by Skip Cohen

​Now and then, a book comes along that, no matter what your specialty, needs to be on your bookshelf! Well, here's one you need in your collection, and it may well be the finest, most detailed book on macro photography that's ever been published.

Don Komarechka's new book, from the cover right through to the last page, is jam-packed with stunning images, helpful illustrations, and material to help you raise the bar on your macro and closeup work. Even better, it will help you see the world just a little bit differently.

As an artist, educator, writer, and "mad scientist," he's created a 384-page collection of just about everything he's discovered in his passion for macro. This book is a guide to a world we never see, yet it's all around us..."the universe at our feet."

Completed during the pandemic and with all Kickstarter pledges and pre-orders fulfilled, Macro Photography: The Universe at Our Feet is now available for sale, shipping immediately! 

Just trust me on this - you won't be disappointed. The book is stunning and represents an incredible amount of work, knowledge, and everything you need to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images regardless of your specialty!

Click on any image in this post to link to Don's website and the new book!

by Skip Cohen 

​Last Monday, I shared a post reminding you that you're coming down to the wire to be planning your marketing activity for the seasonality of the fourth quarter. It was pretty general, but this week let's start to list some actions you should consider.

Blog Content: If you've got a blog, it's the perfect vehicle to plant the seeds of gift ideas in photography with your clients. Here are some topic ideas:

• Start sharing some of your older images to help get Mom thinking about the timing for a new family portrait. Throwback Thursday is a classic way to deliver the message.
• Share ideas about things to do with photographs. While canvas prints are not new to any of us in the industry, they're something most consumers don't know much about.
• Be helpful: There are things you do every day as a photographer that you take for granted. Start a series of tips to help your readers capture better images. Become the expert in your community on photography.
• Start a community calendar sharing events in the community. It's a great way to show you're involved.
• Share ideas on your services: For example, I love "Day in the Life" shoots with families, children, and even pets. You don't have to spend the entire day with a client, but just a few hours in their environment gives you the ability to tell their story and, in turn, create a small album.
• Plant the seed now for a video holiday card. This is a 30-60 second piece combining video, still images, and great music. Check out Suzette Allen's YouTube channel to see more ideas.

Direct Mail, alone and with partners: I'm a huge fan of relationship building with other vendors. While you can do a direct mail campaign alone, with two partners, like a florist and salon, you'll reduce your costs to 1/3 of what it would be if you flew solo. Now is the time to get out in the community and look for partners.

New products for gift ideas: CALL YOUR LAB! I mentioned this last week, but the pandemic hasn't slowed down technology. So all you have to do is call your lab and ask, "What's new?" Then kick back and listen. Somewhere in there, you'll hear about a product that will get you excited as something new and creative you want to offer.

Community Involvement: In the top 100 things guerrilla marketers need to be doing, base on Jay Conrad Levinson's list many years ago, is be involved in the community. People like buying products from companies they perceive as giving back. Now is the time for you to be raising your hand to be involved in activities in your area. And remember, this is about people getting to know you, and it doesn't always have to involve your camera. Even working at a Friday night football game, filling ketchup and mustard containers for the Booster Club, is a way for you to be involved.

No one post can cover everything, but each Marketing Monday, I'm going to be doing my best to share more ideas for you to consider. Most important of all, remember there's a renewed sense of family in the world. Who better to help capture and create those memory-making moments than you?

by Skip Cohen
 
It's Sunday morning, and I'm always off the topic of business and marketing. But, I sat down to write I had trouble with a topic. So, I started to get a head start on writing for tomorrow. Recently I got back to sharing some of my favorite quotes each morning on Twitter - every day at 10:15 am, I share a new one.

As I typed up tomorrow's and put it into the pipeline, it became the perfect foundation for today's post!

"If you hit a wrong note, then make it right by what you play afterwards."
Joe Pass

​In a program at ClickCon in Chicago two weeks ago, I told a story about Michele Celentano.

Approximately ten years ago, at a boot camp program SCU did before WPPI, she was a speaker. She got up in front of everybody and said, "Twenty years ago, I was right where you are - wondering how long it would be before my work didn't suck!" She then shared some of the worst wedding photographs anybody has ever seen.

