 If you want to catch more fish, use more hooks! George Allen by Skip Cohen This is the seventh post in this series, each one written in the hopes of helping you take action to capture more sales in the upcoming holiday season. The reality is there isn't any single key to success. But there is a winning combination of publicity, products, and promotion. There's only so much content you can put in a blog post. So, today, it's just getting you to think about building awareness. What good is working so hard to create the best images of your life if nobody knows who you are? Too many of you think of publicity as awareness outside your control. So, let's kill the myth - thanks to social media and communication technology - EVERY business can control and contribute to their own awareness.
The definition of publicity from Google is: In marketing, publicity is the public visibility or awareness for any product, service, or organization. It may also refer to the movement of information from its source to the general public, often via the media. Stop waiting for that knock at your door from a reporter who wants to do a feature profile story about you and your business. Those opportunities will come, but you have to build your own awareness first! The bottom line is simple: "use more hooks!"
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 Angels exist... But sometimes they don't have wings and are called friends! Unknown Author  by Skip Cohen I rarely write about people outside the industry, but this week we lost an extraordinary friend. Only a handful of you knew Frank Fleisher, but hopefully, many of you are lucky enough to have someone like Frank in your life. Ever had a friend who you didn't know that long, but you can't remember a time when they weren't in your life? Frank and I met just six years ago when we were both asked to be on the Board of the Senior Friendship Centers here in Sarasota. The friendship was instant, and as we sat together at a lunch meeting with Erin McLeod, CEO for SFC, I remember her declaring right there, we were never going to be allowed to sit next to each other at any board meeting. Over the years, the friendship grew, and Frank and his wife Barbara became one of our favorite couples to get out to dinner with. And when they left town each summer for their cottage in Maine, we'd go through withdrawal, counting the days until they were back! My favorite picture of Frank is a grab-shot from my phone on the right. Frank and I were both trying to lose weight. So we had a little side-bet over a month or two, and whoever lost bought the next dinner for the four of us. Well, in the middle of the challenge, there was a Board meeting, and Frank decided to try and tip the scale in his favor - he came over to me with a full plate of blonde brownies and pumpkin roll! When the pandemic hit, we went months without seeing them. They stayed in Maine longer than just the summer, but within two weeks after they were back, we reunited for dinner at one of our favorite places. We hadn't had our vaccines yet, but we knew we'd all been careful and safe. So, we didn't hug, did fist bumps, and maintained social distancing throughout dinner. But for dessert, we decided to do what we usually did and ordered one dessert and four forks. As we sat there, all sharing one order of flourless chocolate cake, I started laughing. I pointed out how we'd all been so careful social distancing through dinner but underestimated the power of chocolate - we were all huddled together eating off the same plate! That was our last dinner together last Spring. Frank was diagnosed with a type of leukemia, fought a hard battle, and passed away this past Thursday. Look, life is simply too short, and while Sheila and I will miss Frank immensely, he's a part of us. His incredible heart, style, giving nature, and smiling face have contributed so much to the quality of our lives, and all in such a short time. Frank always liked to pick on me because I rarely wear long pants. After all, I live in Florida, and a nice shirt and shorts work virtually everywhere. So he used to tell me to put on big boy pants. Well, Frank, I'm putting on my big boy pants today and doing my best to cherish the memories and our time as friends and fight off the sadness. You were like a brother and almost got me to like Scotch! You will be so missed. We love ya, buddy! As Erin McLeod shared in an email.... “Death ends a life, not a relationship.”
