Portfolio review sessions in NYC during PhotoPlus Expo Oct 24-26th, 2013

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You can find me next week as I do every year, attending PhotoPlus Expo at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC.

While there, I’ll be one of the eight reviewers offering free portfolio reviews/consultations to ASMP members. If all the slots get filled (as they often are), feel free to stop by the ASMP booth #1173 to get on the waiting list or just to say “Hi!”

ASMP officially opens their review registration tomorrow Oct 15th when their monthly newsletter goes out. But if you’re a member, you can sign up here today. All the reviewer’s slots get filled FAST!

I’m also one of the dozens of reviewers participating in the Palm Springs Photo Festival’s portfolio review program. The PSPF reviews are not free as demand is very high to get a one-on-one session with the reviewers–many of whom are art buyers and photo editors as well as reps and consultants–but there are discounts available. The PSPF reviews are now full, but their wait list opens Oct. 15th and 16th.

 

Rebooting Your Business Brain 2.0 is in Minneapolis Nov. 14, 2012

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It was a stunning 68-degrees in Chicago yesterday yet I’m happily heading to the land of cool temps and warm hearts: Minneapolis. I’m presenting an updated and revised version of my photography marketing talk: ReBooting Your Business Brain 2.0 to one of my favorite photography trade orgs: the ASMP MN chapter.

ASMP MN is a great group of talented photographers who know a thing or two about community building and educational events. They’ve had some great presentations by industry leaders. Previously, I was honored to be one of the panelists on Kat Dalager’s Photo Marketing Rehab.

It is so refreshing to see a group of photographers who really know how pull together and have a such a solid community spirit. Can’t wait to see them again.

The talk is on Wed. Nov. 14th at 6:00 CST at Orbit Studios  3805 Washington Avenue N., Minneapolis, MN 55412

REGISTRATION and other event details can be found  here.

I’m also doing portfolio reviews the day after the event. Contact me directly for more info.

 

 

My Oct. 2012 Events: 4 sets of portfolio reviews and 2 photo marketing talks

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October is my  “All photography.. All the time!” month. Last week I was in Minneapolis on the panel of Kat Dalager’s Photo Marketing Rehab: Estimating and Invoicing program. She and the art buyers provided some great information to the crowd of about 100 photographers.

This week I’m in NYC for PhotoPlusExpo, the annual photo trade show and conference held from Oct. 25-Oct 27, 2012 at the Javits Center in Manhattan.

As I do every year while attending PhotoPlus, I’m doing free portfolio reviews for ASMP members. You can find me at their booth #1259 on Thurs. Oct. 26th from 3:15-4:45pm. Currently, all of my sessions are booked up. But if you want to get a free review from me, there’s still a chance. Someone who booked could forget–especially if they’re sucked into the magnetic pull of a “bright and shiny object” i.e. a camera demo session elsewhere on the show floor. Instructions on how to snag one of those cancellation openings are posted on my Facebook page. 

I’m also doing portfolio reviews for the grand daddy of reviews in NYC at PhotoPlus: the Palm Springs Photo Festival/PDN review sessions on Sat. Oct 27 from 9:00-11:30 am. They’re offering 1300 reviews from various photo industry influencers. I’ve done it in the past and have always seen some great work. All my sessions are currently booked out but I may be able to add more sessions–as will other reviewers– as our PhotoPlus schedules come into focus. Check updated reviewer schedule status on their Sessions Available page

Then it’s off to Santa Fe, NM to present my newly revised and updated photography marketing talk: “Rebooting Your Business Brain 2.0.” to the ASMP NM chapter . The Santa Fe University of Art and Design has graciously provided the venue on the evening of Oct. 30th and The Workbook has generously contributed to defray travel costs. I’ll be available for private consultations while in Santa Fe (email me for more info and schedule).

Then it’s back to Minneapolis to present “Rebooting 2.0…” to the ASMP MN chapter on Nov. 14th at Orbit Studios. Kind support for this event comes from Livebooks. While I’m in Minneapolis Nov. 13-15th will be the 4th opportunity in 4 weeks for a private, one-on-one, face-to-face (how sadly rare these days!) portfolio consultation.

There is also an opportunity for a group of 3 emerging photographers to book a group session. More info is on the event web site. Email or call me if you want to book any of the sessions.

 

Tonight in Minneapolis: Photo Marketing Rehab Pt. 2-The Money Edition

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Tonight I’m joining a panel of art buyers and producers on Kat Dalager’s Photo Marketing Rehab -The Money Edition.

