 Senator Baker loved photography. Joe McNally sent me this shot and a comment about being jealous of the Senator at the time, he had the best seat in the house! Yeah, there he is with his Leica. Image copyright Joe McNally. All rights reserved.  by Skip Cohen
The SCU blog has been actively running for over twelve years. As a result, there are some great "Throwback Thursday" posts in the archives. This is one I want to share again. In 2014, America lost one of its greatest statesmen, Senator Howard Baker. He was a fantastic contributor to this country, but I'm not sure how many of you realize his passion for photography and his support for our industry. You'd often see him wandering the floor of some of the bigger photo shows just to check out what was new in gear. I don't want to make it sound like we were such good friends and we were about to buy a boat together, but we spent enough time together for me to look back on the friendship as one of the highlights of my career. In a throwback post just a few months ago, I wrote about our first meeting. Finding the image above brings back to many great memories, and like all throwbacks, stories. We met in his office. He sat in a chair with his feet on the edge of the coffee table and just wanted to talk about photography. In the middle of the table was a big basket of Tennessee's favorite candy, GooGoo Clusters, next to a couple of photography books. Somewhere in the conversation, we discussed the challenge of communicating ideas in writing, and he told me that he once sent a letter to another congressman, writing, "I'd like to make this shorter, but I just don't have the time!" That led to a discussion about how difficult it is to be concise, and the conversation came full circle because a picture really is worth a thousand words. A year or two later, I talked him into speaking at a PMDA dinner in New York. I was the program chairman for that dinner, and he flew in. We grabbed a quick drink at his hotel and then headed to one of the function rooms at the UN, where this special evening meeting was to be held. He needed to leave immediately after his presentation. As I walked him out, he talked about loving the opportunity to speak to so many people from the photo industry, and then he thanked me for getting him a private car and made a comment, "I sure hope you didn't get me one of those big obnoxious limos. I hate the things...just love a simple Ford. I like to sit up front and talk to the driver." As we walked through the door to the outside, all the blood drained out of my face...not only did I get him a stretch, but because he was Senator Howard Baker, I got him the biggest one I could find. Not only that, but it was white on white and couldn't be more ostentatious. It was huge, and a family of twelve could live in it for a lifetime! He gave me a look that most of us only see from our spouses when we're in trouble...but for some reason, I held my ground, looked back at him, and said, "Admit it, you love it!" He cracked, climbed into the front seat next to the driver, and headed to the airport. A year or two later, he was in NYC again and called me. He was open for dinner on just one of the nights, and I invited him to Gramercy Tavern. Knowing almost nothing about politics, I decided we needed another photographer with us who could discuss politics as well as photography. I made a quick call to my buddy, Denis Reggie, who grew up in the political arena. An hour before dinner, I had another panic attack; Denis was a diehard Democrat, and Baker, the leading Republican! The truth is, it was a fantastic dinner, and a month later, the Senator called me and asked if I thought Denis would photograph his wedding. One call to Denis, and an hour later, they were on the phone together going over plans. I'll leave you with one last story... Somewhere over the years, he told me a story about once being introduced at a political dinner in Tennessee as the third most famous person to ever come out of the state. He smiled and said, "I sat there trying to think of who the other two were...turns out they were Dolly Parton!" We didn't just lose an amazing contributor to the country but an artist with incredible passion and an unmatched love for life. He loved photography, published several of his own photography books, and you couldn't help but enjoy his company, especially when he was in photo mode!
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 Dad over the years - 1) The little kid in the front 2) Basic training in WWII 3) Dad and I taking a shot at Meyer lemons after my Aunt told us how sweet they were 4) He loved onion rings 5) Mom/Dad - award-winning Halloween costumes in 2012  by Skip Cohen It's Throwback Thursday, and this weekend is Father's Day...so it's a multi-faceted blog post. The portrait of my Dad and me on the right, which I've shared before, was captured in a booth at PPA National at least twenty-five years ago by Don Blair. I cherish the portrait, but there are a couple of additional points it makes. First, you don't need a fancy studio if you understand lighting and posing! Second, memories captured by old friends are definitely the best. "Big Daddy" Blair and I wrote our first book together in the 90s. It was a kick to do, and it remains relevant as a guide for outstanding portraiture. One of the highlights over the years was Dad coming to conventions with me. And when he and Don got together, the laughs were non-stop. They both served in the military in WWII...and I'm convinced the war might have ended earlier if not for these two knuckleheads! (And the way I'm using the word knuckleheads is filled with love, respect, and the biggest smile!) There's rarely a week that goes by that something doesn't come up that makes me think of Don. And when Gary (Don's son) and I get together, even on a phone call, there's an ongoing contest to see who can imitate Big Daddy's best "Hey, hey, hey, my man!"
