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We’ll be announcing our Grand Prize winner shortly, but in the meantime, we’ve got our September winners to celebrate!

Congratulations to our September winners!

• $150 RadioPopper Gift Certificate – Bryan B., Missoula, MT
• $200 Design Revolution Gift Certificate – Erin P., Austin, TX
• Registration for WPPI 2013 in Las Vegas (March 7 – 14, 2013) – Elena W., Gresham, OR
• $100 credit towards a coffee table book from Collages.net – Kerry C., Huntington, WV
• Choice of ONE Single Nik Software Products (Dfine, Viveza 2, Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro, Sharpener Pro) – Krista P., Pennock, MN
• 3 Month Pro Subscription to Animoto – William V., Smithville, OH
• $200 Marathon Press Gift Certificate or One Website Buildout ($495 value) – Cindy S., Bedford, TX
• Westcott 30″ 6-in-1 Reflector Kit Deluxe ($227 value) – Mark L., Kansas City, MO
• 10×10 Press Printed Album from WHCC – Thomas S., Bothell, WA
• Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod/Manfrotto 327RC2 Head – Deborah C., Austin, TX
• PVFlix Subscription (12 months) – David T., West Jordan, UT

How is it September already?! We’ve got yet another group of lucky subscribers who are getting useful gifts from our amazing sponsors just for sharing what they love about PhotoVision!

Each credit that a subscriber earns from sharing a Personalized URL (along with why PhotoVision is awesome) enters that subscriber in the monthly giveaway, the grand prize giveaway in September AND earns them cool stuff (like FREE PhotoVision 2013 and more!)

Congratulations to our August winners!

• $150 RadioPopper Gift Certificate - Oluwadamilare D., Providence, RI
• $200 Design Revolution Gift Certificate – Jennifer W., Greenville, SC
• Registration for WPPI 2013 in Las Vegas (March 7 – 14, 2013) – Erin P., Austin, TX
• $100 credit towards a coffee table book from Collages.net – Melinda A., Casa Grande, AZ
• Choice of ONE Single Nik Software Products (Dfine, Viveza 2, Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro, Sharpener Pro) – Lydia N., Norphlet, AR
• 3 Month Pro Subscription to Animoto – George Z., Arnold, PA
• $200 Marathon Press Gift Certificate or One Website Buildout ($495 value) – Zodie C., Allen, TX
• Westcott 30″ 6-in-1 Reflector Kit Deluxe ($227 value) – Jessica M., Cambridge, OH
• 10×10 Press Printed Album from WHCC – Randall F., Billings, MT
• Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod/Manfrotto 327RC2 Head - T.J. M., Belleville, IL
• PVFlix Subscription (12 months) - Keith S., Martinez, CA

Remember, you just need one credit to be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing in September!

Want to learn more about the Fans of PhotoVision Contest? Get the details here!

But I’m here to tell you that you’re not.

And to tell you what you are.

1. You are a superhero.

Spiderman is great with his web-slinging and “spidey sense”. The Fantastic Four? A little showy, but they get the job done. Batman has all these cool gadgets to capture criminals. Superheroes have these nifty outfits and masks and secret disguises. You’re not them. You’re better.

You stop time. Repeatedly. Those tender glances, those infectious giggles, those magnificent landscapes where the sun kisses the land at just the right angle? You caught them. Red-handed. And then, just like the other amazing superheroes, you give those frozen moments captured to those who will treasure them forever, displaying your bounty for all to see and admire.

There should be ticker-tape parades in your honor or a brass band celebration or… heck, a plate from the Franklin Mint. Superheroes don’t do it for the money or the glory. They do it because they feel compelled to share their gifts with the world. (Of course, the money and the glory are just added benefits, but without your gifts and talents, you wouldn’t get very far.)

2. You are an artist. 

With your inner eye, you transform the random flotsam and jetsam of daily life into the eternal. You burn with an inner spark and it explodes with brilliance when you “feel” that you got the shot. Take a second and remember how you get chills up your spine when you know you nailed it.

People may describe you as a little “out there”, but really, aren’t all artists slightly mad? (Some, more than others, of course. No need to cut off your ear like Van Gogh.) But you’re a smart artist, combining your talents with a business knowhow. Artists like you seek out others for inspiration, as the great masters have done throughout the centuries. (You’re just lucky to do it in the digital age.)

And you are constantly pushing the envelope. Or the edge. Or the boundaries. Whatever you push, you don’t stop until you get it right, because you’re an artist. The earliest artists were cave painters. Artists advanced because they chose to learn and get outside of their comfort zones. You do the same.

