by Skip Cohen

​It's Marketing Monday, and I'm headed in a very different direction than usual. Besides, over the last month or two, I've covered virtually every topic you should be considering in marketing for a solid finish to the year. Today's post concerns recharging your battery mid-year, expanding your skillset, and picking up new ideas to make 2024 a great year.

One of your greatest and most valuable resources is a great conference! Nothing beats a LIVE get-together with other artists, but it's no easy task to put something together.

Remember my background - I was with WPPI for seven years with a fantastic team that took the convention to over 15,000 in 2009. Take my history one step further, and with Tony Corbell's help, we launched Hasselblad University. Now, add my time on the PPA Advisory Board, Akron Photo Series, and dozens of other regional/local conferences. I fully understand the challenges in putting together even the smallest workshop.

Well, Sherry, Suzi and the ClickCon team had a new challenge to face for 2024...the Democratic National Convention is in Chicago, and the Republicans are in Milwaukee a little over an hour away, both in the timetable for ClickCon. That's an incredible challenge for hotel space for a small workshop, let alone the fastest-growing conference in imaging!

They just announced Detroit, and DETROIT works! It's a great city for a convention and far enough away to be out of the craziness of the two political conventions. For those of you in the Midwest, check out the circle above and the stats below...most of the major markets are four hours or less driving time! 

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles isn't just the title for an old movie - it's the selection you've got to be at what's become one of the best conventions in photography. And they've even come up with packages that include your hotel stay!

Here's the bottom line - I grew up east of Cleveland, and except for the PPO convention each year, there's not much to draw from when it comes to great conferences for photographers and videographers. To have an event of this caliber just 4 hours away is a real asset. Plus, if you drive like Sheila and I do, you can always shave off at least 1/4 of the Google estimate on travel time!

What a kick! Put it on your calendar and take advantage of the early pricing discounts. Just click on the banner below.

by Skip Cohen

​Yes, this is an infomercial, but if you know my reputation, it's not without being justified. I've been involved in several Kickstarter campaigns since joining Platypod, and this one has been the biggest kick to work on. Why? Because the product has a huge payback in boosting creativity, and it's just $49 until the end of May.

While it looks like a light-saber handle with the description of a camera riser - it may well be one of the most diverse accessories the company has ever released. And for those concerned about backing projects before they go to market - this one is in full production, with our first shipments already headed from overseas to our warehouse!

So from studio to close-up, macro, food, portraiture, tabletop and copy stand work, even vlogging, this little marvel allows you to add up to eight different accessories. With eight 1/4-20 sockets at the top, you can add lights, reflectors, monitors, and the list goes on and on. Plus, it will hold up to eleven pounds, and they're stackable - each from a breakdown height of three inches to adjust from 6 to 10 1/2 inches!

Visit Kickstarter and scroll down the project page for great videos and reviews from Lenworth Johnson, Rick Sammon, Don Komarechka, Stewart Wood, Moose Peterson, Dave Williams, Liam Douglas, Bob Coates,
and Sharky James.
​
​What a kick!

Check out Larry Becker's demonstration video below...there's so much this accessory can do. "Do you really need this?" For most of you, YES!
​

by Skip Cohen

The best thing about our industry is the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Platypod and the KelbyMedia team have an incredible relationship extending well beyond friendship. Both companies have a solid focus on education and helping artists raise the bar on their skill set as well as having fun.

"Fun" is one of those words too often lost in business today, but not with these guys! And if you've ever hung out with any one of us in the shot above, then you know it's a work-hard-play-hard scenario.

Tomorrow at 1:00 PM EST, I'm on The Grid joined by photographer and educator Dave DeBaeremaeker.  We're going to be talking about getting the most out of workshops and conferences, the importance of diversity in your skill set and we'll have some fun looking at some of Dave's most favorite images. I'll also be sharing a fun announcement wearing my Platypod hat and kicking off the holiday season. 

See you on The Grid at 1:00 PM this Wednesday, November 9, 2022.

Skip Cohen

​As I've written so many times before, the fun of this industry is about the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. And now and then, there are a few fun surprises that come out of those relationships.

In a blog post in August, I featured Andrew Michaels, who I met at ClickCon. He photographed Chicago Transit Authority workers during the pandemic. Proud of being a Chicagoan, he wanted to recognize the unsung heroes behind the scene who kept Chicago moving!

