 by Skip Cohen It's Marketing Monday, and we're right in the middle of Spring seasonality, with the last little fury of activity coming up on Father's Day. But what's your next target? What are you doing to build a more substantial business after those seasonality milestones? In 2004, I met Vicki and Jed Taufer for the first time. They were on vacation in California, and we had lunch together. That was when I was introduced to her calendar for memory-making. She showed me her holiday card for the previous year - it was an accordion-style calendar with special themed events she had created for the entire year for photographing children. (I've included two of the pages in the four-panel card below) She even included a section about her travel in 2004, planting the seed for additional portrait sessions while she was on the road.  Here's my point - this industry has always relied on the natural seasonality of the demand - the Spring holidays and the big holidays in the fourth quarter. But everything has changed - for the better! Thanks to social media, you can create your own seasonality. With just a little creativity and organization, you can create more demand for your services - all on your own.
No one post could cover all the potential business out there, but it's a you-snooze-you-lose scenario. Over the last couple of years, everything changed, but business is out there, and leadership opportunities are everywhere.
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 There are only two days of the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live. Dalai Lama by Skip Cohen
I had absolutely nothing on my mind for today's Sunday Morning Reflections except to rant about gas prices and laugh as I thought back to the gas shortage in the 70s. The lines were so long at the pumps that a guy I worked with stopped to gas up one morning, and after waiting for twenty minutes in line, somebody came by and put a flag on his car - he was in line for a funeral procession, not the gas station down the street! So, thinking about that, I went off in search of quotes about deja-vu and stumbled on the Dalai Lama quote above. It says it all and perfectly fits my wish for all of you today. Don't waste time worrying about tomorrow morning, and there's nothing you can do about whatever mistakes you made yesterday. Instead, take the time to love and just live today. Go for those eleven-second hugs with the people you love the most, believe in yourself, and don't let anybody trample on your dreams. Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world, and thanks for hanging out with me this morning.  Click on any image above to link to the podcast.  by Skip Cohen While most of the "Mind Your Own Business" podcasts have been with photographers I've known through most of my career, this new one with Kris Andres is unique, because I haven't known him very long. But he's one of those people that just after a few hours, you feel like you've known him most of your life. In early April, Kris and Lizzy Gadd joined us in helping to launch Platypod's new eXtreme. Coming in from Canada two days before, what better way to get to know new friends than at your home? So, Kris and Lizzy spent a couple of days out of their usual routine of mountains, cold weather, and serenity to hang out with Sheila, me, and two pups. We're an industry of artists who often only know each other from busy conferences, conventions, and workshops. That's fine, but there's never enough quality time to talk...about anything. I got that time with Kris, where the friendship started. I already knew he was a talented artist. But from the perspective of a guy who lives in Florida and hates it when the temperature is in the bone-chilling 60s, I can't connect with his love for the cold and thin air! Funny though, our weather was gorgeous, and he loved it. He's an artist through and through, as he immediately set up his camera to do a time-lapse of caterpillars devouring milkweed in the backyard. He's also a talented hands-on educator, and his sense of customer service in his "day job" is the kind the best business authors write about. He's also a chef and has expanded his skillset into food photography - the complete opposite of landscapes. I hope you enjoy this new podcast as much as we did recording it. Nothing beats a great conversation with a good friend. And if you haven't visited his new print shop, what are you waiting for? Just click on any of the images below. I pulled a few of my favorites. Wandering through his website, I stumbled on a video I wanted to share. I love the simplicity of the images, the perspective of skaters on the ice, and the serenity - almost enough to wish I lived up north and skated better! I wanted to share it to give you a better example of the environment Kris loves most to be in. As I've written so many times before, the best thing about this industry isn't really about photography but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. So meet a new buddy, Kris Andres. You can check out his complete portfolio on his website and his upcoming educational programs here. You can also find him on Facebook and Instagram. A BIG thanks to Kris for working us into his insane schedule and joining us and, as always, to Photofocus.com and their support of an industry we all love so dearly. There's a never-ending flow of great content on their website covering virtually every topic in imaging! 
