Twenty years from now, you'll be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. Mark Twain I'm proud to be a contributor to the Marathon Press blog, along with a number of other members of the imaging community. I shared this post a while back, and it's so relevant. It's a quick post starting with the hope that you let that quote from Mark Twain sink in a little. It makes sense to take time here and there to ponder and think about things you want to do to grow your business and your skill set as an artist. This is where it might be time to build your business bucket list! I love the concept, but so many of us have it all in our heads rather than written down. When you write things down, they become more real. We all have things we hope to do someday, but we rarely consider business goals beyond growing the business, increasing revenue, etc. So, regardless of how absurd or extravagant ideas might seem today, writing them down moves them out of "wish" mode and closer to reality. On the personal side of "no regrets," my old buddy Duncan MacNab told us a week before he passed away, "I have no regrets. I did it all when I was younger." Life is too short - don't wait to chase your dreams. Go for it! Kick back a little and think about things you want to do to build your business and expand your creativity. There are no rules and no guidelines: explore, dream, and discover.
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Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. Zig Ziglar by Skip Cohen
A few years back, I started a series of reminders to help you set the stage for holiday seasonality. I'm bringing back a few of my favorites. My goal is to help you build a better foundation to finish 2023 with great sales. There's one ingredient that tops the list and sets the stage for EVERYTHING you do in marketing, brand-building, and promotion - your ATTITUDE! When I was in junior high, the basketball coach had a sign in his office, much like the Zig Ziglar quote above: Winning is 80% motivation and only 20% skill! Seasonality is already ramping up. But there's still time to capture and create more business for 2023; it all starts with your attitude. Here are some things to consider:
I'm not minimizing how tricky business is these days. However, with the renewed sense of family that came out of the pandemic, you have so many opportunities to capture more business. Remember, you can't create images that tug at people's heartstrings if your own heart isn't in it! And, if you're overwhelmed and don't know what you can still do, you know where to find me! by Skip Cohen I've been MIA on Sunday Morning Reflections for the last couple of Sundays. The challenge was nothing major, just life getting in the way. I suppose it's good to be so busy your regular routine gets interrupted. On the other hand, SMR has always been a labor of love, and as I sat here trying to get started this morning, I started thinking about my dreams and aspirations. There's something that happens to your dreams as you get older - you become more selective. It's a lifeboat drill to see which dreams are still on point and those that need to be retired. While this might sound a little sad, it's not because your dreams aren't achievable, they just become more in focus. It's like pruning the roses I'm trying to grow - cutting back old growth creates the energy and path for new flowers. And here's my point - stay focused on your dreams. Modify them as needed, but don't let them go. Nothing is unachievable. It's just the timing that changes. Patience becomes a more significant resource, and those dreams that are still out of reach become more defined. The longer you keep them in focus, the more alternative routes you'll find to get there. So, I'll continue to live by my mantra... I do it because I can. I can because I want to. I want to because you told me I couldn't! Wishing you a day ahead that allows you time to focus on a dream or two. Go for those eleven-second hugs I've always written about with the people who mean the most to you. They're the ones who will help you achieve your dreams.
Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world. by Skip Cohen I catch up with a lot of photographers every day, both directly and in the various forums, primarily on Facebook. In addition, I recently did a 90-minute presentation at the online Hair of the Dog Summit. Looking at so many of the questions I've seen being asked, so many artists seem to be caught in analysis paralysis. Too many of you seem caught up in so many different aspects of your business that you've stalled on making decisions. Eventually, you'll miss the opportunities, spending so much time overthinking your goals that the potential for success evaporates. It's like freezer burn on that bag of shrimp I forgot about that was frozen for far too long. Sure, they were still edible, but they're sure weren't as good. Stop overthinking ideas you know in your heart are right. And don't "should" on yourself if they don't work out as good as you had hoped. When something is underwhelming, step back, take a long look at what you did, and then revise your game plan. The bottom line? Stop overthinking! I'm not suggesting you attack your business without a plan; just recognize when you no longer need more opinions or time to ponder. Many years ago, I heard my good buddy Matthew Jordan Smith tell a story about his images when he first started. He'd share his work with everybody to get their opinion until he finally realized he had to listen to his own heart. He had to decide for himself what made a great photograph. It wasn't only about his technique, but understanding and building a relationship with each client. We're getting down to the wire on implementing creative programs for the holiday season. Don't let time pass you by because of analysis paralysis. You know how to focus your camera - now it's time to focus on your business and your target audience. You only regret the things you don't do!
