Yesterday was the first day of the WPPI trade show, and after so many years being directly involved in the show it was a strange but beautiful feeling walking the floor. I missed last year's show, the first in thirty years. So, it's been two years since I've caught up with a lot of old friends, in the flesh as opposed to Cyberspace or a phone call. But this morning's post isn't really about WPPI, but the best reason to go to every conference you can - building friendships. I've shared this comment a dozen or more times in posts over the years: The best part of this industry has NOTHING to do with photography, but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way. Wayne Dyer Building your skill set, establishing your business, creating brand awareness and staying on top of technology are all part of the journey. For me, they're the steps on the dance floor Wayne Dyer refers to. However, I disagree because there is a purpose - and it's about building friendships and growing with the people who come in and out of our lives.
Many of my friends have retired, yet I continue to have a career I dearly love. I'm always challenged by new ideas in marketing, social media and business. Yes, I'm now one of the "old dogs," and my body creaks for ten minutes when I get up every morning but I don't feel any older than I did twenty years ago. Here's the secret: It's in the energy created by friendships, and it doesn't matter whether they're old ones going back years or new ones made yesterday. At a time when the world is upside down, and most of us hate to even watch the news, there's an amazing stability created by those hugs and handshakes with friends. When we're together like this week, or last month at IUSA or next month at ShutterFest, there's nothing we can't accomplish together. The legendary Monte Zucker received a Photographer of the Year award at a luncheon in NYC many years ago. Together with him, also receiving awards, were three other photographers. Two of them were being recognized for their coverage of the tragedy of 9/11. Monte was sincerely moved and couldn't have been more humble when he said, "This is an incredible honor. These other photographers are being recognized for capturing the world the way it is, but I get to photograph it the way it should be. I am so lucky!" I love this industry. It's been a part of my entire adult life. All of you are part of what makes me jump out of bed with a smile every morning. Our friendships, both old and new, hold us together, and create an energy far beyond anything Gene Roddenbery could have ever dreamed about when he created Star Trek!
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While at WPPI two years ago I shared a little sarcasm when a small bottle of water was $9.00 at the convention. Well, I'm back in Las Vegas and Mandalay Bay has put a new twist on dealing with the challenge of absurd pricing.
I get how hard it is to run a luxury hotel in Vegas, and I'm glad to help with the economy, but whatever happened to good old common sense? Sorry, I've got to run. They just delivered my $24.00 bowl of oatmeal on room service. Images copyright Hannah Couzens. All rights reserved. As the "Why?" series comes up on its first hundred artists, I continue to be amazed at the diversity behind each story and the passion each artist has been willing to share about the image, and their philosophy about their journey as a photographer. Hannah Couzens joins me on today's new episode, and she's a perfect example of the fun of the Internet and social media. I "met" Hannah thanks to Profoto. She's one of three online educators who helped launch the Profoto Academy, a series of webinars designed to help you raise the bar on your skill set. Looking at Hannah's work, I knew right away I wanted to talk her into doing a "Why?" episode. Thanks to Facebook, I tracked her down with an IM, and finally thanks to Skype, we recorded this new podcast. While there are days when the interruptions social media creates sometimes make us crazy, and we all wish we weren't so accessible - nothing changes the fact that it's made the world a much smaller place. Hannah is based near London and not only did we have a great conversation about the image, but the best part of the industry is all about the friendships we make along the way! Check out more of Hannah's work with a click on either of her images in this post and then wander over to the Profoto Academy - you won't be disappointed! Intro by Skip Cohen Over the years I've shared a lot of wisdom from my good buddy, Scott Bourne. I pulled this guest post from the SCU archives because it's so perfect to the mindset, so many of you have at this time of year. For most photographers, this is the slow season. You're working on plans for the year ahead, your skill set, and your social media real estate. There's plenty of time to dream about the journey ahead. Sooner or later, everybody gets that one big chance or at least the break they perceive as the "big one." However, the truth is, because of social media and depending on the strength of your network, every opportunity can turn into your big break! Everything you do today has the potential to reach thousands of clients and other artists. I love Scott's approach here but these are the steps you need to take for EVERY job you shoot. You never know who's going to see your images down the road or how they might have the potential to be used. Always do your best. What you plant now you will harvest later. Og Mandino by Scott Bourne
You got the chance of a lifetime. It’s that big job or that first magazine cover or that first major photographic workshop. Whatever the case, getting ready for that opportunity requires some thought. This post probably won’t go the way you think it will. It’s not going to be a list of the gear you’ll need. Instead, it’s sort of a personal prep list. Sure you need gear and I’ll briefly cover that. But let’s talk about everything you need, not just gear.