Mitch Albom  by Skip Cohen
I created this series to help you start thinking about things you need to consider to make this one of your best holiday seasons to date. This is the sixth in the series, and all it requires you to do is genuinely listen to your clients and change the way you respond! While I'd like to take credit for the foundation of today's post, it's thanks to my good buddy, Doug Box. I first heard him talk about this concept with his bakery demonstration years ago. So while I've written about it before, most of you need the reminder with the holiday season coming up! Paraphrased from Doug's presentation: Pretend you're a baker, and somebody calls and asks you, "How much are your cakes?" For most of us, we'd ask a series of qualifiers: How many people do you want it to serve? Sheet cake, layer cake, or ice cream cake? What flavors would you like? Anything to be written on the top? Any allergies we need to know about? When do you need it? Will it need to be delivered? And the list goes on and on. Why, when none of us own a bakery, do we know what we'd need to ask, but as artists, most of you ask almost nothing? For example, a potential client calls and asks, "How much are your 8x10s?" and most of you would answer with a price. That's it - nothing more to clarify what the customer needed, and no effort made to upsell with ideas of other products you offer, package pricing, cross-promotions with other vendors, holiday specials etc. Holiday seasonality is right around the corner. While the pandemic has created so many complex challenges in business today, it's also brought with it a renewed sense of family. With that new focus on family there's an increased demand for portraiture and creating/capturing new memories. Just ask yourself, what's Grandma missed the most over the last year? Her family! Take a minute and think about everything you have to offer a client. From holiday cards to prints to capturing memory-making events - when you're contacted, don't just answer their question. Instead, take things one step further and give them something to think about that ties back to your skillset and everything you have the potential to offer. Another good buddy, Tony Corbell, has used Disney as an example over the years. If you ask a Disney staff member when is the Electric Light Parade, they'll answer you, but then include, "And you know where there's a great place to watch it?" They'll then give you a suggestion on where to be in the park to enjoy it the most. They never just answer your question. The bottom line is simple - we've been experiencing it with every fast food order we've ever made..."You want fries with that?"   by Skip Cohen
Somewhere around 2011, one of the finest photographers in the industry, Bambi Cantrell, spent the day with my folks. It was essentially a day-in-the-life shoot and all happening right at the start of my mother's eight-year fight with Alzheimer's. Out of that battle, Dad and I got involved with the Caregiver Support Group, part of the Senior Friendship Centers' support for the community. As Alzheimer's slowly robbed my Dad of the love of his life, his anger grew. Finally, it was suggested we join a support group, and while Dad at first hated the idea, he learned so much over the next year. For my Dad's generation, you didn't share your feelings outside your family when they were sad, angry, or frustrated. You simply didn't do your "dirty laundry" in public. Sound familiar? But the other members of the group helped him understand he wasn't alone in his feelings, especially his sadness. So, Dad and I would go to the weekly support group meetings and then go out to lunch together. It was pretty much the only time he'd leave my mother's side. As he said to me once when I was trying to get him to do a boys' night out, "Your mother has taken care of me every day for all these years. Now it's my turn to take care of her!" I was recently at the Friendship Centers and grabbed one of their brochures - with Mom and Dad on the cover. I know how proud they'd both be knowing they were involved in helping spread the word about the contribution this very special non-profit makes to the community. So, it's Throwback Thursday - whether you share it on your blog or just enjoy a look in the rearview mirror for yourself - take the time to savor a few great memories. 
Click on the banner above to link to the podcast!
by Skip Cohen
​Will Cadena joined us on this episode of "Mind Your Own Business." As I anticipated, he couldn't have been more open about his journey as a professional photographer and business owner. He shares a lot of great information, especially about continuing education and relationship-building with his clients. Just click on the banner above to listen to the podcast. Until I was on his website looking for images for today's post, I had no idea he'd done work for an organization I'm proud to have written about over the years, HeartsApart.org. It's so important for all of you, as artists in your community to find ways to give back. So I pulled the short video below to not only share his skills as a storyteller and cinematographer but introduce you to one of my favorite non-profits.
​From weddings to commercial work, to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and corporate events, Will Cadena's work is all about people. He's a relationship-builder who never slows down. In fact, I've introduced him a couple of times as proof that hyperactive kids grow up and have careers! That energy level is his signature, and it's directly tied to his passion for the craft, education, and helping photographers raise the bar on the quality of their work.
Click on any image below to link to his website and check out his mentoring program. He's a firm believer in education, and if you see him on the agenda at any upcoming conference - run, don't walk to grab a seat! A BIG thanks to Will for joining us on the podcast and to Photofocus.com for sharing the podcast and being one of the very best and most extensive resources for imaging artists!
Images copyright Will Cadena. All rights reserved.
