by Skip Cohen

While this post is really about the countdown to the end of Platypod's Kickstarter campaign, it's also a kick to share Jay P. Morgan's creative talent. Tune into his YouTube channel, The Slanted Lens, and you'll never be disappointed in what he's sharing. 

Jay P and I first met back in my Hasselblad days. In the early 90's he was shooting on sound stages and producing photographs that are still some of my most favorite. Well, today, he's one of the industry's leading educators and is regularly sharing great content on his YouTube channel. This new piece for Platypod's eXtreme just aired.

 On April 6, many of you joined us on The Grid as Scott Kelby, together with Larry T (founder of Platypod), Lizzy Gadd, and Kris Andres, launched the campaign for the new eXtreme. The response was incredible, and to date, we're coming up on 1400 photographers who have backed the project.  

We're down to the last two weeks of the campaign, and eXtreme is already in production.  Our first delivery is scheduled to arrive in our warehouse within a few days of the Kickstarter close. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we'll be shipping to our "First Day Giveaway Backers" before the end of May. If you are interested in an eXtreme, there are approximately 600 units not committed for June delivery and more for August.  Click the banner above to link to the Kickstarter campaign.

After all backers have been shipped, the eXtreme will launch this summer at $149 retail. It's a great time to save money by backing the campaign for June or August delivery.

A BIG thanks to everyone who's supported the campaign, the KelbyOne team who helped us launch, Lizzy and Kris for never compromising their creativity, and all of you who help make this industry such an amazing career path. 
​

Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.
George Bernard Shaw

by Skip Cohen

​It's just a short post today to help kick off the weekend. George Bernard Shaw, gets the credit for sending me in the direction I want to write about.

We're part of a word-of-mouth, creative and artistic community. And while it's driven so much by technology, the control over the creative process and how you choose to work with each client is entirely in your control.

If I look back over the contemporary history of imaging, here are a few of the BAD assumptions people made:

• When color came into photography, there were those who were convinced that imaging was headed to hell.
• More than likely, it was their offspring who were convinced that auto-focus was created by Satan and took the beauty out of the skill of being a photographer.
• And it was their kids who probably thought the world was collapsing when digital imaging replaced film.

My good buddy, Scott Bourne, had one of the earliest websites (I once heard 106th) in the world at a time when the rest of us all thought it was a passing fad. Scott is a visionary. We never saw the potential of expanded reach, the power of the Internet or the value cyberspace real estate.

Now scale all of that down to everything you have control over today. Too many of you think because you set a specific course, you can't change it! Your success is all about listening to your audience while at the same time never ignoring your heart. Styles change, technology never slows down, and your skillset should continually be growing.

And here's my point - you can do anything you want. You can be shooting weddings and events today and tomorrow decide you'd rather be a portrait artist. So follow your dreams and stop thinking that every path you take is the one you have to stay on forever. Just make sure before you change paths you've got the skills and the understanding to navigate in a new direction. And before you switch - remember why you went in this direction in the first place.

Use the inner circle of your network to think through the changes you need to make in your life and your career. And if you're attending any of the upcoming conventions - take the time to ALWAYS sign up for one workshop/class completely outside your skillset.

Growth only happens outside your comfort zone!
Anonymous

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead! Find the time to look at your journey - it's never to late to change paths if your heart's pulling you in a different direction.

by Skip Cohen

Over my career, I've been involved in so many different projects. Here's one I couldn't be more proud of, and it's part of the reason I've loved this industry so much and for so long.

The inventor, founder, owner and CEO of Platypod is Larry Tiefenbrunn, often called "Dr. T" because he's a full-time pediatrician when not involved in imaging. Fortunately for the industry, his love for photography matches his passion for medicine.  From the original Platypod to Platyball, he's never slowed down on creating solutions to help give artists a new perspective.

Well, here comes another new great product:

Circle the Date: Coming up on April 6th on "The Grid" it's the launch of a new Kickstarter program! Joining Scott Kelby will be "Dr. T," and photographers Lizzy Gadd and Kris Andres. They'll be talking about a new member of the family and giving you the first look at a tripod alternative that will give you an entirely new perspective.

