| March 4, 2013
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Photography Education Guide (part 2)

Get Educated, Don’t Get Burned

Seminars, workshops, online schools, online courses, mentor groups, universities…….what’s it all about and where do you get the most for your money?

Missed part 1? Click here to read it first.

The most difficult part of getting the information and instruction you are looking for is wading through the myriad of options and presenters.  It’s very easy to spend a lot of money and walk away with nothing.  Some of that falls to the presenter but it can also fall to the student.  If you dismiss something you think won’t work for you, you will be proved right.  It won’t work for you.  It won’t work in your area if that’s what you believe.  And, very true, no will pay those prices if you don’t think they will.

Here are a few guidelines (some are opinions) that might help you:

1.  Decide exactly what you are looking for.  Do you want to learn shooting skills, marketing skills or business skills?  Three different areas, and probably three different ways of learning.  It’s important to think about what you really want to get from what you are about to sign-up for.  If you say “everything”, then think again.  You may need help with everything, but that won’t come from one program.  Too much across-the-board information, and not enough on any single area.  You could end up with a little knowledge in a lot of areas, but not the real knowledge you need to succeed.

You may need help with everything, but that won’t come from one program.

2.  New people are popping-up in the “education” business faster than a bag of Orville Redenbacher.  But new, or “gee, look at me, I’m so successful” teachers are not usually a good value.  Tried and true works best.  If someone can stay in photo education for years, you can bet they offer something people want.  Word of mouth promotion is important and there is nothing like years worth of very satisfied students to help with that.  Photography education is not about overnight success but about the giving you the tools you need to sustain success and build a career.  The “been there, done that” on an instructor’s part can be gold.  Problems: they have handled them.  Equipment breakdowns: they’ve been there.  Difficult situations/people: a good instructor has encountered every one of them.  Bad light: they know just what to do.  In some ways you really are paying for experience as well as expertise.

Photography education is not about overnight success but about the giving you the tools you need to sustain success and build a career.

3.  Learn before you leap.  Check out the instructor.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK.  This is your money were talking about here, and wasting it is not a good idea.  Google the name, look for reviews, ask fellow professionals, post a question on a forum, Facebook page or Twitter.  If your “friend” list is small, ask them to pass your question along to their friends.  A poor or so-so review, and maybe you should keep looking.  Too many sponsors and learning goes down, and commercials go up.

4.  Be wary of the sales pitch.  Many of these people have sponsors, including, on rare occassions, Finao.  Some offer help with needed information about a product or service that works well in their own business.  All good.  Most have take-home products for sale; again, no problem.  But what about the instructor that has everything you need and you can purchase it from him or her?  What about programs that lead in one direction: sign-up for more learning, or join my club?  Education first, please.

5.  Instructors own success.  You’ve heard the line, “Those who can, do; Those who can’t, teach“.  It’s certainly something that is true in most industries.  If an instructor calls him/herself a photographer than that person should actively practice the craft.  That means that most of their time and definitely most of their income should come from their photography businesses.  If someone is in the education, business development, or training business, then be up-front.  That person is not a photographer first;  he/she is a teacher first.  Many Photoshop instructors earn their entire livings teaching the use of this enormous tool.  In this case, the value of having an expert teacher will outweigh all else.  Jerry Ghionis calls himself a photo educator.  He has a great pedigree and he still photographs weddings, but he devotes most of his time to helping photographers become better shooters and better business people.  He’s a teacher.

6.  You get what you give.  Every opportunity requires action on your part.  No one will shovel it down your throat.  YOU need to do the learning.  YOU need to practice new shooting ideas.  YOU need to get your marketing materials together.  YOU need to make the changes in your business that will lead to your ultimate success.  There is no easy road, no magic answer, so be prepared to give more than you get.  It is, after all, YOUR business.

You get what you give.

Lastly, how about a little disclaimer. Finao can be a part of promoting, and even sponsoring, speakers and programs.  We rarely give direct support, but often have products the speaker can give out if it is a small group, or gift certificates for a few lucky people in larger groups. We will be “sponsoring” Mike Long at WPPI, have had a long standing relationship with Sandy Puc’, and work closely with Jerry Ghionis.  But that’s it.  The people I mention here have programs, workshops and groups that we think do a great job.  There are many others that we might not be as familiar with.  There are some I know of, but feel they do not meet the value portion of spending money on education.  Everyone who mentions Finao is a real product-user, and 95% of the time we don’t even know what’s being said.  We usually ask the presenter to simply say, “I use Finao as my album supplier.”  They can add what product they use, or use the product as part of a marketing or sales session.  That’s all.  I demand total honesty from anyone we sponsor.  If the products are an integral part of the business model, and the advice being given is taken from actual studio experience, I’m fine with it.  Doesn’t matter if it’s Finao or Cannon: real is real, and it can be a valuable part of a presentation.  Sponsorship, however, is commercial advertising.

