by Skip Cohen

My mother used to use the line, "Shoemaker's children need shoes," about me being in the photographic industry and never getting her enough photographs of her grandchildren.

Recently I was asked to write an article for my high school alumni newsletter about the importance of photography and capturing memories. It was published at the beginning of this month, and as I read it, I realized professional photographers are often the guiltiest of all when it comes to capturing memories for their most important clients - their own family!

I'm hoping the article below sparks some ideas to help you become a better historian of your own family. Don't miss capturing memories so that everyone can enjoy a long look in their rearview mirrors down the road!

I’ve been active in the photographic industry my entire adult life, which kind of makes me a one-trick pony when it comes to career paths. But there’s that old line about if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.  Well, that describes my career and the incredible experiences I’ve had over the years in photography.

When the pandemic hit, photographs (videos too) became an essential component in fighting off the frustration and depression of hunkering down. For example, “Throwback Thursday” became a weekly endeavor, not only sharing images in my blog and social media stream but often just enjoying them for me and my wife, Sheila. Every fun old photograph we’d find became an opportunity for one of us to share the backstory.

While I’ve always been an optimist and prefer to look forward rather than back, regular looks in my rearview mirror helped me stay focused on getting back to the good old days. I suppose that’s why Jodi Picoult’s quote above has always been one of my favorites.

When things are tough, whether, in life or business, we all get proactive and start making changes we should have been doing all along. So, before another day passes and you miss out on capturing special memories, here are some suggestions.

“My Journey” videos: The Senior Friendship Centers here in Sarasota has a program where for a small fee/donation, you can have a chapter of your life recorded to pass on to family members.

Everyone’s journey is a story. Through the years, you’ve accumulated a lifetime of knowledge and wisdom. Now, thanks to My Journey, a new initiative being launched at the Friendship Centers in Sarasota, you can record and preserve your story, in your words, to share.

ALL of you have aging relatives with stories to share. You also have cameras and phones that capture video. Get together with your oldest relatives and capture those stories. It couldn’t be easier – set up the camera and sit down with them and ask them to simply tell you their story.

A few months before my Dad passed away, a friend who’s a professional photographer set up her camera and sat down with Dad for stories about a little of his journey in life. I regret that I never did it myself – so, learn from my mistakes and capture those stories, while there are still family members around to share them.

Old Photographs: Everybody has old photographs, some in albums, others in shoe boxes. I get that it takes time to put them all in albums, but at the very least, clean out those drawers, along with every place else you’ve stashed prints. Please keep them in one dry place. Don’t let them take a beating, discarded, and stuffed in some obscure place in your home.

Write down who’s in those photographs. There’s nothing more frustrating than looking at an old picture and not knowing who it is, where it was taken, or when. This comes up repeatedly when people share images in one of my favorite Facebook groups, “If You Grew Up In Painesville, Ohio You Remember…” People share photos all the time with question marks.

Your Family Shots: Digital photography is a kick, but how many pictures are on your phone right now without any information, never to be printed or shared? I’ve started regularly uploading to my computer and often take advantage of special offers on Shutterfly to get them printed.

Photographs and Therapy: When my mom was fighting Alzheimer’s, one of the most fun activities was pulling out old albums. While her memories of contemporary events were fast disappearing, we could pull out old photographs, and she was non-stop energy and accuracy. She might not remember what she had for dinner, but she knew everybody in those old pictures.

Social Media: I’m a huge fan of many of the forums on Facebook. The Painesville, Ohio group I mentioned above has been one of the best experiences. Sharing old pictures of my grandparents, I connected with people who knew them both. They’ve both been gone at least forty years! Posting an old family photograph, I heard from the daughter of a woman who used to babysit for my sister and me. And sharing a 1930s shot of my grandmother at their summer cottage by the lake in Painesville Township, the woman who lives in the house today, responded.

Sharing photographs in social media, especially when they involve old memories, puts the “social” into social media. They bring us all closer, and often it’s like the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game when we learn how so many of us are connected.

