by Skip Cohen

I've shared a lot of Throwback Thursday shots from past dive trips, but this was one of the best. However, there's never been a truly bad one.

For at least ten years, a group of us dove together typically twice a year. This trip was a live-aboard with the Aggressor fleet to Truk. Truk represented a significant battle in WWII with some of the most beautiful wreck diving in the world. From battleships to aircraft, tanks, and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition on the ocean floor, it's a never-ending contrast of the war combined with the beauty of fish and the undersea growth corals, and plant life.

What brings back memories are the photographs. On that table above are at least three Hasselblads in underwater housings, several Nikons, and a ton of Ikelites. Thanks to my daughter and a fisheye lens, she captured the most important area of the boat - the briefing area and equipment table. But like everyone who owns a fisheye lens - making people look like Jiminy Cricket, as she did with my buddy Bob Rose and me, just adds to the fun.

If you haven't gone in search of your own throwback memories today, what are you waiting for? Old photographs remind us of the incredible career choice we made to be a part of this industry. Very little beats a quick look in your rearview mirror and helps remind you of the memories yet to be captured with a camera in your hands.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen
​
The fun of Throwback Thursday, for me, is in the hunt. So as I started my search this morning, I looked back through the SCU archives. While the image only goes back to 2017, it represents so many different aspects of memory-making photographs.

First, the image itself is one of my favorite macro shots by the mad scientist himself, Don Komarechka. Second, the image was captured very early on in our friendship. He lives in Bulgaria today, but that doesn't keep us from a phone call every few weeks. Third, Don's part of the Platypod team, which I joined in 2019. As one of the company's most recognized ambassadors, he's regularly pushing the edge of the creative envelope to see what else he can do with Platypod gear.

The image above was featured in a series I did for several years called "Why?" Click on the ant to listen to the short podcast as Don explains his technique. And if you're interested in macro work, I believe his book, The Universe at Our Feet, is the finest resource guide for macro/closeup work in imaging.

Regardless of how far back you choose to dig - photographs and videos from the past create a never-ending flow of memories. They remind us how important imaging is to our lives and the world. However, you don't have to dig very deep or spend a lot of time searching for old images to appreciate the career path most of us have chosen.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

​Cleaning out a closet last weekend, I ran across the baby album my folks put together when I was born. From my hospital bracelet to cards from friends and even the card from the flowers my Dad sent to the hospital, over six months, my mother saved everything. Included in the album was a set of professionally shot baby portraits. When I turned the pages, the photograph above was too much to resist - I had to do an update!

This is a perfect example of why I love Throwback Thursday - it's all about the memories and the things you discover while on the hunt. And if you want to have a little fun with the concept, find one of your old baby pictures and have the nerve to share them with an update!

Sharing old images is a perfect marketing tool. Like "Subliminal Man" on Saturday night live, sharing throwback images with your target audience helps plant those idea seeds for updating family portraits. Nobody has more power than you to get Mom thinking about new photographs for the family album! 

by Skip Cohen

​WPPI 2009 is still the biggest and most attended show in the association's history. In addition to setting records for attendance and the number of exhibitors, there were two major parties. Thanks to Nikon's sponsorship, we took over the MGM Garden Arena, and John Popper and Blues Traveler were the band. It was definitely a night to remember.

In wandering through old files recently, I ran across this one of the WHCC crew with the band backstage after the concert. It's a perfect reminder of the memories old photographs capture and the foundation so many of our careers have been built upon.

If you haven't already done it today, it's Throwback Thursday - take the time to find a few old photographs and then savor those moments from the past. A look in your rearview mirror now and then is the perfect way to celebrate your skill set as a magician - helping people turn intangible memories into tangible photographs they hold for a lifetime!

​Happy Throwback Thursday!

Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress,
and working together is success.
Henry Ford

by Skip Cohen

I left WPPI in April 2009 and started my own company. In 2011 Scott Bourne and I had an idea to create a more proactive photography association, the PWSPI (Professional Wedding and Studio Photographers International.) At WPPI in 2011, we held a private dinner at Wolfgang Puck's for a special group of people who were our sounding board for the idea: no business, just fun, and a big thanks for their help.

