No matter how educated, talented, rich or cool you believe you are,
how you treat people ultimately tells all.
Integrity is everything.
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

Lou Mitchell, author of Mastering Positive Thinking, shared the quote above yesterday. He went on to add:

Regardless of our achievements or status, it is our integrity and the way we treat people that defines us. This perspective encourages us to prioritize kindness, respect, and honesty in all our relationships, understanding that these qualities are the true measures of our worth.

As I read this, all I could think about was how integrity is obsolete under the current administration, especially with the President, most of his cabinet, and the "Squeaker" of the House. You don't have to read or believe any of the fake news being tossed around by both sides - just trust your own eyes and ears.

Every day there's one more lie...the war in Iran has "ended" multiple times, yet here we are starting all over again. Gas prices are headed back up again, food and health costs continue to rise, and millions of dollars are spent on absurd vanity projects, yet we can't find the money to help reduce even the minimum consumer necessities. But we can arrest somebody for touching the reflecting pool while all the January 6th participants are free.

This is why I rarely write about anything political - it becomes a rant, and it doesn't begin to solve the problems. They were never eating cats and dogs in Ohio...but what they're doing right now is far worse...they're eating the very spirit of America! 

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead and time to step away and be with the people most important in your life; make some new memories and laugh over anything that makes your heart soar.

by Skip Cohen

It's Throwback Thursday, one of my favorite days of the week.

Long before digital, Polaroid manufactured an ID camera that became one of the best ways for companies and states to issue a photo ID. In the late 70s, Polaroid was awarded the contract for the Nebraska driver's license program. At the time, I was the regional services manager for the Midwest, and lauching/servicing the program was my responsibility.

This became one of those incredible work-hard-play-hard scenarios that I never wanted to do again! LOL The group above was the training team that launched the program across Nebraska. Our point team would travel a day ahead of the bus and at each of three or four locations, set up the training room for hundreds of DMV staff.

We'd train all day, then pack it up, get on the bus and head to the next city. The team was a combination of staff from Polaroid's Oak Brook, Illinois, Cambridge office, with a few training experts from other Polaroid locations. Looking back, I immediately start laughing over so many funny moments that happened throughout the week.

The biggest was in Kearney, Nebraska, when Spiderman entered the bar at Dickie Dugan's. I knew I was going to have to do some memory-making events to keep the crew laughing over the challenges of training DMV staff all week, and late in the evening, I came walking in as Spiderman.

The ID camera used for licenses was the same system used in malls throughout the country for what we all remember as Santa Claus promotions. Somewhere in life, if you're over 50, you remember a camera that looked like a large Samsonite suitcase. Well, the sales group that sold it wanted to expand holiday seasonality and give it purpose all year long. They had a contract with Marvel for Spider-Man and Batman and Robin costumes, just to name a few. I borrowed a Spiderman costume for the week.

However, I didn't know the contract included a clause stating that Spider-Man would ALWAYS appear in wholesome locations...NOT a bar and dancing on the floor of a disco while trying to drink a martini through the one piece, head to toe, mesh body suit! I heard about the contract when we returned, and for years, the photographs and videos were locked in my safe deposit box, never to be spoken about.

And this is why I love Throwback Thursday - it's the way old photos stop time and bring back some of the very best backstories.  If you haven't gone off in search of your own favorite throwbacks, take a minute and do yourself a favor - find an old pic and enjoy the look in your rearview mirror as you take a quick spin down Memory Lane.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.
Warren Buffett

by Skip Cohen

When I read the quote above, I couldn't help but think about our industry. Lou Mitchell went on to write:

The benefits we enjoy are often the result of efforts made by others in the past. This perspective encourages us to consider how our actions can create lasting positive effects for those who come after us, emphasizing the value of foresight and generosity.

We're an industry of trailblazers. People like Don Blair, Monte Zucker and Dean Collins, just to name a few, all blazed a trail for so many of us to follow and learn from. And as each of them passed on, another artist, educator, and trend-setter stepped in, becoming a guiding light for integrity, quality, and new techniques.

Now and then I've met artists who want to change their career path and step into another specialty. But almost always, they have an excuse: it's too late and something they should have done years ago. They "should" on themselves, but the reality is just the opposite -- There's always time to change, grow, and influence.

Remember, growth only happens outside your comfort zone. I remember sitting with Don Blair in the back of the room at a Nick Vedros presentation in Phoenix. Don, already established as one of the most recognized portrait artists in the world, was furiously taking notes. Surprised, I asked, "What are you taking notes about? You know all of this stuff already!"

He shook his head and said, "What this guy is doing is giving me all kinds of ideas on changes I want to make!" He went back to furiously taking more notes.

It's just a short post today and a reminder that your only limitations are the ones you put on yourself. Plus, as sappy as it sounds, this industry is a family with members who help each other and watch each other's backs. 

As I've written before, you can't create images that tug at people's hearts if your own heart isn't in it! So, if you find yourself bored and a touch apathetic, step away from your business and take time to figure out what's missing.

When a bottle of Coke has gone flat, you can't put the fizz back in, but you can toss it and open another bottle! Your career path is no different, and there are so many different "sodas" to choose from.

