by Skip Cohen

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, but it's also Throwback Thursday. So I decided to combine the two and also give myself the day off tomorrow. That means I want to make sure I wish all of you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday TODAY!

Thanksgiving has always been one of my most favorite holidays. It's been a special time for family, and one of the best times was our first Thanksgiving in Florida. We moved down here in 2011. My Dad was coming up on ninety and dealing with my Mom's Alzheimer's.  We decided to give him a hand and move to Sarasota that October.

A couple of weeks later, just two weeks before Thanksgiving, Album Epoca hired me to come to Italy to record a short video about the importance of the wedding album. We accepted the invitation but wanted to be back in time for Mom and Dad's first Thanksgiving at our house in Florida. Nobody in their right mind makes a five-day trip to Italy, but the focus was on time with my folks too. We were back in time to put the turkey in the oven!

​Both of these grab shots are from Thanksgiving 2011.

My mother was always afraid of dogs. We had dogs when I was a kid, but always adopted an older dog, already trained, and Mom rarely went near them. But Molly the Wonder Dog stole her heart. 

Molly knew she was fragile. Those of you who have dogs know how they can sense something wrong, or you're not feeling well. Molly knew how to read Mom.

Thanksgiving dinner that night was our first holiday dinner outside. It was a beautiful night and perfect in every way. The memories from eleven years ago have never faded! Even Alzheimer's took a break that night, and Mom was so into the day.

I know that Thanksgiving is an American custom and many of you are outside the U.S., but that doesn't change my wish to everybody for a happy, healthy, and safe holiday. Remember, the memories you make this holiday season will be future throwbacks...and there's very little that beats a great look in your rearview mirror!

I'm so thankful for your support, feedback, and your friendships. As I've written so many times, the best thing about our industry has nothing to do with imaging directly but the great friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft.

Happy Thanksgiving!

by Skip Cohen

Here are two 2023 workshop/photo tours that should be on your bucket list...hanging out with Shiv Verma in Tanzania or Namibia!

I'm sharing this post as more of a public service announcement (LOL) because there are only two spots open in Tanzania and four in Namibia. They'll all be gone within the next few days. It's an incredible opportunity for an experience of a lifetime.

But it's not just the wildlife or the beauty of the two locations, but doing a tour like this with Shiv. Shiv and I have worked together on so many different projects and events. Every time I've learned a little more about imaging. He's an outstanding artist, educator, and tour guide!

Click on any image in today's post to link to Shiv's tour/workshop schedule. Both trips currently open are in September, and I can guarantee they'll be more than just memorable! 

by Skip Cohen

This will sound more like a "Sunday Morning Reflections" post than a Tuesday. Sheila and I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of calls, texts, and emails regarding our safety as Hurricane Ian approaches the Florida coast. Here's the short story...

We had decided to stay put and hunker down. All outside plants, porch furniture, etc., were all inside. Food and water were stocked, flashlights charged, generator gassed up. That was until the county next to us issued a mandatory evacuation notice yesterday. 

Knowing we weren't far behind, living just south of Sarasota - we headed to a good friend of our kids in Vero Beach. Our son and daughter-in-law, living in Tampa, had already been notified to evacuate. So, here we all are, watching the weather channel, but we are safe and together, including one cat and two pups.

Here's the bottom line - obviously, we're hoping our home survives...but all that matters is all of us are safe. v In the long run - it's all just stuff. And the messages and prayers from all of you keep adding to our strength. ​

So, a big thanks to all of you for checking in...we won't know the outcome of this mess until much later in the week. And as sappy as it sounds...sure do love you guys.

"I've got no regrets, because I did it all when I was younger!"
D. MacNab
September 8, 2022

by Skip Cohen

​I've got one goal with this post - many of you never met Duncan MacNab, but when I'm done writing, you will at least know him just a little. Since meeting "Dunc" in 1987, when I joined Hasselblad, he's been a great buddy and often an inspiration on so many different levels. 

Bob Thompson introduced me to Duncan at a convention somewhere on the planet in 1988. Dunc was a professional photographer and owner of F11, a Hasselblad dealer in Bozeman, MT. He was active in PPA, and in later years, we'd serve together on the PPA Board. He was also responsible for the Rocky Mountain Professional Photographer conference each year. But that was only part of his life in Bozeman and the West - he served as Mayor, at one time Assistant Coroner, and later Coroner.

