The other part is to help you stop acting like a dumbass.

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So in my time as a photographer, I often run into scenarios where I’m either:

1.  Already booked on a date that someone has inquired

2.  Out of the price range of a prospective client.

In both of these situations, I want to help everyone as best I can and create a symbiotic relationship so everyone wins.  The client gets a quality photographer, the photographer gets new work, and I get to retain good customer service by connecting the two.  WIN WIN WIN.

However, I can’t begin to tell you the amount of stress that I’ve gone through in trying to find reliable photographers that I feel comfortable referring.  Like it or not, whoever you vouch for is an extension of your brand – and how they perform is a reflection on YOU!

So with that – I try to find photographers that I can stand behind and feel comfortable referring on a regular basis.  (Some might not know this, but I actually follow-up with those potential clients to find out how the experience was.)

If the photographer messes up, it’s a hard conversation to have to tell them what they need to work on.  A lot of times they take things personal, and it’s really unnecessary drama that I don’t really need.  Especially considering that I’m the one offering them work.  So most often now, I’ll just stop referring work without telling them why – and move on to another photographer.  (Or if it’s in an inquiry for an area of photography where I don’t know anyone that excels, I hate to say this…but I’ll actually just respond with a “sorry but I’m not available email” instead of referring them to a photographer that has shitty work/service.

I decided to create this post for my future/past 2nd’s to consider, and also to communicate my expectations for my referral circle – so that everyone can be on the same page.

(PS – if you’re a photographer who used to receive a lot of work from me and is now reading this, I will gladly explain why I don’t refer to you anymore – AS LONG AS YOU DON’T TAKE IT PERSONAL.  Sorry for yelling, but it just seems ass-backwards for someone to get upset at someone that’s trying to give them work.)

13 Reasons you’re cutting yourself short from getting more business

1.  Ego – I can’t even believe that I have to include this as it’s so ridiculous - but it’s also the most prevalent.  A photographer will communicate with the client in a way that comes across as pretentious or as if they wont take direction.  While you may very well know which shot may look better, or if the client suggests an idea that may not be the best…it’s important to make them feel like you’re on the same team.  Never come across arrogant.

2.  Ego (again) - However this time I’m referring to 2nd shooters at weddings.  1st shooter makes the call.  You listen.  That should be enough said already – but I’ll elaborate because I like you.  Don’t ever question the 1st shooters ideas/techniques (ESPECIALLY in front of the bride and groom) – and if you’re to make suggestions, do so in private and don’t come across as if you “know it all”.  Ideally, you want to bring it up so it comes across as if it were THEIR idea in the first place.  I know you want to show them how great you are, but the best way of doing so is to find what it is they particularly want out of you – and FOCUS ON THAT!  You can bet your ass you’ll be hired again, and maybe even referred a wedding that’s under their price range.

3.  Bad Product – This really should have been first, but it’s really a given.  A big lesson I’ve learned is not to judge a 2nd shooter’s ability by their portfolio.  Or ANY photographer at that.  While they may have some awesome shots on there – it’s more important to see consistency.  I’ve recommended photographers in the past that I thought were on top of their game, only to find out that they weren’t quite there yet – and were most likely just using some “lucky” shots on their portfolios.  Don’t be offended if I ask to see a few complete galleries or full weddings that you’ve shot.

4.  Bad Service – It’s like getting the wind knocked out of you when you hear that someone you referred has taken months to deliver someone’s images.  I vouched for you!  It’s like the scene in Tony Montana when he fails to kill the mark.  Sosa tells him “there’s not going to be a next time”.  And look what happened.  Point is, I’m going to expect reasonable turn-around, and reasonable communication.  Be professional on the phone, don’t answer just waking up at 11 AM, and don’t answer in a crazy party.  Make sure they know you’re attentive and alert, and they have your full attention.

5.  Unprofessionalism online – If you’re doing any of the things listed in #1 on this post, I’m probably not going to refer you.  But that’s just me.  Others might be different, but I hold online presence to a high standard – and I’d be embarrassed if a client I referred found you online and you had some alarming personality traits that would cause a client to question your stability.

6.  Being socially awkward - If you’re quiet in person and can’t make clients comfortable around you - that’s a deal-breaker.  Like I mentioned above, referring you to my potential clients is an extension of my brand.  My brand is fun, upbeat, outgoing, and ON TOP OF IT.  Be comfortable in your own skin, and I’ll be comfortable referring you.

7.  Unwillingness to try something new – I’ll actually use a specific time in the past for this one, since I still refer him.  About 6 months ago, I asked my friend Mark if he’d be down to shoot a PR event (awards ceremony/speakers/grip & grin) and he felt he wasn’t equipped for it.  I knew that he had the gear, he was just worried that he wouldn’t be able to get the right images.  I have no doubt in my mind that he would have done great, but he didn’t think so.  And often times I’ve been completely willing to bring them along on one of my events so that they’re comfortable with expectations – and THEY’RE STILL SCARED.  So in the end, their fear has gotten the best of them, and have missed out on growing and gaining more work as a result.  Their loss.

