by Skip Cohen

​While parts of today's post are out of the SCU archives, the reality is that when it comes to consumer desires, very little has really changed in photography. Sure, technology has changed a lot, but in terms of what the consumer wants - you still need to meet their mindset.

Ever notice how, when you get a group of seasoned professional photographers together, the conversation at some point always goes the same way?  People start talking about the "old days". The conversation always highlights how much easier things were or how much less competition there was.

There's an inherited legacy out there starting with the senior crowd, yes, even older than me, LOL, photographers who complained about photography going down the tubes because of the shift from black and white to color. It's probably their offspring who years later complained about the move from manual to autofocus and later from film to digital. Then there was the "thank-God-I'm-retiring-so-I-don't-need-to-learn-video" crowd, as hybrid imaging became an ideal skill set extension. Now we've got the "AI-is-going-to-replace-me" mentality.

Yet, nothing has changed in regards to consumer expectations, since these two photographs were captured of my grandfather and his in-laws over 100 years ago. Check out the classic lighting, even the pose...the photographers in both cases needed to meet the mindset of the subjects,

Well, the more I think about it, while technology is always changing and new gear and software are pushing us to expand our skill set, there are still a few fundamental qualities of being a professional that have never changed!

• You still need to produce a quality product!  While some will argue most consumers don't know and don't care, I'm convinced that's a cop-out. Every time I hear a photographer say that, I can trace back their actions to missing something in customer service in their own business. Consumers do want quality, and when you take the time to show them the difference, the majority of the time they understand.  It's all in your presentation, and how you educate your client is an important key to success.
• You still have to provide a respectable level of Customer Service! Customer Service is your secret weapon. You've got to be accessible, build relationships, and respond to questions and problems quickly!
• You have to anticipate your customers' needs.  Pay attention to your target demographics and see the world through their eyes, NOT yours.
• You have to listen to your clients.  Most important of all, you need to meet their mindset and exceed expectations. You've got two ears and one mouth - listen twice as much as you talk.
• You still have to provide a pleasing representation of the client, the products, whatever it is you've been hired to photograph.
• You still have to exceed client expectations and make yourself habit-forming! This is still a strong word-of-mouth business, and you need to get your clients excited and talking about you!
• You still have to market yourself to get through the noise. I'll admit it's harder than ever to build brand awareness, but the need is still there. And with a good website, blog, and social media presence, plus some great old standards like direct mail, community involvement, and partnerships, the tools are at your fingertips!

Your work still requires a passionate eye, a great heart, and a quest always to look for that decisive moment. Ansel Adams once said,

         "Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."

And that's one more thing that hasn't changed. As a professional photographer, you're still part of an incredible legacy of creative spirits like Ansel, Avedon, Scavullo, Karsh, Herb Ritts, Eddie Adams, Arnold Newman, Dean Collins, Don Blair and Monte Zucker, to name a few.  They gave us a foundation and a legacy that belongs to every professional photographer.  While it might sometimes be challenged by technology and the economy, it remains a powerful tribute to pride, quality, creativity, and art.

So, that old quote still applies: As much as things change, some things never change.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

"If I have seen farther than others,
it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants."
Isaac Newton

 by Skip Cohen

Author Lou Mitchell shared the quote above in this morning's motivational piece on positive thinking. He went on to write: Progress is rarely achieved alone...Reflect on the people and ideas that have influenced your achievements. Who are the "giants" whosd shoulders you stand on?

It's Marketing Monday, and the quote got me thinking about how many giants, or better put, how many shoulders I've been lucky enough to stand on in my life. Take a minute right now and think about those people who have helped mentor you through a wide variety of challenges.

Staying in the business category, I was thinking back to my role as a marketing manager at Polaroid. I put together a number of good programs for the photo specialty dealers (camera stores). But I never came up with them on my own. All the answers were out there, somebody just needed to ask the right questions.

For example, during my visits to retailers around the country, I'd ask the same question, "What are you going to need from us to sell twice as much Polaroid product next year?" After they rolled their eyes and gasped, it was amazing the ideas that came forth. From more advertising, to promotional bundles, to new products, extended dating terms, and price reductions, everybody answered the question. Then I'd modify the question for the Polaroid salespeople I worked with, "If we doubled your sales quota for next year, what would you need from the company to make your number?"

Here's my point - we all have people we've worked with over the years who have earned our respect and admiration. They've given us guidance when we needed it most--even at times when we were clueless about our fate related to a direction we were headed.

"It takes a village" couldn't be more relevant when it comes to all of our careers and accomplishments. Even when things haven't gone as anticipated, and you hit a wall, we all have a small core of people in our network who were there, willing to lend a hand.

As you look towards fourth quarter seasonality, what are your plans? Don't plan things in a vacuum, but take the time for a few sounding boards; people you respect and know your skills. They can help, in the same way you'll be there or have been for them.

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo,
but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down!
​Oprah

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday and my day to run amok. I rarely write about marketing/business, always going into something more personal. Unlike most Reflections, this morning I really did know what I wanted to write about. Today our Havanese, Belle, is seven years old. Her sister, Lucy, hit seven five days ago.

If you've followed me over the years, then you remember me writing about Molly the Wonder Dog. She was a 65 lb Labradoodle, the first dog I ever got as a puppy. She went to the office with me every day for 13 years. Everyone who's ever lost a dog knows the overwhelming sense of loss and sadness. But today's post isn't about losing a dog, but about the value of all the memories, our photographs, and our videos.