A few weeks after the blog post, my co-host, Chamira Young, and I had some fun with Andrew as a guest on the Mind Your Own Business podcast. A talented artist, he shared so much great insight into his love for photography, networking, and the importance of building relationships. Just click on the banner to the right to listen to the podcast.

Well, Andrew shared the following in a post on the ClickCon page on Facebook two weeks ago:

Shortly after Skip's podcast, my friend Jacob Harrison shared it on Reddit, and days later I was contacted by Anthony Ponce of Fox 32 news to do a follow-up segment...12 Hours after airing, the VP of Communications for CTA emailed me, we are going to work on getting a large print out so the public can see the work in person!

And a few days after the piece on the news, Andrew wrote to me: Within 12 hours of airing this we have a local print shop inquiring about helping, and the CTA has also reached out to say they will help get this printed!

So, here's my point...In his book UnMarketing, Scott Stratten's subtitle is, Stop Marketing and Start Engaging. Yes, I helped Andrew get the word out about his project, but in all honesty, I did very little. He had a great project I wanted to share with SCU's readers, which was all about giving back to your community. But Andrew and I wouldn't have met had he not attended ClickCon and, in his first year as a full-time photographer, taken the steps to get involved in this industry. 

His closing comment on his Facebook post says it all:

Moral of the story, push and have faith in whatever you're working towards, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

Intro by Skip Cohen

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

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

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

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

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

by Andrew Michaels

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

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

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

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

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

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

by Skip Cohen

Coming up there's a very special conference you need to know about!

​Time to learn about the Visual Storytelling Conference. Check out the line-up of speakers, and early next week the speaking schedule will be posted. I'm proud to be doing two programs during the conference. Along with the team of speakers, we want to help you make 2021 a stronger year for revenue, branding and getting back to the fun of being an artist!

For information on your FREE pass plus how to get the very most out of the conference, just click on the button below.

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

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

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

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

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

by Skip Cohen

​It's "Sunday Morning Reflections," but while I'm going to be off-track from business and marketing, I want to stay close to the topic of what I love most about the photography industry. I've written many times that the best thing about this industry has nothing to do with photography, but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft!  

Continuing to function through the pandemic would be impossible if it wasn't for my friends. Everybody has lots of friends, but think about those select few who are most important to you - you know, the ones you'd give up a kidney for. Even more important today, the ones that help keep your spirits up when you want to give up! They're your cheerleaders, and conversations sometimes turn into pep-rallies.

Here's a perfect example - my buddy Tony Corbell! We met in 1987 when I joined Hasselblad, and the company was a sponsor of Dean Collins' Tour. Years later, I'd succeed in closing the best sell-job of my career: talking Tony into giving up his view of the Pacific Ocean at Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara for a parking lot in New Jersey, to work for Hasselblad.

We've laughed and cried our way through years of adventures working with so many of the artists who set the stage for making the industry what it is today. Dean Collins, Don Blair, and Monty Zucker, for example, are just three of the incredible legacy we both feel responsible for and maintain right up through this very minute. They left behind the standards for quality and excellence we all need to stay focused on, even through the compromises we have to make because of the pandemic.

Well, On November 2, Tony and I join another good friend, John Cornicello, on his podcast, and we're just going to have fun. We're going to share some of our favorite stories about the legends of this industry. "Fun" is one of those lost words today, buried under the stress of business, politics, and the economy. Well, we're going to do our best to bring it back. With John's help, you'll understand even more about why, like so many of you, there is no other industry we could have ever been this happy being in.

Tony and Skip's Awesome Adventures just might top Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure - Plus, you can count on plenty of stories about the legends you might have met over the years, or at the very least you should know!

Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday and time to create new adventures with those people most important in your life. It's our friends who keep us going when times get the toughest. Hunkering down is all about your health, not keeping in touch. And as my buddy Bob Coates got us all thinking about early on, "social distancing" is a misnomer - we have to stay social, but physical distancing is the point.

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

​See you on November 2!

For years I've talked about the best thing about this industry - the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. And, thanks to social media those friendships that get started continue to grow, even when we don't see each other that often.

Meet Fran Ruchalski, a photographer who I first met at an evening program in Jacksonville in 2012. The evening program I was doing at a local library had to shut down early when a tropical storm flooded the area all around us, and we needed to evacuate before everyone's cars floated away.

