by Skip Cohen
​
I started this series 134 artists ago. My purpose was to introduce you to the movers and shakers of imaging. The idea is simple: one artist, one image, and one short podcast. The only condition is that each artist has to pick one of their favorite images. Each artist has shared not only their "Why?" but often insight into the ever-changing world of imaging.

It was a kick to catch up with David Bergman for this new episode of "Why?" He's a photographer, speaker, educator, writer, and good friend to so many people in this industry. He's been a Canon Explorer of Light since 2015. Thirteen Sports Illustrated covers have featured David's photographs, and his client list is a "Who's Who" in the world of celebrities, politicians, sports figures and influencers.

While David is best known currently as a concert photographer, I'm betting there's nothing he can't shoot. But what I loved about his photograph of Luke Combs and his crew was the story behind the shot. It wasn't in any way staged but couldn't have been captured without David's skillset. To take it one step further, this is all about working hard and playing hard with a significant amount of relationship building. (If you've ever been to Las Vegas, cameras are never allowed in the casino!)

David's not currently doing his "Shoot from the Pit" workshops, but if you're interested in becoming a concert photographer, imagine what you'll learn working with him! Follow David on Instagram and his website for the latest information on what he's doing and where/when he's teaching.

A big thanks to David, who I caught between concerts to record this episode. And a big thanks to Luke Combs, is in order, too. It's so much fun to hear a story about a celebrity I admire that lives up to his reputation of simply being a good guy!  

by Skip Cohen

Dave DeBaeremaeker joins me in this new episode of "Why?" This series is all about introducing you to some of the most creative and respected artists in photography. 

The process usually starts with a phone call and me asking the featured photographer to pick one of their favorite images to later talk about. The common denominator that often comes up is the response, "That's like asking me which of my kids I love the most!" It's not an easy assignment.

Dave chose one of the first images he created, where he built everything on the set himself. Except for Kermit, Dave built it all from scratch. He shares a lot of helpful detail in the short podcast about how he built the components. It's one of Dave's attributes that I appreciate the most; his willingness to share his "secrets." With Dave, there aren't any!

He describes his new book as a collection of everything he's learned about photographing miniatures. There are so few resources available...until now.

Dave needs to be on your radar, regardless of your specialty in imaging. Dave's attention to detail, lighting, and composition is remarkable, and you might pick up ideas to raise the bar on your technique in other genres besides toy photography.

Dave's website is just a click away, as well as his YouTube channel. You'll also see him sharing ideas on how he uses his Platypod gear in the Official Platypod Users Group on Facebook!

by Skip Cohen

In the spring of 2016, I was teaching a class at Shutterfest, and nobody knew who Mary Ellen Mark was! I couldn't do anything about new photographers, not knowing who the icons of the past were. Still, I wanted to do something to help everybody recognize the work of the contemporary movers and shakers in imaging.

We did over 130+ mini-podcasts featuring a favorite image of some of the most respected artists in photography. I stopped the series to take a break in 2021 and recently decided to bring it back. "Why?" is about great artists and their favorite images. Each featured artist is helping to set the pace not only in their area of expertise but also in marketing, business, and education. What better way for you to meet them than through one of their favorite images and their explanation of why it's special?

Shawn Black joined me this week, helping me jumpstart the series. He's a remarkable artist. While his image is one of his favorites from Couture Black, his luxury boudoir and portrait brand, I'm not sure there's anything Shawn can't photograph.  He's photographed weddings, is a writer, educator, and President of the Association of International Boudoir Photographers. He's also a husband, dad, friend and is admired by so many of us in the industry.

Whether boudoir is part of your business or not, Shawn's explanation of the portrait above is worth listening to. It's a great way to get to know an artist who should be on your radar. Check out more of his boudoir work with a click to his Instagram page. And more information on AIBP is just a click away.

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

​I started this series to introduce you to the movers and shakers in the industry. These photographers/artists share their images for various reasons. But there's always one common denominator, their love for the craft.

Adam Rainoff is a conservationist. He describes his passion for travel and adventure as - Empowering Communities by Promoting Sustainable Tourism: I started traveling the world when I was a young boy with my father when he took a job in Venezuela. It opened my eyes to other cultures and the importance to preserve them. The images he shares introduce us to cultures and environments all over the world.

The more of his images I see, the more I find myself living vicariously through his adventures.  Follow Adam through his website with links to virtually every platform in social media.

