 by Skip Cohen The next segment of the "Drilling Down" series focuses on an idea to help expand your audience and reach more potential clients. This series ties back to many ot the core ideas from my nine basics for success in 2026. Building your client base is something you should be doing 365 days a year. And right now, with Spring seasonality right around the corner (Mother's Day, Graduation, and Father's Day), it's the perfect time to think about finding new clients, as well as reminding your old ones what you do for a living. Being a professional photographer means you never stop learning and building your skill set. Being a small business owner means you never stop working to build your database of potential clients.
Last but not least, remember this is a word-of-mouth business... NOTHING helps your business more than exceeding expectations and producing quality products. But quality isn't just about the finished product. It's also about the experience of working with you. It's about keeping promises and making a portrait session, for example, FUN! In the same respect, nothing can hurt you more than a reputation that's underwhelming! There are no traffic jams on the extra mile. Roger Staubach Because so many people think they can take shortcuts to success, there aren't enough who go above and beyond expectations. As a result, the path to success is rarely crowded!
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 Click to enlarge in the SCU Lightbox Be grateful for those who make us happy. Marcel Proust by Skip Cohen
My process for writing on Sunday mornings is almost always the same. I wake up about 6:30, and before Sheila wakes up, I'll stay in bed and start thinking about a topic for Sunday Morning Reflections. The challenge lately is fighting the urge to rant over everything each of us is dealing with daily. But this morning I started out looking for a great quote, and when I read the one above, it gave me a good way to turn my wanna-be rant into something more positive. Think about this for just a second -- It's our friends who make us happy and prevent us from being crushed to death by the outside world. It's the people who make us laugh and remind us of how special life truly is, even through the storms. This is a short post this morning, dedicated to laughter. But I'm not talking about chuckles, I'm talking about those big, deep laughs that are so intense you start to tear up in the process. It's those laughs that become aerobic, pushing your heart to keep up with the pace that often takes your breath away. Author Lou Mitchell, along with the quote above, went on to write: Marcel Proust reminds us to appreciate the people who bring joy and positivity into our lives. These individuals often go unnoticed as we navigate our daily routine, yet their presence and actions significantly impact our well-being and happiness. Taking the time to express gratitude for their contributions not only strengthens our relationships but also enriches our own sense of fulfillment and connection...Reflect on the people who make you happy. How often do you express your gratitude for their presence in your life? So, my post this morning is one of gratitude for all the friends who have made me happy in the past, present, and future. It's thanks in part to you that I wake up smiling and maintain an almost childlike wonder about what each new day will bring. My list is too long to share here, but you know who you are. And since aging can never be slowed down, I know there are people and events I've forgotten—but that doesn't change everyone's contribution. We're an industry of artists who watch each other's backs. In turn, new memories are always being made, built on a foundation of laughter and, here and there, completely poor taste! LOL So, wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with joy and time spent with those who help you smile—even on days when joy seems out of reach. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I've been writing about for over ten years, and channel that rant-energy into something uplifting for the day! Happy Sunday or Monday if you're on the other side of the world. Note: The collage of pics above is the best I could do on short notice, but it's just a small percentage of the laughs in our lives!  Build your own dreams, or somebody else will hire you to build theirs. Farrah Gray by Skip Cohen Ever had an idea of something you wanted to do, but pondered so long that you missed the window of opportunity? While I've written more than once that procrastination isn't a strategy, sometimes it's hard to practice what you preach. Well, at 4:00 am this morning, I had an idea of something I want to do business-wise, and I've been on fire ever since. When I say "on fire," it just means I'm in the planning and review mode; lots of energy with no complacency. I'm the kid in Animal House with the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other. The good news is the devil is just throwing out challenges of everything that won't work...while the angel is helping me hold focus. Put all that together, while I'm not ready to share what I'm thinking about, the process itself is about finding the energy for a mini-dream. You're never to old to set a new goal or dream a new dream. C.S. Lewis Here's the challenge I've had lately...it's about aging. While I've slowed down on many aspects of my business, I'm not "done" yet. There are still a few ideas bouncing around in my head. Just putting them down on paper is energizing - now comes the challenge of doing a lifeboat drill - figuring out what makes it into the boat and what doesn't. I've had challenges like this before...In 2009, I decided to leave WPPI/Rangefinder Publishing and start my own company. When Sheila confronted me and asked, "What are you afraid of?" My answer was immediate, "Failing." Later in 2013, Sheila found me in the middle of the night in my home office with a dry-erase board covered with ideas that evolved into Skip Cohen University and this blog. Here's my point--If you've got an idea that's been hanging around long enough to appear more than just a few times in your thoughts and conversations with friends, then it's time to pursue it. Don't let it stagnate and get buried under the stress of life. Like the Nike slogan: Just do it! Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead and time to do some daydreaming. You have exactly one life in which to do everything you'll ever do.