Christine Perry-Burke

Christine Perry-Burke

Managing Partner and "queen" of Finao. I'm responsible for all the cool materials and products at Finao. A vegetarian and animal lover to my core, we run a dog friendly office. I believe Finao should be a good corporate citizen and tread lightly on our planet.

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Category: New Customer, Photography Talk, Sales & Marketing, Uncategorized, Webinar | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| February 27, 2013
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5 Key Ingredients to Charging What You’re Worth ( Courtesy of Sarah Petty and The Joy of Marketing Team )

 Verbeck Petty bw

You probably struggle with having a competitor that is willing to do what you do (or claim they do) for cheaper. But how do you make sure price isn’t a sticking point with your clients? It starts with having these five key ingredients right in your business and following a model we call the boutique business model. It’s a model that has built my photography business to one of the most profitable in the country after just 5 years in business.

Ingredient 1 – Brand

Most small businesses fall down here. They have something wrong with their brand that attracts price sensitive buyers from the start.

Your brand is more than a logo. It’s how your ideal client feels about you.

Other businesses might try to copy a lot of the things you sell. But they can’t copy you, your ideas, your passion, and your ability to serve the customer.

Ingredient 2 – Understanding your numbers



There are a lot of ways to price your photography, but most just don’t work if you want to charge what you’re worth. Copying your competitors or even a high performing business in another market isn’t the answer.

Ingredient 3 – Marketing



To charge what you’re worth you must have offerings that are not easy to imitate, like FINAO albums. Marketing starts with products and services that your customers can’t easily get elsewhere. Your clients should go gaga over you if you want them to pay more for you.

Ingredient 4 – Promotion 



Promotion is what you do to tell people about your offerings – and it goes beyond paid advertising. For the most part, boutique businesses should steer clear of traditional advertising and focus not on reaching the masses, but instead reaching the right people who may be drawn to what you do.

When you spend time on the wrong clients, they wear you down and make you lose your passion. And worse, you start making decisions on price and service based on the wrong buyer.

Ingredient 5 – Selling



Boutique selling isn’t about schmoozing, high pressure or manipulation so if that’s what you’re doing this may be where you’re going wrong. In boutique selling there is high engagement between you and your client. You need to build rapport, get to know your customer and spend time educating them.

To start charging what you’re worth and to learn more about these 5 key ingredients you can download a free chapter of Sarah Petty and Erin Verbeck’s New York Times best selling book, Worth Every Penny, at www.wortheverypennybook.com

WEP-NewYorkTimesBestSeller-WEPSidebar

Kristina Weeks

Kristina Weeks

Resident Customer Cupid , Marketing Assistant , and Minion to the Queen.

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| February 20, 2013
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Photography Education Guide

Get Educated, Don’t Get Burned

Seminars, workshops, online schools, online courses, mentor groups, universities…….what’s it all about and where do you get the most for your money?

It seems like there are almost as many people trying to tell others how to be a photographer as there are photographers that are doing well.  That means an overwhelming number of chances to dip into your wallet, but also many ways to spend more than you get in return.  Some say that if you learn one thing, the program was worth it.  I’d say that depends a lot on the quality of the “one thing” and the cost in both dollars and time.

Check out different formats before jumping.

1. WORKSHOPS: They are generally spread over 3-5 days and cost the most.  However, if you are looking for better shooting skills this is the format that will work best.  Look for hands-on shooting opportunities with models and daily critiques of what you are doing.  An ideal format would have a morning to cover a lesson and watch the instructor work with the model, an afternoon for you to try your hand at that day’s lesson, and evening to edit your work with a critique scheduled for first thing in the morning.  Then repeat but don’t rinse. I consider Cliff Mautner an excellent educator.  He and his soon to be wife Susan Stripling both do workshops and will give you great value for your dollar.  Jerry Ghionis (his workshops sell out fast) delivers a mind-blowing bang for your buck.  Boudoir workshops are popular, and I know there are many presenters out there and I don’t know most of them.  Critsy Rowe gets great reviews and has a book out.  I love the book because you could purchase it before the workshop and come prepared, or after and have it as a posing, lighting, and selling guide.  Chuck Arlünd does a great lighting workshop.  If you can get on one, Tamara Lackey, Lori Nordstrom, Khara Plicanic, and Laura Novak all occasionally offer workshops.  Keep your radar up to get in them.

