Posts Comments

You are here: Home / Archives for Blog

How To Create a To Do List You Actually Stick With and Do

by 1 Comment

This post is Day 7 of 30 Ways In 30 Days To Redesign Your Life With Photography. This series seeks to provide you with practical steps to get you from wherever you are today, to exactly where you want to be – this year! If your goal has always been to take your photography to a whole new level, hang on and start enjoying a new lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of.

“My issue is with setting “to do” lists. I can set great goals and even know exactly what I need to do to get there – no problem. But when it comes to actually carrying out the steps I know I should take – I fail. I find items just staying on the list day after day.  I’d be interested in hearing how you go about making your to do lists and how you make sure you complete everything.”
Travis

As I was gearing up for today’s post, I went over to Google to see how many results would rank under “to do lists”. Close to 600 million entries appeared for this search phrase. And the suggested related searches ranged from “printable to do lists”, “to do lists iphone”, “to do lists templates” and “to do list software”. Obviously there are many issues related to just a standard to do list, and it really comes as no surprise.

As a society, we’ve achieved overload. We try and accomplish more in one day than people were doing in a month a few decades ago. It is estimated that a week’s worth of the New York Times contains more information than a person was likely to come across in a lifetime in the 18th century. We are at information overload, and we simply don’t know how to control it all.

Add into the equation the need and desire to get more done. Our families have demands, friends have demands, jobs have demands, and then we add in the desire to start up a new venture. Something has to give, and it can only be sleep for so long before our health pays the price.

I once attended a seminar in which the presenter said something that really stuck with me.

Everyone has 24 hours a day. Some people learn how to use those 24 hours more effectively than others. You and Bill Gates both have the same timeframe; Bill has figured out how to get more done within that time frame, and therefore is more productive throughout the day.

When I heard that, I went on a quest to find out how I could get more done every day, and enjoy every minute of the day as well. I’ve taken a ton of organization management classes over the years, and have read a lot of books on the subject. While I don’t consider myself an expert on the subject, I do know how to get things done. And what I’ve discovered is: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Photoshop Yourself To Perfection

by 1 Comment

Photoshop is amazing at altering imperfections. Imagine waking up after being out all night long, and using Adobe Photoshop to make it look like you had a full night’s rest…remove dark circles under your eyes, razor stubble or just changing your outfit color to match your mood.

What this video and see how Photoshop could change your day.

Filed Under: Blog, Photoshop, Video Tagged With: , ,

Using Your Photographs The Right Way In Your Blog

by Leave a Comment

Do you blog on a regular basis? One of the things I love about blogging is how easy I canWedding At The Ritz Aspen Colorado share information with readers. But that doesn’t mean I only think about the text. I also think about the structure of the post as well. While my ultimate goal is to write quality content for my readers, there’s nothing wrong with attracting a little Google attention as well.

As a photographer, you should be inserting at least one photograph in every post you do. And when you insert a photograph, you need to make sure you do it in the right way, and use these three steps every time before you hit the publish button. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Blogging Tagged With: , ,

3 Ways Social Media Will Make Your Photography Business Fail

by 3 Comments

The world right now revolves around Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare. You can’t go anywhere without seeing people text – even in business meetings. And have you gone a day without watching an online video – I know I haven’t.

Because of all of this, it’s pretty obvious that things are changing. Cameras are everywhere and in everything, so people become amateur photographers with just a mobile device, and some are quite good at it. Even pro cameras are seeing the change, and are pushing video on their still cameras. What does that mean for the pros? What does that mean for the industry as a whole?

It simply means its time to change.

So what does that change look like? And is it truly possible? The Internet is now been around long enough for a generation to grow up with it. Social is changing the way we use the Internet. With 500 million people using Facebook, it should be obvious that its not just a fad, it’s a life changing application.

And change is what we will continue to see. So you have two options at this point. Do what you’ve always done and expect the same results. Or try something different. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Social Networking Tagged With:

Are You A Member Of Our Facebook Page? Join Now And Win

by Leave a Comment

Are you one of the 500 million people currently active on Facebook? Have you joined our Virtual Photography Studio fan page?

Our Facebook page is a great way to keep up on our latest information to help you become better at the business side of photography. We share a ton of tips, interesting resources, and a contest or two along the way.

Starting today, we are running a contest through the end of September to give away one Six Figure Photographer Fast Trak training program. All you have to do is visit our Facebook page, like our page, and sign up to win. It’s that easy.

Then at the beginning of October, we’ll select the winner, and let you know who it is.

We also have a ton of new ideas planned for Facebook, so this is a great time to join and keep up on the latest information. If you’re a photographer, and want to make money with your photography, you can’t afford not to be on Facebook. And we’ll be showing you the best-kept secrets – IF you are following us.

Like us today on Facebook, and sign up to win Six Figure Photographer Fast Trak.