8.  Being a pain in the ass – I’m guessing this one is going to be bias on my end, but I really don’t prefer working with people who stress me out.  You’ll get paid.  Rest assured.  But if you’re constantly bugging me about $50 or something insignificant like the cost of valet at an event you shot for me, I’m going to remember it.  I haven’t *not paid* a single photographer in my entire career.  It’s bad business.  But I also believe it’s bad business to leave a bad taste in someone’s mouth and be remembered as “the annoying one”.

9.  Bad Presentation – You don’t dress professional, you’re unkempt, or your breath stinks.  Okay, I know the last part was a little harsh – but it stems from an experience I had in a nightclub one time.  I was talking to another photographer who’s work I respected, and his breath was terrible (you have to talk close because the music is so loud).  It was so bad, that while I had intention of talking business with him, I was more eager to end the conversation so I could get away from him!  It’s silly to think that something that trivial could affect an entire relationship, but it did.  (From then on, I made sure to bring gum with me whenever shooting nightlife.)

10.  I don’t like you -  I’m a part of an online forum based in San Diego, and I’ve had conversations with photographers who’s work is GREAT – but they argue with me and take things personal.  And while I don’t doubt they’re on top of their game when it comes to their business…if I don’t like them – I’m not exactly excited to help them “win” in a symbiotic relationship.  I know, it’s messed up – but I’m being real.  Also, if we come from different backgrounds (age group, lifestyle, perspective on life) – odds are I won’t be inclined to bring you on as a 2nd.  I like to vibe well with who I shoot with, as I just feel it helps the energy gain momentum and the process of the day flow smoothly.

11.  Price point – This is an essential factor, but one that’s expected.  To help ensure I’m sending you the right leads, if you change your pricing or just want me to be familiar with your costs, I’d love it if you would send me an info sheet.  I don’t want to mismatch clients with photographers outside their range – in the same way I don’t want to refer gigs to photographers under what they’d be willing to accept.  While this one isn’t surprising, it’s definitely one to consider.  And flexibility is always a benefit, as I’ll be more inclined to send more referrals your way.

12.  Style – Another given, but it’s important to make the distinction that it’s not something personal.  You might be a GREAT portrait photographer, but I’m looking for someone more photojournalistic and familiar with candids.  Nothing wrong with that, just not the right fit.  My friend Brett reminded me of this point, thanks man!

13. Biting business – This applies to both referrals AND 2nd shooters.  What an idiotic thing to do…bite the hand that feeds you!  There’s a certain photographer that I specifically wont refer to even though he is great at photography because he has a reputation for stealing clients, and never referring out.  When it comes to 2nd shooters – NEVER EVER EVER pass out your own business card when associate shooting or 2nd shooting.  This shouldn’t even have to be written – and it’s really unfortunate that people do this.

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6 Reasons that Cause Me to Keep Referring to You!

1.  Awesome personality - My roommate has told me he’d hire someone that has a better personality but not as good quality of photos for 2nd shooting a wedding merely for the effect that their energy has on the day.  Pretty crazy huh?  Well, I agree.  Although I’m VERY picky with who I choose to come on board, so both better be on point.  I’ve got about 3-4 guys that I love working with regularly, and I’m so stoked that I’ve connected with them.

2.  Make it easy as possible for me - A 2nd shooter of mine in San Francisco arrived with coffee in hand when she met me to shoot a wedding last year, and it made a big impression!  I love things like that, and when a photographer makes the process ‘enjoyable’ rather than just ‘good’, it goes a long way.  That goes with payment too.  Accept Square?  Awesome.  Paypal?  Even better!

3.  Create amazing images I wouldn’t recognize on my own - This is actually a big factor in my thought process to hire 2nd photographers.  I’ll pay a higher price point for someone as experienced as myself or MORE experienced so that I can be assured good imagery from them.  If they impress me and show me something that fits with my brand but is something I’ve yet to try out – they’re “IN.”  Mark (who I mentioned above) really wowed me with some images at a wedding we shot last year, which led me to book him as my 2nd photographer for a Cabo wedding that I have this year.

4.  Being flexible in price, or willing to invest in themselves or ‘our relationship’ - There are times when I’m doing a shoot that I don’t necessarily have a budget for an additional shooter, but recognize that there would be a ton of value in bringing one on.  As I’ve done with some consistent clients, I really appreciate it when photographers will just opt to “help out” without worrying about payment.  Sometimes you have to take a step back, think about how much business someone is bringing you – and show them you appreciate it.  *Take note*

5.  Returning the favor - Another illusive obvious – but when someone regularly refers me work – I always think about what gigs I can send them to help them out.  I referred about 5-6 weddings to a photographer last year with no reciprocation.  Well, guess what…my referral circle has now changed.

