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.

by Skip Cohen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by Skip Cohen

It's Labor Day, and I pretty much share the same post every year...starting with the history of "Labour Day," thanks to Wikipedia:

​(Labor Day in the United States) is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. For most countries, Labour Day is synonymous with, or linked with, International Workers' Day, which occurs on 1 May. For other countries, Labour Day is celebrated on a different date, often one with special significance for the labour movement in that country. Labour Day is a public holiday in many countries.

So, if you're in the US, I just want to wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday. For us, it's a day to just kick back, mumble a lot about how fast the summer went by and then throw something on the grill. And if I really dig back through the memory banks, school started tomorrow, always the day after Labor Day.

Enjoy the holiday everybody - and unplug yourself from worrying about work - it'll all still be there tomorrow!

by Skip Cohen 

​Last Monday, I shared a post reminding you that you're coming down to the wire to be planning your marketing activity for the seasonality of the fourth quarter. It was pretty general, but this week let's start to list some actions you should consider.

Blog Content: If you've got a blog, it's the perfect vehicle to plant the seeds of gift ideas in photography with your clients. Here are some topic ideas:

• Start sharing some of your older images to help get Mom thinking about the timing for a new family portrait. Throwback Thursday is a classic way to deliver the message.
• Share ideas about things to do with photographs. While canvas prints are not new to any of us in the industry, they're something most consumers don't know much about.
• Be helpful: There are things you do every day as a photographer that you take for granted. Start a series of tips to help your readers capture better images. Become the expert in your community on photography.
• Start a community calendar sharing events in the community. It's a great way to show you're involved.
• Share ideas on your services: For example, I love "Day in the Life" shoots with families, children, and even pets. You don't have to spend the entire day with a client, but just a few hours in their environment gives you the ability to tell their story and, in turn, create a small album.
• Plant the seed now for a video holiday card. This is a 30-60 second piece combining video, still images, and great music. Check out Suzette Allen's YouTube channel to see more ideas.

Direct Mail, alone and with partners: I'm a huge fan of relationship building with other vendors. While you can do a direct mail campaign alone, with two partners, like a florist and salon, you'll reduce your costs to 1/3 of what it would be if you flew solo. Now is the time to get out in the community and look for partners.

New products for gift ideas: CALL YOUR LAB! I mentioned this last week, but the pandemic hasn't slowed down technology. So all you have to do is call your lab and ask, "What's new?" Then kick back and listen. Somewhere in there, you'll hear about a product that will get you excited as something new and creative you want to offer.

Community Involvement: In the top 100 things guerrilla marketers need to be doing, base on Jay Conrad Levinson's list many years ago, is be involved in the community. People like buying products from companies they perceive as giving back. Now is the time for you to be raising your hand to be involved in activities in your area. And remember, this is about people getting to know you, and it doesn't always have to involve your camera. Even working at a Friday night football game, filling ketchup and mustard containers for the Booster Club, is a way for you to be involved.

No one post can cover everything, but each Marketing Monday, I'm going to be doing my best to share more ideas for you to consider. Most important of all, remember there's a renewed sense of family in the world. Who better to help capture and create those memory-making moments than you?

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

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.
​
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