Help Portrait Day in Biddeford Maine...

Mark and I decided to focus our attention on a local food pantry, so we gave 50 "free portrait" certificates to the director and asked her to hand them out to both volunteers and clients.

So that we didn't have everyone show up at the same time (and better control the flow for the day) we also gave her an all day schedule with open time slots in 15 minute increments, as the certificates were handed out they could pick their own portrait time (the schedule thing worked out real well and something you might want to consider should you do a similar event).

The certificates had instructions on when and where to come to get their free portrait, directions, a map, and contact information should the have any questions.

We received a call from from a woman just before our day was "scheduled" to begin and said that her friend had very recently had a baby and did not have her own certificate and she wanted to know if she could she give her certificate to her friend because she really wanted her friend to be able to have a portrait with her new baby.

We told her to keep her certificate and simply bring her friend and new baby along, that they could all have their portraits done.

There was a moment of silence and then a very tearful voice came over the phone, “thank you, thank you, thank you”.

Another man brought his son in for a portrait and after we handed him the print he stared at it for awhile and shook our hands thanking us (repeatedly), explaining this was going to be a Christmas gift for his wife... the only gift he was able to give her.

We took 26 portraits Saturday and only 2 people that were scheduled to come didn't (but they did call to tell us they had sick children and couldn't make it).

I was touched at how warm, how genuine the appreciation was from the good people who came to our studio.

Probably the most surprising thing for me was when the day was over and I had gone home, I started to tell my wife and my mom the events of the day and was suddenly overcome with emotion, I had to pause a couple times and then finally I just had to walk away.

It was a very good day.

Things we will do differently next time:

1. Get the word out sooner, it would've been wonderful to have done more portraits.

2. Print 5 x 7 images, the "choke point" for us was actually printing out the 8 x 10 image to give to the client, so a smaller image will print faster.

3. After hearing some of the stories, framing their images may prove difficult, so next year we'll see if we can get a craft store to donate frames.

Here is a short video from our day, if you are a subscriber you will need to return to the blog to view it or follow this link to YouTube.

Help Portrait...

Today was Help Portrait day, we shot from 9 this morning to 6 this evening, edited, and printed out their 8 x 10 portrait before each person left so they could take it home with them.

It was the first project with my new partner (and long time friend) Mark Hensley. It went extremely well.

I am tired physically and mentally.

I really feel like crying.

But mostly I feel blessed.

There will be much more to follow.

Moonlight in Vermont...

I had the pleasure of spending two days in Vermont at the photography workshop "Studio Success from K to V" with Kevin Kubota of Kubota Image Tools and Jed & Vicki Taufer of V Gallery Haven.

This seminar covered it all from soup to nuts, the goal of the seminar was to provide a frame work for managing a successful photography business starting with capturing the images and ending with marketing, promotion and sales.

By the time the seminar was over the goal was more than met.

If you have a chance to see these folks, either together or separately, you should jump at the opportunity.


I have seen Kevin before (on video), interviewed him, and reviewed several of his products (like here, here, and here) so I was really looking forward to seeing him live over an extended period of time and with the ability to interact (and ask questions as he went through the two days).

My very first impression was that this was not his first rodeo, he was obviously comfortable in front of an audience, he was funny, informative, and connected well with the group. Add to that the wealth of information he brought to the table from getting the shot, processing images to client relationship and studio management and it was pretty darn impressive.

The coolest thing I learned from Kevin (though not the most important) was the time to get the shot of "the kiss" was not when they were actually kissing, but during the "pre" kiss, when their lips where just a fraction of an inch apart.

I can't tell you how many times I've shot people kissing and too often it doesn't look as good as it should, noses bent, lips askew, and one person is always more hidden than the other.

But if you hit the shutter just before their lips meet, it is a much more impressive, emotional picture. Try it and see for yourself.


Kevin shared the stage (and the two days) with Jed & Vicki Taufer, who I had just seen the month before at WPPI on Boston, so I knew exactly what I was in for and looking forward to it.

Vicki is the photographer and Jed is the technology obsessed graphic designer behind the scene.

I swear Vicki can talk for a half hour straight without inhaling, no stuttering or rambling, just information packed purposeful speaking. She knows a great deal and is more than willing to share what she has learned (including mistakes) with you.

When Jed takes the stage, he has a slow and deliberate way of speaking, and is much more low key and laid back compared to Vicki and I know the first time I saw him speak I was wondering what I was about to get. What I got was a wolf in sheep's clothing, the man is brilliant.

It was fun to watch the audience the second time around, it only took them about 2 minutes to sit up, take notice, grab their pens, and start writing feverishly.

Jed's focus is on efficiencies, what I learned from him is that I need to stop doing things that aren't profitable for my studio and if there is something I do more than twice it needs to have an action and a well thought out workflow.

Much of what Vicki and Jed talked about over the two days is part of their "studio in a box" which I am fortunate to have and will be reviewing on the blog next week.

It is the most complete package of information for running a studio I have put my hands on, and though it is one of the most expensive items I have reviewed I'll share why you should elbow your way to the front of the line to buy yourself a copy. So be sure to come back next week for that.

So to summarize, it was the kind of seminar that you left with a notebook full of ideas and a head bulging with knowledge.

The following quick video will hopefully give you a little taste of what transpired during "Studio Success from K to V" seminar.

Some Disney birds...

Here are a few birds I photographed while on my recent Disney vacation.

You can view any of these images larger (and in a new window) simply by clicking on it.

10 + 10 + 3 = Great Lightroom tips...

Recently Scott Bourne wrote his "10 Things I Wish I Could Tell Every New Lightroom User".

Scott Kelby followed with his own 10 tips list, then it was Matt Kloskowski's turn with "Scott's top 10 (+3 of my own)".

Even if you are not new to Lightroom you really must go and read all three of these posts.

Really.

Why are you still here, you should be there by now.

A reminder for this coming Saturday...

Last month I posted about the program Help-Portrait has put together for photographers to use their skills to help those in need.

The "big day" is this Saturday, December 12th.

If you are here in Maine and looking for a way to contribute you can check out what the Portland Group is doing or contact me directly if you would like to help out here in Biddeford, as we have invited 50 families to come to our studio for portraits and could use the help.

Hope to see you then.

Breakfast at Disney...

Not to be confused with breakfast at Tiffany's.

This is the kind of stuff I have had to suffer through all week.

;)




But it's time to say goodbye to Mickey, we're off to North Carolina today, then to Maine tomorrow (Saturday).

It's been an incredible two weeks vacation but it will be nice to be home, surrounded by my "stuff", especially my dogs.