The Power of Passion

I was honored to attend a seminar hosted by Sandy Puc/Jerry Ghionis .  The title of the tour is called The Power of Passion and it was just that.

From the moment you entered you knew it was going to be something special.  Great displays and fun music and slideshows.  Awesome sponsors and a really cool thing was the giveaways they did throughout the show.  You entered by texted SANDYPUC to a number on the display and randomly they gave out cool gifts by announcing your phone number.  No, I didn’t win anything but I was so happy for the ones that did.

The trade show outside the ballroom was visited during intermissions and before the show started.   Cool album company I checked out was Finao. They had some amazing album samples totally customizable with different textures, materials and colors.  These were a very high quality flush mount album that accommodated tons of crazy sizes. Don’t know the price on these, but I plan to check into it.  The only thing I purchased was Jerry’s Pick Pocket “action/reaction.”  This is 150 cards explaining how to evoke emotion and reaction from your clients.  A well spent $80.

Now onto the show..

Sandy Puc kicked off the show with a little of her history and funny stories that happened to her as a wedding photographer.  Horror stories that we call can relate to and she had the audience doubled over with laughter.  She took it up to a marketing level and explained what you MUST have as a professional photographer.

1. Insurance

2. Management Software

3. Business License.

4. Define Target Market

5. Plan Your Marketing Campaigns A Year In Advance

Sandy encouraged everyone strongly to develop a calendar of some sort to track your workflow.  Hers is color coded.  She went on to talk about model searches and building your portfolio and even covered Fusion.  Something she loves and is teaching a workshop on soon.  She covered branding, what is your style? Create your identity.  Marketing literature, website, social networking, newsletters, referral programs, etc.

Jerry stormed the stage with his posing methods and how to evoke emotion and how to create extraordinary images with ordinary things, creative alternative lighting.  Some of the things I’ve seen him do before but he used people from the audience to demonstrate and drive his point home.  He has a way of making you feel what you normally would ignore.  20 poses in 5 minutes, posing bride, groom, couples, bridal partys, odd heights, families, etc.  Then break time….

Sandy and Jerry traded off and she switched to Boudoir.  Sandy touched base on marketing, alternative lighting, target client for boudoir, how to find their comfort level and different types of sessions and location ideas.  I had never thought of doing this, but I will definitely entertain the idea a little more.  How fun would that be to rent a suite at the hotel and have 2-3 sessions for the day?  Not sure I’m ready for that but maybe soon.  Sandy or Sam as she likes to be called, touched on sales, slideshows, video capture, etc.  Then she spoke on Charitable Marketing and how great it can be to give back.  Sam is the most giving person I think I have ever met.  She is currently working with breast cancer survivors and Susan G. Komen and celebrating the survivors.  She showed an amazing slideshow of Melissa, who at 26 was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  The video was 8 minutes and their was silence the entire time with the occasional sniffle and heavy sighing.  It was intense and heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time.  I’m sure my makeup was ran down my face by the time the lights came back up but it was that raw and powerful.

Jerry tag teamed back in and really brought it down to the black/white, he even broke it down about exposure.  But this is what he said, you are photographing not just a client, but a sister, brother, grand daughter, daughter, son, lover.  These are people just like you and me and we should photograph them as if they were us or someone we cherished because someone does.  Make them feel beautiful and cherished.  Slow down, breathe and look for the greatness and not the less than great.  We did a simple exercise where he instructed us to stand and turn bodies, heads, eyes extreme left and see what you see.  Jerry said, ok now do this, that, this, and that and then turn extreme left again.  You saw more than you originally did.  Always strive for that one WOW shot of the wedding or photo shoot. Exude confidence to your client.  Pretend to be the rock star you really are. Fake it, til you make it.   How can you not leave there inpsired??

I met Jerry face to face and THIS is very cool.  He knew who I was when I told him my name.  He said “Oh yeah, you got the pink/black logo and write on my facebook wall occasionally.”  That struck me.  My logo is working if Jerry freakin Ghionis can recognize me by it!  Your logo defines you and using it in an online presence can be very powerful.  My logo is very bold with hot pink/black and white.  3 colors and square and my business cards are square.  People remember those things. My avatar for facebook/twitter, blog, forums, etc is always the same.  You will recognize my logo.  So you should ask yourself  if yours does.  Are you consistent in your branding, your online presence?

Jerry is one of the nicest most sincere people and he’s real. Melissa is even more gorgeous in person! I did take a picture with him, but its being emailed hopefully so nothing yet.  Go to this seminar if its coming near you.  You will never regret it.  Someday, I do hope to attend his workshop when it’s in the budget.

Thanks for reading now go create something amazing!

~Suzie