by Skip Cohen

​The new year is off to an outstanding start for education and expanding your skill set. Last week, David Bergman announced his "Shoot from the Pit" program is back for 2023 at stadium concerts. Here's an opportunity to learn concert photography with one of the best in the industry right from the pit at live shows!

David has an outstanding track record as an award-winning artist, educator, Canon Explorer of Light, author, and good buddy to so many photographers in the industry. I've included his short video on the workshop series, as well as David's November guest appearance on Steve Brazill's behindtheshot.TV. It's the perfect introduction to understanding the depth of not only David's expertise but his passion for the craft!

​And if you still want to see more of his work and get to know him even better, just click on any image above to link to his website!

These workshops are limited to just a few attendees - they'll sell out fast. So check out the schedule with David and join him on the road with Luke Combs in 2023!

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday morning, and if you're just tuning into the SCU blog for the first time, here's a warning - I always go off track from business and marketing when I write Sunday Morning Reflections. And I never know what I want to share until I put my fingers on the keyboard.

It's a new year, and I've noticed how I look at friendships has changed dramatically. I'll blame my buddies Duncan MacNab and Bob Thompson for igniting my savor and cherish genes. I posted about Duncan and the trip Bob and I made a few months ago - but here's my point. Duncan was simply always there, and I took it for granted. I never thought about losing such a good friend.

With IUSA coming up in two weeks, I catch myself wondering who's going to be there. There are so many people I've missed seeing, and phone and zoom calls just don't cut it. And whether it's politically or health-supported, I'll be going for the hugs...with fist bumps only when necessary!

Even now, in my day-to-day interactions with old and new friends, I find myself picking up the phone more often. Even short conversations become these wonderful little smile-inducing elements during the day.

And here's my point - it's a new year, and I'll be damned if anything is going to get in the way. My grandmother always said, "Life is too short," but I didn't understand the real meaning until I was older. That's where my savor and cherish genes come in. Like a fine wine, you don't chug; you sip and appreciate it. 

So savor and cherish those people most important to you. Don't waste time taking them for granted - make 2023 a year of no regrets, never missing an opportunity to stay in touch. Take the time today and do an inventory of people you've missed. Then lay out an informal plan for catching up to them, preferably in person!
​
Wishing everybody a day ahead filled with great friends and looks in the rearview mirror that bring back the pure joy of each of them being in your life. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about, and don't waste time - it's your most valuable commodity!

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

by Skip Cohen

Now and then an opportunity opens up that is not to be missed. Here's one that is going to disappear fast. Moose Peterson suddenly has a couple of openings for his Blue Cypress Lake adventure coming up in March.

Here's the description...which is a bucket list adventure for so many of you:

From March 26-31 we have a private boat with Blue Cypress Lake Osprey for four mornings of photographing Osprey. Located on a gorgeous lake, these folks have been taking photographers out for a long time to photograph the population of nesting Ospary. Nesting in Cypress trees, our timing is set for when the chicks hatch. From a large pontoon boat, we'll cruise the lake at sunrise to photograph all the activity in the nests. Some are high, some are low, some have one chick, some have a lot more. From flight to fishing to feeding to fun, you'll photograph like you have never done before....and when we're off the lake, we'll be back photographing more Florida birds.

This is going to be an amazing adventure and nobody does it better than Moose. Here's the link to reserve your spot and scratch off a bucket-list trip!

​Moose need to be on your radar...follow Moose and all of his adventure opportunities with a click on his banner below.

by Skip Cohen

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

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

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

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

Just for the fun of it, I decided to Google, "What is a chef?"

Google's answer: A chef is an individual who is trained to understand flavors, cooking techniques, create recipes from scratch with fresh ingredients, and have a high level of responsibility within a kitchen."

Marcie Reif joins us in the Tamron Kitchen this month and clearly meets the definition above. Only instead of "flavors" and "techniques," she understands composition and exposure, focal lengths, depth of field, and every photograph is from "scratch with fresh ingredients." And as we've seen with each Tamron Chef, the "kitchen" is whenever and wherever they've got a camera in their hands!

It wasn't easy picking the images to feature in this month's episode; Marcie has a lot to choose from. While she's best know for her family portraiture, shooting sports has become one of her favorite hobbies, especially when it's her son.

I wanted to lead off with the black and white photograph above but also share the shot on the right. It adds to demonstrating the versatility of the 70-300mm lens.