3. You are a magician.

You make it look easy, because you know what’s inside the top hat and how the doves are supposed to magically appear. You’ve practiced and practiced and make some mistakes and you’ve learned from them. By the time you’re ready to perform, your “volunteer from the audience” is completely in awe of what you do.

Just like Houdini and David Copperfield and Penn & Teller, we know it’s all an act, but we’re still enthralled because you create the illusion and then you “presto-chango!” into a superhero and stop time. It looks like magic to us. It feels magical. Your clients want to feel the magic.

How do I know this?

I’m your Jimmy Olson. Your Catherine de’ Medici. Your breathless fan at the stage door.

I’m your client.

And because of what you do and the talents you have, you are not a photographer to me.

You are much, much more.

Another month has flown by (Well, it has for us!) and we’ve got another round of lucky subscribers who are getting some sweet gifts from our amazing sponsors just for sharing what they love about PhotoVision!

Each credit that a subscriber earns from sharing a Personalized URL (along with why PhotoVision is awesome) enters that subscriber in the monthly giveaway, the grand prize giveaway in September AND earns them cool stuff (like FREE PhotoVision 2013 and more!)

Congratulations to our July winners!

• $150 RadioPopper Gift Certificate – Molly L., Marshalltown, IA
• $200 Design Revolution Gift Certificate – Phillip W., Vancouver, WA
• Registration for WPPI 2013 in Las Vegas (March 7 – 14, 2013) – T.J. M., Belleville, IL
• $150 credit towards an Album or $100 credit towards a coffee table book from Collages.net – Rebecca C., Burwell, NE
• Choice of ONE Single Nik Software Products (Dfine, Viveza 2, Color Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro, Sharpener Pro) – Nicki L., Sunrise, FL
• 3 Month Pro Subscription to Animoto – Chris T., Archdale, NC
• $200 Marathon Press Gift Certificate or One Website Buildout ($495 value) – Amy T., Bay City, MI
• Westcott 30″ 6-in-1 Reflector Kit Deluxe ($227 value) – Patricia W., Midland, TX
• 24×30 or 24×36 Gallery Wrap or 10×10 Press Printed Album from WHCC – Kristina G., New Hudson, MI
• Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod/Manfrotto 327RC2 Head – Gisele D., Los Angeles, CA
• PVFlix Subscription (12 months) - Kathy Sue R., Bixby, OK

They’ll be more great prizes handed out in August and September so start sharing your Personal URL and get those credits! Remember, you just need one credit to be entered into that month’s drawing AND you’ll also be automatically entered into the Grand Prize Drawing in September, too!

Want to learn more about the Fans of PhotoVision Contest? Get the details here!

1. Rachel & Rudy Marten – Building Client Relationships (2012)

Rachel & Rudy Marten discuss their marketing ideas with Ed on how to develop customer relationships.

This segment is hot.. in fact, it’s only available for 2012 streaming customers right now! (It’ll be on DVD Issue 94, coming out at the end of August.)

The Martens talk with Ed about what they do to marketing their studio, including cross-promotions with private businesses that are complimentary to their clientele, auctions and more. We love Rachel’s tip on auctions: “Don’t give a size; give an amount.” This is just one of the marketing gems that she offers…Check out the rest!

2. Boudoir Divas  - Marketing The Experience (2011)

Marissa and Kimberlee divulge how they work their brand to create buzz – and what has worked for them to develop their marketing.

Branding is an important aspect of marketing – and if you’re not consistent, it can hurt. Marissa and Kimberlee share their thoughts about their own branding: “Bold and in your face!” and why they chose to brand themselves that way. Their openness about what has worked for them to build their business (hint: referrals was number one, but you’d be surprised with some of their other choices) makes this a great segment to watch – even if you’re not a boudoir studio.

3. Kevin Jairaj – Maximizing Your Online Opportunities (2010)

Kevin Jairaj gets 90% of his clients through his blog and website. Find out how!

Kevin likes steak. A lot. Why do we tell you this? He blogged about a dining experience and got wedding clients out of it. Seriously? Yes.

In this segment, Kevin admits that 90% of his inquiries come through his blog and his website. Discover how he does it (including a great promo video he sends to potential clients that you can do, too!) and other great online marketing tidbits to bring clients to you.

4. Carol Andrews – Networking with Doctors Using Infant Portraiture (2001)

Carol Andrews shares how she developed a new client program that was completely different from her current business plan (and even gets us in on a session!)

Carol was already an established wedding studio, but make a choice to change her business direction and become a portrait studio. She walks Ed through how she went from a single doctor’s office to build a new client base. (And this is like a two-for-one segment, because Carol also takes us into an infant studio session, too!)

