Life it is not just a series of calculations and a sum total of statistics, it's about experience,
it's about participation, it is something more complex and more interesting than what is obvious.
  David Libeskind

by Skip Cohen
 
​​I've written a lot over the years about getting involved in your community to build your brand. As we slowly come out of the pandemic, it's time for you to also get involved in the industry! 
 
I'm not suggesting you need to be a speaker or grow to be an industry icon, but being involved will help build your network and strengthen your business by association with other people having the same interests as you.
 
There are some definite steps to being more involved, and they all start locally.

• If there's a local guild or affiliate group online or photographers getting back to live meetings, you need to join. Most often, before the pandemic, they'd meet once a month, usually at an inexpensive local restaurant. Over the last year, in-person events have morphed into Zoom meetings, often with a guest speaker. 
• In the "old days," Pictage had their PUGS (Pictage User Groups). But there are still areas of the country with independent groups that sprouted up where there's a need. Many of them have their own pages on Facebook like Cache Valley Photographers.
• Do you have a state association? PPA is most prevalent, but it doesn't have to be associated with any national organization.
• Who are the local manufacturers or vendors in your area? From local retailers to labs, album companies, frames, and all the hardware and software manufacturers, get to know somebody on each company's staff.
• Online programs like ClickCon Nation, KelbyMedia's online conferences, Out of Chicago, and Mentor.photo offer ongoing programs and guest speakers to help you fine-tune your skill set.
• National membership and attendance at various conventions and workshops (once they come back) offer you an opportunity to meet people from other areas of the country and, in fact, the world. You never know when a simple conversation, while sitting next to somebody at a workshop, might give you an answer to challenges in your market that have already come and gone in another.

Here's what you're looking for in all of these opportunities: people to listen to. The industry is starting to buzz again, and you need to be on the front line to hear it first. New technology, new techniques, and recent trends – you need to know about them as they're happening.  
 
Being involved in the industry is like voting. It's your right and responsibility as a citizen to vote in every election. Well, it's also your right, as a photographer, to make an effort to be involved and help the industry that's responsible for feeding your passion.
 
There are also some interesting side benefits, exposure for your work. For example, many years ago, I was working on an annual project with Graphistudio. They were doing a day in the life of WPPI book, and we needed four photographers. The photographers who were picked each year were chosen because they were involved, and we knew who they were. 
 
And don't forget the other vendors out there. Getting to know a specific vendor might get your work seen in national or local ad campaigns or simply have your work displayed in a blog post or booth. Years ago, my friend Steven Katzman's images wound up in the Kodak booth. My friendship with Jerry Costanzo kicked off because we needed an image in the Hasselblad booth at what was then PhotoEast. Numerous photographers have had their work featured in articles and magazines because they worked to build relationships with the various editorial staff.
 
The key to be involved is nothing more than putting in the time. Don't jump into the involvement game with high expectations; just be engaged for the sake of growing and learning what's going on. Great things happen when you least expect them, and if you're active in the industry, you'll eventually get noticed!

We can't always control the timing of our plans, but we can have fun along the way.
Friends don't care if the project is finished; they just want to be a part of the magic of life.
Look at things from a new perspective. Laugh. Be grateful you're where you are at this moment.
Don't worry about trying to hurry the future along. Look for the joy in life now.

​​Melody Beattie

by Skip Cohen

​Part of the fun of writing Sunday Morning Reflections is simply heading into any topic that moves me at the moment. Well, I just spent almost an hour staring at my computer and thinking. Along the way, there was plenty of procrastination as the pups wandered into my office to play. I got down on the floor to participate in the pure joy of a let's-abuse-Dad moment.

That's when it hit me, how downright awful the last year has been, but how proud I am that we made it through it all. And while it's still not over, we got our first vaccine shot, got out yesterday to the mall, and did a few errands. It was a day of just routine chores, but it was part of Melody Beattie's "magic of life."

Two days ago, we met a neighbor for the first time. We've been waving and nodding to each other for years but never actually talked directly. We were out for a walk, and so was he and his wife. It was great to finally meet him, and as we walked away, I looked at Sheila and said, "Oh my God, we shook hands."

Just go with me on this. Think about the last year and the level of isolation we've all been through. Even though we immediately grabbed the hand-sanitizer when we got home, we'd shaken somebody's hand! It was terrific and seems so damn stupid to write about.

Here's my point - all we've got is RIGHT NOW. It's this very moment in time we need to appreciate. We can't do anything about the mistakes we made yesterday, and spending time wishing we could turn back the clock only wastes the energy we could use to live today to its fullest. I still love looking in my rearview mirror, but only to give me the energy to create more memories.