This is just a starting point, but the goal of this post is to get you thinking about everything you need to prepare, not just gear. Congrats on this opportunity. Now go out there and get it done. I've started this post three times in the last hour trying to figure out what I wanted to write about for Sunday Morning Reflections. A minute ago, just like a cartoon character with a light bulb going off above his head, I realized I've been sitting on the topic all along. The challenge is, what do you do when the creative juices just don't flow? Which is followed by the pressure we put on ourselves to ALWAYS be on our game. And, there it is, this morning's "ah-ha" moment. It's hardly earthshaking, but we all have days when we just hit the wall. Nothing seems to connect. We don't like what we create. We spin our wheels like a car stuck on ice in a snow drift, (sorry, just trying to be relatable to all my friends dealing with winter! LOL) On those days when things just don't flow you need to step away and find something else to do that requires minimum stress on your thought process. For me, it was going for a walk with Sheila. Every day we put so much pressure on ourselves to get things done; to discover something new; to continue the momentum from the previous day or week. While I write about this all the time, it's not always easy to walk the talk. I get frustrated when my brain doesn't kick into high gear. In the process, I make matters worse because the harder I try to find the start button for my creative genes, the more they disappear. So, the next time you hear in your head "start your engines," and you turn the key and the battery is dead, take a break and walk away. Do something you enjoy or take a slug stretch and do nothing except ponder the meaning of life. Take the time to kick back and chill. Most of us live on overload. We wear too many hats, and there is no autofocus helping us decide what direction to take next. That's the time you go for one of those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with somebody special! Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday and a day filled with peace and a smile here and there. If you're headed to WPPI, safe travels - see you there. Happy Sunday! Last week I shared the first post in a series of fast easy to understand tips to help you establish a stronger presence for your business. March is right around the corner, giving you one more month of the slow season. You've got to take the time NOW to work on those weak links in your business. Most of them just need some fine-tuning. Welcome to Fast Food Friday! Today your Internet presence is the equivalent of a bricks and mortar business just a few years ago. It's your storefront and important to make a visit to your cyberspace real estate a memorable experience. Just like those stores, you like to shop at most; you have a choice. Take the time over the weekend and start cleaning up those dusty corners of your business ignored for far too long. Do everything you can NOW, while things are relatively slow, and make 2018 the best year yet. The difference between "survive" and "thrive" is just a few letters combined with some well-placed energy! Creating a Better About Page on Your Website
One more idea for you to think about: Thanks to technology ALL of you have the ability to create a high impact video combining still images, video and great music for your about page. Nobody can tell your story as good as you. This deserve it's own post coming in the next Fast Food Friday! Intro by Skip Cohen Suzette hits a topic this week that might seem off the path from slide shows and presenting your work, but it's one of my most favorite subjects. She's sharing ideas about "IPL" - In-Person Learning. I consider it one of the most valuable tools to thrive and not just survive! It's part of building an effective network, expanding your expertise as an artist and building a stronger business. I've often said you can no more establish an outstanding skill set exclusively online than you could become the world's greatest race car driver without ever getting behind the wheel. Online education is outstanding