Images copyright Jen Rozenbaum. All rights reserved. It's Wednesdays With Westcott, and Jen Rozenbaum is back with some excellent posing and lighting tips to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images and how you work with clients. Recognized as one of the leading educators in boudoir photography, Jen never slows down in her focus to help photographers capture and create better images. And, there's another special common denominator with several of our past artists featured in this series: Jen's teaching at ClickCon in Chicago August 5-7 together with Joel Grimes, Peter Hurley, and Jerry Ghionis, all featured in past Westscott posts. And, Westcott is also an exhibitor, giving you a chance to check out some of the very best lighting gear in photography. If you've never heard Jen teach live, or haven't met her in person, put catching up to her on your bucket list. She's a phenomenal artist, and friend to so many of us in the industry. If you've watched this video, and appreciate all the great insight she shared, imagine what it's like when she's teaching in a regular program with minimal time restrictions. Get to know Jen even better listening to this podcast of "Mind Your Own" business, which we did with her last year. Jen holds back nothing in her zest for life and love for her family, friends and the industry. She's also an innovator. Check out her signature Westcott two-light kit with a click on the gear to the left. Westcott is always working on ways to help you stay inspired - you'll find a lot of additional inspiration on their educational site with one more click on their banner below.
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Images copyright Joel Grimes. All rights reserved. Check out the Westcott U site and find out what all the buzz is about. With great content covering virtually every area of photography, you'll find so much material to help you become a better artist. And, their YouTube channel is chocked full with 371 videos to help you become the very best photographer you can be. It's all just a click away on the WU logo below.A few weeks ago, we launched "Wednesdays with Westcott!" The response has been terrific and we so appreciate your feedback. Westcott never slows down on helping photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images. They pack a lot of great content into each short video. Joel Grimes is in the spotlight today, but besides an appreciation for some of the best lighting gear in photography, there's another common denominator between Joel and other artists featured in the "Wednesdays with Westcott" series. Joel, along with Jerry Ghionis and Peter Hurley will be teaching at the newest conference in professional photography, ClickCon on August 5-6. And, Westcott is a partner and exhibitor along with what may well be the most extensive lineup of top-shelf vendors/manufacturers and speakers of any boutique conference this year! One of the things I appreciate the most with every Westcott video is the way they share information with comparison shots. This allows you not only to understand more of what the featured photographer is sharing but gives you a visual benchmark demonstration. And, put the images together with Joel's ability as an educator, and there's a great lesson or two in every one of his videos - all in under three minutes! Check out the Westcott U site and find out what all the buzz is about. With great content covering virtually every area of photography, you'll find so much material to help you become a better artist. And, their YouTube channel is chocked full with 371 videos to help you become the very best photographer you can be. It's all just a click away on the WU logo below. It's "Wednesdays With Westcott" but comparing Peter Hurley's hair in this video out of Westcott's archives to today; maybe this would be better as a Throwback Thursday! LOL The cool thing about Peter is that nothing ever changes in the intensity of how he teaches or his passion for helping photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images. And, thanks to Peter, photographers are cleaning up the world one headshot at a time! Westcott never slows down in helping photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images and developing a better understanding of lighting! And Peter's become one of the most recognized educators in portraiture. If he's teaching at any conference you're attending, run don't walk to grab a seat. And, introduce yourself to Peter before or after his program. He's got a busy schedule, and he'll be teaching at ClickCon in Chicago along with a number of us in the industry. It's going to be an outstanding conference with great content, no matter what your skill/experience level. Peter should be on your radar. Just click on the schedule below to connect to the workshop page on his website. Check out the Westcott U site and find out what all the buzz is about. With great content covering virtually every area of photography, you'll find so much material to help you become a better artist. And, their YouTube channel is chocked full with 368 videos to help you become the very best photographer you can be. It's all just a click away on the WU logo below. Click any one of the three kits Peter Hurley has helped design for more information.
