I love how connected the photojournalism world is. A few weeks back, I interviewed Chicago Tribune photojournalist,Scott Strazzante for his project, “Common Ground” (which, by the way was funded). Following his Twitter stream, I noticed a Tweet about Brenda Ann Kenneally‘s project, “Upstate Girls.”

Figuring he knew her, I sent him an email requesting him to introduce us.

A few days later, I heard from Brenda and so, what we have here is a frank chat about her nine-year project that follows the lives of two adolescent girls in Troy, New York. The project is now a collaboration with the Rochester Institute of Technology and The Visual Studies Workshop.

Please do watch and listen to Brenda, as she describes how and why she started this personal photography project:

“The Upstate Girls Project is not only a document of the America that we all share with these women, but more importantly a story of the emotional connections that are universal to being human.”

It probably seems that week after week, I am here asking you all to support the work of yet another documentary photographer. The fact is this – newspapers and magazines are flexing their accounting muscles and shuttering entire photo departments or downsizing them to a point where community stories (that's stories about us) aren't narrated anymore.

If you find the work of Scott Strazzante or Brenda Kenneally personally moving, then step up and do something about it. These two (and trust me there are many more) are so passionate about pursuing long-term photography projects that by doing so tehy bring meaning into the lives of their subjects, for themselves and to the community as a whole, when their stories are shared with us all.

Brenda has 16 days to go before her Kickstarter caampaign closes. She has a little over $7,000 to raise to hire a web designer that will bring these gutsy stories to all of us online.

However small or big, can I count on you to make a contribution?

What is the purpose of life?

Spirituality and philosophy have been trying to answer this question for centuries, so I don’t pretend to have a quick answer. I certainly don’t know what comes after life or why humans were made to exist.

But having worked as a psychiatrist for the past decade, I can tell you this: the one thing that gives meaning to life, in the here and now, is connection. Especially the connections you create with your immediate family.

Although we often hear about how one should behave to create closeness with loved ones, the field of psychology hasn’t done a good job of teaching families how their home environment can also make or break family bonds.

Why is this important? Because, our environments prime our moods.

You see, our brains tend to pick up things in the environment and incorporate them into emotions almost unconsciously. For example, studies have shown that when people are in a room where, among many things, there is a computer with an image of money as a screen saver, we tend to become more self centered and less likely to help someone out. This is even when we have no conscious recollection of a monitor in the room!

In another example, a British University cafeteria kept an honesty box next to the coffee machine. The idea was that anyone who took a cup of coffee would be trusted to pay for it. A study then found that if a small image of a pair of eyes “watching” was placed above the coffee machine, more people tend to pay up!

If the power of an unconscious visual cue is so great on our self image and behavior, imagine how powerful real images, such as family photographs, could be?

Dr. David Krauss, PhD has spent his life researching the ways photographs influence self image and family dynamics. Here are some of the ways:

I Matter: He says when parents choose to display pictures of their kids at home; it sends a powerful message to the children that they matter. They sense that their existence is important to their parents. After all, wall space is limited, and what you choose to give it up for says a lot about your priorities right?

I am growing: Photos often create a visual narrative of time. Children will enjoy seeing themselves growing up across the wall! This reinforces a healthy self image. I once had a nine year old patient tell me “When I look at all my photos at home, I know that even the worst thing will soon be okay and I’ll still make it and keep growing.”

I am loved: There are times in every family when the daily rush of life takes over and days go by with no time to express your love. But as we saw with the priming example, photos can be unconscious reminders, reassuring us even when words and actions are temporarily absent. In fact, a study by Open University found that people felt 11% happier just by looking at a photo of a loved one (TV, alcohol and even music didn’t have such a big impact!). And who wouldn’t like to feel 11% happier in an instant? I know I would!

I belong: Whenever I go back home to India, my siblings and I spend a lazy afternoon with my grandmother, looking through photos of the past fifty years, all the way from my great grandparents to today. It’s amazing the stories that come out of these sessions. And amidst the talking and laughter, I recreate my cultural roots and relearn family traditions. Knowing where you came from is very powerful. As much as possible, cherish your time this way with your older relatives and pass this gift on to your kids.

I can: There is a negative voice in everyone’s head that often makes us doubt if we are capable enough for something. Whether it’s to try out for the school drama or to work up the nerve to ask for a promotion, we all need reminders that can prime our brains to recall potential. Photos can be a rich medium for this.

