by successfulbob | inspiration, Marketing Monday, photography education, photography marketing
Commitment in Photography – Marketing Monday
by Skip Cohen
I’ve written a few posts in the past based on excerpts from the Walk the Talk series. They’re just short thoughts that get me thinking about this amazing industry we’re all a part of.
I found this from Abraham Lincoln…“Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions. And the actions which speak louder than the words.
It is making the time when there is none. Coming through time after time after time, year after year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of; the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.” – Abraham Lincoln
As photographers, whether you’re shooting a wedding, a portrait or a commercial shoot, think about your commitment. Are you committed to your clients, to the quality of the final image and most important of all, that little voice inside your heart that represents the passion for the craft you need to succeed?
People trust you to capture some of the most important moments in their lives. There is no room for compromise and there are no shortcuts. You owe them the very best your creative skill set will allow and your commitment isn’t just to your clients, but to yourself.
There is no place for a been-there-done-that attitude. It’s all about your clients and to give them the very best your education is the key. It simply can never stop. New techniques, skill sets, pushing the edge of the envelope as if every client was your very first one has to be your mantra. Shoot as if the images you’re about to take are the only photographs people will ever see of your work.
My buddy, Scott Bourne, talks about all of us being the high priests of memory protection. That’s a big commitment and responsibility. Think about what that really means…then take a few deep breaths and smile every time you’re working with a client, because nobody can capture memories like you can!
Skip Cohen has been involved in the photographic industry his entire career and previously served as President of Rangefinder/WPPI and earlier, Hasselblad USA. He founded SkipCohenUniversity.com in 2013. Skip is a co-host for “Mind Your Own Business” and “Beyond Technique,” webcasts through Photofocus.com, writes for several publications including Shutter Magazine and is actively involved in several advisory boards for non-profit organizations.
by successfulbob | Guest Post, marketing, Marketing Monday, photography, photography marketing
Waiting for Your Ship to Come In
Marketing Monday with Skip Cohen
I’ve used this quote by Ross Perot in other posts, because it’s so relevant.
“Most people give up just when they’re about to achieve success. They quit on the one-yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from a winning touchdown.
If I ask a group of photographers about advertising, somebody will always say, “We tried it once, but it didn’t work!” Ask some people about trying some different lenses or shooting wide open for a different look and you’ll hear almost the same, “I’ve tried it, but my clients like the look I have!” Ask them to move the lights in the studio, the ones that are put in the same spot every day on the masking tape on the floor, and you’ll get almost the same response.
Empty Dock just waiting for a ship…. or a boat – © Bob Coates
Well, what if those photographers are all standing on Ross Perot’s one yard line? What if they just needed to run that ad a few more times for people to contact them? What if they only needed a little more patience?
Trust me, I know it’s tough waiting for your ship to come in. But I’ve seen so many photographers who were able to stay focused, stay aggressive in their marketing efforts and believe in themselves and things did come together.
It’s all about taking action, being patient and not giving up. And since Ross Perot put me on the one yard line, might as well stay with a football theme and give Vince Lombardi the spotlight:
“It’s easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you’re a winner, when you’re number one. What you’ve got to have is faith and discipline when you’re not yet a winner!”
Skip Cohen has been involved in the photographic industry his entire career and previously served as President of Rangefinder/WPPI and earlier, Hasselblad USA. He founded SkipCohenUniversity.com in 2013. Skip is a co-host for “Mind Your Own Business” and “Beyond Technique,” webcasts through Photofocus.com, writes for several publications including Shutter Magazine and is actively involved in several advisory boards for non-profit organizations.
by successfulbob | imaging competition, photography competition, photography marketing
Silver and Bronze Medals Earned in PPA
Bob Coates of Bob Coates Photography is honored by peers and jurors for high-quality photography
Sedona, AZ – Bob Coates was named a Siler and a Bronze Medalist during Professional Photographers of America’s 2018 International Photographic Competition. Coates’ work will be on display at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, Jan. 20-22, 2019. This International Photographic Exhibit will be held in conjunction with Imaging USA, an annual convention and expo for professional photographers.
Bob Coates of Bob Coates Photography
A panel of 32 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from 5,073 total submitted entries at Gwinnett Technical College in Georgia. Judged against a standard of excellence, 2,622 images were selected for the General Collection and 513 (roughly 10 percent) were selected for the esteemed Loan Collection—the best of the best. The Loan Collection images will all be published in the much-anticipated “Loan Collection” book and over 365 selected General Collection images will be published in the “Showcase” book by Marathon Press.
Two new medals came in the mail this week from PPA!
The level of the award is determined by how many of those four images receive the highest possible honor: acceptance into the PPA Loan Collection, which is displayed at photographic exhibitions, conventions and other photography events. Coates was named a Silver Medalist in the Photographic Open Category, meaning that one of his four merited images entered the PPA Loan Collection. Coates was also a Bronze Medalist in the Artist Category with all four of his submitted images earning a Merit score.
About PPA:
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the largest international non-profit association created by professional photographers, for professional photographers. Almost as long-lived as photography itself, PPA’s roots date back to 1869. It assists 30,000 members through protection, education, and resources for their continued success. See how PPA helps photographers Be More at PPA.com
by successfulbob | Marketing Monday, photography education, photography marketing
The Tougher the Challenges the Better Your Skill Set Will Become
Marketing Monday by Skip Cohen
Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.
