  by Skip Cohen
This is going to be a different kind of Throwback Thursday post. I love hunting for old photographs. So this morning, when I went off searching for something to share, I ran across the images here. I might have even shared one of them a few years back. They're from 2012, and while they still make me smile, they also bring back pain and sadness. But that doesn't mean they're not special moments to be cherished. Sheila and I moved to Sarasota in the fall of 2011. I could live anywhere my computer could plug in, and Sheila was able to take early retirement from Akron Children's Hospital. My Dad was caring for my mother, who was fighting Alzheimer's. For the first time in my life, I could be where my folks were, and Sheila was willing to join me. My Mom met Sheila a couple of years before Alzheimer's tightened its grasp. They hit it off immediately, and no matter how much of Mom's memory would be attacked over the next few years, she locked in on Sheila. In later years, she'd tell people she and Sheila had done volunteer work together and known each other since they were kids. The story's accuracy didn't matter - it was the love Sheila felt for Mom and how my mother lit up every time Sheila came into the room. My mother passed away in 2013, but we had almost three years with her before that. And there are no words to describe how precious those memories have become. The images above were from Mom's birthday in February 2012. At some point during dessert, she had a moment of clarity and grew incredibly sad. Sheila hugged her, and Mom said, "What's going to happen to all my things!" Sheila responded with the assurance that we loved her things and would take care of them. Seconds later, Mom was relaxed - the crisis had passed - replaced by one of Mom's favorites, pineapple upside-down cake. But my point isn't so much the memories right now but a suggestion to many of you who are living the same nightmare. Alzheimer's is a horrible disease that robs you of your loved ones as you watch. And while feeling helpless is natural, you don't have to do it alone. My Dad and I joined the Caregiver Support Group here in Sarasota. Every Thursday morning, we'd head off to group, and Dad would join in the conversation circle as husbands, wives, and adult children shared their frustration. For my Dad's generation, expressing your innermost feelings and sadness was something you just didn't do. Yet, he opened up, participated, and through the group, learned new ways to cope. So, two suggestions today... First, if you know somebody who's losing a loved one to Alzheimer's, encourage them to get into a support group. One call to a senior center or the Alzheimer's Association, and you'll be on your way to finding them a little help. Second, pick up "The 36-Hour Day." The book was so helpful to me in understanding what was going on and learning how to better cope with Mom's illness. (Click on the thumbnail for more info on Amazon.com) We lost the battle, but those last years gave us moments we still cherish today. And on those days when, as we used to say, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, my Dad would say, "I'm going to take every moment like this and squeeze all the joy out of it and savor it!" Just because a Throwback Thursday photograph isn't filled with laughter - doesn't mean it isn't chocked full of love.
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 Intro by Skip Cohen The real benefit of Facebook often has nothing whatsoever to do with being social but raising the bar on the quality of your craft. After all, the common denominator most of us share is our love for imaging. Wandering through my notifications on FB just now, I ran into this post by Seth Resnick. I've admired his work for many years, and the image he shared drew me to the post. To his point - I'm amazed at how many artists don't calibrate their monitors. Yet, they view, share and print thousands of images. One ingredient to calling yourself a professional photographer is the quality of your images. Not only do you deserve the best, but let's think about your clients. They deserve the best you can create. There's no need to introduce this post further because Seth says it all. So put Seth on your radar; follow him on Facebook and check out his website, especially his upcoming workshops! They'll change your life and raise the bar on the quality of your work! by Seth Resnick
Last night we went out to dinner before going to see Elvis. Leslie and I went to get a bite to eat and the restaurant had at least 25 television screens. On each screen is a Lion Fish from a live feed and Leslie notices that the color is different on every screen and asks me which one is correct? I start laughing and said likely none of them and go on to explain the concept of profiling a monitor and what that means. Ironically I had just gotten off the phone with Eric Meola who had purchased a new Mac with the M1 chip and had a tough go of profiling his NEC/Sharp Monitors. As a photographer you spend your life producing images and processing them but unless you have a calibrated monitor, color becomes a crap shoot. It amazes me how many clients and photographers are making critical judgements about color and are doing so on non profiled or color deceptive monitors. In general, most screens are too bright, and have whatever default color the monitor happens to ship with. Ambient light, the colors of the walls all have an influence on how we perceive color. The bottom line to ensure the colors you see on screen are the same colors from your file, you simply need to calibrate and profile your monitor. Personally I use an i1 Display Pro which is a puck like device or spectrophotometer. I profile once a month and by doing so I am able to create a color guarantee. This helps ensure that when I print, the print can easily represent what I see on my screen and when I send a file to anyone, if they too have a profiled monitor, the image on my screen will match the look they get on their screen. Of course the reality is that many clients and many photographers do not have profiled monitors and the reality is every screen will portray the image differently much like we experienced in the restaurant seeing the same Lion Fish on 25 different screens, each one different.    