Two of our honorary "kids" sent us the picture of Sheila and me above. It was an all-u-can-eat snow crab night at a restaurant in Sarasota. The four of us were out together. It was two years ago, and it helps set the tone for today - Smiling more and bitching less.

There's so much we all took for granted before the pandemic. Now is the time to appreciate the pure joy of the littlest things - from a handshake to just a run to the market. Like everyone else, I know I've wasted time wishing things were different. I miss friends, family, and freedom - but as it all slowly starts to come back, I'm not going to waste a minute not smiling.

Wishing everybody a Sunday filled with time to feel great and appreciate the moment - right now!

You can dream a little dream or you can live a little dream.
I'd rather live it, 'cause dreamers always chase but never get it."
​
"No Regrets," Aesop Rock

Happy Sunday or Monday if you're on the  other side of the world. Wherever you are don't waste time on yesterday and tomorrow isn't here yet. Just savor today!

The successful networkers I know, the ones receiving tons of referrals
and feeling truly happy about themselves,
continually put the other person's needs ahead of their own.
 
Bob Burg
 

by Skip Cohen

I've written a lot over the years about the care and feeding of your network. Just like a house plant that needs water and sunlight, your network needs interaction, support, and as sappy as it might sound, a whole lot of love. And the pandemic has made it even more important to stay in touch. 

The advantage of building a great network in the first place is all about support - not just for you, but as a two-way street, both giving and receiving. It's about having resources to draw from when you need help and also being there to lend your expertise to people in your network.

Unfortunately, so often, we'll go to chase down somebody and have obsolete contact information or be embarrassed to reach out when we haven't talked to the person in a year, since the last convention, first meeting, etc. Again with the pandemic, there's been virtually no live contact for most of us for over a year!
 
Here are some things to consider to help maintain a healthy network:

• Identify twenty people in your network who you really can't live without. This isn't just about respect and friendship, but people with skill sets that compliment your own. These are the twenty rockstars you want to be able to count on. Make it a point to keep in touch with them. Just start at the top of the list and work your way down, hitting each of them once a month. Note: This doesn't have to be a big deal and can be as simple as just hitting the "Like" button and making a comment about something they've shared on social media. 
• Make sure all your contact information is up to date for the twenty-person core of your network. And when that's done, move out to the next fifty people.
• A great network goes beyond friends and associates. Make sure you have contact information for the key staff at the vendors whose products/services you use. In your network you should have at least one person representing every piece of gear and software you use - retailers, distributors, sales reps, your lab, accountant, attorney - they ALL play a role.
  
• Keep in touch via email. It's so easy to just drop a one-liner and keep in touch.
• Pick up the phone! For many of us, the phone has become the only "live" contact we really have had with friends and associates over the last year. Just be sensitive to friends being buried in work when you call, and don't be offended if you just happen to catch them at a bad time.
• Be active in social medial! Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are terrific for keeping in touch! Check your friends and followers and go off in search of those people in your network.
• Track birthdays. Checking Facebook birthdays and anniversaries is my first stop EVERY day.
• Online meetings and get-togethers: Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime, just to name a few online venues, are perfect for everything from keeping in touch with friends to online meetings and presentations. I'm still amazed at the number of people who don't know what they're doing with any of these programs.
• A quick tip for online meetings: Always use ear buds or headphones - they cut back on the feedback. And learn to mute your microphone when in a group meeting.
  
• Websites and Blogs: Make it a point to follow the work of people in your network. It's not that hard to do if you put aside time each day. It's a great break from the stress of deadlines and projects. Spend a few minutes looking at images a friend in your network has recently shared and follow their blog.
• Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner: I consider myself the biggest "lunch slut" in the industry, and conventions, conferences, and workshops will all come back. So, while we're not out of the pandemic yet, we're getting closer every day. Think about your next convention! Plan to take time with people in your network over any meal in the day. NEVER eat alone! Being able to catch up to friends and associates over a meal is a great way to build your network and expand your knowledge of each other's expertise.
• Be generous with your time. When somebody asks for help in your network, do the best you can and give them as much time as they need whenever possible.

Everyone knows the expression, "having a green thumb." For years I referred to my skill set with house plants as "having poison thumb." I didn't give them the attention they needed, and they always died. Well, maintaining a great network is no different.

​What you get out of it will be directly related to the effort you put into keeping it healthy. ​

by Skip Cohen

​A few years back, I started this series as a new way to introduce you to some of the movers and shakers in the industry. One hundred twenty-nine artists shared the backstories of their favorite images. Like so often happens to all of us, other projects came to life, including some new podcasts, and "Why?" was put on the back-burner. Well, it's time to bring it back, and I can't think of a better artist to help us relaunch the series.