5. Beth Jansen – Owning Your Market (2010)

Starting from scratch in a new area can be terrifying, but Beth shows you it can be done!

You might be thinking: “Great, but all of these are established studios and photographers. I’m just starting out. Help!”

This. Is. The. Segment. For. You.

Beth moved to Oklahoma City two years before the segment was filmed, and did not know a single person there. She was starting over from scratch. She divulges step-by-step how she built up her clientele by reaching out to what she considered her target market. Don’t miss this segment!

We’ve got many more fabulous marketing segments on the PhotoVision site… (Gosh, we didn’t even talk about our favorites from Sarah Petty and Lori Nordstrom and all the rest.) You can search for the marketing segments on the site… don’t miss out on the gold mine you have!

Smart photographers know that perfect lighting means nothing if the subject’s head is cocked like a Yorkie listening to a garbage truck rolling by. (Except in Julia’s case, where that’s a perfect pose! More on that to follow…) Moms and Dads aren’t going to purchase packages of their HS Senior standing stiffly with arms akimbo. So, discover how those smart photographers create those natural poses with these five posing segments from PhotoVision. (With over 400 hours of video, it was hard to choose!)

In no particular order, here we go!

1. Colleen & Co: Window Light Posing Challenge (2012)

Step inside Colleen & Co’s studio to see a fun posing challenge.

Darty and Colleen’s interactions with a HS Senior show how to instruct the model for natural posing images. We love how easy they make it look (and we know how hard that posing can be…) and how they share their insights with the audience.

2. Zac & Jody Gray: Post Wedding Portraits (2011)

Zach and Jody Gray are in a time crunch, making every pose count.

It’s one thing to have your clients’ full attention in a studio, but quite another to have them focus on you when they’ve just been declared husband and wife. Zac and Jody show us how they get those shots quickly and effectively with simple posing suggestions, letting the beauty of the moment shine through.

3. Sandy Puc’: Pregnant Expressions (2008)

Sandy Puc’ combines fun with gentle suggestions for posing.

Not only does Sandy give some great inspiration and tips on posing for a mom (and dad), but she’s already selling her concept of books as she’s doing the session. Sandy’s love of what she does helps to keep the clients’ poses natural.

 4. Drake Busath: Classic Family Portraiture (2011)

Drake’s storytelling helped to pose this family naturally.

If you’ve watched other segments with Drake, you know that he’s frank and honest when it comes to interacting with clients. He guides the family by telling a story about what he sees… and in doing so, relaxes the family and creates a beautiful masterpiece.

5. Julia Kelleher: Lucrative Pet Portraiture (2012)

It’s not just humans that need to be posed! Julia shows us how to pose via… well, bribing and sounds an adorable four-legged friend. “Noises are key”, Julia says. Even if you’re not a pet photographers, you should watch this segment, because you never know when a family might want to bring their pet into the studio for their portrait!

Sit. Stay. Jump…. and pose!

Watch one, watch two…. watch them all for inspiration, tips and tricks (and in Julia’s case, treats) on posing. All of these are available for PVFlix customers for instant streaming. (Or if you’re not a PV Subscriber yet, we have both 2012 and 2011 subscriptions available now!)

Obviously, you might have your own favorite PhotoVision segment on posing. Share it with us in the comments section of the blog!

All of us strive to do our best, stand out from the crowd, and make our own mark in the world. The iconic brands that infiltrate our daily lives have built their empires on being the aspirational pinnacle in their industry. (Apple, anyone?) The last word anyone would ever use to describe Apple is “mediocre”.

Apple – it’s not just a fruit. It’s a revolution.

Apple’s an easy example; everyone knows of their successes and has an opinion about the company and their products. A lot of us also know about their missteps. Newton? A “personal digital assistant” that flopped. The Apple Power Macintosh? It doubled as a doorstop. Apple, however, didn’t settle for mediocrity. They looked off to the horizon, dreamed a little, and then worked hard to create ground-breaking products that have revolutionized the way we live.

Your photography business may not have Apple’s capital or the ability to make large missteps, but what it does have is you.

You are your company’s greatest asset. Remember this.

Photographers (and truthfully, people in every profession) spend inordinate amounts of time and money investing in other things that will supposedly transform their lives. In our industry, it’s equipment and software and lighting and even other people. While all of these things (and people) are all important to our businesses, unless we put ourselves first and invest in ourselves, we end up being simply just like every other photographer out there.

Think of a photographer you admire. What do they do that separates them from the teeming sea of people with cameras? Does the word mediocre come to mind? Didn’t think so.