Don’t Miss Memories: When was the last time you did a family portrait? Obviously, I’m a fan of professional photography, being in the industry, but it’s so important for somebody in your family to be the family historian. Whether hiring a pro or getting your family together for an updated portrait, don’t miss the opportunity to capture memories.
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For the first time in history, all of us went through the same horrible experiences because of the pandemic. Coming out of the challenge, there’s a renewed sense of family. Along with that renewal come opportunities to turn intangible memories into tangible photographs and videos to cherish for the future!

by Skip Cohen
 
With Father's Day right around the corner, I couldn't help but appreciate a post by Jenn Sim, Levi Sim's definitely better half (LOL) on Facebook. She wrote:

So proud of my family of photographers. Lana took first place in the amateur photographer category, and Levi took second in the professional photography category.

And Levi explained to me; This was a "Plein-air" photography contest. The pictures had to be made starting last Friday and presented on Wednesday by noon and had to be made within Cache Valley, which straddles the Utah/Idaho border.

Well, Lana is nine years old, and that's her portrait of her Dad and brother above. I had to give her top billing since she took a first. However, in second place was Levi's print below.

by Skip Cohen

As I've written so many times in the past, the fun of this industry is about the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. But, another aspect of imaging makes it exciting: the quality of work and the common denominators in the company connections we share.

Lizzy Gadd needs to be on your radar. I met her thanks to Platypod. With each new image she shares, I'm repeatedly in awe of her work. She's taken self-portraiture to an entirely new level. Each image represents another piece of her heart and vision.

Our home is filled with photography with prints from artists all over the world. However, it's not very often I consider a portrait of somebody else so stunning that I want it on a wall in my home.

Well, Lizzy Gadd's work is about to be available through her online gallery launch this week. The excitement kicks off with a 48-hour 50% off launch celebration starting on May 6.

In her email to me she wrote: I'll also be donating 10% of everything towards Canadian forest conservation initiatives, to help give back what nature gives me, since my art wouldn't be possible without it.

I know it sounds pretty sappy, but looking at the body of work Lizzy's put together, simply makes me proud to consider her a friend!

Whether you're in the market to purchase a limited edition print or not, I hope you'll take the time to view the catalog. It's a pretty remarkable body of work. Click on any image in this post to link to Lizzy's pdf catalog.

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

Sometimes the most fun of this industry has nothing to do with having a camera in my hands but the pure pride and enjoyment of watching friends in action. Kevin A. Gilligan is in the spotlight this morning, and he's no stranger to SCU. One of the best "how-to" pieces I've ever shared was Kevin's three-part guest post on all the ingredients you need for your own exhibition.

Noreen Wenjen, the subject in the images, is an accomplished pianist, author, educator - but she's also Kevin's other half, his wife. They've got two kids and live south of Los Angeles, and two years ago, after a five to six-year friendship, he and I finally met in person. Looking back over these last few years, he's become one of my very best friends, and we recently did a program together for ClickCon Nation.

As you watch the short BTS video below, you'll also pick up on one of the most important ingredients of a shoot like this - teamwork. There's that old line about "teamwork makes the dream work." While the images of Noreen at the piano are beautiful, one of my favorites is at the very end - and it's the team, (masks and all), it took to produce the images.

Kevin's backstory on the image is below, but I want to share my own Steinway moment. In my previous life, we were looking to buy a piano for our two kids who were taking lessons. We wandered into Boston Piano in Natick, MA. As we looked at pianos on their showroom floor, I sat down and plunked a few keys on a Steinway. The manager of the store came over and commented on the quality of a Steinway. After hearing that our kids were taking lessons but not serious musicians, he said, "Well, for what you're looking for now, you'd need a Steinway like you'd need a Hasselblad." 

The look on his face was priceless as I handed him my new business card. I had just accepted the position of president of Hasselblad USA a few weeks earlier! I totally understood his point, but it was one of those moments that became priceless for both of us.

Kevin is a landscape, portrait, and sports photographer from LA's South Bay. Check out more of his work on his website, and follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. 

A stunning flowing red dress, a big stage, dramatic lighting on a Steinway piano and a beautiful model - These are the components of a portrait shoot that have been burning in the back of my mind for months.

Noreen Wenjen is a classically trained pianist, piano teacher, author and entrepreneur. She wanted to capture dramatic images of her passion, having played piano since she was five. She’s performing on a 9’ Concert Grand Steinway, a gorgeous, hand-crafted instrument that takes a year of meticulous work to build. We wanted to capture her incredible love for music as well as the beauty of the instrument.

Thanks to Steinway of Beverly Hills for opening up their showroom to us. I love the way these turned out, I can see the joy on her face, and love the way her red flowing dress looks by the piano.  

