by Skip Cohen Two more great podcasts in the pipeline, thanks to Platypod and Photofocus. And both are with guests who offer outstanding insight to help you through the challenges you're dealing with right now. Take the time to click on the two banners below, grab a cup of coffee and then just kick back and listen! Shep Hyken: I share a quote every morning on Twitter. Several years back, I quoted NYTimes best-selling author Shep Hyken about Customer Service. Well, Shep replied, and it's so rare I get a response directly from the author. Since then, he's joined us on podcasts, I've been a guest on his show, and SCU has even shared a few links to his website. Shep's specialty is Customer Service, and you'll notice I always capitalize those two words. Why? Because they're the most critical component of any business! And Shep's an expert, lecturing worldwide and helping companies focus on creating the very best level of service. In this new podcast, we covered a lot of ground. It's so relevant, especially with today's challenges created by the pandemic. Here are just a few of our discussion points:
And With Levi Sim... Levi Sim: In 2009 I launched a summer program called Skip's Summer School. Levi Sim was one of the attendees and was just getting started in his career. Over the years, he's become one of the most recognized personalities in photography. He's an ambassador of goodwill and support for the professional photographic community. Over the last ten years, he's the guy with the bow tie and brown fedora at any convention. He's a photographer, writer, educator, podcaster and has spent most of his career in imaging, asking other photographers and manufacturers, "How can I help?" A few months ago, Levi made a considerable change in his career - staying with his love for imaging, he joined Utah State University as their lead photographer. So working for a full-time employee is a significant change from freelance. In this new podcast, Levi shared a lot of great insight into the challenges and benefits of giving up being a freelance artist and moving into the academic world. Here are few of the topics we talked about in this podcast:
Click on any of Levi's images above to listen to the podcast! The Beyond Technique podcast is brought to you thanks to Platypod. They've got some incredible savings going on right now, but only while supplies last. For example, there are only twenty of the Ultra Essentials Kits left for holiday savings. Click on any of the holiday bundles below for more information. A BIG thanks to the team at Photofocus.com for their never-ending support of the photographic community. Check out all of their podcasts and an incredible archive of great content growing more and more every day! Just click on the banner below and check out one of the very best resources for photographic information!
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by Skip Cohen Beyond Technique is a podcast that's meant to be just a little different than our regular "Mind Your Own Business" show. While each episode highlights another guest's work, my co-host and I have had some great conversations about everything that happens beyond the technique of capturing an image or building a business. Chamira Young and I have hosted over one hundred podcasts since our first one together in March 2017. With each guest, I've been delighted at their insight and willingness to share so many different aspects of their journey. And equally impressive is their passion for the industry and helping other artists stay focused at a time through the pandemic when fixed focus is often close to impossible. Mike Peters: Although there's probably nothing he can't photograph, Mike's best known for his street photography. It's a topic we've never really discussed much with past guests. He's also a testimonial to one of the most fun aspects of this industry – the friendships. Mike and I met through Panasonic's LUMIX Ambassador program, and I'm a big fan of his work. In Mike's bio on his website, there's a statement that describes his love for being a storyteller: I believe that all photographs should make a connection so that you, the viewer, can feel something familiar or imagine a story about the photograph. Mike is the ultimate storyteller capturing our imagination and the personality of his subjects with just one image. It's a skill set that goes far beyond the technique of just pointing your camera and clicking the shutter. Click on the banner above to listen to his podcast, and his website is just a click away! Moose Peterson: Although Moose and I have known of each other for many years, we'd never met until Photoshop World three years ago. When you think of outdoor/wildlife photographers, his name is always at the top of everyone's list, but so is his role as an artist, writer, podcaster, and educator. Along with his wife Sharon, his passion for photography started forty years ago when they went into business. Moose and Sharon have dedicated their lives to education and protecting our wild heritage, the lands, and the critters. In 2008, Moose added aviation photography to preserve our aviation heritage and the freedoms they protect. Moose is one of the most diverse artists in our industry, with a standard of never compromising on the quality of his images or his relationships with his students, readers, listeners, and associates. Click on the banner above and enjoy the diversity in the insight he shared with us