 Intro by Skip Cohen Mark Weber and I have been friends for a whole lot of years. As one of Marathon's most versatile senior managers, he's also a photographer, educator, and writer. He brings so much to the party whenever there's a challenge. He recently shared the post below on Marathon's blog, and it's packed with great ideas. Being in "lockdown" at home is about your health and safety. It does NOT mean step away from your business, customer service, developing your skillset, or marketing. I love the ideas Mark shared this week and decided to share some of them here and the rest are a click away on the Marathon blog. Marathon has built its reputation on support for professional photographers. And today, even under the challenges of the pandemic, they're not slowing down on being there to help! Don't forget, if you're a senior photographer, their BOGO program on grad cards is going on right now. This is an especially tough year for the class of 2020 - more than likely there won't be any big graduations or parties to celebrate. That means the senior portraits you captured a few months ago are even more important to share!  by Mark Weber With the unprecedented social distancing we are practicing right now we have an excellent opportunity to catch up on the things that have been delayed or neglected in our business for too long. From your equipment maintenance to your marketing, you have some extra time to do things you’ve been needing to do. So here’s a top 21 list of ideas you can do prepare your business to hit the ground running when things start returning to normal, and they will return to normal. Don’t let your competition get a jump start on you!  #1 Website – How old is your website? When was the last time you updated the images on your site? Does your about me page read all about you or what you can do for them? (hint: they don’t care you got your first camera at age 7) Do you have a blog page that has a huge gap since the last time you posted? Do you have last year’s seniors, families, old ads still showing? Now is the time to update all of those! Need a new website?  #2. Studio Sample Prints – Now is a great time to replace some of those prints on the wall. You know the ones that are going on over a year old? Yeah, those need to be sold to the family of that subject in the image. Offer the image to them at a 50% discount and you can use those funds towards new samples. Consider testing some of your lab’s different paper samples. Today many labs have fine art papers to give you an alternative product that the consumer can’t get at Walmart or Cosco.  #3. Studio Sample Albums – Albums are one of the most profitable products you can offer in your studio. Chris Fritchie of McKenna, TX photographs with an album in mind with every session he does. Especially his storytelling Santa albums. His philosophy is that you can always sell a wall portrait from a session shot with an album story in mind but you can’t always sell an album from a wall portrait session. Now is a great time to think of a creative story theme to promote later in the year like Chris’s Santa theme. Chances are you probably know someone even now who is not ultra paranoid and would be willing to model to help you create a new sample. You could build your set and have it all ready for later in the year.  #4. Sample Brochure – Show you are an expert or specialize in something. Use this in your PR Kit with follow-ups to meetings you’ve had or connections you want to make. You can insert gift cards or coupons for additional incentives.  #5. Family Portraits – Family portraits are going to be even more meaningful after this experience. Now is a good time to start planning your fall family campaign. Direct mail is still effective and thanks to Every Door Direct Mail things are more affordable than ever. Use this time to craft your message, put together your content, your offer and decide where you want to target. Learn more at USPS here – https://www.usps.com/business/every-door-direct-mail.htm #6. Photography Technique – Now is the time to experiment with a new lighting and camera technique. It might be the use of constant lighting or making your own light diffusion source or a large reflector? Experiment with creating shadows on the wall with your background light as an interesting touch on an old background. Go scout new on-location backgrounds, etc. You can also get some great free education online and experts like Joel Grimes offer tremendous photography education. Check him out here at – https://www.joelgrimes.com #7. Photoshop Techniques – Regardless if you are a newbie or experienced, there’s always something to learn or try. Maybe it’s a Photoshop action or a new texture to blend or an unusual graphic look you want to try. It’s a great time to work thru these ideas. There are some great free Youtube tutorials but if you want someone who takes it to the next level is Woody Walters. You can find more information on Woody’s education here: https://woodywaltersdigitalphotocandy.com #8. Workflow – Have you struggled with creating a workflow to manage your image files? Determining the right procedure that saves you time is important. Perhaps a new batch action in Photoshop is in order? Do you use Lightroom? Or maybe you have it but haven’t learned to use it? There’s a lot you can learn in a short time! Here’s a link to learn more – https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop- #9. Camera room improvements – Sometimes your camera room just needs a little reorganizing or remodeling. It’s amazing how a little change can spark your creativity. Get some hangers up on the wall to get those chairs off the floor. Get a background rail hooked up to get all those muslins off the floor for faster use and fewer wrinkles. Get some cubby boxes or drawers installed for better organization. #10. Studio Facility – Take some candid of your facility starting with the outside of your location and all areas your customer sees. Does it look neat, tidy and professional? Or are there obvious things that need to be cleaned up, repainted or reorganized? Chipped walls or chairs that are starting to look a little too worn can affect your customer’s perception of you. Wires that need to be bundled and hidden will help minimize the look of over technology. Be critical of what you see because your customer is. #11. Deep Clean – From this point forward cleanliness is going to be a common conversation and message to customers. What will do and promote that going forward? #12. Stay in Contact – Contact your customers on a regular basis. Email blasts and newsletters are more apt to be seen and read now more than ever. Interview other vendors and post that to your blog page to add variety and interest to attract potential new customers thanks to that new connection. Consider a printed newsletter as direct mail provides maximum exposure. And you only need to send it to your client base so it’s affordable to do. For nine more great ideas click on the thumbnail below.  Click to link to 9 more ideas from Mark!
