Color Inc Talent Team

Repurpose - Ben Harrison

re·pur·pose (rē-pûr'pəs) - To use or convert for use in another format or product. I am a firm believer that no matter what your abilities or talents, you can re-purpose them for good. No matter how big or how seemingly insignificant, any and every talent can be re-purposed for good.

Take the example of Blake Mycoskie, creator of Toms Shoes, who decided to create a new kind of shoe ... but didn't stop where most shoe companies do ... he not only designed a very popular shoe, he also started one of the most significant philanthropic movements in the past 5 years. The movement is coined "One for One," and it is based around the business model that for every pair of shoes that is purchased, Toms will donate a pair of shoes to a child in need. To date, Toms has given over 400,000 shoes to children in need ... helping to improve the quality of life while at the same time helping to prevent one of the leading causes of disease in developing countries: soil-transmitted diseases such as helminths (or intestinal worms), elephantiasis, Trichuriasis, etc. So what did Blake do? He re-purposed the seemingly insignificant job of designing and selling shoes (sorry to any shoe designers reading this), and used it to literally save lives. You can read more about the Toms Shoes movement here : http://www.toms.com/movement-one-for-one and help to raise awareness by taking part in One Day Without Shoes on April 8th : http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/ ...

In July I had the amazing opportunity to re-purpose our job of wedding photography (as the owner of HARRISON STUDIO) and use it raise support and awareness for an organization that saves lives. I traveled with Mike Colon, Jim Davis, and 12 other amazing photographers to Tanzania, Africa to participate in a benefit shoot for Thirst Relief International sponsored by Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine. The concept was simple: to raise support and awareness for Thirst Relief International among wedding professionals and the public at large. We partnered with 5 elite wedding dress designers : Ines Di Santo, Amy Michelson, Adele Wechsler, and Angel Sanchez ... who all designed a dress specifically for our benefit shoot, and have generously decided to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each dress to Thirst Relief International. Along with each designers generosity, Grace Ormonde of Wedding Style Magazine also guaranteed a feature of the benefit shoot in her amazing magazine to help spread awareness. You can see details and images of the spreads by heading over to our blog: HARRISON STUDIO BLOG Along with photographing the gorgeous gowns designed to bring support to Thirst Relief, we were also able to do service projects in which we helped to build the life-saving bio-sand filters (pictured below) as well as install these filters in communities and orphanages with little to no access to clean drinking water. I can't even describe the impact the Tanzanian people had on me ... but I can tell you that I am a FIRM believer that it is FAR GREATER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE. I would urge anyone reading this to consider re-purposing your job and abilities to impact others. You will be blown away by the joy you will feel knowing that you can make a difference in people's lives. Whether you are a wedding photographer, portrait photographer, or any other event professional ... you can utilize your talent to impact others. You may not be "saving lives" with your profession, but I can guarantee you that you can re-purpose your profession in a way that impacts others. Below are some great resources for ways that photographers can use their skill to help others ... or just check around locally with non-profits and churches, as there is always a need for photography and event related volunteers! Thirst Relief International Help Portrait Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Photo Philanthropy ....

Here are some images from our time in Tanzania:

{Walk the Shot} Workshop with Dawn McCarthy

Who is a candidate for the {Walk The Shot} workshop?

• Are you just starting out and wanting to learn the behind the scenes in shooting, business and client interaction?
• Are you a seasoned hobbyist wanting to take that next step of turning your passion into your business?
• Do you just simply like Dawns work and want to pick her brain on all things photography related?

If you answered yes to any of these questions ... {Walk The Shot} with Dawn might possibly be the workshop for you.

 

Our itinerary for the day...

•  Initial meet and greet at Panera.

•  Dive into our workbook.

•  Brunch and for you traveling folks...some sweet tea!

•  Q&A session for you to pick my brain about whatever it is that you would like to know about my style, workflow, business strategy, clients expectations and relations, experiences, weddings, blogging, shooting preferences...whatever you want to ask...my undivided attention is 100% yours for the entire day!

