Lots of Portfolio Reviews!!

Next week, I will be part of the portfolio review teams of both The Palm Springs Photo Festival and the ASMP MSP Portfolio Reviews event. The PSPF reviews are Sept. 27-29 and the ASMP review day is Oct. 1st, 2021. Both events are being held virtually via Zoom.

You can register for any of the remaining review slots via accessing the above event links.

Note: for the PSPF reviews you need to sign up for 6 reviews. There are still reviewers available in all categories– but they’re going fast.

The ASMP’s event has a limit of three reviews/person and their registration is open until Sept. 27, 2021.

I always look forward to seeing some great work. I also love providing photographers with feedback that moves them forward in their careers, and, hopefully, sparking connections for them to my network of colleagues in either the commercial or fine art photography worlds.

See you next week?

Portfolio Reviews get a pandemic pivot

There are two major portfolio review events happening this September.

ASMP Reviews and the PSPF Portfolio Reviews.

Both review events are great opportunities for photographers to connect face-to-face with those in the photo business that can help move your photography career forward.

Register for one or both events ASAP as slots are limited.

Both events are now going to happen virtually via ZOOM. (What isn’t happening via ZOOM these days?!?!?)

ASMP’s Portfolio Review event happens first on Sept. 3rd, 2020. Their registration deadline is Aug. 31. Registration link is HERE

The schedule of who is doing reviews at what time is on that link. Happy to report that I’m on the review team of both events.

The second event is the Palm Springs Photo Festival Portfolio Review (PSPF). Normally, the PSPF review events are held twice per year (in early May in Palm Springs, CA and again in mid-October in conjunction with PhotoPlusExpo).

This year PSPF’s reviews will also be happening virtually via ZOOM. Info on the PSPF Sept. 21-24 reviews is HERE

If you want to see when I’m reviewing at PSPF and the rest of the reviewers’ schedules go HERE.

You only get one chance to make a great first impression. Want some tips on how to make the most of your 20-minutes with a reviewer? I’ve got some tips HERE

Looking forward to meeting lots of new photographers and seeing some great work. And I’m really looking forward to the day–hopefully in the Spring in 2021–when we can all meet again in person and not just virtually!

 

Next photo event: Portfolio reviews at Palm Springs Photo Festival.

I’ll be in Palm Springs, CA next week (May 6th-May 10th) doing portfolio reviews. It’s a great career-building opportunity for photographers in both commercial and fine art photography.

Who else will be at PSPF? Let’s connect!!

“Marketing and Mindfulness” comes to Chicago on April 24th

After last month’s successful keynote presentation in Dubai at the Destination Wedding Planners Congress, I’m returning to Chicago to present again to the Chicago Creative Coalition. My talk is part of C3’s three-part “Re-Presenting Yourself” business education series.

I will expand on the Marketing and Mindfulness talk I presented to C3 almost exactly one year ago in April of 2018. I’ll share more tips, techniques and strategies that every creative person should know about in the age of 24/7 distraction if they’re to get the best results from their marketing plans.

Colombia College will again be the host venue.

Event details and registration links can be found on the C3 web site: here

Thanks again to the Daylite team at Market Circle for logistical support.

Presenting my “Marketing & Mindfulness” talk in Dubai

I’m delighted to report that on March 29, 2019, I will be one of 4 keynote speakers on the CAPTURE event track of the 6th annual Destination Wedding Congress being held March 27-29 at the Atlantis Hotel on The Palm in Dubai. Previous DWP highlights (2014-2017) can be seen on this page’s videos.

I’ve been invited to present my latest photography marketing talk: Marketing & Mindfulness. In this talk, I explain how photographers and other visual content creators must work on their “Inner Game” if they want to succeed in this 24/7, information-overloaded global economy.

We are all flooded with constant opportunities to distract us from properly utilizing our most important business assets: our time, our attention, and most importantly for artists, creating new work.

The CAPTURE track of the conference is brand-new to DWP this year. It’s the business development and marketing track geared to visual storytellers (photographers, videographers and drone operators). During the CAPTURE track, image makers will to learn how to create more effective marketing plans.

Many photographers will be attending DWP to have face-to-face networking opportunities with the dozens of top-tier international destination wedding planners. These are the people who want and need to hire the best visual storytellers who are located anywhere in the world.

Over 500 attendees are coming from 70 different countries. They represent all aspects of the destination wedding industry. Both destination wedding planners and many of the service providers the planners need to create extraordinary destination weddings. Some of the attending providers are representing the world’s top hotels, tourism boards, caterers, floral designers, etc., etc.

And what would a great destination wedding be without the absolutely essential services of my favorite folks…photographers and videographers?