Author Unknown by Skip Cohen I know I shared parts of this throwback many years ago, but not much of the backstory. It's such a classic. I was president of Hasselblad USA from 1987 - 1999, and early in 1988, we got a call from Cubby Broccoli's studio. They were looking for gear that "Q" could use to build a unique gun for James Bond in License to Kill. With help from Carl Claesson, then Hasselblad USA's Service Manager, and Don Snyder, Camera Repair Supervisor, we donated a beyond-repair camera body, magazine, and prism finder. "Q" had what he needed, adding other photographic gear to create the gun. If I remember correctly, the barrel or stock was a carbon-fiber Gitzo tripod leg. But my favorite part of this throwback story came just after the film had been released. At a Hasselblad press conference in NYC, introducing whatever was the newest camera at the time, we chose to kick off the event and showed the gun, then on loan to us. It took every ounce of control I had not to laugh as I seriously announced Hasselblad's entrance into military weapons and being awarded a government contract. Taking the A-12 magazine off the camera, I showed it was loaded with six large caliber high-velocity rounds. I was doing great until I made eye contact with my good buddy, Bob Panarella. Sitting right in front of him was one of the journalists furiously taking notes. That was it - I cracked, along with Bob and most of the audience. You can find anything on YouTube. With almost no effort, I found the clip from the film where "Q" shows Bond the new weapon. (The Hasselblad gun comes out around 1:30.) Happy Throwback Thursday! by Skip Cohen
I started this "Hump Day" series just for the fun of it. I'm not looking to share anything complex but to give you something to consider that you might have missed or forgotten about. As I've written about before, Sheila and I share something inspirational, every morning after breakfast. Yesterday's reading from Emily Silva was so on point: "In silence, we can hear our intuition speak. But it can be difficult to find silence in the age of hyperconnectivity. We must find the time to unplug and create silence at least once a day...A change happens when we learn to access stillness...In stillness we find our balance." Most of us get so busy we rarely search out silence until the damage from the "noise" in our lives is already well underway. Find a moment today and kick back and chill. Walk away from everything and appreciate the silence. This is one of the shortest posts I've ever shared, but there's nothing more that needs to be said. Happy Hump Day! by Skip Cohen My roots in Customer Service go back to when I was a kid helping my grandfather in a little hardware store in Fairport Harbor, Ohio. But my real education in consumer support started with Polaroid's introduction of the SX-70 camera - estimated to be 300% defective with those first ones off the production line. Fortunately for Polaroid back then word was slow to spread, there was no Internet - just phone calls and snail mail. Having kicked off my first blog post fourteen years ago, while I know I've written about the topic many times in the past, there's no such thing as too many reminders about the importance of dealing with angry customers! I found a couple of great quotes a while back about angry customers: “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning!” Bill Gates “Statistics suggest that when customers complain, business owners and managers ought to get excited about it. The complaining customer represents a huge opportunity for more business.” Zig Ziglar The reality for many of you is too often completely different. You're afraid of angry customers. I've even heard a few horror stories of photographers going head-to-head in arguments with clients. You'll never win in that kind of battle.
Here are a few tips and suggestions you can use to help learn from angry customers and, at the same time, become your own bomb squad!
Modify the opener any way you want, but the defusing line is: "How can I help?" or another one to use is "Let's see if I can help fix this for you." Your goal is to demonstrate empathy, kick back, be quiet, and listen. (This is where I get to plug in my favorite one-liner: You've got two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you talk!)
