Well, here we are a year later and while the government would like us to think we’re headed for recovery, it’s sure hard to see.  The challenges for families in the Gulf, unemployment, health care and home foreclosures all being at the forefront of topics in our lives on a daily basis. 

I’m not minimizing the challenges with the economy, but I do see light at the end of the tunnel and I’m seeing it because of photographers who are doing well, but let’s define the word well.   Well means they’re trying new things. It means they’re holding their own and still making a decent enough living to support their family.  Well means they’re exhausted, but in a great zone about how they feel about themselves and the future.  Lastly, it means they still wake up every morning smiling.

If you want a dose of optimism and new ideas check out any program Tony Corbell is doing, talking about his favorite topics, lighting and Nik.  Check out Jim Garner, Scott Bourne, Jerry Ghionis, Yervant, Doug Gordon, David Ziser, Kevin Kubota, Dawn Shields, Jasmine Star, Dane Sanders, Sandy Puc,  Becker, Kirk Voclain, Judy Host and Kay Eskridge, just to name a few.

(Call it a plug and shameless promoting, but most of these industry icons will be teaching at Summer School in a few weeks.  And if you’re not signed up you’re going to miss all of them sharing ideas and new answers to helping you grow your business.)

Kay’s in Phoenix and while traditional business has been slow she’s tested the water on Golden Age Seniors, Pets and Boudoir – all having an impact on her business.  Vicki Taufer, who did the first big pet promotion, at least the one everyone talks about, has added to her reputation.  She’s now considered one of the best known pet photographers in her area of Illinois.

Here’s what I’ve learned from these incredible photographers as the key to beating the media and ignoring the economy, at least enough to keep your business strong:

It all starts with your attitude.  Stay away from self-fulfilling prophecies.  There’s that old statement – If you define a situation as hopeless, then it will be!  You’ve got to stay focused on the importance of your contribution as a professional photographer.

Diversity in your skill set:  Okay, you’re a commercial photographer and you really hate shooting weddings, but do you at least know how to do it right if a client asks?  Or, you’re a wedding photographer and your brides from the last few years are all starting families – they loved your work the first time around.  So, are you going to contact them and do the first portrait of the new baby or sit back and give the work to another photographer? 

Listen to your vendors!  This one is critical, because every photographer I mentioned earlier is working closely with several vendors.  WHCC has a full line of great products Vicki Taufer sells to her clients, right down to custom made holiday cards.  Tony is doing some of the most beautiful work in his life utilizing Nik Software and ProPhoto Lighting.  Kevin Kubota is constantly fine-tuning his Image Tools to give you more creativity.  Judy Host is finding new ways to use Graphic Authority’s templates and turn her images into fine art.  Kirk Voclain is utilizing new programs from H&H Color Lab for his finished packages with the senior market.  Marathon Press, who everybody used to think of as a printing company, offers a full line of marketing initiatives to help you not only define your business better, but develop a stronger target strategy for growth and success.  Pictage is ramping up for another outstanding Partner Con in New Orleans in November.  

Come on – notice a pattern here?  The vendors are all putting their efforts into finding new tools for their clients to help find new business.  They’re investing time and money into ways to help you!  Is it philanthropic?  Of course not – but they know that if they can help you build your business you’re going to need their products and services and everybody wins as the economy within photography at least, starts to improve. 

Utilize your network!  Every single photographer I mentioned is involved in something outside their direct business. They’re blogging, guest blogging, shooting with other photographers, attending other workshops, reading every newsletter and article they can find and they’re never slowing down.  They’re involved in forums like DWF because they believe in working together to find more solutions.

When I ask anybody the question, “How’s business this year?”  Those who say they’re holding their own always finish with the same comment, “But I’ve never worked so hard in my life!”   Nobody said it was easy, but nobody is afraid of hard work either.

I’ve been accused a lot of being overly optimistic.  People have told me I’m too much of a cheerleader.  But here’s the view that I get to see, which you don’t – I’m talking to hundreds of photographers every week.  I have an advantage of a front row seat looking at the big picture.  I’m getting feedback on new ideas, the economy and technology.  I’m seeing guys like Clay Blackmore jumping into fusion technology and creating new products for his clients – it’s not about still images anymore, but about your creativity in telling the story.

If necessity is the mother of invention then all of our survival is based on the necessity to continue to be part of the industry we love so much and find new ways to make it stronger.  The media keeps telling us things are getting worse and from their perspective they are, but we’ve all got the opportunity to make changes and best of all as photographers, to make a difference!

Two great quotes from Zig Ziglar that really bring it all together:

You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.

