The video above was created for a Panasonic dealer meeting in 2015, at which I was the MC. It's a collection of two years of images captured with various LUMIX cameras. While a lot of the creative was done by me, it was thanks to the team at Photodex that gave it the presentation quality it needed.

I used to joke with the Photodex team that I should be their spokesman with a tagline: "If Skip Cohen can use Photodex, anybody can!" I'm the low-tech poster child of this industry because my passion is on the marketing and business side. I know more than I let on, and could capture stunning portraits, but it would take me ten hours, while friends like Tony Corbell or Bobbi Lane would be done in ten minutes!

Here's my point: Today, most of you have the skill set to put together videos for your clients and especially your own marketing. Yet the Internet is jam-packed with websites and "About" pages that would put a rock to sleep! 

​March is rapidly coming to a close, and around the corner, seasonality is about to explode. Take the time to put together your own marketing piece mixing still images, video, and great music. Make your message habit-forming and remind your clients why you're their best choice for capturing their stories!

by Skip Cohen​

During a business crisis, we all do things differently. Often, the things we do are things that should have been done all along, but business was so good. Who cared if the expenses were out of line, you were overstaffed, etc. Well, the pandemic, business-wise, is behind us. The potential for 2023 to be a strong year is looking good for most photographers. So what would happen if you made some of those reactionary things you did a few years ago part of your standard operating procedures?

Whether you've got an active blog or just a Facebook page where you're sharing ideas - see if this list makes sense:

• ​Coloring Books for Kids: Convert your images to line art and send them to your clients for their kids to use as coloring book pages. Think about the last family portrait you did - how cool would it be for a kid to have a customized coloring book of their own family?
• Build a Community Calendar: Be a clearing house for non-profit activities in your community. Remember that each event you share also puts you in the spotlight for that organization.
• Share the Joy! This one came from Anne Geddes years ago. She started requesting images from people that meant JOY. You can do the same in your community and on your blog, Instagram page, and Facebook.
• Photo Tips: There are things you do daily that can help Mom and Dad become better photographers. Share a different idea in each post about exposure, composition, posing, fill-flash, etc.
• Great Places to Photograph: Share places you like to photograph in your community. 
• Gift Ideas: You might be tired of canvas prints, but your clients aren't. Call your lab and ask, "What's new?" I love Bay Photo's Performance EXT Metal prints. 
• Technology Updates: Be a resource to your readers. What's new they might enjoy hearing about that relates to capturing their own memories. With the quality of the cameras in today's cell phones, everyone can capture great images - and don't worry about them stealing business from you. 
• Your Favorite Charity: Highlight an upcoming event. And attend the event as a journalist and share the images with your readers and the non-profit organization as well.
• Important Camera Gear: This is a little more for the advanced reader, but you're the expert again.
• Profiles In Your Community: Share stories about people in your community.
• Pets of the Community: Pets are always a strong subject, and people love sharing and talking about them.
• Photo Tips for Kids: Give kids ideas on things to photograph. You might even want to set up a photo contest. 
• Holiday Cards and Stationery: It's early, but is it really? Now's a good time to get Mom thinking about images for her family cards this holiday season, but don't stop there. How about helping with pictures to use for thank-you notes and stationery?
• How to Be a Storyteller: Share ideas on how to tell a story with images.
• Slideshows: Pick a topic that's current now - it could be something as simple as cooking a family dinner with the first barbecue of Spring! (Okay, I live in Florida, and my grill is ready to go all year long, but I haven't forgotten my days of winter in Ohio!) 
• Throwback Thursday: I love Throwback images. They're a great way to remind Mom it's time for an updated family portrait. Easter, Mother's Day, graduation, and Father's Day are all around the corner. It's up to you to plant the seed!

This list is hardly all-inclusive, but each idea has the potential to blossom into other aspects of the business. They all center around your expertise as an artist in the community. Successful marketing is all about building relationships. Nothing builds relationships faster than being helpful to your readers!

​​by Skip Cohen

It's Marketing Monday, and wandering through my archives, I found this short post I shared many years ago. I found it helpful for a couple of challenges I'm working with currently. I love it when an article has content without an expiration date.

