Intro by Skip Cohen Many years ago I heard Jay Conrad Levinson speak about the top one hundred things guerrilla marketers need to do to build their business and brand awareness. Right near the top of his list was community involvement. I remember him saying, "People like buying products from companies who give back." The reality is, you're looking for the community to be good to you, so you have to find ways to be good to your community! I've shared a lot of stories about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS) over the years. I used to think NILMDTS wasn't for everybody, but the longer I've been one of their ambassadors, the more I realize it is for everybody! I've heard so many stories from photographers who panicked over the idea of their emotional involvement photographing a dying or even deceased baby, and later describe their experience as life-changing. The NILMDTS video below is still one of the very best ways to understand how you can help, and at the same time start to learn how NILMDTS will help you. You'll grow as an artist and more importantly a member of your community with a more significant passion for family values, love and yes, photography. I wanted to share the short post below by Jennifer Smith about her experience as a NILMDTS volunteer. She does such an excellent job of describing her involvement, especially her last sentence: "I think it’s important the parents know I’m honored to be a part of their child’s life, I’m grateful to have met them and photograph them. I will remember their child, and I was impacted by them." NILMDTS needs volunteers at all levels, not just photographers. To find out more about how you can help click on the thumbnail to the right. I volunteer … Because sometimes I think it’s not fair. Because I understand the importance of remembering and acknowledging those feelings are there. I can’t always help with words or cards, but I can help with my gift of art. I can help with my eye for photography So, I do. Jennifer Smith, NILMDTS Volunteer Photographer My best friend and I were pregnant at the same time, due in October. Only she gave birth at the hospital in July, and didn’t leave until April the next year when he passed away at 9 months old. Meanwhile, another friend of our family was due in September and had her daughter, stillborn. Their grief, their timeline of survival, I was a bystander through it all. I was left in a very awkward position because my baby was healthy.
This past spring, I received a random email from a member of my camera club saying “Cheryl Haggard, the founder of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, will be in Cincinnati on Monday”. I had never heard of her, or the organization, but I was strongly compelled to do some research. So I took time to learn more and went to the in-person meeting a few days later. I picked up some literature and information, applied to be a volunteer photographer, and here I am. After going to a handful of sessions, I’m happy I decided to walk this path with the other volunteers. It’s sometimes hard to stop my routine, especially with two small kids, and decide to take a session, but I do decide to have a few hours of stillness in my body and mind and to be present with the baby and family while I’m there. I think it’s important the parents know I’m honored to be a part of their child’s life, I’m grateful to have met them and photograph them. I will remember their child, and I was impacted by them.
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Intro by Skip Cohen
It's another "Mirrorless Mark" Monday, and my buddy Mark Toal is back with a perfect example of the need for so many of us to expand our skill set. And, to Mark's point, I'm no videographer either, but all of the LUMIX cameras I'm shooting with give me the ability to switch from still images to video and back again - all with the push of a button. And, whether the video I capture is strong enough to stand on its own or be included with still images and music in a hybrid slideshow, I'm becoming a better storyteller. That's every artist's goal whether sharing one image, an album or a video. I had some fun with Mark's post and pulled a few of screenshots from the video. Although these are from the video below - if Mark shot in 4K then he's also got the ability to pull single frames to further enhance his storytelling. He's never without a LUMIX camera. Check out more of Mark's images and follow him on Facebook and Instagram. PS Happy Birthday Eliza!
