by Skip Cohen

​Everyone is familiar with the 7:1 ratio when comparing a dog's life to a human's. Well, I'm starting to think something similar applies to "pandemic months." So, while this group shot was from July 2015 and only 5 1/2 years ago, it feels like twenty! 

Here's the short backstory - for many years, Marathon did their MAP Getaway, a three-day program for members of the Marathon Advantage Program. It was one of the best workshops I've ever attended with a fundamental concept for its foundation - sharing new ideas in marketing, business, and even technical skills.  

It was a great program and one of those events where everyone left with new friends and ideas on attacking the challenges in running a stronger business. While the MAP Getaway is no longer an annual event, Marathon's support is still available.

"Along with discounted prices, you have the ability to get your marketing help when you need it. You can ask any of our knowledgeable staff basic marketing questions and if you need a little extra help, our experienced Marketing Advantage Program Director and Educator is available via email and appointment."

Here's one of the most significant benefits: Most of you are small business owners. You don't have a big staff or a lot of depth in the support you need to keep growing your business. Even in the pandemic, there are so many things you can be doing to maintain a strong presence in your community. Marathon has the ability to expand your marketing presence. 

Need a little more information? Just click on the MAP thumbnail. 

And whether you decide to learn more about the program or not - it's Throwback Thursday! Take the time to find some of those old photographs from great times in the past. At the very least, they'll make you smile.

Intro by Chamira Young

What I love about today's featured photographer is that he accidentally stumbled onto his passion for creating images for the fashion industry. As the proverb attributed to Plato goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention." Well, that certainly was the case for talented photographer Eugene Manning, who got his start managing models but eventually decided to reinvent himself as a photographer.

After growing tired of paying other photographers' steep prices for portfolio shots of his models, he came to the realization that he needed to learn how to do it himself. Fast forward to today, and he does it professionally and loves it! In the excerpt below, read how Eugene honed his skills, and also why he prefers shooting with his Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 VC macro lens.

We love the dedication of the Tamron team as they support the photography industry by bringing amazing lenses and inspiration we can all learn from!

by Skip Cohen
  
​Many of you are going to feel it's too late for this idea to have an impact on sales this holiday season. Well, hear me out - because it's NOT!

Here's the background - going back to my Polaroid days, when the Spectra was introduced, the buzz words were continuity marketing. The Spectra was the first Polaroid to be introduced with a full line of accessories. And, just like the gear you own today, each piece of equipment you've added over the years has enhanced your loyalty and feelings about the brand you chose.

Well, here's an idea to build continuity marketing into your business - an 8x10 print box. It's over twenty years since Bambi Cantrell started the concept of an Image Box, then an Art Leather product. She'd use it to enhance a wedding album by taking blank mattes with her and having select members of the bride and groom's families and friends write something on them. She'd add the photographs later, making the collection of photographs incredibly special. 

The idea hasn't lost its effectiveness and today has even more potential. Here are a couple of examples: First, I went to make an appointment for the annual shots for our two pups.  My vet didn't have any appointments until January. "Because of the pandemic, everybody's getting new pets, and we're booked solid!"

Remember, the hierarchy of why people hire a professional photographer - brides, babies, and pets are the top three, and with so many weddings being postponed, I'm betting pets might be in the number one spot! Puppies and kittens grow up and, right from the beginning, are a vital part of their family. Perfect for filling a print box.

Second, what's the one thing that Grandma misses most this holiday season? HER FAMILY! The pandemic has kept everyone apart for almost nine months! Putting together a print box of images, both old and new, makes this one of those gifts that becomes a treasure. Looking through your list of past clients and new ones, a print box becomes a truly unique gift this holiday season.

​Here are more ideas about adding a print box to your product line with blank mattes included in the box:

• We're getting down to the wire on the concept for this holiday season. Still, there's time to put together an image box of recent portraits you might have captured for a client, and then include a few blank mattes, each with a certificates to fill in the open space with a photograph.
• Most brides and grooms within a certain age group will start a family within 2-3 years of their wedding. Include those same blank mattes I mentioned above in the box together with some of their images. Each matte is a certificate for something different:  an anniversary sitting, followed by the arrival of the first baby, new home, etc. Be creative and think about those special moments in a couple's new life together and create exciting offers to bring them back in front of your camera.
• Children's photography is perfect for a print box marketing program. Parents of a new baby are perfect for their images together with a few additional blank mattes, again for all of the extraordinary firsts in a baby's life. Younger children could be included in a "first day of school" portrait, Halloween portraits, holiday sittings, etc. 
• Third-Party Gifts - I've shared this idea many times since my buddy Doug Box first introduced me to the concept years ago. For example, third-party promoting involves the photographer giving a real estate agent a print box that could be given to select clients for a portrait sitting, along with other special events in their new home. The brilliance of a program like this is the photographer is insulated from looking like he/she is discounting their work. The box would be filled with blank mattes and promotions for various images for milestone events in the buyer's new home and life.

