Though headshot photography is gaining in popularity, retouching headshot portraits isn't discussed to a great degree in public yet. Only commercial photographers and professional retouchers handle this topic often, because that's been their domain for so long.

Things are, however, changing. There is a growing need for most people to appear professional, confident and approachable. Selfies and random party snaps simply do not cut it on sites like LinkedIn or when most people need to submit project proposals.

Rafal Wegiel a headshot portrait photographer based in Alberta, Canada intends teaching fellow photographers his approach to retouching headshot portraits.

His tips and techniques on Facebook forum and YouTube are simply great. Just a few days ago, he launched a new course called, “Beyond The Art of Headshot Retouching“.

We had a quick chat about the course and why he decided to introduce it to the world:

Learn more about the Headshot Retouching Tutorial here:

At $79.99, I think this is a steal. It's very hard to find a resource that is this in-depth. Across 17 videso, four of those being just retouching, Rafal walks you through just about every scenario that you will encounter as a headshot photographer. As I promised in the podcast above, I invested in this course right away. If you are reading this post and you have read this far or scanned down to this area, consider using the code: SESHU, to save $10 (for a limited time) OR use the code: HEADSHOT (also for a limited time) to save 20% when you check out.

Either way, I do not make an affiliate commission. Just bringing you something that will help you and your photography business!

Still interested in headshot photographers?

Eric Laurits, Perter Hurley and Dylan Patrick are all amazing headshot portrait photographers.

Corey Potter is on a mission to teach photographers all about SEO.

His website, Fuel Your Photos, has gradually become the place to visit for the latest news about site analytics, keyword use, using YouTube, writing blog posts and so much more.

Now, he has just launched a course dedicated to SEO, or search engine optimization, for photographers.

That's where you come in, if you are carefully watching your Google analytics and you aren't moving the needle but want to in terms of attracting the right visitors to your website and converting them into paying clients.

3 Common SEO Myths

Photographers tend to believe three common SEO myths. Corey dispels them all in this interview.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Corey about SEO for Photographers about a week ago. Take a listen and let me know in the comments how you are paying attention to your metrics – bounce rates, site visits or your Google rank.

Corey is one of the most generous people I know. He and his friend Dylan Howell can be found on Facebook Live quite often discussing SEO topics with their followers.

Corey just told me that he was chosen to participate in a special event for web masters hosted at Google.

The Course

So, if you are considering SEO for Photographers, you are in good and secure company. I know for a fact that Corey is going to take good care of you and will not lead you astray. Search engine optimization is what he obsesses about and we are the better for it.

If you are one of the first 25 people to use the code – tiffinbox – when enrolling in SEO for Photographers, Corey has promised the following bonuses:

1. Personal 10-15 minute website review to help you figure out exactly where to start to make the most impact on rankings. $99 value.

2. Lifetime course community access. We do monthly live video chats and release other exclusive content inside the course community FB group. You get lifetime access instead of 1 year access. $99/yr value.

3. Free access to our upcoming blogging course when it is released. $200 value.

The Book

If SEO for Photographers isn't something you can invest in now, do consider Corey's book, “22 SEO Actions You Can Take Today“. Save $5 on the book when using the code – tiffinbox

So, what do you say? Do you pay attention to your search engine stats? Do you know your way around the back end of Google Analytics? Or, are you like me, a photographer who needs help figuring it all out. If you have read this far, you know where to find help. I trust you will consider SEO for Photographers.

Esteban Gil is a wedding photographer based in Guilford, Connecticut. He is also a teacher and mentor to scores of wedding photographers through his website, Steel & Flint Society.

The Wedding Photographer's Portfolio

Here are some of Esteban's exquisite wedding photography:

The Interview

Esteban and I spoke several months ago and I have finally got this interview with him ready for you to check out. So, click the graphic below and give this a listen now.

At 12:37, I ask Esteban about his next workshops. Please disregard the dates as these have all long gone past us.

The Steel & Flint Soceity

STEEL + FLINT is an interactive, community-based resource for wedding photographers, with the goal of instilling a sense of “community over competition” among its members.

While Esteban started the Steel & Flint Society, he is joined by Nicole Apuzzo, Roxanne Gil, Mike Musto and Drew Hines when it comes to leading other photographers through in-person workshops.

Want to learn step by step instructions on how to use a Godox AD200 and a Westcott Rapid Box together? There is an online tutorial for it.

It's a learn-by-doing environment. Check out the weekly challenges that you can participate in as well.

But if you are really intent on meeting up with Esteban or any of the other Steel & Flint Society leaders, keep an eye out for their workshops here (just don't be surprised if they are all SOLD OUT, so you do have to jump on the opportunity as soon as it presents itself!)

For Wedding Photographers

If you are a wedding photographer, what would like to learn at a Steel & Flint Society event?