Like the quote above - she hit a WRONG note...probably a whole album full! But the passion and love she had for this business never slowed down. She took every possible workshop she could and studied under some of the finest artists/educators in the industry.

Today's she's one of the finest family portrait artists in the world, but more importantly, she's never stopped giving back to other photographers who are just getting started.

And there's my point - whether it's your skillset as you grow as an artist, your role with family and friends, or building your business - don't waste time over-analyzing your mistakes. Instead, think of them as speed bumps and move on. You hit a wrong note - so make it right in what you play afterwards.

Wishing everybody a day with minimal challenges and if you hit a speed bump, remember it's not Mt. Everest. Drive over it and move on! Always go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with friends and family you care the most about and stop looking back at what you might have done wrong. Stay focused on the future and moving forward with what you can do right.

​Happy Sunday, everybody...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world!

by Skip Cohen

Since WPPI is going on right now, it seems appropriate to enjoy a throwback from one of the WPPI shows in the past - WPPI 2009. If there was ever a show when we pulled out all the stops, this one was it. That's part of the RF/WPPI team on the right side: George, me, Shauna, and Abby. Holding the red cup is John Popper of Blues Traveler. 

This was the biggest show in WPPI history with over 15,000 in attendance; Rangefinder Magazine was over 350 pages; the Show Guide was close to the same; 300+ exhibitors, and thanks to Nikon's support, Blues Traveler in MGM's Garden Arena.

I know it's hard to imagine any big event like this these days, but if we're patient, those days will eventually come back. In the meantime, whatever size any conference is that you attend, the key is to stay focused on networking, expanding your skillset, and recharging your battery!

Take the time today to find your own Throwback Thursday moment and then savor it. There's nothing wrong with a fun look in your rearview mirror as long as you continue looking to the future!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

Intro by Skip Cohen

One aspect of the fun of a conference or convention is the people you meet. Today's post is a perfect example with a guest post from Andrew Michaels. We met briefly at ClickCon in Chicago last week, and after the convention, he sent me an email about a unique special project he worked on during the pandemic.

The main idea was to photograph a different train operator at each of the 194 CTA stations. I simply wanted to put a face to the L. I know a lot of people don't even think about it. After showing my friends, I would get texts "OMG I saw the operator at the front of the train!!" And from what the operators told me, it meant a lot to get that recognition...The message I was trying to send hit me harder than I intended. These people really are part of the community, and just like your barista you see every day, no reason you can't say hi and just smile to brighten their day. I got to know some of them, and they are truly amazing people.

There's that old line about "it takes a village." Well, take a second and think about the people in your "village" since the pandemic started. For Andrew, he wanted to recognize the team that kept Chicago's transit system operating - never missing a day of support for the community. And remember, they supported thousands of nurses and doctors who rely on the CTA to get to the people they care for!

I'm a big fan of special projects because they help you focus on essential concepts outside your business. In addition, they help bring out your creativity and spirit, which too often, lately, are buried under Covid's baggage. In other words, they help keep you grounded!

Andrew needs to be on your radar - visit his website and follow him on Instagram.

by Andrew Michaels

​In January 2020, I made a decision to commit full time to photography, spending January offering headshots and February learning squarespace to put the new portfolio online. In March 2020 COVID hit, so my plans came to a screeching halt. 

With my studio-that-never-was on lock down, I needed a new creative outlet. I sifted through my phone notes and landed on an idea that I really liked: to photograph a CTA bus driver at every stop as they opened the door looking at the passengers outside. But with about 10,000 stops in Chicago, the “L” seemed like a better option, with 194 stops. In hindsight the “L” was even more near to my heart, given how many hours I’ve spent photographing classic shots like the Merchandise Mart and the Adams/Wabash overpass. 

As I went about my work, kicking off each day with my morning coffee, I started to consider how the local barista becomes a friendly face in my morning routine. It occurred to me there's no reason the CTA staff shouldn't be embraced in the same way. It can make such a difference in someone's day to get a smile from a familiar face. I got excited thinking how a collage of 194 different operators could encourage the riders to connect with the workers. At the very least it would literally force Chicagoans to register the idea that these iconic trains don't drive themselves. It’s an obvious but often overlooked fact. 