•  Shooting a complete session...either one of yourself or a stand in model...your choice.

• The why's, how's and strategy behind the process of the session start to finish including exposure, aperture, posing, background layering, composition, natural lighting and shooting RAW.

•  Dinner and follow up discussion about our day. Any additional Q&A's.

•  Edit your session, step by step, right alongside me...from SOOC to print ready images.

•  Take 10 fully edited favorites home on disk with you for your website, Blog, Facebook, etc.

•  Last but not least, take home a super cool swag bag from the most awesome Sponsors!

Importance of Continuing Education in Photography

- By Kenny Kim

I am not sure if everyone knows this or not but I have an older sister whom I dearly love & respect. She has always been the “academically smart” one in the family. She always came home with awards and scholarships while I ran around trying to find inspiration in life. As much as I tried, the only award I got earlier in life was a pat on the back saying “nice try.” Sad, I know. Any ways, my sister is now the Director of Surgical Services (they say it’s one of the top positions) at a major hospital in Chicago and is respected by many of her peers. She often travels to speak at major conferences and gives seminars in her topic of expertise (which to this date I do not exactly know). To my eyes, I think she has reached the pinnacle of her career and is doing really well. Yet there is something about her I still do not get. She is still taking classes and continuing to educate herself. I asked her one day why she is still taking classes when she could be just cruise controlling on her success for rest of her career? Her reply was simple: she needs to continue to educate herself to keep up with what is going on in her industry.

I think this is very true for all types of industry – including the one that I stumbled upon in photography. In 2007, my first official year as a full-time photographer, I realized that I needed to educate myself if I was going to survive in this industry. As much as I hate classes (I vowed never to take any more after I graduated from college) I invested $$$$ on educating myself by attending numerous workshops, seminars and conferences. You name it, I probably went to it. The things I learned from there were valuable, practical and inspirational, depending on the ones I attended. All in all they were the directions that I need to get myself in the right direction.

Fast forward to today – it is end of March of 2010 and this is my fourth year in my business now. I am doing relatively okay in my business and my schedule is pretty busy for the rest of this year. I have conducted some workshops & photo trips and have even been asked to speak at some of classes at conventions. I humbly take on these tasks and consider it a privilege to do such things. But the hunger to grow and learn more as a photographer in me has not yet subsided. As much progress as I have made in my journey as a photographer, I look ahead and know that I have way more to go. There are so many forefathers and veterans in this industry that went before me and have paved the way to be where I am today and I need to keep learning and improving my craft. So in this perspective, I understand my sister and realize that I too need to keep improving myself through education.

- Kenny Kim is a lifestyle and wedding photographer covering Chicagoland, Midwest, National & Destination Events

                                                                                                                                                          

Feeling Inspired by Kenny's great post? There is still availability in our upcoming School of Photography class on May 25 in downtown Grand Rapids.

Check it out here. 

Facebook Essentials by Robyn Martin

A few weeks ago, we had the privilege of sponsoring Robyn Martin's presentation with the Wedding and Portrait Photographers of Chicago (WPPC).

She made several very noteworthy points during the course of her fantastic presentation. One of these points was to remember that when it comes to interacting with clients it is the personal touches like hand written thank you notes, anniversary and birthday cards that can set you apart from the rest.  We will explore a few other tips that Robin pointed out about Facebook in general; to get full details of her upcoming appearances, be sure to check out Robyn's site at FacebookEssentials.com

Key Elements of Facebook

So as many of you already know, social media is the ever growing wave of the future. Facebook is the giant in the land of social media, and continues to be one of the most popular tools for businesses of all sizes to connect with their customers. You can quickly and easily connect with your clients (or potential clients) and work on building customer relationships. 

Benefits to your Business:

Facebook can be a great resource to:

- Generate brand awareness

- Expand Customer communication and engagement

- Promote events contests and giveaways

- Develop strong client relationships

- Maintain reputation management

- Unlimited new customer potential

- Provides extra advertising opportunities

- Respond to feedback on client trends and behavior

Benefits of Building Relationships:

- Clients respect you and your work

- Facebook makes you more human and easier to relate to before, during, after, and beyond the initial service

- Client will use word of mouth to promote you and your products

- Clients are influenced by those they trust

- Facebook allows unlimited amount of visibility and interaction possibilities such as photos, tags, and even comments.