A BIG thanks to Adam for taking the time between trips to join me on "Why?"

by Skip Cohen

Like any ongoing projects we sometimes get involved in, I hit a creative block and put "Why?" on the back burner for a few months. Well, it's back with a vengeance, and nothing has changed from the original purpose of the series - "Why?" is about introducing you to the movers and shakers in the industry through their backstories about their favorite images.

It's time for you to meet Dave Williams from the UK. He's an artist, photographer, educator, author, KelbyOne Instructor and is proof the world is getting smaller. Thanks to Skype, having him share the back story about the image above was no more complicated than a phone call to my next-door neighbor.

Dave and I met through Platypod. You'll find him sharing content on the Platypod blog regularly. He's also got a great book out, The Complete Aurora Guide. Just click on the thumbnail to the right.

You can see more of Dave's work on his Instagram page, where he's always sharing new images. And just to give you a comparison of his favorite photograph from Norway above, here's what it looks like on a clear night:

by Skip Cohen

I started this series to introduce you to the movers and shakers in imaging, and that's definitely today's guest, But he's been going one step further with his focus on a life-changing direction of giving back. Chicago-based Kevin Kuster joins me, and he's a testimonial to the power of social media, too - especially when it comes to growing friendships.

We met online just before ClickCon in Chicago in 2019 and then live at the convention that year. Our friendship simply grew, as did my respect for him. Kevin's one of the founders of Watts of Love, and there are too many of you who don't know about this organization.

From their website, here's how they describe their ability to empower communities around the world:​

Financial independence is a foreign concept to those living in pervasive poverty. We break the cycle of poverty and help people create their own vision for economic independence. 

• We first deploy free solar technology that replaces kerosene, increasing household income by as much as 30%.
• Then, we teach those we serve how those savings can be reinvested – whether by buying an animal, starting a business, or sending their kids to school.
• This jumpstarts dreams about a better future. Recipients decide for themselves how to use their new income.
• No two paths look alike because individual and community priorities differ.
• Women and girls reinvest 90% of their earnings into their families. [International Women’s Development Agency]
• The gift of time is given to people who can now work at night to increase income, to tend to animals, help with family issues, and who no longer have to walk to charge cell phones. ​

Kevin is no stranger to SCU. He's been featured in a half-dozen different posts since 2019. They're all just a click away.  The image Kevin shared was captured nine years ago on his first trip with the organization. Visit the Watts of Love website with a click on Kevin's favorite image, or their logo below.

The service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.
Muhammad Ali

I hope you'll take the time to listen to Kevin's story. Then you'll understand why his "rent" is paid in full for a long time to come!

"NEARLY 1 BILLION PEOPLE LIVE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.
That means more people live in darkness today than when the light bulb was invented."

by Skip Cohen

​A few years back, I started this series as a new way to introduce you to some of the movers and shakers in the industry. One hundred twenty-nine artists shared the backstories of their favorite images. Like so often happens to all of us, other projects came to life, including some new podcasts, and "Why?" was put on the back-burner. Well, it's time to bring it back, and I can't think of a better artist to help us relaunch the series.

Gilmar Smith joins me on this latest episode of "Why?" and shares some outstanding insight into how special projects can help you stay focused on your creativity, outside of what pays the bills in terms of your specialty. She's a remarkable artist, and having worked with her for the last year and a half at Platypod, I'm repeatedly blown away by each vision she shares.

While in the past, artists featured on "Why?" picked one of their favorite images to share, for today's episode, I asked Gilmar to talk about the self-portrait she had posted on Facebook. Part of the backstory related to her two kids, after almost a year through the pandemic, being back in school. Her "kiddos" play an extraordinary role in her business, but working on a self-portrait this time represented a big step away from home-schooling and time to herself.

She wrote with the post: I put together this set in my garage yesterday as a test for incoming shoots. Then I put on a dress I haven't wore in forever and took a series of self-portraits. Whoever tells you self-portraiture is easy is lying! But it is so much fun to connect that way with my craft and practice all the posing tricks.

Check out more of Gilmar's work with a click on her "Why?" portrait above. And if you're looking for a great educational video to help you expand your ability to create portraits at home, watch the short video below. Gilmar is a KelbyOne instructor, and you can get to know more about her from past appearances on The Grid, as well as her educational videos - She's just a click away.

by Skip Cohen
 
In 2016, after teaching a workshop, I was bothered by the fact that nobody in the class knew who Mary Ellen Mark was. So, while I couldn't do much about artists who had passed, I decided it was time to launch a series that would introduce you to the movers and shakers in imaging who were more contemporary.

