It’s just the most amazing thing to love a dog, isn’t it? It makes our relationships with people seem as boring as a bowl of oatmeal. John Grogan by Skip Cohen It's Throwback Thursday, and as usual, I went off searching for old photographs. I stumbled on those three images in the top left of the collage above, and that took me where I wanted to go - Where would we be without the fur-balls in our lives? This month, just three days apart, Lucy and Belle turned five. If you're like us with your pets, it's hard to remember when they weren't in our lives. Here's the short backstory... I lost Molly the Wonder Dog in February 2019 and was crushed. Anyone who's ever lost a dog or cat knows exactly what I'm talking about. It was around seven months later that Sheila started talking about getting another dog—no, dogs. I'd never had two dogs at once. We brought the "girls" home in November, 2019. A month or so into having them in the family, Sheila and I would look at each other and think, "What made us think at our age we'd have the patience for puppies?" A few months later, we couldn't imagine life without them! They carried us through the boredom and frustration of Covid, making each day a memory-maker. And here we are today, and they own our hearts! So, we've morphed into full-time dog people, and we love it. For those of you who have never had two dogs, go for it in the future. Lucy and Belle joined us at the same time, both four months old. They're "sisters," and they keep each other company all day. They have different personalities: Belle (the little one) is the Alpha, and Lucy is always mellow, even allowing Belle to eat some of her food now and then. Belle's scared to death of thunder and snuggles up next to Lucy when there's a storm. They play together, chase each other, and wrestle over toys and bones. They are definitely two of the most loved pups on the planet, with a pretty extensive vocabulary. Most relevant of all is the role photography has played in all the memories over the last five years. Like a family with a new baby, the files are full of shots of Lucy and Belle. Every image or video has a story that takes us back to that moment when the shutter was clicked. Happy Throwback Thursday! Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.
Orhan Pamuk Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong. W.R. Purche
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![]() by Skip Cohen I've been working on my keynote presentation for ClickCon. Part ofmy theme is how stories are an enormous part of who we are, and the majority of those stories are documented in each of our vaults of photographs. Since it's Throwback Thursday, I pulled one of my slides from my program. It's a composite covering dozens of stories that make up my life, from a baby to a year ago. Click on the collage and view it in the SCU Lightbox, and you'll find markers from so many different chapters of my life. From WPPI and IUSA to Rangefinder Magazine, dive trips, and time with friends like Don Blair, Bob Thompson, Duncan MacNab, and Tony Corbell - the collage simply makes me smile. While it includes some great friends the industry has lost, nothing changes the fun of a walk down Memory Lane. Take a few minutes to put together your own collage, and you should have a similar experience to mine. I look at all these photographs, and with each one, there's a story about friends, family, and the true miracle of what we've all chosen for a career! Regardless of what you do in imaging, we're all in the business of helping people capture memories. As photographers, you're the magicians who stop time and turn the intangible into tangible moments people can hold for a lifetime. What a kick! Happy Throwback Thursday! by Skip Cohen
It's Throwback Thursday, and while I shared some of these images many years ago, there are no rules for when a throwback can be hit again. What started my search was hearing that John Rettie had passed away, and off I went looking for old images. In my search, I stumbled on these images from a Celebration of Life in memory of Bill Hurter at WPPI 2016. John Rettie is on the right in the first grab shot in the collage above. John was an outstanding writer and contributor to Rangefinder Magazine, working closely with Bill Hurter for so many years. He was also a good friend and well-respected photographer and writer in the industry. In a beautiful tribute to John, I pulled a couple of comments Scott Bourne shared yesterday... When you are young, you are often invited to celebrate weddings and new babies. When you grow old - unfortunately, the celebrations are different. We learn to celebrate the lives of those we know who have passed on. Later, Scott wrote: They say you only truly die when people stop saying your name. While I am most likely not very far behind John - as long as I am here, I will remind people that John Rettie was one of the best photographers who ever lived - and he will absolutely be missed. Scott's words are so true. While I hate sharing stories about friends who have passed, it goes with aging. But more important is for those of you who never knew these icons to understand the trail they blazed for all of us. John and Bill's love for the craft and their contribution to our industry as writers, artists, educators, and friends was remarkable. And while it sounds pretty sappy, I like to think the two of them are hanging out together right now and watching over an industry they loved dearly. by Skip Cohen