Kevin A. Gilligan

Intro by Skip Cohen

February is volunteer recruitment month for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, and this is the last weekly installment of volunteer stories. I couldn't be more proud to be a NILMDTS Ambassador, but it's also frustrating talking with photographers whose immediate response is something like, "Oh my God, I could never do that?"

Yet, talk to any NILMDTS photographer, or read the stories I've shared, and over again, they have the same sentiment. "It's changed my life!" "It's the greatest contribution I've ever made with my camera!" I've grown so much as an artist and person because of the experience."

Today's post is from a volunteer who joined NILMDTS during the pandemic. So, not only was she dealing with support for the babies and families she photographed, but her own health and the safety of those around her.

Please read this story and then click on the link below to find out how you can help support one of the industry's most recognized non-profits.

by Melanie Rodger
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When I first became a volunteer, I wasn’t sure I could do this. I wasn’t sure I could handle seeing people in pain and sad and crying. How was I going to be able to be the strongest person in a room filled with those going through the devastating loss of a baby? A baby that was someone’s daughter or son, and was also a brother, a sister, a grandchild, a niece or nephew.

What I quickly learned was that being the strongest person in the room meant showing a family the features of their babies that are like moms or dads, pointing out the long middle toe, or the cute little button nose that adorns their babies face.

I get to help families cherish their babies and spend time admiring all the parts of who they are, and most importantly, capture photos they will have to remember their baby for the rest of their lives.

When COVID 19 hit and our entire state was put on a stay at home order, the first thing that came to my mind was the deafening silence of our dispatch line.

I knew right away that while the fears and reality of the pandemic were setting in for everyone, there were still families out there that were going to have to say goodbye to their babies, without us photographers. I’m thankful NILMDTS was able to fill the gap of photographers’ absences quickly by launching their Medical Affiliate Program to help train nurses to take professional quality images, but I felt myself constantly checking to see when the phone would ring again.

Only a few weeks went by and the phone started ringing, letting us know that we were allowed to come into the hospitals again but that things would look different. Different how? Temperature screenings, a long list of questions to answer, a mandatory mask to be worn, and that was about it. For me, that is such a short hurdle to overcome if it meant we were allowed back and able to provide families with these memories. Sure it’s sweaty to wear a mask and have your viewfinder fog up. Sure it’s harder to navigate sharing things you normally would, but there’s so much honor to be there in the chaos of the world and just take a moment to be present for someone who’s going through this unimaginable loss.

To this day, I find myself being overly cautious of what I am doing in my personal life to make sure that not only does my family not get sick during all of this, but that I am still able to be on call to help families. When I lost my son in 2010, it was a Thanksgiving morning and everyone was home with their families. Everyone was sitting down, eating dinner, and saying what they were thankful for that year. No one was thinking about what I was going through and that I would have cherished photos of my son (I lived in another country where NILMDTS services were not provided at the time). Or that I needed someone to be there and encourage me to hold him longer than 5 minutes, and to take mental notes of all of his traits.

I find myself in a position where I now have the honor of meeting someone’s baby while their family members can’t.

I know that the only way everyone else will get to see these sweet babies is through my eyes and what memories I create for them to share. But I also always find myself going back full circle, to that moment where I wasn’t sure I would be strong enough to do this, and remembering that I am strong enough, and at the end of the day, it’s truly the biggest honor to be able to help families remember their babies.

I’m so grateful to each of the 8 families I’ve been able to serve during this pandemic.I know that these memories will be ones they’re able to hold close to them in a time of a lot of uncertainty.

by Skip Cohen
 
I've shared many photographs of my folks over the years, and since today would be my mother's 95th birthday, it's the perfect opportunity to show her off, but that's not my main point.

If there is a benefit to the pandemic, it's all about time - we simply have more of it than usual. Now combine time with our industry. Regardless of what you do in imaging, from the manufacturing side of hardware and software to artists who capture and create, along with all the companies who provide support, we help people make the intangible tangible. We give everyone the tools to hold onto their memories.

You don't need to wait until Throwback Thursday to appreciate old photographs and take a walk down Memory Lane. And with Mom's birthday today, I went on the hunt. She was a pretty amazing woman, and like so many kids, I wish I had appreciated her more early on. 
 
This a short post this morning with my most favorite quote about photography. Take the time to find those old photographs that will make your heart soar. Then capture today's memories so that years from now, your kids have throwbacks of their own to appreciate.

