mentor

Who is Don Giannatti?

Please join me in my congratulating Don Giannatti, creative mentor and coach, as this year's recipient of the Tiffinbox Award.

I recall attending one of Don's first lighting workshops in Boston and kept in touch as he evolved and began offering his advice to other emerging photographers online.

Don is the consummate photographer/teacher, who gently coaxes you into being a better photographer and a better business person. He is relentless in sharing his opinion and delivers them as a matter of fact because he has the experience to back it all up. In addition to being a photographer, at one time Don also owned a design agency that worked with a variety of corporate and editorial clients. He brings all of his knowledge, distills it and delivers it to students through his websites Lighting Essentials and Project52.

In his own words:

I have been a commercial photographer since 1974, and have worked with advertising agencies and design firms all over the world. I have had studios in LA, Chicago, and Phoenix.

In the decades of my career I have shot fashion and beauty, product, industrial and corporate, and currently I make portraits and environmental images.

Project 52 Pro System is my flagship online learning center where I work with small groups of photographers, and I offer one-on-one mentorships.

I have taught at CreativeLIVE, and other online education platforms, and written 6 books on photography.

My belief in the power of photography and the creativity of photographers to wield that power makes my job the best in the world.

Example Of Don's Advice

Don's YouTube channel is one of my favorites. He doesn't mince words. He lays it out like any good teacher should. The advice is for us to take or leave behind. Here are two gems:

Don's Sample Portfolio

How Can I Learn From Donald Giannatti?

I've already mentioned Don's YouTube channel. But you should also follow Don on Instagram. He is a huge proponent of having a visually rich social media channel and likes what Instagram has to offer. Do pay attention to his advice on how to use Instagram, though.

Don is also a three-time book author. Yes, I do recommend his books.

If you are an emerging commercial photographer, you need to sign up for Project52. Interested in his other workshops or lighting tutorials? Bookmark Lighting Essentials.

Don's courses on CreativeLive are extremely popular. Here is one on product photography. And here's the first one he called Lighting Essentials.

The next course I want to enroll in? Don's environmental portraiture class.

Recognizing Past Tiffinbox Award Winners

Now in its 8th year, the Tiffinbox Award is now an annual tradition on August 23rd. Please visit and celebrate the previous awardees at the following links:

David Anthony Williams

Do Me A Favor Please!

Did you learn something new or were you inspired by this post? Please share it with your photographer friends. Copy + paste the link and send your colleagues an email and tell them why they should check out this post or any of the other posts on Tiffinbox. I appreciate your help in spreading the word!

Emily Potts at Moms With Cameras is launching a brand-new online workshop, The Mother of All Mentoring. The workshop runs from October 23-November 13 and usually costs $379. Class is limited to only 50 participants. So please be sure to register early to reserve your seat!

She says the workshop is a comprehensive program designed to help you build an incredible photography business starting from where you are this very moment. Emily believes in teaching easy-to-implement strategies that allow you build the photography business of your dreams.

The Mother of all Mentoring is a series of four lessons that run over the course of four weeks. Each week you will receive a 90-minute recording plus a series of tasks that will give you both the education and the tools you need to run a successful photography business.

Registration opens on Wednesday September 26, 2012, but you have an opportunity to win a spot before you can buy it! She’s given Tiffinbox a complimentary seat to give to one lucky reader! Here’s how to enter:

1. Like Tiffinbox on Facebook and Follow Tiffinbox on Twitter.

2. Like Moms With Cameras on Facebook and Follow Moms With Cameras on Twitter.

3. Leave a comment below.

4. We will announce our winner on September 25th, 9 pm EST.

Good luck everyone!

If you’re not the lucky winner, don’t fret. Emily is also offering all of our followers $100 off of the tuition price when they use the code MM100 by September 30th, 2012.

As an added bonus, the first twenty-five registrants will receive a thirty-minute phone consultation with Emily Potts!

With your enrollment, you’ll receive the following:

Four 90-minute sessions full of information on that week’s topics.

A weekly pdf outlining your goals for the week and offering spaces on which to take notes to refer back to.

A set of digital templates to use for your promotional materials and products.

In-house forms to streamline your workflow and keep track of clients.

Special offers and promotions from our favorite vendors.

While this course is being offered by Moms With Cameras, I am sure Emily would welcome guys into this online mentoring program as well. So, if you are looking to get a solid footing as you set up your business, this online mentoring program might be your ticket.

[Just so you know, I am not financially benefitting by announcing this opportunity here on my site.]