“I began my journey worrying about equipment, web page, blog, client documentation, accounts … and left one of the most important (and ongoing) aspects to last – marketing.”

The finding and keeping of clients is such an art and a science, and yet so many photographers ignore it.

Any why?

If we’re honest, it’s because it’s hard. We want to do the easier things first and “play” business because getting people to pay you with their hard earned money is super intimidating.

But it doesn’t have to be because I’ve put together a list of the top six uncommon trends that are going to be huge for your photography business this year.

Uncommon Trend #1: Live Video

For the past few years, photographers have used social media to share their work (photos) and have seen a lot of success. While most people were just posting text, we found that photos got a lot more engagement and social media could be a huge asset to our business.

But, as engagement rates dropped and organic reach plummeted (especially on Facebook), social media lost a lot of its ability to drive business for photographers.

But that will turn around this year. If we look at how so many brands are leveraging live video to engage with their audience and get in front of new people, it’s no surprise that two-thirds of all internet traffic is streaming video.

Some studies suggest that 80% of consumers prefer watching a live video to reading a blog post with images.

And you can do it on almost every platform: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Periscope.

The best part is that those videos remain forever on the platform and can be repurposed in the future for blog posts, email autoresponders, social media posts, etc.

Uncommon Trend #2:Content Marketing

Video is just one type of content that you should be making for your ideal clients. If we agree to the idea that every photography business should be a media company, we need to start treating our content as an essential business aspect.

This means creating content that helps out ideal clients in every way including:

Video (live)
Video (edited)
Blog posts
Infographics
Audio (podcasts)
Messaging (Bonjoro)

For example, here’s a great guide that Michael Will put together of the top wedding vendors in his city. It’s a great way for him to spread the word about all of his friends and colleagues and also build a solid relationship with his ideal client (brides and grooms).

Uncommon Trend #3:Getting Featured

I’ve been pretty strong in arguing that more photographers need to write. It’s simply the easiest thing that you can do as a photographer to get more traffic from Google and build a deeper relationship with your audience.

If photos are proof you know what you’re doing with a camera, the words are what get people to pay for your services.

Getting featured on other websites can be difficult when it’s completely one-sided (“Please feature me! PLEASE!”), but what you can offer in return is to create some amazing content, using the above content marketing ideas.

By using search terms like “write for us” and “submit post” in Google, you can find a lot of opportunities to connect with other websites that would love to feature you and get you in front of their audiences. This is especially valuable if you’re just starting your photography business, too.

Uncommon Trend #4:Hyper-local Search Results

More and more people are using their mobile devices as their primary means of searching online and when they search for your services, Google is serving them “hyperlocal” search results.

This means that not only are they getting unique results based on the country and city they’re located in, but now they’re customizing results down to a one-block radius.

As most photographers get traffic to their website based on local search results, you need to make sure (at minimum), that you’ve set up a physical business location in Google (guide).

This also means that while you may not rank for a big keyword like “Chicago wedding photographer,” you may see an increase in website traffic if you have a physical address in the city.

For photographers like Evermark Studios, being located in Pittsburgh is great, but having a prime location on the most important street in the city (Penn Ave) is going to become more and more valuable in 2018.

Uncommon Trend #5:Client Personas and Journey Mapping

Most of the photographers that I’ve known have never considered creating client personas or a client journey map as a formal technique, yet they’ve done it informally hundreds of times.

Basically, along the journey of a person discovering you to become a client, they’re better served with different communications and experiences. A person who clicks a Facebook ad is at a very different trust level with you than an email subscriber that’s opted in to receive a custom wedding quote, right?

Smart Insights put together this really smart life-cycle map of all the potential touch points across different types of media. Look at what you’re currently doing? Where are the gaps in your marketing?

Uncommon Trend #6:Live Chat (Anything But Chatbots)

From live video, to content marketing, to chat, the trend in 2018 is going to be for personalized engagement.