Since Father's Day is Sunday, this is also about my Dad. He was my best buddy. Although he passed away over ten years ago, that doesn't diminish the appreciation and love I have for everything he taught me. I used to say there weren't many guys my age who still had their parents around, let alone liked them! He also possessed an amazing level of integrity, still conducting business on a handshake right up until his passing at 93. I convinced him to write the post below, which I share once a year. It makes a great point - stop worrying about everybody else's business and stay focused on your own. Wishing all the dads out there a terrific weekend and a chance to simply kick back and relax. And to Dad and "Big Daddy" - I picture the two of you hanging out together and watching over all your "chicks and grand-chicks," as Don used to say. Happy Father's Day everybody! by Ralph Cohen
Yesterday was my 88th birthday. I have been happily retired for many years, and unemployed for at least 15 of those. Now, out of the blue, comes our son, Skip, threatening me with employment! The pay he considers adequate is $.02 per word. So gathering together, my 50+ years in business experience, I thought this would be a good time to put my two cents in. I am not a plagiarist, but I must quote my father who spent the last months of his life writing advice to his children: “Conduct your business in an upright manner and remember, the most important thing in one’s life is to be honest with one’s self. Maintain the high standard and dignity that your business requires. Do not go into deals hastily and be visible in your business as much of the time as is possible. If you take time to play, do it away from your business, because your livelihood needs all the attention you can give to it.” Early on, I concluded that the best testimonials came from my many friendly competitors. We didn’t really compete with each other, in the true sense. True, we were in the same field of endeavor, but we all knew we were there to help each other. Happily, the “tough competition” fell by the wayside. I remember giving Skip driving lessons and I told him, “Watch the left front fender…..the rest will take care of itself!” I’ve found this is really true of everything in life. An old axiom says “If you tell the truth, you never have to remember what you said.” That is all part of reputation-building. I found that, sadly, in the field of real estate, truth is hard to come by for many. In our case, it was a major building block in the reputation which we enjoyed, and helped us to thwart the competition. Goodwill is all of the above, plus a lot of caring for your clients as well as your competitors. If life is a give-and-take situation, giving is the more important of the two. The taking will come with time and be far more appreciative. Just remember - you heard it here! Ralph Cohen, Founder and Creator of Skip Cohen!  Image thanks to Ken Sklute by Skip Cohen Although I shared this post almost seven years ago, we're coming up on the anniversary of the first Skip's Summer School in 2009. Time definitely flies when you're having a good time! I left WPPI and Rangefinder Magazine in 2009 to follow a dream - starting my own business. We were in the middle of a recession, and I was headed off to pursue a dream to fulfill my entrepreneurial spirit. As I look back to the first program in '09 and the images from 2010, featured here, there are so many friendships that came out of this workshop series. Most of my family thought I was nuts and there were more than just a few friends who felt the same way. But I ran across an anonymous quote around that time that said it all: I do it because I can. I can because I want to. I want to because you said I couldn't. I've shared the group shot above in at least one other post, but this was the team who made it all happen that first summer. We started in Las Vegas at the MGM, and because of the economy at the time and Vegas hurting for business, there was no room block commitment, no minimum food or beverage and minimal charges for everything we needed as long as we booked rooms - and we did! I recently ran across a couple of photographs that bring back so many great memories from those summer programs. In 2010, Sarah Petty offered to fill in for Vicki Taufer, which brings back a whole story of its own. Here's the short version - Vicki and Jed were adopting their daughter and got caught in an immigration challenge and couldn't bring her back into the US for several months. Vicki stayed overseas, and Sarah jumped in to save summer school with an outstanding program. The story goes a lot deeper as dozens of photographers in the industry tried to help with letters to congressman, immigration officials, and a non-stop push to get Vicki home. Friendships are the best part of this industry, and Kay Eskridge spoke that year as well. Kay passed away last year, but the photograph below is one more reminder about the value of photography...capturing memories, especially of people we love and miss! We kept the Summer School programs simple with one big room, no breakouts and a dozen vendors who wanted to support education around the perimeter. Wifi was still a big deal, and the room was set up, so a new speaker kicked off every ninety minutes, but there were charging stations, and you could work at the same time - giving attendees the ability to stay in touch with business, but still pick up great ideas to market and promote their products/services.  Image thanks to Sarah Petty A favorite programs over the years was a completely impromptu panel of experts in the evening after the day's schedule. We got together after dinner for anybody who had wanted to keep things going. We were there to answer questions about business, photography, life - it just didn't matter. That's Clay Blackmore, Tony Corbell, me and my honey, Sheila. We had at least 8-10 instructors join us.  Image thanks to Samantha Photograpy  One of my favorite images of Sheila and me was captured that night and sent to me by good buddy, Brian Palmer. Brian's on the other side of the world these days, but I still keep hoping we'll catch up on one of his family trips back to the US. The shot itself, proves a very special point - you don't have to have everybody looking at the camera all the time. After the 2013 summer workshop, like so many educational events we decided it was time for a change. Workshops events like this are incredibly labor intensive and with so many different events to choose from it was time to move on, but not from the goal of education, continuing to build a business and support an industry I love dearly. With help from good buddy, Scott Bourne, the SCU blog became a reality and my life morphed into that of a blogger, podcaster, and writer. I wouldn't change a thing in my life since leaving Rangefinder/WPPI. The best part of the last sixteen years is the friendships that have come out of everyone's mutual love for the craft and the support we all give each other no matter what challenges life puts in our paths. If the plan doesn't work, change the plan, but NEVER your goal.
