I have to admit that at some point in my career I have done all three of these things, but thanks to Elizabeth Halford, and Digital Photography School, you don’t have to.  Three Failing Business Practices of the Professional Photographer addresses how making yourself seem too busy, not busy enough, or to corporate can kill you as a professional.

The offense I see most commonly is adressed in the {being overly professional} portion of Elizabeth’s post: the me/we identity crisis.  Figure out if you are a me or we.  If you work alone, under your own name or a business name, answer your own phone you are a “me.”  If you have employees, work as a team, use associates you are a “we” (unless you are a Queen/King).  I see the same mistake in business naming.  Don’t call your business Joe Smith Studio if you don’t have a studio, but I digress.  Read the article and stop doing those things.

The son of the late great John Lennon opened his first photography exhibit, “Timeless” in New York City.  Julian Lennon, who you may remember from such great hits as “Too Late For Goodbye” and, uh…

Hmmm…

Anyway, his photographs include pictures of stuff taken from high up, and pictures of famous people he knows.  He is quoted as saying that this pursuit prevents him from being compared to his father, since John Lennon wasn’t a photographer.  He might consider that he will be compared to other photographers.  I have to believe that it was his access to important people that allowed him to pursue this field, since, well you can see some of the images by visiting Rolling Stone‘s website.

The best part: photos from the opening of Cynthia Lennon hugging Yoko.  Pretty sure hell just froze over.

…having an average plan and taking consistent action steps toward its implementation is more productive than having a marvelous plan and doing nothing to turn it into a reality

I assume that everyone, EVERYONE wants to be successful, in whatever way that may be for them personally.  We also want to get there in the quickest way possible, but sometimes what we want isn’t what is best for us.  Jovita Jenkins talks about success on Women’s Media and while it is a site geared towards women, it isn’t pink and there is no references to cuddling, so it’s safe for everyone (even men).  Jenkins uses the example of Olympic athletes consistently working toward their goal, training their minds and bodies.  It is the consistency of their actions that leads to their success.  If you aren’t getting where you are going then make a plan, map, plot your course, outline, whatever is best for you.

• Watching the following televisions programs is research: TMZ, America’s Next Top Model, any wedding planning related reality fluff.
• The expensive shoes I buy are for “work:” I have to dress up sometimes, and really cute, comfortable shoes are expensive.
• Magazine subscriptions are necessary for education and inspiration: Vanity Fair and Architectural digest contain not only examples of great photography, but give me insight into the psyche of the American upper class, which someday may come in handy.
• It is impossible for me to design albums without high quality dark chocolate: this delusion is obvious.
• Facebook is an important marketing tool: I have gotten quite a few clients through social networking, and besides, I would feel very isolated if I didn’t have constant access to my top friends.
• I go to trade shows and seminars to find the latest in gear, software, etc: the s.w.a.g. and massive amounts of time I spend hanging out with other photographers is just a nice side benefit, in no way the main attraction.

Out yourselves people!  What lies are you telling yourself?  I am in no way suggesting a change in behavior.  I am merely suggesting that we be honest with ourselves about how we spend our time and money.

Do you video conference with your clients?  I do (now).

As a tree hugging hippy and a member of Greener Photography one of the things I do is try to decrease my carbon footprint.  One of the ways I do this is by sneakily and underhandedly reducing the carbon footprint of my clients.  I do paperless contracting, which not only saves paper, but saves them from making a trip back to my studio.  I take payments online and over the phone, also.  Usually this means we see each other at the consult, the engagement session, and the wedding, but the rest of our interactions happened virtually.  This year I have a lot of inquiries from couples who are from other places who are getting married in Fresno.  Yes, Fresno is now a wedding destination (stop laughing).  Their families live here and so for convenience they are getting married here.  Coincidentally I recently started working on a project with Greener Photography to encourage photographers to use and teach them how to use video conferencing to work with clients from out of the area.  My colleagues taught me how to use Skype.  I offered video conference as an option to a couple who booked a consult, they took me up on it, we met online and they booked me the next day.  I was a hero for meeting with them that way, because not only did I save them gas and drive time, but they are a different colleges right now, so they got to spend extra time together.