by Mark Toal
I doubt I’ll ever think of myself as a videographer, but I have more than 100 videos online between Youtube.com and Vimeo.com. Until about 10 years ago you needed to use a dedicated video camera to shoot good quality video, now every cell phone and camera can shoot amazing video and the Internet makes it easy to share. This video of my granddaughter’s birthday party is a perfect example of why video can capture a moment better than a still photo. This was made using a small Lumix LX10 point and shoot camera. As her mother walked in with the cake, I picked up the camera and pressed the red button to start the video. This was all shot handheld using auto-exposure and focus, basically, point and shoot video. Mirrorless cameras make video easier since you have a direct path to the sensor allowing you to shoot quickly without a mirror to get out of the way, and an electronic viewfinder to make it easy to see what you’re shooting in bright light. Laptops, tablets and cell phones almost all have built-in software to trim the beginning and end of the video if you begin too early or have extra at the end of the scene. If you need software, try something easy to use like Adobe Premiere Elements for Mac or PC’s. Then go to Youtube.com and press the upload arrow in the upper right corner. When your video is finished uploading share the link with friends and family or post in on social media. If you’re worried about privacy, you can hide the video so only people with a password or link can see it. Three tips for getting good videos: Keep your videos short, move the camera as little as possible, and don’t zoom while shooting. When you're ready to learn more about video, cameras like the Panasonic Lumix G85 and GH5 are there with all the features you need to make your own independent film, but for now, just have fun learning a new way to photograph your world. In my program this past weekend at the Professional Photographers of Ohio conference, I talked about Riptide Marketing, an expression I coined many years ago. Well, there's another aspect to riptide marketing and it comes from over-discounting in one promotional offer after another. For example, the ad concept to the right is from an email I got years ago from Levin's Furniture in Akron, where we used to live. Being back in Ohio this weekend, their ads repeatedly came up on the radio. They've done so many promotions they can't get out of the cycle without risking a serious drop in business. They're stuck in a riptide. They have to come out with a new promotion every few weeks. Many of you have the same challenge in your own marketing efforts, especially how you use your blog. You started posting client images from recent events or sittings and now it's a popularity contest. Just like Levin's, your clients expect they'll be featured on your blog and if you don't post their images you're afraid of dealing with hurt feelings and their disappointment. Let's get you out of the riptide! Two of the most important tips to get out of a riptide are to stay calm and then swim parallel to the shore until you're out of the current. I'm going to suggest the same in your marketing efforts. Let's work on changing client expectations of their images being showcased on your site. Stay Calm... You know how to focus our camera, so let's apply the same discipline to staying focused on the challenge. This isn't something you can change overnight, but it starts with creating better content for your blog. Many of you got into this mess because you couldn't think of anything to write about and showing client images was so easy. To make a change from what you've been doing, you need to start adding some good content. Build up a stash of 15-20 posts, 200-400 words each of picture-taking tips for your readers. This is all about being helpful. Once you've got enough content in the pipeline, start a new feature on your site and once a week share "Skip's Tips" - obviously use your own name! If you don't like the idea of picture-taking tips, then find something else with longevity. It could be great locations to photograph in your community, profiles of members of the community, even a review of upcoming events of interest to your readers. Run the new feature for a month, and you'll be ready to start reducing your client images. We're going to be changing the feel of your blog a little but it's no different than a restaurant adding new things to their menu. Swim parallel to the shore... Just like getting out of a riptide, there are two ways you can start to make a change with your clients. Instead of showing a lot of images from a client shoot and I've seen a few of you who show ALL of them, just pick two images. The first image is your favorite and the second demonstrates a "how-to" point. It might be about fill-flash or wardrobe, back-lighting, time of day, location, etc. You're still going to feature an image of your client, but it's going to be featured in a way that supports a new role you're building for yourself - being a mentor to helping your readership with their photographic skills. Most important of all you're going to show fewer images and set the stage to not show every client in the future. Another idea, which to me still perpetuates the problem is to build a "Client Showcase" into your blog and simply call it what it is. Personally, it's not my favorite solution, but if you've made your blog into a community feature that seems impossible to break, then moving client images into their own section could be a good solution. Why change at all? While your website is your storefront and about what you