What does 2011 look like for you?

Reality check. The year is half over. Hard to believe, isn’t it? So shake the sand off your toes and start thinking about those Holiday greeting cards and New Year’s Eve weddings.

What’s your game plan? People always want more and this is the year they might just be ready to spend more. So what does that mean for your plan? What new products will you introduce? How will you take business to a new level?

If you haven’t presented Wavy Metal to your client base, now’s the time! This product is taking the photography world by storm. It’s not only the latest trend, it’s beautiful and archival! Use it for sports, seniors, even weddings. It adds a whole new dimension to your packages.

Press Products are the fuel that keeps your studio’s engine purring. There is something for everyone in our extensive catalog of press offerings. Start thinking now about what new sizes and styles you need to have on hand for the upcoming season. We’ve included some great ideas in the newsletter to kick-start your marketing with press products.

Make sure you’ve got the latest information on Photoshop and Designer Press Books by registering for one of our workshops. In fact consider adding workshops into your plan of action and learn how to increase business every month!

Whatever you need, we’re here to help with great information, great products and great advice.

Shooting weddings is a calling. It isn’t easy. You deal with hopes, dreams and raw emotions. Everyone has expectations. Not only does the passion and love have to be captured, so does the energy and spirit of each couple. Portland photographer Eric Holland and his team at Holland Studios have figured out how to capture it all and they do it exceptionally well.

POUNDS: What inspired Eric to become a wedding photographer?
HOLLAND STUDIOS: Eric loves to talk! He really gets to know people and what makes them tick. He has a unique ability to translate that into images that capture each couple and tell their story. In fact that is what we love the most about wedding photography. We’re storytellers.

POUNDS: There is a terrific energy to your images. You seem to be able to bridge the gap of what is “expected” by the parents and what is” desired” by the bride and groom.
HOLLAND STUDIOS: We encourage our clients to allow us to shoot their engagement session.  This allows us to build a relationship with them right from the beginning.  We shoot what we see but we also shoot what we feel. Of course we make sure to get the “expected” shots of faces and smiles and that builds trust for the parents.  Once a couple sees their engagement session photos, they fall in love with the images. That’s when they begin to trust us to capture their wedding day, their love story.

POUNDS: Tell us a little bit about your process.
HOLLAND STUDIOS: We schedule a details meeting with our clients before each wedding. We use two photographers for most of our weddings so we can cover every angle of the whole look and feel of the wedding. Holland Studios has four photographers and each has a second shooter they like to work with. Listening is vital. We go over the flow of the day and really listen. Then we’re able to hear what is most important and make that the focus of our job.  We understand our clients before the wedding so we exceed their expectations.

We’re able to combine our dream and style with their needs, make it work together and create a perfect, complete story.

POUNDS: How much does the location dictate your shots?
HOLLAND STUDIOS: Looking for light and angles drives us more than the location.  You can always find the “right” spot, even if the venue is not what you would think. We work at so many venues that we can switch from urban architecture to a vineyard in a day.

POUNDS: What is the best advice you can give a bride and groom
about being photographed?
HOLLAND STUDIOS: Choose a photographer whose work you love and that you’re comfortable with. If you are not comfortable and you don’t communicate with your photographer, it will show in the images.

POUNDS: Do you have a favorite wedding memory that stands out in your mind?
HOLLAND: Yes, an amazing story. This particular groom and bride were each recovering from marriages that did not last.  They hadn’t met one another yet. Both were in their homes on the same Sunday morning, watching the same program on television.  It was a wedding show that featured Eric as a vendor. They both decided if they were ever to marry again, they would hire Eric.  Well, of course they met, and fell in love. When they began talking about wedding plans they each had a “must have” photographer in mind and that was Eric!

POUNDS: What advice would you give a new wedding photographer, just beginning their career?
HOLLAND: Master your skills. Go to conventions and seminars. Join associations. Walk away from each event with a new idea that you can use to better yourself and your business. Once you’re established, give back to your profession.

Most of all do what you love and love what you do.

POUNDS: What inspires you?
HOLLAND STUDIOS: Our clients, new products, new camera gear, and the spirit of competition! Every day is a new day. Every new day brings the opportunity to see and create.

Facebook is a phenomenon. It has changed the way we communicate, the way we promote and the way we market. According to Chris Treadaway, author of Facebook Marketing: An Hour a Day, Facebook has over 400 million worldwide users.