    by Skip Cohen I recently ran across a small stack of Life Magazines I picked up years ago. The date on the one I was looking at was December 20, 1968, and the real fun was looking at the ads. I went through it page by page, and the ad above was the only real photography ad! Polaroid's budget for print media, must have been severely limited because this was only a 1/4 page B&W ad - while the cigarette and liquor companies all dominated with full-page color ads. I don't know how many of you remember the Swinger, but this was the BIG Swinger and dominated camera sales for a long time, giving Polaroid some of their most profitable years. I remember joining the company in 1970, and they had an employee bonus program for profit-sharing. But, sadly, you had to be employed for approximately 3 1/2 years to be fully vested. By the time my shares were worth anything, the glory days everyone had talked about were long over. But the mystique of what Swinger sales did for everyone's annual earnings became a legend. Even a $2.0/hour employee on the production line, who was fully vested, had a sizable bonus check. That legend kept everyone excited year after year back then. It was similar to the 40-foot putt you once made that kept you in golf! I found one of the original television commercials on YouTube featuring Ali MacGraw. It was a definite classic, and it's true - back then, everybody had a Polaroid! Happy Throwback Thursday!   Dad and Me - by Don Blair at WPPI Intro by Skip Cohen My Dad was always my very best buddy, and a few years before he passed away, with a lot of arm-twisting twelve years ago, I got him to do a guest post. It was tough negotiation over his compensation! LOL Dad passed in 2015, but I was blessed to have him and his wisdom in my life for so many years. I was so lucky because there weren't very people around my age who still had their parents alive, let alone enjoy being with them! His experience in business was invaluable to draw from, a reminder that as much as things change, some things NEVER change - especially when it comes to focusing on your business, reputation, and integrity. Every year or two, I love to share his guest post. At a time when so many people think their opinion is the one to rule the world, Dad's wisdom is a reminder of the importance of staying focused on your own backyard. Even more important is one of Sheila's most favorite expressions, thanks to Shakespeare, "To thine own self be true." The world is upside down these days with opinions. The media and politicians bombard us and too often associates, friends and neighbors as well, but to Dad's point - just watch the left front fender! Dad might not be at my side today, but he's all around me. I like to think that right now, he's hanging out with his buddy Don Blair and my pal Terry Deglau. The three of them are watching over all of us. So, everybody, meet my Dad with some great foundation tips to help you build a stronger business. 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!  "I'm always learning new things. If there isn't anything new you can learn go off and die!" Morgan Freeman by Skip Cohen Okay, that's a pretty extreme quote to kick off the week, but I've always been a Morgan Freeman fan, and if you think about it, he's right. It's Marketing Monday, and started the morning wanting to come up with something new I'd do this week. I want to change my routine and expand what I do every day. There's that great line about growth only happens outside your comfort zone. I've repeatedly suggested that when you're headed to a major conference - always take a couple of classes entirely foreign to your skillset. ClickCon is coming up next month in Chicago and is an opportunity to expand your skill set, but what if there's no travel in your near future? That doesn't mean you can't do something different this week, whether in learning or just expanding your presence. It's like the "365 Projects" that cropped up years ago - with photographers taking and sharing one different image each day. And years before the Internet, I remember my good buddy Tony Corbell suggesting everyone should always save a couple of frames on the roll and just mix it up - shoot differently for those last two shots. What are you going to do differently this week to grow your business?
The bottom line - every day is another opportunity to grow your business and your skillset. So stop worrying about making mistakes and failing, and just take the plunge. The great thing about this profession is your ability to keep growing and changing, and if something doesn't work as well as you'd hoped, step back and fine-tune the next step.
 Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world, doesn't mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar. Edward R. Murrow by Skip Cohen Typical of Sunday mornings, I'm off the topics of business and marketing but not stepping away entirely from imaging. Today's Reflections, like the description of a good bourbon with "hints of toasted wood," there are hints of a rant as I think about the power of the Internet and how many people we all know who abuse their ability to communicate. The Russians perpetually spread misinformation across the Internet, but what about your neighbor down the street? I'm so tired of seeing inaccurate statements that become gospel because somebody heard it through the grapevine. The rumor mill was bad enough long before the Internet, but technology has given a whole bunch of really stupid people the ability to become authorities on virtually every topic. Moreover, true to Edward R. Murrow's quote above, they reach all around the world! In the old days, the grapevine was the vehicle for spreading rumors and misinformation. But the Internet gives even the dumbest kid on the block a level of reach that twenty years ago was reserved for small newspapers and magazines. So, how about this for a suggestion - let's start neutralizing the world's know-it-alls. Let's challenge their sources, and when we hear something that doesn't make sense, how about questioning its validity. Then, the next time you want to share something on social media, make sure you're being accurate - the best way to shut off rumors is not to start them! It's not just the Internet - we're plagued with politicians and the media who have made careers out of sharing lousy information. This is why Sheila and I rarely watch the news - we have a few resources we've grown to trust, but that's it. Furthermore, before going to bed at night, we always try and watch something upbeat, funny, and light. It sure helps to go to sleep with a non-threatening foundation for dreaming. Just to keep it light - since you can find anything on YouTube - how about this flashback to the 80s...at least the humor here, with raisins singing about the grapevine, makes sense! Wishing everybody a day ahead when whatever you hear on the Internet is true and hopefully enriches your life. Take the time to appreciate everything in your life and especially those people closest to you who you trust the most. As always, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs and remember, if you're having a tough day, it's only a bad day, not a bad life!
Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.  Click on any image above to listen to this NEW podcast.  by Skip Cohen In March of 2017, Chamira Young, and I did our first podcast together. Now, close to 150 podcasts later, the podcasts, topics and our guests just seem to be getting better and better. Steve Brazill, aka the Razz on KCAL FM in California, joined us for this new conversation. He's not just a well-respected radio personality but an outstanding event photographer, artist, educator, and host to one of the best podcasts in imaging, Behind the Shot TV. As I've written so many times before, the best thing about this industry isn't really about photography but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. I first met Steve at IUSA several years ago when he interviewed Platypod's founder, Dr. Larry Tiefenbrunn. That's where the friendship kicked off and continued. Unfortunately, with the impact of the pandemic on conventions over the last couple of years, we haven't caught up LIVE in a long time, but that hasn't changed the respect or appreciation I have for his skillset or our friendship. Steve is a storyteller… "My goal with every show is to try to combine my love of music & photography to tell a viewer the story of a show. To help them remember it, or wish they had been there. I try to show them moments that bring the show to life, those defining moments that happen on-stage or behind-the-scenes." Like all of the "Mind Your Own Business" podcasts, we went into the conversation without any actual script, except for our opening and closing questions - How did you get started, and what advice would you give a new photographer just starting out? True to form of never disappointing, Steve was the perfect guest to talk about the challenges today, fine-tuning his skills through the pandemic and the excitement in the industry he's observed as things slowly come back to a new normal. Wandering through his website, I picked a few of my favorites shown below, from various events, but he also shares some great work in his personal portfolio too. Just click on any image below to visit his website. You'll also find a lot of great content on his YouTube channel. For example, he recently interviewed Larry T. in a great conversation about black and white photography. Just click on the thumbnail to the right to watch/listen to the show. A BIG thanks to Steve for joining us and, as always, to Photofocus.com and their support of an industry we all love so dearly. There's a never-ending flow of great content on their website covering virtually every topic in imaging!  Images copyright Steve Brazill. All rights reserved.           by Skip Cohen
It's Marketing Monday, and while I might be posting late in the day, I'm not letting go of the concept of more ideas to help you stay focused on things you need to do to make 2022 one of your best years in business as a photographer. Today's post is really Part II of this series. Last week I hit on the importance of knowing your target audience. Sadly, too many of you think you do, but you really haven't focused on seeing the world through their eyes. Demographics is the first component to targeting your audience, but then everything expands into other aspect of reach and fine-tuning your business. Your Social Media Presence Think through your demographics as they relate to your specialty regardless of where they live. If for example you’re a children’s photographer, then you’re looking for family oriented readers. Your target reader is “Mom”! That means your website and blog need to have a certain look and feel to match the demographics. Your content needs to be interesting for Mom to take the time to read and hopefully follow you. You need to be helpful in the information you’re providing. Great content is KING - Mom will follow you but you've got to keep her interested. From a design viewpoint, your site needs to be less masculine (I've seen both male and female artists guilty of this) and high-tech looking. It needs to be warm, friendly and be an experience for your audience to visit. Your blog needs to be the same way. In fact, since your blog is about what’s in your heart, it becomes even more important to match your demographics. Be careful where and what you share on social media, especially forums that are open to the public. You need to be there, if that's where your demographics are, but stay away from engaging trolls. Over and again, I've seen photographers battle it out because they didn't like a critique of a post they shared or an image. Remember, there are no erasers on the Internet - and in most forums, like Facebook for example, you never know who's seeing what you're sharing. Demographics and Rip-Tide Marketing Many of you didn’t think through your content versus your readership’s needs have locked yourself into what I call “Rip-Tide Marketing.” Here’s how it started: For lack of anything better to share on your blog, you started featuring images from every engagement shoot, family portrait sitting, etc. Your clients love being featured and tell their friends. Because this is a word of mouth business, they might also become your clients. If you don’t show images from every client’s shoot, they’re going to be hurt. After all, you shared their friends’ images. This happens with engagements, weddings, family portraiture, children’s sessions and the list goes on and on. Eventually you’re stuck with only showing images from shoots without any worthy substance in your content. Time to break the trend! Stop showing all the images from a shoot, just show one and use it as an educational feature to demonstrate posing technique, lighting technique, wardrobe changes, etc. Make yourself into the community expert on photograph and get yourself out of rip-tide content. Give your readers something to help them take better pictures. Every