The challenge of creating a new association had several issues that we were working on when PMA (Photographic Manufacturers Association) decided they wanted control of the concept. We were just getting started when they challenged the idea and eventually took it over, then shut it down and refunding any member's dues that had previously been paid.

My point isn't about the concept but our friends' importance in this industry. To Henry Ford's quote above - while PWSPI wasn't a success, I've been involved in dozens of projects over the years with at least eight of the photographers who joined us that night. I know it sounds sappy, but we watch each other's backs. We really do get by with a little help from our friends.

The fun of Throwback Thursday is always in the memories old photographs and videos bring back. So, take a break today and find the time to look for an old group shot from any past workshop, convention, or conference. Then reflect and enjoy the relationships with the people in that photograph. They're all part of your network, and their feedback is essential to your success.
​

by Skip Cohen

I've written a lot about Throwback Thursdays over the years, not just sharing images but reminding you of the boost old photographs bring to your spirit. It's a simple concept; old photos are about great memories. They remind me of great friends, incredible trips, and more laughs than I can count.

I got my scuba certification in the early 90s, which sent me on a quest to be in the ocean as much as possible. So we covered everything from Grand Cayman to Honduras to Bonaire to Florida to Truk Lagoon in the Pacific to drift diving in Mexico. At one point, we had made so many trips with the Agressor fleet they gave us discounts as if we were a dive shop. So if we booked the whole boat for a week of diving, it became more affordable, and the level of fun couldn't be measured.

Somebody once jokingly said, "Scuba isn't a hobby; it's a sickness!" We laughed, agreed, and then booked another trip!

And while today's post is a throwback to great memories, it's also a testimonial to great friendships. In the spotlight today are Bob Rose and Kayce Baker. (They're in the two water shots, as well as all the rest.) For years Bob and I had been saying hi to each other in passing at events in the NY/NJ area but didn't really know each other well...and then, on a trip to Bonaire, I needed a dive buddy, and somebody suggested Bob.

That started a friendship that's been going on for nearly thirty years. Kayce got her certification a few years later, and we became the three musketeers. And while those days are long behind me, it doesn't change missing time with them. But, then again, that's what photographs are all about...

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

One of the challenges of Throwback Thursday is finding a photograph and having no idea who most of the people are!  So, I'm leaving it up to you guys to help with the identity of these WPPI personalities from a 2004 promotional piece nineteen years ago.

Number them from left to right - top row is 1-7 and bottom row is 8 - 14. Feel free to share who they are in the comments below. I've got half the group, but I'll hold off sharing until tomorrow.

If you didn't find the time today to look for a throwback, take it now. Old photographs bring back great memories and help remind us of the importance of the craft and an industry we all love so much.​

Happy Throwback Thursday!


Posted on 2/5/23 - Here are the ones I think I know...#1 Steve Sheanin #2 Tony Corbell #3 Bambi Cantrell #4 Al Gordon #5 Doug Box #6 Eddie Tapp #10 Michael Ayers #13 Bill Hurter #14 Skip Cohen 
Anybody want to help fill in the blanks?

by Skip Cohen

This is a throwback of a throwback.  I shared the image in a post seven years ago, but after catching up to the "kid" above just a few days ago, there's a point I want to make.

It's one of my favorite photographs of my good buddy Tony Corbell.  I know it was captured at least twenty years ago on a roller coaster somewhere on the planet.  I think it was Hasselblad's Jim Morton who got the shot.  I had completely forgotten about it until I was looking through some old PowerPoint presentations.  It  was my opening slide in a presentation I did at Hallmark Institute in 2004.

The fun of Throwback Thursday is how great photographs bring back memories.  They make us smile and often relive great moments from the past.  This one is a kick because Tony and I have been friends for over thirty years, and many of my favorite stories include Tony.

But there's one more thing about the image and my buddy - his love for life, friends, the craft, and our industry are timeless.  The expression on his face above and the pure joy it depicts was no different than when Sheila and I caught up to him at IUSA four days ago.  There is no expiration date on Tony's love for life!

