Leather never goes out of style. It’s classic, timeless and it just took on a new look. Now you can combine the luxury of leather with your favorite photographs. Pounds introduced an extensive line of Leather Accessory Products this year that ranges from key fobs and compact mirrors to bags and iPad cases.

There’s something to captivate every client in every price range.

We think these new products have

the potential to be an excellent stimulus for your business. Existing clients will be excited to see fresh innovative items that can solve gift giving dilemm as and the leather line will draw new clients into your business who want to deal with a studio that stays on the cutting edge.

“We saw a consumer interest in photo bags and the imaged leather bags,” Chris Oelker, said. Oelker is the head of product development and marketing at Pounds and knows a thing or two about what consumers will purchase. “There was an opportunity to provide a high end quality product that photographers could offer to a wide rage of clients. We thought leather was a perfect addition.”

New Mexico photographer, Patti Hogue agrees. She saw the Weekend Crossbody and Ring Tote and realized they would be just right for her clients. “ The Ring Tote is perfect for football games,” she said. “It’s easy to carry all the things you need as well as a water bottle.” Hogue ordered samples of both bags and carried them with her to the games she photographed. They certainly got noticed and Hogue is posting photos on her Facebook page. She also had a brilliant idea to give a couple of bags away to community leaders.  When people see them they’ll know to turn to Patti Hogue Photography!

Juan Deleon is a wedding and portrait photographer in Houston, Texas. He also shoots a lot of professional sporting events and is always keeping an eye open for products his clients might enjoy.  “I saw an email about the leather products being offered. I’d never seen them anywhere else so I was excited! I immediately got on the website and placed an order.” Deleon ordered the Framed Card Keeper and French Wallet. He realized how often he changes his own wallet and that everyone needs a nice business card holder. The items were practical and beautiful.

“I can’t say enough about these products,” Deleon said. “Clients like the look and I’ve already had requests for purses.

In fact I’m going though my photo archives now so I can order more samples. I was so impressed with the clarity and the detail, I posted it on my Facebook page! I have been very impressed. I think leather is going to be big!

So do we Juan!

It’s time to bust out the Santa Hat, crank up  “Jingle Bell Rock” and jump into the holiday groove because we just heard

the elves have started polishing the sleigh!

Remember most clients want their cards mailed by Thanksgiving. That means you’re working on an eight-week timetable between mid September and mid November to order samples, create holiday packages, schedule sittings and  orders placed! The holid ays are generally a highly profitable time of year for the industry. It makes sense to be prepared.

Pounds offers one of the most comprehensive selections of holiday greeting cards you’ll find anywhere. There’ s really something to suit every style and taste. Our design team has just added new options for cards and gift tags that you won’t want to miss.

Enhance your card orders with our holiday products and create memorable packages that will keep your customers talking! Gift Tags are an essential add-on and our Holiday Funpacks are

alw

ays a big hit. Holiday Wallet Magnets make absolutely terrific stocking stuffersand are a great client give away. One of the most exciting holiday products is our Pewter Ornament. This is a beautiful, memorable, personal item and it’s durable! Remind your clients that it’s a good idea to order several, so when they’re faced with an unexpected holiday guest they’ve always got a gift solution on hand!

Press Books and Metal Prints are extremely popular seasonal gifts. Contour Metal has just been released and is bound to be a runaway hit!  Be sure to look through our entire novelty line. You’ll find creative gift ideas and great stocking stuffers.

Our new leather line will make holiday shopping even easier with a wide range of products to suit everyone from grandma to the babysitter. If you have not seen these terrific leather items yet, order a sample today. You won’t believe how beautiful they are until you see them!

Pounds offers one stop shopping for your clients and everyone on their Christmas list. Why bother with long lines, crowded parking lots or spending hours online looking for the perfect present? Pounds can solve every gift need. Make this your best season yet, and make it easy on yourself with a little holiday help from Pounds!

Don’t forget the great thing about getting organized and on top of the season is that you’re able to take advantage of the Pounds Holiday Promo that runs until September 30th!

Carl Clark has been leading the sales team at Pounds for 26 years. While his title may be Sales Executive he should really be called Senior Product Mentor or Guru of Big Reveals! Carl gets to show off our products all over the country and he knows more about them than almost anyone you’ re ever likely to meet. If you attend a guild meeting, trade show workshop or convention, you’ll see him, because he’s the man who takes Pounds on the road!

