Images copyright Marcie Reif. All rights reserved. "Good things happen when you set your priorities straight!" Scott Caan by Skip Cohen Welcome back to Tamron Recipes and Part II, our conversation with "Chef" Marcie Reif. Marcie shares so much great insight in this conversation. Her passion for the craft, along with her clients, comes out loud and clear. Her goal with each client is to exceed their expectations, and as I've written in the past, make herself habit-forming! We're having a lot of fun with this series. "Fun" is too often a mystical word that gets lost in business today, buried under the stress of decision making, interruptions, and priority setting. But, the quote by Scott Caan seems to define at least one aspect of Marcie's outlook on life, her priorities. On her about page, she leads with a description of herself as simply, "wife, mother, artist." That pretty much says it all, establishing those three hats she wears that are a big part of the foundation of who she is. I'd add one more hat, "friend." With each podcast, both Chamira and I have found the start of new friendships with our guests. Marcie's not just part of the Tamron family, but ours as well and that's one of my most favorite things about this industry - the friendships we all share that come out of everyone's love for the craft. In wandering through Marcie's galleries, I wanted to pull a variety of my favorite images. You'll notice a universal theme - people! I doubt there's very much Marcie can't photograph, but it's her relationships with her clients that's demonstrated in great expressions in every image. Click on any photograph in this post to visit Marcie's website. One of Marcie's most favorite tools is Tamron's new 35-150mm F/2.8-4 Di VC OSD lens. But it's not just about the quality of the optics, but the focal length. With a 35-150mm range she can be close to her clients and a director when needed, as well as a journalist's approach and back farther to observe. She talks very openly on her approach and why this lens is ideal for working with families and kids. "Chef" Marcie's recipe is a click away if you missed it last week. Check out the 35-150mm lens with a click on the thumbnail to the right. And, visit your Tamron dealer to check this lens out for yourself and make sure Tamron's schedule of local events and trade shows is on your radar. You'll find their complete schedule below with an almost endless number of workshops, shows and dealer programs all year long.
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Okay, I'm stealing a tagline from Staples, but it's only out of incredible pride for some great podcasts Chamira Young, and I have hosted thanks to one remarkable guest after another. We do a new "Mind Your Own Business" podcast every month.
Working together with Photofocus we've done forty podcasts since we teamed up in March of 2017. Under both "Mind Your Own Business" and "Beyond Technique" you'll find an incredibly diverse collection of topics and covering just about every specialty in photography. The newest podcast is with the "Empress of Lighting," Bobbi Lane. She shares a lot of terrific insight into her career; the importance of practicing your creativity; running your business and people skills, to name a few of the topics. There's a reason Bobbi has repeatedly been referred to as one of the top lighting educators in photography - she never slows down on giving and helping artists raise the bar on the quality of their work! Click on any banner to connect to any of the four podcasts we've shared this year so far, and if you want to enjoy all of them to date, they're on the Photofocus website. Each one is loaded with great content from some of the most passionate people in photography! And check out our newest addition to the podcast world with Tamron Recipes! One of the biggest challenges for every photographer is pricing. Whether you're new and just starting out in business, or you're a seasoned veteran offering new services and products, maintaining a healthy profit margin is critical to not only survive, but thrive. Last week I joined my co-host from Mind Your Business and Beyond Technique, Chamira Young to talk about some of the mistakes photographers make when setting their prices as well as a few solutions. There's a lot of good content in this new podcast and thanks to PhotoTexting.com we expanded the topic into what is the next big thing in marketing and relationship building. Think about how your clients communicate today versus ten years ago, or for that matter just five! Technology is changing every day and along with the changes come some remarkable opportunities. Understanding how texting can help you grow your business, reach more clients and reinforce your client base with a stronger sense of customer service is so essential to your success.
PhotoTexting.com's Mobile Price Lists App helps you book clients faster. See how it works for yourself! Text "pricing" to 800-240-6909 to see a sample price list. You'll receive a text with a sample price list so you can experience what your client would experience if you were using the Mobile Price Lists app. NOTE: You won't be spammed, and you're not signing up for anything! The Mobile Pricing App can include your pricing, specials and various options for prospective customers to book your business with one tap on their phone. And, you can customize your mobile presentation to be unique to your business and style. The Mobile Pricing App is just one of a dozen or more apps to help you build a stronger business. Isn't time to check it out and learn what all the buzz is about? Images copyright Lindsay Adler. All rights reserved. It's a kick to catch up to Lindsay Adler for this new episode of EDU10. She shares some great insight, not just into things she's able to do today, but I asked her what advice she'd give a new photographer about lighting. EDU10 is all thanks to the Profoto team. They never slow down in manufacturing the finest lighting gear in professional photography. EDU10 is all about education, lighting, technology and the ever-changing landscape of growing creative tools. It's also a great way to introduce you to some incredible artists. Based out of New York, Lindsay's best known for her fashion and beauty work, although I doubt there's anything she can't photograph. Her passion for the craft sets the standard for everything she does from being an artist to an educator to an author. And, let's not forget a friend to so many of us in the industry. These podcasts are intentionally meant to be short and to the point, but don't underestimate how much great information Lindsay packed into just six minutes! We did a full podcast with Lindsay on Mind Your Own Business a couple of years ago, and I remember her talking about having her own business at age 15. How incredible to know what she wanted to do as a career at that age. She's never stopped learning, experimenting and pushing the edge of the envelope to become one of the most creative photographers in the industry today. I ran across the short video below on YouTube from Creative Live featuring Lindsay and a "Creative Challenge." It's an excellent way for you to get to know her style and her ability to walk the talk when it comes to experimenting. Check out more of Lindsay's work with a click on any of the images I chose for this post. And, check out the Profoto family of outstanding lighting gear with a click on any of the products below! Images copyright Lindsay Adler. All rights reserved.