 Just click on the banner above to link to the podcast! by Skip Cohen Although this podcast got great reviews on Photofocus.com and iTunes, I've been behind getting caught up here on the SCU Blog. So, over this next week, if you haven't heard the podcasts already, you'll meet some of the most talented and respected artists in professional photography. Meet a great friend to so many of us in photography, Kristen Jensen. In this podcast, she shares so much great insight into her journey - from a Ford model to actress to moving behind the camera and more. We first met when we were both working with Panasonic, Kristen as an Ambassador, and me in support of their social media building. And while we're not directly involved as much these days, that doesn't change the love we share for imaging, especially marketing/branding. "Everybody becomes a celebrity when they take charge of their brand." Kristen Jensen I wanted to share her promotional video from her website. It's all about branding, and is the perfect sidekick to the podcast above.  Out to dinner in Sarasota As I've written so many times before, the fun of this industry has little to do with imaging but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Sheila and I have caught up to Kristen and Tom each time they've been in the area. A BIG thanks to Kristen for joining Chamira and me on the podcast. Click on any of the images below to see more of Kristen's work, as well as gain a better understanding of branding. She's one of the most diverse artists in imaging. And one more BIG thanks to Photofocus.com and their support of the Mind Your Own Business podcast. It all started with Rich Harrington having an idea, Sheila giving us a suggestion for what to call it, and in 2014 we kicked off the first podcast in the series and haven't missed a month since!  
  by Skip Cohen
It's Labor Day, and I pretty much share the same post every year...starting with the history of "Labour Day," thanks to Wikipedia: (Labor Day in the United States) is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. For most countries, Labour Day is synonymous with, or linked with, International Workers' Day, which occurs on 1 May. For other countries, Labour Day is celebrated on a different date, often one with special significance for the labour movement in that country. Labour Day is a public holiday in many countries. So, if you're in the US, I just want to wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday. For us, it's a day to just kick back, mumble a lot about how fast the summer went by and then throw something on the grill. And if I really dig back through the memory banks, school started tomorrow, always the day after Labor Day. Enjoy the holiday everybody - and unplug yourself from worrying about work - it'll all still be there tomorrow!  Gratitude make sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Melody Beattie by Skip Cohen It's Sunday, and if you follow me regularly, then you know there's no chance you're about to read anything about marketing or business. This is my day to let my head and heart go any place I want, and rarely does what I write have anything to do with work directly. Last week Sheila and I were reading Melody Beattie; she talked about a "gratitude box." Well, we decided to take this beautifully carved box we have and fill it with messages about things we're grateful for. Well, that got me thinking about my life these days, the mess in the world around us; and the smile I wake up with every morning. And while they don't always seem to go together, I started thinking about the tradition of going around the table at Thanksgiving and talking about the things that make us thankful. Now, go one step further - why do so many people only do it at Thanksgiving? No matter how bizarre you may think your life is - there's ALWAYS something to be grateful about. From big things to little - there's so much we take for granted. I'll admit, aging has an impact on my view of life. But, with age does come a certain level of wisdom, simply out of the experiences we've had for what works and what doesn't. The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes. Frank Lloyd Wright So, go back up top and read Melody Beattie's quote one more time. Take a look in your rearview mirror, then look where you are right now, finish with looking forward and cherish where you're headed. And if the path you've chosen isn't feeling right, look at why and then change it. Nothing we do or choose has to be forever.