​Marcie's all about family photography, but like every artist with a primary specialty, she loves the spinoffs that come along with other activities. But there's a common denominator in all of her work, which comes out loud and clear in her "About" section.

My goal is to deliver you a unique set of images that are artistic, natural, and warm by mixing childhood images with connections to love...I always try to deliver my clients images of their family "being" a family. This may mean singing, dancing, playing together, or maybe just some ginormous hugs! I LOVE to capture kids being themselves because best moments come when you set them up, sit back, and wait. 

You'll find more of Marcie's work with a visit to her website. Just click on her images in this post and check out her galleries. She's got a never-ending passion for family and children's photography.

It's a new year, and Tamron has some outstanding savings, which just kicked off yesterday. Tamron never slows down on their quality, and today manufactures some of the finest glass in photography. Equally impressive is their focus on education - Check out their scheduled programs - all designed to help you raise the bar on your skill set!

Happy New Year!

If you're headed to Nashville this month for IUSA, make it a point to swing by Tamron, booth 823. Taylor Brumfield will be doing demos at 2:00 PM on Monday, January 23. There are some outstanding savings (up to $100) on lenses available at the show.  And, Tamron's raffling off a 28-75 mm G2 lens!

by Skip Cohen

Please note - this list gets better and better every year, thanks to some great friends. Glen Clark commented on Facebook and I've added his two additional points below!

​With IUSA and WPPI coming up in the first quarter of the new year, it's time to share my annual check-off list of things to remember to get the most bang for your buck. This year's conferences are more precious than ever because most of you haven't been to a big convention since before the pandemic. Sure, you've hit the online programs, but nothing beats a live convention for education, networking, and recharging your battery. 

It's time to plan ahead so you're not hitting Nashville or Las Vegas like a deer in the headlights!  It's so easy if you just put in an hour and think through my suggestions.

• Why are you going? This isn't meant to sound sarcastic, but think through why you need to be at a conference. What do you want to accomplish while you're there? And if the answer is you need a break and want to party - that's your choice. I think it's a little short-sighted, but the last few years have taken a toll, and being with friends and associates is important. So I get it - but you have to weight the need versus the expense. I want you to get the very most out of every conference trip!
• Look around your office, studio, camera bag, or the trunk of your car. Isolate every product you use in your business, and put the manufacturer on a list. Now, look at every company whose services you use. Your lab, frame company, web design, album company, etc., should all be on the list. Your first goal BEFORE you get to the show is to isolate every company involved in your business.
• What new products or services do you need for your business? From hardware to software to outside developers and finished goods to offer your clients - what's missing?
• Visit the convention website. Check through the exhibitors and, in advance, get to know who will be at the show from your vendor/supplier lists. Your goal is to meet at least one staff member at every company on the list. This is a critical component of building an effective network. Check out the exhibitor list for IUSA. There are almost 150 companies on the list.
• At the convention - don't miss the print exhibit. This is a terrific time to get a feel for the trends in imaging because you'll see just about everything in the prints submitted for competition.
• Wear comfortable shoes! It might seem out of place this early on the check-off list, but you're going to be on your feet all day. If you're about to buy new shoes, now is the time to start breaking them in.
• Bring business cards and some images. I'm a big fan of pre-printed promotional material. My favorite is a 5x7 or 6x9 collage of a few images with the photographer's address and contact information. Unless you've made an appointment in advance, most exhibitors won't take the time to look at a portfolio, or an iPad or phone chocked full of images. However, leaving a card stock piece or brochure with a vendor and contacting them after the show can be very effective. This is your calling card and if you're stuck for design ideas, check out Marathon Press.
• Never eat alone - Make plans for breakfast and dinner meetings NOW. Reservations don't come easy anymore, and if you're going to be headed out for dinner, it helps to know where and when you're going. Plus, now is the time to set up some advance meals with friends and associates. Don't wait until you get there!
• Lunch is a little harder at a conference, but there's plenty to choose from, and if you grab something off the service on the trade show floor, don't expect fine dining. This is also why God created Pepto Bismol!
• Catching up with speakers on the trade show floor. Pay attention to those key vendors you want to see and what's happening in their booth. For example, Tamron will have speakers in their booth at IUSA, as will other vendors. Many exhibitors have in-booth programming, so it pays to know the schedule in advance.
• You snooze, you lose! Look, I was young and foolish once too, and there are few things as fun as going out with friends and bar-hopping at a convention. However, you're at the show for a reason, and if you need to sleep in late the following morning, your evening out with friends might become the most expensive investment you make in the show. Don't miss appointments or presentations you had planned to attend.
• Look over the programming. Plan which speakers you want to hear in advance. Plus, always pick at least 1-2 programs entirely out of your comfort zone. Growth only happens outside your comfort zone.
• Capture the moments! You want to get images you might want to use later on for press releases, your blog, Facebook, etc. Look for opportunities for pictures with vendors and those speakers you admire. Build a stash of photographs and short video clips of things you do at the conference.
• Talk to the people around you when you attend any program. A photography convention like this is unique because you're all there for the same reasons. Make it a point to get to know the people sitting on either side of you. It's amazing what you can learn by just talking to each other.
• Talk to the icons! I'm always amazed by how many of you are intimidated by your favorite photographers. They're there to teach and meet other photographers interested in their work. Just walk up, introduce yourself, and thank them for whatever inspiration they've given you. Honestly, they don't bite! But - wait your turn. I'm always amazed at attendees who charge in like storm-troopers and interrupt. Just be polite - I know it's basic, but so many people forget.
• Do a summary at the end of each day. Time flies when you're having a good time and there are few things more frustrating than getting home and not remembering specific companies or people you met at the convention. For me, it works best to take 20-30 minutes and make a few notes on the day, sort out business cards I picked up and look at what I missed and can catch the next day.
• Send a few notes or emails after the convention. When you're home after the convention, look through your notes and the exhibitors you met, as well as other photographers. This is about relationship building, and thanking somebody for their time and letting them know you're around if they ever need help on anything is a key ingredient to standing out from the crowd.