So, that's what his resume would highlight, but that doesn't begin to tell you about the man himself. Nobody did it better, from his sense of humor to his zest for life to his love for this industry and integrity! Thanks to Duncan, many of us got to experience sights in the west reserved for only a handful of people. For ten years, every winter, a group of us went into Yellowstone on snowmobiles for three intense days of photographing the park. 

​There's that old line: "He who dies with the most toys wins!" We used to say Duncan doesn't need to die - he's already got all the toys. From snowmobiles to Harleys to camera gear, woodworking, dive gear, gun collecting, and the most incredible stereo system I'd ever heard, hanging out with Dunc was always a blast.

And we covered it all - from the bottom of the ocean to the top of snow-covered mountains in Yellowstone and everything in between - Duncan's been a part of my life on so many different levels.

The picture of the three of us above was taken less than a week ago. Bob Thompson and I had an idea. Duncan had been in the hospital and was being moved to a rehab center - so let's visit him. Bob headed out from Tucson to Spokane, and I from Sarasota. We walked into Duncan's room a week ago this morning.

The three of us spent two days together, laughing non-stop. Like telling jokes in a bar with friends, one story led to another. We covered every adventure we'd ever been on, and it was wonderful.

I got home on Friday and called Dunc Saturday with an idea - I wanted to write the "MacNab Manifesto." I wanted to have some fun with "Duncanisms" about being a photographer, running a business, being a dedicated husband and Dad - whatever. Well, we never got to put his thoughts down, but here's what I want to share...

Duncan is one of the finest men I've ever known. While he had a serious side, he never took life so seriously that he forgot to have fun. He believed in friendship, a firm handshake, and always being upfront in whatever he was feeling. His dedication to his wife Donna, who had severe rheumatoid arthritis and twenty-nine surgeries in her life, was legendary. He couldn't have been more devoted.

And to Dunc - Buddy, you will be missed. But with all the stories, laughs, and incredible memories, you achieved immortality with a whole bunch of us. So just to say I'll miss you is a huge understatement. I love ya, pal!

by Skip Cohen

​As I write today's post, I'm back in my hometown of Painesville, Ohio. While it will eventually tie into your business and marketing for the fourth quarter, time is the topic.
 
We're back for a high school reunion, but being here after being away for so many years, it's impossible not to get reflective. I remember as a kid, my grandmother talking about how fast her life had gone by. Well, here I am, now her age back then, and I'm trying to understand where the time went.
 
I continue to have an incredible life, so my reflections are more like Rip Van Winkle waking up to find the world changed than anything resembling regret. I simply can't believe how fast time has gone by.
 
But the physical proof, beyond aging and my memories, are the photographs Sheila and I have. Old friends from our childhood are really "old" friends at this point. And that tree my Dad planted at the old house is now thirty feet high and shading most of the backyard. Repeatedly one of us mumbles, "OMG," as we drive by some community landmark. All the while, we've got the photographs to prove that things were different back then.
 
And here's where marketing hits in today's post – because of the pandemic, there's a greater sense of family in the world that we haven't seen since I was a kid. That's what all those old photographs captured – a time when life was slower, less complicated, and the focus of life was more on family and friends.
 
Throwback Thursday posts you share of old photographs, remind your audience that today's photos are tomorrow's cherished memories, and you're the magician. You've got the ability to stop time. You've got the power to capture and create memories for your clients this holiday season that will live on for years to come.
 
Since time doesn't stand still, NOW is the time to lock in your planning. Stop procrastinating and burning the clock – think through your approach for the fourth quarter. Stop for a second and think of something you said you would do this year and still haven't completed. We all do it – and suddenly *poof* we're out of time. So let's end the mañana routine and start to build what you need.
 
And if you're stuck with putting together a game plan – I keep offering to be your sounding board, but rarely does anybody ask for help. I live vicariously through your entrepreneurial spirit – and you've got a free coach right here. But I can't help if I don't know what you want to do.
 
So, before you run out of time, let's see what we can do to make 2022 one of your biggest and best holiday seasons ever! Just IM me on Facebook.

by Skip Cohen

On Fridays, I love when I can write a post that gives you something to think about over the weekend. This morning, I caught this post from Seth Resnick:

There is that old saying that says don't try this at home...Ansel Adams famously said, "A good photograph is knowing where to stand." Photography isn't always easy, and sometimes the best image can be dangerous to take. That said there is a certain adrenaline rush that pushes. I try never to cross my own line in determining risk but my line is very different from others. Curious to hear some of your stories about pushing the line. Photo credit for this awesome pic goes to a true dear lifelong friend Nancy Leigh.