Fast forward six years and he and I have stayed in touch through Facebook. He left Florida in 2014 and today is in Logansport, Indiana, but the Internet keeps making the world a smaller place. A couple of weeks ago Fran posted some fun news about a recent award.

That hits one more fun aspect of social media - being able to share news with each other. Fran's shooting for the Pharos-Tribune and recently won first place in the HSPA contest for sports action photography. So, being one of Fran's fans I made the request to see the image and permission to share it in a post.

I know most of you aren't sports photographers, but what a kick to share an image that's completely out of the norm from what most of you shoot. A big congrats to Fran - sure is a kick to be following your career! You can check out more about Fran with a visit to his Facebook page.
​

I've written this many times before: I feel like I'm trapped in an old movie and the hands of the clock are just spinning by! Well, this week seems to have gone by in a flash, and I'm trying a little experiment. 

I'm involved in a lot of different projects, companies, podcasts, and products. At the same time, it's tough for me to keep up, let alone remember what we're sharing in posts and tweets. In fact, just this morning I found an outstanding guest post from Kevin A. Gilligan about finding an artist's collective to help get your work out in front of more people. Kevin sent it to me last year, and it wound up lost in my email!

So, welcome to The Saturday Summary and links to a few of the week's highlights. Click on any of the images below to connect to the original post.

As always, thanks for being a reader. I sure do appreciate the support and the feedback. And, we've got a new week coming coming up that's going to be filled with some great content, all thanks to so many of you and the industry we're all passionate about!

Happy Saturday everybody!

Intro by Skip Cohen

I know this sounds like an infomercial, but on Monday, ProfotoUSA, in celebration of the launch of the B1's new Air Remote TTL-N for Nikon, launched a special video featuring the work of NYC photographer, Brian Marcus. There are tons of promotional videos out there for you to watch, but only one with Brian.

You know an artist's work is solid when you can do screen grabs and still have images with the "wow factor".  However, what I love most about the short film is the educational value. Brian takes you through a lot of his thought process as he wanders around NYC shooting in at least four different primary locations.

If you haven't seen it yet, it's definitely worth your time. In fact, it's pretty hard to believe how much is packed into just three minutes. Don't believe me? The video is posted below and as always I love to ask, how would you tell your story?

Yes, I'm a SmugMug fan and they're also a partner in the SCU project, but nobody asked me to share this with my readers. I'm doing it, because we don't laugh enough anymore and this is all about a bunch of good friends of mine who refuse to take life too seriously. We're so wrapped up in dealing with our businesses that when a company comes along with a sense of humor we miss it! We walk right by it.

Well, I caught this video yesterday and it simply cracked me up. First of all, I've got goggles for Molly the Wonder Dog, just need the bike and the side car! Second, it's a great idea and in an industry that's buried in contests with only a few winners, here's a chance for everybody to win.

It's a great idea and even better is to think about how you'd do a promotion of your own to a target of clients in the community. We're a business run heavily on referrals and it's a service related business too. What could you do with your own referral program?

So, check it out and then hit the button for the promo page at the end of the video or below and get yourself signed up, so you can benefit from SmugMug's Refer a Friend Promotion!

My name is Milo Juniper Willer and my mommy and daddy struggled with infertility and miscarriage for five years before learning that they were pregnant with my twin sister Matilda Plum and me! They were both overjoyed and cautious about us; they hoped that we were finally the babies who would make it to their arms.

To their relief Mati and I made it through the first trimester. However, my parents traded in their reprieve from worry for heartbreak when they learned at our 18-week ultrasound that I had multicystic kidneys and as a result, had little amniotic fluid around me. The doctor told them that without amniotic fluid my lungs would not develop. I likely would be stillborn or would die shortly after birth. Despite my diagnosis, I was determined to be sure that my twin sister made it to the world safely and to give my mom and dad the chance to meet me. So that’s what I did.

On February 8th, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. Matilda was born and at 10:31 a.m. I made my grand entrance. Before she could get a word in, I let out a giant cry announcing my presence. She was as perfect as could be, and I was too in my own way. The doctors tried their best to help me, but as suspected, my lungs were not strong or fixable.

