Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 75753 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2017-02-09 00:25:16 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-02-09 05:25:16 [post_content] => Peak Design has done it again with the Everyday Backpack — designed a streamlined bag that fulfills all of my needs while handling a sizable load of gear with grace. After a few months of practical use in lots of different shooting situations, I can honestly say that the Everyday Backpack hits that rare sweet spot of carrying everything necessary without being cumbersome or complicated.
Coming off the successful introduction of the Everyday Messenger and Everyday Messenger 13, the Everyday Backpack is Peak Design’s first backpack model and comes in two sizes — 20L and 30L. With so many options available for camera backpacks on the market these days, you might brush off a new offering as white noise — something that has been tweaked and tinkered with so much that nothing could possibly come out that hadn’t been thought of before. Yet there it is, a really smart backpack that ditches a lot of common practice and embraces a lot of smart simplicity.Design
Overall, the Everyday Backpack is a cleanly designed shell with three access points into a large main compartment. There’s also a laptop compartment with a “hammock” style pouch to hold small items, along with two compartments on the side access panels for organizing accessories. As with all of Peak Design's gear, the outer shell is an ultralight waxed Kodra synthetic canvas with DWR coating for weatherproof performance.
Access to the main compartment can happen through the top or either of the sides, and which one you’ll use really depends on how you’ve organized everything inside. The side access points are very easy to get to when swinging the backpack in front of you, while the top access point is more for when you’ve set the bag down. Being right handed, I typically organize my gear so that the essentials are inside the left side panel, since this is what sits upright to me when I swing the bag off my right shoulder. Secondary gear sits on the other side of the bag, and things that are least likely to be accessed are towards the top.
The main compartment can be divided into smaller sections using the velcro dividers, which have built in flaps that can be flipped up or down to introduce padding between items. The flexibility of dividing up your gear is really handy to put things exactly where you need them based on how you will interact with the bag. 
Gear Capacity and Comfort
The 20L version of the Everyday Backpack, while the smaller of the two sizes, ended up being the perfect size for me and the assortment of gear that I carry while shooting weddings and intimate weddings. While I could definitely find more things to throw in my camera bag as "just in case" items, the smaller size of the 20L ensures that I only carry my essential gear out the door. The top portion of the backpack is expandable with the familiar MagLatch, which is great when you need to throw a few extra items or even a light jacket in with all of your other stuff. The 20L version can fit a laptop up to 15" and the 30L can squeeze in 16" laptops with ease.
The wide, comfortable straps of the Everyday Backpack are attached at the top via swivel points, so the straps are always lined up to an optimal angle regardless of your body type or how long you have the straps let out. The backpack also sits against your back with a slight channel for your spine to run down, which reduces some of the "flat back" syndrome you can get with some backpacks carrying a laptop. There's also a full-width top handle and two comfortable side handles to grab the backpack by when shifting it around or taking it on or off.
The only downside I've been able to find with this backpack is when you get towards its fullest capacity, the MagLatch becomes a little hard to connect on. But because I try not to overstuff my bag to begin with, it's a very very minor complaint in a sea of positives.You can find more information on the Peak Design Everyday Backpack on their website. [post_title] => Peak Design Everyday Backpack Breaks the Mold [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => peak-design-everyday-backpack-breaks-the-mold [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-02-09 00:25:16 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-02-09 05:25:16 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=75753 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 74036 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2017-01-20 11:45:52 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-01-20 16:45:52 [post_content] =>WPPI 2017 starts in just over two weeks and with one major change from years past, a lot of people were wondering if it was still an event worth attending. Now taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) versus the familiar MGM, the 2017 WPPI Conference + Expo might feel like you've transferred schools during senior year, but if you're still on the fence we're here to tell you that you should most definitely attend. We sat down with Jason Groupp (Director of Education and Membership for the Photo+ Group) to get the skinny on why you should attend, what to pay attention to, and how to get the most out of your time there.
There are lots of conferences and workshops for photographers to attend. What makes WPPI one to not miss?
"WPPI is the largest Conference + Expo for wedding and portrait photographers in the U.S. It attracts more than 13,000 attendees, offers more than one hundred seminars, workshops, and photo walks taught by world-leading photographers and educators, and includes one of the largest expos dedicated to photography in the industry. If you wanted to attend one event that encapsulated all aspects of wedding photography and filmmaking, WPPI would be the one event to attend.
"Beyond the world-class education and expo, WPPI offers a community atmosphere that cannot be found with any other conference or expo, large or small. Attendees and instructors alike openly share their experience and wisdom throughout the show, which is why WPPI includes numerous social activities -- to help promote and support the sharing of ideas and knowledge. Outside the classroom, socializing with peers is probably the best education attendees will receive all year."
What's new and exciting this year?
"Since WPPI will be held at the LVCC this year, we are able to expand the size of existing programs and activities and add a number of new opportunities for attendees. For example, keeping with the spirit of community and information sharing, we created The Photo Den; a lounge area located right on the expo floor where attendees can relax, meet up with friends, share their portfolios with instructors, and then venture out to visit all the manufacturer expo booths located just steps away.
"We are also hosting a series of keynote presentations each morning before the Expo opens. Jerry Ghionis, Sue Bryce, and Me Ra Koh are three of the biggest names in the business and their inspirational stories will spark the energy and creative juices to carry attendees throughout the new day.
"For the second time we are offering a one-day university course for attendees who are interested in entering the school and sports photography business. Organized by the Professional School & Sport Photographers International (PSPI), now a subsidiary of WPPI, the program will teach best business practices, how this arena can help grow your business, and many other aspects of this business.
"We are also working directly with Canon to create the Power of Print (POP) Pavilion located right on the expo floor. Attendees can bring their favorite digital file to the pavilion and Canon will produce a large print at no charge. A number of speakers are scheduled to present their work at POP and speak about ways photographers can earn more income through the Power of Print."
What part of WPPI do you wish more people would pay attention to/attend?
"There are so many important aspects to WPPI that it is hard to break it down to specific activities or events. However, I would say there are three general areas that attendees should focus their time on, excluding the socializing element that is so important.
"Our seminars and educational tracks are probably the most important aspect of WPPI. Everyone who attends wants to either learn new skills or hone existing ones. The question they need to ask themselves is ‘what do I want to learn or focus on during my time at WPPI.’ We offer many Master Classes and a new four-day filmmaking course. We also offer dozens of seminars and photo walks to help them master existing skills they have. The important thing is to decide what they want to learn, review our extensive curriculum, and go for it.
"Another part of WPPI I think attendees sometimes forget about or take for granted is our annual Live Print, Album, and Filmmaking competition judging. This is a unique opportunity to see beautiful images creatively critiqued and discussed amongst a panel of industry judges. It is one of the most educational experiences you will ever receive. The ability to hear renowned industry leaders discuss what makes an image good or what would make it better, is an invaluable lesson that can applied to their own work.