I am no longer terrified of video conferencing and I have another happy couple on my books, and we all lived happily ever after.

And for the record I did wear pants, but I didn’t have to.

Once your archive (portfolio) is well stocked, back off and write less stuff, but way better stuff.  You can apply the same logic to any output, whether it’s posting links, portfolio images, or photos of your cats playing with yarn.

The innerwebz today is a sea of white noise in which people put out so much unnecessary information, that it all starts to look the same.  Some of us photographers virtually vomit out daily photo postings, full sessions published everyday for everyone to see.  Maybe instead take a moment and carefully choose fewer images to post.  If I see hundreds of images posted per week by a photographer I don’t ever bother clicking.  I know that I will have to swim through so many that I will lose interest before I find the gems.  Potential clients have the same thought process, though not usually consciously.  Cut back on the noise and when I see you have posted I will KNOW it’s an image worth looking at.

Coming to Japan next spring! Tomy  brings your children the joy of stereo photography.  The .3 megapixel (yes the point is before the 3) digital camera has two lenses, no screen, you print out the images and slide them into a viewer.  For $70 you can experience 3D!

Wait!  What?!  The best they can do is .3?  We can send robots to Mars, but for $70 bucks we get no view screen and 2 cardboard viewers?  It isn’t like it’s that difficult to put 2 lenses next to each other and print out two images next to each other.  The “science” is 150 years old.  I think maybe Tomy needs to go back to the drawing board.  I’ll buy it when it’s a real toy camera.

Via | Übergizmo

For better or worse workshops are my prefer method of continuing education.  I hear about them through Facebook, the forum, a billion emails in my mail box.  One of the cool things I walked away from the last workshop with was a postcard for FisheyeConnect.  It is a website where instructors list their classes and you can register for them.  The service is free to students, and the instructors pay a commission on sales.

Did you know… The DWF has a Seminars by Members page? Well we do, and on it you’ll find seminars and workshops being offered by DWF Pro members across the globe. Check it out

Last year I decided to learn how to sell myself.  I wanted to learn to show my potential clients the confidence I have in my work and products.  For that I turned to my right.  That’s Hubby’s side of the bed.  We shoot together, and when we aren’t shooting he has the same old 9 to 5 job he’s had forever and he’s good at it.  His customers trust him and keep coming back.  He sells hobbies, which are far less necessary than photography (don’t tell him I said that).  He listens to what the customers want first.  He finds out what their needs and budget are and presents them their options.  It’s deceptively simple, but highly effective.

Since I am extremely biased when it comes to him I share with you this article The Psychology of Commitment and Getting Customers To Spend More.  It will give you tools and advice on ways to present your product (yourself), upsell, and have your clients leaving happy and coming back for more.

Having inherited my father’s oily skin my tablet can get a bit dirty.  The oils from your skin transfer onto the tablet, along with dirt and create a lovely sheen that then transfers to the felt pad under the mouse.  This creates friction and pilling and makes the mouse behave in an undesirable manner.  I personally take a paper towel with a tiny bit of mild multi surface cleaner on it, wipe down the surface, then shave the bottom of the mouse with the cheapest disposable razor available to man.  I then wipe down the felt with the same rag I used on the tablet and I’m good to go.

I checked the Wacom site for cleaning instructions, but have the attention span of a gnat, so ended up using a web search to come up with these other helpful sites for tablet maintenance.

Smart Computing

Instructables

I stalk lots of photographers online, not in a creepy way, but in a what-are-they-up-to way.  One of the areas where I have noticed a great deal of inconsistency is exposure.  Back in the olden/golden days of film I took photos, dropped off the rolls at the “good” lab and they all came back looking pretty good.  The lab was responsible for my post process and one of the things the lab took care of was making sure my prints looked like each other.  The color and exposures were as close to each other as possible.  If the prints looked off from each other or as a whole I could ask the live person at the lab why and they would give me advice on exposing the film for next time or if it was a problem on their end they would reprint it.

Now most, especially newer photographers are handling or have handle post process themselves.  What I see going out on blogs and social network are groups of images that don’t match and would look terrible on the wall together.  I’m not even talking about those who use 5 different actions on one set of proofs, I am talking about images that need tweaks (or even a great deal of work) on the white balance and exposure.  It doesn’t matter if you proof un-retouched photos, then fix them later.  If you are putting images out for public consumption make them look good on their own and in the larger group.  Clients and potential clients will like them better and other photographers won’t judge you.  As much.

