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Welcome to the ProShow Annex

by Skip Cohen

Welcome to the ProShow Annex, an extension of the Photodex blog. We're going to be sharing some incredibly diverse posts with solid how-to information to help you raise the bar on your presentations.  We want to help you think through new ideas and ways to separate yourself from the competition.  

Click on any slide on the left to read that specific post on the Photodex blog.
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Helping You Build a Stronger Photography Business

9/29/2017

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Obviously, Photodex is an SCU partner, but my relationship with them and the respect I have for terrific software and presentations started years before SCU.  I first met the team at WPPI. As an exhibitor fifteen or more years ago they were fundamental in helping photographers understand the power they had in developing their storytelling skills.

Now fast forward to today! With the recent introduction of ProShow 9, they've brought a new level of creativity, designed to enhance your abilities to consistently exceed client expectations. Put your skill set for capture stunning images and video together with technology and great music, and you have the perfect recipe to get every client talking about you.

And that brings me to the same place I hit with every Photodex Friday post. We're a word-of-mouth business, and you want people talking about you! But, let's go one step further. Wandering through cyberspace, I found an article on SmallBizTrends.com from three years ago about consumer purchase decisions and the influence of social media. I pulled four highlights: 

  • Forbes conducted research to see how consumers engaged with different industries - 81% indicated posts from their friends and family directly influence their purchase decisions.
  • 38 percent of moms are more likely to buy products from brands other women ‘Like’ on Facebook.
  • 78 percent of people say that a company’s social media posts impact their purchase decision.
  • After marking an item as a favorite – 50 percent of social media purchases take place within a week, and 80 percent of purchases take place within 3 weeks. 

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Now, think about your website, your blog and the content you share on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Content is "King," and with everything you share in social media you have an opportunity to expand your reach, and have a greater impact on your target audience.

Just recently Photodex introduced ProShow 9. Then, just a week ago, "Kathy" shared ten fall inspired FX. Photodex never slows down in developing creative tools for presentations that leave your clients speechless. I pulled shots of each of the ten for today's post, but to see them in action, click on any image below to connect to the article directly, and watch the video that shows them all in action!

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Great presentations need to be a part of your business model and now, just ahead of the holiday seasonality is the time for you to be sharing terrific content on your blog and website.

​And, don't forget ​the Photodex/SCU search for the best self-promotional video. We're in search of creative promotional slideshows and thanks to Photodex, Panasonic's Lumix Cameras, Marathon Press, Tamron and Illuminati the contest comes with a prize package valued at close to $2000!

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1. Rustic Autumn Landscape
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3. Autumn Leaves
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5. Portraits Scrapbook 02L Single
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7. Portraits Holiday Green 08L Duo
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9. Silk Screen Brown
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2. Portraits Picnic 04P Single
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4. Old Projector Still
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6. Film Sprockets - Simple
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8. Clouds
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10. Classic Textured Mattes Warm 4
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The Key to Growing into Hybrid Relevance - Photodex!

9/15/2017

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Intro by Skip Cohen

Suzette Allen is back and she's hitting one of my favorite themes for photographers - RELEVANCE! Regardless of your age or how long you've been in business, your clients are looking to you to be a "guiding light" in terms of creativity and technology. Most of you already have credibility as artists, but that makes it more important for your work to be cutting-edge, and don't forget being a master storyteller!

Hybrid relevance means you're creating presentations that typically exceed client expectations. There's no better way to do that than to combine still images with video and put it all together with great music!

Photodex also just released ProShow9! For a limited time you can save 20% because you're one of my readers. Use SAVE20WITHSKIP for a 20% discount.  Code is good for ProShow Gold, ProShow Producer, and ProShow Web software. This code also works for upgrades. This discount can be redeemed by entering the code in the “Discount Code” area when ready to check out. and they've even established a 20% discount code for SCU's readers! Just use

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by Suzette Allen

Ok, so I think most of the serious photographers are realizing that video is becoming more and more of a vital tool and medium for us to be offering. I have been teaching photographers how to integrate bits of video into their portrait and commercial shoots for a while and so many tell me stories of new opportunities that pop up because they offer video! I assume you have also heard the statistics on how video-centric the millennials are….. Yeah, we really need to start that journey.