Act accordingly! Colin Wright  by Skip Cohen I was proud to be a writer for Shutter Magazine when it first started. I wrote for them for at least six years. For each article, the authors were required to submit a short video related to the story. I knew that I had to make each video memorable. Well, it's Throwback Thursday, and I'm pulling the video below out of the archives. (I know I shared it a few years ago, but it's too much fun to not share again!) My topic that month was the importance of diversity. I was playing off an old Kodak study that I don't believe has changed since it was conducted over 30 years ago. The hierarchy of why people hire a professional photographer in the portrait/social categories goes brides, babies, and pets.  But there's a secondary message here: if you're going to be diverse in your specialties and promote them on one website, you need continuity. In the portrait/social specialties, brides have babies, babies grow up and become seniors, get married and start their own families, and families have pets. If you photographed the wedding, why not be diverse enough to follow the family as they change and grow. It's really that simple. However, if you're going to branch off into more commercial applications, for example, then build a separate website or have a landing page that gives viewers the opportunity to choose which way to go. The reason is that different viewers have different priorities. For example, a staff member from an ad agency looking for a product photographer will not spend time looking through the work of a wedding photographer. In the same vein, a bride and her mother won't visit a commercial photographer's website to see wedding images. Obviously there are exceptions...Elizabeth Taylor had Herb Ritts photograph her wedding in 1991. She sold the images to People Magazine for a million dollars and the money went to her non-profit AIDS foundation. Personally I thought the coverage was terrible, but it was shot by Herb Ritts, and added value to the sale, so who cared? LOL KNOW THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE! Sheila helped with every video, even when I used a cheap camera. My recording quality improved over the years. She also joined my Goodwill search for a gown—still inexplicably in my closet. Add the tiara from Party City, the doll from Goodwill toys, Molly the Wonder Dog, and it's the recipe for a perfect trip down Memory Lane. Happy Throwback Thursday!  In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes! Benjamin Franklin by Skip Cohen I'm doing my best not to make this morning's post a rant, but at the same time, I know what I'm feeling is no different from what many of you feel. I'm tired of not getting what I paid for! We just did our taxes, and while there was a benefit to the new over-65 deduction, I'm tired of everything being a one-way street. We have a Congress that we all pay for, which can't do the country's budget, let alone agree on anything that would keep the government open without the threat of closure, because they forgot about We the People! We've got a president who paid a high of $750 in annual taxes from 2015 to 2020, and in several years, it appears to be zero. He recently stated that high oil prices mean we're making more money...but who's the "we?" It's sure not here. Then we've got members of Congress who have all their health benefits forever, but ours just went up again. Now throw in delays and challenges at every airport, and we've decided we're simply not flying anywhere. And all of this is just the tip of the iceberg. I will pay the taxes I owe, but in my heart I want to contact the IRS, apologize, and request a delay in payment, explaining that our budget team will review what's owed as soon as their back in session. I'm tired of paying for services we don't receive, or if we do, the costs keep going up! "The difference between death and taxes is death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets." Will Rogers “If Patrick Henry thought that taxation without representation was bad, he should see how bad it is with representation.” Farmer’s Almanac And that's my "two cents" for this year's tax season. Thanks for letting me rant.
 We're moving into a new year and it's another leap of faith. But, it's a whole lot easier if you believe in yourself! Unknown Author by Skip Cohen
We've been in a new year for almost four months, but we're moving into prime seasonality. The bottom line - You have to have faith in yourself. You have to believe in what you’re doing. You have to understand not only the craft, but the human spirit. And, it’s the human spirit that should be at the top of your list. For most of us, the definition of the ultimate photograph is one that moves people. You can’t move people and create images that tug at their hearts if you’re not comfortable with your own heart. So, it all becomes sort of obvious – it’s faith in yourself that creates confidence and builds your strength of character and gets your heart where it should be. The challenges in the outside world right now border on being overwhelming. All of us are at times filled with doubt as a result of so many things outside our control. But what is in control is your faith as an artist!