Nancy Leigh's shot of Seth got me thinking about the headshots so many of you use on your website and in social media. Most of them could put a rock to sleep! They're boring and say nothing about who you are or your love for the craft.

I'm a big fan of environmental portraits for photographers. Whether shot as a true wide angle or just capturing an element about the subject, they tell a story. Here are a few of my favorites from my good buddy Terry Clark.  ​

Here's my point - all of you know how to do portraits that tell a story, but like the old expression about "shoemaker's children always needing shoes," why aren't you telling a story with your own headshot on your website and in social media?

I shared Kay Eskridge's headshot on the right a few years back in a blog post. Just looking at the photograph, you know something more about her. A potential client immediately sees how much she loves the craft. And I love that it's black and white - pushing the point of diversity in her creativity a little more. Even better would be her shot combined with an image or two of her working with a client.
​
Here's why this is so important - many of you have terrible or irrelevant headshots on your websites and social media pages. From bad selfies to portraits looking like you handed one of your kids the camera, very few of them show your love for the craft. And almost none of them shiow you in action...as a PHOTOGRAPHER and ARTIST.

And that's what hit me with that shot of Seth that started all of this today. Let's eliminate all those bad shots of you and replace them this weekend with images that show your passion for the craft and say something more about you than just being another body on planet earth!

A big thanks to Seth for sharing that shot, but the appreciation also goes to Nancy Leigh, who captured his adventurer side, and that special aspect of creativity you see in his images! It's also a big reason why I get such a kick out of following him and living vicariously through his adventures and posts. He needs to be on your radar.

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead!

by Skip Cohen

Seth Resnick is back with what may well be one of my most favorite of his posts. To take it a step further, it's a post I wish was mandatory for every artist to read. The issue isn't whether you agree or disagree with him, just the importance of understanding your "Why?" Obviously, there are times when just clicking the shutter has no deeper meaning than contributing to your revenue stream...but I can't help but feel there's always an underlying explanation for why so many of us love this industry.

I've met so many artists in my career and the ones most successful, to Seth's point, speak fluent photography. They don't have to have a camera in their hands to shoot "neurochromes" and still see something most of us might miss. Their images tell a story, capture a memory, and often have a much deeper meaning than just what is shared in print. And it carries further into who we are and why - Seth got me thinking about my writing as well as each time I click the shutter.

Seth is sharing a lot of great concepts on his facebook page. He needs to be on your radar!

by Seth Resnick

Photography isn’t easy. Learning software applications like Photoshop and Lightroom are hard, and understanding all the buttons on the cameras can be confusing to say the least, but the hardest of all may just be understanding your own work. Photography is a language. Do you speak it fluently?
​
I find that by writing down my thoughts I am better equipped to speak and write the language of photography. Like any language that is studied practice and time certainly help. In developing your skills about photography as a language it is critical to overcome the concept of what your work is about rather than what it is of.

When I first started writing about what my photography was really about I thought it was about entering personal space. I interchanged the word breaking personal space and entering personal space and thought they were the same. In fact a good friend and student Jed Best suggested that I have a show called Breaking and Entering. I thought that was quite clever. For several years my description of my own work started with breaking personal space. After all I started as a journalist and much of my work was about people and to capture them in a personal manner I was either very close or used a long lens to isolate emotion.

The more I started to write and as my work progressed I was bothered by the statement and one day while photographing a rock and writing about it I came to understand that it was really about an energy connection with my subjects or rather my subjects energy connection with me. The more I wrote the more I understood and writing led to my own discovery of Clairsentience which really put my understanding of the language in perspective.

Certain people are born with a mystical sixth sense that allows them to pick up on information about the past, present, and future. We typically call it ESP but for me it is an awareness of additional senses. While we all have five basic senses that help us observe the physical world around us it doesn’t end with just five. There are a variety of ways that people can experience ESP. For me one of the most fascinating is clairsentience, which is the ability to literally feel and acknowledge energy.