"The third aspect of WPPI I feel is important to attendees to experience is the expo itself. There will be more than 200 industry manufacturers demonstrating the newest and most innovative products and services in our business and it’s all under one roof. Cameras, lenses, accessories, software, and hundreds of new ideas to increase your service offerings to clients are all available in one place. And, when you get tired and need to get off your feet for a few minutes, you can spark up a conversation at The Photo Den right there on the show floor."
Who's a new speaker to be sure to hear?
"This year we have more than 30 photographers and educators making their speaking debut at WPPI and it would be virtually impossible for me to narrow it down to just one speaker you need to hear. However, I can try to narrow it down to a small handful of folks whose topics and backgrounds are as unique and diverse as the conference itself.
"Tomayia Colvin, Selena Rollason, David Bastianoni, Vicky Papas Vergara, Salvatore Dimino, and Dan O’Day all bring their unique brand of learning, inspiration and knowledge to WPPI.
"Anyone currently working in school portraits, or interested in learning to break into this area, should definitely add Tomayia Colvin’s class, Creating Stunning Senior Images Your Clients Will Love, to their list of must-see at WPPI.
"Selena Rollason explores how to capture meaningful images during one of the most personal and intimate moments in a couple’s life with her seminar, The Art of Birth Photography.
"David Bastiaoni will present a Master Class dedicated to the art of creating an award-winning album.
"Vicky Papas Vergara shares how she is literally redefining art and photography for her clients and how they simply can’t get enough of her unique and creative approach to the traditional portrait.
"If you’re just starting out or trying to find your own style of shooting, the presentation by Salvatore Dimino should not be missed. Sal will discuss the reasons behind changes he’s made in his photography, and where photographers can find inspiration to develop their own creative direction.
"Dan O’Day will show attendees how they can use basic “common sense” to make big changes in their business at a very small cost."
It's my first time attending WPPI and I'm coming to Vegas alone. Where's a good place to start?
"Assuming that you will be arriving on February 6th in time for the opening of the expo on February 7th, I would highly recommend attending our annual Launch Pad event on February 6th from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Launch Pad is a product preview event where numerous exhibitors showcase their latest products and services before the show opens. The event is in a casual setting and gives attendees an opportunity to see some of the cool new technology before the expo officially opens. It is a great way to get a head start on touring the exhibits and maximizing your time at the Conference + Expo. Adult beverages will be available and it is a great way to network with your peers in a social environment."
It's my 10th time to attend WPPI and I'm meeting up with all my old friends. What's something new to do?
"If you’re connecting with a bunch of friends, you may want to consider registering to participate in one of our many photo walks as a group. It would be a great team activity, provide a great way to spend some quality time together as photographers, and also learn something new from one the world class educators hosting our extensive list of photo walks.
"You may also want to participate in our 2nd annual Fun Run to benefit Beautiful Together, a charity founded by Tamara and Steve Lackey. The Fun Run is approximately 4 miles and the course takes you down the Vegas Strip and will stop at the Bellagio Hotel for a team photo; definitely something you can look back on with fond memories.
"And, of course, there are the parties and lounges throughout the show. The F-Stop Lounge is a great place to unwind with friends after the show. The lounge will be located inside the Westgate Hotel, the host hotel for WPPI. There will be a DJ, cash bar, charging stations, and lots of laughs."
What's a good strategy to get the most out of the expo floor?
"As I mentioned earlier, attending our annual Launch Pad event is the best way to ensure you get to see everything on the show floor. Checking off a number of exhibitors on your list before the show even opens is a great strategy for ensuring you have enough time to see everyone.
"I would also recommend taking full advantage of The Photo Den, a large lounge situated right on the show floor. It is a great place to rest your feet, take a break from the crowds, and schedule meetings with friends and peers to discuss photography, or anything else, without having to leave the show floor. This will help maximize your time at the expo and even allow time for other activities you are trying to squeeze into your busy schedule while in Vegas."
Who's one person I never thought to network with that I should be talking to?
"The person sitting or standing right next to you. Seriously, we’re a friendly bunch! Whether you’re sitting in a seminar room, hanging out in one of our lounges, or in the show floor theater, you should reach out and say, “Hi my name is (insert your name here). What’s yours?” I’ve met some of my best friends that way and we are all here to network. Be brave, you wont regret it!"
Where should I stay?
"As I mentioned, WPPI headquarters for this year’s show will be at the Westgate hotel, which is located just off the convention center property. Most after-show activities will take place at the Westgate and getting to and from the convention center is very convenient by foot.
"However, WPPI has negotiated special rates for attendees at other Las Vegas hotels, which are equally convenient to most activities throughout the day and evening."
What's the must attend social event?
"We just added a two-hour concert on Tuesday night at the Westgate Hotel! Right after the F-Stop Lounge closes, Songfreedom and Fyrfly will host a two-hour concert right next door to the lounge! The concert is open to all!
"To see more information on WPPI 2017, including how to register and hotel information, head over to the website."
[post_title] => Why WPPI 2017, Despite Changes, is Still a Must-Attend Event [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => why-wppi-2017-despite-changes-is-still-a-must-attend-event [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-01-20 11:45:52 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-20 16:45:52 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=74036 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 1 [filter] => raw )[2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 71023 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-09-26 12:51:33 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-09-26 16:51:33 [post_content] =>The Wedding School is hosting its next live learning event, The Lighting Summit, September 27-29. Ten top instructors will be coming together to cover all aspects of lighting strategies for wedding photographers. Topics include studio lighting for engagement sessions, reception detail lighting, the basics of off camera flash, and many more taught by a talented set of wedding photographers including Susan Stripling, Sue Bryce, Rob Greer, Cliff Mautner, Caroline Tran, and more. Click here to register for The Lighting Summit, September 27-29.
The Lighting Summit will be free to watch live and then will be available exclusively to The Wedding School students. The Wedding School is a fantastic wedding photography educational hub run by Susan Stripling and signing up gets you access to 25+ “Wedding Fundamentals” learning modules plus its ever-expanding “Learning Library,” which now has over 50 modules of content. Head over to The Wedding School to become a member of the only wedding-specific photography education website!
[post_title] => The Wedding School Lighting Summit Starts Tomorrow [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => the-wedding-school-lighting-summit-starts-tomorrow [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-09-26 12:51:33 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-09-26 16:51:33 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=71023 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 69611 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-08-12 15:45:50 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-08-12 19:45:50 [post_content] =>As a wedding photographer you sometimes run into fellow vendors that will -- to put it politely -- step on your toes a little. Maybe it's a DJ who brings along a photographer to shoot party images to throw up on their big screen TVs, or maybe it's a wedding coordinator shooting a few photos on a DSLR to have something to post on Facebook right away. While things like this are more annoying than anything else, they are small problems that can be addressed and dealt with through client education, tightening up your contract, and having better communication with your clients and fellow vendors.