and stop by his website to enjoy his galleries! "Beyond Technique" is Brought to You By PlatypodStuck thinking of a creative holiday gift idea for the photographer in your life? Platypod's Holiday Specials are going on right now, but only while supplies last. Click on the banner above to meet the entire product line, and check out the limited-time holiday savings. And if you haven't visited the Platypod website, take a scroll through the blog and Instagram pages. Artists from around the world are sharing their creativity every day. A big thanks to Photofocus for always sharing great content to help photographers grow their technology, marketing, and business skills. Photofocus also hosts some of the very best podcasts in photography! They're just a click away. by Skip Cohen Too many artists think they deserve support simply because they use a company's products or services. They don't think through relationship-building or their own communication skills, and often act as if they just need to hit the sponsorship button on their computer. This is a very different episode of "Mind Your Own Business" because we're sharing ideas about sponsorship and relationship building, two topics Glen Clark and I have been focused on for years in this industry. Here's a little of the backstory on the topic: Glen's background, going back to when we first met in the early 90s, has always had him in the role of the guy photographers chase down for sponsorship, especially when it comes to teaching and speaking engagements related to the companies he worked for. My background is very similar, but with added exposure as the hosting event for speakers and educators during the seven years, I was president of RF Publishing and WPPI. The bottom line is that we've got years of experience understanding what it takes to make a sponsor happy and feel the investment in a photographer is worth it. Where so many of you fail is not thinking through what it is you want to accomplish, as well as what it is you have to sell. It's not just about using a vendor's products but developing a reputation for integrity, creativity, and quality. For example, just because you scored a 100 in print competition doesn't mean you have the ability to teach and hold the attention of your audience on behalf of another company. Plus, every sponsor will always ask you the same question: "How is sponsoring you going to help me sell more of my products?" Over the years between the two of us, I'm betting Glen and I have sponsored hundreds of photographers and projects but turned down hundreds more! Every aspect of success in business plays into a company's decision to support an artist; it's about your style, professionalism, speaking ability, experience, topics, brand awareness, creativity, and skill set. In this recent podcast, besides talking about Glen's extensive career in the industry, Glen, Chamira, and I spent a lot of time talking about the ingredients that companies look for when considering investing in an artist or project. Follow Glen on Instagram, and he's always sharing images and content on his Facebook page. As always, we couldn't do this series without the support of Photofocus.com. Remember, we're just one podcast series in their lineup. Visit Photofocus.com and check out not only some terrific podcasts, but a stream of never-ending content to help you become a better artist and business owner! Click on any image above to listen to the podcast. by Skip Cohen "Mind Your Own Business" is all about introducing you to the diversity of some of the most respected artists and educators in professional imaging. Since starting the series over six years ago, each guest has shared insight into their journey with continuous support to help photographers raise the bar on their skill set and develop a stronger brand and successful business. My good pal Shiv Verma is in the MYOB spotlight and joined Chamira Young and me for a conversation about his career, projects for downtime, staying optimistic, and the future of imaging. Shiv's an artist, educator, writer, and a good friend to so many photographers in the industry. Although we've known each other for many years, we started to get quality time together thanks to his role as a LUMIX Ambassador. (Note: All of Shiv's images we pulled for this post from were all captured with LUMIX cameras.) Later, I got to know him even better though Platypod. He's been a vital contributor to so many different ideas and new products over the years, including the upcoming Platyball. Two of my favorite conventions before the pandemic were IUSA and WPPI. Working with Shiv in the booth, and then getting time together over dinner at the end of each day gave us a chance to cover a lot of ground with so many different topics and interests. Check out more of Shiv's work with a visit to his Instagram page, his website, and past SCU blog posts. Part of the fun of following Shiv is the diversity of his work - from critters and night skies to a model at a conference and fine art, you'll never be disappointed in what he's sharing or where he's traveling! As always - thanks go to the Photofocus Team for their support of this podcast. Check out their content; whether it's new product info, "how-to" posts, or educational information to help you become a better artist, they never slow down in the quality of what they share. Click on any image to view in the SCU Light Box Images copyright Shiv Verma. All rights reserved.
