by Skip Cohen

It's time for everyone to get to know Tom Alvarez. Tom's a good buddy who has a passion for the craft that's pretty spectacular. He's an artist, photographer, educator, writer, great Dad, husband, and a good friend. We first met a few months before Covid hit. At the time, Tom was teaching photography at the Imagine School in Northport, Florida, and we had started talking online. 

He was passionate about exposing his students to as much as he could in the world of imaging, even though most of them had never held a real camera and were shooting with their phones. Thanks to a few industry friends, I was able to secure a dozen discontinued point-and-shoot cameras. Well, the pandemic hit, and I was never able to fulfill my offer to speak to his kids about a future in imaging. 

The best part of this industry isn't about imaging but the friendships that come from everyone's love for the craft. Even though he was no longer teaching, the friendship continued, and we'd get together for lunch a few times a year. He called me one day a year or so ago and asked my opinion about a book about backgrounds.

Being an author is not a new role for Tom. His diversity as an artist covers a long list of skills, including his first book, How to Create Action, Fantasy, and Adventure Comics, almost 30 years ago. While so many people want to write their own book, it takes not only understanding the topic but also discipline and, no pun intended, FOCUS.
 
We're all familiar with the concept of "behind the scenes" (BTS). The BTS of any image is literally the background, and less obvious is the original vision of the artist.  The image might start with the subject, but the power of an artist's concept depends on the background. The impact of the final image is often entirely dependent on the background, including what kind of backdrop, lighting, composition, and depth of field have been chosen.  Your background is the foundation of your BTS. It's the not-so-secret ingredient that sets the mood in any image.
 
If a picture really is worth a thousand words, then your choice of background sets the mood for at least the first few "chapters." A simple change in the background completely changes everything about the subject and what we feel when we view an image.

Last month, Tom's dream of a book about backgrounds became a reality. It's now available on Amazon.  Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro and need a few refresher reminders, it's a book with wide appeal. Just click on the cover shot to the right. Tom's statement in his conclusion says it all:

With over thirty years of photography and teaching under my belt, I have always aspired to help others improve their art, and that has led me to the creation of this book. If any of my readers simply move thier angle just a small amount to get a better "shot," well, then I have done my job as a photography instructor.

Meet my buddy, Tom Alvarez!

by Skip Cohen

Every now and then, a workshop comes along that should be on everyone's bucket list. Night sky photography in Sedona with Bob Coates should be on yours!

Bob and I have been friends for over twenty years. That friendship came out of my incredible respect for his skill set and creativity as an artist. Plus, I've learned so much just hanging out with him! We're both passionate about imaging, but Bob's love for education and helping photographers raise the bar on their skills is the "gold standard" in photography. 

... Sedona's clear skies and stunning landscapes make it one of the best places in the U.S. to capture the Milky Way in all its glory. Bob takes full advantage of the region's natural beauty, guiding participants through the process of shooting the stars, moon, and galaxies above.

In these workshops, Bob shares a wealth of knowledge about the technical side of night photography—how to capture long exposures, properly set up a camera for star trails, and fine-tune your settings to get the best results. He teaches about composition, how to use foreground elements like the iconic red rocks of Sedona to create a sense of depth, and how to work with lighting to enhance your shots. Once you've captured your images processing files is covered in depth.

Trust me - you'll never be disappointed in a program with Bob. It won't just be a trip under the night skies but an adventure you'll never forget. 
​
Check out the short video below, then click on any image in today's post for more information. ​

by Skip Cohen

It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday. Jumping into the time machine, here's one more round of well-respected industry leaders returning to their high school days or shortly after. And I still have a few more to share in the weeks ahead. Not everyone had access to their formal senior headshot, but that doesn't take away the fun of sharing these old images.

From the top left, Vicki Taufer, Fran Reisner, Bruce Berg, Nick Vedros, Bambi Cantrell, Yervant Zanazanian, Seth Resnick and George Varanakis. I've also got a BIG apology for mixing up Ralph Romaguera and Eddie Tapp in a previous post. That's Ralph on the left and Eddie on the right.