Resolve issues quickly with solutions that have value to the consumer. Come up with a resolution fast and work towards having one that your client feels is fair. Years ago, living in the Chicago area, we tried carry-out from a new Chinese restaurant. Halfway through dinner, there was a small dead cockroach in the fried rice. I immediately packaged everything back up and went storming back to the restaurant. Instead of immediately apologizing and doing a refund, the owner wanted to give me a gift certificate to come back! Obviously, we never ate there again, but to try and argue with me about the merits of their food at that point was far from realistic. Remember, one angry customer today can turn into a troll and undermine your credibility throughout the community. And the community, especially in cyberspace, goes far beyond your city limits. On the other hand, a satisfied customer who feels you've been on their side and working towards solving the problem will help build a foundation for future business. by Skip Cohen It's Marketing Monday, and after a week-long break, I'm back and fired up about one of my most favorite topics: holiday cards. There are two perspectives - your own card and the cards you should offer your clients. "Snail mail" is alive and well at holiday time. As email and social media have taken over our lives, holiday cards are an memorable break from the monotony of cyberspace seasonal wishes! A holiday card, done right, is one of your most effective marketing tools. Your Personal Holiday Card It amazes me that so many of you miss the boat on using your own images for holiday cards! A holiday card is a perfect way to show your work and remind people what you do for a living. NONE OF YOU should be sending out store-bought cards. Using one of your own photographs for a card is so soft-sell that it's hard-sell without aggravating anybody! The process is so easy - Create a few hundred cards to send to clients and influencers in your community. Put your image on the front of the card and a pre-printed message inside. Then, add a hand-written note for special clients/influencers to personalize it even more. On the back of the card, it's your contact information. Only, instead of the "Hallmark" label, in the center at the bottom of the card, it's the name of your business, your phone number, email address, and URL for your website. At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, Marathon Press has its annual BOGO going on right now. That means you're decreasing the cost per card and increasing your potential for more revenue this season. Most important of all, you're reinforcing your career path and boosting brand awareness. Holiday Cards for Clients Let's get holiday cards into your mix of client-based services. This is about increasing revenue. After the last few years of challenges in life, this has the potential to be another remarkable holiday season. It's your work on the front of the card, but this time, a portrait you've captured. And you're working with each client to help make their card unique. Again, Marathon comes through with a substantial boost to your revenue with its annual BOGO program. They even offer a holiday sales kit with samples to help you share the idea with your audience. And a mailing to your database right now, and you only need to ask a straightforward question, "What are you doing for this year's holiday card?" There are so many ways to tie in holiday cards with a portrait session. They're the perfect add-on for everything from canvas prints to metal and even stationery (thank-you cards) and short videos. The point is that you're a storyteller, and here are more ways for you to help you and your clients tell their stories.
This is going to be another record-breaker for holiday messages this year. Think about it for a second: We're at a point in history where we're all trying harder than ever to stay in touch. What better way than spreading holiday wishes this season? Images copyright Kip Jackson. All rights reserved. by Skip Cohen As I've written so many times before, each Tamron Recipe not only introduces another artist, but the analogy between great chefs and photographers keeps coming through, loud and clear. And like great chefs, their passion for the craft is unstoppable. Chef Kip Jackson joins us this month. I met Kip for the first time on a phone call a few weeks ago. He's one of those people you talk to and immediately feel like you've known him for years. His love for imaging couldn't be more intense as he talked about each image and then his growth into filmmaking. Based out of Syracuse, NY, his specialty is storytelling with his images. In fact, that point is so well made with the first image in today's post. When