Author Unknown  by Skip Cohen It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday! If I had a closet for all my throwback pics and videos, the shot above, from Adobe Stock, would be precisely what it would look like...although not as organized! One aspect of the fun of #TBT is the simple fact that, due to changing technology, you really don't have to go back very far to find a classic memory. For example, I wrote for Shutter Magazine for six years. Every article included a short video summary. It was just over nine years ago we captured the two-minute video below. The fun of these videos was the challenge of getting people to remember my point. I knew if I could do something stupid in the video, readers might remember my point. The point I made back then is even more relevant today. Why? Because social media has given you even more access to your target audience. But to be effective, you need to define your target's demographics and then be precise in your message. It's called target marketing for a reason. Too many of you think one massive blast that hits everyone is going to bring in more business! Knowing your demographics and then reaching those potential clients effectively is about quality, NOT quantity. For most of you, especially if you're in the portrait/social specialties of imaging, your target audience is Mom! Women make 98% of the purchase decisions to hire a photographer in this category. So, if you're advertising in Men's Health, it's as bad as me duck-hunting from my pool in Sarasota. The aim of marketing is to know and understand the customer so well that the product or service fits them and sells itself! Peter Drucker Happy Throwback Thursday!
 This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect. Jodie Picoult by Skip Cohen
As I sat down to search for material for my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday, my good buddy Nick Vedros came up in my Facebook notifications because it's his birthday today. Nick shared the shots above in 2010 and 2011. Well, they deserve to be shared again. The big shot on the right is Nick and Dean Collins...Nick and Dean were the very best of friends, and the "Nicky, Nicky, Nicky" line was Dean's way of greeting Nick whenever he saw him. It included a long sigh and Dean shaking his head in recognition of the greatest practical joke ever pulled, in this case, Nick on Dean. It wasn't until years later I learned the backstory. (Sorry, it's "R" rated, but just trust me, it was a classic.) The two smaller pictures are from the Blue Man Group in NYC one night in the 90s. Nick invited me to join them, and it's one of my favorite memories. And now that the Blue Man Group is no longer playing, it's become an even greater classic. But today's post isn't just about my own fun walk down Memory Lane. It's about great friendships, the ones that stand the test of time, even when some of the friends have passed. Dean passed away twenty years ago this past February. At least a few times a month, I think about our friendship and how much I miss catching up with him. Over the years, I've promised to stop using that quote by Jodie Picoult, but it's the best one ever shared about throwback photographs. And to the birthday boy himself today...Nick buddy, you've enriched my life and created your own unique chapter of adventures. I'm a better photographer for having hung out with you at so many events. And being on the road with you was always a kick! From a friendship I cherish, to all the laughs, and pride I have at being able to say, "Yeah, I know Vedro," what a trip it continues to be! At least thirty years ago, Nick was doing a program somewhere around Phoenix. In the back of the room, the legendary Don Blair was listening and furiously taking notes. Most of you never knew Don, but he was one of the finest portrait artists in the world. At that point, he had taught hundreds, if not thousands, of classes focusing on lighting and posing. "What are you doing? You know all this stuff," I asked. Don just shook his head and said, "Are you kidding me? This guy is unbelievable and I have all these new ideas I want to try!' So, from Don Blair to knuckleheads like me, other friends, and thousands of artists and photographers, Nick, you've been an influence. From your creativity to the way you prioritize friendships and everything in between, the industry is better today because you're in it! Happy Birthday, Buddy!  by Skip Cohen Suggestion: To get in the mood for this throwback, hit play on the YouTube link below before you read today's post...and turn up the volume. It's Throwback Thursday, my favorite day of the week. This is a different kind of throwback post. It's not a photo throwback but audio together with a sampler collection of items as I turn back the clock. It started with "Alexa." We've got several of them in the house. As a result, music is always playing, and yesterday, I felt like turning back the clock. "Alexa, play Crosby, Stills and Nash!" For the rest of the afternoon, she played nothing but their songs. CSN appeared on the music scene with their first album in 1969. Yeah, I'm an old fart, but this is classic, and the fun of Throwback Thursday is the way throwbacks take you on a trip back down Memory Lane. For a stretch yesterday, I found myself thinking back to the 70s. I started with my wardrobe of platform shoes and bell bottoms to my afro and wide-collared shirts. Then came other artists like Richie Havens, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Iron Butterfly---there was no stopping the memories. As I was writing today's post I started thinking about food and drinks. Whatever happened to Cold Duck, Harvey Wallbangers, and a Tequilla Sunrises? A Big Mac with fries was under a dollar! A large pizza was under $5.00 at Pizza Hut. Fondue was the hot dish, and everybody had a fondue pot. The list goes on and on. There's a quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson that I've shared many times: "I am a part of all that I have met." Well, think back on your own trip down Memory Lane and all those little experiences that added to your life back whenever—not the big events, but the little things that are like the seasoning that goes into a good meal. Happy Throwback Thursday! PS And for all you old farts - feel free to add any classic memories that I missed.  