When going to a day long seminar like WPPI Road Trip you must keep in mind that one speaker will say something, the next speaker will contradict it.  Film is dead, film is not dead.  Fusions is pointless, Fusion is the best thing that has happened since the camera obscura.  Some speakers will drop tasty morsels such as “get all the good shots you can,” (yes, he really said that), other speakers will inspire you to explore a whole new world you never considered.  They have a fun little trade show where you can pick up your registration fees worth of coupons, savings, and giveaways.  There were door prizes and raffles, and some  of the speakers gave away prizes.

On balance I think it would have been worth the drive and price of admission (if I had paid), AND it includes free registration to WPPI in Vegas.  Besides you might win a big prize.  I did.

There are 8 cities left.  Visit the WPPI Road Trip website if you want to go.

Some of the help we need we can find on the therapists couch.  Some of you do need therapy, but that’s not the kind of help I’m talking about.  As I have previously stated some of the best education you can get is working as a second shooter.  Now that I have told you how NOT to behave, I guess I owe it to you to tell you how to get to be a second shooter in the first place.  I did some unscientific research and the response I got was, well underwhelming, but that said it came from established photographers who actually hire second shooters.

Most commonly people complain to me about not being able to get a job as a second because established photographers don’t even answer your emails.  I emailed Bill Gates this week to ask if I could hang around his office, maybe deliver some memos for him, just for the experience.  Oddly enough he didn’t respond either, so I can see your frustration.  Ok, that was patently untrue but see my point.  What other job would you apply for unsolicited via email and expect very much enthusiasm?  Here is some advice based on the responses I got from the unscientific DWF poll and other unscientific research (good thing I didn’t go into a scientific field).

Cold Calling: When you go looking for an office job you dress your best (whatever that means to you), meet with people in person, ask if they are accepting applications, deliver a resume, follow up with phone calls, all while trying to not be needy.  Photography is also a profession, so why would you expect anything different?  I am not telling you to be someone you aren’t or buy a business suit, but be your personal best and make me want to do everything I can to hire you.  Some pros hire from emails or other unsolicited sources.  Don’t give up on that, but remember that we get a lot of these and yours had better stand out and be followed up on and backed up with some sort of online portfolio.

Networking: Most of the pros that I heard back from hired people they knew, which sucks for you if you don’t know any pros.  Oh, wait!  Forums such as the Digital Wedding Forum were created to provide just such networking opportunities.  You can also find local groups or just start one yourself.  My local networking started at a vendor mixer given by a local bridal publication which is open to all wedding vendors whether they advertise or not, and look at me now!  I’m a D list photo celebrity!  I found an intern at a birthday party.  Every one you know should know that you are looking to network with other photographers.

Help Wanted Ads: Forums also have areas set up just to put people together.  If you want to work then check out the help wanted section of a forum, and place a notice that you are available.  Pros will not just assume that you want to second shoot, you have to tell them that you are open to it.

Check out my thread for members How are you finding your help? and if you aren’t a member get a trial membership and start networking.

Photography business tends to be structured differently now.  I see many independent photographers working with one or two select contracted shooters.  Before my husband and I went tag team I worked with an amazing second shooter.  She shot in the style that I required of her, did what she was told,and  handed over the cards at the end of the day.  She knew that she was not getting from me  just a paycheck, but an education.  On the job training.  When WE decided together that she had gotten what she could out of working with me she went on to work for herself photographing high school seniors.  Then she set up a website and is now building her business.  Based on the emails I have gotten from photographers around the country since I started writing for DWF I think my experience may be an ideal, but not the usual.

There are two types of second shooters.   Established photographers who second shoot with each other for fun, to develop their skills, or in an emergency. I’m not talking to you guys.  I am talking to the up and comer.  The new shooters who are second shooting to break in, and aspire to never second once they are up and running.