​And stay tuned for surprises - they'll be giving away a 16x24 Lizzy Gadd limited edition print to one lucky member of the online audience!

Click on any image below to visit Lizzy's galleries. I've picked a few of my favorites, but it wasn't easy!

by Skip Cohen

​Now and then, a program comes along that simply is a must-attend - regardless of your specialty in imaging!

Meet my long-time buddy, Bob Coates. He's no stranger to the industry or, for that matter, the SCU blog. He's got an exciting program coming up all about shooting the night skies. Circle the dates June 26-27 and then figure out how to get over to Sedona! Sponsored by the Arizona Professional Photographers Association, it's guaranteed to be a phenomenal workshop.

Sedona is a Dark Sky Certified Community. That makes it ideal for photographing the night skies. The red rocks don't hurt as a foreground for the Milky Way either! 

Photographing the Milky Way is akin to playing a 4-D board game. There are lots of moving parts in play when capturing the night sky. The sun, moon, and Milky Way are all moving. The Galactic Center is the star of the solid Milky Way photograph. But, where will it be? At what time. How will I know in advance where to set up my camera for the best results? Coates will share ideas and concepts that will remove the mystery of the heavenly bodies shoot.

Click on Bob's image above to link to the program page for more details!

by Skip Cohen

Hey Southern California - circle the dates for a great program on January 15 at the Resin Gallery in Hermosa Beach. It promises to be an outstanding event, put together and hosted by my good buddy Kevin Gilligan. And if you've followed the SCU blog for even the shortest amount of time, you're probably familiar with Kevin's work as a photographer, artist, educator, and writer. And following the program is a one-week gallery exhibition, well worth your time to check out.

I don't know Tony Di Zinno personally, but I know his reputation, and Hernan and I go back to my old Rangefinder days, as well as images here on the SCU Blog. We've been friends for a whole lot of years.

So, while the pandemic still manages to wreak a little havoc, it's time to get back out here and there, especially for smaller programs like this one. It's perfect for all of you locally, and if I were still living in California, I'd be there that Saturday night!

Just click on the banner above to link to the registration site for more information.

by Skip Cohen

Now and then, an image comes along that's so unique, it simply has to be shared. Don Komarechka is definitely the "Mad Scientist of Photography." He never slows down on pushing the edge of the envelope in creativity and technology.  With the image above, he wrote:

Water droplet refraction photography is all about careful lighting and careful alignment. Every element of the photograph is like a puzzle piece that needs to fit perfectly in exactly the right place for the image to be made whole. Gooseneck arms can hold anything - Lumecube lights for illumination and clamps to hold the photographic "ingredients" in place. The flower in the background needs to be in alignment with the droplets and the foreground petals, which can be easily done with subtle and accurate shifts.

This macro contraption is flexible and customizable, and any camera with macro capabilities can get a similar shot. While I generally shoot with fancy mirrorless cameras and expensive lenses, this image was also intended to prove a point: the camera is the least important element to the composition. If you can check of the "macro" box, energy should be focused on the other elements of the image and how to best sculpt it; you're a droplet sculptor first, and photographer second. So many of the skills required to get these images to work have little to do with the camera itself, and more to do with how you stage everything. Platypod is there to make this entire process easier.

​Let's take his image one step further - check out this shot of his macro setup. Added to the Gerbera daisy, water, and his smartphone are a Platypod Max and Ultra, 2 Lume Cube 2.0 Waterproof LED lights, 1 Lume Cube Panel Pro, 6 goosenecks, 3 Platypod Mini-Super Clamps, a Benro Ball Head, and a Square Jellyfish Smart Phone Holder!  This "mini-studio" took Don no more than an hour to set up.

Looking for a great holiday gifts for the photographer in the family? Don's new book, Macro Photography: The Universe at our Feet is available through B&H. Just click on the book to link to the URL.