"What is the recipe for successful achievement? To my mind there are just four essential ingredients: Chose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of a team." B.F. Fairless Welcome to Part II of our new Tamron Recipes series. We're sharing the ingredients for great photography and combining imaging and success by some of the finest "chefs" in the industry but in a new podcast. On January 21, working with the team at Tamron, we launched a fun new feature from the Tamron Kitchen. We're sharing some terrific recipes every month. We've all heard the word "recipe" over and again, most of the time about either food or success. And, having fun with the popularity of reality food shows, we're talking with some of the finest "chefs" in contemporary photography. We want to go beyond their recipes for photography. They're sharing insight into their passion for the craft and their journey into the business of being a successful professional photographer. David Akoubian joined us in the first post, with his recipe for a stunning image from the Tetons captured with Tamron's SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens and a Nikon D850. Now he's back with a terrific podcast and talking about his career, his love for the outdoors and insight to help you look at your own journey as an artist. David's first recipe shared in the Tamron Kitchen is just a click away. The two images below were also captured with the SP 24-70mm lens. Images copyright David Akoubian. All rights reserved. More Images From David Akoubian's ArchivesAlthough David's core passion is about the outdoors with landscape and wildlife, there's probably nothing he hasn't photographed. His diversity in his galleries, which we talked a little about in the podcast, is a demonstration of his passion for the craft. From macro to critters and portraits, he's a "chef" who needs to be on your radar. Click on any of his images to visit Bear Woods Photography.
And, when you visit David's website make sure you follow his blog. He's always sharing great images and information to help you raise the bar on your skill set! Images copyright Traci Maglosky. All rights reserved. Traci Maglosky joins me in this new episode of EDU10 and shares some great insight into things she's able to do today, all thanks to Profoto Technology. The Profoto team never slows down in manufacturing the finest lighting gear in professional photography. But, they don't stop there. EDU10 is all about education, lighting, technology and the ever-changing landscape of growing creative tools. This series is all thanks to ProfotoUSA with short podcasts about creativity, and how some of the industry's most respected artists are fulfilling their mind's eye visions with Profoto's technology. Traci Jean Photo Studios is located in Cincinnati, Ohio with a focus on people, primarily maternity, newborns, seniors and weddings. One conversation with Traci and there was no question how much she loves this business. Along with that love comes a deep respect for quality, building relationships, and capturing images that exceed each client's expectations. Traci shares some great content in this new short podcast. One of the things I love about her business model is the logical connections between her specialties...high school seniors get married giving her a steady stream of potential bridal clients. Brides start families and Traci's skill set in maternity, and newborn photography comes into play. She's reinforcing relationship building every time she picks up her camera. Now throw in stylized sessions, and her creativity as an artist and the circle's complete. She's got the passion, the skill set and the gear for stunning images that make her habit-forming. Headed to WPPI at the end of this month? Traci needs to be on your radar - her events calendar is just a click away. She'll be on the Olympus Presenters Stage, and also hosting a WPPI Photowalk on February 28. Her short promotional video really says it all, but that didn't change the fun I had grabbing a few of my favorites for screenshots. Check out more of Traci's work with a click on any of the images I chose for this post. And, check out the Profoto family of outstanding lighting gear with a click on any of the products below! At the start of each Beyond Technique podcast, my co-host, Chamira Young, always shares the same opening line..."Welcome to Beyond Technique, a podcast empowering photographers to bring their businesses to the next level." I've been thinking about that statement and defining the next level. As artists, all of you are working to raise the bar on your skill set and the quality of images you capture and present, but there are so many choices in goals for the next level, and that's what I appreciate about the team at PhotoShelter. They're helping you present your images in the best way possible, but their dedication doesn't stop there - the next level for one photographer might be to build stronger brand awareness, while another needs to diversify or share better content. All along the way the PhotoShelter team is there to help, right down to live phone support with the best customer service team in the industry! Adam Mowery joins us in this new podcast, and he's an artist constantly striving to hit that next level. His passion couldn't be easier to understand - it's all about life. There are a couple of lines in his bio I want to share: Adam is an adventurer, creative thinker, and constantly pushes life to the limits. He will never be caught "status quo." To Adam, creativity is a lifestyle not just a means to an end. One look at Adam's galleries and you're immediately hit with his love for the outdoors, people and photography. His images capture the look of fine art, lifestyle and here and there even a whimsical moment. Obviously, there's nothing Adam can't photograph, but his images are mostly about his passion for the outdoors and people. Lots of people are doing podcasts these days, but we couldn't be prouder of the quality of artists sharing their insight into their journey in imaging. A BIG thanks to Adam for sneaking in the time to join us on this new episode of Beyond Technique, and sharing a lot of great insight into relationship building, pursuing your dreams, diversity in imaging and lessons he's learned along the way. Visit Adam's galleries with a click on any image in this post, and make sure you look at his collection of tear sheets. It's one thing to capture great lifestyle and adventure images, but another to see the diversity in how they're used in editorial and advertising. And, we always love to thank the team at PhotoShelter. Every day they set a standard for the services and products they offer each client. They never slow down in their dedication to the artists they support and their focus on customer service. Images copyright Adam Mowry. All rights reserved.