Second shooters:

• You have a privilege and honor to be shooting with however you shoot with.  Even if you are WAY better than the lead photographer remember that they got the booking, you didn’t.   You are spending the day learning, shooting, eating cake, and maybe getting paid.
• The images don’t belong to you.  They belong to the person who hired you.  Even if you process them.  Even if  your lead is kind enough to let you use them in your portfolio.  They don’t belong to you.  Someday if you do well and learn well you will make your own amazing images, and you will see how it feels to have an employee hassling you about using your images.
• No matter how creative you think you are you owe it not only to your lead shooter, but the couple that hired them to shoot in a particular style, and particular ways that are dictated by the lead.  If you don’t like what you have to shoot with that lead photographer, then shoot for someone else.
• Do not speak negatively about your lead photographer at all ever, unless you are protected by spousal privilege.  This isn’t the corporate world.  Everyone expects you to complain about your day job at WalMart, but bagging on a photographer that has given you an opportunity and trusted you to be there where they needed you makes you seem petty and cranky.  How many people in the future will want to hire your cranky @$& after they heard you complaining about doing the work you profess to love.  Then you are a cranky liar and a hypocrite.
• Remember that your lead shooter isn’t stupid.  We can tell when you are in the eye rolling, why am I still here phase. If you are burnt out on your lead photographer that is 100% your problem.  If you can’t find someone else to work with, then let that cause you to reflect on why that might be.  Is it possible that the lead you work for just doesn’t have the heart to crush your dreams?
• Don’t imagine that just second shooter images on your site are going to get you good bookings, anyway.  Potential clients will look at your site and wondering why in all of the formals the couple is facing away from the camera smiling, and why there are so many more images of the child attendants than anyone else.  And didn’t they see that same wedding on another website? Only it looked better.

Be grateful and appreciate the opportunity you have.  If you aren’t happy with it, then go change it.

Is it me or does digital require more little odds and ends that film did?  Grid-It is a nifty place to keep all of that stuff that is floating around in your bag.  Starting under $20 from Cocoon

I am crazy nervous about wedding files away from home.  LaCie is coming out with the perfect USB drive for the OCD in me.  LaCie XtremeKey is water, heat, cold, pressure and drop resistant.  Upload to this baby then attach it to you body and hit the beach.  Oh, and it looks cool.

As manufacturers add more bells and whistles to cameras, from the top to bottom of the line, it is getting harder to tell where photography ends and video begins.  Addig to the confusion are artists like Ryan Enn Hughes who have merged photography into the realm of stop motion.  Hughes calls his work interdisciplinary.  I would call it stop motion. Either way, its’ pretty cool.

via NPR

You might know that Brian May was the man my brother was named for, or that he is the lead guitarist for Queen.  Did you know he’s an astrophysicist?  Did you know he has had an interest in stereo photography since college?

Brian May has co-authored a book on stereo photography “A Village Lost and Found” with Elena Vidal focusing on the stereo photographer T.R. Williams.  You can find it on Amazon, and it comes with a scope so you can experience there 150 year old images the way they should be.

I spent many hours growing up staring into my aunt’s antiques stereo scope, fascinated by the 3D images of long ago and far away.  As 3D comes back into vogue it is amazing to look back at the early roots and realize that 3D has been around for as long as people have been making photographs.

Read an interview with Brian May and others at the Kansas City Star’s website.

I needn’t remind you that the economy stinks.  For everyone.  You can tell by the flood of free and buy-one-get-one offers in your inbox.  Whenever this happens “they” start saying that diversification is the way to stay alive.  Then the economy picks up and “they” say that niche marketing is the way to get rich.

Humor me with a little thought experiment.  I am no Einstein, but together we can muddle through.  If there is a finite amount of money consumers are spending on photography, and an infinite number of photographers, then competition is fierce.  The value of photography drops.  If you go from doing 1 type of photography to doing 4 types of photography chances are you are going to do your specialty less well, and the new types you have added at a lower level of quality than your previous 1 specialty.  You have just taken the devalued commodity (photography) and made yourself LESS good at it, devaluing yourself further.  If we all get on board and devalue ourselves we might actually be able to eliminate photography completely as an art form and an industry.  It will be like Hollywood where everyone has a script and no one is buying, because the studios have figured out that they can make stuff up and people will buy it whether it is good or not, because they have become conditioned to consume.  Uncle Bob will win the day and we will all be broke and miserable.