So, here’s your challenge. Invest in yourself. Take time out to discover how to never be mediocre. (Because mediocrity is not your style, nor should it be.)

Yes, you have a business to run, and a family to nurture, and friends to visit. You can still do all of these things and take 15 (or dare we say 30) minutes out of your day to explore ways to rise above the crowd.

And, of course, we think PhotoVision is part of your investment strategy for your business. Pick a topic that you want to learn more about and segments are available in almost every category you desire.

However, there are other ways to explore and stop being mediocre.

• Join a photography group online and interact with other photographers. (Or get involved with a local or state group for face to face interactions.) There is more than one way to pose a subject. Find out how others do it. Share your images and open yourself up to constructive criticism.
• Head off to a museum and explore other types of art – not just photography. Alfred Stieglitz was a photographer, but promoted other types of artists and mediums (like Georgia O’Keefe and John Marin). Step outside your comfort zone and out of the photography area of the museum or gallery and into the sculpture or furniture sections.
  

  Blue and Green Music by Georgia O’Keefe (1921)

• Some photographers (like Gary Box) are drawn to movies for inspiration. Grab a “classic” (and yes, Bladerunner is a classic. Ask any cinephile.) and watch the backgrounds and the cinematography and the way the director has framed the shots instead of the story itself.
• You’re online now. If you’re on an iPad, iPhone, or Android device, check out zite.com. It’s a personalized magazine application that has sections on Arts & Culture, Film & TV, Graphic Design & Typography, and yes. Photography. If it’s cutting edge, you’ll probably find it on Zite. (And another inspirational and educational application is Flipboard, which  will send you down a meandering path of beautiful images.)
• Read. Not just about photography or business. Read for your own pleasure and allow yourself to become immersed in the story. You’ll find your imagination reawakening and spilling over into your photography.

But don’t put it off. If you have to schedule it into your calendar, do it. Today.

Your clients will thank you because they don’t want mediocre. Your family and friends will thank you because last anyone checked, being mediocre didn’t make for a happy countenance.

And most importantly, you’ll thank yourself, because really, when was the last time you said: “Hooray for mediocrity!”?

Never.

Erin was a Grand Prize Winner in last year’s Fans of PhotoVision contest.

Ever curious about how other people do things? Of course you are; it’s human nature! When it comes to accomplishments, we want to understand how winners rise up to the challenge. So we asked.

Erin Peloquin of Time in A Camera was last year’s winner of the Fans of PhotoVision Contest, netting herself a bevy of fabulous prizes, including the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. When we announced this year’s contest, we knew that she’d get in quickly on the action and start earning credits for great prizes and giveaways. And she did.

We caught up with her to see if she’d divulge her secrets and she was more than happy to share how she earned more than 250 credits last year. Her answer as to why she did it was simple. Erin stated: ”I wanted the camera and I wanted to win it. It was a challenge and I don’t shy away from challenges.”

Erin used a combination of blog posts and social media to earn credits. She recommends the following:

1) Create a detailed blog post or article and put it where people can see it.

Take a look at this year’s blog post that she wrote about PhotoVision. 

(If you don’t blog, but are on Facebook, you can create a detailed post and put it in your Notes and refer to that in your status update.)

Erin didn’t just do a single blog post. She refers to PhotoVision several times on her blog in different posts, using her Personalized URL. In some posts, she talks about her favorite segments, while others present her reasons for being a PhotoVision subscriber.

Erin shares: “You have to love the product to make the post sound natural. Authentic. I watch every one of the segments.” She even has parties with her photographer friends and watch segments together to talk about it as a group.

One of Erin’s beautiful images using techniques she’s learned from PhotoVision.

2) “Use social media consistently. Not just a one shot.”

Erin shared her referral link over the course of last year’s contest in various different formats. Whether you blog, tweet, or interact with others on a forum, you can’t just post the link once and forget about it. Spacing your posts and tweets out over the next few weeks will help keep those credits flowing.

3) Use the tools that PhotoVision provides to help earn credits.

Erin took advantage of the PhotoVision Vault. “Having the PhotoVision Vault has helped. I can direct people to the Vault so that they can see what they’re missing.”

There are also sample posts about PhotoVision (and the Flash Tips emails that subscribers get) for ready-to-use posts, tweets and opportunities to share.

While the Fans of PhotoVision contest certainly is an incentive to share the love of PhotoVision, Erin knows that she’d still do it without the contest. Why?

“I know I’ve made a recommendation that has helped photographers.”

“Reflections” by Time in a Camera’s Erin Peloquin

To learn more about the Fans of PhotoVision contest and the cool prizes you can win, click here.