I know I shared this almost ten years ago, but there's no expiration date on great memories or friendships. That's me in the middle, flanked by two of my best buddies, Terry Deglau and Don Blair at dinner one night at WPPI 2002. I always start out on Throwback Thursday with a little reflection time. Great memories and friends deserve a look in the rearview mirror! A group of us had dinner together that night at Emeril's at the MGM, and I'm not sure who to thank for this grab shot. It will never win an award for composition, but it sure wins an award for a stellar moment and great memories. Don passed away in September 2004, and Terry in 2019, but the influence both of them had on my life continues to be present. It's bittersweet when you look back on people you've loved, but they're no longer here. Bitter, obviously because of their absence, but sweet because of the memories. And with these two knuckleheads, I've got so many stories, smiles, and laughs. The fourth musketeer was Tony Corbell, and I'm guessing he was the one who grabbed the shot. Every Throwback Thursday I hit you with the same suggestion. Grab a cup of coffee and take a few minutes to go through your old files, shoeboxes, albums - any place you have old images stashed. It's incredible the smiles and even a few tears those images will create. Nothing beats the power of photography to bring back great moments from our past and simply make your heart soar! "This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect." Jodi Picoult by Skip Cohen
I know I shared this many years ago, but the fun of Throwback Thursday is based on no image or story having an expiration date! And looking back, I never shared the best memory of the trip above. It was around 1996 in Bonaire. Starting at the top, is Bob Thompson, me, Duncan MacNab, and Tom Danielson at the bottom. In the early 90s, I got my scuba certification, and that was it - I WAS HOOKED. Somebody once told me, "Diving isn't a hobby; it's a sickness!" But the best memories are what Throwback Thursday is all about. During a PPA Advisory Board meeting earlier that year, Mark Roberts, then chairman, told me that due to Boyles Law of Inert Gases, when scuba diving, it was impossible to fart beyond one atmosphere (30 feet down). I have no idea how the topic came up, but I took that as a personal challenge - boys will be boys! But the sidebar to the story is that I started getting calls from people who wanted me to know they had money bet on my skills. People I didn't even know were placing bets on my ability to defy science! Of course, none of us cared to even check on what Boyles Law really stated—a bet was a bet. It was the adult version of the kids on Christmas Story, and I had been triple-dog dared! On this trip to Bonaire, I brought my own personal kit of gas-inducing delectables: beef jerky, pickled Brussel sprouts, and jalapeño stuffed olives. Determined to prove Mark wrong, I started to prepare shortly after breakfast. About an hour before we hit the water, I ate a little of each delight - the countdown had started! I remember feeling inspired: Our depth was around 45ft., and I banged on my tank to get Bob Thompson's attention. My Boyle's Law-defying fart had stepped onto the ocean's stage, but Bob didn't see it...Like a cartoon character with the light bulb above my head, I realized why - I had on a wetsuit. I turned upside down, and the bubbles came out of my ankles. Bob was laughing so hard, I could hear him underwater. While my buoyancy got a little screwed up, looking at our gauges, I was at 37 ft! I had proven Mark Roberts wrong and secured my reputation as a legend of the sea. If you haven't already done so, take the time regularly to pull out old photographs and videos. I know I promised not to use Jodi Picoult's quote so often, but it's the only one that fits! And those poignant looks in your rearview mirror are powerful reminders of what we do as an industry - we help the world capture memories. ![]() by Skip Cohen It's Throwback Thursday, and I recently came across a file of classics from Bill Hurter's birthday in 2007. Living in the Los Angeles area, you can find virtually anything, especially a Marilyn Monroe lookalike, to sing Happy Birthday! Bill Hurter passed away in June 2015, and so often something comes up that reminds me of him. He was the finest editor in the industry, taking Rangefinder and AfterCapture magazines to record highs. He was also one of the most beloved editors and authors in imaging, and all of us who worked with him had fun. It was a work-hard-play-hard environment. But besides simply missing him, when I found these images, I was blown away remembering how we used to do the magazine - It was all manual. The production office had metal walls, and we would put the magazine together page by page with magnets and a lot of help from Gennie Kiuchi! It could have been