Intro by Skip Cohen

Last week, my good buddy Scott Bourne posted the rant below on Facebook, focused on helping new photographers make better choices about their gear. Like virtually any specialty, the imaging world is filled with "experts." And while there are a lot of great educators/influencers out there, I'm always amazed at how many new artists fall for the "clickbait" Scott wrote about.

Many years ago, Vincent Laforet spoke at Skip's Summer School. I remember him talking about when he first started and the challenge of capturing the images he wanted when his cash, and in turn, his gear was so limited. "You know what you do when you don't have a lens long enough...you move in closer!"
 
Thirty years ago, when I was at Hasselblad, a photographer came up to us at our booth at Photo East and asked for a list of everything Denis Reggie shot with. We gave him the list and he went immediately to B&H there on the show floor and bought almost all of it. The following year, at the same show, he came by the booth and dropped a few dozen 5x5 proofs on the counter and said, "I bought everything Denis Reggie uses, and my images don't look any better with Hasselblad than they did with my old gear!"  He'd shot everything f8 @ 1/125!

Here's my point - before you get sucked into buying new gear, which you may well need, take the time to review your skill set. Put your money into your education and building the operational side of your business. And if you need something exotic and expensive, rent it first! 

Here's one more story: Joe Buissink tells a great story about spending too much money on a tilt/shift lens when he first started. He was convinced it's what he needed to make his work look different. Instead, his purchase tied up capital he could have used for better ways to build his business. Plus, he barely used it and sold it a year or two later for a loss!

​A big thanks to Scott for permission to share his rant! Scott should be on your radar - click on his link above and follow him on Facebook. He's always got something worth sharing.

**A.I. images from Adobe Stock

by Scott Bourne

​I can think of no greater waste of time than watching the #photography "influencers" talking about their gear. I am sad that new photographers get duped by these people and fall for their click bait.

• No matter what camera/lens you use, they will convince you it's not good enough and what you REALLY need is the gear THEY (get paid to promote.)
• Use any camera you like. In the last five years I think I've encountered one bad camera and one bad lens and both were niche products that most of you will never have heard of.
• Your camera is good enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some additional thoughts...

• Don't be bullied by the Full Frame Mafia. Use Micro Four Thirds or APS-C if that works for you.
• Don't fall into the cult known as "The Religion Of Low Light Performance Pixel Peepers." They will convince you that even the slightest spec of digital noise ANYWHERE in your picture is baaaaad.
• Lastly, don't be tricked into thinking you need an f/1.2 lens for every single shot so you can have perfect BOKEH BALLS. That is a fad. It will pass.

This is all nonsense and it's all the nonsense you will find on YouTube. No doubt there are some thoughtful, talented people who want to help you there but even then - you're better off just practicing with your camera.

All you need to do to improve is this. Just read your camera manual, learn how to operate the camera properly and go make as many photos as you can.

You will be twice the photographer any of the YOUTUBE "influencers" are within a year's time.

​Rant over...

Intro by Skip Cohen

​In 2010, we moved to Sarasota to give my Dad a hand taking care of my Mom, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years earlier. I could go anywhere as long as I could get online, and Sheila had enough seniority to retire early from her role in HR at Akron Children's Hospital. I look back on the move as one of the best decisions we could have made. I was able to spend more time with my Dad, and Sheila loved getting to know both of them. Even through the challenges of Alzheimer's, she and Mom were able to build an amazing bond.

Just after we moved here, I talked Dad into writing a couple of blog posts. He wrote the piece below for me that November. That was almost fourteen years ago! I love the relevance - there is no expiration date on running a good business, building trust with your clients, and creating a brand based on integrity.  

Every couple of years, I like to share a little of Dad's wisdom. When he started in business just after WWII, he didn't have social media—but he did have a telephone. He didn't go to any conventions to network, but he did have time to meet people and talk to potential clients. He didn't have workshops to attend, but he did have books to read and ideas to share with his associates over lunch.

He started out in the lumber business, moved into the candy and tobacco vending world, and, in his early forties, entered his dream of commercial/industrial real estate. He loved bringing people together to build lasting things, and everything he did was always based on integrity and good business sense.

Right up until he passed away at 93, he still did business on a handshake. He might have slowed down physically as he got older, but he never compromised those standards my grandfather taught him many years earlier.  
​
As you think about wrapping up 2024 and kicking off the new year, everything he wrote about below is right on point! Pay attention to your business, and keep an eye on your competition, but don't get so obsessed with what everyone else is doing that you lose focus on your own marketing plans.

The grass isn't greener on the other side...it's greener where you water it!
Anon

Intro by Skip Cohen

​It's Marketing Monday, and wandering through the SCU archives, I found one of my favorite guest posts by my good buddy, Scott Bourne.

As 2023 seasonality starts to ramp up, have you built a reputation for being unique? If not, then what you're offering is a commodity - the same thing everybody else promotes! And to Scott's point: You've got to be unique - not just in terms of technique and quality, but your ability to build relationships with your clients.

Walt Disney may have said it best:

by Skip Cohen

​It's Marketing Monday, and here's a concept I wish I could make mandatory, at least to read, for every photographer in business!