OR we could ride it out.  Keep doing what we ROCK at.  Spend the downtime getting better at photography, not better at finding new equipment.  If we all agree to stay on our own sides of the street we can keep our own yards neat and tidy and not have to feel as though we are begging for work.  Granted this is supposition, not fact.  It is just a thought experiment.  I am not an economist.  Photography is not a commodity.  You probably won’t be only 25% as good at your new “specialties.”

BUT you will probably like your fellow photographers better if they aren’t taking people’s money to do poorly what you would have done well, and vise versa, and we can all come out the other side, happier, better at our jobs, and ready to go when things do get better.

NEW LADIES’ CAMERA STRAP | RS-W1 by Black Rapid from BLACKRAPID on Vimeo.

Boys and girls are different.  When we hit puberty we become very different.  In many cases our bodies zig where the boys’ zag.  Though the industry has come far in the way of Lady Gear I still sympathize with the Amazons.  I can see the convenience of removing your right breast, whether it is in the battle field or the photo field.  Much of the gear for girls is boy gear with a pretty color on it.  Yes, some of us are that superficial, and others of us wish our camera straps would pick a side of our boobs and stick to it.  Black Rapid has released a solution to the problem.  The RS-W1.  It stays neatly between your breast, and allows you to keep your camera safely off of the ground while your hands are free.

The boobs, or rather the face of the RS-W1 is LaRae Lobdell.  I am a nosy person and she consented to answer for me the questions that were burning in my breast.

LaRae Lobdell has been shooting weddings in the Seattle are for over 10 years.  That is where she met the future inventor of the Rapid Strap, Ron Henry, and even test drove his hardware-store proto-types.  She loved the concept, but if you’ve met LaRae you know she is one of those adorable women that you want to put in your purse and take home with you.  At 5’3” just about all of the straps were to big, bulky, or awkward to pair with the formal garb of a “lady.”  Not to mention that we ladies have these things on our chest that prevents straps from laying flat, and makes any additional bulk look like an advertisement.  Last Winter Black Rapid and LaRae began collaborating on a strap that would work for her, me, most other women, function, and still look bitchin’ with a ballgown.

I met the boob strap at WPPI.  I saw it from across the room and was smitten.  LaRae helped me try it on, and though I have 5 inches on her it still was a far superior fit to the other straps in the booth.  I ran home and excitedly told all of my photo sisters about the boob strap.  I spent the next 4 months messaging her: when?  Now?  How about now?  Soon?  And it is finally here!  It is only recently available so your favorite store might look at you like a moron when you ask for it, but keep asking.  How else will we prove to the industry that we need more than a pretty bag!

I also got some info on LaRae and where she stands on gear, garb, and giggles (she’s a girl and uses her prerogative to giggle, even in print).  She’s shooting Nikon, but has the sense enough to know,

it isn’t what you have, it’s how you use it.

Does the industry underestimate the relationship between a girl and her gear?

That’s a really good question. I photograph a lot of events, many for large charity fundraisers that I am required to wear a party dress to (in heels) and blend in with the guests. I’m 5’3” and look ridiculous with 2 or 3 cameras and a bag of lenses dangling off of a cocktail dress. Straps pull at clothing and require constant, ah-hem, adjustment.

Personally, I feel that the industry makes everything “one size fits all”, without taking into consideration that carrying a lot of camera gear and accessories is not only uncomfortable, it can also unattractive. Belts, straps, bags: most are bulky, uncomfortable and unappealing for women photographers to wear, but we must wear them to do our vocation, day in and day out.

Over the last year I’ve been seeing a good amount of camera and laptop bags that have sleek, practical and cute designs with women in mind; it is extremely refreshing to see. I think companies are starting to pay attention that half of the industry is women and believe that we will start seeing more of the industry creating products tailored to us.

My very first ‘paid’ job as a photographer was doing family portraits.  Sales people would hook in moms at the grocery store, sell them a session, and I would photograph them the next week in a big pile of props and old timey clothes.  When I started I had never used an autofocus camera or professional film.  I was green.  My biggest fear was the ugly baby.