Besides the fun of looking back at what friends looked like so many years ago, the collection of images from these past posts shows the changes in trends, not just from black & white to color, but often in posing. Today's senior photographers are capturing not just a headshot but the subject's personality, often shooting several different styles/settings, ranging from the more conservative shot that "Mom" wants to capture to the hobbies and interests of the subject. 

Ralph Romaguera, Eddie Tapp, and I are all close to the same age. Senior shots back then were usually done in a studio or the school, in black and white, with guys in white shirts, ties, and jackets and girls in nice blouses or sweaters, but nothing that captured anybody's personality. The pictures were delivered in one package with an 8x10, 5x7s, and a bunch of wallet-size photographs, which we all shared with each other.

For years, nothing really changed in the style of posing or lighting from when my mother was a senior! That's me and Mom, twenty-three years apart, and looking at a page from her yearbook, it could easily be swapped with a page in mine!

Today's seniors have photographs that tell their stories and different presentations. For example, Marathon Press is in one of its busiest seasons of the year right now with grad cards. There was no such thing as grad cards years ago. Graduating was still a big deal as we headed toward the next phase of our lives and adulthood, but we didn't have access to the technology that seniors have today.

​​Yes, Marathon is a sponsor of SCU, but I shared the screenshot from their website because it demonstrates the incredible difference between what's available to seniors today and what was available to seniors so many years ago.

Marketing to seniors is big business, but to be successful, it also requires a different skill set from when so many of us were seniors. A great senior session is about connecting with the subject, capturing their personality, and combining it with maximum creativity. If you're interested in the senior market, the first thing you need to do is ensure you've got the skill set, not just with your camera. You also need great communication skills and the ability to build a relationship with your subject.

Remember, for many seniors, this may be their first time working with a professional photographer. They're as nervous about getting a portrait done as they are in dealing with some of their own self-esteem issues. That means your listening and conversational skills must be as good as your understanding of exposure, composition, and lighting!

Meanwhile, congratulations to the class of 2025 and all the outstanding artists pushing the creative envelope in capturing their personalities!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen​

It's Marketing Monday, and I'm continuing with Business Breakthroughs, a series of tips to help make your message as a small business owner and artist stand out. I want to help you crush the chaos that gets in the way of your messages to your target audience.​

Whether you're blogging or simply sharing on social media like Facebook, for example, so many of you have trouble coming up with topics to write about. ​

by Skip Cohen

​Now and then, an opportunity comes along for a trip you shouldn't miss! Shiv Verma's been a good friend for a whole lot of years. The respect I have for Shiv all started with his skill set. I found that my photography skills went up a notch every time we hung out together. The only thing more impressive than Shiv's skills is his passion as an artist and his focus on education. And when I'm stuck on an imaging challenge of my own, he's at the top of the list for a call to help get me out of a jam.

Well, Shiv has several of his own trips coming up, and he's got just three spots left for Tanzania from August 25 to September 2 of this year. It's all-inclusive, and I can assure you it's going to be top-shelf because Shiv never does anything halfway.

I pulled a few of his images for this post because they're all from past Tanzania trips. However, to really appreciate what it's like to travel with Shiv, click on any image to visit his website and check out the specifics for this upcoming trip.

"This is a peak season trip of a lifetime for up to 8, where you have only one photographer per row in the safari vehicles - all for a price that can't be beat. The annual migration in Tanzania is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This photo adventure is planned to give you the opportunity to photograph the world's largest concentration of elephants per square mile in Tarangire National Park and travel to the northern plains of the Serengeti via Ndutu. Ndutu is one of the few regions where off-road game drives are permitted. We will visit the Mara and Sand Rivers to witness and photograph the annual wildebeest migration. Game drives will take advantage of the awesome light of the dry season"...read more.