This week, however, I heard of an incident from a fellow wedding photographer that broached a new level of WTF. Dan Dalstra, a wedding photographer based in El Paso, Texas, was shooting a wedding at a local hotel when he discovered that the venue was actively shooting photos of the reception and then printing out 5x7s in the lobby to sell for $8 a pop. Dan has shot at this venue before and never encountered this, so he was confused to say the least. Here's Dan recounting what happened:
So I was shooting a wedding at one of the nicer venues in town. It's a large hotel with a gorgeous ballroom. I have shot several weddings there over the last few years, some small, some huge. As with all weddings, there are always people snapping pics with all types of cameras so I paid no mind to the older gentleman rocking his Nikon and using the pop up flash, other than the fact that he was moving in close at certain parts of the first dance. But again, I see this every weekend, so I ignored him. The same guy was standing right by the entrance to where the wedding party was being introduced, but since most of the family was in the bridal party, I assumed he was an uncle or some other relative.
About 2 hours into the reception, a guest approached me and asked how much I was selling the prints for in the lobby. I was really confused, so I went out to take a look. Just outside of the ballroom was a table set up, full of 5x7's of the reception, mostly couples looking at the camera and smiling, but lots of candid moments as well. I asked them what they were doing, they said they worked for the hotel, and photos were $8 each. I went to ask the bride and she had no clue who they were or what so we asked the groom. He said, "Oh, yeah, they told [us] about an hour ago what they were doing but I didn't think anything about it."
At this point, I'm getting mad. I don't do a lot of print sales, it's not really my business model, but I usually sell a couple of hundred dollars worth at most weddings. But after seeing the mother of the groom walk away from the table with a handful of prints, I was livid. Had it been an outside vendor, I would have raised all sorts of hell, but since it was the hotel, I was unsure of what to do. I don't want to piss off the venue and get banned from shooting there. I do several events a year there. My couple didn't set this up, so I couldn't really be mad at them. So, I did nothing. Except get mad. I went to take a photo of the whole set up, but they got pissed and told me I was absolutely not allowed to take pictures of their set up. I told my second shooter who is in from out of town, and he said, "I'll do it, I've got nothing to lose!" So he snapped a pic while they were yelling at him not to. After that, a member of the hotel staff stood by their booth for the rest of the night.
My couple apologized to me profusely, but they didn't put a stop to it. Oh, and the whole time this is happening, the DJ is walking around with his point and shoot, snapping pics and putting them up on screens above the dancefloor. Awesome.
Two days later I called my next bride that has a wedding there to tell her that in no way did I want this happening at their wedding. She said ok. She remembers nothing in the contract with the the venue about them bringing in their own photographers to take party pics, but promised me she would have a conversation with them when they meet to finalize details.
When it's an outside vendor providing competing services, it's something that can easily be addressed with a good contract and with good client communication before the wedding. I've run into a problem in the NYC area with DJ photographers, but once it happens I add that vendor to a short list and check it against any future vendors that I'll be working with. If a couple has hired anyone on my short list, I give them a heads up about the problem I've had in the past and it usually sorts itself out.
But when it's the venue, what do you do? This is a tight line to walk, but personally I would contact the event manager or general manager and meet with them in person to have an honest conversation about my concerns. What would you do?
[post_title] => Venue Crosses Line, Directly Competes With Hired Photographer [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => venue-crosses-line-directly-competes-with-hired-photographer [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-08-12 15:45:50 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-08-12 19:45:50 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=69611 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 69324 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-08-05 12:29:56 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-08-05 16:29:56 [post_content] =>While my hope is that you will never have a bad client relationship, odds are you will at some point in your career as a wedding photographer. After having a recent wedding client relationship go bad, very quickly, I reflected back on how and why things went sour. We've all heard stories of "client" nightmares but, at the root of almost ALL of them, the core issue is a misalignment of work, personality or pricing and the client expectations, or some combination of them. After 11 years in business, I thought I "had it right" but as you will see below, something "broke" and ended up with an unhappy client. As most photographers are small businesses, its very easy to want to book "every" client you can but, on the other side of that desire is the very real issue of having an unhappy client which can, and has, cost far more then the money you would of received in forms of stress, lawsuits and clients who try and libel/slander you.
So for the backstory, I had a client who's Mom insisted on being on the contract when we met. Legally speaking, this means Mom is now your client, even if a request directly conflicts with a request from your couple. At the time, it seemed like an ok request and I even stated to her that the bride & groom were my clients. Fast forward to 2 months before the wedding, the relationship became strained as I was unable to take a specific photo requested at a portrait session (because the time of the shoot had been changed to midday, in full sun, and the location was teeming with people). We had even discussed thus prior to the shoot but it didn't matter to the client. Fast forward to 3 weeks prior to the wedding, after having been subjected to numerous insults, accusations of contract switching and a complete breakdown of any constructive conversation while trying to work out the concerns, I had to face the difficult decision that the money I was owed was simply not worth the abuse I had already faced and was going to inevitably affect my performance on the wedding day. So, I made the decision to let the client go to simply stop the bleeding.
The reason I am writing this is now that I didn't shoot the wedding, I can honestly say it was the absolute BEST decision for both my business and me personally. The loss of income stings (especially as I had turned away numerous other inquiries for that date) but the realization that no matter what I did, the client (specifically the clients mom) would not of been happy, makes the decision the right one. Hopefully some of what I learned from this experience will help others find the right clients for their business. There are times when even though you are doing what is best for the client and the photos, the personality clash between you and your clients will simply overshadow any work you produce.
- While many clients may not be paying for their own wedding, make sure and have a contract stipulation notating who the client is, regardless of who is paying.
- Have frank discussions about what the client is expecting and, if possible, get those in writing.
- Listen to your gut. It's better to turn away a potential client who isn't a good fit with your business then to try and force a bad relationship.
- Have a contract stipulation that relieves you of responsibility for any particular photograph - given that its both subjective in nature and we are at the mercy of lighting and weather conditions.
- Have a contract stipulation regarding abusive behavior.
- Remember that it's not over after the wedding, you may be working with the client for up to a year or longer after their big day.
- Use a tiered payment system so that your liquidated damages line up with the chances you won't rebook the date as you get closer should the relationship go bad.
- Remain professional, no matter what. The temptation to become defensive when attacked is very high but remaining calm should be your #1 priority. While its emotional for your client you are still a business.
- If you decide to end a client relationship early, make sure its done in writing with a very clear roadmap for any future interactions (if there are any).