Mitchel Wu joins me in this new episode and he's our 129th artist in the series. And, while it's been a few months since the last podcast of "Why?" the feature is back in full swing.

Mitch is based in Los Angeles, and most of you would think of him as a commercial photographer, but I love his passion for storytelling. His passion is toy photography, and he's one of the most recognized toy artists in the industry.

But I so admire another aspect of Mitch's skill set - his focus on fun. Lately, "fun" has been lost under the stress of the pandemic. Well, not for Mitch and just listening to this short podcast, you'll pick on an artist living his dream.

Note: Click on these two images to enlarge and view in the SCU Lightbox!

In the podcast, I mentioned one of my new favorite images, his shot with Kermit. Click on the image to link to Mitch's Instagram page for more details. And don't miss the BTS video on how he created the shot. 

Like the images Mitch chose for his episode of "Why?" you can sense the fun he had in creating the scene. It all goes back to his love for storytelling and detail.

Visit Mitch's website. His galleries are a kick and guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

And if you're interested in finding out more about Platypod, one of the new tools helping Mitch capture and create his images, just click on the banner below.

by Skip Cohen
  
"Why?" is all about the favorite images of great artists. And, going back to when I started this series, there are no two artists who have had the same reason for loving an image. In fact, Mark Toal commented early on that finding a favorite was like trying to decide which of your kids you like best.

Deborah Sandidge joined me on this new episode of "Why?" and two minutes into the conversation, it was obvious why this is a favorite. Deb is all about pushing the edge of the creative envelope and often experimenting to see what she can capture/create. The image she chose was a four-minute exposure, which in itself is remarkable. She also shared a lot of insight into the various components from the blurred sky to the light on lifeguard post. Click on the image to view in the SCU LightBox.

I started "Why?" to introduce you to the movers and shakers in the industry who set the standards for creativity, quality, and passion. Deb is one of those artists whose images leave us wanting to see more, and the same goes for her clients!
​
Check out Deb's website with a click on the banner below. You won't be disappointed. And make sure you put her workshop schedule on your radar. If she's teaching in your area, run, don't walk to be there! 

by Skip Cohen
 
Although we've been a little off the schedule on regular posts for "Why?" with too many other projects over the last few months, that doesn't change the reason I love this series. It was started to introduce you to the movers and shakers in imaging, artists who consistently make a difference. 

We're getting back on a more regular schedule. With today's post there are now 127 photographers featured in the series, with a long list of new posts to share. Stay tuned - there are a lot more coming! If you missed any of the "Why?" featured artists in the past, they're all just a click away.

Today it's time to meet Larry Becker. Although we've known about each other a good portion of our careers, Larry and I kicked off the friendship a couple of months ago. Larry lives in Lakeland, Florida, and we've found a great little place to catch up once a month for lunch that's halfway for both of us.

Larry's skill set covers a little of everything. He's an artist, photographer, podcaster, writer, and educator. You can catch him regularly on the Picturing Success Podcast. You'll also see him on The Grid from time to time, and find him at conventions and workshops all over the US. Just recently, he created the short video piece on simple product photography below for Platypod.

Larry Becker needs to be on your radar. You can follow him through the Picturing Success Podcast. Just click on the banner below.

by Skip Cohen

​Nothing extends our reach or builds friendships faster than a scroll through cyberspace. Now, combine the power of the Internet with a couple of good old fashioned phone calls, and the potential for a great friendship starts to build. 

Steve Brazill joins me on this 126th episode of "Why?" We met through his recap of Photoshop World in Las Vegas. In one segment, he interviewed "Dr. T" founder of Platypod. With Platypod being a new SCU partner, I called Steve for permission to share the video.  

Now and then, we're lucky enough to meet somebody with one of those personalities you can't help but click with. Platypod was actually the shortest part of our conversation, as Steve and I talked about photography and an industry we both obviously love. *poof* A new friendship kicked off and with it this latest episode of "Why?"

While Steve's passion as an artist is in music photography, he's found a way to include his experience as a recognized broadcaster with his series, Behind the Shot. While most imaging podcasts interview guests who talk about their work, Steve starts with a photograph and then gets inside the mind of the artist to talk about the critical elements of the image itself!