There is a certain part of all of us that lives outside of time. Perhaps we become aware of our age only at exceptional moments and most of the time we are ageless. Milan Kundera Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. Henry Ford by Skip Cohen Knowing just about all of these "grads" like I do, it's obvious that we've all been focused on continuing to learn and create our entire lives. I chose those two quotes above because they say so much about everyone, the quest to keep learning, and in turn becoming ageless! Well, it's May and we're into graduation season. What better way to celebrate than sharing senior shots from some of the most respected artists and educators in imaging? What a kick it's been as the SCU archives grow to forty-nine seniors captured in the "way-back machine." From the top left: Glen Clark, Michael Taylor, Rick Ferro, Kristi Wolverton (college), Steve Rosenbaum, Dave Doeppel, Jennifer Rutledge, Rick Friedman, Scott Kelby, and Eddie Tapp. If you missed any of the last four posts in the series, they're all below. If a few more industry icons come through, I might have enough for one more post next week. And, if you want to send me yours, just do it through an IM on Facebook, or to my email. In the meantime, enjoy the walk down Memory Lane...  From top left: Gary Box, Chuck Arlund, Michele Celentano, Vanelli, David Beckam, Kevin Gilligan, Gustavo Fernandez, Bruce Hudson, Joe Buissink, Dawn Davis, Joy Vertz, Judy Host, Matt Meiers, Bryan Caporicci, Melanie Anderson.  From top left: Vicki Taufer, Fran Reisner, Bruce Berg, Nick Vedros, Bambi Cantrell, Yervant, Seth Resnick, George Varanakis.  From top left: Sarah Petty, Cate Scaglione, Sherry Hagerman, Helen Yancy, Bob Coates, Bert Behnke, Dane Sanders, Jesse Feyereisen.  From top left: Ralph Romaguera, Bobbi Lane, Skip Cohen, Cindy Harter Sims, Roberto Valenzuela, Kenny Kim, Brent Watkins, Lori Nordstrom  Click for more info Marketing to seniors continues to be big business, but to be successful, it also requires a different skill set from when so many of us were seniors. A great senior session is about connecting with the subject, capturing their personality, and combining it with maximum creativity. If you're interested in the senior market, the first thing you need to do is ensure you've got the skill set, not just with your camera. You also need great communication skills and the ability to build a relationship with your subject. Remember, for many seniors, this may be their first time working with a professional photographer. They're as nervous about getting a portrait done as they are in dealing with some of their own self-esteem issues. That means your listening and conversational skills must be as good as your understanding of exposure, composition, and lighting! Marathon Press is an SCU sponsor, but my relationship with them grew out of respect for everything they do for the industry. It's a friendship that's gone on for over thirty years, going to be back to the first book I co-authored with Don Blair. Through the end of this month, they've got a special on foil treatment of grad cards. Click on either banner for more information. Meanwhile, congratulations to the class of 2025 and all the outstanding artists pushing the creative envelope in capturing their personalities! Happy Throwback Thursday!  Click for more info   We didn't realize we were making memories. We just knew we were having fun. Anon  by Skip Cohen Throwback Thursday is my favorite day of the week, and between my archives and new material, I'm jumping into the time machine for one more round of well-respected professional photographers when they were seniors. Not everyone had access to their formal senior headshot, but all the images are from that time in everyone's life when they were launched into adulthood. From top left: Gary Box, Chuck Arlund, Michele Celentano, Vanelli, David Beckham, Kevin Gilligan, Gustavo Fernandez, Bruce Hudson, Joe Buissink, Dawn Davis, Joy Vertz, Judy Host, Matt Meiers, Bryan Caporicci, Melanie Anderson. In last week's post I included both my senior headshot with my Mom's. Here's mine with my Dad's, thirty years apart. At the time, hand-coloring was the rage. Senior photography continues to be one of the fastest-growing specialties and has never slowed down in terms of popularity and recognition. It's a special time in everyone's life, and that awkward time as we all headed into independence. Yet, we were still very much tied to our families and homes, but ggraduation has always been a celebration.  Senior photography today is much more focused on storytelling and different presentations of their images. For example, I'm using the shot from Marathon Press again to show just one aspect of what's available today, grad cards. There was no such thing as grad cards years ago. The wallet-size shots in the packages our parents bought were the most popular. That's what we all shared. Marathon has 75 different Grad Card Design Collections. I grabbed the screen shot below to share a small taste of the variety of what you have to choose from. And, their free gold foil on 5x7 cards is going on until May 31.  Click on any sample above to view the entire collection. Marketing to seniors, if done right, can be an incredibly rewarding part of your business. But don't underestimate the skills required to be successful. It requires a different skill set than when so many of us were seniors.
