tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46101664336896024372024-02-19T07:11:10.596-08:00GO{4}PRO Photography!because going pro takes a lot more than a lens!Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-82863705298110448612010-08-08T22:43:00.000-07:002010-08-08T22:43:11.263-07:00Update your RSS... Just in case you missed it... We have a NEW WEBSITE. You'll want to go in and update your RSS. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">Just go to <a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/">www.go4prophotos.com</a></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Go{4}Pro just got better!! Can't wait to see you there! </div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-48871364184252596742010-08-01T23:04:00.000-07:002010-08-01T23:04:31.691-07:00WE HAVE A NEW WEBSITE ... www.Go4ProPhotos.com<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I'm really excited to announce that Go{4}Pro has a new website! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Just in case you come to Go{4}Pro from an RSS Feed or you still use go4prophotos.blogspot... You'll want to update your RSS Feed and bookmarks (sorry for any hassels) to bring you to the new and improved... </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><b><a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/">www.go4prophotos.com</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">see you there!</span></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-59180076556869173152010-07-29T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-29T06:00:02.610-07:00How much should I mark up my COGS? - Pricing for Profit Intro III've received your questions from our first post <a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/2010/07/introduction-to-pricing-for-profit.html">Introduction to Pricing for Profit</a> and I'm writing Part II to offer clarification for the % to your COGS (Cost of Good Sold). <div><br />
</div><div>Thanks to the fantastic <a href="http://www.mobilefotographer.com/">Mobile Fotographer</a>*, I have a visual for you! So here you go... <div><br />
</div><div>There are a lot of factors that go into your cost of goods. Basically anything that is a COST to you (both time and money) needs to be considered. So let's say that you have determined that your COGS is $10. We are going to use happy round number for the sake of making this easy to follow. The numbers that I put into the pricing calculator are not real they just equal $10.00. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TFEBME7dExI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/FbV-TkgncwQ/s1600/MP_cogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="556" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TFEBME7dExI/AAAAAAAAC3Q/FbV-TkgncwQ/s640/MP_cogs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>As you can see the TOTAL COST IS $10.00. Now let's figure out what you should actually charge. </div><div><br />
</div><div>To be on the high end of your market (20%) means that your total cost is only 20% of your products retail price. Anything 20% or less is a fantastic profit margin and you should be really excited because you will have the means and opportunities to make your business profitable! </div><div><br />
</div><div>To be in the middle of the pricing market (30%) than your total cost is 30% of your products retail price. You're loosing a little of the profit margin but it's still a good place to be!</div><div><br />
</div><div>If you're cost is 40% of your COGS than you're on the lower end of your market and you may not have a substantial enough profit margin to give you the capital you need to sustain your business. </div><div><br />
</div><div>BELOW 40%: One mistake that is often made my newer photographers is to slash their prices to get business. The fatal error in this is that newer photographer more than anyone else need profits in order to build capital. I know you can feel what I'm talking about. You need a sample album, you need further education (like my '<a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/2010/07/go4pro-building-biz-workshop-aug-20-21.html">Building the Biz' workshop</a>) and you need profits to help you get better equipment. In short, you need, you need, you need... But you never seem to make enough to do anything about it. This is why! </div><div><br />
</div><div>I want you to know that I GET IT! It's scary, what if nobody ever calls you again? What if people don't believe you're worth that much? Even more terrifying... What if they're right? Raising prices is scary... It's like opening the door to a blind date with the football captain and your biggest fear is a pile of flaming poop waiting for you instead of a corsage. I KNOW IT'S SCARY. I've been there - scared to death - waiting (2 weeks) for the phone to ring again. BUT IT DID RING AGAIN and again... And again! Until you do something about your pricing you'll never have the capital to grow you or your business. I understand that it can feel like where you want to be and where you are have the distance of the Earth to the Stars... But I'm telling you. Getting your pricing structured for Profit is the rocket-ship that will propel you forward. Oh and in this little metaphor lets say that clients are the fuel. Cause if you got no fuel the rocket-ship won't help much. Wow! I am super clever tonight!!! Anyone else impressed with my cleverness? Before I got off on my 'hurray for me - cleverness' party I wanted to say that I do know that you need clients to pay your new pricing. Getting clients isn't the hard part. I'll prove it at the workshop... Having everything ready for when those clients come, now that's tricky! </div><div><br />
</div><div>I hope this helps you put yourself and your business into a better perspective when you're creating your pricing list. If you feel like you need personal help in how to transition your pricing or just need the encouragement and mentoring to do it. I am available for <a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/2010/04/photographers-phone-consult.html">Phone Consults</a> and of course at the <a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/2010/07/go4pro-building-biz-workshop-aug-20-21.html">Building the Biz Seattle Workshop</a> on Aug 20 and 21st. </div><div><br />
</div><div><i>* You can access the awesome pricing calculator inside the </i><a href="http://www.mobilefotographer.com/"><i>Mobile Photographer Studio Management Program</i></a><i>. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TFEJ_byGZ7I/AAAAAAAAC3o/rfr_NwYuQsw/s1600/go4pro+sig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TFEJ_byGZ7I/AAAAAAAAC3o/rfr_NwYuQsw/s400/go4pro+sig.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
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</i></div></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-17219153599351145422010-07-28T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-28T08:40:28.466-07:00Sell Images for the Wall!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Didot;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://libbiewicket.com/"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9mYHHnM_I/AAAAAAAAC2I/apem0jtYtxQ/s640/LW_Guest+Post+.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Elizabeth (a fellow</span></i><a href="http://www.napcp.com/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"> NAPCP</span></i></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"> Peep) is serving you up some fantabulous (Umm that's fantastic and fabulous mixed together - cause it's that awesome.) inspiration today! Wait till you see the last image. I'm redoing my dining room asap! Thank you so much Elizabeth! xoxo -Leah </span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I began my business six years ago, I followed advice given to me by others in the industry, "Sell images for the wall". It was great advice and has brought me wonderful success. Today I'd like to share some tips with you on how to effectively get your clients to purchase and hang your images on their walls.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -45pt; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For starters, I knew I did not want the hassle of framing images here in the studio but I did want for my clients to leave with beautifully framed images. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found a small framing company and began a partnership with them. To begin with, I chose several frames (some in black and some in brown) that I was interested in selling. I had all the images in my studio framed in these frames so that the client could see what the frame looks like when hanging on the wall with art inside. I show a total of seven different frames in the studio because giving clients too many options tends to overwhelm them. If the client wants something very specific that I don't carry then the framers will go to the client's home for a consultation or will bring samples to the studio for me to show the client (see how this is a great working relationship?). Partnering with a framing company is beneficial for both the client and the photographer. My clients love that they can hang their portraits in their home as soon as they pick them up. They appreciate having my help when choosing a frame and they love that I sign and date their mats.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -45pt; margin-top: 0in;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9mmO0Q6EI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/b8WTHHjhQLQ/s1600/Contemporary1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9mmO0Q6EI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/b8WTHHjhQLQ/s640/Contemporary1.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -45pt; margin-top: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -45pt; margin-top: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: -45pt; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second factor for my success has been my partnership with a local interior decorator. My decorator has great style and vision and has been key in influencing clients to style their homes using my work and framing. When I built my studio, I worked closely with the interior decorator as she decorated and designed the space. So, when clients come to the studio they always want to know whom I used to make the studio so elegant and beautiful. As a result, about 40% of my clients hire her to decorate their homes. My clients love the designs she comes up with and the wall displays she creates for them. The decorator and I will work closely with one another so that the client ends up with the perfect gallery in their home.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, I think it is crucial to show what you want to sell. When you enter the studio, the first thing a client sees is a wall gallery with nine framed images. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the studio, I show many examples of framed portraits, canvas’, and wall displays. It's so nice to be able to point to something and say "wouldn't </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> look great above your fireplace?" during an ordering session. Again, some people just need that little bit of visual stimulus to be able to be able to imagine what something might look like in their house.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9mw416sMI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/2mq2_XDA7Io/s1600/Contemporary2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9mw416sMI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/2mq2_XDA7Io/s640/Contemporary2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of my clients have one or more wall galleries in their homes. My clients love having their images hanging where they can enjoy them daily and where their guests can see them. I hope that you might be inspired by some of my client’s wall galleries…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9nBsZnuiI/AAAAAAAAC2g/fVR-TmPYYoc/s1600/Dramatic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9nBsZnuiI/AAAAAAAAC2g/fVR-TmPYYoc/s640/Dramatic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9nRsbiZAI/AAAAAAAAC2w/6W6AJK0Ntpw/s1600/Eclectic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9nRsbiZAI/AAAAAAAAC2w/6W6AJK0Ntpw/s640/Eclectic1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9nYqTNjcI/AAAAAAAAC24/zoO_xfj71Vc/s1600/Eclectic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9nYqTNjcI/AAAAAAAAC24/zoO_xfj71Vc/s640/Eclectic2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9niV1LQqI/AAAAAAAAC3A/P35P_jrW4do/s1600/Picture+ledges2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TE9niV1LQqI/AAAAAAAAC3A/P35P_jrW4do/s640/Picture+ledges2.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">You can ooh and awe over Elizabeth more here:</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check out <a href="http://libbiewicket.com/">Libbie Wicket Photography</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Become a fan of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/LibbieWicket">Libbie Wicket on facebook</a></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-57944441874653864582010-07-27T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-27T06:00:04.178-07:00Product Feature - Album ApprovedMy friend Fundy did it again and went and created one more thing that I just can't live with out. It's called <a href="http://www.albumapproved.com/">Album Approved</a> and I'm already spinning with excitement with how I will build this into my sales process!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="505" width="853"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ljmX0JhcdPs&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ljmX0JhcdPs&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-15481288672895318142010-07-26T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-26T10:50:04.291-07:00The Power of a Hand Written Note.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TDp_HLxAS_I/AAAAAAAACy4/XzSey0ZgY0g/s1600/stationery-thank-you-notes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TDp_HLxAS_I/AAAAAAAACy4/XzSey0ZgY0g/s640/stationery-thank-you-notes.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/stationery/thank-you-notes-letterpress.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">From Paper Source </span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';">We are over inundated with information we have no desire to hear. Think farmville updates, obnoxious jokes that bring bad luck if not immediately forwarded to your entire email list, commercials that we see as a break to grab popcorn or check on the kiddos and cold call telemarketing that always ring right during dinner. We are bombarded with information that we didn't ask for and further more don't care to know about and so our brains flush this information out almost as quickly as it attempts to come in. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span">In contrast we are starved of old fashioned communication that makes us feel good. When is the last time that you received or sent a handwritten letter to someone. Or made a phone call ( and nope, texting does not count!) just to tell a friend that you had a great time with them last week? What if you (or I) received that phone call or letter, how appreciated would that gesture be? I bet it would make your day, I know it would make mine!</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span">Now I would like you to direct these same thoughts toward how you run your business. Are you adding to the bombardment of useless junk or are you acting as the breath of fresh air that will truly leave a meaningful reminder to your clients that you are not only here but that you care as well? And what about two of the most important and yet underused words in any language? <i>Thank You!</i> We teach our children to say it each time they are given a drink of OJ, offered a cookie and allowed to do something special but are we following our own advise? What are you doing to truly insure that your clients (especially your best clients) know how much you appreciate their patronage? </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span">What would happen if every business followed the golden rule and treated each client, vendor and business as they would like to be treated? ... Amazing things! </span></span>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-31095674766984926852010-07-23T00:01:00.000-07:002010-07-23T10:52:54.587-07:00I need some inspiration ... Please share! (Link updated)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEk0amedXmI/AAAAAAAAC1w/d6DILbFgfbE/s1600/Go4Pro+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEk0amedXmI/AAAAAAAAC1w/d6DILbFgfbE/s400/Go4Pro+Logo.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