by Skip Cohen It's summertime, and even with gas prices being absurd, so many of you are traveling both locally and hitting your bucket list on vacation. If you're a wildlife photographer, there's a lot of great content to make you drool in the video below. But regardless of what you photograph, I love how this film was produced...you don't need any more than great music and stunning images to tell a story. Luke Stackpoole takes us to Namibia with his 150-500mm F/ 5-6.7 Di III VC VXD for Sony E-Mount lens. With its focal length and being lightweight, it's perfect for a trip like this. And in terms of the quality of the images, keep in mind that I'm grabbing screenshots from a video. So imagine the quality of the originals! Tamron's making some of the finest glass in imaging. This lens is just one example. As you watch the video, you'll also understand why this lens won a 2022 TIPA Award! But there's one more reason I love sharing a video like this...think about how you'd tell your own story. Sure, this is about exotic travel and wildlife, but how would you tell your story? Put together music with great images, minimal text, and whatever your specialty, there's the potential for a terrific marketing video.  by Skip Cohen
It's Marketing Monday, and while Spring seasonality is behind us, the potential for new business and getting back on track is still incredible. I'm hearing stories from photographers all over the country about business once again going in the direction of growth! The pandemic took the wind out of everybody's sails, but the definition of failure is not getting back up after being knocked down. To get the attention of your target audience, you've got to make yourself stand out. It's time to get up! Those of you who follow me regularly can guess where I'm going. Here are six areas to focus on NOW! It's the end of the first half, but there's plenty of time to make this one of your best years in business! What are you doing to make yourself different from your competitors?
Here's the bottom line: Leadership opportunities abound for small-business owners these days. And the best thing is, it's not rocket science. You just need to make the effort and get yourself out there. This is about establishing a stronger presence in your community and the six areas above are the tip of the iceberg! And if you're stuck for ideas - ask for help. I'm hear along with so many other people willing to give you a hand. You know how to find me! The standard for excellence has never changed - over-deliver and exceed expectations!  by Skip Cohen It's Sunday morning, and as usual, I'm about to jump the rails and go completely off track from the business and marketing of photography. I've done my best all these years to stay out of the insanity that seems to be happening around me. Sheila and I even stopped watching the news since we never know what to believe anyway! I have been left speechless by one event after another over the last few months...and if I honestly comment about how I feel about so many different issues, I'm going to sound like Archie Bunker! However, Sheila's got a great line that's so appropriate, I'm glad we're older - we won't have to put up with this crap for too much longer! At first, I hated that line, but she's right. Here's my point - there's no tolerance for anybody's opinion these days. America is polarized on multiple levels over dozens of issues...and the range is amazing. I can find people who will argue over their right to wear a Cleveland Indians baseball hat to a game with the same emotion and anger as somebody who believes in Pro-Choice. And at the gas pump the other day, the guy one car over mumbled, Biden sure screwed on this one! Just earlier that day, I read where Exxon Mobil reported more than double its profits for the first quarter, compared with the same period last year! And Sheila and I are gun owners but have no issue with background checks and tighter gun control. And when Covid was at its peak, we simply wore our masks like the supermarket asked - no argument and no challenge of my constitutional rights! Jane Conner-ziser posted the piece below by George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four on her Facebook two years ago yesterday. She shared it again and added "Interesting times!" Was thinking of this today: Double Think: The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them....To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies — all this is indispensably necessary. Even in using the word doublethink it is necessary to exercise doublethink. For by using the word one admits that one is tampering with reality; by a fresh act of doublethink one erases this knowledge; and so on indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the truth." And there's my point; doublethinkers surround us!