And from Glen Clark...

• Plan ahead to take advantage of show specials. Check with each vendor on your go-to list and find out if they are offering a promo. If so, USE it! Many companies judge the success of their huge investment in trade shows partially by the responses they receive to their efforts. And, believe it or not, vendor investments is what makes most shows possible.
• Skip’s already mentioned the importance of taking notes. This may seem obvious but remember, if you’re a professional photographer (on any level), EVERTYTHING involved with a professional show (from planning to getting back home) represents a business write-off. It’s much easier to write down the details as they happen (especially cash expenditures with no receipts) than it is to try to remember it all after the fact. With complete write-offs it may not end up costing as much as you might think. And besides, if done properly it’s all an INVESTMENT in your future, not an expense.

Here's the bottom line - you can't afford to NOT go to as many conferences a year as you can work into your schedule. It's all about education, networking, and growing your business. So, if you're headed to any convention in the next few months, don't miss all the opportunities to raise the bar on your business. Plus, it's the perfect way to recharge your battery!

See you in Nashville!

May the holiday season bring only happiness,
joy and plenty of laughter to you and your loved ones!
Skip, Sheila, Lucy and Belle

by Skip Cohen

 ​It's Sunday morning and the first day of the new year. I hate the resolutions we all make and rarely stick to. However, I do have two at the very top of the list...Laughing more and posting Sunday Morning Reflections. The laughing more is there for obvious reasons. We live in a bizarre world, and there are too many people who take things too seriously! So it's time to stay focused on fun with a work hard - play hard mentality.

Then there's Sunday Morning Reflections - while they've always been a labor of love, there are mornings when it's hard to bring my thoughts into focus. Then again, that's why I've said these posts are therapeutic. They help me recharge for the week ahead.
 
In keeping with my resolution, here's the backstory about the images above. Most of you know I don't make a living as a professional photographer. My passion has always been the business and marketing side, and while I have plenty of gear and will match my love for the craft with anybody, my skills often need to improve.

Sheila was shopping and spotted family pajamas. The next thing I knew, we were all dressed for the occasion; Lucy and Belle included. So, for this year's holiday card, I set up two soft-boxes on either side of the bed and my camera at the foot. I was shooting with a LUMIX G9 and the 14-140mm lens, one of my favorites. I had problems with remote shooting, but I think it was my phone rather than the camera.

No big deal, I set the timer and figured I'd jump in...after all, ten seconds is more than enough time. Well, we got nothing but funny out-takes, including me falling over as I tried to move into position with Lucy. But, unfortunately, we could never get the pups to look at the camera. 

We recorded the dog show on Thanksgiving and put it on to play. The TV was right behind the camera, and we were making progress. They love the dog show. But, still, no remote, and ten seconds just didn't cut it. So, I switched to 4K video and grabbed a few single frames - *poof* - minor work in Luminar, and we had our shot.

