by Skip Cohen

It's Hump Day and a great time for a quick lesson in lighting combined with a classic reason why I love social media.

Wandering through cyberspace, Atlanta-based photographer David Wagner spotted the classic shot on the right in one of my posts and wrote to me about it. He wrote:

I worked at Davidson & Company for many years and was the project coordinator and retoucher on that piece. I worked with Michael on determining the individual photographic elements we needed, and I then assembled and finished the image using the pin-registered photographic and conventional retouching methods we were using at Davidson at the time. I actually still have the original finished piece in my possession. I’ve attached a current photograph of it, including the registration holes along the edge, simply to help establish that I’m the person I say I am.

As I wandered through David's website, the page below came up. At a time when so many new photographers don't understand lighting, it deserves to be shared with more artists!  I loved how David demonstrated the different styles, which prompted my phone call to him for permission to share the page.

I'm so tired of photographers who claim to be professional portrait artists and claiming they specialize in "natural lighting." When I hear that, all the alarms go off letting me know this is somebody who's never taken the time to learn lighting! Click on any image below to visit David's website.

I've got two points to make in sharing today's post. First, social media is the mortar that holds all the bricks of new and old friendships together. David saw my post. I called him and we had a great conversation about the original photograph above. That led to talking about the industry. There's no doubt in my mind there's a potential for a fun friendship to kick off.

Second, Don Blair taught lighting and posing right up to a month or so before he passed away. He used to say, "You have to know the rules before you can break them!" So, if you're one of those "natural light specialists" out there, take the time to learn lighting. Understanding portait lighting will NEVER disappoint you, and even better, it's the magic that brings customers back time and again!

Remember, you've got one goal in business: exceed customer expectations and make yourself habit-forming.

And thanks, David - it was a great call, and I'm looking forward to the next time we catch up.

by Skip Cohen

​It's Hump Day, and as I sat down to write this morning, for whatever reason, I was thinking about how so many photographers today have a "that's good enough" attitude regarding the quality of their images. Too many of you never think about how the photographs you capture, especially portraits, might be of value later on.

I'm not talking about the rush to meet a deadline and occasionally taking a shortcut. We've all done that. It's acceptable when you're grabbing a photograph for your archives, or even fixing something at home. However, when it comes to a client, only your best is good enough.

In 2016, my good buddy Bob Coates shared one of his favorite portraits with me, "Randy," shown on the right.

I hope you listen to the short podcast with the photograph, but here's the summary. Randy was struck by a car and died two to three weeks after Bob captured this image. Bob's portrait was one of the last photographs ever taken of him.

One more major example, looking back to 9/11. Remember the tragedy and the photographs posted as people searched for lost family members and friends? Because so many of the victims were relatively young, there were hundreds of professional portraits, usually bridal, college, or high school senior shots.

Throughout the industry, there are stories from professional photographers who captured the last images taken of a specific subject.

Here's my point - NEVER compromise on the quality of an image. Your clients trust you to capture the best photos, and you owe them your full attention. You never know how important today's photographs are going to be tomorrow!

by Skip Cohen

I've written a lot about diversity in your skill set, as well as the services/products you offer your target audience. Family portraiture is one of the most lucrative extensions for a photography business, but more importantly, it's all about relationship building. When you do a great job photographing a family, it becomes a stepping stone into other aspects of imaging as the family dynamics change and the kids grow up.

I'm a big fan of Marathon's Family Marketing program because they're sharing their expertise in the category and, at the same time, helping you grow as an artist and business owner.

I'm always amazed at the number of relatively new artists and even a few seasoned veterans who don't realize the level of support available from Marathon. This is all about locking in a stronger revenue stream and Marathon's "we got this" approach to building your business.  

What I love about their Family Marketing Program is the way they take on all the work. You've got your choice of three different mailings plus a fourth, optional reminder. Marathon's team will work with you on your images, the copy, and the timing you want for the mailings.