Nik Software’s Color Efex Pro 4

PhotoVision and Nik have teamed up to bring an exclusive deal to our PhotoVision fans: a free sampler set of filters from Nik’s flagship product, Color Efex Pro 4.

This edition begins as a 15-day full trial version of all 55 filters to experience the entire range, then converts to a set of 5 filters that are yours to keep forever, no strings attached.

(You will also receive a special discount code to use should you elect to purchase the software after you’ve tried it.)

Download your free 5-filter set of Color Efex Pro filters now!

With so many photographers shooting weddings and portraits these days, how do you make your images stand out from the crowd without driving yourself crazy? Using post-processing tools, such as those from Nik Software, can save enormous amounts of time, help enhance your images’ creativity and evoke the mood you want to convey on your client’s special day.

Nik Software’s suite of 6 products work in tandem with Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture and enables busy photographers to solve common photographic problems and deliver their best work while saving time. Sound impossible? Let’s take a look, starting at the top of a typical workflow.

Dfine 2.0 with split screen to see the difference

If you’re a wedding or event photographer shooting in low natural light scenes where you need to crank up your ISO, you know that digital noise can creep into your shots. Nik’s Dfine 2.0 software is a one-click solution that cleans up noise while preserving all-important image detail. Enhancing color, light and contrast detail in images is another tactic that can turn a humdrum photo into a crowd-pleaser.

Viveza 2 is Nik Software’s solution for this and a marvelous introduction to their U Point® technology for selective editing without complex selections, layer masks, or adjustment brushes. Simply click on a part of your image that you want to enhance, then use a “Control Point” to automatically select the area you want to work on. Say goodbye to the “magic wand” or “lasso” tool!

Nik’s Viveza 2 Split Screen

Once noise and color have been managed, photographers turn to either Color Efex Pro 4 for further corrections and enhancements or Silver Efex Pro 2 for the finest black and white conversion available. Both of these products recently earned the 2012 Professional Photographer magazine “Hot One” award and are well regarded as the industry’s leading post-processing tools.

Color Efex Pro 4 is a collection of 55 photographic filters, each of which can perform editing miracles.

The filters range from mimicking glass and traditional filters such as Skylight or Classical Soft Focus to those that aid in retouching or truly extend the artistic vision. For wedding and portrait photographers, Dynamic Skin Softener can provide retouching relief while filters like Tonal Contrast can bring out exquisite details.  Darken/Lighten Center, Glamour Glow, and the many Vignette choices are also favorites. Layering filters on top of one another provides for endless creative options. Saving a custom “recipe” then offers the ability to create a cohesive look and style that can be used on multiple images.

One of Storey’s wedding images using Nik Software

“As a wedding photographer covering 24 weddings per year, 1500 images per wedding, 500 finals kept in the final deck, the Nik Software products play a huge factor in my “look” or finished image.  I organize everything in Lightroom, and then go to work using the Nik Software tools, usually Color Efex Pro (specifically Dynamic Skin Softener, Glamour Glow, Pro Contrast) and Silver Efex Pro. I always finish with Sharpener Pro.  Overall, Nik is a critical part of my workflow and the one ‘fun’ part of my post-production process, saving me time and boosting my creativity.” ~~ Storey Wilkins

Providing brides and families with a timeless classic black and white rendition of a special moment is made possible using Silver Efex Pro 2. The software requires a full RGB image and then does a basic neutral conversion. Nearly 40 one-click presets are available as starting points or, if you develop a great style of your own, you can save a custom preset.  Total control over exposure, contrast and structure (detailed contrast), emulation of 18 different film types, and finishing touches like toning, burning, and image borders help you fine-tune and polish your images.

Nik Software’s Sharpener Tool Split Screen

For controlling the sharpness of your image all the way through the printing process, Sharpener Pro 3.0is a great solution. This plug-in enables you to specify the output device (e.g. inkjet, continuous tone, etc.), resolution, paper type, viewing distance and more prior to printing.  Creative and selective sharpening is also possible with Sharpener Pro 3.0.

Nik Software gives all photographers traditional and creative tools to reach their artistic vision. They are quick and easy to use tools to master. Plus, creating new repeatable looks that can define a signature style of a photographer is also straightforward, reducing editing time in the future even further.

In addition to Color Efex Pro 4, free 15-day trial versions of all of Nik’s products are also available from www.niksoftware.com/downloads, while free live online training is conducted 5 days a week, 3 times a day at www.niksoftware.com/learn. These tools can help you stay fresh and creative and keep you sane. We hope you’ll feel the same once you’ve tried them.