time you click the shutter you're doing things you take for granted. Now it's time to share that expertise and make your readership better artists. From lighting, to composition, to exposure and posing, you've easily got a dozen blog posts bouncing around in your head that deserve to be shared. But...You’ve got to pay attention to the demographics of your readership and here’s one more example of what NOT to do. Years ago Agfa US ran an ad for APS film in the professional photographic magazines. Most of you probably don’t remember APS, but it was purely a consumer product, and it only lasted a few years. The problem was Agfa not paying attention to the readership of the magazine. Agfa running a consumer product add was the equivalent of Revlon running an ad in Guns & Ammo. With everything you post think about who’s going to read it. You need to give Mom topics of interest in how she can get better pictures of her family; gift ideas using photographs; family oriented events in the community; locations for great family images and tips on being a storyteller. And, one more great topic – use Throwback Thursday to remind your readers of the value of older images and the importance of capturing memories. Father's Day is coming up. It's the perfect time to remind Mom that it's time for a new family portrait. Or, how about an updated portrait for the kids to give Dad. This is about taking full advantage of the renewed sense of family in this country. And don't forget grandparents and the importance of a Legacy program in your mix of offerings. Your blog and activity in social media reinforce the products and services on your website. Be soft sell and informative. You don’t need to be hard-sell when you’re sharing from the heart experiences. This brings us full circle into your target demographics from the first part of this blog post last week. But just like taking a trip without a road map or GPS – you can’t get to your target if you don’t figure out who they are first. You’ve got to think through where you want your business to go before you get behind the camera!  “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
*Apologies for using Jodi Picoult's quote again in a post - but there really isn't one better when it comes to looking at old photographs. It's a not-so-typical Sunday morning, only because it's Mother's Day, and to put it quite simply, I miss my Mom. The shot above is from a series Bambi Cantrell captured after spending a day with my folks in 2008. It's one of my favorites, taken a couple of years before Alzheimer's came full force into our lives. But my point isn't to talk about missing Mom, but all the times she and my dad come into my thought stream virtually every day, not just on Mother's Day. There isn't a day that something doesn't remind me of my folks. Most of these moments are stellar memories that bring a smile to my face, even a quiet whispered, "Miss ya!" My Mom and I weren't always close, but moving to Florida was one of the best things I ever did. It gave me quality time with my parents, and even with Alzheimer's, Mom's core personality never changed. Plus, Sheila got a chance to know my mother. My mother loved her, even though her timing was off just a little - she was convinced that she and Sheila did a lot of volunteer work when they were younger. It didn't matter; the room would light up when she and Sheila were together. Alzheimer's is a horrible disease. An emotional burglar sneaks into your house and robs you of a loved one right before your eyes. But even broken-hearted, we made the best of it. We'd learn to look for those isolated lucid moments where the "sun came out from behind the clouds." As Dad used to say, "I'm going to squeeze every drop of joy I can get out of every minute we're together." And he did just that! Here's my point - I miss my mother every day. She passed away just weeks before she wouldn't have known who we were. It's bitter-sweet, bitter obviously in losing her, but sweet in that I know she's at peace and hanging out with Dad now. Minutes before Mom passed away; Dad whispered in her ear, "What an incredible run we had!" They were married just short of 63 years! So, to all of you who are moms, Happy Mother's Day. And to everyone who still has their mother around, don't waste a second. Cherish your time together, and as photographers, set up a camera and shoot a little video. Plop Mom down in front of the camera and ask her to tell you a few backstories: how she met your father, places she grew up, favorite memories - anything you can watch and smile about years from now. Learn from my mistakes - One of my very few regrets is not doing that with Mom and Dad myself. I'd love to be listening to those stories right now. Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead and time to appreciate your mothers. Make it a day where you create new memories - the kind that will make you smile years from now. And this is definitely a day for those long eleven-second hugs. Happy Sunday, Mother's Day, or Monday, if you're on the other side of the world!  "If you see me talking to myself, just move along. I'm self-employed, we're having a staff meeting." CatalogFavorites.com by Skip Cohen We recently got a catalog that had some of the funniest one-liners I've ever seen on shirts. The more I read, the more relevant they became. It got me thinking about my business life since heading out on my own in 2009. My entire adult life, up until 2009, I was always in an office environment. So when I decided to start my own business, I never anticipated how rewarding it would be or, for that matter, how challenging things might be at times. So, if you're thinking about heading out on your own, especially from a part-time small business owner as a photographer to full-time, here are some thoughts on my experience over the last thirteen years.