2. SEMINARS: They are the most common and usually less expensive.  They can last anywhere from most of a day to just a few hours.  Here is an area where we get into motive.  Is the presenter there to truly educate, or is the main goal to teach a little and then sell you on the products and services he/she offers.  Most offer DVDs, some add in continuing educational and business growth programs, and some will sell you the kitchen sink if you get your credit card out.  I have no problem with product sales, in fact, I think they help to make the seminar a more complete experience.  It’s difficult for even the best note-taker to get it all down, and a DVD means you can take the lessons along for closer review and implementation.  Good one-day or one-evening seminars are not as popular as they were a few years ago, and I think there are good reasons for that.  Too much information in too little time.  It’s frosting without the cake.  The cost to the presenter is high, so you can expect a pretty heavy sales pitch.  Narrow topics can be covered in this format and are sometimes offered through your local guild; this can be an excellent value.

3. ONLINE LEARNING:  This is relativity new and seems to be pretty exciting.  creativeLIVE is a biggie and offers a great chance to try before you buy.  The workshops (yes they have full-on workshops that can last 5 days) are completely free.  Just tune-in and check it out.  If you like what you hear, the DVD is available at a very reasonable cost.  This is truly a try before you buy experience, which I love.  Sue Bryce has been their most popular presenter, and what she teaches really resonates with the audience.  Well worth checking out.  Sandy Puc’ has SPTV.  Again free.  Not only can you learn from Sandy, but she interviews and works with photographers throughout the industry.  Another great value to check out.

4. MENTORING:  This is developing an ongoing relationship with a photographer or business consultant.  It can last for a year or more, can provide great marketing materials, and gives assistance that is personally directed toward your business.  Many photographers who have signed up for mentoring programs feel they got a jump-start on a great business model, but others feel disappointed.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK before signing up.  Mentoring costs are high, so you have to be ready to ask the right questions, sold on the concepts, and positive you want to make the changes that might be recommended.

5. CONTINUING GROUPS:  I love these and think they are popular for a reason: new information every month.  Some are very marketing-based like Sarah Petty’s The Joy of Marketing.  SPU (Sandy Puc’ University) gives marketing materials for every month, and posing and lighting guides.  Jerry Ghionis’s ICE Society is wedding-based.  You get a new workshop every month with lots of help for improving your shooting and sales skills.  Most of these groups come complete with a forum to interact with your fellow professionals.  You can ask the mentor and also get feedback.  Conversations start, things get talked through, even friendships are made.  These groups offer a smaller, more intimate experience than general forums which are often very broad-based and members offer opinions when they are not necessarily qualified.

6. CONVENTIONS:  Small like Mystic, or large like WPPI, conventions offer the opportunity to hear a number of speakers on a variety of topics.  Don’t expect in-depth classes.  These are usually short and scratch the surface.  However, they provide a chance to “try out” many different presenters and glean those aha moments that just might excite you to make a change in your business.  They come complete with a trade show and many people tell me they learn as much from the vendors as the programs (we try).  Conventions provide opportunities for meeting many more people, to do more networking, and to look at tons of images and get inspired.  I think the bang for the buck is usually there.  One caveat, every speaker at WPPI is sponsored by someone so be prepared for some pimp time.

In the next segment, we will look at how to make a decision on where to spend your money and making sure you find what’s right for you.

Christine Perry-Burke

Christine Perry-Burke

Managing Partner and "queen" of Finao. I'm responsible for all the cool materials and products at Finao. A vegetarian and animal lover to my core, we run a dog friendly office. I believe Finao should be a good corporate citizen and tread lightly on our planet.

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Category: Events, How-to, Photography Talk, Sales & Marketing, Uncategorized, Webinar | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| February 15, 2013
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How to Sell Portrait Albums

Albums and portraits are a perfect match in this digital world.  Far more images, and good images, are created in an average session than ever before.  That means more images your client wants.  And often that “want” turns into, “I want the digital negatives.”

Include this with a session and kiss your money goodbye.  It’s that simple.  You might want to sell them for a high dollar and offer a “discount” with a certain size purchase.  Perhaps you want to sell only a few select files from a session, again, after the client’s order has been taken.  But, listen carefully:

You will not make a living or build a sustainable business if your end product is files.

Files on a disc don’t speak to the quality of what you can do.  And they don’t leave your clients feeling that they got something for the money they spent.  Imagine how you would feel if your favorite outfit was only in a picture and not in your closet.  What if you came home from shopping and looked at your purchases on a computer screen instead of decorating your home with them, or your child’s images were lost to a hard drive crash?

We think albums are a great way to see that your clients get the images that are most important to them while making sure your sale (i.e. profit) stays at a comfortable level.  Children, families, and pets are all sessions where your goal is to sell a wall image or grouping.  I’m making an assumption here that you will be projecting the images as part of the sales process.  This is imperative, ‘nough said. The album is an add-on sale that adds extra profits on images that have already been taken.