he sent it to me, I really was concerned. I didn't like the exposure and the feeling like the subject was too dark. Just before the podcast I asked him about it - the client was a musician and wanted to be in the shadows. And when Kip tells the story about the image on the short podcast, it makes so much sense. Taking his love for the craft, one step further, check out his tagline here on the right. "Start Somewhere" so fits his outlook on imaging, creativity and goal to keep growing as an artist. Kip walks the talk! In the interview Kip explained one aspect of his name, Knowledge Is Power. As he talked about his growing skillset and learning everything he can about each aspect of still photography and video production, it became obvious that he never slows down on his education. He applies that same enthusiasm to teaching and sharing his work. INGREDIENTS Camera: Sony ILCE-7M3
Kip is always sharing helpful content and needs to be on your radar. Click on any of his three images to link to his website. Check out his YouTube channel - it's jam-packed with great content. Follow him on Instagram too! Early this year Kip did a review of Tamron's 35-150mm lens, one of his most favorite. If you watch the video below, you'll get a feel for his passion for the craft as well as his feelings about this remarkable lens. Tamron never slows down on raising the bar on the quality of their products. Today they manufacture some of the very finest glass in imaging. Check out their newest rebate program for the Fall with a click on the banner below! by Skip Cohen After all these years of posting daily, developing content ideas that help you build a more substantial business, and being involved in many different programs under the imaging umbrella, I've hit the wall. And as I've written so many times, it's important to recognize when you're about to crash and burn. Several times a year, I write about the importance of taking a break BEFORE you crash. Each time, I've gotten some amazing comments from many of you about how timely my topic was and how much you needed to be reminded. What's ironic is how little of my own advice I actually listen to! This is a very short post today. I want to remind you that while I talk a good game and have years of experience to share with you, too often, it's really tough to follow through. I want to help you grow your business, avoiding many of the mistakes so many of us have made, but I'm still making mistakes myself. We're all work in progress. The hardest thing to do in business is recognize you need a break. But, with the help of some great friends coming down to Florida on Sunday, I've got all the right ingredients. The usual me would feel I was being irresponsible, but the truth is, it's the most responsible thing I can do today. The perfect way to avoid the "heat" of those flames when you're about to crash and burn is simply to do something you love doing. For me and Sheila, it involves each other, good friends, the pups, and always the ocean. See you on October 9! by Skip Cohen I started this series to share short ideas that seemed to fit into the middle of the week scenario. Plus, I love the shot of the camels! Well, it's Hump Day* and the perfect time to hit on one of the biggest benefits of attending workshops, conferences, and conventions - they help you recharge your battery! Yesterday, I presented a two-hour program to a passionate group of pet photographers, thanks to the Hair of the Dog Accademy founder, Nicole Begley. Over the last few weeks, I spent a lot of time pulling information about one of the biggest challenges in business - finding new customers and expanding your reach. But my point today isn't about marketing and promotion but a side benefit of attending a conference like this: it recharges your battery! I'm always writing about taking a break and recognizing the signs of burnout, but God forbid I should practice what I preach! I didn't realize how much I needed a recharge myself. Throughout my presentation, I felt like the Energizer Rabbit. There were just over 200 people in the program, and their energy, comments, and questions reminded me of how much I appreciate the true entrepreneurial spirit of so many artists. From the attendee comments, the enthusiasm was infectious, not just in my program but in two other programs I was able to attend by Anne Thomas on Storytelling and Zoe Hiljemark on The Power of PR. The energy I felt yesterday was spread throughout the attendees. Plus, something unique happens at small conferences like this - everybody supports each other, working towards a common goal to find new ways to grow. So, to Nicole Begley, thank you for the invite and for sharing your Hair of the Dog family. To the attendees, what