But the real fun of the five video clips and dozens of individual frames left us laughing to the point of tears!

And there's my point - there's nothing worth stressing over this year. I'm not saying you can ignore the challenges in your life; just appreciate what you're learning along the way. Joy beats out stress every time, and nothing can top those special spontaneous memories we all can create...and capture! And if you still don't get it, Melody Beattie does - Please read yesterday's Saturday post!

Make it a point to hit those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with everyone you love...and make it a day to savor, cherish, and create memories to energize you in the future. Today's most incredible memories will be your best look in the rearview mirror weeks, months, and years from now.

Happy New Year!

by Skip Cohen

I rarely post on Saturdays, but Sheila and I are both Melody Beattie fans and I want to share an excerpt from what she wrote for today.

The journey of a year is drawing to a close. Cherish the moments, all of them, even the ups and downs. Cherish the places you've visited, the people you've seen. Say good-bye to those whose journeys have called them someplace else. Know you can always call them back by thinking loving thoughts. Know all those you love will be there for you when you need them most. Honor the lessons you've learned, and the people who helped you learn them. Honor the journey your soul mapped out for you. Trust all the places you've been. Make a scrapbook in your heart to help you remember.

There's really nothing more I need to add. 

Happy New Year!

by Skip Cohen

While there were challenges this year that seemed never to end, it's funny how looking back; it seemed to have gone by so fast. But it's down to the wire today, and for me, I'm just looking forward to the new year, especially the first trip of 2023 to IUSA in Nashville.

Nothing beats catching up to old and new friends LIVE, and this promises to be a remarkable convention. For those of you who missed the 2022 event, it was jam-packed with excitement. It was so good to be back together again. While the trade show had fewer exhibitors than past conventions, it gave 6500 attendees more time to get to know each other. In 2023 so many companies are back!

This is a very short post today, but that doesn't change the sentiment and sincerity of the message...

Wishing everybody a happy and HEALTHY New Year and time this weekend to simply kick back, chill and pat yourself on the back for everything you accomplished in 2022.

​Happy New Year, and thank you for all your support, feedback, great ideas, and passion for the craft!

by Skip Cohen

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy New Year!

by Skip Cohen

In between the holidays, I always have a hard time figuring out what to write about. The year is closing fast, and there's not a lot of marketing ideas to share that I haven't covered numerous times already. But then, along came Moose Peterson yesterday.

On his blog he shared the post below and the idea is perfect for this time of year - capturing winter images for next year's holiday blog post - although I'm expanding his idea to your holiday card! I'm old school and still love a printed card that people can hold, as well as appreciate a hand-written message on the inside for special friends and associates.

I've written so many posts about photographers and the importance of a holiday card. Here's the short version:

• No photographer should ever use a store-bought holiday card!
• The front of the card is one of your favorite images; the inside whatever message you want to share, and the back, just like the Hallmark logo is your contact info - your name, studio, email address and phone number...and if you have an office or studio, that address should be included.
• You're photographers - why would you use somebody else's image on your holiday message? It's up to you to remind people what you do for a living!

And there you have it - to Moose's point - start building your stash for next year's use NOW.  And to pick up on more of Moose's wisdom - follow his blog. (Click on either image in today's post to link directly). Success in photography is about passion and love for the craft, and nobody does it better than Moose!

​A big thanks to Moose for permission to share the two images and his post.

​Happy Holidays!

by Moose Peterson

I know I know, the wrapping paper from this year has barely hit the floor and I'm talking about Christmas 2023! This is an old editorial photographer habit, taking photographs this season in preparation for photographic needs for next. If your client asks for fall themed photos from you right now, being winter, you can't go out and take them. This means that if you didn't take them the last fall, you don't get the opportunity for a payday. That kind of thought process runs through my own photographic needs, and one I have every year is the photo for my Christmas greeting blog post. This years was taken last year so now I'm working on next years.

These are the two runner ups for this year's post. There are a couple of tricks I used in the process to pass along. Most important is to create the message the year, that you want to use next year. What does it look like, say and what type font?  This is needed to determine in part the elements in the photograph. And it's a lot easier to create this now while you're still in the Holiday mood, than next fall. 