The book is stunning, (Don never does anything halfway!) and is one of the finest most extensive resource books on macro photography that's ever been published!

This is one of those books that every photographer should have on his/her shelf, regardless of their specialty. 

Looking for other great gift ideas this holiday season? - Platypod's Black Friday Holiday Specials are going on now. Just click on any product below for information on some outstanding packages, including the Max-Macro Bundle Deluxe and even lighting for your Platypod setup.

by Skip Cohen

Most of you know I'm part of the Platypod team. It's a remarkable company with a terrific product line. So, while this post is in part to let you know about some great Black Friday offers - it's also an opportunity to show what happens when you put our products together with Lume Cube's and the outrageous skillset of artist and educator Rick Friedman.

The challenge was to see what he could do with a bunch of Lume Cube 2.0s, their new RGB Panel Pro, and a few Platypods.

The behind-the-scenes shot above, which includes clamping a light to the bicycle on the right, shows his setup. And the finished portrait is an excellent example of what Platypod and Lume Cube products can help create.

For this image, he was shooting with Tamron's 100-400mm F/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD lens and the Nikon D850.

"It's an unusual choice for a portrait session, but I wanted the compression of a long lens. Rick Friedman

He moved outside late in the day and captured the images below using Tamron's 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD lens.

Click on any of Rick's images to see more of his work! And follow him on Facebook to catch up to where he's traveling and often teaching! 

The subject is one of Rick's favorites to work with, Emily McCall, fashion designer and model.

​This week Platypod launched the most diverse Black Friday Holiday Specials they've ever done. Just click on any of the products to the right to visit the website. There are some great discounts and FREE shipping within the US on orders of $100 or more.

Check out the accessory line, from the new Mini-Super Clamps to the much-talked-about Platypod Disc. And if you're into Macro photography, the new Max Macro Bundle Deluxe is an instant macro setup - just add your camera! Watch the short video below, and you'll understand why!

by Skip Cohen
​
Kevin Gilligan is no stranger to SCU. As a past Tamron Image Master, artist, writer, and educator, we've shared a lot of great content here at SCU, including his three-part series on how to put together your own exhibition. The bottom line is, he's a good buddy. So when he sent me this image the other day of his daughter, Lana, walking on her board in a California surfing competition, I wanted to share it. (And she won her heat at the time!)

The detail is outstanding, and this is from a screenshot - so, imagine the quality of the original. It's captured with Tamron's SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC lens. Tamron is manufacturing some of the finest glass in imaging optics, and there's very little that beats a Dad on the sidelines photographing one of his kids!

Tamron's has some terrific offers going on right now - just click on the banner below.

by Eddie Tapp

Take composition for instance, the one thing that will make a scene or image easy to look at with leading lines, element structor, rule of odds, light, story telling as in communicating a feeling and demanding that you look at a specific area or thing.

Experience teaches us to just move over this far to get that diagonal element to create excitement, a see though mystery or leading line. In a studio set we can bring in something to create eye flow, set the element structure for a visible feast or establish placements to balance the view.

Now that we include aerial compositions in some of our works which reveal the location or action that brings us to the discipline of low attitude solutions such as drones or moving vehicles.

Drones are not very difficult to fly, as a matter of fact, they are really quite easy to fly especially because of the GPS connection, the fact is that most drones today have obstacle avoidance along with features that allow cool cinematic movements.

What isn’t easy is learning to create the best possible angle or cinematic movements within a compositional mind-set while flying a drone and here are some of the reasons why. A remote control pilot now has to pay close attention to the telemetry such as speed, altitude and then obstacles can take over thinking about composition while flying.

If you were the pilot/image-maker, think about keeping your eye on the composition while flying with the added awareness mentioned and you have new challenges. Or at least it takes time to become proficient at flying before it becomes comfortable for one to get back to mastering composition from the air, then it becomes a second nature and the fun begins.