We all know that our own children are beautiful.   What would I do if they sold a session to the mother of an ugly baby?  Then I found out. One day the world’s ugliest baby was carried into the studio.  I panicked internally.  Then I picked up my security blanket camera.  I realized in that moment that every baby is beautiful to someone.  I have since had countless mothers that have requested that I photograph their baby’s crooked toe, or hairy back.  These aren’t imperfections to a mother’s heart, they are unique qualities that make their baby special.  Maybe not every parent is that enlightened, but many are.

Portrait and wedding photographers exist because of love.  We capture the images of people’s loved ones.  We aren’t there to hide their flaws, we are there to show their best.  That awkward bride and groom are beautiful in each other’s eyes.  We are in the fortunate position of focusing on a person’s best assets and making them accessible forever.

When faced with societies’ ugly look at them with the eyes of a loving parent.  Focus less on trying to hide their “flaws” and more on the beauty that every human being naturally carries.  It will make your job easier, and I will like you more.

Development happens in stages, whether you are an infant, a student or a photographer.  Last year I personally experienced a great leap forward.  My technical skills got better.  Then I got bored.

So I started really looking at my work.  My “signature shots” had turned into habits, and some of them were bad habits.  So I started looking around for ways to break and shake them.  This isn’t just for newbs, those of you with experience get lazy, too.

Camera tilt If looking through the albums you design has you feeling woozy or like you are about to slide off the couch then what should be a rarely applied compositional tool has turned into a bad habit.  There are so many other ways to add interest or movement to an image.  Don’t let yourself settle for just one.  Get lower, get higher, actually MOVE YOUR BODY.  Change your lens.  Do whatever you have to.  I still use tilt, BUT everything in moderation.

Zoom I use zoom lenses.  I use prime lenses.  I will not debate  about which one is better.  Each has their place.  If you are using a zoom lens, then going wider isn’t always the best solution to fit everything in the frame.  MOVE YOUR BODY backwards.  Actually take a step back.  Since I have started keeping track of my habits I have noticed that I trip backwards over Uncle Joes at weddings when he shoots over my shoulder.  Uncle Joe doesn’t move back.  You need to.

Landscape v. Portrait As it turns out you can use Landscape for portraits, and Portrait for landscapes.  Far be it from me to say which is best, but if you tend toward one, try the other.  Shoot both ways if that makes you feel more secure, but in designing albums I found that I liked the way  horizontal images worked in my layout, and I like the way they look on my site, and hanging over a sofa.  So I decided to get better at making the work.  Vertical is now a last resort for me.  When I get bored with that I might switch back.

Trendz I spelled that with a Z cause thats hot.  If you see some new awesome trend and graphics, go ahead and try it.  If you end up not liking it or can’t make it work then dump it.  I love curly swirly graphics… when other people use them.  I end up spending a bunch of time putting something together then trashing it.  I don’t like them on my work.  If something is cool or hot only do it if you truly like it.  Trust me there are clients that will hire you without curly-cues.

Photoshop salvage action We have all seen it.  High contrast black & white, WAY heavy vignette.  This doesn’t save the image.  It makes it look like you screwed up and were trying to hide it.  Sometimes you have to let go of that shot you ruined and just get it right next time.  Learn from the mistake, don’t fool yourself by trying to fool others.

If you have other ways to exercise our lazy butts, please share them.  Remember that people who are lazy need our love support, and help, not out judgement.

So do any of you guys have bad photography habits?

I spent a good long time reflecting on the state of the photographic industry. Photographers get upset about the “photo bubble” that seems to be expanding with no hope of ever bursting.  My generation was raised on the mantra “you can be whoever you want to.”  Thanks, Mom, but the logic is flawed.  We can’t all be what we want to.  Sometimes you just have to accept that you are 5’2″ and have no hope of playing pro basketball.

I studied oil painting.  I was going to be the next Monet.  My family told me all of the time how good, how talented I was.  I was OK.  Nothing of mine will ever hang in a museum. Despite my family’s disappointment I put my artistic drive into photography.  It turns out I am pretty good at that (no comments from the peanut gallery) and my family is almost convinced I am a professional.

