How Photographers Network at WPPI 2019

Recently, I traveled to Las Vegas for the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International Conference (WPPI). It’s one of the largest conferences for people photographers. Attendance hovers in the thousands!

Aside from escaping the rough Midwest winter (although it did snow in Vegas a few days before I arrived), it’s an energizing event. February is typically a little slow for wedding and family photographers, but not for me, so I had to make a carefully timed break. Headshot photography demand remains this time of year. In fact, the beginning of the year always has a bit of a rush. Think gym memberships. The good news is that once you get a headshot, you don’t have to keep coming back to the studio a few times a week to maintain it.

The Print Competition

The conference hosts an international print competition where judges scrutinize every conceivable detail of printed work. Watching the process is a learning experience. This is an area I just haven’t pursued. With the daily management of my business, it hasn’t made sense for me. But who knows... I did attend a very interesting lecture on fine art printing of digital images. This is a discipline of photography that has so far escaped me. Accessible training is limited. And the experts are difficult to find.

Keynote Photographers

We heard from Alexi Lubomirski, one of the keynote speakers, and the most recent royal wedding photographer. He’s actually a fashion photographer. He acknowledged that he got a lot of negative social media feedback on a couple images. We photographers tend to get hung up on details that only matter to other photographers.

Photography Gear And More Gear!

The huge trade show is a great way to keep up with the latest trends and equipment. This is the best opportunity to pepper the manufacturers with questions. Nikon and Canon have made a huge push into mirrorless camera technology. Up until recently, they had been slow to the game. Sony, Fuji, and others have a solid head start. As a Nikon shooter, it was good to see they’re now in the game. Mirrorless is the future, there’s no doubt.

With Nikon technicians on hand, it’s a perfect time to get cameras cleaned and checked. We subject our cameras to a lot more wear and tear than a consumer camera. While they are quite rugged, a tune up never hurts.

Back to Business

I always try to attend as many business classes as possible. After all, when running a business, if I can effectively market my work, it doesn’t matter how good my images are. So topics like SEO and social media or video marketing are critical.

Among Friends

And of course it’s great to be among fellow photographers facing the same challenges I do each day. We can compare notes, share tricks, sympathize with struggles and offer a fresh take lingering business challenges.

Did you attend WPPI? What did you think?

If you’re in another line of work, what’s your industry flagship conference? I’d love to know.

Troy Photography Studio Update

It's been a crazy few weeks, but I'm excited to announce that I'm up and running in my new Troy studio. Here’s a quick update on what I’ve been working on and some thoughts on running a small business.

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On Outsourcing

Since my last update, the furniture has been delivered and assembled! Yes, I outsourced the furniture assembly. Me spending 3 days fiddling with boxes and instructions doesn’t make sense.

As a business owner, it’s critical to recognize when it makes sense to outsource. I try to outsource tasks when there’s something else I can be doing to build the business. Remember the idea of opportunity cost from economics? Bookeeping, for example, is a huge mental drain on my energy and time and I bring no additional value to the process. I can better use that time to generate new business through marketing efforts — blogging, networking or generating social content. Most importantly, that extra time is spent serving my clients — that’s why they hired me.

On Spreading the Word

Press releases have been submitted. Yes, some might say a traditional press release is out of touch with current media trends, but I believe in reaching people in the channels they already read. With a big corporate audience, press releases make sense. Plus, as a member of the Troy and Rochester Chambers, I can submit a press release as part of my membership.

I’ve updated the address in my Google Business listing and Chamber directories. Having a dedicated local presence is great for SEO — so I wanted to make sure to leverage that benefit as soon as possible.

On Soft Openings

I don’t think anyone is every 100% ready when opening a business. There’s always some little detail that could use additional attention. But the perfect opening that never happens benefits no one. So, my scheduling software is updated which means you can book an appointment in the new space right now! As I get settled, additional appointment availability in February and beyond will be coming!

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Have you recently moved a business? Or do you struggle with outsourcing and delegation? If so, drop me a note. I’d love to hear about the challenges you faced.

If you’re due for a new headshot, make an appointment today. I can’t wait to show you the space!

Coming Soon — Troy Photography Studio

What better way to kick off 2019 than to announce my new Troy Photography Studio!

In just a few short weeks, I’ll be moving in. All the details will follow. At the moment, I’m buried in all the planning details. Furniture decisions, space planning, technology considerations, internet access, light stands, backdrops and so many other random little details. Thankfully, my wife got me the most important detail — a coffee maker!

Thanks to your support, this past year was my best by far. The need for a dedicated studio space became very clear over the summer. It’s something I’ve been pondering for a long time. But this was the first time it just made sense.

Individual Headshot Clients

Individual clients will benefit from a fixed space where I can really refine the entire client experience. And with a location in Troy, right off I-75, I’ll be more accessible to the larger metro Detroit area.

Corporate Photography Clients

Corporate clients will benefit as well. I’ll still be available to travel to a conference room near you, but as my corporate base grows, the need for makeup and new hire sessions grow too. When photographing lots of people in a day or two, things come up. The dreaded fire drill email from the boss, a pressing client need, or illness all are quite common. Accommodating these last minute changes will be just a simple calendar appointment away.

The studio will also be a great meeting place. Client and networking meetings will be a snap. And I’m also looking at the possibility of offering small workshops. Do you have an idea for a workshop? Or would you like to partner on a workshop? Send me a note!

Look for appointments in the new studio very soon

If you want to pencil something in, let me know. The month will book up fast. Otherwise, keep an eye on the blog for updates. If you’re not already getting my newsletter, I’ll be sending an update there as well.