Gilmar Smith joins me on this latest episode of "Why?" and shares some outstanding insight into how special projects can help you stay focused on your creativity, outside of what pays the bills in terms of your specialty. She's a remarkable artist, and having worked with her for the last year and a half at Platypod, I'm repeatedly blown away by each vision she shares.

While in the past, artists featured on "Why?" picked one of their favorite images to share, for today's episode, I asked Gilmar to talk about the self-portrait she had posted on Facebook. Part of the backstory related to her two kids, after almost a year through the pandemic, being back in school. Her "kiddos" play an extraordinary role in her business, but working on a self-portrait this time represented a big step away from home-schooling and time to herself.

She wrote with the post: I put together this set in my garage yesterday as a test for incoming shoots. Then I put on a dress I haven't wore in forever and took a series of self-portraits. Whoever tells you self-portraiture is easy is lying! But it is so much fun to connect that way with my craft and practice all the posing tricks.

Check out more of Gilmar's work with a click on her "Why?" portrait above. And if you're looking for a great educational video to help you expand your ability to create portraits at home, watch the short video below. Gilmar is a KelbyOne instructor, and you can get to know more about her from past appearances on The Grid, as well as her educational videos - She's just a click away.

by Skip Cohen

In 1997, one of the all-time best ad agencies, Kalmar Ad Marketing, had an idea for an inflatable Hasselblad that would join us at many of the photographic shows on the calendar each year. So, from the floor of WPPI to the "lobby" of Javits, Hasselblad University programs, and even a few dealer events, "Big Blad" made an appearance.

It was pretty remarkable. Built to scale, it was approximately 14 feet high and took only minutes to inflate and deflate. It had its own internal air compressor. It was a replica of a 503CW and was in storage for many years, including my garage. My Dad made a trip to visit us in Ohio in 2010; we took it out and blew it up in the driveway. That's our granddaughter, Belle and me.

Sadly Big Blad died of "respiratory failure" - the dampness and mold from storage for so many years did her in!

It's Throwback Thursday - take the time to find an old photograph and have friends join you on a trip down Memory Lane! It's a great way to keep in touch, especially during the pandemic.

Intro by Skip Cohen

February is volunteer recruitment month for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, and this is the last weekly installment of volunteer stories. I couldn't be more proud to be a NILMDTS Ambassador, but it's also frustrating talking with photographers whose immediate response is something like, "Oh my God, I could never do that?"

Yet, talk to any NILMDTS photographer, or read the stories I've shared, and over again, they have the same sentiment. "It's changed my life!" "It's the greatest contribution I've ever made with my camera!" I've grown so much as an artist and person because of the experience."

Today's post is from a volunteer who joined NILMDTS during the pandemic. So, not only was she dealing with support for the babies and families she photographed, but her own health and the safety of those around her.

Please read this story and then click on the link below to find out how you can help support one of the industry's most recognized non-profits.

by Melanie Rodger
​
When I first became a volunteer, I wasn’t sure I could do this. I wasn’t sure I could handle seeing people in pain and sad and crying. How was I going to be able to be the strongest person in a room filled with those going through the devastating loss of a baby? A baby that was someone’s daughter or son, and was also a brother, a sister, a grandchild, a niece or nephew.

What I quickly learned was that being the strongest person in the room meant showing a family the features of their babies that are like moms or dads, pointing out the long middle toe, or the cute little button nose that adorns their babies face.

I get to help families cherish their babies and spend time admiring all the parts of who they are, and most importantly, capture photos they will have to remember their baby for the rest of their lives.

When COVID 19 hit and our entire state was put on a stay at home order, the first thing that came to my mind was the deafening silence of our dispatch line.

I knew right away that while the fears and reality of the pandemic were setting in for everyone, there were still families out there that were going to have to say goodbye to their babies, without us photographers. I’m thankful NILMDTS was able to fill the gap of photographers’ absences quickly by launching their Medical Affiliate Program to help train nurses to take professional quality images, but I felt myself constantly checking to see when the phone would ring again.

Only a few weeks went by and the phone started ringing, letting us know that we were allowed to come into the hospitals again but that things would look different. Different how? Temperature screenings, a long list of questions to answer, a mandatory mask to be worn, and that was about it. For me, that is such a short hurdle to overcome if it meant we were allowed back and able to provide families with these memories. Sure it’s sweaty to wear a mask and have your viewfinder fog up. Sure it’s harder to navigate sharing things you normally would, but there’s so much honor to be there in the chaos of the world and just take a moment to be present for someone who’s going through this unimaginable loss.