Most of you are focused on what you can do to make 2023 your best year in business to date. That means you've got to focus on understanding your target audience, your skill set, branding, and the list goes on and on.  

I found the following gem from Charles Chic Thompson. While he added some humor to the concept, think about each of his ten points. More than likely, you'll agree he's dead on and might even be worth tracking down one of his books.

​Years ago, in my Polaroid days, I put together some great little programs for the camera stores. Several people were surprised at my creativity - but I did nothing except talk to the sales reps and the dealers. I asked the camera store owners, "What would it take for you to double your sales with us next year?" With the sales reps, the question was, "If we doubled your quota, what would you need to make the number?"

All the answers were out there - all I had to do was listen!

And it's the same for building a more substantial business for you in 2023. Pay attention to your target audience. Take the time to brainstorm and just write down each idea. Remember not to work in a vacuum - whether a business employee, family member, friend, or associate, you need a fresh pair of ears and eyes on key projects.

​Most important of all, I love number four - take a break when you need it. Walk away from the problem you're trying to solve and come back fresh!

by Skip Cohen

Just a reminder - this is a "NO Business Zone" on Sundays. It's my time to step away from discussing marketing and hopefully talk about something more personal in my life and maybe yours.

Sheila and I were watching something on Netflix the other night, and one of the characters talked about "Someday" not being a real day of the week. He referenced how often people push their dreams to the back burner, convincing themselves that "today" needs to be postponed. Well, that got me thinking about my own life and experiences right up to today. There was a time when I was almost exclusively a "Someday" guy.

At least forty years ago, I was fortunate to meet Ed Foreman, who sadly passed away not long ago. Polaroid had hired him as a motivational speaker for a divisional meeting, and I always remembered his message. I'm going to be paraphrasing one that hit me particularly hard...

Here's what so many of you do, as one spouse says to the other:

"Just wait until I get that next promotion and we have a little more money coming in - then we're really going to have some fun."

A few years later, "Just wait until we move into the new house - wow, are we going to have fun!"

A few years later, "As soon as the kids are out of college, we'll kick back and have some fun. We'll do that travel we've always wanted to do."

Later on..."Just wait until the kids are married and out of the house..."

Then, years later, lying in your coffin, on the way to the cemetery, it hits you, "Oh my God, I forgot to have fun!"

Several times during his presentation, he talked about life being about living, laughing, and loving. I never forgot his presentation, and the comment in a movie about "Someday" this past week brought it back.

Each of us, at one time or another, has put a dream on hold - we've made "Someday" a day of the week and let the stress of excess baggage get in the way. We've taken things that belong active in our hearts and put them in storage.

And here's my point this morning - all future "Somedays" need to be canceled. If there's something you've always wanted to do, then start the process now. Don't let the naysayers get in the way, and stay focused on living, laughing, and loving. I know it sounds sappy, but you know how to focus your camera - so how about focusing on your dreams, even the little ones?

One more favorite from Ed Foreman that fits - stop worrying about what people think or all the what-ifs your mind creates:

"Worry is nothing less than the misuse of your imagination!"
Ed Foreman

Wishing everybody a day of nothing but living, laughing and loving. If you've got a vision of something you've always wanted to do - then start the process today or tomorrow, but NOT "Someday." Make it a day that if you kept a journal, it would take six pages to write about! Nothing beats creating memories with the people you love the most.

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

by Skip Cohen

I've shared a lot of Throwback Thursday shots from past dive trips, but this was one of the best. However, there's never been a truly bad one.

For at least ten years, a group of us dove together typically twice a year. This trip was a live-aboard with the Aggressor fleet to Truk. Truk represented a significant battle in WWII with some of the most beautiful wreck diving in the world. From battleships to aircraft, tanks, and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition on the ocean floor, it's a never-ending contrast of the war combined with the beauty of fish and the undersea growth corals, and plant life.

What brings back memories are the photographs. On that table above are at least three Hasselblads in underwater housings, several Nikons, and a ton of Ikelites. Thanks to my daughter and a fisheye lens, she captured the most important area of the boat - the briefing area and equipment table. But like everyone who owns a fisheye lens - making people look like Jiminy Cricket, as she did with my buddy Bob Rose and me, just adds to the fun.

