Our largest PUG ever!

Thanks to everyone from DC and Baltimore for coming down to make this month our largest attended meeting ever! We had photographers from DC, MD and VA to hear Justin and Mary Marantz share their success story and practical strategies for taking control of your business and exceeding client expectations.

The group was eager to hear some of the brilliant marketing strategies that have helped these newlyweds create buzz and turn clients and other photographers into great friends and referral sources. It's always nice to hear a fresh perspective and the passion that these two exude is inspiring.

We'll be following up this visit with a discussion on the secret formula for pricing at next month's PUG meeting on Monday, March 24th following WPPI. Hope to see you there.

- Geoff

February PUG *New Date*

Monday, February 18, 2008, 7pm

We've changed the date of February's PUG meeting to the 18th in order to accomodate special guests Justin and Mary Marantz who are currently on a PUG tour discussing "loyalty beyond reason," as well as turning clients and competition into friends. They'll share the secret behind their success and talk through their entire wedding client interaction process from initial consultations through and after the wedding.

Here's a post from their blog about their PUG tour (We weren't part of the original plan until Jessica Del Vecchio connected with them. Thanks, Jess!): http://justinmarantz.blogspot.com/2008/01/kickin-off-tour.html

We look forward to seeing everyone. Please RSVP at the PUG Homepage so we can accommodate - this is sure to be a packed house.

Thanks,
Geoff

Upcoming Photography Industry Events

I thought I would post a list of all the upcoming events I mentioned at January's meeting and a few more that I have come across. Some of these events are specific and some more general, but take a good look to see if any of these may be right for you. We can always find ways to learn more and be better photographers, so check it out:

Maryland Professional Photographers Association Annual Convention
January 25th-28th, Sheraton Columbia - Columbia, MD

Four days of competitions and educational seminars. Guest speakers Hanson Fong, Mark Campbell, Mary Fisk-Taylor and Jamie Hayes.


Bruce Hudson's New Directions Reality Check Tour
January 27th, 2-7pm Hilton Garden Inn - Greenbelt, MD

Powerful strategies to thrive and NOT just survive in this ever changing market place. Covers a lot of ground including how to separate yourself from the competition.


Bob Davis and Mike Colon - Master Your Craft Tour
February 8th, 9am - 6pm BWI Marriott - Baltimore, MD

Intense one-day workshop covering everything from camera settings, workflow, and marketing.

The Modern Portrait - portraitseminar.com
February 23rd-24th at the Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks in Fairfax, Virginia.

Our friend Justine Ungaro and her mother Diana Adams created this seminar to help photographers make more money from their portrait work. Some of the topics they will cover:

- Branding & marketing

- Finding the right clients

- Products & pricing

- Consultations & pre-selling

- Selling with projection

- Getting referrals & repeat clients

WPPI - Wedding and Portrait Photographers International
March 13th - 19th at Bally's Las Vegas

The best convention and tradeshow for wedding and portrait photographers. be inspired by amazing speakers and see all the latest and greatest products.


Ed Pierce - Captivated by the Light Tour
April 30th, May 1st, May 4th

Lighting, workflow and marketing for a full day seminar and a mini tradeshow. Offered over three days in Baltimore and DC.


Sandy "Sam" Puc, Bellies & Babies Tour
May 30th, 5-11pm

Marketing, shooting and selling pregnancy and baby portraiture.

January PUG Meeting

Thanks to everyone who came out last night and contributed to a great evening. I hope you will all be scheduling your events on pictage well in advance to capture pre-registration from clients and generate excitement about each event - even before the photos are online.

As we discussed our goals for 2008, a recurring theme was marketing. Obviously this pre-registration is a great way to market your services to the clients, but in order to obtain consistent referrals, you must be marketing to an even wider audience. A great web site is a start, and two companies can help you do that inexpensively: BluDomain and BigFolio.

Another great tactic is to put your images into the hands of the people who refer you. Try a CD with images, or a great little 7x7 willow book showcasing your work. We'll have more tips as we go through the year and hope that every little bit helps you build your business in '08.

Please join us for our next meeting, Monday February 18 @ 7pm.

Thanks,
Geoff

Update to our Photographer Fun Day

Hello Again,
Jess and I have finally decided on places for breakfast and lunch for our day of fun in the DC area.
If you haven't already sent me your email address to put on the evite list please do. You can send me an email at sehodzic@gmail.com

Here is the updated schedule with eating locations.
:D

9:30am - Meet for breakfast at Teaism on Connecticut Ave.
11:00am - Ansel Adams/Annie Liebowitz exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery of Art (see details below re: purchasing your ticket) Some shooting time here if you want - no flash photography and nothing in the special AA/AL exhibit, but there are some cool nooks there!
1:00pm - Lunch at Olle's Trolly
2:30pm - Shoot Around Town - bring your cameras! We'll be right downtown, so lots of opportunities to be tourists or just "shoot" each other!
4:30pm - Rock Climbing at Sport Rock in Alexandria VA - if people are interested we can get a group beginner class scheduled.
Followed by Dinner/Drinks if people are interested in hanging out more!

If you are interested in going to the Corcoran exhibits, the tickets are $14 each and can be purchased here. Select 11am entry time. There are plenty of tickets available as of now. I checked and they do not have a group discount, so the easiest seems for everyone to purchase their own tickets.

We are super excited!! Hope you are too! :D

PUG Holiday Party!

Ok so it's that holiday time of the year, and our PUG holiday party is next week people...bring your party hats! This won't be like all of our other meetings - we're throwing the agenda out the window and spreading some holiday cheer with great food and beverage compliments of our friends at Pictage. We're encouraging you to bring in another photographer friend in the spirit of growing the group. Celebrate a great year and meet some new photographers! Please RSVP so we can get an accurate count.

Monday, December 17, 2007
7:00pm
MBK & Associates
4710 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814

View Larger Map

Hope you can all make it.

Geoff Chesman

Mike Colon workshop in February

I know a couple of people have already emailed this out, but here it is for reference:

Master Your Craft Tour - Baltimore, Maryland

Sponsors: Apple, Epson, GraphiStudio, Calumet, WestCott, liveBooks Description: Join Mike Colón and Bob Davis in this intense one-day workshop covering everything including: camera settings, creative lighting techniques, efficient workflow for high volume shooters, high quality printing, marketing techniques, and detailed explanations of Mike and Bob's most successful images. You will leave this workshop with a new passion and a ton of new information that will change the way you run your business forever. Seating is limited and this tour WILL sell out! Fees: $199.00 Date: 02/08/08 Time: 9:00am-6:00pm Location: Marriott Baltimore/ Washington Intl: (800) 228-9290 1743 West Nursery Rd Baltimore, MD 21240 view map

Click here to go to the oficial site