A few months before our vet helped me make the decision to let Molly go, "Vanelli" was here for the weekend. He captured what would become two of the most treasured pictures I've ever had. After Molly passed, for days I'd start each day looking at these two photographs, as if somehow Molly was still here by my side.

Then one day, Sheila suggested it was time to replace Molly with two smaller dogs, so we'd both have pup time when we needed it. I knew I was ready, but skeptical. That was Fall of 2019, just a few months before the pandemic hit. As the expression goes, the rest is history.

Lucy and Belle are full members of the family, but there's something about having two dogs that brings them even more into our lives. We became dog people with a set of daily routines that keep us smiling, even on the toughest of days.

Belle and Lucy were 4 months old when they joined the family. Time really does fly when you're having a good time, because neither of us can believe it's been almost seven years they've been with us. But everything people write about dogs enriching life is true. Sadly, their time with us is way too short, especially considering the priceless value they bring into our lives.

Here's my point: Having two dogs totally expanded and strengthened the bond between all of us. It's non-stop unconditional love all day, every day, and it just keeps getting better. I feel so lucky to have had Molly in my life and now be hanging out with Lucy and Belle.

And to Belle, when she reads this, because I'm convinced she knows all our passwords and is on the computer all the time ordering from Amazon - Happy Birthday! I know Lucy tries to upstage you all the time, but at half her size, you're the Alpha dog. What a kick!

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with memory-making moments. If you're a dog family, get some pics today...there's very little that beats an album of pup pics! And if you're going for one of those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I write about every Sunday - don't forget the four-legged members of the family!

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

"Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart
as deep meditation, and almost as good for the soul as prayer."
Dean Koontz

Often when you are at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.
Fred Rogers

By Skip Cohen

A couple of weeks ago, with help from my co-host, Chamira Young, we launched a new Facebook group based on an upcoming podcast series, "Before They Take Away My Keys." Just to say I'm excited about it would be a huge understatement.

My career in this industry started at Polaroid in 1970. The adventures have been non-stop, but I noticed a few months ago that it was time for something dramatically different. My love for the photography industry hasn't changed. I love working with photographers and helping them build stronger businesses, but it's been 13 years since Scott Bourne helped me launch SCU... and I was blogging for 4 years before that.

So, the challenge became one of the great benefits of aging - deciding what I wanted to be when I grew up! LOL  I  want to be doing something that brings together what I've learned from so many of you as entrepreneurs and combine it with fulfilling a need.

*POOF* - getting back to podcasting was the solution...but on topics beyond imaging. We're all dealing with aging, and it doesn't matter if you're 40 or hitting your very senior years. There are so many variables, and I'm a perfect example - I'm not done yet!

Here's my point - it really does take a village! From my wife and muse, Sheila, to friends, family, and especially my co-host for a few hundred podcasts, Chamira Young, everybody has been supportive and shared so many outstanding topic ideas.

Chamira and I recorded a short trailer, and next week we'll start sharing our first episodes. We're starting with a soft launch with a Facebook page, already at 230 members. We're on Apple Podcasts and will eventually be expanding to a full-blown website at www.beforetheytakeawaymykeys.com.

Please join us - whether you're 40 and worried about an aging loved one, or you're much older, this group is about everything from your bucket list to leaving a bigger footprint that you were here, laughed the loudest, and loved the longest.

In the months ahead, with the help of some incredible guests, we'll be sharing ideas to help you navigate the aging maze.

​We can't stop time, but we can help you make the most of it.

It's TGIF and I'm wishing all of you a terrific weekend ahead. In a world that's upside down, make some new memories with the people you love the most!

by Skip Cohen

It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday. Normally, I go back at least a decade, but the pandemic came into our lives. Suddenly, we were all living a "dog's life," where one year felt like the equivalent of seven!

Those are our good friends "Kit and Kaboodle" (Tom Kitt and Kristen Jensen). They were considering moving to Florida and came down to house hunt in 2021. We got out to dinner together on their first night down here, but it would be another year before we were coming out of social distancing.

Half the fun of throwbacks is the way old photographs transport us to another time. They bring out the backstories, much the same way seasoning brings out the flavor of a great steak. Think back to your pandemic years. Here are some things that stand out for me...

• Fear: While I know it was more good than bad, the media, with the nonstop attention, simply left us scared. Sheila has some respiratory issues, so I started doing all the food shopping.
• Sanitizer: We bought hand sanitizer in case boxes at Costco.
• Netflix: I think we watched just about everything that Netflix aired. Even today, we'll run across an old movie and not remember watching it until about thirty minutes in, and then, like two cartoon characters with an idea, the lightbulb goes off above our heads, and we remember, "Oh yeah, we watched it during the pandemic."
• Pups: We didn't know the pandemic was headed our way when we got Lucy and Belle in November of 2019. As it turns out, it was the best thing we could have done. When we suddenly had to hunker down, the pups were nonstop entertainment.
• Hunkering-Down: It's an expression I had never used before the pandemic. It became so commonplace to talk about it because everyone was in the same boat.
• Family Values: The one good thing the pandemic brought out was a return to family values, especially in photography. We were all spending time in lockdown. Photographs, the Internet, email, phone calls, and video calls all became so important and valuable to keep us together.