Let’s start our client conversation:

“Before we begin looking at your images, and I’m so excited to show them to you, I want to warn you that we have a lot, I mean a lot, of great poses and expressions.  We have to try to find the ones you like the very best that will hang in your home.  So I know that means we might be “giving up” some pretty great ones along the way.  But don’t worry; you’re really not giving up anything.  I have a great, inexpensive idea that will help you have exactly what you want even when everything won’t fit on the wall.  Ok, let’s get started…..”

As you begin projecting the images, you will need to guide your client.  You know which images will be great options for wall portraits or groupings.  You also know there will may other beloved images.  The client will move forward with a decision when she doesn’t feel that an image will be “lost” to her.  You can quell that fear by saying:  “Ok, let’s compare.  The one on the right has some great expressions but the one on the left combines the expressions with a more striking composition.  Let’s put the right one in the album folder.”

Your client is now moving along, making decisions and the album folder is starting to grow.  You are continuing on your goal of thinking walls; canvases, framed portraits, and great groupings.  When all the images have been viewed, there will probably be a need for some additional editing.  Remember, she’s not giving up anything just by moving an image to a different category.  Your goal is to focus on your primary sale.  Nothing happens with the album folder until the primary goal has been met.

When everything is done and the main order is set in stone, return to the album folder, “I see we have xx images here, just the right amount to make a great little album, like this” (show playBOOK sample).

Finao playBOOK: Cover image by Jason Groupp.

Finao playBOOK in “Crave”. Cover image by Jason Groupp.

Time-out for some background info.

Yes, some people might be able to sell a flush mount ONE album, but I would much rather you sold something and made a nice profit than sell nothing and make nothing.  The playBOOK is very inexpensive; a 20 side 8×8 is $75.00.  If your client has anywhere from 15 to 40 images, 20 sides will do.  This means you can fix your cost at $75.00.   To price, consider how much you charge for an 8×8 print and multiply that by 20, then add $200.00 for the album.  This is your regular retail price.  Now decide what you can sell the book for.  I suggest the size of the discount should be related to the amount of the portrait sale.  The more your client has spent, the greater the discount.  Bear in mind, wall portraits don’t travel well and cell phones/iPads/Facebook are not going to show the quality of your work.  Small albums travel very well and act as little billboards wherever they go. (Don’t forget to include your studio logo inside the cover)

Now back to our conversation,

“….the regular price of this book would be $XXX, but I know you have pretty well taxed your budget and I love the images you have selected for your home.  I’ll tell you what, I really want you to have these images as I know you will have so much fun showing off your beautiful family, (kid, dog).  How about if we make the book half price?  It’s just my way of thanking you for being our client.  I loved working with you and I know how much enjoyment you will be getting from both your home décor images and your show-off book filled with the extra memories you loved.”

Cha-ching!

Another way to have this conversation is to start with the price of the album: “There are so many great images here that I know you’re going to want, so let me just tell you what we can do.  These beautiful albums (present sample playBOOK) are regularly priced at $XXX, but with the purchase of a 20×24 we offer them at $XXX AND, if you decide on a 24×30 the price drops even further to $XXX.  Ok, let’s not worry about that now, let’s get started.  I can’t wait for you to see these ‘cuz I know you’re gonna luv ‘em.”

Moving along, you show and select exactly as in the first example with the client putting loved, but not right for the wall, images in the album folder.  Don’t worry, every time she adds an image to that album folder she will be thinking “wall portrait” so she can get the discount.

I hope these suggestions help.  The real key to the success of adding albums to your sale is planning ahead and making sure the album presentation becomes a part of your thinking and your process.  Buyers don’t add what they don’t think is expected, or is something that others don’t do.  Remind your client that everyone loves their albums.  Treat this add-on sale as an expectation, an “I want you to have this because it’s way cool and you’re going to love it“ feature. AND, think profits. A $300 album sale with a very simple layout is $225 profit that you would not have gotten otherwise.  It might not be you’re biggest sale, but wealth comes a little at a time.

Something added to every client’s order adds-up to increase your bottom line.

Peace out,
Christine

Christine Perry-Burke

Christine Perry-Burke

Managing Partner and "queen" of Finao. I'm responsible for all the cool materials and products at Finao. A vegetarian and animal lover to my core, we run a dog friendly office. I believe Finao should be a good corporate citizen and tread lightly on our planet.

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Category: How-to, New Customer, Photography Talk, Portrait, Sales & Marketing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| February 14, 2013
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Flash Us! A Moment To Expose Yourself!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Finao has come to the conclusion that we just don’t know enough about you awesome people. Most importantly we really want you to know each other! Being the holiday of love and all, let us start with the happiest couple I know! Get ready to meet the flesh behind the flash!

