For more information on the LUMIX G9 and the 35-100mm lens click on either thumbnail below.

​It's Sunday morning, and while I always go off track from business and marketing, I'm staying in photography. Most of the time, I never know what I'm going to start writing about. As I jumped online this morning, there it was - a Facebook memory shot of me, Sheila and Robert Vanelli, AKA "V" or "Vanelli."

Ever had somebody come into your life and after just a few months, you can't remember when they weren't in it? For me, Vanelli is one of those people. With a heart as big has his three consecutive world champion titles in Karate back in the eighties, it just feels like he's always been there for so many of us.

Then there's the Kevin Bacon degrees of separation game and so many people come back to Vanelli. The same happens with photographs. 

I needed a new shot for the crew at ShutterFest for my speaker banner in 2018. Headed to PPE last year, I asked Vanelli if he'd grab one for me. A few minutes after this shot with Sheila and me, he got the image I needed. It later became my headshot on my Facebook page.

​Then there were the antics that happened at the same time - nothing beats giving noogies to a good buddy, especially when he could take you out with one swing. Andrew Darlow captured the fun and sent me the image. Next came the bobblehead joke for Sheila, based on my new headshot. 

Last on the list; there's the common denominator of our mutual love for photography. Vanelli and I had never spent any quality time together. We'd been to a dinner or two, but after catching up to each other at trade shows for a few years, I suggested a boyz weekend. I invited him to the house for a couple of days in October of 2018. That's where the friendship and laughs escalated to a relationship I cherish today. 

It was also at that time he captured two photographs that would become part of my collection of priceless memories - me and Molly the Wonder Dog.

And that brings me to my point - great friendships don't just happen. While they might start by chance, to flourish, they need an investment of time - real-time - not cyberspace. Social media is fine for keeping touch and sharing, but it's the phone calls and actual time together that brings the real quality of getting to know new friends.

Little did I know at that first meeting with "V" that he'd become such an inspiration, source of smiles and laughter, and most important of all a quality friend. We all wear multiple hats and live hectic, often insane lives. But trust me on this - nothing beats relationship building with great people. Commit to bringing more quality time into getting to know people you respect. You'll never regret it!

Wishing everybody a day when time represents an investment in good solid friendships. We're an industry involved in capturing memories and making intangible moments tangible. We capture them for clients all the time, but today I'm suggesting "charity starts at home." Make those memories today, just for your own heart! And, as always, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs.

​Happy Sunday, everybody...and yes, Happy Monday if you're on the other side of the world! 

by Skip Cohen 

Just crossing the seven-week mark, Suzette Allen and Jonny Yoshinaga hit 10,000 miles on the Bubble Trailer Light Tour today. It's been a fantastic project to follow and definitely falls under a work-hard-play-hard style of living. Along the way, they've spent time with hundreds of photographers both educationally and socially. If there were an award for Photography Ambassadors of the year, they'd get my vote along with every artist they've touched along the way.

Even Sheila and I caught them for a visit and a couple of nights just hanging out together. In addition to everyone's love for imaging, Light Tour is all about engagement. Social media is an amazing communication vehicle and allows us to all keep in touch - but we're all missing actual contact. Nothing beats talking directly with other artists and friends. Even more important, nothing beats being inspired.

​

And all along the way, whether in the middle of the country, NYC or driving along the Florida coast, they're sharing images...

​The energy Suzette and Jonny have put into this project is only one ingredient in the recipe for its success. The sponsors and obviously the attendees have played a big role.

The Bubble Trailer Light Tour is sponsored by a stellar group of outstanding companies, each one committed to photography. They're all focused on helping artists raise the bar on their skill set. They don't just make great products - they believe in education. 

by Skip Cohen
​
The purpose of Fast Food Friday posts is to give you ideas to build a stronger business and thrive rather than just survive. Just when I think we've run out of suggestions, another one pops up.

One of your biggest challenges as a professional photographer is planting seeds of ideas with your clients. It's not easy setting yourself apart from the competition these days, but not because it's difficult. The challenge comes with so many opportunities, and many of you fall into "analysis paralysis." You're not sure where to start, and procrastination takes over, and you wind up doing very little.

Your greatest marketing tool is in relationship building with your clients. That's a big umbrella and covers so many different aspects of building a successful business. Here's one that's so easy to put out there, and it falls into the category of just being helpful.

The two ads above featured two of the industry's most favorite and respected photographers, Ken Whitmire on the left and Al Gilbert on the right. They were featured in full-page ads in Kodak's Fantasy-Reality series featuring VPH and VPS films.