and helps you build a stronger foundation of skills and technique, but it's missing the in-person contact. I've sat in on some of Suzette's classes over the years and even though there's so much available on the Internet to help you build strong slide presentations, working with Suzette in person changes the dynamics of the process. Photodex has done an outstanding job building an online resource through their website and blog as well. They're helping you better understand and utilize all the features to create a high impact videos, especially when you're combining still images with short video clips and great music. Now, combine the expertise they're helping you build with in-person classes to boost the quality of your images and everything moves up a notch! If you're attending a conference where Suzette is teaching, run don't walk to get a seat. In the mean time if you haven't played with ProShow9 take it out for a test drive. You'll find so many terrific ways to enhance your slideshows and better demonstrate your skill set. Don't forget to use SAVE20WITHSKIP in the code box when you purchase any Photodex product for a 20% discount. For a limited time, this special discount code is still active. Have you noticed how everyone is doing a class on In-Person Sales (IPS)? If you haven’t heard, or don’t yet do it, it is a game-changer and can mean the difference between a potentially fabulous sale and no sale. Or, to be more blunt and direct, the difference between success and failure in your photography business! While the millennials want everything online, the truth is: the sales process of figuring out what you truly want for a portrait order rarely happens as a self-guided tour! Having a knowledgeable guide is vital for a client to know what to purchase and what will fit their personal needs. The ability to see and feel products in person and talk through a myriad of topics to reveal what is truly valued most, is vital! And with the added benefit of touching heart-strings, invaluable! But let me also bring up the topic of In-Person Learning! (IPL, for the sake of this article). We are in the middle of an online era where we think we can get everything we need online in the solitude of our own homes! Online education is great, but it's missing a huge element! The personal and vital interaction that communicates more than words. Over the past few years, we have seen the attendance decline at many photography events, which makes us sad, but we also see a few still going strong and thriving. Yes, the marketing factor has had to take priority, but it’s so good to see a few organizations going strong and offer the value of IPL. Last month, we attended Imaging USA in Nashville and at the end of this month will be WPPI; the two biggest imaging conventions in the US. PhotoPro Expo just recently took place in Cincinatti, and this week, a new booming success is SYNC (Senior and Youth National Conference) in Florida. SYNC is relatively young, (celebrating its 10th year this year), and is bigger than ever, truly focusing on the community aspect. Remember, it’s not just the in-person class time; it’s lunchtimes, walking thru the hallways, the hotel lobby, tradeshows and the social evenings—all those times of interacting with fellow photographers that enrich our ability to see and help us grow in our businesses in many ways that are hard to articulate. We know it is a bit more expensive, (just like that wall portrait) but will be something you will cherish for years to come—something that will touch your heart and potentially change your life in the long run. Why do we encourage families to buy that wall portrait or for brides to purchase that album? We know the value and it goes so much deeper than words. Remember that when you consider online vs in-person learning too. Yes, it is an investment, but the value far exceeds the cost! I will be attending (and sometimes teaching too) quite a few events this year, and I encourage you to plan on attending at least one this year as well! In-Person Learning is so valuable- just ask any photographer who has survived over 20 years—you will hear this perspective over and over!