It's Throwback Thursday - take the time and go on the hunt for a few images of your own.  You'll never be disappointed in the appreciation people have for every click of the shutter.  As photographers, you're magicians.  You give people the ability to take intangible moments and turn them into tangible memories they can hold and cherish forever!

​Happy Throwback Thursday

by Skip Cohen

​Near the end of 2012, my good buddy Scott Bourne asked me a simple question, "What do you think you could accomplish if you were working on just one thing?" At the time, I was working on two different blogs, writing for two magazines, speaking at a convention or two each year, consulting for one large client, and running Skip's Summer School. So I was spread pretty thin, especially when it came to writing.

My first blog, the Photo Resource Hub, was doing okay but needed more traction. It morphed into Skip's Photo Network, although I hadn't done a very good job promoting it. But at a time when blogging was the next big thing - I at least had a presence.

I took Scott's question to heart and started thinking about consolidating everything I was writing. I wanted to give it a generic title, but Scott argued, "Through most of your career, you've been known for your support of education - It needs to have your name on it!"  SkipCohenUniversity.com was born with the first post ten years ago today, on January 19, 2013.

But Scott's encouragement didn't end there: "Just trust me before you publish your first post!" He wouldn't reveal his game plan, but a week or so later, I was blown away by his approach.

​He published one single tweet to his then 100,000 followers, "Skip Cohen is back!" The response was remarkable, even filled with a bit of humor here and there. I remember one friend, I think it was Scott Kelby, tweeting in reply, "Where's he been? I just talked to him yesterday."

Well, here I am ten years later, with thousands of original posts, guest posts, videos, and podcasts. After four summer programs, we ran one last Skip's Summer School in 2013 in Chicago. We decided to discontinue it only because there was so much going on in education at that point, and it had become so labor-intensive.

But through all of these years, I never anticipated the support from all of you and the community. It's thanks to all of you that I wake up every morning smiling. It's a ten-year celebration in business, but more important is the gratitude I feel for so many people who have played a role. From sponsors to guest writers to so many friends in the industry and at the various associations to my muse, my wife Sheila - I could never have done it alone!
​
Whether "It takes a village" or "I get by with a little help from my friends," no matter how you cut it, my last ten years have all been thanks to all of you!

​by Skip Cohen

My apologies for the quality of the scan. It's a page from Rangefinder Magazine thirty years ago. It was the first article I ever had published and I sent it to my Dad. 

The year is 1993, and Don Blair wanted to do a portrait of my daughter for the cover of Rangefinder Magazine. While in Nashville for the convention, Don arranged for access to an incredible plantation home in the area. His visualization was a sort of Gone with the Wind look, complete with my daughter Jaime in a gown reminiscent of the period.

Jaime had the cover, and I had the last page. There are no words to describe the smile on my face as I write this Throwback Thursday post. Please take the time to read the article because it describes how Don built the relationship with his subject. (I retyped it below) His ability to build the relationship is what many artists miss today. Sure, technical skills are important, but it's the relationship that brings out the smiles, sparkle and relaxed pose that creates a stunning image.

Don grew to become one of my very dearest friends, but at this time it was early in the friendship and it wasn't until this experience that I understood why he was such a master - his love for the craft. There's rarely a day that goes by that he doesn't pop into my thoughts. Immortality does exist...in our hearts.

And here's a fun sidebar: My good buddy Clay Blackmore and Lilia were engaged at the time and with us. I remember Don fanning out the dress as she sat on the floor, and then shooting down from the top of the stairs. I couldn't remember what year this was and called Clay a few minutes ago. So, not only does Throwback Thursday bring back memories, but at times it keeps us in touch with old friends!

I promised myself I'd stop quoting Jodi Picoult, but her one quote about photography is still so perfect:

by Skip Cohen

I'm turning back the clock almost sixteen years to WPPI 2007 and a special panel program with ten of the most influential women in our industry. It was a panel discussion loaded with incredible artists who shared their insight into the business of professional photography.