Image copyright Jerry Ghionis. All rights reserved. Welcome back to "Wednesdays with Westcott," a new SCU series to help you expand your creativity and raise the bar on the quality of your images. Timing is everything! With a new episode of "Why?" airing last Friday which featured an incredible image by Jerry Ghionis using the lighting gear he designed, the Ice Light, this short video demonstrates another creative application. Jerry's vision behind the product from the beginning was a must-have portable light source that maximized creativity in virtually any imaging situation. Even though Jerry and I have been friends for close to twenty years, I forgot the creative genius behind the camera and the way he can visualize an image and then go to work capturing what he's imagined. Looking a lot like Luke Skywalker's lightsaber from Starwars, it's the perfect tool to battle the challenges of boring images and push your creativity beyond the restrictions of conventional lighting and posing. As a professional photographer today you're dealing with stiff competition. It's so important to capture and create images that demonstrate why you're not like other photographers or the work they're presenting. Thanks to Jerry and Westcott, here's a tool that needs to be with you on every assignment. And, on Westcott's YouTube channel, working together with Jerry they've created a complete series of Ice Light videos, each one loaded with content and a mini-workshop in photographic technique! There are twelve short videos in the series, all of them utilizing the Ice Light in a different application! Check them out - you won't be disappointed. May the force be with you! If you haven't visited the Westcott U website, check it out. It's loaded with great content covering virtually every area of photography. And, their YouTube channel is chocked full with 369 videos to help you become the very best photographer you can be. It's all just a click away on the WU logo below
Image copyright Jerry Ghionis. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen I started this series to introduce you to some of the most respected artists and educators in photography. Along the way each guest has shared their wisdom about business, photography, and ideas to help you build a stronger foundation as an artist. Jerry Ghionis joins me on this new episode of "Why?" with a stunning image and a great "how-to" backstory, along with a sneak peek into the way his mind's eye visions develop. As I mentioned in my podcast intro, you'd have to have been in solitary confinement for the last few decades to not know who Jerry is, or at the very least heard his name. He's one of the finest wedding photographers in the world, although I doubt there's anything he can't photograph. He's a leading educator, writer, and inspiration to so many photographers in the industry. But there's another side of Jerry that ties back to technical development. He identified a need for a must-have portable lighting tool to push the edge of the creative envelope. Working together with Westcott he designed the Ice Light. The Ice Light was a key to the impact in the image above, and Jerry shares the insight into why and how the photograph was created. Jerry needs to be on your radar. Everything he's working on, sharing and his teaching schedule are all just a click away! Click on the the image above to enlarge and view it in the SCU Lightbox! The "Why" series is brought to you by...Technology and consumer trends NEVER slow down. Think about how much the Internet has changed the way we share photographs. At the same time, think about how much communication has changed too, especially with mobile technology. In fact, the latest research shows that 82% of text messages are read within 5 minutes, but consumers only open 1 in 4 emails they receive.
Check out everything PHOTOTexting has to offer. There are so many different applications and ways for you to build stronger brand awareness, increase sales and expand your reach. This is the fourth post in the new SCU "Wednesdays with Westcott" series, and each one has been jam-packed with excellent content to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images. Developing content by some of the finest photographers and educators in professional photography, Westcott never slows down on their goal to make you a better photographer so you can thrive, not just survive! In the hierarchy of why people hire professional photographers in the portrait/social categories, the top three are brides, babies, and pets. This is based on a survey Kodak did over twenty years ago and I don't believe it's changed at all. In fact, following pets it's my personal assumption that children, family, seniors and boudoir probably follow. In regards to pets, there are an estimated 180+ million dogs and cats in the US with almost 70% of all households owning pets. That's an incredible number and represents an opportunity for so many of you to expand your business and in turn build additional revenue. But make no mistake about it, pets deserve the same skill set as people. While they won't be critical over the quality of the portrait, you sure can count on their owners! The image I kicked off this post with is one of my most favorite portraits of Molly the Wonder Dog who died in February. It was captured by Bambi Cantrell and is one of the most cherished portraits I have of Molly. But what if Bambi had just said, "That's good enough," and done a mediocre job? You owe it to every client to capture and create the finest images. There's no room for shortcuts or compromise on the quality of a portrait. And, to get to the point of truly being a professional artist you need to practice continually. Looking through Westcott's archives in YouTube I came across this beginner's video about pet photography. It might be 2 1/2 years old, but the tips Brandon from Westcott shares are timeless. There are so many great points in the video to help you capture and create beautiful images that go well beyond just being good enough! If you haven't visited the Westcott U website, check it out. It's loaded with great content covering virtually every area of photography. And, their YouTube channel is chocked full with 369 videos to help you become the very best photographer you can be. It's all just a click away on the WU logo below.