Please Join me and many other photographers who are part of the community of success! You can meet with us in person and enjoy the fellowship at at SYNC, Garden FotoFest, Shutterfest, Texas School, Palm Springs Photo Festival, GLIP, East Coast School, and for our own creativity, the ASP New Mexico Tour! I hope you will come up and say “hi” wherever you see Jonny and me this year and make plans to do more IPL: In-Person Learning! When I first got certified a good friend told me that scuba diving wasn't a hobby, but a sickness! I didn't think about it until years later when looking back I started to count the dozens of trips and hundreds of dives I'd done. Diving becomes an obsession, but it's not just about being in the water, but time with great friends. Each trip was like a reunion filled with memories, laughs and fish stories that rival anything fishermen have to crow about. The group above all hit Utila in Honduras to dive with whale sharks in 2008. It was an amazing trip - great friends, big fish and new memories daily. It was the epitome of everything you want a dive trip to be. Although not until we were leaving die we learn just how good it was. Typical of dive resorts, everyone typically books their trips on a Saturday to Saturday schedule. That means everyone who arrives on Saturday, from all over the world, sees each other at departure a week later. Well, for all of us, we were the only group to see and get time with the whale sharks. Everyone else, although the diving was excellent, never spotted one of the big guys! You get to meet each other as your praying for all your bags to arrive. There's nothing worse than losing a bag with your gear and having to delay a great trip because you're waiting for the airlines to figure out what happened. Just the joy of seeing your gear in a pile on the runway is an adrenaline rush! And for those of you non-divers who think the world of scuba is filled with luxury hotels, beautiful yachts and upscale accommodations think again! But the more rustic the "resort," the more laughs and memories! Just the bathroom in our room was enough of a memory-maker to contribute to the stories of the trip! One of the benefits of booking a group trip like this is our strength in numbers. On every dive we "owned" the boat which gave the captain the flexibility to do whatever we wanted, which included a couple of night dives along with working hard to spot the critters we'd come most to see, the whale sharks. The other day while looking through a backup drive from my old computer I found all of these images. The whale shark was captured by one of the other divers, and while it won't win any awards, it won hands down in memories. The little guy below was on a night dive. I was shooting with an inexpensive FUJI point and shoot in a small underwater housing. If you're not aware of what happens on a night dive - it's pretty amazing. You see virtually no colors in any of the coral, sponges and plant life during daylight, but bring in any artificial light like the flash on your camera or an underwater flashlight and the world lights up with color. There's no manipulation in the color of the coral this spotted eel was hiding under. While I often suggest you use Throwback Thursday as a marketing tool to plant a few seeds about the need for updated family portraits for your clients, it's also perfect to help you take a break. Under the day in day out stress of running a business, sometimes it's pure relaxation to step away and take that trip down Memory Lane.
Happy Throwback Thursday! On January 17, Chamira Young and I launched "Beyond Technique" an extraordinary podcast series thanks to PhotoShelter. We know there are hundreds of places you can find support to build your technique and skill set, but what about a great resource for growing your business? Christina Peters joins us on this new podcast, with a perfect topic, photographing food. Even though you might not have food photography at the core of your business, it comes up so often. Wedding photographers for example regularly need food shots as a critical part of the details of storytelling for the album. Then there are those of you who get requests from clients who need images of food, table settings etc. You do the best you can, but it's not your expertise. Well, Christina is just the person to give you a little help! Check out her website with a click on any of her images in this post. Her diversity is remarkable and includes everything from food and beverages to environmental portraits of chefs, farm animals and macro. If it's related to being on the kitchen table, odds are Christina has captured it! Not only will you see stunning images in her galleries, but pay attention to the layout and how clean her site is. She's very open in this interview about how she wanted her work to be presented, and It's all thanks to PhotoShelter. Today more than ever, your website has the same power of a bricks and mortar retail store but with far greater reach. The PhotoShelter team makes it easy to accomplish. Check out Christina's FoodPhotographyClub. Here's your chance to fine tune your skills, so whether you're formally a food photographer or not, your clients will be getting the very best results! And, definitely take a scroll over to PhotoShelter and check out the free trial and limited time special offer. Start your 14 Day FREE trial of PhotoShelter with a click on the banner above. Plus get 20% off a Standard or Pro Account for a year. Use the coupon code PHOTOFOCUS20 Images copyright Christina Peters. All rights reserved.
