Melissa Welsh is a lot more than a photographer. She is a problem solver. Especially, if it is a problem photographers are having.

One major topic of contention among photographers is how to respond to clients who ask for digital files. If you are reading this post, I know you have had a client who has asked or demanded for “their” digital files. And, you have struggled to find the right words that will satisfy both them and you.

Am I right?

Most of the wedding industry now “gives” the files to the couple. Some portrait photographers sell the files. Some photographers bundle it with other products. There isn't one industry standard that makes everyone happy. Either the clients are miffed because they were expecting or assuming the files would be included in the fee, or the photographer is upset because she or he is now having to deliver more value with no or a negligible monetary return.

Something had to be done and Melissa Welsh, a Victoria, British Columbia photographer with 20 years of experience as a photographer set out to find a solution that will be a win-win for all. Information about the Pixel Cents app is available here.

So what is this elixir? It's called Pixel Cents. It's both an ebook and a iOS application. The ebook is smartly bundled together with a few other tools you will find useful.

Photographers can use our industry standard cents per pixel (cpp) rates and calculate the value of their photos for all types of personal, commercial, editorial and advertising photo use.

A few weeks back, when Melissa was about to launch Pixel Cents, she emailed a bunch of her friends to introduce the idea to us. Some of us received the Pixel Cents ebook to read in advance and to possibly review.

Most often, I download an ebook, I let it sit for a few days before reading it. Pixel Cents was different. I dove in and couldn't stop reading it. If you could have seen me then, I was nodding in agreement to what Melissa has written. It's a well-crafted, lucidly written alternative to the craziness that is currently our lives. I quickly wrote back to her and asked if she would spend a few minutes speaking to us about her big idea – Pixel Cents. So click the video below and watch the interview:

Pixel Cents is bringing both efficiency and profitability to my family portrait photography business. And, I am no longer struggling to explain whether digital files are or are not included. Who wins? Everyone. Clients receive their files and I am compensated fairly. Hand wringing is history.

Need more convincing? Here in a nutshell is Melissa's solution.

The Pixel Cents Formula is the simple, easy way to value your photographs for personal, advertising, editorial and corporate use.

I trust this post will stir a pot a bit and we are all open to having a healthy dialogue here. So, comment below. We would love to hear from you. If you buy Pixel Cents, let us know what you think. Could this business model be the new industry standard? I really think so.

So, let me ask you again, do you have any Pixel Cents?

Matthew Jordan Smith first appeared on Tiffinbox to pitch his personal project, Future American President.

The FUTURE AMERICAN DREAM project is a personal way to educate, empower and inspire kids by creating a special edition version of the book, Future American President, featuring any child's photo on the cover.

There are only 5 days left for you to support Matthew Jordan Smith's Kickstarter campaign. I want you to imagine having this book at home or giving it as a gift by personalizing it. Imagine the look on that child's face as she or he grows up seeing what's possible of her or him. Imagine a world where dreams can come true with focus and hard work.

Can you see yourself inspiring a little one to the highest office in the land or something even greater? Can a book like Future American Dream do it? I believe it can.

Mike Olbinski is more than just a wedding photographer. Much, much more.

You see, in the off-season, he takes off from his home in Scottsdale, Arizona to find, chase and photograph storms. It's no easy task but he started small, with likely the wrong equipment, but he pushed on undeterred. Clearly, this man loves what he does.

I have long watched Mike's work in utter awe and thought it was high time he and I got together to talk about his art. So, here is that conversation.

What I am moved by the most is Mike's relentless pursuit of experiencing these storms. Clearly he determines the risks and knows where to go and how to photograph the storms in a safe manner. I trust that while you might be inspired by Mike Olbinski, you don't jump head in without doing your homework. In fact, feel free to ask Mike any questions about his process below in the comments section.

Mike has been tirelessly working Monsoon II, a short movie showcasing the time-lapse videos he has been creating along the way this past summer. Take a look at the movie first below and then read what Mike has to say about the project:

I've been chasing the monsoon in Arizona for about six to seven years now. This summer was different though. Back in late July, I was wondering why it felt like I was out chasing more than ever before. And then I remembered. I had a job last summer. This year I didn't. I went full-time photography in November of 2014 and haven't looked back.

I was free to roam and had virtually no limitations. I even had multiple chases where I never actually wend to bed, but instead chased all night. I took the kids to New Mexico at one point early in the season.

Last year I counted roughly 31 total days that I chased a storm during the monsoon. This summer: 48. Yikes.