- If a lawsuit is ever mentioned, immediately refer the client to your lawyer and cease all direct communications.
The wedding photography business is a very interesting dynamic. There are lots of emotions involved and we are selling what is essentially an intangible product. Having a clear set of expectations and documented remedies should something go wrong will go a long way towards keeping your sanity, and your business healthy.
[post_title] => Why You Really Don't Want "Every" Wedding Client [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => why-you-really-dont-want-every-wedding-client [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-08-05 12:29:56 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-08-05 16:29:56 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=69324 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[5] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 69167 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-08-02 14:25:28 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-08-02 18:25:28 [post_content] =>No matter where you are in life and business, there are always things to improve. And when it comes to daily inspiration for growth I like the digestibility of a good podcast. Lots of people listen to music when they edit or do other office work, but I like to put on a podcast and try to learn something. Sure, there are tons of blogs, books, and traditional workshops you can utilize to improve your business, but a podcast is a great no effort way to ingest information.
Here are five of my favorite podcasts that I listen to whenever I have some free ear time. I purposely left off podcasts that talk directly about photography, because running a wedding photography business is about so much more than just photography.
The Tim Ferriss Show
This is one of my favorite podcasts overall, because it touches on so many different areas of business and life. If you haven't hear of Tim Ferriss, you have probably never been on the internet before (and we know that's not true). He is the author of the incredibly popular book The 4-Hour Workweek, and his podcast is consistently one of the top on iTunes (named "Best of 2014" and "Best of 2015"). In each episode he interviews someone and extracts key insights into how they are successful, and how you can apply those techniques and methods into your own business or life.
Each episode, I deconstruct world-class performers from eclectic areas (investing, sports, business, art, etc.) to extract the tactics, tools, and routines you can use. This includes favorite books, morning routines, exercise habits, time-management tricks, and much more. Prior guests include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Foxx, Edward Norton, Tony Robbins, Maria Popova, Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, Amanda Palmer, Malcolm Gladwell, Rick Rubin, Reid Hoffman, Jon Favreau, Whitney Cummings, Mike Shinoda, and dozens more.
You can listen and subscribe to The Tim Ferriss Show at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast/.
The Dave Ramsey Show
Another name you've probably heard a lot of times, even if you've never read one of his books or listened to his radio show. Dave Ramsey is a financial author and a huge champion of getting out of debt. His podcast, The Dave Ramsey Show, is a great resource for learning about personal finance and how to be smart with money in general. A huge part of running a small business is being smart with the money that comes in your door, and having a sound personal understanding of money management is a huge step towards being smart with your business finances.
The Dave Ramsey Show is about real life and how it revolves around money. Dave Ramsey teaches you to manage and budget your money, get out of debt, build wealth, and live in financial peace. Managing your money properly will reduce stress, improve your marriage, and provide security for you and your family.
You can listen and subscribe to The Dave Ramsey Show at https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-dave-ramsey-show/id77001367/.
Entrepreneur on Fire with John Lee Dumas
Similar to The Tim Ferriss Show, EOFire with John Lee Dumas consists of interviews with entrepreneurs. A key difference here is that this podcast comes out daily and is much shorter, usually clocking in at under 30 minutes. Because it's produced daily, there is a much wider variety of people interviewed, and not just big time names either, but regular entrepreneurs that have great tips and lessons to share regarding running a business. EOFire has also been awarded "Best of iTunes" in the past.
Failure is part of every journey, and on EOFire, the first story we share is our guest’s biggest failure and their lessons learned. The second story we dive into is our guest’s AH-HA moment and the steps they took to turn that moment into success. The grand finale is The Lightning Round, where I ask six rapid-fire questions to extract nuggets of wisdom for you.
You can listen and subscribe to EOFire at http://www.eofire.com/podcast/.
Edge of the Web
These days it feels like half of our job as wedding photographers involves SEO, and it always seems to be changing. So stay on top of the game with this weekly podcast that covers various SEO topics, from local search results to dark traffic. While you may want to hire a professional to handle a lot of your SEO tactics, having a good understanding of the landscape is paramount to knowing where to put most of your efforts. The hosts do an awesome job explaining things, and often interview other experts to shed light on more in-depth topics.
Edge of the Web Radio is a weekly, hour long Internet Marketing program hosted by Erin Sparks and Tom Brodbeck from Site Strategics and Douglas Karr from Marketing Tech Blog.
You can listen and subscribe to Edge of the Web at http://edgeofthewebradio.com/seo-podcast/.
The 5 AM Miracle
I know we're not all early risers (in fact, I know some people who work for themselves just to be able to sleep in), but I'm a huge fan of getting up early in the morning and getting shit done. I personally feel the most productive when I get at least three things done before noon, and waking up early is a simple way to be more productive across the whole day. The 5 AM Miracle with Jeff Sanders is a weekly podcast that comes out on Mondays and tackles the topic of being productive in the morning and using that to kickstart a productive day. Sometimes he interviews guests and sometimes he just covers a topic, but either way you'll learn something valuable to apply to your mornings.
The 5 AM Miracle is a weekly podcast dedicated to dominating your day before breakfast. My goal is to help you bounce out of bed with enthusiasm, create powerful lifelong habits, and tackle your grandest goals with extraordinary energy. Every Monday morning I release a new episode that either features a fascinating guest OR I jump on the mic myself and dive into a new topic. The core topics include early mornings, healthy habits, personal development, and rockin’ productivity!
You can listen and subscribe to The 5 AM Miracle at https://www.jeffsanders.com/the-5-am-miracle-podcast/.
Do you have a favorite podcast that you listen to in order to run a better business? Let us know in the comments!
[post_title] => Five Podcasts to Help You Improve Your Business [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => five-podcasts-to-help-you-improve-your-business [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-08-02 14:25:28 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-08-02 18:25:28 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=69167 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[6] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 68372 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-07-05 12:05:36 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-07-05 16:05:36 [post_content] =>The Wedding School is hosting their second live learning event July 20-21, The Style Summit. Nine instructors will spend two days discussing how they use their own style to separate their business in a crowded field of competitors. The event is free to stream live and will then be available exclusively to members of The Wedding School. The panel of speakers includes Susan Stripling, Sue Bryce, Jacklyn Greenberg, Rob Greer, Dina Douglass, Justine Ungaro, Paul Gero, Josh Dwain, and Caroline Tran. Click here to register for The Style Summit, July 20-21.
The Wedding School is a fantastic wedding photography educational hub run by Susan Stripling (we've covered The Wedding School since it was announced). Signing up for The Wedding School gets you access to 25+ "Wedding Fundamentals" learning modules plus it's ever-expanding "Learning Library," which now has 33 modules of content. Head over to The Wedding School to become a member of the only wedding-specific photography education website!