WordPress Plugins For The Win

These are truly exciting times we are living in. As professional photographer, if your website uses WordPress plugins, you are going to want to sit up and pay a little attention.

Would you like an easy and seamless way for your clients to order prints through your own website?

If you said yes, you are in the majority. With nearly 30% of all photography websites based on WordPress, the time has come to be able to fully harness the power behind the ubiquitous platform.

My friend, Scott Wyden Kivowitz, who works for Imagely just sent me an email to confirm that print fulfillment is now a reality for wedding and portrait photographers.

The Announcement

This is BIG news.

After nearly four years of development, Imagely‘s NextGen Pro WordPress plugin now will allow your clients to place print orders through your own website!

How awesome is that?

Learn more about print fulfillment via the NextGen Pro WordPress plugin.

The Interview With Scott Wyden Kivowitz

A few days before the announcement, I actually got to chat with Scott about the update to their legendary WordPress plugin. Check out that interview below:

P.S. We talk about the NextGen Pro plugin being updated “today” but it was technically launched yesterday.

More Questions

As it so happens so many times, after the interview is recorded I am reminded of some questions that forgot to ask Scott. He was very kind to respond. I'm sure site speed and plugin reliability are your concerns as well. Here is what he had to say about both of those topics:

WordPress, including themes and plugins, can have security issues. But so do Google, Apple, Squarespace and every other software company out there. You don’t hear about most of them. WordPress security issues come up so often because it’s easy to attack open-source software, used by 30% of the Internet. Even Microsoft had 529 vulnerabilities in 2019 alone which are individually listed here. Apple had 229.

With that said, my suggestion is to use themes and plugins from reputable companies. These are companies who update their products often for compatibility with constant changes in technology. But also companies who are updating their products, fast, to solve any security issues that may arise.

I’d recommend hosting with companies who keep their servers up to date and WordPress up to date. For example, hosts that use PHP version 5.2 and older are vulnerable to security holes not visible in PHP version 7.2 or above. So you can clog leaks by merely keeping the server up to date, which has nothing to do with WordPress.

In addition to updates, you can identify reputable companies by how active they are responding to social posts, how active they are in public forums, how they’re reviewed regularly, and so on.

Imagely's NextGen Pro

So, there you have it. Will you be updating your WordPress plugins to include NextGen Pro? How do you think your clients are going to react when they are able to book a session AND order their prints through your site?

While right now the only lab onboard to work with NextGen Pro is WHCC, that is likely to change as more labs are integrated in the system. Which professional labs would you like to see work with this application?

If you are handy with WordPress (and even if you are not, the folks at Imagely will help you out), I hope you will consider this WordPress plugin.

Muslims In America

The first Muslims may have arrived in the North American continent in the 14th century. And according to this article about “Islam in America,” even Christopher Columbus may have used a guide book written by Portuguese Muslims!

Yet, Muslims in America today often feel marginalized and stigmatized by the media. They become easy targets of ridicule because of their faith or in the way they dress. The fact is, Muslims who have either immigrated to the United States or have been here for generations are productive citizens in the communities they call home.

Genesis Of A Project

So, when New York based editorial photographer Syed Yaqeen was looking to work on a portrait project, it would seem the work came looking for him!

Syed who is originally from Bangladesh, identifies himself as an American now. To counter the often negative portrayal of Muslims in the media, Syed commenced to work on project to portray his Muslim sisters and brothers in a positive manner. Through his work, he hopes to inform us that Muslims are so much more than the stereotypes seen on television every night.

He was commissioned by ISPU – The Institute of Social Policy and Understanding – to create the portraits for Muslims for American Progress.

Portraits of A Community

From Syed's site:

“The Muslims for American Progress (MAP) Project educates the public by providing a much-needed, evidence-based portrait of a deeply misunderstood community. The MAP project quantifies the contributions of American Muslims in New York City in eight areas: Civics and Democracy, Economic Development, Medicine, STEM, Philanthropy and Nonprofits, Arts and Entertainment, Sports & Education. MAP-NYC is a project of the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. ISPU conducts objective, solution-seeking research that empowers American Muslims to develop their community and fully contribute to democracy and pluralism in the United States. ISPU is a leading think tank focused on studying and empowering the American Muslim community.”

The Interview with Syed Yaqeen

Syed and I recently chatted about his work and where he hopes to take it after New York City. Give this quick interview a listen please.

Syed's Portrait Portfolio

Give these portraits a close look please. These are our neighbors, our friends, may be even our relatives. I believe the central premise to Syed Yaqeen's work is to show us that Muslims aren't really very different than you and me.

Meet & Greet

Meet some of the subjects of this project this Saturday (April 14, 2019) at the Mulberry Street Library in New York City.