Okay, I lied to you...

and I'm so ashamed! (all said tongue in cheek)

;)

Last week I said that beginning today we would start a two week series on social media, image keywording, SEO (search engine optimization), and how these things impact the business of photography.

But I had forgotten that today was a holiday, I don't usually post on holidays (or if I do it's not "on topic") and I am heading south at the crack of dawn on Thursday for a wedding that will keep me out of state until next Sunday night.

So not only will I be gone for 4 days, I will be spending the next couple days prepping for the trip.

So we will start the 2 week series NEXT Monday instead of today, I promise.

I have a camera for sale...

I am selling a Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro 6.2 mp / 12.1 mp with a Nikon mount, it was the backup to my D300, but now that camera is the backup to my D3, making the Fuji "expendable".

You can read why dpReview.com made it a "Highly Recommended" buy here.

Feel free to drop me an email if you are interested.

Have a great Labor Day.

Paint Shop Pro X2 Ultimate for $39.95...

This week (ending 9/12) BestBuy has the latest version of Paint Shop Pro on sale for only $39.95.

I know some of you may be looking down your nose at this, even though I have CS4 and Lightroom there are times I want to do some quick and simple editing and Paint Shop Pro fits the bill nicely.

And you may be new to photography and don't want to take out that second mortgage to get Photoshop CS4, well Paint Shop Pro is a more than adequate alternative.

If you are wondering what others have to say be sure to check out the review from CNET and/or Top 10 Reviews.

You will have the option of either downloading, or getting the boxed version at the store.

Follow this link to find a BestBuy near you.

You just can't make this stuff up...

It's the weekend so I am legally allowed to go "off topic", it says so on the "Blogging Rules and Regulations" handbook.

;)

When I first saw the Snuggie commercial I thought it was a "spoof", a Saturday Night Live skit, especially when the family wore them to the football game.

I mean, really?

Then they had to take it too far by making Snuggies for dogs!

And taking me just to the edge of sanity simply wasn't enough, they had to come out with the "wearable towel" and push me waaay over!

I would pluck out my own eyes so I wouldn't have to see these commercials, but then again I would still be able to hear them.

So when you see me at a football game wearing a Snuggie, know that I have a wearable towel on underneath.

Your online presence...

During the next two weeks we are going to focus a good number of our posts on what photographers can (and need to) do to improve their online presence.

The things we will be covering are social media, image keywording, SEO (search engine optimization), and more.

We will review resources like Rod Evans "Facebook Marketing Tutorial", "Socialnomics" by Erik Qualman, and many more social media and online resources.

But before we can map out a where we want to go we need to determine where we are.

A very good starting point is the "Website Grader" a free SEO tool that will that will help measure the current marketing effectiveness of your website.

Your score is based on traffic, SEO preparedness, social networking popularity, as well as other factors.

To see what they look at when grading your site and the kind of recommendations they make for improvement you 're welcome to view the report for Weekly Photo Tips.

I know this is not a glamorous, sexy, or even slightly exciting subject (then again, the same can be said about me), but I would argue that your online presence will play a larger role in your (financial) success as a photographer than will your camera.

So run your website report before Monday and then follow along as we start putting together the building blocks for online success.

Q & A with Joe McNally...

Peachpit has started a new feature called "Q & A with Joe McNally", where you can submit your question (and up to 2 images) and each week Joe will pick one of the entries to answer and critique.

You can find the submission form here, submit your photos to the Photography Q&A with Joe McNally Flickr Group, and can read Joe's answers to the selected questions here.

If you do submit an image you will need to agree to the photographic release form, but unlike too many other online resources that require a photo release form, Peachpit does it correctly (and fairly), leaving all ownership and rights with the photographer:

"By submitting any Photograph to the Blog, Peachpit does not claim or assert any ownership of any Photograph and shall not use the Photograph other than for the purposes of the Blog. All Photographs shall remain the property of their rightful owner."

Assignment #1 for our flickr group...

Here is assignment number one for the Weekly Photo Tips flickr group:

Shoot anything in your yard and/or garden. If you live in an apartment or condo shoot something on your balcony.

The only stipulation/rule is whatever you shoot, it has to be outside and at your home.

Your images can all be of the same subject, or each image can be of a different subject.

Here are my six images, all shot in my yard, sunflowers, a sunflower bud, and a sunflower leaf.

My choice was flowers, not sure if there is anything more simple and more beautiful than a flower.

All these were shot with a Nikon 60mm lens.

I shot the leaf by holding it up to the sun and holding the lens behind (and right up against) it.

Larger versions of these images will be up on the flickr group shortly.

I am looking forward to what you folks are going to shoot and post.

View any of these images larger and in a new window by clicking on them.