We would like to thank Robyn once again for her awesome presentation! For more information, be sure to check out FACEBOOKESSENTIALS.COM 

Re-Do Your Studio Week 4: Lisa Kae Photography

At Color Inc, February means "Re-Do Your Studio Month". We have selected 4 photographers to showcase in a total studio make-over. Each photographer will be showcased on a Monday afternoon blog post complete with a description of the products they chose and why (and lots of great images of course).

As photographers, you already know that you sell what you show. So why not show the latest and greatest products? Your clients will be inspired by your giant canvases and stylish books, and be motivated to request these products for themselves. Both Framing and Stand Out Mounts are the perfect way to "up-sell" your clients from your standard prints.
We hope this inspires you to freshen up your space and prepare for a great year!

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Week 4: Lisa Kae Photography

Before

 

  I have had nothing but an amazing experience with Color Inc.  Four years ago, when I started my own business, I wrote a photographer in Alabama to ask who she used for her printing....and was really surprised when she said it was Color Inc, and they were in my backyard!  Being a small, local business, and wanting to support other businesses like myself, I immediately started using them (**and now they're global!).  It's one of the easiest decisions that has changed my business!  Even though they are not local for everyone, their printing and shipping is lightning fast.

After

In the beginning, I printed all of my prints and enlargements with Color Inc., and as time went on, they added more & more options to their menu :)  Now, I also print canvases, press print cards, stand-out mounts, and photobooth, boudior, & parent albums through them.  The staff is so personable and helpful.  Seriously, I cannot tell you how much they have helped me & saved me :)   I am thrilled with the results of the entryway in my studio that displays all the creative ways for my clients to order their pictures.  I LOVE the wider frames they offer, especially their metallic finished frames as they really compliment certain images!  I can't wait to offer them to clients!  I know they will love the idea *just like my canvases* that their pictures can be framed and ready to hang in another choice besides canvas!

 

I think in any business, it's really important to develop good relationships with your vendors; your lab should be on that vendor list!  Instead of ordering from random companies every week, you should be trusting a company with a proven track record, easy ordering system, and staff who care about your business.  For the same reason that we want to develop life long clients in our photography business, the same benefits apply for the relationship with your lab.  

Color Inc gives back. Four years ago, I started volunteering for our local Children's hospital and am currently the area coordinator for NILMDTS, and Color Inc. has made a continued commitment to provide all of these families going through a difficult experience, with free prints.  It means so much to all of our families, and our volunteer photographers could never thank Color Inc. enough for the difference they are making in the live of these families. 

Thank you!

A few product ideas from Lisa...

Albums

 

Banner Stand

 

 Press Printed Cards

 

 

Lisa Kae is a photographer in Grand Rapids, MI

- visit her website at LisaKaePhotography.com 

Re-Do Your Studio Week 3: Jen Kroll Photography

At Color Inc, February means "Re-Do Your Studio Month". We have selected 4 photographers to showcase in a total studio make-over. Each photographer will be showcased on a Monday afternoon blog post complete with a description of the products they chose and why (and lots of great images of course).

As photographers, you already know that you sell what you show. So why not show the latest and greatest products? Your clients will be inspired by your giant canvases and stylish books, and be motivated to request these products for themselves. Both Framing and Stand Out Mounts are the perfect way to "up-sell" your clients from your standard prints.
We hope this inspires you to freshen up your space and prepare for a great year!

