to help you expand your mind's eye visions on all the possibilities in lighting.

What a kick to have Sue Bryce join me on this new episode. She's an incredibly talented artist, educator, business owner and inspiration to so many of us in the industry. And, through Sue Bryce Education she's helping thousands of photographers not only develop a stronger skill set but a business model that's designed to help them be more successful, profitable and efficient.

Check out SueBryce Education with a click on any portrait above, and if you're looking for a remarkable educational opportunity, there are a handful of tickets left for The Portrait Masters 2018 conference in Phoenix.

Isn't it time you visited a Profoto dealer and found out what all the buzz is about? The worldwide dealer locator is just a click away on the B1X banner below. Profoto's not only a leader in education, but the leader in lighting technology offering photographers some of the most creative tools in the history of photography.

I've written a lot over the last few years about the importance of creating unique promotions. The one question that comes up most often relates to the challenge of finding the time and the budget to develop strong campaigns.  

I'm a huge fan of partnerships with other companies. It's one of the best ways to reduce your costs but increase your reach. You're sharing the workload, and in many cases creating unique offers. Plus, there's an additional benefit: Great partners become ambassadors for each other.

There's always somebody who's thinking, "Yeah, but there's nobody who's a logical partner for my specialty!" Every photographic specialty has potential promotional partners.

Here's a list to get you started:

Boudoir Photographers: Get together with a lingerie boutique and a spa, makeup artist or salon. Also, because a beautiful boudoir image is very often intended to be a gift with a little romance attached, an intimate restaurant in your community might be a great partner as well.

Pet Photographers: Find out who the rep is for some of the big brand pet foods by talking with the manager at your local supermarket or pet shop. You've also got animal shelters, pet boutiques, and veterinarians. Don't forget doggy daycare facilities as well.

Children's Photographers: Toy stores, summer camps, playgrounds, kids clothing boutiques and restaurants all geared towards kids make great partners. You might even find a pediatrician or pediatric dentist interested in getting involved with something creative.

Family Photographers: You're looking for any company that targets families. Family restaurants, decorators, parks and special events targeting families all have potential. Years ago on a Hasselblad program in Cleveland, a photographer told me about a landscaper who built him a backyard shooting area in exchange for promoting their services. The logic being, anybody who was paying for a family sitting, more than likely had an interest/need in landscaping.

Commercial Photographers: This one's a little tougher, but think about what a client is looking for. This doesn't work if you're targeting Fortune 500 companies, but a program to target small business owners in a community could tie in a local magazine/publication, a printer and a courier service for example. The promotional offer might target people who need a new headshot.

Wedding Photographers: Wedding shooters are always the easiest, just because there are so many different business entities involved. Florists, wedding planners, bakeries, salons, bridal shops, limo companies, musicians, tux shops, travel agents, venues, and the list goes on and on.

Last on the list for every specialty - don't forget other photographers! There's only so much time in a week for you to shoot. Bringing in competitors who compliment your style helps build strength and brand recognition in the category. Sooner or later you're going to send another photographer a referral - why not build the relationship now?

Once you've identified some logical partners, here are the action steps that come next:

1) Personally, I love promotions with three partners.  If you get too many, you lose impact, and your message becomes too diluted. Too many partners and your offer/mailing is going to look like a NASCAR event.

2) Contact each potential partner with a personal visit. You share a common target audience, and the concept of saving money to promote each other's services is a logical connection.

3) Get your two partners together for lunch. I'm a huge fan of lunch meetings because over a meal you're always guaranteed a certain level of conversation. This is about building a relationship in addition to the promotional idea itself.

4) You've got a wide variety of programs to collaborate on. You might agree to sponsor an event together; do a mailing and share the costs; cross-promote each other's products/services or share the cost of advertising. The point is, you've all got the same goal - expanding your reach, and you're each targeting the same audience.

5) Remember, from a cost standpoint, everything you do is going to be split three ways. That gives you the ability to reduce your cost, but promote your business more frequently, and to a larger audience.

6) And, at the risk of making this post sound like an infomercial - check out Marathon Press. Direct mail has come full circle, and it's back with a vengeance. Here's your chance to develop an oversized postcard tying in the three partners and getting through the noise to your target audience. I've worked with the crew at Marathon for years, and they can help you through every step of the process to produce a mailer you'll be proud of. 