sell, your blog is about sharing what's in your heart. I'm convinced a well-done blog is your greatest tool for promoting your website. It's an opportunity to build trust with your clients and show your personality, but it can't happen if your heart is hidden under tons of images from past shoots. I'm not against sharing client images unless they become the only thing you show on your blog. Your blog should be about who you are and why you're a photographer. Together your website and blog should compliment each other, but when your blog starts having as many images as your galleries, you're missing a fantastic opportunity to build a stronger brand. It's just a short post this morning, and not as off the topic of photography as I usually share. For years I've written about the best thing in our industry being the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Well, here's a prime example: I'm in Ohio and spoke at PhotoBlast 2018, PPO's annual event this weekend. It's a great little conference, and if you're in Ohio and missed this year's convention, you blew it. It's a solid lineup of speakers, a terrific little trade show and with 300 people in attendance, it's a boutique conference worth putting on your calendar for 2019, but that's not why it's been such a good trip. This industry is built on friendships. I watched with incredible pride as my good buddy Brent Watkins, president of PPO received PPA's National Award last night. I was sitting with Robert Kunesh at the time, who I hadn't seen in at least ten years and at our table were several photographers who I'd never met, all being recognized for their contribution to the craft. Earlier I caught up to Bob Coates, who I've been hanging out with for years. I've grown as an artist thanks to his influence. Plus, my good buddy Mark, AKA "Hoss," who's not in the industry drove down with me - what a kick connecting a friend from one part of my life outside of photography with friends from another! And that brings me right to my point this morning: It's those friendships both new and old that's the "mortar" that holds all the "bricks" of our lives together. And, this weekend I've met a lot of photographers both new and old to the craft. Each one has sparked the potential of a new friendship. If you've ever seen an old building, it's the mortar between the bricks that decays first. In life, but more specifically our industry, it's the new friendships that keep the mortar solid. It's the passion of people you meet at a small conference like this that keeps photography growing, and for me, it's where the love I have for this industry comes from. Roll your eyes and call me sappy, but I can't imagine any career choice that could keep me smiling every day like this one! Wishing everybody a terrific weekend and one filled with the possibility of new friends, and appreciation for the old ones. Go for those eleven-second hugs and if you're a photographer, give yourself a big pat on the back for the contribution you make to the world every time you click the shutter! Happy Sunday everybody! If you're in the NJ/NYC area here's a program you shouldn't miss. Even if you're not doing a lot of travel photography, Tamron never compromises on the quality of the information they're sharing and the help they're giving artists to raise the bar on their images. "It’s a big world out there, and we want to help you capture it! Join us to fine-tune your skills on how to photograph your travels, whether they be weekend jaunts, family vacations or the trip of a lifetime. Learning how to create the right exposure, how to approach your subject, how to compose new angles and perspectives, and how to pack your bag with the right lenses, are all layers to creating a better photograph. Open your eyes to the world of travel photography and bring home photo memories like never before!" Regardless of your specialty in photography or your main interest, this is an evening workshop that will not only add to your skill set, but expand your network. Tamron's tech team is one of the most diverse groups of artists in photography. No matter what your skill level they're an amazing resource to have in your network. Plus, this isn't just about your skill set - it's one more way that Tamron gives back to the community! 100% of the seminar fee donated to the American Cancer Society through Tamron’s Relay For Life team.
All are invited to the annual Relay event taking place 6/2/18 at Northport High School. There are so many relatively easy things you can do to fine-tune your business, but you get busy, and suddenly everything seems like a major project. So, I started Fast Food Fridays to help you focus on things you need to do to make your business and presence stronger. After all, you know how to focus your camera. Why not your skills as a business owner? Each week is a new brand-builder to help you build a stronger reputation and make 2018 your best year yet. I get that you're busy, but I also know just working on your skill set as a photographer isn't enough to make you a success. Just like a diner with a daily blue plate special, I'm breaking things down into small "plates" of fixable challenges. This is the eighth "lunch special" in the series, hitting another easy to fix component of your business. On the menu for today is a series of tips to improve your follow-up and develop a stronger sense of Customer Service, one of the very best ways to outshine your competitors. Too Slow in Your Follow-Ups? How's that Working for You?Anyone who contacts you, whether they're a client, potential client, vendor or associate, judges you on your