And for those of you who think you're going to be replaced by AI...it still takes a master storyteller to capture memories, regardless of the tools you use to create the finished product. I’m constantly accused of being one of the industry cheerleaders, but honestly, this is an easy job. What could be more incredible than working with people who put their trust in you? What could be a more wonderful job than being a storyteller? Nobody can teach you to have faith in yourself – it’s caught, not taught. So, how to catch it and keep it? Stay focused on your career path and your subjects. Learn every possible technique you can. Make it a point to understand photography before you push the shutter button. Know your gear – know your lighting – know your lab – know your clients. And never ever compromise on quality! "Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created. It is a major force in explaining man to man." Edward Steichen: "I wish more people felt that photography was an adventure, the same as life itself, and felt that their individual feelings were worth expressing. To me, that makes photography more exciting!" Harry Callahan  "Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears; it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear." Oliver Sacks by Skip Cohen If you're new here, a quick note: Sunday Morning Reflections are rarely about business. I use Sundays to share personal thoughts you might relate to, steering clear of the daily hot topics. At a time when all of us are dealing with the stress of the world, we also have our routines to keep our sanity and love in our hearts. As sappy as that sounds, it's what Sheila and I are doing. Here's something that helps, especially on Sunday mornings... Sheila grew up with a grandmother who took her to church on Sundays, and her life was filled with old-style gospel music. She started a tradition in our house, Sunday morning gospel music. In recent years, it's evolved into Lauren Daigle, and she plays all morning long. It's uplifting, and while the two of us grew up with completely different backgrounds, we both believe in God and have faith that the craziness of the world right now doesn't belong under our roof. Music had become the great equalizer, bringing a sense of balance to us both. During the week, the days start out with something new age and mellow. For example, Enya, Yanni, and Kitaro radio, all from Pandora. Mid-day, it all changes, and it'll be contemporary artists, but my point is, there's ALWAYS music playing in our home. We've got six Alexa devices, all synced, and we take turns deciding what to listen to. On any given day, it might be Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Eva Cassidy, CSN, Pink, the Who, even a Broadway sound track or Andrea Bocelli - there's no way to predict what we'll be in the mood for. Music is a powerful therapeutic tool for mental health, offering solace, emotional regulation, and a way to express the inexpressible when words fail. Key figures like Oliver Sacks describe it as a "tonic" and "necessity" for neurological and emotional well-being, capable of lifting depression and calming anxiety. From Google AI Whatever your musical tastes, don't underestimate the power of music to help you focus on what's most important in your life. When we've got music in the house, the "drawbridge" stays up, and the trolls can't get in! Yeah, it really has become that simple. At the risk of sounding like a leftover hippy from Woodstock...I'm wishing you a day of peace, love, and time with the people in your life who mean the most to you. Don't let anything or anyone get in the way of the bond you feel with those lovable knuckleheads whom you cherish. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about and keep the outside world where it belongs...OUT! Wishing you a happy Sunday—or a great start to your week, wherever you are. "Music sets me free from the prison I feel inside my head."
Anonymous,  The three big ones in life are wealth, health, and happiness. We pursue them in that order, but their importance is in the reverse order. Naval Ravikan by Skip Cohen Whether you're celebrating Passover or Easter, it makes no difference - Wishing you a peaceful, safe, and healthy holiday weekend ahead. The world is upside down, but that won't slow down Spring, and it doesn't need to dampen your spirits and faith that things are going to get better. This weekend, try to shut out the noise and appreciate what makes your heart soar. It may sound sappy, but maybe that's what we need today—more sentimentality and a focus on what truly matters, together with the people who have helped to make us who we are. Happy Passover...Happy Easter...Welcome Spring! Don't wait for someone to bring you flowers.
Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul. Luther Burbank  Click on any image to enlarge in the SCU Lightbox  by Skip Cohen After so many years of sharing Throwback Thursday images, it's getting harder to share anything new. So, while I've shared a lot over the years about our winter trips into Yellowstone, since we're in the first week of Spring and things are warming up, why not go back to a few cold days in Montana and Wyoming? For ten years, going back to February/March in the early 90s, Duncan MacNab organized a snowmobile trip. It started with four of us and grew to 25 "knuckleheads", mostly from the photographic industry. The collection above is from a few different trips over the years. Everyone knows the expression, " He who dies with the most toys wins." Well, we used to say that Duncan, years before he passed away, had already won. He clearly had the most toys, including a gas grill on runners. On one trip, he towed it up to 8000 feet and grilled cheeseburgers! But my point for this Throwback Thursday isn't so much about the trips as about the memories, thanks to an industry we love deeply. The hardest part of aging is losing friends...but the best part comes with all the memories, enhance and maintained by photography. Every image brings back moments from the past, as vivid as if they happened yesterday. In 2016, we were fly-fishing in Montana and caught up to Duncan and Chris one night for dinner in Bozeman. Although the three of us hadn't been together in close to 20 years, it was as if the last conversation ended with a comma - all the jabs and jokes started flowing immediately.  Think about it for just a second - what would the world be like without photography? How dull would life be without photographs that bring with them incredible memories, even when they're bittersweet? If you're relatively new to the industry, take the time to think about the "magic" you possess with the simple click of the shutter. You're in the business of helping people turn the intangible into memories they can hold in their hands and share for a lifetime. That's an incredible responsibility and your clients deserve the very best of your skills. And to my good buddy Dunc - sure do miss ya, pal! Thanks to you, so many of us have great memories and stories that continue to make us laugh. We got to see a part of the world, Yellowstone in winter, a sight that few people will ever experience. Put a Yellowstone winter together with the humor and creativity from some of the finest photographers in the industry, and the memories redefine the meaning of the word joy. I know I've promised in previous posts to stop using this quote by Jodi Picoult, but there's none better: "This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect." Jodi Picoult Happy Throwback Thursday!
 Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you you're wrong. There are always difficulties arsing which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to the end requires some of the same courage which a soldier needs. Ralph Waldo Emerson by Skip Cohen It's Hump Day, and just for a change, I wandered through my bookshelf and pulled out a Walk the Talk book. Years ago, I bought a set of them to help me find more motivation when I was struggling with a challenge. In the past, I would have shared the quote above for those of you dealing with major decisions about your business and career. But in all honesty - with the world currently upside down, we're all having to dig deep to find the courage to not give up the fight. So whether your fight is within your heart in dealing with skepticism from people who don't believe in you, or you're having trouble dealing with the insanity in the world, starting in D.C, no matter what you're feeling, you need courage. We all still need to believe in each other and do everything we can, in our own communities, to prevent anything or anyone from undermining our values. Wishing everyone a great day and the courage to focus on what matters most.   If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others. African Proverb  by Skip Cohen
I've written a lot over the years about taking care of your network. Spring seasonality is on your doorstep, essentially marking the end of the "slow season." But your network needs care year-round. Without care and feeding, like a house plant, your network will simply die! Before business explodes and you get too busy, check out the suggestions below. Just as your network needs ongoing attention, think of it like the plant I mentioned earlier: it needs water, light, fertilizer, and space to grow. Your network is no different. With your network in mind, remember that building relationships is your greatest marketing tool. As Scott Stratten says in his book UnMarketing, "Stop marketing and start engaging!"
