Seriously…the videos of George shooting in the sun, and using flash off camera, were totally worth it to me!  …and then his actual live sales sessions, tips for increasing your profits, videos on HOW to upsell, etc have just been invaluable to my business.   There is also PLENTY of FREE information/videos on there too!!!!   Told you he was a great guy!!!

Like most photographer’s, I’m a visual person, so the videos have especially been a god-send for me.  I often feel like saying to people “don’t tell me, show me” and George does exactly that!   He GETS IT!!!   I’d rather watch an hour of video footage, even showing me how not to do things, and what it looks like when it is right…than read a manual for the same amount of time.   I also love that at the end of the shooting videos, George shows you the what the finished image looks like.  Brillant!

So if you’re looking to improve your shooting, increase your sales,  market more effectively, sell with a passion…….then check out My Photography Business …and really, who DOESN’T want to do at least one of the above!!!

..and posts are always better with pics!  Right???  Both Images by the fabulous Kyla Hornberger of Kyla Beth Studios a fantastically talented Beyond member

I am going to be doing some exciting things coming up. I have a review of the New Abie Straps, just love love mine and want to share why.  Some cool new tips and tricks for having your business run smoothly and of course somethings that are just plain fun!

So look for the first post on Monday morning!

Shannon

I know there are a lot of bags out there for Pro Photogs and hobbyists alike, but a lot of them are black….or black…or black (oh and let’s not forget camoflague!)…as a woman I actually want something that is :

• Fashionable
• Practical
• Well Made
• Has some “wow” factor and still makes me look business like!
• Padded!!!   My L lenses love a good secure home!
• Girly
• Variety of styles and colors to choose from
• Carries everything I need and does so comfortably

Kelly Moore’s bags are just the answer to this!   Not only are they stylish and cute, but they tick all the boxes on my list….I also love that she is bringing out new and different one’s on a regular basis…..and guys…she has some for you too!!

On a wedding day, a lot of thought goes into the details, finish, color and style….so turning up with a fun, stylish, colorful photography bag, that looks like a handbag, definitely says “I know how to capture your day and your details….because I love those things too”.

Go check them out! You might find just the color/style that you have always been looking for, but if you are looking for a different color, just drop Kelly a line!  I love that she is always open to ideas, feedback and comments from her customers….as many Beyond members can attest too.

While you’re over at “her place”, be sure to check out Kelly’s amazing work!   Just wow!

Christmas Eve today…so off to do the crazy Grocery thing!  Aarghhhhhh, I so wish I had gone at midnight last night!   Now I have to face the hoarding crowd, I’m hanging out for  a StarBucks Frappacino, I mean seriously….that would involved me driving to a Mall on the other side of the city….on Christmas Eve!  …and yet I’m still contemplating going!  What is about Starbucks that has us so in love?  and don’t say branding…I’m not going for the logo!  They really do have a great product, unique out here, worth driving for…and there in lies a lesson for all of us in 2010.   Do great work, do it well, and offer such a unique product/service that people will drive crazy distances on manic days to get it!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

When looking at sites that sell products for photogs, try and think outside the square!  What if you took a set of birth announcements and used them as mini canvases on the wall above a baby’s cot?  or a page out of a 12×12 album as a Mat for a framed print?  The possibilities are endless, but more than that, it gives you a unique product that will stand out in a market that is saturated by the same old, same old.  So go check out Album Cafe!   and just to make your life even easier…how about a giveaway?   Post your favourite product from their site in the comments section, and be in to win the album template of your choice!  Wow, thanks Brandi and team!

Speaking of unique…..the award for the most unique christmas tree this year goes to……..Stace Chomlack!  Seriously no one but her & Chad would paint their tree on the wall…and let their kids be part of it….and then leave paint pots out so all their visitors could add their own decorations to it!  Guys…you are tooooo coolllll! 

12 Days is continuing on Beyond with lots of fun, sharing and generosity from Vendors…so look for some more discounts and prizes in the coming days!  ..and of course it’s time to share some Senior images from some fab Beyond members too!

Amanda Andrews, David Quisenberry and Ali Hohn

Kim Burnham, Kelly Vella (above) and Chelsey Mach, Denise Snyder below

Our clients think that if they rock up wearing anything, then we will take their photo and they will look awesome…..well, yeah, right.   As photographer’s we know that wearing the RIGHT clothes makes a huge difference to how their photos turn out!   When they are in co-ordinated clothing, colors that pop off the background location, etc…then the images are much much better than the tried-and-true but oh so boring denim and white shirt brigade!

With that in mind Dawn Weisenger (amazing Beyond member and truly fab photographer!) has opened her new Store….The Nest. Beautiful clothing, hats, etc for children.  It doesn’t matter what age the subject is, if the clothing is “right” and the hat is oh so cute, then the images are always going to look better than an outfit thrown together! ….so whether you are a photographer looking to put a few cute outfits in your kit/studio or a client thinking about your next session and what to wear, go check out Dawn’s new site! …..and right now Dawn has a sale of 25% off all Special Occassion dresses!!!   (Be sure to check out the adorable peapod hats while you are there!)

A special thank you and shout out to Kendra for the help you have given Dawn in launching this venture…and the gorgeous image of the baby in the beautiful long pink hat!   Multi-talented woman!