Here's my point to today's Marketing Monday post - the pandemic has created opportunities for so many of you to be leaders in your marketing. This is a holiday season where we're all looking back as well as to the future. Those memories you're capturing for clients now and from the past are more valuable than ever before!

Note: The images above are thanks to Queensberry: The Queensberry Matted Print Boxes are designed to be different. As well as the range of print options, you have over 40 cover materials to choose from. It's simple to customize the mats with the easy to use software, to suit each photograph and create unique designs. Queensberry will deliver to your studio for free, or direct to your clients with our free drop-shipping service!

For more information, just click on any of the images above.

“Life is primarily for laughing, loving, and living. It ain’t just for whining, worrying, and working!”
Ed Foreman*

by Skip Cohen

​It's a typical Sunday, but different than the ones I used to write about. These days it's my run to the market at 7:00 am. With Sheila's asthma, I've got less respiratory issues than she does, so I hit the market before the nut jobs who don't wear masks show up.

Checking out, I had a guy and his girlfriend in front of me without masks, and I always ask, "Just curious, what is it about wearing a mask that bothers you so much?" Well, I got a dirty look, and no response as the two of them left the store. 

Driving home, I found myself just getting angry over meeting somebody who still doesn't get it. And it's not just about my health, but the team at my local Publix, who I'm forever grateful they're there and helping me keep our fridge stocked!

So, trying to figure out what to write about, I realized I needed to loosen up, and that got me thinking about that old line we used to hear about it takes more muscles to frown than smile, which I've learned isn't totally accurate. Searching Google, I found:

On average, a smile uses 12 and a frown 11. However, since humans tend to smile a lot, these muscles are stronger. A frown may be slightly more effort to produce. just because we aren't as used to using these muscles.

But then I found the answer I really needed, and it's so true:

...smiles work in both directions: Just as happiness can make you smile, studies have shown that thanks to a quirk of the autonomic nervous system, smiling can make you happy. Unfortunately, the same holds true for expressions of sadness and distress. Both phenomena relate to mirror neurons — brain cells that spark up both when we observe an action, such as a smile, and when we take part in it.

So, no matter what your frustrations with the world around you, we just need to smile more. For the rest of today, I'm determined to have this dumb, "What me worry?" look on my face. It's an Alfred E. Neuman kind of day, and nothing is going to dampen my spirits. Try it right now - just crank up the volume on the happiest dumbest smile you can push out!

See what I mean?

Wishing everybody a day of smiles, but not just on your face - let's get them going in your heart. 

​Happy Thanksgiving weekend, everybody!

*I've followed Ed Foreman for years, meeting him back in my Polaroid days. He's been an inspiration to me since the 70s. Although, over the years I modified his quote a little - Life is for laughing, loving and living NOT bitching, moaning and complaining. LOL

by Skip Cohen

I'm not sure when or where it started, but getting together for Thanksgiving dinner, we'd go around the table, and each person would talk about what they were thankful for. This year has been a tough one for ALL of us. Because of the pandemic, we're all dealing with many of the same challenges. 

I'm thankful for Sheila in my life; our family and friends, two crazy puppies, our health, and especially the support of all of you, my readers. But here's one more to add to my list this year, and it's pretty special.

Larry Tiefenbrunn, also known as "Dr. T." and founder of Platypod, came down with Covid-19 sometime during the week of November 9. He's called Dr. T because he's a full-time pediatrician in his "spare" time. For those of you who have never met him, he's also an incredibly talented photographer, engineer/designer. He never does anything halfway - including his friendships.

So, quarantined and nursing a fever, on November 17, he did what I think is the best presentation I've ever seen him do. It was an evening program as part of the KelbyMedia Flash Conference with Scott Kelby and Joe McNally. He called me the following morning as he was being admitted to the Covid wing of the hospital.

I've been in this industry my entire adult life and never worked with or for anybody quite like Larry. So, as his CMO for Platypod, he's my boss, but far more important, he's become an incredibly good friend. Together with his wife Mina, they've made my life richer, and worrying about him with Covid-19 could have been overwhelming. But remember how I mentioned he never does anything halfway?  Well, that includes his own health.

Yesterday, a week after being admitted, at 2:30 in the afternoon, he was headed home! As Larry mentioned in a call earlier in the week - "This virus is unique, and no two cases react the same to treatment." He'd been stable from the beginning - but "stable" didn't mean "better", and that's the word we all wanted to hear. Thanks to a great pulmonologist who wanted to try another medication earlier in the week, the word stable was replaced with better, and he was headed home forty-eight hours.

