Very few people have been more helpful to Photographers than Bill Porter, Owner of Arlington Camera. If you don't know Bill and his staff, you're missing out on a TREMENDOUS resource to Photographers. If you haven't yet, today's PhotoTellers conversation is your chance to meet him!

Bill kindly sat down at Texas School 2016 to talk a little about the School, his 18 years of involvement there, and the work that Arlington Camera is doing. Here are a few questions Bill answers:

With the ease of online ordering, why patronize a local camera store?

Why is Arlington Camera growing while so many other camera stores are dying?

What makes Texas School unique? What can a first-timer expect?

Why do Photographers wait an entire year to buy their new gear at Texas School?

Learn more, and take advantage of the local camera store that can serve Photographers all over the United States, by CLICKING HERE. Or see what others are saying on FACEBOOK.

And a very special thanks to today's sponsor! Click the logo to see what 1,000+ Photographers love about Texas School.

Kirk Mastin had a problem. He'd been a newspaper and wedding photographer for years when the digital revolution swept in. He was excited to embrace the new technology, but underwhelmed at the results. The problem? While the images were still beautiful, they just didn't look like his other work.

They didn't look like FILM.

So what did he do? That's the topic of today's conversation on The PhotoTellers. Tune in to hear why he created Mastin Labs, and hear how your digital images can recapture the look of your favorite films.

Log on to MASTIN LABS to see side-by-side comparisons. 

And if you'd like to join the tribe of people following Kirk's work, find it on Facebook HERE

An HR Blogger, a Soccer Dad, and a Photographer walk into an office . . . .

What sounds like the beginning of a joke is actually the beginning of today's episode.

One of my college professors always told us: "The 2 things that will influence you the most are the people you meet, and the books you read." Most episodes of The PhotoTellers are "people you meet." This episode, however, falls under the "books you read" category.

My good friend Mike Haberman, one of the nation's most respected HR Bloggers, recently suggested that I read the book GRIT: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth. I did, I loved it, and I then reached out to another friend for him to read it.

Jeff Stewart studied Psychology, he's a Dad of great athletes, and he trains/referees soccer players. Especially as a guy who works with kid/teen athletes, I wanted Jeff's opinion on the book.

So we all sat down in my office to discuss the book as it applies to Business Professionals, Photographers, and Parents of Athletes/Musicians/Artists. Today's episode is that conversation.

If you're not one of millions of people who've seen Angela Duckworth's TED Talk, here it is:

 

And if you'd like to follow her more closely, find her HERE ON TWITTER.

And if you'd like to connect with Mike Haberman:

WEBSITE          |          TWITTER          |          LINKEDIN

Or Mr. Jeff Stewart:

LINKEDIN          |          FACEBOOK

 

Second-Generation Portrait Photographer Arthur Rainville wants your photography to be more than just "pictures." He wants you to create meaningful art portraits that are priceless to your clients.

My co-host Cris Duncan and I enjoyed the opportunity to listen, and laugh, and cry (in the most manly of cries, of course) with Arthur at Imaging USA 2016. If you want your portraits to actually speak about your clients, this is a conversation you need to hear. Grab a pen, paper, and tissues.

"A picture is OF somebody, but a portrait is ABOUT somebody." -Arthur Rainville

If you're looking for teasers about this episode of The PhotoTellers:

• "Art and/or heart" . . . and how to excel in the craft.
• For a "great artist, it's about time SAVORED, not SAVED."
• 5 elements of creating art
• Could you photograph your client with your eyes closed?
• How Arthur uses video and still photography together
• Questions to really get to know your client
• The day that Arthur would love to live again

How to follow Arthur? Easy!

WEBSITE         |          FACEBOOK          |          INSTAGRAM

Or email him directly at: [email protected]

Do you work with your spouse? Do you wonder how it's possible that some couples can actually ENJOY working together?

Cris & Deanna Duncan believed they had the near-ideal marriage . . . until they started working together. That led them to interview couples they admired, which led to big changes in their own work relationship. Now they share 7 tips they learned that have led them to a more blissful marriage & work relationship.

The highlights?

1. Individual, personal growth
2. Have a creative outlet that you do together
3.  Date each other--including a rule about your dates
4.  Change clothes to and from work. Huh? It makes sense.
5.  Define specific roles at work--"who has the definitive say" on certain issues?
6.  Have a "fast-food" mentality to your marriage communication
7.  Finally, it all comes down to _______.

See the work they're creating on their STUDIO WEBSITE, and be certain to see how they're serving other Photographers HERE.

And here are 2 other conversations with the Duncans on The PhotoTellers . . . just in case you missed them:

http://firesidenetwork.com/photographer-20-minutes-per-day-for-better-productivity-mood-and-creativity-heres-how/

http://firesidenetwork.com/cris-duncan-photographer/

 

If you spend 33 minutes listening to Tim & Bev Walden, you'll likely learn the same thing I did: We haven't even scratched the surface of what they have to share.

Tim & Bev Walden

Grab a notepad and fasten your seatbelt--today's episode of The PhotoTellers is rich with insight.

