Hey MpixPro friends!

When I started my photo business more than 13 years ago, I HATED business. Boring! I wanted to change the world through art and photography and my passion was oozing out of every follicle of my body.

Well, it didn’t take long before I realized there is a lot more to running a business than just taking good photos. In fact some of the best photographers in the world, and who can certainly outshoot me, are going out of business because they aren’t business savvy. Sad. But true.

I’ve acquired a new addiction over the past few years: Inc Magazine. I buy it. I read it. I re-read it. The articles in Inc Magazine are SO relevant to me as a photography small business owner, and I wanted to share that with you. Even if you don’t want to purchase the actual magazine, you can subscribe to Inc Magazine’s RSS feed. Here are some examples of relevant posts just published in the last few weeks:
How To Keep Up With a Fast-Growing Company
How to Monetize Social Media (make sure to read the “Dig Deeper” articles with this as well)
Leadership Lessons From a SEAL - slideshow – easy read!
How to Evaluate Your Sales Success – the “Dig Deeper” articles here are great!

I’m here for your marketing/business needs! Feel free to leave a question or comment below and I’ll make sure to answer or respond!

Here’s to growing your business!
Dale

What is your favorite Miller’s (or MpixPro) product?
We love all the products Millers has to offer. Their product line is constantly changing and always relevant. They are an industry leader in new inspiring products.

Where do you find inspiration?
We are actually lucky when it comes to inspiration. We live on the coast in a very warm tropical environment. We only have to shoot for a minute or two before our bodies are wet with inspiration. You can find it on our, face, neck, and arms. We literally expel inspiration through our pores…… or was that perspiration…. I forget.

What advice do you have for new photographers?
Don’t lock a large dog in your house if you wont be around to let it out to do its “business.”

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened at a shoot?
We were actually photographed by Bigfoot. I saw the image some time later, and the image was blurry and you could not tell it was us. To this day, some people don’t believe WE exist.

Topic at WPPI: I want to travel around the world and get paid for it!

Tell us about you!
Hi, I’m Sara Kauss and I’m passionate about photography! I love what I do and it probably will come across as me acting crazy, goofy or saying silly things, but it’s all to capture expression from my clients. I love of people, all people! I love making new friends and creating new photo adventures, something that’s taken me from Costa Rica to Anchorage, Alaska.

My passion of photography comes from capturing true emotion in people, using colorful, dynamic photos the day of a wedding. Once a bride myself, I recognize the importance of having a timeless wedding album with images full of laughter and tears, telling the story of your wedding day through images on a page. It was a priceless investment for me, it’s invaluable that I provide the same for my clients.

I’m honored and excited to share my thoughts about this amazing industry we’re all apart of called photography! It’s so diverse and the funnest people in the universe are a part of it.

While I love traveling throughout the world, my home is in South Florida with my fantastic husband, Zak and furry Golden Retrievers, Buffett and Mallory Square.

I look forward to meeting you!

What is your favorite Miller’s (or MpixPro) product?
My favorite products are everything in the press-printed world! I love Miller’s flush-mount albums, press-printed note cards, proof books, and brochures. I just recently started using their accordion mini’s as thank you gifts for my brides and grooms, they’re so fun and personal!

Where do you find inspiration?
I find my inspiration in music and Golden Retrievers! As a creative person, there’s nothing that amazes me more than a song that pulls at your heart-strings. Music can take you to the same place a photo can take you, tugging at your emotions with words that paint a picture and tell a story.

My Golden Retrievers are frequently photographed when no one else is around, and just like a crazy little two-year-old, they provide an excellent challenge to create the perfect image from a wiggly, subject! My Golden Retrievers also make me want to be a better person, to love unconditionally and always be there for you on your worst day. I want to be more like them.

What advice do you have for new photographers?
Branding, marketing, network, brand and market!! Start your business off right by having a professional logo designed, stick with it and begin to brand your business from the beginning. Market, to your clients. Find out who your client is, are you a wedding photographer, are you a commercial photographer, are you a children’s portrait photographer? By determining what avenue you want to go down will help you be successful in that niche. Network…go to every networking event you can, meet people and tell them all what you specialize in! Facebook and twitter, even if you don’t want to, it’s the best free advertising there is.