This is a page from the Day In the Life of WPPI album Graphistudio put together each year, and I cherish the memories. I have three years of albums, and like an album you might create for a client, each page results in plenty of smiles and flashbacks. This is storytelling at its best. There were always four photographers involved in documenting each year's events. Victor Sizemore captured the group shot above, while Catherine Hall the image below.

With convention season starting this week at CES, remember to capture images of every conference you attend. Whether you share them on your website years from now for Throwback Thursday, or they're just archived for fun looks in your rearview mirror, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then one great memory represents volumes.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

​In the sixties, comedian and songwriter Allan Sherman hit a few home runs. One of them, "Camp Granada" became an instant hit. Years later, it still makes me laugh. And as a parent, if you've ever sent your kid to camp for the first time, it hits home even more.

But, like every Throwback Thursday post I share, there's always a backstory. My Dad and Allan Sherman were fraternity brothers at the University of Illinois. Dad took me to see him when he did a concert in Cleveland. I was just a little kid, but I remember the two of them laughing about their college days, as Allan grabbed a quick bite before the concert in his hotel room.

Laugh-in's Artie Johnson was in the same fraternity.  Years ago, we were in New York with my folks for their anniversary. Artie Johnson was in Candide when it came back on Broadway, and my sister had tracked him down. So as we ate breakfast, he came in, sat down next to my Dad, and started eating off his plate! They hadn't seen each other in years, but the laughs and stories that followed were outrageous.

For some reason, Sheila woke up yesterday trying to remember the lyrics to "Camp Granada".  While today's throwback isn't a photograph, it represents why Throwback Thursday is my favorite day of the week. Those looks in your rearview mirror that bring back memories and smiles need to be savored!

Allan Sherman died at just 48 of respiratory failure in 1973. We lost Artie Johnson at 90 in 2019, and my Dad passed away in 2015 at 93. I like to think of the three of them hanging out together now, telling stories, laughing, and keeping an eye on their families and friends. 

And if you've never heard Camp Granada, just click the video below - you can find anything on YouTube!

Happy New Year!

by Skip Cohen

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, but it's also Throwback Thursday. So I decided to combine the two and also give myself the day off tomorrow. That means I want to make sure I wish all of you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday TODAY!

Thanksgiving has always been one of my most favorite holidays. It's been a special time for family, and one of the best times was our first Thanksgiving in Florida. We moved down here in 2011. My Dad was coming up on ninety and dealing with my Mom's Alzheimer's.  We decided to give him a hand and move to Sarasota that October.

A couple of weeks later, just two weeks before Thanksgiving, Album Epoca hired me to come to Italy to record a short video about the importance of the wedding album. We accepted the invitation but wanted to be back in time for Mom and Dad's first Thanksgiving at our house in Florida. Nobody in their right mind makes a five-day trip to Italy, but the focus was on time with my folks too. We were back in time to put the turkey in the oven!

​Both of these grab shots are from Thanksgiving 2011.

My mother was always afraid of dogs. We had dogs when I was a kid, but always adopted an older dog, already trained, and Mom rarely went near them. But Molly the Wonder Dog stole her heart. 

Molly knew she was fragile. Those of you who have dogs know how they can sense something wrong, or you're not feeling well. Molly knew how to read Mom.

Thanksgiving dinner that night was our first holiday dinner outside. It was a beautiful night and perfect in every way. The memories from eleven years ago have never faded! Even Alzheimer's took a break that night, and Mom was so into the day.

I know that Thanksgiving is an American custom and many of you are outside the U.S., but that doesn't change my wish to everybody for a happy, healthy, and safe holiday. Remember, the memories you make this holiday season will be future throwbacks...and there's very little that beats a great look in your rearview mirror!

I'm so thankful for your support, feedback, and your friendships. As I've written so many times, the best thing about our industry has nothing to do with imaging directly but the great friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft.

Happy Thanksgiving!

by Skip Cohen

It's Throwback Thursday, and if you've followed me for even the shortest time, you know it's one of my favorite days. It's not just about old photographs but the memories they bring with them.