With that, I take the photos and this trick is really important. Photos I take this year for next year: I make a copy of the finished photo and change the file name to Xmas '23#1, #2, etc. I do this so I can FIND the photos a year from now. All I have to do next Christmas is to select the photo I like best, maybe make some tweaks and post. The panic is on in my mind, I only have 364 days left!

by Skip Cohen

Whatever holiday you're celebrating this weekend Sheila and I want to wish you a happy, healthy and safe holiday season. It's a special time of year, feeling a little more special by all the challenges of the past year or two. This is a time to block anything negative in your life and simply appreciate today.

Gratitude is an antidote to negative emotions,
a neutralizer to envy, hostility, worry, and irritation.
It is savoring: it is not taking things for granted;
it is present-oriented.
Sonja Lyubomirsky

As we've gotten older, I've noticed how we take nothing for granted - especially friendships and support from this community. Wishing all of you peace and a weekend to enjoy the people you love the most.

by Skip cohen

​Twenty-three years ago, Don Blair and I wrote a book together, Don Blair's Guide to Posing and Lighting Body Parts. Working with our good buddies, the other two Musketeers, Tony Corbell and Terry Deglau, we shot all the images for the book in Las Vegas. Of course, this was all pre-digital, so the storyboards were taped to the wall, and as we completed each page, the Polaroids were added to the illustrations. 

There are few projects from my career that make me smile as much as this one. It was a lot of hard work, but the four of us were the very best of friends, and the energy, the laughs, and the success of creating each page made it an incredible memory-maker - perfect for Throwback Thursday!

Parts of today's posts are from the SCU archives, but there's a definite reason for sharing the two pages I chose below.

When you stop chasing the wrong things,
you give the right things a chance to catch you.
Anon

by Skip Cohen

Years ago, in my Polaroid days, I was the Regional Services Manager at the Chicago distribution center. We got a new distribution manager who, after just one day, started telling people how great things were going, even though there had been no significant change in the operation. When I questioned him about the approach, he laughed and said, 

"We're going to be making changes, and they're going to take time, but when you tell people things are changing for the better, it speeds up the process. Things really do start to get better."

I have no idea why this scenario has been in my head today, but while I'm skeptical of people who always tell you things are great, regardless of what's really happening. Although to a point, there is some truth to the power of a positive mindset. It's the reverse of a negative self-fulfilling prophecy - You know, the one: "If you decide something is hopeless, it will be."

Here's my point - you can't change your business very much now, as we come down to the wire this late in December. But you can clear your head and start getting ready for the new year. The new year doesn't suddenly wipe the slate clean of bad habits - it just gives you a new starting point.

Here are few things to think about and do...
​

• What do you want to accomplish in January? It's only the "slow season" for incoming clients, and even that's limited to where it's truly the "dead of winter." January should NEVER be a slow month for you!
• Are you ready for your accountant? Any last-minute purchases you need to make for your business that will be deductible? It's not just camera gear but computers, printers...even your car. The bottom line - talk to your accountant.
• Do you need to offer some new products in 2023? Call your lab and simply ask, "What's new?" Then, kick back and listen. 
• What about services for 2023? What are you offering your customers that's going to get their attention? I'm a big fan of day-in-the-life sessions, Legacy programs and themed portrait sessions for kids.
• Reservations? If you're headed to IUSA in January - do you have your flights and hotel set up? And what about dinners with friends you want to see? Don't wait until the last minute to make plans!
• How's your skill set? What are you missing that would make you stronger as an artist?
• Relationship building: Who are the companies in your community who you'd like to work together with? I've shared so many ideas on partnerships over the years. From networking luncheons to cross-promotions to simply sharing the cost of a targeted direct mail piece - YOU DON'T HAVE TO FLY SOLO. Bringing in two partners can reduce your cost to a 1/3 of what an oversized postcard might cost by yourself. But nothing happens without you making a move!

Last but not least - none of the above can be handled on the fly. Build in some time over the holidays to kick back and daydream a little. Dreaming isn't a waste of time when it has a purpose. And sometimes the only way to get in the right mindset is to dream!

This is only the start of the list of things you could be thinking about, but it all starts with a clear head and a positive mindset. ​

You can't change what's going on around you
Until you change what's going on within you!
Anon

by Skip Cohen

As always, on Sunday, I run amuck from the topics of business and marketing, but never without a purpose.

This is a tough time of year for everyone in business. Your focus is on wrapping up the year, often with the attitude that being flat out is fine...you'll get your break after the "smoke clears." So, time to play gets put aside, and all your energy goes to the tasks at hand.

Melody Beattie came through for me this morning as I was thinking through my own challenges to wrap up the year...