So, while normally just looking back to five years ago really isn't a throwback - it was one of the most stressful times any of us have ever experienced. And habits developed back then still bubble to the surface now and then.

I still wipe down the handle on the cart at the market, and love doing most of the shopping; we still have bottles of sanitizer that were never used; we had to expand beyond Netflix and now have at least three other platforms to choose from; the pups are a bigger part of our lives than ever; now we hunker-down in terms of information - not from the fear of a virus, but the need to limit exposure the all the politcal garbage in the new!

Family values have never been more important, and keeping in touch with friends is, too. Tom and Kristen moved here permanently - every time we get together, it's non-stop laughs, lots of food, and another memory-maker.

If you haven't done your own search for a few throwbacks today, what are you waiting for? Throwbacks never stand alone, but come with backstories that allow you to turn back the clock and stop time.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

By Skip Cohen

It's Marketing Monday, and while I'm running low on new suggestions to help make 2026 one of your very best years in business, I'm not done yet! It's July, and for many of you, business has slowed down a little. So, before the calendar pages turn and we're into fall and holiday seasonality, it's a great time to think about diversity.

​The challenge so many of you face is too much on your website that's not your strongest suit. No matter how technically good you are, you can't do it all without sacrificing quality somewhere along the line. You need to focus on your core specialty and then spin off into related areas of expertise.

Here's a perfect example: A lot of you have an interest in commercial work, but let's say your core business is wedding photography. The confusion arises when different people view your site. A rep at an ad agency, searching for a photographer for a specific client, will move on if they come into your website looking at wedding albums. In the same respect, Mom or a bride isn't interested in your commercial work - they want to see your skills as a wedding photographer.

The same applies to photographers who want to sell fine art images, landscapes, etc., but their core business is family portraiture. The target audience gets confused and moves on to someone whose work is more in line with their needs.

Here are some easy to remember suggestions:
​

• Keep building your skill set so you can handle most of your clients' needs. Keep learning how to do EVERYTHING. For example, a wedding photographer who learns more about macro is likely to be more creative when it comes to ring shots, the detail in the wedding gown, and the flowers.
• Don't show everything you've ever shot! Just because your skill set is diverse doesn't mean you need to show everything you can do on your website. Keep your galleries relatable. For example, under the people umbrella are weddings, maternity, babies, children, family, and seniors. They all fit together and are logical spokes off a specific core specialty.
• Fine art and commercial photography have different buyers and will be better served if you either have a completely separate site or a landing page that directs visitors to two different destinations. Personally, I'm a fan of different websites.
• If you insist on showing a different specialty that doesn't seem to fit your core business, do so as a tab under "Personal Work" or as a facsimile. There's nothing wrong with diversity until it confuses your target audience. You can also use social media, including your blog, for occasional posts about other types of photography.
• Diversity in capture and post-processing is important to share. My issue is with the specialties you want to represent, not with your technique. Diversity in your technique is essential to show. Including black-and-white images, special effects, albums with double-page spreads, framing and printing techniques, just to name a few, are all necessary to share.

And last on the list - remember that what you show is what you want to sell. Years ago, I was looking at a good buddy's website, and in the middle of his core business galleries, he had a dozen mediocre images from a wedding he once photographed. When I asked why, he responded, "I've only shot one wedding, but I want people to know I can do it!"  The answer was, "NO, you don't!" That didn't mean he couldn't handle the request if one of his regular clients asked, only that he shouldn't show weddings in his main "inventory" of services/skills.

Shakespeare said it best, "To thine own self be true!" Stay true to your core specialty and diversify your website with logically connected specialties. 

I do it because I can...I can because I want to...
​I want to because you said I couldn't.
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

I was recently asked, "At your age, why would you want to start a podcast series completely outside your career in imaging?" The question had a certain sarcastic tone, as if my qualifications were being questioned, or, more disturbing to me, the suggestion that I was too old to start something new.

To start, questioning the wisdom of launching a project at this point in my life should have NOTHING to do with my age. Yes, I'm an old fart, but the challenges of aging and especially Alzheimer's are things I've been around my entire life.

All three generations of women in the picture to the right all died of Alzheimer's. Most recently was my mother; before her, my grandmother, and when I was a kid, my great-grandmother, whose lap I'm sitting on as a baby.  Alzheimer's runs in my family, on my mother's side.

We moved to Florida in 2011 to give my Dad a hand. He was 89 and was losing a little more of my mother every day to the disease. It was recommended that I get Dad into a caregiver support group, which is where the Senior Friendship Centers came into my life. Meeting every Thursday morning, we turned it into a weekly event: meeting in the morning, then going out to lunch together.

That group led me to work for the Friendship Centers, where I set up their blog, and later I was asked to join their Board, where I proudly served for many years. Years later, I got involved in other projects, again tied to the challenges of aging, including writing for the Alzheimer's Association's South Florida newsletter.

I suppose my most direct answer to my WHY is simply, I want to! Since moving to Sarasota, dozens of people have helped us through the challenges. Each one of them has had some level of expertise in an area related to aging - from the medical side to elder law, therapy, social workers, and friends. Each challenge has been a reminder that none of us are alone!