But I want to add an "upgrade" to the concept of family portraiture: a Day in the Life shoot. Rather than just a typical family portrait sitting, how about spending a slug of time with a family? It doesn't have to be a full day, but imagine the potential for storytelling if you were on location with a family for several hours.

Nobody can tell their story better than you! You're there to document the love and interaction between all family members, including pets. And the potential for a small album gives you a chance to create something memorable that becomes their unique story. It also lets you showcase your skill set beyond individual portraits.

If you're a family and children's photographer or interested in expanding your business, then click on the banner above and check out your options. You've got so many choices. From oversized postcards to accordions and gift cards, you've got an incredible combination of eye-catching ways to plant the seed for a family portrait session. Here's your chance to develop a complete marketing campaign to pull clients into the family portrait season, and best of all, Marathon is the perfect remedy to reduce your stress in the process!

Marathon makes it so easy, including exclusivity on mailing lists within ZIP code ranges. The available design for this 3-part mailing is limited to only one studio per marketing area—call (800) 228.0629 to reserve your preferred ZIP Codes. ZIP Codes are protected on a first-come, first-served basis.

Plus, if they're helping you with your own customized family marketing program, you'll be free to work on other aspects of growing your business.

by David Anthony Williams

I was perusing two entries on FB from Awkward Family Photos and Bad Album Cover Collective just the other day. Apart from both cringing and laughing my head off – it occurred to me that all the bad album covers and many (if not most) of the awkward family portraits were done by what would have been regarded as professional photographers.
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It's a rather confronting thing when you think that a lot of people scoff at professional photography or don't think it's worth paying out good money for.  It doesn't matter that these portraits were done in Sears or similar - they were still regarded by most of the public as professional portraits. Two things come out of this to me:

1. We think being a professional photographer automatically makes us higher up the photographic food chain than everyone else.
2. The public - in good faith - sought out what they saw as a professional photographer and basically had a picture made in cane chair with too much uncontrolled light. In addition, they were presented with a result where their expressions were often substandard to say the least.

No matter that it was the fast food end of the professional photography industry – it was still professional photography to them.

The fact that these images are up on FB in these humorous sites tells us that these were often the "best" choices out of a bad selection. We can blame it on difficult subjects - or we can say the photography skills were lacking in all areas – or just accept that it was made to an economic expectation and a position in the industry. That this is out there  makes me wonder how much of the decline in people seeking professional photography is (in a small part) to do with substandard offerings like this – firmly displayed on grandma's mantlepiece – and now shared out there now for public amusement.

Many of us have made a good living from promotional sittings – it was a valid way to keep things ticking over…..but sometimes this evolved to formula posing, props, and safe easy lighting. We were making a budget product to serve a customer we didn’t think would spend.

Those of us doing our absolute best to produce first class work, probably wouldn’t include ourselves in the budget in-store – or very low budget group---So why does this matter to us?

We all too readily blame increased technology - but somewhere in there there was this raft of low-quality work - purported to be by professionals - often pushed as FREE sittings with small print disclaimers. Just maybe we ended up shooting ourselves in the collective foot.

So here’s the thing:

Our professional organizations have always done a truly GREAT JOB of awards competitions...we get trophies, ribbons and plaques to put up on our studio walls...we earn the respect of our peers for our achievements. We hold ourselves to high standards – and we get a solid connection with high-quality photography every year.

BUT I can't help thinking, in all of this, the most important people – our future customers – are absent from this process. Where would we be if our industry as a whole were promoting our awards directly to the consumer instead of just ourselves? We can’t leave it to our local newspapers anymore – many have shut down.

We know who we are and how good we are – but do our future customers know?

Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.
Warren Buffett

by Skip Cohen

When I read the quote above, I couldn't help but think about our industry. Lou Mitchell went on to write:

The benefits we enjoy are often the result of efforts made by others in the past. This perspective encourages us to consider how our actions can create lasting positive effects for those who come after us, emphasizing the value of foresight and generosity.

We're an industry of trailblazers. People like Don Blair, Monte Zucker and Dean Collins, just to name a few, all blazed a trail for so many of us to follow and learn from. And as each of them passed on, another artist, educator, and trend-setter stepped in, becoming a guiding light for integrity, quality, and new techniques.