This week several things happened that weren’t coincidence. I looked at Leslie and said her son was thinking about her. She looked at her phone and her son just texted her. Three sand hill cranes that have been coming to my house suddenly flew in and they came right up to me as if they were telling me something. A dragonfly then landed on me. I showed Leslie the dragonfly and he stayed on my hand. I thought about him flying away and sure enough he did. No big deal but then I called him back and the dragonfly kept coming back to my hand for over an hour. At the same time there was no wind but the chimes in my back yard started to ring. There were bluejays and cardinals and all of these things were things that my mom loved.

Life comes down to energy and as I continue to write I continue to increase my knowledge about the language of photography.
​
Many photographers never figure it out and think it isn’t important. I hear so many photographers say that their work isn’t about anything they just like taking pictures. Well maybe, but learning what my images are about has helped me immensely.

by Skip Cohen

This is probably one of the shortest posts I've ever written, but it's not short on sentiment.

Wishing everybody a terrific 4th of July! Thank you for your support, feedback and always inspiration.  And if you're following me from outside the US - Hope it's a great Monday and start of the week.

​Stay safe and healthy!

by Skip Cohen

As I've written so many times in the past, part of the fun of Facebook is keeping in touch with great friends and, in turn, their creativity.  Meet Erik Cooper from Colorado. We met when I needed to ship him a Platypod as part of his new membership bonus joining PPA. That led to regular phone calls, catching up LIVE at ClickCon in Chicago last year and simply a great ongoing friendship.

Yesterday, as part of Throwback Thursday, he posted the stunning image above of Milkweed, which Sheila and I have planted all over the butterfly garden. It's a Monarch butterfly's favorite. I just got off the phone with him for permission to share it again. And it was perfect for a throwback, because it's the image that launched his love for photography.

Erik needs to be on your radar! Follow him on Facebook to keep track of more of his images.

And to Erik...what a kick to have you as a buddy! Thanks for your never-ending support and inspiration.

by Erik Cooper

​Today has gone nostalgic! It's a Throwback Thursday as I've had to go through some old pics, looking for memories to use for a certain someone's celebration. Isn't it wonderful having old prints to look through? Oh the blackmail I have at my disposal! LOL!

I'll finish this post with a flashback to 2011 and the pic that launched my passion for shooting. Ever seen a Milkweed pod up close? So fascinating! This image caught a lot of reaction from friends and I was equally inspired knowing it came from my little Nikon D80. Shot with a manual focus lens from 1976, the image seemed to pop right off the computer screen when I edited it. Here's to fond memories and happier days in our past. Stay positive and know you are loved!
 

by Skip Cohen

​It's Wednesday, and it's been a hectic week. I often write about knowing when to take a break; it's not very often I walk the talk. Like so many of us, I'm still a work in progress.

While I'll match my love for the craft with anybody, for the last few months, it seems I'm shooting with my phone more often than my camera. Unfortunately, I don't have the latest phone - you can guess that too often I've missed the shot I wanted.

I love Panasonic's LUMIX G9, and the 14-140mm 3.5-5.6 lens is my go-to setup. But it's been on the shelf for way too long!

Well, not lately. My camera now sits right next to me, on my desk. When I need a break, I've been getting away from my computer and clicking the shutter a few times, usually in the garden. Something about the click of the shutter is therapeutic, even if it's electronic. Although, for you long-time Hasselblad shooters out there, nothing compares to the thud of the mirror in the original cameras.

From puppies to the garden - today was a nonstop adventure. Whenever Sheila goes out, the pups sit and wait by the front door, watching for her return. It's priceless, and yes, they are as cute to hang out with as they look.

Here's my point - when we were kids, recess was a part of our lives every day - once in the morning and again in the afternoon. But we grew up, and the concept, especially when you're in business for yourself, evaporates under the barrage of deadlines, phone calls, email, and projects/people who need a piece of your time. Often I'm not even aware that I've missed lunch!

So, turn back the clock and make it a point to go out for recess!

by Skip Cohen

No reason for a drawn out post this morning. While the holiday is meant to remember those who lost their lives serving our country, it's also about respect for everyone serving in the military today. To all of you serving and your families, thank you for your service.

Wishing everybody a safe and healthy Memorial Day.  Whatever family traditions you enjoy, for most it's a day of family and firing up the grill, make them memory-making!

by Skip Cohen

​Yesterday was my birthday, and I only had one goal - to simply kick back and chill for the day. Nothing special, no big deal about making another trip around the sun - just a day off and time to hang out with Sheila and the pups. I was determined to get Friday's post up on my blog and then not go near the computer again for the rest of the day.