There is so much going on right now on this end of the computer screen! As some of you know from the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Go4Pro-Photos/128521410492393">facebook fan page,</a> I just designed a new logo for Go{4}Pro and that's to go along with the new website that will be launching soon! I have teamed up with the incredible <a href="http://kimtown.com/design/">Kimtown</a> to design and create a whole new look for Go{4}Pro and I can't wait to reveal it!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEkzsjvtgpI/AAAAAAAAC1o/c5ExAct5ZxU/s1600/Workshop+Headings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEkzsjvtgpI/AAAAAAAAC1o/c5ExAct5ZxU/s200/Workshop+Headings.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>At the same time I'm working on finalizing things for the workshop. And it just keep getting better and better. With thousands of dollars in giveaways and a fabulous swag bag, everyone is going to go home happy-happy! And as I finalize content, I just get more and more excited about how much info I get to share. One of the parts I'm so excited for is generating new business. I have some incredible ideas to share that cost no money and bring in huge (and I mean HUGE) business leads!! I can't wait to watch everyone light up like Christmas trees when they realize just how incredible the potential is with just one of these marketing and advertising techniques, let alone many to choose from! Add to that an in depth look into how to maintain lifetime customers who can't stop talking about you and can't wait to spend money with you and it's going to be an incredible weekend of awesomeness. Yes, I'm totally bragging about my own workshop. Where oh where are my manners? I can't help it, it really is going to be fantastic. I don't care if you started your business yesterday or if you've been in business for 20 years - your business will improve on all fronts (marketing, pricing, sales, leads, referrals, setting yourself apart and so much more) with this workshop. <b>There are only <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">FOUR</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">THREE</span> spots left! </b>We're keeping it personal. I want to be able to encourage open dialogue where we can work through real life situations on the spot and give you real time solutions! In case you missed it, I'm super excited! Don't miss your chance to turn your business into exactly what you want it to be! <a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/2010/07/go4pro-building-biz-workshop-aug-20-21.html">Go sign up today</a>!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEk07KTaEVI/AAAAAAAAC14/URRX-hlrGBg/s1600/penny-for-your-thoughts-book-9-400x363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEk07KTaEVI/AAAAAAAAC14/URRX-hlrGBg/s200/penny-for-your-thoughts-book-9-400x363.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Last... I'd love to pick your brain! I think it's really important to learn from your client base. After all, they are who sustain you. It's pretty critical that you're making them happy. Well in this case I feel a little more like <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/dirty-jobs/">Mike Rowe</a> with dirty jobs because I would really love your input and thoughts about Go{4}Pro. Writing 5 posts a week can leave me lacking in the inspiration department and I'd love if I could borrow a little of your brain power to help me out. After all, I bet you have an opinion on what you do and don't like to see on a blog. And I really want to here about it! So I've created a survey. It's only 10 questions long I would really appreciate your input!<br />
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Did I really forget to put the link in for the survey! That's what happens when I write posts after 1am! Thank you so much for trying to find it!! Well I'm feeling really smart to start off this morning. lol.<br />
<a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PM5PC3Y"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">LINK TO SURVEY RIGHT HERE! </span></a><br />
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I hope you have a great weekend and I want to say thank you for being part of the inspiration for <i>my </i>journey!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.leahremilletphotography.com/"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEk1w7HiNGI/AAAAAAAAC2A/x0Wc5jwDqGo/s400/go4pro+sig.png" width="400" /></a></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-57802496819967788182010-07-22T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-22T12:03:09.113-07:00Introduction to Pricing for Profit<span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Pricing yourself appropriately (and when I say appropriate what I really mean is profitably) can be one of the most daunting tasks for a </span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:Times,'Times New Roman',serif;font-size:100%;" class="Apple-style-span" >photographer to undertake. COGS x A + B / </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >mc² can leave us all remembering just how much we hated algebra, however it is still a very necessary task and I promise once you've found where you should be, it's also incredibly liberating!</span> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEI8jZdO5xI/AAAAAAAAC0g/sLXizp_JtyY/s1600/bigstockphoto_cash_register.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEI8jZdO5xI/AAAAAAAAC0g/sLXizp_JtyY/s640/bigstockphoto_cash_register.jpg" border="0" height="436" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Times,'Times New Roman',serif;">Creativity</span>... Passion... That most likely came as the easy part (it comes as pretty standard territory to us "artist" types) but operating a successful small business, well if you're like many you may not have put much thought into it. But the bottom line is this, there are 2 kinds of artists, those who define themselves and those who are defined and the reality is that those who starve have no choice but to be defined and those who thrive are able to define themselves! And it's not always about skill either! I have seen amazing photographers who lack the fundamentals in business and so find themselves trying to survive from job to job. I have also seen the flip side, photographer's who may not be as technically savvy or creatively inclined and yet their business is booming! Why is this? One gets the nuts and bolts of running and marketing a small business and the other does not.<br /><br />Today, I'd like to try to help clarify just how you should and should not go about establishing your pricing. The most common price determiner is... Google (in some form or another) You know what I'm talking about, you Google a few photogs in your area check out the pricing and put yourself somewhere in the middle. While this may not be the very worst way to price yourself, it certainly isn't good either. Here are 3 reasons why:<br /><br />1. You don't know the bottom line they are working from, and what (or even if) they established a profit margin on.<br />2. There is a really good chance that they came up with their pricing sheet exactly how you just did yours so now the circle of 'in the middle' pricing is growing but in actuality the pricing structure just keeps falling lower and lower.<br />3. Without knowing your numbers you can't know your profit and without knowing your profit (or loss) you won't know what adjustments need to be made until it's too late!<br /><br />So, what should be considered when establishing your pricing? You need to know your Cost of Goods Sold or COGS (how much did it cost you to hand them that 8x10?) Are you considering the following:<br />1. Retouching time<br />2. Shipping<br />3. Packaging (Bag, Tag, Tissue, Box)<br />4. Time for assembling packaging (not just a bow)<br />5. Hourly wage for your time.<br />6. Cost of Print<br /><br />Okay. Let say you have figured out all of that and you now know that your COGS is... Is there a special formula for marking up the product? I'd like you to think of 3 tiers for pricing...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Top end of market is 20% COGS</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Midpoint would be 30% COGS</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Low end of market 40% COGS</div><br />Should you ever go below 40%? No! Don't go below 40% {period!}<br /><br />If you feel you have to be at 40% in order to sell your products you need to come up with a different solution. Either you need to cut down your cost by quicker retouching, cheaper packaging or a different print lab but one way or another you're going to want to find a way to drive down your bottom line.<br /><br />I hope you have enjoyed this little bit of insight into pricing. I will be going into much greater detail on pricing for profit at the S<a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/2010/07/go4pro-building-biz-workshop-aug-20-21.html">eattle Building the Biz Workshop</a>, August 20th and 21st.Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-20874680788927175092010-07-21T06:00:00.001-07:002010-07-21T10:35:53.208-07:00Expression beats Perfection!I may have that cross stitched into a pillow! Of course we have to be technically minded, you have to KNOW the rules to break the rules but at the end of the day, expression beats perfection. That is simply brilliant! Having the perfect composition and a plastic smile can never beat eyes that positively light up with a smile that's radiating joy... That image is priceless because it transcends just a documentation but also offers raw emotion that has now been immortalized.<br />
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Today's words of wisdom come from <a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/2010/06/inspire-me-friday-interview-20-bambi.html">Bambi Cantrell</a>, a photographer we absolutely LOVE at Go{4}Pro.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Note: There is a little black spot in the video. Just let it load and you can skip ahead to 1:13.</i></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cieik0Mzpns&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cieik0Mzpns&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-27211490885038256422010-07-20T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-20T06:00:05.033-07:00Inspired Branding - Gorgeously GreenAs soon as I saw this room from <a href="http://www.laylagrayce.com/">Layla Grace</a> I knew I had to use it for an 'inspired branding' post. Doesn't it just look like a perfect summer guest-room? The premise behind 'Inspired Branding' is the idea that it doesn't have to be a complicated thing to find out what your branding style is. Look to what you wear, how you decorate. Find something that grabs your attention and use that as your inspiration. Your business needs to be an expression of your personality and you can tell a lot about a person by their style.<br />
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First find something that stirs emotion inside you... Something that you absolutely love! I find this easiest with decor so that's where I like to go. For today... We're going gorgeously green!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEJCNU2scmI/AAAAAAAAC0o/N2TFfrHwzXA/s1600/IB-Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEJCNU2scmI/AAAAAAAAC0o/N2TFfrHwzXA/s640/IB-Green.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Now I know all my greens aren't a perfect match but hopefully this will give you some fantastic ideas for where to take your own marketing!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEKjLloHldI/AAAAAAAAC0w/1xwuCWzz4no/s1600/Branding+Inspiration-Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEKjLloHldI/AAAAAAAAC0w/1xwuCWzz4no/s640/Branding+Inspiration-Green.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Product Source List:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ricestudiosupplies.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_177_179"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rice Studio Supplies- Charcoal Box</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/51735164/damask-note-card-set-6?ref=sr_list_36&ga_search_query=Note+Card&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Etsy: Damask Note Card</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/Moss-Flourish-Wrapping-Paper/3106.001/44363550.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paper Source Moss Flourish Wrapping Paper</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mayarts.com/store/iridescent-two-tone/product/qp-15x20y-moireiridescentwired/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">MayArts Green Wired 1.5"x20y Ribbon</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/50209876/digital-paper-pack-for-invites-card"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tracey Ann Digital Paper Pack - Guest</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/Moss-Honeycomb-Decorative-Strip-Labels/2505.153/37199926.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paper Source Moss Decorative Strip Label</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/color/A2-envelopes/2506.001/103.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paper Source A2 Black Envelop</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.laylagrayce.com/Products/PSA-Essentials-Ink-Cartridge-Dual-Refill-Black-Lime__PSA20.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Layla Grayce - Essentials Ink Cart </span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ricestudiosupplies.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_27_65&products_id=202"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rice Studio Supply - Black Shopper Bag (Imprinted w/ Logo)</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bagsandbowsonline.com/shopdeluxe/catalog/productDetails.jsp?parentCatId=5.0&prodId=11-02-GH&id=5.1.2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bags and Bows - Apple Green Houndstooth Tissue Paper</span></a></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-60872167974317068362010-07-19T06:00:00.001-07:002010-07-21T22:48:53.035-07:00Because of 1 Sale we need another Sale...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i>- To find out who the winners of The Paperie Birthday Giveaway look below this post -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><br />
