by Skip Cohen

​We're approaching that special time of year when seasonality kicks in for so many different specialties, especially seniors. Senior photography continues to be one of the fastest-growing specialties in imaging. Unlike when I was a senior (on the right), today, it's all about capturing the subject's personality. It's about the interaction between the senior and the professional photographer. 

If you've got an interest in the senior market, you first need to ensure you've got the skill set, not just with your camera. You need great communication skills and the ability to build a relationship with your subject.

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!

​Unlike when I was a senior (this is where my good buddy Scott Bourne would take a shot at me and suggest that Matthew Brady and I went to school together! LOL), there are so many different products available to enhance the relationship, starting with Graduation Cards.

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday, and as usual, I'm about to jump the tracks from topics like marketing and business. But unlike most Sundays, I woke up today knowing exactly what I wanted to write about - tradition and friendship. While I know I've shared the story in the past, it's too much fun not to share again.

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, and with it comes a tradition that kicked into gear over five decades ago! It was our freshman year at Miami University, and my good buddy, Rich, and I started drinking green beer at the Purity Bar at 7:00 am. Rich had this giant Viking-style pewter tankard we took to the bar. In a college town like Oxford, Ohio, there wasn't a whole to do, so we weren't alone celebrating. When a couple got up to dance, we'd grab part of their beer and fill the tankard.

By 11:00 am, friends from the dorm came to the bar and literally carried us back to our rooms. By midday, the two of us were "driving the porcelain bus."  We were both sick as dogs. It was the first time being drunk for both of us. I'm not condoning the stupidity of what we did, but looking back, it created a tradition I cherish.

And here's where that tradition comes into play. All these years, we still battle it out over who's the first to call the other on St. Patrick's Day. Every call is the same: we laugh about what we did, marvel over the abilities of our youth, and stay connected. While we still talk to each other every couple of months, St. Patrick's Day and the laughs we share border on being epic.

Like the quote above, our connection is about the tradition of joy and a friendship that's stayed intact regardless of where we both lived. 

A best friend is a treasure chest of memories and laughter.
Unknown
A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden.
Unknown

These are two quotes that say everything I want to share about great friendships, especially my good buddy, Rich. We've only seen each other a handful of times over all these years, but that's never changed the friendship, the laughs, or the joy. 

Wishing everybody a day ahead with time to enjoy your own traditions with great friends. You can never go back, and you can't live in the past, but a walk down Memory Lane with a good pal is meant to be savored.  Sometimes, especially today in a world that's gone upside down, a great memory becomes a point to cherish and much-needed stability.  

Don't forget to make a few new memories with those people most special to you. Today's special moments will become tomorrow's most loved trips back in time.

Happy Sunday or Monday if you're on the other side of the world. And to Rich - I'm determined to make it two years in a row when I beat you to the punch! Talk to you in the morning...early!!! 

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?

All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.
Chinese Proverb

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday, the one day that I completely deviate from business and marketing. It's my time to write about something other than the challenges we face along our career path every day. This morning, my thoughts are focused on great quotes.

While there are moments when I hate social media and miss the simplicity of the life I grew up with, the Internet has made the world a much smaller place. It gives us an opportunity to harvest old and new ideas to help expand our thoughts on virtually any topic that pops into our heads. It's given us access to everyone from Confucius to SNL's Jack Handy, and the quote I grabbed this morning is a perfect example.

I read the above quote and loved how it took one of my grandmother's sayings and gave it a touch of class. One of her favorites was, "You reap what you sow."  But the Chinese took it a step further and gave it a far more supportive and positive spin.

At the risk of actually sounding like Jack Handy, we're all gardeners with the ability to plant whatever seeds we want. And done right, the things we do now to secure "flowers" in the future are the definition of planning, hope, and fulfilling our dreams—plant no seeds today, and nothing will grow tomorrow.

