If you have been at it as a wedding photographer, you've at one point or another wanted to create a wedding album for your clients. The process can be tedious, long and overly stressful.

Andrew Funderburg, or at least his company, Fundy Software, is a household name now. I interviewed “Fundy” several years back when I was attending the Mystic Seminars. His programs evolve … constantly. His applications Fundy Album Builder and Fundy Album Proofer are, by a very wide margin, the industry leaders in their respective niches.

I heard from Fundy that he was working on something revolutionary. In most other cases if someone came up to me and dropped that kind of language, I would be very skeptical. Not in Fundy's case because he has time and time again delivered on that promise and made the lives of thousands of photographers more efficient, and perhaps even more meaningful.

When you have an opportunity to interview the guy who defines and directs how wedding photographers run a major part of their business, you jump at the opportunity to see what he is cooking up next. Fundy and I sat down and chatted and he shared his screen with me, showing me the various features of Fundy Designer & Album Builder version 6.0.

The video is long, but well worth your time, if you are considering either buying or upgrading from your current version of Album Builder. We talk about his beginnings, where his ideas come from, what the new version of the software looks like and what we can expect in the future.

Do note that tomorrow (January 31, 2014) is the last day to upgrade at an insanely low price of $30! It would be absurd if you didn't upgrade.

February 1, early-bird pricing will end. Album Builder v6 will be $329, Upgrades from v5 will be $79, upgrades from v4 will be $179, and upgrades from v3 will be $279.

I believed in Fundy's ideas before he even launched his company and that belief is even stronger after seeing what he is bringing to the table now and what features are planned in the coming months. Frankly, it's time again to be excited about photographing weddings and designing wedding albums with ease, efficiency and elegance.

It’s funny how some of the moments that have impacted us the most as photographers come from the most unexpected places or at the most unpredictable times. Sometimes we don’t even realize their influence until much much later. For me, that mother of the groom at that wedding all those years ago was one of those moments.

My husband Chris and I were shooting her son’s wedding and at one point during the day she pulled us aside. At this point my mind was racing thinking about what was so important she felt like she had to tell us then and there. She proceeded to say that she wanted to personally tell us how much she loved her son and new daughter in law’s engagement photos from their engagement session a few months prior. She thought they were just beautiful. And then, it came. What she said next changed everything. She said, “I loved the photos because they were just SO THEM.” She didn’t mention the beautiful light or gorgeous scenery. She didn’t compliment us on the flattering poses, the exposure or anything like that.

The “So Them” Factor

Weeks went by and what she said still stuck with me. It was one of the most amazing compliments I felt like I could receive as a photographer. I wanted all of my couples and their families to look at their own photos and feel the same way she did about her son’s. I wanted to truly capture what I have come to call the “So Them Factor.”

The “So Them Factor” is the story, details, and personality that makes an individual and couple unique and therefore special. I wanted to capture the way Ava scrunched her nose when she was genuinely laughing so hard at her fiancé Steve’s jokes – something she has always done since she was a little girl. Her grandma does the same thing. I wanted to capture how Haley would randomly kiss Gavin’s hand as they walked together hand in hand – something she started doing when he was really sick a few years ago. For them it was a way of saying “I love you” with no words. I wanted to capture how big Emily and Brad’s smiles were as they squeezed one another hands back and forth as they sat next to one another – something they had done on their first date and continued to do throughout the years. I couldn’t have thought up direction or poses to elicit these authentic responses. But by knowing a couple and not giving too much direction, I gave them the space to be authentically themselves.