It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude.

The speakers we’ve chosen are the very best.  Tony Corbell’s idea of the Lighting Lab, together with Bobbi Lane, gives us a completely new level of educational support for lighting.  We’ll be set up classroom style and we’ll have wifi for up to 500 people to be on line at the same time – giving everyone an opportunity to keep in touch with their business while they’re gone.  There are no lines to wait in, every body has a seat at a table and there are no decisions to make about which speaker you want to hear most – they’re just going to present one after another with plenty of time in between presentations.

And best of all, I’ve got the finest collection of sponsors/exhibitors of any program like this out there – oops – guess what – there is no program like this out there!  Here’s an opportunity to get to know key vendors who you need to have in your network.   It’s all about diversity, networking and fine-tuning your skill set starting Sunday night and heading home on Wednesday afternoon.  It’s meant to be high-impact and to recharge your battery.

So because of the “challenges” we had with registration over the last couple of weeks while I was held hostage by my gall bladder – I’m simply going to extend the early bird special of $239 right up to August 1st.  Remember this includes 50% off registration for WPPI 2011 as well, making Summer School the most affordable, best bang for your buck educational opportunity in professional photography.   

If you haven’t made the commitment to join us – it’s time you thought it through.  MGM has a great rate and the only thing hotter than the heat of Vegas last summer was all of us and the faculty of Skip’s Summer School.

It’s going to be an amazing program with some incredible speakers and even a few surprises yet to be announced.  Registration is just a click away at Skip’s Summer School.

See you in Vegas and don’t believe that old line about what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.  You’re going to have so much happen during Summer School, you won’t be able to get home fast enough to start looking at your business differently.

If you can join us at Summer School I guarantee you’ll pick up new ideas and recharge your battery for the last quarter of the year, but if not, then at least put every one of the photographers I’ve profiled over the last two weeks in your network!

I found a lot of videos on YouTube of Yervant.   If a picture is worth a thousand words then a video of one of Yervant’s albums is worth a whole novel!

Yervant is the ultimate storyteller.   He’s an outstanding photographer, but it’s the way he tells the story that’s brought him award after award year after year in WPPI competition.  I’ve watched the video above three times.  The first time I just had fun watching it.  The second I paid attention to his layouts and the way he presented each image, sometimes on a single page, other times in a double page spread.  The last time was just to enjoy the images themselves, his composition, the expressions, the lighting and even the print quality.

Then I had a great time when I found a video of Yervant teaching in Venice in 2006 and while it’s old news, it’s simply fun to watch him in action.  Just watching this video you can pick up on the enthusiasm he brings to every program and workshop he does!   Here’s a fun little sidebar about the video – that’s Bambi Cantrell’s son Cameron and his wife as models for Yervant’s Venice workshop that year.   Yervant also photographed their actual wedding, which is a testimonial all in itself.

At Summer School Yervant will be sharing ideas on capture, composition, manipulation and album design!  If you’re looking for ideas on how to make your wedding work that much more special, don’t miss this program on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM, August 10.

As always, you need to put Yervant in your network! He’s on Facebook!  He’s got a terrific blog!  And, if you’re looking to upgrade your album design software nobody does it better than Yervant!  Last but not least, check out his website for a little more inspiration – this is what a bride who was searching the Internet would see!

Jerry Weiner:  On this “First Tuesday” morning of the week, (Remember, we don’t do Monday’s here, only first and second Tuesday!) meet a good buddy, Jerry Weiner.   I finally met Jerry for the first time at last year’s Summer School, although we had talked a number of times on the phone over the previous months.  I knew him through Bambi Cantrell, but had no idea what a great business head he had!  The fun thing for me is, over the last year, we’ve identified a common bond – our love and respect for the business side of the industry.

Business is a tough thing to talk about when it comes to photographers.  The majority of you see yourselves as artists and treat the topic of business the way most kids look at eating asparagus or spinach.   They know both vegetables are supposed to be good for them, but they’ll fight tooth and nail to get around having to actually eat them.   Or maybe a better analoby is black licorice with a little kid – it’s only going to be eaten when it’s the very last one and it’s got to be coated with something sweet that tastes better!

Well, this year at Summer School, we’re going to “coat the licorice” with something sweeter and easier to swallow. Jerry’s going to be presenting at least five different business concepts in fifteen minute presentations!  We’re going to make it as painless as possible for you to pick up easy to implement ideas on running a better business.   And, because of the format of Summer School, Jerry will be around every day to help answer questions you might have as well. 