Wishing everybody a day of simple peace and, if necessary pleasant solitude. For me, it's going to be time with Sheila and the pups, just appreciating our life together. No hard decisions, just a full heart, and soul. And to all of you, I wish nothing but the same - take a day off from whatever has the hairs on the back of your neck standing up and definitely go for long hugs. That old expression about "it takes a village" couldn't be more accurate today, and we're all the village! Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world!  Image copyright Kevin A. Gilligan. All rights reserved. "The business of life is the acquisition of memories." Downton Abbey - "Mr. Carson" by Skip Cohen If you've followed me for even the shortest amount of time, then you already know me well enough to understand I could never let a quote like that go by without connecting it to imaging. It ties directly to your business as an imaging artist, helping people capture memories. Business is definitely back, and it's exploding over virtually every specialty...but there's still one key challenge, making the community aware of your skillset and establishing top-of-mind awareness whenever they think about photography. One great way is to do an exhibit of your work in your community. One of the best guest posts I've ever shared is thanks to my good buddy, Kevin Gilligan. While it was first shared in 2015, this isn't like the expiration on a carton of milk! There's nothing in here that "spoils," In fact, with social media today, it's gotten even better with age. Your ability to get the word out in your community today is even stronger! Kevin shared so much information I had to run it in three parts. Click on the buttons below for parts 1 and 2; the third section is below. I also added short podcasts to the material - nothing beats hearing from the artist directly on a topic like this. This will sound sappy, but I'm a pretty sentimental guy. I couldn't be more proud to consider Kevin a buddy or Tamron as a supporter of not only SCU but our industry. While Kevin is not a Tamron Image Master today, he's still very active with Tamron and often teaches on their behalf. Every day Tamron is helping thousands of photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images and, in turn, their business or hobby. Both Kevin and Tamron have a very special common denominator; they always work to exceed our expectations! Are You Ready for Your Own Exhibition? Part 3by Kevin A. Gilligan
Tip #11 Test Prints This will be obvious to some, but test prints are critical. You need to know how your image will look on the particular medium that you are using. Half of my images were printed on metal for this show. I ordered several metal prints (dye fused on metal) from several print labs before the show. I experimented with several different finishes on the metal as well i.e. glossy, matte, etc. The paper prints were even more complicated. Each paper has a different print quality, price and displays the ink differently. “HELP”….my head was spinning. I spent many hours working with a printer to get each shot right. Finding the right framer, at the right price, can also be challenging. Your network can be invaluable here. Tip #12 Installation/Hanging Your Images Hanging images can be very challenging. Honestly, I hate doing it. Give yourself enough time. At least a day. If you have done your model (tip #10), then this will be much easier, you already know which images go together as a group, and where specifically each will go. Ask for help, bring a friend who has done this already if you can. Keep in mind that some galleries will hang images with wires and some galleries only want “D” rings. You should ask the gallery how they want the images before you frame them, assuming the gallery is going to help you hang the images. Tip #13 Create a Catalog Create a catalog of your work for the show. Include your artist statement, pictures of the images, the size of the images, the medium, and the price. I made 250 copies of the catalog, and it was well worth it. Hand it out at the show and let people take it home. This will help with your follow-up sales. Tip #14 Sign-In Book Purchase a nice leather bound book for the show and have people sign in and provide their name and email address so you can thank them for coming and invite them to future events. Tip #15 Follow-Up Follow up with your prospective purchasers after the show. Thank those who came to the show and especially those who purchased an image. Tip #16 Hire a Photographer Hire a photographer for the day, so you get images (with you in them for a change) and you can relax. You’ll be happy to have the images of your friends and for use in future marketing and social media efforts. Conclusion: Having a solo exhibition is a landmark in your professional photography career. It says you are serious about your photography and willing to put in much more time and effort than the average photographer. Give yourself lots of time, six-nine months and enjoy the learning process. Nearly 250 people attended my exhibit, I sold a third of my images during the show, and even more after the show. I met collectors and I'm building my mailing list. It was an exhilarating and somewhat exhausting experience. I couldn’t be happier I did it. I hope you do it too. Email me at: kag@photosbykag.com and tell me about your exhibit. You can see my work on my site: www.photosbykag.com.  Top row: Skip Cohen, Jen Rozenbaum, Ryan Schembri, Joe McNally, Dawn and Bob Davis. Bottom row: Bob Coates, Zach and Jody Gray, Adam Sherwin, Roberto Valenzuela, Clay Blackmore, Suzette Allen, Michele Celentano "I am a part of all that I have met." Alfred Lord Tennyson by Skip Cohen