It was a fantastic time in the industry. Film was in its glory; Kodak was a powerhouse, and Terry led the charge. Supported by some of the finest photographers in the world, this ad campaign was just one of the memorable ingredients.

Four years ago, St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, did an evening event featuring Terry's work. Several of us reconnected for the first time in many years, and that's what I love most about this industry, the history. We all share the same love for imaging and as sappy as it sounds, Terry.

The fun of Throwback Thursday is always in the memories old photographs bring back. In terms of imaging, the longer you've been in the industry, the more changes you've seen, especially during the transition of film to digital. New photographers don't realize how small this industry really is - we've all been to the same rubber-chicken dinners together, watched each other's backs, and often worked for the same companies and on various projects. 

In terms of my buddy Terry, it's like the Kevin Bacon degrees of separation game, only Terry's at the hub. I couldn't be more proud to have been a part of his life and him a piece of mine.

Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote in Ulysses, "I am a part of all that I have met." Well, Terry is a part of so many of us, and as the reverend said in Terry's eulogy, talking about how warm and friendly he was, "Terry never met a stranger!"

And meeting these phenomenal pros are just part of the excitement. 

• Tamron’s 28-75mm F/2.8 for Sony mirrorless, the new portrait zoom 35-150mm F/2.8-4 VC and the much lauded SP 35mm F/1.4 prime will be available to try out at the pet studio. Sessions are Thu. & Fri. at 10:30, 1:00 and 3:30 & Sat. at 10:30, 1:00 and 2:30. Images made in the studio help support the adoption of the dogs through Best Friends Animal Society.
  
• Try out a new prime for mirrorless or DSLR and all other Tamron lenses in the booth studio where the Tamron pros will be in the studio all day to assist you with posing and lighting tips. The full pro schedule will be posted at Tamron booth #620.

• Bring your Tamron lens by for an expert 4-point inspection and cleaning while you wait.
• Enter for a chance to WIN a new Tamron SP 35mm F/1.4 Di USD ($899 value).
• Up to $100 bonus rebates on top of Instant Savings on select Tamron lenses purchases at the show. See Tamron for rebate form.

​It's all happening in booth 620, right up front as you enter the main hall for PPE! And Tamron's Pet Studio is right next door! Here's your chance to meet and learn from some of the very best and test drive some of the very best glass in photography!

And, if you're interested in learning more about each of the Tamron pros who will be in the booth, click on their image above. They've all had feature pieces here at SCU, including podcasts!

Just about every morning at 7:30, I tweet a quote to kick off the day. While I hope my followers find them inspirational, the search for a great quote is as much to start my day as it is yours. So often, I find quotes that get me thinking about the day/week ahead. It's like stretching before working out. 

The quote above was shared this morning, and it got me thinking about so many different aspects of education, networking, marketing, business, and life. Yeah, all that coverage from just one sentence by an unknown author!

Here's my point to this short post. When we were kids, we all had dreams of what our lives would be like when we were older. Then, over the years, experience and our perceived reality put limitations on our goals. We let go of some dreams and hung on to others. Now we're adults, and our visions for the future are often limited by other responsibilities and the many hats we wear. We prioritize what we're going to do next.

Well, we all still have our dreams. At the same time, we let our comfort zones limit ourselves. In photography, it becomes especially apparent when you're headed to a conference, convention, or workshop. We all like to stay in our comfort zone, whether it's our skillset, new products, applications, or meeting other photographers. 

This week is PPE in NYC. Then, in two and a half months, the convention season explodes with IUSA, WPPI, and a long list of state conventions and conferences. Give your dreams priority and step out of your comfort zone into areas to help you grow as an artist and business owner. Take the time to meet the staff at vendors whose products/services you use, but also get to know companies who are new to you. Make it a point to walk every inch of each trade show. 

And when classes are offered, attend a couple of programs completely outside your expertise. Here's a great example: When I teach, I'll often ask for a show of hands of anybody who does tabletop work. Very few hands ever go up, especially if the audience is mostly wedding photographers. Yet, the hardest tabletop shots of all are great cake and ring shots. Imagine how wedding artists could expand their skillset, taking a few macro classes!

In the history of photography, there have never been more creative tools at your fingertips than today. They're in new products, techniques, and services. They're all supported by people excited to introduce you to new ideas and directions to help you grow as an artist! 

