by Skip Cohen

Normally  on Sunday, I slow down after posting Sunday Morning Reflections, but I've got a day full of projects to complete, including a final review of my upcoming Hair of the Dog Summit presentation. (Apologies for the little infomercial, but it's a great program, and at $17 or $117, it's a no-brainer for photographers to attend.) At 5:15 AM I started thinking about today's post and it hit me how the older I get, the faster time seems to fly right by.

​I went off in search of some quotes about time and I stumbled on this one:

Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its brevity. 
​Jean De La Bruyere

ed​I'm complaining about time's brevity but never considered whether I'm part of the cause. That led me to think through how I've been using my time. I did an inventory of my actions recently and realized I waste too much time on things that don't matter.

For example, I can't win a fight with Comcast, but I'll waste time I can never get back, waiting on hold for Tech Support to fix something that might not even be that relevant at the time. Then there are times in social media answering an I.M. from somebody I don't know who wants to pitch me on something I don't want. Instead of deleting or blocking them, I respond with a sentence or two. What is it that makes me feel like they deserve a response and more of my time? 

It's not that I intentionally waste time, just that I've become A.D.D. over things that don't matter. I get easily distracted and waste time and energy. Like weeds in a garden - you can pull all the weeds you want, but it won't make a difference if you don't water and fertilize the flowers!

And there's my point - Too many of us spend time focused on the wrong things. We chase issues that don't matter. We spend time, our most valuable commodity, on things with little or no return value. We're investing time in things with no R.O.I.

Thinking through how I wanted to spend today, I made a list of what I want to accomplish. It's given me an almost tack-sharp focus on the day ahead - starting with getting this post up early. 

Wishing everybody a day with time to spend on truly important things. They don't have to be earth-shaking, just those things that have an impact. I define things with "impact" as whatever makes me smile and feel a sense of accomplishment. From an eleven-second therapeutic hug with Sheila to various projects around the house and even a touch on some business things to make the week ahead a little smoother - if it makes me smile, it's on the list for today.

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift.
That’s why it’s called the present. 
Bil Keane

by Skip Cohen

As I've written about in the past, Sunday Morning Reflections is never about marketing and business, and I never know what I'm going to write about until I sit down at the computer. 

Today's journey in blogging started with a comment on Facebook, by Dani Brewer, my good buddy Duncan MacNab's daughter. I shared a shot of Duncan in my Thursday throwback post, and she added another photo to the growing images in my MacNab "collection." Her post got me thinking about the power of old photographs.

Off I went in search of images for a collage of very special people who have been in my life. The more I searched, the more I started to tear up until I finally took a short break just to cry. Yeah, I'm admitting it, but while the sadness of missing some extraordinary friends started the emotional avalanche, it finished with a smile over the pure joy of the memories they created.

I replied to Dani's comment - It's our photographs and videos that add to the immortality of those very special and so loved people who will always be in our lives, even when they aren't. 

And there it is, my point this morning: We're part of an amazing industry, but to often we get so caught up in the stress of business and the speed of life that we miss savoring the look in the rearview mirror. It's all those old photographs that allow us to return to those special moments in the past. They give friends we've lost a degree of immortality - and through the tears, just like the sun coming out at the end of a storm, those memories recharge our spirit and, for me, my love for imaging. I'd be lost without my photographs!

Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead and time to make new memories, and don't forget to capture them with a camera! Remember, today's photographs and videos will become tomorrow's most cherished memories. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, don't slow down on building your "library!"

Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.

Time and good friends are two things that become more valuable the older you get.
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday morning, and as usual, I'm a long way from writing about business and marketing. But not far away from something we too often take for granted - great friends.

For the third time since we moved to the Sarasota area in 2011, a hurricane rolled through the area this past week. Irma was our first, followed by Ian and then Idalia this week. All were at the same time of year, confirming that it's hurricane season.

But I'm not writing about the weather, but the outpouring of support and prayers from friends, mainly through social media. We're a remarkable industry, and while I've been accused of being sappy and hokey over the years, it really is a family. We watch each other's backs, and whether it's storms, fires, floods, or something more personal - social media keeps us connected.