To this day, I find myself being overly cautious of what I am doing in my personal life to make sure that not only does my family not get sick during all of this, but that I am still able to be on call to help families. When I lost my son in 2010, it was a Thanksgiving morning and everyone was home with their families. Everyone was sitting down, eating dinner, and saying what they were thankful for that year. No one was thinking about what I was going through and that I would have cherished photos of my son (I lived in another country where NILMDTS services were not provided at the time). Or that I needed someone to be there and encourage me to hold him longer than 5 minutes, and to take mental notes of all of his traits.

I find myself in a position where I now have the honor of meeting someone’s baby while their family members can’t.

I know that the only way everyone else will get to see these sweet babies is through my eyes and what memories I create for them to share. But I also always find myself going back full circle, to that moment where I wasn’t sure I would be strong enough to do this, and remembering that I am strong enough, and at the end of the day, it’s truly the biggest honor to be able to help families remember their babies.

I’m so grateful to each of the 8 families I’ve been able to serve during this pandemic.I know that these memories will be ones they’re able to hold close to them in a time of a lot of uncertainty.

by Skip Cohen

A few months back, Sheila and I got in the habit of each picking a motivational writer and, over breakfast, reading a short thought for the day. While it's not something I ever thought I'd enjoy doing, it's terrific. It gives us a daily anchor, especially through the last year of being somewhat isolated.

This morning, Melody Beattie really hit home, tying into something I've noticed repeatedly with many of you over the last few months.

"There is always someone else to take the fall if our plans don't work out: "I would have been more successful, but the economy was slow this year." "Well, that sounds nice, but my therapist says that I should avoid too much stress." "I wanted to do that, but my husband didn't like the idea."

What a frightening prospect it is to take your life into your own hands, to decide whether or not you will accept full responsibility for all of your actions and choices.
 
What an amazing - and sometimes terrifying - freedom complete responsibility for actions brings! Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes we stumble and fall. But oh, the feeling when ou finally get it right, when you decide to take that step and it works! That when you discover that those fragile butterfly winds on your back are not there just for ornamentation. You can Fly!

Take charge of your life. Take responsibility for your actions. Ultimately no one chooses what you will do but you, anyway. Enjoy the freedom. You've had it all along."

​And here's my point: I'm tired of photographers who blame everything on the pandemic. I'm not suggesting business hasn't changed, or for that matter, that revenue didn't disappear. But I'm seeing so many artists who continued to build relationships with their clients, offered support during the toughest of times, and worked to expand their skill set. Now, as things slowly change and we get back a little normalcy, they're in the perfect position to bring back some of the last year's business.

Hunkering down is about your health - NOT about your business! And there's time now to rebuild and regain the momentum you had before the pandemic.

by Skip Cohen

​Because of the coronavirus and the pandemic, there are more people online than at any time in the history of the Internet. I'm one of those millions out in cyberspace looking at photographs and meeting contemporary artists. In my travels a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across this phenomenal black and white image by Marc Morris.

I was blown away by the texture of the image and went off in search of the artist. Since the photo was tagged with "Tamron," I knew there was a possibility of a new guest for Tamron Recipes.

Are you looking for new gear? Click on the banner to the right and then bookmark the page. Tamron's current "New Year, New Gear" promotion ends on February 28.  
​
It's been almost a year since the pandemic took hold. Over and again, I've shared the same kind of comment. It's critical  to stay focused on your passion for the craft and your dreams as an artist.  Everyone is dealing with the same challenges and the loss of so many freedoms we took for granted.

Even with the challenges, especially in business, the pandemic has given us something remarkable, TIME. Use the downtime to build your skill set, expand your creativity outside your comfort zone and become a more diverse artist. 

Remember, "hunkering down" is about your health, not about your business, skill set, or your creativity!  ​

​Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some terrific contests to share your work. The Tamron team isn't slowing down and continues to support the imaging community the best they can. There are programs taking place all over the country, and especially in Cyberspace! ​

by Skip Cohen
​
It's Marketing Monday and I can't think of a better time to share another Building Block for the New Year. I've shared seven of them since the start of January. They're just a click away, if you missed any of them. Sadly, there are still too many of you hunkered down and blaming the pandemic for the crisis in your business.

I'm not suggesting the pandemic hasn't changed all the rules, or that it's been easy to survive, but hunkering down is about your health, NOT about your business, skill set or developing your creativity!