OKAY did you go check out the PeaPod hats?  aren’t they adorable!  …..well now you can win one!  Dawn is giving away two right here!  So leave a comment and Dawn will select two winners on the 23rd!  Right in time for Christmas.

First up in the Beyond 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza was Nichole Van with a $75 Voucher giveaway (Congrats Shannon!!)…. and now we have gifts for all the wonderful Blog readers who have supported us all year too!  For the next 12 Days we will share the 12 Days Love with everyone here too!

Nicole’s work is simply stunning!  The wide open plains of Utah, the gorgeous buildings, temple, and superb lighting are all featured in her work, but her style and eye is unique and she has made a name for herself through consistently producing Images that “wow”.  I attended Nicole’s workshop in Australia recently, and was blown away by her honesty, her knowledge and her wonderful sense of humour.  The Workshop book she provided us with, was without doubt the best I have been given at any workshop I have attended…you know what it is like!  your brain is so exhausted after three days of intense information and shooting, that to have something in your hand that you can go home and read at your own pace, is a God-send!  Well that is what she provided!  …and I’m delighted to tell you that she sells it now!   The Workshop in a Box is fantastic…and right now you can get it at $50 off!!!  Just enter code:  BJIBOX122509

Many of our members also use and love her textures, actions and frames….and so it wouldn’t be a celebration if we didn’t give you a discount for the Flourish Emporium as well!   15% Discount when you enter code : BJI122509 (both codes are valid until 24th December!)    Nicole is sharing on the Forum in 2010 and we know it is going to be fantastic….because she is!

Go check out her blog and be inspired!  …and while you are there do some last minute Christmas shopping…for yourself

Another announcement tomorrow!

So let’s start with SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).  If you have ANYTHING on the web that requires people to find you….website, business, shopping, etc, then you need to know this SEO stuff.  I totally confess that “SEO” sends my brain into a ‘freeze’.  Whilst I know that it will help me get more business, I also do not want to have to go and study up on what I deem to be a whole lot of  “goobly gook computer jargon”…I want to just cut to the chase (so to speak!) ….have someone tell me WHAT I actually need to know in order for my Website to rank high to the clients I’m looking to book, HOW I do what I now know! ….and WHEN to maintain/change what I’ve just done!  Make sense?

Well that is where Shannon Steffens has come to the rescue!  Her book turned up in my Inbox at exactly the right time for me.  We are going through a change in logo, rebrand, new Studio opening and with it a new website…we also, like many of you, are fighting against people who constantly undercut rates, deliver everything for nothing and all the new professionals popping up each week.  So I wanted to get ahead of the game!

Shannon broke all that “jargon” down into easy to digest parts…she went over the terms and then delivered a step-by-step guide to how to get better results from my SEO.   I no longer felt impaired, or like a complete anti-geek.  Terms like Google, Page Rank and Meta Tags just used to leave me cold…but now I get it!

Included with the Field Guide are details on how to create a basic splash page (no html or design knowledge required), it also includes a template to do your own. Literally this is a basic how-to manual for the SEO impaired!  (anyone like me!)  Her goal was to teach others that while SEO is a huge part of getting ranked it does not have to be a difficult task and I love that she is continuing to work on making sure she keeps you informed with tips and tricks on her Blog.  Things change in the SEO world…but this will help me stay up-to-date.

I can not say enough about this great resource, and right now she has it at a great introductory price. The first 50 people get to purchase for just $50!!  A great book available for those who want to do it themselves.

Finally if you love the idea of better SEO, but don’t want to do it yourself, pop over and email Shannon. She does freelance work as well and can let you know when she can fit you into her schedule.  This turned out to be a great option for me, because while I loved the book and now “got it” and knew why I was doing the things I needed to do, and what I needed to improve on…time is my enemy!

http://www.seophotoguide.com …be one of the first 50!

Next week is the 12 Days of Christmas celebration at Beyond!  WOOO HOOO!  Every year the Beyond members hang out and party on these last few days before Christmas….most of us have finished our sessions, delivered our final orders and this is our chance to celebrate the past year, and share and discuss our plans, dreams and desires for 2010…all in a great party atmosphere.   Our Vendors really are some of the most amazing people on the planet!  Seriously!  Go check them out!  They all offer amazing products, services and rates!  This year, while the “prize” of the Day is only open to a Beyond member because of the need to have access to the forum….we also wanted to share the love here!  So make sure you keep your eyes open from the 13th to the 25th December…as we post Specials from some of the most amazing Vendors on the planet!  Great discounts on all the things you love and need to take your business to the next level in 2010.

On a personal note, I just want to thank everyone that has made both the Blog and the Forum what it has become over the last few years.  A forum (any forum) is not built by the administration or owner, it is just a “platform” that without members is a piece of computer coding.  It is the members that make a forum a home, a place for others to want to be, and those same members that generously offer their advice, help, experience and support to others day in and day out.  Thank you to all the members and outstanding Teacher’s, that have done all of the above and MORE this year.

May you all be richly blessed this Christmas, and move into a very prosperous New Year!

…two images from Beyond members as well..firstly Dawn Weisenger who has a big announcement coming in next couple of days! and secondly Amanda Andrews…featured photog on the ColorInc Blog!  Fantastic!