response time together with the accuracy of your response, hopefully with a delivery that should match the sincerity of The Three Tenors! Phone Calls: How quickly do you return a call to a client? A few years ago Gene Ho, a wedding photographer in Myrtle Beach, told me how his system works for responding to clients. If he's on the road and unavailable, an assistant catches the message and texts Gene or gets back to the potential bride directly. Often his studio has locked in the client before his competitors have even opened their email. Checking Your Email: Things really do get lost. Remember to check all your email boxes. Some of you not only have exclusive business email addresses but you're on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc. Messages can sit there for weeks with many of you. Also, don't forget the "other" box on Facebook messages. Plus, don't forget to check your spam folders. Remember people will always assume the worse when you don't get back to them promptly. Email Templates on Your Website: I wrote about this in a previous Fast Food Friday. They're meaningless if you don't check them regularly. Also, give people every possible way to contact you. I understand if you work out of your home and don't want to publish your address - but you can still give them an email address and phone number. What's most important is how quickly does a potential client get a response? Customer Service Problems/Challenges: Do you resolve challenges quickly or let them drag out? The key to great customer service is to handle each problem as quickly as possible. It's so easy to build a strong reputation. When there's a problem, all you have to do is call the customer and say, "The buck stops here. How can I help?" Then, kick back and listen. Appointments: Are you always early, just on time or a few minutes late? There's a story I heard years ago about author, Tom Peters. As the story goes, he was speaking to a room full of airline executives and arrived ten minutes late. They were aggravated that he wasn't on time. He stepped up to the microphone and said, "By all of your standards this was an on-time arrival." Every client has to feel like they're your most important account. Product Deliveries: Are you early, on time or late? Nothing beats delivering early and exceeding client expectations, but nothing can hurt your reputation more than having a client wait longer than anticipated. Your Attitude: This is a tough one for all of us. It's hard to be upbeat all the time, especially when you're flat out trying to catch up and the phone rings. Remember one easy pointer I was given years ago...if you smile on the phone, it comes out in the tone of your voice. The same goes for face to face meetings. Now and then I meet a photographer who forgot how to be happy. It seems so basic, but we all have to be a little Hollywood now and then when we're dealing with some of the challenges of running a business. It's like the old Ban deodorant commercial..."Never let them see you sweat!" With businesses, you go to the same places because you like the service, you like the people and they take care of you. They greet you with a smile. That's how people want to be treated, with respect. That's what I tell my employees...customer service is very important. Magic Johnson We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It's our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better. Jeff Bezos (Founder of Amazon) Missed any of the past lunch specials? They're just a click away!This video is in Spanish with English subtitles, but before some of you roll your eyes and think you're not going to learn anything here's why I'm sharing it.
Click on either of my two favorite screenshots from the video to link to the Profoto blog and the complete story.
There's so much great content on YouTube on both ProfotoUSA and Profoto's channels. Take the time to wander over and take a scroll through their archives. They're always sharing information to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images and especially to expand your skill set in lighting. And, take the time to wander into a Profoto dealer - just click on the banner below and find the retailer or rental house nearest you. Isn't it time you found out what all the buzz was about? A considerable part of my career has been spent "talking" with photographers. "Talking" by definition these days includes email, Twitter, IM's, Facebook, Linkedin, the phone and face to face at the various conventions. Lately, so many of you seem overly focused on your quest to be successful. I get that the "slow season" is coming to a close and you're looking for the business to ramp up into the Spring. I also know with Mother's Day, graduation, proms and Father's Day we're close to the year's second-biggest stretch of seasonality, but here's my point. "Success" no matter what your definition - being incoming revenue or just waking up happy every day doesn't show up without effort. It's not a lottery and winning is entirely dependent on your train of thought. One thing I've noticed about those people in our industry who we all consider at the top of their game is their success has been created with a unique ingredient in their attitude. They work hard. They have incredible technical and creative talent. But when it comes to looking for success, they just aren't worried about it. They trust the hard work is going to pay off. On the other hand, I've talked with so many young photographers and even more established photographers who had a hard time over the last few years, and everyone is so preoccupied with making