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Week 3: Jen Kroll Photography

Before

The most valuable relationship a photographer can have with any vendor is the one with their print lab.  The lab provides you with the tangible proof of your business investment, experience, and skill.  After spending years with a big box print lab, making the switch to Color Inc was like feeling the warmth of sunshine after enduring a long, gray, and lifeless winter.  This aspect of my business was resuscitated and transformed into a place of joy, strong selling point, and area of profitability.  And I was finally not just another number to yet another corporation.  When I pick up the phone, I hear a familiar voice on the other end.  Every time.  Rather than spending ridiculous amounts on advertising that adds to the noise we’ve all grown weary of, Color Inc uses those resources instead to build into their photographers and give back to the community.  I’ve been able to serve others in such a way that has only been possible with their support.  They get it.  People matter.  This business is not about us.

Not only do they operate with excellence when dealing with us, a demanding and often procrastinating band of creatives, but they do so by consistently delivering exceptional products.  My prints usually ship the same day and are waiting in my mailbox less than 24 hours after I place the order.  The OCD side of me loves this!  I have to remember to take great care in opening the package as I typically resemble an 8 year old on Christmas morning -- cardboard and packaging tape fly like shrapnel!  There is nothing more validating than seeing your work in print.  When Color Inc drop ships directly to my clients, I’m able to choose a presentation box that reflects my studio colors and never have to worry about the quality of the product they’ll receive.  A stark contrast to years of being on damage control with orders from the big box lab.

Welcoming prospective clients into my studio has never been more exciting or inviting.  Displaying canvas wraps, framed loose prints, stand out mounts, and proof books not only showcases my work but also provides my clients ideas on how to display photos in their own home regardless of budget.  I deliberately designed my space in neutral tones so that the focus would immediately be drawn to the photos displayed.  With only 420 square feet, planning every bit of wall space to showcase the largest amount of work, yet avoiding the feeling of chaos, was the most challenging aspect.  In the viewing area everything is very balanced and structured.  By contrast, the large wall next to my table is a loose collage of frames which demonstrates how to create a display that can grow over time.  Using frames of different colors and styles but keeping the sepia toning consistent serves to unify the grouping.  All of these things combined with very deliberate decor elements leaves one with the feeling of comfort and refined elegance.  Two descriptive elements I strive to have my work reflect as well.   

It is my honor and privilege to partner with Color Inc, an international company with world class products and the luxury of backyard service.  I look forward to their continued pursuit of innovative products and services they have in store for us and for our clients!

 

-Jen Kroll is a photographer in Grand Rapids, MI

visit her website at jenkrollphotography.com

Re-Do Your Studio Week 2: Reedy Boutique Photography

At Color Inc, February means "Re-Do Your Studio Month". We have selected 4 photographers to showcase in a total studio make-over. Each photographer will be showcased on a Monday afternoon blog post complete with a description of the products they chose and why (and lots of great images of course).

As photographers, you already know that you sell what you show. So why not show the latest and greatest products? Your clients will be inspired by your giant canvases and stylish books, and be motivated to request these products for themselves. Both Framing and Stand Out Mounts are the perfect way to "up-sell" your clients from your standard prints.
We hope this inspires you to freshen up your space and prepare for a great year!

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Week Two: Reedy Boutique Photography

Before

“I had such a fabulous time deciding what products to use from Color Inc’s vast barrage of options for my portrait screening room.  But gallery wrapped canvas art is the top selling product in my studio, so it just made sense to show more of what my clients love.  After all, you sell what you show and canvas is perfect for that tactile high end presentation.   I love the clean artful impact of a gorgeous wrap, frame styles come and go but a canvas will always work.  I specialize in wall art and I think that it is so important to come up with new and innovative ways to display a family’s memories.  So I spend a lot of time rendering collage layouts and other unique design options.   It’s hard to walk away empty handed once you see the impact of this gorgeous style.  I also think that beyond coming up with amazing layouts it’s also a must to have premium quality products.  I’ve looked high and low to find the highest quality portraits, books, canvas wraps and other mediums and Color Inc never disappoints.  I’m thrilled to début my new display with fresh sizes and adorable faces.   Thank you Color Inc for my 2010 studio update, you have beautiful products! 

P.S.  For my fellow photographers… if you haven’t tried them yet, now is the time.