Authenticity versus Over Posing

What has helped me in capturing my couple’s uniqueness and chemistry – their “So Them Factor” – has been truly getting to know my couples. And not just getting to know how they met and hearing about the proposal. But by spending quality time with them and really observing and listening to their story; who they are and what makes them special as individuals and together as a couple. What they have been through, what they have overcome, their victories and imperfections and at the end of the day what makes them THEM. I then use this insight as I am photographing. So instead of telling a couple, for example, to face one another with hands on one another’s waists, his hands lower than her's and for her to turn her head 90 degrees and then both of them laugh really hard, I could tell them to hold one another tight and think about the time when he called her phone and was gushing about how much he loved her only to realize her grandma had answered her phone. Instant genuine laughs as they recall this memory. Conversation between the two. Authentic smiles.

As another example, maybe I see a golden retriever during their shoot and we all start recalling the story they told me during their consultation about how she tripped over a stranger’s dog leash in NYC and the person that helped her up was him. That’s how they met and their story began. These are all things that make them unique and special. They are all part of their story that is theirs and theirs alone.

I have found that for me, giving my couples too much technical or impersonal direction during a shoot and over posing them drains the uniqueness of a couple. It no longer matters who the couple is but becomes all about the pose. But when I really know the couple and they feel comfortable, I can give them permission to be themselves … permission to relax, have fun, and celebrate their story. I can capture them with no walls up. They have genuine laughs, hold hands the way they naturally would and occasionally position themselves with one another with minimal direction from me. They aren’t over thinking how they should stand or look or breathe. They are being authentically themselves in the moment, and THIS is what I want to capture. Because as the end of the day, when they look at their photos, I want them to say “these photos are beautiful and so US.”

Regardless of photographic genre, the primary factor a client will use to make their photographer hiring decision is going to be the photographer's images; if they see that you can produce great photos, that's going to be the most important thing. But there are a number of supporting factors that distinguish a true professional photographer; things that aren't always visible in your photos; but they contribute behind the scenes to being able to consistently deliver a great client experience.

A Professional Has Redundant Gear

I never arrive at a photo shoot with only a single camera, lens, or light; and neither should you. Like everything else, camera gear will break, whether it's just worn out or accidentally damaged. An equipment failure shouldn't derail a wedding, senior portrait session, commercial shoot, or other client endeavor. Responsible pros will own or rent an appropriate amount of gear to work through the occasional problem.

A Professional Photographer Is Insured

As a professional, it's good business to have insurance. Equipment insurance will cover your essential tools you use to make photos. Liability insurance will protect you if a client trips over your tripod. Errors and Omissions insurance will protect against other failures such as missing a critical photo in a scene that can't be re-staged. If you're not yet insured, consider the risks.

A Professional Photographer Knows Other Professional Photographers

It's the night before a big wedding. Or the morning of a day in your studio booked solid with clients. Maybe you're slated to head out first thing in the morning to set up for a day of executive portraits on location for a large company. And now you're violently ill. What's going to happen? A pro is going to have established connections with other pro photographers in the area that could potentially cover in a pinch.

Be Professional and Proud

Be a professional; and be proud of that. Your clients want great-looking photos, but they also want assurance that you've done the work to make sure that can happen. Let them know about what makes you a pro; it's a benefit to your client and they ought to know that you've thought about these factors. I can help them understand the value in hiring you rather than that guy off of Craigslist that'll do the job for 1/4 of your rate.

So, do you agree or disagree with Aaron Hockley? What other factors would you add to this list? Sound off below in the comments section!

Younes Bounhar and Amanda Large of Double Space Photography are architectural photographers based in Ottawa, Canada. In a short span of time, since they launched only a couple of years ago, they have photographed for a great many clients in Canada and beyond. It's rather easy to see how and why.

I knew nothing about architectural photographers or architectural photography. I recall a time when I was asked to photograph the interior of a home for sale and I remember sweating bullets. When Younes and I connected on Twitter, now several years back, I knew I wanted to interview him for Tiffinbox at some point because I was intrigued about what he does for his clients. But his busy schedule (he and his wife Amanda are on the go all the time) prevented us from nailing a specific date down. During a few recent exchanges on Twitter, I asked him again if he could commit to a date and this time he said he had a window of about a week when he could sit down and talk about architectural photography, working with his wife, Amanda, and traveling the world.