​We all catch lots of opportunities for photo adventures being promoted every day, but knowing Shiv as I do, if Tanzania is on your wish list - this is one not to be missed. Check out his 2025 schedule below and click on any of the dates to visit Shiv's website...Wherever he's headed, you can count on a life-changing experience with one of the industry's very best!

Intro by Skip Cohen

Last week, my good buddy Scott Bourne posted the rant below on Facebook, focused on helping new photographers make better choices about their gear. Like virtually any specialty, the imaging world is filled with "experts." And while there are a lot of great educators/influencers out there, I'm always amazed at how many new artists fall for the "clickbait" Scott wrote about.

Many years ago, Vincent Laforet spoke at Skip's Summer School. I remember him talking about when he first started and the challenge of capturing the images he wanted when his cash, and in turn, his gear was so limited. "You know what you do when you don't have a lens long enough...you move in closer!"
 
Thirty years ago, when I was at Hasselblad, a photographer came up to us at our booth at Photo East and asked for a list of everything Denis Reggie shot with. We gave him the list and he went immediately to B&H there on the show floor and bought almost all of it. The following year, at the same show, he came by the booth and dropped a few dozen 5x5 proofs on the counter and said, "I bought everything Denis Reggie uses, and my images don't look any better with Hasselblad than they did with my old gear!"  He'd shot everything f8 @ 1/125!

Here's my point - before you get sucked into buying new gear, which you may well need, take the time to review your skill set. Put your money into your education and building the operational side of your business. And if you need something exotic and expensive, rent it first! 

Here's one more story: Joe Buissink tells a great story about spending too much money on a tilt/shift lens when he first started. He was convinced it's what he needed to make his work look different. Instead, his purchase tied up capital he could have used for better ways to build his business. Plus, he barely used it and sold it a year or two later for a loss!

​A big thanks to Scott for permission to share his rant! Scott should be on your radar - click on his link above and follow him on Facebook. He's always got something worth sharing.

**A.I. images from Adobe Stock

by Scott Bourne

​I can think of no greater waste of time than watching the #photography "influencers" talking about their gear. I am sad that new photographers get duped by these people and fall for their click bait.

• No matter what camera/lens you use, they will convince you it's not good enough and what you REALLY need is the gear THEY (get paid to promote.)
• Use any camera you like. In the last five years I think I've encountered one bad camera and one bad lens and both were niche products that most of you will never have heard of.
• Your camera is good enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some additional thoughts...

• Don't be bullied by the Full Frame Mafia. Use Micro Four Thirds or APS-C if that works for you.
• Don't fall into the cult known as "The Religion Of Low Light Performance Pixel Peepers." They will convince you that even the slightest spec of digital noise ANYWHERE in your picture is baaaaad.
• Lastly, don't be tricked into thinking you need an f/1.2 lens for every single shot so you can have perfect BOKEH BALLS. That is a fad. It will pass.

This is all nonsense and it's all the nonsense you will find on YouTube. No doubt there are some thoughtful, talented people who want to help you there but even then - you're better off just practicing with your camera.

All you need to do to improve is this. Just read your camera manual, learn how to operate the camera properly and go make as many photos as you can.

You will be twice the photographer any of the YOUTUBE "influencers" are within a year's time.

​Rant over...

Digital wasn't in the picture yet, but Polaroid was. We laid the storyboards out all around a hotel room, page by page. As we completed each topic, the final Polaroid was taped to the page. Everything we do in publishing today do is all on the computer. Regardless of the increased efficiency, what's missing is the fun of building the finished product!

The shot at the top was done in two parts, with the binding down the middle—the book was spiral-bound and designed to fit in your camera bag for easy reference. Everyone in the group shot was either a model or involved in production.

One of my favorite images was one of Don's combining hand-posing and showing both rings. Don's understanding and love of lighting were remarkable. Every portrait was consistently stunning—from his lighting to the pose to the expression on each subject, he never compromised.

The fun of Throwback Thursday is all in the memories old photographs and videos bring back into focus. Searching for what to share today, I ran across a copy of the book, and it was perfect timing. 