And to my Mom - sure do miss ya. Happy Birthday!

This is what I like about photographs.
They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect.
Jodi Picoult

Intro by Skip  Cohen

​February is Recruitment Month for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. I've been a NILMDTS Ambassador for many years and couldn't be more proud to be associated with this team of photographers and artists who give back!

This is the third installment of volunteer stories this month at SCU. Emily Crump's "Why" is in the spotlight. And like so many of NILMDTS's members, there's a personal connection. In Emily's case, it started with a friend in need. Like so many of the volunteers, the relationship that grows between the family and the photographer becomes life-changing for everybody involved.

After you've read Emily's story, click on the banner above or at the end of today's post and find out how you can become more involved. It's an amazing organization giving photographers the ability to capture images to be cherished for a lifetime.

When the session was complete, I exited the room, ran down to my car, and cried.  Through my tears, I thought about what I did, and I knew if I ever got a call like that again, I would do it.   That is when I applied to be a NILMDTS volunteer. 

Now, I would like to tell you that the application was easy, and I was accepted right away but that was not the case.  In fact, my first application was rejected, and I was heartbroken.  But I was determined.  I used all the photography critiques provided by NILMDTS in my first application to practice and improve my skills.  I also focused on learning auxiliary lighting, which is very important to NILMDTS sessions. 

It took 4 years of practicing and prepping until I was ready to apply again and in 2014, I was accepted as an Affiliate Photographer.

Intro by Skip Cohen
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Sometimes giving back is very personal. We all have various reasons for being involved in those nonprofit organizations we support. For me, I couldn't be more proud to be an Ambassador for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep because I'm a parent. The thought of losing a child is overwhelming, and while I can't say I know what a parent is feeling at that time of loss, I can imagine the pain and sadness.

In today's guest post by Virginia Dow, she hits a familiar chord for so many of the NILMDTS staff - she became a volunteer because of what a photographer did for her family in 2016, after losing two sons. But there's another very relevant part of her story - the process to get through her fears of being involved and becoming a volunteer. 

I don't know Virginia, but I couldn't be more proud of her, and especially her ability to share her story, and success at being involved. There are so many of you in the industry with the heart, passion, and skill set to help families at their most challenging times.

February is Recruitment Month for NILMDTS. Here's an incredible way for you to give back with your camera. Click on the banner above or at the end of today's post for more information.

by Virginia Dow

​Having someone come and give us the gift of photography when Larson and Emmett were born has meant so much to my family. Being able to include them visually on the walls of our home and in our family photos help us share the story of their lives, that however short, they still blessed us, they still have a purpose, and they still are members of our family.

Currently trying to reestablish my photography in a new place, I struggled (still struggling,) but a colleague gave me the motherhood memoir project. To capture moms doing their mom thing or snippets of what makes them a mom and this relit my fire and brought the opportunity to do some auxiliary lighting for my application. With willing and forced participants (my living children,) I had these images to now submit to the review committee.
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But I still put it off. I had what they asked for and I ignored it. I didn’t want to feel like I missed the mark again, but God had different plans. Sending me little reminders that I needed to do it, until He put something in front of my face I couldn’t ignore. A letter from NILMDTS for a monetary donation, but in the upper right hand corner of the letter,
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So, I finally did it. Got over my fear of rejection and sent the email with my 5 new images for review. And was told I’d hear back soon.
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Finally, 3 weeks later, I received an email saying I have been accepted and I could start my training! Not a lot of people knew I was doing this, but I thank those who did and were thinking and praying for me. It was very much appreciated and now I have the honor of capturing families during their most difficult moments and preserving memories of their little ones, giving back the priceless gift that had once been given to me on September 19, 2016.

by Skip Cohen

It's almost twelve years ago I made the decision to step away from Rangefinder Publishing and WPPI. It was 2009 and we were in a recession, and both friends and family thought I was nuts. I was giving up a great job and heading off into the unknown. ​

This is also about the time I picked up my mantra: 

​Skip's Summer School started that first summer, and while it became incredibly labor-intensive after the 2013 session, it was a great run. However, during those summer programs and consulting for a number of different companies, my network grew, and so did my understanding of the challenges each photographer faced in establishing their business.

On January 19, 2013, eight years ago today, I launched Skip Cohen University. It's hard to believe how much it's grown since then, or the diversity in topics and the number of other photographers who shared guest posts and images along the way. I remember one great discussion with Scott Bourne as we talked about what to name the blog.