And if you really want to fly drones for professional use, you must have an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification, this requires a written test to achieve. The website to find out more is faadronezone.faa.gov. The national air space has various classes of air space and safety is the most important aspect of drone operations. There are online study courses such as uavgroundschool.com where you can learn all the important aspects of flying in the national air space along with studying for the Part 107 written test.
It all comes down to vision and this is where our tasks start.

​How ever you interpret a vision is something you should set as your objective. Use the best means you have to create and go for it. Just remember the three key elements that create exceptional imagery are light, composition and exposure. When creating your next project from the air, moving vehicle or from land, partner your composition with your light and make sure to keep thinking up.

​Eddie Tapp, M.Photog., MEI,Cr., API, CPP
Photoshop Hall of Fame, Certified Drone Pilot, Delkin ImageMaker,Triple Scoop Music, Coloratti - Calibright
Coach

by Skip Cohen

I know I've shared Jodi Picoult's quote easily a dozen times in past posts, but in all honesty, there is no better quote to describe what makes photography so important in our lives. And as most of you are professional photographers, her statement further emphasizes the importance of never compromising the quality of an image. Your clients trust you to capture not only what you see in front of you but also what's in their hearts!

It's hard to believe it's been twelve years since I started blogging. However, it's Throwback Thursday, and fun go back to one of my earlier posts. Digging around my archives, I came across this video interview with Mary Ellen Mark from Profoto's Icon Series. It ran in 2012 and is a video EVERY photographer should be required to watch.

I met Mary Ellen in 1987, back in my Hasselblad days, and even had the honor of presenting her with "Photographer of the Year" at a PMDA dinner in the 90s. Sadly, she passed away in 2015, but her spirit, love for imaging, and influence are still very much alive.

In a podcast I did with her around 2010, I asked her to talk about why she has students shut off their LCD screens in any of her workshops. She talks about this in the video below: When we look at the screen and think we've got the shot, we let go of the scene, when in reality, there might still be more to happen. How do we know we captured the decisive moment if we've accepted what we already have? 

For example, many wedding photographers might see a scene, let's say Grandma is giving her granddaughter, the bride, a kiss on the check. The photographer sees the shot, clicks the shutter, might do a quick "chimp," and then moves on. But the best image might still be coming, and the tear rolling down Grandma's cheek was missed. But, had the artist stayed focused on the scene just a few seconds longer, the photograph would have been incredible!

Mary Ellen's website is just a click away, and it's loaded with some of the most outstanding documentary images in photography. She was remarkable and such an amazing influence on artists worldwide, with a passion for the craft that was simply unmatched!

...If you love it and you really want to do it, then you must do it.
Because you'll never forgive yourself for not doing something you care about or believe in,
if you don't do it now.
Mary Ellen Mark

by Skip Cohen

This will probably be the last post in The Road to Seasonality series. I've done my best to cover so many different things you can be doing to help make this year's holiday season one of your most successful. Sadly though, there are still too many of you caught in analysis paralysis, trying to figure out what to do next.

STOP OVERTHINKING! First, you're only one person - even if you have a staff to help support your business, it still comes down to you. Second, you're better off doing something and being only moderately successful rather than being complacent and going into the holiday season without any marketing plans. Last but not least - remember the definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.

I wrote a post a few weeks back with a similar theme, but let's take it a step further. Here's a check-off list to work from, and it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you maintain a presence with your target audience and do something!