"...We make sure our children take time for recess every day. But we forget that we need recess, too. The lingering thread of work and worry can tie us to tasks done and undone. They can block our connection to joy, creativity, and the vital life-giving force that course through us all.

We no longer need to slump with tension and fatigue. It isn't necessary and it doesn't help a thing. Most often, it hurts. Your fatigue may be from lack of play as much as lack of sleep. You might begin to see that you don't need a rest, a nap, or more Vitamin C. You need to play.

Play as much as you can. Find time--take time--to play. It may give you the energy you need."

Here's my point...undone projects are the monkey on your back. We're all built with manual focus. Unlike your camera gear, there's no button to press to suddenly bring things into sharp focus, but there is something you can do to boost your creativity and joy...take a break and play!  

And here's my wish for all of you today. Take the time to play. Spend time laughing with friends and let your battery recharge, even if it's just for the day. Everything on your plate that you're worrying about is draining you, but "recess" is a great concept and doesn't have to be exclusive to kids in elementary school! Go for those eleven-second hugs with the people you love the most.

Wishing everybody a great day ahead and time to play!

by Skip Cohen

​When my buddy Scott Bourne posted the image above on the new community site for Platypod Users, I was blown away because it looked so real. The information about the portrait is below, but I still wanted to call him. It was our phone conversation that prompted me to want to write this post.

The star of the image is a toy, and while it was done in the studio, Scott gave credit to everything he ever learned about portrait lighting, starting with Monte Zucker. Monte's name is sadly not recognized by many young photographers. He was a master of lighting and portraiture and blazed a trail for so many of the techniques in lighting and posing today.

As we talked, the depth of Scott's understanding of lighting kept going deeper with names like Clay Blackmore, Tony Corbell, Bambi Cantrell, and Matthew Jordan Smith, just to name a few. And that brings me right to my point and why I wanted to share this image in today's post.

by Skip Cohen

​It's a typical Sunday morning, and I'm entirely off-track from marketing and business about imaging. However, another segment of the arts is on my mind...music. There's virtually nothing I do on any day that isn't accompanied by music. 

Over the last four years, we've accumulated six Alexas - they're all synced and on all day. Hooked to Pandora radio, we can pick an artist, and she plays everything in that genre...and whatever's playing tends to support the mood we're in. The day always starts out mellow and finishes louder, brighter, and often more vintage.

Sunday mornings always start with something gospel or more contemporary because that's what Sheila grew up with. And at noon today, depending on our mood, it'll be anyone from Willie Nelson to Crosby, Still and Nash, Jack Johnson, Adele...we never know.

Yesterday, Alexa was playing Pandora, and "Forever Young" was on. Rod Stewart recorded it originally, but the lyrics got to me and were so appropriate this time of year. Regardless of your beliefs, the words seemed so poignant at the time:

Intro by Skip Cohen

​As I've written so many times in the past, the best thing about this industry is the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. Sure, it's about imaging, but it's also about the community, sharing, creativity, and respect. 

Rick Sammon and I have been friends for easily thirty-plus years, going back to my early days at Hasselblad. We've worked on many projects together, sat next to each other at rubber-chicken industry dinners, and share a long list of mutual friends. Rick's newest book is loaded with great content to get you thinking about not only your business but ways to maximize your skill set.  

While I'd love to share more, let's start with part Rick's introduction, which will give you and idea of the framework of the book. There's so much good content!
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Anybody can start a business. Anybody can get their first few sales. But the key to longevity is creativity, paying attention to your business, building relationships, and having an earning strategy that's always working...even when you're sound asleep!

by Rick Sammon

​The quote by Warren Buffett that opens this blog post was the inspiration for my latest book (paperback and Ebook), How To Make Money While You are Sleeping: A photographer’s guide to passive income – and other savvy business strategies.  

I want to share with you part of the Introduction from the book. As you will see, if you put in the effort while you are awake, you can indeed make money while you sleep.

The book is dedicated to the memory of my dad, Robert M. Sammon, Sr., who, through his example, showed me the importance of paying careful attention to one’s income, expenses, and investments . . . as well as the benefit of living below your means.

My dad, an amateur photographer who got me started taking pictures, also gave me some invaluable advice when it comes to making money: “It takes a lot of peanuts to feed an elephant.” In other words, he was saying that all those pennies and dollars can add up, which is the theme of this book.

​“Dad, you’re not only a photographer, but you are also an entrepreneur who happens to be a photographer.” – Marco SammonThat’s what my son Marco, seventeen years old at the time, said after I introduced myself as a photographer at a neighborhood party.