So, today when it's just Sheila and me around a small turkey and some of our favorite side-dishes, still missing family and friends but filled with gratitude, I've got one more thing to be thankful for - Larry and Mina in our life.

​To all of you, have a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving. I know it's going to be a different kind of day than in the past, but there's still so much for which to be thankful!

And to Dr. T - Welcome home, buddy! But as I told you yesterday - if you ever scare us like that again, I'll hunt you down! LOL

There's that line we've all heard and used, "Timing is everything!"  Approaching nine months of dealing with the pandemic, talking about outdoor photography couldn't be more appropriate at this time. As we all hunker down, being able to get outside with a camera in your hands has become one of a photographer's greatest assets.

We're stepping out of the Tamron Kitchen but into the world of a great Tamron Chef. Dan Walters joins us on this new podcast, and it's loaded with solid content. While his main passion for subject matter involves the birding world, it's his love for the craft, no matter what he's focused on, that comes across loud and clear in the conversation with Chamira Young and me. And, while I usually only share one quote with each Tamron Recipe, the two I found above highlight what I've learned about Chef Dan. 

Chef Dan's recipe is a click away, which we shared last week. And for more information about Tamron's 150-600mm G2 lens, click on the banner at the bottom of today's post.

​There's a pretty remarkable savings program going on through the holidays. For all the information and the products included in the promotion, just click on the banner to the right.
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I know it's getting a little old, as I share these comments in so many blog posts - We're all feeling the same frustrations. The pandemic has restricted the level of freedom we took for granted. But at the same time, the pandemic has given us something we NEVER have - time. Don't let your passion for the craft get buried under the stress of the pandemic. Things have changed a lot for all of us, but not the potential to expand your skill set and become a better and more diverse artist.  

Tamron's team is taking full advantage of that time and not slowing down in their support for photographers all over the country - they've just moved to cyberspace. Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some terrific contests to share your work. 
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And while Dan may live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country - when it comes to critters to photograph, they're all around us - no matter where you live. To see more of Chef Dan's work, just click on any of his images in this post.

by Skip Cohen

​Sunday Morning Reflections has become a significant part of my routine. What I write about is often as much for my benefit as I hope it helps you.

This past week I've been struggling with the pandemic. While I've got this reputation of being the industry cheerleader, and many good things are going on, there are times when it's hard to focus. Like so many of you, I miss time with friends, and I miss the freedom to go out anywhere I want. Zoom, Facetime, Skype - they're all great for keeping in contact, but they don't keep us in touch. 

As I sat down to write this morning, I struggled with needing to simply hug a friend. One of those big bear hugs, or bro-hugs, or the hugs I used to write about - long hugs lasting at least eleven seconds and proven to be therapeutic!

Stuck for a topic without sounding like a pandemic victim and whiner, I turned to Melody Beattie. Today, November 22, she wrote a piece called The Magic of Gratitude and Acceptance. Here's an excerpt:

Gratitude and acceptance are two magic tricks available to us in recovery. No matter who we are, where we are, or what we have gratitude and acceptance work. We may eventually become so happy that we realize our present circumstances are good. Or we master our present circumstances and then move forward into the next of set of circumstances.

If we become stuck, miserable, feeling trapped and hopeless, try gratitude and acceptance.

Once again, Beattie came through - and remember, she wrote this in 1990, but the message is timeless. And while you might think it's a little too simple and even trite - we all need a reminder of where to set focus when a camera isn't in our hands!

So, I had a choice - I could remain stuck, miserable, and trapped or look around me and take a big breath of appreciation. It's going to be a strange Thanksgiving this year, but even the pandemic can't take away the gratitude I feel for the life I have, Sheila, my family, friends, two very special puppies, and all of you. That means I have no choice but the winning combination of acceptance and gratitude. 

And regardless of how spiritual you may or may not be, Melody's close was so relevant:

Today, God, help me let go of my resistance. Help me know the pain of a circumstance will stop hurting so much if I accept it. I will practice the basics of gratitude and acceptance in my life and for all my present circumstances.

We're all struggling with variations of the same circumstances - leaving us two great options, accepting the challenges in our lives and gratitude for everyone and everything that will get us through this.

Wishing everybody a great day ahead and a pre-Thanksgiving week that helps you stay focused on everything you have in your life instead of what's just beyond your reach. 

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

by Skip Cohen
 
I've written so many posts lately that start out the same - the pandemic has changed so much in our lives...​

Here's something the pandemic has changed for the better - it's given you time, the one element in your life you've NEVER had enough of. And if you're not taking full advantage of the time to clean up some essential elements of your business, then it's a you-snooze-you-lose scenario.