I spend a good deal of time training new photographers, encouraging new photographers, but quite frankly there are a lot of “photographers” with websites and Facebook pages that I wouldn’t waste my breath on.  Those photographers are the reason that the old pros are so upset.  Not just by the “competition,” but by the fact that the art and industry is getting a bit tarnished.  If everyone is special, then no one is special.  If everyone is a photographer, then no one is a photographer.  And frankly I am a little insulted every time someone who should stick to their hobby tries to go pro.

Have you sought the advice and mentorship of photography teachers or established photographers, did they respond favorably? If your family members are the only ones telling you how great you are, if other “pros” avoid you, if you don’t have repeat customers (that pay you),  if someone has told you to your face that you should pursue other avenues, then do it.  Don’t spend your time and money trying to start a business that will fail.  I am speaking from a place of love, and telling you what your mama should have.

Every once in a while I pull out my oil paints and paint something just for myself, but I know that hanging my hobbies in an art gallery would be an insult to all of the true painters whose skill and dedication I will never be able to match.

Liene Stevens of Splendid Communications put into words something I have wondered about.  How are the brides on your website influencing your booking rate?  From Liene’s article Online Marketing and the Plus-Sized Bride

Journal of Health Psychology published a study* of Australian brides-to-be and their pre-wedding weight concerns. The study included 879 brides with an average age of 26 recruited from five different Australian-based bridal websites. Here are some excerpts from their research:

75% of the brides intended to exercise more and eat in a more healthy manner.

35% planned to cut out fat and carbohydrates from their diet.

43% planned to use an indoor tanning bed before the wedding day.

52% planned to undergo teeth whitening treatments.

Over 1/3 of the brides had been encouraged to lose weight for their wedding by someone else…

I have plus-sized brides on my site.  I book plus sized brides.  I know how to break through the insecurity and they trust me to make them look fantastic.  AND their money spends as well as size 2 money.

So when you are blogging, creating a sample album, or imagining your ideal client ask yourself this: what do they truly look like, and how important is that to you?

The first time I saw a GO|BEE ($179, $159 with your DWF discount.) I wanted one.  I am a girl and once we snip the seams in the fake pockets of our pants, the pants no longer make our butts look cute and we can’t have that.  That means that girls don’t have pockets.*  GO|BEE is like man pockets meets woman sexy.  I sought out the booth at WPPI and committed the cardinal sin of the window shopper.  I touched one.

The leather felt just as buttery as it looked.  It smelled, just as it ought to, like the Wilson’s Leather store in the mall when I was in high school.  Oh, the pockets for CF cards with little ribbons in them so you can feel which cards have been used.  The room for extra batteries.  The place for my oversized smart phone.  The potential to carry lipgloss!

It gets worse.

I tried it on.  For the sake of full review I will tell you that I think I am a size 12, but this week I’m flirting with the 14s, and yet the belt fit around my lady hips.  It was so comfortable.

THEN! I discovered the wrist strap.  I saw what the bag looked like after 3 years of use and it looked even better.

Now I must have one.  I don’t normally allow people to buy me gear for birthdays/Valentine’s Day/Mother’s Day/anniversary/Christmas, but I am making an exception.  I dream about this bag.

GUYS:  Hubby checked out the man bag.  It’s nice and functional, and if you have the cash get it, but he’s not losing sleep over it the way I am.  I can only imagine how well it handles in the real world.

*I know I don’t speak for all girls.  If you have pockets I apologize.

Behold: Pexagon

In my wanderings on the trade show floor last week I came upon some coolness that I sort of want to keep to myself.  I am such a nice person that I just can’t do it.  Pexagon is a customization company that offers USA made products and services that are nifty, neato, and I have run out of adjectives, but you get the idea.  Flash drives, portable drives, iPhone cases can all be customized with logos or text, many in 1 off.  That means you don’t have to buy coolness by the case.  No minimum order, and no set up fee.  The two things that were stopping me from offering these sorts of lovelies have been removed.

They also offer a flash drive pen that caused me to have a flask back to the Friends episode where Joey bought his girlfriend a pen clock, because it was a pen and a clock.  I digress.

I personally will be picking up the wooden flash drives, because they are SO Carli.

