New feature on our blog, reader polls…

Starting this month (and on the first of each month to follow) we will be running polls, looking for your input.

This month we want to know what you shoot, RAW, jpg, or both.

So take a minute, look to the column on your right under “Reader Poll” and let us know what you shoot.

Thanks.

It's like the train is coming right at you…

And you can’t get out of the way.

Here it is March 1st and winter should be winding down, instead I am sitting here watching the snow fall outside.

We are supposed to get a few inches today, and another 10-14 inches tomorrow!

It could be worse, I could be OUTSIDE watching it snow.

;)

A great new weekly Nikon DSLR resource...

This week Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski launched a new education resource dedicated specifically to tips and techniques for Nikon's D-series cameras.

DTownTV will air a 10-12 minute education video every Thursday and will cover camera tips and photographic techniques for all levels of today’s digital photographers. You can expect a wide range of topics.

The "Photoshop Boys" never do anything halfway, I know Scott and Matt will be providing a bunch of useful information for Nikon shooters, so be sure to bookmark DTownTV.

Professional Wedding Photography...

Some books present great imagery, others cover the business side of professional photography, this book does a wonderful job at both.

The book is - "Professional Wedding Photography: Techniques and Images from Master Photographers".

Sadly, photographers who are not looking to be a full time professional, or have no interest in shooting weddings may pass right by this book because of its title, but they would be making a terrible mistake as this book is for anyone interested in being a better photographer.

Maybe they should re-title the book to something like - "If you are interested in stunning imagery, the inside workings of a studio, how to better organize your workflow, grow your business, and become a better photography, this is your book".

Here are just a few things I liked about this book:

In this book there are 10 very different, very successful photographers that come from varied geographic settings and equally diverse shooting styles that are interviewed, so you get their style, their ideas, and the business approach of each of these very successful photographers.

Every page has more space dedicated to image presentation than words (if you’ve read this blog for very long, you know that always get high marks from me). The images are stunning and you can see these photographers are looking at (and thinking about) just prior to hitting the shutter.

Of all the questions asked of each photographer, one of my favorite is "who are your influences and mentors?" because it provides a great insight into who and/or what has influenced them, giving you an even broader look into the world of successful photography.

It asks (and answers) the questions that every photographer starting out in business struggles with, here are just a few of them:

1. How do clients find you (and you them)?
2. How do you handle retainers and fees?
3. How do you address the needs for contracts with your clients?
4. Do you have any tips for handling the unexpected?
5. How do you light your subjects?
6. What is your workflow?
7. How do you promote your business?

Again, you get the answers from 10 different sources, and what lends more weight to all their answers is that they come from professional photographers who have "been there, done that". 10 photographers that started out with nothing but a camera and an idea and each one of them has grown into nationally recognized, award winning photographers.

A business coach will tell you that one of the keys to success is to learn from those who are already successful.

If you are looking to take a better picture, improve your workflow, or start a studio, the first step to achieving your goals, your first step to success, would be to get this book and learn from those who are successful.

Blog subscribers, the Jonas Brothers, and winter...

None of those three things are related, but I wanted to touch on each one.

1. Blog Subscribers: At the end of last week this blog hit yet another milestone, it surpassed 900 subscribers. Holy crap! I want to thank each and every single one of you for making this blog the success that it is. I could write posts until the cows come home (exactly where they have been I don't know), but if no one came to spend time, to read, and then come back again and again, this would be just so much hot air.

So the success (and my thanks) go to you the readers. THANK YOU!

2. The Jonas Brothers: It has come home to me (yet again) that we are role models for our children. My girls have watched me write this blog and have had to suffer through the boredom of looking at my visitor stats/maps and have decided they wanted to embark on their own blog.

Their subject? The Jonas Brothers, or as they would say "OMG, the Jo Bro's".

So they asked for my help setting up their blog, but that wasn't enough, they wanted Google Analytics too! So now they check their stats and maps each day to see who is coming and where they are coming from.

This is where I want to ask you folks a favor, it would be a hoot of they checked their stats and saw a big spike in visitors, so if you have girls in your family, please head over to my daughters blog and give them a big time thrill. Plus you will learn really important things like "Selena Gomez dumps Nick Jonas!!!"

;)

3. Winter: Last year we had over 100 inches of snow fall, and at the time thought "boy, I may never see that again in my lifetime". Well, after three more storms this past week we are creeping towards that 100 inch mark again.

Here are some pictures from this morning:

Starting your own Photography business...

If you have thought about taking the plunge into professional photography, have recently done so, or did so awhile ago but are looking for some fresh ideas and insights, I have an interview for you to listen to.

Recently Michael and Scott (over at Digital Photography life) interviewed Laurel Housden, she talks about her transition (just one year ago) from being an enthusiastic amateur to a busy professional photographer.

Laurel shares with the listeners the steps she went through from the beginning when she had nothing but a camera to becoming the success she is today.

I am a big fan of charity work and Laurel shares with us how she does charity work solely for the sake of doing good, and why that act of kindness will often translate into more business.

Listening to this interview will be time well spent.

You can find the interview here, and check out the show notes here.

Once you've listened to her interview, be sure to take the time to visit Laurel's website and read her blog.

Have a great weekend!

David Ziser takes his show on the road...

For the first time in 3 years David Ziser is taking his show on the road with his "Digital WakeUp Call - A New Dawn" tour.

The tour starts on March 30th in Jacksonville Florida, ends in Nashville Tennessee on November 12th, and spans 75 cities throughout the country in between.

Check for the tour stop in your city here.

Use the promo code "DWCDPT09" and you can get your seat for just $59 (regularly $79).

Just some of what you will learn:

• 32 ways to use your on and off-camera flashes for creative and dramatic effects.

• 10 of the best camera settings and lens choices for creating striking images on every job.

• 7 ways to use the new DSLR video capabilities to transform your product offerings.

• 10 "Magic Bullet" techniques to make your digital workflow nearly effortless, highly efficient, and fun.

• 20 new solid marketing ideas targeted to add substantially to your bottom line.

And all attendees will receive these program bonuses:

• Tour Handbook including: program notes, photography, marketing and more.

• 2 Hour DVD with extended program content.

• $100 Rebate from American Color Imaging.

• 1 year membership to WPPI and Rangefinder magazine, a $99 value.

• FREE 3 month membership to DigitalProTalkPlus.com, a $45 value.

• Over $2,500 in door prizes awarded each evening.

• And a chance to win 1 of 4 Grand Prizes worth over $5,000.

I will be at the Boston seminar on October 6th and hope to see some of you there!