Okay, I’m down to only three profiles and you’ll have the complete line up of this year’s faculty at Skip’s Summer School.  Remember, if you can’t join us, then at least put these photographers in your network.  They make up a big part of the movers and shakers in professional photography today!

Kirk Voclain:  It’s funny, years ago I was ready to have Kirk locked up!  LOL – Here’s the scenario.  Hasselblad had a booth at the PPA National Convention, long before it was known as Imaging USA.  They had a theater in the round on the trade show floor and Kirk was doing a presentation.  Every time he spoke we’d lose all the photographers in our booth!  It drove us all nuts. 

But what I missed was his message and he was simply way ahead of his time.  He’s grown to be a remarkable speaker and teacher, but more impressive is the enthusiasm with which he gives back.  At WPPI three years ago he participated in the Champagne Shoot Out, an event involving four photographers in four different corners of the big ballroom all presenting at the same time.  The program ended, three of the four photographers shut down and left, but Kirk continued to teach for another  hour, until security finally asked him to leave.  Kirk’s passion for teaching is virtually unmatched and I’m so proud we were able to get him on the schedule for Summer School.

In his program on August 10 Kirk is going to get you thinking about how to put energy into your senior shoots.  He’ll tie it all together with techniques for lighting and posing as well.  It doesn’t matter what your photographic specialty might be – this is about having fun with your subjects and knowing the results so well that you never have to second guess and wonder if you got the shot.   Remember, you don’t need to lock in an entire high school to build a reputation and create a revenue stream with the senior market.  You just need a handful of kids who love your work!

I interviewed Kirk for a short profile in PDN’s Focus on Portraits, just released and due on line next week.  The secret to his success – just make the session fun for your subjects.  I found two great examples on YouTube of Kirk working with his seniors.  Watch them both and you’ll see how much fun they’re having!  Fun wins out every time for natural smiles and expressions and nobody does it better than Kirk!

 

You need to have Kirk in your network.  Check out his website at www.kvphoto.com.  And his blog, although he’s not a fanatic about it, has more great videos to watch and also his teaching schedule.  You’ll find Kirk on Facebook too.

Jerry Weiner is in the spotlight tomorrow and while many of you might not know him, he’s got some great business components for this year’s summer school that we’re going to put into 15 minute “doses” – all guaranteed to help you make your business stronger.