I wanted to call it something lofty, like "The Photo Resource Hub," but Scott gave me an incredible lesson in branding. He felt since my career on the industry's professional side had always focused on some aspect education, whatever I was about to build needed my name on it. 

He had an idea, "Just trust me on this and let me put out a tweet before you launch." I trusted him completely, and that first tweet was "Skip Cohen is back!" We later linked it to the early posts on SkipCohenUniversity.com. But along the way, there were some funny responses, like, "What do you mean he's back - I just talked to him yesterday." And speaking at a publishing conference in Orlando, Scott Kelby walked into the room and said, "Oh, I heard you were back," and Guy Kawaski, also speaking at the same event, wanted to know where I'd been.

Scott Bourne stayed right on top of everything I was doing and helped me build the foundation for SCU. He also taught me to ask for help when I needed it. There were so many times when I thought I understood the programming and could just cut and paste my way through some of the architectural changes. Each time I pulled a DIY, he'd yell at me after he fixed what I screwed up and simply say, "Will you please call me next time before you touch anything?"

So, it's eight years since this blog started. Now, thousands of posts later, I'm here to thank so many of you who shared your feedback and gave me one idea after another to keep it going from my own posts to guest posts, to YouTube videos, podcasts, and companies who believed in me. What a wild ride it continues to be.

I know it sounds pretty sappy, but this industry really has become a family. A huge thanks entirely from my heart to my readers, supporters, and friends. To paraphrase the Beatles, "I get by with a LOT of help from my friends."

by Skip Cohen

One of the most fun aspects of this industry are the friendships made over the years. And with cyberspace and social media, we all have friends who we've never met in person from other parts of the world.

Meet Simon King, a photographer from the UK. We met A few years back on Facebook, and he wrote a couple of great guest posts for the SCU blog. Here's one that's so relevant now about giving back.

I caught up to Simon over the weekend in an IM, and as we caught up on life and the challenges of the pandemic, he mentioned he's got an image in the Travel Photographer of the Year awards. Please check it out, and if you feel inclined, send a vote his way.

It would be a kick to have one of our own guest writers recognized. It's #115: ​

“Boys from the Drago Contrada playing the Palio game before the main event that evening. Taken during Il Palio Di Siena, Tuscany, Italy.”  

Here's the link.

by Skip Cohen

Business pretty much disappeared for so many artists and educators this year, but not their love for the craft. So many of you have taken classes at various conventions with one of the industry's favorite couples, Bobbi Lane and Lee Varis...or you've joined them on one of their photo adventures.

While it doesn't compare to their tentatively planned Iceland trip in September of 2021 and Venice, Italy in 2022, their backyard is New England with no shortage of clickable moments. I pulled three of my favorites from their "New England 2021 - Bobbi and Lee's Photo Adventures at Home" calendar.

I wanted to share the images in a post for three reasons:

• Putting together a calendar for your clients is a perfect way to remind them what you do for a living. Even with the pandemic, there are opportunities to utilize your images and then include community events on the calendar as well. 
• No matter what we go through as individuals or as members of the industry "family," Bobbi and Lee are prime examples of two artists who never give up. As ugly as 2020 was for everybody, it's so important to stay focused on your passion for the craft. The pandemic hasn't destroyed anyone's dreams of being a great artist, just changed the path for your journey!
• Last but not least, sign up for Bobbi and Lee's newsletter with a click right here. You'll find the newsletter signup at the bottom of the page. It's your best way to keep in touch with what they'll be doing in the year ahead!

The fun of this industry is all about the friendships we share, as well as our love for photography. The sunflowers and cranberry harvesst were captured by Bobbi, while the fall reflection in the river was Lee's.

But the wish for all of us to stay healthy and refocus for a great year in 2021 is from both of them!​

by Skip Cohen

Part of the fun of being in this industry my entire adult life is catching up to old friends and associates. It's also fun to have followed their journeys, aspirations, and dreams. 

In 1987 I joined Hasselblad USA as president, and my world completely changed. Moving to the NY/NJ area, I was surrounded by some of the industry's most respected artists. The variety of projects they were involved with was never-ending.