​I started this blog over ten years ago. Today there are thousands of posts, many of them guest posts or ideas I've shared, thanks to other photographers, educators, and business owners. One of them is good buddy Doug Box. Loaded with wisdom and outstanding marketing concepts over the years, he's never stopped sharing or helping artists maximize their business. Every few years, I like to pull one of my favorites from his archived past posts.

While I'd like to take credit for the foundation of today's post, it's all thanks to Doug. I first heard him talk about this concept with his bakery demonstration at least twenty years ago. So while I've written about it before, most of you need the reminder!

Paraphrased from Doug's presentation: Pretend you're a baker, and somebody calls and asks you, "How much are your cakes?" For most of us, we'd ask a series of qualifiers: How many people do you want it to serve? Sheet cake, layer cake, or ice cream cake? What flavors would you like? Is anything to be written on the top? Any allergies we need to know about? When do you need it? Will it need to be delivered? And the list goes on and on.

Why, then, when none of us own a bakery, do we know what we'd need to ask, but as artists, most of you ask almost nothing? For example, a potential client calls and asks, "How much are your 8x10s?" and most of you would answer with a price. That's it - nothing more to clarify what the customer needed, and no effort made to upsell with ideas of other products you offer, package pricing, cross-promotions with other vendors, holiday specials, etc.

While I originally shared Doug's concept as a preview idea for holiday seasonality, it's a practice you should use EVERY day. With that new focus on family coming out of the pandemic, there's an increased demand for portraiture and creating/capturing new memories. 

Take a minute and think about everything you have to offer a client. From holiday cards later this year to prints to capturing memory-making events.  When you're contacted, don't just answer their question. Instead, take things one step further and give them something to think about that ties back to your skillset and everything you have the potential to offer.

Another good buddy, Tony Corbell, has used Disney as an example over the years. If you ask a Disney staff member when is the Electric Light Parade, they'll answer you, but then include, "And you know where there's a great place to watch it?" They'll then give you a suggestion on where to be in the park to enjoy it the most. They never just answer your question.

Your success with every client is based on exceeding expectations and making yourself habit-forming, even when they're contacting you for the very first time. Don't just answer their questions - give them a little more to think about and help them understand why you're the best choice for their imaging needs.

The bottom line is simple - we've been experiencing it with every fast food order we've ever made...

​"You want fries with that?"

"Beauty is in the eyes of the checkbook holder!"
Dean Collins

by Skip Cohen

It's Marketing Monday, and as I sat down to write this morning, I was thinking about some of the questions I read in the various forums on Facebook. The ones that bother me the most are the ones where too many of you waste time worrying about what people will think. We all have our challenges with self-confidence from time to time, but when it impacts your business decisions, it's time to step back and collect your thoughts.

This isn't my normal kind of post under the marketing umbrella. However, unless you can put 100% into your creativity, worrying about what other people think will slow you down. The only people that matter are you as the artist and your client. So, do the best you can and keep raising the bar on your skill set.

Looking through the SCU archives, I found this guest post from my buddy, Scott Bourne. He puts the topic into perspective - stop wasting time worrying about what people think and focus on giving your clients and business your very best.

​Exceed expectations and make yourself habit-forming!

by Scott Bourne

People ask me how/why I produce so much content. It doesn't matter whether it's photography, painting, writing, music, etc. It's always the same simple answer.

I've come to realize that my own effort is the only thing I can control in this life. Period.

I can't control what people think of my effort or of me for that matter. I can't control what others say about my effort or about me for that matter. So why worry about it?

I spend 100% of my time on that which I CAN control. My own effort. I do everything I do with gusto. I don't ever go half way. I don't ever ask for permission. I just go for it. For me it's always pedal to the metal, from sun-up to sun-down, seven days a week. And that's the way I like it.

As artists, it's none of our business what others think of our art. That's a rabbit hole and if you go down it, you'll never know how much work product you lost and time you wasted searching for empty compliments and dealing with vapid trolls.

So my advice is direct and to the point. Just do the work. Throw yourself into it 100%. Express yourself. Give the world your point of view without fear. Don't look back. When others hate. We create.

​That simple philosophy has served me very, very well for more than six and a half decades. I hope it will serve you too.

Intro by Skip Cohen

Over the last ten years, I know I've shared this guest post by my good buddy, Scott Bourne at least twice before. While it's out of the archives, it couldn't be more relevant to so many of you. I follow hundreds of photographers, and speak to dozens every week. Many of you are making these mistakes over and again. 

But the best thing is, they're all avoidable and can be corrected. Some immediately with your mindset, others with practice, more fine-tuning of your skillset or a better understanding of your target demographics.

And when Scott wrote about having a "killer portfolio" consider your online galleries. Stop showing work that anybody's Uncle Harry could capture. Make your work standout and only show "Wow" images - photographs so strong you'd only have to show one to get hired!

​by Scott Bourne

(While these mistakes also encompass other areas of the professional photography business, at their core, they are marketing mistakes. See if you are making any of these mistakes and what you can do to correct them.)

1. Don't think about selling your image to the masses. Think about selling to people who live in your own zip code. Trying to start out like you're Ansel Adams with big gallery sales all across the country isn't going to happen. Just own your own zip code and don't worry about your images going viral. 