Thanks again for your support. Make it a great year!

Meet Psychotherapist Vince Anthony Pitre

Many of my headshot clients are therapists. They all realize the power of a warm and welcoming first impression. Not unlike an attorney or physician, we trust therapists with the most sensitive challenges that life tends to lob our way. Vince humbly exudes that sense of trust and approachability. It was my honor to help him with a professional image.

Tell us about your business.

As a psychotherapist for over twenty-one years, I’ve helped a national park full of people to quit smoking, release weight and anxiety. My clients are mostly women and men between the ages of 25 – 55 and teens with support of a parent. My practice is located at 16 ½ and Mound in Sterling Heights, MI.

What’s unique about how you do what you do?

Common talk therapy engages conscious thoughts, feelings and behaviors in a useful process that’s like pruning a tree. Even though I do great talk therapy, for clients who are ready to go beyond that, I love to go deeper by addressing the roots of symptoms. By working together to correct the conditions underlying symptoms at the root, the insides can gradually match the outsides as clients grow out of their problems while developing mobility, stability, strength and power from the inside out.

What’s the one thing most people don’t know about your industry, but should?

An effective therapist has extensive experience, training and above all has found the courage to find themselves, facing both their light and darkness in an ongoing evolving process to better help, encourage and inspire others to live their best life. An effective client is someone who goes to therapy because they initially feel a need to release pain, bad habits and navigate changes. They discover that they've been in therapy with themselves all along. Now they're coming to therapy for professional guidance to augment their own process not from a sense of need but rather from a sense of wonderment and want for discovering the true nature of how they can uniquely learn, heal and harmonize with change to become their best.

Where can readers go to learn more?

Ready to be, do and have your best? Set up a free 20-minute phone consultation: newoutcomestherapy.com/contact/

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If you’d like to discuss updating your image for a new website or rebrand, let’s chat.

How to get uniquely authentic photos for your business

You don’t get a second chance to make a great first impression. That’s one of my favorite mantras around headshot photography. The idea extends beyond headshots to any visuals used in your business. Enter my new offering: Custom Stock Photography. Think of it as headshots for your business. We’ll cover your products, show your services, and highlight your unique space or storefront. Check out the new services page here.

Show the world what it’s really like to be a patient in your office.

Headshots are still the core of my business, so this offering will be very limited at first. The focus will be to serve small businesses around Troy and Rochester. If time permits, I’ll venture around the Detroit metro area.

Wondering if Custom Stock is right for your business? I’ve put together a few basics on stock photography to give you a better sense of the mission. Even in you’re not around Detroit, you’ll be in good shape to find a professional photographer in your area.

What is stock photography?

Stock photography has become quite ubiquitous in the last few years. Simply log on to one of the countless sites that offer these photos and search for what you want. Some sites even allow you to search color themes, moods, etc. If you can think it, there’s a stock site that will serve it.

What purpose does stock photography serve?

Stock photography is handy for some advertising functions. If you write a frequent blog on more intangible topics, it makes sense. Or maybe the cost of producing relevant images for your work is well beyond your budget. Think exotic places or extreme sports.

The case for having your own stock images

If you’re a local business with a unique story and message, no stock catalog in all the interwebs will have images of you, your staff, your office or your handmade artisan products.

Got an irresistible product? They deserve scroll stopping images.

Enter Custom Stock photography

Say you’re a local chiropractor. You don’t have handmade products, but you do have real patients and a genuine staff. I bet none of them have run over that same field in perfect light that you see in many of your competitors’ images. The people in these photos have nothing to do with your business. So why imply they do in your marketing materials?

Got specialized equipment? A picture is worth a thousand words…

To best connect with local clients and customers, show them what it’s like in your office or storefront. A prospective client should be able to get to know you via your website, blog and social outlets. By the time they walk in the door, they’ll be ready to buy.

In just a couple hours, a skilled photographer can capture a number of images for your business. Having a folder of 20 images on standby is super handy. You never know when a great ad opportunity will come up. Have you ever represented your business at a community or industry expo? A few great images printed large is a great tool to draw in the traffic, and you’ll instantly be able to tell your business story from the action (or products) in the photos.

Where to use your custom stock images

Of course, in addition to those expos, you’ll want to use your images on social media. Combined with some headshots, they’re a great way to introduce the staff. String these out over weeks and you’ve got a good chunk of social content ready to go.

Don’t forget about your Google Business Listing. Google is begging you for great images of your business. Keeping the Google machine happy certainly can’t hurt your rankings on search.

Why hire a pro photographer when all your front desk staff have phones?

First, you pay your front desk or reception staff to run the business, not document it. A customer in the door deserves the full attention of any staff. “Wait, while I snap this photo” is not the answer. The customer in the door, credit card in hand is more valuable to most businesses compared to a few hundred Instagram followers.

Second, a professional photographer will be able to light your office and products in a more consistent fashion. Don’t cheapen your products and services with DIY marketing.

Third, you’ll be able to confidently print the images from a professional camera (and professional technique) for any ad, or even a billboard. While pretty good online, smartphone images can quickly show their flaws when printed — especially under tricky lighting. When the printer calls to say the smartphone image won’t work, you won’t have much time to send in another option. Plan ahead.

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I hope this helps get your marketing wheels turning. Check out the official Custom Stock service page here — share it with a friend or business owner you think might benefit. If this might be right for your business, let’s set up a free consultation to discuss how I can help!