Last night, Sheila and I were watching a movie. It was around 8:00 PM, and my office phone rang. I rarely answer it on the weekend, but it was from a good buddy, and it was instinct to think something was wrong. We hit the pause button on the movie, and I called him back. 

Nothing was wrong - he just hadn't caught up to me and wanted to see if everything was okay. The night before, I had another call from a friend out west doing a similar check. And I still have a call to return that's on my cellphone. Each one of these calls has been from a friend who simply wanted to check on Sheila, me, and the pups.​

Good friends help you find important things when you have lost them...
things like your smile, your hope and your courage.
Doe Zantamata

by Skip Cohen

When I read this motivational piece two days ago, I knew it would be my topic for Sunday Morning Reflections. 

It's easy to get lost in distractions. The more energy we give to the things that keep us from focusing, the easier it is to stay distracted. Taking time to pay attention to what's most important to us will help us create, complete, and concentrate on our motivations. Make a list of all the things that distract you and then a list of what needs your focus. To make progress, choose what you will give your attention to today. -Emily Silva

It was personally written for me. So often, I know exactly what I need to tackle, but that doesn't stop me from a "side trip" doing something else. It might be minutes or even an hour or more before I get focused and dig in on the task at hand.

Even this morning, I sat down at the computer to write today's post and decided to check my email first. As I was responding to an email, getting today's post written became a second priority. Before I knew it, I'd wasted time cleaning up my mailbox!

I went back and read Emily Silva's words one more time, and here I am. And there's no need to write anything further - we all know how to hold focus with a camera in our hands, but so often, we're distracted by everything else. And the older we get, the more there is in the way.

Wishing you a day ahead that's limited on distractions and gives you time to do whatever is most important in your day. What I love about those eleven-second hugs I always suggest is about not being distracted from the people who mean the most to you!

​Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday morning, and if you've tuned in to read something about marketing and business, you've got a better chance of winning the lottery! This is my day to have the fun of a brain dump with whatever's on my mind.

Writing this morning has been a challenge. I usually start the morning knowing exactly what I want to write about. But this morning, the pipeline was empty - no ideas to share, not even a rant. After half an hour of procrastinating and scrolling through cyberspace, I realized that was precisely the point - I was simply just content.

Every day doesn't have to have a formal "to-do" list. I went scrolling for a good quote, and Maya Angelou's statement above says it all. We don't have to slay a dragon every day! Most of us don't allow ourselves time to relax and recharge. We're all sick of the line, but it's true - we don't stop to smell the roses.

So, I'm wishing you the same kind of day I'm shooting for myself...Wishing you the time today to simply not worry about much of anything. Make it a day when you can take the time to look around you and cherish your family, friends, pets - everyone who makes you smile. Slow things down and follow Maya Angelou's advice - "withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us."

​Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world. 

by Skip Cohen

If there's one thing that's predictable on this blog, it's me being OFF the topic of business and marketing on Sunday mornings.  One day last week, my good friend, Helen Yancy shared a post on her Facebook page. The quote below was accompanied by an old photograph of seven native American children.

If I tried to write about how much I agree with the quote Helen shared, it would just sound like a rant. 

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with time with those people you care most about. Remember that whatever you do today is tomorrow's history.  Together with the people you love the most, make it a day to savor later on.   

Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.

by Skip Cohen

​As usual, today's Sunday Morning Reflections isn't about marketing and business, but it's definitely about photography. I don't know how long it's been since I picked up a camera and just photographed for the fun of it.

A few months back, we headed off to Key West for a week and took the pups with us. I had just gotten a new iPhone 14 and decided not to even both with any other camera gear. While the new iPhone is amazing, nothing compares with a real camera. I got some fun shots, but I missed the thought process and feel of camera gear.

Months ago, in a phone call with Don Komarechka, we talked about some of his flower images, and he mentioned the fun of planting wildflowers. So, off I went to Amazon and purchased a bag of wildflower seeds, planted them, watered them, and waited.