[post_title] => The Wedding School Announces The Style Summit [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => the-wedding-school-announces-the-style-summit [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-07-05 12:05:36 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-07-05 16:05:36 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=68372 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[7] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 68354 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-07-01 08:17:05 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-07-01 12:17:05 [post_content] =>I thought I had found the perfect messenger bag with the original Peak Design Everyday Messenger...until they released the smaller Everyday Messenger 13. With just a slightly smaller footprint than the original Everyday Messenger (now dubbed the Everyday Messenger 15), this bag strikes the perfect balance between swallowing a small kit of gear while staying lightweight.
[caption id="attachment_642" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
The same great design, just a little smaller[/caption]I already featured the Everyday Messenger 15 in my roundup of essential gear I take out on every shoot, so I was excited to get my hands on the smaller Everyday Messenger 13 and compare the two after a month of use. The 13 keeps the same design elements, smart features, and quality construction as the 15, so the only question you have to ask yourself is which size to get.
For me, the 13 is now my primary gear bag for when I'm out shooting a gig, having just the right amount of storage for my standard set of 2 DSLRs with 2 lenses. If I'll be going somewhere that requires a flash, I can easily stash one on top and the flap top will adjust to accommodate it or anything else I add on, like a rain jacket. If I'm out shooting personal stuff for fun, the bag is a perfect size for a mirrorless camera, film camera, and extras.
[caption id="attachment_641" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Plenty of room left after dropping in (left-to-right) a 5 pack of film, light meter, Fuji X100T, and Fuji GA645.[/caption]The size difference between the two Everyday Messengers is more subtle than you might think, but the split works out just right. I've found the 13 really limits how much gear I can bring out, forcing me to only bring the bare essentials...which is what I want when carrying a small kit anyways. The 15 is fully capable of fitting in loads more gear than the basics, including multiple flashes and accessories, which has led me to take out more than I need sometimes. I like that the 13 keeps me in check, which in turn keeps my back happy. The smaller footprint also covers less of my actual back, so I don't get as hot with it on compared to the 15. That might be a small factor for some, but for someone like me who sweats easily, less material on my back is a good thing.
[caption id="attachment_643" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
The original Everyday Messenger 15 on the left, Everyday Messenger 13 on the right[/caption]While I'll still use the Everyday Messenger 15 as a laptop bag (I work off a 15" Macbook Pro), the Everyday Messenger 13 has taken its place as my favorite bag for carrying an essential camera kit. Both messengers are also great all-around bags, such as gym bag or even a diaper bag. You can purchase the Everyday Messenger 13 in charcoal grey or heritage tan.
[post_title] => Size Doesn't Matter, Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13 Is Even Better Than Original [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => size-doesnt-matter-peak-design-everyday-messenger-13-is-even-better-than-original [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-07-01 08:17:05 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-07-01 12:17:05 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=68354 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[8] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 68288 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-06-28 13:14:05 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-06-28 17:14:05 [post_content] =>Last weekend, $5,000 worth of camera gear was stolen from a photographer's car on N Garden Way in Eugene, Oregon. To make matters worse, Kelsey and Brandon Rainsberger's wedding pictures were on it, and they deserve to have them back.
"That's somebody's life right there," Tyler James, boyfriend of photographer Danielle Denham, said to local news station KVAL. "That irreplaceable." Therefore, he's offering a $500 cash reward to anyone who can help bringing the camera - or "most importantly probably that memory card" - back to its rightful owner. "No questions asked. We don't care as much about arresting somebody as we do as just getting the equipment back."
One of the stolen cameras has a distinctive crack in the display screen, so it shouldn't be that hard to recognize. Other than that, a Rebel t3i, 24-105L lens, 85 1.8 lens, 10-24 lens, Tamron 17-50 non-VC lens, a couple of Russian analog lenses, Canon 550ex speedlite, batteries, bag, and memory cards were stolen from the vehicle - see picture above.
"Danielle, currently living in Portland, made my night when she surprised me with a visit in Eugene after shooting a wedding all day. While the car was locked, it had been a long day, and she simply forgot to bring her equipment into my home as she usually does." - Tyler
Eugene Police is investigating the incident, but anyone with information can contact Tyler directly at 541-513-1436 or thatoregonlife@gmail.com. "I'm hoping for a miracle right now," he writes on a GoFundMe post. His page had already collected $570 worth of support in 18 hours.
[caption id="attachment_617" align="alignnone" width="834"]
Kelsey and Brandon Rainsberger, photo by The PDX Photographer[/caption]EDITOR'S NOTE: Another hard, real world example of why it's necessary to have a solid image workflow in place. This, along with professional business insurance, can turn something as painful as a full theft into a relatively minor issue to deal with.
[post_title] => Theft Leaves Newlyweds Without Wedding Photos [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => theft-leaves-newlyweds-without-wedding-photos [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-06-28 13:14:05 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-06-28 17:14:05 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=68288 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[9] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 67942 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-06-17 14:44:09 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-06-17 18:44:09 [post_content] =>Earlier this year Tamron added an 85mm to their lineup of SP lenses, and its price point along with its image quality make it an outstanding choice for a classic portrait lens. Tamron had already impressed us with the rest of their SP lineup, including the outstanding 35mm & 45mm, and most recently with the 90mm macro, and the 85mm is no different. After using the lens for a month on a variety of wedding gigs, I can easily recommend it as the best sub-$1000 85mm on the market.
While the most important qualities of a lens are its image quality and speed (especially for wedding work), it's important to speak about the price and construction because Tamron did a great job across the board. Retailing for $749, Tamron positioned the 85mm SP at about half the price of the flagship 85mm lenses from both Canon and Nikon. While a lot of people are huge fans of the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 at $476, the Tamron wins on image quality and speed for just a few hundred bones more. The construction of the lens is also a welcome surprise at the sub-$1000 mark, feeling solid and well-balanced in your hands, and the weather sealing around the mount and switches is something often left out at this price point.
Autofocus was quick to lock on, even in low light, and very accurate. Of course, choosing the right focus mode is an important part of the equation, but even in a darkly lit restaurant setting (see below) I was able to accurately focus throughout parent speeches without missing a beat. The image stabilization offered by the lens, called Vibration Compensation (VC) by Tamron, also helps shoot at lower shutter speeds required in these tricky situations.
[caption id="attachment_599" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Even in a restaurant lit only by candles and a string of cafe lights, the Tamron 85mm SP hit the mark again and again. Nikon D750, f/2 1/160 ISO 6400[/caption]The quality of the bokeh out of this lens is just insane. When you invest in a quality kit of professional lenses, having "pleasing" bokeh is something that you soon forget about because it's almost a given. So while I usually don't fawn over something as simple as bokeh, the quality produced by the Tamron 85mm is just different enough from other lenses that I've used at the same focal length that it requires special mention. If you've ever shot a Petzval lens, there's a bit of a circular, swirling aspect to the defocused areas that almost draw you into the subject like a vortex. While some can be overwhelming and distracting, the Tamron had a beautifully subtle swirl to it that made me take notice.