6.  Going above and beyond when 2nd shooting - My friend Jeff Youngren wrote a great post about ALL of this kind of stuff, and really – he hits the nail right on the head.  Check it out if you wanna learn how to get in a photographer’s good graces.

If you got a lot out of this post, and think other photographers can get value out of it as well, I’d be stoked if you shared this.  And as always – love/hate mail is always welcomed in the comments below, would be glad to talk about any of these topics with you!

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(PS – this photo above is of my friend Jason Kirby when we were making our ridiculous holiday christmas card portraits last year.  And so you know – Jason currently gets a good portion of my on-site printing corporate clients.  He avoids all 13 points mentioned above very well, and I’m happy to refer him business.)

It ALSO happens to have earned me a lot of attention on social media, a STRONG relationship with the venue I shot it at, and of course – it’s one of the main images my prospective clients always mention when meeting up at a consult.

I love doing this kind of photography, and I feel it stands out as some of the most compelling styles of imagery you can achieve with your work.

So I’ve decided to entertain the idea of holding a mini-workshop for up to 4 individuals while at WPPI this year.  The conference is timed to be perfectly set for optimal conditions for this kind of photo (new moon) – and the desert outside of Las Vegas will provide for some pretty clear skies.  I think it’s important to have a small group in order to ensure that everyone gets the individual attention they deserve – and it also helps a lot with scheduling.  For now, I’m thinking either Sunday (the 10th), Tuesday, or Wednesday night – whichever works best for the group will dictate it.

The cost would be $200 per person, and here’s what that would cover:

-Transportation to & from the location in the desert during the night of the shoot

-Model male and female provided to create silhouette & various posing options

-Off-camera lighting and tripods provided so you don’t have to worry about bringing your own or having to rent

-Explanation of technique and strategy to achieve this shots – and the conditions that affect how good the shot might be (moon, location, etc) so you’ll know how to prepare yourself in the future

-You’ll leave with a badass shot you can put smack-dab on the front of your portfolio, and if the conditions don’t allow us (clouds, weather)- you’ll get your money back.  I want you to win, and I’m on your team.   If you lose, I lose.  We’re in this together.

I feel strongly about the value in this kind of shot – and I don’t want you walking away feeling like you wasted your time/money on this conference.  I have no doubt in my mind that if for nothing else – this little workshop will give you a huge boost in marketing and helping your brand image.

If you’re interested – please get in touch by sending an email to tim@timkingblog.com

And as always – if you know someone who might be interested in this post – I’d love it if you’d “share” this with them.

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This has been on my mind for awhile now, and I really feel like it’s time to get it out.  There are a few things people are doing on instagram that they believe are helping them…but *I* think they’re actually HURTING THEM!

So let’s get to it, shall we?

1.  HASHTAGS ARE GETTING YOU NOWHERE!

I’ve felt it out, seen the results, and read interviews with people who’re featured on the “popular page” regularly.  And to sum it up, followers from hashtags and the popular page are on average – the LEAST engaged followers and more often end up ‘unfollowing’ at some point anyways.  They don’t know you from Adam, so they feel the *least* compelled to keep you on board.

And now this next point is from *my personal opinion*…but I feel hashtags come across as spam.  You look at a photo and go to read the description…and it’s LOADED FULL with # signs.  Half the experience of photography is understanding the story behind it, and in my opinion – hashtags have no place.  (Unless they’re ironic, funny, intentional play on themselves)

And furthermore, to get a little *deeper into the psyche*…I feel that when your FRIENDS see this on your feed, it comes across as though you’re posting to get the attention of OTHERS, and not *them*.  Who are you posting your content for?  And why are you posting it?

The focus should be on creating engaging content, and I feel that hashtags #distract.

2.  Double sharing on facebook is throwing yourself under the bus.

I might be erring on the extreme on this one, but when I see the same thing twice during my daily stalk – I wonder…what’s the point?

Why am I following them on Instagram if I see the same sh*t on facebook?

*Unfollow*

Sorry to be a jerk, but really – I don’t need to see your stuff twice.  And I’m betting that others feel the same way.

And you know what…?

“Say Facebook ends up going down the Myspace route and people head for the hills and on to something new.”  What will you have left?  An empty instagram because everyone unfollowed you due to your double posting and hashtag calamity.

I know that hashtags definitely do have their value in connecting others, but in my opinion – the experience of the people who *actually do* know me is worth so much more not to bombard them with pound signs.

If you want to discuss or leave a love/hate comment, I’d be happy to hear from you below in the comments.

THANK YOU!

BONUS FUN FACT ABOUT HASHTAGS - for those of you that *absolutely* must have their photo featured in the #selfie gallery, rest assured that you can add hashtags WEEKS after you’ve posted the photo and it will still work the same way!  

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What you didn’t read on facebook – the reasons why I follow and *don’t* follow certain people.