• Get your holiday card together! This is one of your images on the front, a holiday message on the inside, and on the back, your logo, and contact information. It's just like the back of a Hallmark card! Remind people what you do for a living.
• What products and services are you offering your clients? We're really down to the wire here, but if you still haven't decided, pick up the phone and call your lab! From prints to albums to canvas, metal, and novelty items - don't let the holidays go by without sharing something new. And remember, holiday cards for your clients! Marathon Press has their BOGO program going on right now - buying on a BOGO offer increases your revenue by 50%!
• "Day in the Life" Albums: I love the concept because it demonstrates your skill as a storyteller. Plus, rather than just one portrait, you have an opportunity to build an album telling the story of a client or their family. It's also perfect for capturing a few hours of images of kids and pets.
• Legacy Sessions: I wrote about this briefly in Sunday's post. This is an incredible opportunity to work with REAL seniors (not high school). Whether it's a series of portraits with a soundtrack or a video, the market potential is enormous. It's a video session you capture of a subject telling the story of part of their journey in life. How many senior members of your own family have you lost over the years and wish you had a video of them talking about their life?
• New Markets: The restaurant market is one of the fastest-growing in the country for photography. So many restaurants, because of the pandemic, went to carry-out service as well as outdoor dining. But they had virtually no images for their website. And if they're offering new outdoor seating, they've got nothing decorating the area!
• Partnerships: Stop thinking you have to go it alone. This is the perfect season to cross-promote with florists, venues, and other photographers. And if you want to do a direct mail piece together - what better way to reduce your costs than sharing the project.
• Support Gifts: Now's the time to think about those key vendors who helped you over the past year. Holiday cards are great, but most of you have at least a couple of people who deserve something more. Maybe it's taking them out to lunch to say, "THANKS," or some sort of gift basket. From referrals to simply going the extra mile to give you a hand, don't let the season go by without recognizing your appreciation.
• "With our Blessings:" This is a program Bob and Dawn Davis talked about in a podcast a long time ago. For example, they send pictures to the various vendors of their contribution to the event and sign them with our blessings after every wedding. Clay Blackmore told a story years ago about a caterer who asked him to grab a few shots of the buffet, etc., at a wedding they were both working. Clay took it a step further and captured a short video. Today that caterer has grown to be one of his biggest sources for referrals.
• Own Your Zipcode: Start going door to door with other retailers within a 2-5 mile radius of your location. You're not selling anything - just being helpful and reminding them what you do for a living. You're their number one resource when it comes to imaging!
• Coloring Books: During the pandemic, Steven Gotz hit a home run taking images of everything from animals to family portraits, pulling the color, turning them into line art, and sending them to clients with young children as coloring book pages! It's simple and perfect for building holiday goodwill this season.
• Your Blog: It couldn't be easier to write a post these days - just be helpful. How about a series of tips for Mom and Dad to get better holiday pictures this year? There are so many things you take for granted and do every time you click the shutter. Well, turn them into tips for content on your blog and Facebook page. There are five post topics most of you can write about immediately from fill-flash, depth of field, posing, composition, and storytelling. And it doesn't matter whether capture is with a phone or a real camera - all the technique is the same!

Here's the bottom line - the future of your business is in your hands! I'm not suggesting it's easy, but nothing in life is effortless these days. Just remember that relationship building is your strongest marketing tool. You've got to be out there and shed the chains of analysis paralysis.

It's November 1 - so what are you doing today to help secure business over the next two months?

by Skip Cohen

​I'm online virtually all day, every day. Now and then, somebody shares an image that's so stunning it deserves to be seen by more people. Often, I'm not even out in search of an image to share, but this one, especially when it came up full-screen on my monitor, just hit me!

Clay Blackmore is no stranger to SCU, or for that matter, many of you, especially if you're a wedding or portrait photographer. There's nothing Clay can't photograph, but it's his people work I've always loved the most. He shared the image above on Facebook yesterday.

Clay shared the following advice on his SCU faculty page when we first started this blog:

"More than ever, today's photographer needs a strong foundation in posing and lighting, along with a keen sense of business acumen to navigate a path to the better customers. When I was in Japan a few years ago I saw these signs about service that's so appropriate for the way we have to think about the business:

• Build strong relationships and create customers for life.
• Be responsive to the expressed and unexpressed wishes of every customer.
• Look for opportunities to innovate and improve every customer's experience with you.
• Resolve all customer problems quickly.
• Never stop learning.​

It all boils down to service and hard work. Each image is something we want to be extremely proud of. We're building our business one relationship at a time through great service. It's the heart of any photographer's studio."

It's hard for me to believe Clay and I have been friends for over thirty years, first meeting after I joined Hasselblad. It's proof that time flies when you're having a good time. 