Plan each trip to every convention you can attend. ALWAYS step out of your comfort zone. Don't be a you-snooze-you-lose artist when there are so many opportunities to grow!

Most of you know my passion for photography focuses mostly on the business and marketing sides. I don't make a living as a professional photographer, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate great technology. I'll match my passion for the craft with anybody! Plus, having worked with so many professional photographers over the years, I know more than I let on. The difference is that it would take most of you ten minutes to light a great portrait, and I'd work on it all day!

Last May, Sheila and I headed to New Mexico for a vacation. I've shared a few images here and there in past posts and tweets, but since it's Mirrorless Monday, I decided to share a few more. I took a lot of gear with me, but the LUMIX G9 with the 14-140mm lens wound up being my camera and lens of choice.

From its incredibly sharp and quick focus accuracy to simply being lightweight with a focal range giving me everything I needed, it was a kick to travel with. Every night I'd download the day's images, blown away by the sharpness and the beauty of working with the technology Panasonic's put into this camera.

So, at the risk of sounding like a kid doing a report for school called, "What I Did This Summer," welcome to New Mexico and the G9.

I shot in every mode from IA to P, A, S, and M. The touch screen adds to the accuracy and fun of this camera. All of the images in this post are mostly right out of the can.

If there is any post-processing, it's in Luminar. Most often I use one of two presets, the clarity booster or mild image enhancer, and that's only because of personal taste. The images rarely needed any work. And remember, every image shared in this post is a screenshot too.

The fun of traveling mirrorless, especially with LUMIX, is carrying a minimal amount of gear and weight. I added a MeFOTO carbon-fiber tripod to my gear, and it was perfect. Easy to travel and hike and with - Plus, with the range on the 14-140mm lens, I always had what I needed.
 
One of the highlights of the trip was Georgia O'Keeffe's house, which is magnificent. You're surrounded by the beauty of New Mexico combined with the stunning simplicity of her taste. Because she passed away in 1986, you're struck by the contemporary beauty in the design of her home and the area around it.

The picture window from her office was designed to capture the view below. That's only a fraction of the panoramic scene when looking out the window. 

The house is only accessible by guided tour, and there's no photography allowed inside her home. So, you shoot "neurochromes" inside and outside your camera's capturing images in every direction.

One of the things that hit us early on was how the preservation team has kept everything as Georgia O'Keeffe left it. From many of her plants and flowers to the spices in the kitchen to rocks she collected outside. The home has been preserved as she left it, and you can't help but feel her love for Abiquiú.

And as a side note - I bought Ansel Adams' '77 Cadillac back in my Hasselblad days, which we sold for charity. Knowing he was good friends with Georgia O'Keeffe, I couldn't help but wonder how many times he'd visited here in that same car that was parked in my garage for a month.

If you haven't checked out the G9, it's time to visit your LUMIX dealer.

Headed to PPE this week? Make it a point to stop by the Panasonic booth. Check out the LUMIX family, and not only the G9 but the incredible new full-frame S1. They're just inside the entrance to the main hall in booth 707, and I can promise you won't be disappointed! Plus, take the time to meet some of the LUMIX Ambassadors who will be at the show. They represent one of the most diverse teams in professional photography!

Click on either thumbnail for more information as well as the S1 Series below.

It's Sunday morning, and included in reminding you that I always go off-track on Sundays, I should also share a sarcasm alert. 

Here's the scenario - It's 5:00 am, and I'm at Pittsburgh airport, headed home after my buddy Terry Deglau's memorial service yesterday. It was a pretty awesome day meeting so many of the friends he grew up with, getting time with his family, and telling stories about Terry over the years. 

Well, I wanted to get home in time to spend the day with Sheila and booked a 7:00 am flight. I was hungry and hit Bruegger's Bagels on the way to the gate and thought I'd find the perfect place to sit and eat breakfast. I started at that first arrow but never noticed it was right next to the men's room. As guys came out zipping up, it just lacked the ambiance for a great bagel.

Second stop...no big deal, just move down two seats. NOT - a sweet little old lady decided to try and fill her water bottle. She asked me to hold her cane as she proceeded to come close to drowning me and everything with a 4-5 foot radius of the drinking fountain. Remember, it's early on a Sunday morning, and there shouldn't be a whole lot of people even here!

Last stop - I moved down more, and what you don't see is the entire hallway is empty on both sides. Ooops didn't notice I was right under the flight board. Obviously, there's a convention of far-sighted people in town...because everybody has to lean in to read the board, one guy practically crawling onto the seat I was in, as I'm trying to enjoy the ambiance of an "empty" airport and breakfast.