With the rest of the marketing community clamoring about chatbots, I would argue that even though they are helping businesses grow now, we’re seeing the return of the “voice menu” when you call a big company.

I’m sure they were novel and helpful at first, but the thought of going through 10 menus just to talk to a person makes me want to scream.

So let’s skip over that horrible trend and look at the bigger picture. People want real-time communication which means any time we’re at a computer, we should offer it to them.

Photographers like Playa del Carmen-based Pixan Photography have already implemented these concepts and are seeing big results.

But if you want to get ahead of the game, check out Facebook’s chat feature they’ll beta-testing and align your Facebook presence with your website:

What's Next

If you really want to take advantage of one the big photography marketing trends this year, here’s what you need to keep an eye on:

Live Video
Content Marketing
Getting Featured
Hyperlocal searches
Client Personas and Journey Mapping
Live chat

Now that I’ve lifted back the curtain and showed you how to really grow your photography business in 2018, it’s time for you to pick one of these and test it out for yourself.

Let me know in the comments below what you’ll be working on this year (I read every one of them!)

Clean and Calibrate Your Gear

Some six years ago, Wes Kauffman, president of Perfect Image, penned a post called, “Why Calibrating Your Camera’s Lenses Is A Must For All Photographers“.

One brave man commented: “This is one giant advert telling you to contact them to have you pay for the service.” That may well be the reaction of a photographer who knows his way around the AF Calibration feature on his or her camera, but for mere mortals like you and me, I would still want a professional to take care of my gear.

In fact, Wes clearly mentions this in his original article: “Calibrating your camera is something you can do yourself, some of my customers do, and some of my customers try. The truth is a qualified repair tech can do it faster, and probably more accurately. They will have the correct tools and more importantly the experience.”

Take Care Of Your Camera Equipment

So, I don't know about you, but when I hit a bit of a dip and experience the “slow season,” I don't sit there twiddling my thumbs and wonder if my gear is in tip top shape, I send my cameras and lenses to Perfect Image and get it cleaned and calibrated. I've used their services three or four times and I am a fan.

I must have said so at one of the last meetings and Wes pressed a short stack of postcards in my hand. These cards which I gladly distribute at photographer gatherings is a simple code that will save you $10 (and yes, make me $10 in the process).

Send Your Gear In February

Follow these steps to clean and calibrate your equipment and save $10:

1) Visit Perfect Image here
2) Use the code is: NEWFRIEND and my customer code which you must also use is: SB48677.

Now through February 28th, Perfect Image is hosting its annual “Cleaning & Calibration Special” where instead of paying $149, you pay $99, but with the code above for new customers of theirs, you get to save an additional $10.

Get Your Gear Back In Time

Listen, I get it, it's the “slow season” and every penny counts, right? So, jump on this opportunity to get your cameras and lenses cleaned and calibrated. You get to send in one body and two lenses of your choice but you can also send in additional camera bodies and lenses for a modest extra charge.

Wouldn't you want to start your season assured that your gear isn't going to let you down? I know I would.

For those of you who feel this post is a little too promotional in tone, rest assured I'm abiding by FTC guidelines by telling you that the codes mentioned above provides me with a small commission that helps me maintain this website for the greater good of all photographers. Ultimately, you make the decision to either use or accept the carefully curated offers mentioned here.

Before booking any client for a shoot, it’s important that both parties are the right fit for each other. Chemistry is important when clients are looking for a prospective photographer. And vice versa.

Your corporate portfolio is important for your prospective client to understand the work you do. But in order to create really successful images, there are a few things you should know about your client before agreeing to a shoot.

These questions not only ensure your clients are well prepared prior to their session but can serve as an inspiration for you and your photography. This will bring your creativity to life and ensure the clients get what they really want.

1. What is your budget?

While a sensitive question for some, it is an important question nonetheless.

After some casual conversation with your prospective client, getting down to business means knowing what their expectations are. Having a clear understanding of their budget will ensure you deliver on those expectations. It also gives you a framework to what is needed come the day.