Check out more of Clay's work with a visit to his website and Facebook page. And if you see him scheduled to speak at an upcoming conference or in the Canon booth, run, don't walk to grab a seat!
​

by Skip Cohen

One of the very best podcasts in imaging is Behind the Shot, hosted by my good buddy Steve Brazill. Steve's no stranger to SCU. We shared one of his favorite images on a past episode of "Why?" and he was also a guest on the Beyond Technique podcast last year. 

He's a talented artist, author and he's got one of those stellar easy to listen to voices made for broadcasting. He was also a vital member of the team when we did the F64 Lunch Bunch during the early days of the pandemic. But one of his most outstanding traits in terms of photography is his pure love for everything under the imaging umbrella.

Steve recently tested the new Platyball Ergo and Elite ball heads and released the video below yesterday. If you don't know about the product, he does an outstanding job going through the features, benefits, and the fun of hands-on use in the field. And, let's not forget the job his camera operator did - kudos to Steve's wife, Debbie! 

Behind the Shot needs to be on your radar. Steve's always sharing great content and conversations with some of the most respected artists in imaging, as well as his product reviews and information to help you raise the bar on your life as an artist!

As I've written so many times in the past - the best thing about this industry has very little to do with imaging but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft!

by Skip Cohen

​Now and then, a book comes along that, no matter what your specialty, needs to be on your bookshelf! Well, here's one you need in your collection, and it may well be the finest, most detailed book on macro photography that's ever been published.

Don Komarechka's new book, from the cover right through to the last page, is jam-packed with stunning images, helpful illustrations, and material to help you raise the bar on your macro and closeup work. Even better, it will help you see the world just a little bit differently.

As an artist, educator, writer, and "mad scientist," he's created a 384-page collection of just about everything he's discovered in his passion for macro. This book is a guide to a world we never see, yet it's all around us..."the universe at our feet."

Completed during the pandemic and with all Kickstarter pledges and pre-orders fulfilled, Macro Photography: The Universe at Our Feet is now available for sale, shipping immediately! 

Just trust me on this - you won't be disappointed. The book is stunning and represents an incredible amount of work, knowledge, and everything you need to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images regardless of your specialty!

Click on any image in this post to link to Don's website and the new book!

​by Skip Cohen

As a kid, I know I'm not the only one who dreaded bringing home a report card every six weeks. While there were moments of brilliance when I applied myself, most of the time, there was something I had to explain. LOL Then, as a parent, the process returned, only now I could hear my folks saying, "You'll understand when you're a parent someday." Well, now fast forward to today, and the closest thing to a report card you get is feedback from a client now and then. 

With ClickCon right around the corner, then WPPI, Photoshop World, PPE, and IUSA in January, if you're going to make the very most of the time you put into the events, let's look at your "report card."
​

• Assess your skills: Be honest with yourself. You know where you need the most help. For most of you, it's lighting or diversity. On the lighting side, we've got too many "natural light specialists" out there. Sorry, but the secret is out - we all love natural light, but when it becomes a specialty, it screams - fear of studio lighting! On the diversity side - we've got too many one-trick ponies. I'm not suggesting you need to master everything, but you need to expand your skills. For example, being exclusively an event photographer without a backup plan during the pandemic proved disastrous for many artists.
• Assess your network: Having a great network isn't about collecting names and business cards but building relationships with people you know and respect. A great conference is a perfect place to expand your network and turn it into a team of people who support each other and complement each other's weaknesses, especially yours.
• Assess your gear: Make a list of everything you have. Then, look at what's missing, as well as where are the easy points to expand. Gear doesn't make the photographer, but knowing how to use everything you have and need does! Every conference gives you a chance to check out equipment - but don't forget to rent high-priced items before you invest!
• Assess brand awareness: What good is working to create the finest images of your life if nobody in the community knows who you are? Look for opportunities to become your own publicity machine. Attending a conference, for example, gives you the ability to capture images of yourself with other photographers, vendors, instructors, and examples of new products you might bring to your offerings.
• Assess the vendors you know: Every conference gives you a chance to meet more people, especially the vendors who manufacture and sell the products you use. Make it a point to meet every vendor, starting with any company whose products/services you currently use.
• Assess your offerings: Too many of you have products and services that could put a rock to sleep. Coming out of the pandemic, there's a renewed sense of family and a need for capturing memories. There's also an entirely new channel developing for food photography as more and more restaurants expand to carry out service. When in doubt call your lab and just ask, "What's new?" Then, kick back and listen.