I can’t wait to meet some of the many creative people coming from so many different parts of the world!

Special thanks go to MarketCircle’s Daylite team for logistical support.

Fall 2018 photo events and news: portfolio reviews and exhibitions

September and October are always my busiest months of the year. Yours, too?

In September, I was super busy curating another iteration of the fine art photography exhibition  Hope in the Dark: Refocused. Its opening reception was on Sept. 21st  (the International Day of Peace). Again, it was a fundraiser for the benefit of social service agency,  RefugeeOne.  (I’ll do another post closer to the show’s Nov. 16th closing reception and include details and some of the images).

Video tutorial: To help photographers heading to NYC for PhotoPlusExpo (Oct 25th-Oct 27th) who have scheduled face-to-face portfolio reviews–either at Palms Springs PhotoFest at PPE or the APA NY reviews I was going to do a brand new version of my webinar “How to Create Presentations that Work” that I initially did last fall. But I ran out of time.

However, I asked ASMP if they would share the existing video again and they readily agreed. Check it out via the link in ASMP’s Strictly Business Blog to gain access.

I’ll again be doing portfolio reviews at the Palm Springs Photo Fest at PhotoPlus Expo (open to all who register and pay) on Wed., 10/24/18; Thurs., 10/25/18; and Fri., 10/26/18.  My fellow portfolio reviewers often say that while most photographers may have photography talent, many are not fully prepared for face-to-face meetings. This webinar will hopefully help them fix that.

New this year: I’m also doing three free reviews for the first 3 photographers who make a donation during the show  to the APA Copyright Protection Fund. at the APA booth (Booth #158) on Saturday, Oct. 27th. You can either donate at the APA  booth or login into your APA account and send an email to Juliette Wolf-Robin, National Executive Director to indicate your intention to make a donation and get a free review.

I’ll be at PhotoPlus the whole time and am really looking forward to connecting with my consulting clients and old friends and colleagues. There’s nothing like hanging out in person with folks you don’t get to see but once a year.

I’ll also get to soak up some culture in one of my favorite cities. In addition to my annual visit to MOMA I’m going to check out a some fine art photography gallery exhibits. I’ll refer to the extensive listings guide in the great online photography publication The Eye of Photography  to make my to-see list.

One of the best parts I love about NYC is actually just wandering around and taking in the sights, sounds, tastes, and visuals. There’s nothing like it.

Offer for my newsletter subscribers: Shoot me an email if you’re also going to be at PhotoPlus and would like to connect. Use the subject line: “PPE connect?” and include your cel#. If our calendars align, I’ll meet you for coffee in the Javits Center.

Portfolio Review Event in Boston Nov. 14, 2017

I’m headed to Boston to attend a portfolio review event. I’m really looking forward to reviewing the portfolios of almost a dozen photographers at the ASMP New England chapter event tomorrow.  It’s being held at High Output (86 Lincoln Street, Brighton) starting at 3:30 pm EDT tomorrow.  It’s free for chapters members and there’s a small fee for non-member photograpers.

Go here for more details and registration links.

Last month, I spent three days at PhotoPlusExpo in NYC where I was reviewing portfolios for the Palms Springs Photo Fest at PPE and for ASMP at their booth on the trade show floor. It was a gas. Saw SO so much good work. Met some really wonderful photographers.

Doing portfolio reviews is one of my all-time favorite business activities. I love helping photographers move their careers forward by providing them with an objective analysis of their presentations.

Here are some portfolio presentation tips for anyone who’s attending.

October Photo Events

LOTS going on this month!!

Starting with the webinar I’m doing tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 17th at 12:00pm EDT) with ASMP on “How to Create Presentations that Work” there are many photo business connection options for photographers this month.

I know many photographers who are headed to NYC next week for PhotoPlusExpo. Many will be attending seminars, but some will also be getting their portfolios reviewed. Those of us who do reviews at the Palm Springs Photo Fest at PhotoPlus Expo (open to all who register and pay) and at the ASMP booth (free for ASMP members with a $25 admin. fee) often lament that while most photographers are prepared for a face-to-face meetings, many are not. The webinar will hopefully help them be better prepared.

I’ll be at PhotoPlus the whole time it runs (Oct 25th-Oct 28th) and I will be doing reviews on Friday, Oct. 27th for both organizations. I am really looking forward to connecting with my consulting clients and old friends and colleagues. There’s nothing like hanging out in person with folks you don’t see but once a year.

I’ll also get to soak up some culture in one of my favorite cities. In addition to my annual visits to MOMA and the International Center of Photography, I’m going to check out a some fine art photography gallery exhibits.