​Almost three years ago, I started the Fast Food Friday series: Ideas to help you build a better business and all served each week at the SCU Diner. Well, It's time to bring a few of them back and tie them to the importance of reaching an even bigger target audience today!
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I'm convinced photographic gifts will top the list of great ideas this holiday season, which means more potential traffic to your website. Your galleries should be your first tab, but once you've hooked a visitor on the quality of your work, then comes the second tab, your "About" page.

Yesterday I shared a post about the importance of a better headshot with your "About" page.  While a handful of photographers missed my point, nothing beats an environmental portrait of you as an artist to help reinforce your brand. But your headshot is only one of the key ingredients - the other part is what you write about yourself. 
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Today your Internet presence is the equivalent of a bricks and mortar business just a few years ago. And because of the pandemic, it's even stronger than a physical location! Your website is your storefront and it's essential to make each visit a memorable experience.  ​

by Skip Cohen

​I was saving this topic for "Fast Food Friday" tomorrow, but it's too good not to share today. And in all honesty, ideas to help you raise the bar on your marketing should be happening EVERY day, not just on Fridays.

Earlier this week, Kay Eskridge shared her headshot  and these comments:

Years ago my Mom gave me the ultimate compliment ... she said I am good at what I do because I use my heart before I see with my eyes. I KNOW!! Way to go Mom!

I also think that the older I get I also use my soul somewhere in the mix... I guess that's why I'm always smiling when I'm behind the camera. Thx Howard...this is one of my favs!

Here's why this is so important - so many of you have terrible or irrelevant headshots on your websites and social media pages. From bad selfies to portraits that suggest you handed one of your kids the camera and even stunning portraits of you staring down the lens barrel - very few of them show your love for the craft, or at the very least, you in action...as a PHOTOGRAPHER and ARTIST.

My suggestion has always been a side shot of you with a camera in your hands and in the background just beyond the depth of field, your subject. Use your headshot to convey a great message of what you do for a living. Even great portraits don't demonstrate what you do for a living.

This image of Kay's might not have her subject in view, but what a kick for a client to see how much she loves the craft. And personally, I love the fact that it's black and white - pushing the point of diversity in her creativity a little more.

Now, think about your bio page - your target audience doesn't care what awards you've won, what gear you shoot with, or even how long you studied to be a photographer. They want to know WHY you love being a photographer, and for "Mom," she's looking to see if you can be trusted to capture images of her family the way she sees them.  It doesn't matter how many awards you've gotten in print competition through WPPI or PPA - most of you clients don't know what those associations are!

So, stop writing long boring bios about your awards, how many cameras you own, or how you got started in this business - cut to the chase and talk about your love for photography and helping clients capture great memories. Then, back it all up with a headshot like Kay's, and you can even add an image of two of you working with a client!

(Also on the list to include is a self-promotional video about you - but we'll save that for another post.)

And to Howard Rosenberg who captured Kay - nicely done! You definitely caught her love for the craft and that signature Eskridge smile. What a kick!

by Skip Cohen

​As the year winds down, it's hard to believe this Tamron Recipes post is the 23rd in the series. With support from Tamron USA, my co-host Chamira Young and I have shared some great content, thanks to some remarkable artists' insight. Each backstory about their favorite photograph has been unique, and then a week later, our podcast conversation with the "chef" has introduced you to even more of their work. 

The chef analogy came into play right from the beginning. While every good photographer knows the basics, each one has a unique style and often vision for the final image. Like enjoying a great meal at your favorite restaurant, each Tamron Chef has shared their recipes, as well as their passion for the craft and continued growth as an artist. 

Dan Walters joins us in the Tamron Kitchen this month. The timing is perfect for sharing his favorite cuisine, outdoor wildlife. The pandemic has changed so much in all of our lives, especially as more photographers head to the safety of outdoor shooting. 

Near the beginning of this series, I started searching for a special quote that seemed to describe some aspect of the enthusiasm and love for the craft brought out in the conversations with each chef. In regards to Dan, I loved two quotes that, after getting to know him better, seem to fit:  

 “Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.”
Don McCullin

​“In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.”
Robert Lind

About "Chef" Dan: In Dan's short bio on his website, he has a statement that sets the stage for his photography and fits perfectly with those two quotes above:

When I capture an image, I try not just to document what I saw but try to engage the viewer with the subject. I do this by combining light, eye contact, and a clean background. 

Dan's passion as an artist, photographer, and educator clearly comes through in the upcoming podcast. Living in Colorado, he doesn't have to travel very far to find new subjects, often just a short bike ride, and he's found plenty to photograph.

