Marketog For Photographers

You may recall I wrote about Marketog back in January 2016.

So many of you jumped in enrolled when Jamie Swanson of The Modern Tog, opened up her marketing course for photographers. Since then, Jamie has developed an awesome community and helped hundreds (if not thousands) of photographers through her other courses, her Facebook forums, and her many ebooks she has shared for free.

On September 25th, Jamie is kicking of the very last time she will be teaching through Marketog. Retiring the course wasn't an easy decision, but Jamie is clear on making it available one last time before 2017 comes to a close. Her heart and her enthusiasm hasn't waned one bit. She is just as thrilled to see photographers learn, execute and see results as ever before.

Essentially, this is why Marketog is so popular among photographers – it's wholly results oriented. If you are struggling to find clients, she will teach you how. If you are wondering why people have stopped visiting your site, Marketog will help you with that too. The course is all about attracting more clients to your business. If you are looking to book clients and don't know how, this course is for you.

The Interview With Jamie

Sign Up For The Free Webinars

For this launch week only, Jamie is offering FREE webinars where she walks you through what she is offering through Marketog.

Simply sign up through Messenger (don't worry, she won't post anything on your Facebook wall or anything like that), and you will be offered a few dates. Sign up for the webinar time and date that works best for you.

Is Marketog For You?

It's not easy question to answer. While our goals might be similar, every one of us is on a different path, in our craft or commerce. I believe a strong business is a great way towards the freedom we seek; the opportunity to be artists and produce artwork that speaks to us and our clients. So, running an efficient and successful business is a critical component of who we are as photographers.

What Marketog promises to deliver, is to create a credible and repeatable system. As Jamie says in the video above, the course intensive. Plan on rolling your sleeves up and getting your hands dirty. For six weeks, you'll be challenged and your heart and mind will want to resist. But challenge yourself to go through the modules. I am sure that you will see a remarkable difference in how your business sees results.

Here are the six steps she covers in Marketog:

• How to get more of the right kinds of clients
• 6 game-changing strategies to turn inquiries into clients
• How to turn your website into an inquiry-generating machine
• How to get repeat clients and more word-of-mouth advertising
• How to get other business owners to send you their best clients
• Your marketing toolkit for effective marketing

The Bonus If You Sign Up Today

If you sign up for Marketog today before midnight CDT, you will receive a free copy of The Go-To Guide for Client Emails (100+ Email Templates for Photographers). This retails for $147.

The real bonus of course is seeing your photography business soar. Jump in, do the work, ask questions (Jamie will be involved in the forum, but this is the last time she is offering such close attention), see results

The Compelling Frame

If you caught yesterday's Apple announcement about the new iPhones launching soon, you'll know the advances in technology are truly stupendous. We are most definitely in the midst of a golden age in the visual arts. Technology is making it possible to create billions of photographs every day. Yet, world and humanitarian photographer, David duChemin believes the majority of the images produced on a daily bases fall short because they lack soul. In other words, the photographs we mass produce are not compelling enough.

The photographs we see today often don't stop us in our tracks or stir our curiosity or evoke an emotion. They tend to be much of the same trite look at our beautiful and surprising world. When we do encounter a photograph – be it our own or photographed by someone else – that has an impact on us, we remember it more vividly, almost as if we can experience it again and again.

Some are indeed so compelling that they create a response within us, perhaps, even a set of actions that affect humanity the world over. Now, don't you want to make an impact, however small or big, with your photography?

But what stands in the way? Practicing and producing the same photographs again and again is of no use to anyone. We've also been told about the classic rules of composition – the rule of thirds or the golden spiral – but these have held us hostage for far too long.

Going Beyond The Rules

We have limited ourselves with our visual vocabulary to go deeper and create stronger images. David duChemin, who has authored nearly 10 books on photography (see below), insists that it is possible to learn the visual language, or syntax, that is essential in creating compelling photographs.

Understanding and then expressing ourselves by using this new visual lingo, expands our abilities to do so much more. Better yet, you'll never ever feel like you are in a creative rut again.

Interviewing David

David just launched The Compelling Frame, an in-depth course for photographers eager to consistently create compelling frame. I spoke with him at length about how photographers can stop spinning their wheels and get on the path to making photographs that make them truly proud of their accomplishments. Give this a listen (approximately 35 minutes):

What's In The Course?

Just as soon as I recorded my interview with David, I knew I had to be a part of his course, so I signed up!

Here's what is in the course: 19 awesome lessons (videos you can watch again and again), 31 creative exercises, an opportunity to study the masters, a ton of bonuses that are actually useful and a vibrant and exclusive community called The VISION-DRIVEN.

I'm willing to bet that a year from now, my photographs are going to be several levels above where they are today because of The Compelling Frame course and The VISION DRIVEN community online.

This course is open only for a very short duration. I suppose that's one way to really gauge who is serious about elevating their craft, right? Here's my recommendation and it isn't biased in any way (the links in this post are not affiliate links at all):

You could continue making photographs and not sense any momentum in your artwork or you could spend a modest amount of money ($295), to enroll in this course (yes, with me) and truly accelerate your growth.

Enrollment for The Compelling Frame ends in about eight days. My suggestion is that you don't wait. Jump in now.

David's Books

Money could be tight, or now may not be the right time for you to be a part of this course, in your path as a photographer. I get it. So, really the next best thing would be to read David's advice through his books (these are affiliate links):

• The Soul of The Camera
• The Visual Toolbox
• Within The Frame
• Photographically Speaking
• Visionmongers
• A Beautiful Anarchy
• Vision & Voice
• The Print And The Process
• How To Feed A Starving Artist

I'm going to sound like a total fan boy, but I own every book David has written. In an environment where there is so much noise, David's words of wisdom are a clear and consistent signal that is well-timed. Wherever you are in your photographic journey, I highly recommend David's resources for photographers.

