I had an opportunity to interview Martin Prihoda recently. Let me correct that … I had an opportunity to interview Martin Prihoda three times in a row but the first two attempts failed miserably due to technical snafus on my end.

Martin, in his usual graciousness and patience offered to meet with me through Skype after every debacle, making sure at times that his Mumbai apartment would be conducive and as quiet as possible for our interview.

The first time I had heard of Martin was through David Hobby's website, The Strobist. The video showed Martin orchestrating a stunning portrait session for one of his clients. I was blown away by his approach, his openness to teach and share what he knows about photographic lighting. Indeed, he is now recognized as one of the leading experts in the field. In addition to being asked to speak on the subject, Martin leads a workshop of his own called Big Lights Far Away. He is making his way to Dubai right now to teach at Gulf Photo Plus. He joins an illustrious list of phenomenal photographers and teachers.

Martin is Canadian, but now lives and works in Mumbai, India. To know more about why Martin moved to Mumbai and to learn about how he quickly established himself in a completely new culture, check the video below:

Links to some of the magazines and websites Martin mentioned in this video:

GQ, Elle, Vogue, Priyanka Chopra

Other lighting gurus who have appeared on Tiffinbox:

David Hobby and Joe McNally

Who will be next?

Are you open, present and vulnerable to photograph life around you?

That's what photographer Penny De Los Santos asks us in this awesome, thought-provoking video:

What's your take on this? Comment below!

(Thanks to fellow Beloved Movement photographer Shuva Rahim for tipping me off with this link)

On Twitter, on Facebook and even on LinkedIn, I have been asked the same question: “Are you going to be at WPPI?”

The short answer is: no. The somewhat longish answer is: no, not this year, but hopefully the next.

It got me thinking, however, about my friends who have been to every single WPPI convention in Las Vegas for the last 20+ years. That's commitment. That's loyalty. That's staying power. That's knowledge. Those photographers are obviously much more advanced than I could be; knowing their craft, the business and the industry we are all members in.

Can you imagine going to every single WPPI convention? Are you that committed to your business or to the industry?

Is WPPI the must-go event of the year for wedding and portrait photographers? If you are going, what do you get out of conventions like WPPI? How do you pay for the entire experience? Do you set aside a special budget for it? If you are not going, why not?

Are there other conventions you attend on a regular basis? For me MysticSeminars and Inspire Photo Seminars provide great value. Why? Because I live in Connecticut and while MysticSeminars is in my back yard, I think of Inspire Photo Seminars as being in my front yard, in Massachusetts. The smaller, more intimate, nature of these events are also a bit factor in my decision to commit to them every year. I guess, then, it comes down to one's personality and goals.

So tell us a little bit about you and your goals. Would a big (and I do mean BIG convention like WPPI) be your cup of tea or would you prefer smaller, more regional gathering of wedding and portrait photographers.

Please comment below!

I can't say it any more plainly. If you are starting out in wedding photography, or, if you have had some experience but have hit a roadblock in your business, you are going to need Simple Wedding Photography [affiliate link], Photography Concentrate's newest tutorial in a book.

As I read my complimentary review copy, I had to wonder how much better my own business would have been had such a resource been available when I began in this business back in 2000. Size isn't indicative of anything. But at a whopping 200 pages, Simple Wedding Photography is going to be my go-to playbook if I have a questions about the craft or business of wedding photography. I feel so good about recommending this book to you because its value will be felt for years to come.

The book offers two essential parts: photography and business. It's rich in actionable information. That means the book suggests ways in which you can go out and do what it is teaching you. I personally learn from books like this faster than even going to a workshop.

Rob & Lauren Lim of Photography Concentrate are not new to the wedding business. As wedding photographers, they have created enormous value for their clients. This book, Simple Wedding Photography, is essentially a brain dump of sorts. They have pulled their experiences together and written it all out in logical chapters and as a beautifully designed PDF. It's a jargon-free book, that flows smoothly from one concept to the next.

You can get Simple Wedding Photography today at 40% off. Even at its normal price, of $39.95, this is a steal. Learn more about the book and buy it here. It even comes with a 60-day money back guarantee!

The duo has also published a mini-book: 7 Simple Ways to Market Your Wedding Photography Business. This PDF is totally free and makes for a great companion to the book that is on sale today.

If you buy Simple Wedding Photography, you also get these following bonuses:

A complete client wedding album design to demonstrate storytelling start to finish

We’ll walk you through the sample album with a video screencast commentary

Wedding Day Worksheet to make sure you get all the critical information

Wedding Prep Checklist so you’re completely prepared for the big day

Wedding Day Shot List for a clear look at all the must have images to create

Post-Wedding Report Card for easy review and future improvement

Brand Identity Worksheet to help figure out the message behind your brand

Christa Meola just wrapped up a three-day seminar on boudoir photography on CreativeLive. Did you catch any of it? I checked out her website and stumbled upon her manifesto. It's both for herself and other professional photographers. It is lucid and succinctly written. It's a quick read. I encourage you to download it.

“I wrote this Manifesto for pro’s and newbies alike. As professional photographers, we all need to be reminded of good habits from time to time. For those just starting out, it’s great to encourage wise habits from the beginning.”

The 10 Habits of Successful Professional Photographers:

1. I Know Myself, My Brand and My Client
2. I Value My Talent and Time
3. I Show Up With All That I Am
4. I Know My Gear Inside and Out
5. I Shoot With Intention
6. I Adapt
7. I Embrace Collaboration
8. I Exceed Expectations
9. I Sell Experience and Emotion
10. I Believe In The Power of Imagery To Change The World

Christa travels internationally for commissioned projects and conducts photography workshops and mentorship programs for fellow professional photographers. She’s written a book on how to photograph women, EXPOSED: Redefining Boudoir that includes a chapter for guys too. Follow Christa on Twitter or connect with her on Facebook.

If you missed any of Christa's presentation at CreativeLive, you can buy The Boudoir Workshop by 12 pm EST tonight for $99. (nope, not an affiliate link) If you miss that deadline the price reverts to $149. From my experience with CreativeLive seminars, though, that is still a very good deal.

Have you written a manifesto? Or, do you have a mission statement that guides you and your business? Share it below!