EDITORS NOTE: You might have noticed, if you were at WPPI, that they had our logo on their stuff. I have to say that A) it looked great and B) we did not get paid for it nor is this article being written in consideration of our logo being shown at their booth etc, etc, etc… They contacted us stating that they wanted to use some well known logos and ask us for ours which we then provided. Carli took it upon herself to write this article and I have to agree the wooden drives are WAY COOL though I don’t have an image of one handy.

This is a story of girl meets PhotoBiz

There is a rumor going around that I get good customer service because I have a loud mouth and an outlet.  I will say that isn’t true.

• Reason 1: I make my hubby/business partner check out companies first because even fewer people know him than know me.
• Reason 2: I wait until a ways into the conversation to let companies know I have a big mouth and an outlet.
• Reason 3: If you do actually know who I am you know I don’t usually name names when I am complaining about companies (unless it’s AT&T against whom I have a personal vendetta).

That said I have had less than satisfactory results from some of my vendors, so I recently went shopping for new ones.  Specifically web related.  I wanted a website with hosting and customer service, that had html and mobile mirror sites.  I wanted a template that a moron could set up.  I wanted customer service.  I wanted to integrate it with the client access and contact forms I have through Táve.  I wanted custom colors.

I also wanted a new album proofing system that would better match my website, and still allow client comments, AND wouldn’t cost me an arm and a leg.

I was also considering going from online hosting with fulfillment to self fulfillment.  Sure it takes more time, but there are specific products and packages that I want to offer that I couldn’t with the current company.

Enter PhotoBiz.  I initially went to them for their html and mobile site options, but I also found that I could completely change to a new flash template whenever I want with a few mouse clicks.  I found that I can customize the shopping cart to offer exactly the products and options I want to.  I found that the website links open in lightboxes over the main page so the client feels like they never left my site.  To top it off they called me to see how it was going.  When I needed help I submitted a support ticket and they called me within an hour.  A big change from my old company who has a bad rep for service and ridiculed us for wanting to view a website on mobile.  Apparently that’s not how they do it in Texas.

In the spirit of St. Patrick, who not only drove the snakes from Ireland, but brought there the Catholic faith through his practice of Celtic Christianity I am spreading the green.  What St. Patrick did was unique in that he practiced his faith, and contributed to the community without demanding conversion, and by example converted the masses (mostly, hey pagans!).

I share today with you my experience, not as a command to action, but as an example.

I was recently certified by Greener Photography.  Yes, I had to pay a fee, but I am great with that and am happy to support the cause.  I filled out an online form qualifying me.  I knew I would get certified, but little did I know how truly green I am way down to my core, I am after all a wee bit Irish.  After an email from Thea with follow up questions I was certified Leadership Circle which means that I am so green I have the right and responsibility to mentor other photographers in greener practice.  I also got to meet and hang out with other greenies at the Greener Photography party in Vegas, which was a blast.

We are in an industry that consumes, uses chemicals, causes trees to be cut.  There are ways that we can practice our art and still respect the environment.  For me it is about finding a balance between longevity and ecological impact.  If you are interested in finding out more about the process, or finding ways to lighten your impact visit Greener Photography’s web site.  Or don’t.  It’s your decision.

The 10 Golden rules

1. Be Steady
2. Wind
3. Props
4. Sharpness
5. Close up
6. Focus Manually
7. Background
8. Fill in Flash
9. Get the White right
10. Diffuse light for Capturing Details

Visit Lorelei Web Design to find out what that all means.

I see the same problem in print ads.  A photo of a photo celebrity doesn’t tell me anything, except that they are probably getting the product for free now, and that just tells me that they like free stuff.  I want to know if it works.  Does the product work?  Will it increase my  margin/exposure/brand?  I don’t care who uses it, just like I never cared what brand watch ANY athlete wore, or what kind of leather pants were wrapped around Axl Rose.  At least give me a great quote from the rock star about WHAT it did for them, HOW it changed their life, and WHY they can’t live without it.

You can’t blame the rockstars.  They are photographers who are good at what they do.  The marketing departments and our celebrity culture has allowed this to happen.

Sure we get to party at a convention, but we also go there to convene.  To share knowledge.

Give me substance, the glitter will just wash off and stay in the drain of my Vegas hotel room.

-Carli