There are so many different things I love about Throwback Thursday. While it starts with the fun of the hunt for old images, it finishes with the backstories and memories of so many incredible friendships over the years. In 2009, after resigning from Rangefinder Publishing and WPPI, with help from a whole lot of great friends, I launched Skip's Summer School. It ran for five summers, three in Las Vegas and two outside Chicago. The collage of the 2013 faculty above was created by Resource Magazine, which in 2013 was giving away four scholarships to the program. 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. I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in the industry, with a journey that's never slowed down. All along the way, I've worked with some of the most talented artists in the world. I've grown because of them; their patience, style, and individual contribution to our industry, as well as my life, can't be measured. Have some fun today! Whether you share a throwback in a blog post or not doesn't matter. Find an old photograph that brings back great memories, and then take some time to enjoy the moment. My opening quote, by 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!  "There are no traffic jams along the extra mile." Roger Staubach Intro by Skip Cohen Nine years ago this week, Amanda from Photodex shared the blog post below. Well, it's perfect for this time of year, as well as this time in business history. To say most of the last few years were tough on business owners would be a colossal understatement. Photodex, who closed their doors a few years ago, was on fire back then! Thousands of photographers were not only using their products but benefitting from outstanding support and advice on how to keep building a successful business and their brand awareness. This post features statements from five different wedding photographers, each sharing an essential tip for success. And while it's wedding-centric, the tips by these five artists apply to just about every business! So, whatever your specialty, if nothing else, pay attention to the bold tips leading into each quote. Remember that today with social media, one customer has the ability to influence thousands of other potential clients for your business. At the start of last year, the analysts estimated almost 300 million people were on the Internet in the United States. In fact, how many of us even know somebody who's not Internet active? The key to building your brand is in great service, which includes EVERYTHING from the quality of your work, to the way you build a relationship with each subject. It includes keeping your promises, responding quickly to communications, and being more than just another vendor in the community. And in terms of Amanda from Photodex, who's been a great friend to so many of us - she always walks the talk. I catch up to her every now and then, because I love her online store, and she was so terrific to work with for so many years. Check out this post from last year about her award-winning jewelry business in Austin, TX! Courtesy of Amanda and Photodex
We're right in the heat of wedding season! So, we reached out to a handful of seasoned pros and asked them to share what they do to go the extra mile and really ‘wow’ their wedding clients. Read their advice below! 1. Be More Than Just Photographers One of the ways we wow our wedding couples is to just do all the little things better, not just be photographers. We show them that we really want their day to be the best ever. That means being there for them when things don’t go as planned. Maybe the groom could use a hand with cuff links or his tie. Maybe the cake table doesn’t have dishes and forks when it’s time to cut. Maybe the bouquets could use water when they are placed at the wedding party table. Maybe we nudge the DJ to get things going when we sense the guests are getting bored. It’s all the little things that add up. The better the wedding, the better our pictures will look. As photographers, we’ve seen lots of weddings, we know when it’s time to step in and give a hand. – Stacey Chance, Discovery Bay Studios Wedding Photography 2. Under Promise and Over Deliver Brides are extremely excited about the work and anxious for everything. The worse thing you can do is promise something and not deliver on time. For example, we like to post a sneak peek on Facebook shortly after the wedding but when the bride’s asks about it, we always say it should be a few weeks after the event. Usually, it’s a few days! That’s the same for delivery of the proof set, products, you name it! It’s not a matter of lying or making up things – be realistic about all of the things that could go wrong with your business (or god forbid your personal life) and take that into account before making promises! – Steven Somfalvi, Artage Pictures 3. Surprise Them Similar to under promising and over delivering, always have some surprises ready for your client. It definitely enhances their experience with your studio and it reconfirms that they are important to you. It can be a free print, product upgrade – really anything. We advertise in a national magazine and they send us a box of them to hand out. Every bride who comes through the door gets one and they just love it! – Steven Somfalvi, Artage Pictures 4. Create Excitement at the Reception We produce same-day slideshows at every wedding. It’s a total surprise to the couple. The bride, groom and their guests are totally floored and I’ve booked weddings of bridal party members because of them. I use ProShow Producer to output to MP4 on to a flash drive and loop it on an LCD flat screen TV at the reception. Joe Pulcinella Photography 5. Be Passionate My secret to wowing the bride and groom and the complete wedding party is being passionate about the wedding day. To me, a wedding day is the most important day in a couple’s life, just after giving birth to their child. I want the experience to be memorable. Quality of photography is very important to bring to the wedding, but your personality is the secret to making the day more memorable. I never demand anything from the wedding. I work with what I got and I make the magic happen. Ego and attitude should never be part of a wedding photographer’s personality. – David Zumaya, Weddings at California   by Skip Cohen There's something a little sadistic about the joy of winter weather when I'm sitting outside in my