Racers sailing photo by Bob Coates Photography
It’s an old African proverb, but the more I read it, the more I’m in awe of how much these seven words say. They sure seem to fit everything we learned over the last few years about business.
Think about it. From a challenging economy to keeping up with technology, to social media and increased competition, you’re working harder than you’ve probably ever worked in your life.
What’s exciting to me is the new energy focused on marketing. Years ago we used to laugh because Don Blair would get a thousand people in a posing and lighting program with a few cute models and I’d get ten people in a marketing workshop and five of them were relatives! Today, every marketing, business, and workflow program is packed, and people are taking notes.
One thing I have noticed is those photographers who tell me they’re having a good year. They always add a comment of, “But I’ve never worked so hard in my life.” Further discussion always brings out new things they’re doing regarding diversity in their business, skill set, and the products/services offered.
Scuba diving is a major passion of mine, and I remember a dive when I first started, in horrible water. We had 6-foot swells, and we were in a small boat – I was diving with my buddy, Bob Nunn. The captain looked at us and said, “If you guys can dive in this you can dive in anything!” I came off the boat green, and Bob left breakfast a half mile off the Florida coast, but it did make us better divers. It also gave us something to laugh about.
Well, as an industry we’ve survived a roller coaster of challenges over the years, but the keyword is survived. The proverb says so much that to keep talking about it becomes trite. The point is we’ve all learned to sail in rough water, and as a result, we’re better sailors!
Give yourself a pat on the back – your passion for photography is alive and well, and you’ve got more tools to make this last quarter pretty remarkable. The goal is for you to THRIVE, not just survive!
Skip Cohen has been involved in the photographic industry his entire career and previously served as President of Rangefinder/WPPI and earlier, Hasselblad USA. He founded SkipCohenUniversity.com in 2013. Skip is a co-host for “Mind Your Own Business” and “Beyond Technique,” webcasts through Photofocus.com, writes for several publications including Shutter Magazine and is actively involved in several advisory boards for non-profit organizations.
by successfulbob | fine art photography, photography, photography creativity, photography education, photography marketing
Lens Based Artist
It’s been a little tough to get blog posts up and out lately. Our Internet provider has been having some problems and being downstream of those problems has led to slow to non-existent connection to the world. For that, I apologize.
Sometimes you don’t realize how much time is spent connected to the Internet, and how dependent we are, until you don’t have access. This is probably a good reminder for me. In the meantime, it has affected my workflow a fair amount. (that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!)
That said, I have some news to share and a new way to connect so you can hear it. (using the hotspot on my phone)
As you may know, I heave begun working toward moving my photography business to the conceptual art market. I’ve even started a new brand and will be slowly transferring my marketing to the art side. I heard Julianne Kost mention the term Lens Based Artist and it resonated with me. I’m still a photographer and probably always will be but the art I’m producing is far beyond capture and simple processing of a photographic image. It is only the beginning.
Here’s my new logo.
Here is an example of the type of imagery on which I am working. You may recognize some of the techniques from classes I have taught over the years, which I call PhotoSynthesis. It uses multiple images, Adobe Photoshop layers, masks, blend modes, brushes and more to create the final art piece.
“Horn in F” – PhotoSynthesis Lens Based Art
New shirts with embroidered logos. Made by Queensboro
Shirts are already embroidered. A wax seal has been created to help set my signature apart. Vehicle signage is being designed. And I have an opening at an art gallery as Artist of the Month which I’ll let you know about later.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – You get $20 off when you use this link to get your own embroidered shirts from Queensboro
by successfulbob | Guest Post, Marketing Monday, photography marketing
Loose Ends – Marketing Monday by Skip Cohen
Okay, gang, we’re down the to the wire and the fourth quarter, complete with some substantial seasonality, kicks in next month! It doesn’t matter what kind of year you’ve had to date, great seasonality for most photographic specialties is about to start.
So, the question is, how many incomplete ideas, loose ends, are on your desk, or bouncing around in your head. Loose ends are all those projects you’ve procrastinated about, and they range from mending fences with your adversaries to cleaning up the back room of your studio. Relax, I’m not suggesting you need to clean it all up today, but what a kick to put all your loose ends down in a list and then start checking them off one at a time.
Remember, half the battle is beating procrastination, and we all do it. We put things off waiting for the shoemaker’s elves to come in the middle of the night and clean up the mess. Sadly the only elves who show up are the Keebler Cookie guys, and they only add to your belt line!
I found a great quote from Orison Swett Marden (spiritual leader from the 1800’s)
“A lobster, when left high and dry among the rocks, does not have sense enough to work his way back to the sea, but waits for the sea to come to him. If it does not come, he remains where he is and dies, although the slightest effort would enable him to reach the waves, which are perhaps within a yard of him. The world is full of human lobsters; people stranded on the rocks of indecision and procrastination, who, instead of putting forth their own energies, are waiting for some grand billow of good fortune to set them afloat.”
Okay, get out the pad of paper and make that list…I did mine a few minutes before writing this post, and while I’ve made no progress, it’s at least a start! I am however craving a bag of Keebler Cookies and a lobster…go figure.
Skip Cohen has been involved in the photographic industry his entire career and previously served as President of Rangefinder/WPPI and earlier, Hasselblad USA. He founded SkipCohenUniversity.com in 2013. Skip is a co-host for “Mind Your Own Business” and “Beyond Technique,” webcasts through Photofocus.com, writes for several publications including Shutter Magazine and is actively involved in several advisory boards for non-profit organizations.