If you haven't gone in search of your own throwback memories today, what are you waiting for? Old photographs remind us of the incredible career choice we made to be a part of this industry. Very little beats a quick look in your rearview mirror and helps remind you of the memories yet to be captured with a camera in your hands.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

​This certainly isn't a new topic, but lately, I've visited some websites where the artists go on and on about everything except what their target audience needs to hear! The first tab you want to "hook" your clients with is your galleries - then comes your About page. Your About page should focus on building trust with your potential clients.

I've written so much about this over the years, but many of you still don't get it! This is a short post today, but hopefully, well worth your time.

• Stop talking about your gear! Most clients don't care what you shoot with. 
• Stop talking about your awards! Unless you won a Pulitzer, talking about print competition awards especially will have little or no impact. Most consumers don't know what PPA, WPPI, and many other associations are!
• Nobody cares how you got started! It seems harsh, but the average consumer doesn't care who gave you your first camera.

Remember, women make 98% of the purchase decisions to hire most of you. That means "Mom" and brides are the ones looking at your work. So remember your target audience when you write about your background for your About page. Here's what they want to hear:

• Talk about why you love being a photographer.
• Share your passion for people and capturing memories.
• Be sappy - this is an opportunity to show your love for the craft.
• Describe how clients trust you to capture images that tug at their heartstrings. Remember, you're not just their eyes at an event, but their hearts as well!
• Write about your dedication to exceeding client expectations and building relationships.

The biggest question new clients have is whether or not you can be trusted to capture the images they want. Will you be able to meet their mindset?

Last but not least - write it all in the first person and include a signature. (With security issues these days, a facsimile of your signature is fine.) Write your About section as more of an artist's statement and stay relevant to what your target audience needs to hear. 

Every visit to your website is a potential opportunity to start a new relationship or expand an old one. Exceed consumer expectations right out of the block with extraordinary images in your galleries, followed by a strong About section! 

And, if you're doing a marketing video for your About page, follow the same rules and let your personality shine through. But keep it short - my suggestion is 1-3 minutes and use the time to accompany your narrative with your very best images, along with a short clip or two of you working with a client.

​Technically, we're still in the "slow season," so take the time to review your About page - is it saying everything you need it to?

by Skip Cohen

Circle the Date: April 5th at 11AM PST and 2PM EST

There are a lot of great online programs these days, but nothing beats two remarkable artists joining forces for an outstanding event. Bob Coates and UK photographer Gavin Phillips are teaching together!

Bob Coates will be teaming up with UK photographer Gavin Phillips to share a webinar on artistic Photoshop Actions that Gavin has designed for creating watercolors and paintings from your photographs. When you sign up for the webinar you’ll get two backgrounds as a bonus. If you can’t make the live event you’ll be able to view the recorded version.

Learn more and click here to sign up.

by Skip Cohen
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I ALWAYS jump the marketing/business track on Sunday mornings, but today is a special jump. It's my wife Sheila's Birthday, and while she'd prefer not to discuss it, if a guy can't wish his best buddy "Happy Birthday" on his own blog, what's the world coming to? 

The fun part of this is that so many of you have met her at conventions, worked with her on different projects, and photographed the two of us in several of the images above. Over the years, we've laughed about getting out to dinner with associates and friends at various events because everyone always wants to sit next to Sheila.

We may have met in second grade but were never friends - we just ran in different circles. However, the friendship kicked off after a 40th high school reunion, and here we are today on a "do-over" that's made laughing, loving, and living a non-stop priority.

Being a full-time muse is no easy job when you're married to a knucklehead like me. Yet, over and again, while it's her heart I love the most, her business head always pushes me to think outside the box. "Inspiration" is a synonym for "muse," and it's so true.

So, Happy Birthday to my best bud! And while you might not want to recognize you're a year older, you keep getting better! When I started pulling photos to build that collage, each brought back many great memories. And with the four of us (the pups, Lucy and Belle), we're just going to keep making more. Thank you for always believing in me and being my muse - where would I be without you?

And to all of you, thanks for staying with me this morning, but be thankful I don't break out into an old Righteous Brothers song...