Before They Take Away My Keys is about paying it forward. It's about finding a way to give back and being forever grateful to all the people who helped us over and again. Even today, as Sheila and I hit the "golden age," there are so many resources we draw on.

So, the new podcast and direction in my career really isn't new at all. It's about living a life with minimal regrets, one that is fulfilling and, oh yes, "FUN!"  But aging isn't for sissies! At some point, all of us have to face the challenge that we really do have to give up our car keys, but that's why God created Lyft and Uber! However, before that day comes, we thought it was time for a podcast series with a resource that reminds you of the necessity to smile more and bitch less.

Wishing all of you a terrific day ahead. Take the time to make some new memories and expand Memory Lane into a busy freeway of backstories! Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about with the people you love the most. And whatever challenges you're facing under the umbrella of aging, remember you're not alone.

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

No matter how educated, talented, rich or cool you believe you are,
how you treat people ultimately tells all.
Integrity is everything.
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

Lou Mitchell, author of Mastering Positive Thinking, shared the quote above yesterday. He went on to add:

Regardless of our achievements or status, it is our integrity and the way we treat people that defines us. This perspective encourages us to prioritize kindness, respect, and honesty in all our relationships, understanding that these qualities are the true measures of our worth.

As I read this, all I could think about was how integrity is obsolete under the current administration, especially with the President, most of his cabinet, and the "Squeaker" of the House. You don't have to read or believe any of the fake news being tossed around by both sides - just trust your own eyes and ears.

Every day there's one more lie...the war in Iran has "ended" multiple times, yet here we are starting all over again. Gas prices are headed back up again, food and health costs continue to rise, and millions of dollars are spent on absurd vanity projects, yet we can't find the money to help reduce even the minimum consumer necessities. But we can arrest somebody for touching the reflecting pool while all the January 6th participants are free.

This is why I rarely write about anything political - it becomes a rant, and it doesn't begin to solve the problems. They were never eating cats and dogs in Ohio...but what they're doing right now is far worse...they're eating the very spirit of America! 

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead and time to step away and be with the people most important in your life; make some new memories and laugh over anything that makes your heart soar.

by Skip Cohen

It's Throwback Thursday, one of my favorite days of the week.

Long before digital, Polaroid manufactured an ID camera that became one of the best ways for companies and states to issue a photo ID. In the late 70s, Polaroid was awarded the contract for the Nebraska driver's license program. At the time, I was the regional services manager for the Midwest, and lauching/servicing the program was my responsibility.

This became one of those incredible work-hard-play-hard scenarios that I never wanted to do again! LOL The group above was the training team that launched the program across Nebraska. Our point team would travel a day ahead of the bus and at each of three or four locations, set up the training room for hundreds of DMV staff.

We'd train all day, then pack it up, get on the bus and head to the next city. The team was a combination of staff from Polaroid's Oak Brook, Illinois, Cambridge office, with a few training experts from other Polaroid locations. Looking back, I immediately start laughing over so many funny moments that happened throughout the week.

The biggest was in Kearney, Nebraska, when Spiderman entered the bar at Dickie Dugan's. I knew I was going to have to do some memory-making events to keep the crew laughing over the challenges of training DMV staff all week, and late in the evening, I came walking in as Spiderman.

The ID camera used for licenses was the same system used in malls throughout the country for what we all remember as Santa Claus promotions. Somewhere in life, if you're over 50, you remember a camera that looked like a large Samsonite suitcase. Well, the sales group that sold it wanted to expand holiday seasonality and give it purpose all year long. They had a contract with Marvel for Spider-Man and Batman and Robin costumes, just to name a few. I borrowed a Spiderman costume for the week.

However, I didn't know the contract included a clause stating that Spider-Man would ALWAYS appear in wholesome locations...NOT a bar and dancing on the floor of a disco while trying to drink a martini through the one piece, head to toe, mesh body suit! I heard about the contract when we returned, and for years, the photographs and videos were locked in my safe deposit box, never to be spoken about.

And this is why I love Throwback Thursday - it's the way old photos stop time and bring back some of the very best backstories.  If you haven't gone off in search of your own favorite throwbacks, take a minute and do yourself a favor - find an old pic and enjoy the look in your rearview mirror as you take a quick spin down Memory Lane.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.
Warren Buffett

by Skip Cohen

When I read the quote above, I couldn't help but think about our industry. Lou Mitchell went on to write:

The benefits we enjoy are often the result of efforts made by others in the past. This perspective encourages us to consider how our actions can create lasting positive effects for those who come after us, emphasizing the value of foresight and generosity.

We're an industry of trailblazers. People like Don Blair, Monte Zucker and Dean Collins, just to name a few, all blazed a trail for so many of us to follow and learn from. And as each of them passed on, another artist, educator, and trend-setter stepped in, becoming a guiding light for integrity, quality, and new techniques.

Now and then I've met artists who want to change their career path and step into another specialty. But almost always, they have an excuse: it's too late and something they should have done years ago. They "should" on themselves, but the reality is just the opposite -- There's always time to change, grow, and influence.

Remember, growth only happens outside your comfort zone. I remember sitting with Don Blair in the back of the room at a Nick Vedros presentation in Phoenix. Don, already established as one of the most recognized portrait artists in the world, was furiously taking notes. Surprised, I asked, "What are you taking notes about? You know all of this stuff already!"