However, it did give me something to write about this morning. This is one of those posts that's here just for my benefit and the fun of writing. And, while the "location-location-location" rule is always relevant in retail, this morning, it applies to non-existent privacy and trying to be an anonymous traveler.

Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead and time to enjoy what I'm hoping to do - be home with my honey! Make it a day of peace, family, and appreciate being home and not on the road. When I was a kid, I always hoped I'd grow up and have a job where I could travel. What a silly thing to wish! Then again, as somebody said to me in the TSA line, "Hey, remember, we're just livin' the dream!"

If work isn't fun, you're not playing on the right team!
Frank Sonnenberg

by Skip Cohen

​The Fast Food Friday series is all about tips to help you build a stronger business. The posts are meant to be short ideas - sort of quick tips to fine-tune your skillset, but as a business owner. This morning I'm going a little off track on business but not on your career.

​Suzette Allen and Jon Yoshinaga have been here for the last couple of days, taking a break from the Bubble Trailer Light Tour I've written about so many times in the previous six weeks. As they leave today, I head to Latrobe, PA, for my buddy Terry Deglau's memorial service. Stay with me, because there's a great connection.

While my mind has been flooded with stories I want to share tomorrow about Terry, it occurred to me how much fun we had together over the years. Well, that brought me to this very minute, hanging out with Suzette and Jonny. They were here for a couple of days, and we did nothing except relax, talk, and enjoy the time we were able to have together.

And there's my point - having fun in what you're doing is as important as your skillset as a photographer. In fact, it's at the very core. But fun doesn't just happen - it takes work! You've got to take the time to have fun. You've got to recognize burnout. You've got to use those who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire lifelines and phone a friend.

During his years at Kodak, Terry and I simply had fun, but we worked hard to make it happen. We often tagged on extra days to several conventions - including driving Ansel Adams' Cadillac into Yosemite for three days with a trunk loaded with Hasselblad gear and Kodak film after PhotoWest many years ago. 

And, as always, we had a blast with Suzette and Jonny this week as they hit day forty on the road for the tour. In the process of laughing and enjoying each other's company, new ideas bubbled to the surface, even a short conversation about the definition of success. It's not really about fame, money, or your skills, but about being happy in whatever you're doing, especially when it's just for you.

Here are some easy suggestions:
​

• Take the time to step away from the business.
• Make time to get to know the people you interact with.
• Go to lunch with a friend.
• Don't answer your phone for a few hours on an afternoon when you need a little time to yourself.
• At upcoming conventions, take the time to meet new people.
• Get to know the team at the vendors you work with.
• Follow birthdays and anniversaries - I love Facebook for that.

Work to put "FUN" into your business life. And, don't let your business interrupt the time you need to have with family and friends.

Have fun, work hard and money will come. Don't waste time - grab your chances.
Have a positive outlook on life. When it's not fun move on.

Richard Branson

by Skip Cohen​

"Beyond Technique" is all about stepping away from the technique of capturing images. Instead, we're sharing ideas on ways to better capture different aspects of marketing, education, diversity, giving-back, and today, communication. When Chamira Young and I relaunched this series just a few months ago, we completely underestimated its ability to create content to help expand everyone's view on different aspects of being a small-business owner. 

Thanks to Platypod, the "Beyond Technique" series is back with a vengeance, relaunching last August. It's now here full time with a new episode each month!

Don Prentice is our guest, and we're diving deep into the components of mobile solutions. As a co-founder of PhotoTexting.com, you're going to find Don's experience and understanding of the ever-changing landscape of communication invaluable. The support and services PhotoTexting.com is providing are all about your strongest and best marketing tool - relationship building. 

This episode is about how you communicate with your clients and how more and more people are keeping in touch today. We're talking about how to get the most out of a toll-free business number and ways you can set up to easily/automatically keep in touch with your regular and future clients. And, if you're a senior photographer, there's a complete program to build your business and increase revenue.

PhotoTexting is an SCU partner, but the conversation Chamira and I had with Don goes much deeper than just his support of the industry or SCU. This is about a better way for you to raise the bar on your marketing skills by being more responsive!

If you haven't checked out Platypod lately, visit their website, follow their Facebook page and especially put their Instagram page on your radar. There are always new products coming, and each one is designed to help photographers and videographers expand their creativity. Platypod doesn't just manufacture some of the best-designed accessory products in imaging - they provide solutions to different challenges to help you raise the bar on the quality of your work!