</span></div>So guess what's going on right now... The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Nordstrom</span> Anniversary Sale. So um, yes it's true, I was suckered by beautiful pumps and double points ... and well ... I must sheepishly admit that I earned a lot of double points. So after a couple of bags full I find myself remembering that all those beautiful points go to a credit card statement! Where is the credit card fairy godmother when you need her? Since she's a no show, I'm taking matters into my own hands and offering a LOGO SALE.<br />
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These are preliminary logos that were designed but not chosen as the final one. So now you have the opportunity to snatch them up at a great price and I have the opportunity to keep my new shoes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEfbXiGQGPI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/LZTJapQaiOQ/s1600/NSL_Board1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEfbXiGQGPI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/LZTJapQaiOQ/s640/NSL_Board1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEfbfpAQVjI/AAAAAAAAC1g/I1SYjLyVdNg/s1600/NSL_Board2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TEfbfpAQVjI/AAAAAAAAC1g/I1SYjLyVdNg/s640/NSL_Board2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Normally $175 ... <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">NOW ONLY $99</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What comes with the logo?</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may ask for the color and name to be changed only. In order for me to change colors you need to have a color swatch for me to sample, in other words you can't say pink, you need to say 'pink color code </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ef</span>8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ce</span>9' or 'please sample from the swatch'. Larger revisions can be made for an additional fee of $75. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Should I email first?</b> If you've been thinking about a new logo and you love one of these this is a great opportunity to snatch it up at a huge discount. As soon as one logo is sold I will put a closed stamp over it. If you email to ask me if it's still available and someone else pays before I can get back to you, you will lose that logo. I suggest that you submit payment if your logo still shows available. If it has been paid for before your payment, you may choose an alternate or be fully refunded.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Can I get a watermark brush too? </b>I will add a watermark brush to your logo file for an additional $20. You will find the option in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Paypal</span> drop down menu.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>When will I get my logo?</b> You will receive one <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">.psd</span> layered file and one .<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">png</span> file logo within 48 hours of payment and instructions. I suggest leaving instructions in note to buyer on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Paypal</span> transaction page to speed up the process. </span></div><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><input name="cmd" type="hidden" value="_s-xclick" /><br />
<table style="text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><div style="text-align: left;"><input name="on0" type="hidden" value="Logo Options" />Logo Options</div></td></tr>
<tr><td><div style="text-align: left;"><select name="os0"> <option value="Logo">Logo $99.00</option> <option value="Logo w/ Watermark">Logo w/ Watermark $119.00</option> </select> </div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><input name="currency_code" type="hidden" value="USD" /><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" name="submit" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynowCC_LG.gif" type="image" /></div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" /></form>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-54685621773061430922010-07-19T05:33:00.000-07:002010-07-19T09:28:43.157-07:00Paperie Birthday Giveaway Winners are...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Comment #65 - Amanda N. wins either The Paysen or The Adi Ultimate Marketing Kit</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TER9Fq-ezOI/AAAAAAAAC1I/HEp0mKmBi90/s1600/Web.Preview_PaysenMarkKit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TER9Fq-ezOI/AAAAAAAAC1I/HEp0mKmBi90/s320/Web.Preview_PaysenMarkKit.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">and </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Comment #58 - Amber wins the iPhone Collection</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TER88_qQCCI/AAAAAAAAC1A/k-2Qy-Dt11Q/s1600/Go4ProPhotos+Custom+iPhone+Case+Template+Collection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TER88_qQCCI/AAAAAAAAC1A/k-2Qy-Dt11Q/s320/Go4ProPhotos+Custom+iPhone+Case+Template+Collection.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Thank you everyone for playing! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Winners were chosen using Random.org</span></span></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-56318117307834071982010-07-16T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-16T11:07:26.375-07:00Inspire Me Friday Interview #20} Bambi Cantrell!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i> </i></span><br />
<a href="http://cantrellportrait.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/bams-favorites005aftsmbw1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-403" height="480" src="http://cantrellportrait.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/bams-favorites005aftsmbw1.jpg" title="bams favorites005aftsmbw" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>When I think of the word 'iconic', Bambi Cantrell immediately comes to mind! Bambi is a genuine lover of people which is why her work has the ability to speak volumes in a single frame. Bambi has an array of awards, recognitions and accomplishments in appreciation of the wonderful work she has created over and over again throughout her 25+ year career as a photographer. Bambi is the first woman to receive the "Icon of Imaging" award by Microsoft, she has also been presented with the "Golden Eye" from the Russian Federation of Professional Photographers, named one of the "Top 10 Best Wedding Photographers in the World" in 2007 by American Photo Magazine and in 2003, The United Nations presented Bambi Cantrell with the "International Leadership Award". And I could keep going on and on with more awards and acknowledgments! Did I mention that she's also the author of 3 Best Selling books, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Wedding-Photography-Professional-Techniques/dp/0817433252?ie=UTF8&tag=go4pr-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Art of Wedding Photography</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=go4pr-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0817433252" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />" "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Digital-Wedding-Photography-Professional/dp/0817433244?ie=UTF8&tag=go4pr-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Art of the Digital Wedding</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=go4pr-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0817433244" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />" and "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-People-Photography-Inspiring-Techniques/dp/0817455671?ie=UTF8&tag=go4pr-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Art of People Photography</a><img alt="" border="0" class=" zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=go4pr-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0817455671" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />". Yes, she's the real deal and yep she happens to be that kind of incredible! </i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>But as awe inspiring as all of these acknowledgments are, what I believe truly sets Bambi Cantrell apart is her generous spirit and desire to share. No question about it, Bambi is an incredibly talented photographer but it's her welcoming personality that really makes her shine so brightly! Bambi once said, “I just love people, and believe truly great photographs are a reflection of who the client is, not who I want them to be.” It's an showcase Bambi Cantrell as our 20th "Inspire Me Friday" interview! </i></span><br />
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</i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>What's in your bag?</i></span><br />
<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/656378-REG/Canon_3822B002_EOS_1D_Mark_IV.html">Canon 1D Mark IV</a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/518204-REG/Canon_2011B002_EOS_1Ds_Mark_III_SLR.html">Canon 1Ds Mark III</a>, as a back up</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/264304-USA/Canon_8014A002_Zoom_Wide_Angle_Telephoto_EF.html">24-70 2.8L</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/234444-USA/Canon_7042A002_70_200mm_f_2_8L_IS_USM.html">70-200 2.8L IS</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/590449-USA/Canon_2750B002_EF_24mm_f_1_4L_II.html">24 1.4L II</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/590449-USA/Canon_2750B002_EF_24mm_f_1_4L_II.html">135 2.0L</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/457680-USA/Canon_1257B002AA_Normal_EF_50mm_f_1_2L.html">50 1.2L</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12069-USA/Canon_2535A003_Fisheye_EF_15mm_f_2_8.html">15mm Fisheye</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/649949-REG/Lexar_LCF8GBCRBNA600_8GB_Professional_UDMA_600x.html">Lexar Professional 600x 8GB cards</a>, I prefer small cards I find them less worrisome.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>How long have you been a professional photographer and what motivated you to become one?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve been a professional photographer for over 25 years. And my motivation was I absolutely love photography. I always have. Since I was 5 years old I’ve always loved pictures. When I was a little kid, if my parents wanted to keep me out of trouble they’d just give me a photo album and I could be content for hours. I just love the interpretive value of photographs and I’m very moved by the fact that each person can interpret an image differently.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Tell us a little about Cantrell Portrait Design, inc?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have a full service studio. We photograph families and children and do head shots and portfolios and of course weddings. I have an 1800 sq foot studio in the historic Arsenal building which is in Benicia, California and I have huge 20ft ceilings and brick walls, hard wood floors and it’s just an amazing space to be in. Benicia is an amazing little town that’s about 35 minutes from San Fransisco. It’s the best kept secret in the bay area and the weather is really nice here. The community that I’m in, this building houses hundreds of artists so it’s very much an art community which is very stimulating emotionally. I’ve got painters and sculptors, and people that work in glass. Just some amazing very well regarded world renowned artists are in my building.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>What's an activity that makes you lose track of time?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I'd love to say something clever but Jerry already took #1 so I'll say playing with my dog Cooper. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Where might we find you when you’re not working?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Good question because I work a lot. At the risk of sounding not too clever, sitting on my back porch, drinking a glass of wine and listening to the birds. Doing some landscape photography which seems to be kind of my passion these days. I’ve found a love for it that I never ever would think I would. And I’m crazy about it! It’s very, very, stimulating emotionally, it’s a great release for me and it’s a great creative outlet for me.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Where was your most memorable wedding?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have to say my most memorable wedding was here, and I didn’t shoot it. It’s crazy but I’ve had lots of wonderful, amazing events that I’ve had the privileged of photographing over the years. I photographed Steve Sheanin, the owner of Rangefinder Publishing, and I had the honor of photographing Skip Cohen, the owner of Going Pro, his daughter and his son’s wedding. I’ve photographed people like Gary Payton, the basketball player - his wedding. All of these events were very, very special but I have to say the one that is most special to me is the one that I attended as a guest and that was my son's wedding because it really changed the way that I felt about wedding photography because I was on the other side of the camera for a change. It made me appreciate what goes into planning an event because I paid for his wedding and all the people that came to that wedding were very, very important. It made me realize how important the people are that come to the wedding.<br />