backyard in June writing this post. Plus, living in Florida, everyone whines when we hit those bone-chilling sixty-degree temps in the winter! I wanted to share this short Tamron video for several reasons. First, it's so well done. Even the music they chose leaves you wanting more than just two minutes! Plus, Ken Hubbard is a buddy who regularly puts Tamron lenses to the test in virtually every kind of weather. Over the last few years, he's taken us all over the world. Last but not least, Alaska is still on my bucket list! Regardless of what lenses you shoot with, the video is a great break from whatever you're working on. And if you haven't checked out Tamron lately - it's time to visit your Tamron Dealer and take a serious look at the 28-75mm F/2.8 G2 lens Ken's traveling with here. Just click on the thumbnail to the right for more information about this remarkable NEW lens from one of the industry's finest manufacturers.   Click on any image above to listen to the new podcast. by Skip Cohen Together with Rich Harrington from Photofocus, we launched "Mind Your Own Business" in 2014. Now, dozens of monthly podcasts later and co-hosting with Chamira Young, I'm blown away by the range of topics discussed. It's not just the diversity but how open each guest has been in sharing their "trade secrets." Terry Clark is no stranger to SCU. He's written guest posts and shared one of his favorite images on "Why?" He's also been a non-stop supporter going back at least twelve years when we first met. He's a journalist, portrait artist, writer, and simply an all-around great guy. However, this podcast is a little different in that Terry's been in the process of renewing his love for film! I'm not sure there's anything Terry can't photograph. What I often appreciate the most in his work comes from his photo-journalist background - his ability to tell a story, often with just one image! Terry needs to be on your radar. Click on any image below to visit his website. I picked a few of my favorites, and it wasn't easy! The tagline he often uses says it all... Smile big, laugh hard and make people happy! Terry Clark   Click to listen to Terry's episode on "Why?" with this image.
   by Skip Cohen As I wrote on Mother's Day - when your folks are gone, the holiday has a different meaning. It's bittersweet. It's Father's Day, and the bitter side is simply missing my Dad...but the sweet side is all the memories. And considering the business we are all in - it's the photographs that bring back the memories of so many great moments in the past. Except for the baby shot of me, there's a story that goes with every image above and hundreds more. Each photograph reinforces great memories and plenty of smiles thanks to imaging. I chose a few of my favorites, but the memories hardly end with just five photos. My Dad was my best buddy for my entire life. He was always there for me, and I learned so much from him. There was never a minute I wasn't proud of him. I remember somebody saying something negative once about dealing with elderly parents. I was sixty then, and all I could think about was how lucky I was. Most people my age didn't have their parents alive, let alone able to spend time with them. Wishing all you Dads out there a terrific Father's Day! I wasn't going to post today and just take the day off, but the more the day went on, the more I knew I was going to write something. So make it a day filled with more memories because today's memories will be worth gold tomorrow! Happy Father's Day...and to quote Jodi Picoult, easily for the fiftieth time... “This is what I like about photographs. They’re proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect.” ...and damn near perfect they were!
 by Skip Cohen One of the fun things about having spent so many years in this industry is the friendships that have come out of everyone's love for the craft combined with their creativity. Glen Clark has been a long-time buddy going back to the early 90s when we were first met on a project to help Kodak. I've written a lot about metal prints, especially outdoors for home decor and restaurants. Thanks to Glen, here's another application, expanding your potential for creativity and even additional revenue! His list of suggestions in the last paragraph is just the beginning.  Guest Post by Glen Clark
I was just sharing an idea for displaying MetalPrints with a photographer friend, and it occurred to me that you might also find this interesting (if I haven't already shared this with you?). It's a bit of a story, so please bear with me. When Robin and I moved into our home here in South Carolina, we discovered a large metal circuit breaker box in an alcove between the kitchen and the master bedroom (see photo). Naturally, Robin thought it was ugly and wanted to cover it up. Rather than having her disguise the box with decor items or a wall hanging, it occurred to me this might be an excellent place to display a large MetalPrint. So, I found a suitable image of a doorway in an Irish castle we had visited. I measured the metal circuit breaker panel/box. Then I ordered a 38 "x 18 "Metal Print to cover the box (I think most homes and businesses have a similar ugly panel somewhere). I ordered a Float Mount hanger on the back side of the MetalPrint to raise it off the surface, making it easier to hold onto when it was necessary to remove the print (i.e., to flip a circuit breaker). Then Robin and I went shopping to find suitable magnets and adhesive tape, which we located at our local Lowe's. When the MetalPrint arrived, I attached the magnets, and the print has been covering the panel/box for the past year and a half, and it looks fantastic. This has even become a conversation piece with my visiting photographer friends. I'm mentioning this because I thought some of your followers might have a similar opportunity in their homes, offices, basements, garages, patios or wherever they have their studio, man-cave/workshop, she-shed, etc. For example, I could see people using metal prints to decorate gym lockers, home appliances, office file cabinets, furniture, etc. The list could go on and on.   by Skip Cohen