Here's my point: Find a website with quotes about whatever interests you the most. Pick any challenge you're dealing with right now, and Google will open the doors to the arsenal of diverse thoughts on the topic from all over the world. Then, appreciate the way technology has expanded our lives with so much information at our fingertips. But be careful in what quotes you share:

I am not a product of my circumstances. 
I am a product of my decisions.
Stephen Covey

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

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!

by Skip Cohen

With WPPI coming up, here's a list of tips to ensure you get the most bang for your buck—and they work for ANY conference or convention! It's hard to get away, even at this time of year. But when you do, especially for a convention or conference, you want to get the most out of it.

In scuba diving, there's an expression, "Plan your dive—dive your plan!" You've got limited air and limited time, and it's always important to have a buddy. Well, a convention is no different. You've got to plan your trip, make the most of every minute at the event, and come home with ideas to improve your skillset and build a stronger business.
​ 

1. Why are you going to WPPI? It might sound like a stupid question, but some of you go to party, others to buy, and more of you to learn and network. Before you get there, figure out what the most important thing you want to get out of the show is.
2. Check the weather forecast for Vegas! It's pretty obvious we've aggravated Mother Nature this year around the country. Over the years at WPPI, there have been times when we had lunch outside by the pool and others when we had snowball fights. You're going to be out in the evening, so pack accordingly. I know this seems so basic, but I'm amazed how many people never check a few days before.
3. What companies do you need to visit? Take a few minutes and look around your office, studio, or the trunk of your car. Isolate every product you use as a photographer, and put the manufacturer on a list. Now, look at every company whose services you use. Your lab, frame company, web design, album company, etc., should all be on the list. Your first goal BEFORE you get to the show is to isolate every company involved in your business.
4. New products and companies: Are there products you need for your business or new services you require? One year at WPPI, forty-five album companies were exhibiting, and probably twenty-five to thirty labs. If you're looking for new companies and products, this is the time to go exploring. 
5. Visit the WPPI website: Find out BEFORE you get there who's exhibiting from your vendor/supplier lists. Your goal is to meet at least one staff member at every company on the list. This is a critical component to building an effective network. Here's the link.
6. Check out print competition: Arrive early enough to attend print judging. It's one of the most valuable educational experiences you can have. Pick any judging room and go in and sit down for an hour at least. Listen to the comments from the judges and think about your own work.
7. Walk through the print exhibit. This is a terrific time to get a feel for the trends in imaging because you'll see just about everything in the images submitted for competition.
8. Walk the trade show, aisle by aisle! One of the best things about any convention is finding out about companies you may not have worked with before! Start in one corner of the show and work your way through EVERY company exhibiting, even if they're showing products you don't use.
9. Wear comfortable shoes. You'll be on your feet all day—this is about function, not styling!
10. Bring business cards and some images. I've always liked being shown a 5x7 or 6x9 collage of a few images on a postcard, with the photographer's address and contact information. Unless you've made an appointment in advance, most exhibitors won't take the time to look at a portfolio, or a phone/laptop chocked full of images. However, leaving a card stock piece or brochure with a vendor and contacting them after the show can have a lot of impact.
11. Remember to say "THANKS!" When you do get time with an exhibitor you've wanted to meet, send them a short note a few days after the convention. It's the perfect soft-sell way to follow up and lock in more awareness for your role as an artist.
    