Being your own boss falls under "be careful what you wish for." It's been incredibly rewarding, but there's one more aspect that's made it an adventure. You need a partner - in this case, my wife, Sheila. She's not directly involved in the business, but she's my sounding board and muse daily. She knows most of the players and has had great insight into many of my challenges so often. Would I do it all over again? Absolutely, and no sooner than when I did. I'm not one of those guys who says, "I wish I'd done this earlier!" Why? Because I wasn't ready. I hadn't learned enough about business or understood what was in my heart to make the move. When I first thought about leaving Rangefinder/WPPI, Sheila asked me, "What are you afraid of?" My answer, "Failing!" Well, here I am years later, and while it's hardly been easy when you're on your own, you own all the decisions - there are no committees, managers, or co-workers to blame. And that's the greatest benefit of all. "My boss told me to have a good day.
So I went home!" CatalogFavorites.com   by Skip Cohen It's Marketing Monday, and before we get too far into the new year, here's the big question - Do you know who your customers are? Sadly, too many photographers think demographics is one of those words that only apply to big companies. From the readership of your blog and posts to your website and all of your marketing, you need to understand who your customers are. And you especially need to know who's your target audience. A quick trip to Google and "demographics" is defined as the statistical characteristics of human populations (such as age or income) used especially to identify markets... For photographers, it's essential to know everything you can about your target audience. Demographics Time to go back to Google. As an example, I put in "Demographics for Sarasota County, Florida." That took me to a US Census Bureau page where I could sort by various characteristics. In the dropdown box, I chose age and sex for a start. Sarasota County has one of the oldest average age per person of any county in the US. So, this wouldn't be the best fit for a maternity photographer to open a business if there were a number of photographers already covering that specialty. On the other hand, it's a great area for a Legacy program. I used to use an example in past programs of a children's photographer opening a studio in a retirement community like Sun City, Arizona. Again, the demographics don't fit the profile of the target for the business!  It’s All About Mom Women make 98% of the purchase decisions to hire a professional photographer in the portrait/social caategories. This is out of a Kodak study over thirty years ago, but I'm betting it hasn't changed even one percent. For most of you, that includes family and children portraiture, pets, seniors, weddings, engagements, and events. It's rare you get a call from a man saying, "We're overdue for an updated family portrait." Dad's a critical player in the decision process and often the key recipient of the final portrait, but he rarely makes the call to hire you. So, you've got to make sure you're reaching Mom. Every Specialty Has Its Own Target and Resources For you wedding shooters, here's another resource. Check out TheWeddingReport.com. It's not free, but if I were a full-time wedding photographer, I'd want every detail I could find about my audience. Once on their site, click on sample data - it's all for "Limestone, TX," but it's worth a look to understand the level of detail available, starting with how much people are spending on weddings. The numbers below include the number of weddings each year, the average all-inclusive amount spent, and the total dollars in the category. The data goes back to 2008 and is forecasted forward to 2025.  Partnerships
You'll find so much great information here, including ideas on businesses you might consider partnering with. In addition, it's loaded with great statistics and an opportunity to not only give you data on what's being spent on every aspect of weddings in an area, but you'll also find the list helpful in thinking about promotional and networking partners. For example, if you scroll to page 10 of their Limestone, TX report check the money spent on other wedding areas like hair, makeup, entertainment, photography, flowers, limo service, gowns, honeymoons, spas, and caterers. There are at least 40-50 line items showing the amount being spent. Each category represents another potential partner who should be in your network. This is Part I of what will probably be a 2-3 part post. No one post can do it all - but here's the most critical point: If you don't have the skill set to meet the expectations of your audience, then all the marketing in the world isn't going to help. With more live workshops, conferences, and conventions coming back into play, make sure you've got the technical skills to over-deliver and exceed expectations!  It's not about forcing happiness. It's about not letting the sadness win. Anonymous by Skip Cohen Over the years, we've all heard a few of blog posts' fundamental "rules." At the top of the list is always, don't get too personal. If I'm truly going with the consistency I've tried to stay with when writing Sunday Morning Reflections, then it's a morning of getting personal. Ever wake up sad? You can't pinpoint why there's a knot in your stomach, but things just don't seem right. This morning I woke up feeling sad. If I was still a kid and my Grandma Sarah was still alive, she'd tell me I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. She'd then hug me and let me babble for a minute. She'd listen, then, at some point, there'd be a smile back on my face. I sat down at my computer to write two hours ago and couldn't get it together. The harder I tried, the less progress I made. Sheila filled in for my grandmother, listening to me try and find the source of my sadness. Finally, I gave up, and we decided to have breakfast. In the process of making French toast, it all came to me. The sadness was a combination of a sugar low, not enough sleep, and a small list of challenges, of which the big one was missing my Dad. My Dad was my best buddy, and I miss him regularly, but more important than missing Dad was not counting my blessings for everything in my life. I got so caught up with feeling something was wrong that I missed appreciating what was right. That led to a great conversation with Sheila about Dad, aging, the pups, and as usual, over breakfast, the topic of what to do for dinner tonight. You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses. Zig Ziglar And there's my point, hardly earth-shaking, but feeling down sometimes isn't a liability. For me, it's the way my heart likes to let me know it's time to refocus on all the good things in my life instead of the dents and bruises!