So here is that chat with Younes. Give it a listen, and check out the images he and Amanda have produced for architect clients around the globe.

Like architectural photographers Younes and Amanda, are you passionate about photographing just one subject and knocking it out of the park? What genre of photography is it? Sound off below!

Mr. Farnsworth was a terrific music teacher. Affable, yet stern. He would tell me each time I would return to take drum lessons, “Seshu, failing to practice is practicing to fail.”

It’s taken me nearly 30 years to absorb that. Sometimes, it would be obvious that getting my stuff done in time was beneficial and sometimes procrastination would get the better of me and I paid dearly. Still, creating a plan or a workflow and being organized simply has not come naturally to me.

Is that how you feel at least a few times a year? Do you feel that being organized would create at least a semblance of efficiency? Have you struggled to keep track of your client contact information or sales tax deadlines? Are you sometimes delivering your client orders later than when you promised them?

My friend Eric O’Connor, a wedding photographer in Chicago, tried to get me to think in about workflow. Several times. I remain in awe at how his allows him to photograph 30 weddings a year and be a father and a husband.

“Creating a system,” he told me once, was the ticket to being stress-free and happy.

I have a short stack of scratch paper filled with workflow ideas and what I would do the minute a potential client rang me. I had steps that I would follow after the portrait session was booked. But what would come after the shoot and in what order? Sadly, I had too many ideas and no action. This is mostly because having and maintaining a system requires clarity of thought and the “D” word … discipline.

Thankfully, Design Aglow is the photographer’s friend. I lean on the team there to provide me with ideas and templates. Just in time for the start of the new year, they launched a photographers’ studio planner called The Big Picture.

Like all their templates, The Big Picture, does not disappoint when it comes to how it is presented. Minimalistic design meets elegance. The introductory section says, “it’s a repository for your hopes and dreams.” So true.

The Big Picture guides you through a short writing exercise where you enunciate your goals. Then you are gently coaxed into breaking down your goals into actionable tasks. Huge win for me.

There are templates for daily, weekly and monthly activities surrounding your studio. The exercise is in writing it all down and being able to refer back to it constantly. I think this is brilliant because it instills that sense of discipline and accountability to oneself that I mentioned above.

Keeping track of clients, venues and vendors (mostly for wedding photographers) is now easy as 1-2-3. There is a questionnaire and a time table that helps you through your online and off-line (local) marketing.

Want to track your website and blog statistics? Yes, there is a rather intricate table for that too. The Big Picture also includes income and expense reports that you fill out and also a mileage tracker (which I have usually forgot to log in the past).

The Big Picture ends with a long list of recommended business books one should read to stay informed and inspired. There were quite a few in this list that I hadn’t even heard of before. So, Design Aglow, thanks for that too!

I don’t think this team has missed any detail when it comes to putting this studio planner together. I know as I launch my new website and business this month, The Big Picture is going to help me stay focused and remain efficient through the year. It’ll be a binder that I take with me to client meetings and I’ll refer to it when I am trying to assess my business. It promises to provide me a macroscopic view of my business and will tell me about its health from month-to-month. I no longer have to fret about keeping tabs on my workflow or if my quarterly sales tax payments are late.

Now, there are a couple of things I would have liked to have seen in The Big Picture download: 1) InDesign files to further customize the templates and 2) perhaps down the road, an electronic version that we can refer to while we are in the field, say an iPad application that could display all of these bits of information?

[UPDATE: Both InDesign & Photoshop files are included! I had failed to open all of the folders that came as part of the zip'd download file! Sorry about the error!]

That said, The Big Picture is a remarkable achievement because it so neatly brings so many elements of one’s business in an easily accessible folder or binder. I know there are several other options in the market but as a die-hard Design Aglow fan, I have to urge you to take a look at this product first.

On January 15th (that’s tomorrow), the introductory pricing of $69 ends. Make this the first business expense you enter into The Big Picture for 2014!