Here's my point - your time and funding for attending conferences is limited, even if they're online. So take the time NOW and do your own report card. The goal is to walk through the door (or portal) for each event ready to get the most out of it.

by Skip Cohen

Technology and trends in demand NEVER slow down. Now add in the "new" normal created by the pandemic, and there are so many opportunities for photographers to raise the bar on their skills and expand their business. Here's one example:

Thousands of restaurants all over the country are serving outside. At the same time, carry-out has become a significant part of their business. Most of them have little in terms of visual assets to show their menu.

But there's one more factor playing a role in your potential to grow your business - most of you have time on your hands. As we come out of the pandemic and things return to a little more normalcy, while business is picking up, it's the perfect opportunity to fine-tune your skill set.

Aaron van is an accomplished food and beverage photographer. The video below is only eighteen minutes, as Aaron goes through the technique and tools he used to light and capture the image above. In addition, he shares a lot of great "how-to" content. 

So, whether food photography is typically part of your business or not, grab a coffee and take a few minutes to follow his process. Then, start thinking about the restaurants in your community that could use a little help in sharing their menu beyond their physical location!       

​Interested in seeing more of Aaron's work? Visit his website, and you'll see galleries of stunning work from one of the industry's very best. And check out KelbyOne for Aaron's most recent online workshop.

by Skip Cohen

My mother used to use the line, "Shoemaker's children need shoes," about me being in the photographic industry and never getting her enough photographs of her grandchildren.

Recently I was asked to write an article for my high school alumni newsletter about the importance of photography and capturing memories. It was published at the beginning of this month, and as I read it, I realized professional photographers are often the guiltiest of all when it comes to capturing memories for their most important clients - their own family!

I'm hoping the article below sparks some ideas to help you become a better historian of your own family. Don't miss capturing memories so that everyone can enjoy a long look in their rearview mirrors down the road!

I’ve been active in the photographic industry my entire adult life, which kind of makes me a one-trick pony when it comes to career paths. But there’s that old line about if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.  Well, that describes my career and the incredible experiences I’ve had over the years in photography.

When the pandemic hit, photographs (videos too) became an essential component in fighting off the frustration and depression of hunkering down. For example, “Throwback Thursday” became a weekly endeavor, not only sharing images in my blog and social media stream but often just enjoying them for me and my wife, Sheila. Every fun old photograph we’d find became an opportunity for one of us to share the backstory.

While I’ve always been an optimist and prefer to look forward rather than back, regular looks in my rearview mirror helped me stay focused on getting back to the good old days. I suppose that’s why Jodi Picoult’s quote above has always been one of my favorites.

When things are tough, whether, in life or business, we all get proactive and start making changes we should have been doing all along. So, before another day passes and you miss out on capturing special memories, here are some suggestions.

“My Journey” videos: The Senior Friendship Centers here in Sarasota has a program where for a small fee/donation, you can have a chapter of your life recorded to pass on to family members.

Everyone’s journey is a story. Through the years, you’ve accumulated a lifetime of knowledge and wisdom. Now, thanks to My Journey, a new initiative being launched at the Friendship Centers in Sarasota, you can record and preserve your story, in your words, to share.

ALL of you have aging relatives with stories to share. You also have cameras and phones that capture video. Get together with your oldest relatives and capture those stories. It couldn’t be easier – set up the camera and sit down with them and ask them to simply tell you their story.