Why I follow you:

-you’ve got interesting content.  Like, REALLY interesting.  I’m talking about a life of adventure or an alternative career…not just expeditions to Potato chip rock on a wednesday.  I like keeping up with the day-to-day of people who lead unique lifestyles.  Sometimes I know them, sometimes they’re still a stranger.

-you’re close to me and I talk to you on a weekly basis.  I like to keep up with people I’m in regular contact with because I can bring up a photo they posted in conversation the next time I talk to them.  If I have a ton of acquaintances on there, it can make it hard to keep up with those I really know and talk to.

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Here’s one of my favorite #selfies, just for the hell of it.

“So how’d you get this gig?”

And while the short answer of it may be simple “A past client referred me when their friend asked for a recommendation on a photographer”…the dynamic behind it all is much more complex.

I never just attribute each new client to the random “chance” that every person automatically points them in my direction due to the quality of my work. I attribute it to the fact that I’m always in the front of their minds and that it’s easier to have me pop in their head vs someone else they’ve worked with just a few months ago.

I think a lot of people approach business as a sprint rather than a marathon, and I wanted to take some time to explain why it’s the worst idea in the world.

Say you get someone’s business and you deliver them an awesome product. Great right? Yes. But where the real value is that this *first* interaction opens up the door towards developing one new relationship to include in your social circle.  The communication drops – you just stopped watering the plant that could have bloomed into some hella-beautiful flowers.

Regardless of whether or not you’d ever work with that client again, you’ve made a great initial impression. And that’s all you need. Because you’ve shown them your capable, and you’ve shown them you’re a great fit.  They’re now in the position to recommend you to anyone with full confidence.

What next?

HELP THEM however you can. Think of them often. When you see something that makes you think of them, send it to them. Could be a text, email, or on their facebook page.

I can’t stand when social interaction between two people steeps so low as to only get in touch when one person needs something from the other. HUGE.FUCKING.TURN-OFF.  (One of the worst feelings is getting that text “how are you?” and then shortly after – receiving a big long bulk text asking for you to refer business their way.  Trying to “fake” being genuinely interested works against you in the WORST possible way.  I’ll never EVER refer someone to that person based off that kind of sneaky tactic alone.  It has to truly come from the heart.  You want something?  Be up-front about it.  Don’t just send me a mass-produced text and move on to the next.  That’ll be your express ticket to getting deleted out of my contacts.  I’m sure you’ve felt the experience of feeling like a “number” to someone.  It’s not pleasant – and you’re no “one-night stand”.  You deserve at least a dinner damn’t.)

Transactional-style business is unpleasant, and takes the humanity out of working together. Add in some flavor. LISTEN to people when they talk about what their interests are. And then surprise-the-fuck-out-of-them with some originality and send something that’s specific to their life or what affects them on the reg’.

I want to make a point to make it known that I don’t do this kind of stuff  in a strategic/manipulative way to gain new clients – it’s just how I live my life.  I do this kind of stuff for clients and I do this for people that have an extremely low impact on my life and probably wont have ANYTHING to do with my work at any point in time – sometimes they live thousands of miles away!

But I can’t stress to you how much it TRULY makes a difference to be original in your communications and really can’t express how much value it brings in terms of attracting the right kind of people into your life.

So since I know some people like to skip straight to the bottom and some people need a little summary of it all, here are a few key take-aways for you to help grow your network. (Think of it like a garden – water those plants, feed em nutrients, HELL – talk to those ferns!! Ask ‘em how their day went!)

-LISTEN TO PEOPLE, AND MAKE A POINT TO REMEMBER THINGS PERSONAL TO THEM.

-CALL SOMEONE ON THE PHONE.  DON’T JUST TEXT.  ASK THEM ABOUT HOW THEY’VE BEEN AND TAKE GENUINE INTEREST IN THEIR LIFE.

-HELP PEOPLE CONNECT WITH OTHERS THAT DEVELOP SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS

-DON’T JUST DO THE BARE MINIMUM.  THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORDINARY AND EXTRAORDINARY IS THAT LITTLE BIT OF “EXTRA”

-BE ORIGINAL.  BE YOU.  DON’T TRY TO PRETEND TO BE SOMEONE ELSE.  THERE ARE NO COVER BANDS IN THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME

-ASK HOW YOU CAN HELP OR IMPROVE SOMEONE’S CIRCUMSTANCES.

-STOP BEING LAZY AND OFFER A HAND WHEN YOU CAN HELP.  WATCH SOMEONE’S MANCOON CAT FOR A WEEK IF THEY NEED A CATSITTER (I DID THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO)  PICK SOMEONE UP AT THE AIRPORT.  (IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE THEIR DAY, EMAIL ME AT TIM@TIMKINGBLOG.COM AND I’LL TELL YOU A WAY YOU CAN BLOW THEIR MIND)

-SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS.  IT’S FUNNY, I’VE FOUND THOSE CLOSEST TO ME HARDLY EVER “LIKE” MY POSTS – GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO MAKE IT KNOWN YOU SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS.  IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

-HELP STRANGERS.  FOR NO REASON AT ALL, BUT THE FACT THAT YOU *CAN*

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I hope you got some value out of this post.  If you agree with what I’ve said and want others to follow the same mentality – help me encourage others and “share” this blog post on facebook or twitter.