You need great communication skills. Success today is all about relationship-building, connecting with the subject, capturing their personality, and combining it with maximum creativity. Sure, understanding lighting, posing, and composition is a necessity, but telling the story of a senior today is such a strong part of imaging. It's well beyond just knowing when to click the shutter. Meanwhile, congrats to the class of 2025, and a BIG thanks to everyone who's been sending me their senior shots, regardless of how far back they go! Happy Throwback Thursday!   by Skip Cohen It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday. Jumping into the time machine, here's one more round of well-respected industry leaders returning to their high school days or shortly after. And I still have a few more to share in the weeks ahead. Not everyone had access to their formal senior headshot, but that doesn't take away the fun of sharing these old images. From the top left, Vicki Taufer, Fran Reisner, Bruce Berg, Nick Vedros, Bambi Cantrell, Yervant Zanazanian, Seth Resnick and George Varanakis. I've also got a BIG apology for mixing up Ralph Romaguera and Eddie Tapp in a previous post. That's Ralph on the left and Eddie on the right. Besides the fun of looking back at what friends looked like so many years ago, the collection of images from these past posts shows the changes in trends, not just from black & white to color, but often in posing. Today's senior photographers are capturing not just a headshot but the subject's personality, often shooting several different styles/settings, ranging from the more conservative shot that "Mom" wants to capture to the hobbies and interests of the subject.  Ralph Romaguera, Eddie Tapp, and I are all close to the same age. Senior shots back then were usually done in a studio or the school, in black and white, with guys in white shirts, ties, and jackets and girls in nice blouses or sweaters, but nothing that captured anybody's personality. The pictures were delivered in one package with an 8x10, 5x7s, and a bunch of wallet-size photographs, which we all shared with each other. For years, nothing really changed in the style of posing or lighting from when my mother was a senior! That's me and Mom, twenty-three years apart, and looking at a page from her yearbook, it could easily be swapped with a page in mine! Today's seniors have photographs that tell their stories and different presentations. For example, Marathon Press is in one of its busiest seasons of the year right now with grad cards. There was no such thing as grad cards years ago. Graduating was still a big deal as we headed toward the next phase of our lives and adulthood, but we didn't have access to the technology that seniors have today.  Click to learn more about Marathon's program for Seniors Yes, Marathon is a sponsor of SCU, but I shared the screenshot from their website because it demonstrates the incredible difference between what's available to seniors today and what was available to seniors so many years ago. Marketing to seniors is big business, but to be successful, it also requires a different skill set from when so many of us were seniors. A great senior session is about connecting with the subject, capturing their personality, and combining it with maximum creativity. If you're interested in the senior market, the first thing you need to do is ensure you've got the skill set, not just with your camera. You also need great communication skills and the ability to build a relationship with your subject. Remember, for many seniors, this may be their first time working with a professional photographer. They're as nervous about getting a portrait done as they are in dealing with some of their own self-esteem issues. That means your listening and conversational skills must be as good as your understanding of exposure, composition, and lighting! Meanwhile, congratulations to the class of 2025 and all the outstanding artists pushing the creative envelope in capturing their personalities! Happy Throwback Thursday!  A photograph is like a recipe - memory the finished dish. –Carrie Latet by Skip Cohen
It's my favorite day of the week for posting, and I almost missed it. It's Throwback Thursday, and it's time for another batch of seniors. They're all industry icons, and there are lots more to share next week, too. It's a kick chasing these down. Most of these well-respected artists had no idea their future was going to take them behind the camera, not to mention becoming an influencer in imaging. Searching Google, the AI overview states: In 2025, the United States is projected to see a peak in high school graduates, with around 3.9 million students graduating. High school senior photography continues to be one of the fastest-growing segments in professional photography. It's so different from when I was a kid! First, there's color! Second, a senior session is more about capturing the subject's personality, not just a formal headshot. Third, because of social media, a senior headshot isn't just for the yearbook - senior shots are shared throughout social media, used on grad cards, and rarely just one pose is shared. A big thanks to everyone who has sent me a throwback to when they were high school seniors or a year or two after that. It's fun turning back the clock! Missed the last batch of industry seniors? Click here to the link! Who's who? From top left: Sarah Petty, Cate Scaglione, Sherry Hagerman, Helen Yancy, Bob Coates, Bert Behnke, Dane Sanders and Jesse Feyereisen.  Sometimes, you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. Dr. Seuss by Skip Cohen We're approaching high school graduation time. Every few years, it's a lot of fun to do a Throwback Thursday post featuring some well-known members of the imaging community before they became photographers, educators, writers, mentors and cheerleaders for an industry we all love. This is just the first installment from the SCU archives, but there are lots more new ones coming. My only hint is Eddie Tapp in the lead-off spot. Why? Besides being a really good buddy like the other featured artists today, he showed me the receipt he had for his first Hasselblad for $500 — right out of high school! While so many of us always loved photography, very few knew it was what we wanted for a career. The who's who is below. But in the meantime, the senior market continues to be one of the fastest growing specialties in imaging. The images above show one of the past changes from black and white to color for a few of us who are a little more "seasoned." As I've written before, Throwback Thursday is a perfect marketing tool for you to share with your target audience. It's a great way to remind Mom that it's time for a new family portrait while having some fun with old photographs. You're the messenger, and you need to plant a few seeds of ideas about how fast kids grow up. There are only 940 Saturdays between a child’s birth and her leaving for college. Harley Rotbart Happy Throwback Thursday!