it. I can't help but feel they're all looking too hard. My old buddy Don Blair set a great example. "Big Daddy" just loved to teach. It's what he did best, and it was second only to the love he had for his family and friends. While other photographers his age seemed to worry about being forgotten or were trying to reinvent themselves, Don just took it one day at a time. He did what he loved the most and just kept teaching. He never looked for work - it came to him. It's the start of a new week, and a great time to ponder a little. For those of you who stay awake at night worrying about your business or wondering when the Success Fairy is going to tap you on the shoulder - relax and keep working hard. Keep building your network. Keep fine-tuning your skills. Stay focused on your marketing...but stop worrying about success. If I've learned nothing else after all these years in the photographic industry and being on this planet, I've learned great things happen when you least expect them, and everything always works out for the better. John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach is quoted as saying: "Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming. " Images copyright Fuzzy Duenkel. All rights reserved. "Why?" is all about the favorite images from some of the most respected artists and educators in photography today. I started the series almost two years ago after teaching a workshop and being surprised how many attendees didn't know so many of the leading artists in contemporary photography. Well, here we are, 101 artists, later with a new episode each week. With every backstory has come your introduction to an artist you may not have known before, along with some terrific insight. Going back to my Rangefinder Magazine publishing days, one of the most powerful cover images we ever had was a senior shot of "Fuzzy" Duenkel's. It was a high school senior holding her violin with half of her face vertically cropped. It was one of the strongest portraits I'd ever seen, and it's still clear in my mind all these years later. Fuzzy joins me in this new podcast to talk about photographing seniors. Although there's probably nothing, he can't photograph, his passion is clearly in portraiture. Click on his image above or a few of my favorites I pulled from his website to see more of his work. And, if you're looking for help to raise the bar for your portrait work, check out Fuzzy's section for photographers where he offers both private tutoring and small group sessions. Intro by Skip Cohen This is right out of the archives, but so perfect as business starts to ramp up with Spring seasonality. Every client you work with has the potential to help you build more business, providing their experience with you was memorable. It's all about quality, relationship building and making sure your skill set is always the best. My good buddy Scott Bourne shared this short post many years ago, but in a world where consumers are bombarded with "noise," you've got a unique opportunity to utilize word of mouth advertising and asking for a referral is so often missed. Loyal customers, they don't just come back, they don't simply recommend you, they insist that their friends do business with you. Chip Bell by Scott Bourne One of the most powerful methods working photographers can use to get new business is the referral. In these days of social networking, transparency, etc., people rely more and more on their friends' opinions when it comes to selecting a vendor. How can you get referrals? Just ask. But it's HOW you ask that counts. You can beg, plead, borrow or steal. That doesn't end up delivering the result you want. You want enthusiastic referrals based on your performance. Words matter as does presentation. Accordingly, I submit one of the ways you might ask for referrals. A sign, carefully positioned in your place of business, with the following words, or something similar will do the trick. "Our studio is both sustained and honored by your referral of family and friends. Thank you." This approach is low-key and puts you in the best light for clients who would be inclined to refer others to you. Feel free to modify this as you see fit for your particular circumstances.
Intro by Skip Cohen
"Mirrorless Mark" is back and talking about one of my most favorite LUMIX features - using Wi-Fi. Here's the application I use it for with EVERY article I write for Shutter Magazine. Each month the content contributors to Shutter submit a short video highlighting some aspect of their article. In the online version of the magazine at the close of every story is a short video tying back to the theme of the editorial. My videos have never been better for a couple of reasons. First, is the quality of the video itself. I'm not suggesting for a minute I'm a videographer, but LUMIX cameras have raised the bar on my monthly presentations. Second, is Wi-Fi. My wife Sheila was my videographer for a long time, but since my recordings are pretty much off the cuff and spontaneous, she had no idea what I wanted to do. How could she? I didn't know myself. Using the Panasonic App on my phone, I now have complete control over each recording. Plus, I'm able to notice things she might not have picked up on, and I can record anywhere without her having to go out on a shoot with me and making it into a time-consuming production. For those of you who know me, you also know I'm the low-tech poster child of the industry. If they ever do an industry ad for LUMIX Wi-Fi, then the tagline should be, "If Skip can do it, anybody can!" Yeah, it really is that easy and fun to work with!