This insight allows you to inform your client of what you can reasonably deliver. Knowing the budget, even one that’s severely limiting, allows you to educate your client on what is possible and what isn’t.

In today’s age of digital photography and smartphone photography “professionals”, communicating rates and budget ensures everyone’s expectations are managed.

2. What do you hope to get out of the experience?

If your prospective client has seen your photos, then this will be an easy question to answer. Most prospective clients will respond with an image in your portfolio that has struck a chord with them. Clients who are familiar with your style of photography and are happy with it encourages good chemistry between both parties.

This question also helps you understand the endgame of your client. Answering this question will tell you a lot about the right services your client will require. It will also inform you about client expectations such as time frame, image format delivery, must-have photography moments, and poses.

3. Who will be attending the session?

Understanding the desired experience is one thing. But it’s a whole different ballgame when it comes down to session attendees. It could be a family of four,or maybe it’s an engagement shoot, or even an expecting couple.

There are challenges to every shoot and knowing ahead of time who will be attending is paramount to creating an experience that’s pleasant for everyone involved. This will determine the potential locations or backdrops to prepare for. This also allows you to decide on what time of day is best to shoot your clients.

4. What is so special about this time in your life?

Photography is more than just capturing subjects in specific poses set against specific backdrops. It serves as a witness to important events in our lives. From birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and everything in between, photographs are passports to the special moments in our lives.

Knowing why this certain window of time is special to your client allows you to go the extra mile when delivering a memorable experience. The images you shoot during this special time in their lives will serve as a wondrous reminder when they peruse through them months and years after the shoot. Knowing why this is a crucial time for them allows you to produce a better end product.

5. What do you like about my images?

As a photographer, part of your job is interpreting what your client really wants. Asking this question before shooting ensures you understand why they choose you as a photographer against someone else. You need to know exactly why they chose you.

Perhaps it’s the lighting you used or the color scheme you chose. It could even be the perspectives that your shots were taken in or the concept and feel of your photography style. Asking this question allows you to get in the mind of your client. This ensures the end product perfectly interprets what they want out of the experience.

This is why it’s important to have a portfolio your prospective clients can pour over. Your clients can point out certain aspects of your images that they want to recreate in their experience.

6. How did you hear about us?

This question is usually answered through the inquiry email you’re sent from a potential client. But if it isn’t, it’s important to ask this question. You need to know how your clients find you.

Your business will only continue to thrive if new clients can successfully find your work and engage with your business. Knowing whether or not your marketing efforts are going to waste is important in determining how to spend your marketing budget. This question can also reveal additional sales opportunities you may not have considered.

Don’t be afraid to ask this question. Beyond its marketing benefits, this question frames how your business is being perceived by potential clients.

7. Why did you choose us?

Last, but certainly not least, ask “Why me?” It may be an awkward question to ask, but no consultation meeting should finish without first asking this question. To protect yourself and your business, you need to know why your potential client wants to take you on as their photographer.

Remember, potential clients are not your clients yet. Knowing how you appeal to prospective clients can become a gateway to convincing them to trust their special occasion in your lens-toting hands. While price can be a factor in determining the right type of photographer, the best type of photography experiences is born out of relationships.

As a photographer, these questions are the necessary due diligence that are crucial to ensure you’re the right fit for creating the type of experience your prospective clients wants. You want your clients to walk away satisfied. The only way to perform such a service is to discuss these questions. So ask away!

Who Is Nigel Merrick

Nigel Merrick of Prime Focus Lab is a business coach and mentor to many photographers. He is also a prolific author, penning some of the most useful business guides in the photography industry.

Check out his books:

Interviewing Nigel

I recently recommended some of the best books you should read in the coming new year.

In this short video interview, Nigel and I talk about his new book, From Zero To Booked.