POUNDS What do you like most about your job?
CARL I really enjoy helping photographers solve problems and grow their business. It’s very rewarding to see them implement marketing ideas that work and help them become more successful. Diversity is very important in today’s economy.

POUNDS How much do you travel?
CARL I spend approximately 25% of my time traveling to guild meetings, convention trade shows, and workshops. Most of my travel is in central and south Texas. I do naturally travel out of state for the Imaging USA and the WPPI convention each year.

POUNDS Do you have favorite shows you really look forward to attending?
CARL The WPPI is probably my favorite trade show because it’s the largest and I get to visit with a more diversified group of photographers.  I look forward to hearing ideas from around the world and then sharing those ideas with photographers here in our marketing territory.

POUNDS Do you return from conventions with ideas for products?
CARL We always try to come away from a convention with new ideas. Sometimes the idea comes from a photographer on the other side of the world and sometimes it’s from a photographer right here in the “good ole” USA.

POUNDS What’s the feedback you’re getting about our products this year

?
CARL Professional photographers are always looking for new and exciting products that amateur photographers cannot get. That’s one reason Pounds is constantly developing new products.

POUNDS It seems almost as if you really don’t have to “sell” people on Pounds’ products, is that accurate?
CARL Sometimes you’ ll need to explain to a photographer how they can incorporate a product into their packages to help them se ll it.

POUNDS Is there a phrase or a statement you hear pretty consistently when people come to the Pounds booth at a show?
CARL “You guys have the widest variety of products and the quality of your books is great!”

POUNDS How do you keep presentations “fresh” for new and returning clients?
CARL We always present new products at every show that they’ve never seen before.

POUNDS Is there a hands down favorite product that you find photographers comment on at every show?
CARL Wavy Metal. It’s a product that no other lab can duplicate because one of our own employees built the machine to create this very unusual product. We always hear “ This is so neat,” “ I’ve never seen this before,”  “Nobody else has this,” and of course “ I love Wavy Metal”!

POUNDS There is a lot of competition out there. How do you feel Pounds stands out from the crowd ?
CARL We have the most unusual products like Wavy Metal and Story Metal. Our competitors just don’t have these unique products!

As Pounds celebrates our 35th year providing quality products and dedicated customer service, we thought we’d give you a little insight into our own Chris Oelker and a sneak peak at what’s coming up!

Chris hails from Minnesota so of course he’ s a big hockey fan. Although he’d rather figure out how a book is assembled and bound than relax and read it, he’s been known to kick back at the beach with his family and is seriously devoted to the television series Burn Notice. He’s been with the Pounds team for 15 years. When we asked him what his “official” title was, he replied with his usual dry and witty demeanor, “That depends on which day it is and who is looking for me!” Chris oversees product development and marketing, so this week he’s going with the title Director of Product Solutions & Integration.

POUNDS What do you enjoy most about working at Pounds?
CHRIS The dedication of our team and the pride they take in their work to make Pounds successful. Contributing to that is what really keeps me going. We have a great team here and that always makes for a better day. Every day brings different challenges and opportunities in a photo lab, it keeps you on your toes!

POUNDS How do you think Pounds differs from other labs?
CHRIS We offer a competitive portfolio of quality products and our customer service is top notch. We aren’t a monster lab and we aren’t small either.

I like to think we’re “just right” and the photographers who partner with us know what I mean. Pounds Labs is More Than A  Print! We’re celebrating the 35th anniversary of Pounds Labs this year. Many of us have been around here for a while and we’re very much like a big family. There is a sense that we are personally vested in our business and we treat our customers like they are family. When they are successful, then we experience success. It’s a true partnership that is cultivated at Pounds.

POUNDS Photography is an ever-changing industry so what does Pounds do to stay on the cutting edge?
CHRIS Keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times! We keep our eye on the technology and cultural trends and listen to what our customers want and need. Besides doing our own research, our vendors do a great job of providing us with guidance and supplying us with the tools and materials needed to provide innovative hot products.

POUNDS Have you seen the client base change over the years?
CHRIS Ten years ago in a film-dominated industry, our customer base was primarily regional. Now our base and potential customers exist wherever there is an Internet connection.

With the onset of digital photography, there are a lot more players in the game. The accessibility of digital equipment has saturated the wedding and studio portrait market with photographers. We’ve gone from a traditionally male dominated market to 67% female base. Our customers in the 18-45-age range make up 65% of our customers.