a kick getting to "mee" so many of you. As I've already said and written - you know where to find me if I can ever help. And to all of you, my readers - as you lay out your calendar for 2024, pay attention to the dates of local workshops, conferences, and national conventions - just like our phones when the battery's low, we all need a recharge now and then. You should attend every possible program you can, whether LIVE or online. Nothing beats hanging out with people in our industry. The energy is incredible, and sometimes, it's just what you need to revitalize your spirit and passion for the craft. by Skip Cohen Normally on Sunday, I slow down after posting Sunday Morning Reflections, but I've got a day full of projects to complete, including a final review of my upcoming Hair of the Dog Summit presentation. (Apologies for the little infomercial, but it's a great program, and at $17 or $117, it's a no-brainer for photographers to attend.) At 5:15 AM I started thinking about today's post and it hit me how the older I get, the faster time seems to fly right by. I went off in search of some quotes about time and I stumbled on this one: Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its brevity. Jean De La Bruyere edI'm complaining about time's brevity but never considered whether I'm part of the cause. That led me to think through how I've been using my time. I did an inventory of my actions recently and realized I waste too much time on things that don't matter. For example, I can't win a fight with Comcast, but I'll waste time I can never get back, waiting on hold for Tech Support to fix something that might not even be that relevant at the time. Then there are times in social media answering an I.M. from somebody I don't know who wants to pitch me on something I don't want. Instead of deleting or blocking them, I respond with a sentence or two. What is it that makes me feel like they deserve a response and more of my time? It's not that I intentionally waste time, just that I've become A.D.D. over things that don't matter. I get easily distracted and waste time and energy. Like weeds in a garden - you can pull all the weeds you want, but it won't make a difference if you don't water and fertilize the flowers! And there's my point - Too many of us spend time focused on the wrong things. We chase issues that don't matter. We spend time, our most valuable commodity, on things with little or no return value. We're investing time in things with no R.O.I. Thinking through how I wanted to spend today, I made a list of what I want to accomplish. It's given me an almost tack-sharp focus on the day ahead - starting with getting this post up early. Wishing everybody a day with time to spend on truly important things. They don't have to be earth-shaking, just those things that have an impact. I define things with "impact" as whatever makes me smile and feel a sense of accomplishment. From an eleven-second therapeutic hug with Sheila to various projects around the house and even a touch on some business things to make the week ahead a little smoother - if it makes me smile, it's on the list for today. Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world. Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift.
That’s why it’s called the present. Bil Keane by Skip Cohen After posting at least six days a week for the last ten years, missing the previous few days has felt strange. But the reason is a kick and points to a topic I've written a lot about over the years - special projects. I'm honored and excited to be teaching at the Hair of the Dog Online Summit next week. Over the last month or two, since being asked, I've been pulling material for my program, and it was finally time to put it all together. From sharing the experiences/ideas of friends and associates to new material I've pulled together, it will be a jam-packed presentation with plenty of "low-hanging fruit" attendees can start to implement almost immediately. And there are bonuses from some of the speakers when you purchase an All-Access registration. For example, I'll be holding an online bonus program on November 7 as a follow-up to my presentation. The whole idea is to help attendees stay focused on marketing and growing their business right through the holiday season. But there's another aspect to the Summit that makes it special - I've worked with Nicole Begley, the founder, in the past. She's talented and totally focused on the goal for the two-day event - helping artists raise the bar on the skills. Plus, it's a fundraiser for the Hair of the Dog Conservation fund. The growth of pet owners has never slowed down, and for so many of you it's such a logical addition to your existing specialty in imaging.