This morning, before doing anything else, I grabbed my LUMIX G9, the 30mm macro lens, a couple of LumeCube 2.0s, and a whole setup of Platypod gear, including the new Handle, and headed off to the backyard. 

I write a lot about the importance of special projects, shooting for your most important client - YOU, and staying in touch with why you fell in love with imaging in the first place. Sadly, I don't always practice what I preach. 

But there I sat playing with my camera gear, and in the process, being amazed at the detail in each flower.  Shooting with a macro lens on Manual allows you to play with the point of focus. I'd forgotten how much fun it was to see the detail in each flower. We view everything in broad visions, rarely paying attention to the intricate world around us.

​I had a blast this morning; it was all about relaxing and playing. I was out there for an hour, and time just flew by. It couldn't have been more relaxing and the perfect way to start a lazy Sunday. Even Lucy and Belle got into it as they watched me from the backdoor.

And here's my point - take the time to pick up a camera and shoot just for yourself - no client, no deadline, no restrictions. The focus is just as much on your own enjoyment as it is on whatever subject you've chosen. The point of focus is really on your heart, not whatever's in the viewfinder. 

Artist Peter Max wrote:

"Get into your own creativity. Sketch and paint with different mediums and follow your heart."

Today's post isn't meant to be earthshaking; I just wanted to make a point. I started my day doing something that challenged my creativity a little. I stepped out of my daily routine. You don't have to wait until you're running on empty to recharge!

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's loaded with time to kick back and play. Put business aside and take the time to literally smell the roses. Pay attention to the detail that makes so many things in your life special. As always, hit those eleven-second hugs with the most important person in your life. While you're in hug mode, think about all the little things that make this person special, which you probably take for granted.

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

by Skip Cohen

​Remember, Sunday Morning Reflections are never about business and marketing. It's my time to have some fun with whatever's on my mind.

A few minutes ago, Sheila looked at me and said, "I need a slug day!" That's all I needed to hear - *poof* the day was thoroughly planned. Because a "slug day" has no agenda except to behave like a slug. No major projects and a day to relax and just appreciate life.

Just for the fun of it, I Googled "slug day."

The day after Christmas, where you make a "slime trail" from the couch to the fridge while watching the movies you received as presents...We celebrated slug day by watching TV and finishing off the leftover Christmas cookies.

It's hardly the day after Christmas, but the definition is pretty much right on the money. It's going to be a day just to chill, enjoy each other and the pups. The cool thing about a declared slug day is that there are no expectations except to slow things down and relax. And as bizarre as it sounds, it takes discipline not to let anything get in the way.

So we've declared "Belle" (above picture) our slug day mascot. She fell asleep as a good friend of ours was scratching her right behind the ears. If you've got a dog, then you know the spot - it's where you can actually see them smiling.

The challenge with slug days isn't so much taking them but knowing when you need them. I'm still a work in progress, but it takes time to recognize when you simply need to slow down, chill and recharge.

Wishing everybody a great day ahead, and if you're joining us in a slug day, make it one that works for you. This is about minimal stress, relaxing, and letting the world entertain you for a change. Those eleven-second therapeutic hugs jump in there, along with a great breakfast and good music playing all day long. Add in a batch of Margaritas and a movie we haven't seen, and the day's covered.

Happy Slug Day!
​

by Skip Cohen

​If there's one thing in my life that's become consistent, it's sharing my thoughts here in Reflections every Sunday morning. Although today's post touches lightly on business, it's still a long way away from my normal weekday posts.

I've written a lot about the wonderful habit Sheila, and I got into many years ago - it's reading something inspirational every morning over breakfast...

A honeybee flies from flower to flower looking for sweet nectar to create honey.The bee works to find the flowers with the sweetest nectar and doesn't stop until it finds what it's looking for. Don't stop searching for what you're looking for either. Persevere and know that something amazing could be waiting just around the corner. The anticipatory excitement of a journey makes life extraordinary. Soon you will find what you need and be able to revel in the journey.       Emily Silva from Sunrise Gratitude

I recently stepped down from being CMO of Platypod. I love the company, the products, and the people involved, but it had become an almost full-time job, and it was pulling me away from my core business and several projects I want to get back to. I will still be involved occasionally, but I want to focus on other directions in my "journey."