POUNDS What is new in product development and how do you try to figure out the “next cool thing”?
CHRIS When it comes to developing new products, ultimately the photographer’s client is our target. It’s very important to listen to our photographers because they are on the front lines and know what is and isn’t going to sell. We have to offer them products that they can sell and that will appeal to their clients. Sometimes they’re trendy and sometimes they’re very traditional. We also offer products that help photographers market their business and that can be used as selling tools. We generally look at what we’re currently providing and determine a few things that we can enhance then we put those on the project list. However, most new products arise from customer and team member suggestions. Influences from other industries, media and technology all play a role. I’ve even been known to think of a few on my long car rides between Austin and Dallas each week! Often we’ll look at what we have on hand and twist and tweak it until we find we have something unique and desirable. W avy Metal is a good example of that. No one offers Wavy Metal except Pounds right now.

POUNDS There is a strong component of education at Pounds. Tell me how that developed and where you hope to see it go in the future.
CHRIS The big push for offering education stemmed from the need to educate customers about digital shooting.  Years ago, when customers first started sending us digital files, some of the output wasn’t looking too good.  At first we thought we were having internal equipment problems, some prints looked great and some looked horrendous.  We quickly realized that it was some of the new digital photographers who needed a little help.  Image sensors do not at all have the latitude of the two stops of forgiveness built into Kodak Portra film. Around 2003-2004 it seemed like we were holding workshops three or four times a week that basically covered how to custom white balance digital cameras, explained color space, and recommended image file sizes and naming conventions.  Those classes eventually evolved into more technical concepts and studio workflow.  As more people jumped into the digital photography business, there was a need for some business management instruction.  Now we support workshops that focus on photography, studio workflow, business management and marketing.  We also have online go-to-meeting sessions just about every day to help our customers become familiar with various products and processes offered at Pounds.  We plan to do more to take advantage of easily accessible social media outlets like YouTube and post short instructional and informational videos.

POUNDS Customer communication is another important feature at Pounds. Pounds stays in touch with customers via email, newsletter, social media. Do you think Pounds has been a leader in this area and where do you see customer communication going in the future ?
CHRIS Getting the word out about Pounds’ great products and services is an important part of our business. Our strategy is to go where the customers are. We do that pretty well and are very conscientious about not spamming our customers with pontifications. We want to engage photographers and provide relevant and timely information. Using Facebook and Twitter allows us to get information out there quickly for the people that follow us. So of course, people need to follow us! Our emails and newsletters are specifically geared toward our customers for our “big “announcements and promotions. The Tip of the Week in PROS and Snap targets our customers as 90% of incoming orders come through  these two software-ordering options. We’ll be pursuing more video that is easily accessed on mobile devices and of course we cannot rule out telepathy as the next big customer communications movement!

POUNDS Customer service is another strong component of the Pounds structure.

Are there any new features in this area we can look forward to?
CHRIS Our customer service team knocks it out of the park every day. Darren, Erin, Vicky, Jim, Cheryl and Georgina, they rock! We really concentrate on keeping a personal touch in customer service. Call us if you ever have a question about our products or need a little guidance using our programs. Of course we can be reached via email and will respond just as quickly. Our service centers in the Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin labs are great resources for a little extra training and you can always get your hands on physical product if you are out and about and want to visit with one of our friendly reps. If you contact us on Facebook or Twitter, we’ll get you in touch with the best people to help you.

POUNDS What can you reveal about plans/products you are working on for the future?
CHRIS We have some imaged fine leather accessory products that are just about to launch and we’ll be coming out with some new ChromaLuxe™ metal options that are imaged metal panels floated on larger imaged metal panels in an assortment of composited positions. We’re also at work on improvements for our undergraduate school ordering, additional ordering user interfaces and some new press product options. Of course there is always something on the drawing board so keep an eye on your inbox, follow us on Facebook and Twitter and you’ll be the first to know!

Nick Tsakiris has a knack for multitasking. He’s a photographer, a husband, a father to three kids (and two dogs!), a teacher and an entrepreneur. He’s also the Lightroom Dude!

Pounds How long h ave you been a photographer?
Nick Although I’ve played around with shooting for years, I shot my first wedding in 2006. I got serious a year later and have been in the business “officially” a little over four years.