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Sometimes we as photographers, we get kind of jaded and only think about the bride and groom and the bridal party and nowadays it seems like wedding albums are only a collection of the bride and groom jumping in the air, running down the street or sitting in the café and there are no pictures of family and no respect for the fact that these people were even there. It’s really sad and it completely changed my perspective of the wedding experience and it made me realize how important it is that I photograph the bride with her mom or dad and the relatives, the aunts and uncles. These are very important people. I mean my sister in law diapered my son, Cameron, and she was like his second mother. And I can’t imagine a photographer turning to her and saying, “No, you can’t take pictures of this.” It’s just so ridiculous. And so it made me realize the value of photographing all of the human experiences and not being afraid to do portraits of people and it seems like especially today the portrait aspect has become very sloppy. Like, “You guys just stand over here,” and they just kind of throw them together and there’s no passion about them. Nobody cares about them. It’s just, “Oh we got to do it. Let’s get it over with fast.” When in reality, you know as a mother, this was really important to me. I not only wanted to be photographed with my children, I wanted to look good! And I think that takes skill and I think that’s one thing that’s missing today. So many times people think they’re only documenting an experience without giving consideration. Was it a flattering portrait? Did they look good? Because I got to tell you as a mother, as a mature woman, we don’t see ourselves the way we look, we see ourselves the way we think we look. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Where would you like to shoot that you haven’t yet?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I would like to photograph a wedding in Prague. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Describe a typical day for you.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">A typical day for me starts about 5am. I’m very much a morning girl. I like getting up early and getting my day started. I’m usually in my office by about 7 and about 7-9 I work on my blog. I’m a very active blogger and really try to blog everyday about new techniques, and my latest clients. Then from 9-noonish is when I’m working on stuff like album designs and retouching of images and such. I retouch my images before clients ever see them. I personally don’t believe in letting anyone see unfinished work; I wouldn’t dream of it. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and I want to make sure the first time they see my images that they are freaking out. I want them to equate the beauty of my images not with Photoshop tricks but with photographic skill. It’s been my experience that when you show an unfinished photograph and then say, “Oh I can retouch it later" they equate the beauty of the image with cheap tricks instead of equating it with what it really is - your talent as a professional.<br />
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It’s very typical to do a portrait session in the afternoon. I’m not a high volume studio. I do probably three or four sessions a week. But they are very nice sessions; we take our time doing it. And then the rest of the time I spend in marketing and getting photographs printed for my clients or for my hotels so they restore my services. I’m very much a boutique studio. I don’t do the high volume kind of thing. I don’t do 20 sessions a day for $200.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Tell us about a trial you had while shooting a wedding and how you over came it?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Oh gosh I have a number of trials for weddings after 25 years. One of the ones that stand out it my mind is the night before a wedding, about 10 years ago, I got the stomach flu and I was literally up all night long throwing up and the next morning I had to decide, was I going to get up and shoot this wedding or do I stay home? I decided I was going to suck it up and be a big girl and shoot it. I met the bride at the church and I was really feeling bad and literally felt like I was going to faint. I kept saying, “Okay I need to go to the bathroom for a second" and just sit down for a minute because I was going to pass out. And then I came back and said, “ You know I feel just a little sick. Does anybody have any SweetTarts or something like that.” And the mother of the bride had a packet of SweetTarts. She gave me a couple and that’s all I needed. I had depleted my body of electrolytes and I needed some sugar in my system and once I got that I was cranking it out and I made it through the day. I don’t know how in the world I did it but that was the best wedding I shot all year. I just got through it and did what I had to. I’ve never ever missed a wedding. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I did have one other experience at a wedding that was really heart rending and it really highlighted how important wedding photography really is. Eight years ago, about a week before the wedding I was sitting in the country club talking to this bride about her wedding and she was 33 years old, this was her first wedding and obviously very very important to her. In the middle of our conversation we had two 5.6 earthquakes right in a row; within a minute of each other. And we were at the epicenter so needless to say all the glass in the country club were falling off the shelves and the chandeliers were swaying it was just scaring the heck out of us. And we just sucked it up and we got through it. Now let me tell you one other thing about this wedding. Back tracking about 6 weeks before, the brides 19 year old sister was out at The Cliffs House in San Francisco with some friends and was playing on the rocks by the edge. She slipped on some rocks, fell of the cliffs, into the ocean and died. Her body was swept out to sea and they spent weeks trying to find it and they never found it. So we're sitting at this country club with the earthquakes and the stress level was really high. Well, the wedding day rolls around and I get to the bride's home and you could literally feel the tension in the home that morning. The father of the bride was still obviously grieving very much for his daughter, the youngest child in the family, the one who had died. He was absolutely speechless with fury that his daughter was going to go ahead with her wedding and he would not even talk to her on the wedding day. He would not stand to be photographed with her, would not touch her. He was just so furious. Have you ever been around two people that were fighting and even though it’s not your battle you still get very upset? Well that’s the way it was. It was unbelievable! When she walked down the aisle, he stood next to her with his arms folded across his chest, and he would not even touch her to walk down the aisle. Needless to say she was very very upset. During the middle of the ceremony we had another earthquake and it was during the middle of the groom's prayer. I mean you talk about weird things, this was really really strange. So anyway, after the wedding the mother just tried to make peace, she got married and they had their nice little reception. Then literally less than six months later her mother was killed in an automobile accident and if they had not had the wedding when they did, she would not have been there. And I hate to be backing up the hearse but at the same time again sometimes we forget about the people at a wedding. Weddings are history, family history. Not just bride and groom but family history and it’s about mom’s and dad, brothers and sisters and posterity and the wonderful uniting that happen at a wedding so I think it’s just important for us to remember that on the wedding day.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>What advice would you give to newbie photographers? </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;">Humility over ability. Do not get your panties in a wad and think just because you’ve had a little bit of schooling that you don’t need to start at the bottom of the food chain and that you don’t need to be told what to do by those who have been doing it for a long time. I cannot tell you how many people want to intern with me on a regular basis and I very seldom am impressed. Because so many times they come in and it’s, “Enough of me talking about me, what do you think of me,” and it’s all about "I’ve had this school, and this schooling," and it’s not about life and about paying your dues. One of the things I’ve discovered in my 25 years that if you want to get somewhere get somebody to teach you, if you want somebody to open their doors and teach you everything they know, be somebody they want to be around. Be somebody who makes their life easier not more difficult and they will share the universe with you. You can be taught anything if you’re a humble person but if you do not have humility you will never be anything because you already think you know it all and know everything. So first and foremost I’d say learn to be humble and when you get into that studio, when you start to intern with somebody make yourself so valuable that they can’t imagine life without you and then they will treat you with respect. They will give you anything you want because you’ll be so valuable to them they won’t be able to let you go. But if you get in there and think it’s all about you and start having this attitude, let me tell you it does not play well because we don’t need them.<br />
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The future newbies that are coming on, they may want to someday go on their own so we’re training our future competitors. I personally don’t have a problem with that because if they stick it out with me, then they realize they get to do all the cool stuff and I’m stuck doing all the stupid stuff, you know like with taxes and stuff like that. There’s no job in my studio that I won’t do, when I say humility over ability that’s the motto I live by. To this day I’m always trying to circle myself with people who are better and smarter, that have more skills or different set of skills than I do. I don’t claim to be the best but I know I’m one of the best and I think that when you’re one of something there’s always something you can learn. That’s a plus not a negative, when there is something you can learn from someone else. When you do, it makes you continually grow as an artist and it means that you’re never going to reach the top and if you never reach the top that means you’re never going to go down the other side and I am never going down the other side. I’m never going to be that little old lady with all those stupid ribbons hanging around my neck talking about the picture I took in 1982. I’m just not going to be that way.<br />
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A couple of other things a newbie needs to know, they need to know an f stop from a bus stop. This is an area that so many new photographers lack skill in. They think, Oh I’ve got a good camera. They’ve been completely brain washed to believing that all they have to do is take thousands of pictures to get a good shot. Well yeah, you can give a camera to a monkey and teach him how to press the shutter and he might get a good shot too. I don’t think it’s an accident that I take good photographs. New photographers need to learn their craft, the art of posing and how to sculpt the body with light and learn how to use different f stops and shutter speeds. They need to go back to the basics of learning good photographic techniques. It’ll even help them if they’re photo journalists and they don’t prompt imagery. It doesn’t mean they don’t need to learn about quality of light or learn how to sculpt the body with light. It’s just as important, if not more important, for a photojournalist as a portrait photographer.<br />
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There are so many people coming into the photography industry these days, I mean everybody who has a camera thinks they're a photographer. Stand in line, folks. At the end of the day you may get lucky and take one or two pictures that are good. People who are still in demand, like myself even after 25 years, I’m still regarded a trendsetter and good enough to have people want me to photograph their events. It’s because when I photograph an event like a wedding, I know how to flatter the body and I don’t think there isn’t a woman in the world who wouldn't love to appear less fatter than she is. So I would say learn your craft and learn what photography is all about because it’s not about your camera. Cameras don’t take pictures, people do. I could have the same oven as Wolfgang Puck, but I can tell you there's not a way in the universe I’m going to create the same kind of meal that guy does, because I don’t have his skills. </span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Where do you look for inspiration? </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I look to movies. I love movies, in fact one of my favorite movies is Pride and Prejudice. I love the movie itself but the cinematography in the movie is absolutely beautiful. I love the lighting and I love the mood that is created by the process of the film. The whole film has an exquisite tonality about it. It just draws you in. I also draw inspiration from other photographers; Joe Buissink, Michael Van Auken, Jim Garner, <a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/2010/05/inspire-me-friday-interview-15-jerry.html">Jerry Ghionis</a> and Yervant are some of my favorite photographers for giving me inspiration. I draw inspiration from people who don’t even do the same photography as I do. For instance Costas Mallios, Skip Cohen, Don Blair, Scott Bourne who photographs nature, and animals and creatures like that. It doesn’t matter if you photograph a bride, a baby, a bird, a cat, a lion or a leopard you still have to have good photographic technique and so I just apply those concepts to whatever I’m doing.<br />
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</div></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>I</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>f you weren’t a photographer what would you be doing?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’d probably be a fashion designer. I’ve always loved fashion design and I’m crazy about fashion. When I was younger I used to make everything I wore. When my son was a young child, I used to make everything he wore. I just love fashion. I think it’s such a creative outlet and I think that’s what I would want to do if I wasn’t a photographer.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>What has been the highlight of your career?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’d have to say the highlight of my career has been having the privilege of photographing some of my closest friend's weddings or their children's weddings. That is number one for me and the reason is because some of the people in the industry that I’ve grown friendships with over the years, that could have anyone photograph their event or their children’s events have asked me to do it and that’s an incredible honor. I have won awards and stuff like print competitions, but I don’t get all woozy over that. I don’t know why but it’s not my Holy Grail. My Holy Grail is more of people coming up to me, people who I’ve influenced and seeing them become absolute shining stars, like my friends Dawn Shields and Jim Garner, who have been people who I mentored and helped over the years . I know for me that’s so much more powerful than an award.<br />
