See, I have a friend. Don’t laugh, we all need a friend. This one isn’t even imaginary. In fact, this friend is a leading artist, a painter, whose work has been picked up by major stores like Saks 5th Avenue, shown in New York at the famous Gift Show, and is well known among the […]
In this series, I’ve ranted on about building customer loyalty by treating clients like rock stars. First, become the expert — and indispensable. Second, identify situations when you can go so far beyond expectations the client is left mouth gaping. Third, weed out clients that aren’t a good fit — those who take up […]
I said in a blog post recently that I was fiercely brand loyal until I wasn’t, and I used the example of Starwood Hotels vs. Hilton to illustrate the point, as well as Outback Steakhouse vs. Saketumi, my local sushi joint. At least Starwood didn’t call me on the phone like Scottrade did after a […]
It was a bitter cold day in the no mans time between Christmas and New Year, and I did what all self-respecting, self employed people do — watch television. Lots of television. After catching up on all episodes of Banshee, re-watching The Borgias, and wondering where Homeland is going after this season’s killing (is he […]
I spend a lot of money on technology. At any given time, I carry two laptops. Five iPads. Three Internet hotspot cards (two Verizon and one Sprint). My iPhone. And then we get to all my camera equipment. You know you have a lot of gear when TSA looks at you and says, “Holy crap! […]
In the last few posts, I’ve given you my take on cameras, flashes, lenses, wireless transmitter — even a bracket I use to fire two flashes at once. All that’s left from my original list are the little things. One of those items is barely worth mentioning: power adapters. I use these in static photography […]
In the last post, I talked a lot about cameras, and why I use the Nikon D700 instead of some other (fancier) models. I think my reasoning makes sense. But the actual camera doesn’t really matter, does it? What’s important is you pick a camera that fits your needs — your workflow — your other […]
In the last blog post, I detailed the contents of my carry on luggage. That’s what it was, and, conveniently enough, I only had to open the bags propped under my feet at Chicago’s Midway Airport to record this list. On that list were two Nikon D700’s. “Well, Mr. Technology, who must have the best, […]
In the last blog post, I got a little off topic on the subjects of portraits, and my brain took a turn towards meet and greets. The reason, I suspect, is that’s the hardest environment to achieve “instant intimacy”, what I call the ability to connect spiritually with your subject quickly. In a studio — […]
Here in the last two blog posts, I looked at portraits, and what makes a great portrait. I suggested a great portrait doesn’t hide every, single flaw but connects the person viewing the image to the person in the image. A great portrait causes the viewer to stop and think: “I know that person. I […]