2. Don't spend money on a studio, lights, camera gear, backgrounds, etc. until you actually have a customer. You can rent all the stuff you need to do a shoot. In fact, the big shots mostly rent everything when they are shooting big jobs. Why should you aim to be any different?

3. Don't focus on launching until you can sell. Focus on sales. Spend your time selling. Learn everything you can about the sales process. Read every sales book you can get your hands on. Expect to spend way, way more time selling than shooting. If you're doing it the other way around you're going to end up on the wrong side of the scoreboard. 

4. Don't worry about a business plan if you don't have a superb portfolio. Develop a killer portfolio before you worry about building a business plan. Make sure you have honed your craft. Make sure you know what you are doing. Don't worry about the big plan. Worry about being a great photographer with a great portfolio where every single image rocks your world. 

5. Don't think you can run a photo business just because you are a great photographer. You need to be good at all the things that go with running a business, or get help doing those things. You need to have good bookkeeping, inventory control, accounting, legal, marketing, branding and sales on board before you even think about entering photography as a business.

6. Don't run your business with a negative mind. Too many photographers spend their time and money trying to build a wall around their photo business. Don't write 100 page contracts. Don't treat your customers or prospects as if they are out to cheat you. Just have a good attitude and move ahead. 

7. Don't fake it until you make it. If you can't carry your weight, you'll ruin your reputation. So if a client says "can you do aerial photography?" and you've never even been in an airplane, don't say yes. You may want to partner with someone who can do that, you may want to refer the prospect to someone else, but don't claim you can do it if you can't because you will suffer from a bad reputation with that prospect and all their friends for all time.

by Skip Cohen

It's Marketing Monday and one of my good buddy Scott Bourne's most helpful guest posts. While it was shared many years ago, EVERY point is relevant today. Marketing doesn't really change, and over the years from my own posts to guests, each of these golden rules have been shared before.

And for those of you who will roll your eyes at the idea of pounding the pavement and going door-to-door...it can be so effective. What I hear most often is, "I'm a wedding photographer, it won't do me much good to go into a real estate office!" NOT - here's why. Every realtor has other needs outside their business. From a new headshot to family events and weddings of their own kids, to support for community events they're involved in, there's a never-ending demand.

Walk in, introduce yourself and say, "While my specialty is wedding and event photography, I'm here in the community to help you with any of your photo needs. I have a great network, call me any time." That's it - no hard sell and nothing more you need to say. Leave your card and head to the next business.

It's not rocket science - just good old relationship building, which is your very best marketing tool!

by Kevin A. Gilligan

​Landscape photography is one of my passions.  I love the feeling of capturing a great scene, especially if I get to explore somewhere new while doing it.  Photographers love to share their best images. We want others to enjoy and appreciate them, and hopefully, buy them.  

In the past five years, I’ve shown my landscape and travel photography in a half-dozen group shows, and two museums. Last year I began to feel it was time to have a solo exhibit.  I’m a self-taught photographer, and I was not planning to wait around for a gallery to offer me a show. I made up my mind that I was going to create my show. Over the course of six months, I planned and executed every detail of a solo show. 

Deciding to do a solo exhibit is a large commitment of time, resources, and ego. Yep, ego, you are putting yourself out there, and saying come look at my work. You have to have the confidence to show it, and a thick skin for those who won’t like it. Photography is art; you won’t please everyone, nor should you try to.

The opening night of a solo show is exhilarating and worth all the work that goes into it.  I learned a ton in the process. Here are a few tips I can share for those who are committed enough to put on their first solo show.

Tip #1 Try a Group Show First
Group art shows are a perfect way to ease your way into showing your work.  You don’t need many pieces; you can often show just one. It takes less time and less money, and there is less pressure because much of the logistical work is already done. You don’t have to book a gallery space, and often someone will hang the images for you. The theme may already be selected.  The group shows help you build your network of contacts: collectors, framers, printers, public relations folks. Hand out your cards, get the cards of others, send thank you notes. 

Tip #2 Select Your Best Images
Learning to select your best images and editing them for a show is a big first step.
You must learn to be ruthless. I have over 40,000 images in my catalog. I showed 27. If you are thinking about a solo show, I am assuming you are already proficient in post-production using Lightroom/Photoshop, etc.  Selecting your images for a show is much more than just processing your images. It involves selecting a group of images that go together in the show.  You might have several groupings of images.

For my exhibit, I had 27 images in three groups. The first were aerial images of Los Angeles. I printed those on metal. The second were black and white photographs of Rocky Mountain National Park; those were printed on paper and framed and matted. The third group included some of my favorite water-related images, and a few black and white, or dark themed landscapes that complimented the Colorado images.

Tip #3 Print A Test Book
Once I had a semi-final selection of images, I printed a high-quality test book. The book was about 5x7 inches, and I did not spend a lot of time on the text. The point of the book was to see how the images looked together and to have the book to take with me when I met with galleries. It was also an inspiration to me to keep going.  When I was tired or frustrated, I could look at the book and remind myself of my purpose. The book was something tangible I could hold in my hands. I also showed it to a lot of potential guests for the show. Printing the book shows you are serious, and it elicits a different reaction than, “Hey, look at these pictures on my iPhone.” Everyone has pictures on their iPhone, this is different, print a book. You will look at your images differently. It pushes you to do better.