Headed to PPE in New York on October 24? Stop by the Platypod booth (#173) for an introduction to Max, Ultra, the Multi-kit and the new Goosenecks. What a kick to see the creative solutions Platypod is giving photographers as they capture new angles and different perspectives in their images.

A BIG thanks to Photofocus for the platform for both Beyond Technique and Mind Your Own Business! Check out both series along with the InFocus Interview Show. You'll never be disappointed.

by Skip Cohen

With every step in the evolution of imaging, there are always artists who hit the panic button. If you look at the last few decades of milestones, we had people upset when color came into the black and white world.

Then, we had photographers and even a few retailers upset when auto-focus lenses replaced manual focus. In the late 80's, I remember Calumet throwing Nikon out when it was announced they'd no longer manufacture manual focus lenses.

Digital came along, and once again, there was this quiet rumbling of discontent. I'm guessing it was the offspring of those artists upset over color, interrupting the black and white world who were most worried. They couldn't help it; it's in their genes.

Over and again, we've had moments when imaging has changed, as technology continues to push the evolution of imaging in other directions. So often, I hear artists upset because anybody can be a photographer today. But, here's the difference - It's not the gear that makes the artist - it's the skillset. "Uncle Harry" may have better equipment than you, but he doesn't have the skillset. 

Photographer, artist, videographer, and educator, David Nguyen, made the point last week when he shared the video below all shot on an iPhone 11 Pro Max for a full wedding! He was a guest and wanted to put his iPhone through his own fun test. I'm not suggesting anybody should do this professionally, but David's skillset makes a great point. And as he mentioned, he was a guest at the wedding, not working professionally.

Technology isn't going to slow down for any of us, and "Uncle Harry" or "Debbie Digital" are going to keep getting in the way at weddings. Often they'll have better gear than you. But the difference is your ability to be a storyteller. It's your skill set in understanding lighting, exposure, and composition.

And in talking with David, when I asked for permission to share the video on the SCU blog, he reminded me of another important element that separates the pro from the hobbyist at a wedding..."As professional photographers, we also contribute by directing the portrait sessions, interacting with the people to create moments, and helping the B&G keep track of time." The intensity in relationship comes out of the trust established with the couple early on - usually starting in the engagement session.

Uncle Harry can only create an album - as a professional photographer, you can create the first family heirloom of a brand new family! There's a difference between great images and a great story that captures memories the bride and groom might have missed.

​by Skip Cohen

Rick Sammon joins on this month's "Mind Your Own Business" podcast. Rick's a photographer, author, educator, musician, podcaster, and a good buddy to so many of us in the industry. His new book, Photo Therapy Motivation and Wisdom – Discovering the Power of Pictures went straight to five-star reviews when it was released just a few weeks ago!

Rick's one of the most diverse artists in professional photography. I pulled a few of my favorite images of Rick's for the mini-gallery below. If you visit his website you'll see how difficult it is to choose! 

I've written this so many times, but it's so relevant - the best thing about our industry isn't really about photography but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Rick and I go back to my early Hasselblad days. And like so many photographers, we share a lot of mutual friends and companies we both work with.

Rick is traveling almost non-stop, and ALWAYS with a camera. He's the industry's non-stop Ambassador of Imaging. In fact, on his recent trip to China, he captured the portrait on the right, using his Platypod. 

​Rick shares a lot of great insight into his passion for imaging. We started with his background story. Then the conversation grew into thoughts on avoiding burnout, imagery and writing, the discipline to write a book, and diversity in photography. We wrapped up the conversation with one of our favorite questions - advice for photographers just getting starting.

A BIG thanks to Rick for standing still long enough to join us on "Mind Your Own Business." Check out his website with a click on any image below and tune in to one of the best podcast series in imaging with Rick and Larry Becker, the Picturing Success Podcast.

by Skip Cohen
 
​With each new "chef" who joins us in the Tamron kitchen, I like to go off in search of a quote that seems to fit their style and personality. Rick Friedman is definitely a photographer and educator who believes in fun. You can see it in every class he teaches. Walk by the Tamron booth at a convention or into a Tamron dealer where Rick is doing a demo, and you'll instantly be drawn to a photographer having fun! 

While I've known Rick for a lot of years, we never seemed to find quality time to hang out and talk until a couple of years ago. That changed in 2018 at WPPI, and since then, we've worked on several different projects together. When he recently became one of Tamron's newest Ambassadors, it was the perfect time to have him join us in this series.
 