We’ll be sharing our experiences on how to create proper paperwork for photography estimates and invoices–especially when working with ad agencies and design firms. If tonight’s event goes anything like the Photo Marketing Rehab event held in Chicago on Oct. 6th, it should be a blast–and full of great info! So glad to be joining in tonight.

Time: The event starts at 6:00pm with a Social Hour. Panel starts 7:00-ish.  $10.

Location: Shelter Studios
2112 Broadway St NE
Suite 150, Minneapolis, MN

Register here.

I’m also available on Thurs. 10/18/12  for private photo editing/marketing consultations for any interested Minneapolis photographers. Just give a call for more info to book a session.

Is your photography vulnerable to being replaced by CGI?

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First it was the auto manufacturers that took away some of the car shooters business by using CGI (computer generated imagery).

Then it was furniture makers (IKEA reports by next year 25% of its photo content will be replaced by CGI).

Now, some fashion accounts are starting to use CGI. (Those poor super models…..)

What next?

This recent article in Smart Money discuss 5 areas of photography that are vulnerable. Are you in one?

What niche of advertising photography do you think is totally immune from being replaced by CGI?

Getting out of the agent’s slush pile.

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Portfolio review season will soon be upon us. Autumn is the big season in with several opportunities for photographers to meet with and show their books to people who can get them work.

(A partial list will be posted here later).

In my many years as an artist rep, I would receive weekly unsolicited inquires from photographers and illustrators seeing to be represented by my agency.

It was not a happy task to dump the sometimes-handwritten inquires into the circular file with only a form letter in reply. As a creative person myself, I understood how much emotional energy and hope was invested in even sending me the inquiry. And I hated to have to say no.

I wish I could explain to every artist who sought the services of an agent, just what’s involved in selecting an artist to represent.

I wish I had then, what I came across today: this well written and informative article by Michael Bourne: “A Right Fit:  “Navigating the World of Literary Agents.”   I would have included a copy of the article along with every rejection note.

His advice that “it truly is who you know” is spot on. You must get out there and meet people. Almost every artist I ended up repping came via a personal referral.

Your Bio page is an essential part of your photography marketing plan

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Saw this post on PetaPixel today discussing the Do’s and Don’ts of how a photographer should write a good bio page for their web site.

Most of my photography marketing consulting clients come to me with Bio page copy that they wrote themselves. And almost all fail to write bio copy that is helpful to a prospective client. Most contain copy that talks about their first magical connection to photography. That data point means a lot to the photographer and their personal life narrative, but it usually means nothing to a prospective client.

I mean really… how many prospective clients base their decision on hiring a photographer based on the answer this question: “How old were you when you first fell in love with photography? 10 years old? 15?  25?” Read more

APA Midwest assembles art buyers and others for their annual Digital Portfolio Review event

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Today, June 12, 2012 from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm several art buyers from top Chicago ad agencies, along with yours truly, will be editing photographers portfolios at APA Midwest’s Digital Portfolio Review .

I’m looking forward to meeting some new Chicago-area commercial photographers and seeing some great images. It’s always a treat to be blown away by someone’s work who I’ve never met or heard of. Happens every time. Wonder who it will be tonight?

It’s being held at Digital Bootcamp/Portfolio Annex, 25 W. Hubbard, Chicago IL 60654.

More info about tonight’s event is on the APA Midwest’s website.

Sometimes “we teach what we need to learn.” My marketing mistake…

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I did it. I made a marketing blunder. I got so busy working with my clients that I let a major piece of my marketing strategy fall apart.

Early on in my consulting practice I had a lot more time to write articles for my newsletter, and then later, this blog. But as I got more and more busy with my clients’ projects, spending time on my own “portfolio”of articles fell by the wayside.

Sound familiar?? Read more

I’m back……

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After months of being invisible, I’m back to blogging. I have now aggregated the content that was on my old circa-2004 website with my original circa-2007 WordPress blog’s content. It’s all here in this newly updated WordPress site.

I sure learned the hard way how one little tech glitch can really wreck an aspect of my business. My WP blog “broke” when I hit the “auto update.” Turns out my former web site host and WP weren’t on the same PHP update schedule. I got locked out of my backend.

The main thing I learned is there’s a limit to how much time and attention I have to devote to under-the-hood tech issues. I always tell my consulting clients that it’s a far better use of their time to find a trusted provider for their web design and just focus on image-making. Otherwise, you can waste hours/days/months of not focusing on your core content.

It’s “walk the talk” time for me. 🙂

During my ‘radio silence’ period, I was actually writing a bunch of posts. they will soon be leaving my drafts folder and posted on here soon.