When it comes to my career, with a whole lot of help from Sheila and a few very close friends, I've stayed true to never giving up on my search for new adventures. Reading Emily Silva's analogy with the honeybee made the topic of change an obvious choice for me to write about this morning.

Here's my point:

Life is too short to be unhappy in whatever you do most of the time. If you're not enjoying each step along the way, then you've got the ability to make the changes you need. I'm not suggesting it's always easy, but think about what you'd do if you were going someplace you'd never been. 

To start, you'd plug the address into GPS and then look at the stats like distance and travel time. If your screen is like mine, you'd have a choice of several different routes. You'd pick one, and along the way, if you decided to change, GPS re-calibrates, keeping the focus on your destination.

Too many people stay focused on the same career journey, never straying off the path to see what's around the corner. Remember, you can recalibrate just like GPS. And, with each change along the way, the journey becomes extraordinary.

As photographers, you can't create images that tug at people's heartstrings if your own heart isn't in it! If you're bored and not jumping out of bed each morning with a smile, step back and check your internal GPS. Like the honeybee - don't stop searching because the sweetest experiences might be at the next turn in your path.

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with smiles, family, and friends, and time to look at the map and think about your journey. Don't hesitate to ask for help along the way - those people who love you the most are always there for you, but so often, we think we have to be DIY. And stay with those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about.

Happy Sunday or Monday if you're on the other side of the world!

“If you are depressed you are living in the past if you are anxious you are living in the future,
if you are at peace, you are living in the present.”
Lao Tzu

by Skip Cohen
​
Sunday Morning Reflections are always the same in that they're miles away from topics like business and always a little more personal than most of what I write about. At the same time, I hope it's relatable. We're all stress magnets at various levels and times. It's that stress that beats us up, challenges our creative spirit, and simply interrupts our internal peace.

I'll always be a work in progress, but as I've gotten older, I've realized more and more just how much control I really have every minute of the day. There's that old line: "Don't sweat the small stuff - it's ALL small stuff." I'm older than most of you, so you'll just have to trust me that it's true.

My life is outrageously simple. It's me, Sheila, and the two pups. We have a small number of close friends, a couple of nice neighbors, and our kids are only an hour away. I love my career, most of the time. On Saturdays, we all head to the farmer's market, then go out for breakfast and spend the afternoon doing little things around the house and floating on a raft. The biggest challenge is deciding what Alexa will be playing outside and throughout the house. 

After years of stressing, I've accepted that I can't undo mistakes from the past, and I have minimal control over the future except when it comes to my health which includes getting a decent night's sleep...EVERY night. That's it - a simple, peaceful existence, having learned how appropriate the two quotes below really are:

"Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.”
Dalai Lama

“Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

​I wish I had a better focus on the ingredients for inner peace when I was younger, but I can't change that. But I can appreciate the way my life is today, and my definition of success hasn't changed over the last ten years - it's about waking up with a smile on your face every morning.

“Don't search for anything except peace. Try to calm the mind.
​Everything else will come on its own."
Baba Hari Das

​Here's my point...we're all victims of our own stress. Whether it's dealing with the past, worrying about the future, or just missing the present - like the quote above - everything else will come on its own. So, stay focused on your smile muscles, whatever your heart tells you, and love your life. And if you don't love your life now, what will it take to change it?

Wishing you a day filled with peace, plenty of love, and time with the people (and critters) you love the most. Eleven-second therapeutic hugs should always be applied, and remember to appreciate how unique you are. 

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

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

by Skip Cohen

Sunday Morning Reflections are all about me sharing whatever is on my mind, and it's seldom business related. Today is Father's Day, and sharing a four-generation shot from so long ago seems appropriate.

I know I promised not to keep using the Jodi Picoult quote, but there isn't a better one for photographs like this. I've used her quote so often that I recently contacted her publicist to see if we could get her on a podcast! 