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BONUS – if you ever want to talk marketing or photography – I often tweet out at moments when I’ve got some extra time to kill & offer to chat on the phone about anything you want.  Find me at @timkingphoto

Have a great one guys!

PS – thanks to my friend Josh for this shot!

PPS – if you want to watch something that had a HUGE impact on how I think about how I approach social media/relationships, watch this clip.  It’s an hour long, but really worth watching.  Grab yourself some popcorn and a notepad – and afterwards let me know what you got out of it!

I figured it would make a good resource to be able to have a side-by-side comparison of the different options for video blogging, as well as some recommendations for some specialty-type effects that can add value and distinguish your blog as a professional presentation vs an average computer/PC user.

To start off, we’ll introduce the most cost-effective & ease-of-use options:

1. On-board computer camera/web camera.

Advantages: The video is already loaded on your computer when done, no additional expenditure on equipment. If you’re on a budget and don’t have much time to spend loading/editing video – this is a cost efficient & quick option.

Disadvantages: Lacking quality & versatility. Your videos will have a level of quality anyone can achieve – no distinguishable difference than the average person. Also isn’t convenient to travel, pack, or use in an outdoor or rugged environment.

Cost: No additional purchase required

2. iPhone. (I’d include android phones, but I’d suggest using a webcam/computer video over an android device – my experience with those phones have proved to be some of the worst quality videos I’ve seen)

Advantages: Extremely portable, no additional cost if you already own, and easy to email/upload. Take it on the go, record video while walking or in between appointments. Immediately upload to your YouTube or Vimeo account straight from your phone with no processing – quickest amount of time from record -> vlog post.

Disadvantages: Same as above, with additional limitation of difficulty to set up to do a self-recording session. You’ll often have to hold at arm’s length and might not be able to get the frame you want without additional help from others.

Cost: No additional purchase required

3. Flip


Advantages: Extremely portable, easy to use. Fits in your pocket, upload straight from the device.

Disadvantages: Quality isn’t the best or the worst, many average consumers own one for personal use. Additional cost & investment, reported issues with inconsistency in recharging.

Cost: $89

4. GoPro


Advantages: Very portable & small, obtains a fish-eye perspective which includes more of the settings/background in the video. Has the ability to capture extreme clips, such as underwater, attached to helmet/car/cycle etc. Simply designed camera with less than a handful of buttons.

Disadvantages: No viewing of screen capture without an additional extension purchase. Quality isn’t amazing, sound quality can be extremely sensitive to wind. Better for catching action shots than someone talking straight to the camera. The HD Hero 2 is much better quality than the original.

Cost: $299

5. Canon 60D [RECOMMENDED FOR PROFESSIONAL ON SOMEWHAT OF A BUDGET]


Advantages: Pro-sumer SLR quality video. With a great lens, you can have a professional appearance that stands out above the average consumer/technology user. Rotating viewing monitor so you can see yourself while you are filming, ability to film at lower light than cameras listed above. Sound quality isn’t the best, but much improved from options above. Ideal for the individual business owner looking to make their own high quality video blogs. (Also great to have for personal vacations) Significantly lower cost than professional SLR. Would recommend pairing with a Sigma 30mm 1.4 – which would give a similar look & feel to the 50mm 1.4 shown in the video above.

Disadvantages: Cropped sensor, which means you only get a portion of the frame that you would get from a full frame camera such as the 5D. To read more about what this means, check out this article. Will not fit in your pocket. Adventure/outdoor rigs are considerably more expensive than the GoPro.

Cost: $900 new, $800 used on ebay

6. Canon 5D mk ii


Advantages: Professional level SLR. Many commercial videographers use this for high quality production, quality is outstanding paired with top-level editing software (final cut, premier) Sharp imagery, several options of focal length and aperture, excellent in low-light. Full utility of lenses compared to the crop sensor of the 60D

Disadvantages: High cost, will not fit in your pocket. Adventure/outdoor rigs are considerably more expensive than the GoPro. No flip monitor to see yourself while filming.

Cost: $2200

SLR Lenses

Sigma 30mm 1.4: Great to pair with the 60D to achieve the shallow depth of field, low-light availability, and accurate portrayal of appearance with no distortion.

Cost: $490 new.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II : Awesome landscape lens. Captures the most amount of your atmosphere/environment around you in your frame. Significant distortion towards the sides of the frame at 16mm. Has the ability to zoom to 35mm. Easy to use in a tight space.

Cost: $1589

Canon EF 24mm 1.4: Great at capturing a wide frame/environment & setting of the background. Ability to have a shallow depth of field and concentrate on the subject. Easy to use in a tight space.