In a blog post, it's impossible to cover every aspect of putting together a strong promotion. But, I'm hoping this at least plants the seed for you to think about doing things together with other companies. You don't have to go it alone every time, and a good partnership is invaluable to building a stronger business.

I love this feature from the Tamron USA website because it does a great job of forcing you to think about the what you're hoping to capture with your gear.

Think about how most of you buy a lens - it starts with reading a press release or something online. Then you'll pick up word-of-mouth comments, especially in the various forums on Facebook. You'll look at your existing gear and decide it's time to expand what's in your camera bag.

Tamron's "Lens-Finder" helps you figure out what the best lens is for the application you're going to be doing the most. However, it's also interesting to think through other applications - things you might need great glass for outside your core specialty.

​It all starts with a drop down box for the format you're shooting.

Next comes the actual application:

I especially liked drilling down on the macro category. I took it into food photography. This was my last choice before the finder took me to a selection of three great lenses that fit my criteria. 

While some of you might think this is too basic for your skill set, I like the process because it gets you thinking about the quality of your results.

There's no need for me to take you further through the process, but click on any of the banners above and take the lens-finder out for your own test drive. Tamron's manufacturing some of the finest optics in photography and their selection of focal lengths and formats keeps growing.

And, their Father's Day "Instant Savings" promotion comes to a close in just a few days. So, if you're looking for a great gift idea or a great lens to add to your gear, click on the banner below. 

Intro by Chamira Young

When the opportunity presents itself, there's nothing more fun -- or more challenging -- than taking a good silhouette photo. Whether you're a professional photographer trying to please a client, or even if you're a hobbyist  who enjoys grabbing those occasional breathtaking sunsets with your children, knowing how to utilize this fun photo technique can bring your work up to a whole new level. The crisp contrast of a subject against a stunning background can make a great work of art for proud display on anyone's wall.

While it may seem like a difficult technique for those new to it, it's actually quite simple when you have an idea of what you're doing. Kathy from Photodex lays out some straightforward, effective tips for getting that cool silhouette shot the next time you're out and the opportunity presents itself. She even gives some tips for using your cell phone so that you can always be ready to grab those shots that make people go "wow!"

Let's get to it!

By Kathy from Photodex

Looking to try a fun photography technique? Taking a silhouette photo isn’t difficult even though it may come across that way. It’s simple, conveys a dramatic and mysterious emotion, and grabs your attention.
Check out 5 basic tips to help you achieve a simple silhouette photo.
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1. Light Behind Subject: In order for this to work, your light source has to be behind your subject. Try taking the photo around sunrise/sunset, or simply position your subjects in front or around the sun, or you can even take it inside against a window with good lighting. There’s tons of ways to take a great silhouette photo and these are just a few.
   
   
2. Make the Silhouette Distinct: Make sure you give your subject(s) enough space to notice all the details like the outlines of their body features like face, arms, legs, etc. It’s also helpful not to have any distractions during an action shot or still image. This way the silhouettes don’t blend with each other and you can carefully capture the main focus and it’s recognizable. If you do have anything in the background just make sure you position your subject in a way that it will still pop or in a way that it can enhance the photo. Composition of the elements is always important.
   
   
3. Get Low: To continue getting the best outline of your subject(s) and to avoid any background distractions try getting low or have them be located in an elevated area.
   
   
4. No Flash: The point of a silhouette photo is to have the light behind your subject. Remember to turn off your flash if you’re in automatic mode so that it doesn’t ruin your photo.
   
   
5. Burst Mode: If you are using a cell phone to capture an action shot in silhouette form then try using the burst mode to make sure you don’t miss anything. This means it’ll take multiple photos very quickly so that you don’t miss your shot. (This feature is available on most phones.)
   
   

These are some of the more common must-do’s in silhouette photography, but if you want to go more in depth from a technical stand-point and learn more about camera settings then you can check out these articles below.
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1. 14 Tips for Shooting Stunning Silhouettes
   
   
2. 10 Incredibly Easy Ways to Take Silhouette Photos
   
   

Showcase your silhouette photos in a ProShow slideshow and submit your video to be considered for a spotlight on our blog. Be sure to select the blog submission option.