And when it comes to what I'm grateful for - it starts with Sheila and the pups, our family, my health our friends and comes full circle to all of you in an industry I stumbled into so many years ago. What an incredible ride it continues to be! Wishing everybody a holiday weekend (if you're in the US) filled with gratitude that outshines your frustrations and challenges. You know how to work with selective focus on your camera - well, now is a great time to view the problems in your life outside depth of field and let your optimism and appreciation genes go crazy! Happy Labor Day Weekend!   by Skip Cohen The year is 2010, and we were living in Akron, Ohio. I had a lecture series I put together called the Akron Photo Series. Each month a different photographer would come to the area, and we'd host an evening workshop. The proceeds all went to Akron Children's Hospital. While I got a lot of great feedback from photographers in the area, the real benefit for us was getting quality time with friends from the industry. Clay Blackmore was one of the artists who joined us in the series that year. In wandering through my archives looking for a few throwbacks to share today, I found these. They represent some of my most favorite images of Sheila and me, and while Clay shot in both color and B&W - I still love the black and whites the most. But there's a sidebar backstory - as much as I love the fact that Clay definitely captured our spirit as a couple - what I cherish the most is a portrait created by a good buddy. Clay started working with Monte Zucker right around the same time I started at Hasselblad. We've worked together on dozens of different projects over the years, shared lots of meals, and I can't count the number of times we've been together and laughed over life in the photo industry. As the seasonality of the fourth quarter approaches, use your blog and presence in social media to remind your readers it's time for a new family portrait. There's a renewed sense of family in the world, and what "Grandma" misses the most is her family. Of course, that means the perfect gifts this holiday season all relate to imaging, but you've got to start planting those seeds of ideas now! Happy Throwback Thursday!   A goal is just a dream with a deadline! Drake by Skip Cohen The one thing we can never change is time. We can't slow it down. We can't speed it up. We never have enough of it - but right now, when it comes to preparing for the seasonality of the fourth quarter of 2021 - you DO have the time. Most of us fly by the seat of our pants. We're reactionary and respond accordingly to whatever good ideas and, too often, bad ones come our way. Then when an idea doesn't produce the results we hoped for, we withdraw until we regain the confidence to try again. Okay, enough of the philosophical side of trying to run a business at a time when the world is upside down! Let's go straight to the "brass tacks" of whatever it's going to take to make you smile about your business at the end of the year! I'm assuming everybody wants to regain a firmer footing in their business during the next few months - so, there's the goal and that dream with a deadline. Start with thinking through what you want to offer to your clients.
Here's my point - last year's holiday season was one of the toughest ever. We were all dealing with the unknown and the challenges created by the pandemic. And while we're still faced with so many challenges, there's never been a greater sense of family. As a photographer, videographer, and artist you've got the skillset to offer your clients great ideas tying in your skills with their families and friends. It all starts with you, and while I hate the expression, "you snooze you lose." And if you're stuck for ideas, you know where to find me and I'm serious, I'm happy to try and help.  You can't be the kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute! Tina Fey by Skip Cohen
Tina Fey's quote isn't new to SCU - I've probably used it as an intro to at least two posts previously. However, it seems incredibly timely for today's Marketing Monday post. Over the last two weeks, I've shared three previous posts on ideas to help you ramp up for the upcoming holiday season. Well, there are still too many of you sitting on the sidelines watching the parade go by instead of being in it! So, here are a few things I know about this year's seasonality.
The $100 billion pet industry is poised to nearly triple to $275 billion by 2030, creating potential tailwinds for pet-friendly stocks...The pandemic has upended the lives of humans, but for pets, it's been a bonanza: Their owners have been home all day, showering them with attention and treats...Morgan Stanley's housing strategists estimate that the growth trend of US pet ownership more than tripled during the pandemic. Years ago, I worked for a company whose owner loved to ponder every significant decision. In the end, he pondered himself and the company right out of so many great opportunities. There's no such thing as a "sure thing" these days - so that means you have to take risks. But the great thing about imaging and business is that nothing has to be forever. Take risks, stop pondering at the top of the waterslide. Stop overthinking what you're going to do next. Like the Nike tagline...Just do it!  Image by AaronVan for Platypod - Click on image to link to his short tutorial on food photography.  by Skip Cohen I woke up this morning knowing exactly the topic I wanted to hit, but not how to get there! The topic was the joy and frustration of aging. Not from a health perspective, but patience in dealing with an ever-changing world. At a time when so many of my counterparts have retired, or worse, withdrawn, I'm having the time of my life. That's not to suggest that life is smooth sailing and every day is sunshine and happiness. It never is, but there are these stellar snapshots of life in between those moments of stress over business, health, and the world. Well, trying to express what I wanted this morning, I turned to one of my favorite books, "Age doesn't matter unless you're a cheese." I found two quotes that I loved, which seemed to reflect where my head is this morning: "They say stress is a killer. But I think no stress is equally deadly, especially as you get older. If your days just seem to slip by without some anxieties and pulse-quickening occurrences, you may not be really living." Helen Hayes "Never retire! Do what you do and keep doing it. But don't do it on Friday. Take Friday off. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday do fishing, do sexual activities, watch Fred Astaire movies. Then from Monday to Thursday, do what you've been doing all your life, unless it's lifting bags of potatoes off the back of a truck. I mean, after eight-five that's hard to do. My point is: Live fully and don't retreat." Mel Brooks There you have it - I'm betting most of us feel like our lives have never been more stressful. Between health, business, politics, and the Taliban, the world is a mess. We can't hide, but we don't have to give in to it either. That's where Mel Brooks takes over.