Happy Hump Day! 

by Skip Cohen

Over the years, I've written a lot about the importance of great Customer Service. For most of my life, I've been involved in some level of service, starting out in my Polaroid days, when the first SX-70 cameras were 300% defective.

Today, in a world of AI, online communication, and robots, we all face the challenge of communicating with a live body! Companies like Comcast lead the way in frustrations - too often, the focus on the customer is forgotten!

But today's post is about a company that surprised me and simply did it right! About six months ago I bought two pairs of sneakers online from a company called MLO.

Aging comes with its fair share of changes. For me, one of them is neuropathy in both feet. What I loved about the videos on the MLO site and their Facebook ads was the weight of the shoes. That, together with a great price, I gave them a shot.  It was like wearing my favorite pair of slippers - they were light, unbelievably comfortable, and they looked good.

So I bought two more and a few months later, another two pairs. However, one of the pairs was a different style, and they didn't fit as well. This morning, I contacted them via email, anticipating dealing with another overseas company that would show no regard for customers. I had already anticipated a slow or no response scenario.

I WAS SO WRONG. Within a minute or two of my email, I received a response with a couple of questions. I responded and heard back, again within minutes. One more round of emails and they resolved the challenge and are said they would send me a replacement pair. Within 30 minutes of my first email, the replacement shoes were already on their way!

MLO isn't just a manufacturer of a great shoe line; their service is second to none.

Providing GREAT service is one of the keys to every business's success. No matter how good your product is, without top-notch customer service, success will always be out of reach. Here are six points to help you build a stronger business:

• Response Time: Do you check your email and phone messages multiple times each day? You need to respond as quickly as possible to set yourself apart from your competitors.
• Finding Solutions: Whether you or a team member is working on it, find solutions to challenges quickly. And when there is a problem, NEVER hide from an angry/frustrated customer.
• Exceeding Expectations: Every customer interaction is an opportunity. From the quality of the products and services you offer to each inquiry and interaction with the public - never walk away saying, "That's good enough!"
• Speed Isn't Just About Your Response: Never assume your website is working the way you think it is. Check things every day on different platforms.
• Simplicity: Too many of you have policies and disclaimers on your website that would scare an IRS auditor. Keep things simple in your policies. For example, save the discussion of penalties for noncompliance for when you're discussing your contract/agreement.
• When in Doubt - Use Your Phone: Rather than always replying to emails in writing. Have you tried calling the customer? Often, there are easy-to-answer questions that allow you to react even faster than through the written word. Plus, email and text messages are limited in conveying sincerity - whereas a phone call allows you to talk to the customer on a far more personal level.

And to the team at MLO - thanks for exceeding expectations and making yourself habit-forming. 

​by Skip Cohen

We're in what many of us think of as mid-summer. Spring seasonality is long gone, but there's still plenty of business out there - both directly and in planning for the fall. Normally my Marketing Monday posts are about ways to grow your business, but today's is a little different. It plays upon your abilities as an artist and family member more than it develops your business/operational skills.

One of my wife's favorite one-liners is, "Don't should on yourself!" Well, this is a post deeply rooted in my "shoulding" on myself. Learn from my mistakes, so you can create new ones of your own!

Here's the backstory: My Dad passed away almost eleven years ago, and my Mom, two years before that. My grandparents died many years before. At this point in my life, there's nobody left who knows any of our family history. I have lots of old photographs and little stories over the years, but what I don't have is a video collection of my folks telling us about their lives, both as a couple and individually. I wish I had those stories, and my grandparents' too.

Companies like Ancestry.com can trace my roots, but that's not what I want. I want video coverage of me just sitting with my folks and talking about our family and their lives. I want the stories!
​
It's a four-generation shot on the right. My mother, great-grandmother, grandmother, and me. I've got plenty of pictures - but not the stories to go with them.

​I've referenced the Senior Friendship Centers in Sarasota numerous times over the years. They're a nonprofit that, each year, delivers thousands of meals to hungry elders, provides adult daycare, a Caregiver Support Center, and more. I couldn't be prouder to have been on their Board for many years and support the way they give back to the community.

One of the programs they started doing many years ago was called "My Journey." It's a recorded interview giving seniors the chance to talk about their lives and create a legacy recording for their children and grandchildren.

I love the concept, but to take it a step further, ALL of you can do something similar. And you have the gear and the skills to do this in more depth than a recording. You've got the ability to create family videos with virtually whatever level of sophistication you want.

​This has so much potential to capture memories, starting with your own family. Don't wait until everybody is gone to say, "I should have taken the time!" Take advantage of all the family time coming up over the rest of the summer and into the fall holidays.

This is especially important if you've got grandparents or great-grandparents alive. Make it a point to get time with them and capture those stories. Ask them questions about their childhood and growing up. Have fun with questions about the kind of kids they were; things they did in school; specific friends, pets, and places they visited. The list of information it would be fun to have and share is unlimited.

​Don't make the mistake I did - Take the time to become your family's historian. You never want to look back and wish you'd captured/created a video about your roots!