He shook his head and said, "What this guy is doing is giving me all kinds of ideas on changes I want to make!" He went back to furiously taking more notes.

It's just a short post today and a reminder that your only limitations are the ones you put on yourself. Plus, as sappy as it sounds, this industry is a family with members who help each other and watch each other's backs. 

As I've written before, you can't create images that tug at people's hearts if your own heart isn't in it! So, if you find yourself bored and a touch apathetic, step away from your business and take time to figure out what's missing.

When a bottle of Coke has gone flat, you can't put the fizz back in, but you can toss it and open another bottle! Your career path is no different, and there are so many different "sodas" to choose from.

Happy Hump Day! 

by Skip Cohen

Over the years, I've written a lot about the importance of great Customer Service. For most of my life, I've been involved in some level of service, starting out in my Polaroid days, when the first SX-70 cameras were 300% defective.

Today, in a world of AI, online communication, and robots, we all face the challenge of communicating with a live body! Companies like Comcast lead the way in frustrations - too often, the focus on the customer is forgotten!

But today's post is about a company that surprised me and simply did it right! About six months ago I bought two pairs of sneakers online from a company called MLO.

Aging comes with its fair share of changes. For me, one of them is neuropathy in both feet. What I loved about the videos on the MLO site and their Facebook ads was the weight of the shoes. That, together with a great price, I gave them a shot.  It was like wearing my favorite pair of slippers - they were light, unbelievably comfortable, and they looked good.

So I bought two more and a few months later, another two pairs. However, one of the pairs was a different style, and they didn't fit as well. This morning, I contacted them via email, anticipating dealing with another overseas company that would show no regard for customers. I had already anticipated a slow or no response scenario.

I WAS SO WRONG. Within a minute or two of my email, I received a response with a couple of questions. I responded and heard back, again within minutes. One more round of emails and they resolved the challenge and are said they would send me a replacement pair. Within 30 minutes of my first email, the replacement shoes were already on their way!

MLO isn't just a manufacturer of a great shoe line; their service is second to none.

Providing GREAT service is one of the keys to every business's success. No matter how good your product is, without top-notch customer service, success will always be out of reach. Here are six points to help you build a stronger business:

• Response Time: Do you check your email and phone messages multiple times each day? You need to respond as quickly as possible to set yourself apart from your competitors.
• Finding Solutions: Whether you or a team member is working on it, find solutions to challenges quickly. And when there is a problem, NEVER hide from an angry/frustrated customer.
• Exceeding Expectations: Every customer interaction is an opportunity. From the quality of the products and services you offer to each inquiry and interaction with the public - never walk away saying, "That's good enough!"
• Speed Isn't Just About Your Response: Never assume your website is working the way you think it is. Check things every day on different platforms.
• Simplicity: Too many of you have policies and disclaimers on your website that would scare an IRS auditor. Keep things simple in your policies. For example, save the discussion of penalties for noncompliance for when you're discussing your contract/agreement.
• When in Doubt - Use Your Phone: Rather than always replying to emails in writing. Have you tried calling the customer? Often, there are easy-to-answer questions that allow you to react even faster than through the written word. Plus, email and text messages are limited in conveying sincerity - whereas a phone call allows you to talk to the customer on a far more personal level.

And to the team at MLO - thanks for exceeding expectations and making yourself habit-forming. 

​by Skip Cohen

We're in what many of us think of as mid-summer. Spring seasonality is long gone, but there's still plenty of business out there - both directly and in planning for the fall. Normally my Marketing Monday posts are about ways to grow your business, but today's is a little different. It plays upon your abilities as an artist and family member more than it develops your business/operational skills.

One of my wife's favorite one-liners is, "Don't should on yourself!" Well, this is a post deeply rooted in my "shoulding" on myself. Learn from my mistakes, so you can create new ones of your own!

Here's the backstory: My Dad passed away almost eleven years ago, and my Mom, two years before that. My grandparents died many years before. At this point in my life, there's nobody left who knows any of our family history. I have lots of old photographs and little stories over the years, but what I don't have is a video collection of my folks telling us about their lives, both as a couple and individually. I wish I had those stories, and my grandparents' too.

Companies like Ancestry.com can trace my roots, but that's not what I want. I want video coverage of me just sitting with my folks and talking about our family and their lives. I want the stories!
​
It's a four-generation shot on the right. My mother, great-grandmother, grandmother, and me. I've got plenty of pictures - but not the stories to go with them.

​I've referenced the Senior Friendship Centers in Sarasota numerous times over the years. They're a nonprofit that, each year, delivers thousands of meals to hungry elders, provides adult daycare, a Caregiver Support Center, and more. I couldn't be prouder to have been on their Board for many years and support the way they give back to the community.

One of the programs they started doing many years ago was called "My Journey." It's a recorded interview giving seniors the chance to talk about their lives and create a legacy recording for their children and grandchildren.

I love the concept, but to take it a step further, ALL of you can do something similar. And you have the gear and the skills to do this in more depth than a recording. You've got the ability to create family videos with virtually whatever level of sophistication you want.

​This has so much potential to capture memories, starting with your own family. Don't wait until everybody is gone to say, "I should have taken the time!" Take advantage of all the family time coming up over the rest of the summer and into the fall holidays.