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 by Skip Cohen
Last week during one of the f64 Lunch Bunch shows our guest was Anne Geddes. Anne mentioned a fun thing she started on her Instagram page. Her fans are sharing images of joy. With one of the recent posts she wrote, "This is little Heidi, from Ireland, helping to spread JOY from countries around the world when we all need to find joy in our hearts and lives." Well, that got me thinking about what we're all going through. I'm sure your emotional swings aren't much different than mine. We're staying at home; only go out for a morning walk and supplies every couple of weeks if needed; and we very much miss getting out with friends. We're frustrated over the news and tired of politicians and the experts arguing over whose crystal ball is more accurate. I wrote about my Dad in a recent post. In dealing with my mother's Alzheimer's as it got worse and she'd go in and out of the clouds, he said, "I'm going to squeeze every drop of joy out of every good moment we get." If nothing else over the last several weeks I've realize how much I take for granted. So, why not start sharing images of things that bring joy to our lives as we deal with social distancing and the pandemic? The image above was yesterday morning when we went out for our walk. There was a slight breeze and it was simply a gorgeous day. It made both Sheila and I smile as we appreciated the sunrise. I'm going to start sharing your images of joy in a weekly post. Send me your images of things that make you smile and bring a touch of joy to your heart. Low res with your link to your Facebook page or website and I'll start sharing them here on the blog. Send them to skipatmei500dotcom. Remember this is about JOY, not your skillset as a photographer. We're all searching for things to smile about, so why not share them?  “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 Throwback Thursday, one of my favorite days of the week. It's rare I miss turning back the clock and sharing something out of the past, be it personal or industry-related. But I didn't need to go back very far today for a smile and a fast peek at the good old days because the "good old days" were literally just a few weeks ago. Hanging out with "Dr T," Mina and Platypod friends at WPPI in February Trust me on this suggestion - take the time to look at some of the images you captured back in the days when we only referenced Corona when ordering a beer. Those days will come back, and for me, it put a smile on my face to look back at friends I caught up to at WPPI. There was no such thing as social distancing.
And here's my point - we're ALL in this together. We're an industry of people who have always worked together and watched each other's backs. We'll never look back on these days and laugh, but we will look back and share the pride that we came through it together. Stay safe and healthy - Happy Throwback Thursday!  by Skip Cohen "Group f/64 was a group founded by seven 20th-century San Francisco Bay Area photographers who shared a common photographic style characterized by sharply focused and carefully framed images..." Wikipedia Yesterday was the sixth get-together for the f64 Lunch Bunch. We decided to mix up the format a little, and this time three of the industry's leading women joined the discussion. It was no surprise there was a lot of good insight and ideas shared. They were all focused on keeping in touch with your clients and continuing to build a more substantial business, even with the current challenges created by the pandemic. And, as with each program to date, the attendees always come through with great questions and comments. They created more ideas and food for thought as we all work to find an acceptable level of normalcy in dealing with social distancing. Sheltering in place is about your safety and health. It does NOT mean you need to stop building your brand, relationships with clients, or developing a more reliable and diverse skill set. The situation we're all in isn't going to last forever. And, as the conversation brought out at "lunch," there's so much you can be doing to make yourself and your business stronger! Some of the additional links shared yesterday, along with the links to our guests on Facebook are all listed below. Click on any banner for more information.
Note: We're going to skip lunch next week so everybody can get time in with QuaranCon, but check back the following week when we feature three of wedding and event photography's leading couples!
 by Skip Cohen "Group f/64 was a group founded by seven 20th-century San Francisco Bay Area photographers who shared a common photographic style characterized by sharply focused and carefully framed images..." Wikipedia We're trying to do the same thing, and at least help you bring the challenges of doing business today as a photographer into sharper focus and develop a framework to stay in business. We want to help you adjust to the new business environment and, at the same time, be ready to hit the ground running when the pandemic is over. After five "lunches" in a row last week, we're rolling the program over to Wednesdays. Join us tomorrow, when three of the industry's most recognized women join us for a discussion on how they're making the most out the downtime. Joining us at 2:00 PM EST will be Dixie Dixon, Melissa Ghionis and Lori Nordstrom with hosts Steve Brazill, Skip Cohen and Chamira Young. The challenges of the pandemic has changed all of our lives. Sadly, too many artists have taken the expression "hunker down" too literally. Frustrated, and not knowing what to do, they've walked away from their business.
