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Jared Bauman, Inspire Interviews: Episode 9

November 24, 2014 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Jared Bauman is the President and Founder of ShootDotEdit, a company that helps busy wedding photographers tackle their image editing processes. He and ShootDotEdit have made a long term commitment to sponsor and attend every Inspire Photo Retreat conference. And, they will be back again in February 2015 as well.

Anyone who meets Jared will be immediately taken by his warm California charm and his genuine interest in your welfare; not just business. As a photographer himself, he gets our rhythm like no other “vendor” and I put that word in quotes because I suspect most vendors have only their own bottom line to worry about, much less their clients. In this regard, I feel Jared is different. Of course, he is in business for his business, but it is never at the expense of his clients.

So, those of you who will be at Inspire Photo Retreats should make it a point to stop by the ShootDotEdit booth and just chill out with Jared. If you are a wedding photographer and you are overwhelmed, talk with him. He may be able to guide you in the right direction. Register for Inspire Photo Retreats now (before it gets sold out again!)

Find out more about ShootDotEdit, especially their awesome webinars. Also, the ShootDotEdit blog is incredible; yes, bookmark it! The next one up is by Jason Grubb on Instagram Essentials for Wedding Photographers.

Daphne Chan’s Photo Project On Gender Identity

November 24, 2014 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Daphne Chan is a fine art photographer based in Vancouver, Canada. But she is embarking on a three-month residency in New York City to explore and perhaps discover gender identity among the LGBT community there.

When we met briefly in NYC, at Photo Plus Expo, I was both intrigued and baffled by her decision to drop her business cold and move to a different city, just to pursue a personal project. It was perhaps my own curiosity to know how she made the leap that motivated me to write to her and ask her to come on TiffinboxTV.

The project is called Transparency: The Gender Identity Project and I'll be photographing members of the transgender community in New York to help them share their experiences. I believe all individuals have a right to be truly seen and acknowledged regardless of gender identity.

Learn more about Daphne's project and support it, if you can.

How To Swiftly Create Wall Art For Your Photography Clients

November 24, 2014 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Chris Scott launched Preveal a few years ago as an iPad-only application that helps photographers create wall art for their photography clients. But Chris isn't one to sit still. He felt the iPad application was a good start but it left so many who didn't own the device out in the cold. Well, Chris worked with a developer to create SwiftGalleries.

Chris and I got together to chat about what SwiftGalleries is all about and why photographers should consider this sales tool for their photography business.

Check out this video as well, explaining how SwiftGalleries works:

See Swift Galleries in Action from Preveal on Vimeo.

So, let me ask you … based on what Chris said and the video below it, would you invest in SwiftGalleries for your photography business? It's a whopping $7 per month, according to Scott. Really, to me, that's a no-brainer. But I want to hear from you. Sound-off below to tell me what you think.

And, if you are reading this post before Black Friday or Cyber Monday, do keep your eyes peeled for special offers from Chris here.

Sean Kernan, Looking Into The Light: A Workshop-In-A-Book

November 22, 2014 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Sean Kernan is a photographer, teacher and author based in Connecticut. He often teaches at the Maine Media Workshops + College.

We sat down to talk about his new book, Looking Into The Light, which helps photographers resuscitate their sense of discovery and wonder through exercises and practice. It is, as Kernan says, a workshop in a book, so it isn't something you should read cover to cover in one sitting. It is to be nibbled at and examined in a mindful manner.

These exercises will “let you be empty and expectant” at the same time, allowing you a “spaciousness of mind,” for injecting a sense of play and imagination into your photography style.

Grab this random chapter from the book to get a sense of what is in the book. I think you will really like it! And, if you do buy the book, please come back here and share with me the results of the exercises. How did you feel before reading and doing the exercises and then after it? What changed in you? Were your images different in some way? How do you think the suggestions Kernan makes improved you and or your photography?

If you enjoyed this interview, please share it with your friends and family. Also, don't forget to subscribe to TiffinboxTV. Lastly, please suggest other people I should speak with for this program. Your input is always welcome!

Dinesh Khanna, Photography & Photographing In India

November 21, 2014 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Dinesh Khanna and I passed each other at a Dayanita Singh lecture, in New Delhi. It was, as you might have expected it, quite a crowded space and I don't believe we traded more than a few courtesies. Sephi Bergerson, made the introductions because I nudged him to.

So, that's sort of the background on where and how we met. It was a hurried meeting but it left in me an indelible mark because of the sheer humility Dinesh projected. I was gasping to come up with something remarkable or flattering to say, but he slid right past all that and started to ask me about how I was using social media and what I thought would stick. I was just getting started on Twitter at that time. At that point he or I may have even talked about doing a workshop for Indian photographers about social media, but like all good plans that get shelved, this one too hit the deck.