Never. We never lose our loved ones. They accompany us;
​they don't disappear from our lives.
We are merely in different rooms.
Paulo Celho

by Skip Cohen

On Sundays I always jump the tracks and stay away from business topics. I rarely know what I'm going to write about until I get up in the morning. But this morning was tough - looking for inspiration, I scrolled through my Facebook notifications and found nothing but repetitive political themes, infomercials on how to lower our electric bills, reduce an enlarged prostate, and fireworks displays.

Somewhere in my pondering, searching for something I could write about, I was looking around my office. It occurred to me that my office has become a memory museum focused on family, friends, and my life in the photo industry.  And every "exhibit" has a backstory.

From a Hasselblad dark slide signed by friends at my going away party in 1999 to my Dad's college fraternity paddle; one of my favorite prints by good buddy Bob Coates; books signed by Avedon; and even a tourist bought shot of me and good buddy, "Hoss" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...the list goes on and on.

Don't be mistaken - I don't live in the past. However, the inspiration of so many people who have come into my life energize my quest to make more memories into the future!

“Accidents only happen to the other guy. So, all you other guys, watch out!”  
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

I recently ran across a post I'd written many years ago about the importance of a backup plan. Remember Murphy's Law? Well, the Second Murphy's Law is simply, "Murphy was an optimist!"

For the last few weeks, it's become obvious that we've pissed off Mother Nature...Floods, tornadoes, fires make the news every night. Now add to Mother Nature's challenges and your own vulnerability, and you've got more than enough reasons to have a backup plan for your business!

Far too many of us have learned the hard way about the challenges of not backing up our files. I hear stories every day about drives that crashed, memory cards that were lost, and the horror stories that followed as people tried to recover once-in-a-lifetime images. So, knowing that we all back up our files and pray we’ll be prepared when the sh** hits the fan do we really have all bases covered?

We’re ready for just about anything, but we don’t back up ourselves! What happens when something comes up and you suddenly find yourself out of commission?  I won the battle with the gall bladder from hell sixteen years ago, but the fight put me out of circulation for two weeks. During that time, had it not been for my good buddy, Scott Bourne, stepping in to help me, the momentum of my blog and various projects would have been completely lost.
​
Ask yourself one question: If I couldn’t work for the next five days, who would know what needed to be done in my business?  Then work up every scenario.  What if you can’t make it to that wedding you were hired to shoot next weekend? What if a family emergency pulls you away from your business? Just go through the exercise of making sure you’ve got a plan.

Throughout the Florida coastline, you’ll see signs reading “Evacuation Route.” And when we were kids, we did countless fire drills so that everyone knew what to do in an emergency. Why as adults do we think we’re invincible?

You’re working too hard to build your business – don’t risk it all by not having a back-up plan.

Many years ago I saw an auto safety billboard with the quote above, “Accidents only happen to the other guy. So, all you other guys, watch out!”  Sure seems to fit with the way so many people never prepare for that “it’ll never happen to me” crisis!

Intro by Skip Cohen

I've often referred to Facebook and social media as the mortar that holds the bricks together. I'm referring to those "bricks" of friendships with people we care about, but simply don't get to see often enough. No matter how bizarre the world is, social media helps us stay in touch with those special people.

While I had a 1979 throwback ready to go this morning, when I read David Anthony Williams' post. It was too good not to share. It's so well written and deserves to travel well beyond his FB page. My Polaroid shot from '79 will have to wait!

David closed with, "​I was somewhat comforted by thinking we don't really say 'Goodbye' forever, provided we live on in photographs and people's thoughts."

Please take the time to read his post below...then, take a few more minutes and think about that one person in your life who inspired you to be who you are today! Treat yourself to a few minutes and take a walk down Memory Lane.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by David Anthony Williams
​
Well, that was harder than I thought...My sister was clearing out her attic/office of things related to family that she needed my input into. This concerned five 13x16 inch prints on 16x20 board of my dad - a Kodak Professional Markets exec - shot in Rochester in 1959 - on the brand-spanking new color negative film that he would later launch to the IAP in 1960.

They'd faded, the black & white had silvered on the edges. I was able to tag onto the end of a artwork shoot Ian van der Wolde was set up for (thanks mate a thousand times) who made files I could cover a stadium with.

I had presented many times on the heart-felt value of printed images and it really hit home as I cut up the originals for disposal. '....mounts are full of lingin', '..they're faded', 'there's multiple prints of the same image'....even the smell of them: storage, paper, faint whiff of chemical was tugging at me.

​All true. Still hard. I had to cut them face down.

One of the images had been in our family living room all of my life. Handling the prints bought back an almost electric connection that was highly emotional. I was saying 'Goodbye' all over again.

Coming back from shopping today, I happened past the street where dad spent his last couple of years - in a beautiful facility like a country club - full of kind and caring people. It is a building site. A massive excavation where the building used to be. Change is inevitable.

We carry 'them' with us in our heads. When we conjur the memories up - or they come unbidded - they come in the form of little 'film clips' like rackety 8mm lengths of film....prints with white borders carrying a date in someone's hands.

As we age and are less distracted by 'worklife' these memories and connections - I think - increase and behind it is the pain of loss that becomes a little less sharp year by year.

I was very pleased to know that the WW2 photographic of my dad's is in the Australian War Memorial, and much of the rest of his collection is in the Kodak collection in the museum in Victoria.