Currently Flaunting :

Adam & Heather Czap

AdamHeatherImage1

Company:

Czap Studios

Photography Genre:

Wedding & Portrait

Your Career / Work Experience before Photography:

Before starting our photography business, I was a high school English teacher and Heather worked in a salon as a stylist. Neither of us had any photography experience, although Heather does possess a degree from Michigan State University in art history and art education. I, however, had decided that teaching was not the life for me. So instead of pursuing that, I decided to become a DENTIST!! Yuck. I went back to school to take the required pre-admission classes for dental school, and while doing so started doing photography with the hope of just becoming good enough so that I could earn the money I needed to pay for the classes I was taking. Then it got pretty serious (imagine me saying that in a Kip’s voice from Napoleon Dynamite). I was hooked and eventually dropped my plans for dentistry altogether. 2 years later, Heather quit her job and joined me in the business full time.

Fork in the road that lead you to Photographyland:

The fork in the road for us was the point at which I finished taking all the required coursework and was ready to actually apply to dental school. My grades were good enough, and I had a good chance of getting accepted to a school somewhere. On one side of my desk sat the practice admission test and application for dental school, and on the other side of the desk I had accumulated about 20 wedding contracts for the following year. At that point, I was a part-timer and knew nothing really about what it would take to support myself doing full-time photography, but I did the math and discovered that if I became good enough, it could potentially be a great job.

Your biggest WTF moment related to the photography industry:

Our biggest WTF moment in business came the first time we did a really big job together. The wedding was crazy and we got paid a LOT of money to cover the event. At the end of the day, we were both exhausted but realized that we just spent the entire day with a bunch of people we didn’t know, and it was a LOT of fun! We got some great images and the clients were very happy.

Your would-die-without-it Finao leather/cover design :

We’re a big fan of the Biker Chic leather (dark brown color) and the Ice acrylic covers. But there are so many, that it kinda depends on the clients and what sort of stuff they are into! We love them all, honestly!

Are there any personal projects you are currently diving into?

Heather is a Pinterest nerd, so there are constantly new house projects she is working on. Both of us are huge DIY people. I am currently in the process of expanding on beer-making abilities. In our studio, we feature one of my home-brewed beers on draft in a wet bar! Upstairs in my garage, I also have a 5′ wide chest freezer that’s been converted into a giant kegerator. That has 4 other beers on tap. So, currently, we have over 20 gallons of home-brewed beer ON TAP at our house. So yes, the party is indeed at our house tonight.. !!

The big question : Ice cream or Cake?!

Cake WITH ice cream… duh!

What would you name the autobiography of your life?

Adam: Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting; Heather: Calm and Crafty

Getting Intimate : 5 Things Few People Know!

Adam :

  1. I fantasize about starting a microbrewery some day.
  2. Every night before bed I use my rumble roller. Google it.
  3. I am addicted to the Battlefield 3 PC game.
  4. I am also addicted to Crossfit.
  5. I am really into home security. We have an alarm system, a dog, multiple locks, multiple guns, and I am soon adding a video surveillance system. I am not a doomsday prepper though lol

Heather:

  1. I made the dress I am wearing today. I like sewing :)
  2. My husband says I dominate in the kitchen.
  3. I have run 2 marathons and plan on doing more in the future!
  4. Although I do all of our post production and album design, I consider myself very computer illiterate!
  5. I’m a very gentle person unless I run into a bug in my house. Then I turn into an enormous green rage monster.

 

A Taste:

  Liz and Jaime's Engagement 37-web

IMG_0690

If you want to pursue a relationship, here is their contact information :)

AdamHeatherLOGO

 

Kristina Weeks

Kristina Weeks

Resident Customer Cupid , Marketing Assistant , and Minion to the Queen.

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Category: Guest Blogger, Photography Talk | Tags: , , , , , ,
| February 7, 2013
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Capturing Love

Capturing Love

The Art of Lesbian & Gay Wedding Photography

 

Introduction by Christine Perry-burke of Finao:

Thea Dodds submitted an album to us and I loved it.  I asked if we could make a sample for our convention booth.  She graciously said yes.  It is a beautiful lesbian couple, both in wedding dresses.  At Imaging USA she spoke with me about her book project.  As I looked through Capturing Love, admiring the images and loving the chapter titles, I was blown away.  I can’t say enough about how well the subject of gay and lesbian weddings is covered.  It’s just an excellent exploration of a timely and sometimes confusing topic.  Wherever you live, this is a must read.  Below is the article that ran in the Huffington Post.  Enjoy!

 

Capturing Love

It’s not rocket science, but there is an art to it

 

By Thea Dodds, co-author of Capturing Love: The Art of Lesbian & Gay Wedding Photography

In my past fifteen years as a professional photographer, I’ve photographed more than two hundred weddings. So, you could say that I’ve gotten pretty comfortable working as a wedding photographer. I’ve got an established routine to meet and exceed my clients expectations, and I’m able to offer guidance, based on my extensive experience, to better create beautiful and lasting wedding photographs for them.