As I went about the project, I was amazed at how many times an operator - who I previously photographed,  would appear days/weeks/months later at a different stop. It was serendipitous to see, even with such a sprawling organization, I might cross paths with these people over and over. In fact, the very first operator I photographed, Calvin, was spotted 3 times before I finished the project.

In rail transit, a “meet” is a situation in which a train traveling in one direction "meets" another traveling in the opposite direction. Growing up, I was pretty shy, so my family would encourage me to push outside my comfort zone, stressing the importance of meeting new people. “You never know who you’re going to meet…” implying at any moment, you can make friends with a stranger who may become the most important person in your life years later. On a micro level, this project proves that to be true.

I ended up leaving many of the duplicate people in the final collage to reinforce the lesson I was taught growing up, and during the project- treat every stranger you meet as if you will meet them again.

Intro by Skip Cohen

​Two of my most favorite portrait artists and good friends are Bev and Tim Walden.

In just a few weeks, they'll be launching one of the industry's strongest coaching/mentoring programs, Immersion. While I've been sharing a link to their program over on the right of the SCU blog, I asked Beverly to give me a short example of how straightforward they're going to be with helping you build your skills beyond your technical style.

It's your chance for a year long, never-let-up support system!  You can even design the program you need the most over the next year, and add in an hour of private coaching as well! Just click on the banner above for more information!

One of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and again and expecting different results. Well, this is your chance to raise the bar on the quality of your work and your marketing/selling skills. And like Carly Simon's song so many years ago, "Nobody does it better!"

by Bev Walden

As much as you don’t want to admit it, objections exist. Personally, I would love it if our clients always agreed to everything I said, bought it all as presented and never objected.

That is just not reality.

However, take heart. As you are in business longer and longer, reputation will provide privilege as people know what to expect…and objections happen less often.

Our best advice (not meaning to sound flippant) is to avoid objections by doing groundwork from the beginning. Weed out problems beforehand. It is your job to think ahead for your clients and avoid any possible objections by informing them about things they need to know such as your pricing and payment options, how you do business and what they can expect.

After doing due diligence beforehand, you can prepare for each selection appointment with confidence. Here are three common objections we see.

Objection #1: Being indecisive. Can I think about it? I can’t decide right now.

This is where groundwork comes in. Take time before the day of the sale to plant seeds about expectations and share your “rules.” Talk about it every format you can (written, videos, etc) and reinforce it our and over. Your rules, your way. Time is the enemy. In the first moments of the sale is where the money is made and money tanks as time passes and clients leave without making a decision. Relationships become contentious as you try to re-connect to get an answer. This is one of the worst scenarios for successful sales.

What do we do if this happens?

We say, “Let’s put everything into the system like we’ve talked about since we’ve spent all of this time together already.” Then we collect the deposit. Before we finalize everything, we ask them to let us know within certain time (ie: 24 hours) whether to go ahead with the order as is or modify it. If we don’t hear from them, we go ahead. This approach gets a solid order and a deposit, yet doesn’t back them into a corner.

Objection #2: I can’t bring my spouse right now, so can I just look at the portraits now and then we can come back later to place the order?

What do we do if this happens?

We say, “It is hard to get on the schedule right now as we are several weeks out.” Usually, when they hear this, they will find a way to come as originally scheduled and place their order. What we don’t want to do is show any images before they are ready to buy as the excitement is much less the second time the images are seen. When excitement goes down, the money goes with it.

Objection #3: I look ________________. You can fill in the blank.

What do we do about this? We avoid this objection by prepping images that we want to highlight with a little retouching and liquifying areas that need it. We put our best foot forward! This is why we limit how many images we show. We want to make each as beautiful as we can without spending too much time fixing too many images.

Finally, don’t be afraid of objections. And remember, sometimes, there is not an answer. If you have done everything right and still have a bad sale, no worries. Let it go. Be ok with it. And learn from it.

by Skip Cohen

It would be so easy if there was just a button on your keyboard you could hit and have all your ideas in place for this coming holiday season. Well, there isn't, but that doesn't mean you can't come up with everything you need to give 2021 one of the strongest finishes you've ever had!

It's Marketing Monday and August 16 - just a month ahead of the start of fall seasonality and into the fourth quarter, the busiest time of the year for photographers. What are you doing right now to start planting seeds for ideas for your clients with imaging products?