I was somewhat comforted by thinking we don't really say 'Goodbye' forever providing we live on in photographs and people's thoughts.

What fools call wasting time is most often the best investment.
Nassim Taleb

by Skip Cohen

​Three years ago I started the "Hump Day" series. Most of today's post is from that first post, which started by wandering through cyberspace to check out when the expression got started. Here's what Google gave me:

Wednesday first came to be known as hump day since at least the 1950s. The expression figures Wednesday, the middle of the workweek, as the hump people get over to coast into the weekend. Throughout the 20th century, Wednesday was especially referred to as hump day in an effort to liven up the drudgery of the workweek.

If you think about it, there's no middle of the workweek any longer. In the 50s, Saturday was a coast day, and no businesses were open on Sunday. Today, most retailers operate 7 days a week. Plus, if you're a wedding and event photographer working Friday - Sunday, there is no "coasting" into the weekend.

But here's how I use "Hump Day:" I have several ongoing projects. On Wednesdays, I like to waste time. "First and second Tuesdays" (see my previous post) are always a little insane. By Wednesday, I want to look at what I've done and what I have coming up, and I'll often take time to kick back a little to think through my game plan.

​I review my calendar, check for any deadlines, and then do some prep work for specific projects I'm working on. It's a day to reflect a little, then ramp up to complete what I want to finish by Friday's end.

We all should have our routines, but sadly, for those of you just starting out, it's natural to be reactionary. You're trying to be all things to everybody. You'll eventually lose focus, and that's when something gets missed. It took me a long time to recognize my own limitations given the time I had available. I had no choice but to work to get a little more organized.

Learn from my mistakes so that you can make new ones of your own. Establish a few standard routines you do each day that involve various aspects of your business. And while marketing is an ongoing category, remember: your greatest marketing tool is relationship building. Make sure you have time allotted for customer contacts and building a brand that demonstrates your accessibility and passion for the craft.

*Rant Alert!* While we're all guilty at times of something slipping through the cracks, many of you are turning missed opportunities into an art form! Every time you're in public, whether physically or in cyberspace, there's a chance to show your skill set, not just as an artist, but as a business owner.
​

• Dress the Part: I'll be the first to admit I'm old-school, but if you're meeting with a client, talking about sponsorship with a vendor at a trade show, or working an event - look like a professional. Whatever your look, people do judge a book by its cover. These days we live in a casual world, but as a professional in any field, when in the public eye, don't be afraid to raise the bar.
• Shark Tank Syndrome: We all know the show. Now and then there's a presentation that's half-baked. A business owner is pitching on Shark Tank with a bad presentation and when asked very specific questions, they can't answer. Why? Because they didn't do their "homework." They're not prepared with the most basic answers. If you're going to look the part, then make it a point to BE THE PART!
• Walk the Talk: You've got two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you talk. Verbal communication is a two-way street. Take the time to listen just as much as you're talking. Listen with a goal of understanding. You can tell when talking to somebody if they're really listening or immediately thinking of what they want to say in response!
• A Firm Handshake: This is really old-school, but it was a lesson my grandfather taught me early on. And make eye contact- you're building a level of trust with each handshake, even when it's more casual and social.
• Remember Names: It took me a year to get into the habit of repeating somebody's name out loud when we've just been introduced. And as you get older and your short-term memory starts to thin out, this practice becomes even more critical.
• Email Contact Forms: It's great that on any website you can have a contact form for people to communicate with you, but what good does it do if it takes you days or even longer to respond? How do you feel when you contact a company, and they don't get back to you ASAP? If you want to build a reputation for being service-oriented, then it starts with how fast you respond.
• Texting Technology: We live in an instant-gratification world, and texting technology lets you respond immediately. But pay attention to the original text. So often, I find that whoever I'm texting has missed part of what I was asking. And remember, 82% of text messages are read within 5 minutes, but consumers open only 1 in 4 emails.
• Stop Writing Like a Moron: I've received a few emails lately that were impossible to understand. The sad thing is there's help if more people will use Spellcheck and Grammarly.
• List Your Phone Number and Share It: Mobile technology is available to EVERYBODY. Have a dedicated line for your business and stop letting your kids answer the phone!
• Answer Your Phone Professionally: I know this is basic, but I'm amazed when people answer the phone like they just walked by an old payphone in a bar that was ringing! Once again, be a pro.

And, one last area to talk about - the Internet. There are no erasers on the Internet. Stay out of battles that aren't yours on Facebook. When expressing your opinion, do so professionally. Don't write anything you wouldn't want the world to read. Remember, you'll never win taking on a troll or acting like one!

by Skip Cohen

Years ago, I wanted a way to post content that was more personal and less business-focused. So, Sunday Morning Reflections became my vehicle to share whatever was on my mind, and today is no exception.

Ever had an idea that you wanted to implement, but you spent so long pondering and analyzing that you almost missed the window of opportunity? Well, that's been me, and it's all about creating an open forum where we could share ideas about getting older. But not just from the personal perspective, but supporting those special people in our lives who are more senior - parents, relatives, and friends.