In it, he helps you identify your ideal clients, create compelling marketing that makes an impact on them, and shows you how to turn them into paying customers. It's a terrific read and I encourage you to read it.

This book by Nigel Merrick is particularly applicable if you are a wedding or portrait photographer who is either getting started in the business or who has been at it for some time but has started to feel a little burned out. Nigel offers clear-cut solutions to market to the clients who are right for you and who will see you as a good fit for them as well.

Want to get a taste of Nigel Merrick's writing before you invest in his books? I highly recommend you read this article on his site: The Phone Call That Almost Killed My Photography Business.

Are you ready to go From Zero To Booked in your business? Comment below! Or, ask Nigel questions that I am sure he will be able to answer given his wide breadth of knowledge and experience working with photographers just like you.

One the best ways to elevate your visual sensibilities as a photographer is by perusing through photography books: monographs, photo essays or photo stories. It's heartening to see so many photographers producing and publishing books of their own. Here is my list of books that you should consider looking through or even better, owning out right, in the new year.

Traditional Photography Books

Before You Grow Up, by Ernesto Bazan was reviewed in the New York Times by James Estrin and he said this about Bazan's book: “Ultimately, “Before You Grow Up” is about the importance of family and the fragility of life — what a man leaves behind for his children, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren he might never meet”. Bazan's gift to his kids is ultimately a gift to us. Step up and receive it!

Feast For The Eyes: The Story of Food in Photography. Ever since I attended Meera Seetharaman's food styling and photography class, I am hooked on food photography. Perhaps you are too!

Stop Here, This is the Place is a wonderful collaboration between a writer and a photographer.

The Distance Between Us, by Christopher Capozziello isn't an easy book to go through but I love the compassion this photographer displays for his brother. MediaStorm, produced a documentary based on the book that is well worth watching as well.

Cig Harvey's latest, “You An Orchestra You A Bomb” will be a part of my collection for sure. Her conceptual photography makes me take pause and think.

Love alternative processes? Then “Borne Back,” by Victoria Will is a must! Her tintype portraits are gorgeous, dark and delicious all that same time.

When David duChemin writes or talks or teaches, I pay attention. His book, “The Soul of the Camera: The Photographer's Place in Picture-Making” must be in every photographer's bookshelf. Period.

I love the way William Albert Allard sees the world and the way he sees America is extra special. Consider “Portraits of America“. I have no idea why this books is selling only for $8.21. Someone missed a zero after the eight.

How do other family photographers approach this genre of family photography? “Family Photography Now” will show you how.

Valerie Jardin is a prolific street photographer. Thankfully her book, “Street Photography: Creative Vision Behind the Lens” is a wonderful primer on that genre of photography. Weren't we all street photographers at one time? Learn more about her and her other books here.

I haven't seen this one yet, but as a fan of Scott Kelby's, I am sure, his latest, “The Flash Book: How to fall hopelessly in love with your flash, and finally start taking the type of images you bought it for in the first place” will help you grapple with your speedlites and studio strobes.

If you have ever watched Lindsay Adler teach posing, you'll want to definitely buy her book, “The Photographer's Guide to Posing: Techniques to Flatter Everyone“. I have the Kindle version of this book and I keep flipping through it all the time. So much to learn and use right away!

I interviewed Chris Knight in advance of his book, “The Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow” and it is one of the most popular chat on my YouTube channel.

Roberto Valenzuela's books on posing and lighting in the past few years have been very popular among photographers. If you are starting out, diving into his books will get you going in the right direction. This year he published, “Wedding Storyteller, Volume 1: Elevating the Approach to Photographing Wedding Stories” and in 2018 you can expect “Wedding Storyteller, Volume 2: Wedding Case Studies, Workflow, and Editing“. A no-brainer purchase for wedding photographers!

E-Books

Tamara Lackey's From Start To Finish: The Portrait Shoot Playbook, How To Prepare For, Shoot, And Deliver A Photography Session is a digital book (for now) but let that not stop you from diving into it. Tamara packs this book with information that is both deep and wide for portrait photographers. If you are starting out, this book is a must. Read it cover to cover.

