I just received an email from Jed Taufer and really wanted to share this phenomenal opportunity with you:
"From here on out The Evolution collection will include FLO. Beginning January 1, 2010 the entire collection will be just $499, however, today and tomorrow (December 30 & 31), we are offering it for just $299 as an end of the year special."
The Evolution Collection with FLO is the most complete "studio in a box" that you can get and contains enough information (16 gigabytes of how to videos, templates, actions, presets, edges, overlays, marketing tips, workflow techniques, forms, price lists, relationship building with vendors and clients, fund raisers, and so, so much more...) that if you use the information contained on the 4 DVD's you will be assured of success.
Take a look at the results that Jed and Vicki have had in the small town of Morton Illinois (population 15,000) using the same information they've shared in their "studio in a box".
I love getting involved in fund raising events, it's a win for the studio, a win for the organization, and a win for the people they are trying to help. Jed and Vicki give you ten different plans (with action plans, ads, posters, brochures, sample images, press releases, and FAQ's) for getting involved, helping your community with the added (and secondary) benefit of helping yourself.
One of my favorites is "Dog Days of Summer". In exchange for a 25 pound bag of dog food (donated to local animal shelters) folks would receive a free mini portrait session and a free 5x7 print of their pet. The results of that day was over 125 bags (3,200 poinds) of dog food donated, cover stories in in three different newspapers, and because so many folks wanted more than the free 5x7 print they ended up with over $10,000 in sales!
So for doing something good for their community Jed and Vicki ended up with new clients, free advertising, and sales for one day of shooting that would make Donald Trump envious.
In my humble opinion, if you can't build and run a successful, profitable photography studio with The Evolution Collection with FLO chances are good you were probably meant to be do something else.
So, watch the video to get my full review, but this is not the last you will hear of it, this will be the longest review we have ever done. Once a month for the next year we'll report on how we've used The Evolution Collection, what new thing we've incorporated into our practice, and how it has improved our studio.
As usual, if you are a subscriber you'll need to return to the blog or head over to YouTube to watch the video as it does not get pushed through with your subscription.
This originally ran a couple years back and is now being shown again and if you want to see some stunning imagery, peak behind the scenes of National Geographic photography assignments, and meet a truly interesting man, you really should watch this.
At the very least it will make you want to travel to (and photograph) Nebraska. Seeing "Nebraska's Big Rodeo" has been added to my list of things to do before I die.
After watching the show I visited Joel's website, the fact that he is an outstanding photographer was reinforced and but the best part was learning more about him as a person.
You can read his essay on his wife Kathy's battle with cancer and how it changed his life, Joel's insightful words will make sit back and take pause.
"Now, forgive me for saying this, but cancer can also be a blessing. An amazing experience that forces us to make amends, to set things right, to concentrate on living. To pay attention.
Cancer made me a better father. My work had made me a stranger to my three kids. They got along just fine without me. I was so bad that I once tried to get Kathy’s midwife to induce labor to get me back out on the road the next day.
Now I understand that most people don't have the number of flash units Joe uses in the shoot (when I saw the table with all 14 laid out I got tingly all over!), but it is cool to see the thought process and work that goes into a shoot like this.
See you on Wednesday when I will be reviewing our product of the year.
Yes Joe shoots with Nikon but please don't let dissuade you from watching, because it doesn't matter if you use Nikon, Canon, or candle light, light is light and when Joe takes the time to show us something it is not a Nikon moment, it's a learning moment.
Every day from now until January 1, 2010 Kevin Kubota is giving away some really cool (and really valuable) stuff.
The gift bag includes the Kubota Pro Pak with Dashboard, a Kubota formula book, Kevin Kubota's "Digital Photography Bootcamp" book, and "The Fast Track Photographer" from Dane Sanders.
All together worth $690. Follow this link to sign up and good luck!
This is probably the most amazing photo shoot I have ever seen and absolutely proves that Joe McNally is either the bravest or the craziest man I know.
All the things we liked about the first set of cards remains unchanged:
1. You'll get 22 cards with a phenomenal image on one side and a lighting diagram, tips, and insight on the other.
2. The cards are printed on UV protected thick stock so they are durable and will stand up well to being carried in your pocket or your camera bag from one shoot to another.
3. Shipping is inexpensive, only 99 cents flat shipping fee (regardless of how many sets you buy).
4. Shipping is fast.
5. Customer service is outstanding.
The only difference between this set and the first is the content that is covered.
The first set of cards leaned towards portraiture and product shots, the latest set is more about fine art and commercial photography.
What I like best about these cards is that they are a great learning tool, as you recreate a scenario from one of the cards it really makes you think "I wonder if I..." or "If I moved this light here and..." your creative juices start to flow and you end up with a vision that is all your own.
You really can't go wrong buying either set of these cards, they are well thought out, well made learning tools.
Their name may be "Trade Secret" but they are not dong a very good job keeping that secret, and we as photographers are better off because of it.
There is a new and FREE lighting diagram creator application for the iPhone and the iPod Touch called Strobox that has me pretty darn excited, but then at my age it doesn't take much.
;)
It is a great tool for jotting down your lighting setup when you are on location or in the studio.
There are a couple things I wish it would do, like edit saved diagrams or make a diagram that is larger than the existing screen (it's not scrollable) but it really doesn't bother me that I can't do these things and I doubt it will bother you.
Don't tell the developers but this is an app I would have been happy to pay for.
This really is a handy dandy tool and you should rush right over to the App Store and download Strobox now!
This past year saw the birth of "DTown TV" a show dedicated to all things Nikon digital hosted by Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski.
I can't tell you how many really cool tricks I learned by watching their weekly episodes and how sad I was when the final episode aired last month.
Well, the show has been resurrected but instead of being about Nikon the new focus is "all things DSLR", studio lighting, on location lighting, post processing, gear, and lots of special guests.