All we can do is manage our little piece of the world. Those smiles you see on my face, and Sheila's come from within. They come from an incredible appreciation for that old line about "life not being a dress rehearsal." And while there are days when we have to dig deeper than others to laugh, we've built a tiny piece of the world that's just ours. So we talk a lot about how we got here, how we wound up together, how two pups keep us laughing and how much we simply appreciate our life. Are there days when we can't seem to pull ourselves out of the abyss? Of course, but somehow we always find a way to rise above it. That statement about it takes a village couldn't be more appropriate. So, take good care of your village and do your best to give back as much as you need to take. Wishing everybody a day where you appreciate everything in your life, even the most challenging moments. Never think a problem is without solutions...and when in doubt, laugh...take Mel Brooks' advice - Live fully and don't retreat! Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about with the people you love the most, or maybe it's somebody relatively new, who you're growing to appreciate. Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.  by Skip Cohen
The title is a modified quote from "Life's Little Instruction Book Volume II", and it's one of my favorites. Unfortunately, with all the insanity in the world, there are too many artists who are letting the weeds take over their dreams. While part of this post is from the SCU archives - it's time to bring the topic up to date and deal with today's challenges. I'm not minimizing anything you're dealing with, but having been in this industry my entire life, I've learned that whatever you're frustrated with today, somebody out there found a solution yesterday! Weed 1: It's time to shut off the negative information in your life. I've written before about the importance of listening to your heart, but we're surrounded by negativity these days, and it's hard not to let it into your head. For Sheila and I, we've stopped watching the news. It's frustrating not to know who to believe, so we follow a couple of online news sources, listen to our family doctors and follow people we trust. And the next time you're sharing an image in an online forum and a troll out there decides to shred your work, remember my buddy Dean Collins' line, "Beauty is in the eyes of the checkbook holder!" Weed 2: Stop thinking you're alone in your frustrations as a photographer and small business owner. Here's where getting involved in a local guild or PPA chapter is going to help. You need to be involved in the local network, not just know about it. Join whatever/whoever is in your community and start getting to know other photographers, as well as them getting to know you. Get involved in the local business groups, both live and online. Host your own networking luncheon and invite people who target the same audience you're after. Start thinking how you can pool your resources. Weed 3: Stop thinking you can't afford to promote your business! I just wrote a post earlier this week about partnerships. If there's a holiday promotion you want to get off the ground and you're worried about the ROI, then work together with at least two other partners. Sharing the costs is only one benefit. There's also the ability to expand your reach into the community and increase the value of what each partner is offering. Weed 4: Take some time to think through your definition of success. Most of you are halfway there, but since you've only defined success in monetary terms, you have no idea how much you've accomplished just by being happy. And while I know just being happy doesn't put food on the table - stop thinking the pandemic got in the way of your climb up the ladder. You haven't lost your skillset, your creativity, or your passion for the craft! Weed 5: Get out from behind your computer...often! I get that we've all been forced to be slaves to the Internet - after all, it's safe and provides an ability to communicate without any health risks. We're all experts in Zoom, Facetime, and Skype these days, but that doesn't mean you can't still meet with a client and maintain physical distancing. And nothing should hold you back from owning your zip code! It's time to get out and pound the pavement, meet other business owners in your community, and talk about ways you can work together. Your business will be built on relationships, and you won't get to know the people who can help you the most if you're at the computer all day. Weed 6: Stop worrying about having the right gear. Do the best you can with what you've got. If there is something you desperately need to help raise the bar on your images, but you can't afford it, then find a good rental house. Years ago, Vincent Laforet spoke at Skip's Summer School. He was very open about the minimal gear he had when he first started and asked the audience, "You know what you do when you don't have a lens long enough?" "You move in closer!" Weed 7: Don't be afraid to ask for help! One of the things I loved about the recent ClickCon conference was how attendees worked together and shared ideas about the solutions to their challenges. There are so many resources available to help you grow and rebuild your business. And don't forget a call to your lab - all you have to do is call and ask, "What's new?" Weed 8: Stop talking and listen. There's that old saying about having two ears and only one mouth, so you've got to listen twice as much as you talk. All the answers are out there, if you just listen! You've got so much to be proud of, but take it one day at a time, keep procrastination to a minimum and keep working to build a stronger skill set. And if you're stuck - you know where to fine me. Some times you just need another set of ears or eyes on the challenge! Wishing everybody a terrific weekend. Get control of those weeds!  "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." African proverb  by Skip Cohen I'm so tired of hearing how much the pandemic took away from business. I don't want you to think I'm minimizing the pain of the challenge, but Covid didn't take away your creativity, or your skillset. It also created great opportunities to demonstrate a leadership role in your community by working together with other businesses to generate some promotional excitement this holiday season. Here's a shortlist of potential partners for five different specialties in the portrait/social category:
And this is only a partial list. For example, years ago, while doing a Hasselblad University program in the Cleveland area, a portrait photographer told me how a landscaper approached him to do a landscaped scene behind his studio for family portraiture, complete with a small pond and walkover bridge. It was like a mini Hollywood set, and at no cost to the photographer if he'd just promote the landscaper's business. Why? Because the landscaper knew, for this artist, there was a high correlation between the families he photographed and homeownership! In terms of designing an effective promotion, you can do anything from cross-promote each other's products and services to planning a mailing together to an open house, gallery-like event to introduce the community to your businesses. Last but not least - think about partnerships like this - each member of the group becomes an ambassador for each partner's business. Working together reduces costs and increases cash flow. But if you do it all alone - 100% of the cost is on your shoulders and wallet! “Teamwork: Simply stated, it is less me and more we.” Unknown Author You don't have to be a solo act. Stop thinking you've got to do everything alone!
 Click to visit the StoryPeople website by Skip Cohen
Most of us have seen the artwork done by StoryPeople in various shops and galleries over the years. For Sheila and me, we've always found their messages mostly related to us personally or about love and relationships. Well, I'm on their email list, and I get a new one every few days. But the minute I thought about the message in this week's artwork, my mind went immediately to business. Right now, most of you are doing everything you can to get your business back on track. You're fighting to rebuild, be creative, and figure out how to best enjoy the upcoming holiday seasonality. It doesn't matter whether you believe in angels, and you don't need one drop of spirituality to appreciate the message. Here's my point: It's your imagination and creativity that will carry you through this year's holiday season and, in turn, sales. Coming out of the pandemic, even though we're struggling with politics and fighting to not get sucked back into a second wave - the world really is in the palm of your hand. There's a new sense of family and just for a second, think about what everybody, especially "Grandma," has missed most - her kids! So, when it comes to the challenge of what to get Grandma this year, I'm not sure there's a better gift than a new family portrait. And if you're not a portrait artist, think about wall art. We've all spent more time at home with limited travel, looking at the same artwork on our walls. It's time to redecorate, and you've got the skillset to meet the needs of your clients. But nothing happens without your imagination and creativity! Use your blog to plant the seeds of ideas. Talk to the vendors in your network, especially your lab, about unique products. The reality is - angel or not; your community is in the palm of your hand!   by Skip Cohen Now and then, a book comes along that, no matter what your specialty, needs to be on your bookshelf! Well, here's one you need in your collection, and it may well be the finest, most detailed book on macro photography that's ever been published. Don Komarechka's new book, from the cover right through to the last page, is jam-packed with stunning images, helpful illustrations, and material to help you raise the bar on your macro and closeup work. Even better, it will help you see the world just a little bit differently. As an artist, educator, writer, and "mad scientist," he's created a 384-page collection of just about everything he's discovered in his passion for macro. This book is a guide to a world we never see, yet it's all around us..."the universe at our feet." Completed during the pandemic and with all Kickstarter pledges and pre-orders fulfilled, Macro Photography: The Universe at Our Feet is now available for sale, shipping immediately! Just trust me on this - you won't be disappointed. The book is stunning and represents an incredible amount of work, knowledge, and everything you need to help you raise the bar on the quality of your images regardless of your specialty! Click on any image in this post to link to Don's website and the new book!   by Skip Cohen