Steve Brazill needs to be on your radar. Both of his links are below. Check out his work as a photographer and then move over to his podcasts in Behind the Shot.  You'll never be disappointed. A BIG thanks to Steve for joining me on "Why?" and especially for his non-stop passion for sharing great content about photography!

 ​by Skip Cohen

What started as a great way to introduce you to the movers and shakers in professional photography has genuinely become a labor of love. The whole idea was to share an image and have the artist talk about why it was special - but it's grown beyond that. Each guest has shared remarkable insight into their journey as an artist, often going well beyond the photograph itself.

Chris Rainier joins me in this new episode of "Why?" We met over twenty years ago when Chris joined us on a Hasselblad University roadshow to at least four different cities in the '90s. I remember sitting and listening to each presentation inspired by his insight into the human condition of ancient cultures.

This week Chris launched his new book, Mask. Just click on the thumbnail to the right for more information at Amazon.com. And, to see more of Chris' work, click on his "Why?" image and visit his website.

Chris is our 125th featured guest on this series, and only the second one to have done a Ted Talk. His TEDx presentation, together with his backstory on the image above, will give you a good understanding of why he's an inspiration to so many people!

PhotoTexting.com never slows down in their efforts to help photographers build stronger relationships with their target clients. Last week they launched their new website, and it's jam-packed with 20+ mobile solutions all designed to help you book more clients!

And, if you're a senior photographer, make sure you check out their new Senior Rep Program together with the two new levels of Concierge Support. If you don't want to set up your premium apps and senior rep program yourself, PhotoTexting's mobile app designers will build everything for you! 

Communication technology is changing every day! PhotoTexting's here to help you grow your business and increase revenue!

Image copyright Will Cadena. All rights reserved.

When I started this series, it was to introduce you to some of the most talented and passionate artists in contemporary photography. However, with today's post, we're adding to that goal and introducing you to a wonderful nonprofit organization as well, HeartsApart.org.

Will Cadena is in the spotlight, and our growing friendship is a testimonial to social media and the importance of attending conferences. He's no stranger to SCU, and as a Westcott Pro, I shared one of his videos at the beginning of this month. Will needs to be on your radar. Just click the image above to link to his website.

We were both teaching at ClickCon August 5-7.  That's where we had a chance to meet in person, but I also got to watch him teach on the trade show floor in the Westcott booth. *Poof* and there it is, one of the most significant reasons to attend workshops, conferences and conventions - it's how you build your network; meeting other artists. Watching Will work you couldn't help but recognize his passion for the craft!

Now, let's go one step further - the importance of giving back. I've got a particular soft spot for anything dealing with the military, but regardless, the connection and respect we should all share is without question. I've shared the link back to HeartsApart.org many times in the past, but here it is again. Just click on their banner at the bottom of the page.

Regardless of what nonprofit you choose to support, it's important to give back. Will comments about how important that is in the podcast. 

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."
Muhammad Ali

Meanwhile, a big thanks to Westcott for the unofficial introduction to Will through WestcottU; ClickCon for creating a venue where I could meet Will along with hundreds of other photographers; and HeartsApart.org for helping our servicemen and women stay connected to what they're fighting for - their families and our freedom.

Technology never slows down, especially when it comes to communication. Texting is growing at an incredible rate and with it your ability to reach potential clients faster, and often with the information they're looking for.  Texting technology is expanding your ability as a professional photographer to build relationships with more potential customers, your current base of clients and increase revenue. 

When I started this series, it was out of the frustration of nobody knowing who Mary Ellen Mark was in a class I was teaching. That moment of frustration kicked off a project that's become near and dear to what I share each week. In the process of introducing you to some of the most creative and respected artists in contemporary imaging, I've found some unique photographs that tug on my own heartstrings.

Chris Corradino is in the "Why?" spotlight today with a spectacular image from Yosemite. Chris is an artist, writer, educator, and even though we don't catch up that often, a great friend. We see each other once a year at a convention somewhere on the planet, usually New York, but more regularly connect through social media.

Earlier this week he featured the image above in his newsletter, and besides me loving the photograph, it brought back so many memories. In the '90s, on behalf of Hasselblad, I bought Ansel Adams' Cadillac from the Center for Creative Photography. Virginia Adams, Ansel's widow, had donated it to the Center to help raise money for the visiting scholar fund at the University of Arizona. I bought it and then sold it, raising $12,000 for charity, Photographers + Friends United Against AIDS.