If you think back to the best books you've read, your favorite movies, TV series or streaming programs there's always a hero. There's that one character we love who's taking on a challenge and inspiring us. Recently Chamira Young and I had Jen Rozenbaum join us on "Mind Your Own Business."
Well, Jen is that warrior starring in whatever show we're watching, only in this case it's real life and business. And, while there are a lot of women and men who are warriors battling some serious health challenges, it's Jen's outlook on her entire life that's so inspirational. Plus, it's her approach to business, a new podcast series, a new book, getting back on the road teaching, and all with an unbelievably positive attitude and an unbeatable zest for life. And speaking of Jen hitting the road:
And, whether you attend any of her programs or not, take the time to listen to this podcast. Jen shares a lot of incredible insight into her priorities about life, all as a result of what she's learned over the years in business, fighting cancer and all while staying focused on being "Shamelessly Feminine," (her new podcast and book!) Images copyright Ana Brandt. All rights reserved. I started this series of short podcasts to not only introduce you to some outstanding artists but to share how Profoto's technology has continued to change the way photographers light their subjects. There are more creative tools for photographers today than at any time in the 175+ year history of photography, and Profoto has certainly contributed to those tools. Edu10 is sponsored by ProfotoUSA, who never slows down on their focus to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images. Ana Brandt joins me on this new episode. As one of the industry's leading maternity and newborn artists, she sets the standard for everything from her images to the relationships she builds with her clients...and more. It's not just her images that capture the personalities of her subjects, but her role as an educator, business owner, and innovator who sets the standard for an industry she loves dearly both as a photographer and a designer. "Ana Brandt was the first photographer in the world to design, create and market Maternity gowns to the Photography Industry 13 years ago. She revolutionized the Maternity Photographer industry by setting the design standard for Maternity gowns and use of fabrics for client sessions. Her store www.shopanabrandt.com has shipped her gowns to over 100 countries worldwide." Earlier this year I shared an outstanding Profoto video of Ana working with her clients. It's just a click away. In less than five minutes Profoto and Ana share a lot of excellent content, along with an opportunity to watch the B1X Off-Camera Flash System and Ana in action. Ana's also responsible for one of my favorite quotes: "No one regrets taking photos. People only regret NOT taking photos." Ana Brandt To see more of Ana's work, click on any of the images in this post to visit her website. And, if she's speaking or teaching at any conference you're attending, run don't walk to get a seat! Images copyright Ana Brandt. All rights reserved.
I know I'm dangerously close to Staples' tagline, but the other day a good friend asked me "What's new?" and it took me ten minutes to explain. I'm pretty proud and honored to be a part of a diverse collection of new features, plus maintaining a series of solid standby topics supported by videos and sound bites. So, here's what's new? Click on any image in this post to connect to the individual podcast or series. "Beyond Technique"Sponsored by PhotoShelter, we're having a blast with this new series. There's a new episode every month, with our goal always being the same, creating content that not only supports your need to better define your business but podcasts that are fun too. Remember the word "fun?" It's a word too often lost under the stress of business today. We've posted two episodes so far this year with a new one coming up on the third Wednesday of each month. We're excited to be working with PhotoShelter and creating content in line with their philosophy as a company who does an outstanding job of supporting the industry. They're one of the few companies in professional photography which not only supports artists but encourages them to call and talk to somebody directly when needing help! "Why?""Why?" started out as a way to introduce you to the movers and shakers in photography, but it's grown into so much more. Adding a 5-10 minute mini-podcast gives a post another dimension as each artist shares the backstory about one of their favorite images. Each backstory has also given us some incredible insight into another artist in photography. Plus, each image links to the artist's website, giving you a chance to explore their work on your own. We're coming up on 100 artists in the series since it started April 22, 2016, with dozens more coming in 2018. I pulled a few to share the diversity in the subject matter in the rolling slideshow below. Click on any one of them to visit that photographer's "Why?" episode. "Mind Your Own Business"
This is a remarkable industry we all share a love for, and programming like this doesn't happen by accident. While I'd love to take credit for these new features, the truth is they wouldn't happen without photographers who believe in our industry; companies who keep providing us with the tools to exceed client expectations and build stronger businesses, and all of you!
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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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