Magazine Update
Are you a SeniorInspire Influencer?
There are TEN DAYS LEFT to submit images you'd like considered for publication in the summer issue of SeniorInspire the Magazine!
Remember, this issue is going to be our first ever SQUARE magazine and to celebrate we're looking for 75 SeniorInspire influencers to fill our pages!
All submitted images must be cropped square, and each of the 75 influencers selected will have between one and five images featured on their own page of the magazine.
You can find all the details and rules, and submit your square images at www.seniorinspire.com/sinfluencers.
We've already had some fantastic images submitted and I can't wait to see what all gets featured!
Marketing and Branding
Feature accounts, magazines and competitions make us better photographers!
Have you heard the latest Senior Studio Success Podcast With Jena Golden?
This week's subject was near and dear to my heart... Getting featured: Is it worth it?
Jena does an incredible job laying out both the pros and cons of feature accounts and magazines, but ultimately leaves it to the listener to decide what's right for them.
The biggest positive was when Jena said, "Feature accounts, magazines and competitions actually make us pay attention to our work, to what we're doing. They make us better photographers."
I mean, I think SeniorInspire has a new mission statement!!
And sure, Jena pointed out some negatives as well - primarily cost (both money and time).
But getting better ALWAYS comes at a cost.
Workshops and conferences cost money and take you away from your family and business, sometimes for days at a time.
Getting more individualized coaching costs a lot of money, can take months or years to see results, and in the end you may even find the coach you invested in was not compatible with your style of learning or doing business.
Even with free YouTube videos, you have to spend A LOT of time watching bad information in order to find the good information.
In fact, every single thing you do related to your business has pro and cons. It's up to you to weigh both to make sure what you're doing fits your professional and personal goals.
It's really up to you, the photographer, to decide where to spread your resources.
Do it wisely! 🙂
Instagram and Social Media
I'd like to punch the Instagram algorithm in the nose!
If you've been frustrated with your reach on Instagram lately, you are NOT alone! Heck, I've resorted to BEGGING members of the the SeniorInspire Facebook group to go like the images we feature on our page. 😂
With 20,000+ followers, we've watched the average likes on our featured images drop over the years from close to 1,000 to just 50. It's crazy!
So, you can imagine my delight when I ran across this stinging video from Tony and Chelsea Northup in which their main thesis is that Instagram has screwed over the photography community.
LOL - I completely agree!
I've been watching Tony and Chelsea's YouTube videos for years and I've always loved everything they've put out. From product reviews to photography tips and tricks, they are always an easy and rewarding watch.
In this video though, they come out swinging as they are clearly frustrated with what is happening with Instagram these days.
They're mainly preaching to the choir, of course, but it is interesting to hear things you've most likely thought privately being expressed by other photographers in the industry!
But as much as I enjoy seeing them rip Instagram a new one, there is a real takeaway from the video that we all need to consider...
If you rely heavily on Instagram as I do and you're not already looking for new ways to market your business, you really better start!
Instagram adds new option to pin posts on your profile
I mentioned this in the SeniorInspire Facebook group last week but in case you missed it...
Instagram now lets you pin up to three posts and/or Reels to the top of your Instagram grid.
I've only played with this so far, but it seems like it will be good way to nudge visitors to your page in the right direction.
You can read more about it on the Social Media Today website.
Equipment News
Blowin' in the wind
Speaking of spending your resources wisely, here's a video from Lindsay Adler with her review of a $2,000 hair fan!
Yes, you read that right. The hair fan she demos in her video costs 2,000 smackers AND IT IS AMAZING!
Is it $2,000 amazing? Probably not.
Should you run out and buy one? For 99% of us the answer is... NO!
But it just looks so cool!!
Alright, so if you really are in need of a great fan for your studio, I have a couple options for you...
First up is the BlowMo from MoLight. At $350 it still looks very cool, but costs a fraction of the higher end fan Lindsay Adler demonstrated.
Still out of your budget?
Then check out this Lasko fan I use in the studio.
After trying everything from a leaf blower to a fan made specifically for drummers, I've settled on the Lasko fan for my studio work. It packs a punch and you don't need an assistant to aim it for you.
And at $64, it's a steal!
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Don't say I never gave you anything!
And Finally
As we head off into the sunset, I'm gonna leave you with one last fan to check out.
As temps soar up into the 100's, it's really important to have a portable fan your seniors can use to keep cool during their outdoor sessions.
Check out this hand held fan from Amazon! It is chilly, baby!!
Benefits? It's reasonably priced, compact, rechargeable and has three speeds you can really feel on a warm day.
Seriously, it gets two enthusiastic thumbs up from SeniorInspire! 👍🏽👍🏽
That's it for now - Have a great week!