After

-Lori Reedy is a photographer in Kalamazoo, MI

visit her website at www.reedyboutiquephotography.com

Re-Do Your Studio Week 1: "Talent Team Photographer" Dusty Brown

At Color Inc, February means "Re-Do Your Studio Month". We have selected 4 photographers to showcase in a total studio make-over. Each photographer will be showcased on a Monday afternoon blog post complete with a description of the products they chose and why (and lots of great images of course).

As photographers, you already know that you sell what show. So why not show the latest and greatest products? Your clients will be inspired by your giant canvases and stylish books, and be motivated to request these products for themselves. Both Framing and Stand Out Mounts are the perfect way to "up-sell" your clients from your standard prints.

We hope this inspires you to freshen up your space and prepare for a great year!

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Week One: Dusty Brown Photography

Before

"A few of the many things I love about Color Inc. is the consistent quality. If I order a 5x7 and a canvas for a client, I know they will both look spectacular. No worries. And now with the press products there are even more choices for a happy studio! The press printed cards are the best I have seen yet! Sturdy and crisp. No worries about color consistency, if you order an 8x10 print and then a 5x7 holiday card of the same image, guess what...no worries it looks fantastic! The new line of albums is a great add on to any studio. I love the 6x6 for seniors and babies. The 10x10's are the perfect guestbook for my brides and grooms and the 12x12's are a fantastic option for families and weddings. I could go on about the great frames they have or even the terrific new "stand outs" that are all the rage right now.  If you are only getting  prints done by Color Inc. you are really doing a disservice to your clients by not offering what they might be looking for. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of the years of experience at Color Inc. and all of the wonderful products they have to offer."

After

 A few product ideas from Dusty...

Press Printed Cards

Press Printed Albums

 

 

- Dusty Brown is a photographer in Grand Rapids, MI
visit his website http://www.dustybrown.org/

Guest Post: Creating a Wall Collage

Tylor Devereaux Interior Design shares a few tips on how to create a wall collage. For more info visit their website.

There are many fun and exciting ways to showcase photos and artwork in your home. You may be asking yourself, “how do I do it, and what rules are there to follow?” The truth is, there are no rules! The best interiors are those that are unique and creative. An essential ingredient to success is Balance. Whether it is a collage of four frames or a multiple artwork assortment, balance can be achieved in many ways when arranging your own look. Let’s touch on three: Symmetry, Theme, and Focal Point.



Symmetry is the most classic way to achieve balance while being very appealing to the eye. For example, a simple print above each nightstand in a master bedroom or a pair of photos above a buffet is always a home run. However, why not be a little daring and try arranging nine photos in a square grid pattern? This concept works nicely with 4, 6, or 8 frames and so on. It also creates a stunning effect when incorporating multiple mirrors. Arranging photos symmetrically works in all interiors, from ultra modern to traditional.

A subject matter Theme is also a great way to establish balance when creating a random assortment. This can be achieved by gathering a collection of prints from the same time period, artist, style, or color scheme. For example, collecting black and white prints or etchings that have a contemporary flare, or watercolors prints for a more traditional feel. Choosing a theme for the prints will give you freedom while still creating a sense of continuity.



Establishing a Focal Point is another key feature to a collage. This can be a large frame or a very inspiring image that captures your eye. Once this is established, everything else plays off and supports the grouping. An example of this would be a large photo offset with two smaller frames on each side, with a 1” space in between. This showcases a focal point and balances out the large central frame. Keep in mind the scale of each photo and frame. You can do it! Stand back and take a look from a distance. Does it feel good to your eye?

The possibilities are endless, so be sure to have fun. If you are in a bind, hire an interior designer or contact an art gallery for assistance. Both sources have the knowledge and experience to help you create a look that says, "Fantastic!"

Look for our easy ‘how-to’ guide for creating a photo collage in your home, coming soon with all purchases at Color Inc. Now get busy…start ‘collaging.’

Follow us on our blog at tdinteriordesign.wordpress.com to find more creative solutions for your interior and displays.