Wishing everybody an incredible day ahead and time to appreciate everything and everyone who's a part of your life. And unlike my initial attitude this morning of feeling the need to identify what had me feeling down, take the time to look around you and simply count your blessings! Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.  Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. Marcel Proust  by Skip Cohen It all started with a simple grab shot while visiting Michele Celentano and Paul Neal in January 2010. We were hiking in the mountains behind their house in Arizona. Well, 12 1/2 years, one sappy magnet about friends, and two houses later, our Hanging with Friends wall is almost out of room. As we go out to the garage, the back hall of our home is passed several times every day. It's a testimonial to great friendships and memories. It always makes us smile. But the best part of this is about prints. Nothing special, just 5x7s, framed and put up on the wall - but Sheila and I walk the talk - the memories aren't sitting in our phones, computers, or a shoebox waiting to be shared in an album. Life is simply too short not to appreciate the memories we can make and capture every day. After all, it's what this industry is all about! Happy Throwback Thursday! Angels exist, but sometimes they don't have wings and are called friends!
Anonymous  by Skip Cohen While this post is really about the countdown to the end of Platypod's Kickstarter campaign, it's also a kick to share Jay P. Morgan's creative talent. Tune into his YouTube channel, The Slanted Lens, and you'll never be disappointed in what he's sharing. Jay P and I first met back in my Hasselblad days. In the early 90's he was shooting on sound stages and producing photographs that are still some of my most favorite. Well, today, he's one of the industry's leading educators and is regularly sharing great content on his YouTube channel. This new piece for Platypod's eXtreme just aired. On April 6, many of you joined us on The Grid as Scott Kelby, together with Larry T (founder of Platypod), Lizzy Gadd, and Kris Andres, launched the campaign for the new eXtreme. The response was incredible, and to date, we're coming up on 1400 photographers who have backed the project.
We're down to the last two weeks of the campaign, and eXtreme is already in production. Our first delivery is scheduled to arrive in our warehouse within a few days of the Kickstarter close. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we'll be shipping to our "First Day Giveaway Backers" before the end of May. If you are interested in an eXtreme, there are approximately 600 units not committed for June delivery and more for August. Click the banner above to link to the Kickstarter campaign. After all backers have been shipped, the eXtreme will launch this summer at $149 retail. It's a great time to save money by backing the campaign for June or August delivery. A BIG thanks to everyone who's supported the campaign, the KelbyOne team who helped us launch, Lizzy and Kris for never compromising their creativity, and all of you who help make this industry such an amazing career path.  by Skip Cohen It's Marketing Monday, and as seasonality starts to ramp up, it occurred to me recently how many of you are tripping over unnecessary challenges - most of them avoidable. For example, I'm convinced that photographers and doctors are the two worst business groups on Earth. Find any real estate scam for oceanfront property in Nevada, and you'll often find a group of doctors as investors! And, when it comes to photographers, so many of you had no idea if you made money last year until you did your taxes. So, check out these suggestions before you're into the height of season and business kicks into high gear. Pricing: Nothing can destroy your business faster than not pricing your products the right way. You need to consider EVERYTHING in your costs. One of the saddest situations I see regularly are artists excited because the lab only charges $1.00 for a 5x7, and they're charging the client $10! Look at ALL your costs, including your education, insurance, gear, software, hardware, etc. Everything you're doing to run your business needs to be included. "That's good enough" NEVER compromise on quality. Not only do you owe your clients the very best, but you owe yourself and your brand a never-ending stream of over-achievement! There are so many stories from photographers who sadly learned the portrait they took of a client was the last photograph ever taken of them. Buying gear: Before buying anything, make sure you really need it. There's no need to tie up cash flow over a piece of equipment you haven't tested yet. Look at rental programs and definitely consider leasing. Leasing lets you utilize somebody else's assets without depleting yours. Even better, if it's not the basics to get the job done, check with friends in your network. Often somebody has a particularly exotic lens you want to check out, and if you've been friends, it's a great option to test before you make the investment. Also, I've heard a lot of stories over the years of photographers sharing the cost of expensive gear that isn't being used all the time. And don't forget the benefits of sharing studio space! Never checking your website: At least a half dozen times over the last few years, I've checked out a photographer's website and had it lock up on me. You should be checking your site every morning and on several different browsers. Make sure everything is loading the way it should. Then, check it on other platforms. "I don't have time for another workshop:" Now and then, you're going to run out of time. I get it, but so often artists throw in the towel for the wrong reasons. Things are getting back to normal and LIVE workshops are popping up all over, along with great conferences. If there's a workshop coming your way and it has the content you need to raise the bar on your skills as an artist or business owner, you can't afford not to be there. Wasting time: It's the granddaddy of them all – I've seen photographers waste hours of their time and everybody else's, most often in Facebook forums! They get caught up in a social media riptide and refuse to let go on the principle of some moot point nobody honestly cares about. Remember, beauty is in the eyes of the checkbook holder - stop worrying about a troll's opinion in that forum you belong to! Time is your most valuable commodity, and once it's gone, you never get it back. So use your time wisely and pay attention to where you spend time. Don't waste it, and work to prioritize where you need to put in the most attention. “Time is free, but it's priceless.