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened at a shoot?
Well, the craziest thing that ever happened on a shoot, or the craziest shoot I’ve ever been on?! I’ll explain the later, and you decide if it’s crazy worthy…Josh Newton and I do a post-wedding session called, Cinderella Style. We have a day of shooting brides and grooms that are friends and do everything from getting ready with them to taking a limo around to neat locations…when Josh and I realized we were both going to be in Alaska at the same time, we had to make a Cinderella Style happen! Josh had a couple brides that were up to the challenge of getting on a Glacier!

Tell us about you!
I like to surf , write , fish, photograph, cook, and travel.

What is your favorite Miller’s (or MpixPro) product?
That is a tough one because is as soon as I have a favorite they come out with a new cool product that is also my favorite. So here it goes. I love the metallic prints with linen texture, fine art acrylics, fine art metal murals, luxe cards, and lay flat books just to name a few.

Where do you find inspiration?
My daughter Tyler, my partner and lover Rosy, and the environment I happen to be in at the time.

What advice do you have for new photographers?
Work Hard, treat your clients well, and spend your money wisely.
Also pick great partners for your business like Millers Lab.

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened at a shoot?
A tornado came through and wiped out the reception tent while we were at the ceremony in a church at another location. No one was hurt but it made for an interesting evening. Luckily the bride was a good sport.

Speaking topic is Travel/Destination Weddings – going to be talking about how I got to travel to 31 states and 19 countries for photography. How to travel well, what I pack, how I got the jobs, what my workflow is, and also go into my business philosophy. Thanks!!

1. I’m an international wedding photojournalist from Santa Barbara, CA and have been shooting professionally for about five years now. I have traveled to 31 states and 19 countries for work and basically travel all year round – I am the guy that lives in airports and his home is anywhere he’s at! I have worked for CNN and Soledad O’Brien making a documentary about orphans in Haiti, photographed a couple week tour only on Vespas for Warner Bros, shot all of Colbie Caillat’s latest album photos with Universal, and I’ve photographed about 120 weddings all over the world. I’m also a speaker and love helping other photographers with my workshops and 1 on 1 meetings, I’ve helped a good number of people go from never owning a camera to running a full time photography business. I love empowering others to do what they love to do. I do my best to use my creative skills and photography to defend the rights of the poor and needy – I have a passion for fighting injustice and helping organizations that do this (Thirst Relief, Child Hope International, Child Center in Cambodia, International Justice Mission). I’m an artist, speaker, teacher, philanthropist photographer, entrepreneur, and traveler. I’m Josh Newton =)

2. My two favorite products are the layflat albums and the custom DVD cases! Love them =)

3. This might sound cheesy, but I definitely get my inspiration from the beauty of the world. I love the outdoors, camping, and taking landscape photos is probably one of my favorite things to do =) As far as photographers go, I find inspiration from my friends Montana Dennis, Bobby Earle, David Jay, Jasmine Star, Jeff Newsom, Image is Found. They are all amazing photographers and I love looking at their work!

4. I have whole workshops on advice for new photographers! But, if I had to sum it up… I guess my advice would be this. Don’t listen to anyone else regarding your dreams, make it a goal to shoot 50,000 photos in a year, be kind, genuine, thankful, humble, joyful, and have fun everywhere you go, don’t compare yourself to others work, success or photography, don’t be fearful of how many other photographers there are (real competition doesn’t exist in our field), and don’t be afraid to step out in faith and do things that sound impossible – in life or in photography.

5. Craziest thing thats ever happened… wow, well. A groomsmen fainted in the middle of a ceremony because his ex-wife (also a bridesmaid in the same wedding – and their TWO kids were the flower girl/ring bearer!!) had found out 6 months prior that her then husband had a baby with another woman (and had since gotten divorced)… and the pastor was speaking on the sanctity, life long commitment, everlasting love, and the eternal nature of the promise made at a wedding. Awkward.

Speaking Topic: How to make a BAZILLION dollars by becoming the hot photographer in your market.

Tell us about you!
Hey everybody! Meredith and I are wedding photographers in Fayetteville Arkansas, and I’ve been shooting for 13 years. We photograph weddings, and Meredith has a thriving boudoir photography business. We’re getting married in March over in Florence Italy! Yay!

What are your favorite Miller’s/MpixPro products?
I love Luxe Cards. They can be used for anything from Christmas cards to save-the-dates to gift certificates. Meredith loves the mini-accordion books for her boudoir.

Where do you find inspiration?
I love to previsualize. I know I can’t always come up with 800 shots to capture at a wedding ahead of time, but my favorite all-time images are ones that popped into my head and have waited for just the right moment to come out. We also find inspiration in good light. I could drink it and swim in it and roll around in it.