Don't laugh, for many of you that's a perfect representation of your website! 

Typical of my focus on the business/marketing, seeing the photograph above recently, it got me thinking about everything it could represent, especially many of your websites.  The image above is exactly what many of you do to your potential clients. You bury them with an overdose of information, images, and policies. Often you scare them away.

It's the perfect topic for a Marketing Monday. It's June and we're back into the busy season. You're going to have more people visiting your website. NOW is the time to do a little cleanup.

• You don't need to show people every image you've ever taken. With every picture you put in your gallery, ask one question every time, "If this was the only image I could show to get the job, would it get me hired?" If no, then don't share it on your site! Six to twelve images are plenty in a gallery category. Remember, LESS IS MORE!
• Everybody knows how a wedding plays out. You don't need multiple categories within your gallery. My suggestion is to break out engagement from weddings and then that's it - let bridal images tell the story in those two galleries. I've been on sites where photographers have broken the wedding out into six or more different galleries. It's not necessary and you're making your clients work to mine for the images you want them to see.
• Stop posting policies about cancellations, schedules, deposits, booking dates, etc. You got a potential client to visit your site. So, save the details for the contract discussion when they hire you. 
• If your bio is in 8pt font or runs below the fold, then you spent too much time talking about yourself. Keep it short, sincere and write in the first person. Sign your bio like an artist's statement, because that's what you are, an artist. Nobody cares how you got started or what awards you've won - they want to know why you're a photographer and if they can trust you to tell their story.
• Use a headshot of you in your bio that shows you working. It'll carry so much more weight if there's a camera in your hand instead of a bad selfie or that shot you set up that looks like Uncle Harry trying to do a senior portrait.
• Testimonials usually aren't believable. Think about your own reaction to consumer testimonials on any products you buy. Don't bury people in testimonials. However, I've seen a few recently that were well done and included not only the names of the bride and groom and their comment but one of the images of the couple. At the same time, I was on a site recently that had twenty or so, one to two line testimonials - all hard to read, in reverse type and small font. I read the first one, and the rest were just wasted space!
• Stay away from fonts that are so fancy; most people can't read them! If you want people to read what you wrote then make it easy for them. You don't need fancy script lettering, and often reverse type is hard to read. Keep it clean and simple, black type on a white background, especially if it's something people might want to print and hang on to.
• Your website should be all about what you sell. It's your storefront, and just like Tiffany's, you want to show only your best images. Don't forget that a picture really is worth a thousand words. Keep your text relatively short. Be honest and direct and create an experience people want to share with their friends. Stop overloading everybody who visits your site.

Note: I'm betting everybody has seen the photograph above, and while I'm a huge believer in photo credits, I can't find who took the image.  It's from TotallyCoolPix.com and worth checking out for some amazing images. 

It's one of those Sunday mornings when everything just seems right in the word. While I know that's not the case; there are times when we all need to search out that one place where we can enjoy the solitude of inner peace.

Okay, I get that I'm even more off track than usual for a Sunday morning, but I was having a hard time trying to figure out what to write about. My Sunday posts are ALWAYS live and off-the-cuff, and I stared at the wall in my office for a long time. Then, like a cartoon character with the lightbulb going off above my head, I decided to move to the back porch.

I not only found peace and solitude but the trickle of the water feature in the butterfly garden set against the sweet light of sunrise brought out the zebra longwing above. I had a camera close by for a grab shot. I had no goal in mind except to capture the moment and a new visitor.

And, in an odd way that brought me to my initial point, if you build it they will come. I had no idea the joy and sense of peace planting the butterfly garden would bring. We all live hectic, stressful lives, and for me, it's sometimes difficult not to get sucked into the day-in-day-out pressure of business.

The first year we planted the garden we got a couple of Monarchs right away, but it wasn't until this morning, a year later, I realized how much the garden had grown, and along with it, brought in lots of new "tenants." It all left me with the incredibly simple realization it just took time and patience.

We're all so impatient for the final results. We live in an instant fulfillment world and most of the time fail to appreciate our growth, or how life always proves true to one of my favorite mantras, everything works out for the better.