But, like any aspect of professional photography you have to have the skillset to match the demand, exceed expectations and make yourself habit-forming. The Hair of the Dog Summit has brought together ten industry specialists to help you grow and establish a stronger part of your business. It's a no-brainer to attend, regardless of your choice of the two participation levels. I hope you'll join us on September 26 and 27 - See you then! “Your customers won’t love you if you give bad service, your competitors will.” Kate Zabiskie by Skip Cohen
So many of you could do a better job when it comes to Customer Service basics. That quote above says it all; stop helping your competitors! It's Marketing Monday, and after a recent battle with an online sales company, the importance of Customer Service is fresh on my mind. The only silver lining is that each bad experience I have, becomes the foundation to remind you about one of your best marketing tools, providing outstanding service. There's no need for this to be a long post today. The basic ingredients for providing excellent Customer Service couldn't be easier to remember:
Obviously, the quality of the services/products you're providing has to be outstanding, but don't underestimate the power of offering a great experience for your clients as well! It's one of the most powerful tools you have to separate your business from the competition. Either you run the day or the day runs you! Jim Rohn by Skip Cohen It's Sunday, and as always, I'm stepping away from business and marketing. My thoughts this morning are about some not-so-secret ingredients to finding happiness each day. The younger you are, the more the day tends to run you. It's inevitable because you're still establishing your goals. New projects, networking, discovering your passions, risk-taking, and building your skillset are all in the works together, along with dozens of other components of your journey to being an adult, or at least acting like one. This is Sunday Morning Reflections, and it's meant to be short - so here's one suggestion - establish a routine for your day. I'm pretty much in my office for most of the day, but we always start with 20-30 minutes of exercise whether walking or swimming laps. I take breaks for breakfast together with Sheila, time with the pups, and "Nap-Time" for all four of us. In fact, it's always a laugh when one of us yells "Nap-Time," and even the pups know to jump on the bed. It's a 30-45 minute break, and I even shut the phones off. When I went off on my own, I was worried about being able to stay focused working at home. The truth is, it was the opposite. The hardest thing for many years was shutting down. We'd go to bed, and I'd stop to check email or social media for "just a minute"...and an hour later, I'd emerge. Now, everything, including my cell phone, gets shut down at the end of the day. Here's my point this morning - the significant components of our daily routine are exercising every day, those power naps, eating right and getting a good night's sleep. Sheila and I especially wanted exercise to become a habit. I hit cyberspace to find out how long it takes for something to become a habit. Most of what I read had it as 8-10 weeks. On average, it takes more than 2 months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact. And how long it takes a new habit to form can vary widely depending on the behavior, the person, and the circumstances.* JamesClear.com Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with nothing but good habits, starting with those long therapeutic hugs with the people you care most about. Find a routine that works for you and then stick with it...but leave time to break the routine too - for us it's the weekend. Saturday is the Farmer's Market with the pups and Sunday is just a great day to chill.
Happy Sunday or Monday if you're on the other side of the world. “One should really use the camera as though tomorrow you'd be stricken blind.” Dorthea Lange by Skip Cohen I'm sticking with my "clean up" theme until I run out of things to suggest. Too many of you never think about how the photographs you capture, especially portraits, might be of value later on. How often have we all worked on something and, whether rushed or exhausted, said to ourselves, "That's good enough?" We've all done it, and maybe it's acceptable when you're fixing something at home, but when it comes to a client, only your best is good enough. In 2016, Bob Coates shared one of his favorite portraits with me, "Randy," shown on the right. I hope you listen to the short podcast with the photograph, but here's the summary. Randy was struck by a car and died two to three weeks after capturing the images. Bob's portrait was one of the last photographs ever taken of him. One more major example, and it's so timely following the anniversary of 9/11 this week. Remember the tragedy and the photographs posted as people searched for lost family members and friends. Because so many of the victims were relatively young, there were hundreds of professional portraits, usually bridal or college, even high school senior shots. Throughout the industry, there are stories from professional photographers who captured the last images taken of a specific subject. Here's my point - NEVER compromise on the quality of an image. Your clients trust you to capture the best photos, and you owe them your full attention. You never know how important today's photographs are going to be tomorrow! by Skip Cohen As I started my weekly hunt for throwback images this morning, on my Facebook notifications page, they posted my memories from today going back the last few years. The very first one was a comment from a friend in the industry about Terry Deglau passing away on September 14, 2019. Off I went in search of grab-shots with Terry, and with each one, the smile on my face got bigger. Yeah, there was a tear here and there, but throwbacks are about reliving memories that make your heart soar. The ones I pulled together above are the tip of the iceberg. We did so many things together, and as you can tell, the four musketeers were Terry, Tony Corbell, Don Blair, and yours truly. Rarely was there a convention that the four of us weren't creating chaos. But my favorite is the one here of the four of us. And while Don and Terry might have "left the building," Tony and I are the keepers of the memories and stories! Nothing beats great memories. Old photographs are the mortar that keeps all the bricks of friendships together. And while we all miss people we've lost, it's those throwback photos that help create a very special immortality and testimonial to the impact they had on our lives. Happy Throwback Thursday! by Skip Cohen