Happy Sunday everybody...make it a day filled with memories to savor! Spend it with somebody special and remember to let them know how much you appreciate them. Make it a day without baggage - don't let anything get in the way of sharing time with the people you love the most!

by Skip Cohen

Ever had a friend who you haven't known for very long, but it seems like they've always been in your life?

Meet Lizzy Gadd - an accomplished artist who simply doesn't slow down on her passion for the craft. I met Lizzy through Platypod. Two years ago, when she did her first gallery sale, Sheila and I fell in love with her work and bought a print, which hangs in our dining room today.

She and Kris Andres joined "Dr. T" the founder of Platypod, when the company launched its Kickstarter campaign for the new eXtreme, on The Grid last year. Even better, we talked them into spending a couple of days with us before and after the launch. We all live such busy lives, and it's rare to get quality time to get to know each other.

On March 16, Lizzy will launch her annual gallery sale, which just keeps getting better. The statement on Lizzy's site, About the Limited Edition Collection, which is eighteen images taken over the last year says it all:

I am beyond excited to release these top favourite images as my most limited edition prints yet. The new print series includes several adventurous, fairytale-like and surreal self portraits that portray a sense of connection to nature and courage in the wild unknown.

This year, I am also including a wildlife collection of images for the pure animal/nature lovers out there! My hope is that these works of art can make a powerful statement in your home, bringing elements of awe, courage, peace and beauty to your daily life – all feelings I felt while creating these images.

CIRCLE THE DATE: March 16 at 6:00 AM PST - for Lizzy's 48-hour 50% off sale. And as stunning as her work is, nothing matches her passion for the craft. Plus, 10% of all proceeds go back to protecting wildlife and nature where she regularly shoots.

Lizzy needs to be on your radar - - She's giving away a free Large 36" x 24" print from the new collection. She'll be drawing the print winning name at random from the list of people who enter/sign up for her newsletter here: Print Giveaway / Print Launch Sign-Up List

And whether you're interested in acquiring a Lizzy Gadd print or not, check out her catalog - from the text to the layouts to the images she's chosen - Lizzy never does anything halfway!

by Skip Cohen

This is a very short post, but with an important link.

With Spring seasonality for portraiture, weddings and events, also comes some great opportunities for photographers to pick up additional gear at significant savings. Tamron just announced their March Mega Sale with sixteen different lenses on this new program. 

I had fun going through the galleries of six lenses for representative examples of different focal lengths. They're captured by some of the most respected artists in the industry, but don't take my word for it. Click on the collage above or the banner below and check the galleries out yourself. Then click on the map to the right and wander into your local Tamron dealer!

Tamron never slows down on their goal to manufacture some of the finest glass in imaging, and now they've got a sale to match!

by Skip Cohen
​
The fun of Throwback Thursday, for me, is in the hunt. So as I started my search this morning, I looked back through the SCU archives. While the image only goes back to 2017, it represents so many different aspects of memory-making photographs.

First, the image itself is one of my favorite macro shots by the mad scientist himself, Don Komarechka. Second, the image was captured very early on in our friendship. He lives in Bulgaria today, but that doesn't keep us from a phone call every few weeks. Third, Don's part of the Platypod team, which I joined in 2019. As one of the company's most recognized ambassadors, he's regularly pushing the edge of the creative envelope to see what else he can do with Platypod gear.

The image above was featured in a series I did for several years called "Why?" Click on the ant to listen to the short podcast as Don explains his technique. And if you're interested in macro work, I believe his book, The Universe at Our Feet, is the finest resource guide for macro/closeup work in imaging.

Regardless of how far back you choose to dig - photographs and videos from the past create a never-ending flow of memories. They remind us how important imaging is to our lives and the world. However, you don't have to dig very deep or spend a lot of time searching for old images to appreciate the career path most of us have chosen.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

You can't be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it.
You have to go down the chute.
Tina Fey

by Skip Cohen

If you're new to reading my Sunday posts, here's a short warning - I always go off the topic of business and marketing. 

Last night Sheila and I, wandering through Netflix, found a movie, "This is Where I Leave You." It was released in 2014 with an all-star cast including Jane Fonda, Tina Fey, and Jason Bateman. And for those overly macho film seekers out there, I suppose it would be classified as a chick-flick. 