“Technical excellence makes your Photography invisible and brings your vision forward.” –Tim Walden

Among the gems you'll hear today:

• Learn about the Walden's new book from Amherst Media (and click below to grab a copy!)
• Do you have a purpose for the portraits you take? How does this change your work?
• How does your own photographic style drive business to--and away--from you?
• What does it mean to be a “Print Artist?” Why does it matter?
• How do you learn to become a print artist if you were born into the digital age? Do you have to physically do your own printing to be one?
• Hear some of the tangibles that the Waldens use to add even more value to their work

If you'd like to learn more from the Waldens, they've made it simple! It's a short click away to visit WALDENCOACHING.COM.

And the other Walden conversations here on The PhotoTellers:

http://firesidenetwork.com/a-fireside-chat-with-portrait-mentors-tim-bev-walden/

http://firesidenetwork.com/we-dont-market-to-grow-our-business-we-do-it-to-_____-tim-bev-walden-part-2/

You heard Tim rave about his photo lab, White House Custom Color. If you haven't looked into them, they'll gladly give you 5 free prints just for giving them a look. Tell them that Bill from The PhotoTellers sent you, and they'll still give you 5 free prints just for giving them a look.

Do you have a message/product/service to share? Are you bewildered by the changing terrain of media? Do you feel like only multi-million dollar brands have the ability to shout above media noise?

If so, then Barbara Henricks and Rusty Shelton, Co-Authors of Mastering The New Media Landscape, have a message for you.

On today's episode of The PhotoTellers, Barbara and Rusty make sense of the "New Media Landscape," and also explain why Photographers are uniquely suited to benefit. What else can you expect to hear?

• Owned, Rented, & Earned media—what are they?
• “Do you own the first impression people have of you online?” –Rusty Shelton
•  How do you give yourself an online audit? If someone is looking for you directly, or if someone is looking for someone LIKE you
•  The changes in LinkedIn and why they love it. Why it’s especially suited for Photographers.
•  Learn to think of your website as a media outlet, not a “brochure.” How to get people to interact with you.
•  Wisdom to the “armchair journalist." [HINT: That's you]
• How to build a content strategy
• How to use a piece of media to promote yourself without being “that guy.”
•  How to future-proof your online presence
• Where to find the best BBQ and TexMex in the Austin, TX, area

Click the link below to grab a copy of their extremely practical book.

Want to learn more about the book? CLICK HERE.

Connect with Barbara by CLICKING HERE.

Connect with Rusty by CLICKING HERE.

Julie Grahame represents the estate of "the greatest Portrait Artist of the 20th Century." She negotiates on behalf of Photographers and their work. She consults Photographers of all experience and skill levels.

And Julie wants to help you.

Today's episode of The PhotoTellers will help you understand:

• More inside the world of Yousef Karsh
• The importance of Photographers networking with others in the industry
• If you need a Consultant to look over your work with you

And here's a perk to being a listener of The PhotoTellers: Julie has been generous enough to offer a 20% discount on her consulting. At the very least, spend an hour with her on Skype and see your work in a new light. Tell her that you're a listener of the show to enjoy the discount.

Learn more at JULIEGRAHAME.COM and also at ACURATOR.COM.

Special thanks to Mr. Eric Pickersgill for the introduction to Julie! If you missed my conversation with him . . .

http://firesidenetwork.com/eric-pickersgills-removed-photography-project-challenges-the-life-youre-ignoring/

RCOD 249-08 Bertrand Russell. Obligatory Credit - CAMERA PRESS/ Yousuf Karsh. NOT FOR SALE IN CANADA, USA. SPECIAL PRICE APPLIES - CONSULT CAMERA PRESS OR ITS LOCAL AGENT. Bertrand Russell, 1949.

"The sooner you get the rock [of your career foundation] established, the sooner you'll have a more successful . . . rewarding career."  -Gary Puckett

Gary Puckett of Waxahachie, Texas, kindly sat down with me last year at the Texas School of Professional Photography and gave me a glimpse into his ilk of the craft: Photographing High School and Sports teams in action.

Tune in to this brief conversation and you'll hear some of the challenges--and excitement--of this kind of work.

And if you've considered attending Texas School, you'll hear Gary's opinion, and some of the hidden benefits of attending. If you want to learn more, click the logo below.

And if you'd like to connect with Gary, CLICK HERE.

A Photographer since High School, Mr. Ron Barbosa has seen thousands of people pass in front of his camera. He and his wife, Cassie, own Barbosa Studios Photography in Gainesville & Aledo, TX.

If you're new in the Portrait business, or considering a leap therein, take a few moments today to hear Ron discuss the best part of being a Portrait Photographer. I wager that 99% of all other Photogs would agree with him.

Ron ends the conversation with a sage piece of advice for someone starting or growing their Photography business. Don't miss it.

If you want to see more, or connect with Ron, find him ON FACEBOOK or on HIS WEBSITE.

And if you want to explore the wild, wild West that is knows as The Texas School of Professional Photography, click the logo below. I hope see you there.