 
Well, the truth is, the transition into making stylized video content is a long-ish road with a few steep ascents. Perseverance is definitely required to stay dedicated and persevere to the point of mastery. Just like learning Photoshop. You don’t go at it half-hearted and expect to get anywhere! Slow and steady gets it done, though. Just continually working at it.
 
But here’s the great news! Photodex has your back! And you can GROW into it! Even if you have never shot video but you want to start offering Live Portraits* (where the video is unlocked by the print using a phone app), you can still do it and shine! In fact, many of my own wall portraits have been activated to play a video from sessions taken BEFORE I even had a camera to shoot video! No problem!

All you need to do is take the best stills a nice piece of music and make a ProShowWeb slideshow with amazing style and transitions, export it as an HD video and TA-DA—you are in the game. Nobody cares that there is no actual video in it - every image is moving, so it is dynamic! Here is one I made last month for a promotional display. The portrait session was from 3 years ago and it was in my very first season of shooting video so it only had about 3 short usable clips! 


I can now show my clients how almost every canvas wall portrait in my studio will play a video with the Live Portrait App! (even the older samples) It works like a charm! But now that I am adding more and more video, I just raise the bar slightly each time as I create more content with video and continue making my shows with ProShow! It uploads and operates the same with videos and stills and it allows me to grow with my skills, but not have to continually search for new software solutions (with learning curves) to meet my digital needs.
 
I feel like ProShowWeb is one of the most valuable tools we can use on a daily basis with client work, because it so powerful at stirring up the emotions of the client at the sales appointment, it makes it so easy to create wow social media pieces AND it also helps us grow into the future with the ease of integrating video—in any increment we are ready for!
 
Here’s a show with lots more video and a few stills! A little more experience with video makes it more fun and engaging, but the final product still comes together quickly and beautifully with Photodex!
So, wherever you are on the continuum of learning how to integrate video (even if you haven’t even made eye contact with the start line), make a show today with a series of still photos from a session, and then connect it to the print so it is unlocked with Live Portrait*, [available through Bay Photo Lab  or Marathon Press and begin your journey. Then next week, start shooting a little Behind the Scenes video to slip in…. even if it’s just with your iphone, seriously! Just keep your video clips under 15 seconds (aim for 7-10 seconds) and you will be golden! And yes, you can even trim your videos in ProShowWeb!
 
Thanks to Photodex for helping us GROW as photographers and embrace new technology—painlessly!
 
*LivePortrait is a service where and image (jpg) can be a target to unlock a video and play with an app on your phone!
Simply scan the wall portrait or print with the app and it will play the video on your smartphone! See more here: https://www.liveportrait.com 
 
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For Photographers: The NEW ProShow 9 - What a kick!

9/1/2017

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Click above for more information
If my post today about the new ProShow 9 sounds a little like an infomercial, it's only because it is! I do my best not to bury you guys in information about new products unless it's something I truly believe in.

Here's why this post is important:

  • Every artist is looking for ways to make their work and services different. Photodex gives you the ability to create presentations that not only show your work, but demonstrate your passion for the craft and your clients. Your goal with every customer should be to exceed expectations and that's exactly what ProShow 9 has the potential to do!
  • Photodex never slows down in their educational support for the imaging community. ProShow 9 brings a collection of new features to your list of creative tools and it's never been easier to use.
  • For a limited time you can save 20% because you're one of my readers. Use SAVE20WITHSKIP for a 20% discount.  Code is good for ProShow Gold, ProShow Producer, and ProShow Web software. This code also works for upgrades. This discount can be redeemed by entering the code in the “Discount Code” area when ready to check out.

From video holiday cards, to save-the-date mailings, to thank-you videos, the list of ways you can be creative is never-ending. I've shared two short demo videos below to give you a better idea of what ProShow 9 is all about. And, if you want to place your order just click on the ProShow9 banner at the top of the page.

Photodex is the perfect match for your business. You're looking for ways to separate your work from the competition and ProShow 9 is giving you some of the tools to do just that!

ProShow Producer 9 Demo from Photodex on Vimeo.

ProShow Gold 9 Demo from Photodex on Vimeo.

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