In one scene, Jason Bateman talks about his life and how he's always played it safe. He stayed away from risks and anything that was complicated.  That kicked off a conversation I later had with Sheila, and it's been on my mind all night. Up until 2009, I always played it safe. I waited for things to come my way instead of going after them. I stayed away from complicated and never strayed from the path I was on.

I remember deciding it was time to leave WPPI, and everyone thought I was nuts except for one person, Sheila. I've written about this before, but she asked, "What are you afraid of?" Without one second of hesitation, I answered, "Failure!"

On April 1, 2009, I handed in my resignation, and while it's never been easy, I've never looked back. And because of that, one foundation-building risk, I've got no regrets. I stopped playing it safe and I see it reflected in so many decisions I make every day. 

If you play it safe in life, you've decided you don't want to grow anymore!
Shirley Hufstedler

​Growth only happens outside our comfort zone. I'm not suggesting it's been easy, but I'm grateful for a partner supporting taking a risk. I had lived vicariously through the entrepreneurial spirit of so many of you. I wanted to see if I could walk the talk, and while I've got a few scraped knees from falling down, it's been so worth it.

And there's my point - don't stop chasing your dreams. Don't hold back from taking risks. Step outside your routine and stop being so predictable. It's not easy, but there is an outrageous sense of accomplishment at the end of the day - even when you've missed the mark, nothing is cast in concrete. You think it through, analyze what didn't work, and hit it again!

Wishing you a day filled with passion, growth, and, yes, a little risk-taking. Don't overthink that waterslide - take the leap and head down the chute. You'll be amazed at how much you can accomplish taking a different path, and as hokey as it sounds - you'll wake up tomorrow energized over the changes!

​Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

by Skip Cohen

​Cleaning out a closet last weekend, I ran across the baby album my folks put together when I was born. From my hospital bracelet to cards from friends and even the card from the flowers my Dad sent to the hospital, over six months, my mother saved everything. Included in the album was a set of professionally shot baby portraits. When I turned the pages, the photograph above was too much to resist - I had to do an update!

This is a perfect example of why I love Throwback Thursday - it's all about the memories and the things you discover while on the hunt. And if you want to have a little fun with the concept, find one of your old baby pictures and have the nerve to share them with an update!

Sharing old images is a perfect marketing tool. Like "Subliminal Man" on Saturday night live, sharing throwback images with your target audience helps plant those idea seeds for updating family portraits. Nobody has more power than you to get Mom thinking about new photographs for the family album! 

Being able to do what I love and take that passion to help clients is an incredible feeling.
Kyle Garay

by Skip Cohen

​With each new artist in the Tamron Kitchen, the comparison to fine dining and your favorite cuisines gets a little stronger. "Chef" Kyle Garay joins us on Tamron Recipes this month. Again, like a great chef, he uses different ingredients to create each image.

The question asked of each Tamron Chef is, "Can you send us a couple of your most favorite images to share and talk about?" Both images were captured with the Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens. And like so many artists, it's hard to define Kyle's favorite specialty. But there is an underlying theme to every click of the shutter, which he explained on his About page;

At the end of 2020, I decided to take the leap and go full-time with photography. I had quit my career of almost 10 years to pursue my dream of making a living being a professional photographer. By no means was it an easy decision. I would stay up all night thinking what a stupid idea it was, but nonetheless, I kept pushing. I now work full-time as a professional product/brand photographer. I work with a multitude of companies to help them showcase their products through the art of visual storytelling. Being able to do what I love and take that passion to help clients is an incredible feeling.

There were two different clients involved in these images. The top photo of the group celebrating what might have been a touchdown was captured for a hotel chain. They wanted a lifestyle image related to the rooms they offer groups like this. The client for the other photo was Kyle himself. I love that Kyle was just out with his camera shooting for his own pleasure, something many artists often forget about.​
​
One of the fun aspects of this industry is following the careers of relatively new artists. Kyle launched his business into photography just three years ago, but I'll match his passion and love for the craft with any seasoned veteran. Click on either of his two images in today's post and put him on your radar. Follow him on Instagram too. It's going to be fun to watch his career continue to grow.

