Hello to All,
I hope you have been having a wonderful holiday!
I wanted to let you know that myself and Jess are planning a
get together for this Saturday January 3rd.
The amazing Shawn Reeder will be in town visiting for the holidays
and we would love to show him a warm DC/NOVA/MD welcome.
Are plans so far include a possible trip to the Corcoran to see the
Richard Avedon exhibit.
We would also like to scout around the city for some shooting/play
time.
We welcome any ideas and of course would
love to see you, for all or just part of the day.
We will list a schedule here and on the Pictage forums when
we have a finalized the plans.
So please send me an email and let me know if you are interested in joining
us. sarah@blinkdc.com
Hope to see you all!
Sarah and Jess
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
November Meeting Recap - Weathering the Economic Downturn
We had a great meeting about the state of the event and portrait industry as we weather the economic downturn. I've always felt that professional photography for weddings, events, and portraiture has been a recession-proof industry. People are always getting married and celebrating life events, and new babies are born every day - creating a seeming limitless supply of clientele.
Our conversation centered on marketing and customer service and how the two combined can help your business stand-out amongst the competition all the time. These two become even more important when people are guarding their money more and doing much more due diligence before making their purchasing decisions.
We discussed ways of getting more return on the time and money we invest in marketing, obviously using Pictage helps us generate additional sales, but also helps to get our name and work in front of potential new clients from those events as well. Traditional vehicles like magazine advertising now take a backseat to search engine optimization and good old-fashioned networking with professional organizations. Amie Otto added some great tips on using social networking like Facebook to help get the word out as well.
Look out for info on our December meeting - our social committee is working on a fun get-together!
Best,
Geoff
Our conversation centered on marketing and customer service and how the two combined can help your business stand-out amongst the competition all the time. These two become even more important when people are guarding their money more and doing much more due diligence before making their purchasing decisions.
We discussed ways of getting more return on the time and money we invest in marketing, obviously using Pictage helps us generate additional sales, but also helps to get our name and work in front of potential new clients from those events as well. Traditional vehicles like magazine advertising now take a backseat to search engine optimization and good old-fashioned networking with professional organizations. Amie Otto added some great tips on using social networking like Facebook to help get the word out as well.
Look out for info on our December meeting - our social committee is working on a fun get-together!
Best,
Geoff
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Michael + Anna Costa
Big thanks to Michael and Anna Costa for visiting us yesterday on their multi-city PUG tour and to everyone from Baltimore and DC who showed up to hear about standing out in the photography industry. We had a great crowd who thoroughly enjoyed learning some of the strategies that have made this duo an almost overnight success. Stay tuned for info on October's meeting.
--Geoff
Monday, September 15, 2008
PUG Dinner before Michael and Anna Costa
As many of you already know, Michael + Anna Costa will be joining us for a combined DC/Baltimore PUG on a special night, Tuesday, September 16th. You will hear this dynamic duo discuss "Standing out in the Photography Industry."
I will be setting up a dinner at the Austin Grill before hand should anyone want to join me.
We will be meeting between 5:30-6pm.
Please send me an email at sarah@blinkdc.com if you would like to be added to the reservation list.
Emails must be received by 2pm tomorrow (9-16).
Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow, and hearing what I am sure will be a sweet presentation from Michael and Anna!
Sarah
I will be setting up a dinner at the Austin Grill before hand should anyone want to join me.
We will be meeting between 5:30-6pm.
Please send me an email at sarah@blinkdc.com if you would like to be added to the reservation list.
Emails must be received by 2pm tomorrow (9-16).
Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow, and hearing what I am sure will be a sweet presentation from Michael and Anna!
Sarah
Monday, August 18, 2008
Michael + Anna Costa for September 16th Meeting
Michael + Anna Costa will be joining us for a combined DC/Baltimore PUG on a special night, Tuesday, September 16th. You will hear this dynamic duo discuss "Standing out in the Photography Industry."
In the sea of wedding photographers how can one hope to stand out in the crowd? It seems a daunting task, yet Michael and Anna have managed to catapult their business into the high end in three short years and will be sharing their secrets of success in this information-packed presentation! Be ready to make small changes in your business that result in big rewards by learning how to:
• Get noticed through your amazing artwork
• Shoot BOTH digital and film/create an edge
• Hire associate photographers to increase revenue
• Create Branding that puts you at the top
• Outsource the things that are weighing you down
• Become a champion sales person
• Don't "Run" your business "Build" it!
This presentation is perfect for photographers wanting to get their business onto the fast track and achieve a new level of success!