Click on any image above to listen to the podcast. by Skip Cohen
The "Mind Your Own Business" podcast is all about sharing ideas, developing a solid skill set, and running a successful business in imaging. Although our opening and closing questions are always the same about how the guest got started in this business along with advice to photographers just starting, everything else is unscripted and unrehearsed. Each photographer has shared an incredible level of information about their journey to date. Nicole Begley joined us on this recent podcast, and she continued the pattern of sharing great insight and information about pet photography. I met Nicole for the first time three years ago when she taught a pet photography workshop here in the Sarasota area. Her passion for the craft, together with being an educator and working hard to help artists expand their skill set, is remarkable to observe live, first hand. The hierarchy of why people hire a professional photographer, based on a Kodak survey years back, goes brides, babies, and pets. I don't believe that's changed at all in over twenty years since the information was released. That means there's an incredible opportunity for photographers to diversify and include pets in your repertoire. And the ranking has moved a lot, because of so many weddings being cancelled or postponed. While the official surveys don't all agree, the rough estimate is that 80% of American households have a dog or cat. That boils down to approximately 80 million dogs and 60 million cats. And if you want to argue with me about those numbers, you're missing the point. We love our pets. Through the pandemic of the last almost nine months, dog and cat owners have repeatedly talked about the family's furry members evolving into emotional support animals! Now take it all one step further, pet owners love photographs of there dogs and cats, which is why they're ranked at the top of the Kodak survey I referenced earlier. Nicole Begley is all about helping artists raise the bar on their skill set when it comes to photographing pets, especially dogs. Check out her "Hair of the Dog Academy," and visit her website to view more of her incredible work! As always, a BIG thanks to the team at Photofocus.com for their support in hosting the "Mind Your Own Business" podcast. Check out all of their podcasts - you'll never be disappointed in the guests appearing on the various shows. Click on any image above to link to this great podcast! by Skip Cohen
We're in the middle of a pandemic, and with so much downtime, I'm trying to understand how I missed several posts of the "Mind Your Own Business." Over the last six years, we've shared a new podcast every month, thanks to my co-host Chamira Young and the team at Photofocus.com. So, I'm playing catch up on podcasts, but this isn't like the expiration date on a carton of milk! Kay Eskridge joined us on this past podcast, and her insight into the industry's challenges was remarkable. She shared so many great ideas, and knowing Kay for as many years as I have, it was a fun conversation. Kay is all about relationship building. In fact, you can see it in her images - relaxed smiles, comfortable poses, and subjects who enjoy working with Kay and trust her to exceed their expectations. From the Boardroom to maternity, kids, families, couples, seniors, and pets - it wasn't easy for me to pick out my favorites. Click on any image below, and you'll link to Kay's website, and you'll see what I mean. She shares an incredible body of work. Every image demonstrates her commitment to her clients as well as the craft. She's one of the most diverse artists in the industry, and I'm not sure there's anything Kay can't photograph! I've written it so many times before: The best part of this industry is all about the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Kay and I have worked together on different projects and have been friends for easily twenty years, and it's true what they say about time - it flies when you're having a good time! A big thanks to Photofocus for their support in making "Mind Your Own Business," a podcast that needs to be on your radar! Images copyright Vanessa Guzzo. All rights reserved. Doing what you love is freedom. Loving what you do is happiness. Lana Del Ray by Skip Cohen
We all know the expression, time flies when you're having a good time. Even through the pandemic's challenges, working with the "chefs" in the Tamron Kitchen has been a kick. I find it hard to believe this is our tenth installment for the year. Each chef has shared their love for the craft, along with Tamron lenses. And through the pandemic, these creative tools have been critical elements allowing them to continue to capture and create important memories for their clients. Vanessa Guzzo is in the spotlight for this new episode of Tamron Recipes. Vanessa is all about family, children, and capturing joy. The quote I found above is perfect in describing her love for photography and working with her clients. Chef Vanessa's recipe is a click away if you missed it when it was posted last week. For more information on Tamron's 24-70 mm F/2.8 lens, click on the banner below. And check out Vanessa's website. What I pulled for today's post are just a few of my favorites. (Click on any image to view in the SCU Light Box) As you look through her images, you'll notice a common theme...love. As a result of the pandemic and everyone being hunkered down, I share the same comments so often in posts. We're all in this together, and everybody has the same frustrations. But as Vanessa talks about in her podcast, it's still important to keep in touch with your clients. Being hunkered down doesn't mean from your business or your clients. This is also the perfect time to keep expanding your skill set and take a look at adding a new lens to your gear. Tamron's team isn't slowing down in their support for photographers all over the country - they've just moved to cyberspace. Check out Tamron's programs for rebates, online education, and even some terrific contests to share your work. by Skip Cohen Every month for the last six years, "Mind Your Own Business" has shared a new podcast featuring leading artists in the imaging industry. In March of 2017, Chamira joined me as co-host, and what an incredible trip it continues to be. Her style and interviewing skills are part of what make these podcasts so much fun to do. Rosh Sillars joined us on this podcast just a couple of months back. He shared a lot of terrific insight into the challenges of building his business and a career in photography. As a photographer, Rosh focuses mostly on people, food, and architecture. But as a leader in the industry, he's all about inspiration and helping us think beyond the skill set to capture and produce beautiful images. Rosh's blog is jam-packed with excellent content to help photographers stand out from the crowd. The pandemic has changed everything in business today. It's also created opportunities for entrepreneurs to separate themselves from their competitors and display a unique service level and support to build stronger brand awareness in the community. Rosh needs to be on your radar. Click on the banner below to visit his blog and the gateway to the world of Rosh! And a BIG thanks to the Photofocus.com team who's helped make "Mind Your Own Business" a great podcast, month after month for all these years. All images copyright Rosh Sillars. All rights reserved.