The shot of the band above was the cover of the invitation we did for my Dad's 70th birthday party in 1992. Dad played trumpet throughout high school, in college in the University of Illinois marching band, and in WWll in one of the Army Air Corps bands. This shot was from Patrick Henry High School in Cleveland. I'm guessing it was around 1936.

But there's more to the fun of this image. It was 1992, and digital imaging was new to all of us. So I needed an expert to help with the artwork for the invitation. Hasselblad's Electronic Imaging Manager, (we didn't even call it digital imaging yet) Rudy Guttosch, had the skills to take the group portrait and remove the faces...all except Dad's. Later we created a new shot of the band and replaced them all, but with Dad's face, referring to him as our favorite one-man band.

And one more story this all brings back. Dad served in the Asia/Pacific in WWll. He was a navigator until a perforated eardrum grounded him to the tower. They were looking for musicians to volunteer one day, and Dad got excited. He figured he'd pull some light duty and pull out his trumpet. Well, not quite - he and the rest of the musicians spent two days moving pianos for an upcoming USO show, probably with Bob Hope!

Make the time each week to find at least one old photograph. Throwbacks are about the memories they bring back, and these days, we could all use a few more fun looks in the rearview mirror!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

​I've used that quote above so many times over the years that I actually spoke with Jodi Picoult's publicist. I was hoping to convince her to join me on a podcast. Unfortunately, she was on a busy touring schedule and couldn't take the time, but at least I gave it a shot.

It's Throwback Thursday, and if you read Monday's post, this coming Halloween would be my Dad's 100th birthday. So while this is a Throwback post, it's more of a reminder about the value of photographs and your responsibility to give your clients the best with EVERY click of the shutter.

I pulled a few favorites out of my archives for the collage above: Dad's the little kid in the front around 1927, in basic training in North Dakota just before heading overseas (he's second from the bottom), me and Dad testing my Aunt Rose's Meyer lemons that she claimed were sweet, Dad with his favorite: onion rings, and winning best Halloween costume as Michelangelo's David in 2012.

But one of my most favorites is the one on the right. It was by Don Blair in the Hasselblad booth at IUSA in the mid-nineties. (You don't need a studio for outstanding portraiture!)

When I first saw the Polaroid proof (no digital back then), Dad was seated, and I was standing behind him. I hated the pose because my Dad was always the biggest guy in my life, and he looked small. So we switched places, and then Don put in his request for his signature thumbs-up shot.  

My Dad was always my best buddy, and while there are no words to describe how much I miss him, it's the photographs that fuel the memories and keep him right by my side. There's no sadness in today's post. Dad lived to 93 and passed away seven years ago, but what a great life he lived and what a unique role he played in mine.

Right now, I like to think he's hanging out with a bunch of old friends, including a few of mine. We recently lost Duncan MacNab, and I believe they're telling stories with Don Blair, Monte Zucker, Dean Collins, and so many more. They may no longer be with us, but their spirits and energy are around us every day - often thanks to the photos that bring back the memories.

Happy Throwback Thursday - Happy upcoming birthday to my Dad. I love ya and miss ya, buddy, but as you said to Mom just before she passed, "What a great run we had!"

by Skip Cohen

Yesterday I caught a post on Facebook that really hit home. Kay Eskridge shared images of her with her Dad. She wrote:

Tonight's visit included a father-daughter cruise around the complex. I kept one hand on his shoulder as we strolled the halls and at one point he reached up and held my hand. For a few moments all my problems left my mind and my heart took over as it filled with love and a sense of protection. Almost as if he KNEW I needed him and that the simple gesture was enough to bring back a sense of peace to my world. Even through the fog of his dementia he KNEW ... I will carry that gesture with me for the rest of my life.

Kay's post got me thinking about my mother's fight with Alzheimer's, which led me to today's post, parts of which I shared in another post many years ago.

The holidays are an incredibly challenging time of year for caregivers. I remember times with my mother when my Dad wanted to return to some of the holiday traditions, but he couldn't find the path. Frustrated because things had changed so much in his life with my mother's Alzheimer's, we had to create new "traditions" and ways to celebrate.