I've followed his work as a photographer and a teacher for a long time and in 2011 chose him to win the first Annual Tiffinbox Award.

Visit David's website, follow him on Facebook and Instagram. His YouTube channel is one of my favorites. You are in for quite a thrill.

And, to answer the question this post poses: yes, the compelling frame is most definitely within your reach. With the right guide, the right community and a lot of intentional practice or play, photography will cease to be a foreign language and it will become more intuitive for you.

Create Client Experiences

Brian Callaway, a destination wedding photographer based in Southern California, believes it is very important to create client experiences that are memorable. It's this mantra that has helped the business he shares with his wife, Allison, a worldwide success; naming them the top wedding photographers in the world!

Together with their fine artist’s eye, technical mastery and photojournalist’s gift for anticipation and timing, they are unmatched when it comes to creating the images and experience that is the story of your love and celebration.

Want to learn more about how to create client experiences that will ultimately also make you memorable? Brian and his wife routinely conduct workshops for photographers. If you live in or near India, you are in for a real treat. Brian is speaking at Silk Inspire 2017, in Goa, India, from October 6 through October 10, 2017. Now is the time to register for this event!

Interview With Brian Callaway

Just as I have interviewed Arjun Kartha and Jen Huang, I was thrilled to speak with Brian about his journey from comedic television actor to wedding photography. Check out this interview now:

The Same Portfolio

Register Now For Silk Inspire 2017

My friend Sephi Bergerson, who is producing this awesome wedding photography festival, tells me that he is pulling all the stops to make Silk Inspire an incredible learning and social experience for all of you. But to be a part of it, you have to register now for Silk Inspire and then get there.

If you are already in India and you are a wedding photographer, you must be a part of this event. In addition to the amazing speakers, you will get to meet other photographers like you who are also discovering their place in this industry. Look, even I'll be there, and I am looking forward to hanging out with you.

Let me know in the comments, if you are coming to Goa, in October.

Tiffinbox Award Winner

Every year on this day, for the past six years, I've announced The Annual Tiffinbox Award winner. The headline makes no secret of who I have chosen to recognize this year; my dear friend and mentor, David Anthony Williams.

Congratulations, David!

I first encountered David through a wedding photography forum called DWF. His posts were informative, inspiring and often hilarious. His warm personality shone through those posts and when he announced he was offering a workshop in New England, I jumped at the chance to sign up.

I still remember that workshop in Rhode Island vividly. It was perfectly structured and thoroughly engaging. Everyone left the “Almost Alone” three-day workshop feeling like they had learned something truly useful and special. I know I had.

Speaking At Conferences

David then came back to the area and spoke at a Mystic Seminars event, in Groton, Connecticut. One of the things he expressed during that presentation left a lasting impression on me. He essentially distilled a successful photograph to two major elements: light and life. With example after example, and story after story, David deftly guided the audience through an emotional and memorable journey.

Most recently, I invited David to speak at the Connecticut Professional Photographer's Association annual convention. Not one to simply fly in and deliver a presentation he had done before, David chose to present something totally new and untested. Just as soon as he landed, we spirited off to Michael's and Joann's to buy props and fabrics for his presentation. Of course, none of it made sense to me at that time, but when it all came together, it was a huge hit for all those who were in attendance.

David is also generous with his time outside the confines of a stage or dais. Just as the CTPPA convention was wrapping up, I approached David and indicated I needed 10-15 minutes of his time to discuss my family portrait photography business. He gave me an hour without once looking at his watch.

David's Portfolio

David is an artist in the truest sense. He isn't afraid to try new things and pivot. He is a student of history – ask him about Richard Avedon or David Bailey, or even the masters from the Renaissance – he knows them all and refers to them like one would speak of good friends. I trust you will see their influences in this small sample of David's august portfolio.

Learning From David

There is nothing like learning from David Williams directly. Remember that workshop in Rhode Island I talked about above? Well, several years later, I attended his workshop again in Niantic, Connecticut. Then followed that up by listening to him speak at a few different conferences.

David is Australian, but lives in Toronto, Canada now and travels to different parts of the world to conduct those memorable workshops. I urge you to make the time, find the resources and drop all excuses to go and learn from David. You'll definitely be a much better photographer because of it. Once you learn to pay attention to light and expression, your photographs will make a far greater impact for your clients and ultimately for your photography business.

Past Tiffinbox Award Winners

Here are the links to the past winners of The Annual Tiffinbox Award:

David DuChemin

Spencer Lum

Jamie Swanson

Jenika McDavitt

Neil van Neikerk

Megan DiPiero

Who will it be next year?

Fine Art Wedding & Portrait Photography

California-based fine art wedding and portrait photographer, Jen Huang, is set to speak at Silk Inspire 2017.

Jen's work has been published in numerous bridal publications, including Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country Weddings, Brides Magazine, Style Me Pretty, Martha Stewart, The Boston Globe and New York Magazine. 

Jen's fine art wedding and portrait photography is often described as being painterly. Her evocative images are created using medium format film cameras. The simple but elegant compositions you see below are her signature style that makes her one of the top wedding photographers in the world.

Be sure to follow Jen through her blog or her Facebook page.

Interview With Jen Huang

In advance of Jen's presentation at Silk Inspire 2017, in Goa, India, from October 6th through October 10th, I sat down with her to talk about her unique approach to wedding and portrait photography. Give this a listen now:

Be sure to check out Jen's interview on the Silk Inspire blog as well!

A Mini Portfolio

Register For Silk Inspire 2017

If you haven't watched the first interview in this series, with Delhi-based photographer Arjun Kartha, please do so.

Secondly, you should consider registering for SILK INSPIRE 2017, India's first wedding photography festival.