We're going to be sharing great ideas on things you can be doing right now to maintain contact with your clients, expand your skill set, and build new relationships. Knowing the personalities of our guests I can guarantee plenty of great ideas to help you get back on track. If you missed the previous programs last week, you'll find them all, just a click away on YouTube.   Intro by Chamira Young Today we want to give you a quick dose of inspiration to get your creative juices flowing. It's always a fantastic idea to see what other photographers are producing along with the equipment they're using! The right glass combined with a transformative vision can bring your work up to the next level. We're excited to feature mountain biker Mitchell Bryan. Shot with Tamron's SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 on Canon's mirrorless R camera, you almost feel like you're riding through the mountains alongside him. It's also worth mentioning that this outstanding lens is part of Tamron's Spring into Savings Rebate program where you can save up to $200 on select lenses for a limited time. Don't miss out! Check out the video below and get ready to be inspired!  
by Skip Cohen
Last summer Chamira Young and I did a podcast with Gareth Rockliffe on "Beyond Technique." He talked about the way we start out in life and as we grow older, we expand our creativity. He then compared life to being a photographer. Everyone starts out shooting in "P" mode and later develops the skills to use "A","S" and "M." This is a time in history when, as an artist, you need to find ways to make yourself different. You've got to get out of "P" mode, both literally and figuratively. For example, there are too many photographers who have taken shelter in place to mean everything, including their skillset, marketing, and business. It's Mirrorless Monday, and Mark Toal is taking us out of "P" mode and in a new direction for most of you. He's sharing some great information on how to set your camera up for time-lapse photography. Check out more of Mark Toal's work witha visit to his website and blogs. Then follow the LUMIX Ambassador team. The group is one of the most diverse and creative teams in photography, and all the ambassadors should be on your radar. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much great content they share. And in terms of taking full advantage of the time you've got on your hands now - One way to start is to make a list of everything you've always wanted to practice and learn but never had the time. We're stuck in a new way of living, and none of us know whose crystal ball is more accurate in when the pandemic will end. But one thing we all can agree on - there's time to do a lot of new things!
Mark's shooting with a LUMIX G9, one of my most favorite cameras. Just click on the thumbnails below for more information.
LUMIX G9 Mirrorless Camera Body, 20.3 Megapixels plus 80 Megapixel High-Resolution Mode, 5-Axis Dual I.S2 - DC-G9KBODY
by Mark Toal
I’m trying to think of things that I’ve been putting off doing and time lapse photography came to mind. I fell in love with time-lapse a couple of years ago when I made this video about how to set up time lapse in Panasonic Lumix cameras.
It’s perfect for this time since all you need is a camera, tripod and time, which we all have right now. In this video I use a Lumix G9, but almost all current Lumix cameras and many other brands have this feature built in.
Space Needle Time Lapse from Mark Toal on Vimeo.
I shared the time lapse video below which Mark created a few years back. It's a different application from the video above, but makes the point about a technique so many of you should add to your skillset for the future.
 Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. African Proverb by Skip Cohen After almost three weeks of self-quarantine, we're settling into what's fast becoming the new normal. If you're like me, defining "normal" includes anxiety, frustration, disbelief, and a complete change in my outlook on life. Getting out is now defined as a fast run to the market, social distancing, and paranoia, followed by hand-sanitizer, not touching my face and washing my hands before and after the groceries are unpacked! I hate it; you hate it; we ALL hate it, but that doesn't mean we can't get through this and live wonderfully fulfilling lives! That old African proverb above sure seems to fit. Whether you've ever learned to sail or not, when this thing is over, we'll all be qualified to sail in the America's Cup! This week, thanks to some great friends, we launched the f64 Lunch Bunch, an online get-together to talk about the change in business as a result of the pandemic. In every show the topic came up of the importance of remembering you're not alone. In fact, for the first time, certainly, in our history, the world is in this together. Despite the pain of feeling isolated, there are a few things I've discovered to help get through it all.