Don passed away in 2004 on a Sunday. I remember his son Gary telling me he was convinced that Don died that day because his wife Donna (who passed away in 1996) always made roast beef on Sunday and she was waiting for him.

​The last photo in the book, shown below, is another favorite. Photographed by Bambi Cantrell, it plays off of the body parts theme.

If you missed searching for a few throwbacks today, try taking the time. Old photographs bring back memories and remind us of the incredible contribution imaging has made to the world!

​What a kick!

by Skip Cohen

It's Marketing Monday, but with the clock ticking down to the holidays, there's not a lot of new ideas to share that I haven't written about already. You're down to the wire, but there's still time to influence late shoppers with gift ideas. With Thanksgiving next week, there's not a lot of time to influence business for 2024...but there's more potential out there.
 
A Holiday Family Portrait is the obvious choice, but unless you plant the seed, Mom's not going to think of it. You've got so many great options: a portrait of Mom and the kids for Dad, a full family sitting for the grandparents, or even Dad and the kids for Mom. While Dad isn't normally the target, Dads do have a reputation for last-minute shopping. 

It's Not Just a Photograph - This is where a call to your lab comes into play. You're not just planting the seed to get a new portrait done. Just pick up the phone and ask, "So, what's new?" You've got metal prints, canvas wraps, and a long list of other materials, not to mention frames, multiple sizes, etc. Even novelty items like mouse pads, coffee mugs, and barbecue aprons can come into play with a great image.

Outdoor Metal Prints: I've written a lot about this - it's another classic product with an opportunity to provide a totally new concept to so many potential clients. I'm a huge fan of BayPhoto's Performance EXT metal prints. We've had three of them outside for several years and only taken them in during hurricanes. They've survived the Florida sun and rain with no visible fading. ​

What About an Album? A Day in the Life session isn't just about photographing kids. What about an album that's a day in the life of a family? You've got an opportunity to plant an incredible seed with this one - spending a half day and documenting the life of a family, which is then presented in an album that tells their story. And it's perfect for the December holidays!

Date Night: I've written about this before, but here's where you get to remind Mom how long it's been since she and Dad got out to dinner without the kids! She's got to get the sitter, but it's another idea you've got to promote.  It all starts with a portrait session for 15-30 minutes at the start of the evening, and then you're going to send the couple off to dinner. Talk to the owner of a favorite romantic restaurant in your community and see if they'll work with you on a discounted gift certificate.  Build the cost of the certificate into your price for the sitting and print. Make it a package deal that essentially becomes a "no-brainer."

Gift Certificates: Just like those endless kiosks in CVS and every supermarket where they're stocked full of gift cards, you can do the same with the various products/services you offer. And it's perfect for last-minute gift ideas, making you the hero in capturing and creating a new family heirloom: a classic family portrait!

Here's the bottom line—this is about your bottom line. While time is extremely limited at this point, you still have time to make each idea work. But like the title of today's post suggests, procrastination isn't on your side—you've got to get things going right now and get the word out. Start with your existing client base and then look at other sources to reach your target audience.

The clock is ticking, and like I said at the beginning, don't snooze and you won't lose.

by Skip Cohen

​It's Marketing Monday, and as I sat down to write today's post, I started thinking about what I could possibly write about that I haven't hit hard so many times in the past. Almost immediately, I thought about a concept I first talked about many years ago: a Day-in-the-Life shoot. Why? Because November and December are the perfect times to capture this kind of story.

• The concept is totally dependent on storytelling. Like capturing a wedding, a Day-in-the-Life shoot is event-driven and all about building an album.
• Creating an album to tell the story adds to the excitement and anticipation of the season.  
• A session like this utilizes all the skills of the photographer. From portraiture to photojournalism, it brings into play technique, lighting, and composition - everything it takes to tell the story of a family's adventure.
• It's a unique offering and can be an ideal revenue producer.