In other words, buy it now.

If you have been an avid reader of Tiffinbox, you've read David Jackson‘s popular guest posts.

If you haven't, here is the first one and here is the second one.

Dave is an award-winning advertising, commercial and entertainment photographer based in Appleton, Wisconsin. He and his crew are known to make graphically intense portraits for bands and businesses. He has the ability to sculpt light and create images that pop. Take a look at some of these images!

I first learned about Dave through Zack Arias. It's true, long before I became a friend, I was a fan. I watched and read Dave's whimsical blog posts and loved how his personality came through in every single one of them. He is definitely not afraid to show his clients who he truly is. Lean and tall, with a glowing beard and tattoos, he has an august presence about him. When you get to talking to him, you immediately see how humble, generous and really gentle this guy is.

In the last two years, I have flown out to Appleton, Wisconsin twice, to learn from Dave. I discovered through the course of his workshops that just observing wouldn't cut it. He expected me to play and learn and make mistakes and ask why. We listened to Dave for a bit as he showed a few lighting scenarios and explained how he approached a specific project. Then it was up to us to roll up our sleeves and work.

Dave is clear that the intent of his workshops aren't to leave with a set of “portfolio” images but feel really comfortable taking those first steps towards creating your own back at home. Both the workshops ran long, only because Dave wanted to be sure that all of the attendee questions were answered and that he had truly helped everyone out.

I can tell you that my lighting has improved dramatically since signing up with Dave. Please be sure that he didn't pay me to say that. Take a look at my work and follow me on Facebook where you will see my personal experiments with lighting.

As a busy studio that's nabbing all kinds of awards for their work, it's awfully difficult to get Dave and company to teach a workshop outside of Wisconsin. As I said above, I had to fly to Appleton, Wisconsin! In rare form, Dave is coming to teach at Inspire Photo Seminars in February.

Since he is going to be in Sturbridge, Massachusetts already, he figured he would give those photographers in the New England area a chance to sign up for his workshops closer to their homes – Breaking the Rules Workshop and F/What? Workshop.

You'll notice there is an option to register for both days and save a bundle. If you are new to off-camera flash lighting, you may want to consider the one-two-punch. However, if you are comfortable with your f/stops, shutter speeds and ISO's, then skip the first one and sign up for just the second. Either way, I know you are going to come away learning something new that you will use on a daily basis in your photography business.

So, register here and now. [There is a good chance I will be assisting Dave during his workshops in Sturbridge, MA, so if you do register, please say hello!]

Brent Robertson is a partner at Fathom, a progressive agency based in Hartford that helps companies recognize their culture and realize their dreams.

I had an opportunity to speak with him about how values, when tied to our work, can propel us in business.

I referenced Brent's blog, Possibility of Possibility and two of his blog posts. Here they are:

Live Your Value At Work – part 1 and Live Your Values At Work – part 2

This is the first of many such conversations I hope to have with business leaders about the meaning of work and working in the creative arts. If you would like to suggest or nominate other business leaders you would like to hear from – inside and particularly outside the photography industry – please pen your thoughts below.

Lastly, tell me: Are you pursuing photography by infusing your values into your work? How do your values shape what you do with a camera? Are you defined by your tools? Comment below!

Happy New Year to you all. If you partied hard last night, I hope you are hydrating yourself back to health.

Chalk it up to being married with children, but I spent the evening tinkering with my new website. Yes, it is coming and may in fact launch today, if I can get my photo editing all done. I am excited about what 2014 is going to bring me, my business and my family.

I am pivoting, changing course by focusing on one kind of photography: creating relaxed portraits of love for families in the community I live in. I dug deep down to answer why that was important for me to do. As you’ll see in the new site, it’s personal.

Marketing, too, needs to be personal. It needs to be heart-felt and authentic or else your clients are going to seek out someone else who resonates with them. It’s just the way it goes. As much time as I spend online – Facebook and Twitter – the best marketing takes place when you meet your potential clients face to face. Still, it’s not easy to describe what your heart is set to do for them or their family.