The one thing the pandemic can't touch is the seasonality of the business, and the second busiest time of the year is coming up with Mother's Day, graduation, and Father's Day. But if you're sitting back and just waiting for your ship to come in - you'll miss the opportunity for more business completely. Or, as I once heard a comedian say, "The day my ship came in, I was at the airport!"

You need to create a little excitement in your community. Great promotions don't happen by themselves - they need great execution too! Here are some tried and true tips to consider:

• Whatever you offer it has to have perceived value. And if you're stuck for ideas, pick up the phone and call your lab and ask, "What's new?" Your lab works with thousands of photographers all year long and whoever you're talking with has some great experience to share. 
• Keep your promotions simple and easy to understand. You don’t need to give away everything, just have the right ingredient to get Mom’s attention. Why Mom? Because women make 95% of the decisions to hire a professional photographer in the portrait/social categories.
• Cross-promote with other vendors. With Mother's Day especially, florists and restaurants offering a Mother's Day Brunch are terrific partners. And with a little luck and more vaccinations taking place every day, getting out for a meal, might be one of this Mother's Day's most popular ideas.
• Share great images on your website and blog. Photography is about emotion and there’s that old line about a picture being worth a thousand words. Save the words and show your audience what you’re capable of producing. Here’s where you want images that pull at people's heart strings.
• Once you put the offer out there, be ready to close the sale with the first phone call. Respond quickly with a great attitude. Have all the facts about the promotion ready so you can answer any and all questions. If you’re lucky enough to have staff answering the phone or email, make sure they know what they’re talking about.
• Use a few people at the core of your network as sounding boards. Years ago at Hasselblad, whenever we put a promotion together we had one great retailer we used to call and just say, “Okay John, what’s wrong with this idea?” He’d either love it or shred it and we’d go back and make it better. When you’re putting together promotional ideas don’t plan them in a vacuum. Bounce them off a friend or two. Test them on some people with the same demographics as the target you’re about to go after. Role play with an associate or family member, so you’re really prepared.

 
Last but not least, photography is about the relationship between you and the client. I've written volumes about relationship-building being your best marketing tool. If you aren’t ready to greet each new customer with the biggest smile in person, in Skype, Facetime, or Zoom, in your voice or in your email, then don’t launch the concept. You can tell when somebody isn't smiling, even over the phone.
 
You have to believe and sell one basic concept: “Nobody can photograph your family like I can!”

by Skip Cohen

It's a very short post this morning, but as always, a long way from my "day-job" and nothing about marketing and business. When I'm stuck for something to write about for Sunday Morning Reflections, I grab a book off the shelf. This morning I randomly grabbed a quote book, "Nothing is Worth More Than This Day."  I thumbed through the book, and the quote below called my name! 

Watch the sunrise at least once a year, put a lot of marshmallows in your hot chocolate,
lie on your back and look at the stars, never buy a coffee table you can't put your feet on,
never pass up a chance to jump on a trampoline,
don't overlook life's small joys while searching for the big ones.
H. Jackson Brown Jr.

by Skip Cohen
 
I've shared many photographs of my folks over the years, and since today would be my mother's 95th birthday, it's the perfect opportunity to show her off, but that's not my main point.

If there is a benefit to the pandemic, it's all about time - we simply have more of it than usual. Now combine time with our industry. Regardless of what you do in imaging, from the manufacturing side of hardware and software to artists who capture and create, along with all the companies who provide support, we help people make the intangible tangible. We give everyone the tools to hold onto their memories.

You don't need to wait until Throwback Thursday to appreciate old photographs and take a walk down Memory Lane. And with Mom's birthday today, I went on the hunt. She was a pretty amazing woman, and like so many kids, I wish I had appreciated her more early on. 
 
This a short post this morning with my most favorite quote about photography. Take the time to find those old photographs that will make your heart soar. Then capture today's memories so that years from now, your kids have throwbacks of their own to appreciate.

And to my Mom - sure do miss ya. Happy Birthday!

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

​Wandering through my archived grab shots, I sure didn't have to go very far to find a Throwback Thursday shot or two. It's IUSA in 2018 in Nashville, and Bobbi Lane was doing headshots over in the FujiFilm booth. That's Max Alewel from Marathon Press, who I talked into going over and being abused for his portrait. LOL

Bobbi and Max are two prime examples of one of the things I miss most through the pandemic - catching up to friends! And at every convention, these two are always at the top of my list to track down. 

​The best thing about throwback images is the memories they bring back. So, take the time, and whether you share them or not, find a few throwbacks. Nothing beats a great memory and a smile.
 
Wandering through the Internet, I found this explanation about smiling from EverydayPower.com. 