Who's who? Eddie Tapp, Bobbi Lane, Skip Cohen, Cindy Harter Sims, Roberto Valenzuela, Kenny Kim, Brent Watkins, Lori Nordstrom.  Image by Kenny Kim "This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect." Jodi Picoult by Skip Cohen
With WPPI wrapping up today, my timing couldn't be better to turn the clock back seventeen years. I shared this backstory many years ago, but it's too much fun not to share it again. The program above was called "Young Guns." It had lots of attitude, with the stellar cast of talent in the picture above. Ryan Schembri, from Australia, and I co-hosted the evening program. Looking back, I have to admit it was one of the most fun concepts I've ever been involved in. Each "Young Gun" had an opportunity to talk a little about their work and demonstrate some of their signature style. I remember Mike Larson doing his camera toss...LIVE. He had perfected the perfect toss, sending his Canon gear 12 feet in the air with the lens pointed downward while the self-timer was set. Remember, this was before everyone had a drone, and it gave the unique perspective of an aerial shot of the wedding party. The true fun of Throwback Thursday is the memories every image brings back. For me, and hopefully for many of you who might have been at that program, it's a terrific walk down Memory Lane. And, as I remind you each week, Throwback Thursday is a great marketing tool. Use old images to remind your clients that the kids are growing and life is constantly changing. Remember, for most of you, "Mom" is your target, and it never hurts to remind her it's time for a new family portrait! Plus, we're approaching the second-best seasonality in photography. Easter, Mother's Day, graduations, prom, and Father's Day are all just around the corner. Don't miss the opportunity to generate new business—start planting the seeds for an updated family portrait NOW! PS I know I've repeatedly promised to not keep using Jodi Picoult's quote, but in all honesty, it's the perfect sentiment for old photographs...and the one above was captured at a time when "everything was perfect!"  by Skip Cohen For six years, starting with the earliest issues, I wrote for Shutter Magazine. Authors were required to include a short video summary with each article for online promotion. It was approximately ten years ago we captured the two-minute video below. The fun of these videos was all in the challenge of getting people to remember what my point was. I knew if I could do something stupid in the video, readers might remember my point. We're coming up with the start of spring seasonality in imaging, and relationship-building is more important than ever before. You need to OWN YOUR ZIPCODE. Every business in your community needs to know who you are and the support you can provide. And it doesn't matter what your specialty is - even as a wedding photographer being introduced to a real estate office; you have the ability to help them with all of their imaging needs with your skillset, network, and knowledge about photography/video. We're one week away from the first day of Spring—it's time for you to come out of hibernation and start pounding the pavement. You've got to be your own noisemaker, and combining personal face-to-face introductions with email blasts, direct mail, and partnerships is an unstoppable way to build top-of-mind awareness. So, when people in your community think about needing help with photography who comes to mind first?  This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect. Jodie Picoult  Blues Traveler at WPPI 2009 by Skip Cohen When you've been doing Throwback Thursday long enough, past throwbacks deserve to be shared again. I shared this in 2017, but it goes back to my last WPPI as prez. Two weeks later, after a serious disagreement with WPPI's owner, I resigned and headed off on my own. The Awards Reception is held on the last night of the WPPI convention. It's an evening jam-packed with recognition, primarily for artists who have entered WPPI's print competition. The image above shows most of the WPPI team in 2009, who, along with 150 or so incredible volunteers, made the convention happen that year at the MGM Grand. We had an estimated 15,000 attendees and a star-studded lineup of programs and entertainment, including Blues Traveler, sponsored by Nikon in MGM's Garden Arena. Jerry Ghionis, jumping in on the right, while not working directly for WPPI, was pretty much an ambassador and photo-bombed the shot—helping to set the trend long before its time. A lot of people give me credit for building the show, but it was never just me. This was the A-team that became a family. However, two people are missing in the group shot above: Marlene Gourlay, who always refused to attend the last night's reception, and Gennie Kiuchi, who stayed in Culver City to keep the office going during the convention. If you haven't gone off searching for a "Throwback Thursday" image for today, what's holding you back? While I always remind you to share throwback images on your blog to remind clients of the important role photography plays in their lives, it's also a fun personal experience. I've got the biggest smile on my face right now, as this group shot brings back a whole lot of wonderful memories. Happy Throwback Thursday!    Photographs bring back memories. Memories are like that great bottle of cabernet you're saving—they just get better with age. Throwback Thursday is all about stepping into the time-machine and reviving old memories!