Last Monday, I shared a post reminding you that you're coming down to the wire to be planning your marketing activity for the seasonality of the fourth quarter. It was pretty general, but this week let's start to list some actions you should consider. Blog Content: If you've got a blog, it's the perfect vehicle to plant the seeds of gift ideas in photography with your clients. Here are some topic ideas:
Direct Mail, alone and with partners: I'm a huge fan of relationship building with other vendors. While you can do a direct mail campaign alone, with two partners, like a florist and salon, you'll reduce your costs to 1/3 of what it would be if you flew solo. Now is the time to get out in the community and look for partners. New products for gift ideas: CALL YOUR LAB! I mentioned this last week, but the pandemic hasn't slowed down technology. So all you have to do is call your lab and ask, "What's new?" Then kick back and listen. Somewhere in there, you'll hear about a product that will get you excited as something new and creative you want to offer. Community Involvement: In the top 100 things guerrilla marketers need to be doing, base on Jay Conrad Levinson's list many years ago, is be involved in the community. People like buying products from companies they perceive as giving back. Now is the time for you to be raising your hand to be involved in activities in your area. And remember, this is about people getting to know you, and it doesn't always have to involve your camera. Even working at a Friday night football game, filling ketchup and mustard containers for the Booster Club, is a way for you to be involved. No one post can cover everything, but each Marketing Monday, I'm going to be doing my best to share more ideas for you to consider. Most important of all, remember there's a renewed sense of family in the world. Who better to help capture and create those memory-making moments than you?  by Skip Cohen It's Sunday morning, and I'm always off the topic of business and marketing. But, I sat down to write I had trouble with a topic. So, I started to get a head start on writing for tomorrow. Recently I got back to sharing some of my favorite quotes each morning on Twitter - every day at 10:15 am, I share a new one. As I typed up tomorrow's and put it into the pipeline, it became the perfect foundation for today's post! "If you hit a wrong note, then make it right by what you play afterwards." Joe Pass  Just one of Michele's early wedding shots! In a program at ClickCon in Chicago two weeks ago, I told a story about Michele Celentano.
Approximately ten years ago, at a boot camp program SCU did before WPPI, she was a speaker. She got up in front of everybody and said, "Twenty years ago, I was right where you are - wondering how long it would be before my work didn't suck!" She then shared some of the worst wedding photographs anybody has ever seen. Like the quote above - she hit a WRONG note...probably a whole album full! But the passion and love she had for this business never slowed down. She took every possible workshop she could and studied under some of the finest artists/educators in the industry. Today's she's one of the finest family portrait artists in the world, but more importantly, she's never stopped giving back to other photographers who are just getting started. And there's my point - whether it's your skillset as you grow as an artist, your role with family and friends, or building your business - don't waste time over-analyzing your mistakes. Instead, think of them as speed bumps and move on. You hit a wrong note - so make it right in what you play afterwards. Wishing everybody a day with minimal challenges and if you hit a speed bump, remember it's not Mt. Everest. Drive over it and move on! Always go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with friends and family you care the most about and stop looking back at what you might have done wrong. Stay focused on the future and moving forward with what you can do right. Happy Sunday, everybody...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world!  by Skip Cohen
Since WPPI is going on right now, it seems appropriate to enjoy a throwback from one of the WPPI shows in the past - WPPI 2009. If there was ever a show when we pulled out all the stops, this one was it. That's part of the RF/WPPI team on the right side: George, me, Shauna, and Abby. Holding the red cup is John Popper of Blues Traveler. This was the biggest show in WPPI history with over 15,000 in attendance; Rangefinder Magazine was over 350 pages; the Show Guide was close to the same; 300+ exhibitors, and thanks to Nikon's support, Blues Traveler in MGM's Garden Arena. I know it's hard to imagine any big event like this these days, but if we're patient, those days will eventually come back. In the meantime, whatever size any conference is that you attend, the key is to stay focused on networking, expanding your skillset, and recharging your battery! Take the time today to find your own Throwback Thursday moment and then savor it. There's nothing wrong with a fun look in your rearview mirror as long as you continue looking to the future! Happy Throwback Thursday!