Imagine having a picture of you climbing a mountain, graduating from college, proposing to your partner or your kid hitting a difficult shot; anything that truly took guts and skill. What a powerful reminder of potential that would be right?

So, these are all the ways in which real photos influence who we are.

But what about digital photographs?

With the ease of modern smart phones, we are all taking more photos than ever. Which is wonderful. But sadly, most of them are quickly forgotten in a computer drive or in your camera’s memory card.

Photos that don’t get looked at or talked about are almost useless. They lose their whole purpose.

Today, I invite you to take a look around your home. Does it make you feel happy, loved and connected? I look forward to hearing your thoughts below.

Kavetha is a psychiatrist who is passionate about all things brain/psychology related.

Jason Aten is a photographer and the author of Starting Out Right: Building a Profitable and Sustainable Photography Business. In addition, he is the CEO of NinetyNine Beans, which provides Full-Service Accounting for Photographers. You can read more posts like this on his blog: www.startingoutright.net

Some of the most common questions asked by photographers are: how much should I charge? How do I set up packages? Should I do packages or a la Carte pricing? These are all great questions. They are important questions. Often, though, the problem is that this is the first question a photographer is asking – before they ask some other, very important questions.

The first question I encourage people to ask themselves is this: how much does it cost you to be in business? I know it's not necessarily as sexy a question – and it's a hard one to answer – but it's impossible to really start figuring out things like pricing and packages, without a good grasp on the answer.

Do you know how much it costs you to be in business? Do you have a system in place to track your expenses? Surprisingly, even though they are running a small business, many photographers don't have a good system in place. In my business, I TRACK EVERYTHING. I want to know where my money is coming from, how I spend it, and whether or not it helps – or hinders – the business.

Start by tracking your expenses. Start with the expenses you have, whether you photograph anything or not. These Fixed Expenses include things like Administrative Expenses (insurance, supplies, training and education, etc), Capital Expenses (new gear, large purchases that you depreciate, real estate, etc), Advertising Expenses (website, business cards, marketing materials, bridal shows, etc), Overhead Expenses (utilities and expenses related to a physical space like electricity, gas, etc), and Employee Expenses (wages and benefits for all non-sales related employees).

Next, track all of the expenses that go into the products and services you offer. In addition to what the lab charges you for an 8×10, this includes all of the expenses that go into SELLING and PRODUCING a product. These are your Cost of Sales Expenses, and include things like the wholesale cost from your lab, design charges, editing and processing expenses, shipping, sales related labor, retouching and travel.

Understanding these two types of expenses will give you a good idea of what it will cost you to be in business – which gives you a good idea of where to start when thinking about pricing for a profit. It seems like a lot of work, and it is, but its worth it.

Second, develop a system to help you keep track of revenue and expenses on an ongoing basis. Even if it's just a simple spreadsheet – that's better than nothing. There are some great tools available, including Quickbooks (and their online version). My personal favorite is Kashoo, which makes it super easy to input transactions, track expenses and generate really useful reports you can use to make decisions about your business. Many of the photographer-specific Customer Relationship Management tools (like ShootQ and others) have features that make it easy to keep track of your revenue and expenses.

Whatever system you choose, using it will only be as useful as the effort you put in. Make a commitment to understanding the financial health of your business by getting a grip on your numbers. Understanding what it takes to be profitable and sustainable means that you can make decisions that help your business grow – and add value to your life.

By the way, once you're using a system to track your expenses, it becomes easier to measure your performance. The Professional Photographers of America publishes benchmarks to help you measure the financial health of your business. Those benchmarks are designed to help every photographer take home 35% of their gross revenue as owners compensation and profit, and can help you evaluate where you may need to make changes in your expenses.

Finally, it's worth it to hire a good accountant that understands your needs. Someone who knows small businesses and can help you set up a plan – and stick to it. Accountants aren't just for saving money at tax time! A good accountant can make you money all year long by helping you know exactly where you stand. Having an accountant can mean having a trusted financial advisor on your team, helping you make the right financial decisions for your business.

Want to know more? We're hosting a free webinar this Wednesday designed to help photographers “GET A GRIP ON THE NUMBERS: Bookkeeping Basics for Photographers.” Simply visit www.ninetyninebeans.com/webinars to sign up for FREE.

When Jens Lennartsson, a Swedish travel and commercial photographer turned 30, he struck upon an idea to create a movement around the world that would empower children in some of the poorest countries in the world to tell their own stories.