Now and then I've met artists who want to change their career path and step into another specialty. But almost always, they have an excuse: it's too late and something they should have done years ago. They "should" on themselves, but the reality is just the opposite -- There's always time to change, grow, and influence.

Remember, growth only happens outside your comfort zone. I remember sitting with Don Blair in the back of the room at a Nick Vedros presentation in Phoenix. Don, already established as one of the most recognized portrait artists in the world, was furiously taking notes. Surprised, I asked, "What are you taking notes about? You know all of this stuff already!"

He shook his head and said, "What this guy is doing is giving me all kinds of ideas on changes I want to make!" He went back to furiously taking more notes.

It's just a short post today and a reminder that your only limitations are the ones you put on yourself. Plus, as sappy as it sounds, this industry is a family with members who help each other and watch each other's backs. 

As I've written before, you can't create images that tug at people's hearts if your own heart isn't in it! So, if you find yourself bored and a touch apathetic, step away from your business and take time to figure out what's missing.

When a bottle of Coke has gone flat, you can't put the fizz back in, but you can toss it and open another bottle! Your career path is no different, and there are so many different "sodas" to choose from.

Happy Hump Day! 

We're moving into a new year and it's another leap of faith.
But, it's a whole lot easier if you believe in yourself!
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

We've been in a new year for almost four months, but we're moving into prime seasonality. The bottom line - You have to have faith in yourself.  You have to believe in what you’re doing.  You have to understand not only the craft, but the human spirit. And, it’s the human spirit that should be at the top of your list.

For most of us, the definition of the ultimate photograph is one that moves people. You can’t move people and create images that tug at their hearts if you’re not comfortable with your own heart.  So, it all becomes sort of obvious – it’s faith in yourself that creates confidence and builds your strength of character and gets your heart where it should be.

The challenges in the outside world right now border on being overwhelming. All of us are at times filled with doubt as a result of so many things outside our control. But what is in control is your faith as an artist!

1. No career field, with the exception of modern medicine, gives the world what photographers do!  What would a newspaper look like without photography?  Or, a wedding album? The list goes on and on.
2. A wedding album is the first family heirloom of a brand-new family! The dress will never be worn again.  The food is gone.  The band has stopped playing, but the wedding album will last forever, sadly,  longer than half the marriages performed today.
3. Your images capture memories. You’re the eyes of your client.  You’ve been hired to capture the moments they missed, whether it’s at a wedding or a "day in the life" shoot of their children.
4. Your clients have hired you because they trust you. Think about the meaning of the word “trust”.  No matter what you’ve ever done in your life, right or wrong, here’s somebody who has simply put their faith and trust in your abilities to tell their story.

And for those of you who think you're going to be replaced by AI...it still takes a master storyteller to capture memories, regardless of the tools you use to create the finished product. I’m constantly accused of being one of the industry cheerleaders, but honestly, this is an easy job.  What could be more incredible than working with people who put their trust in you?  What could be a more wonderful job than being a storyteller?

Nobody can teach you to have faith in yourself – it’s caught, not taught.  So, how to catch it and keep it?  Stay focused on your career path and your subjects.  Learn every possible technique you can.  Make it a point to understand photography before you push the shutter button. Know your gear – know your lighting – know your lab – know your clients.  And never ever compromise on quality!

"Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created.  It is a major force in explaining man to man." Edward Steichen:  

"I wish more people felt that photography was an adventure, the same as life itself, and felt that their individual feelings were worth expressing.  To me, that makes photography more exciting!" Harry Callahan

by Skip Cohen
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Yesterday I was interviewed by a writer for an excellent company that specializes in AI. They're working on a white paper document with contributors from a variety of different fields. I'm a big fan of AI, but I get frustrated with many of you. Some of you either see AI as the cure-all for everything you're missing, or you go the other way and worry about AI replacing your skills.