I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my family, so I hung around as long as I could. We cuddled, read stories, and our photographer from Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep took hundreds of pictures of us. All of this love made me so tired and so at 1:31, three hours after I was born, I say goodbye. Even though I can’t be with them today, my spirit lives in the pictures around their house, in my twin sister, and in the hearts of all who hear my story. Thank you for listening.

With love and peace,

Milo

Everyone remembers the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Even if you forgot it, there was a movie released last year all about this story from our childhood.  Well, here’s a spin-off of that same fairytale, only it’s real world…Salvatore and the Beanstalk.

Just like our mythical character Jack, Salvatore Cincotta, "Sal", as his family, friends and followers know him, had a bag of magic beans and again like Jack, a dream.

It was two years ago that Sal planted his first magical bean – Shutter Magazine. I remember getting a call and being asked if I wanted to be an editorial contributor. The answer was an instant "YES".  Today, Shutter Magazine has over 83,000 subscribers and every issue brings together a group of industry educators who I couldn’t be more proud to be associated with.

But there were a few more beans in Sal’s bag of magic and he planted another one, ShutterFest. In fact, as I write this post I’m on my way to the first event in St. Louis. Unlike Shutter Magazine, which has had plenty of time to sprout, ShutterFest is just a seedling, but with incredible roots in education and again supported by a stellar cast of educators.

Talk about next year’s program has the industry already buzzing. If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s Sal’s ability to grow a project and realize a dream. In 2015 ShutterFest is already anticipated to grow by leaps and bounds.

A look in Sal’s bag and another bean planted: Shutter Network has started to sprout. With the first broadcast reaching over 15,000 viewers, there’s no doubt it’s going to extend well into the “Land of Giants”.

Each idea seems to start out almost as mythical as Jack and the Beanstalk. Then, it’s executed with precision and an amazing staff of talented people. Suddenly it’s no longer a seedling of an idea that’s been germinating in Sal’s garden, but reality for thousands of artists to utilize.

But wait…check out Shutter Magazine. Sprouting to the “Land of Giants” it’s got a new shoot about to bloom – the magazine is going hard copy, in addition to its already successful online presence! While the “Land of Giants” is cutting back and their printed publications getting smaller and smaller, Sal’s going in the other direction. Dominating online education in photography, Shutter Magazine is about to have a twin with a completely different persona.

Okay, so enough of the parallel to a mythical universe…this is real.  It’s now and you need to be a part of it. As countless leaders in publishing, education and the convention world have scoffed and thought, “Sal will never pull it off,” over and over again he’s proved them wrong.

Even more fun is wondering what Sal’s going to do next. This isn’t about toppling giants, it’s about creating a new way for photographers to raise the bar on their skill set and create a healthier industry.

And for those who’d like nothing more than to slow Sal down, be careful – the harder you push him to brake the more determined he’ll be to succeed.

As my own mantra goes…“I do it because I want to…I do it because I can…I do it because you said I couldn’t!”

Illustration Credit:  © matamu - Fotolia.com

There are dozens of different workshops and programs for you to choose from, but every now and then one comes along that's pretty remarkable. The video is only a minute long, so kick back and just watch it. Even if you're not able to attend this year, it's worth the time just to understand what it's all about and help us spread the word.

It's only a week away: April 27 - May 2.  Click the link below for more information!

While most of the content on the SCU site is about business and marketing, we're big fans of changes in technology and especially Profoto's new B1 flash. In fact, we were one of the first blogs to be able to share the original introduction video along with a podcast with Richard Walch, the photographer and filmmaker, who's work is featured in the introduction. Watching him light an entire quarry with a couple of B1's is pretty remarkable.

This morning's announcement on the B1 is another example of Profoto's intent to simply NEVER stand still and it's just one of many new additions coming in 2014.

When launched in November 2013, the Profoto B1 off-camera flash caused such a buzz in the photographic community that the company's website crashed. The words "game changer" have appeared in reviews and forums ever since!

The TTL metering is made possible with Profoto’s patent-pending AirTTL system. Already at launch Profoto promised to continuously upgrade the AirTTL system. One of the most frequently requested features is TTL metering with Canon's flagship model: the Canon EOS-1D X. Today, this feature is made available free of charge through an easily installed firmware upgrade. But note that it is not the B1 off-camera flash itself that needs to be upgraded; it is the small radio transmitter that is mounted on the Canon camera’s hot shoe: the Air Remote TTL-C.