​This will be an ongoing weekly series because no single post could cover everything you should be considering. But here's an ideal place to start:

What are you offering this season that's unique or, at the very least, new to your target audience? Here are some things to consider:
​

• There's a renewed sense of family in the world. It came out of the pandemic and brought with it a greater appreciation for being together. Knowing that, what's grandma missed the most? Her family! That's the perfect lead-in for family portraiture.
• Call your lab and ask, "What's new?" And remember, while canvas prints may be old to you, they're not old to your clients. 
• Put together packages: From single portrait sittings to on-location "Day in the Life" shoots, be creative in what you're offering. When you sell prints by the size and quantity, you turn your work into a commodity item.
• Remember Beverly and Tim Walden's comment about what you're selling - "You're not selling a portrait but an experience!"

Here's my point - September is two weeks away with kids going back to school (if they're not already), Labor Day, and Fall. October brings in Halloween, and by November, we're already into Black Friday specials from companies all over the world. That makes NOW the time to get your ducks in a row and have plans in place to capture the seasonality. ​

It doesn't matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you are going.
Brian Tracy

So, where is your business going for the rest of the year?

by Skip Cohen

While I'm generally off the topic of business on Sunday mornings, there's another variable today. For the first time in at least ten years, I took the last week off, and it was for two reasons. First, we were heading to ClickCon, and while I usually always have posts in my stash, I chose to shut things down for this trip. Second, I was approaching burnout, and while I talk about recognizing when you need a break, now and then it's tough to walk the talk with my own advice!

Then, as I sat down this morning, feeling recharged and ready to get back in the game, I got an email from the crew at Story People. Sheila and I are both big fans, and we've got six of their prints framed on a wall in our home.

As I read the "story," it hit me - this last year was a year of growth. While the transition was often the result of dealing with the pandemic, we grew regardless.

We learned to find other ways to keep in touch with friends when physical proximity was off the table. We found things to smile about when at the time, things seemed the bleakest. And when it came to getting back in touch with people and traveling to Chicago for ClickCon, we discovered the pure joy of time with old friends and making new ones.

One of the biggest reasons you should attend every conference you can, is to recharge your battery. And that's exactly what this last week did for me. So, while I essentially shut down the blog in terms of new content - it gave me time to simply appreciate what a fantastic industry we're all a part of!

When we launched this blog in 2013, my buddy Scott Bourne told me to trust him and not do anything until he published a specific tweet, but he wouldn't tell me what it was. He had 100,000 followers at the time - today, over 200,000. He ran, "Skip Cohen is back!" and included the link to the new blog the next day. The response ranged from people checking out SCU to "Skip who?" to "What do you mean he's back? I just talked to him yesterday?" to "Where did he go?"

Well, here we are eight and a half years later, and after hundreds of podcasts and thousands of posts, once again, "I'm back!"  And I'm so pumped up for so many good things coming over the rest of this year!

There's my message - recognize when you need a break. Accept that even when you're feeling a little burned out, you're still growing, and never underestimate the power of your friends to help you get back on track! Take the time to recharge when you need it.

Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead and time with the people you appreciate the most. Don't forget those eleven-second therapeutic hugs. Most important of all, remember that growth happens fastest outside your comfort zone!

Happy Sunday, everybody...or Monday to those of you on the other side of the world.

by Skip Cohen

Every couple of years, I share this incredible piece from Kodak created many years ago. Unfortunately, the quality of the video isn't very good but just listen to the story. It's a piece that should be mandatory for EVERY photographer to watch at least a couple of times a year.

I don't say this very often, but just TRUST ME and watch the video. 

The pandemic took a lot away from everyone in this industry, but NOT your creativity, passion, or the consumer's need to capture memories. It's the perfect vitamin to boost your emotional immune system.

We're headed to Chicago for ClickCon later today. The anticipation I'm feeling is almost overwhelming as I look forward to new friends and old ones we haven't seen in nearly two years! It's going to be a conference, mini-tradeshow and reunion - all jam-packed into the next four days. What a kick!

Wishing everybody a Sunday filled with memory-making moments and time to kick back and appreciate the incredible career path you chose when you stepped into imaging!