Yesterday Sheila and I had a great day, not because of anything incredible we did, but because the two of us embraced a moment of being cool, calm, and collected. We found time to laugh! The weather's almost summer-like. I made a plate of nachos and a batch of Margaritas. We sat by the pool with a drink and munchies while the pups chased each other and wrestled. I know we're lucky to have the weather on our side, and like so many homes in Florida, we have a pool. Wherever you are there's something you used to do at home that was fun and brought a smile to your face. That was us yesterday, and it was energizing. I'm not saying I'm not afraid, or that I have a handle on my fears, but if I make an effort I can lock the Boogie Man in the closet for hours at a time. And, when I'm in touch with being grateful for my life, there's very little that changes the Alfred E. Neuman smile on my face. (If you don't understand that last sentence, call somebody over forty.) When my Dad was dealing with my Mom's Alzheimer's, she would come in and out of the clouds with a lucid moment. Dad would say, whenever those moments came, he was going to squeeze every drop of joy he could get out of them. He saved every one of those drops and drew from them whenever he had to deal with his sadness. I guess that's what I'm trying to do now. We're safe for today, and all we can do is take it one day at a time. I don't know what tomorrow is going to bring, but I do know if I let depression get hold of my heart, the virus wins. It's not easy, but we're all in this together. So, pick up the phone and check in on an old friend. Cherish whoever's in your life right now. Smile over your love for helping people capture memories, but remember to check in on the stash of memories you've captured for yourself. Right now, they might be buried under a ton of emotional garbage, but take the time dig them out - it's so worth it, and it can start by just looking through files of images back in the days when Corona meant a cold beer! Wishing everybody a day filled with memories, conversations with friends you've lost touch with, and a long hug if you're quarantined with your family, and a virtual hug in cyberspace if you're flying solo. Oh, and apologies to my followers who heard me quote Sargeant Esterhaus and credit the wrong TV show. It was Michael Conrad on Hill Street Blues! Happy Sunday, everybody - stay safe, healthy, and be careful out there.  by Skip Cohen "Group f/64 was a group founded by seven 20th-century San Francisco Bay Area photographers who shared a common photographic style characterized by sharply focused and carefully framed images..." Wikipedia Yesterday was day five for the f64 Lunch Bunch, and once again, there was a lot of good solid content shared. Plus, questions from the attendees created more ideas and food for thought as we all work to find some acceptable level of normalcy in dealing with social distancing. Sadly, as I've written a few times, there are still too many photographers who have taken shelter in place to mean EVERYTHING. It's intended to help you protect yourself, your family and slow down the spread of the virus, NOT apply to every aspect of your business. You can maintain social distancing in cyberspace and still keep in touch with your clients and the needs of your community. Joe McNally joined us yesterday for day 5 of the Lunch Bunch. The YouTube video is below. He shared a lot of great insight into the impact the pandemic has had on our lives and thoughts on taking advantage of the downtime. There was a lot of additional content shared at yesterday's "lunch." Rather than just giving you the links, I decided to give you a screenshot of where the link is taking you. Each banner below is a live link, making it even easier for you to get to each resource. Just click any banner to visit the website we were sharing.
Last but not least are all you fans who became attendees this week. As I've said every day - we'll get through this, but in the meantime, keep sharing your ideas, stay healthy, and "Be careful out there!"
Join us for lunch on Wednesday, April 1, at 2:00 pm for the next f64 Lunch Bunch. The link to join is below, and I can promise you some fun surprises. Remember "fun?" It's a word that's been a little lost for all of us lately, but together we can get it back!  by Skip Cohen
This is an incredibly difficult time for all of us, especially photographers. Sadly, I'm hearing people who are sheltering in place with EVERYTHING, including their business and client relationships. Now is the time that social media can play it's most significant role ever in helping you maintain your presence and brand awareness. As I've written so many times before - your website is about what you sell, but your blog is about what's in your heart. So...USE YOUR BLOG to maintain contact with your clients. We're all in this together, and you've got a unique opportunity to be more helpful than at any time in the past. The other day during the conversation with the f64 Lunch Bunch I mentioned sharing ideas on blog content. So, here's a starting list of topics, and I'll keep adding to it in the days ahead.
This list is hardly all-inclusive, but it should give you a starting point to use some of this downtime to build content for the pipeline. When you've got a dozen posts ready to go...then start posting at least twice a week. We'll get through this mess, and business and life will come back to some level of normalcy. In the meantime, you can be a leader in your community, and it's really simple - just be helpful!  by Skip Cohen "Group f/64 was a group founded by seven 20th-century San Francisco Bay Area photographers who shared a common photographic style characterized by sharply focused and carefully framed images..." Wikipedia And just like the original f/64 group, we started the Lunch Bunch to help you with ideas to sharpen the focus on your business and establish a more robust framework for the future. We've got only one goal - to plant a few seeds to help you grow during this challenging downtime. There are too many of you who have taken shelter in place to mean EVERYTHING. It's intended to help you protect yourself and your family, NOT apply to every aspect of your business. This is our fourth program in the series, and each one has been jam-packed with great content and more ideas to raise the bar on your skillset, be involved in the community, expand your reach with your blog and relationship building...and the list goes on and on. Anne Geddes joined us yesterday for day 4 of the Lunch Bunch. The YouTube video is below. She shared a lot of inspirational insight to help you find those nuggets of joy so important to keep your heart in the game! Join us today at 2:00 PM EST when Joe McNally joins the Lunch Bunch. Don't miss the opportunity to pick up new ideas to help make the most of this time when your business has changed so dramatically. Click on the button below at 1:55 pm EST - we always get the room opened early. Who said there's no such thing as a free lunch? There were some great links to help you through the downtime, shared in yesterday's program. You'll hear them discussed in the video.