It was December 1987, and Mikhail Gorbachev had just visited the White House for a meeting with President Reagan. Senator Howard Baker was Chief of Staff and a Hasselblad shooter, and I had become president of Hasselblad USA almost six months earlier. I learned that Senator Baker bought his camera gear from Penn Camera, also a Hasselblad dealer. So, I asked our D.C. salesman to let me know the next time the Senator was scheduled to stop by the store, and we'd take him to lunch. But when the Senator was contacted, instead of letting us take him to lunch, he invited us to his "house"...the White House! The memories of hanging out with Howard Baker feel like they happened yesterday. He was a remarkable man and simply loved photography. I couldn't have been more proud to have been sitting in his office and talking about his career, his love for America, and, in turn, imaging. I remember him saying, "Skip, I've been Chief of Staff for only a short time, and I was a Senator for almost thirty years...and this job feels longer!" As we left the White House, the microphones for part of the Gorbachev visit were still in place. I couldn't resist stepping behind them and looking like I was speaking at a press conference. Today's post isn't about the pain and disgust I'm feeling about politics these days. Every day, I'm more astonished by what's happening in America. I was invited to the White House twice in my career and so proud to have been there each time. Sadly, that would not be the case today.  by Skip Cohen
I know I've shared this group shot before, but after twenty years of writing Throwback Thursday posts, I'm running out of old photographs! However, the fun of throwbacks is always in the memories they bring back more than the actual photographs. This one brings out some special backstories from PhotoEast, that year called Viscomm.
And there you have it—the true fun of Throwback Thursday, a walk down Memory Lane. It's the perfect way to remember why we love this industry the way we do—it's about photographs and their ability to stop time, giving us memories that become tangible reminders of the past. If you haven't taken a few minutes yet to look through some old files and photographs, what are you waiting for? Happy Throwback Thursday!  by Skip Cohen My mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother all died of Alzheimer's. Two days ago, my good friend, Kristen Jensen, who also lost her mother to the disease, shared a post about Alzheimer's on Facebook. I'm unsure where the post started, but it was one of those please-share-chain-letter-type posts. While I normally hate stuff like this, it was so spot-on and accurate to what we experienced with my mother. I started this post with the plan to share it yesterday, Throwback Thursday. I decided to combine a few of my favorite throwback images of my Mom with my own version of a public service message, which is below. Well, I posted the piece on my FB page and was surprised at the response from so many people. So, I decided to hold off and wrap up the week with an additional focus on the Alzheimer's aspect, and a mini-tribute to Mom, including a hand-colored portrait from around 1940.   Robin Williams took his own life because he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Bruce Willis learned that his illness is Frontotemporal dementia and Lew Body Dementia (FTD). One of the hardest things to process is the slow change in the one you love. Becoming a completely different person. Everything changes. Just so you know...it's called the long goodbye. Rapidly shrinking brain is how doctors described it. As the patient's brain slowly dies, they change physically and eventually forget who their loved ones are and become less themselves. Patients can eventually become bedridden, unable to move and unable to eat or drink or talk to their loved ones.
There will be people who will scroll by this message because Dementia, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's has not touched them. They may not know what it's like to have a loved one who has fought or is fighting a battle. In an effort to raise awareness of this cruel disease, I would like to see at least 5 of my friends put this on their timeline. I'll settle for at least one. If you're one of those people who believe Alzheimer's and Dementia only happen to the "other guys:" According to the Alzheimer's Association, as of 2023, an estimated 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. This number is expected to increase to 13.8 million by 2060. (source: Google) But if the disease is already touching your life, here are some ideas that helped us through the "storms" a lot.