done on the computer back then, but it would never have had the quality. By laying it out as a team, we established the flow of the magazine - positioning editorial, advertisers, and sometimes, even setting things up for an upcoming future issue. Here's why I love sharing throwbacks: First, they transport us to another time. They take us back to people, places, and events that most often make us smile. Second, they bring back memories, and when those thoughts include people no longer with us, the look in the rearview mirror is even sweeter. Last but not least, throwbacks remind us of the value of imaging and the industry we're all so passionate about! Where would the world be without photography? And to "Mr. Bill"—buddy, there are no words to describe how much you're missed and how much you continue to be loved and respected by so many people in the industry! Happy Throwback Thursday! Note: I'm not sure who captured these images and the video below that day. But when I talk about the value of "imaging" that includes video. What a kick! by Skip Cohen
It's a perfect post for Throwback Thursday, even though I first shared the image above many years ago in a post about people who think procrastination is an art form! Having spent my entire adult life in the photographic industry, I always try to be sensitive to copyright issues. I first saw the photo above on the Internet at least twenty-five years ago. A few years back, I wanted to share it in a post and decided to research who owned it. Google makes it impossible for anything or anyone to hide for very long. 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! Click the banner below to check out more of Davidson & Company's work. You'll see some stunning images. On their About page, you'll see a number of testimonial quotes, all with a few common denominators of "extraordinary service, trust, Customer Service, quality, consistency," and the list goes on and on. They're a company that's stayed on course with their original goal—establish a reputation for being one of the very best! A BIG thanks to Ken for allowing me to use the image, which he described as one of the most ripped-off shots in photography! PS These people are professionals—do not try this at home. Any similarities to today's political personalities are purely coincidental! by Skip Cohen
After almost 15 years of sharing Throwback Thursday shots, I was bound to repeat myself. Today's post is a throwback of a throwback. I know I shared the two photographs above years ago, but it's graduation time, and I'm turning the clock back 50+ years. The back story is about five knuckleheads in their senior year of high school who had fun doing a spoof on cheerleading at one of the last basketball games of the season. That's Terry Q. and me in the first photograph, and in the pyramid, Bill M. and Don S. are on either side of me on the bottom, and Terry and Mike P. are on the top. We've lost touch with Bill, and Mike was way too young when he passed away at 52 over twenty years ago. Thanks to Facebook and a few reunions, Terry, Don, and I have kept in touch. But here's my point - throwbacks are about memories and added value to the craft we're all so passionate about. Different chapters of your life unfold through all those old photographs. Those memories are like seasoning on a great steak - they enhance the appreciation for the friendships and the people who have come and gone in our lives. If you have yet to go searching for your throwbacks, take a few minutes before you get too far into the day. Then, share them on social media or more privately with family and friends. Old pictures are terrific reminders of the importance of photography. Where would the world be without imaging? Happy Throwback Thursday! ![]() by Skip Cohen It's a 25th-anniversary throwback to 1999 and WPPI. Don Blair and I were the opening act with a packed room. We launched his new book, Don Blair's Guide to Lighting and Posing Body Parts, at the convention, but we had started the project a year earlier. Marathon Press did an incredible job printing the book and after a successful presale, the first copies were delivered the morning after our program, right on time at Don's booth on the trade show floor. The concept was creating a small spiral-bound guide that photographers could keep in their camera bags. It dealt with posing and lighting techniques and solutions for eyeglasses, kids with braces, tall grooms and short brides, hand posing, masculine vs. feminine posing, and the list goes on and on. It addressed at least twenty-five challenges in classic portraiture plus lighting techniques and diagrams. Click on the bride for more techniques shown in an earlier post. But today's post is really about the fun of Throwback Thursday...finding this flyer recently brought back so many great memories. Here's one of them: Don and I had carefully scripted the program for that night. A year earlier, we shot all the images for the book with models from Las Vegas. Tony Corbell and Terry Deglau helped us with all the shooting. So, when we launched the book at WPPI in 1999, we used all the same models from the book. At the appropriate time in the program, Don