My wife Sheila and my mother had a special bond because of the trust Sheila had established with Mom. She never argued with her, corrected or contradicted anything Mom said. Instead, she just worked to appreciate the moment. That's Sheila with Mom in the image above at dinner one night at holiday time in 2011. In a lucid moment, Mom had a mini-panic attack when she realized how much things were changing. But, two minutes later, just because of the love Sheila shared, Mom was smiling and back on track, enjoying the evening.

The seven tips below were originally published in the Caregiver Resource Center's newsletter from the Senior Friendship Centers here in Sarasota. They were shared many years in the past, but there is no expiration date on ways to reduce stress! They are so crucial to helping caregivers through the holidays.

There was just one more point I want to add, because there are so many of you dealing with dementia with older members of your family. Remember you're not alone in your feelings, the anxiety of the holidays, or in dealing with the challenge of stress. But, most importantly, as a caregiver, you've got to put yourself first, especially with your health. You can't help your loved one if you're not caring for yourself.

Seven Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress for Caregivers

Put together a support network: Include family, friends, community agencies and service providers and get comfortable delegating.

Learn to say ”No:" ‘ No ’ as being self empowering to allow yourself and your care partner the ability to enjoy the holidays in a new way.

Don’t aim for perfection: Be flexible when you need to be and change your expectations to fit the current situation.

Maintain your health: Take care of yourself, take your medications and doctor appointments, exercise when you can and enjoy a moderate holiday menu.

Start your own traditions: Find an alternative way to ease your burdens; create new holiday traditions that respect your needs and your care partner’s needs.

Prepared for the unexpected: It’s the holidays and plans may change and probably will, so what to do?.... change it if you can and if you can’t, accept it and move on. There is so much we are no longer able to control.

Remember to breathe: Some deep breaths will help relieve stress and may help you to find the humor in some situations.

by Skip Cohen

​There are times when life simply gets in the way, and that's what has been happening over the last couple of weeks. In fact, I've missed Throwback Thursday more than once, and those who follow me regularly know how much I love old photographs.

The shot above is probably around the time my grandparents got engaged. It would have been taken around 1910. The second image is a few years later. But the fun of Throwback Thursday is in the hunt! I've got an album of old photographs and haven't shared the image above previously.

I pretty much grew up in my grandparents' house. They lived two miles away, but by the time I came along, they were obviously older. While there was no question they loved each other, the look on my grandmother's face above says it all! And finding old photographs brings back so many great memories of growing up around the two of them.

​One of the best marketing tools you have is Throwback Thursday posts - whether on your blog or anywhere on social media. Use old photographs to help remind Mom that it's time for a new family portrait. Why "Mom?" Because women make 98% of the decisions to hire a professional photographer in the portrait/social categories. It's not very often that any portrait artist has received a call from "Dad" about doing a new family portrait.

And in your own family - remember the old expression, "the shoemaker's children always need shoes?" Don't be a shoemaker! Be your family's historian. Use the upcoming holiday season to sort through old photographs and get the backstories, while older family members are still around. My grandparents and parents are long since gone, and I can only guess about the timing, location, and often identifying who's in the photograph!

It all comes back to Jodi Picoult's quote about photographs, which I've shared a few dozen times over the years:

by Skip Cohen

Throwback Thursday doesn't have to be exclusive to old photographs and memories. Sometimes they can tie into great concepts - things that never change but remind us how to run a better business.

The two images below are at least twenty years old and are thanks to Bambi Cantrell. With bridal fairs and wedding expos getting back into swing, many of you will be exhibiting in the months ahead. So, with the help of two very small low-res images, I want to remind you how to set up your booth.

The image on the left is a photographer in his booth at a bridal fair. The image on the right was Bambi's at the time. And while it looks expensive, those are painted cheap hollow wood doors with crown molding in the back. Put together with a few pieces of stylized furniture and fresh flowers, and you've got the perfect exhibit. ​

​But there's more to think about:
​

• When Bambi talked about this in a presentation, she always made it a point to remind you to make the booth a place attendees wanted to come into. Don't block them with tables or yourself, for that matter.
• Bambi loved using image boxes to show her work. Rather than have just a few albums that a few brides and mothers were going to "hog," prints in an image box could be easily shared.
• While prints on easels are nice, they don't plant the seeds for ideas on display. If you're going to show big prints, then matte, frame, and display them in a way, people might do in their homes. It's rare anybody has prints on easels!