The shot above is me, my son, my Dad, and my grandson, who was totally new to the world. He was the first grandchild and great-grandchild on either side of the family: four generations and one of my most favorite old photographs. My grandson is in college, and my Dad passed away in 2015.  

My point today is in three parts...

First, the value of old photographs is in the memories they bring back. Those memories are the reason you rarely see me miss a Throwback Thursday. I don't live in the past, but those quick looks in the rearview mirror help me focus more on what's ahead. That look back puts a smile on my face, and it doesn't matter how bittersweet it might be.

The second is about the definition of the word bittersweet. Sad things happen in families, and my son and daughter are no longer part of my life, but that doesn't change the fact that I'll always be their father. And nothing takes away from the fun of looking back to days when things weren't so complicated or hoping that something changes in the future. 

Third, this is the perfect time to wish all of you Dads out there a Happy Father's Day! The holiday has become way too commercial, and while it's been supported and promoted by retail and the greeting card industry, here's the original origin:

Father's Day originated in the US after the daughter of a Civil War veteran, Sonora Smart Dodd, wanted to pay an ode to all fathers across the globe. It is believed that she took inspiration from Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother's Day...She is said to have had the idea in 1909 while listening to a sermon on Mother's Day, which was emerging as a holiday. Google Search

So, Happy Father's Day, you guys! When I was twelve, and somebody asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered, "A Dad!" Nothing changes the fun of looking back on those days or watching your kids grow up. And while we can never stop time or turn back the clock, we can learn to better appreciate every minute of the day going forward.

Make it a day to remember. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people you love the most, and pat yourself on the back for being a Dad. 

Happy Father's Day!

​by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday morning, one of my favorite times of the week because whatever is on my mind is what's about to bubble to the surface, and it's never about marketing and business. Over the last few weeks, I've become very aware of how much time we all waste on things that don't matter. And what does matter is how our priorities change as we get older.

I'm a big fan of Brian Andreas and his Story People. You've all seen them in gift shops around the country. Sheila introduced me to him with a card that featured his work fifteen years ago. We then collected them and ended up with a feature wall in our bedroom. I'm rarely at a loss for words, but the Story People helped expand my thoughts about Sheila and our life together.

​I shared this "lesson" from the Story People many years ago, but here's my point. There's only enough time if you use time wisely. We all waste so much time on things that just don't matter. We stress and worry while the clock never stops ticking.

At the risk of sounding like your grandfather giving you a lecture, time is your most valuable commodity. There's only enough time if you pay attention to what's truly important to you. You're the only one who can examine everything you're doing and decide what makes it into the "lifeboat."

And what survives are those things you're doing that make a difference - not to the outside world, but to your heart. It's all about what makes you smile when you get up every morning. It's what gets your heart pumping and creates that wonderful feeling of looking forward to each day.

Here's my point - you don't need to do a deep dive analysis of your life every day, but when you're feeling frustrated over your job, a relationship, or a project you've taken on, step back and do a "life check." A life check is like balancing your bank statement; only instead of the bank's monthly summary, you're going to look at how your time is being spent. Sometimes the very smallest challenges in your life create the most significant stress and frustration.

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with memory-making moments. They don't have to be huge, just little ones that make you smile, bring back a memory, or fill your heart with peace. These days "peace" gets harder and harder to come by. And always go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with I've written about for so many years.

​Happy Sunday or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.

One of the best ways to make yourself happy in the present is to recall happy times from the past.
Photos are a great memory-prompt, and because we tend to take photos of happy occasions,
they weight our memories to the good.
Gretchen Rubin

by Skip Cohen

​While I usually step away from much to do with imaging on Sunday mornings, today is different. Our house is a gallery of great photographs from friends and associates over the years. Each print has a story, and with each story comes a never-ending flow of memories.

Whether you're a seasoned photographer or relatively new to the industry, the power of photographs is so often taken for granted. The collage above is a perfect example. I typed "memories" into the search box of Adobe Stock. Thirteen of the first fifteen images that popped up were photographs...and the two that were not are "Memories" and "Everyone Has a Story."