Visually.

Jens is joined by Sara Hansson, also from Sweden, in this new global photography project called: Eye Am.

“By doing two week photo workshops, we teach kids in developing countries how to photograph, giving them the opportunity to show their life from their perspective, instead of just letting media tell their sometimes flat and generalizing story. And together with you, we create a more realistic view of the world.”

Jens and Sara sat down with me yesterday to talk about their project. Please check out this video below:

Lennartsson and Hansson are seeking to raise $33,000 in the next 12 days for this project. They want to be able to buy 20 cameras (and accessories like memory cards) and also computers that these young photographers can use in the field to process their images. These devices will be used in all three locations – 1) Renl, Ukraine, 2) Addis, Ethiopia and 3) Nairobi, Kenya

So, here's why this project appealed to me and I am helping Jens and Sara spread the word.

First off, I am from India and from what I have seen in the nearly 45 years of my existence, the images of India seen by those in the US are largely by non-Indians. While it's true they brings their unique perspectives and skill sets to capture images of either daily life or strife, there is nothing like reading, hearing or seeing the story unfold from the perspective of a local inhabitant. There are nuances that outsiders may simply miss that highlights the actual situation on the ground.

After years of being offered only a one-sided view of a situation, isn't it time we saw the world from a different, and thus, enriched perspective? By asking children to take part, we can be hopeful that their sense of spontaneity and living in the moment will garner us a fresh look into their lives and perhaps more importantly give those children a way to boost their confidence and appreciate themselves.

Whether it is the Ukraine, Ethiopia or Kenya, these kids are going to have an incredible ride into discovering who they are, for themselves. This project appeals to me because I am a father of two young boys who, given the opportunity, love to express themselves in sports, music and the visual arts. As a photographer, this is a no-brainer: we need to foster visual literacy among our young so that they in turn can continue to the tradition of recording and interpreting the world around them.

Learn more about this project and to support it, check out Eye Am's IndieGoGo's campaign page. I ask that you take a moment now to go to that page and give what you can.

Do you ever wonder what your value proposition is to your potential client? In other words, what do you bring to the table that your “rightest” client will eat up and then thank you for it by paying you what you are really worth?

It's a simple question. But it's not so easy to answer or explain. Thankfully, Angela Pointon of Steel Toe Images has a new book out called “Worth More: A Simple Way To Create The Photography Brand, Pricing and Packages That Command The Money You Deserve.” [affiliate]

Long title, I know.

I just got done reading an advance review copy and I have to tell you the worksheets and exercises she puts you through are the very first steps any photographer must take to create a sustaining and successful business. It's critical that you define who your clients need to be and then work through your pricing and packaging that meets your target client's expectations. There is really no better way to synchronize your values with those of your clients.

From Worth More: “So we’re going to figure out your ONE awesome thing by conducting another written exercise. And honestly, there’s a chance you’re not doing anything awesome right now.”

When things are in sync, you get to make a living at something you love to do. No one can or should deny you that, especially you. So, here is what I am urging you to do. Watch this video below. Based on what you hear from Angela, figure out if you ant to be a thriving photographer or a struggling photographer. If it is the former, buy Angela's book. It's on sale from today through June 23 for $79. It goes up to $99 after that date.

Angela also sent me this infographic that allows you to compare the two different photographers in the world: thriving or struggling –

Now, let me be very clear about one thing. As I read through the e-book, Angela wants you to complete exercise after exercise so that the answers guide you to some startling and positive conclusions. If you are the type that buys info products and just sits on them, don't buy this book. That would be a sheer waste of money. However, if you are open to trying new things and actually doing what Angela prescribes, I'll guarantee that you will see incredible results.

So, why should you buy Angela Pointon's e-book? Very simply, reading it and doing the exercises will be transformative (with a little elbow grease) for your bottom line. Imagine not having to struggle to find the “rightest” clients. Imagine having time to spend with your loved ones. Imagine being able to create a nest egg that keeps growing. All because you spent a few hours gaining some much needed clarity on whom you want to serve and why.

For me saving $20 is still something. I'm going to bet it is for you too. So, get the book before the price jumps on June 24th.

It was first at Ohio University, where I was briefly working on a graduate degree in Visual Communications, that I came across the name Scott Strazzante. This was some 13 years ago.

Right around that time, Scott, while at the Chicago Tribune, began a personal project that he pursued on his own time. That documentary project, called Common Ground, explores the challenges farmers Harlow and Jean Cagwin face in rural Illinois.