But, in 2005, I photographed my first same-sex couple’s wedding and realized that, while I had plenty of professional experience to lean on, I felt, in many respects, like a beginner.

That first gay wedding represented many firsts for me. It was, in fact, the first same-sex wedding I’d ever attended. It was the first wedding I’d ever photographed where neither member of the couple was wearing a wedding gown. And it was the first wedding where the ceremony kiss turned out to be the first time this couple had ever kissed in front of their families.

This couple was fantastic, two beautiful people who truly and deeply loved one another. But capturing their love in camera was challenging. My “regular bag of tricks” was no help when I tried to convey the level of intimacy I usually capture at a wedding. Even simply posing this couple, because they were similar heights and weights, made the “standard” images difficult, since they couldn’t physically dip or lift each other.

Flash forward to today and I’ve learned a lot. Namely, that love is love and gay and lesbian weddings have a lot in common with heterosexual weddings. There are, however, some key differences that a photographer must understand and I wanted to do something more to share my experience with other photographers.

That’s why I called Kathryn Hamm, president of GayWeddings.com, a the first online resource specializing in support and information for same-sex couples, their families, and the wedding pros who wish to work with them.

The end result of that fateful call? Together, we designed a groundbreaking guide–Capturing Love: The Art of Lesbian & Gay Photography–designed to help photographers and engaged couples understand the art and mechanics of photographing lesbian and gay weddings and engagements.

To understand in depth what we’ve discovered and the tips and information gleaned from so many talented photographers and beautiful couples, seeing a copy of Capturing Love is well worth the time and effort. We scoured through thousands of photographs to select 65 outstanding examples of same-sex engagement and wedding photography, which represent the work of 38 photographers and 46 couples from 19 states, Canada, the U.K. and Italy.

Just a few examples of what we reveal in the book:

Seasoned photographers will recognize this pose from the traditional wedding playbook for grooms and their best men. This casual, yet connected pose generally conveys a connection of friendship and support. In this image, however, the direct and meaningful gaze shared by the two men indicates a much closer, more intimate relationship.

Meredith Hanafi Photography

Meredith Hanafi Photography

 

Nothing says love like a nuzzle. The challenge with a couple of the same height (often occurring for same-sex couples) is getting the couple close without covering up too much of their faces. Layering their bodies is key to solving this challenge. Guidance with phrases like, “put your shoulder into your partner’s armpit,” can reduce confusion so the couple can stay in the moment and focus on their nuzzling.

CHARD photographer

CHARD photographer

 

It can be challenging to create contrast and visual appeal when photographing two grooms in matching tuxedos or dark suits. Here, the simple request to have one groom hold his jacket over his shoulder creates a nice contrast between the men, and it allows plenty of room to play up the traditional wedding colors: black and white. At the same time, the slight difference in height is played to perfection with a thoughtfully posed embrace and gentle kiss to the forehead to finish this tender moment.

Jen Lynne Photography

Jen Lynne Photography

 

Wedding couples are often photographed kissing in public. Even those couples normally averse to public displays of affection may be game for this pose on their wedding days. Even so, this pose doesn’t always convey the love and connection it intends to symbolize. Enter two grooms—or two brides for that matter—and this pose takes on a whole new dimension. A same-sex kiss shared in a public space remains inherently powerful and meaningful, both as a symbol and reality.

Leslie Barbaro Photography

Leslie Barbaro Photography

 

With two brides, you might have two bouquets for one couple, and large bouquets can be an obstacle when creating physical closeness in an image. Photographer Kat Forder had her brides lay their flowers aside so they could get close. The result? A classic wedding pose with a playful, color-infused twist.

Kat Forder Photography

Kat Forder Photography

 

The Old Standard dictates that the man should stand behind the woman when posing in a layered way. Head’s up! Just because one bride wears pants and the other wears a dress doesn’t mean that the bride in pants should be posed as a heterosexual man would. Consider thoughtfully the couple in front of you—their physical expressions and traits—and then apply them to a pose suited for them, not someone else.

Maggie Rife Photography

Maggie Rife Photography

 

We are standing at the edge of a new frontier of weddings; one inclusive of all couples of all shapes, sizes, ages, ethnicities, religions and orientations. These are exciting times indeed and Kathryn and I look forward to the exciting developments to come for same-sex couples and their inspirational weddings.

—
Thea Dodds is the owner/photographer of Authentic Eye Photography a boutique wedding and portrait studio based in New Hampshire.

Visit www.capturingloveguide.com to order the book and find a list of our scheduled appearances.

Also “like” us on Facebook (facebook.com/capturinglove) for the most up to date information on our book release and appearance schedule.