Halfway through the day, I wandered into Facebook to see what was going on. I love the notification page that captures what everyone shares throughout the day. Well, there they were, fifty or so friends and associates wishing me Happy Birthday...then LinkedIn kicked in...and throughout the day, hundreds of birthday wishes, plus a few very funny random phone and text messages from friends.

SAP ALERT!

I've repeatedly said over the years that the best thing about this industry has absolutely nothing to do with photography directly but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Through the last couple of years of dealing with the pandemic and the on and off isolation, nothing has meant more to me than the friendships and support from all of you.

When I went looking for a piece of stock photography I could use for today's post; the drawing above hit me. We're all independent, separate entities but connected in our roots and the common denominator of our love for imaging.

As I scrolled down all my birthday wishes this morning, I found myself longing for a convention and time to be with all of you physically. I clicked the "like" button on each birthday wish, but it just wasn't enough. I found myself feeling so lucky and blessed to be a part of an industry that truly is one giant family. Sure, we've got a few dysfunctional hockey pucks in our gene pool, but nothing beats the strength of our passion for the craft and each other.

Wishing all of you an incredible weekend, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for the pure joy, smiles, and wishes. It's just a birthday, but as you get older, they become more cherished, as do the friendships made along the way.

There are friends, there is family.
and there are friends who become family!
Anonymous

Intro by Skip Cohen

I've shared this a couple of times over the years, but as things come back to a bit of normalcy, it's so appropriate today. The Texas School is about to kick off; Shutterfest is coming up, and ClickCon is in June. Along with each of these shows, we're all getting out more, and your involvement in the community should be on the rise!

My good buddy Scott Bourne wrote this many years ago. As you get back to meeting more people and building your network, make sure you're putting your best foot forward. And that includes activity in social media.

And just a reminder...Don't engage trolls. They hide behind the anonymity of their computer screens, hoping to get a reaction over things they'd never have the nerve to say to your face. When you react, you give them just what they want, and remember, there are no erasers on the Internet! 

by Scott Bourne

Building a solid network is critical to your growth and the success of your business. Unfortunately, over and over again I see so many photographers making the same mistakes at every trade show, convention or workshop. Here are five of the most common ones for you to hopefully take note and stay away from.

1. Be prepared. I mean really prepared. Bring business cards (yes I know it's basic but I admit that once or twice I forgot mine so you might too.) Make sure you're properly groomed. Bugs in your teeth won't win you many friends. Dress appropriately.

2. Don't interrupt. If someone you want to meet or network with is talking with someone else, you won't make a very good impression if you bulldog your way to the front of the line. Wait your turn.

3. Don't talk too much about yourself. Don't brag. Don't profile. Don't strut. Be humble. I know it's hard to be humble when you're as great as you are, but try. Listen to what other people think. Let them finish their thoughts. Ask follow-up questions to show that you are interested and listening.

4. Don't be shy. If you want to network, you can't do it from the back of the room. You have to be willing to put yourself out there. Go for it.

5. Don't monopolize your new friends' time. Networking is simple. You introduce yourself. You listen to what your new friend has to say. You exchange cards. You figure out if there's anything you can do to help your new friend. You make an action plan to follow up with each other and you move on. Everyone at a networking event is looking for a chance to make new contacts. Let them. Take your turn and move along.

Networking can be very valuable. Skip and I have built entire businesses and careers around networking. Get off on the right foot and avoid these mistakes. You'll be better off for it.

Skip's Update: I want to add a few to Scott's list.

6. Meet every vendor you can. If you're at a live convention make it a point to meet somebody at every company, especially those whose products/services you use. 

7. Have a great "leave-behind." I love an oversized postcard with a few of your images and your information on the back. This is an ideal piece for vendors - it shows your work and has your contact information. Often at a trade show, things are just too busy for a vendor to talk when they are working the booth. So having something you can leave behind and then contacting them at a later date is ideal.

8. Send a thank you note. For those vendors you meet and leave a business card or the leave-behind I referenced above, send them a note when you're back. You're not asking for anything, just thanking them for their time during a busy show.