Michael + Anna Costa
Michael and Anna Costa have been recognized by some of the most prestigious companies and publications in the photography industry and will be seen in the fall of 2008 on the We Network TV show "Platinum Weddings." Michael and Anna are honored to actively speak at international conventions - previously at Pictage Partner-Con 2006-7 in Chicago & Los Angeles, in 2008 as Platform presenters sponsored by Fujifilm for Wedding & Portrait Photographers International in Las Vegas and have been invited to be presenters in January of 2009 for Professional Photographers of America.
In the sea of wedding photographers how can one hope to stand out in the crowd? It seems a daunting task, yet Michael and Anna have managed to catapult their business into the high end in three short years and will be sharing their secrets of success in this information-packed presentation! Be ready to make small changes in your business that result in big rewards by learning how to:
• Get noticed through your amazing artwork
• Shoot BOTH digital and film/create an edge
• Hire associate photographers to increase revenue
• Create Branding that puts you at the top
• Outsource the things that are weighing you down
• Become a champion sales person
• Don't "Run" your business "Build" it!
This presentation is perfect for photographers wanting to get their business onto the fast track and achieve a new level of success!
Michael + Anna Costa
Michael and Anna Costa have been recognized by some of the most prestigious companies and publications in the photography industry and will be seen in the fall of 2008 on the We Network TV show "Platinum Weddings." Michael and Anna are honored to actively speak at international conventions - previously at Pictage Partner-Con 2006-7 in Chicago & Los Angeles, in 2008 as Platform presenters sponsored by Fujifilm for Wedding & Portrait Photographers International in Las Vegas and have been invited to be presenters in January of 2009 for Professional Photographers of America.
"Whats the Big Deal with Wedding Photography Anyway?"
Ok folks...Time for the teacher in me to come out. With the economy in the state that it is now, wedding clients are becoming more aware of what they are spending on that special day. While this is normal and I would be the same way if I where going through this process, some folks are questioning the value of the photography itself. So, after hearing this a few times recently, I have some thoughts that might help other photographers and brides.
When you think about the expense of a wedding, it can get rather overwhelming and you start to weigh out what is most important to you when you choose vendors. Here is something to think about; when your wedding is over and you have gotten back to your routine, what elements from your special day will remain with you for the rest of your life? The food and the beverage will be gone and forgotten, the flowers will be gone, the music won't be playing any more and your friends will have gotten back to their routines as well. The only elements that will remain is your wedding dress and the memories that your photographer had captured. Now I'm not saying that those other things aren't important. They help make your day fun and enjoyable! But they don't last any longer than a day. The memories from that day are the only thing that will last forever. Just some food for thought...
When you think about the expense of a wedding, it can get rather overwhelming and you start to weigh out what is most important to you when you choose vendors. Here is something to think about; when your wedding is over and you have gotten back to your routine, what elements from your special day will remain with you for the rest of your life? The food and the beverage will be gone and forgotten, the flowers will be gone, the music won't be playing any more and your friends will have gotten back to their routines as well. The only elements that will remain is your wedding dress and the memories that your photographer had captured. Now I'm not saying that those other things aren't important. They help make your day fun and enjoyable! But they don't last any longer than a day. The memories from that day are the only thing that will last forever. Just some food for thought...
Thursday, August 14, 2008
August Meeting Follow-up
Thanks to everyone who joined us for this month's meeting. We look forward to hearing more of your experiences with the new Canvas prints from Simply Canvas and Pictage. Stay tuned for more exciting developments.
Special thanks to Adam Levner of Critical Exposure who shared with us the great work that they are doing combining the power of documentary photography and youth voice to strengthen campaigns and organizations working to secure a quality education for all children.
Here's a link to the show we saw of students' photos, writing and statistics from the project in PA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcRWnQZDP8g
For more, here is Link to student-created video from a teen pregnancy prevention project in Alexandria, VA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc7GQqOi62Q
You can contact Adam directly at:
Adam Levner
Critical Exposure
1816 12th St. NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20009
202-745-3745 x19
www.criticalexposure.org
alevner@yahoo.com
Look for September meeting preview shortly.
Geoff
Special thanks to Adam Levner of Critical Exposure who shared with us the great work that they are doing combining the power of documentary photography and youth voice to strengthen campaigns and organizations working to secure a quality education for all children.
Here's a link to the show we saw of students' photos, writing and statistics from the project in PA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcRWnQZDP8g
For more, here is Link to student-created video from a teen pregnancy prevention project in Alexandria, VA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc7GQqOi62Q
You can contact Adam directly at:
Adam Levner
Critical Exposure
1816 12th St. NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20009
202-745-3745 x19
www.criticalexposure.org
alevner@yahoo.com
Look for September meeting preview shortly.
Geoff
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