And here's one more tip from my buddy Bryan Caporicci. I've shared this before, I don't know if he still does this, but I love the idea! Working bridal fairs, he'd hand a future bride a floppy disk and say, "Take this home and look at some of my work." Brides today have never even seen a floppy, let alone know what to do with it. He made it a point to talk about the importance of prints and the wedding album.

Michele Celentano took a similar position. You'll find her "I Believe" message just a click away. It's all about prints. I'm not saying to hold back those digital files from clients who want to share them in cyberspace - just don't forget the importance of printed work.

So, I'm celebrating Throwback Thursday with timeless advice from three well-respected artists and good friends. There is not expiration date on great marketing ideas!

​Happy Throwback Thursday

​​It's Throwback Thursday, and here's an old favorite, all thanks to one of the industry's most favorite people, Helen Yancy.
 
I was never much of a fan of the watercolor look in images. Going back almost twenty years ago, they just weren't my style. Well, they weren't until I got one of the most beautiful gifts from Helen! My grandson was only two or three years old, and we were on the Cape. The images on the right are what I sent her.
 
Talking to her about the joys of being a grandparent, she had asked me to send her a couple of prints. A few weeks later, at WPPI '04, she presented me with an oversized print of the image above - printed on beautiful paper, matted and framed.
 
This print became one of my most cherished memories for several reasons. First, it was created by a wonderful friend. Helen's a special person, and I feel blessed to have her in my life.

Second, it's proof of Jodi Picoult's quote about photographs, which I've shared so many times before.

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

And third, things happen over the years that you never see coming. My kids and grandchildren haven't been a part of my life for many years. The reasons no longer matter, but being estranged from family members who were once my primary focus puts old photographs at maximum value.  My grandson's in college now, but that doesn't change how wonderful the trip down Memory Lane can be.
 
Happy Throwback Thursday!

PS: I just discovered I shared this in a shorter version throwback post seven years ago, but I'm going to run it again anyway - just the post from the past makes it a throwback!

Everyone thinks they have the best dog...
and none of them are wrong.
W.R. Puche

by Skip Cohen

It's Throwback Thursday, and I'm having fun thinking about the pups in my life. The two images above are thanks to my good buddy Robert Vanelli, created four years ago. Molly joined the family as a pup and was by my side for thirteen years. She was relentless in her pursuit of tennis balls, although at eight weeks, there wasn't an ounce of curiosity in her eyes!

We lost Molly to liver cancer a few months after Vanelli photographed me an Molly. Anybody who's ever lost a pet knows the gut-wrenching loss you feel. So these two portraits became incredibly important to me during that time. I'd find myself talking to them, as if Molly was still by my side.

But I'm not here to mourn the loss of Molly but remind you of the value of every photograph you capture. Nine months later, Lucy and Belle came into our lives. I had never had smaller dogs, but these two immediately filled my heart. They kept us sane during the pandemic and immediately became a part of the family, filling every day with chuckles.

​You learn something when you lose a pet - the capacity your heart has to make room for more. It doesn't happen overnight, but time does eventually heal the hole in your heart. Lucy and Belle immediately sensed the need for pups in our house!

As you go into this year's holiday season, remember the hierarchy of why people hire a professional photographer. In the portrait/social categories it goes brides, babies, and pets, which came out of a Kodak survey at least twenty-five years ago.  I don't believe it's ever changed. During the pandemic, brides probably moved to the number three spot, and pets and babies fought it out for the top - but overall, pets have never slowed down in their importance as part of the demand for imaging.

I still miss Molly now and then, but it's always with a smile on my face. Thanks to all the photographs, I've got one memory after another I can literally hold in my hand. But the journey never ends, as new images are created daily. Looking at photos from the first day we met the pups right through to being in the pool last weekend, the pipeline of memory-makers never stops flowing.

​Happy Throwback Thursday!