Tip #4 Theme/Artist Statement
You need a theme. Your exhibit will need a name.  Give some thought to what will describe your show to guests. This was hard for me, really hard. It took me a while.  I read photography books, listened to podcasts, talked to my wife about it. I won’t lie, this took me months. Finally, I figured out something that worked for the collection of images I had in mind. ELEMENTS: SEA – AIR – LAND.  Was it the best name ever, probably not, but it told the viewer what to expect, images of the sea, air, and land.  As I got closer to the exhibit I wrote an artist statement incorporating the theme, and what I wanted to convey with this collection of images.  Personally, I think this is an indispensable step to solidify your thoughts and connect with potential collectors. The theme was done early in the process; the artist statement came much later. 

Tip #5 Find a Place to Show Your Images
Obviously, this is very important. You might even want to determine this first. Many decisions spring from this decision. You need to know what this space will look like so you will know how much space you have for images. How many can you show? How will you present them? The location is also an important consideration for your audience. How far will they travel to see you work? When the venue is available will affect how much time you have to prepare everything.  If the location is a gallery or museum, it will likely have a lot of lighting, and it will be flexible to highlight best your art. If the location is not a gallery, you may need supplemental lighting.  How much will the location cost to rent? Will you pay a flat fee or a percentage of your sales? Do they allow food and alcohol? Will they do marketing for you or will you be expected to do all of your marketing? Do they have a mailing list to promote you?

Finding the right space took months for me. I had been paying attention to the galleries during my group shows. I was ready to book one gallery and it closed. I was disappointed, and had to start my search over. I contacted real estate agents about vacant spaces, but that never panned out. The real estate agents always wanted too much money for a short exhibit, and they also wanted me to get insurance and pay for electrical hookups and the like. The logistics didn’t work out. 

Ultimately I found a local gallery and was able to pay them a flat fee. They had lots of lighting, and they even helped me hang my images, which was great.  I also found a very supportive group of artists who were interesting and fun.

Tip #6 Seek Show Sponsors
Putting on a show is expensive. Printing, framing, gallery space, public relations, food and beverages, a catalog….they all cost money. It’s thousands of dollars any way you cut it.  Seek sponsors to help you reduce your costs, and give your sponsors billing on your public relations, social media, and gallery space.  Hopefully, you have been building your connections as you have exhibited in group shows to this point.
 
Sponsors can also include local food and beverage companies who may be new and want to expand their client base. I was grateful to have Tamron USA, Pelican Products and a local brewery and chocolatier as my sponsors.  You don’t have to provide a full dinner, but some wine and cheese, or beer and chocolate is in order.  I did not drink during the show so I could stay sharp and attend to my guests. 

Tip #7 Create a Show Flier
Once you selected the show name, images, location, and dates, it is time for a show “flier.” My flier had a key image for the show that would be on all the advertising, dates and times, and names of my sponsors, my website, and email address. I printed several hundred 4x6 postcards and carried them with me all the time. I handed out hundreds of these over the course of 3-4 months and left them at key places like my local photography shop. 

Tip #8 Social Media
As soon as you book the date of your show, send out a “SAVE THE DATE” on social media. Use the show flier on social media. Send it out to all your outlets: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, your mailing list.  Your sponsors will appreciate it.  Vary the message, talk about the process, show the location, your printing, and framing. Don’t overwhelm but give periodic updates.  Ask your friends and sponsors to help spread the word. Post images of the show itself, friends having fun, and perhaps even images you sell.  Be sure to reach out to people individually before and after the show. Take the time to demonstrate that you are looking forward to people coming to the show, and say thanks to those who do come.

Tip #9 Be Humble and Ask For Help
You are going to need help, probably a lot of it. So be humble and ask for help. I’ve always been a believer in shopping locally. I buy a lot of my camera equipment from local camera stores. Yes, it costs me a bit more in the short run, but in the long-run the help with equipment and questions is invaluable.  Plus I like to support my local community. For this show, I spent quite a bit of time working with an extremely talented photographer and printer from my local camera store.  She helped me with paper selection, printing and gave me many helpful suggestions.  One of the best suggestions she gave me was to create a replica model of the show space.

Tip #10 Create a Replica of Your Exhibit Space
Grab a legal pad, a few pens, and a tape measure and go visit your exhibit space. Measure the dimensions of ALL the walls and draw a diagram while you are there. Next create a model of the space out of foam board. Make every foot equal to one inch and be sure the model is to scale. Height of the walls and distances included. 

Write the height and width on each wall. Connect the foam board pieces using clamps and/or nails. You will want to be able to take the walls apart and put them back together again.  You are going to print super-small copies of your pictures and post them to the walls using pin cushions. By doing this, you will be able to see which images go together on a wall, which images should be vertical or horizontal. You are going to measure out the distances exactly. 

Did this take a lot of time….yes. Did I get frustrated doing this….yes. Was I delighted when I got to the gallery, and I knew exactly where each piece was going to go……? Absolutely. It cut down on a lot of stress on the day of installation.