Meet Dave Frieder and the reality of a dream he's had for a long time! Dave was a regular visitor to the Hasselblad office in New Jersey, and we'd also catch up to him each year at what today is PPE.  I met lots of artists over the years, but Dave's claim to fame was unique - he photographed New York from the top of each major bridge. 

A copy of Dave's dream arrived at my house last Friday, and it's stunning. One of the jacket stories for the cover was written by Kriss Roebling, and here's a small part of what he wrote:​

"...Amongst the many bridges that are represented in this tome is the bridge that my great-great-grandparents built, the Brooklyn Bridge.  I am grateful to Dave for leveling his artistic eye on my ancestor' crowning achievement from vantage points that no average photographer would have the vision, or the courage to pursue. His daredevil capacity to capture the uncaptured image reinvigorates the beauty of my ancestors' work, and deliver that work once again from the realm of visual cliché."

If you're looking for a stunning gift this holiday season, especially if you're in the NYC area, here's a book that belongs on every coffee table. This is a quality piece, and like everything Dave's done, he never compromises on a great delivery.

And to Dave, as sappy as it sounds, I'm so proud to have played a tiny part in this project. I'm looking forward to the pandemic ending and getting back out to the shows and conventions we all miss so much. Nicely done, buddy - Congratulations!

by Skip Cohen

This post is a combination of a thanks and an observation about one of the things I love most about being in this industry. It's about how connected we are to each other, and like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon game, yesterday's post was pretty remarkable.

It was Throwback Thursday, and I shared an article from Hasselblad's newsletter in 1987 about Dean Collins. Over the next 24 hours, sixty-four people would comment on Facebook and share their thoughts about Dean.  

This is a short post today - here's my point:

I miss Dean a lot. Whenever there's an industry challenge, I think about my old buddy and what he'd say or be doing right now. In 2005, just a few weeks before he passed away, Nick Vedros and I drove down to spend some time with him. His spirit was incredible, and we actually believed he was going to win his battle with cancer.

When I shared the post yesterday, I had no idea how uplifting everyone's comments would be. Each comment brought back a memory and a smile. I was reminded of the reason I've loved this industry and been in it so long - it's the people! As sappy as it sounds, it's the way we're all connected, and the love we all share for the craft and watching each other's backs and the support.

There are no words to describe how much I've grown to miss conventions and contact with so many of you, but the challenges of the pandemic disappeared just a little bit yesterday as Dean pulled us together for some great memories.

So, thank you to all of you who commented and put one of our best in the spotlight again. And to Dean - we sure do miss you, buddy!

Life is short, live it.
Love is rare, grab it.
Anger is bad, let go of it.
​Fear is a mind-killer, face it.
Memories are sweet, cherish them.
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen
 
I'm in one of those sappy moods, so don't give up on me until I'm done with this post.

Thirty-three years ago this weekend, I was sitting in a hotel room nervous about starting a new job on Monday. It was my first day as President of Hasselblad USA. I'd been in the industry for almost twenty years at that point, but I look at that Monday as the real start of my career in photography.

We had a fantastic team at Hasselblad, and I'd experience so many incredible memories over the next twelve years. Many of my very best friends today came into my life during those early years. While I've always loved the imaging world, it's thanks to so many of you today that make getting out of bed such a kick every morning. 

The pandemic has created a new norm we all have to deal with, but I can't think of a more incredible industry to weather the storm and help the world stay focused on what's most important in life. 

Over the years, I've been accused of being the industry cheerleader, wearing rose-colored glasses too often. Well, maybe more people need a pair of those glasses! I love this industry, and if I can help you find a new direction to help rebuild your business, you know where to find me.

Together we can make it through any mess the world throws at us - and I know what a simpleton I sound like when I say that. It's tough right now, and even worse, it's scary. I find myself worrying about Sheila, family, and friends who are all vulnerable. That fear, if not controlled, would turn into procrastination, complacency, and depression. It's a roller coaster of emotion these days, and it takes work to smile from the inside out. Anybody can smile on the surface, but you have to dig to stay happy.

Ironically, it's Independence Day, and we're all fighting to be free of the pandemic. So, stay safe, listen to the doctors, NOT the politicians, cherish your skill set, and ability to help people continue to capture memories. Last but not least, my offer to help is in the foundation of virtually every post I write. But I'm not alone - I'm joined by hundreds of other community members who all share the same love for the craft. 