What advice to you have for beginning photographers?
Learn the business of photography or you won’t be around very long. We all love to photograph, but those who are the best at marketing and sales are the ones who stick around the longest. Also, embrace social media. It’s free and wildly popular.

What’s the craziest thing that has ever happened on a shoot?
Well, it wasn’t something I did that was crazy, but my first ever wedding to photograph (in 1998), the couple had a 2nd ceremony in place of their reception that was done in Klingon. Yes, Klingon. They spoke funky languages, wore costumes, and CUT THEMSELVES with a dagger during the vows portion. I’m surprised I ever shot another wedding after that!

Topic: Maximize Your Small Studio And Profits With Commercial Set Design Techniques
By Fashion & Beauty Photographer Steve Ragland

Tell us about you!
A Native New Yorker, Steve Ragland, has refined the art of romancing the soul of his subjects through his lens. His philosophy and goal: Working as a true fashion photographer all over the globe has allowed me to bring a cosmopolitan look to images for a diverse group of clients.  Now working in Detroit, I continue to photograph for local and national clients.  The beauty of knowledge and skills are what allows me to show other photographers how to achieve a luxury look and feel to images using tools readily available in any local store and being able to create the images in a small space.  Commercial, editorial, and portrait clients are facing ever-tightening budgets and these skills are much sought after.  The goal is to have fun be creative and to produce refined images in less time with less money spent on equipment, set design and post-production – did I mention have fun be creative. Only you can stop you so keep on keeping on… Make it Happen!

What is your favorite Miller’s (or MpixPro) product?
Metal Prints, Proof Boxes and the boutique package is terrific. Even had a customer not want to open the boutique package as she thought it was beautiful. That’s just to name a few but truly the best thing about Miller’s is their customer service.

Where do you find inspiration?
The old masters of photographer: Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, museums exhibits and daily life. Each place you go and each person you meet brings new ideals, new inspiration – you just cant be afraid to try new things. Go outside of the boxes.

What advice do you have for new photographers?
Look at each photo shoot as your dream assignment. Find inspiration and creativeness in all that is around you. Know your camera settings and how to use them and never be afraid to charge for your work do not give it away.

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened at a shoot?
The time I went to Jamaica and got up for an early morning shoot. When I walked outside I mistook a small crab for a big spider. I told the Jamaican host that they had big spiders; they looked at me strangely and said it was a crab. They thought I was being funny but actually it was just a long night the night before.

What is your favorite Miller’s (or MpixPro) product?
My favorite product has to be the sports and events plaques. They are versatile for my customers, and a great add on sale.

Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in the thought that something I created will survive for years after I do. I once had a Mother come to me and ask if I felt like I raised her children because I have watched them grow up.
This year, I marks the year I have photographed over 80% of the gradutating class since they were 8 years old.

What advice do you have for new photographers?
Work harder than you think you can. Don’t miss an opportunity to pick up your camera. Don’t ever take a job you don’t believe you can give 100% on, but most importantly, don’t be afraid to adapt and try new things.

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened at a shoot?
1) I was working a wedding as an assistant with another photographer. He stayed behind to finish the formals and I went to the reception. When he pulled up and hopped out of his car to catch the bride and groom he forgot to put the car in park. It rolled down the hill and nearly into a river!
2) During soccer season in 2005, we were shooting on an overcast day. When the weather finally went south, it did so quickly the hurricane sirens were sounding while we were packing up.

What is your favorite Miller’s (or MpixPro) product?
Gallery Wraps hands down. We love them! They cover the walls of our studio, our clients homes and even our home!

Where do you find inspiration?
Our clients inspire us to want to be the very best at what we do. We want them walking away feeling beautiful, fulfilled, and most importantly a friend. Other fellow photographers inspire us also. It is a wonderful thing to be in the presence of so many wonderful people that have similar goals as we do.

What advice do you have for new photographers?
Go to conventions, learn from other photographers, create your own style.

What is the craziest thing that has ever happened at a shoot?
A senior came for a session and brought her boyfriend along. He was about 12 years older than her and randomly would start making out during the session. I’m not talking a kiss here and there….it was full on like I wasn’t even there. It was quite awkward and I felt like I was on a hidden camera show waiting for someone to jump out and say “You’re on Candid Camera”!. Very weird. I still have nightmares.