Learn more about Six Figure Photographer Fast Trak here.

Filed Under: Blog, Contests Tagged With: ,

The One Thing You Are Missing From Your Social Networking Plan

by 1 Comment

So you have a Facebook account. Who are your friends?

Many people tell me they just don’t get social networking. They have a Facebook account, but they aren’t getting any business from it. They love it and are on it every day – but where’s the business?

Who Are You Talking To?
Spend some time walking through your friend list. Who are you talking to?

If you are talking to your family members and best friends, they already know you. They understand your business and know you are looking to grow it. They tend to ignore your business talk.

If you are talking to other photographers, they are in the same boat as you. They won’t buy your services, and they won’t increase your business. While its nice to talk to fellow photographers and share stories, you won’t get immediate action from other photographers on social sites. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Social Networking Tagged With: ,

More Than 3 Packages Could Ruin Your Photography Business

by Leave a Comment

The human brain is an amazing thing. We can learn everything from a foreign language, to complex scientific formulas. Every day can be filled with the excitement of learning something new.

But if you think about how you learn things, chances are you learn a small part of something in one day, and quickly begin to block other things out. That’s because we learn in short bursts. If someone is talking, we tend to retain less than 20 percent of what was said. That’s why in training programs you’ll hear the same things again and again, trying to make the most important items stick with you.

No matter how much a person is interested in your photography, after awhile they’ll begin losing attention, and getting lost in your words. It’s not they aren’t interested; you’ve just reached their retention point. So if you have a huge pricing structure that takes several minutes to go through, they’ll retain the first minute or so, and be completely lost after that.

Instead of creating a long, complicated package list, keep it simple. Present everything you do in three clear ways. Don’t have multiple packages where each package increases slightly in price with just one or two difference. Make them distinctly different, and make it clearly obvious that you get a better deal by moving to the next package.

In my Pricing Guide I talk at length about building packages for you, not for your client. The ultimate goal of a package isn’t to give your client a good deal (though they ultimately do), the goal is to get you the sales you need for your business, and the profit you need to stay in business.

By sticking with three packages, your client won’t lose interest as you talk about each one, and they won’t get confused over the differences in each package. Make each package distinct and stand alone. You should never have to think about the differences – they should be obvious. You should also concentrate on making your middle package being the best – the package you would love to sell again and again to every client. Because ultimately that’s what you’ll do. People love the middle – the smaller one seems too “cheap” and the higher one seems a little “extravagant”. Which means the middle one is “just right”.

If you sold 100 packages over the next few months, 10 at the bottom level, 10 at the top, and 80 in the middle, would that make your business? If the answer is yes, then you’re on your way to creating perfect packages.

Filed Under: Blog, Make Money With Photography Tagged With:

7 Tips For Creating A Great Portrait In The Bright Sunlight

by 2 Comments

Image Source

One of the many reasons people choose to live in Colorado is the 325 days of blue skies and sunshine. And that’s a great thing if you enjoy being outdoors like we do.

However photographing in the direct sunlight has its challenges. With a portrait, you can usually schedule it early morning or late evening to capture it in the sweet light. But what about a wedding that takes place in the middle of the afternoon? You can’t postpone a wedding simply because you are looking for better lighting conditions. So you adjust.

1. Use the sun to your advantage. Instead of placing the subject with the bright sunlight behind you – shining into the subject’s eyes and making them squint – play with the placement. If you put the sun at a 45 degree angle, you’ll begin to see dimension in the subject. Or put it behind your subject, and use the sun to create interesting affects.

2. Use reflectors. You can use light reflectors and diffusers to control the light source, bounce highlights back onto the subject, and block out the harshest sunlight from directly overhead.

3. Find the shade. No matter where you are, you can find a shady area to get out of the sun. Look to tuck your subject behind a building, or in a grove of trees. You can still get beautiful lighting, wonderful backgrounds, and less chance you’ll have a squinting subject.

4. Create your own shade. Use props to create a shady place anywhere. From hats to parasols, find something that gives your subject personality.

Image Source

5. Tell a story. Instead of focusing on the typical portrait with the subject smiling into the camera, look for a different perspective. Maybe walking along the beach, or enjoying a moment alone in a field of flowers. Be creative, and look for something that makes you stand out from the typical photographer.

6. When in doubt, use a flash. If you are taking a portrait where the emphasis is on the face, make sure you have adequate lighting on the face to compensate for the sunlight. While we personally do everything we can to avoid flash, at times it may be your best choice.

7. Try using a different lens. As portrait photographers, its easy to rely on one standard lens again and again. When you’re in a difficult situation, try a variety of things. One of our favorite lenses is a fish eye. Get up close to your subject and blow the background completely out of proportion. You’re subject will love the different perspective, and you can end up with some amazing affects.

Filed Under: Blog, Taking Better Photographs Tagged With:
« Older Posts