Cost: $1629

Sigma 50mm 1.4: Great lens for a great price. Works great with the 5D mk ii (shown in video above), great shallow depth of field, low light capabilities. Will be a bit tight of a frame on a 60D camera, would need more space between camera & subject. I actually prefer this lens over the canon version – much sharper & great value for the cost.

Cost: $499

As for the other lenses I demonstrated in the video, I wouldn’t recommend them for video blogging as they would only really be used for very specific needs which aren’t exactly the most practical for vlogging. If you have any questions about them, feel free to email me at tim@timkingblog.com. To give you the technical info so you can research them, they were the Canon 85mm 1.8 and Canon 100mm 2.8 macro.

AUDIO EQUIPMENT

1. Audio Technica Wireless Lavalier System: What Jason was using in the video with the waterfall. I prefer the quality, super targeted and clear even in harsh conditions. Limited a bit in terms of interviews as the mic is set up for one person initially – needs to clip on to belt and has a lavalier attached on the collar, appears in video if not covert. Good value for the price.

Cost: $129

2. Sennheiser Shotgun Microphone: Minimal set-up on camera, no lavalier appearing in the frame. Directed towards the individual, can be useful for interviews as opposed to a single lavalier. Picks up ambient noise more than the lavalier. Ideal for interviews.

Cost: $199

So that’s everything I have for you guys as far as my experience with vlogging gear. If it came down to it – what I would strongly suggest for the best investment for your video blogs – get the 60D camera used on ebay or craigslist (if you get it from Craigslist, have a photographer check it out with you to make sure it’s legit). Use the Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens to pair with it – versatile lens that will get you great quality and allow you to take some awesome personal/travel photos if you’re considering that as an additional incentive. Add on one of the audio set-ups mentioned above (depending if you’re planning on doing interviews or vlogging from loud environments) and you’ll be all set with a top-notch vlog system that will cost you around a grand.

I’d love to hear any of your favorite set-ups or additional tips from you guys in the comments – I always welcome alternative perspectives and different preferences :)

PS – stay tuned for a lightroom 4 video editing tutorial come Tuesday. I’m planning on video taping a April fool’s prank for tomorrow’s vlog. Let’s hope it all goes according to plan :)

At first we laughed, and I told him he was out of his mind.  As the laughter quieted down, it set in that we knew it had to be done.

Video blogs are a beast and I’ll be straight forward with you – I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it through all 30 days.

But you know what?  I don’t doubt for one second that the lessons I learn from this experience will be worth their weight in gold.

Hell, I’ve already learned a ton just putting together this INITIAL video!

If you’ve been wanting to start making videos, I invite you to join me on this little conquest.  It will be your fast-ironed approach towards getting good on camera and help you reach your audience more effectively than in the past.

Not to mention, the perks of promotion…

Head on over to 30DayVlogChallenge.com to see more details.

If you have any questions or would like some tips on getting started, please don’t hesitate to email me at tim@timkingblog.com

While it may be rare to have a perfect fit, when they’re on your “same level” – it’s SOOOOOO good.

So with that, I’m going to incorporate a little of that twist into today’s blog post on creating & growing an idea.

Earlier today, a friend in Buenos Aires interviewed me over Skype about my ideas regarding blog marketing and creating solid content for online promotion.  While the interview will be available in the coming weeks, I’d like to share with you one of the main ideas we talked about.

When creating your brand, it’s important for the elements tied into your business be consistent: branding, marketing, themes, colors, attitude, and style.  Instead of going into a drawn out & lengthy post about my ideas on how to create a good structure, I figured I would demonstrate a running idea of a fake brand some friends & I created about a month ago.

While I wont mention names, some people I’ve mentioned on this blog prior were all together at a friends place talking about life, love, and inevitably – loss.

One of us mentioned that they would want to be cremated and have their ashes distributed into the ocean.  Someone else said they wished the same, but outer-space.  I mentioned how when I die, I’d like people to get together and have an Irish-wake style party celebrating my life & the fun times we shared rather than mourn the loss or sadness.

Then my roommate Evan blew me out of the water with the vision he had for his eventual death & following funeral.

A HAUNTED-HOUSE STYLE FUNERAL PROCESSION.

He mentioned that when he dies, he has told his parents that he wishes to have his body arranged to be controlled via marionette-style so that during mid-procession, he can SPRING from the coffin and give his honored guests the show of their life!

As you might have guessed, the entire room bursted out in laughter at the idea, as you could imagine what a ridiculous scene that would be at such a traditional event.

(1.  I’ll interject to point out the common tie – taking an existing idea and putting your own unique twist to showcase your personality)

While we were all still laughing, someone shouted out that all the lights should be short-circuited and strobe lights should begin to fire, creating a scene of panic to add to the chaos.  I suggested that he arrange to have blood spray from the ceilings, such as the opening scene from Blade. [bonus points if you know what I'm referring to]  To engage the audience more, not only would Evan’s dead body lurch from the coffin, but FLY OVER the crowd in their seats to create that “dream-like” quality.  And then as if our minds were magically in sync with each other, Evan & I both shouted out that the staff at the venue become dressed up as zombies and lock everyone inside the processional room, serving as the capstone to the exciting experience.