said, " Hey Skip, let's do some hand-posing!" I sent our bride to the stage, but Don didn't follow the script and instead did the short bride and tall groom segment. She was under five feet tall, and the groom was a 6'5" boxer. I was furious—he broke the script! My microphone was hard-wired into the videographer's setup, and I know he heard me drop the F-bomb and mumble something about Don! Thirty seconds later, I realized what had happened - Don asked for hand-posing, exactly as it was in the script, but I sent him the wrong model - she only had seven fingers, having lost three in an accident as a kid! Not the easiest for hand-posing. From that point on and right up until a week before Don passed away, he never let me forget sending him the wrong model. And every time he brought it up, we'd laugh until we cried! There are no words to describe the pure joy of a throwback when memories like this are brought back like it happened yesterday. There are also no words to describe how much I miss Don and Terry. There's a point in great friendships when your friends become family, and losing them leaves a bitter-sweet hole in your heart. The loss is bitter, but all the memories couldn't be sweeter. If you have yet to search for a few throwback images today, take a few minutes now. There's a reason we all love this industry so much, and for most of us, it's in the people we've met and worked with along the way. Throwbacks are a never-ending reminder of the importance of photographs and capturing every memory you can. Happy Throwback Thursday! by Skip Cohen
It's Throwback Thursday, and I'm surprised at how accurate the expression "time heals all wounds" really is. Five years ago, our vet made me realize how selfish it was to prolong Molly the Wonder Dog's life. She was fighting liver cancer, and serious intervention would have only prolonged her pain without any quality of life. When I shared the images above on a Facebook post, there were close to 300 comments from people who completely understood the hole in my heart that day. Molly had been by my side non-stop for 13 years. I honestly was at a complete loss for how to deal with the sadness. Nine months later, Sheila and I decided to add Lucy and Belle to the family. But here's what amazed me...The two pups have Molly's spirit, especially Lucy. It's almost as if they went to "Molly Class," and she made sure they were tuned into what made us laugh. And their energy as smaller dogs is so much like Molly's, as a pup. I get that those of you who have lost dogs before wholly understand, but it took me a while to realize that being consistent with having a pup or two in the house was a tribute to Molly, not a replacement. All of this seems pretty trite to share today, but the hole in my heart never healed. It just got filled up with more love, this time from two pups. Having two dogs totally expanded and strengthened the bond between all of us. It's non-stop unconditional love all day, every day, and it just keeps getting better. Finding the pics above on Facebook today as an FB Memory, finally made me smile - sure it's a little bittersweet, but I feel so lucky to have had Molly in my life and now be hanging out with Lucy and Belle. Happy Throwback Thursday! ![]() by Skip Cohen In 2001, I met Vicki and Jed Taufer for the first time. While we don't catch up that often, nothing changes how much I cherish the friendship. I caught up with both of them this week at IUSA, As I sat here this morning looking for a great Throwback Thursday image to share, I ran across this post from seven years ago. I started the "Why?" series in 2016 to introduce you to the movers and shakers in our industry. In the next few years, we shared over 130 posts by some of the most respected artists in imaging. I'm about to bring back the series with more photographers, but this one out of the SCU archives is perfect for today. The audio quality isn't as good as I'd like - I had problems with the original file, but it's still a great way to get to know a little more about Vicki Taufer. And to Vicki and Jed - we sure do love you guys! From the archives... When I started "Why?" I thought the artists would typically share one of their favorite images captured for clients over the years. What's actually been shared is a wide variety of incredible backstories, and often very personal memory-making images having little to do with imaging, but a lot to do with life. Vicki Taufer is in the "Why?" spotlight today sharing a very personal backstory which brought a number of us in the industry together on her behalf. It's the perfect example of just how close an industry we are and as sappy as it might sound, a family. And, in terms of Vicki and Jed's family, they believe in giving back. As a result of their experience in the adoption process of their daughter Purnima, along with the people of Nepal, they started a non-profit, Aasha. "We were inspired to start The Aasha Fund by our daughter’s adoption, but our focus is to help people all over the world, specifically families and their children." You'll find more of Vicki's work with a visit to her website - just click on her "Why?" image. Happy Throwback Thursday!