“Taken down to the local level, though, this means that Facebook might just already have more reach in the community than any other media outlet,” Treadaway said. “Facebook is trying to become the first place people visit when logging into their computers every morning. The site that leads this battle carries the most online leverage.”

On April 21st, Facebook announced a web-wide “like” button that shares a user’s activity with a single click. It’s easy to see Facebook gaining even more ground with the new sharing and recommendation functionality.

What does this mean for the photography industry? It means if you are not using Facebook for marketing, you’re missing a huge potential client base.

Where do we get business? Networking, pure and simple. Word of mouth in the photography industry is everything. Bridal photographers know that one bride can lead to twenty more. The unmarried members of the bridal party are potential clients, but so are all of the other guests! They will all refer you; they will “network” you, and you’ll stay busy! Whatever your specialty, the majority of business is derived from networking. Think of Facebook as one big bridal party, one big sporting event or one big graduation ceremony. Everyone is talking. You want them to be talking about your photographs!

Facebook has to be the easiest marketing tool ever invented. It’s simple to create a fan page for your business. Upload a brief paragraph about your studio, then add beautiful photos, client testimonials and a link to your website. You’ll want to update Facebook more frequently than your blog. Don’t worry; updates take a lot less time than blogs! You can update daily or a couple of times a day. The great thing about using Facebook  as a marketing tool is  that you will receive an email every time someone comments on your page. Facebook basically reminds you to log in and comment back!
Facebook offers a readymade audience, and they are your local targeted demographic. Clients are already looking for you there, and they need to find you there.

If you haven’t started a fan page for your studio yet, do it today. The impact and reach of Facebook is impossible to ignore.

Every year you have to stay on top and be on trend but keep your balance sheet on track. We’re constantly developing new merchandise and software to help you accomplish these goals. With our latest product release, you’ll be able to create contemporary yet classic items that provide the leverage you need in a competitive industry.

The biggest buzz is all about our new Metal Prints. The archival qualities, combined with rich vibrant color and luminosity, have made Metal Prints a must have item to offer clients this year. We recently added a wave to the Metal Print product, creating an element of physical depth that imparts a feeling of spirit and energy to your images.

There’s a new take on Key Chains with the introduction of Silver color heart and diamond shaped options. These are wonderful for bridal party thank you gifts and senior keepsakes.

Of course we had to have a little fun with our novelty items this year so we added Stickers. Kids will love trading Stickers so be sure to add them to school photo orders. Offer them to your sports teams and don’t forget your seniors! Stickers are irresistible.

Keep an eye on your inbox, you never know what’s about to develop at Pounds!

What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas. Not when the Pounds team hits town. Our Marketing and Sales Manager Raquel Bowles tells all!

POUNDS: How many years has the Pounds team been attending WPPI?
RAQUEL: This is Pounds’ fifth year attending WPPI.

POUNDS: What made this year great?
RAQUEL: This year was great because we had the chance to spend time with existing customers but to also meet some new,exciting and interesting photographers.

POUNDS: What were the highlights?
RAQUEL: Watching photographers learn from our speakers. We want to educate photographers to grow their businesses so we pick speakers who can do that.  We actually had photographers that were working in other labs’ booths come over to learn from us!  Everyone loved wavy metal. We had so many photographers talking about it.

POUNDS: When you go to trade shows like this what do you learn that helps you do a better job for your clients?
RAQUEL: The feedback is phenomenal.  It is our chance to spend time with existing customers to learn what they like or don’t like.  We also get the opportunity to learn from new photographers what products they are looking for.

POUNDS: What sort of customer input and response did you get?
RAQUEL: The speakers were a big hit. We also found that our customers are very excited about how the lab is growing. Our existing clients are happy because, as we grow, we are able to offer more products. New clients are not only excited about our products, but our ability to streamline their work flow and present marketing solutions to build their business. We always hear about our great customer service and that is extremely gratifying because customer service—giving our clients more––is the heart of what we do.

See pictures on our Facebook page.

Brandi Nellis makes you smile. She also might make you jump, swing, dance, run, hang upside down or stand on your head, but you’ll be smiling the whole time.

This Austin based photographer has been shooting pictures since she was a kid and started her first professional studio eleven years ago.

She has a way of looking at the world with a different eye, a definite attitude and a dash of genius!