17,000 miles driven, which was about 3,000 more than last year. Perhaps the biggest difference this year was shooting nearly 60,000 more time-lapse frames than I did in 2014. 105,000 total. And what sticks out to me even more than any of the other numbers above, is that only 55,000 of those 105,000 frames made it into Monsoon II.

What that means is I was able to stuff this new film with only the best of the best. We missed out on some of the huge dust storms like I've captured in years past, but overall, I think this represents some of the best weather I've ever photographed in Arizona. There are stunning shelf clouds, gorgeous rain shafts, lots of blowing dust, tons of lightning, and even multiple mini-supercells or mesocyclones. The brief mesocyclone over Cottonwood at the 3:38 mark is one of my all-time favorites.

I can't talk much more about the film without addressing the music real quick. The song is called Palladio (Rebuilt) and it's once again by the amazing Kerry Muzzey who donated it to me for Monsoon II. He also let me use another song of his for my previous film, The Chase and I'm beyond grateful for his generosity. I mean, how do you thank someone enough for that? Click here to find the song on iTunes and please support his work! I've said it a million times … the music is at least 50% of these movies I make. Kerry's art helps bring my films to life. Thank you my friend!

When I'm out there capturing footage for these films, I'm constantly thinking about the story I want to tell. For example, I wanted a lot of erupting, towering cumulus at the beginning to launch into the meatier clips. I started laying out the film back in mid-August. Certain clips I already knew would be in certain places in relation to the ups and downs of the song itself. As the season wore on, I gathered more and more clips and began to lay out the entire film. I'd remove clips when I got something better. There was exhausting editing, re-editing, looping music, reluctantly dropping clips that didn't work or were unfixable and watching it over, and over and over, to make sure I was telling the story I wanted to tell.

At one point, about halfway through … I was telling Jina that I have a lot of great stuff, but still haven't shot the final scene yet. I had no idea what it would be, but I knew I didn't have it. And then that very night (or maybe the next day) … I was out west of Tonopah and I knew on the way home that the monsoon had finally delivered my ending.

That is what is so amazing about doing this. You hit the road with zero idea about what you're going to see over the course of a summer. You might imagine scenarios or have ideas, but they get blown out of the water by reality. And that's what I love about it.

My hope is that you can see and feel that love in this film. The beauty of the monsoon in Arizona. This is where I'm from and this is home.

This video, also by Mike Olbinski, was a Staff Pick on Vimeo:

Meanwhile, watch the drool as you peruse through some absolutely fantastic storm photographs by Mike Olbinski below:

For a limited time, you can buy “Superstrike” for 25% off. I've got my eyes on a 20″x30″ metallic print, Mike!

Asha's essay, “Sales. Never dirty. Always Soulful” made me sit up and take note.

Thanking one of her fans for following her, Asha said this:

“I have always seen the sales a sacred dance for sure (as long as we are offering products that we believe in). Such a powerful profession to connect with people, to test our own integrity, to be of service, and to experience our worth both in the vocation sense & the financial sense.”

Are you as jazzed about what she says about “selling” as I am? I certainly hope so.

Asha is a spiritual and business coach based in Massachusetts. I invited her to be a guest on TiffinboxTV because or her long history of working with creative entrepreneurs, including photographers. In fact, she readily admits that Glen Cooper, a successful wedding photojournalist, who happens to be her husband, was one of her first students.

For most photographers, October is a busy month. Thankfully, right? Both portrait and wedding photographers are hustling and delivering their images to their clients and there isn't a moment to even think about next year. Yet, Asha says this is really the time to to start thinking about what's going to happen with your business in the new year.

She is on a mission to work with creative entrepreneurs – women and men – who are looking for powerful inner transformations. Discover your inner genius here. She leads mastermind courses at the beginning of the year for her students. If you don't want to wait till January, Asha has a new seven-week course called: Take Your Inner Genius To The Bank. It is now open for enrollment for a very limited time.

We sat down to talk about a variety of topics including sales, branding, workflows and creating systems:

Are you ready to uncover and monetize your genius? If you are clear with your goals, laser focused on what needs to be done on a daily basis and feel that you are not in business just for the sake of making money, but really interested in making an impact in your community or country, consider Asha's new program that will get you on the right path.

One of the things Asha says is this:

“When you raise your prices, we are really asking for greater excellence of ourselves and greater excellence of the kind of clients we attract.”

Would you like to raise your prices in a way that feels authentic to you and you are able to truly serve your photography clients in an excellent way? Then it is time to take your genius to the bank!

P.S. I am not an affiliate partner and I did not receive a monetary compensation for hosting this interview. I truly believe in Asha's mission and feel you might be encouraged to sign on to study under her so that your business flourishes. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask in the comments section below. Thank you!