by Skip Cohen
The fun of Throwback Thursday is in the memories that old photographs and videos bring back. I was a year and a half into my new career at the time of this short interview. I left WPPI in April of 2009 to start my own company. At the time I was writing for Resource Magazine, Scott Bourne and I had a podcast, our book Going Pro had been published, and we were about to launch our second Skip's Summer School. The links on the video are no longer active. Marketing Essentials (MEI500.com), while it's still the legal business entity for everything I do, SkipCohenUniversity.com became the website destination. PMA, mentioned in the video, went through some serious management changes and eventually closed. And Skip's Summer School continued for four more years, finishing in Chicago. Even PPE changed and became Create NYC, which is not being staged currently, but instead, WPPI, owned by the same parent company, has ramped up and is in Las Vegas, March 3-7 this year. While a lot of things have changed over the last 13+ years, so much has stayed the same. Diversity in your skill set is still a key to success. There's still a feeding frenzy over education and new technology. Attending every convention/conference you can is still vital to your growth. And while my hair got a lot grayer - my love for the industry has never slowed down. The video interview is only four minutes long, but some of the fun comes with the cuts RETV put in showing speakers and exhibitors. If you were at PPE in 2010, you'll spot some familiar faces, maybe even your own.
PhotoPlus Expo was the largest photography-based convention in the US back then. And while many conventions have gotten smaller over the years, the benefits of attending don't change. WithIUSA kicking off this weekend, WPPI in early March, ClickCon in late July, and so many state and regional conferences, artists have so many opportunities to grow their skills...and network. A great conference is about networking, education, and recharging your battery.
You should be attending every conference you possibly can throughout the year. And when it comes to classes/programs to attend, remember - Growth only happens outside your comfort zone! Happy Throwback Thursday! by Skip Cohen Throwback Thursday doesn't always have to involve old photographs. I thought it would be fun to tie in old concepts and products from the past. Check out the four products below and tell me what happened to them...
Then, there were expressions and definitions that changed...for example, a troll was just a character in a children's book or an ugly doll. The "mailman" walked your street. You had a paperboy who delivered your paper on his bike. And speaking of bikes, I won a "three-speed English Racer" in a Cleveland Plain Dealer contest that was the greatest bike ever! Now go back to just the last 10-15 years...I found my old Palm Pilot the other day. And I can only laugh over how cool it was. Then came my Blackberry; again, it was slick. I was crushed when I lost my Blackberry while at IUSA in Nashville. I immediately hit the Verizon store in Nashville and paid top dollar for a replacement. Feel free to add your memories from your own walk down "Nostalgia Lane"; if there are enough of you, I'll publish another post with your additions. Happy Throwback Thursday! by Skip Cohen
The fun of Throwback Thursday is often in the hunt. I never know what I'm going to find. Since it's the start of the new year, it seemed appropriate to look back on a moment of celebration from my past. And even though I shared this story in a post almost ten years ago, it deserves to be shared again. The year is 1993, and Hasselblad won a Mobius Award for print advertising. Even though it's usually an ad agency event, off I went to Chicago for the dinner and evening presentations. Just to say we were proud of the recognition would be a huge understatement. However, God forbid I should have to go to a rubber chicken dinner solo, so I talked my good buddy and Chicago resident, Tom Danielson, into joining me along with Jim Ritter, the Hasselblad sales manager for Chicago. Here's what I didn't know...the appropriate attire. I called and spoke with one of the more senior people at the Mobius Awards, and I was told it was usually a mix of black tie and business attire. All three of us owned a tux, so why not represent Hasselblad as upscale as possible? Here's the second thing I didn't know...that we'd be the only three in black tie out of a couple hundred people that evening! Three times I was given a drink order by somebody who thought I was a waiter! Had we been smarter, Tom, Jim, and I should have taken their money and split the evening's profit. There really is no moral of the story here, just a fun thirty-one-year-old flashback and a lesson learned: Always check with at least two sources regarding attire at any industry function. And one more lesson: print your images. Had this been digital at the time, it would have been on a floppy disc and long since lost. I'd be missing all the fun of Throwback Thursday! If you have yet to go off searching for an old memory-maker, you're missing