Tip #11 Test Prints
This will be obvious to some, but test prints are critical.  You need to know how your image will look on the particular medium that you are using. Half of my images were printed on metal for this show. I ordered several metal prints (dye fused on metal) from several print labs before the show.  I experimented with several different finishes on the metal as well i.e. glossy, matte, etc.  The paper prints were even more complicated.  Each paper has a different print quality, price and displays the ink differently. “HELP”….my head was spinning. I spent many hours working with a printer to get each shot right. Finding the right framer, at the right price, can also be challenging. Your network can be invaluable here.

Tip #12 Installation/Hanging Your Images
Hanging images can be very challenging. Honestly, I hate doing it. Give yourself enough time. At least a day. If you have done your model (tip #10), then this will be much easier, you already know which images go together as a group, and where specifically each will go. Ask for help, bring a friend who has done this already if you can.  Keep in mind that some galleries will hang images with wires and some galleries only want “D” rings. You should ask the gallery how they want the images before you frame them, assuming the gallery is going to help you hang the images.

Tip #13 Create a Catalog
Create a catalog of your work for the show. Include your artist statement, pictures of the images, the size of the images, the medium, and the price. I made 250 copies of the catalog, and it was well worth it. Hand it out at the show and let people take it home. This will help with your follow-up sales.

Tip #14 Sign-In Book
Purchase a nice leather bound book for the show and have people sign in and provide their name and email address so you can thank them for coming and invite them to future events.

Tip #15 Follow-Up
Follow up with your prospective purchasers after the show. Thank those who came to the show and especially those who purchased an image. 

Tip #16 Hire a Photographer
Hire a photographer for the day, so you get images (with you in them for a change) and you can relax. You’ll be happy to have the images of your friends and for use in future marketing and social media efforts. 
    
Conclusion:
Having a solo exhibition is a landmark in your professional photography career. It says you are serious about your photography and willing to put in much more time and effort than the average photographer. Give yourself lots of time, six-nine months and enjoy the learning process.

Nearly 250 people attended my exhibit, I sold a third of my images during the show, and even more after the show. I met collectors and I'm building my mailing list. It was an exhilarating and somewhat exhausting experience. I couldn’t be happier I did it.  I hope you do it too. 

Intro by Skip Cohen

​I've run this guest post by my good buddy, Scott Bourne, numerous times over the years, First because it's so relevant, and second, we're right on the edge of graduation season.

While his original target was the new artist entering the workforce and starting out in the business of imaging - everything he wrote is even more relevant to the seasoned professional today. His advice is the perfect reminder of what we need to focus on, like marketing, business, technology, and social media...not just to survive but thrive!

And, to Scott's point about relationships - Relationship building is your most valuable marketing tool!

But there's one more thing I want to add, and Scott's the perfect example - he's never slowed down on raising the bar on his skill set. From wildlife to toy photography to images on his iPhone and everything in between, he never compromises on quality. Often his photographs leave the viewer in awe, wondering how he got the shot.

by Skip Cohen

Up until IUSA, I only knew Kevin Dooley a little. However, we share a lot of mutual friends, attend the same conventions, and we've been saying "Hi" in passing for a long time. We caught up in Nashville, and I've been following him on Facebook.

Our growing friendship is a perfect example of why you need to attend every conference/convention you can. It's all about meeting new people, building a stronger network, and getting to know other photographers better. IUSA next year is in Louisville, January 28-30, 2024. Put it on your calendar, and then make it a point not to let anything get in the way.

I wanted to share Kevin's post for two reasons - First, it drew me in. For years I remember my good buddy Don Blair talking about capturing emotion in portraiture - and it didn't mean each subject had to be looking straight down the lens barrel! The same applies to critters, like this mother/child shot of Kevin's from South Africa.

Meanwhile, while Kevin's images are stunning, ​what he shares with each one is just as unique. ​So to Kevin's point in his post - think about everybody and everything that's made you who you are today. It's an incredible group of people and experiences, and each has contributed.

Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote in Ulysses, "I am a part of all that I have met." The reverse is just as true.

by Kevin Dooley

I certainly have my times when I look to the heavens above with no way to hide the questions of my being who I am. If only I had less sensitivity, would I be able to float through life with a much calmer and happier heart. If only my skin was as thick as leather and even the harshest of unkind words could never leave even a scratch. If water rolled off my brow and I never spent another moment wondering if people like me. Imagine how much easer life would be.

Yet I also ask myself if I were a bit more harsh, a bit more of who cares, that's not my problem, would I see what I see in the world with the same understanding? Does goodness, expression, love, kindness, and caring come from being aware of the other ends of the world? When I look for a photograph, I look for my experiences, my feelings, my expression. So I suppose all that we are made of has its goods and its difficulties. Ever ask yourself what makes you who you are?

Note: Kevin and Tricia Dooley own IDUBE Photo Safaris. If you're looking for an incredible adventure, check out their website and follow Kevin on Facebook.

Intro by Skip Cohen

This post only needs the shortest introduction because Kevin Dooley has shared his thoughts on a topic everyone can identify with. Sadly, it can be challenging for some of us to live by. So trust me, and read his guest post below, which he recently shared on Facebook.