Update 2/13/2013: This topic has also been picked up by ABC News, read more about it at their site http://abcnews.go.com/Health/capturing-love-photographers-strive-sex-weddings/story?id=18479462

Christine Perry-Burke

Christine Perry-Burke

Managing Partner and "queen" of Finao. I'm responsible for all the cool materials and products at Finao. A vegetarian and animal lover to my core, we run a dog friendly office. I believe Finao should be a good corporate citizen and tread lightly on our planet.

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Category: Guest Blogger, How-to, Photography Talk, Sales & Marketing, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| January 30, 2013
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Swatch Kit Updates

Are your Finao swatches up-to-date?

Finao leather tin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s what you can do:

1. Check out this detailed blog post and compare it with what you’ve got.

2. If you have a leather kit, make sure that you have the version of the Fragments card that has the red leather “Love Junky” on it.  Also make sure you have the “Urban Legends” suedes and “Mixed Bag” card in your leather kit.

If you do not have one/any of these, leave a note at the end of your checkout when you’re ordering your update kits and say you need the whole card of (Fragments/Urban Legends/Mixed Bag) with your update.

3. If your swatches are totally old-school, the leathers may be glued down instead of removable as they are now.  If this is the case, contact us and we’ll help you get it all worked out.

(NOTE: the Non-Leather swatches are supposed to be permanently affixed to the card, it’s just the leathers that are supposed to be removable.)

4. ORDER YOUR SWATCH UPDATE KITS:

(TIP: Scroll down below the photo and whole swatch kit order link to the darkened box with the red border for each update kit)

Finao Leather Update Kit

Finao NON-Leather Update Kit

(NOTE: You’ll save $5 in the cart when you order both update kits together)

5. If you’ve NEVER ordered Finao swatches before and you’re wondering why you just read this whole thing, no worries!  We can help you find out what swatch kits you’ll want based on the products you want to sell in your studio.  Just check out the SWATCH KITS section on the website or shoot an email to info@finao.com

Jamie Westman

Jamie Westman

Jamie is Finao's resident Guidance Guru and Marketing Assistant to the Queen of All Things Finabulous, Christine Perry-burke.

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Category: Design, New Products, Uncategorized, Updates | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| January 29, 2013
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WANTED: Professional Album Company

Finding_A_New_Album_Company

We found a WHOLE LOT of people looking for a NEW ALBUM COMPANY at the recent Imaging USA Expo.  If you’re not already a Finaon, you may be one of them.  Or, perhaps you have a friend in need of a change.  Well, send them our way because Finao has it all!  A new year and new plans for a successful 2013!

The photographers we met wanted MORE OPTIONS.  Finao offers options, lots and lots of options.  This is a good thing because we live in a society fraught with options.  People are not confused by them.  In fact, they deal with them every day from the moment we wake and start to decide what to wear and what we could have for breakfast.  Brides deal with even more options than most and seem to be eating them up!  Have you ever been on Pinterest?  Not so long ago wedding cakes were white, round, tiered and had frosting flowers on them.  Not anymore.  Invitations came from the big Stylart book, not anymore.  Getting the picture?  The wedding business thrives because of options and those who offer the most options get the most business.  Come on, don’t be afraid, you know you need this to be competitive!  Finao will also help you select super great samples.  We can help with material choices, size considerations, even image choices.  So send them our way, we’re here to help!

CONSOLIDATION was also mentioned often.  Over a few years time many photographers found themselves with too many album companies.  One company never had everything they needed and along came vendor overload.  Finao offers everything:  fabulous playBOOKs, the famous ONE, luxury printing on the artONE (a Jerry Ghionis favorite), portfolio boxes (like Sue Bryce uses), guestbooks, folios, sophisticated matted albums, CD/DVD cases and the list goes on.  You do not need to deal with a multitude of vendors when you can have one that fits all of your needs completely.  Establishing a solid relationship with a vendor makes doing business easier; You have a contact you know, questions get answered, and help is always there.

Photographers praised our CUSTOMER SERVICE and DELIVERY TIMES.  We know that both are very important to many photographers and factor-in highly when selecting a vendor partner.  Our Customer Care people are the best (I really mean that) and are always available to take as much time as you need to feel comfortable about our products.  It’s just a part of who we are.

PRICE.  Some photographers were price conscious.  Many more were looking for better quality.  Finao offers both – very competitive prices and unbeatable quality.  We hear it all the time when a photographer looks up and says, “Does that price actually include the prints?”  YES.  When you read the fine print, WE ACTUALLY COST LESS than many well known companies.  Some charge extra for coating and texturing – it’s included at Finao.  Some charge outrageous prices for real leather – Finao offers so many amazing, real, high-quality leathers AND they are included in the price.  A 12×12 flush mount album could easily cost an extra $100+ dollars from many companies and rarely cost even $20.00 less from only a few companies, who again, have very limited options and usually lower quality.  Some photo books were inferior quality and actually cost more elsewhere.  Even press books from most other vendors cost more than our playBOOK which features true photographic printing, seamless binding, custom covers and 100 material options – all for one price!  Isn’t it nice when you can actually offer your clients the best with out costing yourself more?