Here are a couple I’ve bookmarked:

Julie Blackmon’s exhibition Fake Weather which opens Oct. 19th at at Robert Mann gallery  http://www.artnet.com/galleries/robert-mann-gallery/fake-weather/

and Steve McCurry’s The Importance of Elsewhere at Cavalier Gallery 3 W. 57th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10019, USA which runs from Wednesday, October 18, 2017–Sunday, November 12, 2017 http://www.artnet.com/galleries/cavalier-galleries/steve-mccurry-the-importance-of-elsewhere/

One of the best parts I love about NYC is actually just wandering around and taking in the sights, sounds, tastes, and visuals. The fashion, the food, the unique expressions of humanity–on every corner.

Shoot me an email if you’re also going to be there and would like to connect.

Photography marketing class Aug 25-27

When you know how to effectively market your photography, you’re more than halfway to achieving success in your photo business. As you well know, it takes more than good imagery to create a viable career in the photo business these days.

I will be teaching a 3-day photo marketing workshop at the Maine Photo Workshop + College from August 25th through Aug. 27th. This experiential workshop will be taught to a group of committed and proactive photographers. Join us!

Participants in this hands-on workshop will learn the foundations of effective photography marketing.

A few of the essential photography marketing skills they’ll learn are:

They will learn how edit their portfolio for the best online presence. That is, learn how to showcase your best images–ones that you are proud but also those that meet magnetically meet the needs of your potential clients.

They’ll learn how to create and implement a strategic marketing plan.

They’ll learn how to powerfully connect with and follow-up with their potential clients both online and in person.

They’ll learn how to effectively market their photography to just the right buyers for their photography.

This workshop is appropriate for both commercial and fine art photographers. There are essential presentation, sales, and marketing skills and tools you need to know in any photography niche.

Come join me in Maine for three days where we will focus on building your business. Instead of you working alone with trial and error over months and months, in this concentrated workshop you can get the focused attention and support you need. I’ve helped hundreds of photographers improve their business. I’d love to help you also move forward in marketing and selling your photography.

Imagine having clear and focused direction on how to find and connect with the people who would be most receptive to your work. Imagine learning how to think like and act like your own best rep or gallery dealer. I will pull back the curtain and show you the secrets to business success that every successful sales and marketing professional knows.

Most photographers were never taught how to do this. Generic cookie-cutter marketing plans just don’t cut it. What you’ll learn during this weekend will be tailored to YOU. You are unique. Your strategy needs to be unique as well. You need a plan that is based on your skills, abilities, location, and resources–no one else’s!

Trust me on that. I’ve helped many of my clients turn around sagging careers after they bought into a one-size-fits-all marketing plan. Get focused personalize attention in a synergistic group setting.

Come get what you need to grow your business!

Registration info is here.

And there’s the Maine in August and the lobster…  🙂

Photo Business seminar in Minneapolis 4/27/17

I’m excited to head back to the ASMP Minneapolis chapter on April 27th to present my latest photo business seminar: “How Get Your Head Together to Get Ahead in Business”

Are any of these thoughts frequent visitors to your headspace?

  • They didn’t accept my bid.. They don’t like me. I’m no good. (Fear of rejection).
  • I suck. That other shooter has it all together. I’m a fraud. (Impostor syndrome)
  • I have social media FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt).I should be posting on Instagram, Facebook LinkedIn, and/pr SnapChat right now or no one will ever hire me. Ever. How are those other shooters are doing it?!? I know should be. (also known as FOMO: Fear of missing out)

It might be time for you to install an upgrade on a critical Operating System–the OS that you use to run your own mind.

In this brand-new talk I’ll be discussing why updating your “internal operating system” is one of the best strategies you can implement in this age of information overload and the short-attention-span economy. When you employ both mindfulness practices and implement various software marketing reminder apps, you free your mind to be more focused and creative.

Consider this….You’d never think to process your images using the software you were using 10 years ago, would you? You intuitively know it would not be able to effectively process and render so much more data–not to mention your client’s demands for more and faster deliverables.

Then why do you think you don’t need to readjust how you mentally process the increased amount of information assaulting your mental space every day? Information that can derail a relationship if it’s misperceived. E.g. is that other person that’s driving you crazy, really doing it on purpose?

Time for a brain hack?

Where: 514 Studios, 514 N 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

When: 7:00-9:00pm Thursday, April 27th

Cost:$20 for ASMP Members and Students; $40 for Non-Members

Registration: Here’s the link to the ASMP National site where you can register.

Private marketing sessions:  As usual, I will be available for private consulting sessions in the 2 days after the event.

You can contact me directly to book a session. Early bird discounts will apply.