"No one regrets taking photos. People only regret NOT taking photos." Ana Brandt I love these short videos Profoto has on their YouTube channel because they share so much about the featured artists and in turn their technique. They're always educational, demonstrating Profoto's never-ending quest to help photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images. Ana Brandt is in the spotlight with this video. Based out of California, her passion centers around maternity and newborns. Her website and galleries are just a click away. It's remarkable how much you learn about Ana in just four and a half minutes. Think about how you'd tell your story of working with a client. For example, I love the preparation part of the video as Ana works with "Mom" to decide on the outfit along with the look and feel of the portrait. Later, you'll see Ana working with the client on a maternity shoot. Then there's the setup for the portraits themselves - how she's lighting each subject, the accessories she's using and the way she wants the finished image to look. If you haven't made it to a Profoto retailer or rental house for your own test drive, just click on the B1X below to find the one nearest you. Off-Camera Flash has changed so much of the way photographers create and capture stunning images today. Isn't it time you found out what all the buzz is about?
Image copyright Cecil Holmes. All rights reserved. "Why?" is always about introducing you to some of the most respected photographers and artists in the industry, but it's evolved into so much more. Every backstory has been a little different, giving us an opportunity to get to know the artist in a way that looking at just a photograph would never accomplish. Cecil Holmes is in the "Why?" spotlight today and he's a perfect example of how social media helps us meet other artists and expand our understanding of everyone's passion for the craft. I first "met" Cecil watching a short video from Tamron USA about their 100-400mm lens. He was out in the cold of the Grand Teton's with my buddy Ken Hubbard, and I loved the way he captured images of horses in the dead of winter. Well, that took me to his website and in turn a good old fashioned phone call to talk about his work and hope that he'd join me on an episode of "Why?" There's another phenomenon that's unique to our industry that's been apparent in so many episodes of "Why?" We all share so many mutual friends. With Cecil, just like playing the degrees of separation with Kevin Bacon game, the core link is Tamron USA. During the podcast, Cecil told a story about a double rainbow and being patient when the weather is less than perfect. I asked him if we could share it here as well. Click on either image to visit Cecil's website and see more of his work, and follow him on workshops through Nature in Focus. And, click on Tamron below to check out some of the finest glass in photography! Image copyright Michael Chinnici. All rights reserved. On January 17 Chamira Young and I, together with PhotoShelter, launched a new podcast series called "Beyond Technique." As a result, I've been spending a lot of time on the PhotoShelter website, which is loaded with great content and support for photographers. One of my favorite features on the PhotoShelter website and blog is their New Member Shoutouts.
I love the feature because each image introduces me to the work of another artist, their websites and galleries. Just to say it's a diverse group would be an understatement. The work is stunning and represents a group of passionate photographers. It's time for you to meet New York-based, Michael Chinnici. Like many of you today, his love for the craft was ignited early on. It all started at age eleven with his father's Argus C3 and a basement darkroom. Visiting Michael's website, the first thing that hit me was the diversity of his images. Here's a little more about his background: He enjoys the challenges that various photographic disciplines present. He is the Founder and CEO of Photo Workshop Adventures, a premier photo tour company offering photo-centric adventure vacations in over 100 destinations in over 50 countries. Currently, Michael is pursuing an ongoing visual storytelling project titled “Vanishing Cuba” which includes images from his 14 trips (and counting) to Cuba. Click on his image above to see more of his work. If you haven't visited the PhotoShelter website, it's time to check it out. They're a leader in helping artists present their work in a way that's unique, professional and always so clean! Plus, they're an incredible resource covering so many different aspects of business and imaging. They also set the standard for being accessible, because they're dedicated to helping photographers build a stronger business. They're just a phone call away at 212-206-0808. While most questions are answered on their website, there's always a live body to help you. In a day when so many companies have gone to template email correspondence and robots to answer a call, PhotoShelter walks the talk! Click on the banner below to find out more and best of all, start your free trial and take PhotoShelter out for your own test drive! Lately, I've