​Happy Sunday, everybody!

by Skip Cohen

I'm turning back the clock to 2011 with a big thanks to Samantha Photography for sharing this image way back when. It was Skip's Summer School in Las Vegas, and one evening we did a panel discussion, and it couldn't have been more informal. Attendees sat on the floor and just fired questions to whoever was available, which at the time was most of our speakers. There were no guidelines and no topic was off-limits.

Left to right, Clay Blackmore, Tony Corbell, me, and my wife, Sheila. And I think that's Steve Wright, one of the attendees on the floor. What makes me smile about this image are the friendships that came out of these programs, because it was small. We ran the series for five summers with an average of three hundred attendees each time.

With ClickCon kicking off next week, it's an opportunity to return to a smaller conference where you're able to build a network of vendors, associates, and friends. Everyone gets to know each other much differently than at a larger convention. But, I also feel like it's a sign of the times, even with the challenges of the pandemic. Smaller conferences are definitely going to become the norm.

So, have some fun and take a look in your rearview mirror. Go back to past conventions, and then follow the journey you've taken with so many of your friends and the photographers who are part of your world today.

And, if you're in the Chicago area, wander over to the Palmer House starting Monday night. ClickCon is going to be a kick.

​Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

With all the challenges coming out of the pandemic and travel for many of you limited, David Akoubian shares some terrific insight into how he turned his backyard into a bird sanctuary. David's a phenomenal artist and Tamron Image Master, now with one of his favorite subjects literally on his doorstep every day!

​I love the way Tamron and David have put this video together with a solid "how-to" approach to the sanctuary and great tips on technique and learning the behavior of the birds themselves. But there's a sidebar backstory I appreciate even more - this is about "Personal Projects." Projects like this help keep you stay focused on the passion for why you became a photographer in the first place. Personal projects help save you from being buried under the stress of the day-in-day-out challenges of building your business!

​Tamron never slows down in support of photographers. In addition to over three-hundred videos on their YouTube channel, you'll find their tech team regularly supporting events around the country to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images.

Check out the links below for information on Tamron's NEW 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD Lens for Sony E Mount cameras, along with their ongoing active schedule of events in your area! If you haven't checked out Tamron lenses lately, they're making some of the finest optics in imaging! 

And check out David's website for information about his workshop schedule, along with his blog and great images in his galleries!

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday, and as usual I'm a long way from writing about business. As I sat here thinking about what to post, I started to think about the last eighteen months.  I doubt that I'm any different than most of you - it's been a rollercoaster of emotions.

I've missed contact with friends and associates. I'm tired of arrogant self-centered politicians who refuse to focus on the people they're supposed to represent. I'm sick of not knowing who to believe on anything that's relevant. And God forbid somebody says to me, "I know it's true, I read it on the Internet!" Every day I'd bounce around from the sadness of missing friends and freedom to moments of joy thanks to Sheila and the two pups. 

Melody Beattie wrote:

"If you don't know when you feel sad and alone, you won't know when you feel good. Feel all the feelings that come your way. Each one has a lesson for you. And as you release that energy, you'll be releasing passion, too. Value your passions and the way you feel. Soon you'll find yourself knowing just what to do and when."

As you work to overcome the sadness of how much business has changed, the reality is you didn't lose your skillset. And while the path for the journey to your dreams might have changed - your passion is still intact - just buried under the baggage of today's world. It's time to let it out!

Here's what's remarkable - you're not alone! We've ALL felt those same frustrations, but it's incredible how bright the future can be if you look past the challenges. And while I know how sappy and hokey that sounds, just take a minute and think about it because it's so true.

"If you want to knock down the wall between you and the life of your dreams,
it's best to do it one brick at a time."
Paul McKenna

​Wishing everybody a day with time to focus on your dreams. Learn to appreciate the low points in your life because they highlight the high points. Your passion for life, business, creativity is still there, chomping at the bit to take off and help you grow. So go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people who mean most to you. They're the ones who will help you take down the wall and focus your energy on your dreams!

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

​by Skip Cohen

As a kid, I know I'm not the only one who dreaded bringing home a report card every six weeks. While there were moments of brilliance when I applied myself, most of the time, there was something I had to explain. LOL Then, as a parent, the process returned, only now I could hear my folks saying, "You'll understand when you're a parent someday." Well, now fast forward to today, and the closest thing to a report card you get is feedback from a client now and then. 