The idea for a podcast, social media page and website really started years ago with my Dad. During the last week of his life, he kept asking, "Why can't the doctors tell me what's wrong and fix it?" The truth was, he was 93, and the docs couldn't do anything more, but his caregiver and other family members insisted he not be told he was dying. Finally, one night at the hospital, my wife Sheila answered Dad's question, "Dad, do you know how seriously sick you are?"

Dad paused for a few seconds in deep thought and then burst into tears, finally understanding. It then became a mad rush to say the things he wanted to share with those of us who were bedside. I know in my heart had Dad known earlier, there were people he would have loved to talk to. He lived an amazing life and was always grateful to his friends and family for making it all so good.

That evening has haunted me ever since... but combine that with my own aging and the loss of so many friends over the last few years, and it got me thinking about the importance of "no regrets."

​This past week, I launched a new FB group on a topic near and dear to me...the challenges of aging. Before They Take Away My Keys is the title, which pretty much says it all. The preview podcast is currently live and below. Chamira Young is my co-host. Together, we've done a couple of hundred podcasts over the years, but never with a topic this personal.

by Skip Cohen

This would have been the perfect post for Throwback Thursday, except I got busy with my new adventure into aging and Before They Take Away My Keys. I totally missed posting this yesterday. But there's nothing that says you can't enjoy a throwback whenever it's shared. And while I know I shared pieces of this post many years ago, it's too much fun not to bring back.

I was president of Hasselblad USA from 1987 - 1999, and early in 1988, we got a call from Cubby Broccoli's studio. They were looking for gear that "Q" could use to build a unique rifle for James Bond in License to Kill.

With help from Carl Claesson, then Hasselblad USA's Service Manager, and Don Snyder, Camera Repair Supervisor, we donated a beyond-repair camera body, magazine, and prism finder. "Q" had what he needed, adding other photographic gear to create the rifle. If I remember correctly, the barrel or stock was a carbon-fiber Gitzo tripod leg.

But my favorite part of this throwback story came just after the film had been released. At a Hasselblad press conference in NYC, introducing the newest camera at the time, we chose to kick off the event by showing the rifle, which was then on loan to us.

It took every ounce of control I had not to laugh as I announced Hasselblad's entrance into military weapons and its award of a government contract. After removing the A-12 magazine from the camera, I showed how it was loaded with six large-caliber, high-velocity rounds.

I was doing great until I made eye contact with my good buddy, Bob Panarella. Sitting right in front of him was one of the journalists, furiously taking notes. That was it - I cracked, along with Bob and most of the audience. 

The story behind the rifle continued...

In the late 80's and early 90's, Hasselblad Sweden produced an ad campaign featuring some of the finest photographers in the world. Each tag line started with "________________ shot __________________ with a Hasselblad." For example, I remember one of Paulina Poroskova photographed by Victor Skrebneski with just that caption.

Sitting in the office one day, somebody had an idea, probably Mark Rezzonico, to do a spoof and create the ad to the right.  The caption read:

MARK REZZONICO USED A HASSELBLAD TO SHOOT ERNST WILDI, WHO USED A HASSELBLAD TO SHOOT ALLEN ZIMMERMAN, WHO USED A HASSELBLAD TO SHOOT SKIP COHEN.

Mark Rezzonico was pretty close to the start of his career in professional photography.  Ernst Wildi wrote every Hasselblad manual and was an amazing photographer, author, and teacher. Al Zimmerman was Vice President of Hasselblad USA and took over as President when I left for other endeavors.

Al is holding the gun used in the movie, License to Kill. You can find anything on YouTube, and the clip from the scene is below.  

Today's post is a perfect example of the biggest side-benefit of sharing throwbacks: the fun of the backstories and trips down Memory Lane. They help us stay focused on the fun of being in this industry. A look in the rearview mirror is perfect for appreciating the view forward and the future.

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead - and if you haven't done a little searching for some fun throwbacks of your own, take a minute or two and appreciate your past and how you got here.

​Happy Friday!

by Skip Cohen

When I wake up each morning, my body creaks for ten minutes, but I really don't feel any older than I did as a teenager. And, according to my wife, I'm no more mature!

Aging isn't for sissies!  At some point, all of us have to face the challenge that we really do have to give up our car keys, but that's why God created Lyft and Uber! However, before that day comes, we thought it was time for a podcast series that reminds you of the necessity to smile more and bitch less.

So, whether you're 40 and worried about an aging loved one, or you're much older, this group is about everything from your bucket list to leaving a bigger footprint that you were here, laughed the loudest, and loved the longest.

In the months ahead, my co-host, Chamira Young, and I, with the help of some incredible guests, will share tips and guidance to help you navigate the aging maze. We can't stop time, but we can help you make the most of it.

We want to help you live a better life! There are so many topics to share about aging. Whether the challenge is your own aging or caring for a more senior family member, things never seem to slow down. Most important of all, there are so many things people don't talk about until it's too late.

Please listen to the short sneak peek sound bite above and then join us on the "Before They Take Away My Keys" Facebook page, which we hope will eventually become home to a whole bunch of knuckleheads who still refuse to grow up!  Just click the button below.

by Skip Cohen

​I started the "Drilling Down" series as a way to share ideas to help you build a stronger business and increase brand awareness. Today is focused on "fun." Out of everything I've shared to date, "fun" might be the most important of all. "Fun" is one of those very special words too often lost under the stress of business today.