But the memories that tug at my heartstrings the most are when my buddy Terry Deglau and I took the car into Yosemite for three days. It was June, just after what used to be called PhotoWest, PPE's sister show. The car had been on exhibit, and the minute the show was over we hit the road; drove it to Yosemite with a case of Kodak film in the trunk and at least $50,000 of Hasselblad gear. We spent three days photographing all over the park.

Chris is no stranger to SCU, and a few years back wrote a great guest post. Check out more of his work with a click on his image above, and you'll link directly to his website. 

How we communicate is continually changing. As a result, your ability to reach your target customers is also changing. The power of texting is growing more and more every day, and with it, your ability as a professional photographer to build relationships with more potential customers, your current base of clients and increase revenue. 

​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.

​With ClickCon coming up August 4-7 I thought it would be fun to dig back through the SCU archives and share episodes of "Why?" with artists who are speaking at the conference.

Headed to ClickCon? Here's a way for you to get to know a little more about thirteen of the sixty-three speakers, who make up one of the strongest educational lineups I've ever seen in a boutique conference like this. And, if you can't make it, it's a great way to learn more about some of the most respected photographers in the industry.

I started "Why?" in 2016 when teaching a class and nobody knew who Mary Ellen Mark was. So the idea kicked off with help from John Sexton, being willing to be my first guest. They're all meant to be 3-10 minute podcasts featuring one artist, one image and the backstory of why it's one of their favorite photographs. From the most recent "Why?" this week to episodes over the last three years there are now 121 in the series, and it continues to grow.

Just click on any image below, and you'll hear the backstory behind the image.

And, there's still time to register for ClickCon and be a part of the launch of what's destined to become one of the most significant events in education, networking, and FUN! Remember the word "fun?" It's so often lost today, buried under all the stress of running a business. Well, August 4-7 is a perfect time for you to recharge your battery, and pick up new ideas to build a stronger business and skill set going into the seasonality of the fall.

Use "ccskip" and save $50 off your registration and when you enter through the banner below and register, you'll get a piece of my 10% speaker affiliate commission. I'm not taking a penny of the commission, but sharing half with each attendee paid in cash at the conference and the other to one of my favorite nonprofits, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. 

See you in Chicago!

by Skip Cohen
 
I started "Why?" to introduce you to the movers and shakers in the industry who often set the standards for creativity, quality, and passion, but I underestimated how much each artist would share in their backstories. It's been an incredible journey, with 121 of the most respected artists and educators in photography!

Jennifer Tallerico joins me today. She's an accomplished artist, writer, and educator. And, she's no stranger to SCU, having joined us with guest posts in the past. 

"Why?" is all about the favorite images of great photographers. Jennifer's image above hangs as a giant canvas print in her office. It's more than just a stunning photograph of her daughter. It represents a stepping stone in building Jen's confidence as an artist and a reminder of the bond she has with her daughter and their mutual passion for underwater photography.

In the podcast, she mentioned how her daughter's love for underwater portraiture has grown over the years. I thought it would be fun to share the more recent image she talked about in the podcast.  

Check out more of Jennifer's work with a visit to JT Noir Studios. It's just a click away, and you won't be disappointed! Even better, Jen's teaching at ClickCon in Chicago next month and it's your opportunity to meet Jen and work with her LIVE. Click on the banner below for more information.

​We live in an instant-fulfillment world, and along with communication, the ways we can better serve customers are changing continually. The power of texting grows more and more every day, and with it, your ability as a professional photographer to build relationships with more of your target audience and increase revenue. 

​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.

by Skip Cohen
 
"Why?" is all about unique backstories and special images that often helped launch the careers for some of the most respected artists and educators in imaging today.

Terrell Lloyd joins me on this new episode of "Why?" Although there's probably nothing Terrell hasn't photographed or can't, his first love in photography is sports, especially when it comes to the San Francisco 49ers.  He's been their Senior Manager of Photography Services and Lead Team Photographer for twenty-three years!

I don't usually share videos on "Why?" episodes, but the video below was produced by the 49ers and also shared by SanDisk on their YouTube channel a few years back. Considering that my primary purpose for starting this series was to introduce you to the movers and shakers in our industry, it's perfect for giving you a look at a day in the life of a totally dedicated team photographer!