been on the phone a lot, talking to photographers who I've never met before. It's usually in response to a spectacular image that's been shared, or a nice comment, and I like to just pick up the phone. Well, I'm amazed at how many of you minimize the motivation, risk, and investment you've made to be an entrepreneur. Over and again I've had people say something like, "Look I'm just a little guy..." That statement is followed by an explanation of how small their business is or how new they are to the industry. I wrote a post about five years ago, and it all started with an email I got from a member of one of the forums on Facebook, asking a question about self-promotion. Instead of responding via email I just picked up the phone and called him. I was overwhelmed the next day with an email I got thanking me for taking the time to call "an Average Joe" and a comment he made, "If more CEOs would stay in touch with their employees and customers, we wouldn't have this type of economic crisis we are having today." So, let's talk about all of you who think you're just "Average Joes." If it weren't for you, we'd have no photographic industry. There are only a handful of icons, but there are thousands of photographers who run great little businesses throughout the country who are unknown outside their communities. Are the icons important? Of course, they are, because they're our guides and help us to see the trends, changes in technology and help us understand how to spread the word. If this were the old west, they'd be the guys breaking in the wild horses and leading the wagon trains, but all the rest of us would be in those wagons. All of you who think of yourself as just an "Average Joe" - wake up! You're the foundation of this industry, and without you, there'd be no industry! Every photograph you take contributes to this incredible world of magic we call imaging, and as long as you have the passion and keep working to build a stronger skill set, you'll never be an "Average Joe." Now, to his point about more CEOs contacting their customers: Your greatest marketing tool is relationship building, and as a business owner you should be staying in touch with your clients all year long. You're the "CEO" of your business, no matter how small it might be. I've talked about UnMarketing in past posts. It's a book all of you should read. The original tagline says it all, Stop marketing, Start engaging. A week or so ago I was a guest on Shep Hyken's "Amazing Business Radio" podcast. Shep is a New York Times bestselling author and a leader in Customer Service education for large and small businesses. We talked a lot about the how great service builds relationships and in turn a stronger foundation for your business. The podcast is just a click away, and there's some excellent content in this one. Third, and here's my last point to this morning's blog - you have to love what you do every day! I love this industry. I called "Average Joe" because I wanted to talk to another photographer. As photographers, you're responsible for capturing the memories of the world every day. As business owners, you're taking risks all the time to grow your client base, revenue and establish a foothold in your community. I'm your biggest groupie! The "thanks" doesn't go to me for making a phone call. The "thanks" goes to all of you for supporting an industry we all love dearly. This is an amazing industry filled with a lot of wonderful people, and all of them, no matter how well known they might be today, started out "Average Joes." Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. Confucius Unlike most Reflections' posts, I went to sleep last night knowing exactly what I wanted to write about this morning. My mother died of Alzheimer's almost five years ago and tomorrow would be her 92nd birthday. Alzheimer's is a horrible disease. It's like a burglar breaking into your home, robbing you of a loved one. There's no police report to file and no hope of ever getting your possessions returned. Little by little, over seven years with Mom's battle, we watched her disappear a bit more each day. But my purpose in writing about this today isn't to relive the pain, but some pretty special moments. First is the importance photography played in losing Mom. Dad passed away two years later, but thanks to photographs the smiles live on. The contemporary images in this post are all thanks to Bambi Cantrell spending most of a day with my folks. It was just before the Alzheimer's truly took hold. She captured the love they had for each other, and with each photograph, I can "hear" Mom's smile. And there's my first point this morning - NEVER compromise on the quality of an image! Being a photographer is a huge responsibility. Your clients are putting all their trust in you to capture images that are more than photographs! Even the most routine series of images, depending on the situation, can become a cornerstone of invaluable memories. My second point is to remind you that in dealing with Alzheimer's, you're never alone. So many of you are dealing with it now or may be in the near future. There were some things that helped us through the storms a lot.
