Pittsburgh PUG

PUG Update

pittsburghpug — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 22:00:31 +0000

Thanks for visiting the Pittsburgh PUG page! We are currently looking for leaders of this group, email eengle@pictage.com if you’re interested.

Next ~ Create | Connect | Grow (PUG)

pittsburghpug — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:18:42 +0000

Next ~ Create | Connect | Grow

When: November 16

Topic: Marketing, SEO & Attracting Clients

Time: 7pm – 9pm

Where: 502 W. North Ave. Pgh 15212

open to all…

How to Avoid Social Media Homework

pittsburghpug — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:10:34 +0000

Written by John Craig

Tips on how-to-avoid social media as homework…
One of the things I am finding interesting lately is how professional photographers view social media in terms of marketing, community building and growing their businesses.

It seems that the old-time, established photographers (35 yrs and older…sorry to whoever I just offended…deepest apologies) look at social media as another thing added to the ever-expanding To-Do-list. While the younger generation (Gen-Y) looks at social media as the only thing to do.

Digital-life-business-culture is here, support it, do not avoid it. (But there is no need to be overwhelmed by it either.)

Social media is not something added to your workload…it’s a tool to cut your workload in half.
This is why social medial is a tool & not homework. It is one of the few (if not only) business tools that allows to you accomplish many things with one action (a.k.a. timesaver)

I have yet to meet one photographer who misses the brick and mortar studio. The overhead itself has created many studios to fail. With the brick and mortar studio gone so is the traditional marketing and advertising that used to work.

Majority of photographers do not want to market or advertise; they want to create great photographs
Then do that, let photography be your marketing and advertising.

In the brick and mortar studio days we had storefront sidewalks. Nobody understood the value of those sidewalks until they went away.

What did the sidewalk provide that is lost in today’s digital-storefront?

Walk-by traffic
Drive-by traffic
Community
Storefront windows
Neighboring businesses
Conversation

Reasons why to think of social media as a tool
Findability
Shows that you are authentic
Conversation starter

The #1 reason is…Social media, if used correctly, will cut through the clutter of adverting and marketing that you don’t want to do anyway.How-to-tips on social media as a tool
Create, Connect & Grow – Do one thing with multiple outcomes.

Create something new, and share it – This is the formula to success: “create & share”. Those who work constantly will…constantly work. And those who do not constantly work go out of business, forever.

Deliver it, ship it, constantly – Show up for work, daily. There is no longer a brick and mortar store or a sidewalk to let people know that you showed up today. Social media gives you the opportunity to unlock your store, turn on the lights and flip over the Open for Business sign on your door front.

Decommoditize – you’re the only thing that cannot be copied. People buy from people they know. Let them know about YOU!

Learn to love “Feeds” “RSS” & “Ping.fm” (be sure to click on the hyper links if these words mean nothing to you)

Set the rules you want – You now have the tools to build whatever future you want, enjoy.

Build your portfolio and grow your business with the same actions…and its FREE.
I’d like to hear from you. So what do you think?

How-to Build A Photo Community

pittsburghpug — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 14:19:31 +0000

Written by John Craig

I have a passion for photography; a love for the business that Elizabeth and I built and a commitment to the next generation to leave it stronger and healthier.

Size doesn’t matter, quality of conversation does.

The reason to build a community is to discover what ideas need to be fulfilled; to connect people with problems to the people who have answers. The community is to position those for success (whatever you deem success to be.) Not a guaranteed success, but to permit and promote it in others and ourselves.

A community will generate conversation in which we can gain feedback, learn, connect and grow. The only guiding rules for a community are to be authentic, to listen, and respond by doing some good, and lastly to learn how to take remarkable photos.

For me, personally, a photo community will be successful when it does not act as the ruling word on photography, but the guiding word: the starting place.

Tips on community building (a.k.a.) How to get the word out.

Teach a free class (library, community center)
Don’t be afraid to list it on Craigslist
Take the fear out, open it to all levels
Offer to give talks at local Art schools, & community colleges
Ask Facebok & Twitter friends to spread the word
Hold a Photo-Walk, invite people out for a walk with a camera

So, what do you think???

P.S. this is a good conversation to hold at your next PUG meet-up. Let me know how the discussion goes.

Create Connect & Grow ~ Marketing

pittsburghpug — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:26:35 +0000

Hi all there will be no Create Connect & Grow meet up this month.

The next meet up will be:

November 16 ~ Create | Connect | Grow
FREE Q&A / Networking 7pm – 9pm
Where: 502 W. North Ave. Pgh 15212

Written by John Craig

Who Is Your Ideal Client? Questions to Ask Yourself

pittsburghpug — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:16:55 +0000

Fri, Oct 8, 2010Written by John Craig

John is a father, husband, photographer, teacher, writer and blogger. His two favorite philosophies for photography are: “Create something new, daily” and “The light is never the same twice.” John and Elizabeth Craig are the leaders of the Pittsburgh Pictage User Group. Learn more about their PUG and their upcoming meetings here.

Listed below are 15 questions to ask (discover) about yourself as a photographer. After answering the questions ask yourself this:

Is my website attracting the clients that I wish to work with?
Is my blog a true reflection of the work I wish to create?

1. Who is my audience (i.e. brides, artists…etc)?

2. Who do I want my audience to be?

3. How big do I want to grow my audience?

4. Can I manage my audience’s needs?

5. What kind of photographer are you (i.e. creative portraiture, journalistic)?

6. What subjects do you relate to?

7. What are you trying to accomplish through your photography?

8. What and who are your artistic influences?

9. What effect do you want your photography to have on your audience?

10. What do you want to photograph?

11. How do you want to develop your practice (i.e. photograph more, attend workshops)?

12. In what future direction do want to go?

13. What kind of environment do you like to work in?

14. What other talents do you like to pursue?

15. What stands between you and the photographs you want to take?

What other questions should be added to this list? Put your ideas in the comments section of this post.