With ClickCon right around the corner, then WPPI, Photoshop World, PPE, and IUSA in January, if you're going to make the very most of the time you put into the events, let's look at your "report card."
​

• Assess your skills: Be honest with yourself. You know where you need the most help. For most of you, it's lighting or diversity. On the lighting side, we've got too many "natural light specialists" out there. Sorry, but the secret is out - we all love natural light, but when it becomes a specialty, it screams - fear of studio lighting! On the diversity side - we've got too many one-trick ponies. I'm not suggesting you need to master everything, but you need to expand your skills. For example, being exclusively an event photographer without a backup plan during the pandemic proved disastrous for many artists.
• Assess your network: Having a great network isn't about collecting names and business cards but building relationships with people you know and respect. A great conference is a perfect place to expand your network and turn it into a team of people who support each other and complement each other's weaknesses, especially yours.
• Assess your gear: Make a list of everything you have. Then, look at what's missing, as well as where are the easy points to expand. Gear doesn't make the photographer, but knowing how to use everything you have and need does! Every conference gives you a chance to check out equipment - but don't forget to rent high-priced items before you invest!
• Assess brand awareness: What good is working to create the finest images of your life if nobody in the community knows who you are? Look for opportunities to become your own publicity machine. Attending a conference, for example, gives you the ability to capture images of yourself with other photographers, vendors, instructors, and examples of new products you might bring to your offerings.
• Assess the vendors you know: Every conference gives you a chance to meet more people, especially the vendors who manufacture and sell the products you use. Make it a point to meet every vendor, starting with any company whose products/services you currently use.
• Assess your offerings: Too many of you have products and services that could put a rock to sleep. Coming out of the pandemic, there's a renewed sense of family and a need for capturing memories. There's also an entirely new channel developing for food photography as more and more restaurants expand to carry out service. When in doubt call your lab and just ask, "What's new?" Then, kick back and listen.

Here's my point - your time and funding for attending conferences is limited, even if they're online. So take the time NOW and do your own report card. The goal is to walk through the door (or portal) for each event ready to get the most out of it.

by Skip Cohen

Technology and trends in demand NEVER slow down. Now add in the "new" normal created by the pandemic, and there are so many opportunities for photographers to raise the bar on their skills and expand their business. Here's one example:

Thousands of restaurants all over the country are serving outside. At the same time, carry-out has become a significant part of their business. Most of them have little in terms of visual assets to show their menu.

But there's one more factor playing a role in your potential to grow your business - most of you have time on your hands. As we come out of the pandemic and things return to a little more normalcy, while business is picking up, it's the perfect opportunity to fine-tune your skill set.

Aaron van is an accomplished food and beverage photographer. The video below is only eighteen minutes, as Aaron goes through the technique and tools he used to light and capture the image above. In addition, he shares a lot of great "how-to" content. 

So, whether food photography is typically part of your business or not, grab a coffee and take a few minutes to follow his process. Then, start thinking about the restaurants in your community that could use a little help in sharing their menu beyond their physical location!       

​Interested in seeing more of Aaron's work? Visit his website, and you'll see galleries of stunning work from one of the industry's very best. And check out KelbyOne for Aaron's most recent online workshop.

by Skip Cohen

I'm almost always off-track from business and marketing on Sunday morning posts. And it's most often in the same general area - something that hit me and usually took my spirit to a great place. These days, anything that makes me laugh is a quick charge for my "battery."

Nick Vedros sent me a chuckle this morning, and I'm sharing it because so many of us can identify with the sentiment. What makes me laugh is my love for coffee but my inability to handle caffeine. But, of course, that doesn't stop me each morning from the great smell of coffee when Sheila puts the pot on.

I grew up drinking my coffee black because that's the way my grandfather drank it. It started when I was fourteen, and we went to this little hole in the wall down from his hardware store. I wanted to show him I was no longer a kid, and when he ordered a black coffee, I proudly said, "Make it two!" 

Well, those days are long gone, but not the fun of the memories and sitting at "Kitty's" in Fairport Harbor, Ohio with my grandfather and two cups of coffee...black.