Marco, who has since received his PhD in Finance and is a finance professor at Harvard Business School, was making the point that although I take pictures for a living, I spend a lot of time—the majority of my work time actually—on the business side of my profession. I’m always working hard on new projects—writing books, setting up affiliate programs, cultivating sponsorships, recording online classes and podcasts, and so on.

That’s what my son Marco, seventeen years old at the time, said after I introduced myself as a photographer at a neighborhood party.

Marco, who has since received his PhD in Finance and is a finance professor at Harvard Business School, was making the point that although I take pictures for a living, I spend a lot of time—the majority of my work time actually—on the business side of my profession. I’m always working hard on new projects—writing books, setting up affiliate programs, cultivating sponsorships, recording online classes and podcasts, and so on.

Marco also observed that I spend a lot of time promoting those projects on social media, and then tracking the results. We’ll talk more about tracking sales later in this book, but for now, if you self-publish a paperback or Kindle version on Amazon.com, you can actually track sales on an hourly basis – which I don’t encourage because it can become addictive. However, I have to admit that I do track sales quite frequently when I release a new book.

So, the message here is this: as much as you love photography (as I do), and as much as you want to save the world (its people, wildlife, environment, and so on) with your craft, it’s important to understand that in order to succeed you must also be a good businessperson—which involves generating income while you are both awake and asleep.

Zzz

If you know me from some of my other photography books, photo workshops, tours, seminars and online classes, you may be thinking, “I like Rick’s photography and I’ve learned some cool things from him, but what could he possibly know about sound business practices?” Well, believe it or not, before becoming a professional photographer I spent ten years (1980–1990) at Bozell & Jacobs as vice president/group supervisor on the Minolta camera account.

At that time Bozell & Jacobs was one of the largest advertising and public relations firms in the world. At that agency I learned about the business side of photography, as well as how to promote Minolta photographers, including famed Beatles’ photographer, Harry Benson.

When I left the agency, I had the “ammo” to promote myself through advertising and PR. I had also learned the business side of a professional photographer’s life from working with other famous photographers like fashion photographer, Robert Farber, and United Nations photographer, John Isaac.

The lessons I learned at the agency were invaluable, as were the business lessons I learned as editor of Studio Photography magazine (from 1978 to 1980). Having been hired with no editorial experience, my boss and the publisher of the magazine, Rudy Maschke, said this to me when I asked him for my first raise: “Sammon, you are learning so much that you should be paying me.”

Zzz

On these pages I will share all I know about the business side of photography with you, which of course includes making money while you are sleeping. These lessons have helped my wife, Susan, and I run our business for more than thirty years—and I can tell you, there is nothing like running your own business. As a small business owner, you learn very quickly that you are both the “chief cook and bottle washer,” as my dad used to say.

When thinking of generating income while you are sleeping, please don’t get me wrong, I still work my butt off during my waking hours—because I love what I do. And as the saying goes: “If you love what you do, you never need to work a day in your life.”

Zzz

Generating income while you are sleeping starts with your waking time, something we’ll cover in Chapter 1.

Before You Doze Off.
If you are new to generating passive income, the cool thing is that after you put in the work, you can doze off (take a nap during the day or go off to bed) and wake up a little richer than you were before you closed your eyes.

The key phrase here is “a little.” Before I explain, here’s another expression my dad shared with me: “Everything is relative.” In other words, “a little” means something different to different people.

For example, “a little” passive income each day from different sources (including books, online classes, and crowdfunding projects) could possibly add up to a very nice source of income. In fact, I know several well-known photographers whose major source of income is generated passively.

In subsequent chapters, you’ll see how you can generate “a little” income while you sleep with different money-making projects that you can create during your waking hours.

​Here’s a look at the table of contents (topics I cover) for the book:
Acknowledgments & Networking
Author’s Preface
Introduction
1.   Before You Doze Off
2.   Your Website: Your 24/7 Store
3.   Socialize or Succumb
4.   The Advantage of Affiliate Programs
5.   Buy Me a Coffee
6.   Start a Facebook Group
7.   Write or Narrate a Book
8.   Offer a Downloadable PDF EBook
9.   Join the Crowd with Crowdfunding
Intermission
10.  Start a Podcast
11.  Record an Online Class or Classes
12.  Offer a Newsletter
13.  Strive for Sponsorship
14.  Create Content for a YouTube Channel
15.  Get into Webinars
16.  Sell Prints Online
17.   Launch an Online Forum
18.   Suggest a Product to a Company
19.   Take Stock of Stock Photography
20.   Your Money Can Work Harder for You Than You Can

It's Sunday morning, and it's certainly nothing new for me to run amuck from business and marketing topics. It's also holiday time and, without question, my favorite time of year. I'm guessing that the brain waves in my head if transferred to anything visual, would look like spin art! When that happens, and I can't focus, Melody Beattie comes to the rescue.