From the Q & A: https://www.ppa.com/inittogether From Skip: https://www.fanniemae.com/portal/media/corporate-news/2020/covid-homeowner-assistance-options-7000.html From Don: https://infringement.report From Steve: https://www.digitalphotopro.com/newswire/resources-for-photographers-during-the-coronavirus-crisis/ https://phlearn.com/resources/ Michael’s Bourbon Blog: http://chasingneat.com From Will: https://www.ppa.com/join/march-2020-gift-campaign  by Skip Cohen This is going to be a strange year for members of the class of 2020. With graduation typically just 7-10 weeks away, there's a good chance very little will be happening in terms of significant events wrapping up their high school education. That means those of you who are senior photographers have a huge responsibility to help the class of 2020 enhance the celebration as much as possible. While this post is an infomercial for Marathon's BOGO program on grad cards, it's got a much higher purpose - to help build your brand for future grads and, at the same time, help parents find other ways to celebrate and share their pride. I'm a big fan of grad cards and how they can be used to celebrate, spread the news and, despite the current pandemic, recognize the accomplishments of today's seniors. It all starts with your grad card sales kits, giving you everything you need to help this year's class and their parents design a unique announcement.  The design options are infinite, with 50 different basic designs, five foil options, color combinations, paper choices, and the list goes on and on. And, to help you through the process, Marathon's staff is there to help. They're open and in production.  At a time when everyone is looking for ways to maintain some level of normalcy in business, grad cards represent one of the best tools you have to help families celebrate and appreciate images you captured and created before Covid-19 changed their lives. Think back to the pride you had in the quality of the senior portraits you captured initially. Now it's time to put them to the very best use and create more ways to share the memories! Click on any image in this post to link to Marathon's Grad Card promotion, and don't forget BOGO pricing helps your profitability, giving you more flexibility in what you offer your clients.   800-228-0629  by Skip Cohen "Group f/64 was a group founded by seven 20th-century San Francisco Bay Area photographers who shared a common photographic style characterized by sharply focused and carefully framed images..." Wikipedia Like the characteristics of the great f/64 photographers in the early 1900s, we started the f64 Lunch Bunch to help with ideas to sharpen the focus on your business and establish a stronger framework for the future. We've got only one goal - to plant a few seeds to help you grow during this challenging downtime. We're all in this together. We have no choice but to shelter in place, but that doesn't mean shelter in place from your business, raising the bar on your skillset, building marketing plans for the near future, or helping your community. Jen Rozenbaum joined us yesterday for day 3 of the Lunch Bunch. The YouTube video is below. You'll immediately understand what makes Jen's style of teaching and especially her outlook on life so incredible. She shared a lot of great insight to help you fine-tune your skillset during downtime, stay involved in your community, and be prepared to hit the ground running when this is over. During the conversation, she mentioned a video she did on the similarities between her battle with breast cancer for two years and dealing with the coronavirus. I promised I'd grab it from her YouTube channel. I've share it here below. And, Steve Brazill shared information about MasterClass.com and a special promotion they're doing. Members of MasterClass have been given "a free MasterClass All-Access Pass to give to someone whose life you’d like to make just a little better right now." If you know a MasterClass member, now's the time to give them a shout. This is a perfect time to take advantage of their online programs covering so many different topics. Here's the link to find out more. Join us today at 2:00 PM EST when Anne Geddes joins the Lunch Bunch. And tomorrow, we'll wrap up the week with Joe McNally. Don't miss the opportunity to pick up new ideas to help make the most of this time when your business has changed so dramatically. Click on the button below at 1:55 pm EST - we always get the room opened early. Who said there's no such thing as a free lunch?  Click on the banner to listen to the podcast. by Skip Cohen With all but one episode of "Beyond Technique," we've always had a guest. However, this time around, Chamira Young and I wanted to host a very different kind of conversation. We tried to pack as many ideas as we could in our 30-40 minute window to help you think about being proactive in your business right now. The pandemic has left us all with the look and feel of a deer caught in your headlights. But as the reality of the new norm of social distancing and anxiety sets in, too many artists have taken the directive of "shelter in place" to mean everything in their lives, including their business, marketing, and skillset. So, Chamira and I took a shot at packing in a dozen or so ideas for you to consider doing during this downtime. They're not unique, and they clearly take up time...but time is what we've all got. There's an ongoing argument between the media, the CDC, the politicians and "doom and gloomers" over whose crystal ball is more accurate in how long this is going to last. It doesn't matter; we've all got to do everything to protect ourselves and our families for an extended period of time. The silver-lining in these difficult times is there's so much you can be doing to raise the bar on your skill set, stay involved in your community, build a better blog, plan your marketing programs for when things get better, and the list goes on and on. Just remember one crucial thing - you're not alone. We're all in this together, and this has always been an industry where we watch each other's backs and share ideas. "Beyond Technique" is brought to you by... The Max-Macro Bundle Beyond Technique brings you a different perspective each month about business, imaging and sometimes even life. It's a lot like Platypod's goal to keep giving photographers a different perspective and more creative tools to their skillset. From the Ultra and Max Platypods to great accessories like the new goosenecks and multi-accessory kit, they never slow down on developing new products. Right now the Max-Macro Bundle is one of their very best sellers and is on sale. Fine-tuning your skillset in macro and closeup photography is ideal during the downtime at home. As always a BIG thanks to Photofocus.com for sharing great content to help photographers grow their skills in technology, marketing, and business, Photofocus also hosts some of the very best podcasts in photography! They're just a click away.   From DreamLarge.org by Skip Cohen
Yesterday during the f64 Lunch Bunch, the topic of depression and anxiety came up. Everyone is feeling it, some far more than others. For me, my emotions up until recently have been a rollercoaster surpassing the highs and lows of any ride Disney ever created. While I still have moments of anxiety, they're getting farther and farther apart, like speed bumps in a quiet neighborhood. Well, here's my recipe...