(2.  The value in the above paragraph is team-brainstorming.  Utilizing the power of a group setting to build off one-another’s ideas to create a cohesive strategy.  My friend Ashley gave me a killer idea for my promotional materials about a week ago, and I’m excited to share that exact idea in the coming months.  Point in case – it’s great to have a mastermind group to build off each other)

And while the experiential element of Evan’s idea was amazing, we knew that to REALLY succeed in a particular market, you need to cater to an affluent market.  How can you make this product a luxury good?

“Destination Funerals DOT COM!”  Someone shouted in the room.

And *that* is when we knew when the idea came full circle.  All of the sudden, ideas started coming from everywhere on how you can tie the ‘funeral’ theme into the event coordination.  ”Check out” time slips as table settings, sticks as the center-pieces vs floral arrangements, menu titled as “the last supper”, etc – you get the idea.  Promotional ideas relating to your specific target market spring to mind – darwin award deaths receive a 10% discount on their casket, business cards that resemble a funhouse style admission ticket, ghost-buster themed hearse to carry the coffin to the cemetery, the list goes on.

(3.  Finding common themes to tie into the branding help your idea present a cohesive marketing strategy.  Coming up with an initial idea, then building the accessories relating to your business AROUND that particular idea helps people truly receive your message the way you intend it.  The more you can involve each facet of your branding to tie in with this theme, the more cohesive & professional it will appear.  Make a list of everything you can think of that relates to your perception of your brand – even if it’s a little extreme.  Then come up with some ideas on how you can tie that inspiration in with your materials)

While you of course know this post was written in no-way serious, I hope that you at least took some enjoyment in my analogy of this fake brand to bring to light some tools to help the formation of marketing ideas for your own business.  If not, I’d still love to hear from you below.

If you really enjoyed this post – I’d ALSO love to hear from you.  It’s important to me to know whether or not this kind of content is something you guys can relate to, otherwise I’m barking up the wrong tree in sharing this kind of content.  Thanks guys!

My friend Jackie brought up a good point yesterday, which is the “reasoning” for doing a blog.  I love giving back to the photography community, and while I don’t feel comfortable with the level I’m currently at right now…perhaps someday I will consider the idea of doing workshops for photographers.  I feel there’s a big presence of new photographers in the industry already offering workshops, and this leads to a lack of respect from their peers for trying to cash in on “talking the talk” without actually “walking the walk”.  If there’s anything I post from a “teacher” standpoint, it’s because I feel like I have enough experience in that particular topic to share my knowledge and help benefit others.  There’s definitely a lot more I have to learn about the industry, and I’m excited to share it with you along the way.

With that said – I currently look at this journey as one that I’m embarking upon “with” all of you, and am a student in the industry as well.  I’m eager to learn from you all as well, and I can’t encourage enough for you guys to comment & engage in discussion regarding the posts I create.  Let’s grow together.

In the weeks to come, here are a few posts that you can look forward to seeing on this blog:

-Travel posts including my trip to Bali and Thailand (will be the next post on Monday)

-More recent work, including weddings & how to make low-budget events look ‘elegant’

-Guest posts from other industry professionals, and some helpful tips for clients

-More personal posts, including my own home-remodeling inspired by Ashley Goodwin

-Inspiration shoots!  Taking time in San Diego to create some shoots to promote the kind of clientele I want to work with

-Featured interviews I have done as a result of this 30 day challenge regarding my ideas on marketing

-New videos!  I’m currently in the process of perfecting my video promotions, and will be releasing a couple soon with a new image

-New websites, logo, and colors.  Changing my online websites to reflect my current style and feature my most recent work

And much more!  Looking forward to this coming year and growing along with you guys at the same time!

PS – one of the things I love most is hearing feedback & ideas from you guys in the comments.  If you have any questions, comments, or have a request for a topic you’d like to hear more about – I’d be more than happy to hear from you in the field below.  Catch you on the ‘flipside…

I’ll be doing another one for them in a couple months’ time (it will actually be a video rather than a written piece) – so make sure to stay tuned for it & check it out!

PS – tomorrow is the last day of the 30 day challenge!  Will I stop afterwards?  Check back in tomorrow for a solid post on what my plans are.

I’m sure you have all heard people rant & rave about this device – but after today’s post, I think you’ll look at this phone in a new way.  I hope you’ll look at it as more of a useful tool than ever before…because it has certainly made my life a whole lot easier!  This wont be your standard post telling you about apps like “Bump” or “AroundMe” – I’m going to let you in on some really cool stuff that you probably didn’t realize this phone could do.  I’ll go in 3 sections today:

1.  For the non-photographer “novice”

2.  For the photographer

3.  Xzibit-status “pimp-my-iphone”

So let’s get started!