The fun of Throwback Thursday is mainly in the hunt for old photographs, but it's also how they renew old friendships and keep great memories alive. Today's post is definitely a moment-that-mattered story, but a phone call triggered it, and then I went hunting for a photograph! Meet my "little brother," Michael LeBlanc. Although, in all honesty, while I think we're about the same age, I have no idea at this time who's older. We met at Polaroid years before this picture was taken. We were both in Consumer Services and focused on helping maintain Polaroid's cutting-edge support for its customers. The photograph was taken 35 years ago this week at my going-away party when I left Polaroid to join Hasselblad. I was with the company for 17 1/2 years, and the party they threw for me was itself a "moment that mattered." My Polaroid background came up in a conversation last week with a photographer asking about Platypod products. That got me thinking about old friends from those days, and I still had Michael's cell phone number from ten years ago. An hour of laughs and walking down Memory Lane later, the friendship was back, alive and well - almost as if we left off with a comma when we last spoke. So I went looking through a box of old Polaroid prints until I found this one. A year or so early, I don't remember why, but we were having a drink together in the bar at the Hyatt in Cambridge. The bartender mixed up our drinks, giving him my martini and me his bourbon. When the bartender apologized, he said, "Sorry guys, you look so much alike!" We then explained that we had the same mother but different fathers and were actually brothers. Finally, after half an hour of both of us keeping a straight face, the bartender bought it. About eight years later, I was in Cambridge and went to Mike's office at Polaroid unannounced. He was in a meeting, and I asked his secretary to interrupt, and please tell him his brother was here. She refused and wouldn't accept I was really his brother. I went around her, opened his door, and said, "Hey, little brother!" His response was something like, "Mom's upset you haven't talked to her this week." Well, his secretary hit the panic button. She was so apologetic about not believing me. To this day, I have no idea if Mike ever told her the truth. And that brings me right to my point this Throwback Thursday. Nothing beats old friendships, and the power of imaging makes them that much better. Photographs are like great seasoning and the way it enhances the flavor of a good steak. Those old photographs turn memories into tangible moments from our past and make life richer! Throwback Thursday is an outstanding marketing tool to remind your clients that it's time for a new family portrait. But it's also the perfect vehicle to help you remember why you got into this business in the first place. For me, every old photograph and the stories that go with each one recharge my battery. They simply make me smile. What a kick to love this industry like I do! And to my little brother - looking forward to catching up LIVE later this year!  by Skip Cohen Meet our two "kids," Lucy and Belle. They've been together every day since we got them at four months. But, most importantly, they joined our family just months before the pandemic in November 2019. Through all those months of hunkering down, they made us laugh and, more importantly, helped us keep our sanity! Every time Sheila goes out, the pups sit by the front door, waiting for her return. If you're a pet owner, you completely understand how these two own our hearts. What surprises me is how many of you are doing nothing to help meet the demand for pet photography. In the hierarchy of why consumers hire a professional photographer, the top three are brides, babies, and pets. This is from a survey Kodak did at least thirty years ago, and I don't believe it's changed. During the pandemic, weddings were down, along with photographing babies and maternity. So the order might have shifted, but here's my point. Seventy percent of U.S. households, or about 90.5 million families, own a pet, according to the 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA). For just a second, think about those numbers. Seven out of ten families have at least one pet, and the average per household is estimated at 1.6 -1.8. Like our house, many families have two fur-balls. So, the big question is, are you including pet photography in your business?  Need a little help?
Kay Eskridge has created a remarkable reputation by expanding her brand awareness for pet photography with "ReBARKable Pet Portraits." Her images are outstanding, and she exceeds customer expectations every time! Click on the banner to listen to a podcast we did with Kay on "Mind Your Own Business" near the end of last year. If Kay's teaching/speaking at an upcoming convention or workshop - RUN. Don't walk to grab a seat. I promise you'll never be disappointed! Still, looking for other resources? Check out Hair of the Dog Academy with Nicole Bagley. Nicole is always sharing great information to help build stronger skills in working with pets. Four years ago, she held a hands-on workshop here in the Sarasota area, and watching her in action was remarkable. Regardless of your specialty, there are logical spin-offs that make sense with your target audience. For example, a wedding photographer with excellent skills could logically expand into portraiture with babies, children, and family portraiture. Then you can drill down into boudoir, maternity, headshots, and legacy stories. The list goes on and on with every specialty. If we learned nothing else through the decline in business brought about by the pandemic, it's the benefits of NOT being a one-trick pony. I'm not suggesting pet photography should be everyone's core business, but it's one aspect of diversity to help you maintain more vital brand awareness. It never hurts to have a few backup plans/skills...especially when it's all aimed at the same target audience.