The rest of the day is a repeat of short conversations with Sheila, time with the puppies, short breaks whenever I need to step away from what I'm working on. Sprinkled here and there are phone calls with friends, especially people I haven't caught up to recently. Some calls are long catch-ups, others just short to see how a friend is holding up. And, when I do feel overly concerned, I'll call a friend to calm me down. Who I call is directly related to the topic stirring up my anxious gene! For example, "Dr. T," in addition to being the inventor and founder of Platypod, is a full-time pediatrician in New Jersey and has become a very good friend. Being in the medical profession, he's on the frontline of the most accurate information. Plus, he's one of those people who has a personality build on a foundation of staying calm. Throughout the day I catch up on my reading. Our son sent me an article this morning that's worth sharing. "COVID-19: interesting data from Korea and from the Diamond Princess." I'm just sharing one paragraph that helps make the point. But the Diamond Princess cruise ship offers an interesting insight. It had nearly 4,000 people on board—many of them in risk groups. (Somebody who used to perform aboard cruise ships quipped that passengers are mostly "the newlywed and the nearly dead" ;)) You'd expect these packed together on a ship in quarantine to be all infecting each others. And yet...4,061 passengers and crew were examined, on board what effectively became an unintentional virus incubator. Only 712 contracted the virus (about 17.5%), of which 334 asymptomatic (8.2% of the total), leaving 378 (9.3% of the total) ill. Only 7 people died (1.85% of those ill, or 0.17% of all passengers and crew examined), all of them age 70 or older. (Remember, the passenger population is skewed toward the elderly.) And that brings me to one of the most important ingredients to staying calm - stop being obsessed with the news! Sheila and I stopped watching most of the news years ago. We'd record World News with David Muir and then fast forward through everything political because none of us will ever know the truth. Now with the news being all about Covid-19, that fast forward button is getting worn out. We're paying attention and following all the various directives from the health organizations. We're staying home and only going out when absolutely necessary. We wash our hands regularly and even packages from Amazon get opened outside. One of my best friends wrote: Let's get on the other side of this pandemic together... And hopefully we are collectively more wise and ready for the next one. And not listening to the paid doctors of MSNBC as much as the CDC folks who dedicate their lives to solving these problems. And one last ingredient - get out with your camera! Regardless off your business focus, we've all missed Spring! Looking for a moment of tranquility? Nothing beats a camera in your hands. And for those of you who think my sunset shot above was easy, after all, I live in Florida near the ocean, think again. That's Lake Erie in my home town of Painesville, Ohio, a couple of years ago. We'll all get through this if we just stay focused. Our lives, the stock market, and the future will reset. It won't be easy, but when did anything worth having come easy?  Images copyright Jamie Malcolm-Brown. All rights reserved. "Being an artist is dragging your innermost feelings out, giving a piece of yourself, no matter in which art form, in which medium." Henry Rollins by Skip Cohen A fun aspect of putting together each new Tamron Recipes episode has been the search for a quote that seems to fit each new "chef." I didn't know Jamie Malcolm-Brown before my introductory phone call to him. We had a great conversation about his work and the concept behind Recipes. The more we talked, and the more of his work I looked at on Instagram and his website, the more I realized the value of his diversity. He's in love with two completely different genres within imaging - landscape and people. As a landscape photographer, there's a level of solitude as an individual contributor, but it's just the opposite in weddings and portraits. So, relationship building became a topic in our conversation during the podcast, and the more we talked, the more the quote I found seemed to fit Jamie's focus as an artist. Jamie shares a lot of great insight in this new podcast, and it's all at a time where we're all in this challenging state of suspension, social distancing, and hunkering down. While Jamie's wedding and portrait business may be on hold, his life as a landscape artist is not. His images speak volumes as both an artist on land and in the air with a drone. He's giving us a different perspective on the world, and like macro photography, it's a view most of us never see until an artist like Jamie shares his vision! It was no easy task picking images from Jamie's galleries on both his website and Instagram pages. Click on any of his images in this post to visit his Instagram page. Then, follow him and be prepared to look at photograph after photograph that only Jamie and Mother Nature could create. "Chef" Jamie's recipe is a click away if you missed it when it was posted last Tuesday. And for more information on Tamron's 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 lens, click on the banner below. This is an incredibly challenging time for all of us in this industry. But what I love about landscape photography right now, is that it doesn't require social distancing, and Tamron's got some great programs to help with the cost. While the uncertainty of the future is an issue for all of us, this might be the best time to expand your skillset, and whatever gear you love to use most, it's time to stay involved.   Images copyright Jamie Malcolm-Brown. All rights reserved.        Info about great savings is just a click away!  Click on the banner above to watch the video, or just listen to the audio below. by Skip Cohen Day two for the f64 Lunch Bunch, and more great content shared. The video for today's webinar has been uploaded and is filled with some great content. And the audio track is below along with all the links discussed during the conversation. A special THANKS to today's panelists: Larry Becker, Scott Bourne, Steve Brazill, Don Komarechka, Chamira Young and special guest, Scott Kelby. They never slow down in their support for the industry! by Skip Cohen