Pounds Why did you become a photographer?
Nick I just loved the idea of being able to look at something, freeze that moment in time and take it to another level. Creative freedom is a powerful thing. I fell in love with photography, the sense of excitement it offers and being able to be creative in camera and on screen. I’m also a people person and enjoy meeting people from all walks of life, so it’s a perfect fit.

Pounds Why did you choose wedding photography?
Nick There was so much going on the first time I shot a wedding. I realized I was able to keep up with all of the action and the inherent challenges of a wedding. Never knowing what is really going to happen on the wedding day keeps me on my toes. There is always the unknown element that makes it even more exciting.

Photos by Nick Tsakiris, Protography Studios

Pounds You’ve taken on another life as “The Lightroom Dude.” How did that come about?
Nick Well, it was not because I walked into a phone booth, took off glasses and put on a colorful outfit! I’ ve been using Lightroom since the first release. I saw the endless possibilities of the software. Attending workshops and seminars, I would hear people talk about how hard it was to use, but I saw the perfect opportunity to ease workflow and creativity. I came to the conclusion that it was just different and sometimes we fear change! Lightroom, to this day, has proven to be the photographer’s friend. I found that you could do more than the help file might show. The unseen possibilities became my incentive to make the program do cool things.

Pounds How did the workshops begin?
Nick Pounds asked me to do a workshop in Houston. I was pretty nervous! The excitement of teaching was awesome. However, the thought that people would be listening to my advice and possibly using it in their business was really nerve wracking! Fortunately, it all turned out great!

Pounds A star was born!
Nick I was asked to speak at SWPPA, then IMAGING USA and we packed the Pounds Booth at both shows. I saw a crowd that stayed and listened and at times would say, “OK, show me that again!” Then more workshops developed across Texas. Now I’ll be speaking at a pretty good number of the Guilds in Texas. I was also invited to speak in Kerrville.

Pounds This sounds like a challenge! How do you handle wearing all the different “hats”?
Nick It has taken off quickly! I had to figure out how to separate the teaching side of the business from the photography side. It was perplexing.

Then while I was watching an episode of Photoshop TV, Matt Kloskowski mentioned that you could find him on Facebook under the title of “The Photoshop Guy.” A light bulb turned on above my head in a matter of seconds…”The Lightroom Dude.” So I used the name Lightroom of course and since everyone knows that one of the words I use the most is “Dude” well, it just sounded cool!

Pounds What do you love most about teaching?
Nick This one has a simple answer!

I love to show people how to do things that will help them increase their knowledge and their business. It is one of the greatest feelings in the world!

Pounds How often are you able to schedule workshops?
Nick As often as possible.

In May alone, I am in Fort Worth, Dallas, San Antonio and McAllen! I think Lightroom is just now getting the recognition it deserves. We haven’t seen it hit full force yet, so there is a perfect scenario for me to go out and teach. There are users who have stepped away from the program because they feel the learning curve is too much. Lightroom at first glance, can be intimidating. However, once you know how to use it, the possibilities are endless. I am always ready to conduct workshops. If you’re ready, then let me know and I’ll be there!

Pounds Where do you see yourself in five years?
Nick I plan to travel more and teach worldwide. I’ll have a larger studio and I see my photography pushing the limits and being a part of something bigger than just shooting.

Pounds What advice do you have for a photographer entering the business today?
Nick Learn your tools and be yourself! Remember that everything happens for a rea son, so live and learn!

It isn’t hard to define the role of someone in customer service. They have to be a good listener.

They can’ t make assump tions but have to anticipate needs. Resourcefulness and the ability to problem solve are essential.

The bottom line is they really have to like people and want to help them. Darren Hanson fits every part of the customer service definition. He’s been with the Pounds team for thirteen years. “It’s the daily communication I enjoy,” Hanson said. “That and the friendly work environment, of course!”

Hanson spends most of his time in the office working with customers but once in a while he’s able to attend an event like Imaging USA and WPPI and get face-to-face feedback from clients. “It’s always a surprise and it’s always a pleasure to put a face with a name,” he said.  “I’ve worked with most people for years and when I finally get a chance to meet them in person, I feel like I already know them.

Going above and beyond is a daily occurrence for Hanson. He solves problems; juggles an array of client needs and manages to ensure no balls get dropped regardless of the circumstances.