About one of his favorite images above, he wrote:

These egrets can be very territorial in regards to their favorite fishing areas. This egret saw another egret that was a little too close and promptly chased it off...What I like about using this zoom is that I was able to zoom out a little and include the whole bird without clipping the wings.
 
Please take the time to visit Chef Dan's website.  And, if you're in Florida in the spring of next year, Dan will be teaching at the Birding and Photofest in St. Augustine. Click on the banner below for more information. ​

​Downtime has allowed so many photographers to expand their skill set and what's in their camera bag. Well, Tamron never slows down on manufacturing top of the line optics to help you expand your creativity, as well as the quality of your images. Right to the point - they make great glass!

While we all miss the conferences and conventions we'd attend in the past; the pandemic also hasn't slowed down Tamron USA's continued presence with workshops around the country. Check out their listing of local events, all within safety and physical distancing guidelines.

​And, take the time to visit Tamron's website, always loaded with great content, as well as their YouTube channel.  
 
One of Dan's favorite lenses is also featured in the current Tamron rebate program. Click on the banner below for information on their current promotion.  
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And I know I've written the same thing almost every month - Hunkering down is about your health, NOT about growing as an artist and expanding your skill set. You still need to maintain a strong presence in your business, build relationships, and remind your target audience you're a photographer and available to help them with their imaging needs.

by Skip Cohen
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It's Sunday morning, and I'm definitely not in my usual mode of being off the topic of photography.  

The pandemic has changed everything in our lives and not for the better. But it's also created some unique leadership opportunities in creativity and support to your clients and community. I know it's been an ugly year for virtually every business, but I also know there are ideas out there to help you get back on track and jumpstart your business.

ClickCon Nation kicks off today with an all-star cast, but more important than the educators/speakers is the timing and the topics. For example, I'm doing a program at 10:15 CST called "My Business Has Disappeared, Now What?" In one hour, I'm going to pack in 2-3 hours of material - one after another of things photographers can be doing RIGHT NOW to capture the seasonality in business. 

​And check out the company I'm with below.

The program is FREE - all you have to do is download the ClickCon Nation app, and you're in. I know this doesn't apply to everybody, but there are too many of you who have been crying the blues over the decline in business and not doing anything about it.

Remember that line of "God helps those who help themselves?"  Well, regardless of what you believe spiritually, there's so much help in this industry. But you've got to make the first move - open your mind and join us!

Wishing everybody a day filled with ideas and opportunities to be a leader in creativity and business. The year isn't over yet. As I've written so many times in the last nine months - hunkering down is about your health - NOT about your business.

by Skip Cohen

​For over a year, I shared a series of business and marketing tips called "Fast Food Friday." The concept started as short, easy to implement ideas, and grew into some great building blocks for success as a photographer and small business owner.

Well, as much as the pandemic has changed so many things in our lives, the key ingredients to building brand awareness haven't changed. You still need to get your name out there, and even more important, we're into fourth-quarter seasonality, and people still need help capturing and sharing their memories!

Remember why I started this series - to give you ideas to build a stronger business, no matter what the challenges were! Most of you are right-brain creative types with too little focus on growing your business. Many of you don't think of yourselves as small business owners. Even if you're working for another studio, imaging is a career choice that lends itself to freelance assignments, and you're ALWAYS building your brand.