What we’re really doing is taking some of the incredible tried and true experiences bouncing around in Jerry’s head and boiling them down into five basic things you’ve got to know.   The best news is that it’s never too late to make a change - improving your business and paying attention to details that can save you money is an ongoing process!

So, let’s get Jerry in your network.  One of my favorite pieces he wrote was a guest post we did here on the blog with “Lessons from Annie Leibowitz” last year.  You’ll also find great ideas on PWD Labs’ blog that Jerry has contributed.  He’s also on Facebook.

Tomorrow I wrap up Profiles with the photographer from down under, the one with just one name (LOL), Yervant!

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.

Vicki Taufer: I’ve followed Vicki’s career for the last seven years and every step of the way I’ve learned something new. Each time I think I’ve seen it all, Vicki adds one more idea to her marketing efforts.  Working together with WHCC, she’s developed a full line of products for her clients, who used to be primarily children and high school seniors.  That was, until she launched Dog Days of Summer and created a reputation for her studio that helped her evolve into one of the best known pet photographers in Illinois!

For a number of years I’ve shown Vicki’s promotional materials at the close of my own marketing workshops and programs.   Her marketing and promotional expertise may well be the very best in our industry, creating more events for Moms to get the kids photographed than Hallmark could ever think of!  She doesn’t just offer wallets, she offers “Art Wallets”.  She doesn’t just offer a large format print, but “V Imagery”.   Everything she offers her clients is beautifully positioned and helps to develop that we’ve-got-to-have-one attitude.

Vicki’s focus at Summer School in August will be on helping you redefine opportunities for photographing children and pets.  It’s not just about diversity, but being creative in all your marketing efforts with programs and products that exceed customer expectations.

Her philosophy is summed up in five minutes in her Photographer’s Ignite video from this past WPPI, but you need to understand what Photographer’s Ignite is – It’s a photographer’s challenge to present an entire concept in just 5 minutes with 20 slides, each changing every 15 seconds.  While Vicki gets wonderfully flustered for a few seconds part way through – nobody cared and it just makes you appreciate her that much more.  Pay close attention to her segment on giving back.

Let’s get Vicki into your network.  Check out her website at VGallery.net.  Next, she’s on Facebook and on Twitter.  And if you’re still looking for a little more, check out the piece I wrote when I interviewed her for PDN’s Focus on Weddings last December starting on page 8.

Tomorrow it’s the King of Enthusiasm himself, Kirk Voclain – you’ve never seen energy in a presentation like Kirk will bring to the stage on Tuesday, August 10.

Jasmine Star:  I’m not sure I know of another photographer who’s done a better job of marketing herself and listening to their clients better than Jasmine.  She truly has evolved into a marketing machine.  Her focus is on her brides, and I’m not just talking about her camera.  Social media with Facebook and Twitter, her blog with a continuous flow of great content and her presence at various conventions, on line interviews and podcasts  makes her always accessible to her client base.

In just a few short years she’s developed one the most succesful blogs in the wedding industry. And, she’s going to share the key components of her success in her program on August 8.   She’ll talk about ways to build your brand and maximize your exposure.   Your cash flow is limited but there are so many things you can do to create top of mind awareness for your business as a professional photographer.

I found a great interview of Jasmine on David Warner’s LensFlare 35 blog.  Pay attention to her point on her images – her clients are all having fun.  She’s built a foundation of trust with her clients and the interaction with her, as their photographer, is more like that of a friend than a “vendor”.

You need to bring Jasmine into your network.  She’s on Facebook.  She’s on Twitter.  And you really need to follow her blog.  It’s one of the best looking blogs out there, with a very strong journalism look.  It feels like you’re picking up any one of the wedding magazines!

In the spotlight tomorrow on Profiles – Vicki Taufer, a creative marketing genius in children’s photography!

Dane Sanders:   This year Dane will be the kick-off speaker on Sunday night.  Dane is all about helping you set your priorities so you don’t lose your identity in the process of building your business.  Being a professional photographer isn’t just about capturing great images for your clients, it’s about allowing your personality to come through in your business and relationships.  It’s about staying focused on your needs as well as your client’s.

Last summer his message was so strong that my “better half” came over to tell me she was buying Dane’s book, Fast Track Photographer. “Why do you want a copy, there’s one on the book shelf in my office!”  I asked.  She gave me that you-don’t-get-it look and said, “Because I want my own!”   Now, here’s what makes her comment unique – Sheila’s in the health care industry, NOT photography, but found Dane’s message so universal she wanted to read more.

I found two short videos on YouTube I really like to give you a better idea of what Dane is all about.

This second one is from Pictage and there’s a great Pictage Podcast  to listen to as well.