Here's the concept: While it's called a Day-in-the-Life, it doesn't have to be for an entire day. It could easily be a 3-4 hour block of time. You're capturing the activity of a family, a child, a pet or even a business in their environment. It's about the interaction between the members of a family or employees, if it's a business story.

For example, November is coming up, and family members are going to be getting together to make Thanksgiving dinner. It's one of the few holidays that younger family members often get to participate in creating a holiday meal. For example, Mom and Grandma work together to make the menu, and the kids get to help with the preparation. It's a family event, and so often a full day of work comes down to the first thirty minutes of serving. Even setting the table is a special event, which often looks like a war zone once the first slice of turkey is cut! 

Just like a wedding, it deserves its own album. The wedding party is the team of chefs creating dinner. The detail shots cover everything from cooking utensils to the centerpiece to the table settings. The reception is the dinner itself. Throughout the day, it's about capturing the memory of everyone working together on recipes that have often been in the family for generations.

​by Skip Cohen

Years ago, I came across the image below. It's a classic, and before I used it in a blog post to make a point, I did a little digging and talked to the company that owned the photograph.

I wrote: Searching for the copyright, Davidson & Company, out of Atlanta, came up as owning the image. It took a little time to explain to one of their staff, who had no idea what I was talking about. Think about how it sounded answering the phone and hearing, "I'm trying to track down the company that owns the right to the shot of a guy with his head up his butt. Are you the Davidson & Company who owns it?"

A few minutes later, I was on the phone with Ken Davidson, and not only did he give me the okay to use it, but he also shared a little of the backstory. The story adds to my appreciation for the journey so many of us have been on in this industry. The image was shot on film and manipulated with conventional retouching. It was created for a commercial client in the late 1980s!

Last week, I received a comment from Michael Washak, the photographer who took the original image. He saw my post from last May about the photograph. Remember, this was captured/created long before Photoshop. But even with Photoshop today, the quality and realism of the original have not been duplicated.

I contacted Michael for permission to share his comment in a blog post. One great phone call later, I had more of the history behind this classic image. He wrote:

I'm the photographer who, while working for Davidson & Co, took the original images. The lower body and background were taken in one shot. Our larger sales rep was photographed from behind. The arms and upper body were photographed from above. The thinner upper body was the retouch artist who used his airbrush skills to blend the two images and painted the seem lines in the pants.

The original images were photographed in black and white using a Hasselblad 500cm 120 film camera. The base print was done in a conventional darkroom using a rubylith mask to separately print each part. Then the conventional retouch artist did his work.

The reason the image looks so convincing, and has not been effectively replicated, is that back then, before photoshop, I became skilled at photographing elements in perspective to build images from individual parts. In the 90s Davidson went digital and their portfolio is now legendary.

Here's my point: We've become so used to looking at the magic artists have created that we forget it's more than just clicking a button or two in Photoshop. We take for granted the skills involved in creating stunning images. And while I often write about great professional photographers being magicians, it's still remarkable to hear the backstories.

Eight years ago, I started the "Why?" series specifically to introduce you to some of the industry's great artists and one of their favorite images. While I slowed down a lot in adding more artists, there are now over 130 photographers featured in the project. Just click on the button below and check out some of the most respected artists in photography.
​
Take the time to follow up on the backstories behind your favorite images. You'll meet some amazing people in the process, and even better, you just might pick up a few skills to help you in your own search for creating the ultimate image!

by Skip Cohen

​While truly great food photographers have always been hard to find, the demand for their services ramped up dramatically during the pandemic. Dine-in restaurants took a huge hit and had to offer carryout service to survive, but very few of them had photographs of the dishes on their menu.

There was also a secondary challenge - carryout wasn't the only demand. Outdoor seating became a necessity. Thousands of restaurants set up makeshift outdoor dining areas never anticipated for hosting guests - alleys, parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways became "patio" dining rooms, often with all the mood of a truck stop garage. An opportunity for exterior decorating using large photographs started to grow.