When I was a kid, my Dad put up a 4'x8' sheet of bulletin board material in my room. It was covered in photographs. Most of them I printed myself in the darkroom at school. Unfortunately, they were always turning yellow because I rarely followed the correct time in the printing process of fixing and washing. Why? Because I wanted the tangible memory on my wall as quickly as possible.

I never outgrew the power of photographs. My appreciation for memories is in every corner of my home office. I don't dwell on the memories; I just appreciate the scenery. It's like going out for a Sunday drive in the country - there's an endless stream of things to look at.

I just grabbed the shot at the right with my phone. It's a corner of my office. It's all about great memories, but more important are the experiences and friendships each photograph represents. Those photographs are thanks to Bambi Cantrell, Vanelli, Bob Coates, and Elena Hernandez. In my office, between the photographs, books, and memorabilia, there must be thirty-plus photographers and hundreds of stories.

Here's my point this morning...Our photographs are the guards at the palace gate of our memories. They keep us in touch with the past and pave the way for the future. Photography is about those special milestones that need the push of a shutter button to capture. So, the next time you feel down because something isn't going as expected in your business, step away for a stretch and think about the magic you provide to every client. Nobody turns the intangible into the tangible better than you!

Wishing everybody a day that requires a few clicks of the shutter - it doesn't matter if it's on your phone or with a DSLR - today's photographs and videos are the foundation for tomorrow's memories. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about with those people most special in your life - while you're there, grab a shot to update your memory-making album.

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world!

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday, and I'm doing my usual - jumping the tracks and running as fast as I can AWAY from topics like business and marketing...but not without a point I want to make.

Yesterday was what I would consider a fantastic day. What contributed to it being so perfect can be described in three words: simplicity, family, and friendships.

Here's the background - it was my birthday, and I'm only sharing that fact because it's significant in my mindset going into the day. 

Keeping it Simplistic and Family: Sheila had asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, and my answer was, "Just hang out with you and the pups."  We started the day at the Farmer's Market with the pups...hit our favorite vendors, and left with an almost record-breaking amount of new cheeses to try. Then we finished working on our butterfly garden, which is a labor of love in itself. That left plenty of time to float in the pool with Alexa delivering plenty of Chris Stapleton radio.

The day ended with dinner with our son and daughter-in-law, followed by a minor-league baseball game in Bradenton, FL at the new LECOM stadium. It was a perfect night, and while normally I'm not a big baseball fan, it wasn't crowded, and we started with seats right behind the dugout, moving twice during the evening. Each time we moved, it was a different view. And let's not forget the seventh inning stretch and a stadium hot dog!

Friendship: We all have a love/hate relationship with the Internet, but the birthday wishes started flowing on Friday and continued right up until a few minutes ago. But the fun of those birthday wishes is realizing how small the world has become, thanks to social media. As I scrolled through the birthday thread, people came up from all points of my life...a few from high school, Polaroid, Hasselblad, WPPI/Rangefinder, PPA, Platypod, old neighbors, associates, magazines I've written for, overseas friends, and the list goes on and on.

When I started this morning, I couldn't decide whether to focus on what makes a perfect day or how small the world has become. Well, I'm doing both...but here's my big point today...

“It is your attitude, more than your aptitude, that will determine your altitude.” 
Zig Ziglar

​My birthday set the stage, but it also pointed out how much control I really have EVERY day - it's all in my attitude. If I can tweak my attitude and set the stage every morning, I'll be dealing with less stress, more smiles, and definitely flying at a higher altitude. Of course, I'm being realistic, knowing that some days are tougher than others, but we're all work-in-progress, and I'm no exception.

Wishing you a day that is uncomplicated and filled with the love you have for those people (and critters) most special in your life. It's a holiday weekend, the perfect time to redefine the words "chill out." Go for those long hugs I always write about and make it a day jam-packed with joy.

And to the 350 wonderful knuckleheads (that's a compliment) who, between FB, LinkedIn, email, and even a few calls wished me a great birthday - THANK YOU SO MUCH. Social media is the mortar that keeps the bricks of friendship together, and with each comment yesterday, you added your own touch to my day.