With or without Covid - it's not who YOU know, but WHO knows you! Here's a list to help you keep your name out there in the spotlight. Your goal is top-of-mind awareness so anytime somebody is thinking about photography, your name comes up first.
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• Stay in touch with your past clients: I love an idea Steven Gotz shared at the beginning of the pandemic. Here's the link. In summary, he took portraits of clients and pulled the color, converted them to line-art, and sent them to clients with young children as coloring book pages. It's a brilliant way to help lift the spirits of your clients and, at the same time, remind them you're there.
• Community Involvement: People like buying products/services from companies they perceive as giving back. What's great about being involved in your community is it can start at any time. And it doesn't have to include a camera in your hands. The pandemic and health distancing has changed many events, but every community has challenges in getting the word out, especially on fundraisers. Use your blog and help them spread the word - be an ambassador!
• Own Your Zip Code: Draw a circle around where you're based and start knocking on doors! Wear a mask and respect physical distancing. Introduce yourself to the other businesses in the community...and IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR SPECIALTY IS! My favorite example is a wedding photographer walking into a real estate office. Once you've introduced yourself, all you need to say is, "My specialty is wedding photography, but I've got an incredible network. If you ever need any help with anything photo-related, give me a call. If I can't help you directly, I'm sure I know somebody who can."  
• Use Your Blog: Your website is about what you sell, and your blog is about what's in your heart. Post at least twice a week, same days, same times. Share stories/ideas relatable to your readership. Remember, you're building a community. Talk about the diversity of your skill set. Share tips on photography, especially posing, lighting, and composition. Help your clients get through the limitations of the holidays and needing to still hunker-down.
• Teach a Class: Just about all of you, unless you started yesterday, have enough expertise to help the community raise the bar on better photographs, even if they're only shooting with a cell phone. Share tips on composition, lighting, fill flash, posing, exposure, and storytelling. For most of you, your target audience is "Mom," so help make her a better photographer. And here's a new topic - teach a class on using Zoom, Skype, etc. Everyone is dealing with more interaction online, but so few consumers know what they're doing and spend their time sharing poorly lit nostril shots on their phones.
• Partnerships: You don't have to fly solo all the time! Look for opportunities to cross-promote with other vendors. A postcard mailer, for example, with two other partners, brings your cost down to a third. Best of all, all three partners become ambassadors for each other. And during the pandemic and holiday time, here's your chance to cross-promote on discounts and each other's products as gift ideas.
• Social Media: In the portrait/social categories of photography, that means being primarily involved on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. But remember, there are no erasers on the Internet. Stay relevant to your audience. Don't engage trolls! And stay focused on your passion for people and your art. You know how to hold focus on your subjects with your camera - so maintain focus on your audience's needs. Use Facebook's birthday and anniversary features to keep track of key dates with your clients. The pandemic hasn't slowed anything down in social media.
• Pick up the Phone: When in doubt, call a past client. You don't need to be selling anything. The call's purpose is to let them know you're thinking about them and just want to know how everybody is. My suggestion is to make at least two calls a day to past clients. This is purely social, but all about keeping in touch.
• Show Your Work: Years ago, Bambi Cantrell displayed her images in a local Starbucks. Helen Yancy, a past president of PPA, started out showing her work in a local diner. Offer to decorate your doctor's office. Think about it - almost every doctor's office is the same - BORING! Let's get some good photographs on the wall, and all you're asking is to leave a stack of your business cards on the magazine table. 
• Put Together a Networking Luncheon/Event: You don't have to meet for lunch physically. In fact, I was invited to a happy hour cocktail party recently of a board I'm active on here in Sarasota. It was all done on Zoom. Lori Nordstrom talked about this early on in the pandemic when she was getting together with a group of businesswomen in the community on Zoom. You're getting together to talk about the business, trends, and anything that comes up. 
• Career Day at ANY School: If we've learned nothing else from the toy manufacturers - the way to get to Mom and Dad is through their kids. Every school needs help with special programming, and most of them are dealing with online education. Offer to do a career day presentation online and talk about what it's like being a photographer. Don't be boring and just talk - show photographs, special techniques, and things they can do with their cell phones!  Here's your chance to make online education more fun.
• Build a Community Calendar: Everyone is always looking for new blog content. So, keep a calendar on your blog of upcoming community events, mostly non-profit fundraisers. And with each event, you personally attend, share the story with a paragraph or two and photographs. It's a great way to build up your reputation as a supporter of the community and be more recognized.
• Join Community Groups: From PPA affiliates to photography guilds to organizations like Kiwanis, Exchange Club, Rotary, and business networking groups, be involved. You're building a network of relationships and right now getting together online is the next best thing to being there!

Too many of you think there's nothing you can do to build your brand until the pandemic is history. It's not going away tomorrow, but the new norm doesn't need to leave you helpless. Relationship building is your most vital marketing tool - so, set up a time every week to be building your foundation of awareness - beyond your skill set.

Tony Corbell, one of the most recognized photographers in the industry, once told a story about when he first got started. "I might not have been the best photographer in town, but I was determined to be the nicest!" Tony's never strayed from that practice!

​And where's Tony today? Because travel for all of us is limited, he's online and spending just as much time teaching and supporting his audience as he always has - but in cyberspace!

by Skip Cohen

While I feel a little embarrassed that I completely missed Veteran's Day yesterday, I'm going to blame it on aging, the pandemic, a hurricane hitting Sarasota, and too many lost brain cells at concerts in the 70s.

You'd think with so much contact with the military in our lives, including my favorite baseball hat above, I would have remembered. From time with my Dad and our son through HonorFlight.org, our flag flown as part of "Inherent Resolve" in 2016, and Uncle Randy, who's never without a Marine baseball hat, we're surrounded by firsthand reminders of family members who have served our country.

When I took my Dad to D.C. as part of HonorFlight's program in 2014, there was a line of theirs that hit home incredibly hard. While it might seem a little over the top to start, think about it:

If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a soldier.
Unknown Author

So, to my Dad, son, Uncle Randy, friends like Stacey Pearsall who have served and continue to support our veterans, and all the parents out there who have kids serving today - thank you for your service and the freedom we so often take for granted.