We've all eaten in those pop-up outdoor cafes - they always need improvements in ambiance. Often, just a few large prints placed on easels would brighten up the "room." They don't need to be of food, and could be of areas in the community like parks, buildings, and various events, for example.

How many restaurants are there? Asking that question, Google took me to a great website loaded with statistical data starting with an estimated 750,000 restaurants in the United States.

Webstaurantstore.com was loaded with great information. I was able to dig a lot deeper into the potential demand for photography. For example, in the U.S. survey data showed that 77% of consumers check out a restaurant's website before ordering online, and 82% of American restaurants use social media marketing.

Need a little support to build your skills in food photography? I pulled links for two great books on food photography by two artists who I deeply respect, Andrew Scrivani and Joe Glyda. Plus, there are forty-three articles on the Playpod blog about food photography. One of them by my good pal Bob Coates. Just click any of the thumbnails below for more information.

by Skip Cohen

I wanted to expand the concept from my headshot topic in yesterday's post.

​Kristen Jensen: I first met Kristen when I was working with Panasonic's LUMIX Ambassadors many years ago. While her key focus as a photographer has been image capture over the years, she's expanded her expertise to help professionals build their brand strategy. There's no doubt in my mind that she's one of the very best at assisting people to define and then build their brand.

​​​Going through Kristen's website, I wanted to share how portraits have helped build her own brand.  She's included a photograph of herself relevant to each topic on her website as she wears each "hat" important to her business. And under the heading of each specialty, are thumbnails of her work with clients.

Her three main points of focus in working with a client are as a photographer, videographer, and brand strategist. She's also included a photograph of herself related to blogging, and on her contact page, she's made it a point to be on the phone with her monitor loaded with images in the background, again reminding her viewers she's a photographer.

Terry Clark and Environmental Portraits: In his section, which is tied to his own workshops, Terry made it a point to share images that show him teaching.

When you look at many of Terry's portraits over the years, you see he's a master at environmental portraiture for his corporate clients. A portrait really does tell a story when it pulls in the environment of the subject—something so many of you need to do when considering your own headshot.

Over the years, I've shared a lot of Terry's work on this blog. He's a talented artist with an infectious passion for the craft. When you look at his images, it's very easy to not only understand what the subject does but also notice how their expressions are always relaxed—a testimonial to their interaction with their photographer.

I pulled a few screen shots of some of my favorites of Terry's, just to help make the point about how your own headshot might look, if you brought in the environment.

​Kristen and Terry are helping me make a point in today's post - take the time to get some headshots demonstrating who you are as a professional photographer. Let's clean up all the bad selfies, grab shots, and even pictures artists used of them when they were kids! Make your headshot one more example of your skills as a professional - not somebody's Uncle Harry!

by Skip Cohen

One of the most significant benefits of the Internet and social media is our ability to share things that move us. Last week, Ed Heaton on Facebook posted the piece below written by poet and author Donna Ashworth. So, whether you're a professional photographer or just a parent doing your best to document those moments that grow in poignancy as your kids age, NEVER slow down capturing those memories.  

On that note, there's nothing else to write—just read the piece below and cherish your very special role as a family historian!

by Skip Cohen

One of my favorite reasons for attending a conference is being able to meet and talk to a lot of artists at one location over a short amount of time. While at times it's almost like a comedy featuring speed dating, it's an incredible way to get a better sense of what's going on in the market.

One of the obvious challenges discussed over the last couple of days is dealing with competition. Everyone is looking for ways to stand out in their community and create products and services that are habit-forming for their target audience.

Well, here's one—have you checked out Bella Albums? I'm a huge fan because of the infinite combinations of paper, cover materials, including leather, linen, and metal, sizes, colors, choice of fonts, and embossing. Combine all of those ingredients with storytelling, and you've got an unbeatable finished product. Looking to stand out from your competitors? Check out Marathon's Bella Albums.

And yes, I'm aware that I'm writing a mini-infomercial, but this is about ways for you to thrive, not just survive. You've got to do something different to make each presentation stand out. An album tells a story that only you can make unique.

