Shutter Magazine - Raising the Bar

I can't deny for a second I'm a little prejudiced in favor of the new Shutter Magazine. I've been writing for Shutter since it started and with this new issue, Sal Cincotta has essentially achieved what most people thought couldn't be done. After building a substantial readership for the online version, approximately 90,000, he's launched a hard copy, the complete reverse of what's been happening in magazine publishing.

Quality editorial, and great "how to" content, have already made this magazine one of the leaders in supportive publishing for the aspiring and working professional photographer. Sal's additional new feature, starting with the premiere's cover image, "How I Got The Shot," is a great example of the quality of information you can expect in the future.

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At a time when many of the other professional photographic magazines look like they're trapped in a scene from Stephen King's "Thinner", Sal, Taylor and their team stayed true to their dedication to education. This first issue is loaded with great "how to" content and weighs in at 180 pages. It even feels great, an expression not usually used in talking about a magazine. They've chosen a great paper stock for the cover along with the rest of the pages.

Besides great content and staying true to standards of color reproduction and printing quality, it's a new size, just about 8x10. Perfect to travel with. In fact, mine, right now, is in the sleeve with my Mac Air. 

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But let's put all the points on great cosmetics aside. They only prove that you can judge a book by its cover, because inside it's loaded with articles by some of the industry's most dedicated instructors and artists. I picked two at random, just to grab a shot to share with you...Blair Phillips and Lori Nordstrom's. 

Blair's article this month is all about "Senior Glam Sessions". Over the last ten years, senior photography has become one of the fastest growing specialties. Blair's helping you take it one step further, adding glamour to the mix and going into plenty of detail to help you consider the concept for your own business.

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Lori's article this month is called, "Making Clients Feel Beautiful with Photography". It's such an important aspect to building your client relationships. 

On several podcasts and videos, noted beauty and fashion photographer, Matthew Jordan Smith has talked about the importance of clients feeling beautiful. In fact, one example he's talked about came out of a session with Vanessa Williams, who, even though she's one of the most beautiful women in the world, doesn't always feel beautiful.

Well, Lori has taken the time to give you plenty to think about. Making a client feel beautiful isn't as much about your technical skills as it is about your communication skills. It's about building a relationship with each subject and as Lori points out, making each person feel special. She's even given you ideas of conversation starters you might use during a family portrait session.

Articles by other industry notables include Laurin Theines, Joe Switzer, Justen Hong, Sal Cincotta, Craig Lamer, Alissa Zimmerman, Vanessa Joy, Moshe Zusman, Michael Corsentino, Dustin Lucas and yours truly. I couldn't be more proud to be working with this crew of dedicated professionals.

In one of the first few pages of the new magazine you'll find Sal's "Launch Point" message in his role as Editor-in-Chief. This pretty much says it all...

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"Innovate or Die. I teach it. We live it. SHUTTER MAGAZINE goes to print!!"

A big congrats to the whole team at Shutter Magazine. As an old buddy of mine from Polaroid used to say, 
                                          
                                                                                                Y'all done good!"

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