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I’m not saying those awards are not as important, they are very nice. As far as awards, the top for me would be Microsoft's Icon of Imaging award. It was huge for me because I’m the first women to become recognized as an icon for them. Being recognized as the first women to receive the Golden Eye Award from the Russian Federation for professional photographers was really important and I have to say that it’s kind of nice to be that first women recognized to do things. I like that very much and it’s probably only because I’m the oldest in the profession of women out there that are in the photography business, but hey, I don’t care!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>What has been your best marketing idea?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">The best marketing we’ve done is taking care of our vendors from our weddings. I don’t have a huge advertising budget but I spend my advertising dollars really wisely. I want to make sure my favorite vendors, my favorite catering managers all are appreciated. I will take them to dinner or send them for a weekend somewhere nice to say thank you. People are people and what I find from event planners and such is that they don’t have to refer you and they aren’t going to refer you if you make people’s lives difficult. You may be the best photographer in the universe but if you’re a jerk to work around, they’re going to find somebody else who’s easy to work with because beauty is in the eyes of the check book holder. I want to be a team player and take care of them. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>What question do you like being asked?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Do you want to go to breakfast?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>What are common mistake you see newer photographers making?</i></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">Undervaluing their services. In other words because they’ve only been photographing for two or three years they undervalue their services and they allow their clients to dictate their pricing. The most valuable piece of advice I ever got was from Denis Reggie. In 1989 I sat in a program that he delivered at WPPI. I was new in the business and I was literally starving to death. Let’s put it this way, I was so cheap I couldn’t afford to higher myself and I was giving so much product away at the end of the day I was paying the client for the privilege of photographing the event. And sometimes photographers think, “Oh I have to get some weddings under my belt to do this or that.” I would say rather than do that go intern with somebody who is a really good pro to learn the ropes. Pay your dues that way. Don’t screw up somebody’s wedding and not be well paid to do your craft. So many times photographers allow the clients to push them around and to dictate their policies, their pricing, and that’s why photography, especially wedding photography has become the garbage men of the photo industry. It’s all the shoot and burn people who shoot a wedding and burn them a disc and only charge $500 or whatever the case may be and it’s because they have no appreciation how much work goes into a wedding and they allow the client to dictate their policies and prices. I absolutely do not allow a client tell me how to run my business. I don’t allow them to tell me what I’m going to charge them. I don’t allow them to tell me when I’m going to be paid. This is my profession, it’s not my religion, it’s my profession. As a professional you wouldn’t walk into Nordstroms and go to the sales people and tell them you want to buy a shirt but only pay a third of what it’s worth. I think that’s so completely ludicrous. And because photographers are artist they do tend to let people push them around.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Tips or tricks?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">When photographing children, cat and dog toys are best for getting their attention. Make sure you have another person who’s the idiot that makes them laugh and you can stand behind the camera actually pressing the shutter. When it comes to pricing your products, make sure you build a very big profit on the front end. In other words before you show up for that wedding you are extremely well paid for your talent and not so you have to rely on selling them the pictures after the fact because that’s not going to happen. It’s just too easy for people to copy our work these days. It’s not how much you charge, it’s what you get to keep. What does that mean? That doesn’t mean I’m telling you to charge thousands and thousands of dollars to do your job, just make sure that you have no more than 20% cost of goods in that. In other words, you want to make sure that what’s costing you to do that job is a very insignificant part of that so you can be really well paid for your talent and keep it simple. Keep your pricing simple so you don’t have to be a freaking rocket scientist to figure it out. And also, I can say this is probably the most important thing, remember who your client is. It’s women, not men, so don’t get analytical about it. Find a way to make images that are emotion evoking because at the end of the day it’s the bride and her mother that make the decisions, not the dad. Unfortunately, he just shuts up and writes the checks. So remember to create images that are emotional, that grab attention and put images on your website that are different and not pictures that you can see anywhere. If you have the same picture, like the bride and groom standing at the alter looking at the camera, bride and groom looking at each other, from behind walking down the path, I’m sorry but there are about 2500 other photographers that show the same thing on their website and all you’ve done is give the client a reason to go find a photographer who is the cheapest. Then it’s about buying a carton of eggs not buying your talent.<br />
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</div><div style="color: #cc6600; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Any books, DVDs, or workshops you can recommend?</div></div><div class="MsoNormal">I actually have three books that are co written with Skip Cohen and published through Random House now,<i> The Art of Wedding Photography, The Art of Digital Wedding Photography, The Art of People Photography (see below for links),</i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> and I’m currently writing my fourth book which will come out next year published by Random House which is going to be called <i>The Language of Lighting and Posing</i>. As far as workshops go, there are a couple of educational programs that are coming up that any person should never miss: <a href="http://mei500.com/archives/40">Skip's Summer School</a> is going to take place August 9-11, in Las Vegas. Mother says don’t miss it. I’m also going to be part of WPPI’s road show. If you go to <a href="http://www4.wppionline.com/roadtrip/rt10/index.php">wppinow.com</a> you can find out more about it. <a href="http://www.photoplusexpo.com/">Photoplus</a> in New York on the last week in October is a venue that I never miss and I absolutely plan my calendar around <a href="http://www.wppionline.com/">WPPI</a> every year. I will not miss that. It is the most important, educational venue out there and I have not missed one since 1989. I wouldn’t be where I’m at without that educational forum.<br />
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I’m kind of a proponent for education. It’s so important that we constantly grow. I just took a landscape class from <a href="http://scottbourne.com/">Scott Bourne</a>, and I think it's important to push yourself and some people think, “Oh I only photograph children, that doesn’t apply to me,” when in reality people are people. You can learn things from any instructor. So I am a really really big proponent for taking educational programs. I’m going to cut back on teaching next year. I’m going to spend more time in my studio next year.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><i>If you had one super power what would it be?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">The power of subtlety. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><i>Bambi on the web:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><a href="http://www.cantrellportrait.com/">Cantrell Portraits Website</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><a href="http://cantrellportrait.com/blog/">Bambi Cantrell's Blog</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=638486867&ref=ts">Bambi on Facebook</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><a href="http://twitter.com/bambicantrell">Bambi on Twitter</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"> <iframe class=" zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=go4pr-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0817455671&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: left; width: 131px;"></iframe> <iframe class=" zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=go4pr-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0817433244&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: left; width: 131px;"></iframe> <iframe class=" zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt zplvczjfepwxxnqszbbt" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=go4pr-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0817433252&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: left; width: 131px;"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
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</span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-59575583199862607402010-07-15T05:00:00.000-07:002010-07-15T08:42:26.504-07:00Inspired Branding - Pink Perfection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD6taGdTeWI/AAAAAAAACzo/ImEAegl25hc/s1600/Pinkberry_Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's another installment of Inspired Branding! I just finished designing this logo for Taylor of <a href="http://www.pinkberryphoto.com/">Pinkberry Photography</a> and after designing her brand new logo and pouring through the latest Pottery Barn Kids Catalog I knew exactly where my inspiration was coming from today! I hope you enjoy some sweet pink perfection... </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD6taGdTeWI/AAAAAAAACzo/ImEAegl25hc/s1600/Pinkberry_Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD6taGdTeWI/AAAAAAAACzo/ImEAegl25hc/s640/Pinkberry_Logo.png" border="0" height="432" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD6tO0fY0wI/AAAAAAAACzg/K1Id3dfd6Gg/s1600/Go4Pro_IB-pink+perfection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD6tO0fY0wI/AAAAAAAACzg/K1Id3dfd6Gg/s640/Go4Pro_IB-pink+perfection.jpg" border="0" height="640" width="494" /></a></div><br />Resource List:<br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/49903623/set-of-6pink-birdiehang">Pink Birdie - Hanging Tag by Paper Eclectiques (Etsy)</a><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/48750492/digital-papers-for-scrapbooking-card">Paper Pack - Tracy Ann Digital Art (Etsy)</a><br /><a href="http://www.ricestudiosupplies.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3_26">Rice Studio Supplies - Matte White Euro Tote</a><br /><a href="http://www.ricestudiosupplies.com/index.php?main_page=product_reviews_info&products_id=391&reviews_id=39&zenid=b52e1277246c5039e57c17de587ea3e3">Rice Studio Supplies - Window Front CD Folio</a><br /><a href="http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/color/10-envelopes/2506.001/110.html">Paper Source - #10 Envelope (chartreuse)</a><br /><a href="http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/color/8-1-2-x-11-Cover/2505.131/833.html">Paper Cource - 8 1/2 x11 Cardstock (blossom)</a><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/51319288/aged-labels-png-and-printable-perfect?ref=sr_list_11&ga_search_query=printable+address+labels&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title">Label - Tracy Ann Digital Art (Etsy)</a><br /><a href="http://www.nashvillewraps.com/eco-friendly-packaging/gift-boxes/c-051111.html">Nashville Wraps - Eco Friendly Nesting Boxes</a><br /><a href="http://www.nashvillewraps.com/tissue-paper/wholesale-tissue-paper/dark-pink-tissue-paper/sku-ct2hdp.html">Nashville Wraps - Pink Tissue Paper</a><br /><a href="http://www.mayarts.com/store/solids/product/368-15x30y-faux-linen/">MayArts -Faux Linen Ribbon (368-15-17)</a><br /><a href="http://www.mayarts.com/store/new-arrivals/product/xl-1x15y-faux-suede-leaves/">MayArts-Faux Suede Ribbon (XL16)</a><br /><a href="http://www.addictedtoscrapbooking.com/ProductDetail?ProductDetail.SKU=6-758-454986&ProductDetail.ListIndex=201">Addicted to Scrapbooking - Flower Embellishment</a><br /><a href="http://www.go4prophotosshop.com/2010/05/photographers-logo-design.html">Logo - Custom Design by Leah Remillet </a> (sold)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD6uiOakgsI/AAAAAAAACzw/7ppVHTlZp0g/s1600/go4pro+sig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD6uiOakgsI/AAAAAAAACzw/7ppVHTlZp0g/s400/go4pro+sig.png" border="0" height="143" width="400" /></a></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-41488904177836484422010-07-14T06:00:00.001-07:002010-07-19T09:22:02.014-07:00Birthday wishes to Paperie Boutique with gifts for you!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD1DYtEdDdI/AAAAAAAACzA/zVbeFxDHW0s/s1600/Paperie%27s+Bday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD1DYtEdDdI/AAAAAAAACzA/zVbeFxDHW0s/s640/Paperie%27s+Bday.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Not only do I absolutely love <a href="http://paperieboutique.com/">Paperie Boutique</a> because it is completely inspiring but Robyn (the creator) is positively fantastic as well and so worth celebrating. Knowing that, it's easy to see why I'm super excited to help celebrate Paperie's birthday with a free download and a GIVEAWAY for all of you! Because come on who of us haven't felt a little green with envy when all we get to do is watch while the birthday kids tears through the wrapping paper?<br />