The story takes an incredible turn when in 2002, the Cagwins lost their home to urban sprawl and a new subdivision. But Scott didn't stop making images then. A chance meeting in 2007 of Amanda Grabenhofer, who now lives in that subdivision, prompted Scott to continue the project by photographing her and her family.

If you ever doubted if history repeated itself, all you have to do is see the wonderful diptychs that Scott, with the help of Mike Davis and Deb Pang Davis, has created of life on the farm when it existed and life in the new subdivision that overtook that farm.

“Echoes of the Past” – In 2002, Harlow and Jean Cagwin left their 118-acre cattle farm in Lockport, Illinois to make room for the Willow Walk subdivision. Five years later, Ed and Amanda Grabenhofer and their four children have settled in at the end of Cinnamon Court. This series compares and contrasts these two very different ways of life on the same piece of land.

As Scott so eloquently says in my conversation with him (see video below), this project isn't a political statement of any kind. It leans more gracefully on the art side of things, where we are gently cajoled into experiencing disparate lives, lived on virtually the same place, or common ground.

Scott Strazzante is well on his way to publishing a book, thanks to this Kickstarter campaign. He has 21 days to go to raise $42,500.

I am asking you to back this project, to show your support of long-term, personal projects that photojournalists like Scott are doing simply because they feel compelled to share with us the world they witness on a daily basis. When I watched the campaign video, I knew right away that this was a very special project.

Scott and I have never met in person, but it's easy to discover the man's commitment to photojournalism and his love for narrating visual stories of everyday life. I applaud him for going the distance, completing this project and publishing this book, Common Ground.

I watched a video recently by Laura Novak, a wedding photographer, about the one secret ingredient she uses in attracting the right wedding clients for her business.

So, watch that video first:

The video inspired a few questions in my mind and so I hopped on over to Twitter where I asked Laura for some clarification:

TB: In your recent video, you recommend e-sessions with wedding collections and offer it as a complimentary service. Do you then present those images from that session as part of your collection as well when it is time to send the files to the client (assuming you give files to clients)? Or, do you create products from the e-session that the client has to buy first to receive those files?

LN: I highly recommend creating products from the engagement session that you can sell to the client afterwards. Many of my clients purchase loose prints, save the dates, framed images for display at the wedding reception and albums. For example, how cute are these overlays from Design Aglow? All you need to do is take their favorite photo, place an overlay on top and add the wedding date. Done and done!

I always provide wedding and engagement files with the client's finished wedding album, so considering that is usually a year or more from the time of the engagement session they are pretty far away from receiving the files. Typically my clients are looking for products to purchase immediately after the engagement session to be part of their wedding.

Another great idea would be to show and sell a sign-in board. Brides and grooms love these! I really like the designs over at Design Aglow as well. 

TB: So what you are saying is, you would structure the collections to include a complimentary e-session, but the only way they can get the files is if they invest in $xxxx. I am worried some may see that as a bait and switch. Thoughts?

LN: Most of my wedding packages (the ones 10k or more) include all the engagement and wedding files with the finished wedding album. Because I state that up front, all of my clients know this and it is no surprise. Most people ask about files during the initial interview, so it gives us a chance to have a good conversation about it. In addition, that information is very clear right in the first page of my marketing materials.

TB: Not sure I am clear on what you mean by “they are years away.” Your e-sessions are years before their actual wedding date? I can see why people want their e-session images.

LN: Let's say that the e-session is six months before the wedding day. Then their wedding day comes and goes, and afterwards the client receives their proofs a few weeks later. Then it takes them a month or two to choose selections (best case scenario) and they have their album and finished files about 6-8 weeks after that.  Therefore, clients would typically get their files about a year or more after the engagement session.

TB: So, you let your clients make their final selections?  If they did (and I have) they pick images that just don't flow well. Thoughts?

LN: I do! It's their album, so the selections are completely up to them. I just do my best with what they chose and if they give me more creative freedom all the better! And if a year goes by and they don't choose their selections I create the album myself and ship it off (that part is in my contract).

Laura Novak has over 10 years of wedding photography experience, and her work has been featured on numerous national and international publications. Visit Laura's site, www.lauranovak.com, to download a sample album that Laura used to generate over $1.2 million dollars in wedding business. She lives in Wilmington, Delaware with her husband, John, and new baby, Andrew.