Fast forward a few years ago when I noticed Dinesh on Facebook and connected with him there and we began “talking” again, engaging with photographs and thoughts we shared online. I finally had to ask him to come on Tiffincast (I really should start referring to it as TiffinboxTV, eh?) because I had so many questions about his background, his ideas of where things were going with photography and what photographing in India really meant. Plus, I heard he was deeply involved with Prashant Panjiar in creating the Delhi Photo Festival (yes, if you are in India and don't go, well, I have to wonder about you).

So here we are just chilling out and talking shop. It's a longish video chat, but one that will reveal quite a bit about Dinesh, his passion for teaching photography and of course his now famous chair project.

For a quick glimpse of Dinesh's work, check these lovely images out:

Do also take a moment to take a look at Nazar Foundation – also an organization that Dinesh and Prashant Panjiar have co-founded.

Dinesh has also published a few books, Bazaar and Living Faith among them, that take the viewer on an immersive journey of punchy colors and quaint Indian nooks, places you and I most likely will only dream of visiting in this lifetime.

If you value this and other interviews, I ask that you subscribe to TiffinboxTV and tell your friends about it using one of the social media tools you see on this page. Thank you!

Click, Buy & Save BIG On These Black Friday And Cyber Monday Deals

November 21, 2014 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher

And, so it begins. Another Thanksgiving day will come and go and you'll find yourself stuffed with turkey and good cheer come Friday morning. Resist the temptation to run out at 2 in the morning to go shopping for that 43 1/2″ HD Cypersonic OLED television. Do all your shopping in your pajamas like I do starting today. I'll curate the best Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals for photographers right here. I would appreciate it if you used my affiliate links on this page to make your time-limited discounted purchases for yourself, your friends or your photography business.

I'll keep updating this page, so feel free to bookmark it and share it with your friends online. For your easy reference copy + paste this link when mentioning any deals: https://tiffinbox.org/best-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-deals-for-photographers/ – Thank you!

This one from Photography Concentrate starts today! It's an incredible deal on all of their tutorials. I have learned a ton from Lauren and Rob Lim over the years. I highly recommend what they have to offer and now at an incredibly low price, for a limited time.

Year in and year ou, I depend on WPEngine to deliver the goods on this website. From my experience, their customer service is excellent and their reliability spot on. Use code: CyberHosting14 – to sign up for personal, professional and business web hosting plans. You get an incredible 4 months added to your new account! Dayuuuum, wish I could sign up for this one.

Photography Spark has reduced its very popular “cookbooks for photographers” by about $60! Regularly $99, they are both being offered for $39, from now through December 2nd!

Everything in Rachel Brenke's Law Shop (think photography contracts and even the BizRevamp course) is a whopping 40% off from today through December 1. Use the code: BlackFriday40.

Preveal, Salesographer and SwiftGalleries are all on sale on Black Friday. Check out all the deals here or click the graphic below.

Design Aglow is my go-to-resource for templates of all kinds. This year the company is offering 15% off its framing and paper shops. Use code: THANKFUL when ordering.

Modern Tog has bundled all of her amazing resources into one product and is offering it from today through December 1st at a ridiculous discount. I would grab these now! Also, she is offering her 6-week marketing course, called Marketog, also at a discount for a limited time.

Get your pricing all wrong and you can kiss your business goodbye. Joy Vertz is all about teaching photographers like you through her 3 Weeks To Pricing Perfection Course (regularly $575). Use code: blackfriday50 and get it for 50% off between today through December 2nd!

Susan Stripling's The Dynamic Range just launched. Did you catch my interview with her? Starting on Thursday, the 27th through December 2nd, she is offering all of her ebooks at 30% off! You don't need a coupon to buy The ThinkBook Compendium, The Business and Marketing Workbook, and Case Studies. Learn from a real pro!

Jenika McDavitt of Psychology for Photographers fame is offering a rare sale on Irresistible Words $199 (reg $249), Irresistible Website for $109 (reg $159) and a bundle that includes both – $299 (retail for both would be $408). These are available only on Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

For the creative person in you or for a friend, consider the preset packs offered by Mastin Labs. November 28th through December 1st, you can snag all of the presets at 40% off! These are the same presets I depend on for my portrait photographs. No code required.

Scott Wyden Kivowitz is a friend and a few months back he released the Wedding Photographer Conversion Kit (regularly $149.97). November 26th through December 1st he is offering it to you for 66% off or $50.99! Use code: GobbleGobble [you can also buy his other ebooks and presets at 66% off using this special link]

Other special offers for photographers will be displayed right here, so please come back and visit and do tell your friends who are just as obsessed with photography as you are! Let's save some money and make things happen for our businesses in 2015!