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First for the free download! I thought it was fitting that I design a 1 year birthday card and those adorable digital designs on the back are from the ever awesome <a href="http://sassy-designs.net/">Sassy Designs</a>. It's layered to be used for a boy or girl! You can download the card <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?ui4mmkkqzgtcyjm">HERE</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD1QRWAIRUI/AAAAAAAACzI/ooTScglmtoU/s1600/Go4Pro+-+1yr+Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD1QRWAIRUI/AAAAAAAACzI/ooTScglmtoU/s640/Go4Pro+-+1yr+Card.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Next I'd like to offer two lucky celebrators each a gift. Our first winner will receive your choice of either the Paysen or Adi Ultimate Marketing Kit and the 2nd birthday guest will win the iPhone Collection!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD1ThgQscLI/AAAAAAAACzQ/pFWaDenRKn8/s1600/0.Preview_PaysenMarkKit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="554" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD1ThgQscLI/AAAAAAAACzQ/pFWaDenRKn8/s640/0.Preview_PaysenMarkKit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD1WrAsr5FI/AAAAAAAACzY/Z-mgOJ-CAwc/s1600/Go4ProPhotos+Custom+iPhone+Case+Template+Collection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TD1WrAsr5FI/AAAAAAAACzY/Z-mgOJ-CAwc/s640/Go4ProPhotos+Custom+iPhone+Case+Template+Collection.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">All you have to do to enter in this </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">birthday giveawa</span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">y</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> is follow Go{4}Pro on </span></span><a href="http://twitter.com/Go4ProPhotos"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">twitter</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> and/or</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Go4Pro-Photos/128521410492393"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">. Then just leave a comment here wishing Paperie a Happy Birthday! The winner will be announced on Monday morning. Make sure I'll be able to find your email in case you win!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Good Luck and Happy Birthday to </span></span><a href="http://paperieboutique.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Paperie Boutique</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">CLOSED</span></span></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com149tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-84600796504543177432010-07-13T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-13T08:44:17.090-07:00Creativity isn't dead!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif;font-size:13px;" ></span><br /><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-308" mce_src="http://www.mobilefotographer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/JanvonHollenbe-thePhotographer.jpg" src="http://www.mobilefotographer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/JanvonHollenbe-thePhotographer.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="JanvonHollenbe-thePhotographer" height="365" width="548" /><br />It's sad to imagine a world where nothing new could ever be created again, where everything would always be a remake of another persons genius (hear the violin sadly play soft cords?)... It's also completely ridiculous and I seriously can't believe that people walk around thinking this way (now the hard electric guitar starts bashing down)! It seems to me that it falls under the old 'half empty' or 'half full' idea. While I do believe that all great ideas stem from influence, that doesn't mean that they are all lacking creativity. Einstein said, "The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources". Take these images below and above, the concept certainly stems from wonderful stories we are all familiar with but the execution is completely original and like nothing anyone had ever seen before Jan von Holleben. It's liberating to believe that something amazing is still waiting to be created!<br /><a href="http://www.janvonholleben.com/?page_id=2" mce_href="http://www.janvonholleben.com/?page_id=2">Jan von Holleben</a> is one believer who knows that creativity and originality are alive and well!<br /><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-309" mce_src="http://www.mobilefotographer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/janvonholleben1.jpg" src="http://www.mobilefotographer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/janvonholleben1.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="janvonholleben1" height="368" width="548" /><br /><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-310" mce_src="http://www.mobilefotographer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/JonVon2.jpg" src="http://www.mobilefotographer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/JonVon2.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="JonVon2" height="368" width="559" /><br /><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-311" mce_src="http://www.mobilefotographer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/JonVon3.jpg" src="http://www.mobilefotographer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/JonVon3.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="JonVon3" height="368" width="564" /><br />So tell me... Is originality extinct in your mind? Who's someone (even you perhaps) that's doing something that is stretching the fabric of creativity? Because I believe that originality is alive and well and if we push ourselves, we'll find it!<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 26, 139);"><br /></span>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-69690616332809023672010-07-12T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-12T12:51:50.799-07:00Checking email while doing your business while planning for dinner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TDp1cUMlh7I/AAAAAAAACyw/bs1gxh1JTZU/s1600/multitasking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TDp1cUMlh7I/AAAAAAAACyw/bs1gxh1JTZU/s400/multitasking.jpg" width="294" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Image from </span><a href="https://blogs.communication.utexas.edu/groups/thetimesofourlives/weblog/715f9/images/7c38b.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm serious about getting organized and actually feeling like I have it together. Not just a little serious, I'm super serious. Seriously. Sometimes I can't help but wonder if I'm the only one this crazy? The only person hard wired with traits that I both love and despise about myself. I'm intense, I do everything with a zealous vigor that rivals 2 young missionaries holding the Book of Mormon at your door (by the way - be nice to them, they are good boys who are far from home). I don't know how to do things half way, I'm not even kidding, I have no idea how to just roll with it. I'm either flat on my back or I'm running as hard and fast as I can with no intention of stopping until the treadmill throws me off. I was asked recently how I do it all, I've been avoiding the question because I'm embarrassed to say. Am I alone? I'll go ahead and jump off my soap box now. Today's post is a collaboration of ideas I've <a href="http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/blog/time-management-tips-and-techniques">found</a> and thought up for my personal needs about better time management. I wanted to pass some of them over to you. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Touch it once. I've talked about this before (it's something my dad taught me) and I think it's so obvious and yet so overlooked (especially by me) that I want to say it again. Ready? Touch it once! In other words when something drops into your hands, voice mail or inbox take care of it immediately and say no to unmanageable stacks of to do's that are cluttering your thoughts and workspace. Let's ALL say yes to this one, because - come on - we all know it's going to make life better, right? Of course we do! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Make a list and check it twice. Santa Claus is on to something and I think it's worth our taking heed. I'm proud to say I think I actually came up with this one all by my little ol' self. I can't usually take credit, inspiration is usually recycled on some level. Ever since I've started doing this I've been amazed at how much better my day starts off. Before you end the workday, make a list of what you need/want to accomplish in order of priority for the next day! Think about it! Instead of sitting down to your computer and trying to flip through the mental list to figure out where you should start - and take the chance of forgetting something crucial you needed to do (we've all done it!) have a plan before your da<span style="font-family: arial;">y begins. You won't believe how your productivity will soar with this simple little idea. You'll be re</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;">ady to tackle the d</span><span style="font-family: arial;">a</span>y feeling in control and mentally prepared to handle what's ahead. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 100%;">3. Stop Multitasking. According to </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.davecrenshaw.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Dave Crenshaw</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 100%;">, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whenever you try to accomplish more than one task that requires effort and attention, you are really switchtasking: switching rapidly back and forth between the tasks. Whenever you switchtask, you incur switching costs, the transition time and energy it takes to transition from one to the other. Anyone who can reduce the number of switches in their day will get more done in less time, with less mistakes and less stress than the person who switchtasks."</span></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Use your down time. There are things I have to do such as write blog posts, answer emails, edit photos, fold laundry, clean the kitchen, etc. etc. etc. And there are things I want to do, like take the kids to the park, read a book, blog stalk, try a new recipe. But so often I let the have to's trump the want to's even though some of my want to's (like taking the kids to the park) are far more important. I have started looking for opportunities to use down time to make both happen. For example I've given up on paperbacks and gone to audio books - now they are loaded on my iPhone and I can listen and be inspired while I unload the dishwasher, sort laundry or make the 3 hr. drive to Seattle for shoots. Another way I'm making this happen is by using my laptop. I am very blessed to have a wonderful husband who understands and supports my desire to be able to "do" the 2 things I love - my children and photography/Go{4}Pro, so he has helped me find ways to make it all more manageable. The most recent being my new MacBook Pro that I'm typing on right now. I'm in love because I can work on a blog post while we sit at the park or search out blog ideas while I sit on the floor in the kids rooms and most importantly, work somewhere other than in my office. </span></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. I think I can. When I was in 4th and 5th grade I played softball. I was really, really bad. No really, they asked me not to swing and hoped that my tiny frame crouched in the batters position would be enough to get me to base because my skill certainly was not going to get me there. During these "sport" years, my mom bought me a little train, when you squeezed it he chugged, 'I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. Chooo, chooo. I thought I could'. Try self coaching yourself (out loud) as to what you are going to accomplish and that you know you can do it. And confirm to yourself after you've accomplished the task - tell yourself (still out loud) when you've done a great job. Self affirmation is a powerful tool to make your time positive and effective. Oprah said so. ;) </span></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 100%; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Pray. I know that we have a loving Father in Heaven who hears all our prayers and I believe that He loves and pays special care to mothers. My mother-in-law recently told me that when her kids were small and she had an especially difficult day ahead with way too much she needed to do, that in her morning prayers she would ask Heavenly Father to slow time and help her accomplish all that was required without creating negative affect on her children. It certainly can't hurt to try it! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-53153694609001379582010-07-09T10:43:00.000-07:002010-07-09T11:20:47.907-07:00I'm on a video kick - I know...Okay... So this was not supposed to be day 3 of video posts, it's supposed to be Inspire Me Friday and our next interview is going to be incredible!! We had a little hick-up though and it won't publish till next Friday (so so sorry). In the mean time, here's a hint to let you know who it will be...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11675067&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11675067&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="225" width="400"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/11675067">Posing School</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3795904">Bambi Cantrell</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TDdevBGYhBI/AAAAAAAACyo/LbxKOKkywGs/s1600/Go4Pro+WorkshopAd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TDdevBGYhBI/AAAAAAAACyo/LbxKOKkywGs/s200/Go4Pro+WorkshopAd.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="103" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Note about the <a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/2010/07/go4pro-building-biz-workshop-aug-20-21.html">workshop</a>:</b> Also want to remind you to get your spot at the Seattle Summer Workshop for Aug 20& 21. I'm so excited to share it all and give you the tools to bring your business into the next level! We are artists but we don't have to be starving and I'm going to give you everything you need to make sure that doesn't happen! </div><div style="text-align: left;">Plus because I'm all about service that extends to my fellow photographers, we're trying to make sure we're able to pick you up from the airport and getting you to your hotel not to mention you pretty much don't need to worry about food except for maybe a midnight snack. If you have questions, email <a href="mailto:go4prophotos.info@gmail.com">Kathy</a> and she can help you will travel arrangements and details. It's going to be awesome!! It's my goal to make the value of this workshop so above and beyond what you invest in it - You want to be there!! </div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-6448183437315188292010-07-08T15:10:00.000-07:002010-07-08T15:10:18.741-07:00The iPhone Fashion ShootIt's a double post today because I've already had two readers send me this video. Completely agree that it's a must share. As Amy Pinney said, "It's inspirational, it's actually kind of informative without trying to be, and it's highly entertaining. My new place to go when I feel like me and my poor little rebel JUST aren't good enough...."<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13081827&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13081827&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/13081827"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The iPhone Fashion Shoot - Lee Morris Shoots With The 3GS Fstoppers</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> from </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/user3003221"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">FStoppers</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-247007322865031612010-07-08T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-08T06:00:10.500-07:00I've schedule a session, what should I expect? VIDEOThis video that I'm showing today obviously was not intended for the photographer but rather the client but that's exactly why I think it's worth sharing. Sometimes we (the photographer) can forget what it's like to be on the other side of the camera. All you have to do is have your own family pictures done and you will quickly recall that it can be extremely intimidating! You can read all about my own last family photo shoot and being on the flip side <a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/2010/02/other-side.html">with Shannon Sewell here</a>.<br />