You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.” Harvey MacKay  A certain darkness is needed to see the stars! Unknown Author by Skip Cohen
It's Sunday and if you've followed me for even the shortest time, then you know today is when I step entirely away from business and marketing. Writing is therapeutic, and many years ago, Sunday mornings became my day to just go with whatever was in my heart. I'm not sure why this morning, but I'm thinking a lot about how much we've all gone through over the last couple of years - before words like hunkered down, mandatory masks, and pandemic became a part of our regular vocabulary. Then, while looking for quotes that might help me express myself, I ran across the one above. And that took me right to one of my most favorite photographs, by my good buddy Bob Coates. It's a remarkable shot, but then so is Bob. We've been good friends for many years, and if you know him, then you know he never does anything halfway! But this isn't about the shot, but the fact that without darkness, the image wouldn't exist. Going back to that simple quote I started this with, I've learned that everything always works out for the better. I'm not suggesting you should just accept everything that goes wrong in life; just look at it differently. For example, the pandemic has been horrible, and we've all had to adapt to changes in lifestyle, the heartbreak of losing friends, etc. But out of the chaos and pain came a renewed sense of family, the likes of which haven't been seen since the 50s. Now, take a step back and think about some of the most brutal storms you've had to get through in your life. I know it's trite and even hokey - but think about it - you're stronger now because of them. They helped you grow. There are a thousand quotes we've all heard over the years...It's darkest before the dawn...Without change, there'd be no butterflies...Every cloud has a silver lining...Calm waters don't make skilled sailors...and the list goes on and on. They're all saying the same thing. It's funny how I started writing this and thinking what I was about to share was so earth-shaking, but reading it over, it's hardly brilliant. But maybe that's what more of us need these days - the simplicity of just accepting the paths we've chosen. It's okay to look back now and then, but not with regrets, only pride at moving forward. Sheila's got a great line I grew to love years ago. Whenever I'd say, "You know what I should have done?" Her response was always the same, "Don't should on yourself!" Wishing everybody a day ahead where you just keep looking forward. Make it a day when you appreciate the incredible world you've created - not the big one, just the one that's yours and includes the people who have touched your life the most and whose lives you're a part of. Go for those eleven-second hugs with those people most important to you. And to my good buddy Bob, who right about now is just waking up to the sunrise in Sedona...thanks, buddy. I sure do appreciate our friendship. Happy Sunday, everybody...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world! Image copyright Bob Coates. All rights reserved.  Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. George Bernard Shaw by Skip Cohen It's just a short post today to help kick off the weekend. George Bernard Shaw, gets the credit for sending me in the direction I want to write about. We're part of a word-of-mouth, creative and artistic community. And while it's driven so much by technology, the control over the creative process and how you choose to work with each client is entirely in your control. If I look back over the contemporary history of imaging, here are a few of the BAD assumptions people made:
My good buddy, Scott Bourne, had one of the earliest websites (I once heard 106th) in the world at a time when the rest of us all thought it was a passing fad. Scott is a visionary. We never saw the potential of expanded reach, the power of the Internet or the value cyberspace real estate. Now scale all of that down to everything you have control over today. Too many of you think because you set a specific course, you can't change it! Your success is all about listening to your audience while at the same time never ignoring your heart. Styles change, technology never slows down, and your skillset should continually be growing. And here's my point - you can do anything you want. You can be shooting weddings and events today and tomorrow decide you'd rather be a portrait artist. So follow your dreams and stop thinking that every path you take is the one you have to stay on forever. Just make sure before you change paths you've got the skills and the understanding to navigate in a new direction. And before you switch - remember why you went in this direction in the first place. Use the inner circle of your network to think through the changes you need to make in your life and your career. And if you're attending any of the upcoming conventions - take the time to ALWAYS sign up for one workshop/class completely outside your skillset. Growth only happens outside your comfort zone! Anonymous Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead! Find the time to look at your journey - it's never to late to change paths if your heart's pulling you in a different direction.