Thanks to technology, there are so many different applications for an album today. For example, why not create an album after a "day-in-the-life" shoot of a family, child, or even pet? As a photographer, nobody has the tools to tell the story better than you, and a small album can develop into an annual series that covers the life of your subject.

Summer is quickly coming to a close, and soon, you'll be into fall and winter seasonality. Now is the time to think about unique products/services for the last quarter of the year. From back-to-school to Halloween, fall, and into the December holidays, it's time to put together a few outstanding promotions to bring 2024 sales to an exciting close.

And if you're not ready to start thinking about fall sales, remember, procrastination is NOT a marketing strategy to build your business!

by Skip Cohen

Remember the old Westerns? At some point, there often was a "new sheriff in town." He was always one of the good guys, and everyone was excited that he was there to clean things up!  Well, whether you like old westerns or not, when it comes to print competition - there's a NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN!

Meet the AIBP's (Association of International Boudoir Photographers) new Visionary Awards.

The AIBP Visionary Awards are an inspirational and educational photography competition open to all professionals, novices, and hobbyists who photograph boudoir. All entrants have the opportunity to work toward the AIBP Artistry Excellence degree as a Member of AIBP.

I'm a huge fan of image competitions, which all started with entering my first print in a WPPI competition in the 90s. I became addicted to the process—it's one of the best educational experiences in imaging. Why? Listening to the feedback from the judges, combined with seeing the styles of other artists, along with lighting, posing and composition, helped me raise the bar on my own skill set. 
​
Building this new image competition from both the participants' and judges' perspectives, the Visionary Awards start with two broad categories: commissioned and uncommissioned work. With eleven different award sub-categories, AIBP's goal is to make sure images compete against similar photos. 

They've assembled a stellar cast of judges to date that includes Lindsay Adler, Gary Hill, Jacqueline Tobin, Rhea Berkley Lewis, Andrew Hiorth, Cate Scaglione, Hiram Trillo, and Shawn Black. Combined with the support of a solid group of sponsors, these new awards have the potential to elevate the experience of competing from previous competitions. Click on any picture or banner in this post for more information!

And to the AIBP team - Congrats! It's going to be a kick watching this competition grow, along with the skills of your members!​

“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories.
There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.” 
Jimmy Neil Smith

by Skip Cohen

Whether it's your stories, a family member's, or a client's - creating a book is an incredible product. Think about it for a second - you're a storyteller with an outstanding skill set in photography. A book allows you to capture the best of both worlds: photography and storytelling.

Now, think about the impact a unique book would have on a client.  Everyone is looking for new products and services to offer their audience. Yet, so often, you forget about some of the tools you have right at your fingertips, just a click of your mouse away.

While an album of images is a great way to tell a story, a book allows you to tell the story with text and in any size or shape you want. If you don't want to start offering it as a regular part of your business, then start by just creating a book about your family. Just do a draft of the story and then drop in photographs that fit with the theme.

I've done at least three books over the years; the first was about the start of the relationship with my wife, Sheila; the second was the story of the Honor Flight trip with WWII veterans I took my Dad on; and the third, the story of where we've lived over the years. All three told the stories in ways that just photographs alone could never do.

I can only imagine the reaction of a client receiving a book that was their story and told in a way that only you, as their photographer, could tell.  Part of the fun of a project like this is pulling together the images for the story. With a book, you've got the ability to combine your best photos with grab-shots and then the appropriate copy. Since a picture's worth a thousand words, you don't have to write a lot. Because it's all from your heart, you'll be surprised at how it all flows together, as well as how easy it can be.

While today's post is an infomercial for Marathon Press, the concept couldn't be more sound. You want your work to be different. You want your clients talking about working with you and your skill set. What better way than with a book that sits on their coffee table you produced?