an excellent opportunity to create a reminder of the wonder of our industry. As professional photographers, you're magicians, helping people turn the intangible into tangible memories they can hold for a lifetime. by Skip Cohen It's Throwback Thursday and my favorite day of the week! But it's not just about old photographs but the great memories they bring back. The fun of throwbacks is often in the hunt. And because I'm so unorganized with images all over the place - while I should be embarrassed, I love not knowing where I'm going to land when I step into the time machine. Today, I'm turning the clock back to January 2010 and IUSA in Nashville at the Gaylord. That's me on the right, hanging out with three great artists and legends in the industry - Jim Garner, Joe Buissink, and Scott Bourne. It's incredible to think of the talent these three possess. I've lost touch with Joe, but I catch Jim on Facebook now and then, and Scott and I talk regularly. Take a second and think back to fourteen years ago. What were you doing in imaging? Some of you were at that convention. For me, it was one of my first times out in public as an independent business owner. I left WPPI/Rangefinder May 1, 2009 to start my own company.
Here's my point - take a few minutes, and whether you share them or not, search for a photograph or video at least ten years old. Then kick back, look in your rearview mirror, and savor the memories. Besides the fun of a quick walk down Memory Lane, it's a great way to remind yourself of the importance of what we do as an industry - help the world capture memories they can hold on to for a lifetime. Happy Throwback Thursday! If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. African Proverb by Skip Cohen Ten years ago, I was writing for Shutter Magazine. All the writers would include a short video with each month's article. I had a blast doing the videos, realizing early on that the more absurd my presentation, the more likely readers would remember my marketing point. In this video, going back ten years ago, I hit hard on partnerships, especially with promotions. I've just published posts on the same topic in the last few weeks. Partnerships allow you to share the cost while expanding your reach to each company's database. Plus, each company becomes an ambassador for the other partners. Stop thinking you have to do everything solo! Happy Throwback Thursday! by Skip Cohen
I shared this image a few years back, but November is the anniversary of when Sheila and I first met. I wrote a piece for my high school's alumni newsletter a few years ago and ran across it recently. This is an excerpt of what I shared. ....Staying connected to my hometown, Painesville, Ohio and digging back to Clyde C. Hadden Elementary maintains a particular place in my heart. There's a smile on my face just writing about it. So, turn back the clock to the 50s and Clyde C. Hadden. Here's a taste of what makes those days so unique and the memories so vivid. My wife Sheila and I met in second grade. My parents moved to their first real house in November. I started the school year as the new kid, almost three months after everybody had already been in school. Being the new kid, the principal, assigned somebody to show me around. Whether it was because he had a soft spot for this young girl or simply knew she had five brothers and was tough enough for the task, Sheila Fetterman was assigned to give me the tour. I remember it like it was yesterday – "Here's the gym… that's where we have lunch…this is Mr. Paxton's office… there's the playground… that's the Boy's Room…see ya!" The photograph above is the 3rd-grade class at Clyde C. Hadden a year later. Both Sheila and I are highlighted. I'm in the top row, second from the right, and Sheila is in the bottom row, third from the left. But Throwback Thursday photographs always bring back memories beyond just the picture itself. ...Rosemary T. had an autograph book, and everyone got to sign it. Thinking I was outrageously creative, I mimicked the Coke commercial at the time and wrote, "Feel refreshed, have a sh _ t." Little did I realize the teacher would be asked to sign the book following my page. Even more painful was that she played bridge with my mother, and the torn-out page of the now "ruined" autograph book was delivered to my Mom. Like the scene in Christmas Story, I was marched into the bathroom, and the giant bar of Ivory soap came out. My mother was mortified and demanded to know where I had heard such language. As the tears flowed down my cheeks, I whimpered, "Grandpa uses that word all the time." Mom bought the story, and for the moment, I was off the hook. A day later, she cornered my grandfather and screamed at him to watch his language around me. My grandfather took the heat, winked at me, and later whispered, "You owe me!" It was another building block in a remarkable relationship with my grandfather. For the next ten years, Sheila and I would often be in the same homeroom, but that was it. We were never good friends. I was a nerd, and she was a cheerleader - we just didn't run in the same circles...So, Sheila went her