This is especially important if you've got grandparents or great-grandparents alive. Make it a point to get time with them and capture those stories. Ask them questions about their childhood and growing up. Have fun with questions about the kind of kids they were; things they did in school; specific friends, pets, and places they visited. The list of information it would be fun to have and share is unlimited.

​Don't make the mistake I did - Take the time to become your family's historian. You never want to look back and wish you'd captured/created a video about your roots!

Never. We never lose our loved ones. They accompany us;
​they don't disappear from our lives.
We are merely in different rooms.
Paulo Celho

by Skip Cohen

On Sundays I always jump the tracks and stay away from business topics. I rarely know what I'm going to write about until I get up in the morning. But this morning was tough - looking for inspiration, I scrolled through my Facebook notifications and found nothing but repetitive political themes, infomercials on how to lower our electric bills, reduce an enlarged prostate, and fireworks displays.

Somewhere in my pondering, searching for something I could write about, I was looking around my office. It occurred to me that my office has become a memory museum focused on family, friends, and my life in the photo industry.  And every "exhibit" has a backstory.

From a Hasselblad dark slide signed by friends at my going away party in 1999 to my Dad's college fraternity paddle; one of my favorite prints by good buddy Bob Coates; books signed by Avedon; and even a tourist bought shot of me and good buddy, "Hoss" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...the list goes on and on.

Don't be mistaken - I don't live in the past. However, the inspiration of so many people who have come into my life energize my quest to make more memories into the future!

“Accidents only happen to the other guy. So, all you other guys, watch out!”  
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

I recently ran across a post I'd written many years ago about the importance of a backup plan. Remember Murphy's Law? Well, the Second Murphy's Law is simply, "Murphy was an optimist!"

For the last few weeks, it's become obvious that we've pissed off Mother Nature...Floods, tornadoes, fires make the news every night. Now add to Mother Nature's challenges and your own vulnerability, and you've got more than enough reasons to have a backup plan for your business!

Far too many of us have learned the hard way about the challenges of not backing up our files. I hear stories every day about drives that crashed, memory cards that were lost, and the horror stories that followed as people tried to recover once-in-a-lifetime images. So, knowing that we all back up our files and pray we’ll be prepared when the sh** hits the fan do we really have all bases covered?

We’re ready for just about anything, but we don’t back up ourselves! What happens when something comes up and you suddenly find yourself out of commission?  I won the battle with the gall bladder from hell sixteen years ago, but the fight put me out of circulation for two weeks. During that time, had it not been for my good buddy, Scott Bourne, stepping in to help me, the momentum of my blog and various projects would have been completely lost.
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Ask yourself one question: If I couldn’t work for the next five days, who would know what needed to be done in my business?  Then work up every scenario.  What if you can’t make it to that wedding you were hired to shoot next weekend? What if a family emergency pulls you away from your business? Just go through the exercise of making sure you’ve got a plan.

Throughout the Florida coastline, you’ll see signs reading “Evacuation Route.” And when we were kids, we did countless fire drills so that everyone knew what to do in an emergency. Why as adults do we think we’re invincible?

You’re working too hard to build your business – don’t risk it all by not having a back-up plan.

Many years ago I saw an auto safety billboard with the quote above, “Accidents only happen to the other guy. So, all you other guys, watch out!”  Sure seems to fit with the way so many people never prepare for that “it’ll never happen to me” crisis!

Intro by Skip Cohen

I've often referred to Facebook and social media as the mortar that holds the bricks together. I'm referring to those "bricks" of friendships with people we care about, but simply don't get to see often enough. No matter how bizarre the world is, social media helps us stay in touch with those special people.

While I had a 1979 throwback ready to go this morning, when I read David Anthony Williams' post. It was too good not to share. It's so well written and deserves to travel well beyond his FB page. My Polaroid shot from '79 will have to wait!

David closed with, "​I was somewhat comforted by thinking we don't really say 'Goodbye' forever, provided we live on in photographs and people's thoughts."

Please take the time to read his post below...then, take a few more minutes and think about that one person in your life who inspired you to be who you are today! Treat yourself to a few minutes and take a walk down Memory Lane.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by David Anthony Williams
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Well, that was harder than I thought...My sister was clearing out her attic/office of things related to family that she needed my input into. This concerned five 13x16 inch prints on 16x20 board of my dad - a Kodak Professional Markets exec - shot in Rochester in 1959 - on the brand-spanking new color negative film that he would later launch to the IAP in 1960.

They'd faded, the black & white had silvered on the edges. I was able to tag onto the end of a artwork shoot Ian van der Wolde was set up for (thanks mate a thousand times) who made files I could cover a stadium with.

I had presented many times on the heart-felt value of printed images and it really hit home as I cut up the originals for disposal. '....mounts are full of lingin', '..they're faded', 'there's multiple prints of the same image'....even the smell of them: storage, paper, faint whiff of chemical was tugging at me.

​All true. Still hard. I had to cut them face down.

One of the images had been in our family living room all of my life. Handling the prints bought back an almost electric connection that was highly emotional. I was saying 'Goodbye' all over again.

Coming back from shopping today, I happened past the street where dad spent his last couple of years - in a beautiful facility like a country club - full of kind and caring people. It is a building site. A massive excavation where the building used to be. Change is inevitable.