​Along with Kyle, Tamron's passion for quality is also unstoppable. They're manufacturing some of the finest optics in imaging today. And they never slow down on educational support for the industry. Check out their published event schedule for the year so far. It's just a click away.

Don't miss the significant savings on these last days of their Winter Savings program; just click the banner below.

by Skip Cohen

Up until IUSA, I only knew Kevin Dooley a little. However, we share a lot of mutual friends, attend the same conventions, and we've been saying "Hi" in passing for a long time. We caught up in Nashville, and I've been following him on Facebook.

Our growing friendship is a perfect example of why you need to attend every conference/convention you can. It's all about meeting new people, building a stronger network, and getting to know other photographers better. IUSA next year is in Louisville, January 28-30, 2024. Put it on your calendar, and then make it a point not to let anything get in the way.

I wanted to share Kevin's post for two reasons - First, it drew me in. For years I remember my good buddy Don Blair talking about capturing emotion in portraiture - and it didn't mean each subject had to be looking straight down the lens barrel! The same applies to critters, like this mother/child shot of Kevin's from South Africa.

Meanwhile, while Kevin's images are stunning, ​what he shares with each one is just as unique. ​So to Kevin's point in his post - think about everybody and everything that's made you who you are today. It's an incredible group of people and experiences, and each has contributed.

Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote in Ulysses, "I am a part of all that I have met." The reverse is just as true.

by Kevin Dooley

I certainly have my times when I look to the heavens above with no way to hide the questions of my being who I am. If only I had less sensitivity, would I be able to float through life with a much calmer and happier heart. If only my skin was as thick as leather and even the harshest of unkind words could never leave even a scratch. If water rolled off my brow and I never spent another moment wondering if people like me. Imagine how much easer life would be.

Yet I also ask myself if I were a bit more harsh, a bit more of who cares, that's not my problem, would I see what I see in the world with the same understanding? Does goodness, expression, love, kindness, and caring come from being aware of the other ends of the world? When I look for a photograph, I look for my experiences, my feelings, my expression. So I suppose all that we are made of has its goods and its difficulties. Ever ask yourself what makes you who you are?

Note: Kevin and Tricia Dooley own IDUBE Photo Safaris. If you're looking for an incredible adventure, check out their website and follow Kevin on Facebook.

by Skip Cohen

So often, you get tired of some of the best ideas to offer your target audience. You need to remember how many people have never received them as a gift. A great example is slideshows for your clients. 

Mother's Day and Father's Day are right around the corner. In a way, they mark the start of Spring seasonality in professional photography, especially if you're a family artist. Slideshows are the ideal product to have in your mix of client offerings. 

Photodex closed its doors several years ago, but the value of the ideas they shared over the years still remains. And they're all still out there for your viewing in the Photodex archives on YouTube.

Check out the two videos below from their archives. Being a successful photographer is all about exceeding client expectations. I can't imagine any client not being ecstatic to have a presentation like these loaded with your professional quality images.

Don't let 2023 go by without adding slideshows to your list of products and services. With today's technology, you can combine short video clips with still images and great music to create a never-ending stream of "show-stoppers" for your clients. 

Think about the renewed sense of family in the world today. It came about at an incredible price as everyone hunkered down through the pandemic. And even though things today are far better than they were last year, there are still challenges in travel and often families being together. Now, think about what Grandma has missed the most...her family.  

If the idea is old school for you because you've been doing it all along, then use the slideshow concept to help you plant a few idea seeds with your audience for this year's Mother's Day and Father's Day offerings. Add in a legacy program offering videos of the most senior family members telling their stories, and you've got a great way to start getting clients excited about working with you.

You snooze - you lose! Take the time now and start creating a game plan to capture more sales this spring and make the 2023 busy season begin with the explosion it deserves.

by Skip Cohen
​
Regarding my topics in Sunday Morning Reflections, I always run amuck from business and marketing. Today's a perfect example, as I describe yesterday.

I have a closet in my office that's floor-to-ceiling storage. While it's not a big closet, I had stored years of gear, tradeshow swag, discs, cables, computer gear, notebooks, papers to be filed, and the list goes on and on and on...

When I took out the second full bag of trash, Sheila joined me. I'm unsure if she really wanted to help, or it was the entertainment value of watching her husband stress over the lifeboat drill of what I wanted to save versus let sink with the Titanic!