In their 50,000 square ft. warehouse, the Marathon team is ready to tackle your project, and their staff is available to help all along the way! For more information, click on the banner above or call 1-800-228-0629. 

by Skip Cohen

Five years ago, I ran a series of weekly tips to help you run a more successful business. Wandering through my archives this morning, it hit me that this post from that series is even more relevant today. We live in a world that's become so polarized over virtually any topic, and the quote above, by Steve Jobs, is right on target.

Let's get rid of the "Negators" in our life. Just in case you don't understand how I'm using the word, it's my favorite word for all those people who tell us why we can't or shouldn't do something! They're the ultimate right-fighters, sure that their opinion is the only one with any accuracy. They seem to live for the opportunity to wait for you to fail so they can proclaim they saw it coming! 

I'm staying away from all the issues we face today outside of business and focusing on imaging.  Photography is an art form often misunderstood, especially by family members and friends. They don't understand your passion. They assume you're going to starve in the process. They may never have seen your work and question whether or not you're good enough. They don't understand why you can't just go out and get a "real job"!  Sound familiar?

On the old GoingPro podcasts, Scott Bourne and I talked a lot about surrounding yourself with people with positive attitudes. You need to block out the "Negators." It's not out of Greek mythology, but it should be. Negators are people who are so unhappy in their own lives; their only joy in life is screwing with yours!

The result is most often serious damage to your self-confidence. So, let's come up with a few things to help you stay focused, pun intended, and give you a little reinforcement. You know how to focus your camera, but do you know how to hold the focus on your career path?

• Look at old images. Go back and look at your very first images. It might have been a party you photographed, a landscape while on vacation, or maybe just a few shots of your kids. Now, compare them to where you are today. If you don't see a difference, you're in trouble, but most of you will see growth in how you compose and expose today. As you get more experienced, there should be some serious changes in lighting, composition, depth of field, and creativity.
• Roberto Valenzuela once suggested a terrific tool for practicing the craft on a GoingPro podcast. He suggested you go back to the last wedding you photographed and look at all the bad images.  "Look for what you missed and learn to understand why each image wasn't good!"
• Enter some images in print competition. This is a personal favorite. Whether you enter prints or not, at least attend the judging at the next convention, where it's open to the public. Listen to what the judges are saying about each print. Use their suggestions as guidance for your own work.
• Find yourself a supportive forum. There are so many social media groups within photography, and while you'll occasionally run across a troll who doesn't like the images you share, just remember, "Beauty is in the eyes of the checkbook holder!"
• Join your local chapter or guild of professional photographers. Sooner or later, everyone shares the same frustrations. A local chapter of other photographers becomes a support group and an essential part of your network. There's a lot of good comfort in knowing your peers share some of the same concerns and frustrations. 
• Surround yourself with positive people. Hopefully, the "Negators" in your life will come around sooner or later, but for now, those people who are throwing up the roadblocks need to be kept on the sidelines. The only thing they're contributing to your life is stress.
• Listen to your heart. It sounds hokey, but you know what you feel inside. You know what your gut instinct is saying about your passion for being a photographer.
• Don't respond to trolls! When you step out into the public forums and get shot at by a troll, don't let yourself get caught up in the battle. Don't respond. Your silence is far more effective at driving them mad!

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We're out of the "slow season," and Spring seasonality is just about over. You've got the best part of the year ahead of you. It's time to really dig into your journey. And if you need a little help from one of the industry's biggest cheerleaders - you know where to find me!

by Skip Cohen

​If you've followed me for even the shortest time, you know I'm a big fan of great workshops. Your education to keep building your skillset should never slow down. Coming up in June and July are four terrific workshops with two of the industry's most respected educators...Bobbi Lane and Lee Varis.

Yes, I'm a little prejudiced because they're two of my best friends - but they became good friends out of respect for all of us working together and my admiration for their style and how they give back to the community. If music were playing in the background right now, it would be Carly Simon singing "Nobody Does It Better."

The first program is right around the corner on June 6, but all four are listed below—just click on any one of them to link to Bobbi and Lee's workshop site. All four are in the greater Boston area and are perfect for helping you fine-tune your creativity and raise the bar on your images.