12. Make plans for breakfast and dinner meetings NOW. Reservations don't come easy in Las Vegas anymore, and if you're going to be headed out for dinner, it helps to know where and when you're going. Think about making a couple of reservations in advance, even if you don't know who you'll be having dinner with!
13. Update your phone book! Make sure you have the cell numbers for friends and associates you want to catch up to. There are few things as frustrating as wanting to meet somebody is at a convention, but having no way to contact them.
14. Put the "social" into social media. So many of you have friends you talk to all the time online but have never physically met. You hang out in various Facebook forums with them and share a lot of great discussions about photography. Check to see who's going to be at WPPI and set up time to get together. It's a lot of fun to physically meet people who you've talked to regularly, but only in cyberspace!
15. Lunch is tough to do at WPPI because everyone hits the food courts at the same time, along with the restaurants. That doesn't have to be bad, just plan who you're having lunch with and how much time you need.  
16. Check out special programming going on in the various booths. Many of the exhibitors have speakers in their booths doing short presentations. These programs give you a chance to fine-tune your skills and, at the same time, expand your network.
17. You snooze, you lose! Look, I was young and stupid once, too, and there are few things as fun as going out with friends and bar-hopping in Las Vegas. However, you're at the show for a reason, and if you need to sleep in late the following morning, your evening out with friends might become the most expensive investment you make in the show if you miss appointments or presentations you had planned to attend.
18. "Growth only happens outside your comfort zone!" Look over the programming — plan which speakers you want to hear in advance. Plus, always pick at least 1-2 programs entirely out of your comfort zone. 
19. Bring a camera...a real camera. Phones are fine, but you want to get some images you might want to use later on for press releases, your blog, Facebook, etc. You don't need your regular gear, but a decent camera will still produce better images than your cell phone. Look for opportunities for pictures with vendors and those speakers you admire.
20. Call your insurance agent! If you're taking any serious camera gear with you, check to make sure you're adequately insured. I remember one year, a woman left all her camera gear in her room but did not check to make sure the door closed completely when she went out for dinner. Everything was gone when she got back, and she was NOT covered by her insurance. Another photographer had two lenses lifted out of his camera bag while he was listening to a presentation.
21. Publish a couple of press releases! Let's talk about those pictures you're taking while at the show - use them for your own publicity campaign. For example, let's assume you want to expand your business and you're attending a few programs outside your comfort zone. Get a photograph of you and the speaker, and then write a short post about expanding your business into that new area of expertise. The same goes for any new equipment you might be looking at and buying at the show. A large format printer, for example, would be a great topic for expanding your services to the community. In the same respect, working with a new lab would give you access to new products to talk about.
22. Utilize their assets without depleting yours! Get yourself approved with a leasing or a credit line before you leave for Vegas. If you're going there to shop for new gear, it's so much easier when you know what you can afford before you hit the convention floor.
23. Talk to the people around you when you attend any program. A photography convention like this is unique because everyone is there for the same reasons. Make it a point to get to know the people sitting on either side of you. It's amazing what you can learn by just talking to each other and building your network.
24. Talk to the icons! I'm always amazed by how many of you are intimidated by your favorite photographers. The truth is they're there to teach and meet other photographers interested in their work. Just walk up and introduce yourself and thank them for whatever inspiration they've given you. They don't bite!
25. Analysis Paralysis: Take time at the end of each day, before your head hits the pillow to do a quick overview of who you saw, what you learned and what companies you can scratch off your list. If you wait until you get home after the convention it will be too late!

The one thing I find most frustrating with attendees at a big convention like WPPI is they just haven't planned their trip. They got their tickets and made it to Vegas, but then everything fell apart. Plan your WPPI experience, so you're not wasting time and, even more importantly, your money. Nothing beats the experience of a great trade show and convention, but it's up to you to get the most out of it.

And speaking of getting the MOST out of things - this is the sixth installment in Business Breakthroughs. So far I've covered everything from breaking out of your procrastination mode to new clients, building your brand, paying attention to your demographics and even content ideas for your blog or social media. ​
The links to each post are below - just click on any banner!

Taking time to do nothing often brings everything into perspective.
Doe Zantamata

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday morning, and as I said to Sheila, "I have no idea what to write about," it dawned on me that having nothing to write about was the perfect topic.

Like any small business owner, there are times when I simply have no agenda and nothing in particular I need to do. As I got older, being busy every waking minute became a badge of accomplishment. I remember talking with one of my favorite people in the industry, Julieanne Kost at Adobe, who, when asked once to be involved in a new project, simply said, "I'm sorry, but I'm out of bandwidth." 