​"According to scientists, smiling causes an influx of positive emotions that help in relieving stress and lowering your blood pressure. Each time you smile, you benefit your health and happiness.

Not only can smiling lift your mood, but it can also elevate the mood of those around you.
When you smile at others, it gives them a boost of happiness, helps them to lead a healthier life, and influences how they perceive you."

Like all of you, we're looking forward to that first convention where everyone feels safe enough to be together. It's not going to happen right away, but it will happen, and what a celebration that's going to be!

PS Looking for a great online program coming up on portraiture. Bobbi and Lee Varis are teaching online on March 27 at 9:00 A.M. Here's the link for more information!

by Skip Cohen

If you're a beginner in landscape photography or if you know somebody starting out, here's a $99 investment to establish the right foundation to build on. 

Meet my good buddy Kevin A. Gilligan. Kevin and I have worked together on several different projects over the years, and he's not only a talented artist but an outstanding skilled, and diverse educator. He's been a regular contributor to the SCU blog since the very beginning.

Kevin's an award-winning artist, but he certainly didn't start out that way. Over the last fifteen years, he's never slowed down on expanding his skill set, teaching, and capturing/creating stunning images.

In part due to the pandemic, landscape photography has become one of the fastest growing specialties in photography. It's outdoors, and you can work within the parameters of physical distancing and the appropriate health restrictions.  The two short videos below will introduce you to Kevin and his work. Click to watch them full screen if you'd like.  

As Kevin mentions in his overview, for somebody just getting started, this will help answer most of the questions, not only about having the right equipment but also how to use it. This is a no-brainer for a beginner photographer and an inexpensive investment to help make sure the basics are covered.  

I pulled screenshots of two of my favorite images of Kevin's, but you'll find lots more on his website. Plus, bringing together landscape photography and portraiture, here's one of my favorite headshots he did for me a year ago at Redondo Beach.

Click on any of the three images in today's post to view in the SCU Lightbox. And for more information on how you can help somebody get started as a landscape photographer, click on the banner below.

by Skip Cohen

Think about how we share images today versus twenty years ago. From Facebook to Instagram and even LinkedIn, we share photographs as often as we like. No waiting for a convention to catch friends, carrying a portfolio case, or putting prints in the mail - we've got instant fulfillment at any time.

Marc Morris joins us this month, and it's thanks to 
Facebook that we first saw his photograph above. From FB, I headed to his LinkedIn page to learn more about him, which led to a great phone call.

Besides a stunning image, there are two additional reasons to feature his work this month. First, we're still in the pandemic, and restrictions abound. However, it's not hard to physically distance when you're outdoors. Second, Marc's photograph crosses that line from landscape into fine art.  I want to see his image blown up to a five by seven-foot print in an office or living room with a cathedral ceiling! 

The pandemic has changed everything in our lives, but not the passion of our chefs. Chef Marc couldn't be more proud to be a photographer, as well as help other artists raise the bar on their skill set.  

Finding a quote that relates to each chef became part of this series starting early in 2019. It wasn't hard to find one that fit Marc - in fact; he wrote a lot about the photograph and the feeling he wanted to capture when he clicked the shutter. 

“Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at,
then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.”
Don McCulin

About Chef Marc: Marc's based out of Denver, as a Sales Representative for Tamron USA. Members of the Tamron team don't often join us in the Tamron Kitchen, but the image was so powerful, it deserved to be shared. As Marc and I talked, it turns out he and I met a few years back at WPPI, and like so many people in this industry, we have a lot of mutual friends. 

​About this Image: "I was in Hawaii on a work trip. There are many misconceptions about road warrior gigs, and one of the biggest (and most understandable) is that it’s a constant vacation, tourism mode activated 24/7, being that we do indeed travel constantly. However, I had never been to Hawaii, so when I was asked to head out in support of a fairly large workshop being hosted by Pro Camera Hawaii, I certainly didn’t turn the opportunity down. The trip was tightly packed, with very little room for “extracurricular activities.”

Due to weather (a right proper morning to midday monsoon with flooding that the locals laughably took utterly in stride) and the workshop schedule, I was only able to find a few hours before my flight back to Denver to go exploring...I had never shot in a rain forest before...There were pockets of the trail that clearly had their own microclimate: rain would form and fall at random, and the oxygen-rich environment allowed me an energy and movement I’d not had for years. O’ahu. Island of eternal youth.

I’m a highly tactile person, and this translates to my photography. When I’m scanning a subject or an environment, not only am I watching the light and its fluidity, how it fills this well, how shallow or deep others may be in their shadows… but I’m also seeking texture. Texture is what sells depth, scale, and to a certain extent, authenticity. I like images I can feel. If I’m looking at a photo and my hands itch, I know the photographer got something right: it’s in the fingertips. And the rainforest is if you’ll pardon me, absolutely saturated with texture.