My friend Nigel Merrick helps photographers who are struggling to market their businesses. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his latest book, From Zero To Booked. I highly recommend you give it a read, especially before the new year.

Ok, so these photography books should get you going in 2018. But you don't have to wait to buy those photography books in the new year. Buy them now, before December 31st, to claim them as valid business expenses. Plus, Christmas is right around the corner, so if you see a photography book you already have or would like to gift someone, you've got this guide now.

Comment below on the photography books you ended up buying. Some of the links above are connected to my Amazon affiliate account and I make a small commission when you buy the books through this post. Thanks for supporting Tiffinbox in 2017. I look forward to continuing to serve your photographic interests in 2018 and beyond.

Happy New Year to you all!

Every year I do this, a good number of you step up and use the affiliate links on this post to buy the products you have either heard about or have saved up to invest in for your business. As always, every purchase you make helps pay for this website's hosting, redesign and general maintenance. I am thankful for your support!

Please continue to to visit this post through the end of the day on Cyber Monday, November 27th. I'll add new offers and edit those that have ended or no longer available.

ShootProof offers gorgeous galleries, contracts & invoices, integrated print labs, cloud archiving, mobile apps, and MORE – all with no commission fees! #FocusOnWhatMattersMost and let ShootProof do the rest. New customers save 40% on yearly plans and existing users get 40% off plan upgrades. Plus, receive a FREE studio success bundle packed with templates, how-to-guides, and more. Offer ends 11.27.17

Jenika McDavitt's Psychology For Photographers Resources

Today through Cyber Monday:

Irresistible Website

Award-winning class for a reason! Turn your website into a 24/7 salesperson that speaks to the exact needs and desires of the exact person you most want to draw.

Irresistible Words

Makes what you're already doing faster and more effective. Learn to write blog posts in 20 minutes or less (that people actually read and share), know exactly what you're going to say when you sit down, and create sales copy that actually does the job so you can do more of what you love.

Irresistible You

Why does that person get attention online, while you seem to wait around for people to notice? It's not “personality,” it's a method. Learn all the secrets to presenting yourself online + the secrets popular posters use to get attention (even if you're an introvert).

The ONLY time of year the entire Psychology for Photographers shop is on sale!

Save $50 off any single course.
Save $109 total when buying two courses together.
Save a total of $170 by buying all three together.

No code needed, sale price waiting in your cart! Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or past purchases.

FStoppers Video Workshops

To receive $30 off use code “BF30” for the following:

Fstoppers Intro to Lightroom: The Ultimate Crash Course – Now only $99.99
Photography 101: How to Use Your Digital Camera and Edit Photos in Photoshop – Now only $69
Making Real Money: The Business of Commercial Photography – Now only $269.99

To receive $50 off these individual tutorials, use code “BF50” for the following:

Photographing The World 1: Landscape Photography and Post-Processing with Elia Locardi – Now only $249.99
Photographing the World 2: Cityscape, Astrophotography, and Advanced Post-Processing – Now only $249.99
Dylan Patrick's The Cinematic Headshot – Now only $149.99
Joey Wright: Swimwear Photography – Lighting, Posing, and Retouching – Now only $249.99
Peter Hurley: Perfecting the Headshot – Now only $249.99
Mike Kelley's Where Art Meets Architecture 2 – Now only $249.99
Mike Kelley's Where Art Meets Architecture 3 – Now only $249.99

To receive $50 off these combo packs, use code “BF50” for the following:

Peter Hurley: The Art Behind the Headshot and Perfecting the Headshot – Now only $349
Peter Hurley: Illuminating the Face and Perfecting the Headshot – Now only $449
Peter Hurley Tri Pack: The Art Behind the Headshot, Illuminating the Face, and Perfecting the Headshot – Now only $549
Mike Kelley: WAMA 1 and WAMA 2 – Now only $449
Mike Kelley: WAMA 1 and WAMA 3 – Now only $449
Mike Kelley: WAMA 2 and WAMA 3 – Now only $449
Mike Kelley: WAMA 1, WAMA 2, and WAMA 3 – Now only $649
Elia Locardi: Photographing the World 1 and Photographing the World 2 – Now only $449

Photography Concentrate

Two of the best teachers I know are Rob and Lauren Lim of Photography Concentrate. Their ebooks have ushered me along the path of a working photographer for years now. I highly recommend their ebooks which are now all on sale through Cyber Monday.

Use the code: PCBLKP17 to shave off 50% of all their resources on their site.

Pixellu Smart Albums & Smart Slides

SmartAlbums is a must-have album builder that’s intuitive, quick, and simple. Check it out at www.pixellu.com and buy before November 27 to save $100 on your purchase!

SmartSlides is the world’s simplest slideshow maker, allowing photographers to build gorgeous slideshows in just a few minutes. Save big by signing up at www.pixellu.com before November 27 – the Pro annual plan is just $1 per month for the first 6 months!

The dates of the Pixellu sale are as follows: Nov 20th through November 27.

Melanie Anderson's The Focus Tour

One of the best things about a community that meets often (like CTPPA or Inspire Photo Retreats) is just that: there is a sense of community, connection and even camaraderie among photographers.

But sometimes, that is not possible. Family obligations, work obligations or distance can be factors. So, it's no surprise that Melanie Anderson was one of the first photographers in the industry to see the need for creating such a community online.

She calls her site “Focus 365” – https://www.tiffinbox.org/find-your-focus-365 – and for a limited time, you can get access to it PLUS nearly 120+ individual courses taught by some of the best working photographers on the planet. The catch is two-fold: there are only 100 seats available and this deal disappears when those seats are all gone!

Visit the site – https://www.tiffinbox.org/find-your-focus-365 – yes, it is an affiliate link – and click on BLACK FRIDAY PROMO to get all the details!

PhotoBizXposed Premium Podcast & FB ADs Workshop

One of the best (I would say definitely in the top 10) podcasts is Andrew Hellmich's PhotoBizXposed. For a very limited time for Black Friday, he is offering a 50% off his premium subscription. His immensely popular FB Ads course is also on sale. Check it out!

Buyer Personality Quizzes by Isabel Azalia

Back in this post about buyer personality quizzes, I interviewed Isabel Azalia about her buyer personality quizzes. These are definitely unique products for photographers.

Depending on the genre of photography services they are seeking from you, all kinds of questions you can ask them will give you a better understanding of who they are, what their personalities are best suited for and ultimately how best to serve them.

In addition to those quizzes, Isabel now has a series of quizzes that will help you and your client decide how best to dress for the photo session. These are all on sale through Cyber Monday (that's tomorrow). Use the code is blackfriday2017 that gives 60% off of everything.

Fundy Designer Goes On Sale!

Fundy Designer is a comprehensive platform for designing albums, sharing designs and even creating slideshows. It's wicked fast, too! For Cyber Monday, take $100 off your purchase. You'll make that $100 up in about 2 minutes, I promise you.

Zack Arias's Dedpxl Sale

Everything on Zack Arias' Dedpxl.com site is 50% off. No codes necessary. Those of you who are starting out using your flashes or strobes … this is the workshop that helped me get over my fear of using flashes. I would totally recommend that One Light 1.0 and One Light 2.0 workshops in a heartbeat. No one … NO ONE … comes close to explaining the use of flash as eloquently and usefully as Zack. Please consider all the other opportunities to learn from Zack through this site as well.

Why Do You Need A Tribe?

Having followers on social media is one thing, having a loyal audience is quite an another. When you build a tribe of followers and they turn their loyalty into supporting your creative endeavors, both they and you win.