All in all, the expression "It takes a village" rings true for your network. Start by giving your village the support it needs. Remember, your willingness to help makes your network your best resource when you need help in return!  I am a part of all that I have met. Alfred Lord Tennyson by Skip Cohen
Sheila and I were talking last night about today's post. With all the protests around the world yesterday, I was feeling compelled to write about "We the People," but I knew I couldn't do so without sounding like a rant. Plus, I'd only be adding to the NOISE you hear all day, every day. She reminded me that my readers stop by on Sundays to read something that's not in the news; has nothing to do with marketing; is more personal and outside the norm. The quote above is one of my favorites, reminding us that each of us is a composite of all the people who have come and gone in our lives, combined with all our experiences. Twenty-nine years ago today, Sheila's brother Alan was killed in a road-rage incident in Tucson. Thirty days earlier two of her brothers, Wally and Jimmy, were killed in a car accident. A year or two later, her father died, and after that, her mother. Sheila lost five family members over five years. But sharing this story isn't about her enduring tragedy; it's about how it made her the warrior she is. Through the entire process of grief, she never lost her zest for life, and belief in God. Everything that's happened in her life has made her who she is today. At a time when most of us would have would have fallen apart, she got stronger, determined not to let tragedy grind her down. That's what became the foundation for our friendship, which later became our love story. It was her never-ending appreciation for life that helped set the pace for building our relationship. Think about your own experiences and the people who have come into your life. It's their impact that's made you who you are today. Based on a poem by Brian Chalker, there's a sappy quote that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. In my case, Sheila came into my life for a reason and stayed a lifetime. They say that with age comes wisdom...I'm not sure it's really wisdom or simply lessons that can only come from longevity. It's our capacity to learn from the past and, in turn, enhance our journey going forward. And while it's a sad day to look back on her losses that started in 1997, it's the memories of the good times that hold the focus best. When we built the water feature in our butterfly garden, (pictured above) I suggested the three monoliths represent Sheila's three brothers. Over a year ago, we added the sculpture of the two boys playing, representing two other brothers she lost in recent years. Together in the garden, loaded with milkweed and Monarch butterflies all summer long, the "Boyz," whom I never knew, maintain a reminder that love doesn't disappear when somebody passes. There's a great line from the movie "Tuesdays with Morrie"...Death ends a life not a relationship. Wishing everybody a day ahead filled with time to look back on the memories of people who came into your life and brought with them something that stayed with you -- some aspect that helped make you who you are today. That old line about "it takes a village" couldn't be more appropriate when you look at why you are who you are. For those people in your life who stayed a lifetime, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about. And to all of you, thank you! Whether you're here for a reason, a season, or a lifetime, you are part of my story. Your inspiration and friendship are helping to navigate an upside-down world together. Happy Sunday...or Monday if you’re on the other side of the world.  You've got to listen to the voice in your gut. It is individual. It is unique. It is yours. It's called being authentic. Meredith Vieira by Skip Cohen Every year around this time, many of my posts have the same theme - procrastination is not a marketing strategy! Some of you spend so much time pondering what to do next that you miss the opportunities to grow your business. In your heart, you know you have to take action, but you don't trust your gut instinct. You're caught in analysis paralysis, and instead of aggressively working on your dreams, you wind up at a snail's speed when success in business demands action...not complacency. April is right around the corner, with seasonality about to swing into full bloom. But there isn't a button on your keyboard for "seasonality." However, there is a seasonality button in your head and heart. We're down to the wire, and there's still a chance for unique, eye-catching creativity in the days ahead. With Easter, Mother's Day, graduation, prom season, and Father's Day on the horizon, there are opportunities for you to fill a gaping hole in capturing memory-making moments.
Let's wrap up the ideas for today with outdoor prints, which really deserve their own post...  I'm a huge fan of BayPhoto's Performance EXT metal prints, and I have three of them hanging outside by our pool. (Remember, I live in Florida, and there are thousands of homes with pools, and all of them are in the sun and rain all year long.) My prints have been outside in the sun for years and have shown no change in quality. Performance EXT Metal won't hold up forever, but offering people something new with a fine art type print or family portrait on their porch or patio is definitely a show-stopper.
Plus, the concept brings in two strong groups to expand your target audience:
Here's the bottom line for today—there's still time for you to launch a few great promotions, but this is a you-snooze-you-lose scenario. Act now: reach out to your target audience and share your latest offers, because unlike the illustration above, there is no seasonality button to push!  I am a part of all that I have met. by Skip Cohen It's 17 years ago today that I decided to resign as president of WPPI and Rangefinder Publishing and start my own business. It was 2009, we were in a recession, and just about everyone thought I was nuts. Well, in a way I was...I was tired of fighting with the owner of WPPI and didn't agree with how he treated the team. One of the things I learned along the way in my career, which more managers need to remember...your people are your most valuable resource, NOT what you do or sell. Speaking of looking back, the two videos below are favorites of mine—though honestly, they're also the only two I could find this morning! Each summer, some of the speakers helped promote Skip's Summer School. Still, a classic and one of my favorites was thanks to a good friend, Jerry Ghionis. The first video below was in promotion of the 2011 program, and nobody does it better than Jerry! The second video was put together by another good buddy, Adam Sherwin and the team from Resource Magazine who that year was a sponsor of the event.  The speaker lineup for 2013 The challenge of doing a program like this each summer became incredibly labor-intensive. And with so many online programs getting started back then, along with other workshops, 2013 was the program's last year. We then expanded the SCU blog with a stronger online presence, guest posts, and podcasts.