As I sorted through the treasure, all I could think about was my buddy Bob T. His wife, Cindy, used to make cleaning his office a requirement before he headed out on one of our scuba trips. We used to laugh about it on every dive trip.

So, now I'm left with the question of whether or not I'm a hoarder at heart and deserve to be on some reality trade show, seeing if Geraldo will come in with a camera crew to see the treasures behind Skip's closet door, or do I need counseling?

Here are a few of the great finds...

• I must have at least 100 badges from various tradeshows for me, Sheila, and even my Dad when I took him on HonorFlight.
• Goodwill is getting five of the seven trade show swag notebooks.
• How many organizational backpacks does one need?
• USB cables - is there some reason every piece of electronic gear has to have a slightly different plug? 
• Baseball hats fall into the same category as notebooks and backpacks - I can only wear one at a time, but God forbid I should throw one away.

But the best find was the aromatherapy gear I bought years ago. I purchased two essential oils: one for "Focusing, Centering, Clarifying" and the other for "Energizing, Uplifting and Refreshing." The minute I found them, I had the diffuser cranked up. Cleaning out years of hoarding, I went with the need to focus and clarify. It was working - I was tossing things out left and right.

I took a break for a little while and forgot to shut it off. Within half an hour, the whole house smelled like a cross between a French whorehouse and a dumpster at Denny's. I thought about switching scents to uplifting and refreshing when Sheila had a better suggestion - "Shut the damn thing off!"

Everyone has a closet, desk, or kitchen drawer where they stash memories. It's like a shoebox of old photographs. The cleanup was a kick to do and brought back memory after memory, but it's never-ending. There are eight drawers/baskets that are filled with more junk. There's no telling what I might find, like another WPPI lapel pin from 1997. Who knows when I might need a couple of blank cassette tapes, floppy discs, or a fax machine (used twice over the last ten years)?

Here's my point, while we're still in the "slow season," take the time to clean out a drawer or closet. If you're like me, it will be a kick. It'll also be an incredibly slow process as each memory-making-what-the-hell-do-I-do-with-this treasure sees the light of day.

Wishing everybody a weekend filled with discovering buried treasure you forgot about years ago. Like Throwback Thursday photographs, everything you save has a heartbeat. You don't need to let go of the memories, just the clutter.

Knowing that you can find anything on the Internet, I searched for a great quote about closets...

May your heart and your closet be full.
Anonymous

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

by Skip Cohen

​WPPI 2009 is still the biggest and most attended show in the association's history. In addition to setting records for attendance and the number of exhibitors, there were two major parties. Thanks to Nikon's sponsorship, we took over the MGM Garden Arena, and John Popper and Blues Traveler were the band. It was definitely a night to remember.

In wandering through old files recently, I ran across this one of the WHCC crew with the band backstage after the concert. It's a perfect reminder of the memories old photographs capture and the foundation so many of our careers have been built upon.

If you haven't already done it today, it's Throwback Thursday - take the time to find a few old photographs and then savor those moments from the past. A look in your rearview mirror now and then is the perfect way to celebrate your skill set as a magician - helping people turn intangible memories into tangible photographs they hold for a lifetime!

​Happy Throwback Thursday!

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

If only a button on our keyboards reminded us to listen to our inner voice! *sigh* There is no button, but that shouldn't slow you down.

We're only five weeks from April, typically the start of spring seasonality. So, regardless of your specialty, what are you planning for your business?  

Several times over the years, I lacked the confidence to tackle a new project. I'd ask just about everybody I knew for their opinion, afraid to decide on my own. But as I got older, I still needed advice, but I learned to trust my gut and listen to my heart.

So, take some time NOW and think through your short-term plans for your business. The clock isn't going to slow down, but there's time to change plans if something just doesn't feel right. You need to focus on the long term too, but for now, with Mother's Day, prom, graduation, and Father's Day all coming up, you need to be ready.

Proofread your ideas and plans like you'd spell-check something you're writing. There's something unique that happens when you "proofread" one more time - you catch things you might do better. It's not about fixing things that might be wrong but discovering better ways to tackle a project.

As always, you know where to find me if you need a sounding board!