- Tylor Devereaux Interior Design is a full service design firm located in Grand Rapids, MI.

- Photos courtesy of Brian Kelly - All Rights Reserved

Guest Post: How to stay focused after 15 years of focus

Remember back when you first learned to use your camera? You took photos of everything. (You may be at this point now!) "Oh look how cute, the cat just jumped onto the crib, the baby just barfed on the cat, the cat just ran up the drapes and the baby is now wanting to eat." Did you get that on film? Yep...most of it. Nowadays "cameras" are everywhere. Thanks to facebook and twitter, you can use your cell phones and mp3 players and even video camera to capture your "cherished" moments and show them to the world in just under 3 seconds. Soon you are photographing everything you see, all day long you photograph. People at parties expect you to be the picture taker. You look at your family during the Holidays and take their photos. You bring a camera to the beach!!!! and take photos of the seagulls and a few snapshots of your kids against the waves and hope for that sunset shot you have seen in all the latest photo mags. (f16 rule need not apply, you have a polarizing filter and a tri-pod!) After the years pass you start not bringing the camera to all the events of your life. You start to carry smaller cameras, just to get the shot and hope its good enough for the "scrap book" (if it ever gets printed.) After all, this is your life in between all the days that pay you to use your camera. So while you may not see your friends but once a month, they expect the camera around your neck, not really caring that you have just spent 12 hours a day taking photos of someone else's wants and needs for the past 4 days. No fault of theirs of course and no disrespect, I just don't feel like looking through that lens for say the next 3 days or more. And so the cycle has begun. Your profession has become just that. Your profession.

It is a cycle that is never ending. I am sure every profession has it. So how do you get through the times when you are thinking of all the other things you would be doing if you weren't photographing this or setting up a shot for that? Looking through the lens as much as we do certainly lets you see the world in a different light. You get to make memories for others and get paid for it. But day after day, month after month year after year where is your time? (we will get to workflow in the articles ahead). How do you expend the same energy session after session? I don't have your answers. I can tell you that I know a lot of photographers who have been around since the "film days" (I don't mean to say we are "old timers" or "better than this" or "been there done that 30-40 somethings", just saying that if you have been doing this for as long as some of us you would know what makes your camera focus.) and what we all seem to do is the same but different.

"Jim" (this is real person, just a different name) likes to paint in his down time. "Painting for me really slows down my thinking, too often when in photographer mode, we move way too fast. 60th of a second is really what I live in for most of my days, just a split second at a time all added up. While painting I really need to slow down and look and concentrate on what I am doing. Soothes the soul."

"Kate" (real person, different name) loves to keep it going. She continues to photograph. Only for herself. " I make it a point to photograph just for me. Not my kids, not my dog...me. I set goals and achieve them. I really love sending large files to my lab (http://www.colorinc.com shameless plug :-) for wall prints of my landscape images. Mount them to matte board and frame them for the walls. That is a real sense of accomplishment. Instead of shooting, selling and framing the print for someone else, I see all the rewards. It really keeps me grounded to what I love."

"Dusty" (real person, same name) For me I get away from it. I work from home, you might too and its hard to "get away" from it. But you must set a "closing" time. If you don't, you will live 24/7/365 with your profession and burnout will conquer. So my home hours are set. I don't answer the phone after closing time, I don't look at print orders after closing time and I certainly don't open Photoshop after closing time. I learned this late in my career. But it is a lifesaver!

I am a true artist. Not bragging, in fact I had a hard time coming to that realization for a good part of my life. I am a photographer. I am a musician. I write poetry. I paint with oils. I cook (yep, art and science, but so is the darkroom). All of these are "hobbies". Even photography. You must love life to love anything. Having something else that makes me happy while serving the creative process helps me to stay focused when I need to.

For you it may be the same, it may be different. But in the end if you are going to keep on keeping on then you must rejuvenate, stay hydrated. Drink from a different cup once in a while. Walk a different path to get to the same place.

- Dusty Brown is a photographer in Grand Rapids, MI
visit his website http://www.dustybrown.org/