A few months before my Dad passed away, a friend who’s a professional photographer set up her camera and sat down with Dad for stories about a little of his journey in life. I regret that I never did it myself – so, learn from my mistakes and capture those stories, while there are still family members around to share them.

Old Photographs: Everybody has old photographs, some in albums, others in shoe boxes. I get that it takes time to put them all in albums, but at the very least, clean out those drawers, along with every place else you’ve stashed prints. Please keep them in one dry place. Don’t let them take a beating, discarded, and stuffed in some obscure place in your home.

Write down who’s in those photographs. There’s nothing more frustrating than looking at an old picture and not knowing who it is, where it was taken, or when. This comes up repeatedly when people share images in one of my favorite Facebook groups, “If You Grew Up In Painesville, Ohio You Remember…” People share photos all the time with question marks.

Your Family Shots: Digital photography is a kick, but how many pictures are on your phone right now without any information, never to be printed or shared? I’ve started regularly uploading to my computer and often take advantage of special offers on Shutterfly to get them printed.

Photographs and Therapy: When my mom was fighting Alzheimer’s, one of the most fun activities was pulling out old albums. While her memories of contemporary events were fast disappearing, we could pull out old photographs, and she was non-stop energy and accuracy. She might not remember what she had for dinner, but she knew everybody in those old pictures.

Social Media: I’m a huge fan of many of the forums on Facebook. The Painesville, Ohio group I mentioned above has been one of the best experiences. Sharing old pictures of my grandparents, I connected with people who knew them both. They’ve both been gone at least forty years! Posting an old family photograph, I heard from the daughter of a woman who used to babysit for my sister and me. And sharing a 1930s shot of my grandmother at their summer cottage by the lake in Painesville Township, the woman who lives in the house today, responded.

Sharing photographs in social media, especially when they involve old memories, puts the “social” into social media. They bring us all closer, and often it’s like the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game when we learn how so many of us are connected.

Don’t Miss Memories: When was the last time you did a family portrait? Obviously, I’m a fan of professional photography, being in the industry, but it’s so important for somebody in your family to be the family historian. Whether hiring a pro or getting your family together for an updated portrait, don’t miss the opportunity to capture memories.
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For the first time in history, all of us went through the same horrible experiences because of the pandemic. Coming out of the challenge, there’s a renewed sense of family. Along with that renewal come opportunities to turn intangible memories into tangible photographs and videos to cherish for the future!

by Skip Cohen

Now and then, a great educator in photography, just like in sports, finds the sweet spot! Here's a seminar that's live and online with one of the best educators in imaging - Moose Peterson. Even if aviation photography is a long way away from your specialty, here's a chance to grow your skillset and be unique. Even better is being able to apply what you'll learn from Moose to the images you capture and create for your current clients or yourself.  

Click on any image in today's post to enlarge and view in the SCU lightbox, and then check out the seminar with a click on the banner to the right.

​It's taking place LIVE in Tulsa on July 31 and online, with a minimum of 4 1/2 hours of outstanding education. And before you say to yourself, "I don't do aviation photography," check out the images I chose to share in today's post. Pay attention to the way Moose composes each one and turns them into art!

A few years back, I was hanging out with Scott Kelby before his show The Grid. In the gallery of rotating artists at Kelby Media was a collection of Moose's aviation work. Each print was stunning. I had no idea one of the industry's finest outdoor wildlife photographers was also an artist with a love for aviation.

Don't miss the opportunity to learn from one of the very best.  

by Skip Cohen

Jonathan Thorpe shared this image on Facebook this morning, and it's the perfect post to wrap up the week! The point he makes is just too good to only be on his Facebook page.

​His comment below says it all.

​I’ve said it a million times, LIGHTING IS A GAME CHANGER. Before and after from last nights live stream. Happy to say no editing on right shot aside from the smoke. This is what you can do with lighting to your photos, creating drama and story. The left side is just using the natural light provided in the studio, the right has 5 strobes on it. Make photos, don’t take them.

Jonathan should be on your radar. Follow him on Facebook, and check out his website too.