Rick's best known around the world for his work as a photojournalist for the last 40+ years. In the podcast, he talked about the backstory of getting his first magazine cover on the right.

But, Rick's also an educator, and he's been teaching for the last sixteen years. He's well-respected as one of the leaders in lighting. It's under that umbrella of education that he's had an impact on thousands of photographers.

As we discussed in this new podcast, being a successful photojournalist and educator is about relationship building. It's about establishing trust with the clients as a photographer and the students in any class or demonstration. Even a twenty-minute demo on the floor of a busy trade show requires a level of trust with the attendees!

​Click on any of Rick's images below to visit his website. I pulled some of my favorites, but there was so much from which to choose.

"Chef" Rick's recipe is a click away if you missed it last week. And, check out two Tamron lenses that are a critical part of Rick's creative tools, no matter what the subject. Click on either thumbnail for more information.  
 
Rick shared a lot of great insight in this new podcast. He's based in Boston, but the world is his home. As you look through his images, it's obvious wherever his creative eye and camera's needed, that's where he's going to be.

​As Rick pointed out in the podcast, he believes in the expression, nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

Having lived in Boston a significant part of my life, Arthur Fiedler was a very special legend. Rick captured the image below shortly before Fiedler passed away, and all it took was a knock on his door.

The next thing you know, he's sitting in Arthur Fiedler's bedroom, having a conversation with one of the greatest conductors of all time! And what was Fiedler doing when Rick joined him? Reading music!

From photojournalism on the campaign trail to travel to lighting workshops and published editorial images, I'm not sure there isn't anything "Chef" Rick hasn't photographed!

for a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life.
but there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first,
some unfinished business, time still to be served, a dept to be paid.
at last it dawned on me that these obstacle were my life.
this perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness.
happiness is the way. so treasure every moment you have
and remember that time waits for no one.
happiness is a journey, not a destination.
Souza

by Skip Cohen

Many years ago I published a series of posts based on the wisdom shared on refrigerator magnets. The quote above has been on our fridge for years, but I hadn't noticed it in a long time. When I read it this morning it hit me how there's no expiration date on the thought - happiness is a journey not a destination!

No need for me to write anything more about the concept.

It's Marketing Monday and the perfect time to talk about seniors. Having been in the industry my entire adult life, or at least the time I was supposed to act like an adult, I've seen so many changes in photography. One of the biggest is with high school seniors. 

Today's senior sittings, if they're done right, should be part of a full experience. It's not just about a good headshot for the yearbook, family, and friends, but getting to know the subject. It's about listening more than talking and then capturing their personality and interests in a series of photographs and even short video clips.

Being a senior photographer is about establishing great relationships. Right at the top of the list of building blocks is how you communicate. Seniors live in a texting world. They're on their phones constantly.

​While this is going to look like an infomercial, it's not without a huge benefit. PhotoTexting.com has built an entire platform to help you communicate faster, and expand your reach into the senior market more effectively. And, their Senior Rep Program is just one solution to helping you grow your business.

​Besides building a business in the senior market, there's a reason that's significantly more long term - a strong relationship has the potential for future business. Remember, for most seniors; this is the first relationship they've had with a professional photographer. It's a time for you to build trust with both the senior and their family.  Seniors have siblings; seniors grow up and become brides and grooms, and seniors start their own families. You want to be part of that cycle.

One other aspect of this program I appreciate - it gives you a better way to connect with Mom and Dad! Watch the short video below and then click on the banner to visit PhotoTexting.com and check out the 20+ solutions to help you thrive!

There's so much we take for granted these days, especially in the way we share images. The images above are part of a new ad campaign from Panasonic, which is remarkable. I grabbed a screenshot of eight of the forty-six featured photographs. You'll need to click on any image above to connect to the full ad, but here's what I love the most.

Besides sharing the latest in technology and information about the new full-frame LUMIX S1R, when you click on any photograph you link to a short piece about the artist. From there, you can scroll through more of their work, read a little about them, their experiences, and their love for photography.

I clicked on the black and white wedding image above and the banner below appeared. It was captured and created by my good buddy William Innes. I love his comment about the Lumix 24-105 mm lens, "It is the type of lens that can spend a great amount of the wedding day on your camera."

I hope you'll take the time to scroll through the entire LUMIX piece - all the banners in the Panasonic campaign link to  www.makeyourbestshot.com. But there's another reason you should look at this page - it represents some of the very best storytelling. The story is obviously about the LUMIX S1R. But as storytellers, photographers need to pay attention to how everybody delivers their message. How are you going to share ideas for your own story?

