by Skip Cohen

​I'm online virtually all day, every day. Now and then, somebody shares an image that's so stunning it deserves to be seen by more people. Often, I'm not even out in search of an image to share, but this one, especially when it came up full-screen on my monitor, just hit me!

Clay Blackmore is no stranger to SCU, or for that matter, many of you, especially if you're a wedding or portrait photographer. There's nothing Clay can't photograph, but it's his people work I've always loved the most. He shared the image above on Facebook yesterday.

Clay shared the following advice on his SCU faculty page when we first started this blog:

"More than ever, today's photographer needs a strong foundation in posing and lighting, along with a keen sense of business acumen to navigate a path to the better customers. When I was in Japan a few years ago I saw these signs about service that's so appropriate for the way we have to think about the business:

• Build strong relationships and create customers for life.
• Be responsive to the expressed and unexpressed wishes of every customer.
• Look for opportunities to innovate and improve every customer's experience with you.
• Resolve all customer problems quickly.
• Never stop learning.​

It all boils down to service and hard work. Each image is something we want to be extremely proud of. We're building our business one relationship at a time through great service. It's the heart of any photographer's studio."

It's hard for me to believe Clay and I have been friends for over thirty years, first meeting after I joined Hasselblad. It's proof that time flies when you're having a good time. 

Check out more of Clay's work with a visit to his website and Facebook page. And if you see him scheduled to speak at an upcoming conference or in the Canon booth, run, don't walk to grab a seat!
​

​Advice for photographers just starting out?

Like the guy in the beer commercial says... "Stay thirsty my friends!".  Never stop striving to get better. Better at your craft, better at your business, massage your workflow, get smarter, learn from others, practice your people skills, learn to sell without being pushy, network, take good care of your clients and collaborate with your fellow professionals instead of always competing with them. The second you relax and you think you've got it all figured out, that's when the next generation starts kicking your ass. Trust me on that one!

Becker is definitely somebody who needs to be on your radar - follow him and pay attention to what's going on at his website TheBecker.com. He's doing some great stuff!

"More than ever, today's photographer needs a strong foundation in posing and lighting, along with a keen sense of business acumen to navigate a path to the better customers.  When I was in Japan a few years ago I saw these signs about service that's so appropriate for the way we have to think about the business:

• Build strong relationships and create customers for life.

• Be responsive to the expressed and unexpressed wishes of every customer.

• Look for opportunities to innovate and improve every customer's experience with you.

• Resolve all customer problems quickly.

• Never stop learning.

It all boils down to service and hard work.  Each image is something we want to be extremely proud of.  We're building our business one relationship at a time through great service.  It's the heart of any photographer's studio."

Clay is definitely somebody who needs to be on your radar. He's regularly on the road teaching around the country as well as at his own studio. You can track everything he's doing by staying tuned to his website.
​

​Jim Garner taught me a very important concept: Jim decided that education was the best money he could spend dollar for dollar; not more lenses or equipment but education and a lot of it! Jim took five or more workshops in one year with photographers he respected. Also he attended conventions like WPPI and PPA. He took workshops in directions he was deficient in or needing refinement. He realized that creating a more dynamic image and style would differentiate him from the masses. What he was lacking in his business skills, he reached out to learn more.

It was easy to see his amazing rise in the industry within a very short time after taking these workshops and education.

Would I suggest that to new photographers just starting out? Hell yeah!! I regret I did not take a similar path when I first started. I lost a lot of money and time trying to learn on my own! "

You'll find a lot more about David on his website and if you want to contact him directly, he's just an email away at [email protected]. You can also find him on Facebook.

​When you're just starting out there are so many things to think about.

Remember that photography is your chosen field of communication; so what is it you're trying to say?  What is your point of view? 

Point of view, a combination of skill and life experience, is what separates one creative person from another.  If you refrain from copying "styles" and understand what you have to say about something that no one else has said, than your work will be fresh and your very own.  

For more of Barbara's work and to keep on top of what she's doing, check out her website.  Plus, throughout the year Barbara does her own workshops and every one is outstanding. Check  out the video below on one of her past flower workshops.

Images copyright Barbara Bordnick. All rights reserved.

​What advice would I give new photographers just starting out today?  

Success as a photographer is both realistic and challenging all at the same time. My advice to those starting out in the industry today would be simple - be intentional. In everything you do from this point forwards, decide to be purposeful and intentional, and you will succeed and create long-term sustainability in this industry. From choosing where you invest in equipment as a new photographer to educational opportunities and what genres you decide to specialize in, if you do it all with the purist of intentions and for the right reasons, you will be sure to find the right path for you. 

Don’t do things just because you feel they're the right thing to do, don’t follow everything the industry tells you to do just because it sounds right and don’t copy what other photographers do. Do things for you and do it because it makes sense and works for you. Think things through, take time to plan, be logical and always trust your gut. Most importantly, be sure to stop once and a while to measure your results, re-evaluate and re-focus if necessary. Success will surely follow as a result, but don’t forget to enjoy the journey! 

Bryan's made it a point to NEVER compromise on the results of anything he does, including images, technique, workflow, business and his friendships. From his blog, Sprouting Photographer  to his website he's definitely somebody who should be on your radar! You'll also find one of the best guest posts we've had on the SCU site about pricing, just recently published!

​My advice to new photographers? That's an easy one... education, education, education!  Become a perfectionist in your craft and in your business.  Charge more than your think you are worth - your skill level will grow faster than the rate of inflation.....  Rise to meet your prices. Oh, and get educated!

As one of the industry's most recognized family portrait artists and educators, she never compromises on the quality of her images or her relationships with clients, associates and vendors. Nothing tops her passion for imaging, education and her students.