Today's one of those days when I've got a lot on my mind, but nothing requires any deeper, more complex thoughts than bacon or sausage with breakfast! In fact, Sheila and I are going to go out for breakfast and then hit the nursery to check out plants for the butterfly garden. Just the anticipation of a relaxing, do-nothing day is clearing my head and setting the stage for projects I want to accomplish in the week ahead.

It's March 2 already, and Spring is in the air. It's the perfect time to kick back and chill. I'm not wasting time; I'm using it to recharge my battery and do a little light planning for what I want to accomplish next.

I've written a lot over the years about recognizing burnout BEFORE it knocks on your door. One way to ensure Burnout loses your address is to take breaks that combine doing nothing and savoring time with the people you love the most.  It sounds so simple, yet it's one of the most missed activities we allow ourselves to enjoy - doing nothing!

​Wishing everybody a day ahead that allows you to appreciate having an "empty plate." Take the time to relax and appreciate the hard work you've done to learn to step away from the stress of business...and life. Enjoy the silence, even if it's just in your head. Take the time to smell the roses!  Don't forget those eleven-second hugs with the people most important to you that I always write about.  Remember to give yourself a hug, along with a big pat on the back for everything you're working to accomplish.
​
Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
C.S. Lewis

by Skip Cohen

I try and keep it light on Fridays, although I don't often succeed. But I am going to keep it short. I found the quote above in a book by Lou Mitchell, who went on to write:

Reflect on your own life. Is there a dream you've put off because you thought it was too late? What can you do today to get back on track or set a new goal that excites you? Consider the experiences and knowledge you've gained over the years, and use them as a foundation to build new paths.

All of us had dreams when we were kids. Many of them disappeared as we got older and the quest for achieving them became buried under the stress of what we chose to accept as reality. But the truth is, dreams don't go away. They fade and then get moved to a back burner.

And there's my point - you're never too old to chase another goal or fulfill a dream. The key is not to let time get in the way. Whether there's something you've always wanted to do, a place you always wanted to go, or simply a skill you wish you'd learn, there's time...but you're the only one who can decide the direction of your next adventure.

Wishing everybody a weekend ahead with time to chase your dreams and start a new adventure. Nothing is outside your reach.

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.  

If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door!
Milton Berle

Love the life you live.
Live the life you love.
Bob Marley

by Skip Cohen

Sunday Morning Reflections started years ago as a series of posts in which, once a week, with your help, I run amuck on the regular topics of business and marketing. It's my time to share something that's hopefully relevant to you, my readers.

Bob Marley's quote above might seem incredibly trite, but it carries with it a reminder that life isn't a dress rehearsal, but time to let your heart soar. And if your heart just isn't in the game, you can't live the kind of life you want.

Here's a great example, and it pushes the envelope of getting personal about my life, things the "experts" say you shouldn't post about: It's no secret that I'm estranged from my family. There's virtually no contact - and while the reasons aren't important here, the foundation is all seated in horrible communication. And while I have regrets, years ago I had to make a choice - live my best life or spend all my time being a right-fighter.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else.
You are the one who gets burned.
Buddha

At some point, thanks to Sheila, some incredible friends, a little therapy, and two pups, I realized that playing the role of the last angry man was accomplishing nothing except holding me back from living a life I loved. They say that with age comes wisdom. But wisdom is the result of all our experiences, and being angry all the time is one of the repetitious acts that accomplishes nothing. 

I learned to let it all go—not that I still don't have a short fuse on certain topics, but being happy is a life choice. I'm still a work in progress, but life is simply too short. As you age, your ability to focus on what's truly important changes—you don't let yourself get distracted by things that take you off the path you want to travel the most.

Here's my point: If you're living with resentments, let them go. You're only hurting yourself, and like a patient with tunnel vision, your peripheral view is restricted—you're missing everything there is to see and feel along life's journey. 