There's no getting around the pain of dealing with losing a loved one to Alzheimer's, but there is so much help available. Don't forget to talk to your doctor about the newest drugs available. There's some incredible progress made with certain types of Dementia, especially Alzheimer's. Most important of all...remember you're NOT alone!  The bad news is time flies, the good news is you're the pilot Michael Altshuler  by Skip Cohen It's Throwback Thursday, my favorite day of the week, but rarely are my throwbacks tied to me personally. But, fifty-five years ago this week, I started my first day at Polaroid in Waltham, Massachusetts. I started at $2.89/hour. That was February 1970, and I remember Time Magazine having a cover shot of a college grad in cap and gown pumping gas. Jobs were hard to find and I had just moved to Boston. Little did I know what the future was going to bring. I spent 17 1/2 years at Polaroid and loved the company. I still laugh at those early days working in R&D wearing a white lab coat, a slide rule on my belt, and learning the chemistry side of emulsion development. It was a fantastic company, and I stayed there all those years because of the great people I worked for and with. And in terms of bosses - I was lucky - they all gave me enough rope to hang myself but pushed a chair underneath me if the rope got a little taut!  17 1/2 years at Polaroid - Time really does fly when you're having a good time! While I thought of myself as a member of the photographic industry, Polaroid was my training ground for everything from engineering to HR, Customer Service, Marketing, and Sales—even a few years of International when I traveled overseas every three weeks for over two years as the International Consumer Services Manager. In '87, I was the photo specialty dealer manager (all of Polaroid's camera stores) when I got a call from a headhunter who wanted to know if I knew anybody who wanted to be president of a small camera company. I thought it was a prank call and almost hung up. Three months later, I joined Hasselblad USA as president, and that's when my career in photography really started. From Hasselblad, to the Internet, to WPPI and Rangefinder Magazine, to starting my own company in 2009, the journey continues to be remarkable. I consider myself to be one of the luckiest people in photography, and it's all thanks to so many of you! The friendship and guidance of so many amazing people all along the way are responsible for the smile on my face—and in my heart right now! It's for me to believe so many years have passed since that first day at Polaroid. One day, you're 17 and you're planning for someday.
And then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life. John Green  Click to enlarge in the SCU Lightbox by Skip Cohen
It's my favorite day of the week...Throwback Thursday! While I posted this image many years ago, it's a classic and deserves to be shared again. Take some time looking at who's in the group. You should find a whole bunch of familiar characters, now "old-timers," including yours truly. For ten years, every year, usually in February, a group of photographers headed to Yellowstone with plenty of camera gear for three days of winter creativity and a whole lot of laughter! What started with just four of us, Duncan MacNab, Chris Kent, Bob Thompson, and me, became a decade of annual trips each winter with a good number of leaders from the photographic industry. On one trip, I think the one above, Duncan MacNab, who organized the trip every year, towed a gas grill on runners to Two Top. The Two Top Loop is one of the most famous snowmobile trails in America. It's 28 miles long and has spectacular views. Plus, the snow blows across the trees, forming snow/ice sculptures that look like something out of Hollywood. But just the view for our group wasn't enough. At the top, around 8,000 feet elevation, Duncan fired up the grill for cheeseburgers—even topped with grilled onion if you wanted. Imagine being at the top of a snow-covered mountain, buried in the silence of winter and below-zero temperatures, smelling burgers coming off a grill. Now and then, another group would come snowmobiling by and do a double-take at twenty+ people at a barbecue! One year, it was so cold that the Pepsi I was drinking turned to slush within minutes. You had to drink very carefully to avoid resembling the kid in Christmas Story with his tongue stuck to the flagpole. But there was good news—the Twinkies, loaded with preservatives, NEVER froze! While the fun of Throwback Thursday is in the images you find, it's a great marketing tool. Use throwback images to remind your readers/followers of the importance of photography and capturing those special memories. This is the perfect time of year to highlight old portraits and start planting the seed for an updated family portrait in the Spring.   The "Friends Wall" in our back hallway While this is a throwback of a throwback, I first shared the rant below almost ten years ago. It was sent to me by a buddy, Jim Jernigan, who's long since passed away. But it's so appropriate, especially right now. While it's slightly off the topic, but still in line with how life has changed over the years, I'm so tired of seeing families at dinner in a restaurant and everybody on their phones! A few years back, we were with Michele Celentano and Paul at their house. Michele had a rule in the kitchen - NO PHONES! Out of visits with great friends come terrific memories. The picture of all of us together above is from that same trip. It's what started our friend's wall, which I've written about before. If you haven't taken the time for a quick look in your rearview mirror yet today, grab a coffee and look back. While we can't go back, we can appreciate how far we've come. Most of the time, the journey forward has been for the better, but I can't deny I miss looking back to a time that was so less complicated. Happy Throwback Thursday! "With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
Jay Leno TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE 1930s, '40s, '50s,'60s and '70s!! First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes. Then, after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets, and, when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps, not helmets, on our heads. As infants and children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes. Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter, and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar and we weren't overweight. WHY? Because we were always outside playing...that's why! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day--And, we were OKAY. We would spend hours building our go-carts out Of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes...after running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.. We did not have Play Stations, Nintendos and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVDs, no surround-sound or CDs, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms. WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from those accidents. We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping-pong paddles, or just a bare hand. And no one would call Child Services to report abuse. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, 22 rifles for our 12th, rode horses, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and although we were told it would happen- we did not put out very many eyes. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them. Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever. The past 50 to 85 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas...We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. If YOU are one of those born between 1925-1970, CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good. While you are at it, forward it to your kids, so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were. Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ? |
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