1.  For the average person – here’s a rapid-fire list of cool tricks updated with the latest iOS 5 that I’m betting most of these you didn’t know!

The main draw of your phone is going to be to get people looking at your photos, and eventually talking about your work, thinking about how you might fit in well for their upcoming wedding, event, etc – so I’ll go through how I go about making it fun.

The first and foremost important idea is having a portfolio on your phone.  Yeah, I know it’s just a mobile device & the photos are small – but sometimes you only get just a few minutes to make an impression on someone!  It’s a simple thing to do, but I don’t know very many photographers doing this and it could REALLY help your game out when you’re talking to potential clients.

I have sample shots for just about every type of client, but two main sections I wanted to make note of are weddings & travel.  There’s no way I’m “not” going to have my weddings ready to show for a potential client, in any way/shape/form.  Talking about traveling is one of my favorite ways to get to know my clients better, and in case we’ve both been to the same places – I have my favorite photos arranged in albums as well. To do this, import each album into iPhoto and sync with itunes while your phone is connected to your computer. It makes it easier to “select all” from last import on your phone if you do each album individually. To save on space, make the photos 72 dpi and a smaller resolution before the iphoto import.

A secondary route of getting my work in front of people’s eyes is through mobile uploads.  While the photos aren’t always directly-related to work, I think it’s really important to keep yourself in the forefront of potential clients minds as being a “great photographer” no matter how you do it.  It’s not the camera, but what’s “behind it” that’s important.  In order to create photos that are going to appear better than the “average” person’s mobile uploads, I’d suggest getting some editing apps.  If you want to know what I use, send me an email at tim@timkingblog.com and I’ll share the details, OR – you can check out tomorrow’s iPhonography workshop with CreativeLive.  Here are some of my favorite mobile uploads from the year that have sparked quite a bit of conversation (often times clients):

The metro station in Moscow

Grand Central Station in New York City

Arriving in Thailand

Cabo San Lucas Mexico and Colorado

Snapped this just after a sunset

Somtimes you’ve got to get the shot in a moments notice.  If I didn’t have my phone rigged (will tell you how below), I wouldn’t have captured this sight of San Diego before the stuardess told me to put away my phone, and I wouldn’t have had evidence of the San Diego dog sledder that randomly came by during an early-morning kayak session.

And sometimes when you’re enjoying yourself out on the water, the phone is all you have.

3.  Pimp my i’

The main idea I’ll be discussing here is jailbreaking.  This software integration allows your iPhone access to a huge database of apps geared to customize your phone to personalized settings.  (Along with some really useful apps)  While it’s about as “street legal” as one of Xzibit’s cars he has built in “Pimp My Ride”, I’ll guess that the biggest risk you’ll probably face is a voided warranty on your phone. Here are some of the most useful tweaks I’ve discovered that are available by jailbreaking your device:

-MyWi & Wi-fi booster:  MyWi is an application that turns your phone into a mobile modem.  I’ve transferred documents from my laptop to clients during multi-hour car rides, and it has saved me quite a few times on time-sensitive jobs!  It costs a one-time fee of $19.99, but it’s worth it in its entirety.  (I think cell phone companies charge you about $20/month for this kind of thing!)  The WiFi booster is a great add-on that shows you how close you are to a certain connection.  Definitely helpful over-seas when you’re on airplane mode & just using WiFi for communications.  (PS – the battery lasts forever if you do it this way)

-Android security:  Instead of the number combination lock, you can do a motion pattern to lock your device – and even adjust the opacity so others can’t tell the path as easily.  Great for paranoid people, like myself.  Also, you can customize the little greeting on the slider!  (PS – do not forget your password/pathway to get back into your phone.  It’s a b*tch to get back in, trust me.)

-Customize-able interfaces:  This new app called SBSettings allows you to add personalized pull-down items to your notification center.  Makes turning on MyWi, Wifi, and Airplane mode a lot easier.  It also makes it quicker to adjust the brightness settings than having to figure your way through the actual icon menu built in the operating system.  On the right, you can customize the keyboard to appear black.  CAPS lock is enabled by tapping the ‘up’ arrow twice in a row.

Another key function I’ve discovered is the tweak known as “activator”.  This allows me to set the “home” button to a custom function to bring up camera mode right away – especially useful in times like “dog-sled surprise” above.  As you’ll notice below, I set my home-screen to contain zero icons, leaving me with a phone image of the beach staring back at me.  The little skull in the bottom left corner kills all inactive applications.  Like I said, it’s all about making things easier!  Also wanted to mention – you can have 5 icons on your bottom ‘dock’, you can customize your carrier name, and feature the date up top along with the time.

-Themes.  How badass are these?

I hope you got a lot out of this post!  If you did, I’d appreciate it if you would share on facebook via the button below, and if you have any questions please drop me a line in the comment field – I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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