[caption id="attachment_598" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Nikon D4S, f/2.0 1/8000 ISO 100[/caption]This lens also delivers great image quality, being sharp as a tack when opened up just short of wide open while keeping chromatic aberration under control. I did notice some loss of sharpness when shooting wide open in harsher light, along with a hint of CA coming in while under the same conditions. However the CA is easily fixed in post, and I personally rarely shoot wide open so both minor issues were not enough to give me hesitation to love this lens.
[caption id="attachment_601" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Nikon D750, f/2.0 1/1000 ISO 100[/caption][caption id="attachment_605" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
100% crop of the above[/caption][caption id="attachment_597" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Nikon D4S, f/2.0 1/320 ISO 100[/caption][caption id="attachment_604" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
100% crop of the above[/caption]At a classic portrait focal length of 85mm, the lens performed flawlessly for headshot-style portraits, rendering great sharpness and natural defocusing.
[caption id="attachment_600" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Nikon D4S, f/2.8 1/400 ISO 400[/caption]In short, this lens is a steal at $749. If you don't already have a professional 85mm lens in your arsenal I would recommend picking it up immediately. And if you already have one of the flagship 85mm lenses from either Canon or Nikon (like I do), I would replace it with the Tamron 85mm SP as soon as it bites the dust. You'd probably spend more to get your on-brand lens fixed if it's out of warranty anyways.
[post_title] => Tamron 85mm f/1.8 VC Lens Delivers Stellar Performance at Great Price [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => tamron-85mm-f1-8-vc-lens-delivers-stellar-performance-at-great-price [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-06-17 14:44:09 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-06-17 18:44:09 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=67942 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[10] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 67846 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-06-15 17:25:19 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-06-15 21:25:19 [post_content] =>If you're not offering your clients professional fine art prints, you're missing out on a huge opportunity to separate your business from the competition. While things like canvases and framed prints used to be viewed as high-end items, their ubiquity has driven them to the bottom of the pile when it comes to creating value for your business. Just this week I was in a CVS to quickly print out a passport photo for my son and above the Kodak kiosks I noticed that there were some rather sad examples of prints that you could make with your digital files. Right next to the standard 4x6's and calendars was a 16x24 canvas, complete with unremarkable corner work and bad color density.
In the film heydays of wedding photography, a good piece of wall art was a matted and framed archival print produced from a reputable lab. Maybe you'd buy a nice frame for it to really set it apart, but in most regards there wasn't a lot of variety in terms of actual construction and the equation remained the same -- print + matte + frame = art. Along with the shift to digital photography, there was a parallel swell of innovation on the printing side, resulting in dozens of new categories for products that just didn't exist before.
At the beginning of the year, I realized that one of the places I needed to improve my business was to offer more exciting options for clients to showcase their wedding photos. I was offering the standard canvas print and a few other options, but from the client's perspective if they could order a canvas print from someone like CVS, why would they order it from me at a much higher price? Sure...I was producing mine from a professional lab that consumers didn't have access to, so the quality was definitely better. But that required a whole lot of education to make the client understand those differences, and a quality product shouldn't need any education. A client should see it and just know.
So after lots of research, I kept coming back to one company in particular -- White Wall. Based in Germany, they have an impeccable way of producing a quality product that really sets them apart from others that I considered. (There's good reason why "German engineering" carries the connotations it does.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjyUB_yu4cAThe first piece I produced with White Wall was a 16x24 acrylic "floater frame" of a portrait I took of Kathy & Nick, recent clients of mine that got married at New York's City Hall. We captured one of my favorite portraits of the year as we made our way down into the subway, and I was so excited to get this piece back and see it in person.
Everything about this piece is amazing, from the quality of materials used to the construction. There's even a seal of quality on the back stating how long the piece is guaranteed for. Nothing on this piece says "I was made as cheaply as possible, please don't value me."
I met up with Kathy & Nick after work at their favorite neighborhood bar and when I presented the piece to them, Kathy gasped as soon as it was unwrapped. It's now found a place in their home, and Kathy says "We had a chance to hang up the print this weekend in our bedroom and it looks amazing - we are SUPER in love with it."
So do yourself a favor and step up your product offerings with some of the many products White Wall offers. They've even made it easy and enticing by offering our readers a 20% discount on orders over $200 until the end of August.
[post_title] => Impress Clients with Quality Wall Art from WhiteWall [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => impress-clients-with-quality-wall-art-from-whitewall [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-06-15 18:34:56 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-06-15 22:34:56 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=67846 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[11] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 67044 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-05-27 11:39:37 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-05-27 15:39:37 [post_content] =>Wedding photographer Aaro Keipi had one of his photos go viral recently, and the lessons he learned are an interesting case study in modern marketing. You might think that having one of your wedding photos go viral can directly lead to more business from all of the eyeballs that hit your image, but as Aaro discovered it's not that easy.
Creating the Image
Despite what the looming castle in background might suggest, the bridal party photo was captured at a wedding in Virginia. After the bride had mentioned that she had some swords to use for photos, Aaro concocted this battle scene and then used Photoshop to complete the "Game of Thrones" look.
The bride in the picture was an old friend of mine, and when she contacted me about shooting her wedding, she mentioned having a couple of swords that she wanted to use in some of the pictures. The wedding took place in Luray, Virginia, a place not really known for its medieval castles (I’m based in Finland but travel to the U.S. a few times a year for weddings). The wedding was fantastic, and we got this fun shot of the bridal party “fighting” the wedding couple. As a surprise to the couple, I added a royalty-free castle and dark sky into the background of one picture with the help of Photoshop. The edit was done quickly (in less than an hour) and I didn’t pay much attention to details, treating it as a bonus to the wedding couple, and they loved it.
This quick video breaks down Aaro's post production of the photo, where you can see the base image that was captured on site at the wedding.
https://vimeo.com/167902703Aaro's Path to Going Viral
How exactly do you get an image to go viral? While some images can certainly be found, unpromoted, and then shared on a popular outlet to get lots of visibility, Aaro's image took a more deliberate path. A few days after delivering the image to his couple, Aaro uploaded the image to imgur "figuring it would give a few people a laugh". Within a few hours the image had racked up over 100k views (it currently has over 353k). Within a few days it had been reposted on sites like 9gag, The Chive, and "a bunch of random Russian sites."
The rush came when UNILAD shared the photo on their Facebook page, which has over 14.4 million fans. At first the image was posted with no credit, but a link to his Facebook page was quickly added after Aaro sent them a Facebook message.