Going through old photographs like this, Mom remembered every detail. Yes, they're all me - a month old to two to four! And that brings me full circle to the fun of this morning's post. Photographs keep us in touch with our most special memories. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss my folks, but my very best memories are reinforced thanks to the industry we're all a part of. Even the battle with Alzheimer's had moments that were easier to handle thanks to photography.
Wishing all of you a beautiful Sunday and a day filled with memory-making. If you're a photographer, think about the things you should do to make your skill set the very best it can be. There's no room for lack of quality in your work and mediocrity is a dirty word! Go for those eleven-second hugs and remind the people you love the most how vital they are in your life. Happy Sunday and Happy Birthday Mom - sure do love ya! by Skip Cohen I've shared this quote from my good buddy Terry Clark many times over the last few years. “The best thing to do to survive and thrive is find what everyone else isn’t doing and do that thing.” So, what are some of the things you should be doing to make yourself stand out?
“Bill Maher and I are on against each other, and we're friends. He can do my show any time he wants,
and I've done Politically Incorrect several times. There's no reason to think competition has to be adversarial.” Jay Leno Four years ago I ran a series of posts that were quick tips on building a stronger presence on your website, blog, and marketing. It's time to bring them back! We're halfway through February and the slow season for most of you. It's the perfect time to work on components of your business that need a lift. Welcome to Fast Food Friday! Today your Internet presence is the equivalent of a bricks and mortar business just a few years ago. It's your storefront and important to make a visit to your cyberspace real estate a memorable experience. Just like those stores, you like to shop at most; you have a choice. Take the time over the weekend and let's start cleaning up those dusty corners of your business ignored for far too long. Let's do everything we can NOW to help make 2018 the best year yet. The difference between "survive" and "thrive" is just a few letters combined with some well-placed energy! Cleaning Up the Images on Your Website
Intro by Skip Cohen One of the things I appreciate most about working with the team at Photodex is their neverending focus on helping you build a stronger business and skill set. This post by "Kathy" from last week is a perfect example. For most of you, this is the slow season, but April is right around the corner which typically kicks off the start of the wedding season in the U.S. Wandering through Google, I found some interesting data on the SoundVision website.
The number that's always a mystery is the number of wedding photographers out there. The estimates are all over the place, but what we do know is that it's an incredibly competitive market. That means you've got to stay cutting-edge on your skill set. You've got to build relationships with your clients and your community. You've got to exceed client expectations and make yourself habit-forming! So, I want to add a few suggestions to Kathy's list of great blogs. Wander into YouTube and search for videos from the leaders in wedding photography. All it takes is plugging names into the search box, and you'll be amazed at what you find. For example, type in Sal Cincotta and see what comes up! From weddings to Profoto lighting tips, to engagement shots and pricing - you'll have your own private support series to help you build a stronger business. Keep on searching and look up Vanessa Joy, Justin and Mary Marantz, Roberto Valenzuela, Denis Reggie, Bambi Cantrell, Joe Buissink, Clay Blackmore, Jerry Ghionis and Yervant just to name a few of the leaders in the industry. Then search for photographers speaking at upcoming conventions you'll be attending. So many of the most respected artists in the industry are sharing content every day on YouTube and in their blogs, and Kathy has picked out ten who are outstanding. You've chosen a career path where you can never stand still and simply rest on your laurels, and great content is right at your fingertips! by Kathy Check out some of these incredible wedding photography websites and blogs that are full of beautiful wedding photos and so much more. Browse through galleries, videos, and even tips if you’re looking for some inspiration as the one getting married, for a friend’s wedding, or as the photographer.
We’d love to see those wonderful wedding photos and memories put together in an awesome ProShow slideshow. Submit your slideshow to be considered for a spotlight on our blog. Be sure to select the blog submission option. Just to make sure you've got the right tools to exceed client expectations check out ProShow 9! With all of ProShow’s built-in creative tools like the automated wizard, instant effects, and the royalty-free music library you can make an awesome video slideshow in minutes. Get started with ProShow Gold 9 or ProShow Producer 9.