This is the central premise of Pete Mosley‘s forthcoming guide book about fostering a loyal audience for your creative business.

Who Is Pete Mosley?

Pete Mosley, is a writer, speaker, and coach based in the East Midlands, in the United Kingdom.

His first book – ‘Make Your Creativity Pay‘, was published in July 2011. The second – ‘The Art of Shouting Quietly – a guide to self-promotion for introverts and other quiet souls', was published April 2015 and is now available as a paperback, on Kindle and as an audiobook.

He is on a mission to help creative entrepreneurs find the point where the stories we tell ourselves and the stories we tell others come together. To that end, he is working on his third book that will delve into the idea of creating a loyal following for our work; a tribe that will support our creative endeavors.

Speaking With Pete Mosley

After reading The Art of Shouting Quietly, I had to interview Peter and after a few months of back-and-forth emails, he finally committed to a short interview. Give this a listen please:

Topics In The Interview

What's Next For You?

I highly recommend Pete Mosley's books: Make Your Creativity Pay and The Art of Shouting Quietly. I would suggest you read those first. Then, if the content there resonates with you, consider supporting Pete through this special Patreon page. I am eagerly waiting for the third book to drop because the topic is timely and the content is actionable. Pete promises to show you the many ways to grow a loyal audience for your business.

Who Is Zack Arias?

Zack Arias is a portrait photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia. A little over ten years ago, he began offering off-camera lighting workshops around the US that he called OneLight Workshops. Hundreds of photographers now know not to fear off-camera flashes, but embrace them because of Zack. I am one of them.

I was at Zack's Boston and New York workshops and let me tell you that he does not hold back on anything. He approaches his teaching with just as much humility and grace as he does his photography projects and commissions. The truth is he doesn't have to teach, but he wants to.

He is incredibly generous with his time during the workshops, and I remember him starting early and ending late at night. Every time, Zack patiently answered questions and demonstrated solutions to participants, even if it was for the third or fourth time.

At some point, Zack invited people to send him questions and a collection of his responses became the basis of his book, Photography Q&A: Real Questions. Real Answers.

Zack At Silk Inspire

I was thrilled to hear that Zack will be presenting his OneLight workshop at Silk Inspire, in Goa, India.

You may have watched Zack on CreativeLive, or seen his videos in Marrakech or Mumbai.

While gear is important for Zack, I remember the super simple setup he introduced me to during his OneLight workshop. Still he is always ready to be challenged, like this “cheap camera challenge” or the shootouts at Gulf Photo Plus.

If you have registered for this incredible photography festival, you already know what to expect (but there are some surprises for you too). We are just days away from opening day!

Interviewing Zack Arias

I sat down with Zack to find out what his plans were for Silk Inspire, and so here is that quick interview with him:

A Sample Portfolio

Zack's work is diverse and in between commissioned work, he self-assigns personal projects to stretch his creative muscles. Can you tell which ones are for his clients and which ones are for him?

Register Now For Silk Inspire 2017

You are going to meet and learn from world-class photographers like Zack Arias, at Silk Inspire. There is no better opportunity than right now to register for the event that runs from October 6th through October 10th, in Goa, India.

If you have made it all the way down here to this post, that's awesome.

But let me sweeten things for you. I have a few cool giveaways for those who register for Silk Inspire today. Once you do, email me your receipt (with today's date showing) and you will be qualified for a few cool things I am bringing with me. What are they?

Well, let's just say you could win one of six Black Rapid camera straps, one of three ShootProof annual accounts or one brand new LowePro camera backpack (valued at $350). Email your receipt to me here – seshu at tiffinbox dot org. First ones to email me win. That's the only way to keep this fair and you must be present at the event, to receive the prize in person. Good luck!

Speakers At Silk Inspire

Please watch the interviews with other Silk Inspire speakers: Arjun Kartha, Jen Huang and Brian Callaway. Plus, there are other incredible panelists!!

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.