Terrell originally sent me the screenshot of a collage of Joe Montana's last game in 1992 shown below. It clearly is a pivotal image in his career. I wanted to share his photograph and backstory, so I pulled the image from his collage: hit the clarity fix tool in Luminar, and that's the image above. 

Remember, this was captured on film and the negatives are somewhere in Terrell's storage. Considering that this image is from a screenshot, with minimal post-production, it's still perfect to appreciate its significance. If you've ever spent any time with Terrell then you know it's representative of his passion for photography. The image was a significant building block for the foundation for an incredible career!

To find out more about Terrell or contact him, visit his website. And, he's just a click away on Instagram...   www.instagram.com/49ersofficialphotog.

We live in a world where instant fulfillment is the norm. Communication is continually changing, and consumers are looking for fast responses to their inquiries. PhotoTexting.com is giving photographers the ability to respond to inquiries quickly, expand their reach, raise the bar on Customer Service and in turn, increase revenue. 

​Check out everything PHOTOTexting has to offer with a click on the banner above. There are so many different applications and ways for you to build stronger brand awareness, increase sales, and build stronger relationships with your clients.

by Skip Cohen
​
"Why?" is all about the movers and shakers in professional photography. And, the best way to get to know each one is through one of their favorite images. Jim Schmelzer joins me on this new episode and what a kick it was to catch up to him.  

Jim and I have known each other for a whole lot of years, going back to my early Hasselblad days. We'd see each other at virtually every major conference/convention in professional photography.

But the common denominator that's the most fun for both of us right now is being involved with Panasonic's LUMIX family of cameras. Jim is a LUMIX Ambassador and captured the image above with the new LUMIX full-frame S1 and the 24-105 F4 L-Mount Lens. 

Jim's main passion is portraiture, but there's nothing he can't photograph. He's a talented instructor, and over the years, most often we'd catch up when he was doing a demo in the Westcott booth. Check out his educational website with a visit to James Schmelzer Workshops.    

​Communication is ever-changing, and your ability to expand your reach, promote your business and in turn, increase revenue is more powerful than at any other time in history. A considerable part of that continually changing world is in mobile technology and the world of texting.

Here's an example of how I'm using one of PhotoTexting's apps for my own business. Text the word "speaker" to 888-981-6118, and you'll get a response back from me with a link to my mobile page. (And, be assured I'm not saving your number to use for anything other than to demo my brochure and speaker page here.)

I use this app as a company brochure. And, there's an added benefit - when I'm teaching, attendees get the notes from my presentation without worrying about taking their own. It allows them to kick back and listen without worrying about writing down a link or specific tip on building a stronger business.)

​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.

By Skip Cohen

I started "Why?" to introduce you to the movers and shakers in professional photography. Well, we're just over three years of episodes, and you're about to meet our 118th artist in the series, Cathy Anderson.

Cathy joining me on a new episode is a testimonial to a couple of different things. First, we met for the first time at ShutterFest two weeks ago. She was teaching in the same room just after my class. One of the reasons you should attend every possible workshop and conference is to meet other artists. Second, you always want to be showing your best work. Cathy had two vertical banners outside the room showing nothing but powerful images.

Since I started "Why?" we've talked very little about sports photography or working with high school seniors. While there's nothing, Cathy can't photograph, her passion is clearly in sports and meeting the mindset of her clients. She's part of the team at TPS Photography in North Carolina, and she shares so much insight with these two photographs.

There's another fun aspect to this podcast. Cathy mentions fish not being on her favorite critter list. Well, I can identify with that since I love to scuba dive but get seasick walking by a canned tuna display in the supermarket! Obviously as an adventure photographer there's nothing she won't due to support a client and get the shot, which is another quality I appreciate about her - the client always comes first.

"Why?" usually features just one backstory, but the two images were so different and brought out different skills as well. The top image is a composite, while the soccer image is right out of the can. Cathy grew up on film, and she talks about the importance of getting everything she wants in camera.

Listening to her clients and exceeding their expectations are all part of who Cathy is as an artist and photographer. She doesn't compromise on quality, and that's also a big part of why her relationship is so important with Richmond Pro Lab.

To see more of Cathy's work check out her website and Instagram posts. And, to really appreciate both images in this episode of "Why?", click on them and view them through the SCU Lightbox!

In the same way the Internet has changed the way we share photographs, technology has changed the way we communicate. The power of texting grows more and more every day, and with it your ability as a professional photographer to expand your reach with your target audience!

​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.