by Skip Cohen When Chamira Young and I relaunched Beyond Technique last year, we wanted to focus on more than just capturing great images, or running a successful business in photography. Each guest has shared a lot of great insight, but the pandemic created a new challenge - artists have had to ramp up their usual marketing skills and find better ways to reach out to their communities. Cindy Harter Sims joined us in this episode, and she's all about inspiration and especially relationship building. She's no stranger to the SCU spotlight and has repeatedly shared great content and the ideas she's implemented to secure her business. But with the pandemic, she did something unique - she reached out to her community and asked for help. Relationship building over the years has been a significant building block to Cindy's business and her role within the industry. In fact, it's how I met her many years ago at a Skip's Summer School conference. Cindy doesn't collect business cards - she directly participates with and supports the people in her growing network. Please take the time to listen to this podcast. Cindy held nothing back as she discussed her quest to keep her business alive and, at the same time, continue to give back to her community. She's busy, even doing newborn and infant photography, all while staying true to the rules of physical distancing and safety. And click on any of the favorite images I grabbed from Cindy's website to visit her galleries! Beyond Technique is brought to you by: Programs like Beyond Technique can't happen without great industry support. Platypod believes in education and helping artists find new perspectives, not only with their cameras but their overall skill sets in marketing and business too. If you haven't visited the Platypod website, take a scroll through the blog and Instagram pages. Artists from around the world are sharing their creativity every day. And if you're stuck with ideas to expand your own creativity, wander into the Platypod store. You'll find some unique kits like the new Ultra Essentials Kit, now on sale. A big thanks to Photofocus for always sharing great content to help photographers grow their technology, marketing, and business skills. Photofocus also hosts some of the very best podcasts in photography! They're just a click away. Click on any image above to listen to the podcast on Photofocus.com or iTunes. by Skip Cohen When Chamira and I started this series, we had no idea the diversity of the topics we'd talk about with each new guest. In this new episode, Sherry Hagerman joined us to talk about one of the most important challenges facing every artist - continuing education. Sherry's no rookie for understanding the importance of education, networking, and building a solid skill set. We've known each other for over ten years, first meeting when she was an attendee at the summer program I used to do, Skip's Summer School. She believes in education and walks the talk on her never-ending quest to expand her own skills. She's also no stranger to the SCU blog with guest posts, an episode of "Why?" and multiple spotlight images. Chamira, Sherry, and I talked a lot about education, and especially the changes for 2020 with the ClickCon show in Chicago. Originally scheduled to kick off August 9, due to the pandemic, it was postponed until August 2021, but that changes little in the ClickCon teams approach to great education. ClickCon Nation launches on August 9 and will be a monthly series of online educational programs featuring some of the finest artists and educators in the industry. Click on the banner below to link to the ClickCon Facebook page, and start following the news as more details become available. And see more of Sherry's images by visiting the Allusion Photography website. Just click on any of her photographs in this post. "Beyond Technique" is brought to you by...Programs like "Beyond Technique" don't happen without great industry support from companies who believe in the craft, like Platypod. Just like their strength in giving artists a different perspective, we're hopefully doing the same thing with each podcast. If you haven't visited the Platypod website, take a scroll through the blog and Instagram pages. Artists from around the world are sharing their creativity. And if you're stuck with what to get Dad for Father's Day, (or yourself) - wander into the Platypod store. You'll find some unique kits like the new Ultra Essentials Kit, now on sale. Just click on the banner to the right. A big thanks to Photofocus for always sharing great content to help photographers grow their skills in technology, marketing, and business. Photofocus also hosts some of the very best podcasts in photography! They're just a click away. Images copyright Allusion Photography. All rights reserved.