The image you see here is an expanse that opened up off a corner of the trail, and its dimensionality was so overwhelming I was rooted to the spot. A floor above the floor. A sky below the sky. It was unlike anything I’ve ever personally witnessed in nature, and I simply had to try to capture it to see if I could translate its depth to print. It took about 20 minutes of working that corner, about forty feet up and down the trail, changing lenses for perspective studies before I settled on the 17-35 at the wide end. It was the only lens that was truly able to fit the scene, corner to corner, at the points where I needed the photo to end while also keeping that world within a world feel I wanted to come across."

Take the time to visit Chef Marc's Instagram page.  He regularly shares great content and photographs that will tell you more about his love for the craft.

In the world of photography, the first quarter of each year has always been a series of "reunions," as we all attend the various key conventions around the country. The pandemic has changed that for 2021, but it hasn't slowed Tamron down. Online and off, in small programs around the country, they support imaging artists as best they can. Check out their listing of local events, all within the appropriate safety and physical distancing guidelines.

The lens Marc used for the image above was the 17-35mm F2.8-4 Di OSD. Click on the thumbnail to the right for more information, and understanding why he made this choice for the coverage of the scene he wrote about. 
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I write the same reminder with so many posts - hunkering down is about your health, NOT about growing as an artist and expanding your skill set. Nothing grows if you stay in your comfort zone. That means the downtime you're experiencing now is an opportunity to raise the bar on the quality of your images. 

​Stay active in social media and spend time with your camera in your hands every day, capturing images for your most important client...YOU!

Intro by Skip  Cohen

​February is Recruitment Month for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. I've been a NILMDTS Ambassador for many years and couldn't be more proud to be associated with this team of photographers and artists who give back!

This is the third installment of volunteer stories this month at SCU. Emily Crump's "Why" is in the spotlight. And like so many of NILMDTS's members, there's a personal connection. In Emily's case, it started with a friend in need. Like so many of the volunteers, the relationship that grows between the family and the photographer becomes life-changing for everybody involved.

After you've read Emily's story, click on the banner above or at the end of today's post and find out how you can become more involved. It's an amazing organization giving photographers the ability to capture images to be cherished for a lifetime.

When the session was complete, I exited the room, ran down to my car, and cried.  Through my tears, I thought about what I did, and I knew if I ever got a call like that again, I would do it.   That is when I applied to be a NILMDTS volunteer. 

Now, I would like to tell you that the application was easy, and I was accepted right away but that was not the case.  In fact, my first application was rejected, and I was heartbroken.  But I was determined.  I used all the photography critiques provided by NILMDTS in my first application to practice and improve my skills.  I also focused on learning auxiliary lighting, which is very important to NILMDTS sessions. 

It took 4 years of practicing and prepping until I was ready to apply again and in 2014, I was accepted as an Affiliate Photographer.

by Skip Cohen

Just for a second, think back to how the Internet has changed the way we share photographs. Then add in the only good thing about the pandemic - time to capture, share and view images. Suddenly the world is at your fingertips, literally.

Charles and Jennifer Maring aren't new to SCU. Since SCU started, we've been sharing their work in guest posts, images, podcasts, and videos. This past year they made a significant change in their lives and left the Northeast and are now in Savannah enjoying a considerable lifestyle change. They represent one of the most diverse couples in imaging. The tagline on Charles' FB page says it all:

Know about LUMIX PRO Services? The team at Panasonic never slows down in their support of photographers and filmmakers. Just click on the link below for more information.

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday morning, and if you're new to the SCU blog, I always stay away from business and marketing with Sunday Morning Reflections. This morning, I'm definitely running amuck because I'm tired of people who have lost their sense of humor and sarcasm.

Back at the start of the pandemic, one of my most favorite artists and good friend, Gilmar Smith, created the self-portrait above with Platypod. At the time, people were hoarding toilet paper. I even found a classic and relevant one-liner on the Internet:

My good buddy Nick Vedros, is one of the funniest people in the industry. He's always capable of finding inappropriate humor any place it's needed. He sent me the piece on the right.

Then there are one-liners all over the Internet, and here are a few of my favorites:

"I’m not talking to myself, I’m having a parent-teacher conference."

"A mask isn't a political statement, it's an I.Q. test!"

"I finished Netflix today!"

"Back in my day, you would cough to cover up a fart. Now, with COVID-19, you fart to cover up a cough."