Having fun with what you're doing is as important as your skill set as an artist and business owner. In fact, it's at the very core of success. But fun doesn't just happen - it takes work! You've got to take the time to have fun. You've got to recognize burnout. You've got to use those Who Wants to Be a Millionaire lifelines and phone a friend.

When I look back on all my years in this industry, there are so many knuckleheads who have made it fun. For example, during his years at Kodak, Terry Deglau and I simply had fun, but we worked hard to make it happen. We often tagged on extra days at conventions - including driving Ansel Adams' Cadillac into Yosemite for three days with a trunk loaded with Hasselblad gear and Kodak film after PhotoWest in the 90s.

When you're hanging out with good friends and simply having fun, the process of laughing and enjoying each other's company brings new ideas bubbling to the surface. Great friends share so many common interests. It's not about fame, money, or your skills, but about being happy in whatever you're doing, and then sharing time with the right people.

I've written many times in the past, "You can't create images that tug at people's heartstrings if your own heart isn't in it!"  So, if stress is winning too much lately, here are some easy suggestions (in no particular order) to push it back where it belongs!
​

• Take the time to step away from the business.
• Make time to get to know the people you interact with.
• Go to lunch with a friend.
• Don't answer your phone for a few hours on an afternoon when you need a little time to yourself.
• At upcoming conventions, take the time to meet new people.
• Get to know the team at the vendors you work with.
• Don't "doom-scroll" in social media. Ten minutes of scrolling often sours my mood, leaving me hours to snap out of it.
• Keep music playing throughout the day in your office. It's not for everybody, but with my home office there's always something playing on Alexa.
• Keep in touch with friends on social media.
• Follow birthdays and anniversaries - I love Facebook for that.
• On the personal health side: exercise, get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated and eat healthy.

Work to put "FUN" into your business life. And, don't let your business interrupt the time you need with family and friends. 

Have fun, work hard and money will come. Don't waste time - grab your chances.
Have a positive outlook on life. When it's not fun move on.

Richard Branson
​

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

It's Father's Day, and when you're estranged from your kids and your own father has passed away, you'd think it would be a tough day. Thanks to photographs and terrific memories, it's going to be a great day. That quote from author Jodi Picoult couldn't be more appropriate.

Father's Day originated in the US after Sonora Smart Dodd, the daughter of a Civil War veteran, wanted to pay an ode to fathers around the world. It is believed that she took inspiration from Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother's Day...She is said to have had the idea in 1909 while listening to a sermon on Mother's Day, which was emerging as a holiday. Google Search

The fun of this morning is telling stories about my Pop. When I was a kid, in the wintertime, he was the one dad who would tie a rope to the car's bumper and let us hook up our sleds as he pulled us around the neighborhood. Today, he'd be in jail for child endangerment, but life was different back then. He was the pop who drove us around on July 4th, tossing cherry bombs out the window under bridges, alleys, and the arcade in the shopping center just to see how loud we could make them.

He was also that dad who, when something hit him as truly funny, he'd laugh until he cried. From the Three Stooges to watching Bobo Brazil and the Gallagher Brothers on Saturday wrestling, there was no better buddy to hang out with.

But most important of all, he was my best buddy. He was my best man at my first marriage, and he was the only person in my family to support me when Sheila and I married in 2010. I remember thanking him for keeping an open heart through my divorce and later my relationship with Sheila. His answer? "When you love somebody, an open heart is your only choice."

And that was my Dad. While I miss him all the time, it's those photographs and videos we've got that keep his memory alive. So often, I'll say to Sheila, "I wish Dad could see this," and her answer is always the same: "He does!"

When I was twelve, and somebody asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered, "A Dad!" Nothing changes the fun of looking back on those days or watching your kids grow up. And while we can never stop time or turn back the clock, we can learn to better appreciate every minute of the day.

So to all you dads out there, Happy Father's Day! Don't compromise on making new memories and capture them with more than just neurochromes*. Nothing beats looking at old photographs and the memories they bring back.

Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday, and time to savor your family, friends, and those special moments that make life so worth living and remembering!  Make it a day to remember. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people you love the most, and pat yourself on the back for being a Dad.

Happy Father's Day!

*Neurochromes," if you've missed my reference in past posts, are those image you capture with your mind, when you don't have a camera in your hands!

The time to have the map is before you enter the woods.
Brendon  Burchard

by Skip Cohen

There are so many times over the years that I've seen artists too reactionary to changes in the business climate. Business is slower than anticipated, and they've decided, without any serious planning, to take a knee-jerk approach to their marketing.

It's great to be able to pivot when needed, but it's important to spend a little time planning your "trip" before you decide you're already lost. That's where the "map" in the quote above comes in. It's thanks to Lou Mitchell, who went on to write:

Entering any new or challenging situation without preparation can lead to confusion and setbacks. By having a clear plan and understanding before starting, we equip ourselves with the tools needed to navigate successfully and reach our goals.