In terms of knowing Kevin - he needs to be on your radar! Kevin and Tricia Dooley own IDUBE Photo Safaris. Click on Kevin's image above to visit their website. Based out of New Mexico, if you've met them, you easily understand why they're considered one of the premier companies in photo adventure safaris.  

Kevin and I have been saying hi to each other for many years at various conventions but never found the time to talk. But at IUSA, I was able to meet both Kevin and Tricia, and while our time together was short, they epitomized the definition of passion for the craft, combined with the building blocks for a great friendship.

Spending time with them is one more reason why everyone needs to get out more! The recent IUSA convention was one of their best. Great programming, lots of new faces, passionate vendors, and excitement in the air. Lots of time to network and catch up with old friends while meeting new ones! Next year's show is January 28-30 in Louisville, KY. Here's the link - YOU NEED TO BE THERE!

A big thanks to Kevin for letting me share his post beyond his FB page.

by Kevin Dooley

​One of the things I talk of in my programs is the value of forgiveness. The opportunity of second chances and hard earned lessons. I touched on this thought this last week as I spoke in Nashville. I find it to be a very important part of maintaining creativity. A mind free of sadness and negative thoughts is a mind that has space and time to be creative. To find happiness.

I suppose I don't know a single soul that has not made the occasional mistake. In fact I would say some of the best people in the world are those who have learned a lesson or two. Of course some lessons come the hard way. Imagine being so perfect that you never make a single mistake, you never have the need to learn to be a better person.

What if there were no second chances given in life? What if you took everyone else's opinion of another person and never had the opportunity to develop your own? I have no doubt that some of the best friendships come from forgiveness and the ability to give out second chances. Or better yet to have the opportunity to make your own opinions without the help of gossip, jealousy, or a difference of opinions.

Gossip and misunderstood opinions are simply killers of great opportunities to learn and spend time with some of the most talented and wonderful people in the world. May I never fall prey to the inabilities of forgiveness, the cold hearts of no second chances, or overlooking my own ability to discover another. I can only think of the many many great people and friendships I may not of had.

Please may my heart be loving, kind, and giving. May I have the guts to find my own opinions. May I be brave and clever enough to stick up for the underdog when the gossip gets thick and muddy. For I know that so many amazing people are just a moment away from being great friends.

by Skip Cohen

​As I've written so many times before, the fun of this industry is in the friendships that come from everyone's love for the craft. Meet Dave DeBaremaeker. Although we had talked on the phone a few times over the last couple of years, we finally met in person a few months back when he joined me on Scott Kelby's show, The Grid. It was a kick!

Dave's passion for photography is all about toys, but as I watched this recent video on his YouTube channel, I realized how many of his applications work in other specialties. From rings and detail shots at weddings to closeups and macro images of flowers at home through the winter months - the common denominator is the gear behind the scene.

Obviously, wearing the hat of CMO for Platypod, I love this video, but it goes beyond toys. So many of you have a diverse collection of demands on your skill set. You need to be prepared for different challenges, and Platypod is often about solutions and gaining a new perspective.

Click on any Platypod Pro below to check out the rest of the "family." There's an incredible variety of images being captured with Platypod as part of the gear to get the shot! And you'll notice Dave is in the third row down in the photos below. The "family" on our website includes forty-four artists shooting virtually everything from macro to landscape to toys, food, portraits, real estate, night skies, and the list goes on and on.

Dave needs to be on your radar. You'll find more of his work on his website and check out his YouTube page too!

by Skip Cohen

In between the holidays, I always have a hard time figuring out what to write about. The year is closing fast, and there's not a lot of marketing ideas to share that I haven't covered numerous times already. But then, along came Moose Peterson yesterday.

On his blog he shared the post below and the idea is perfect for this time of year - capturing winter images for next year's holiday blog post - although I'm expanding his idea to your holiday card! I'm old school and still love a printed card that people can hold, as well as appreciate a hand-written message on the inside for special friends and associates.

I've written so many posts about photographers and the importance of a holiday card. Here's the short version:

• No photographer should ever use a store-bought holiday card!
• The front of the card is one of your favorite images; the inside whatever message you want to share, and the back, just like the Hallmark logo is your contact info - your name, studio, email address and phone number...and if you have an office or studio, that address should be included.
• You're photographers - why would you use somebody else's image on your holiday message? It's up to you to remind people what you do for a living!

And there you have it - to Moose's point - start building your stash for next year's use NOW.  And to pick up on more of Moose's wisdom - follow his blog. (Click on either image in today's post to link directly). Success in photography is about passion and love for the craft, and nobody does it better than Moose!

​A big thanks to Moose for permission to share the two images and his post.

​Happy Holidays!

by Moose Peterson

I know I know, the wrapping paper from this year has barely hit the floor and I'm talking about Christmas 2023! This is an old editorial photographer habit, taking photographs this season in preparation for photographic needs for next. If your client asks for fall themed photos from you right now, being winter, you can't go out and take them. This means that if you didn't take them the last fall, you don't get the opportunity for a payday. That kind of thought process runs through my own photographic needs, and one I have every year is the photo for my Christmas greeting blog post. This years was taken last year so now I'm working on next years.