And, to my second point - we built the garden because we love butterflies, but I had no idea the sense of peace it would bring to our little corner of the world. We all need to step away from the pressures life throws at us. So, while you might not have a garden to melt the stress away, it's so important to find that one place that allows you to be alone with your thoughts, your dreams, and your goals.

So, at the risk of sounding like a hippie headed to Woodstock - wishing everybody a day filled with peace, love and plenty of smiles. Go for those eleven-second hugs with the people you care most about. Most important of all, take the time to give yourself a big pat on the back for all the growth you've gone through over the last year. 

​Happy Sunday everybody!

​I started this series to give you small doses of things you can do to fine-tune your business and help make 2018 your best year in business yet!  My Friday "specials" are in no particular order, but have been topics that popped into my head sometime during the week usually as a question from a photographer or thread in a Facebook forum. 

Whether your business is up or down this year, we're into the busy season, and it will continue through the end of the year.  You have to pay attention to the trends, your audience and all the vehicles at your fingertips to help expand your reach. Thanks to social media, you have the same reach today that only small newspapers and magazines had a decade ago.

This is number 15 in the series, and we're hitting on one of the most serious topics - pricing. There's no better place to start than with the Master himself, Sal Cincotta. This video is at least seven years old, but Sal's focus is entirely relevant, especially in today's competitive market. However, regarding building a stronger revenue stream, I expanded on the topic with more ideas to help you raise the bar on the products/services you're selling.

​One of the biggest challenges is being competitive WITHOUT discounting. It starts with the quality of your work and finishes with exceeding customer expectations. Your goal is to make yourself habit-forming and you can do it without getting into a pricing war in your market, which turns your work into a commodity!

​Sal hits on it in the very beginning talking about nothing being more destructive to your business than lousy pricing and discounting is all part of that challenge. I know we live in a SALE driven society, but there are ways to add value to a promotion that doesn't require you to turn your business into a battle with your competitors.

• Packages: Sal talks about different packages. Package pricing is perfect to allow you to put together various components for a limited time promotion.
• Talk to your lab: There's so much going on today, and you might want to add a canvas or metal print to the mix. Ask your lab a simple question, "What's new?"
• Be a full service photographer: Michele Celentano has made herself a "full service" photographer. She helps the client decide on the size of the portrait, the frame and then she shows up when it's ready, complete with hammer, level, and picture hooks! Nothing is preventing you from also becoming "full service."
• Extended coverage: As wedding photographers, you can create added value with extended hours of coverage or an expanded engagement session.
• Contact with your album company: There are so many add-on products to enhance the core album.
• Are you offering hybrid solutions?  Slideshows are back with a vengeance, especially when you can combine still images with video and great music. Offer your clients a unique product and expand your reputation as a storyteller. And, Photodex could not make it easier for you to do! 
• Holiday cards, invitations and virtually anything you can do with an image become a fun promotional addition to your mix of products. And don't forget framed prints, but you have to show them on your site and in your studio to plant the seed. 
• Look for ways to cross-promote with other vendors. Get together with the limo company, florist, caterer, etc. and find unique ways to promote each other's products.

Last but not least, you've got to do a better than average job of getting the client to understand what an album is, especially in the wedding category:

A wedding album is the first family heirloom of a new family. It captures memories that years later are long forgotten and answers the question to an inquisitive granddaughter who asks, "Grandma, what did you look like when you and Papa got married?"

If you're looking for a great walk down Memory Lane, find any old photographic magazine. This is another page from a 2002 issue of Rangefinder Magazine, and it brings back so many memories. 

The photographs are thanks to Kurt Gardner and were captured in 2001, seventeen years ago. Now, turn back the clock and think about the industry then. This post will, unfortunately, be a partial testimonial to what an old fart I am, but at the same time, it doesn't seem that long ago.

However, for all you "kids" out there...

• Digital was in its early days of getting a foothold. I remember getting a gift from good friends at Kodak of a DC220 1.0-megapixel camera a few years earlier. If I remember right the initial cost was around $1000.  It came in a kit with an 8mb compact flash card!
• Most of the artists we admire most today had their foundation in film. You had to know your gear and the craft. With film, there was no chimping! You sent the film to the lab and waited for the results.
• Many of us had more film in our freezers than we did food!
• Portra was a favorite for so many photographers. This is also where a lot of great friendships were founded with our good buddy, Terry Deglau. By 2002 Terry had left Kodak, but it was in his role as the manager/industry liaison in the portrait/social categories that so many photographers were introduced to Portra, the leader in print film at the time.