Day two for the Lunch Bunch, and more great content shared. The video for today's webinar has been uploaded and is filled with some great content. Here's the link to the episode. If you joined us today and were part of the conversation, the links discussed are below. If not, watch the video and these same links are on the video page on YouTube. Scott Bourne kicked off today's show with five great links from companies sharing special offers during the coronavirus pandemic we're all dealing with. Adobe is offering 2 months free of Creative: https://www.adobe.com/covid-19-response/message-from-shantanu.html Avid is offering a 90 day free license for Media Composer Ultimate, Pro Tools, Pro Tools Ultimate, or Sibelius Ultimate: https://www.avid.com/covid-19 Comcast offering 60 days free internet service, and public hot spots: https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19 Zoom online video conferencing has made substantial adjustments to their free account to accommodate for students through July 1 st : https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/covid19.html Frame.io is offering a free 90-day enterprise account, as well as an additional 2TB of free space for 90 days: https://blog.frame.io/2020/03/18/frameio-covid-19-response/ Chamira Young shared the links for more information about Adobe Stock and setting up an additional revenue stream. - Sign up: https://contributor.stock.adobe.com/ - User guide and info on what buyers are looking for: https://helpx.adobe.com/support/stock-contributor.html Larry Becker's link to his FREE ebook download ("absolutely no strings attached") to help photographers getting started in video: bit.ly/free2020recipes Steve Brazill's links to three great episodes from "Behind the Shot" about copyright: https://behindtheshot.tv/2017/06/28/copyright-for-photographers/ https://behindtheshot.tv/2018/10/25/copyright-for-photographers-2018-update/ https://behindtheshot.tv/2018/11/29/photo-copyright-registration-workflow/ This is a great time to expand your skillset and be ready when business comes back...and IT WILL COME BACK! Join us tomorrow at 2:00 pm EST when Jen Rozenbaum joins us and the continued discussion about how to make the most out of this downtime.  Click on the banner above to listen to the podcast.  by Skip Cohen The more of these podcasts Chamira Young and I host, the more we realize the incredible depth of passion and creativity in this industry. Every month, since March of 2017, we've had a new guest join us and talk about their journey as a professional photographer. Eddie Tapp joins us in March. We've been friends going back to my early Hasselblad days in the late 80s. He's one of the most diverse artists in the industry on land, sea, and now in the air! He's covered it all, and I'm not sure there's anything he can't photograph. When I started SCU, we had fun playing off the university concept. Eddie was one of the first members of the "faculty." Everybody was asked the same question, "What advice would you give a photographer just starting out today?" Eddie's answer couldn't have been more on point and perfect to show how he's walked the talk throughout his career: "Vision...have vision...study vision...and become visionary. Photography is an imaging media and it is embedded unconditionally in vision. Start your vision at the point you want to be at, and in a season of time, bring your vision into focus deciding on the type of equipment, client, quality of work, and bank account that your vision reveals to you. Today, it isn't enough to be a great photographer, wizard of light, or an impressive Photoshop expert...You must develop a vision, your own vision, get truly excited about it, and create a trail-blazing path." In the podcast Eddie talks about one of his early clients, "Kansas." He shared their group portrait in an episode of 'Why" four years ago. The image and the backstory will help you get to know Eddie even better. Eddie is an artist, photographer, writer, educator, and somebody, so many of us consider a good buddy! He should be on your radar. His website is just a click away. Images copyright Eddie Tapp.; All rights reserved. Click to view in the SCU Lightbox          by Skip Cohen Lately, the definition of "normalcy" seems to be a moving target. It changes every day as paranoia searches my brain, looking for a vulnerable place to sink its teeth. Life has changed, but the good news is that none of us are alone. We're all in this together, and for once, when you're worried, none of your friends are saying, "Stop being paranoid." Sheila and I both have allergies. This time of year, we sneeze and cough on and off all day long. But even though Zyrtec is a regular product in our house, it doesn't change that split second of paranoia when I hear her cough. And, if I let it take hold, I'll go mad. Sound familiar? But here's the great thing about the industry we're all a part of - we watch each other's backs. I now make it a point to phone a friend or two every day...just to check in. I'm also following everybody on Facebook. I'm taking a few minutes each morning to go through old photographs or albums - I'm following my own self-medicating prescription to get through this nightmare - looking in my rearview mirror. I'm not looking back with sadness, but optimism waiting for the good old days to return, and they will! Two things kicked off my morning to get me on track today. Ralph Romaguera sent me this picture, and all his email said was "Memories." He didn't need to say anymore because it's our memories that are the foundation not to lose sight of how good life really is. It was 2014, and John Sexton received the Lifetime Achievement award from PPA at the Imaging USA convention. That's me, John and Kenny Rogers. I was telling Kenny about how my son's girlfriend's most prized possession back then was the damaged gear train from his Hasselblad ELX that had come in for repair.  