These are the two runner ups for this year's post. There are a couple of tricks I used in the process to pass along. Most important is to create the message the year, that you want to use next year. What does it look like, say and what type font?  This is needed to determine in part the elements in the photograph. And it's a lot easier to create this now while you're still in the Holiday mood, than next fall. 

With that, I take the photos and this trick is really important. Photos I take this year for next year: I make a copy of the finished photo and change the file name to Xmas '23#1, #2, etc. I do this so I can FIND the photos a year from now. All I have to do next Christmas is to select the photo I like best, maybe make some tweaks and post. The panic is on in my mind, I only have 364 days left!

by Skip Cohen

​When my buddy Scott Bourne posted the image above on the new community site for Platypod Users, I was blown away because it looked so real. The information about the portrait is below, but I still wanted to call him. It was our phone conversation that prompted me to want to write this post.

The star of the image is a toy, and while it was done in the studio, Scott gave credit to everything he ever learned about portrait lighting, starting with Monte Zucker. Monte's name is sadly not recognized by many young photographers. He was a master of lighting and portraiture and blazed a trail for so many of the techniques in lighting and posing today.

As we talked, the depth of Scott's understanding of lighting kept going deeper with names like Clay Blackmore, Tony Corbell, Bambi Cantrell, and Matthew Jordan Smith, just to name a few. And that brings me right to my point and why I wanted to share this image in today's post.

Intro by Skip Cohen

​As I've written so many times in the past, the best thing about this industry is the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Sure, it's about imaging, but it's also about the community, sharing, creativity, and respect. 

Rick Sammon and I have been friends for easily thirty-plus years, going back to my early days at Hasselblad. We've worked on many projects together, sat next to each other at rubber-chicken industry dinners, and share a long list of mutual friends. Rick's newest book is loaded with great content to get you thinking about not only your business but ways to maximize your skill set.  

While I'd love to share more, let's start with part Rick's introduction, which will give you and idea of the framework of the book. There's so much good content!
​
Anybody can start a business. Anybody can get their first few sales. But the key to longevity is creativity, paying attention to your business, building relationships, and having an earning strategy that's always working...even when you're sound asleep!

by Rick Sammon

​The quote by Warren Buffett that opens this blog post was the inspiration for my latest book (paperback and Ebook), How To Make Money While You are Sleeping: A photographer’s guide to passive income – and other savvy business strategies.  

I want to share with you part of the Introduction from the book. As you will see, if you put in the effort while you are awake, you can indeed make money while you sleep.

The book is dedicated to the memory of my dad, Robert M. Sammon, Sr., who, through his example, showed me the importance of paying careful attention to one’s income, expenses, and investments . . . as well as the benefit of living below your means.

My dad, an amateur photographer who got me started taking pictures, also gave me some invaluable advice when it comes to making money: “It takes a lot of peanuts to feed an elephant.” In other words, he was saying that all those pennies and dollars can add up, which is the theme of this book.

​“Dad, you’re not only a photographer, but you are also an entrepreneur who happens to be a photographer.” – Marco SammonThat’s what my son Marco, seventeen years old at the time, said after I introduced myself as a photographer at a neighborhood party.

Marco, who has since received his PhD in Finance and is a finance professor at Harvard Business School, was making the point that although I take pictures for a living, I spend a lot of time—the majority of my work time actually—on the business side of my profession. I’m always working hard on new projects—writing books, setting up affiliate programs, cultivating sponsorships, recording online classes and podcasts, and so on.

That’s what my son Marco, seventeen years old at the time, said after I introduced myself as a photographer at a neighborhood party.

Marco, who has since received his PhD in Finance and is a finance professor at Harvard Business School, was making the point that although I take pictures for a living, I spend a lot of time—the majority of my work time actually—on the business side of my profession. I’m always working hard on new projects—writing books, setting up affiliate programs, cultivating sponsorships, recording online classes and podcasts, and so on.

Marco also observed that I spend a lot of time promoting those projects on social media, and then tracking the results. We’ll talk more about tracking sales later in this book, but for now, if you self-publish a paperback or Kindle version on Amazon.com, you can actually track sales on an hourly basis – which I don’t encourage because it can become addictive. However, I have to admit that I do track sales quite frequently when I release a new book.

So, the message here is this: as much as you love photography (as I do), and as much as you want to save the world (its people, wildlife, environment, and so on) with your craft, it’s important to understand that in order to succeed you must also be a good businessperson—which involves generating income while you are both awake and asleep.

Zzz

If you know me from some of my other photography books, photo workshops, tours, seminars and online classes, you may be thinking, “I like Rick’s photography and I’ve learned some cool things from him, but what could he possibly know about sound business practices?” Well, believe it or not, before becoming a professional photographer I spent ten years (1980–1990) at Bozell & Jacobs as vice president/group supervisor on the Minolta camera account.

At that time Bozell & Jacobs was one of the largest advertising and public relations firms in the world. At that agency I learned about the business side of photography, as well as how to promote Minolta photographers, including famed Beatles’ photographer, Harry Benson.

