The best book on social media...

... and the best book for building your online presence.

Photography is not a "build it and they will come" business.

Putting the most stunning images on your website will likely do very little for attracting visitors.

The details of why I love this book are below but I can sum up my thoughts in just two words - "Buy it"!

Before you would attempt to remove an appendix you need to learn about the procedure and the tools you would use to do the job.

So before you build a blog, start to tweet, or do anything else with social media that you think will enhance your business you must read "Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google, Social Media, and Blogs".

Social media is made up of Google, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogs, Micro Blogs, and more - this book will provide you with an in-depth overview of all "the spokes" that make up the social media wheel.

"Inbound Marketing" starts out by showing us how the world of marketing has changed because of the advent of social media and then introduces its different elements, and the how and why they work along with the Do's & Don'ts of using them.

Do you know what makes a website "sticky"? Do you know the difference between "Digg" and "StumbelUpon"? How about what Google likes (and just as important) doesn't like?

You will after reading "Inbound Marketing".

The authors teach you what social media is, how to use it (correctly) to your advantage, and how to measure the results so you can see what is working for you and why.

I can already hear some of you "but I'm not web savvy, I can barely do email". Don't worry, it isn't rocket science, if you can read you can do it AND do it yourself. You won't need no stinking PR firm.

Seriously, this book is easy to read, easy to understand, and all the touch points are just as easy to implement. Are you picking up on the word "easy"?

I promise you nothing will do more for building your business than this book and it won't hurt your wallet either, it's available at Amazon for under $17.

"It was winter buddy, just winter"...

Sorry for my absence this week but things have been very busy on the shooting front, in fact I am getting to walk out the door in a few minutes for our forth all day commercial shoot in the last six days.

I will share the details of what we shot and who we shot it for in the very near future.

But in the mean time, today is the first day of spring, it's going to be 70 here and Maine, and I think this video says it well for all the folks who have suffered through a winter that was too long with snow storms that were too frequent.

And for subscribers (as usual), videos do not get pushed through in your email so you'll need to come back to Weekly Photo Tips or head directly over to YouTube to watch it.

Food photography from today...

I just wrapped up day one of a two day food shoot and wanted to share the setup and a few of the images.


Here is the setup:

1. A Nikon SB800 as the key/primary light (using a shoothrough umbrella, fired by a Pocket Wizard)

2. Another SB800 as the fill light (using a Photoflex LiteDome, fired by a Pocket Wizard)

3. California Sunbounce Micro to "kick in" some light

4. Foam core as a second (and smaller) kicker

5. Camera/shooting angle

Here are several samples, I realize there is a familiarity with the look, but one thing the client wanted was a "consistent" look and that's what I gave them.

BOUTIQUE BOUDOIR

Melanie Rebane of m photography is a true genius when it comes to boudoir. Creating images that are both intimate and elegant, the end result will have you feeling absolutely incredible about yourself. Do it for you, do it for him, do it for the heck of it!

For more information and to book your session please contact m photography at 613-769-6019 or melanie@m-contemporaryphotography.com

SHOP INSTYLE FOR A CURE

Grab your girlfriends, sip champagne, enjoy a cupcake or two and shop InStyle for a cure at Ottawa's hottest new wedding chapel... Weddings InStyle! Proceeds going to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.



Get your tickets here! Looking for more information? Please contact Weddings InStyle at 613-440-4446 or info@weddingsinstyle.ca

HAPPY ST PATTY'S DAY!!

Thoughts of winter...

I feel good today, because winter is no longer in my windshield, its remnants are scattered in my rear view mirror.

Clocks went ahead last night, the vernal equinox is just a week away (bring on spring), and my tomato seedlings are kicking butt!

It's still difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact that my friend in Maryland got more snow this winter than we did here in Maine, I'm not complaining, though I am willing to bet Mike is.

We've had just three plowable events all winter long. In a good winter we could have that in a single week.

This upcoming week we have 4 all day shoots (A museum, a mattress manufacturer, and a national foodservice company), so if you if you hear a bit less from me than usual, that's why.

I am sure there are some out there who won't think that would be such a bad thing.
Have a great week.