As Sheila and I were talking about at that conference, Facebook was doing its share in helping with great memories. Lori Nordstrom was wandering through the archives and hit the "like" button on a shot of the "Young Guns" program from WPPI in 2008, and it came up in my notifications feed. It was a classic moment of looking in the rearview mirror and then telling Sheila about the program. A classic moment in that presentation was Mike Larson demonstrating how he'd set his camera on self-timer and then throw it 20 feet in the air to capture what then became a signature shot of the wedding party. Nobody had a drone back then! And just a few weeks ago at WPPI, I caught up to three of the artists who were part of this program. And Facebook is keeping us connected and the friendships very much alive! I have no answers on how our lives are going to change. There's no question; life is going to be different. Sheila and I haven't been out with friends for a few weeks. Just like you, we're hunkered down and doing our best to stay safe. But we're not willing to accept this is the new normal. The only way to keep the light bright at the end of the tunnel is to cherish where we've been and remember those days will come back. So, I wish everybody a day of peace, good health, and appreciation for all your memories, especially the ones with photos attached! My suggestion for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs is still good with your "Q-mates," (people you're self-quarantined with.) And if you're a solo act, the next best things are Facetime and Skype - go for a cyber-hug. We will get through this. None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, yet still we go forward.
Because we trust. Because we have Faith. Paulo Coelho  by Skip Cohen For many years, in everything I've written about getting the most out of a convention I've talked about never having a meal alone. Sharing a meal with other photographers is a great way to find solutions to the challenges of running a successful business and build your network. Welcome to the f64 Lunch Bunch! Starting Monday, March 23 at 2:00 pm EST and each day of next week a unique group of photographers will be sharing ideas to help you through the challenges created by the Coronavirus. Joining me will be Larry Becker, Scott Bourne, Steve Brazill, Don Komarechka, Robert Vanelli, and Chamira Young. And you never know who else might show up for lunch! We'll be sharing ideas related to marketing, business, finding new avenues for revenue, partnerships, expanding your skillset and wherever else the conversations will take us. We've got only one goal - to help find new ideas during this difficult and unplanned down-time. The diversity of the group covers just about every specialty in photography. And, just like the original Group f/64, recognized for the sharpness in the images they captured - we're hoping to help you fine-tune your focus as well! "Group f/64 or f.64 was a group founded by seven 20th-century San Francisco Bay Area photographers who shared a common photographic style characterized by sharply focused and carefully framed images seen through a particularly Western (U.S.) viewpoint..." Wikipedia So, grab a sandwich and join us for a social-distanced "lunch." Our intent is to be actively sharing ideas for 30 minutes each day. If at some point we need more time we'll either just keep going, or continue the discussion during the next lunch meeting. We also want to stay on point, and will do our best to share nothing but the most useful information. This is meant to be an interactive webinar, so we'll have the ability for up to 100 attendees to ask specific questions, which the panel will do its best to answer. Here's the link: https://zoom.us/j/311493099 And one more thing to think about - this is an incredibly challenging and stressful time in all our lives. While I have a reputation as the industry cheerleader, I can't sugarcoat anything about what we're all experiencing. However, my wife has had the quote below in a frame on the wall of our home for years. Even though I've used it several times in the last week in previous posts, I can't think of a better foundation when thinking about the future. Faith...
is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. |
Starting Monday, March 23 at 2:00 PM EST. Ideas to help your business in these difficult times. Click for more info!
ClickCon 2020 Circle the Dates!!It's rare that a first year conference has the power that ClickCon brought to the industry this past August.
The dates have been announced for 2020 at the Palmer House in Chicago. August 11-14! What a kick! 
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"Why?"Check out "Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog. It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound bite. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. We're over 100 artists featured since the project started. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.
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