The complete announcement, including the process for installing the upgrade, is just a click away!

Most of you who know me are aware that I'm all about easy technology. In fact, I'm a poster child for "Low Tech".  So, when Matt and Josh, two good buddies at X-Rite asked me to be part of the beta test on ColorTRUE, after telling them they were nuts, I agreed to give it a shot.

Just a few minutes ago the ColorTRUE site went live and for one of the very first times in technology, I'm ahead of the curve! This is an amazing product and so perfect for today's applications.

In the "old days" photographers would show me their portfolios, but today it's all on an iPad or their phone. What amazes me is how few photographers have thought about color calibration of the device itself. It's the old equivalent of fools who spent a fortune on great speakers in the 70's, but played an album on a cheap turntable with a ten dollar stylus - I'm counting on at least one of you to know what a turntable is! LOL

Well, if you're showing images, especially to a potential client or sponsor, you've got to see them with the very best quality they deserve! Why would you consider any compromise?

I decided to start out completely from scratch, using my MacBook Air which has absolutely no calibration software. I got a cup of coffee and just sat down and read the instructions, which I never do. The process of getting started couldn't have been easier as X-Rite's software for my ColorMunki Display seemed to know the system was talking to a technically-challenged moron!

Once loaded and calibrated, I hit the button to calibrate my iPad and everything started talking to each other. I had previously loaded in the Beta software. I had a minor challenge when the iPad couldn't find my MacBook, but even that was easily resolved by hitting x-rite's trouble-shooting guide and simply fixing my the specs on my firewall.

Through color calibration and then black and white - x-rite, ColorMunki and the software did it all.

 
Here's what I love most about the process - THE RESULTS!  I now have the ability to see what the image will look like calibrated and uncalibrated. I've got the ability to adjust my iPad for the lighting conditions around me that I'm viewing in with "Ambient Compensation".  I can see what my image will look like using "Print Simulation", which allows me to preview how an image will look printed on various output devices. Anything I show now is being shown with the very best quality of light and color.

If you still have doubts on how amazing this is, don't take my word for it - just watch the video!

 

 
We're still in convention season and many of you have some serious shows and workshops coming up. Don't compromise on showing your images. Get your device calibrated before you start sharing your work. The application download is free and just a click away!

You're working so hard to capture and create the ultimate images, give it the presentation it deserves!

My career started in Boston at Polaroid. I've got a lot of close friends and family in the Boston area and it's one of my most favorite cities. Now there's something else that's a kick...my buddy Brian Malloy just sent me the link to this video and some of the images from his studio were used.

It would be fun to watch if I didn't know any of the participating artists, but it's even more fun when you know a couple of the people involved! What a great way to wind up the week.

Last October I spoke at Hasselblad's Shoot NYC event. With PPE going on just down the street, the fact that they had over 3000 people register is a testimony to their focus on great content, education and support for the industry. They've had a piece of my heart since I started there in 1987, but going back even further...

When I was in the Photo Service Club in high school I used to dream about some day using a Hasselblad. Little did I know that the day would come when I'd have an entire warehouse of Hasselblad gear at my finger tips.  Yeah, that's me, the geek in bottom left corner.

I found this short clip on You Tube that I hadn't seen before. If you're going to be in NYC this Fall, put Shoot NYC on your calendar. It's an outstanding program loaded with great content. Just follow what's going on at Hassselblad and you'll be in the loop for the latest information on great programming and terrific products!
 

 
Here's another familiar face from Shoot NYC...
 

by Skip Cohen

There's been a lot of nice feedback on the SCU podcasts and some really great suggestions. A common request has been to make them more "how-to" in their core content and that's just what we're going to start doing.

This first podcast in the new direction is with Matthew Jordan Smith. Matthew shares his experiences so far on his book project, Future Presidents and includes thoughts on using Kickstarter for the funding, the challenges of photographing in all fifty states, balancing his time and the pure joy of turning a dream into reality.

It's a great podcast with a lot of helpful suggestions for taking your own special projects to the next level.

The book is anticipated to be out in October of 2014, but in preparation for the official launch he had some fun creating this short video. What a kick it is to be a part of this project and watch Matthew's vision unfold! Interested in checking out more of Matthew's work? Visit the project site, Matthew's own site or Matthew's extensive Profoto videos here at SCU.