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As you watch this video, may I suggest that you think about and ask yourself three questions.<br />
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1. Am I helping my clients feel ready and comfortable for their session?<br />
2. Could I create something that would help prepare my clients for their session? What about creating your own video or pamphlet that would point out what they could expect and how to prepare. I'm seriously thinking about making a video! I really think my clients would find that extremely helpful!<br />
3. Am I ensuring that my clients have reasonable expectations of what they will get from their session?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VCoEri4O9XY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VCoEri4O9XY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Funny side note: As I watched the video, I was like hey wait, </span><a href="http://www.tumbleweedphotography.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">this guy</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is shooting in The Portland Rose Gardens (I've shot there too). It's so funny how often the people I find happen to be local to me. </span></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-47158682345584475482010-07-07T06:00:00.001-07:002010-07-08T15:12:09.264-07:00Inspired Branding - Coastal<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every once in a while I'm walking down an aisle at Target or maybe checking out a cool design blog or looking through a fun little shop and all of a sudden a whole business design concept comes to fruition in my head. Sometimes I think it would be so fun to be a "decorator" for businesses. Helping them create that awesome look from the logo to the website to the welcome kit and on through to the packaging. Something that is cohesive with who they are and want to be! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the same time, I've been trying to come up with ideas for regular and semi regular things to share on Go{4}Pro. Now that I find myself writing 5 days a week again, I'll admit I'm feeling a little perplexed for content. (If you would like to make a suggestion or write a guest post, just let me know!) I wanted to come up with something unique that wouldn't take a ton of reading time (for your sake) and would just be fun to look at - something for the creative soul inside each of us and that's where the idea for 'Inspired Branding' came from. So here is a mock up of my 1st Inspired Branding. As you can see the inspiration came from the fabulous little boy's nursery and than how I turned it into a business concept to run with. And yes that logo is available for whoever snags it first! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TDQPvQGBmII/AAAAAAAACx4/LDU35SeZExA/s1600/Branding+Inspiration-Coastal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TDQPvQGBmII/AAAAAAAACx4/LDU35SeZExA/s640/Branding+Inspiration-Coastal.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wouldn't this look be just perfect for a Coastal State Photographer?! I constantly see a lot of children's photographers do pink and while it is absolutely adorable it does kind of alienate all the boy moms. Here is a design-start for a boy mom photographer who lives in a beautiful coastal town somewhere on the East Coast (and least that's what I envision) - Can't you just see the stunning images of little boys and girls running through waves and flying bright colored kites to go on the home page of this businesses website?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Product Source: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paper Source: </span></span><a href="http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/color/string-button-envelopes/2505.111/116.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Red Presentation Envelope</span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paper Source: </span></span><a href="http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/Lake-Red-Hangtag-Labels/2505.153/37199924.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Air Mail Hand Tag Label</span></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ricestudiosupplies.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_72&products_id=66"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Rice Studio: CD Round Tin</span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://sassy-designs.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=32&zenid=c9051e8d114b43ded63865663d95dd69"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sassy Designs: Gazpacho</span></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mayarts.com/store/grosgrain/product/336-38-38x50y-grosgraindiagonal-stripes/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">May Arts Grosgrain Diagonal Stripes</span></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mayarts.com/store/wired/product/bg-15x25y-grosgrainwired/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">May Arts Grosgrain 3/4" Red</span></a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/50964303/label-tag"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Etsy - Label Tag by EveryJotandTittle</span></a></span></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Logo - Created by Leah of Go{4}Pro ($125)</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you would like to share your own Inspired Branding, I'd love to see it and showcase it on Go{4}Pro! Or if you have something you'd like to see Inspired Branding drawn from I can try to create something for you. Just <a href="mailto:go4prophotos@gmail.com">EMAIL me</a> with the subject 'Inspired Branding Idea'! </span></div></div></span><br />
<div></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-91970240057947722302010-07-06T07:56:00.000-07:002010-07-06T07:56:48.128-07:00The Go{4}Pro Workshop } Audio Post 3This week I'm excited to talk a little more about the upcoming workshop that is taking place in Seattle, Wa. this summer Aug 20th and 21st. I can't wait to share everything thats in my head at the 1st Go{4}Pro Workshop!! Here's a little peak into what you can expect at the workshop!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SQB3s751C_4&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SQB3s751C_4&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-4346442721287403192010-07-05T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-05T06:00:09.071-07:00The 5 Skill Levels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TBQDyhQ1LsI/AAAAAAAACrY/dhgimMwAKjE/s1600/3521403644_8027d9a727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TBQDyhQ1LsI/AAAAAAAACrY/dhgimMwAKjE/s640/3521403644_8027d9a727.jpg" width="640" /></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Found on Flickr, Photographed by </span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/To%20understand%20how%20that%20works,%20let%E2%80%99s%20turn%20to%20the%20ideas%20developed%20by%20brothers%20Hubert%20and%20Stuart%20Dreyfus%20in%20the%20early%2080s,%20the%20Dreyfus%20model%20of%20skill%20acquisition.%20Their%20model%20breaks%20down%20the%20journey%20to%20mastery%20in%20five%20discrete%20stages,%20outlining%20what%E2%80%99s%20necessary%20to%20improve%20at%20each%20of%20them.%20Let%E2%80%99s%20see.%20%20The%205%20Skill%20Levels%201.%20Novices%20The%20main%20goal%20of%20novices%20is%20to%20accomplish%20immediate%20tasks.%20Since%20they%20have%20little%20or%20no%20previous%20experience,%20they%E2%80%99re%20usually%20insecure%20and%20are%20focused%20only%20on%20having%20their%20first%20successes.%20Novices%20need%20clear%20rules%20and%20unambiguous%20instructions,%20and%20to%20concentrate%20on%20following%20them%20strictly.%20As%20such,%20they%20commonly%20don%E2%80%99t%20feel%20responsible%20for%20anything%20other%20than%20correctly%20following%20what%20was%20passed%20to%20them%20(%E2%80%9CI%E2%80%99m%20just%20following%20orders!%E2%80%9D).%20%20To%20improve,%20novices%20usually%20need%20close%20monitoring%20to%20bring%20their%20actions%20as%20close%20as%20possible%20to%20achieve%20what%20is%20expected%20by%20adhering%20to%20the%20rules.%20%202.%20Advanced%20Beginners%20Advanced%20beginners%20still%20operate%20following%20rules,%20but%20they%E2%80%99re%20able%20to%20apply%20them%20not%20only%20on%20the%20exact%20situations%20that%20they%20were%20intended%20for,%20but%20also%20on%20similar%20contexts.%20The%20once-rigid%20rules%20become%20more%20like%20guidelines.%20Advanced%20beginners%20try%20new%20things%20out,%20but%20still%20have%20difficulty%20troubleshooting%20problems.%20Just%20like%20novices,%20they%E2%80%99re%20still%20focused%20on%20completing%20tasks%20%E2%80%94%20they%20don%E2%80%99t%20want%20lengthy%20theorizing%20and%20don%E2%80%99t%20have%20much%20interest%20in%20the%20big%20picture.%20%20To%20improve,%20advanced%20beginners%20need%20to%20gain%20experience%20dealing%20with%20real%20situations,%20preferably%20in%20limited%20and%20controlled%20situations%20(with%20much%20of%20the%20%E2%80%98real-world%20complexity%E2%80%99%20filtered%20out).%20%203.%20Competent%20As%20the%20rules%20and%20guidelines%20become%20prohibitively%20complex,%20practitioners%20begin%20organizing%20and%20sorting%20them%20by%20relevance,%20forming%20conceptual%20models.%20Competent%20practitioners%20can%20troubleshoot%20problems,%20and%20will%20work%20based%20on%20deliberate%20planning%20and%20past%20experience.%20They%20are%20willing%20to%20make%20decisions%20and%20to%20accept%20responsibility%20for%20their%20outcomes.%20%20To%20improve,%20competent%20practitioners%20need%20exposure%20to%20a%20wide%20variety%20of%20typical,%20real-world,%20%E2%80%98whole%E2%80%99%20situations.%20By%20dealing%20with%20those,%20they%20better%20grasp%20the%20connections%20between%20the%20isolated%20conceptual%20models%20they%20already%20use.%20%204.%20Proficient%20Proficient%20practitioners%20create%20not%20only%20conceptual%20models,%20but%20a%20conceptual%20framework%20around%20their%20whole%20skill.%20They%20want%20the%20big%20picture,%20and%20become%20frustrated%20with%20oversimplified%20information.%20They%E2%80%99re%20conscious%20of%20their%20performance%20and%20can%20adjust%20their%20behaviors%20accordingly.%20They%20can%20also%20use%20and%20adapt%20others%E2%80%99%20experiences,%20as%20well%20as%20grasp%20and%20apply%20maxims%20%E2%80%94%20which%20require%20much%20more%20sophisticated%20interpretation%20than%20mere%20rules%20or%20guidelines%20(as%20they%E2%80%99re%20much%20more%20generic%20and%20context-dependent).%20%20To%20advance%20to%20the%20fifth%20and%20last%20level,%20proficient%20practitioners%20need%20even%20more%20practice%20%E2%80%94%20lots%20of%20it.%20And,%20as%20much%20as%20possible,%20they%20should%20practice%20without%20being%20hindered%20by%20policies%20or%20guidelines.%20The%20intuition%20of%20the%20expert%20starts%20with%20a%20vast%20pool%20of%20practical%20knowledge,%20and%20that%20can%20only%20be%20developed%20by%20experimenting%20freely.%20%205.%20Experts%20The%20hallmark%20of%20experts%20is%20intuition:%20they%20just%20do%20what%20works%20%E2%80%94%20no%20explicit%20analysis%20or%20planning%20is%20involved.%20While%20proficient%20practitioners%20can%20intuitively%20identify%20problems,%20experts%20can%20go%20and%20intuitively%20solve%20them.%20They%20tap%20into%20their%20vast%20pool%20of%20knowledge%20and%20effortlessly%20identify%20patterns,%20applying%20solutions%20in%20context.%20Although%20experts%20are%20amazingly%20intuitive,%20they%20are%20usually%20rather%20inarticulate%20in%20explaining%20how%20they%20arrived%20at%20a%20conclusion.%20%20Although%20technically%20this%20is%20the%20last%20stage%20in%20the%20model,%20experts%20never%20cease%20to%20practice%20and%20evolve%20in%20subtle%20ways,%20incorporating%20rarer%20and%20exceptional%20cases%20in%20their%20knowledge%20pool."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole Lee</span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love cheese. Seriously, I really really enjoy cheese, I even believe that sometimes a cheese plate is just as delicious as chocolate for dessert. Let me tell you what I know about cheese (stay with me, their is a point here) I know that they are always sorry when they say, "say when" at Olive Garden and typically decide to cut me off before I actually said, "when". I also know that I love aged, nutty cheeses most and that fresh parmesan that you grade yourself in the only way to go... And thats become much easier since getting my cool </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Microplane-40020-Grater-Zester/dp/B00004S7V8?ie=UTF8&tag=go4pr-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cheese grater</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=go4pr-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00004S7V8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> doo-hickey last Christmas. I know a little more about cheese than that, but it's not going to impress you very much! Now my brother-in-law, Dan... He loves cheese too, he's a cheese connoisseur and the two of us always get caught in the cheese section if we have to run into the grocery store (in fact they rarely let us go in together anymore) and we can seriously waste some time in that fabulous </span></span><a href="http://www.cheesemongersshop.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cheese shop</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in </span></span><a href="http://www.leavenworth.org/modules/pages/index.php?pageid=1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leavenworth, WA</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> while the rest of the family just shrugs their shoulders at us. He tells me all about the different types, he pronounces the names properly and he knows what pairs nicely with what. He knows cheese... At the very least, he knows cheese much more than I do. Now last time we went to </span></span><a href="http://www.cheesemongersshop.com/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Cheesemonger Shop in Leavenworth</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, we talked with Dave Hableton (he owns the shop) and while Dan wowed me with his pronunciation, Dave took it one step further and wowed us with the story behind each cheese - telling us of it's origin and how it was made, describing the aging process and more. Dave in a cheese expert and he should be! So we have me; the cheese novice... Dan, the cheese proficienaddo and Dave, the cheese expert. Now let me help try to turn this into actually having something to do with photography. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each of us has a different skill level when it comes to our camera, light, composition, posing, editing and so much more. Some have mastered all of their craft, others are just beginning while most of us are somewhere in the middle. We are all working to progress with in our craft. I love to see things, I don't like broad umbrella statements. I like to know exactly where I fit in the puzzle, which is why I find the Dreyfus model intriguing and thought you might too. I have a love/hate relationship with being able to track exactly where my progress is at. I love it because it allows me to recognize exactly where there is room for improvement. I hate it because it can often leave me feeling discouraged. But discouragement was never a reason to ignore opportunity for self assessed improvement and so I asses and than listen to my post on <a href="http://www.go4prophotos.com/2010/06/handling-feelings-of-discouragement.html">how to bounce back from the funk</a> I just put myself in. ;) </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This model is of course applicable to any subject but I would like to examine the model in terms of photography. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two brothers, Hubert and Stuart Dreyfus deveoped an idea on the various levels of skill in the early 80s with the </span></span><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreyfus_model_of_skill_acquisition"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dreyfus model of skill acquisition</span></a></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Their model breaks down the journey to mastery in five discrete stages, outlining what’s necessary to improve at each of them. Let's each take a self reflective look... </span></span></span><br />