Any time I've ever been interviewed, been a podcast guest, etc., there are always things I think about after my initial unrehearsed responses. I've been thinking a lot about my conversation yesterday and my opinions on AI, which at times were more negative than positive.

The truth is, the combination of AI with many of the old standards gives a business owner the perfect tools to expand reach, customer loyalty and build more brand awareness. What I hate is the way so many businesses act like AI will make up for their incompetence in other areas, especially marketing.

As business owners, you still have to build relationships. You still need integrity to build trust, keep your promises, deliver on time, and exceed expectations! In fact, in a world that's driven by text messages and social media, that personal analog touch is even more important. Photography is still a word-of-mouth business, especially when it comes to Customer Service.

And as far as being replaced by AI, you still have to tell the client's story. Whether in an album or an individual print, clients are trusting you to see the world through their eyes. 

Technology never slows down, and you have to keep up with all the trends and ways to grow your skill set, but from my perspective, the demand will continue to be there for artists who listen to their clients. Ed Foreman, a motivational/marketing speaker many years ago, gave me some of the very best advice:

"If I can see the world through my client's eyes, then I can sell my client what my client buys!" It's a great concept, going well beyond the old line of "put yourself in their shoes." You have to understand what people in your target audience love most, what they worry about, and what/who are most important to them.

Years ago, I did a podcast interview with Mary Ellen Mark. She talked about covering the screen on the back of everyone's camera and forcing them to shoot like they were working with film. Why? Because she wanted people to stop "chimping" to see if they got the shot. The reality is, the real emotion in an image might have happened after the photographer moved on! For example, a grandmother hugging her granddaughter, a bride. What if the most powerful shot wasn't the hug, but the tear in Grandma's eyes a minute or two after the hug? If the photographer chimped and moved on, that special moment was missed.

The bottom line, AI is an incredible asset to understand, but don't rule out some very old-school approaches. From direct mail to pounding the pavement in your community, to relationship building and keeping in touch with your clients past, present, and future...the heart of your business is still YOU!

by Skip Cohen

It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday. While I've shared the challenge of posing tall grooms and short brides in the past, this morning in my hunt for old photographs, the print below came up, followed by a set of 5x5 proofs from the original shoot for the book, "Don Blair's Guide to Lighting and Posing Body Parts."

Talking about 5x5 proofs is a throwback all in itself. So, for those of you who grew up exclusively with digital, everything used to be shot on film. Once developed we'd get a set of printed proofs for the initial viewing. From those proofs, the final images, whether for a stand alone print or an album would be selected.

Here's the backstory:

Don Blair and I wrote a book together in the 90s that covered most of the biggest challenges of portrait photography. From hand-posing to kids with braces, to subjects wearing glasses, masculine and feminine posing, etc. - It covered just about everything, including tall grooms and short brides.

We shot all the images for the book in Las Vegas with local models so that when the book launched a year later at WPPI, we could use the actual models from the book for our program. Body Parts was the opening event for the convention that year.

The two pictures at the top were examples of how people typically pose couples with a height difference - he was 6'4" and she was under 5'. Don wanted to get people to think outside the box! His favorite pose for this kind of combination was to seat them on the floor and create one of his signature bridal portraits.

During the two-hour keynote program, we went through at least a half-dozen challenges from the book. "Big Daddy" was in his glory every step of the way. The final poses scanned from the page in the actual book are to the right.

Besides the fun and importance of bringing back old photographs for a walk down Memory Lane, think about your own skill set and how you've grown as an artist over the years. Next, think about the responsibility you have to your subjects. They're trusting you to meet their expectations and deliver your very best! That's what we wanted when we put the book together: to help portrait artists deliver their very best!

If you haven't taken the time today to wander through your own files and search for throwbacks, don't miss the opportunity. I think you'll be surprised at how much you've grown. You might even find a few throwbacks to help direct you to where you'd like to go next in terms of style and technique.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

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

by Skip Cohen

For years, I've referred to myself as the low-tech poster child for the industry. In fact, I played off that theme in a post many years ago, demonstrating how easy it was to use X-Rite's ColorMunki to calibrate your monitor.