When I left the agency, I had the “ammo” to promote myself through advertising and PR. I had also learned the business side of a professional photographer’s life from working with other famous photographers like fashion photographer, Robert Farber, and United Nations photographer, John Isaac.

The lessons I learned at the agency were invaluable, as were the business lessons I learned as editor of Studio Photography magazine (from 1978 to 1980). Having been hired with no editorial experience, my boss and the publisher of the magazine, Rudy Maschke, said this to me when I asked him for my first raise: “Sammon, you are learning so much that you should be paying me.”

Zzz

On these pages I will share all I know about the business side of photography with you, which of course includes making money while you are sleeping. These lessons have helped my wife, Susan, and I run our business for more than thirty years—and I can tell you, there is nothing like running your own business. As a small business owner, you learn very quickly that you are both the “chief cook and bottle washer,” as my dad used to say.

When thinking of generating income while you are sleeping, please don’t get me wrong, I still work my butt off during my waking hours—because I love what I do. And as the saying goes: “If you love what you do, you never need to work a day in your life.”

Zzz

Generating income while you are sleeping starts with your waking time, something we’ll cover in Chapter 1.

Before You Doze Off.
If you are new to generating passive income, the cool thing is that after you put in the work, you can doze off (take a nap during the day or go off to bed) and wake up a little richer than you were before you closed your eyes.

The key phrase here is “a little.” Before I explain, here’s another expression my dad shared with me: “Everything is relative.” In other words, “a little” means something different to different people.

For example, “a little” passive income each day from different sources (including books, online classes, and crowdfunding projects) could possibly add up to a very nice source of income. In fact, I know several well-known photographers whose major source of income is generated passively.

In subsequent chapters, you’ll see how you can generate “a little” income while you sleep with different money-making projects that you can create during your waking hours.

​Here’s a look at the table of contents (topics I cover) for the book:
Acknowledgments & Networking
Author’s Preface
Introduction
1.   Before You Doze Off
2.   Your Website: Your 24/7 Store
3.   Socialize or Succumb
4.   The Advantage of Affiliate Programs
5.   Buy Me a Coffee
6.   Start a Facebook Group
7.   Write or Narrate a Book
8.   Offer a Downloadable PDF EBook
9.   Join the Crowd with Crowdfunding
Intermission
10.  Start a Podcast
11.  Record an Online Class or Classes
12.  Offer a Newsletter
13.  Strive for Sponsorship
14.  Create Content for a YouTube Channel
15.  Get into Webinars
16.  Sell Prints Online
17.   Launch an Online Forum
18.   Suggest a Product to a Company
19.   Take Stock of Stock Photography
20.   Your Money Can Work Harder for You Than You Can

by Skip Cohen

What I love most about Seth Resnick's Facebook posts is they're always so relatable. This past week, he shared the post below about losing his Dad. Just to say it "hit home" would be a huge understatement.

Time does heal wounds, but the scars don't go away, and they shouldn't. Like Seth, I lost my Dad seven years ago this month. While we lost my Mom, physically a few years earlier, Alzheimer's robbed us many years before.  But Dad never slowed down being by her side and fighting to savor each random lucid moment of joy. 

And with me, through all of life's challenges, he was always my best buddy. He was always there for me, and I miss the conversations, stories and especially the laughs. I love those memories of him laughing. Something would hit him that was so funny, he'd laugh until the tears started to roll. I have so many wonderful memories that bring the smiles and the tears.

Just like Seth, there are things that catch me off guard and a tear appears...usually it's something outrageously simple. For example, seeing the snow storms back east on the news this week, got me thinking about our gas grill when I was a kid.

We had a hard-wired gas grill. With that first snow storm in November, Dad was surprised. "Look at that - there's a 12 foot circle around the grill where the snow didn't stick!" It was then he realized the grill had been on low since Labor Day! Remember, this is back when gas was cheap and I don't think he ever noticed the tiny spike in the bill.  

It's the memories, combined with those old photographs that gives those loved ones we've lost their immortality. And to quote Seth...Tears and a smile.

​Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead.  Take the time to appreciate not only the people you love who are here for you, but those who are no long around for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs. But here's the thing, they are around in your heart, and they are watching over you. The tears are simply gateways to memories and smiles.

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

​My heart and mind are in a myriad of thought pointing back to Japan. It was 7 years ago that I was teaching a workshop in Japan and received a call that my dad who was healthy died in his sleep. When my father died, I tried so hard to be strong and show everybody how resilient and tough I was but that act doesn’t last. Pushing the pain below the surface so no one can see it is exhausting. We take a lot of strength from our parents, so when you lose one of them, it’s crushing.

Sometimes, you will be doing OK and managing your grief, when something catches you off guard. And then suddenly a surge of powerful emotion hits you like a tidal wave.

​For me I think the most challenging times have been when something has reminded me of my dad. The difference seven years later is my tears well up but so does a smile. It is a beautiful experience and I think about both my mom and dad and then I am OK until it happens again.

Someday’s I think I should be past this by now and I don’t know why I still cry at random times, all these years later but it is ok. As I am writing this it becomes one of those moments. Tears and a smile.

I miss my parents so much but I am I’m grateful they both touched my life in such a powerful and beautiful way.
​
Love you DAD!