Reflecting on those summers, I realize how fortunate I've been in this industry, with a journey that's never slowed down. Working alongside talented artists throughout these programs has fueled my growth; their patience, style, and individual contributions have shaped both our industry and my life in immeasurable ways. My opening quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson above says it all. We're all connected, and everybody we meet becomes a thread in the fabric that makes us who we are! Happy Throwback Thursday!  A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new! Albert Einstein by Skip Cohen Over the weekend, I was thinking about focusing on some new directions. I want to change my routine and expand what I do every day. There's that great line about growth only happening outside your comfort zone. I've repeatedly suggested that when you're headed to a major conference, always take a couple of classes entirely foreign to your skillset. It's like the "365 Projects" that cropped up years ago - with photographers taking and sharing one different image each day. And years before the Internet, I remember my good buddy Tony Corbell suggesting everyone should always save a couple of frames on the roll and just mix it up - shoot differently for those last two shots. So, it's Marketing Monday - What are you going to do differently this week to grow your business?
The bottom line: every day is another opportunity to grow your business and your skill set. So stop worrying about making mistakes and failing, and just take the plunge. The great thing about this profession is your ability to keep growing and changing, and if something doesn't work as well as you'd hoped, step back and fine-tune the next step. Never be afraid to try something new,
because life gets boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know. Unknown Author  Sunrises symbolize new beginnings, hope, and promise, while sunsets represent peace, reflection, and the beauty of endings. Together, they mark the daily, free, and consistent cycle of life, offering opportunities to reset, dream, and appreciate the journey. Google AI by Skip Cohen The image above, except for cropping, was the view looking down my street at 7:30 AM on Thursday morning. It was an incredible sunrise, and this is one of those times when a grab shot with my phone almost captured the morning's power. Okay, so it's not the Northern Lights, but it did hit me in a profound way. Many of us, over the years, have chased sunsets, filling our archives with incredible colors, lighting, and contrast—always looking west. But sunrise, with its potential to energize and shape the day ahead, is often overlooked. If a day can begin with such promise, what if we allowed our mindset and spirit to do the same? Sunday Morning Reflections are rarely about business. They're about wherever my thoughts wander. This morning I awoke with a feeling of optimism, although I have no idea why. The world is a mess. Aging is finally catching up as I creak for ten minutes every morning. Patience is in short supply - at a time when I'm slowing down, it's going the wrong way. "The darkest nights produce the brightest sunrises." Unknown Despite everything that's wrong—or at the very least challenging—in my life, so much is right. Yet, amid the stress of living, I've wasted too much time focusing on what's missing instead of what's in front of me. Maybe the difference between a curmudgeon and a dreamer is simply more sunrises. Perhaps how a day starts matters more than watching the sun drop below the horizon.
I recognize that I'm sounding a little too much like Jack Handy from years back with SNL, but this morning I have a feeling I don't want to lose. I can choose to celebrate that thorns have roses, or be miserable because roses have thorns—it's all in perspective. Wishing everyone a day filled with memory-making moments and inner peace. Treasure those who bring you happiness, and share an eleven-second hug with the one who matters most. Make today meaningful. Happy Sunday or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.   by Skip Cohen It's my favorite day of the week for posting--Throwback Thursday. Today, I'm using a 1929 photo of my Dad's first grade class and my third-grade class to introduce a key suggestion for 2026: build a more diverse business through a formal legacy program. If you aren't offering one, consider starting now. Going through an album of old photographs, I found the one above. My Dad is in the top right corner. Dad grew up in Cleveland, and this would have been shot right at the beginning of the Great Depression. Just to further make the point, I want to include this class shot from third grade. I'm highlighted on the right, my wife, Sheila, on the lower left. We actually met in second grade and went all through school together, right up to our senior year in high school. We were never good friends and barely knew each other until 40+ years later.  Here's my point this morning - sharing a throwback on social media is a great way to light a fire with your target audience about helping them capture their stories. This isn't a new SCU topic, but there are still so many of you who haven't bothered to implement the service into your product line.