How to be a Great Second Shooter [Weddings]

pittsburghpug — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 20:30:09 +0000

Mon, Sep 20, 2010

Written by John Craig

**Join the Pittsburgh PUG tomorrow, September 21st, for a presentation on The How & Why of Seeing with Vincent Pugliese.**

How to Be a Great Second Shooter

1. Shoot 50/50 – 50% of your shoots should be in the style of classic, traditional photography. Capture all the key moments of the day. Remember to shoot safe and smart. Pick a safe ISO and F/stop to get that shot. You are not going for art here, you are going for documentation of the day. The photos you take may never see the light of day but they have to be there in case of an emergency. If the main photographer happens to lose images due to a failed card, theft or computer problems, your shots are now playing 1st swing.

2. Shoot the other 50% in the mode that you’re going to compose the best photographs ever. Go for the shots, be creative, change yourself, push the limits of your abilities. Create photographs that will get you remembered.

3. Do your homework. Know the equipment that you will be working with that day. Understand the camera, lens, lighting, flashes, reflector, computersand software that you will be working. Be remarkable with your knowledge of gear. You want to be able to counsel the main photographer on exposure and equipment as needed.

4. Be proactive: the 2nd shooter’s job is to know the outline of the day and to be prepared for every situation. Set up lights, have lenses and flashes ready to go when needed. Ask the main photographer where s/he is at on card count. Have back-up batteries ready to go when asked.

5. Yes you carry the equipment. You open the doors. You get the drinks. You pack the car. You do what is asked, with a smile.

6. Ask up front about image rights and be respectful of whatever (if anything) is offered to you.

7. Second shooting is a business relationship at work. Show up on time. Be consistent in your work. Advise on the subtleties of the day.

8. Competitiveness; do not even go there. You were just given the greatest photo opportunity you could ever ask for. Be respectful.

9. Ultimately the main photographer makes all the final decisions and they get all the reward (& risk) for the outcome of the day. Your part is to enhance and aid the experience for both the photographer and the subject.

In return you get…

1. The opportunity to shoot in a live fast-paced environment- the one thing books and classes cannot teach you.

2. A behind the scenes look at what makes a great wedding photographer, and what your life as a wedding photographer will entail.

3. Realization of your confidence and talent, so that you can either do it alone as a professional or continue to pursue education and experience.

More Second Shooting Posts…

How NOT to Get a Second Shooting Job by Jared Bauman

Tips for a Second Shooter by Jeff Youngren

Create | Connect | Grow w/ Vincent Pugliese

pittsburghpug — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:13:15 +0000

When: September 21
Topic: The “How” & “Why” on the art of seeing: with Vincent Pugliese
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Where: 502 W. North Ave. Pgh 15212

Bio: Vincent Pugliese

Super Bowl XXXV (Ravens-Giants)
Super Bowl XXXVII (Rams-Patriots)
Photojournalist for New York Newsday
The Associated Press in New York
National Hockey League
World Wrestling Federation (can you believe that!?)
The Courier & Press in Evansville, Indiana
Wedding Photography (with his lovely & more talented wife Elizabeth)

Degree in Visual Communication, Ohio University

Website – http://elizabethvincentphotography.com/
Blog – http://elizabethvincentphotography.com/blog/

Open to all, Please RSVP

Next PUG ~ Lightroom Discussion

pittsburghpug — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:09:33 +0000

Create | Connect | Grow – Meet Up

August 17
Networking Q&A: 7pm – 9pm
Topic: Lightroom follow up discussion
Where: 502 W. North Ave. Pgh 15212

Open to all….

PS. If you have not seen Adobe TV the how-to-videos, you can check them out (HERE) .

Review: Jared Platt & Lightoom Workshop

pittsburghpug — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:07:36 +0000

Photography education is a difficult subject to teach; Jared Platt does it well, very well.

For a photograph, there is no map or formula for what is correct. In music the “G” chord is agreed upon that either play it correctly or you don’t. In writing, usage of grammar is agreed upon.

In photography there is no agreed upon definition of what makes a correct exposure. The correct exposure is the exposure that you want to create. A poorly exposed photograph is easily agreed upon, but the correct exposure is subjective to the photographer and the viewer.

This is why photography concepts and photography education is a hard subject to communicate; limitless outcome, no agreed upon map.

In creating a photograph there is one concept that we share. That levels the playing field, no matter what equipment or time spent behind the lens. What is that concept? The frame. Jared Platt taught me that.

In a world where thinking outside the box is praised, photographers have to share the four walls that frame the subject. We must think inside the box.

In a Jared Platt workshop you will learn Lightroom 3, more than that you will understand the concepts of the “why “ of your workflow. These lessons of the “why” of your workflow are priceless in themselves, not to mention all the tips, shortcuts and time saving information that Platt educates on.

Platt educates. Not in a follow-my-lead type of workshop. He educates about how to think inside the box, be it the frame in the camera or the square box of your computer that houses Lightroom.

Platt delivers his workshop from the mindset that only great photos get to live. A photograph is only truly a photograph when you purposefully select it.

“Be a harsh editor, your clients deserve only your best work. You were hired to make decisions, make them.” ~ Platt (Survey mode in Lightroom will become your friend after this workshop.)

I am a good photographer; I have been honing my craft for nearly twenty years. After attending Platt’s workshop I now feel like a “complete photographer” and that is limitless.