A great example of this was recounted in a letter we recently received from a new client. This past winter, snowstorms halted a lot of business. Shipping schedules were disrupted and carriers were scrambling to catch up on deliveries. “An order placed a week and a half earlier had still not made it and had been promised to a client for Valentine’s Day,” photographer Jim Presley of Presley Photography wrote. “When I called, the gentleman I spoke with urgently reprinted the portion of my order promised for that Monday, had it shipped overnight for Saturday delivery and literally saved my client for me. I regret to say I did not take down the names of the people who made this happen but I get the idea that your company is packed full of good-hearted and generous people that know what customer service is all about.”

You guessed it, our own Darren Hanson was that gentleman and the Pounds team earned another loyal customer for going above and beyond, something that is simply second nature for Hanson and for Pounds!

The Pounds team headed to Las Vegas in February for the annual WPPI convention and trade show. Chris Oelker reveals all!

POUNDS: How was the turnout this year?
CHRIS: I haven’t seen final numbers, but the estimate is over 15,000 attendees, 80 platform speakers, and more than 300 exhibitors!

POUNDS: Were there a lot of new face s?
CHRIS: Yes, new pho tographers seemed

to be in the majority. We spoke with a lot of people who were just starting out or had been in business for only one or two years. I think that really contributed to the atmosphere of enthusiasm and excitement this year.

POUNDS: What Pounds products and services stole the show?
CHRIS: Our metal prints, especially the unique wavy metal, were a tremendous hit.  Pounds has been dubbed “the wavy metal lab.” We heard this everywhere, even on the plane ride home!  Of course Pounds is a full service lab with a 35-year history! Other big hits were our press products, especially our Coil Bound Press Booklets and the Accordion Books with metal covers.

POUNDS: What was the feeling about business for 2011 ?
CHRIS: I’d have to say optimism was prevalent.

Many photographers are already seeing an increase in their bookings over last year.

POUNDS: Why is WPPI so important for our industry

?
CHRIS: WPPI provides photographers a full range of resources to help establish and grow their business.  It exposes photographers to educational opportunities, equipment vendors, workflow and business strategy solutions, and of course product providers like Pounds!

When a photographer chooses a lab, they are entering into an important partnership.  Each is dependent on the other in order to be successful. A lab converts the photographer’s artistic vision and image manipulation into a tangible product such as wall portraits or coffee table books for the end client.  WPPI helps facilitate that introduction to quality resources that are required to be successful.

That’s what customer service representative Vickie Viera wants you to know. Viera has been on the Pounds team for 6 years and loves her job!  Meeting expectations, anticipating needs and giving more than expected are just second nature to Viera.

POUNDS: What do you like most about your job?
VIERA: I get personal satisfaction out of helping others.

POUNDS: Tell me an “above and beyond the call of duty” story!
VIERA: I h ad a call from a client with a negative he needed scanned and printed in a few hours. It was for a funeral. We had t he order ready when he called back to say he could not make it to Dallas to pick it up. It broke my heart to imagine the print would not be t here. I asked my sister to drop it off at the funeral home almost 50 miles from here. She lives less than five miles from the client. It was very moving to be there when this family needed us.

POUNDS: What’s it like when you finally get to meet the people you are emailing and talking to on the phone?
VIERA: It’s always like meeting an old friend you haven’t seen in years rather than someone you have never met. It is always a joy to meet them face-to-face.

POUNDS: You were able to attend Imaging USA. How important do you think it is it for you to go to trade shows and get face-to-face feedback?
VIERA: It’s very important. I would s ay this is a critical team-building event for the client and for us. Once we have that interaction they are far less likely to feel like a number.  We become part of a team reaching for a goal.  We can address feelings, ideas and concerns in a way they often will not bring up on the phone. They feel they are calling someone who cares. Once that relationship is established we become a team. Customers are far more likely to share so we can address issues or concerns.

POUNDS: Do you try to get out on the road and see customers face to face at shows on a regular basis throughout the year?
VIERA: I have attended meetings held by our clients. I have met several of the people I speak to frequently and  it’s always a wonderful experience.

POUNDS: Tell us a bit about YOU!
VIERA: I am a fifth generation Texan and I love living here. I moved to another state for a few years but came back as fast as my feet would carry me! I have two grown “boys”. One is in the Air Force, the other is a Marine. I have been on the finishing side of photography my whole life and I greatly enjoy the experience! I’ve meet people who became life long friends, one print at a time.

POUNDS: What’s the one thing you’d like your customers to know about you?
VIERA: I care!

POUNDS: What’s the most important thing customers should know about the customer service at Pounds

?
VIERA: We are here for YOU!