way in life, and I went mine. Fifty years later, at the fortieth high school reunion, the friendship started. That was in 2007; we were married in 2010. If you have yet to search for at least one throwback image, do yourself a favor and get started. Throwbacks bring back memories and even more important, they're a perfect reminder of the value our industry provides to the world. What would life be like without our photographs and videos? Happy Throwback Thursday! ![]() by Skip Cohen For six years I wrote for Shutter Magazine. Each article was accompanied by a short video highlighting the topic. The fun of the video really was in the theme that always followed my article. And the more absurd I could be, the more likely readers would remember what I said. This particular video was for an article I wrote in 2014. It was all about your greatest marketing tool - building relationships. From pounding the pavement and knocking on doors, to partnerships and community involvement, Scott Stratten says it best, "Stop Marketing and Start Engaging!" While Unmarketing certainly isn't a new publication, it's an outstanding book. It's well worth a trip to Amazon to add it to you business library. Just click on the cover shot to the right. Meanwhile, think about every aspect of your business where you can touch a past or potential client. From how quickly you respond to questions on your website, to keeping in touch with past customers to working with other vendors, and being helpful on your blog - every contact is an opportunity to build a stronger relationship. Happy Throwback Thursday! Image copyright Cindy Harter Sims. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen When you've been blogging for a long time another aspect of Throwback Thursday is digging through your archives and "mining" for older posts. As I wandered through my archives this image from Cindy Harter Sims came up. It's one of my favorites from the "Why?" series which featured the works of over 125 artists. So, the original post below was in 2016 and the first post featuring Cindy's story was 2013. Today, she's one of the most accomplished professional photographers in the industry. Five minutes with Cindy and you feel like you've known her your whole life! Happy Throwback Thursday! "Why?" is about images, artists and backstories. It's about artists who need to be on your radar.
I'm betting many of you don't know Cindy Harter Sims. She's not typically on the speaking circuit, but she's always at the key conventions. Besides having become an outstanding artist, what I enjoy most about Cindy is her focus on building her skill set. She never slows down! Cindy was the music teacher in a Georgia school for many years and decided she wanted to be a professional photographer. She took classes, practiced for endless hours, and then in 2011, after five years of saving and planning, opened her studio. She's never strayed from building her skill set and in the process has worked with some of the finest artists and educators in our industry. Cindy is all about quality - in her images, business, relationships with clients, the community and her friends. Check out Cindy's 2013 guest post on how she got started. In regards to the portrait above, in an IM she wrote to me: "I get pretty emotionally attached to my work. This print is my whole heart. I have been feeling the urge to make a portrait of my father for a while...I wanted to recreate that scene as if to live it once more." To see more of Cindy's work, just click on her image. ![]() by Skip Cohen As I started my weekly hunt for throwback images this morning, on my Facebook notifications page, they posted my memories from today going back the last few years. The very first one was a comment from a friend in the industry about Terry Deglau passing away on September 14, 2019. Off I went in search of grab-shots with Terry, and with each one, the smile on my face got bigger. Yeah, there was a tear here and there, but throwbacks are about reliving memories that make your heart soar. The ones I pulled together above are the tip of the iceberg. We did so many things together, and as you can tell, the four musketeers were Terry, Tony Corbell, Don Blair, and yours truly. Rarely was there a convention that the four of us weren't creating chaos. But my favorite is the one here of the four of us. And while Don and Terry might have "left the building," Tony and I are the keepers of the memories and stories! Nothing beats great memories. Old photographs are the mortar that keeps all the bricks of friendships together. And while we all miss people we've lost, it's those throwback photos that help create a very special immortality and testimonial to the impact they had on our lives. Happy Throwback Thursday! |
Our Partners"Why?"Check out "Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog. It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound bite. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. We're over 100 artists featured since the project started. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.
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