Whether business has been good or bad through the 2026 Spring seasonality, we're headed into summer, a time that can be virtually anything, up or down, in business. Whatever it is, now is the time to think about what you can do to create excitement in the months ahead and set the stage for fall/winter/holiday seasonality.
​

• Think about your goals. There's no such thing as over-defined goals.
• What actions do you need to take to meet your expectations?
• What expenses are necessary for the direction you want to take?
• Who in your network can help you the most? Partnerships, when done right, are always win-win.
• What's your plan to track your progress towards your goals? Have you developed a timeline for achieving your goals?
• Do you have the skills and the gear you need to accomplish your goals? And if not, what's the timing on getting what you need?​

The bottom line is simple: What do you need to do to go to sleep at night relaxed and smiling, and wake up the same way in the morning?

There's a great expression in scuba-diving...Plan your dive, dive your plan. You're at the bottom of the ocean with limited air, and you don't want to waste a minute! So you talk with your dive buddy and come up with your plan!

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead, and for all you Dads out there - Happy Father's Day.

We say what we do, we sometimes say how we do it,
but we rarely say why we do what we do?
Simon Sinek

by Skip Cohen

With the quote above, author Lou Mitchell wrote:

While it's common to focus on why we do and how we do it, true inspiration and motivation come from knowing why we do it. This deeper understanding can drive our actions, align our efforts with our values, and inspire others.

So, it's Hump Day, and I like to keep it light, or at least easy to follow through on whatever idea I'm sharing. A few times over the last ten years, I've written about finding your "Why" - it's an easy concept, but in reality, a tough assignment.

Most of you are artists involved in virtually anything under the imaging umbrella. What I love the most about this business is that everyone has a different story of how they got here. For me, it was all accidental, but the longer I was in the industry, the more I grew to love it. Today, I can't imagine any other career path I could have chosen that would make me as happy as this one.

Take a few minutes and think about your "Why." And if you're having a hard time, maybe it's time to modify your journey.

There's a great story I heard years ago, about finding why...

A little girl is watching her mother make a roast beef and asks why she cuts 2 inches off the roast and throws it away...before it goes into the oven. When she asked why, the mother said, " Because that's the way my mother taught me."

So the little girl goes to the grandmother and asks the same question. The grandmother responds, "Because that's the way my mother taught me."

Last but not least, she goes to the great-grandmother and asks, "Why do you cut a piece off the roast beef before you cook it?" The great-grandmother responded, "Because I only had a pan this big, and she held her hands about ten inches apart.

There are so many of you who operate on habit and tradition, never questioning whether or not what you're doing is the best way to complete the task. You're comfortable because you've never challenged what you're doing. Does it make sense? Is it the best way to, for example, grow your business?

Remember, growth only happens outside your comfort zone. And while I normally use that line to refer to expanding your skill set and diversity in your style, it really applies to everything you're doing as a small business owner.

Take the time to find your "Why." Whether it's the big things or the minutiae that come with running a business, don't let anything get in the way of your success or happiness. Success is far more than just the bottom line. It's all about waking up every morning with a smile on your face!

Happy Hump Day!

​by Skip Cohen

I started this series to help artists and small business owners in photography fine-tune their businesses to make 2026 one of their very best years. Social media has become your number one vehicle to keep in touch with your target audience. That means your blog (any social media presence) is more important than ever. It's your best way to maintain brand awareness, but it needs to be done right!

I'm sharing tips from my experience, input from other educators in imaging, and great advice from my good buddy, Scott Bourne. There's no excuse for procrastinating on the things you should be doing to establish a greater presence. And if you don't have a blog, then substitute the tips below in your social media presence on any other platform.

1. "Mom" Appeal: For most of you, your target audience is "Mom." Women make 98% of the purchase decisions to hire a professional photographer in the portrait/social categories. That means your content needs to have appeal to Mom, but so does the look and feel of your social media presence. Your content needs to be relatable to your readership.
2. Gift Ideas: The holiday season might seem like a long way off, but NOW is the time to start planting seeds for gift ideas with photographs.  From frames to albums to canvas and prints, technology has made your choices virtually unlimited. I've written this before - photography is the perfect gift idea. No grandmother ever has enough pictures of her family!
3. Making Your Audience Better Artists: There are things you do every day as a photographer that you take for granted. Help your audience do a better job of capturing images of their family - even if it's just with a cell phone. Share ideas on composition, lighting, fill flash, and storytelling to help your readers get better results.
4. Throwback Thursday: Use your throwback images to remind your audience how fast the kids are growing up, and their families are changing. It's like the old "Subliminal Man" on Saturday Night Live - you've got to plant the seed for an updated family portrait this upcoming holiday season.
5. Be Consistent: Consistency is crucial for building readership, and if you find yourself blogging or sharing content on social media every full moon, you're better off shutting down the blog entirely. Come back when you can make the commitment it deserves.
6. Build a Stash: Every post doesn't have to be done in real-time. They can be written in advance. Build a stash of posts you can use, and then don't relaunch your social media presence until you've got 12-15 posts ready to go and in the pipeline. Then alternate between posts in your stash and something fresh each week.
7. Guest Posts: Sharing and exchanging content with other artists helps you build stronger awareness. Look for partnerships where you swap material with other photographers and groups within your community. No photographers you want to work with? Then consider other vendors with the same target audience.
8. Support Your Community: Writing about upcoming community events gives you more traction for giving back. It also helps define your role better as somebody who's helpful. You're likely to find the sponsoring associations for each event you help publicize, who will share your information and help you build more awareness.