That’s where Marketog comes in. It is a 6-week program for photographers like you and I. When Jamie Swanson of The Modern Tog let me know she was launching this, I had to sign up.

Here in brief are the 6 topics she covers in Marketog:

How to get more of the right kinds of clients
How to turn inquiries into clients: 6 game-changing strategies
How to turn your website into an inquiry-generating machine
How to get repeat clients and more word-of-mouth advertising
How to get other business owners to send you their best clients
Your marketing toolkit for effective marketing

If you want 2014 to be different than 2013 (heck, I do), I wholly recommend you sign up for Jamie’s course between now and this coming Sunday, when registration closes.

In all honesty, I am a little behind in the course and need to finish the worksheets and watch the videos in the last few modules. That said, Marketog has given me an incredible sense of confidence in marketing my new business that I would have never had without Jamie’s able teaching.

She offers weekly Q&A sessions where she offers to answer your individual questions. Yes, you send in questions and she takes the time to respond to every one of them. No one and I mean no one does this in their courses. In fact, I quit another marketing program because Jamie’s was exactly what I wanted and needed right now.

Jamie also has a private Facebook group that is full of engaging discussions (no whining, ranting or bitching allowed, so it is free of drama) about the course, any questions you feel your peers may be able to answer and of course success stories.

Lastly, you get to hear from photographers around the world who are marketing their photography businesses using specific strategies that you may consider incorporating in your business.

You get to choose between paying 8 monthly installments of $79 or $499 up-front and save 21% right off the bat. Either way, signing up now before registration closes on Sunday would be a smart move on your part.

On the fence about all of this? I get it. Dropping five large ones right after Christmas is no fun. But what if you could recover that cost within two photo sessions in the new year? Do you think that’s do-able? I think so. Follow the steps Jamie outlines in the course. Try it out for 44 days even (she has a crazy 45-day unconditional money back guarantee which I was going to talk her out of offering) and then make your final decision. Sound fair?

Click here to enroll in Marketog now.

Psst … Sign up for the Tiffinbox Treats newsletter for a couple of bonuses I am offering ONLY to subscribers.

The Canadians celebrate the day after Christmas as Boxing Day. As a Yankee, I had to go look that up. But when Canadians throw a party, well, how can one refuse, right?

Today's post is to let you know that a couple of Canadian companies are kicking off some sales for photographers that are not to be missed.

Red Leaf

As the ad says, 30% everything in their store. I think their presets are one of the best in the business. Simply use the code “REDLEAF” at checkout.

Photography Concentrate

My friends, Lauren and Rob Lim have opened their store again to a special 30% off sale. This IS the time to grab one of these products:

1. Extremely Essential Camera Skills
Learn to take control over that snazzy camera of yours

2. Super Photo Editing Skills
Become an editing ninja, and conquer Adobe Lightroom

3. Simple Wedding Photography
Discover the art and business behind wedding photography

4. The Creativity Field Guide
Defeat creative block, and take your photos to new heights

5. Backup or Die
Learn exactly what to do to backup your photos and keep them safe

6. How We Did It: Lobster Island
Come behind the scenes with us on a photo adventure on the high seas

7. Awesome Album Design Skills
Fall in love with designing albums in Adobe InDesign

Now is the time to ramp up for 2014. Making smart decisions on what educational or workflow tools to buy now will help you through 2014. That's a promise.

As always, I recommend products and services that I have tried first hand. I wouldn't feel right about promoting anything without giving it a shot first to see how it would help my photography business.

If and when you do buy any of the products mentioned above, come back here and let me know below. Email me your receipt (showing me your mailing address) and 3 of you will receive Gary Vaynerchuk's new book: Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How To Tell Your Story In A Noisy, Social World.

Seems appropriate since it is Boxing Day today!