Ring Flashes ! Orbis or Ray

Hey if you are interested in "Ring Flashes", goto our V-LOG and check out 2 videos. One is from David Hobby of Strobist.com. David does a very quick "out of the box" comparison between 2 popular rign flashes for on camera mount DSLR flashes.

Rockie

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Jean-Baptiste Guiton - Make up shoot !

This is one of the coolest product shot videos I have seen from a photographer! Makes one wonder why we all don't do cool things like this. But that is for another discussion, another time.

Jean-Baptiste is a "sick" (stunning for all you regular folk like me) photographer. Jean shot this amazing poster campaign for T.Le Clerc in Paris. He used a 35mm DSLR and some very creative set ups that clearly show the intense set up for such "simple" looking posters as this one.

If you love commercial and product photography, then goto our V-LOG and check out this video. It will blow you away ! Also check out our Image Explorations website under instructors and look for Joe Glyda. This guy is really the "bomb" (again slang for totally awesome dude) when it comes to product photography. Joe was the Head digital photographer for Kraft Foods for years. Now he has re-joined the ranks of professional photographers working with his wife in their studio. This guy has stories that will make your jaw drop. I kidd you not ! Just buy this guy at drink and sit down and chat with him for a while at IE. You will be blown away at the level of skill, knowledge and wisdom this guy has !

As for Jean-Baptiste Guiton, he spent 10 years in Chicago before he moved back to his home land France where he openned his studio "Studio 29". Now I have to say, after watching this video, I was inspired by just how much fun Jean and his team had in making this campaign poster.

How about you ? Are you having as much fun as they are ?

Rockie

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NEW CAMERA RAW Plugin for CS4 !

Just read this off of DPreview and thought you all might want to know about this if you haven't.

Adobe has just released an new Camera Raw Plug-in for CS4. For those of you who are interested, CS4 was designed to help in utilizing quad-core capabilites for your desktop. The new Camera RAW 5.2 gives support to the newly released 5DMk2 due out in stores this month and the Panasonic DMC-G1. The update brings enhanced color profiles, output sharpening and a NEW targeted Adjustment too. In addition, users can save all images adjustments and settings as a single snapshot for future reference.

For more information and details goto Adobe.com

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Photographers vs Consumers (Are we really listening ? Do we really want to Change ? )

I recently joined an internet marketing study group online where each month we go through case studies and talk about the power of blogging and social networks and social media. In our recent study forum we had a video that truthfully depicted how we as photographers might be trying to "sell" our business.

In this new age of technology, Marketing or Communication has changed. For the better I think. But if we are not careful nor open, we might find ourselves either stuck in our "OLD WAYS" of communication, or bitter and hardened at how other young photographers may be doing better, or we may just become skeptical. Dane Sanders, writer of the book Fast Track Photographer calls this the "Grumpies" or "Grumpy Photographer Life Cycle" (Review on this book and Dane coming Shortly so tune back in !)

Lets face the reality, we have now entered the age of globalization in marketing and photography. And the truth is that our neat "spin" on our words or product line just is not going to cut it any more.

People are longing in our time for "connection", "community", "Realness", "transparency", and a "friend". So lets be honest, is how you talk with your clients much different than how you would talk with your closest friend or family members ?

Got to our V-LOG found at www.myspace.com/imageexplorations and scroll down to the Business Center and play the video.

Afterwards, come back and write me a comment, would love to hear what you think and what spoke to you and what changes you may be thinking of making in your marketing and communications with your clients.

Blessings,

Rockie

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What I Learned from Tiger Woods Prt2 and Ten Min Workout !

Earlier I wrote about what I learned from Tiger Woods and how it applies to our photography business. If you haven't read it yet, here is the Link. For part 2, I wanted to address our personal lives. That part of our lives that really is the center or hub our our creativity and passion in photography.





Recently while working late into the night (as I am sure you all do) retouching client images, I happened upon an info-mercial called the 10min workout. At first glance I thought "gimmick". But the more and more I watched I realized that there just might be something to this 10min Workout Trainer.

Main Concepts:

1. You only need 10mins !
2. The program is structured so that everyday there is something NEW your body is doing. (It's called muscle confusion)
3. All you need is a set of "resistance bands" which come with the order of the DVD
4. It even comes with a travel plan so while you are on the road you can still follow along
5. NO MORE EXCUSES ! It is only 10mins.