We carry 'them' with us in our heads. When we conjur the memories up - or they come unbidded - they come in the form of little 'film clips' like rackety 8mm lengths of film....prints with white borders carrying a date in someone's hands.

As we age and are less distracted by 'worklife' these memories and connections - I think - increase and behind it is the pain of loss that becomes a little less sharp year by year.

I was very pleased to know that the WW2 photographic of my dad's is in the Australian War Memorial, and much of the rest of his collection is in the Kodak collection in the museum in Victoria.

I was somewhat comforted by thinking we don't really say 'Goodbye' forever providing we live on in photographs and people's thoughts.

What fools call wasting time is most often the best investment.
Nassim Taleb

by Skip Cohen

​Three years ago I started the "Hump Day" series. Most of today's post is from that first post, which started by wandering through cyberspace to check out when the expression got started. Here's what Google gave me:

Wednesday first came to be known as hump day since at least the 1950s. The expression figures Wednesday, the middle of the workweek, as the hump people get over to coast into the weekend. Throughout the 20th century, Wednesday was especially referred to as hump day in an effort to liven up the drudgery of the workweek.

If you think about it, there's no middle of the workweek any longer. In the 50s, Saturday was a coast day, and no businesses were open on Sunday. Today, most retailers operate 7 days a week. Plus, if you're a wedding and event photographer working Friday - Sunday, there is no "coasting" into the weekend.

But here's how I use "Hump Day:" I have several ongoing projects. On Wednesdays, I like to waste time. "First and second Tuesdays" (see my previous post) are always a little insane. By Wednesday, I want to look at what I've done and what I have coming up, and I'll often take time to kick back a little to think through my game plan.

​I review my calendar, check for any deadlines, and then do some prep work for specific projects I'm working on. It's a day to reflect a little, then ramp up to complete what I want to finish by Friday's end.

We all should have our routines, but sadly, for those of you just starting out, it's natural to be reactionary. You're trying to be all things to everybody. You'll eventually lose focus, and that's when something gets missed. It took me a long time to recognize my own limitations given the time I had available. I had no choice but to work to get a little more organized.

Learn from my mistakes so that you can make new ones of your own. Establish a few standard routines you do each day that involve various aspects of your business. And while marketing is an ongoing category, remember: your greatest marketing tool is relationship building. Make sure you have time allotted for customer contacts and building a brand that demonstrates your accessibility and passion for the craft.

*Rant Alert!* While we're all guilty at times of something slipping through the cracks, many of you are turning missed opportunities into an art form! Every time you're in public, whether physically or in cyberspace, there's a chance to show your skill set, not just as an artist, but as a business owner.
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• Dress the Part: I'll be the first to admit I'm old-school, but if you're meeting with a client, talking about sponsorship with a vendor at a trade show, or working an event - look like a professional. Whatever your look, people do judge a book by its cover. These days we live in a casual world, but as a professional in any field, when in the public eye, don't be afraid to raise the bar.
• Shark Tank Syndrome: We all know the show. Now and then there's a presentation that's half-baked. A business owner is pitching on Shark Tank with a bad presentation and when asked very specific questions, they can't answer. Why? Because they didn't do their "homework." They're not prepared with the most basic answers. If you're going to look the part, then make it a point to BE THE PART!
• Walk the Talk: You've got two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you talk. Verbal communication is a two-way street. Take the time to listen just as much as you're talking. Listen with a goal of understanding. You can tell when talking to somebody if they're really listening or immediately thinking of what they want to say in response!
• A Firm Handshake: This is really old-school, but it was a lesson my grandfather taught me early on. And make eye contact- you're building a level of trust with each handshake, even when it's more casual and social.
• Remember Names: It took me a year to get into the habit of repeating somebody's name out loud when we've just been introduced. And as you get older and your short-term memory starts to thin out, this practice becomes even more critical.
• Email Contact Forms: It's great that on any website you can have a contact form for people to communicate with you, but what good does it do if it takes you days or even longer to respond? How do you feel when you contact a company, and they don't get back to you ASAP? If you want to build a reputation for being service-oriented, then it starts with how fast you respond.
• Texting Technology: We live in an instant-gratification world, and texting technology lets you respond immediately. But pay attention to the original text. So often, I find that whoever I'm texting has missed part of what I was asking. And remember, 82% of text messages are read within 5 minutes, but consumers open only 1 in 4 emails.
• Stop Writing Like a Moron: I've received a few emails lately that were impossible to understand. The sad thing is there's help if more people will use Spellcheck and Grammarly.
• List Your Phone Number and Share It: Mobile technology is available to EVERYBODY. Have a dedicated line for your business and stop letting your kids answer the phone!
• Answer Your Phone Professionally: I know this is basic, but I'm amazed when people answer the phone like they just walked by an old payphone in a bar that was ringing! Once again, be a pro.

And, one last area to talk about - the Internet. There are no erasers on the Internet. Stay out of battles that aren't yours on Facebook. When expressing your opinion, do so professionally. Don't write anything you wouldn't want the world to read. Remember, you'll never win taking on a troll or acting like one!

by Skip Cohen

Years ago, I wanted a way to post content that was more personal and less business-focused. So, Sunday Morning Reflections became my vehicle to share whatever was on my mind, and today is no exception.