In the ad, there's a statement about "rich color and beautiful flesh tones." Well, here's another little piece of history for many of you. Getting accurate flesh tones was one of the most important challenges for the labs. Kodak was a leader in good color rendition and had several mannequins they used for setting the standard on flesh tones. The mannequins were nicknamed "Shirley." So the expression, when appropriate, was print to the Shirley when it came to a photographer sending film to the lab. 

When digital arrived on the scene, flesh tones were one of the most significant challenges when it came to printing. When Bambi Cantrell and I wrote The Art of Digital Wedding Photography published in 2006 by Amphoto, we refused the first shipment. It was part of a run of 10,000 books!

Bambi was shooting Canon at the time, and digital had finally taken a solid foothold in wedding photography. Well, the flesh tones were so bad and inconsistent, I still remember my call to the publisher, "This book is printed so badly that if Canon doesn't sue you, we will!"  The publisher went back to the printer and reprinted the book with excellent quality.

Throwback Thursday has become part of my weekly routine and while it's fun sharing my walks down Memory Lane with you, my readers, it's really like an energy drink for me! It's no secret how much I love this industry, and when I look in the rearview mirror once a week it leaves me in awe of not only today's technology but what the creative tools will be ten years from now!

​Happy Throwback Thursday!

Aaron Anderson is no stranger to SCU. I shared a series of his images of javelin champion, Kara Patterson Winger this past February. It's nothing new to be sharing his stunning and powerful images of athletes. However, what is new, at least for SCU is suggesting you take a look at not only his Behind the Scenes video with Veronica Day, but his complete collection  of BTS videos on his website, and here's why...

First, I love BTS videos because they give you a chance to watch another artist in action. Second, a BTS video is a reminder that every shoot is a team effort - it's not just the photographer and subject involved but stylists, assistants and even the location chosen to photograph, all play a role. Third is the way a BTS video can become a marketing piece.

Last on the list is how a BTS video can become a product. I've shared some of fashion photographer, Dixie Dixon's BTS videos over the years. Dixie has found many of her clients to want the video as part of their package, because of the way it positions them as a company or manufacturer, and it's an obvious benefit to building brand awareness for Dixie.

And that brings me right to the point. Tamron has done an outstanding job making products to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images. So, why not take their support one step further and put together a BTS video of your own? For example as a wedding photographer, think about the power of a BTS video capturing the beauty, excitement and yes, chaos of the preparation on the wedding day.

Most of you now have cameras that can easily switch from still images to video. All of you have access to Photodex and ProShow Web. You have the ability to expand your skill set beyond the album with a hybrid video bringing together your images, short video clips and great music. And, if you're worried about the degree of difficulty, here's my testimonial - it's so easy, even I can do it! (Remember, my first love is marketing and business, and I'm the low-tech poster child of photography!)

So, as you watch this video, pay attention to the elements in the way Aaron tells the story. Then, start thinking about your own BTS video for any portrait or event you have coming up. Think through the way the session/event is going to unfold and then do a storyboard laying out the elements you want to highlight. This is so easy to do, but you have to take the time to think through how you want to tell the story. 

A big thanks to Tamron USA for sharing Aaron's BTS story on their YouTube channel. Check out two of his favorite creative tools for capturing stunning image with a click on either lens below.

Intro by Chamira Young

We've all been there. There are a million items on our "to-do" list, and sometimes posting content online feels like one more cumbersome task you have to squeeze in. As business owners, we tend to wear many hats by necessity, including being the customer service expert, photographer, retoucher, and social media manager - often all in the same day!

However, it's absolutely worth it to carve time into your busy schedule to post on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or whatever channel you choose to build your online presence. It's a steady process that will help your potential clients learn about your business, your work, but most importantly about you. The process of building recognition takes time, but it is one of the keys to success for every flourishing business.

Skip Cohen goes into more detail below in this great post from the Photodex blog.

By Skip Cohen