UPGRADING IMAGE and BRAND VALUE was important to many.  You bet it is.  It’s a competitive world out their and you won’t reach the best clients with second rate products.  We heard a lot of that.  “I’ve always wanted to use Finao and now I’m ready.  My work deserves it and I’m charging more.  It’s time for Finao.”  We love to hear that.  Your work and your business do deserve the best.  And your clients deserve products that are built like they are the family heirloom they will become.

We heard some say they were not happy with the PRINTING at their album company/lab.  Too bad, because Finao clients RAVE about the printing!  Even some very discriminating photographers like Nick Ghionis (yes, it’s Jerry’s brother) in AU said he loved his test prints and placed an immediate client order. 

Some people were ready, not just to upgrade their image, but wanted to jump to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL.  The artONE got a lot of attention, and not just because it’s the album of choice for Jerry Ghionis, but photographers went crazy for the look and feel of the Hahnemühle paper and giclée printing.  They loved our proprietary surface protection – still looks and feels like the amazing paper it is printed on, but becomes one of the most durable print surfaces we offer.

For three days our booth was filled to capacity with PHOTOGRAPHERS ON A MISSION.  They sought out Finao.  They brought their friends and said “you need to use these people”.  Over and over we heard, “this is exactly what I’ve been looking for.”  So if you’re looking, we bet we have exactly what you’re looking for.  Give us a call at 1-888-346-2687 (1-888-FINAO-US) or send an email to info@finao.com.  We’re looking for long term relationships, so let’s get together.

 

Christine Perry-Burke

Christine Perry-Burke

Managing Partner and "queen" of Finao. I'm responsible for all the cool materials and products at Finao. A vegetarian and animal lover to my core, we run a dog friendly office. I believe Finao should be a good corporate citizen and tread lightly on our planet.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

Category: Events, New Customer, Photography Talk, Product Comparison, Product Recommendations, Reviews, Sales & Marketing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| January 15, 2013
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Valentease ‘em

love-junky

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so get in the mood with Finao’s ultra sexy leathers, linens and silks and get under our covers!

Love Junky from Finao’s “Fragments” collection of leathers is anything but boring.  From it’s seductive suede finish to the tantalizing texture and tooling, this luscious leather will have you, and especially your clients, completely addicted!

Love Junky is a heavily patterned leather so it works great on it’s own, or paired with a plain material or one in a similar hue, or create a bold streak of contrast with a shiny patent leather like Red Light District, Sunday Shoes or Something Wicked.  Perfect for a steamy boudoir session, classy winter wedding, and still playful enough to add some fun and whimsey to a kid’s photo album for a child & family portrait session!  Love Junky will have you head over heels!

Available on Finao ONE & artONE flush mount albums as well as Finao Elements self mount albums.

Love Junky - MainPaired with (Left to Right, then up) Passion, Red Light District, Something Wicked, Miami Ink, Suspicion, Optimism, Harlow

Love Junky – Main
Paired with (Left to Right, then up) Passion, Red Light District, Something Wicked, Miami Ink, Suspicion, Optimism, Harlow

 

Lip Lock, a lascivious silk from Finao’s Midtown collection, will leave you breathless so make sure to come up for air.  Lip Lock and all of the Finao non-leathers are available on Finao ONE flush mount albums, Finao playBOOK photo books and Finao Elements self mount albums as well as Xcetra Folios.

Main - Lip Lockbottom left - Gothika, bottom right - Whiteout

Main – Lip Lock
bottom left – Gothika, bottom right – Whiteout

 

Strut your stuff in the Red Light District. Get a shine for real patent finished leather (no vinyl here) and check out Something Wicked and Sunday Shoes too!

Red Light District, Sunday Shoes, Something Wicked.Genuine patent leathers from Finao.

Red Light District, Sunday Shoes, Something Wicked.
Genuine patent leathers from Finao.

 

Let your Passion run wild and mingle this luxurious hand-finished leather with something on the wild side…

Left-PassionTop-Kitty Kitty, Middle-Patina, Bottom-Racing Stripes

Left-Passion
Top-Kitty Kitty, Middle-Patina, Bottom-Racing Stripes

 

 

Jamie Westman

Jamie Westman

Jamie is Finao's resident Guidance Guru and Marketing Assistant to the Queen of All Things Finabulous, Christine Perry-burke.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

Category: Boudoir, Design, Fashion, Product Recommendations | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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