POUNDS: What inspired you to become a photographer?
BRANDI: Like a lot of photographers, photography has been a hobby and a passion since I was a little girl.  I knew from an early age that I wanted to own my own company and work for myself. Bottom line, what really inspired me to become a photographer was that I wanted to make money doing a job that I absolutely love.

POUNDS: What’s the best thing about it?
BRANDI: The best thing about being a photographer is that exact moment when you know you just got “the money shot.” I can call the shot every time.

POUNDS: How has your idea of “being a photographer” changed since you’ve been in business?
BRANDI: To be “a photographer” sounds so easy and fun. “Let’s go take some photos!”  However, I learned quickly that I had to be a marketing director, an accountant, a Photoshop and social media guru, a delivery and pickup driver, a video maker and oh we can’t forget, a comedian during the shoots. Yes, my idea of “being a photographer” has TOTALLY changed since I’ve been in business!

POUNDS: Has being a mom changed your way of shooting?
BRANDI: Yes, being a mom has helped me to relate to kids so much better and easier.

POUNDS: Tell us about your branding strategy.
BRANDI: I wish I had a great answer or 12 step program for this but I don’t.  I get ideas in the most random places and times…in the middle of the night, driving in my car, the shower and most recently watching the weatherman! Most of all, I really just want my photography business to be different and offer some fresh ideas.

POUNDS: Do you have a sort of “mission statement” about your photography business that makes you want to leap out of bed each day?
BRANDI: First of all, I NEVER leap out of bed.  I am not a morning mama! I don’t have an official mission statement but if I had to give one off the cuff I’d say I want to give clients happy, colorful & quirky imagery that they can cherish for life.

POUNDS: Where do you hope to be in ten years (yeah, we know, the beach!)
BRANDI: The beach is right! I guess 10 years from now I’d love to own a jazzy little studio with a really fun team of employees.

POUNDS: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given about business?
BRANDI: One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was that you don’t have to go out and spend thousands of dollars on new equipment to be a good photographer.  A good photographer can build a business on average equipment. I know because I have!

POUNDS: What do you tell young people today who come to you and say, “Gee I want to do what you do?”
BRANDI: Follow your dreams.  You can be anything you want to be.

There are a lot of organizations out there vying for your attention and your money. Local, state, regional, category specific, sub category, the list goes on and on. Why choose the Professional Photographers of America (PPA)? What’s in it for you?

We took our questions to Eric Anundi of Eric John Photography . Eric has been a member of PPA since 1997.

“I remember joining specifically for the Indemnification Malpractice Coverage ,” he said.

This program covers photographers against malpractice lawsuits. Can you imagine losing a digital file from a wedding? “ If I were to be sued for any reason, PPA would appoint and pay for local attorneys to represent me and pay for all damages awarded to my client,” Anundi said.

PPA has one main focus, to help photographers. It is the largest nonprofit association for professional photographers in the world. PPA is in 54 countries and has been around since 1880. It is the industry’s most powerful organization.

PPA offers a wide variety of services including education, discounts and copyright assistance.

“I love the copyright assistance,” Anundi said. “ In this day and age, copyright questions can be answered with precision by PPA staff.”

“We are a member of Studio Management Services (SMS) which has turned our business around,” he said. SMS gives members of PPA access to financial and business services designed to fit individual studio needs. Business advice from top consultants, bookkeeping services, live and online seminars are all included in SMS. This member benefit alone can get a new business off on the right foot as well as help an established studio that needs a tune up.

Business is largely based on perception. Professional associations create a level of comfort for clients. “I love the ability to use the PPA logo on my website and brochure which really states that I am a true professional,” Anundi said.

What’s in PPA for you? The answer is clear. Membership in PPA is one of the best investments you can make in your business!

Photography has always embraced women and women have always embraced photography. The first professional woman photographer, Antoinette de Correvont, took aim in 1843. Although photography has always been an equal opportunity field, women seem to have made a distinct mark on the industry. Margaret Bourke-White was the first Western photographer allowed into the Soviet Union back in 1930. Diane Arbus rocked the world with her stark, truthful portraits in the ’60’s. The last twenty years have seen portraiture taken to an entirely new level by Annie Leibovitz.

Today, more than ever, professional photography is filled with remarkable women making remarkable images. Kelly Moore Clark is one of those women. From the opening image on her website it’s apparent this is not your average gal. Think Patti Smith with a camera. Her work is beautiful, edgy, artistic, innovative and a little quirky, just like Kelly.

We nabbed Kelly for a little Q&A recently.