Images copyright Andrew Michaels. All rights reserved.  Intro by Skip Cohen One aspect of the fun of a conference or convention is the people you meet. Today's post is a perfect example with a guest post from Andrew Michaels. We met briefly at ClickCon in Chicago last week, and after the convention, he sent me an email about a unique special project he worked on during the pandemic. The main idea was to photograph a different train operator at each of the 194 CTA stations. I simply wanted to put a face to the L. I know a lot of people don't even think about it. After showing my friends, I would get texts "OMG I saw the operator at the front of the train!!" And from what the operators told me, it meant a lot to get that recognition...The message I was trying to send hit me harder than I intended. These people really are part of the community, and just like your barista you see every day, no reason you can't say hi and just smile to brighten their day. I got to know some of them, and they are truly amazing people. There's that old line about "it takes a village." Well, take a second and think about the people in your "village" since the pandemic started. For Andrew, he wanted to recognize the team that kept Chicago's transit system operating - never missing a day of support for the community. And remember, they supported thousands of nurses and doctors who rely on the CTA to get to the people they care for! I'm a big fan of special projects because they help you focus on essential concepts outside your business. In addition, they help bring out your creativity and spirit, which too often, lately, are buried under Covid's baggage. In other words, they help keep you grounded! Andrew needs to be on your radar - visit his website and follow him on Instagram. "Dedicated to the entire CTA organizaton for their consistent dedication keep Chicago moving forward." by Andrew Michaels In January 2020, I made a decision to commit full time to photography, spending January offering headshots and February learning squarespace to put the new portfolio online. In March 2020 COVID hit, so my plans came to a screeching halt. With my studio-that-never-was on lock down, I needed a new creative outlet. I sifted through my phone notes and landed on an idea that I really liked: to photograph a CTA bus driver at every stop as they opened the door looking at the passengers outside. But with about 10,000 stops in Chicago, the “L” seemed like a better option, with 194 stops. In hindsight the “L” was even more near to my heart, given how many hours I’ve spent photographing classic shots like the Merchandise Mart and the Adams/Wabash overpass. As I went about my work, kicking off each day with my morning coffee, I started to consider how the local barista becomes a friendly face in my morning routine. It occurred to me there's no reason the CTA staff shouldn't be embraced in the same way. It can make such a difference in someone's day to get a smile from a familiar face. I got excited thinking how a collage of 194 different operators could encourage the riders to connect with the workers. At the very least it would literally force Chicagoans to register the idea that these iconic trains don't drive themselves. It’s an obvious but often overlooked fact. As I went about the project, I was amazed at how many times an operator - who I previously photographed, would appear days/weeks/months later at a different stop. It was serendipitous to see, even with such a sprawling organization, I might cross paths with these people over and over. In fact, the very first operator I photographed, Calvin, was spotted 3 times before I finished the project. In rail transit, a “meet” is a situation in which a train traveling in one direction "meets" another traveling in the opposite direction. Growing up, I was pretty shy, so my family would encourage me to push outside my comfort zone, stressing the importance of meeting new people. “You never know who you’re going to meet…” implying at any moment, you can make friends with a stranger who may become the most important person in your life years later. On a micro level, this project proves that to be true. I ended up leaving many of the duplicate people in the final collage to reinforce the lesson I was taught growing up, and during the project- treat every stranger you meet as if you will meet them again.  Sorry, but a blog post doesn't really do the collage above justice, but I know you'll get the idea! Check out “Familiar Faces” on instagram.com/statestreetphotostudio .The posts are more visible and the “Familiar Faces” highlight shows BTS/ video content as well.
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