Do you have a busy portrait studio or a wedding photography business? Then ShootProof is THE proofing option for you. Check out their special offer here for new customers only.

Corwin Hiebert, On Minding Your Photography Business

November 18, 2014 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Corwin Hiebert and his boutique business, Taendem Agency, for all practical purposes operates in the shadows. Out of sight to most, though, he and his team are responsible for making sure their clients, all creative people, have thriving businesses so that they can keep doing what they love.

The celebrated author, speaker, teacher, David duChemin is one his clients. From David's own words we hear about how he is left best to creating images and fully living the life of a creative because the other side of his business, which is the nitty gritty details of running it – bookkeeping, answering emails, setting up appointments etc. are all handled by Taendem.

Now, not everyone can afford the step up to this kind of laissez-faire (in truth, though, that was probably the wrong word to use as Taendem plays such an active role in the creative's life and lifestyle). That's one reason why Corwin sat down and crafted what I consider one of the most important books you should read – Living The Dream.

It's a small book but it will take you while to go through the chapters because every single thing he says is germane to the existence, sustenance and success of your photography business. Split over two parts – one that addresses managing your creative business and the other, marketing your creative business – this 14-chapter book must be one of those that you pick up to read and refer to all the time. Yes, it is that good! Buy it here [affiliate]

A couple of weeks back, I got in touch with Corwin because he launched Business Action Planner, “a self-paced resource that you can use to bring structure and focus to your business building efforts.” Curiously, the Business Action Planner works alongside Evernote, which I use every day anyway to save or retrieve content.

We sat down one early morning to chat about Business Action Planner and why this new resource, which includes a massive guidebook, the Business Action Planner and worksheets is so timely and relevant to photographers right now.

The Business Action Planner is now on sale (through November 30th, 2014) for only $40. You'll notice Corwin has the Tool Kit available for both freelance photographers and freelance designers. Choose between the two, or buy them both if your studio serves both kinds of clients.

While the investment in such a resource would be a no-brainer, I understand some of you may want to dip your toes in the water first. Check out Corwin's ebooks on Craft & Vision.

Growing The VisionMonger by Corwin Hiebert

Growing The VisionMonger 2 by Corwin Hiebert

Spencer Lum, Inspire Interviews, Episode 8

November 10, 2014 by Seshu

Spencer Lum is no stranger to Tiffinbox, as he was the 2nd Annual Tiffinbox Award winner. As the principal photographer at 5 West Studios, a Brooklyn, NY based wedding photography business and the blogger behind Ground Glass, Lum is a highly sought after speaker and presenter. He will be at forthcoming Inspire Photo Retreats, in Portland, Maine from February 9 – 11th, 2015.

We sat down to chat about his 2014 presentation (which I missed!) and then explored what he will be speaking about at the 2015 event.

If you are still on the fence, please take a look at all the speakers who will be coming to Portland. I believe speakers like Ashley & Rich and others have one mission: to inspire you to do your best work in the near year. Everybody needs that kind of motivation year-in-and-year-out. If you agree, I expect to see you at Inspire Photo Retreats in 2015! Register today.

Next up in the Inspire Interviews series is Arielle Doneson, a film and digital hybrid shooter sought after worldwide for her luminous fine art approach to weddings. Come back and check it out or subscribe to TiffinboxTV.

Ashley & Rich Pizzuti, Inspire Interviews: Episode 7

November 5, 2014 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Ashley & Rich Pizzuti are Boston-based wedding and lifestyle portrait photographers. They are also speakers at the next Inspire Photo Retreats conference, to be held from February 9-11th, 2015.

Like the other interviews in this series, I spoke with them about their background in this business, their presentation on why photographers should use business plans, and what they are most excited about Inspire Photo Retreats. Check out our conversation below:

Here are a few examples of their awesome photography:

Next up in the Inspire Interviews series is New York City based wedding photographer Spencer Lum.

Bryan Caporicci, Inspire Interviews: Episode 6

October 24, 2014 by Seshu | Editor & Publisher

Bryan Caporicci is a Canadian wedding photographer who also publishes the popular Sprouting Photographer blog. Bryan will be presenting at Inspire Photo Retreats in February 2015, in Portland, Maine. While Bryan and I chat routinely about a great number of things, including my own photography business, it’s always a pleasure to hear how he is conjuring ways of helping other photographers create better businesses for themselves. Catch his Inspire Photo Retreats presentation by registering now.

If you are still on the fence, please take a look at all the speakers who will be coming to Portland. I believe speakers like Jane and others have one mission: to inspire you to do your best work in the near year. Everybody needs that kind of motivation year-in-and-year-out. If you agree, I expect to see you at Inspire Photo Retreats in 2015!

Next up in the Inspire Interviews series is Boston, Massachusetts based Ashley & Rich Pizzutti of Pizzuti Photography.