Here's the short backstory...

A year ago, we lost Sheila's brother Randy after a long fight following a brain aneurysm. Randy was on my mind yesterday because it was Veterans' Day, and I've never known a prouder Marine. We used to accuse him of sleeping in any one of a dozen military baseball hats, his signature attire.

While going through old files in my Shutterfly account, I ran across this still shot of Randy and Sheila from when he visited us ten years ago. I don't remember even seeing it initially. 

Yesterday, scrolling through Facebook, an ad came up for an animation company using AI to animate still photographs. You've all seen them, and I decided it was worth a few minutes to play with the software. The company was alivemoment.com. I didn't do a whole lot of research; I just decided to give it a try at their minimal-cost one-month trial level.

By adding a short piece of royalty-free music from Wondershare Filmora 12, the short clip above was complete.

If you've known or followed me for even the shortest amount of time, you should have figured out that I'm one of the industry's biggest cheerleaders. But while I respect new technology, I'm not an early adopter, and probably one of the last people to change to something new. The concept of animating old photographs is hardly new, but the results of this first personal test drive blew me away.

What I do love and have written about hundreds of times over the years is how photographs capture memories and allow us to relive them, long after the events themselves are long over. But this particular image was so wonderful and over-the-top that I hesitated even to show it to Sheila.

As we both teared up watching it several times, Sheila said, "Oh my God, you brought Randy back to life!"  

Before posting this morning, I wanted to grab one of my favorite group shots from close to 25 years ago at WPPI. It's not quite as effective, but it definitely captured what we were all feeling that night, catching up to Big Daddy...lots of laughs. And with Don Blair and Terry Deglau both having passed away, it's a poignant moment to watch an animated still photograph.

It's no good running a pig farm badly for 30 years while saying,
'Really, I was meant to be a ballet dancer.'
By then, pigs will be your style.
Quentin Crisp

by Skip Cohen

Over the years, I've met many photographers who have shared their regrets about the direction their career path took. However, the revenue stream was substantial, and it was too risky to consider a change. Yet, they still have a passion for another specialty and a chance to be more creative.

Senior photography is one of those areas that people have found it was hard to break into. So, they gave up chasing the idea. My point isn't so much about what a great direction it can be for a career, but if you're going to take that path, then do it right!

If you're interested in the senior market, the first thing you need to ensure is that you've the right skill set, not just with your camera. You need excellent communication skills and the ability to establish a strong relationship with your subject.

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!

But here's the real point of today's post - you don't have to develop the senior market alone. Check out Marathon's "Power of 3" Senior Marketing program. It's direct mail at its best, with the expertise of the Marathon staff to watch your back and help you develop an effective program.

For example, check out the strategy and timing below of their 3-point program, as well as the optional fourth "last chance" piece.

• Mailing 1: Introduce yourself and create awareness that it's time to think about senior portraits and become a part of the class of 2026.
• Mailing 2: Give seniors a chance to take a second look at your photography and recognize your studio as the best choice for their senior portraits.
• Mailing 3: One more chance to convince seniors that your studio stands out from the rest and that you offer the creativity they expect for their senior portrait experience.
• Optional Mailing 4: For only 96¢ per name, you can add another "last chance" card to let seniors know they must call now or they will miss out. Custom design is an additional $65 for this card.

At the very least, finding out more about the program should be a no-brainer. It costs nothing for you to get more information. There's an unlimited combination of design components for you to choose from, but everything starts with your interest in expanding your expertise into the community.

Even better, to help you build your brand as a senior photographer, the available design for each 3-part mailing is limited to only one studio per marketing area. It only takes a phone call to find out what's being done in your area.

You can't create images that tug at people's heartstring if your own heart isn't in it!
Skip Cohen

If the senior market is something you've considered, then pick up the phone and give the Marathon team a call! Click below to find out how to get your Senior Power of 3 sample pack or call (800) 228.0629 to speak to an Account Representative.

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. 
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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.