Michelle Seigerman is a mover and a shaker. While moving comes with the territory of being a military wife, shaking things up is what she does naturally. Seigerman, owner of Ages and Stages Photography, shook up her own life while living in England a few years ago.

“It began as a hobby,” Seigerman said. “After having my son I needed to do something for myself, something creative.” Living the military lifestyle, far away from home, families are constantly trying to keep in touch. Kids are growing up fast, away from relatives, and sending photos to loved ones back home becomes a priority.  Seigerman had an epiphany.

“It’s hard to afford things off base,” Seigerman said. “I’ve always loved photography and I thought it would be great to offer our troops an affordable option for family photos.” Working with military regulations means you have to be resourceful when it comes to marketing. “You can’t advertise on a military installation but you can set up as a vendor when thereare Bazaars on base,” she said. Seigerman went to work.

She created business cards, got on the Internet to figure out pricing and set up a package deal for her photographs. “ I set up a cute fall scene with a backdrop and thought maybe I’d get a few people. I ended up swamped the whole weekend!”

Seigerman was off and running.

Business was booming and she had a steady clientele. Of course the life of a military wife is always in transition and in 2009, the family moved again.  Seigerman is now shaking things up in San Antonio, Texas!

“There’s a lot more competition,” Seigerman said. However, a whole new world of marketing opportunities opened up because they were no longer living on a military base.  “I initially tried mailing out postcards and putting them at local businesses but did not get an overwhelming response,” she said. Next came an ad in a neighborhood mailer and a small response. Seigerman started thinking.  She’d joined Facebook in England but once back in America realized the value of social media as a great business marketing tool. “I’m a big fan of Groupon,” she said.  “So I did an ad with them and that really got my name out there. People responded right away.  Once you get a client base, word of mouth goes a long way.”

Seigerman also offers deals and discounts and holds contests. “People really respond to contests,” she said.   You always have to be thinking when you move around. It’s all working for Seigerman. “Business is right where I want it to be now,” she said.

Seigerman is always thinking about the next marketing plan but she has found balance in her life.

With two children and a full time career that may sound impossible but she has it figured out.  “I shoot when my kids are in school and I don’t work every weekend. We need family time.” Being a parent and a former teacher has actually helped Seigerman with her work. “I’ve got more patience,” she said. “I love children and that shows. I love the art and creativity of photography and capturing a family naturally. I shoot in a photojournalistic style and people respond to that, it’s the way we like to see ourselves.”

So what happens when duty calls the family to another destination ? “Have camera, will travel, “ Seigerman said. “That’s the way it’s got to be!”

You’ve got a terrific website and great SEO. You’re on Linked In, Plaxo Plus and Facebook. You Twitter every day and belong to all of the professional organizations. Is it enough ? Every smart photographer looks for that competitive edge,that something extra that will take their studio to a new level of visibility and recognition. What’s the answer?

What about photography competitions?  It’s a guarantee you’ll get visibility. You don’t even have to win. Entering gives you something to Tweet about, something to post on Facebook, something to blog about. It’s news.

What if you win? Even better. You have a brilliant marketing tool. Create an email with your winning image and blast it out to your clients. Add your new “best in show” or “first place” title on to all of your marketing messages. Winning something usu ally results in an interview for a photography newsletter or industry magazine. If no one contacts you, then contact them! Call your local paper and offer to give them an “exclusive” about your award. Local morning TV shows are another great avenue for publicity. They love winners and are always looking for interesting people to feature.

If you’re just beginning in the business, competitions are a great way to gain immediate recognition. Whether you win, place or show, you’ll be out there meeting your peers and getting a better understanding of how the photo competitions work. If you’re an old hand, then it’s important to stay plugged in and not rest on your laurels. There’s a new kid waiting to take your place every day, so keep you hand in the game!

Not only are photo competitions an excellent marketing opportunity, they’re a great way to renew your artistic spirit.  When you aren’t shooting specifically for a client, you can get back to the reason you picked up a camera in the first place, love of photography!

Shooting images purely for your own satisfaction generally takes a back seat when you are scrambling to keep your business healthy.  You have to have a reason to get back to shooting simply for the fun of it. Photographic competitions serve that purpose. If you get on a schedule of entering competitions you’ll actually be fine-tuning your craft on a regular basis. Think about competing like exercise.

The more you do it the better you get. You are keeping your talent “in shape” and keeping that competitive edge!