Click on the images above to view in the SCU Lightbox. These are screen grabs from the video, so imagine how sharp the originals must be! by Skip Cohen I love this video from Tamron because it's loaded with great tips about shooting handheld. Jake Sloan does a terrific job of advice for capturing better landscape shots. Whether you shoot with Tamron lenses or not, if you're interested in landscape photography, Jake's tips in this short video are going to be so useful. If you haven't visited Tamron's YouTube channel, it's time to check it out. There are 384 videos, many of them featuring some of the most respected artists in the industry. Plus, they're covering virtually every specialty, sharing good solid ideas on technique to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images. With the Father's Day countdown underway, and more people traveling this summer and spending time outdoors, now's a great time to visit your Tamron dealer. The 70-180mm F/2.8 lens is a phenomenal piece of glass and it's part of Tamron's very limited time Father's Day promotion, with a $100 rebate. The program ends this Sunday, June 19. There are eleven different lenses featured on this new promotion with "Instant Savings" from $50 to $200. Just click on the link below to find a Tamron dealer near you.    Click for more info by Skip Cohen
Now and then Melody Beattie knocks one out of the park. This was yesterday's reading from her book "Journey to the Heart." It's the perfect reminder to take time off, BEFORE you crash and burn! The book may have been published in 1996, but there's no expiration date on anything she shares. Sheila introduced me to her books years ago, and at this point I think, between the two of us, we've got just about everything she's written. "Recharge your Battery Rest when you're tired. Take a break when life stales. Take time to recharge your battery. Energy isn't something you have - it's something you are. To give and give and give, to put out without taking in, deplete your battery. It drains you, runs you down. Running on a low battery is no longer necessary, because now we know how to live differently. Taking time to rest, renew, and refresh yourself isn't wasted time. Recharge. Choose what energized you. Nature. A song. The voice of a friend. A nap. A hot bath. A cup of tea. A favorite program. A movie that makes you laugh or cry. A walk. A run. A poem. A prayer. A book that speaks to your soul. Actions that emerge from an energized source are easier, go further, accomplish more. Let your work and love come from a vital spirit." The only thing I'd add to her list of things to do would be imaging related. Get to a workshop. Attend a conference. Put the names of your favorite imaging icons into the search box on YouTube. Take your camera out for an hour or two and be your own client. The list goes on and on...but it's about doing things that remind you why you got into this business in the first place. As I've written before, you can't create images that tug at people's heartstrings, if your own heart isn't in it. Sometimes all you need is a short break and time to recharge!  by Skip Cohen It's Sunday, and as always, I'm about to run amuck and a long way from the business and marketing of photography. But I hope you'll stick with me and that what I'm about to share will hit you like it did us the other night. Sheila and I are big fans of American Ninja Warrior and have been following the show for years. This past week a new warrior just about to run the course told his story. His name was Christopher Jones. He was wearing a t-shirt that said "Living Wide." Dedicating his debut on Ninja Warrior to his father, Gregory Todd Jones, he talked about his father's fight against lung cancer. While the doctors told Gregory he only had a few months to live, Gregory decided to "live wide," and the next four years were incredible, as described by Christopher. His father never slowed down and never stopped bringing hope and meaning to his life. The philosophy of the organization he founded is described best on its website: We may lose control of the length of our lives, but we never lose control of the width. Living Wide helps those with critical illnesses enjoy lives filled with joy, hope, meaning and purpose in spite of profound uncertainty. We help make the most out of each and every day. Live wide and well. While the concept of quality versus quantity isn't new, I've never thought about it as it applied to the days of my life. In all honesty, when I was a lot younger, I'm not sure it would even have occurred to me. After all, the younger you are, the more you're convinced you'll live forever. Then one day, you realize you've become your parents. LOL That brings me right to my point - it's time, no matter how old you are, that you lived wide. Imagine what our life would be like if you stayed focused on each day and filled it with meaning, hope, and purpose. The concept helps to build a better world with or without a critical illness. The point is further enforced by the losses we all experienced through the pandemic and the awareness that none of us know what the future holds. We've all heard the line: "Don't sweat the small stuff...it's ALL small stuff." Well, Sheila and I are embarking on a journey to live wide. We're a work in progress, so I suspect we'll hit a few speed bumps along the way, but this is about appreciating every minute of our lives right now! It's about not wasting time stressing over things that just don't matter and making the most out of every day. Wishing all of you a day filled with a deep appreciation for everything in your life. Go for those eleven-second hugs with those people most special in your life. Live wide and focus on creating joy in your life. Zig Ziglar said it best: You can complain about roses having thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses! Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.