Ever had an idea that you wanted to implement, but you spent so long pondering and analyzing that you almost missed the window of opportunity? Well, that's been me, and it's all about creating an open forum where we could share ideas about getting older. But not just from the personal perspective, but supporting those special people in our lives who are more senior - parents, relatives, and friends.

The idea for a podcast, social media page and website really started years ago with my Dad. During the last week of his life, he kept asking, "Why can't the doctors tell me what's wrong and fix it?" The truth was, he was 93, and the docs couldn't do anything more, but his caregiver and other family members insisted he not be told he was dying. Finally, one night at the hospital, my wife Sheila answered Dad's question, "Dad, do you know how seriously sick you are?"

Dad paused for a few seconds in deep thought and then burst into tears, finally understanding. It then became a mad rush to say the things he wanted to share with those of us who were bedside. I know in my heart had Dad known earlier, there were people he would have loved to talk to. He lived an amazing life and was always grateful to his friends and family for making it all so good.

That evening has haunted me ever since... but combine that with my own aging and the loss of so many friends over the last few years, and it got me thinking about the importance of "no regrets."

​This past week, I launched a new FB group on a topic near and dear to me...the challenges of aging. Before They Take Away My Keys is the title, which pretty much says it all. The preview podcast is currently live and below. Chamira Young is my co-host. Together, we've done a couple of hundred podcasts over the years, but never with a topic this personal.

by Skip Cohen

This would have been the perfect post for Throwback Thursday, except I got busy with my new adventure into aging and Before They Take Away My Keys. I totally missed posting this yesterday. But there's nothing that says you can't enjoy a throwback whenever it's shared. And while I know I shared pieces of this post many years ago, it's too much fun not to bring back.

I was president of Hasselblad USA from 1987 - 1999, and early in 1988, we got a call from Cubby Broccoli's studio. They were looking for gear that "Q" could use to build a unique rifle for James Bond in License to Kill.

With help from Carl Claesson, then Hasselblad USA's Service Manager, and Don Snyder, Camera Repair Supervisor, we donated a beyond-repair camera body, magazine, and prism finder. "Q" had what he needed, adding other photographic gear to create the rifle. If I remember correctly, the barrel or stock was a carbon-fiber Gitzo tripod leg.

But my favorite part of this throwback story came just after the film had been released. At a Hasselblad press conference in NYC, introducing the newest camera at the time, we chose to kick off the event by showing the rifle, which was then on loan to us.

It took every ounce of control I had not to laugh as I announced Hasselblad's entrance into military weapons and its award of a government contract. After removing the A-12 magazine from the camera, I showed how it was loaded with six large-caliber, high-velocity rounds.

I was doing great until I made eye contact with my good buddy, Bob Panarella. Sitting right in front of him was one of the journalists, furiously taking notes. That was it - I cracked, along with Bob and most of the audience. 

The story behind the rifle continued...

In the late 80's and early 90's, Hasselblad Sweden produced an ad campaign featuring some of the finest photographers in the world. Each tag line started with "________________ shot __________________ with a Hasselblad." For example, I remember one of Paulina Poroskova photographed by Victor Skrebneski with just that caption.

Sitting in the office one day, somebody had an idea, probably Mark Rezzonico, to do a spoof and create the ad to the right.  The caption read:

MARK REZZONICO USED A HASSELBLAD TO SHOOT ERNST WILDI, WHO USED A HASSELBLAD TO SHOOT ALLEN ZIMMERMAN, WHO USED A HASSELBLAD TO SHOOT SKIP COHEN.

Mark Rezzonico was pretty close to the start of his career in professional photography.  Ernst Wildi wrote every Hasselblad manual and was an amazing photographer, author, and teacher. Al Zimmerman was Vice President of Hasselblad USA and took over as President when I left for other endeavors.

Al is holding the gun used in the movie, License to Kill. You can find anything on YouTube, and the clip from the scene is below.  

Today's post is a perfect example of the biggest side-benefit of sharing throwbacks: the fun of the backstories and trips down Memory Lane. They help us stay focused on the fun of being in this industry. A look in the rearview mirror is perfect for appreciating the view forward and the future.

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead - and if you haven't done a little searching for some fun throwbacks of your own, take a minute or two and appreciate your past and how you got here.

​Happy Friday!

by Skip Cohen

When I wake up each morning, my body creaks for ten minutes, but I really don't feel any older than I did as a teenager. And, according to my wife, I'm no more mature!

Aging isn't for sissies!  At some point, all of us have to face the challenge that we really do have to give up our car keys, but that's why God created Lyft and Uber! However, before that day comes, we thought it was time for a podcast series that reminds you of the necessity to smile more and bitch less.

So, whether you're 40 and worried about an aging loved one, or you're much older, this group is about everything from your bucket list to leaving a bigger footprint that you were here, laughed the loudest, and loved the longest.

In the months ahead, my co-host, Chamira Young, and I, with the help of some incredible guests, will share tips and guidance to help you navigate the aging maze. We can't stop time, but we can help you make the most of it.

We want to help you live a better life! There are so many topics to share about aging. Whether the challenge is your own aging or caring for a more senior family member, things never seem to slow down. Most important of all, there are so many things people don't talk about until it's too late.

Please listen to the short sneak peek sound bite above and then join us on the "Before They Take Away My Keys" Facebook page, which we hope will eventually become home to a whole bunch of knuckleheads who still refuse to grow up!  Just click the button below.