Going Viral Boosts Likes, but Strike While the Iron is Hot
Once UNILAD added the link to his Facebook page, Aaro got a huge spike in likes. After some of the initial excitement wore off and he started to do some digging, Aaro discovered that a lot of them were actually coming from parts of the world outside of his target market and probably wouldn't result in any new business. He also noticed that a lot of the profiles looked like fake ones set up for like farming, which are definitely useless likes. After clearing out the dross, he ended up with a few hundred likes that he judged to be legitimate.
To further boost his visibility with the image, Aaro prepared a summary and sent it out to local Helsinki news outlets. Within just a few days, every news agency he contacted had run the story, which included links to his website and Facebook page. The increased traffic spiked his daily website stats by 30x, peaking at 1,400 visitors.
[caption id="attachment_542" align="aligncenter" width="997"]
via Aarography (http://www.aarography.com/)[/caption]Despite all of the new website traffic, Aaro didn't see a correlating increase in inquiries.
Using the Viral Image as Direct Marketing
To get an additional wave of marketing out of the image, Aaro had a large print produced and brought it to his first wedding expo a few months later, along with a laptop playing the post-production video. The effort paid off, because a lot of people at the expo already recognized the image and it served as an easy conversation starter.
[caption id="attachment_545" align="aligncenter" width="960"]
via Aarography (http://www.aarography.com/)[/caption]The Actual Benefits of Going Viral
In terms of concrete benefits, Aaro calculated that he received "about 900 new legitimate Facebook likes on my page, with the majority coming from my geographic target market." Those are 900 potential clients (or client connectors) that have already seen and reacted to his photography in a positive way, and are highly likely to like, share, and comment on any future content.
The connection he was able to make at the expo with strangers who recognized his image resulted in a few weddings being booked. While it might be hard to say how many of those he would have booked without the viral image marketing, I think it certainly helped to have something that allowed wedding couples to easily connect with a potential vendor. Trust is a key factor in determining whom a couple books, and each couple that recognized Aaro's image already trusted him on a social level.
Aaro put a lot of work into managing the viral ride his photo took, and I think it definitely paid off despite its minimal immediate impact on his business's bottom line. He was able establish a larger, geographically-relevant fan base on his Facebook page and generate link trust with several local news agencies in Helsinki. Over time these two accomplishments alone easily make up for the lack of direct business generated from going viral.
via Aarography
You can see more of Aaro's wedding photography on his website, Aarography.
[post_title] => What a Wedding Photographer Learned from Going Viral [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => what-a-wedding-photographer-learned-from-going-viral [to_ping] => [pinged] => https://vimeo.com/167902703 [post_modified] => 2017-01-31 16:40:33 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-01-31 21:40:33 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=67044 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[12] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 66858 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-05-20 10:54:15 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-05-20 14:54:15 [post_content] =>One of the most time-consuming parts of your workflow is also one of the most important. But if someone said you never had to cull again, would you jump at the opportunity? Picturesqe is hoping everyone's answer is yes, because their software claims to select your best shots for you. That's a hefty promise to make, but to deliver on it could mean a turning point in the creative process we all go through.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib6P22S-HnYThis could be a fundamentally huge change in how we sift through the onslaught of data we now produce as digital artists. Wedding photographers in particular are used to returning from jobs with thousands of images to go through, and culling is a time-consuming but necessary process to undertake.
“The problem is that professional photographers take thousands of photos and have to spend countless hours to manually delete wrong shots and select the best ones,” Daniel Szollosi, founder and CEO of Picturesqe, told TechCrunch. “Speed to market is a crucial factor, such as in live sports. And in other fields (e.g. weddings, events) dozens of pictures are very similar, so that the final selection becomes an expensive, time-consuming task.”
Even if you have a solid culling process in place, it can take upwards of a few hours per gig depending on how many photos you average and how meticulous you are. I currently use Photo Mechanic and an Xbox controller to cull my images at a fairly good pace, but outsourcing that to an automated solution is very tempting. While you'll still be in control of what the final selection of photos is, Picturesqe's ultimate goal is to take the culling reigns completely after you've interacted with it enough to teach it what a good photo is, and what a good photo isn't.
Picturesqe supports over 600 RAW camera formats and automatically groups photos together that are visually similar, then ranks "them based on visual aesthetics." It will also flag for deletion any shots that fall short on sharpness or exposure, saving you the trouble of sifting out blurry or over/under-exposed photos. Selecting the sharpest photo is easy with the "intelligent zoom" feature, which zooms into the same area on all photos being compared. Picturesqe uses your feedback to get better and better at automatically ranking your photos, which means you should save more time the more you use it. In the end, you still get the final say as to which photo(s) from a set are selected.
I'm curious to see photographer's reactions to the announcement of this sort of technology. Is this something you've been secretly begging for? Or is this something that will kill an entire creative portion of our workflows? I'm currently using Picturesqe side-by-side with Photo Mechanic to see how it develops as time goes on.
Picturesqe is currently available for Windows as a stand alone application or Lightroom plugin, and is free for the first three months. After the trial period there are various subscription plans to choose from, from $9.99 monthly to $39.99 yearly.
[post_title] => Picturesqe Aims to Eliminate Culling from Your Workflow [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => picturesqe-aims-to-eliminate-culling-from-your-workflow [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-05-20 10:54:15 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-05-20 14:54:15 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=66858 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[13] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 66674 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-05-16 19:24:10 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-05-16 23:24:10 [post_content] =>When taking a photography workshop, it's important to perform some due diligence to ensure you're investing wisely. Whether you're a brand new or seasoned photographer, one things holds true -- if you belong to any website, photography Facebook group, or have photographer friends, you are likely to get bombarded on a weekly, maybe even daily, basis with educational opportunities and workshops. It's easy to get lost in the myriad of choices you have for both large organized conferences and the small, under 10 people "almost alone" types of workshops. While there are often great opportunities to learn from successful photographers through workshops, it's important to note that just because something is deemed a "workshop" doesn't mean that there aren't any precautions to take and research to be done.
There are a few points to realize before going any further. Just like the wedding and portrait photography industry itself, there are few regulations and anyone can decide they want to host a workshop. I personally think workshops are some of the best learning opportunities out there, but I've also been party to some that -- being blunt -- I was upset to waste my time on, let alone my money.
So here's a few tips and pointers to help you get the most for your money and help you grow as a photographer, while not getting ripped off.
- Look at the photographers work. This doesn't just mean their "highlight" photos, but their entire body of paid work. Also check to see if they are consistently posting new work, active in the community, and if their workshop topic jives with what they are posting. In other words, if you see a great business workshop but the person isn't posting a lot of work, or the work isn't of a high quality, you may want to think twice. There are several successful ways to run a photography business but taking business advice from a boutique photographer, if you are a bulk photographer, may not be worth it for you.