In today's post, including five tips from Scott Bourne below, you've got 13 ideas with a minimal overlap. Your social media presence has never been more important than today, when live interaction with your clients and target audience is often too limited.

Can you survive without a blog? Sure, but here's why it's so important. Your website is about what you sell. Your blog is about what's in your heart. The two work together, just like publicity and advertising to help you establish a stronger brand.

Building Traffic for Your Blog - Five Primary Tips
 by Scott Bourne
​
If you're attempting to become (or already are) a professional photographer, in my opinion you need a blog. But not just any blog will do. Your blog needs to be an extension of you. It needs to show off your work for sure, but it also needs to show off your personality.

Once you build a blog, it won't do you much good if people coming to it don't stick around, because you aren't giving them a reason. So here are five ways to increase your blog's audience.

1. Avoid too many ads, too much sales talk, too many banners and too many commercials on your blog. Make sure there is a nice content to marketing ratio. Read your blog as if you were someone else and ask yourself, would I find this blog to contain enough helpful, valuable information to put up with "X" amount of marketing.

2. Publish your blog on a dependable and regular schedule. While publishing new posts every single day will get you a bigger audience faster, it's not a requirement. What is important however, is publishing with consistent frequency. Publish every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for instance and let your audience know the schedule. Whatever day(s) you promise to publish, stick with it so people know there's a reason to come back and more importantly, so they don't forget your message.

3. Tell stories. Be engaging. Talk more about your subject expertise or your clients than yourself. Make sure your content solves a problem for someone else, not for you. Narrative is a powerful form of communication. Use it.

4. Be yourself. You can't make a blog work unless it's honest, transparent and truthful. It has to be written from your very own true perspective, NOT the perspective you THINK people want to hear. It's way too hard to be someone else and to keep it going. Just be yourself. Not everyone will like what you do. Don't worry about that. There's a big world out there. You only need to reach the people who DO like what you do - the rest can head on down the road to find someone or something else. Life goes on.

5. Be helpful. Make sure every blog post provides the possibility of help to your audience. Your content has to be useful, or nobody will care about it. The more targeted, and niche oriented, the better. The more problem solving the better. 

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday when I consistently go off track, miles away from marketing topics. But as I sat down to write this morning, it became harder and harder not to rant about the state of America, especially with a 60 million dollar waste of money for a cage fight on the front lawn of the White House!

However, as I scrolled through Facebook, trying to find something positive to write about, my good buddy, Terry Clark, posted a thank-you to the people who helped make his first gallery showing in many years possible. The smile on my face was so big that you'd think it was my showing! I'm so proud of Terry sharing his work!

Well, I kept scrolling when I realized how valuable social media has become in my life and in keeping in touch with people I care about.   As I scrolled through my notifications:

Brook Todd posted a shot of him and Alissa...Michael Jordan posted a shot of Clay Blackmore with a group of photographers at CSA2026...Allison Cotton posted a shot...Facebook reminded me that 15 years ago I shared a shot of Brent Watkins trying to beat the self-timer in a portrait of the Sylvart Studio staff when Jerry and Melissa Ghionis joined us for a program in Ohio...Al Gordon and Mercury Megaloudis both posted anniversary shots... Bruce Hudson announced his new book and an educational opportunity...Rick Sammon played with A.I...Carly Sullens posted a piece about her upcoming program in Michigan...and Duncan MacNab's daughter, Dori, posted a birthday piece about her sister, Dani. (Duncan, one of my very best buds, passed away almost 4 years ago...but being in touch with his family brings back so many memories.)

Here's my point... while most of us have a love-hate relationship with Facebook, it's become the mortar that holds many friendships together. I'm able to stay in touch with so many people I care about, thanks to social media. Over the years, I've been accused of being the industry's perpetual optimist and cheerleader. Well, with 56+ years in imaging, and my life being touched by so many amazing people, how could I be anything but optimistic?

Wishing everybody a day ahead that gives you time to appreciate all the special people in your life. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about with the people you love the most. And to my pal Terry Clark...one of these days we're going to have the cigar we've spent far too many years talking about!

Happy Sunday, everybody!

by Skip Cohen

As I sat down to write my Friday post this morning, I had a hard time choosing a topic. Usually, I can find inspiration on my Facebook notifications, but today I was buried in stories about Trump and a Congress without a backbone. I hate what's happened to our country and the morons who continue to support a conman and his minions.

But it's Friday, and I'm not sure I've ever looked forward to the weekend more. I'm going to step away from my computer, limit my news intake, and appreciate what we can control in our lives. No doubt the grill will be slow-cooking something, and without question, Margaritas will be involved.

And in terms of the quote above...While I hate how Congress has forgotten about We the People, I'm celebrating the people we love and two pups who have enriched our lives beyond measure. Not only is Lucy asleep in my lap as I'm writing, but so are my legs! LOL

So, while the circulation comes back into my legs, I'm wrapping this up with a goal to do my best to follow James Murphy's lead above - and make at least a part of every day feel like a weekend!

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead and time to simply appreciate everything that's going right in your life without being buried under the stress of what's wrong!

​Happy Friday!