It's Hump Day, and here's a suggestion to keep in mind as you put together future promotions. I've heard so many stories from photographers over the years who put together what they considered a great promotion, but it failed with minimal response. Most often, it was because the perceived value of the promotion wasn't as strong as they thought it would be. Whatever you offer, it has to have VALUE. Value-added marketing is defined as delivering more than your customers are expecting through content and experiences. https://blog.duda.co/ For example, if you've put together a promotion for free goods when a specific service or product is purchased, you've got to make sure your target audience understands the true value of the promotion. We all know when a company pitches us for something they're giving away that has a $299 retail value, you can buy the product for half that through regular retail. Years ago, my daughter, as a fifth grader, wound up on a kid's TV gameshow and won $2000 in prizes, which were taxable at that amount. But the real value was, at best, around $800! It didn't change the fun or the value of the experience, but it does make a point about value. Your challenge is to establish promotional value that exceeds customer expectations. They need to understand the offer, what the product or service does, and how it fulfills a need they have. This is why I love cross-promotions between non-competing companies. A promotion between a wedding photographer and a florist, for example, both have products the client needs. They also have money to spend with both companies. Last but not least, the consumer understands both the florist's and photographer's product line and has a need for both. Hey, it's Hump Day, and these posts are always meant to be short and easy to think about - and if you're stuck for promotional ideas, you know where to find me if I can help. Happy Hump Day! by Skip Cohen Platypod has been a leader in helping artists expand their creativity since the company's first product was introduced eight years ago. From the original Platypod to Platyball, the eXtreme, and just recently introduced Handle - the complete Platypod line, with multiple accessories, has grown to be the Platypod Ecosystem. But Platypod isn't slowing down - Have you subscribed to their YouTube channel? There's now a selection of NEW short how-to videos thanks to a remarkable team of respected industry educators. Each video hits a specific specialty and then a no-nonsense presentation, giving the viewer a solid educational base to build on and, with practice, expand their expertise. The company's plan is to continue to support the imaging community with more short presentations, each one unique in its application. There are now six videos in the series, of which I pulled three in the click-on links below. Another new feature is Platypod Perspectives. Again, short, concise and educational, helping you expand your expertise in imaging and at the same time introducing you to some talented photographers in our industry. Platypod's YouTube channel is loaded with great information and ideas to help you expand your creativity. There's no limit to how you can put Platypod gear to great use - but there's also no limit to the company's goals to help more artists raise the bar on their skillset.
by Skip Cohen I'm excited about being asked to speak at the upcoming online Hair of the Dog Summit at the end of this month. I'm in great company with nine other speakers; all focused on helping you build a stronger skill set and grow your business. Click on the banner above for more information and then to register. What good is creating the finest images of your career if nobody knows who you are? And if they do know you, are they knocking on your door? I'll be sharing dozens of ideas on promotions, building awareness, partnerships, and ways to expand your reach beyond your existing customer base. Plus, there's a special bonus - in November, date to be announced - I'll be hosting a follow-up coaching program for VIP pass attendees, helping you keep the momentum going right through the holiday season. Why you should attend: In the hierarchy of why consumers hire a professional photographer, the top three are brides, babies, and pets. This is from a survey Kodak did at least thirty years ago, and I don't believe it's changed. During the pandemic, weddings were down, along with photographing babies and maternity. The order might have shifted, but here's my point. Seventy percent of U.S. households, or about 90.5 million families, own a pet, according to the 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA). Think about those numbers. Seven out of ten families have at least one pet, and the average per household is estimated at 1.6 -1.8. Like our house, many families have two fur-balls. So, the big question is, are you including pet photography in your business? Check out the one-minute video below from the Hair of the Dog Summit Host, Nicole Begley for more info. See you at the Summit! |
Our Partners"Why?"Check out "Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog. It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound bite. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. We're over 100 artists featured since the project started. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.
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