 Bottom row: David Bentley and Terry Deglau - Top row: Monte Zucker, Don Blair, Tibor Horvath, David Ziser, Ed Pierce, Steve Sheanin, and Ernst Wildi. by Skip Cohen I almost missed Throwback Thursday. I knew the general area of where to look for images, but after going through three backup drives, I'd almost given up. Then I struck gold! There are too many of you who didn't know Monte Zucker, but it's thanks to the trails he blazed in the industry that shows like WPPI (WPI when it started) exist today. And the standards he set for classic portraiture is responsible for so many of our greatest portrait artists today. Monte passed away in 2007, but somewhere before a slide show was put together, most likely by Clay Blackmore. Well, I found a bunch of those images in a folder a few minutes ago. While I always write about the fun of the hunt - there's a much greater reason related to searching for throwbacks - it's the pure joy the memories bring back. I know the image above was at WPPI and it was all the "Lifetime Achievement" recipients attending that year. It would have been in the early 90s. The rest below go back a whole lot of years more...if you were there or can share anything about them, feel free to comment. I've used it dozens of times, but Jodi Picoult's quote is still the very best... “This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect.”       by Skip Cohen
It's Wednesday, and it's been a hectic week. I often write about knowing when to take a break; it's not very often I walk the talk. Like so many of us, I'm still a work in progress. While I'll match my love for the craft with anybody, for the last few months, it seems I'm shooting with my phone more often than my camera. Unfortunately, I don't have the latest phone - you can guess that too often I've missed the shot I wanted. I love Panasonic's LUMIX G9, and the 14-140mm 3.5-5.6 lens is my go-to setup. But it's been on the shelf for way too long! Well, not lately. My camera now sits right next to me, on my desk. When I need a break, I've been getting away from my computer and clicking the shutter a few times, usually in the garden. Something about the click of the shutter is therapeutic, even if it's electronic. Although, for you long-time Hasselblad shooters out there, nothing compares to the thud of the mirror in the original cameras. From puppies to the garden - today was a nonstop adventure. Whenever Sheila goes out, the pups sit and wait by the front door, watching for her return. It's priceless, and yes, they are as cute to hang out with as they look. Here's my point - when we were kids, recess was a part of our lives every day - once in the morning and again in the afternoon. But we grew up, and the concept, especially when you're in business for yourself, evaporates under the barrage of deadlines, phone calls, email, and projects/people who need a piece of your time. Often I'm not even aware that I've missed lunch! So, turn back the clock and make it a point to go out for recess!  Click on image to view in the SCU lightbox! Image copyright Lewis Kemper. All rights reserved.  by Skip Cohen Great photographers are like terrific chefs. They have a favorite cuisine or, with Lewis Kemper, a specialty. They have a restaurant they're associated with, with Lewis, it's the outdoors. And they have their favorite tools of the craft; with Lewis, one key set of tools is thanks to Tamron. We're excited to welcome Lewis Kemper back to the Tamron Recipes series, featuring favorite images from some of the very best artists in imaging. He's a photographer, author, and educator who redefines passion for the outdoors and wildlife. Based out of Sacramento, his love for the outdoors and telling the story of North America has become his signature. He has been to 47 states, from Alaska to Florida. And his international travel has taken him to over ten countries, including China, Tibet, India, and Iceland, to name a few. Having followed Lewis' work for many years, while his images are stunning, it's his passion for the craft I appreciate the most. His love for the wildlife and landscape has been a constant quest for the ultimate image for over 40+ years. He simply doesn't slow down!
Lewis Kemper should be on your radar. Check out his website and definitely visit his galleries. And if you've got an interest in terrific hands-on workshops, take a look at three trips he's got coming up later this year to Alaska, Kenya, and Death Valley. Just before recording the short backstory that went with today's post, Lewis and I talked about Tamron lenses. They're manufacturing some of the finest optics in the world. On June 6, they launched a limited-time Father's Day promotion, making this an ideal time to visit your Tamron dealer. Just click on the banner below.  |
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