POUNDS: What do you think female photographers bring to the photographic party that may be different from male      shooters?

KELLY: I think women have the ability to relate to their subjects, especially their brides. Personally I know how I want to be photographed, so I am constantly mindful of my client’s best angles and all the small details. Everyone has a best side and I feel like I take the time to find it.

POUNDS: What inspired you to become a photographer?

KELLY: I actually didn’t mean to become a photographer, It just happened.  I had a boyfriend that photographed for our college yearbook and I thought, “Hey, I could do that!‚Äù Keep in mind I‚Äôd never  even owned a point and shoot. I talked the yearbook into hiring me. I bought a Rebel (the film kind) took a class that summer on darkroom photography, the rest is history!

POUNDS: Has becoming a mother changed the way you see things through the lens?

KELLY: I think it’s made me more confident in my decision to not photograph children. Give me a bride or a model any day! I want someone who I can control, and kids are tough! I respect child photographers more than ever!!

POUNDS: How do you keep your photographic edge?

KELLY: Keeping balance in my life, and not working too much keeps me excited about when I do photograph. I think the number one reason a person can be uninspired is from being burned out. Also, constantly trying new techniques keeps me excited about what I do.

POUNDS: What do you think attracts women to photography?

KELLY: I think there are many reasons women are getting into photography.  With the digital age, it’s easily    accessible.  Many women are staying home with their children, so photography is something they can do to earn a living.  I also think both women and men in general think that photography is the “cure for the common cubicle”.  It’s has the appearance of being the dream job. Many people are sorely disappointed to realize that running a photography business takes up more time than their old full time job!

POUNDS: Tell us about the Kelly-Moore bag. What was the Inspiration?

KELLLY: I began sketching and dreaming about coming out with a bag of my own 3-4 years ago.  When I got pregnant with my daughter, Posey, it was put on hold for a while.  About a year ago, it resurfaced, and I began pursuing it pretty passionately. My inspiration was the fact that I couldn’t find a bag to wear while shooting that was both fashionable and functional. I‚Äôm so excited about the future of this brand! I’m hoping to come out with many more styles and colors in the next year.

Be sure to check out Pounds on Facebook or Twitter to find out about our special give-away from Kelly at WPPI!

For more on Kelly: http://www.kellymoorephotography.com/

Imaging USA is one of the largest trade shows in America. Estimates on attendance this year in Nashville are hovering around 12 thousand. Numbers like these indicate that photographers are doing what they usually do, being proactive. In order to create new business you have to get out there and see what’s new. There’s no better place than ImagingUSA to keep your finger on the pulse of what is happening in photography.

Our sales executive, Sean Roach, who joined us nine months ago, was a newbie at Imaging this year.  “It was huge and it was great,” he said. “Photographers were looking for something new and we had a great response to our Chromalux and metal products.”

“The highlight of this years show were the three great speakers in our booth giving great information to others,” Roach said. Pounds hosted Eric Anundi, past president of the Professional Photographers of Oregon, Lewis Kencheloe, President of the Professional Photographers of Texas and Carrell Grigsby, PPA Photographer of the year in 2008.

“Tradeshows are a terrific opportunity to hear great ideas from our customers and get perspective about products that will help them. Building personal relationships is what it is about!”

Roach learned something else at Imaging USA. Look at the map.
“It took me about 20 minutes to walk to the tradeshow from my room. On checkout day I found a short cut that could have had me there in under 10 minutes.”  Newbies!

Want to keep up to date with changes at Pounds Labs? Pounds workshops offer a large range of topics including items like, insight on new products, how to speed your ordering in PROS, making your own templates for custom posters, calendars and more. With your feedback you can determine what the topics will be.

Most all meetings are presented with the aid of GoTo Meeting, giving you almost the same experience you would get in a live in person workshop but without leaving your studio or home.

Open line Friday is offered at least once each month. It gives everyone the opportunity to ask questions and kick around new ideas for marketing, website use, online sales, press books and much more. Need help creating and saving sports or school packages in PROS?  —-  or is monitor calibration something you need to worry about? Let’s discuss it and see if we can determine what you need to accomplish your goals.

For a complete month by month view of available workshops, simply go to the Pounds Labs web site and select community at the top and calendar on the left. If the current month is not displayed, you may need to select the correct month at the top of the calendar. If any of the workshops are of interest, make a selection and register. There is no fee and no commitment.