​I may have missed sharing my thoughts on Veteran's Day yesterday, but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't appreciate everything you've all contributed to our lives.

Intro by Chamira Young
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We have a fun post for you sports and action photographers today. Even if you're not involved in the specific world of electric dirt bikes, the basic principle of having quality lenses for capturing action photography is relevant to any photographer, pro or hobbyist. The Tamron team brings photographer Spencer Kofoed to the forefront as he uses two of their amazing lenses to capture stunning action images of his friends zipping around on their battery-powered motors. It was a requirement that his equipment be sturdy enough to handle the rough, sandy terrain and, needless to say, Tamron did not disappoint!

Read the post excerpt below. Also, click on either lens image below to learn more! We love the dedication of the Tamron team as they support the photography industry by bringing amazing lenses and inspiration we can all learn from.

by Skip Cohen
 
In all my years in this industry, I've never seen a more difficult time for photographers to maintain a business. At the same time, I've never seen/heard so many remarkable stories about artists taking a leadership role in their communities. These are business owners, fighting to rebuild what the pandemic has taken away.

This Sunday, five of us share ideas and ways to expand your skill set and work to get things started on the way back. But we can't help if you're not there with us! 

My program, "My Business Has Disappeared! Now What?" is about opportunities to rebuild your business and stand out from your competition. This program changes and grows every week, as I hear more great ideas to share from artists around the world who simply refuse to give up! I'll be sharing dozens of ideas to help you rebuild and jumpstart your business. I've got one hour to fill your head with new ideas, and even a few old ones. So, it'll be fast-paced right from the start.

Click on the banner above to connect to the complete schedule of events. Then to attend for FREE, just download the 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐂𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩 from your app store, log in and create your password.  

​Don't let complacency get the best of you! Join us on Sunday to recharge your battery and get your business back on track for a strong fourth quarter in 2020!

by Skip Cohen

As I was wandering through the LUMIX channel on YouTube, I caught this video from 2017 featuring Ben Grunow. I loved the video and put the post together, not realizing I shared it three years ago when it first came out.  

I was going to delete it but thought about how relevant his tips are RIGHT NOW. We're in the middle of a pandemic, and so many photographers, to still be out shooting, have stepped into the landscape world, even if it's just a sunset or skyline image near home. 
 
For me, the fun of a video like this is knowing Ben and having spent a little time with him at past LUMIX meetings. Throw in some great how-to advice, and it gives the film that much more value. 

Ben is a leader in landscape photography and shares one great tip after another. I especially loved the touch screen demo, as well as the time-lapse component that starts about fifty seconds into the film.

​The images I pulled for today's post are screenshots, and even though they're pretty good, imagine how beautiful the originals must be.

Ben's shooting with a GH5, and the film was also captured on a GH5.  His technique is outstanding and at a time when landscape photography is one of the safest segments of imaging during the pandemic, there's a lot of great information being shared.

Ben needs to be on your radar, along with Griffin Hammond, who shot the film. Click on any image above to visit Ben's website. And Griffin Hammond is just a click away.

If you haven't checked out the LUMIX line, now is the time. Panasonic has repeatedly set the standard for quality and technology, especially with the new Full-Frame S Series! Just click on the banner below.

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday morning, and as usual, I'm jumping the track from marketing and business topics but headed right down Memory Lane. 

I've written before about a Facebook group, "If You Grew Up in Painesville, Ohio You Remember..." We all have time on our hands, and I'm not sure how I found the group, but I know in part, it was thanks to PT (pandemic time). Yesterday I posted a picture of our family doctor when I was a kid - within minutes, there were dozens of responses from other patients, and the memories just started to flow. 

Then somebody posted a picture of a snow-covered turn on one of Painesville's roads, and it took me back to my kid days. That led me right to where I am this morning. Life seems like it was so much simpler then - get ready, I'm about to sound like an old fart!

• We rarely locked our front door, and nobody had an alarm on their house, or for that matter, their car.
• The milkman delivered milk twice a week to a side chute on the garage, which opened inside as well. 
  
• We said the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at school.
• If you were truly a rotten kid and did something bad, there's a good chance you got a swat from the principle's paddle...and you knew you deserved it.
• In the wintertime, my Dad would tie a rope to the car's bumper and pull all of us on our sleds around the block. Today, he'd be arrested for child endangerment.
• We never wore bicycle helmets, but we also had just plain old bikes. I remember winning an "English Racer" in a Cleveland Plain Dealer paperboy contest. It was a three-speed!
• From age six on, we played outside with friends, rarely telling our parents where we were. The neighborhood was safe, and all the kids hung out together.
• Nobody inspected our Halloween candy - there was no need.
• My mother worked, helping my Dad in his business and often got home after dark, but always in time for dinner. The point is, kids were home alone for a short time, and CPS was NEVER called.
• Kool-aid, jello, chocolate pudding with a "skin" on it - all with sugar and all made by Mom - these were staples. LOL
• Nobody had food allergies that restricted anything we ever ate, especially peanuts.
• I had a BB-gun and never put my eye out.
• We had tents and often slept out with friends in the summertime, again, with no supervision and safe in our backyards.