I found a short paragraph that I loved...​

We trudge the road searching for power, learning about our own. Somewhere on the journey, we begin to see the truth. It awakens quietly within us, shaking our soul, transforming our vision, teaching us what we knew all along. The power that lasts, the power that stays in the power of the heart.

​And here's my point. What I love about this time of year is that it's all about those twelve words above. It's about joy and appreciation for being here at this point - right now. And no matter how tough or insane the year has been, there's something in the air - a unique form of kindness that simply has a calming quality...sort of a Xanax for the soul.

It all boils down to gratitude. I won't apologize for getting sappy and sounding pretty hokey. I so appreciate all of you who support me...your feedback...and simply the time to share the scrambled mess inside my head every Sunday morning. 

Wishing everyone a day ahead filled with family, friends, or whatever makes your heart soar. It's holiday time, and nothing tops that special energy all around us. As always, go for those long therapeutic hugs with the people who mean the most to you.

Happy Sunday or Monday on the other side of the world.

by Skip Cohen

​Think about your favorite restaurant - the atmosphere, the food, and most importantly, the staff, especially the chef. My wife and I have one of our favorites where we've gotten to know the chef. His cooking is remarkable, but his style and personality are part of what keeps bringing us back. Tamron Recipes isn't just about the images but the personalities of the "chefs" who create and capture them. The analogy between chefs and artists works all the time. Each one is different in the way they capture/create images (or cuisine) that, in turn, capture us!

Cecil Holmes is in the Tamron Kitchen, and he's the perfect guest chef to bring the 2022 series to a close. It's not just his images that have appeal, but spend a little time with him, even just a phone call, and you'll meet an artist with an unmatched passion for the craft. Nothing complicated - just a great guy in love with his family and friends first and his camera second!

I wanted to share a statement in his bio that describes his love for the craft, far better than I can:

Rather than list a "resume" of every accomplishment I have had or received, I would prefer you to look at my art to determine my qualifications. I do put a lot of work and pride into it, after all. I am up really early on some days, out really late some nights, and some days I do not sleep at all when I am in search of a photograph. I also spend quite a bit of time behind the keyboard in an effort to further perfect my art. I can only hope you see this dedication and pride in each of my photographs. If you truly need a list of accomplishments, feel free to reach out to me via email and I'll gladly send one over.

Cecil is all about sharing what he captures - and I find myself living vicariously through his travels. So whether it's wildlife in Alaska or hanging out in the Grand Tetons, there's always something to make me smile. We shared two of Cecil's images this month for two primary reasons. First, they're at opposite ends of the range of focal lengths, starting with Tamron's 50-400mm and then moving to a shorter zoom. Second, landscape and wildlife photography have become two of the most popular genres over the last few years. 

Coming out of the pandemic, more of us are staying within the US and traveling to all those bucket list parks we've had visions of for many years. And then comes Cecil, right on target for places so many of us want to visit!

Cecil loves hitting the parks in the West. After dozens of phone calls and even a few guest appearances on the SCU blog, I finally got to meet him LIVE at IUSA several years ago. What a kick to meet both Cecil and one of his sons on the convention floor. 

One more thing about Cecil - it's his love for his family, and it comes out loud and clear on his about page:

I live in Huntsville, AL with my family that consists of my wife and 4 boys. They are all awesome. I have heard people smarter than I say you take on the personalities of people you spend a lot of time with. So either I made them awesome, or they made me.

Cecil needs to be on your radar. Click on either of his images in today's post, to link to his website. If you're hitting IUSA in January, swing by the Tamron booth (#823) and they should know where he is too!

It's holiday time and Tamron has some outstanding savings going on right now - including the 28-75mm G2 lens Cecil talks about in the short podcast and used in the landscape image above. Tamron is manufacturing some of the finest glass in imaging today - but they don't stop there. Check out their scheduled programs - all designed to help you raise the bar on your skill set!

Happy Holidays!