My definition of a Legacy Program includes anything related to documenting a client's history. Nobody can do it better than you, as a storyteller. Telling stories is your expertise. So, why not channel that skill set into helping clients tell their stories? Very few of you offer any kind of Legacy Program in your offerings. Support could include efforts to capture senior family members in a formal portrait or to video-record the older generation telling their stories. While anyone today can capture video with their phone, all of you can create a more professional presentation. You have the skills for mixed media and editing to create a beautiful presentation and well-documented story for any client. And then there's your own family! Everyone has aging senior members in their family with stories to tell. Plus, whether organized in albums or shoeboxes, you've got grab-shots and formal portraits over the years that represent key moments in everyone's journey. If you're just starting out with a legacy package, use your own family's history to build your sample product. All I want to do today is remind you not to let time slip by. Take the time to set up a camera or phone and sit down with your parents and grandparents. Document their conversations about growing up, their friends, and their experiences. And if you're stuck for what to talk about, just pull out some old photographs and kick back and let them do the talking! Set a date soon to document your own family's stories. Then, use it as a model on your website and plant the seeds with potential clients. There are an estimated 25+ million people over 75 in the U.S, alone. They all have stories to tell - it's a virtually untapped market! STOP PROCRASTINATING---Remember, "Someday" isn't a day of the week—take action now to preserve memories in your family, and start helping your clients capture their stories.  by Skip Cohen I'm kicking off the next segment of my "Drilling Down" series, zeroing in on core ideas from my nine basics for success in 2026. Too many of you overlook the importance of highlighting your own achievements. The fact is, if you don't promote yourself, nobody else is likely to step in. You need to become your own publicity machine in your community. "What good is working so hard if nobody knows who you are?" Sadly, many of you think publicity just happens by itself. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. While there are obviously things that make it into the news on their own, they're at the extremes and usually catastrophic. To ensure your business gets noticed, regularly write and distribute publicity releases rather than waiting for attention. For many years, I wrote for Shutter Magazine. With every article online, there was always a video supporting the theme. The video below was my way to make the point about publicity, and it's so true. If you don't make a little noise on your own, then you might as well join me in a corn field in Nebraska! Think of it as me doing my version of "Where's Waldo"! Announcements and events related to your business need to be shared manually, at least when getting started - there is no auto or "P" mode! For example, have you ever picked up the local paper or visited your community website online and seen a story about one of your competitors? That story or photograph is in the news because they worked to get it there. The days of journalists driving around the community looking for things to write about died with Jimmy Olson and Superman! Outlets for "exposure" are everywhere. The obvious big winners are stories in the local paper, on the community/city website, etc., but that's at the top. All along the way, you've got your blog, other public blogs, community events, direct mail, various related websites, conventions, brochures, etc. Don't forget to offer the use of your images, from a community event, for example, to the hosting group, company, or association. You're looking for anything that gets your name out there. Never assume you or your story isn't newsworthy! Especially with publications, never assume they're not interested in something you're doing. At Rangefinder Magazine, we used to regularly visit the story stash to find something interesting when we had space to fill. Not every story is going to be a cover feature, and often we had small sections within the magazine that simply needed something interesting for people to read about. The biggest challenge is always the same: finding what's newsworthy. Most of the time, I hear photographers say, "There's nothing here to write about!" The truth is, there's always something to write about, and the odds are good that, if you're patient, a local publication, website, or organization will pick up the story at some point. In the video above, I mentioned template releases. Here's an old example which might be perfect if you just returned from WPPI or a facsimile of a conference:  Most important of all be patient - many of you will be starting from scratch and it takes time to build a following. "The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it open!"