Want to know more about Dane?  Follow him on Twitter.  Friend him on Facebook.  Keep tabs on what he’s doing on his website and especially make it a point to start listening to his AskDane webinars and podcasts.

Tomorrow let’s get the Queen of Wedding Blogs, Jasmine Star, in the spotlight!

Stacy Pearsall:  After last year’s Maui Photo Festival I received call after call from friends telling me, “You have to get Stacy Pearall for next year’s summer school!”  I got so many calls I was starting to feel like the kid who just doesn’t get out much – I didn’t know who Stacy was. 

If I had never watched the video below, just based on her enthusiasm in our first phone conversation would have been enough to bring her on board.   Her story is amazing, getting her start in the Air Force as a photographer at 17.  Today, retired from the military, she’s a freelance photographer and owner of the Charleston Center for Photography.  She’s been on Oprah twice and is the only woman in history to receive Combat Photographer of the Year…TWICE!

You’ll have to decide for yourself, which of Stacy’s life lessons fits your own situation, but for me it’s about her passion for life and respect for the quest for the ultimate image.   She’s simply dedicated to all the ingredients it takes to be a photojournalist.  She did three tours of Iraq and captured thousands of images – think about the degree of understanding she has in terms of photography.  Then, think about her understanding of composition and anticipation, knowing exactly when to click the shutter.

From combat to the studio, where I found these three images – she really is doing it all.

You need to have Stacy in your network.  So follow her on Twitter.  Then put her blog in your favorites!  There’s also a great guest post she did  on Photofocus.com all about the power of personal projects.  And let’s not forget Facebook!

So, we’re just at the half way point of this year’s instructors/speakers for this year’s summer school.  If you’re on the fence and trying to decide, the $239 early bird only runs to the end of the month.  Remember, that includes half price for WPPI next year. If you’re going to WPPI that brings the savings down to at least $150 - (half price off the WPPI 2for1, for example).  Put that together with MGM’s $79 rate, 2for1 dining card at a whole bunch of their restaurants and the $25 dining/entertainment credit and you’ve got the biggest bang for your buck in photographic education. 

And let’s not forget what a kick Summer School has become!  There’s a reason it was the most talked about event of the summer last year.

Next up on Tuesday – good buddy Dane Sanders is in the spotlight and definitely a necessity to your network!  Have a terrific holiday weekend – see you tomorrow with some light thoughts for the weekend!

While I can just about guarantee you’ll have a great time and learn a lot at Skip’s Summer School in August, if you can’t make it don’t worry about it – just make it a point to follow the activities of the speakers I’ve been profiling.  They’ve all got something to contribute and you need to have them on your radar on a regular basis.

Cliff Mautner:  About seven years ago Cliff was at WPPI and after attending a few of the seminars felt pretty strongly about having the skill set to teach and offer something to the community.  He contacted Bill Hurter, editor in chief of Rangefinder and me.  His work was terrific and he absolutely had the drive.  A few months later Cliff and I had breakfast in NYC during PhotoPlus Expo and that started an amazing friendship.

One of his greatest qualities is his persistent quest for the ultimate image.  He’s made it a point to absolutely know every aspect of his gear.  He knows Nikon so well, that I found a video he did not too long ago for Nikkor.  I’ve included it here on the blog, because it will give you a feel for his style and his comfort level teaching.  

But his passion for imaging is second to his passion for his friends.    He’s always there for everybody.  He takes his friendships very seriously.   When Joe Buissink was in the hospital a few years back and had a workshop to teach, Cliff along with Bambi Cantrell and Denis Reggie made sure it was covered.  If you’re in the industry you understand that loyalty, but if you’re new, it’s simply an amazing quality to have and it’s something that makes a limited number of photographers very special.

At Skip’s Summer School he’ll be spending a lot time helping you understand the key challenges to work through so you can handle just about every lighting situation.  He’s a perfectionist and takes no prisoners when it comes to understanding how to create the finest images.  The terrific thing about a speaker like Cliff is, even though his focus is on weddings, the principles he’ll be teaching are universal to virtually all the photograhic specialties.  This is about recognizing and understanding how much control you really do have!

You need to keep track of Cliff so check out his website and his blog.  If you’re active in DWF you’ll often find his comments on the forum.  He’s on facebook and you should follow him on Twitter too.

Now, sit back and enjoy this short clip I found on You Tube!

Tomorrow we’ll finish off the week with the only woman in history to receive Combat Photographer of the Year twice, Stacy Pearsall!  Now a portrait photographer in the Carolinas, she’s bringing an incredible new dimension to Skip’s Summer School!