Don't forget to use SAVE20WITHSKIP in the code box when you purchase any Photodex product for a 20% discount. For a limited time, this special discount code is still active. Jonathan Thorpe is no stranger to SCU. "Forever Alone," his shot of Cupid, sitting by himself at the bar and out of arrows, is one my most favorite images. I haven't shared the behind the scenes video in a few years, and with today being Valentine's Day it's time to bring it back. I met Jonathan thanks to Tamron USA several years ago. He's a Tamron Image Master, and I've shared a number of his images, including an episode of "Why?" last year. Jonathan is the ultimate storyteller, packing an entire story into just one photograph! One of the things I appreciate most about Jonathan, besides his skill set as an artist, is the way he fulfills his mind's eye visions. Take the time to watch this short BTS video and then put Jonathan and Tamron on your radar. Click on the image above to visit Jonathan's website and see more of his work. Image copyright William Innes. All rights reserved. "Why?" is all about photographers and the backstories behind their favorite images. Often, as with today's story, the photograph is more than just the artist's favorite, it's an image that kicked off a journey into a new career. William Innes joins me in this new episode, and it's always fun doing a podcast with somebody I've spent a lot of time working with. William is a Panasonic LUMIX Ambassador, and I've shared a lot of his images, as well as some of his Photodex slide shows. While his core specialty is wedding photography, he loves to travel, and over the years a lot of his images I've seen have been well outside the typical bridal category. I appreciated the way he described how relentless his wife was in pushing him to share the photograph that started it all. So often we've chosen a path in our life thanks to a spouse, good friend or another family member. It's that encouragement and support that's so important in pursuing any dream! I don't usually share additional images in these episodes, but while William's backstory is about the image above; I want to share one of my favorites from his galleries. It was captured with a LUMIX GH5 and 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 Leica lens. Click on either image to see visit William's website and see more of his work. Now and then there's a moment in social media that reminds me how much we take for granted in our ability to communicate. Here's the scenario: I wrote about this a short time ago, but this is a new chapter. I have fun tweeting great quotes and post a new one every morning at 7:30 am. On December 22, I tweeted this one: "Remember, no matter how good your feedback is, you always start all over with the next customer." Shep Hyken I found the quote using Google, searching under the topic of Customer Service. Shep retweeted my post. It's rare the author of any quote I share retweets what I write and here comes one of the amazing attributes of the Internet. I looked up Shep Hyken to find out more about him. Then I called him to say thanks and learn about his role as a leader in the business community, and his focus on Customer Service. A few weeks later on Mind Your Own Business, Chamira Young and I had Shep on as a guest. It's a great podcast with a lot of terrific content. One of my favorite segments is Shep talking about the F-bomb of business, the word "fine." This morning Shep launched a new episode of Amazing Business Radio, and I was his guest as we talked about so many of the challenges in dealing with angry customers, specifically screamers. Not only was it a fun and informative podcast to record, but there's a growing friendship with Shep. That brings me full circle to how much we take for granted. While there are days when we all miss the solitude of life before email and social media, the rest of the time it's one of the best tools we have for developing our network, education and in turn new friendships. The world used to be a pretty big place, but now we've got the ability to stay connected, often with friends we've only met in Cyberspace. But there's one more point I want to share. Obviously meeting somebody in person is always the best, but next in line is picking up the phone and making a call. It's important to be accessible and in my growing friendship and respect for Shep, he optimizes the concept! So, the next time you read something you enjoy, listen to a podcast, online workshop or watch a video that brings a new person into your life, take the time to share a little feedback. And, if appropriate, don't be afraid to pick up the phone and introduce yourself and take that step to making the world a little smaller. For years I've said 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. That's also true of the friendships that grow out of everyone's love for business, and in this case, Customer Service. |
Our Partners"Why?"Check out "Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog. It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound bite. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. We're over 100 artists featured since the project started. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.
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