Arnold Glasgow  You can't create images that tug at people's heartstrings if your own heart isn't in it! Skip Cohen by Skip Cohen I've made that statement a few times over the years, and it's so true. As a professional photographer, you've chosen a career path that requires interaction with clients, whether they're in front of your camera or interacting in business negotiations. With the time change last weekend, I'm having a harder time than before adjusting to waking up in the morning. I was trying to sleep in a little this morning, getting up at almost 7:30 rather than the usual 6:30. What got me up was the noise of a delivery truck backing up across the street and the annoying beep. Wouldn’t it be great if the human body was equipped with a backup signal? All we need is a simple device that just lets people know we’re “backing up”. The more I thought about it, the more I realized the problem. It isn’t letting people know we’re backing up, it’s accepting that we should back up in the first place! I’ve seen so many photographers, determined to stay on the path they’ve chosen, who are miserable. They’re determined to prove a point and stay true to the road they’ve chosen to travel when a slight turn or even starting the journey over would put a smile back on their face. I’ve met wedding photographers who admit they hate weddings and “would have loved to be shooting commercial work, but the money just wasn’t there!” I’ve talked with studio photographers doing portraits who wish they had “the variety of situations wedding photographers get to enjoy!” Then there are thousands of photographers who insist on running EVERY aspect of their business, never considering outsourcing tasks that take them away from what should be their core, shooting and marketing themselves. Here’s my point: Don’t be afraid to change paths. Stop feeling like you have to not only inform the world but also get everyone’s opinion. You need to believe in yourself! Many years ago, my good buddy, Matthew Jordan Smith, when I asked him for a quote for new photographers just starting out, said, “You’ve got to find your own voice!” I guess I want to change that slightly – yes, you have to find your own voice, but then you have to listen to it! You can’t please everybody, and you’re only one person. The only person you really have to keep happy is the one looking back at you every morning in the mirror. So, if along the way you have to change your path to increase your personal satisfaction, then go for it! Your most important client is YOU! After you’ve done a thing the same way for two years, look it over carefully. After five years, look at it with suspicion. And after ten years, throw it away and start all over. Alfred Edward Perlman   by Skip Cohen Most of the time on Sundays when I sit down to write Reflections, I really don't know what I want to write about until I start typing...then, it's whatever's in my head that spills onto the keyboard. Before I could get started this morning, I needed to visit the Hulu website. In early February, we made what we thought was a terrific decision. We wanted to get rid of Comcast/Xfinity and go back to Frontier/Verizon, which we had 9 years ago. In the process, our Hulu account expired and needed to be linked to our new accounts. Here's where the madness comes in: the marketing departments at Frontier and Verizon don't talk to each other. Every few days, there's another special offer to bundle your phones, Internet, and entertainment. Then, just to add a little more spice to the mix, there are multiple offers within each category. For example, on Hulu alone, there were 10 different bundles to choose from. And to go one step further, when you start searching for what you thought you wanted, you're pitched something else. God forbid you should ask for help by phone. It all starts with every company's robot that needs to know why you're calling. You're led to believe there's going to be some logic applied, but whoever you finally speak with, you can NEVER connect again. So far, just at Frontier alone, I've talked to "Judge," "Brandon," "Sam", "Joy," and "Thomas," and I've written one letter to Frontier's CEO. Thomas is the ONLY one to actually help, but he was my last stop, working through the executive office of Frontier. And on Verizon, it's ongoing as I learn various discounts don't show up until the 2nd or third billing cycle. They say you don't appreciate what you have until it's gone...Well, I want to go back to the days when I was a kid. We had just three stations, and they all signed off at midnight with the test pattern to the right. We got the "Chief," and nobody complained about not being woke because a Native American appeared on your TV screen, essentially telling you to go to bed! No choices beyond that, and if you wanted to figure out what you were going to watch on any given evening, the TV Guide was on the coffee table.  Click to enlarge in the SCU Lightbox Today, in an effort to make our lives easier, more fulfilling, and less expensive, we've switched to YouTube TV.... Then there's Netflix, Hulu, Paramount+, Prime Video, Disney+, and 100+ live channels. Trying to reach most of the shows we enjoy watching becomes a giant WTF moment. In fact, if it wasn't for the F-bomb during the search for something we'd like to watch, Sheila and I would be mutes!
But the confusion doesn't end... as contracts between studios and networks change, so does the platform on which we want to watch. Or we can search for what we want to watch, but can't access it without signing up for an additional entertainment provider. Will somebody STOP THE MADNESS! Imagine if your doctor switched to dentistry, or your cardiologist became a proctologist and didn't tell you until you were in the dental chair or examination room. Which reminds me of a Tony Corbell joke: A woman goes to her dentist. She says, "I don't know which I hate more: having my teeth drilled or having a baby." He replies, "Well, make up your mind so I know which way to tilt the chair!" Wishing everybody a day ahead with nothing but easy choices. No matter what you choose to do or who to be with, remember: what's most important is the peace and love they bring into your life. That's why those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about become even more valuable—especially when you feel like you're about to be lost at sea... a sea of choices and decisions! Our world is filled with too many choices. And no matter what you choose, there's always another offer waiting in the wings. It's choice overload, and I've got a headache just thinking about it. So, time to take a couple of Tylenol...if the government hasn't found my stash. |
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