9. Never eat a meal alone! Whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner, when you're at a convention especially, invite other people to join you. There's nothing better than the conversation that comes out over just having a meal.

10. Be involved. I'm thinking about cyberspace on this one. Now and then, I run across an artist who's excited about being a member of hundreds of different forums. That means absolutely NOTHING! They've collected forums like kids used to collect Matchbox cars! Be exclusive and supportive of forums you genuinely believe in and want to support.

Your greatest marketing tool is relationship building. So to quote Scott Stratten from his book, Unmarketing, "Stop marketing and start engaging!"

by Skip Cohen

​I feel like I've been trapped in a Where's Waldo drawing. (Yes, I really did stick my headshot in with the group above!) It's the first time in many years I can remember only posting once in an entire week, but it's been incredibly busy. So posting daily wound up in the backseat for this week, but not without a few highlights.

Marathon Marketing Moments: Working together with Mark Weber at Marathon, we've launched a podcast series jam-packed with as much content at we can load into 15-20 minutes. There's a lot of great information we hope to be sharing in future podcasts.

​This new episode is in two parts and is all about blogging. There are more people online than at any time in Internet history, so while your website is about what you sell, your blog is about sharing what's in your heart. The two work together as key ingredients to help build your brand. Just click on the banner to the right to listen.

 
Platypod's NEW eXtreme: While the new campaign kicked off on August 6, the behind-the-scenes support has been incredible. As of today, 1250 photographers have backed the project.

The reviews have been remarkable, but with Scott Kelby's help, the reveal made last week's episode of The Grid one of the most fun I've ever participated in. It's worth watching, not just for the eXtreme launch, but being introduced to Lizzy Gadd and Kris Andres. 

And if you've got an interest in more information about the new eXtreme, here's the link to the Kickstarter page.

The Images of Kris Andres: As guests on The Grid and key Platypod ambassadors, Scott Kelby spent a lot of time talking with Lizzy and Kris about their images. Kris and I were sitting together on the sidelines as Lizzy was interviewed and shared her photographs. At one point, I could see the look on his face as he pondered how anything he was about to share would compare with Lizzy's. Well, his work was also stunning! 

That brings me right to my point - great artists create and often have no idea how much their work can impact their viewers. The Grid was especially sweet since Lizzy and Kris spent two days with me, Sheila, and the pups before the podcast. Getting to know them personally was a highlight and supported my ongoing feeling that the best thing about the industry isn't about imaging but friendships.

During the podcast, Scott challenged Kris to get his work out there more. I loved hearing his own print shop is now underway with a plan of early May for the grand opening!

Check out Kris's work with a click on any image below. I grabbed a few of my favorites, but it wasn't easy! And, while I've shared a lot of Lizzy's in the past, here's the link to her website and galleries. You won't be disappointed in any images these two share!

And there you have it - a crazy, hectic, and wonderful couple of weeks and the perfect time to break for a holiday weekend.

Wishing all of you a safe, healthy and blessed Easter and Passover. ​

by Skip Cohen

We all have our bucket lists of people we'd like to meet, things we'd like to do, and places we'd like to travel. So, at a time in history when heroes are limited, meet one of mine...Joe McNally.

I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in imaging, having worked with and met so many great artists over the years. But in 2013, there was still one on my bucket list, which was to have dinner with Joe McNally someday. It was Skip's Summer School in Chicago, and Joe joined us as a speaker. We grabbed dinner together the night he arrived, and then after his keynote the following day, he stayed for the conference just so he could meet and talk with more photographers.

Since then, we've crossed paths so many times at different events and even projects. And when the power was down in a large area in Connecticut, I filled in for Joe when ClickCon did their online series during the pandemic. Of course, my presentation didn't compare to what Joe would have presented, but that didn't change my pride in filling in for him.

The bottom line - his new book is out. Just click on the link to Amazon and order yours today.

​This is a book that belongs in every photographer's library! I just ordered mine a few minutes ago - now I need to get him to stand still long enough to sign it!

He truly is the "real deal!"

by Skip Cohen

It's New Year's Eve and like most of you, I'm ready to wind things down! But I can't let this last day of the year go by without thanking all of you for your support, encouragement, friendship and love for this industry!  Without question the year was bizarre, but here we are, and the view looking forward is a whole lot more fun than what we all see in the rearview mirror.  