I believe the one thing about being a professional photographer that is totally rewarding, is the opportunity we have to capture how much people love each other, not just 5 years ago, or 10 years from now but RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW ! Many times this opportunity can remind us of our values like, "that is what true love looks like or feels like".
While other times our sessions reminds us of our personal lives, like our kids, or our significant other (wife, husband..etc.). Or it could just simply be like a mirror where we think... "how the heck did I get so slow, or feel so old ?"

So here is my question, How is your personal life doing these days ? Have you had sometime for yourself lately? Maybe you need a 10min walk or literally the 10min workout as I do !
Have you taken sometime to be with your significant other, or your kids lately ? And I do mean with them. 10mins of NO work, or work thoughts while you are with them. Its not easy at times. It will take work. But what is 10mins ....... remember the real beauty of the 10min workout is that it literally is 10mins.

That 10mins might just be the very thing you needed before you tackle your day. (to read a book un-photography related, or a walk) That 10mins might be the very thing your kids needed in the form of a hug. Or maybe that 10mins might be the moment you needed to tell your spouse or loved one how much you do love them and how much they love you.

There really are "NO EXCUSES" are there, as Tony Horton would say.

I don't know about you, but I sure am going to make changes in my life, both for me and the joy and longevity of my business as a photographer.

Be blessed y'all.

Rockie

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Confidence and Passion : Do You Have It ?

One of my favorite Wedding photographers whom I had the privledge of meeting through Image Explorations is Scott Robert Lim. I just love this guys style of photography ! It has Life to it. But more than that, like with all our instructors at IE, I see a deep passion in him for his work and an unique abilty to share and teach clearly how to succeed as a photographer.

Check out this podcast Scotty just posted. In it he talks about "confidence" to succeed in life.

What do you think it takes to have "confidence" ?

What do you think it takes to have "success" ?

Are you missing opportunities to invest in yourself and career ?

Have a listen, I guarantee that it will both inspire and challenge you to reach for something higher both in life and as a photographer.

If you like this, check out his blog and his Class at Image Explorations 2009 !

Scotty is going to be teaching a whirlwind of a class once again !

You won't want to miss it !

Be blessed y'all !

Rockie

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2009 Image Explorations Instructors !

Just thought I would remind you all incase you have not heard who our 2009 instructors are. I will have more bios, images and course descriptions up shortly but for now here is a little slide show to remind you.

You may even want to consider chosing your course now and pre-registering. I would say that his has quickly become one of our most amazing Instructors team ever at IE. And to top that off this will be our 10 year anniversary so a big and HUGE Celebration will be instore so get your daytimers out and start booking off IE 2009.

In case you forgot the dates are JULY 12 -16th, 2009 (Sunday to Thursday)

Blessings y'all !

Rockie

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Making a Difference with Photography

Just came upon this article on the cnn.com site.
The Article is about a photographer named David DeJonge and his quest to photograph the last remaining Veterans from WWI. This quest has taken him over the last 2 years to find and photograph the Veterans. Infact 8 of the last 12 he has photographed in the last 2 years are now dead.

It really brings the question, "have you th0ught about how your photography can make a difference ?" Maybe how your photography can leave a "legacy" for others in coming generations whether it be photographers or just people ?

There are alot of things you can do that you can use your photography skills in making a difference.

Here is one way....

"Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" is an association/guild that helps couples who have lost their child at birth, be paired with a photographer who will come and record and capture this last moment with them, so the parents will have a record of the gift of life they had though for a brief moment. If you would be interested in this or other such guilds and associations, contact your local Professional photographers association for more ideas or links.

Or maybe you can start up something NEW that will meet a very special need in your community that will "make a difference".

Rockie

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Attracting Business through Videos

Hey all.... so once again I find myself a bit behind ( abit of an understatement). Like you I am up to my neck in work. But I wanted to at least get off one good post for you all this week just in case I don't have time, so here goes.....





For those of you who don't know this guy, this is David Jay.
I would have to say David is one of my favorite photographers whom I so admire and appreciate. In a photographic realm where trade secrets are seldom shared and where mentoring is seldom found, David's approach of sharing from his heart to all readers and viewers of his blog is totally refreshing.

David has even set up his own forum site and photography club where members can come online anywhere you are in the world and chat with other photographers or even have more chats with David on key tips in the wedding business and photography. Check it out when you get a chance. you will be blessed with what you learn and the friends you find.

In a recent posting by DJ, he made some awesome comments on "attracting clients through Videos". Have a watch and give some thought about this.

Be blessed y'all.

Rockie

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