Happy Sunday, and if you're in the states, happy holiday weekend.

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday, and if you're joining me today, you already know I'm about to jump the tracks and run amuck from anything related to marketing and business. I suspect aging and another birthday coming up this month are responsible for where my head is this morning. I keep finding myself in a recurring theme of being reflective. It always starts out the same way - trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up!

The reality is that I still don't know. Obviously, I love to write; I love this industry and put maximum value on friendships and the unique experiences I've had over the years. So I do a lot of "what-iffing," thinking about people I met, events I stumbled upon, and the list goes on and on. Here's one example I was thinking about the other day.

In 1987 I was the Photo Specialty Dealer manager for Polaroid. That meant all the camera stores were my responsibility. I got a cold call one day from a headhunter asking me if I knew anybody who wanted to be president of a small camera company. I immediately thought it was my brother-in-law pranking me and blew him off! As I started to hang up the phone, I heard him yelling, "This is legitimate - my name is..."

The job was President of Hasselblad USA, and I started on Monday, July 6, 1987. I knew Hasselblad's reputation, but one of the country's top retailers at the time advised me not to take the job. "They're arrogant, and you won't have as much fun as you're having at Polaroid!"

Fortunately, I didn't listen to him. That decision was life-changing. Many of my closest friends, like playing the degrees of separation game about Kevin Bacon, can all be traced back to Hasselblad.

Here's my point this gorgeous Sunday morning - we can't change whatever we did in the past, but we can appreciate its impact on our journey. Even better is the need to stay focused on the future and create more of those life-changing moments and memories for the present.

The past is behind, learn from it.
The future is ahead, prepare for it.
The present is here, live it.
Thomas S. Monson

Wishing everybody a day with time to be a little reflective, but with a focus on the present. It's okay to appreciate where you've been, but the real fun is NOW. Let those people you love the most know how important they are in your life. And let's get back to those eleven-second therapeutic hugs.
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​Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

by Skip Cohen

When you've lost somebody you love, all those photographs become incredibly valuable. And like a great stock investment or fine wine, they improve with age. We lost my mother in two stages, first with Alzheimer's and then her actual passing. But photographs bring back so many great memories.

So, the next time you're doing a portrait session, NEVER compromise on the quality of the final images. Your clients trust you to capture the best images you possibly can, and if you're clicking the shutter and saying to yourself, "That's good enough," go back and shoot a few more.

Great photographs deserve to be savored along with the memories they represent. We all learned through the pandemic that life can change in a heartbeat. As photographers, it's your job to capture those memories for each client...and nobody can do it better than you!

While I keep promising not to use Jodi Picoult's quote again, there isn't one better for today!

And to all you Moms out there - Happy Mother's Day! It's thanks to all our mothers that we're here today. Wishing you a day filled with memory-making moments.

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday, so be aware - I ALWAYS jump the track from business and marketing concepts. I'm also wonderfully exhausted, having spent the last few days with terrific friends, including hanging out on their back porch until midnight last night. Waking up a few minutes ago, I asked Sheila if she got the license plate of the truck that hit us - she never answered because she was already back to sleep.

And that's my instant lead into that adrenaline rush you get when hanging out with great friends.

Life is simply too short, but for some of us, our lives were more than half over by the time we finally realized it. But it's not aging I'm talking about, but the secret ingredient of learning to savor the moment and simply slow down. Obviously, it comes with age. I know for Sheila and me, we've become much more selective and appreciative of so many different things.

We're back in our home town for a very special wedding, which was last night. As in the past, we're staying with old friends - for Sheila, Melissa, and "Hoss' came into her life almost thirty years ago. For me, it's only been fifteen, but with each visit, it becomes more memory-making. We catch up at most 1-2 times a year, and each visit is jam-packed with laughs and late nights.

True friends are those people who ask how we are, and then wait to hear the answer.
Unknown Author

There it is - one quote that sums up a remarkable friendship with two knucklehead friends we love dearly. And I use "knucklehead" as the ultimate compliment of great people who we simply enjoy because they enjoy life so much.
 