Last but not least, thank you for being a reader, an artist, and for many of you, a great friend.

by Skip Cohen

One of my longest time best buddies in the industry is Bob Coates. His work has been featured regularly on the SCU blog, most recently, last week with "Naked Bob" and a unique project he put together with a group of artists in Sedona.
 
Bob's always been ahead of the times. In fact, 2-3 years ago, after coming home sick after every major convention, he replaced handshakes and bro-hugs with an elbow bump. Within a year, so many of us had picked it up because it just made sense!

Bob is back with another idea and again ahead of his time. In a Facebook post, he wrote:​

I would love for people to change the term from Social Distancing to Physical Distancing. Every time I read or see the first phrase it is like fingernails on a blackboard. We can be social at a physical distance.

Language matters. Social distancing imbues a fully negative connotation and reinforces a negative feeling vs physical distancing, a more friendly way to direct proper safety procedures.

​Well, I don't know about you, but I like it a lot. The truth is, from a purely social perspective, the pandemic has brought me closer to a lot of people. I'm in touch through social media much more, and between Facebook, email, and the phone, I'm keeping in touch with friends more than the usual 2-3 times a year we'd catch up at a conference.

So Bob, as the James Dean of linguistic rebellion, who most readers will have to look up to see who he was, I'm with ya.

by Skip Cohen

​One benefit of having a blog is the opportunity to vent when the world goes mad. We broke down this week to watch the news, something we had managed to avoid for several weeks. We're keeping up with everything we can read - just avoiding the spin too many of the broadcasters put on things. We've self-quarantined for three months, heading out only for necessities at the market or CVS, and now and then a safe ride in the car.

It was no surprise that the numbers had spiked again, sending the stock market spiraling down as the reality of a second wave of the virus hit home. And as the government argues, we don't have a spike with new cases, because we're doing more testing, can somebody tell me what the hell difference it makes?

At the very beginning of the crisis, I read a great article written by a credible doctor/expert who talked about the bell-shaped curve of any pandemic. He went on to say that if the peak at the time was 70,000 deaths, then the back half of the curve would result in the same number, bringing the total to 140,000.

Last night's news unveiled the "surprise" forecast of 140,000 deaths by July 4! And as politicians around the country, including the governors, argue over how to open each state back up, we're hitting new highs...oops, sorry, they're not really new highs, just increases because we're doing more testing!

And that brings me to my point...while I wish everyone would act like we're all in this together, the reality is we're all on our own. There are too many people who don't get it. New cases are on the rise, although, at least here in Florida, deaths from the virus are headed downward.

By the way, most states have the same format for coronavirus data available online. Just Google your state and "coronavirus statistics." I'm following a report for Florida that takes me all the way down to information by county and even zip code.

​It's going to take longer than any of us would like to feel safe again, but in the meantime, we all need to be smart. Social distancing has a sound foundation, along with masks, washing our hands, and taking care of yourself and your family.

A month ago, my good buddy Nick Vedros sent me an email with the subject line, "Share this with someone who thinks wearing a mask is a political statement." Here's the artwork that was attached.

So, as the politicians argue over whose crystal ball is more accurate, and clueless people wander through the community arguing this is all a hoax, we're staying hunkered down and learning to deal with the new normal.

And while a part of me feels I should apologize for my rant, the truth is, I don't want to. I'm tired of too many politicians, democrat and republican, who can't see anything beyond their own interests!

by Skip Cohen

​For most of us lately, every day is the same, and today is a good example. I rarely post on Saturdays, but something came up yesterday, and it's perfect for many of you during Downtime 2020.

Looking through my emails, I read the online newsletter from my high school, Riverside H.S. in Painesville, Ohio. One of the bullet points they shared was this one:

"Instead of the Prom: In past years, the alumni association has always donated some funds to help support the RHS prom. This year, the prom is uncertain. Instead, the association is donating those funds to a project to give each graduating senior a lawn sign to celebrate his or her graduation. The signs will be handed out to the seniors as they drive through a set- up that will pass out their cap and gown for graduation. This is still in the planning stages but certainly will help the graduating seniors celebrate their success in this unusual year."