For more information on the equipment Brandon used in the pet photography video, click on either kit below! Welcome to another Wednesdays with Westcott, a new SCU series, guaranteed to help you become a better photographer. We're hitting tight versus wide angle portraits today with one of my favorite educators Sal Cincotta. Sal never does anything halfway. In just four minutes in the video below, he shares an incredible amount of information, taking you through not only what he's doing but why. We're into spring seasonality with better weather in most of the country, giving so many of you a chance to be shooting outdoors again. Regardless of your core specialty, it's essential to understand the elements for great portraiture including lighting and posing. Pay attention to Sal's tips, including his composition in wanting to take advantage of all the vertical lines in the woods. And, if you're with Sal at ShutterFest this week, wander over to the Westcott booth and check out some of the finest lighting gear in professional photography. Plus, Westcott's team should be in your network. They're talented, passionate about imaging, and always available to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images. And check out the Westcott U website - it's loaded with great content covering virtually every area of photography. And their YouTube channel is also chocked full. It's all just a click away on the WU logo below. Click on either product for more info and check out Westcott's extensive lighting accessory line! Wednesdays with Westcott is a new SCU educational feature which will not only help you raise the bar on the quality of your images and skill set, but you're going to be meeting some of the most respected artists and educators in professional photography. We're excited to be working together with Westcott U to bring you great "how-to" content. WU is all about education, and right in line with SCU's ability to help photographers become better at their craft. Jen Rozenbaum joins us today and she never does anything halfway! She packs an incredible amount of content into just over three minutes in the video below. And, with a little help from the team at Westcott, they're sharing more than just great photography, but giving you Jen's recipe. Including a great comparison shot to show you the impact a grid can add to your images. There are far too many "natural light specialists" in our industry. The majority of the time when a photographer states that's their specialty it usually means, "I don't understand studio lighting!" Jen's working with the Solix 2-Light kit, but showing you the sophistication you can get when you know what you're doing, and in this video, she's working with just one light. Click on either product for more information! ” Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” George Eastman We all love natural light, but as a professional photographer, your responsibility to every client is to exceed expectations. Jen ALWAYS exceeds expectations, which is part of her signature. If you're attending any workshop or convention where she's speaking, run don't walk to get a seat. And, make it a point to introduce yourself. She's one of the most approachable photographers and educators in our industry.
Just like Jen exceeding expectations, so does Westcott. They manufacture some of the best lighting gear in photography today, and it's all supported by terrific customer service with a focus on always being an outstanding value and investment. Check out the Westcott U website - it's loaded with great content covering virtually every area of photography. Their YouTube channel is chocked full with 368 videos to help you become the very best photographer you can be. It's all just a click away on the WU logo below. Welcome to Wednesdays with Westcott, a new SCU feature I promise will help raise the bar on your skill set, no matter what your core specialty is as a photographer. Westcott U is all about education and the extensive content the Westcott Team has built is remarkable. It's right line with our goals for SCU and one of the reasons we're excited to be working with them. It's April, and the wedding season is ramping up, and there are so many of you who need help with lighting, especially when it comes to posing groups. Groups are time-consuming, frustrating and often the equivalent of herding cats! But, if you practice (this is where all your friends and neighbors come in) and understand your mind's eye vision in advance, doing classic modern portraits of the wedding party doesn't have to be the most stressful part of the day. I chose this first video in this new SCU series because of my good buddy Bob Davis. We've been friends for a long time, but that friendship came out of a deep respect for his skill set, especially in teaching. It's hard to believe how much great information he shares in the video below...and all in under four minutes! So, take the time to check it out and if you're in the Chicago area and need more help, check out Bob's program every Thursday night in May starting on May 9 at ProCam. You'll be amazed at how much of a change you'll see, not only in the quality of your work but the drop in your stress level. And check out the Westcott U website - it's loaded with great content covering virtually every area of photography. And their YouTube channel is also chocked full. It's all just a click away on the WU logo below. Click either product below for more information Images copyright Bob Davis. All rights reserved.
I couldn't be more proud to announce a new SCU partner, Westcott. They're a leader in lighting but even more relevant to SCU's role as an online resource; they're dedicated to education. They're focused not only on great products and one of the most extensive lighting lines in photography but ways to help you build a stronger skill set and business.
In the next few months, you're going to see SCU and Westcott working together to bring you terrific educational content and introduce you to some outstanding products, techniques, artists, and educators. What a kick! Westcott is in the house! Skip Cohen
Click to visit Westcott and Westcott U. Check out one of the largest online resources in photography.
In January of 2013 we started SkipCohenUniversity, playing off of the university concept with a full-blown campus, but all in cyberspace. We wanted to capture the ever-changing landscape of photography, especially in marketing and business. Over the years, thanks to an incredible group of educators and artists, SCU expanded into so many other areas including technique, networking, website design, blogging, and the list goes on and on.
We're expanding more, and with the help of Westcott, we're going to continue to grow. While the company was started in 1899, their entry in photography began in 1969 when their current chairman, Tom Waltz brought his idea for photographic umbrellas to life. "Now 50 years, 12 patents, and over 600 products later, we’re still manufacturing durable, high-end lighting equipment for professional filmmakers and photographers across the globe." I've written many times about how this industry is a family, and so many of us have worked together. Here's a perfect example with the twelve artists below. They're all movers and shakers in professional photography and represent some of the most respected artists and educators in our industry. ​Meet twelve of Wescott's thirty-five Top Pros who have all been featured in some way in the last few years here at SCU. From our faculty members to episodes of "Why?" to guest posts and podcasts, they've all shared their dedication to helping you raise the bar on the quality of your images. These are just a few of the artists and educators who need to be on your radar. Click on their headshots and check out at least one of their past features on SCU.
Stay tuned - you're going to see a lot of great content working together with Wescott. In the mean time check out their YouTube channel with 364 videos in their archives. And, just in case you don't know just how extensive Westcott's product line and support are, watch this short video! There's a lot packed into forty-three seconds!
Wescott is in the house! |
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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