 by Skip Cohen
It's Throwback Thursday, and you never know what I might pull out of my stash. In this case, it's thanks to good buddy Jim Morton, who found this one recently and sent it my way. But the genuine fun of throwbacks is in the smiles they bring back - and no two guys do it better than Clay Blackmore and Calvin Hayes. Our friendship started in my Hasselblad days, when I joined the company in 1987...and they've continued right up to a few minutes ago when I called Clay needing help on when this shot was taken. And Calvin, I just talked to a few weeks ago. The pandemic may have slowed us all down from physically being together, but thanks to social media and the phone - nothing stops the ability to connect. This was at the PPA National Convention before it was called IUSA. It was held in Denver that year, and PPA was financially going through some difficult times.* Fortunately for all of us, they survived and became even stronger in the years to come. Now they're a continual partner in support for so many photographers in the industry. Next year's convention is in Nashville, January 22-24. Just click on the banner to the right for more information. Throwback Thursday memories are like one big vitamin boost for your soul. Okay, so that's a little over the top, but at a time when we're all feeling the stress of the last couple of years and working on getting back to normal, throwback images bring back memories. And most often, those looks in the rearview mirror come with plenty of smiles and always great backstories! So, take the time today and find a few old photographs and videos...and whether you share them or not, savor them and then think about the new memories you're going to make in the future! * UPDATE: Thanks to my pal Claude Jodoin - we got the date - 1994...and along with it a little more color - it was the year Forest Gump was released!  Intro by Skip Cohen I've shared this a couple of times over the years, but as things come back to a bit of normalcy, it's so appropriate today. The Texas School is about to kick off; Shutterfest is coming up, and ClickCon is in June. Along with each of these shows, we're all getting out more, and your involvement in the community should be on the rise! My good buddy Scott Bourne wrote this many years ago. As you get back to meeting more people and building your network, make sure you're putting your best foot forward. And that includes activity in social media. And just a reminder...Don't engage trolls. They hide behind the anonymity of their computer screens, hoping to get a reaction over things they'd never have the nerve to say to your face. When you react, you give them just what they want, and remember, there are no erasers on the Internet! by Scott Bourne Building a solid network is critical to your growth and the success of your business. Unfortunately, over and over again I see so many photographers making the same mistakes at every trade show, convention or workshop. Here are five of the most common ones for you to hopefully take note and stay away from. 1. Be prepared. I mean really prepared. Bring business cards (yes I know it's basic but I admit that once or twice I forgot mine so you might too.) Make sure you're properly groomed. Bugs in your teeth won't win you many friends. Dress appropriately. 2. Don't interrupt. If someone you want to meet or network with is talking with someone else, you won't make a very good impression if you bulldog your way to the front of the line. Wait your turn. 3. Don't talk too much about yourself. Don't brag. Don't profile. Don't strut. Be humble. I know it's hard to be humble when you're as great as you are, but try. Listen to what other people think. Let them finish their thoughts. Ask follow-up questions to show that you are interested and listening. 4. Don't be shy. If you want to network, you can't do it from the back of the room. You have to be willing to put yourself out there. Go for it. 5. Don't monopolize your new friends' time. Networking is simple. You introduce yourself. You listen to what your new friend has to say. You exchange cards. You figure out if there's anything you can do to help your new friend. You make an action plan to follow up with each other and you move on. Everyone at a networking event is looking for a chance to make new contacts. Let them. Take your turn and move along. Networking can be very valuable. Skip and I have built entire businesses and careers around networking. Get off on the right foot and avoid these mistakes. You'll be better off for it. Skip's Update: I want to add a few to Scott's list.
6. Meet every vendor you can. If you're at a live convention make it a point to meet somebody at every company, especially those whose products/services you use. 7. Have a great "leave-behind." I love an oversized postcard with a few of your images and your information on the back. This is an ideal piece for vendors - it shows your work and has your contact information. Often at a trade show, things are just too busy for a vendor to talk when they are working the booth. So having something you can leave behind and then contacting them at a later date is ideal. 8. Send a thank you note. For those vendors you meet and leave a business card or the leave-behind I referenced above, send them a note when you're back. You're not asking for anything, just thanking them for their time during a busy show. 9. Never eat a meal alone! Whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner, when you're at a convention especially, invite other people to join you. There's nothing better than the conversation that comes out over just having a meal. 10. Be involved. I'm thinking about cyberspace on this one. Now and then, I run across an artist who's excited about being a member of hundreds of different forums. That means absolutely NOTHING! They've collected forums like kids used to collect Matchbox cars! Be exclusive and supportive of forums you genuinely believe in and want to support. Your greatest marketing tool is relationship building. So to quote Scott Stratten from his book, Unmarketing, "Stop marketing and start engaging!" |
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