10 Weekly Wonders (week of 3/9)

Ron

10. I wonder if Speaker of the House Nancy Pilosi can get me a good deal on a flight to Vegas?

9. Is it desperate when aging, former sex symbols still expose their breasts in public? (Ehmm, Pamela Anderson & Sharon Stone)


The question is "Who hasn't seen 'em?" Sheesh!



8. So you’re saying a 200 pound chimpanzee DOESN’T make a good house pet?

7. If you double your debt, is that really being fiscally responsible Mr. President?

6. Have you found our music on iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody or Amazon MP3 yet? (More shamelessness, I know)

5. Is it lame that my wife and I send each other Star Wars figures over Facebook?


As a kid, I had a great collection going til at some point,
they all got thrown out?!?!?!?


4. Really Rihanna? You what…? Really?

3. Maybe it’s me, but does a 150 year prison sentence seem a little "light" for Bernie Madoff?

2. Is the jury still out (at least it is for me) on the new U2 CD?

1. Really? People are STILL watching “The Bachelor”?


What's AMAZING is that this show is still on the air.

Friendship...

In this business world, it's super important to be professional...but it's also more important to be personable (unless you're a bill collector)...

Sometime ago...this past summer...I met with Melissa & Ron to discuss their wedding...we met at Starbucks?....in St. John's Town Center...we talked about 30-45 minutes about their wedding and my photography...and the other hour, we talked...joked...and mostly laughed...

Thankfully, they booked me for their wedding...which was a total blast!  By the time I shot their wedding, I had already did  2 shoots with Melissa and one for Ron...so I felt like we were pretty good friends...and the wedding was like that...I was like a groomsmen with a camera...taking pictures of everything...

Again...in this business world, it's important to be professional...and personable...

The greatest reward of booking Melissa and Ron's wedding is their friendship...here's a few pics from today's shoot with them in downtown...

Ron...I want a rematch in Madden!

YOU are your BRAND...

Kaci:
Last night Ezra and I shot Erin's wedding. It went like most weddings do...fast paced, creative ideas on the fly and always fun! I drove to save gas $$ and to brainstorm with Ezra about the game plan for the wedding. When I picked him up he was decked out from head to toe in his new "wedding clothes" and man, I was impressed! When we got into the truck I told him that I liked his new ensemble...a preppy look that only Ezra can still pull off as cool and relaxed. We talked a little bit about a few things and then he said something that really caught my attention...as we discussed the dreaded "all black" dress code mentality he said...as photographers "you are your own brand" not just the images you produce.

I agreed, I have never been able to separate business from personal and always preferred more of a relationship marketing approach (treat my clients like friends and family). I never try to sell myself or my services. I simply let my work speak for itself and let my clients get to know me- the true me at meetings, consultations and shoots. If I am what they are looking for in a photographer then great, if not...well, then that's ok too. I do not have a switch that goes into "professional photographer mode" all I can be is me.

But for some reason those words seemed to really hit home with me last night...it made me realize that it is not just my clients who watch or form an opinion of me, it is everyone that I come into contact with...future clients, friends, neighbors and the people next in line to me at the grocery store. My first thought was..."geeezzz, I have to always be 'on'!" ...But then I thought, I’m always on :)

One reason this hit home with me was that I had actually met Erin (the bride) in the shoe department at Target. Something that I had not thought about in a while and when Ezra said those words, it made me realize that no matter where you are at, who you meet, how you present and carry yourself (whether you speak a word or not) there is someone who forms an opinion about you and "judges" you (yes, it's true...just accept it, people do judge books by their cover). It all goes back to the 10 second first impression rule...you know the one, a person has already formed an opinion of you within the first 10 seconds of seeing you before you even speak a word...

So, what do your clothes, hair, car, accessories, etc. say about you...think about it, look in the mirror and step out of your own mind for a few minutes. Are you a walking GQ ad, approachable, high maintenance, intimidating, etc...? But go beyond looks, are you conducting yourself in a way that is positive for you personally and professionally... body language, opinions, outlook on life...Whatever it is, make sure it is the message that you want out there. You are a walking billboard that is always flashing "OPEN"...