Feel free to add to my list. But here's the point - Taking a walk down Memory Lane is great therapy for what we're all dealing with now. And even if you're just going back to January or February, these memories are all based on a foundation of freedom, at times when we did whatever we wanted. 

I get that the world has changed, but I also enjoy the fact that I've got great memories, and the 12,000+ members of my hometown Facebook group have helped bring so many of them back!

Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday and time with family or friends, whether it's on Skype, Zoom, the phone, or physically distant in person. I've got a favorite quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson I've used a lot over the years,

The best things in life are the people you love, the places you go and the memories you make.
Author Unknown

by Skip Cohen 

Somebody recently asked me, "So, what do you miss most during the pandemic?" My answer was simple, "Bumping into friends, literally!"

I'm not sure when this image was captured. I know it was at WPPI, and we'd all caught up for drinks, or maybe it was dinner. It starts with Roberto and Kim Valenzuela, my wife Sheila and Michele Celentano. Then me in the back row with Gustavo Fernández.

But Throwback Thursday isn't about accuracy for the date of capture, but the memories an image brings back. It's all about the smile it puts on your face and in your heart. Yeah, I get pretty sappy these days, but it's images like this that keep me focused on getting through today's challenges and back to time with friends.

Just taking the time to write this post and share the grab-shot is like an emotional vitamin to start my day! My suggestion is to take 15 minutes right now. Stop what you're working on and find that file, drawer, box, or album of old photographs. And like a fine wine, find a great image and savor the memories.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

​As my day got started today, I was determined to write about anything but the election results, which will go on for the next few days. So, I decided to finish a post I started a month ago that was sitting in my draft folder.

While I hate writing about anything to do with the pandemic, at the same time, it's the new norm we all deal with. Like everyone, I have good days and bad. I miss time with friends and the freedom to simply go wherever we want, whenever we want.

But there is something that's helping Sheila and me through all the challenges: making a conscious effort to do something fun, even if it's only for a short break.

I've written before about the two new members of the family, Lucy, and Belle. They've been with us for a year. Their crate's now gone, and they have almost full run of the house. They've been instrumental in keeping us focused on staying optimistic. And while the first ninety days were horrible, they're now fully into life with "Mom" and "Dad."

Combining two passions, the pups, and photography, I decided to have a little fun in the water. Lucy's a Mini-Goldendoodle, and loving the water is in her gene pool. Belle's a Havanese and can swim, but she's the princess and prefers to be a spectator.

I set up my LUMIX G9 on a Platypod Max and started shooting video. These were still frames from the video. The video itself was pretty dull and pointed out my need to develop better editing and cinematographer skills. (Click on any of the thumbnails below for more info on my gear setup.)

​But here's the fun thing about doing a mini-project like this - it captured a moment I cherish. It's even more relevant as a reminder of the importance imaging plays in our lives, even when it's DIY. Lucy's enthusiasm and trust with "Dad" and Belle's contentment to be a bystander pretty much says it all about their love for the water. Lucy is in, the minute I say "Jump," while Belle races up and down the sides of the pool following Lucy, but won't go into the water.  

Here's part of my point today: One of the most respected physicians in Sarasota, at a Zoom meeting I was on, the other day, gave us a little pandemic insight, which I'm paraphrasing.

It's not going away, and the best prediction of a vaccine is now in the Spring. There's a spike predicted in new cases in Florida as the snowbirds come back and bring more than just their suntan lotion. And we were all advised to get our flu shots and follow the rules of wearing a mask and physical distancing.

There's no light switch about to be flipped to end the nightmare of the pandemic, but there is a switch you can turn on and off whenever you need a break from adjusting to the new norm: DO SOMETHING FUN!

Walk away from the business you're working so hard to maintain and do something that makes you smile. It might be a phone call to a friend you miss, taking a walk, looking through old photographs, or taking your camera gear and shooting just for you. If you take the time, you'll find the list is endless, even with the appropriate restrictions.

There are two great Zig Ziglar quotes that fit right now:

If you want to beat the pandemic, don't give up on your dreams. Make time for things you love doing - things that make you smile. Use those core members of your network who you know you best for support, and keep your attitude at high altitude!

​Happy Wednesday!