​You can see more of her images in her website galleries and also follow her workshop and teaching schedule with just a click of your mouse.

What advice would I give photographers starting out? It's sure not a short answer.

1) Learn. I cannot stress the importance of education enough. This is where I see a lot of people cut themselves short and not make the investment. while camera manufacturers have made it easier and easier to make a decent image - you will never make a great image without education. even at this stage of our career, we continue to invest in education. I learn something new every time I attend a workshop or seminar. There are a lot of smart people out there, so soak all that information up and apply it to your business. 

2) Practice. Reading about something in a magazine doesn't make you an expert. Get out there and practice! Don't experiment on a live event. If you want to try some new lighting idea - grab a model, a friend, a can of soda and go shoot!!! all too often, I see people get too comfortable and lazy. this leads to your skills getting stagnant. Next thing you know, you wonder why you can't book more weddings, or why all of a sudden you have stiff competition all around you. It's because you have done nothing to grow your business or your skills. 

3) Never give up. Regardless of whether you are a newbie or a seasoned pro, never give up! its easy to get frustrated or disenfranchised with everything, but if this is your passion you have to persevere. We all have ups and downs. Being in this business is an emotional roller coaster sometimes. We all get frustrated and burned out. don't think for a minute that doesn't happen to every speaker or every photographer. It's really easy to look at another studio and think the grass is greener, but we all have to deal with the day to day of the business. 

4) Recharge. Don't be afraid to take some time off. it doesn't need to be a 2 month sabbatical, but take a day off. go play golf, do whatever it is you love to do. Sometimes, when I am getting burned out towards the end of a season, I just need a day or two off - not shooting and nothing business related. Seems counter-productive when you are super busy, but when I get back to the studio, I am 10x more productive! 

Being a professional photographer is a fun and rewarding career. Every day I wake up and feel like I am the luckiest man in the world. I get to do what I love and get paid for it. Good luck and be true to your dreams.

Sal Cincotta could well be the most diverse photographer in our business. To start, as a photographer and artist there's nothing he can't shoot. As a publisher, Shutter Magazine, may well be the most widely read publication in professional photography. As a business owner, his diversity is remarkable with a reputation for always exceeding client expectations. And last but not least as an educator and leader in education, ShutterFest sets the standard for hands-on shooting and a community of attendees who all support each other.  ​

What advice would I give new photographers just starting out?  Please don't be the Rock Star, be the one who cares to give your very best in everything you do. Dedicate yourself to learning everything you can about composition, color, perspective, body language, lighting - basic fine art principles (and all of the equipment you need) that will help you elevate your work to a visual standard far beyond the norm. Challenge yourself to explore new and unfamiliar territory in creativity and new technologies. Embrace your successes and your failures as markers for what you're doing well and what you have yet to learn. Enjoy being yourself in your creative journey. 

Laugh. Love. Weave your life as a happy thread of color into the tapestry of all that is good in the world. Remember in the long run, it is Who You Are more than What You Do that makes you successful.

Business isn't easy, especially for artists. Realize that equipment knowledge, software, image presentation, marketing, sales, business management, accounting and responsibility will occupy more time than your creative expressions. You don't make money in photography unless you are creating or selling your work. Delegate non-profitable jobs, like processing and retouching to people who do it well so you can free up your time for directing your marketing, selling and photographing more. Create your team and remember they will stay with you as long as they feel personally, professionally and financially rewarded for their work and dedication to you.

And finally, don't sell yourself short. It hurts you and the industry you love.

From one of the industry's finest retouchers and digital artists to a talented photographer and artist in her own right, Jane has done it all. She's an outstanding educator teaching all over the world. Follow what Jane's working on with a visit to her website and her educational material and schedule is just a click away!

"What advice would I give new photographers just starting out? Be interested and engage in the people and the world around you. That is where you'll find the stories that are yours to tell. It feeds the soul.  Connect and build relationships with the people you photograph, your pictures will be better."

As one of the country's leading photojournalists and a Pulitzer Prize winner, Deanne's images always tell a story. Check out this new series she's producing over at Think Tank, where she is a co-founder and watch the short video below!  Regardless of your photographic specialty, Deanne is somebody you should be following. Her website and more images are just a click away.

Follow her on Twitter. Check out her Facebook page. You'll also find her on Linkedin and keep tabs on her latest images on Instagram.

Images copyright Deanne Fitzmaurice. All rights reserved.

What advice would I give a photographer just starting out? I truly believe there are three elements one must consider when starting out as a serious photographer. 

It is vital that an education of the craft should be highly considered. Education is ongoing. If you can learn something new from each convention or program you attend or simply from thumbing through magazines, wonderful!!  I also stress to my attendees in my programs, “when you are ready to learn, your teacher will appear.” What this means is that if one is truly serious about photography, locating the ideal mentor is important. By doing so, your mentor will teach you his/her style of photography as well as enhancing your strengths and correcting your weaknesses.  My mentors were Rocky Gunn and Al Gilbert. They both were the “masters” of lighting and posing. Over time, they both taught me these two important aspects in order to make the subjects not look good but great.

The second element is posing and lighting. Again, these are two skills that cannot be mastered overnight, but through time, practice, more practice, and lots of practice. These are skills that must be patiently understood so your subjects will look timeless in your photographs.

The final element is passion. You must love what you do. Once you realize that you love what you do, photography is not work but passion and joy!

Hanson's advice couldn't be more dead-on. Just passion for the craft without attention to building your skill set and building relationships with some great teachers isn't enough.  Hanson is a prime example of a great photographer who worked hard to become one of the very best artists in the world as well as one of the most passionate. Follow Hanson's work in his website galleries and stay on top of his workshop schedule as well, with a click on the link below.