That got me thinking about things we can all do to support not only the Class of 2020 but high schools across the country. There isn't a school in America, even before the pandemic, that had all the funding they needed, especially for art programs, including photography. So, here are some ideas to consider:

• Donate gear: Most of you have cleaned out at least one area of your home, studio, or office during the last two months. How about donating equipment you no longer use to the high school? They're always short on gear, and so many of you have cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment you no longer use. Donate it to the high school and help the next generation of photographers.
• Teach a class: Online education has never been stronger. Set yourself up to teach a photography class to kids interested in expanding their skill set. 
• Photographs: The "Instead of the Prom" piece they're doing at my old high school is perfect for a photographer to step in and supply senior portraits for the signs. It's one more way to help make this year's graduating class feel special.
• Tied to Prom: One of the LUMIX Ambassadors recently wrote: "Hey, I just did an entire series of prom porch-traits for the seniors where I live. Since their prom was canceled, the Project Graduation team reached out to me about doing photos of the kids at their homes with their dresses on."
• Provide Content: If your high school has a newsletter they publish, look for opportunities to provide content. For example, I saw they were looking for stories from alumni going back to elementary schools in the area. Even though Sheila and I were never close through elementary, junior, and high school, we still met in second grade. I've got some great pictures and stories. So, I offered to write something for the January story they have schedule about our elementary school. 
• Get Involved: Even though most schools are closed, take the time now and get involved in helping with next year's yearbook. Most schools need all the help they can get, and now's the time to show your willingness to join the team and your expertise as a photographer can help make the 2021 yearbook even better.

I'll be the first to admit there's very little I've done in regards to my high school once I left Ohio so many years ago, but right now, the schools need our help. Even if you've got no connection to the community you grew up in, the one you live in now has the same needs for support.

Basketball season, spring sports, prom, graduation - all the programs that created memories for your high school days have been put on the back-burner. But you can help find ways to bring photography into the mix, and many of you have senior portraits captured long before the pandemic. Even Marathon Press has a special BOGO on grad cards.

You owe it to your community and your clients to get off the sidelines and support the schools and the Class of 2020. And if any of you are doing something special, let me know in the comment section below, and we'll add it to the list above.

by Skip Cohen

​With everything that's changed in our lives, the lines between great images, memories, and classic skill sets are all blurred. Technically it's Throwback Thursday, and the fun of the day is typically looking back at a moment in the past captured in a photograph. Well, I'm combining a little of everything this morning.

The image above is thanks to the outrageous passion of Erik Kuna.  

It's a 9-minute long exposure streak of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching across the sky and the booster turning back and landing on earth. It was taken from an abandon launchpad from the '60s at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, with a Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon in the Foreground, since Elon Musk actually named the Falcon rocket after this iconic Sci-Fi Spacecraft. 

Erik captured it with his camera set up on a Platypod Max, but that's not where the story about the image ends.

Here's where the "throwback" comes in...

For so many of us, the fun of a throwback image only requires turning back the clock a few weeks!

Erik shared the image on The Grid last month. I was a guest on that show and arrived much later than usual because I was stuck in traffic. (There's a throwback all its own - traffic!)

I remember joking that it might be our last time all seated together for awhile. Even then, we didn't really understand the full impact of the "social-Tsunami" headed our way.

The image of the three of us is actually my last photograph taken while being with other people outside my home/office. Right now, it seems like it was so long ago.

But there is a brighter side to all of this, or maybe it's better described as an enduring side. Social distancing makes it tough to spend direct time with friends now, but it doesn't stop the support available or the willingness of so many people, like Erick and Scott to help us through the challenges.

Start with all the support you'll find at KelbyOne, including ongoing articles and great online educational programs. Then, tune in The Grid and catch up on past episodes. Follow Scott Kelby's blog for more good solid content.

Last but certainly not least - check out Erik's website. It's jam-packed with incredible images. And while some of you will think they're a long way from your specialty of weddings, portraits, etc. they're right in line with the passion so many of you share for having a camera in your hands!  I love the way Erik describes his passion for space:

by Skip Cohen

It's time for the third installment of photographers finding joy while hunkered down. It's not easy to keep things in perspective, but it isn't impossible either! We'll make it through this if we can all remember we're not alone, watch each other's backs and turn off the news once in a while!

​This has always been an industry of artists who worked together - don't be shy. Send me your images ( skip (at) mei500 (dot) com ) of things that are bringing you joy and creating a little light through the pandemic.

I'll make it even easier - just attach a low res image to your comment, wherever you're reading this, and we'll add it to the list of photographers who've been sharing photographs and videos. 

​And here's mine for this week...Lucy and Belle simply make us smile! They're both nine months old next week, and they definitely keep us laughing.