Thank you so much for choosing a career path that has so much potential in 2022! Stay safe, healthy, stop watching the news, or at least don't believe everything you hear or read. And, if you're headed to IUSA, please come by the Platypod booth where I'll be hanging out.
​
Happy New Year from me, Sheila, Lucy and Belle. (And if you've ever tried to do a shot by remote and get a pup to look at the camera, it's pretty much impossible!)

See you in 2022!

by Skip Cohen

We're in between two holiday weekends and having a stretch of life that's simply quiet and peaceful is wonderful! It's also wonderful when there's a real camera in my hands instead of my phone. I'm not saying I can't get great images from my phone, but this was captured with an older LUMIX FZ300, and I love what this camera can do.

But there's a more important point to today's post...it's about the pups in our lives. We got Belle and Lucy four months before the pandemic kicked in. We've all been together every day since, and they're an integral part of our lives. Little did we know how they'd save our sanity while having to hunker down.

My portrait of "Barbara and Belle" says it all. Our friend Barbara was over last Sunday. A few months ago, her husband, our good friend Frank, passed away, which I wrote about.  Pups know when they need to give a little lovin'. So while Lucy was clueless, Belle latched onto Barbara and went to sleep by her side. 

Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them!
Thom Jones

Wishing everybody a terrific Wednesday and don't forgot to hug your dog - in fact, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about on Sundays.

by Skip Cohen

We're down to the wire, but not too late for one more idea - building a Legacy Program for your clients and your own family! I've shared the concept a few times in posts this holiday season, but with Christmas and New Years right around the corner - it's time to hit it one more time.

Here's the concept: Look at the images in the photograph above. Now think about your own life a couple more generations from now. Those old black and whites above will be replaced with a few jump drives; images never downloaded from your phone, and a handful of Polaroids, Shutterfly prints, and maybe even albums. But who's going to be around to tell the backstories?

Building a Legacy Program is so easy - Seriously, it should be a no-brainer for all of you. Let's start with your own family. This holiday season, whenever your family is together, sit down with the more senior relatives and record the stories of their journey. You've all got cameras with video and even your phones. 

Next, pull out those old albums and shoeboxes of photographs. Get the names of the people in all those shots and the events that brought them together. This doesn't have to be a major production of "Roots," just documenting the chapters of your life that brought everyone to today.

Now, take it one step further - if you've got kids in the house - assign them to be the family historians. If they're young, get the camera set up for them - and if they're older, give them some assignments. Stories like, "Sit down with Grandma and Grandpa and ask them how they met?" Anything relevant in capturing those beautiful backstories that will disappear when older members of your family pass on.

And for Clients...

Including a Legacy Program with family portraits is a perfect way to expand your business and especially goodwill. Imagine the power and pure joy of a family portrait and a recording of Grandma talking about her journey along with it. The possibilities are endless.

Every Thursday for years, I've been sharing a Throwback Thursday image as a blog post. While I've got hundreds of old photographs of my folks and grandparents - with at least 80% of them, I have no idea who's in the photograph. Plus, the only stories I can tell are about the pictures that I'm actually in, or maybe I was lucky enough to hear the backstory when I was younger. 

My grandparents are long gone, my folks passed away over the last ten years, and there's nobody left in the family from their generations. Hindsight is always 20/20, and I hate that I never sat down with my Dad before he passed away to record his story.

I've written this so many times before - if we learned nothing else over the last year, ALL of us now know that life is simply too short. Unfortunately, we didn't appreciate the true meaning of freedom until the pandemic had us hunkered down. And if you lost family members through the pandemic, then you understand what I'm saying even more.

Don't let this holiday season go by without starting a program for your own family to capture legacy stories from the past. And for your clients - there's still time to get the word out today!

by Skip Cohen

It's Veteran's Day, and while this might be a short post, it's long on sentiment. 

Several years ago I took my Dad on an Honor Flight trip to Washington. They're a remarkable organization working to bring as many veterans to D.C. to see and appreciate the various military memorials. One of my favorite quotes Honor Flight has shared on their website over the years is:

So, to our son Brian, who's currently serving, Uncle Randy, friends who served, mostly in Viet Nam, and the sons and daughters of friends serving today, thank you for your service and sacrifice. We're able to live the life we do, thanks to everything you've given for this country. ​

And if you have a veteran in the family, make it a point to check out HonorFlight.org. It's a pretty amazing experience. Just click on the banner below.