by Mark Toal
Somebody recently asked me what my favorite camera feature is, and I answered Wi-Fi. Sensor’s, lenses and all the technical features have reached a point where it’s not hard to get a great image in almost any light. Wi-Fi is what lets me share those photos online quickly and easily. All Panasonic and most other cameras have built-in wi-fi. Wi-Fi does two things in cameras. It allows you to connect your camera via an App to a cell phone or tablet. Once you're connected, you can use the App to control the camera to focus, change exposure and shoot photos and then transfer the images to your phone or tablet and share them on social media. Wi-Fi is a great way to take that group photo. Instead of setting the timer and running to get in the photo, connect your cell phone and trigger the shutter from the phone. My current workflow is to take photos as I travel and then stop in a restaurant, coffee shop or even a sit in my car to transfer an image or two to my phone, adjust it in the App Snapseed and upload it to Facebook and Instagram or send in an email. All this takes less than five minutes. This video shows how simple it is to connect a LUMIX camera via Wi-Fi to your cell phone. Almost every one of my images on Facebook and Instagram were transferred via Wi-Fi and adjusted in Snapseed. This video shows how easy it is. Now and then the process of trying to figure out what to write about for Sunday Morning Reflections starts days earlier when something hits me that seems perfect for a topic. That's the way today is, as I head into one of those forbidden zones in blogging and get personal.
Over the last ten days, my folks have been on my mind almost every day. I've had moments where missing them was so intense I just cried, and then minutes later been laughing about something from the past that was such a vivid memory, it was as if it just happened. Sheila's seen me up and down like an emotional yo-yo and she's been instrumental in helping me through these oddly timed stretches of grief. This morning, literally right now as I'm writing this, I finally figured out where the seeds of what I'm feeling were planted, and it's all thanks in part to photography. Every year for the last four years I've been the emcee at a fund-raising dinner here in Sarasota for the Friendship Centers. At the one two years ago, my Dad was still alive and joined us. Then, last year and this year fun stories about him and my Mom were topics in my monologue whenever I was at the podium. This year my good pal Erin McLeod, the CEO of the organization threw me a curve ball and included a short section of the script that was a sunset toast to our elders. From my script I said, "We have all had someone we can say shaped us, guided and mentored us as we grew...an elder who saw potential, offered instructions and encouragement. Just for a moment, as the sun sets right out these windows overlooking Sarasota Bay, please join me in raising a glass to that elder and to all the elders. Mine are right here on the screen - my parents." The image that came up is the one above. Even though I knew it was coming, it set off a wave of emotion that was tough to keep together. And, here I am this morning still on the subject. So what's my point? First, all of us have people in our lives who have passed away, and we miss, but it's thanks in part to our career choice, photography, their memories stay so much alive. I'll spare you my lecture on the importance of never compromising on the quality of an image, but that doesn't change your responsibility every time you click the shutter for a portrait. Second, is letting yourself go with whatever emotion pops up when you're taking that stroll down Memory Lane. After a whole round of tears the other night, sparked by a scene on Grey's Anatomy reminding me of the night my Dad passed away, I apologized to Sheila for my little outburst. She hugged me, laughed and reminded me that missing loved ones we've both lost and then sharing that pain is a crucial ingredient to the strength that holds us together. So, today's post is as much about what I'm feeling as it is about you. When you've got those moments where a flashback catapults you into the past, just go with it. Most of us put those feelings in a box, and put them away, embarrassed by the potential moment losing control. But, whether you're lucky enough to have a partner as I do, or you're just by yourself, enjoy the moment and recognize the pain you're feeling is a good thing and deserves to be savored and appreciated. And to Mom and Dad, who I know are together, in a place of peace and watching over us - I miss you guys - Thank you for continuing to always being by my side, and in my heart. Wishing everybody a beautiful day and regardless of whether you're celebrating Easter or Passover, make it a day filled with love, peace and the people in your life who keep your heart beating and a smile on your face! And as always, if you can go for a few seconds longer than the usual eleven-second therapy hugs - like Nike's tagline - JUST DO IT! Happy Sunday everybody! |
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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