"Pollen still coming out during a global pandemic? Bitch, read the room."

I'm not making light of the challenges of the pandemic. But as Congress wastes millions of dollars on impeachment proceedings (all televised too), I can't help but wonder what would happen if all that money was put into better distribution of the vaccine. Or, how about lunches for kids who aren't in school, support for the homeless, or a program where the elite in government took the same average pay cut as their constituents?

And long before the Internet there was plenty of sarcasm about Congress...

"It could probably be shown in facts and figures,
there is no distinctively native American criminal class except Congress."
Mark Twain 

Intro by Skip Cohen
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Sometimes giving back is very personal. We all have various reasons for being involved in those nonprofit organizations we support. For me, I couldn't be more proud to be an Ambassador for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep because I'm a parent. The thought of losing a child is overwhelming, and while I can't say I know what a parent is feeling at that time of loss, I can imagine the pain and sadness.

In today's guest post by Virginia Dow, she hits a familiar chord for so many of the NILMDTS staff - she became a volunteer because of what a photographer did for her family in 2016, after losing two sons. But there's another very relevant part of her story - the process to get through her fears of being involved and becoming a volunteer. 

I don't know Virginia, but I couldn't be more proud of her, and especially her ability to share her story, and success at being involved. There are so many of you in the industry with the heart, passion, and skill set to help families at their most challenging times.

February is Recruitment Month for NILMDTS. Here's an incredible way for you to give back with your camera. Click on the banner above or at the end of today's post for more information.

by Virginia Dow

​Having someone come and give us the gift of photography when Larson and Emmett were born has meant so much to my family. Being able to include them visually on the walls of our home and in our family photos help us share the story of their lives, that however short, they still blessed us, they still have a purpose, and they still are members of our family.

Currently trying to reestablish my photography in a new place, I struggled (still struggling,) but a colleague gave me the motherhood memoir project. To capture moms doing their mom thing or snippets of what makes them a mom and this relit my fire and brought the opportunity to do some auxiliary lighting for my application. With willing and forced participants (my living children,) I had these images to now submit to the review committee.
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But I still put it off. I had what they asked for and I ignored it. I didn’t want to feel like I missed the mark again, but God had different plans. Sending me little reminders that I needed to do it, until He put something in front of my face I couldn’t ignore. A letter from NILMDTS for a monetary donation, but in the upper right hand corner of the letter,
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So, I finally did it. Got over my fear of rejection and sent the email with my 5 new images for review. And was told I’d hear back soon.
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Finally, 3 weeks later, I received an email saying I have been accepted and I could start my training! Not a lot of people knew I was doing this, but I thank those who did and were thinking and praying for me. It was very much appreciated and now I have the honor of capturing families during their most difficult moments and preserving memories of their little ones, giving back the priceless gift that had once been given to me on September 19, 2016.

by Skip Cohen

​As the pandemic continues, the importance of Throwback Thursday just keeps growing. I find myself often wandering through my files, along with albums and shoeboxes, in a therapeutic way, looking for something that makes me smile and reminds me of life pre-Covid19.

Well, nothing captures a quicker smile these days than a scuba trip from the past. I'm not sure where we were, but this is around 2006. From location destinations to live-aboard trips, there was a group of us who headed off diving at least twice a year or more.

In terms of people you might recognize from the photo industry: me, Paul Fishkin now with the Mac Group, Bob Rose, now teaching at RIT, Kayce Baker (behind Bob) back in her FujiFilm Days, and Karen Hart, who you'll recognize from so many different companies she's represented, including Zeiss, Tamrac and Hasselblad.

Outside the industry, but often with us on every trip, Karen (blue blouse) and Bill Kuglar (yellow t-shirt) from Minneapolis, Tom Danielson from Chicago, and Mitch Rubinoff from NJ.

Tom Danielson and I started diving together in the early 90s. He was essential in helping develop the H38, Hasselblad's underwater housing back then as well. Somewhere during life's travels, we became the "Nitro-Boys." Between Tom and Bob Rose, we've been together on hundreds of dives over the years.

A few months ago, as a podcast guest, I was asked what I missed most - the answer was easy - people! Zoom, Facetime, and Skype are all wonderful for a temporary solution to physical distancing, but nothing replaces real-time with friends. And scuba is one of those sports that provides an incredible quality of time, and with each trip, the friendships, along with the stories, all grow.

So, as we hit the eleven-month mark of hunkering down, take my advice and use Throwback Thursday as an excuse to catch up to old friends and relive those special moments from the past. After what we're all feeling through the pandemic, you only have to go back a year ago to find the "good old days!"