Fast forward to today, and I'm blown away by the cars lined up at the drive-through at Starbucks. And I'm trying to figure out when did $5 for a coffee become the norm, plus everything that's put into it. I also love it when I witness one of those knuckleheads described to the right.

And while it's not Throwback Thursday, I'm suggesting you find a memory and simply have some fun. Pick a moment from when you were a kid and just run with it. Then, share the story with your family, like I just did with Sheila. 

Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead. Whether it's over coffee or not, take the time to count your blessings. I'm so tired of people looking at everything we've lost over the last year rather than appreciating what we still have...and what's waiting for us in the future! And ALWAYS go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people you care the most about.

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

by Skip Cohen

In 2009 I left Rangefinder Publishing and WPPI to start my own company. One of the very first projects was "Skip's Summer School." Besides old friends who joined me on the journey, a new friend brought his skills to the party - Ron Dawson.

​Relatively early in his career, he was a talented film producer, artist and videographer. Ron came to Ohio and spent an afternoon with me creating the video below. Today, he's doing some exciting things in the media and tech industries with brand and content marketing. 

I had forgotten all about the video, until Greg Schrader, also a new friend back then, sent it to me yesterday attached to an IM. Greg's based in Michigan and we've stayed in touch over the years thanks to Facebook.

I know it might seem like I'm on an ego trip to share a video of myself, but as I listened to my own pitch, I realized how much I've strayed from recognizing when I need to recharge my battery. I'm betting most of you are the same - we've all gotten so caught up in the challenges of the pandemic and business that we've neglected our most important client - the face in the mirror every morning! 

One more fun aspect to today's post - Throwback Thursday is about savoring memories. We lost Molly the Wonder Dog two and a half years ago. While two pups have filled the hole in my heart, the fact that Ron worked her into this video makes it that much more special.  So, take the time for a look in your rearview mirror today and find a memory or two that simply makes you smile.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

I've worked with the team at Tamron on different projects for many years. While it's their never-ending quest for quality in their products that's made them a leader in optics, the passion and enthusiasm of their staff sets the standard. They never slow down in working to help photographers raise the bar on their skillset.

Check out the short intro on "Tammy Talk" about their new 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD Lens for Sony E Mount cameras in the first video and then watch pro photographer Glynn Lavender in action with the second. And besides the information about the new lens, pay attention to the way they tell the stories - short, sweet, and to the point. While I know it's a lens they're talking about, think about how you'd tell the story of your business, and all in two minutes or less.

Tamron's entire product line continues to grow. Check out the complete lineup of Sony E-mount lenses now available with a click on the banner below.
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by Skip Cohen

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It's Sunday morning, and I'm trying hard to stay away from my usual topics related to photography. Still, the anticipation I'm feeling for upcoming events is making that impossible! I've been working on my presentation for ClickCon in Chicago, and after a year and a half of Zoom presentations, the excitement of being with old and new friends LIVE is almost overwhelming.

As I wandered through Adobe Stock looking for a fitting image to accompany today's post, the snail above became the obvious choice. The finish line represents anything we've been trying to do through the pandemic and the snail's pace - well, that's obvious.

What am I most excited about? Bumping into people, literally! I want to be around photographers, vendors, educators. I want to hear noise that isn't coming out of the speakers on my computer. I want to listen to the chatter in the air. I want to enjoy that unique vibrancy in everyone's voice as we appreciate the relentless pace we were on to get to where we could share our mutual passion for the craft again.

It's been one hell of a year, but on August 9, a group of passionate, enthusiastic artists are going to be together to keep the momentum going. It might sound sappy or even hokey to say, but I've missed you guys. 

And there you have it - the excitement of stepping out of cyberspace and into the real world. Of course, it'll be a smaller show than 2019 was, but it's all relative to the new normal. And there's that old line from Mark Twain:

​It's been a snail's pace to get to today, but we've stayed focus on the prize - growing together! And if you're headed to ClickCon - make it a point to pat yourself on the back. Despite all the challenges, you never let the flame of passion for the craft burn out.

Wishing everybody a day of heart-pumping anticipation of working back to a new normal. Even with the restrictions we still have, it beats being hunkered down alone! Have a great day - go for those eleven-second hugs with those people most important to you and give yourself credit - you held focus!

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

​See you in Chicago!