Click on any image above to listen to the podcast. by Skip Cohen When we started this series six years ago, we had no idea the number of talented artists and content-rich interviews we'd be sharing. Kelly Brown joined us on this new podcast. She's a talented artist with an eye not just for stunning creativity in portraiture, but a great understanding of business as well. She's a photographer, an artist, an educator, and business owner. At the recent WPPI convention, I spent some time talking to her, and she couldn't walk two feet without being stopped by a fan! But sometimes the fun of these podcasts is elevated even more because we've got a guest I know personally. A few months back, Kelly and her husband Rob joined several of us in renting a house while in California. Nothing beats getting to know somebody when you're outside the industry and just hanging out together. Both Sheila and I found ourselves feeling like we'd known both of them for years! In this new podcast, Kelly shares a lot of good insight into her career as an artist. Her passion for the craft is unbeatable. I always like to pull some images from our guest's website to share in this post. A few of my favorites are below. Click on any image to connect to Kelly's website and pick your own favorites. Now's the opportunity to take advantage of fine-tuning your skillset and make the most out of the downtime we're all dealing with. If you're interested in learning more about newborn, maternity, family, or portrait photography in general, make sure you check out Kelly's online educational programs. From posing to lighting to editing and just about everything in between, including tips on business, you'll never be disappointed in time spent with Kelly! When Chamira Young and I relaunched this series last summer, we wanted to bring you topics out of the ordinary with guests who are extraordinary. Even though we love the podcasts we've done in the past, we wanted "Beyond Technique" to be different. Inspiration, new ideas, and sharing unique concepts while stepping away from the technique of capturing images was our goal. Thanks to Platypod, the "Beyond Technique" series is bringing you a different perspective each month about business and life. In fact, it's a lot like Platypod's goal - giving photographers a different perspective and adding more creative tools to their skillset. Suzette Allen joins us in the December episode, with a topic perfect for wrapping up 2019 and even better to kick off the new year! Most of you know her as one of the industry's leading educators. She's a photographer, artist, educator, author, blogger, and a great friend to so many people in the industry. The story of how she got started isn't very different from most of yours. What changed was a horrific accident that became an incredible journey of hope, focus, dedication, and spirituality. I've known Suzette for a long time, but what I appreciate the most about our conversation on this podcast is her ability to stay candid, open, and honest about what she went through. She holds nothing back, which is a big part of what makes her such a great instructor and friend! I grabbed screenshots of some of my favorite images from her galleries. Click on any one of them to visit her website, blogs, and make sure she's on your radar! She and her husband Jonny are both LUMIX Ambassadors, and you'll find them both at a long list of workshops and convention programs throughout the year. And, check out her YouTube channel. There are 400 different videos covering a long list of topics, each there to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images and the support you give your clients. "Beyond Technique is brought to you by...We're proud to have Platypod as an SCU partner. Their products are giving photographers the ability to be more creative and capture images from a different perspective. From the Ultra and Max Platypods to great accessories like the new goosenecks and multi-accessory kit, they never slow down on developing new products. And a big thanks to Photofocus.com. Always sharing great content to help photographers grow their skills in technology, marketing, and business, Photofocus also hosts some of the very best podcasts in photography! They're just a click away. All images copyright Suzette Allen. All rights reserved.