- Look at their workshop T&C (terms and conditions). Most professional photographers have very good contracts with their clients (or they should) because we are selling an intangible service. This is no different for workshop hosts. They are promising an intangible good and, as such, often their contracts are fairly specific with what you can and cannot expect as far as what you receive, substitutions of speakers, education, etc.
- If the workshop has a contract, pay particular attention to the cancellation clauses (whether it's them or you that cancel). Especially when traveling to take a workshop, if something comes up and you have to cancel make sure you can get at least a partial refund, transfer your ticket to someone else, or receive credit to take a future workshop. A great example I know of is a maternity workshop that was being held in an environment that is battling the zika virus (which is very harmful to pregnant mothers). Many of the students wanted to pull out and it caused serious issues because of the workshop T&C.
- Pay attention to any review clauses in the contract. This is the one that troubles me the most. I've seen more than one workshop host "ban" you from leaving anything but a positive review in public. This is a serious red flag to me and while the legality of it is a larger issue, you probably don't want to pay not only the money for the workshop that you didn't have a good experience with, but then the legal fees to fight a lawsuit should the workshop host decide to pursue legal action based on your accurate review based on your own personal experiences (which is the de facto defense against slander or libel claims).
- Research the photographer's background. Again, this comes down to knowing who you are giving money to. Check out their work, how long they've been in business, if they are still in business (yes, this happens), the level of your work, the level of the speaker's work, and the topics they are discussing. A workshop host should be an industry expert, and more specifically an expert in the scope of what they are teaching. In other words, you wouldn't ask a mechanic about removing a mole on your arm.
- Look at the workshop fee. The higher the fee, the less likely you'll be "sold" on anything. I take classes from both types of photographers but I know (and expect) when I go to a $100 workshop, I'm going to be given a hard sell on actions, forms, processes, etc. Alternatively when I go to a $2,000 workshop, I don't expect to be getting sold on anything except drooling over some of the gear they are using.
The workshop industry, as some would joke, is almost as large at the photography industry itself. I've seen photographers giving workshops in only their second year of business. Not to say they couldn't help you but its unlikely a 2nd year business has much in the way to offer a photographer with 10 years of experience. Photographers who offer workshops, most of the time, truly love educating and the workshop industry itself is not generally a "get rich quick" scheme. However, there are exceptions and it pays to do your research in advance.
[post_title] => The Awful Truth About Some Photography Workshops [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => the-awful-truth-about-some-photography-workshops [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-05-16 19:24:10 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-05-16 23:24:10 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=66674 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )[14] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 66352 [post_author] => 47226 [post_date] => 2016-05-06 13:23:26 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-05-06 17:23:26 [post_content] =>Mother's Day is just around the corner, so I reached out to a few awesome wedding photographers to hear how they cater to moms during, before, and after the wedding day. Everyone has a different approach, but the common goal of all of these great tips is to be proactive to ensure the moms are being fully included in the photography experience and coverage. Remember that good customer service doesn't mean just providing that good service to your couple, but also their families -- and perhaps most especially the moms.
Jeremy Chou of Jeremy Chou Photography
I always make sure to include the mom in the getting ready portion of the day. Most of the times the moms would sit on the couch or be in another room while we are shooting bride getting ready. I would always invite the moms to get fully dressed first and come help their daughters with the final touches. It creates a special moment on the wedding day and my brides always cherish these little moments!
Bud Johnson of Common Spark Media
Maybe I’m traditional or antiquated, but I love and respect my elders. Not only do we owe so much of who we are to those who raised us, but one day we’re going to be raising others ourselves. Personally and professionally I seek the approval and guidance of those older and wiser than me, and think it’s so important the mothers of my couples are happy with their children’s wedding photography. I’m a huge proponent of same-day slide shows; I briefly edit 50-60 photos from my main camera’s card and transfer the files to an iPad. I first show the Bride and Groom their photos, but immediately make a bee-line for the moms right after. If I’m also hosting a Photo Booth I make a note of the mom’s favorite 10-15 photos from the slide show, print those photos out 4x6, and include a custom Nolia co. leather satchel exclusively for the moms. An album is great, but the leather satchel will 100% wind up at the mom’s work the following Monday, so she can show off all the amazing photos of her happy children to all of her co-workers. Not only making the mom your biggest fan, but also an excellent source for great word-of-mouth referrals. Respect your elders and it will return ten-fold.
Leaha Bourgeois of Popography
Telling the story of the bride and groom is ideally the most important story of the entire wedding day. But it is important to remember that the mom has also dreamt of this day. She is going through emotions, exhaustion, excitement all while hosting family and friends. This day is very important to her and she deserves to be celebrated for raising such a beautiful daughter and helping host a gorgeous event. Highlighting her time through out the day is valuable time and gorgeous photos. The mom will speak just as highly as the bride will about her relationship with you. It's worth taking the time to tell the Mother of the Bride's story, too. With all of this being said, it is very important to include both of the bride's and groom's moms. It is a very important day for them as they let their child go into marriage and at the same time welcome a new family member into their family. That is a LOT! Give them images to look back on and talk about for generations to come.
Kate Noelle of Kate Noelle Photography
Moms generally give so much of themselves to the planning and excitement of their child’s wedding day. To show them a little extra love and gratitude, I’ve been gifting them La Rousse antique glass boxes containing photo prints wrapped with a pretty silk ribbon along with a note saying “You did good, mom." I think so far, brides have reported happy tears every time.
Shannon Cronin of Shannon Cronin Photography
If time allows on a wedding day, I adore getting portraits of the bride's parents and groom's parents. It's an important day for them too and the moms especially have put a lot of time into picking the right dress, getting gorgeous and probably into planning as well -- they deserve a portrait with their love too! I'm usually met with surprise when I ask if I can borrow them for a minute but they always are happy with those images and it's a little moment of a wedding day that I love!
Ashley Fisher of Ashley Fisher Photography
As a mom and someone who didn't have her mother at her wedding, I always carve out time for the moms with their children and give them an opportunity to share their feelings. This mom bought a card the day the bride was born and gave it to her. They were both crying. I also make sure the makeup artist stays around so they can get touched up [...] before I do this.
Heather Richardson of Heather Richardson Photography
I [...] always go up to [the mothers] and say "This must be a big day for you too, if you need something let me or my second shooter know" and the crazy thing is that when I do this they ask for less!!
[post_title] => Mother's Day Roundup: Wedding Photographers Reveal How They Pay Special Attention To Moms [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => mothers-day-roundup-wedding-photographers-reveal-how-they-pay-special-attention-to-moms [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-05-06 13:23:26 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-05-06 17:23:26 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://resourcemagonline.com/?p=66352 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw )) 