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying be something besides yourself. Instead, find ways to be the best "you"! Everyone has to evaluate their "marketing strategy" (connecting with/gaining attention/creating demand for "your product"). Some people are looking for work, others for love, friendship, etc. No matter what you are looking for just be sure you have your best foot forward when you find it- or even better...when IT finds you!

...Thanks, Ez! You didn't know your one little comment would evoke this much philosophy...
but I'll save that for next time: "Find Inspiration in Everything"...to be continued.

Gotta love the internet!

Ron:

The internet has really leveled the playing field for artists. Maybe you've heard that before but the technology has made local artists like myself accessible to anyone in the world who has the internet. Before it required the help of major label record companies to get that kind of access. Now artists can build direct relationships with distributors like Tunecore, iTunes and Amazon and their fans.

Below is a my live acoustic CD "Cover-ed" recorded about a year ago. I've seen a great jump in downloads and streams from this CD in the last four months which translated means CHA-CHING! Have a listen and let me know what you think... or maybe you want to download a few songs?!?!?! CHA-CHING! ;)

Two out of three 'taint bad...

Rayshawn:

but it's not perfect. Those who read the blog on the regular know that my Re. Solutions were to: do something creative everyday, visit at least three art galleries a month and write a blog posting once a month. And those who read the blog on the regular know that its been longer than a week since my last blog. Self disciple really only works for me if there are serious consequences. But if there aren't any consequences, I'm a master at talking myself out of something that I promised myself that I would do (which in theory is not self-disciple at all, it's like anti-self discipline) I think a lot of people are like that. Which be the problem. Anyway I'm back on the horse!

My teachers lately have been my cats. They are far more entertaining to watch then television. Which by the way, I'm adding an amendment in my Re. Solutions to watch less to zero television. I really can't say anything new that hasn't been said about how terrible tv is but lately after watching tv I just feel dirty. Dirty. Like you remember this scene in Planes, Trains and Automobile? Television.

So my cats. I love cats 'cause they sleep like they got a job, like they just pulled a double shift at the steel mill.



I've been experiencing insomnia for the past several months(more about that later) and it's been really great watching the cats sleep. Total guilt, worry free sleep. Who knew feline laziness could be so inspiring. Keep pushin people..

Peace

R

Update on my ad campaign...

ezra:

Well, it's been 2.5 weeks since my ad came out in a local newspaper/magazine guide...and it's been a couple of days since my ad in a magazine bridal guide came out...and I have had a handful of friends tell me they saw my ads...but that's about it.  Now, it might be too premature to say whether or not the magazine bridal guide will be successful...we'll see....

Now with this said, let me tell you my intent of putting these ads out - to book 2 or 3 weddings...that would be my definition of successful...

I wanted to run those ads to link me to 2 or 3 more couples who would help in my Word of Mouth campaign...but perhaps, print ads is not the way to do it...this actually sounds contradictory...perhaps, I was trying to take a short cut....

The experts have been saying that print ads and other traditional forms of advertising will not be the future of the wedding photography industry.  Now, via experience, I agree with them...the future is definitely Word of Mouth, Networking, and Relationships!   

Do you hire a plumber b/c of an ad you saw in the Mint Magazine?  Or do you hire the plumber b/c  your neighbor said he was awesome?

moving!

Boese:

I am in the process these next 2 weeks of moving from Sterling, GA to JAX. Finally. I do work entirely in Jacksonville now, so it's about time. This will hopefully lead to a more productive use of my time than driving 3-4 hours a day to get to and from work. Here's a picture of my new studio to be used for pre and post production on my upcoming films. Also, March 15th is coming with the Miami International Film Festival screening of a film I produced, "Sally '58 Baby", so that should be a blast on South Beach. Here's also what I'll be camping in near South Beach. I built this over the winter break.

-Boese