Wishing all of you a day ahead that's jam-packed with the things and people you love the most. Make a few new memories with the people most important to you. If you've been holding onto anger/resentment, let it go - you don't have to forget what started it, just forgive. You can't live the life you love if you're buried in a lot of emotional pollution...and it takes a lot of chlorine to clean up the "swamp."

Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about with the people most special in your life. And as my Dad loved to say, "Illegitimi non carborundum" - "Don't let the bastards grind you down!"

Happy Sunday or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.

"You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it."
Charles Buxton

by Skip Cohen

​I always try and keep it light as we head into the weekend, especially in the "slow season." Here's a thought as we hit the last weekend in February:

A photographer I've known for a fairly long time asked me for some help in determining where his business needs the most attention. I was happy to give him a hand, but he never came back with what he needed me to look at in his business. When I contacted him to see what had happened a few months later, his response was, "I just haven't had the time."

This is a short post today: While we can't stop time or hit a magical rewind button, we do have control of our time, but it doesn't just happen. When there's something we want to do, it's only going to happen if we MAKE the time.

Lou Mitchell, in his book Positive Thinking - One Day at a Time, wrote:

... time is one of our most precious resources, yet it often feels scarce. Waiting to find time for important activities and goals is futile...Reflect on your daily routine. Are there activities you wish you had more time for? How can you adjust your schedule to make time for these priorities? What steps can you take today to start making time for what matters most?

Just two points today: Take a little time and review your priorities. So often, just when we start to get a little momentum on something, we're distracted. We take our foot off the gas and slow down - like a gaper's block driving past an accident on the freeway. 

You can't do big things if you're distracted by little things!
Unknown

Second, by staying overly focused on our cell phones, we're always reachable. Put phones together with email and social media, there's no place we can hide. Too many of us take every call and never say "No," when asked for help. I'm not suggesting you say "No" all the time, just prioritize better. You can't be everything to everybody, but you can find balance. You can be present for the things that matter most.

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend with time for the things that are most important in your life!

by Skip Cohen

I woke up about 5:30 this morning and stayed in bed trying to think about what I wanted to write about today. I came up empty! When I'm stuck for a topic I grab one of a half dozen daily motivational books to see what a few of my favorite writers chose for thoughts over the last few days.

Lou Mitchell in his book on positive thinking hit the perfect thought a few days ago - "Act Without Delay." He started with a quote for February 13th:

"Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future.
Act now, without delay."
Simone de Beauvoir

If you wait for all the lights to turn green, you'll never get started on your journey.
Zig Ziglar

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.​

Everything changed the day he figured out
there was exactly enough time for the important things in his life.
The StoryPeople

by Skip Cohen

I know I shared the quote above a few years ago, but when something inspires us, our perspective can change as time goes by. Sheila and I have a collection of StoryPeople art, and this morning, I read the quote above.

This post is for those of you "Chicken Littles" who spend your life worrying about time. You can't slow it down and you can't stop it, but if you get it in the right perspective, the speed that time flies by becomes an asset. I admit, being an old fart helps in the way I look at time today, and here's my point...

I've learned to appreciate my goals and not be restricted by the time needed to accomplish what's important in my life. Over the years, I wasted so much time worrying about what I wanted to accomplish on any given day. I wasted time picking low-hanging fruit, not because it was easy to pick, but because my loftier goals might use up too much time. Life became about the quantity of things I got done, not always the quality!

This is a short post this morning. Stop worrying about time and just focus on the task at hand. I've learned that everything always works out for the better, and while some goals and tasks are more difficult than others, once you accept that you really can have it all, everything falls into place.

​Happy Tuesday!

PS And if you're looking for some great inspiration, thoughts on romance or simply a different perspective on life, check out the StoryPeople's website. (Please note: I do NOT work for them. They are not a client - I just love the way they seem to know exactly what's in my head and how to write it down.)