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<h2 style="color: #444444; font-size: 2em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 5 Skill Levels</span></h2><h3 style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Novices</span></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main goal of novices is to accomplish immediate tasks. Since they have little or no previous experience, they’re usually insecure and are focused only on having their first successes. Novices need clear rules and </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">unambiguous instructions</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and to concentrate on following them strictly. As such, they commonly don’t feel responsible for anything other than correctly following what was passed to them (“I’m just following orders!”).</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To improve, novices usually need close monitoring to bring their actions as close as possible to achieve what is expected by adhering to the rules.</span></span></div><h3 style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Advanced Beginners</span></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Advanced beginners still operate following rules, but they’re able to apply them not only on the exact situations that they were intended for, but also on similar contexts. The once-rigid rules become more like </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">guidelines</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Advanced beginners try new things out, but still have difficulty troubleshooting problems. Just like novices, they’re still focused on </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">completing tasks</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> — they don’t want lengthy theorizing and don’t have much interest in the big picture.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To improve, advanced beginners need to gain experience dealing with real situations, preferably in limited and controlled situations (with much of the ‘real-world complexity’ filtered out).</span></span></div><h3 style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Competent</span></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the rules and guidelines become prohibitively complex, practitioners begin organizing and sorting them by relevance, forming </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">conceptual models</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Competent practitioners can troubleshoot problems, and will work based on deliberate planning and past experience. They are willing to make decisions and to accept responsibility for their outcomes.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To improve, competent practitioners need exposure to a wide variety of typical, real-world, ‘whole’ situations. By dealing with those, they better grasp the connections between the isolated conceptual models they already use.</span></span></div><h3 style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Proficient</span></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proficient practitioners create not only conceptual models, but a </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">conceptual framework around their whole skill</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. They want the big picture, and become frustrated with oversimplified information. They’re conscious of their performance and can adjust their behaviors accordingly. They can also use and adapt others’ experiences, as well as grasp and apply</span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">maxims</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> — which require much more sophisticated interpretation than mere rules or guidelines (as they’re much more generic and context-dependent).</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To advance to the fifth and last level, proficient practitioners need even more practice — lots of it. And, as much as possible, they should practice without being hindered by policies or guidelines. The intuition of the expert starts with a vast pool of practical knowledge, and that can only be developed by experimenting freely.</span></span></div><h3 style="color: #444444; font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Experts</span></h3><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hallmark of experts is </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">intuition</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: they just do what </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">works</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> — no explicit analysis or planning is involved. While proficient practitioners can intuitively </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">identify</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> problems, experts can go and intuitively </span><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">solve</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> them. They tap into their vast pool of knowledge and effortlessly identify patterns, applying solutions in context. Although experts are amazingly intuitive, they are usually rather inarticulate in explaining how they arrived at a conclusion.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 13px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although technically this is the last stage in the model, experts never cease to practice and evolve in subtle ways, incorporating rarer and exceptional cases in their knowledge pool.</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are the questions that I would like to raise to you... </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Take a good honest look, where do you feel you are today? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Where would you like to be in 1 year? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Between the scale of 1-5 given above, where do you believe a photographer should be to justifiably call themselves professional? </span><br />
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</i></div>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-63305615746822945322010-07-02T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-02T11:44:36.060-07:00Go{4}Pro Building the Biz WORKSHOP! (Aug 20-21)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TCw4NJ71NKI/AAAAAAAACxw/gmzTLSrk-iM/s1600/Go4Pro+Workshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OYJatNhWdRY/TCw4NJ71NKI/AAAAAAAACxw/gmzTLSrk-iM/s640/Go4Pro+Workshop.jpg" border="0" height="236" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You've been asking, so here's the answer.... I’m really excited to offer the very 1st Go{4}Pro Workshop with me, <a href="http://leahremilletphotography.com/">Leah Remillet</a>. Join me for an intimate workshop in beautiful Seattle. We will be overlooking the Space Needle while you enjoy new friends, great food and of course a hearty helping of inspiration for your business! This workshop isn’t your ordinary workshop. It's not about shooting, it's not about Photoshop, it's about </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">making it</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">loving it</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> with your photography business! In a phrase, it’s ALL about building your business! We will be diving into all things business and working through ideas on how to make your business successful! It's my goal that you will walk away from the workshop knowing exactly how to increase your income by hundreds and maybe even thousands by your next shoot! (Yes, I mean it!!)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What this workshop isn't: It's not me teaching you how to take better pictures. There are a thousand other (better) photographers for that.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What this workshop is: I'm spilling it and telling you everything I've done to build my business and how you can take those same ideas and build yours. We will walk through every step of the process from initial contact (site/blog and what's important) to the first email/phone call, welcome packet, planning for the session, preparing for the sale, the importance of in-person ordering and how you keep them coming back again and again and telling ALL their friends about you! <i>I'm sharing all of it with you!</i></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The workshop will be broken into 4 sections: </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Building </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">your </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Boutique</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Marketing that Matters</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Planning for Success</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Projecting for Serious Sales</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Itinerary - August 20th & 21st!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">August 20th, Friday Night: Get to know the group and enjoy Heavy h</span><span style="font-family: Times; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ors d'oeuvres</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> (optional)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">August 21st, Saturday Morning: Light Breakfast. Dive into Building a Boutique & Marketing that Matters</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lunch at Pike Place Market & a Photo Walk </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Saturday Afternoon: Planning for Success & Projecting for </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Serious Sales with a Full Demonstration.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What you walk away with!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This workshop is designed as an investment in your businesses success. You will walk away with the confidence you need to take your business forward (immediately)! I'm going to share and talk about everything I know to help you make your business successful, the tools will be in your hands! And who doesn't love free stuff? We will have amazing giveaways from our sponsors along with an in depth workshop workbook and sponsor goody bags with hundreds of dollars worth of awesome stuff inside! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is very limited spacing so when it's full, it's full! So, what you've been waiting for? Oh, you want to know how much it's going to cost? A lot less than you'd think!</span><br /><span style=";font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" class="Apple-style-span" >The 1st Go{4}Pro workshop is going to be offered at an introductory price of $400. It may never be this cheap again. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Go{4}Pro Workshop - Building the Biz!</span></div><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><input name="cmd" value="_xclick" type="hidden"><br /><input name="business" value="go4prophotos@gmail.com" type="hidden"><br /><input name="lc" value="US" type="hidden"><br /><input name="item_name" value="Go{4}Pro Building the Biz Workshop" type="hidden"><br /><input name="item_number" value="1WS910" type="hidden"><br /><input name="amount" value="400.00" type="hidden"><br /><input name="currency_code" value="USD" type="hidden"><br /><input name="button_subtype" value="services" type="hidden"><br /><input name="no_note" value="0" type="hidden"><br /><input name="bn" value="PP-BuyNowBF:btn_buynowCC_LG.gif:NonHostedGuest" type="hidden"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" name="submit" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynowCC_LG.gif" border="0" type="image"></span></div></form>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4610166433689602437.post-42995259548435122662010-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:002010-07-01T12:16:50.115-07:00Good is Bad for Business! - Audio Post 2These audio posts work out really well because they have two great benefits! 1. I think I appear smarter because you don't see 1000 grammatical and spelling errors (I'm laughing really hard at me and I hope you are too!) 2. I can be working on Go{4}Pro while sitting at the park watching my kids play (as you will hear in the background). I hope you continue to enjoy them so that I can continue to create them.<br />
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Today I'm excited to talk to you about a concept that I've been implementing almost from the start with in my business. It's one that Seth Godin's best seller, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Free-Prize-Inside-Purple-Cow/dp/B000VYO8WQ?ie=UTF8&tag=go4pr-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Purple Cow</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=go4pr-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000VYO8WQ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> explains beautifully so if you want to learn and dive even further into what I'm saying, I highly recommend it!<br />
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So here's why I think being good can be very BAD for business...<br />
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<object height="505" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SYGLKMjxk9E&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SYGLKMjxk9E&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object>Leah Remillethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09518013452348811017noreply@blogger.com6