LE News and Info - Tuesday, December 8, 2009 6:52 - 3 Comments

Stay Fresh, Stay Current, Stay Visible: by Daron Shade

Daron Shade introduces CMS (Content Management System) and discusses how it benefits photographers greatly to have a website that they can manage themselves. Far more than keeping the portfolio fresh with uploaded images, a full CMS gives photographers greater impact with Search Engines, visitors and clients.

On the immediate Lighting Essentials front… we have just completed the Florida Workshop on Anna Maria Island near Tampa. We had some weather challenges, but the images we made included the inclement skies and we got some amazing, wild and stormy images. The models were wonderful and the talent of the group inspiring. I spent the day yesterday scouting and meeting some local groups to set the stage for next years Florida Workshop. It will be even more spectacular than imagined. What we have lined up at this point will challenge the photographers and also inspire them to move beyond the safe zone and step out on the edge a bit.

As for me personally, this is a little bittersweet. Those who know me know that I love love love this workshop, and it is a fantastic way to introduce beginning and mid-level photographers to the full spectrum of thinking about, and using, light to our advantage. But it has also been an exhausting year, and for that I am grateful. I like working hard, and seeing the work pay off. I will be sharing some interesting and happy stories from some of my workshop attendees later this month. I am happy though, that I can take some time to focus on getting next years workshop together (our schedule is up for the first half) and finishing too many projects that have not been given proper attention.

So thanks everyone for your support and workshop attendance this year. I hope to meet a whole bunch of talented and excited photographers next year as well.

Around the Web: Articles you may have missed.
Heather Morton’s blog post on Branding got a lot of attention (my next post is on this same topic) when she quoted a fellow art buyer as stating that while branding is nice, it won’t get you the job. Chase Jarvis followed up with a post, then the real firestorm erupted in his comments area. Even APhotoEditor had something to say on this topic, and his comments area are pretty interesting as well.

I am constantly looking at new work, old work and the stuff in between. When I come across a photographer I really like, I will share them with you here. This month I have been knocked out by the work of these photographers:
David Eustace: This long form piece is simply amazing.
Philip Toledano in Philadelphia is a long time favorite that I just rediscovered.
Jeremy and Claire Weiss make me smile. I love their work.
And if you have someone around you who is thinking about going pro, look into Selina Maitreya’s wonderful audio program. It will get them on the right track fast, and you can keep that $100 you save for a dinner when they get their first cover! Just enter FOSLE at checkout to get half off her regular price of $199.

Well, let’s get on to Daron Shade’s article on Staying Fresh, Current and Visible… no simple feat in these crazy times.

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