by Skip Cohen As I've written so many times in the past, the best thing about our industry has very little to do with imaging, but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. This post is especially fun for me because it brings together two good buddies of mine - Denis Reggie, who I've been hanging out with since I joined Hasselblad in the late 80s and Steve Brazill who I just met a few months ago. While I've only known Steve for a short time, thanks to a couple of marathon phone calls, we've got great chemistry. I first talked with him after he interviewed Dr. T, founder of Platypod. Then we did an episode of "Why?" together, and he shared so much insight into being a music photographer. From that point, the friendship took off. Now, the most fun aspect is thinking about catching up with each other LIVE in the not so distant future at any of the 2020 conventions. Steve gave me one of the nicest compliments about SCU and my "Why?" series, describing it as a mini-version of his Behind the Shot program. My purpose with "Why?" was to introduce you to some of the most respected artists in imaging. Steve's taken the concept so much further. He's getting inside the heads of each artist, and talking about some of the most iconic photographs in the world. Denis Reggie and I first met back in my early Hasselblad days. While most people know him as one of the finest photographers in the world, he's also responsible for changing the way wedding photographers think about their work. Denis helped change an entire industry in the 90s as he talked about the value of the wedding album. Think about it, the dress will never be worn again, the food is gone, the band's gone home, the flowers will die, but the photographs captured become the first family heirloom of a new family. Together, Denis and Steve share a lot of terrific insight into technique, your skillset, relationship building, the importance of storytelling, and even copyright protection. Regardless of your specialty in photography, there's a lot you'll learn and enjoy in this new podcast. Follow Steve with a click on the "Behind the Shot" thumbnail on the right. Every podcast is jam-packed with relevant content. At a time when we're flooded with Internet content - this is a site that needs to be on your radar. And, you'll never regret a minute of the time you spend with Steve Brazill and his guests. Click on any image above to listen to the podcast. This year we're celebrating five years of incredible guests on the "Mind Your Own Business" podcast. It started in the spring of 2014 when Rich Harrington at Photofocus had an idea. We launched the first program in April of that year. A year or so later Scott Bourne joined me as co-host, and when Scott moved on to other projects, Chamira Young and I kicked off the expanded series in March of 2017. To date we've done 70+ podcasts together, including "Beyond Technique," "Tamron Recipes," and at least two on Pro Photographer Journey. Through all of these guests, we've only had two previous episodes with sports photographers. Terrell Lloyd joined us on this new episode. Terrell's the Senior Manager of Photography Services and Lead Team Photographer at the San Francisco 49ers. We not only talked about the challenges of being a sports photographer but many of the milestones of his journey. Terrell's all about relationship-building and he shares a lot of good insight in his story from starting out as a pro-bowler to today. As I've written so many times over the years, the best thing in our industry isn't really about photography but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Terrell and I go back to my early WPPI days and maybe further. When the 49ers played Tampa Bay a few weeks ago, we were able to get to the game and watch him in action. Knowing how many stadiums and events have restrictions on DSLRs and often interchangeable lenses, I took the LUMIX FZ300. It was close to 100°, and we were ten rows down from the top of the stadium. I dropped an arrow into the shot on the right pointing to where Terrell was in the image below. I needed a camera that could handle the challenge without the weight. With its 25-600mm fixed zoom most of the time it's perfect for what I need. There's a lot of horsepower packed into this camera, and at 1.5 pounds, even with a smaller sensor, it's great to travel with. A big thanks to Terrell for joining us on "Mind Your Own Business," and for working in the time for dinner the night before the game. While social media is fun for staying connected - NOTHING beats quality time face to face! Image copyright Chris Ranier. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen What started as a great way to introduce you to the movers and shakers in professional photography has genuinely become a labor of love. The whole idea was to share an image and have the artist talk about why it was special - but it's grown beyond that. Each guest has shared remarkable insight into their journey as an artist, often going well beyond the photograph itself. Chris Rainier joins me in this new episode of "Why?" We met over twenty years ago when Chris joined us on a Hasselblad University roadshow to at least four different cities in the '90s. I remember sitting and listening to each presentation inspired by his insight into the human condition of ancient cultures. This week Chris launched his new book, Mask. Just click on the thumbnail to the right for more information at Amazon.com. And, to see more of Chris' work, click on his "Why?" image and visit his website. Chris is our 125th featured guest on this series, and only the second one to have done a Ted Talk. His TEDx presentation, together with his backstory on the image above, will give you a good understanding of why he's an inspiration to so many people! "Why?" is brought to you by...PhotoTexting.com never slows down in their efforts to help photographers build stronger relationships with their target clients. Last week they launched their new website, and it's jam-packed with 20+ mobile solutions all designed to help you book more clients!