Isn't time you found out what all the buzz is about with the new S1R? As I've written so many times before, Panasonic's tagline is "Changing Photography." They're keeping that promise with every product in the LUMIX line. And, they're also changing advertising with an interactive approach introducing us not only to the S1R, but some of the most respected artists in the world!

Click on any thumbnail to link to the campaign. Then, kick back and enjoy the journey with some incredible artists and beautiful images. Each one is a testimonial to LUMIX technology.

​What a kick!

by Skip Cohen
​
I love going off-track from business and marketing on Sunday mornings. Well, I'm miles off-track this morning, mostly because of the process that got me here. Having no idea what I wanted to write about, I started looking through images from our trip last May to New Mexico. 

One of the highlights of the trip was our tour of Georgia O'Keefe's home in Abiquiu. Access to the house is only by appointment, and it's done with very small groups.

There's no photography allowed inside her home. But, outside is unlimited. While the structure, the view, and the layout are all remarkable, I found myself drawn to flowers she planted that have continued to flourish, since she finished renovations on the house around 1950.
 

​So, those aren't just chives that have gone to seed above; those are Georgia O'Keefe's chives! Throughout the property, there are trees, plants, houseplants she more than likely chose and nurtured. I guess what hit me is that while the house and artifacts could be renovated and maintained, parts of her garden still thrive. 

At first, it seemed bizarre to me that I was so preoccupied with the still living components of one of America's most celebrated artists, the "Mother of American Modernism." We're all familiar with her paintings, but it's her home that hit me the hardest.
 
"The Abiquiu Home and Studio offers a special look into the life of one of America's greatest artists. It offers viewers a chance to see the home, which was her vision. Throughout the property, one can see and feel the time and love O'Keeffe dedicated to this special property"...Historic Artists' Homes and Studios

That takes me to today's point of those milestones important in each of our lives. Each of us has something special we're known for; something special we'd leave behind to the people most important in our lives. 

For example, our home is like a gallery. It's filled with prints I've collected from friends over a lifetime in this industry. Every photograph has a story behind it. And, in my office, I have a bookcase loaded with industry memorabilia. From the prints to the memorabilia, they're all reminders of great friends and how much photography has contributed to who I am.

I've had a fantastic career, and it's still going - new memories, new friends, and every day a new challenge pushing me to grow. We're all part of an incredible industry, and if you're not having the time of your life, then step back and take some time off. 

Most of you are about to head into the fourth quarter crunch, and there will be days when you wonder why you chose this profession! Don't lose site of what you're giving back - you're the magicians who stop time and give people memories to hold. And, like Georgia O'Keefe's chives, those memories keep growing, and your images become more and more cherished with each day that goes by.

I know it's a little hard to connect the dots in today's post, but that's the fun of Sunday Morning Reflections - the dots don't always have to connect!

Wishing everybody an outstanding day, one filled with time with the people you love the most, great friends, and a sense of satisfaction in the journey you're on as an artist and business owner. As always, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people who mean most to you.

Happy Sunday!

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by Skip Cohen
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Today's post is a little different than the previous weeks - only because the Bubble Trailer Light Tour is at the halfway mark. After teaching at AVC Photo School today, Suzette, Jonny, and Ms. BT are taking a few days off. However, there's a remarkable story to share, and it's all about "Hope." It's not a sappy vague concept, but about reality and a story about a real-life miracle.

Suzette Allen and I have known each other for a lot of years. I initially met her the same way many of you have, as one of the industry's most respected Photoshop instructors. In 2013 she became a LUMIX Ambassador, and that's where the friendship started to blossom. A couple of years later, her husband, Jonny, officially became part of the LUMIX team as well. We taught together at Marathon's MAP Getaway a few years back, and the four of us as two couples being together added another dimension of friendship. 

Yesterday marked the 30th anniversary of Suzette experiencing a horrific accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. She shared the story on her blog yesterday and I pulled a few paragraphs to share.

And here's my point - There are so many ways to find inspiration in this industry. So often we're inspired by the skillset and technique of other artists. But, sometimes, there's more inspiration to appreciate when you meet and spend time with them. It's not about what they share, but why!

Over a year ago, Suzette and Jonny had an idea to teach and meet photographers in a unique way. The Internet and online education have changed our lives, but we're so often missing human contact. Meeting somebody face to face, a handshake, a hug, and talking, enriches our lives. The only thing better than capturing moments in a photograph is making memories directly.