If you've got at least one friend like that, learn to savor the moments while at the same time creating more of them. The pandemic taught us all a lesson - never take anything for granted because life is so very short. 

Wishing you a day ahead with time to enjoy at least one great friend - the one that fits that quote above. Take nothing for granted, and remember to tell them what they mean to you! And to Hoss and Melissa...what a kick it is having you in our lives. We've spent so much time in your house that I finally know where everything goes in the kitchen...not to mention the fridge.

​Happy Sunday!

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday, and most of you know what that means when it comes to wherever my head goes in the morning. It's NEVER about business or marketing.

I'm not sure how it got started, but Sheila and I started a daily tradition over breakfast each morning - we read something inspirational out loud to each other - Nothing major, always very short, and from any one of a dozen books one of us has bought over the years, mostly Sheila. Over the last few years, we exhausted just about everything Melody Beattie had written, and this year took a leap of faith with two authors we didn't know.

On Friday, author Emily Silva had this short piece of wisdom:

SLOW DOWN. Don't allow yourself to fall into the trap of glorifying busy-ness. Life is intended to be savored, and this moment is the most important. Move through your day consciously. Notice the little things and expand your awareness. Flowers bloom for only a season; children grow up fast, and the leaves change and eventually fall. Savor what's in front of you and appreciate the moment you are in.

That's it - short and sweet and so on point from what so many of us miss - taking time to smell the roses! Unfortunately, I don't take the time to savor much anymore. But as I've admitted so many times in past posts, I'm still a work in progress, and it's never too late to learn one more of life's lessons.

Wishing you a day filled with time to savor, moment by moment. Take her advice and notice the little things - switch your brain and heart to shoot macro. Life is too short to take anything for granted. So, from those eleven-second hugs, I've often suggested to appreciating what's happening in your life right now - make it a day to remember.

Happy Sunday or Monday on the other side of the world.

*There's very little that beats the combination of butterflies with a field of wildflowers and a decent camera in your hand. Shot in Painesville, Ohio with a LUMIX G-9 and the 14-140mm lens. This is a female and she was absolutely a poser. What a kick!

by Skip Cohen

​Remember, it's Sunday, and "Reflections" always runs amuck from business and marketing topics. It's my time to simply share what's in my head, and it's rarely about business.

My point this morning, though, is a combination of reports we had to write in elementary school each September about what we did on our summer vacation, and a tip to help you build a more substantial business. So let's knock off my time off the grid first.

If you've followed me for even the shortest time, you know the pups, Lucy and Belle, are a big part of our lives. So we decided to do a dog vacation and headed off to Key West, a six-hour drive with all four of us. We had a small place rented and, for five days, wandered all over town, taking the "girls" everywhere with us.

To get around, we rented two trikes with baskets on the back for the pups and backpacks, etc. So, when we weren't walking, we were riding, and Key West, with its incredibly narrow streets, was better for bikes than a car. No problem finding plenty of places for dining with two dogs, and when we'd go out for dinner, we've got a small blanket so they know exactly where to lay down and behave.

I wanted to play with my new iPhone 14 and, for the first time, never took any camera gear - just the phone and a Platypod Ultra with a ball head and a few accessories. I was surprised at how well it all worked. I also stayed entirely offline! No laptop, no checking messages - I was truly off the grid for the first time in my life.

And there's my point - While I write a lot about taking time off and recognizing the signs of burnout, I've never been good at practicing what I preach. Most of you have already learned this lesson, but many of us are still a work in progress. NOTHING beats recharging your battery without interruptions! And NOTHING beats quality time with the people most important to you.

I've reminded photographers over the years that you can't create images that tug at people's heartstrings when your own heart isn't in it. I've then always added the importance of staying tuned to your heart and stepping away from the business when needed. Well, it was my time to take a break, and now we're building it into a more regular thing with a few more trips planned this year.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Wishing everybody a day off the grid! Take the time to unplug, whether you need it or not, and appreciate everything and everyone in your life responsible for your smile and, while it sounds pretty sappy, the joy in your heart.

Happy Sunday - or Monday on the other side of the world.
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