And, if you're a senior photographer, make sure you check out their new Senior Rep Program together with the two new levels of Concierge Support. If you don't want to set up your premium apps and senior rep program yourself, PhotoTexting's mobile app designers will build everything for you! Communication technology is changing every day! PhotoTexting's here to help you grow your business and increase revenue! Click on the banner above to listen to the new podcast. by Skip Cohen Throughout our careers, if we're lucky, there are projects here and there that become unique and very special. The Beyond Technique podcast is one of those for me. There are hundreds of podcasts featuring artists talking about their style and technique, but with Chamira Young's help, we've gone beyond that...beyond the technique of the craft. The series was put on hold for a few months, but it's back with a vengeance, relaunching in August. It's now here full time with a new episode each month, thanks to Platypod! And, coincidentally our guest this month is also one of their Ambassadors, Jay P. Morgan. But, while Podcast is mentioned briefly, this new podcast is about education, mentoring, and Jay P's growth to becoming one of the leading educators in professional imaging. You'll find his Slanted Lens series jam-packed with videos to help you raise the bar on the quality of your work. Even better is meeting him at a conference. If you see him on the speaking platform, run, don't walk to grab a seat. Jay P is a talented artist, educator, writer, and filmmaker. He shared a lot of wisdom on this podcast. Click on any of Jay P's images below to visit his website. It wasn't easy narrowing down my favorites to share in this post. And, if you want to get a feel for Jay P's role as a leading educator, watch the one-minute video below and then subscribe to The Slanted Lens! It's a kick to have him join us on Beyond Technique! "Beyond Technique" is brought to you by...If you haven't checked out Platypod lately, visit their website, follow their Facebook page and especially put their Instagram page on your radar. There are always new products coming, and each one is designed to help photographers and videographers expand their creativity. Platypod doesn't just manufacture some of the best-designed accessory products in imaging - they provide solutions to different challenges to help you raise the bar on the quality of your work! A BIG thanks to Photofocus for the platform for both Beyond Technique and Mind Your Own Business! Check out both series along with the InFocus Interview Show. You'll never be disappointed.
Images copyright Teal Garcia. All rights reserved. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is love what you do. Steve Jobs by Skip Cohen If you're new to this series, I like to find a quote that seems to fit our guest "chef." After several phone conversations, followed by the podcast above, there's no question that Teal Garcia loves what she does, and her images clearly meet the definition of "great work." Over the years, I've looked at hundreds, if not thousands, of online galleries and portfolios. One of the things I've noticed, often recognizable immediately, is the artist's ability to capture emotion. It's not just in the expressions of the subjects, but the composition, use of depth of field and even the exposure. One of the industry's most celebrated portrait photographers, Don Blair, used to say, "You have to learn the rules before you're allowed to break them." Teal Garcia has learned them all but chooses to violate them whenever it adds impact to a portrait. In the process, she spends a lot of time listening to her clients, building trust, and then the relationship necessary to capture their personalities in front of the camera. Being a successful portrait artist isn't as much about the final photograph itself, but creating an experience for the client. It's about sharing your passion for the craft with your subject. It means being so involved in the process of capture, that the only difference between the artist and the client is a few feet. Click on any of Teal's images below to visit her website. I pulled some of my favorites from her Instagram page as well. Teal Garcia should be on your radar!
If you haven't visited your local Tamron dealer, it's time to check out the entire family of Tamron lenses. The Tamron team is on the road nationally all year long. Check out the schedule, so you don't miss any of their outstanding programs and workshops. Still coming up in September you'll find them in FL, MA, OR, OK, WI, NJ, NE, IL, NC, KY, and CA! Click on the banner to the left for the complete schedule. Tamron is manufacturing some of the finest glass in photography. You owe it to your clients and yourself to capture images with the very best tools available! Images copyright Teal Garcia. All rights reserved.
In January 2018 we kicked off the year with a great podcast series, sharing insight into the business and marketing of photography with some of the most respected artists in the world. The sponsor for the series, while liking the concept, decided they wanted to do something different on their own in 2019, and the series was put on the back-burner. Working together with my co-host Chamira Young, we decided recently it was time to bring back the series and "Beyond Technique" is off the back-burner. And the heats turned up to HIGH with great guests and insights that go well beyond the business of photography. This week Kevin Kuster joined us with some incredible insight into how his career has progressed and the importance of giving back. "Watt's of Love" is changing people's lives, and in the process Kevin Kuster's ability to be a phenomenal storyteller is in the spotlight. As I said in my intro on the podcast - "He's changing the world one light at a time!" And if you missed our first podcast in the relaunch of the series, check out our podcast with Gareth Rockliffe. Just click on the banner above. This episode is clearly beyond technique!