Now, halfway through the tour, they're taking time off with friends. We couldn't be more proud to know our house is one of the stops. While there's plenty more time on the road, probably a few meet-ups and a lot of photography along the way, their next major presentation is on October 25 at Arlington Camera in Arlington, TX.

I hope you'll take the time to join them on the back half of the tour. And, take the time to read Suzette's story of hope going back thirty years ago. She's inspirational in her love of the craft, life, and spirituality. And, with Jonny, they've become much more than just LUMIX Ambassadors. They're Ambassadors for hope, inspiration, creativity, and an industry so many of us love dearly.

Suzette also wrote...

So today, I KNOW there is always HOPE and also that persistence is omnipotent. My Why in life is to Inspire and Encourage...The brain is capable of so much more than we realize, if we just believe and persist. ​

Great programming doesn't happen without strong support. The Bubble Trailer Light Tour is sponsored by some of the finest companies in our imaging. They don't just make great products - they believe in education and helping artists raise the bar on their skillset to thrive, not just survive!

by Skip Cohen 

Well, it finally happened. I ran out of things to write about and missed the last few Fridays. However, I'm back. Thanks to many of you, I'm loaded with more ideas to help you create a stronger business model and thrive, not just survive!

Remember, I started this series in much the same way a farmer plants his crops...they're seeds of ideas to help you be more effective. It's your choice to nurture the ideas and let them grow into something bigger. So many of you are right-brain creative types, and you're often so involved in the process of capturing and creating the ultimate image, you miss the operational side of the business.

As I've written before, what good is creating the greatest images of your life if nobody knows who you are?

With the seasonality of the fourth quarter about to go into full swing, I was thinking about your websites and blogs. So many of you have them because you were told they were what you needed, but there's no personality showing in either venue.

Too much Internet real estate is just plain flat. I've been on too many websites that are like a can of soda left open overnight. It's got color, flavor but no bubbles - no fizz!

Remember the old ban deodorant commercial? The tagline was, "You never get a second chance to make a first expression. Never let them see you sweat!"

I've been doing a lot of website reviews lately, and so many of you are missing an opportunity to make a great first expression. A visit to your website needs to be a great experience. Just like shopping at Macy's vs. Nordstroms - you've got a choice to make in the experience you give visitors to your website!

Here are some ideas, most of them easy fixes and things you can do NOW before business hits the holiday peak!

• Load Times: Don't just assume your website is loading the way you intend it. Check it on different browsers. The top four are still the same!
• Navigation: Is your site easy to scroll through, or do you need a team of miners to find the most important components and information?
• Mobile Compatible: Your website has to be accessible and easy to view on a phone as well as a computer. So, is it?
• Great Images: It's all about quality, not quantity! Stop showing images that anybody's Uncle Harry could capture. Every image you share, including your own headshot, should scream "PROFESSIONAL!" Stop filling up your galleries with average photos.
• Policies Don't Belong on Your Website: Too many of you have policies that would scare an IRS auditor. Save the policies on cancellations, refunds, etc. for the contract discussion and stop scaring people away before they fall in love with your work.
• Contact Pages: Give people a way to contact you directly! There's no excuse for not listing your phone number! And make your phone a dedicated line for your business.
• Respond Quickly: Two weeks ago, PhotoTexting.com launched its new website and programs, including an outstanding one for Senior photographers. The key is the speed and diversity of applications their programs give you for quick responses. If you're still wading through traditional contact forms from potential clients, you might as well go back to the "bingo-cards" magazines used twenty years ago.
• Continuity: Now and then, I review a website that looks like it was built by different contractors on a house. The home page has a distinct look, but the pages that follow don't seem to fit in. There's no excuse today for a website that's anything but upbeat and great looking! DIY has its limits, and while some of you, have the skillset, too many of you have been building things as you go along and need help.

While somebody will challenge me on this, you can't be in business today without a website. I also feel a blog is essential. Why? Because your site is about what you sell, and your blog is about what's in your heart. Both work together, much like advertising and publicity. Together a great website and blog can open doors, build trust, and help establish your reputation as a professional photographer.

But just like discussions on Facebook forums about what photographers wear when shooting a wedding, you've got to dress the part. You've got to dress for success! ​ These days, your website is the equivalent of a bricks and mortar store - make a visit, starting with your audience walking through the front door, that's memorable and a fun place to "shop."

Photo Credits: © bnenin , © dima_sidelnikov