Catching up on a phone call a couple of months ago, Gareth mentioned an idea he's had about the spirituality of imaging as it blends in with the way we live our lives. "We start our lives in "P" mode, and as we get older, we spend the rest of our lives trying to get out of it!" As kids, we're all pretty much put through the same process. We're given a foundation to live our lives by including always coloring within the lines. As we get older, we start to pursue other interests, ideas, and ways to live our lives. As we gain more experience, we also challenge the system, often coloring outside the lines. Gareth is a talented artist and writer. I hope as his conversation did with Chamira and me, he'll get you thinking about how to enrich your life and take more time to step out of "P" mode! A big thanks to Photofocus.com for the platform to share great insight provided by these terrific artists. Check out all of the podcasts on Photofocus - you'll never be disappointed! Image copyright Chris Corradino. All rights reserved. When I started this series, it was out of the frustration of nobody knowing who Mary Ellen Mark was in a class I was teaching. That moment of frustration kicked off a project that's become near and dear to what I share each week. In the process of introducing you to some of the most creative and respected artists in contemporary imaging, I've found some unique photographs that tug on my own heartstrings. Chris Corradino is in the "Why?" spotlight today with a spectacular image from Yosemite. Chris is an artist, writer, educator, and even though we don't catch up that often, a great friend. We see each other once a year at a convention somewhere on the planet, usually New York, but more regularly connect through social media. Earlier this week he featured the image above in his newsletter, and besides me loving the photograph, it brought back so many memories. In the '90s, on behalf of Hasselblad, I bought Ansel Adams' Cadillac from the Center for Creative Photography. Virginia Adams, Ansel's widow, had donated it to the Center to help raise money for the visiting scholar fund at the University of Arizona. I bought it and then sold it, raising $12,000 for charity, Photographers + Friends United Against AIDS. But the memories that tug at my heartstrings the most are when my buddy Terry Deglau and I took the car into Yosemite for three days. It was June, just after what used to be called PhotoWest, PPE's sister show. The car had been on exhibit, and the minute the show was over we hit the road; drove it to Yosemite with a case of Kodak film in the trunk and at least $50,000 of Hasselblad gear. We spent three days photographing all over the park. Chris is no stranger to SCU, and a few years back wrote a great guest post. Check out more of his work with a click on his image above, and you'll link directly to his website. "Why?" is brought to you by...How we communicate is continually changing. As a result, your ability to reach your target customers is also changing. The power of texting is growing more and more every day, and with it, your ability as a professional photographer to build relationships with more potential customers, your current base of clients and increase revenue.
Check out everything PHOTOTexting has to offer. There are so many different applications and ways for you to build stronger brand awareness, increase sales, and expand your reach. Click on the banner above to listen to the podcast! The fun of being in this industry my entire adult life, or at least the time I was supposed to act like an adult, is in the people I've met. I've worked with so many talented artists, managers, writers, and over the years a lot of them have become good friends. Virtually all of you have heard of Santa Fe Workshops, but I'm betting a lot of you don't know the heart and soul of the company, Reid Callanan. Reid and I have known each other going back to my early Hasselblad days. We share hundreds of mutual friends, and have worked together on a variety of projects. Although we don't catch up that often, when we do, it's like the last conversation ended with a comma. While in New Mexico in May, Sheila and I caught up to Reid in Santa Fe one night and it couldn't have been more fun to talk about an industry we both love dearly. That conversation led to the idea of doing a podcast together. Reid shares some of the remarkable stories that have come out of Santa Fe Workshops and his role in the industry over the years in this new podcast. And, if you've never attended one of their programs click on the banner below! Make sure you check out some of the best workshops in photography. Reid's a perfect example of something I've written about dozens of times in the past. The best part of this industry has NOTHING to do with photography, but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft.
A big thanks to Reid for taking the time to join us on "Mind Your Own Business." |
Our Partners"Why?"Check out "Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog. It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound bite. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. We're over 100 artists featured since the project started. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.
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