Photography is a visual medium. That’s why it makes perfect sense to watch videos about photography instead of reading about it. Spending a few minutes learning a new technique or tip each day will help keep you on the cutting edge of your profession.

Below are 10 YouTube channels (think of them as weekly TV shows) I’ve reviewed and can recommend to photographers at all skill levels. Most of the videos are 2-10 minutes long, so they would be easy to watch in the morning with a cup of coffee or during breakfast.

Start by reviewing each channel below. If you find one you like, log into YouTube, click the “subscribe” button for that channel, and click “email each upload” so you’ll get an email reminder when a new video from that channel is uploaded.

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An all day workshop with Master Artist Kathy Falls

Class size is limited. Reservations must be made by May 30th!
Call JD Photo Imaging at 888-858-8084 today to guarantee your place.

Offered for the FIRST time you will have in in-depth, hands-on workshop that will teach you how to embellish your inkjet canvas and water color fine art pieces. Kathy will take you to the next level showing the latest techniques for creating ‘embellished giclees’ (enhancing your inkjet canvas image with painting techniques).   You will learn these  techniques using pastel paper, exotic papers, water color paper, and inkjet canvas.

This will be a hands-on learning experience using fine art products with painting and drawing applications. You will not be working with a computer, this will be painting directly on the finished image. Kathy will show you the appropriate materials to use for each substrate and how to finish them that will preserve the artwork and the image.

At the end of the day, you will take home two 11×14″ inkjet canvas and one watercolor image that will be artistically painted by you! Kathy will provide the images that you will embellish, a $115 value!

Kathy has utilized these techniques and has had her work in many galleries in Michigan and Indiana. Most recently Kathy was awarded “Best of Show” in the 2010 Hillsdale County annual juried art show for an embellished giclee, and one Loan Print in the Professional Photographers of America 2010 International Print Competition, which she created using these techniques.

Details:

The workshop will be held on Monday, June 6 from 9 am. to 4 pm.

Registration begins at 8:30 am. Please be on time.

Lunch is included.

Cost of the workshop is $120, and will be held at JD Photo Imaging in Flint, Mi.

All materials will be provided. Class size is limited.

Kathy Falls is a Master Photographer, Master Artist, Master Electronic Imaging, Photographic Craftsman, PPA Certified Photographer, Certified E.I., Certified Photographic Specialist

Thom Rouse, an internationally known artist, will hold a 3-day workshop entitled “Fine Art Portraiture in Celebration of the Feminine Image” May 15-17 at Hicks Studio of Fenton (map). Cost for the workshop is $425 for 3 full days, and is limited to 12 participants.

Thom combines photography and advanced Photoshop techniques to create his fine art portraiture. Here’s a tutorial he recently posted in Professional Photographer Magazine and an article on Shutterbug.com that gives you an idea of the techniques you’ll learn in his class.

According to Thom, on the first day photographers will work with live models using concepts for “dressing, lighting and posing that celebrates the feminine image.” Then, on days two and three photographers will learn how to apply different fine art enhancements using Photoshop layers. By the end of the third day, “photographers will have a full set of layered images as a reference for applying the techniques to other images.”

If you are looking for a new portraiture style – or to enhance your current style – you owe it to yourself or your graphics artist to take this class.  The ability to create and display images like these on your website and in your studio will help you to justify premium prices for all your portraiture.

For more information or to register for this class, contact Thom Rouse at (815)761-1358 or thom@thomrouse.com. To see more examples of his work visit his website www.thomrouse.com

Brad Hawks will present a “Creating the Image” workshop on March 14, 2011 at 7pm sponsored by the Mid-Michigan Professional Photographer’s Association. The program is free to MMPPA and DPPA members.

During the 3-hour program, Brad will show step-by-step examples for creating the effects that has made his senior portrait work so popular. This includes the latest image effects in Photoshop, Nix, Alien Skin, AutoFX and Painter.

He will also be giving away $1,000 free software to folks attending the workshop.

Details:
5:30pm: Dinner at The Frankenmuth Brewery, 425 S. Main Street Frankenmuth
6:30pm: Registration
7:00pm: Program at Rummel Studios, 130 W. Tuscola, Frankenmuth

For more information, contact Tina Timmons at tina@mich1.net or visit the Mid-Michigan PPA website.

Brad Hawks will lead a program entitled “Capture and Create” on January 11, 2011 at 7pm at the next DPPA meeting at the Birmingham Conference Center. Sponsored by JD Photo Imaging, the program is free to DPPA members. Non members are welcome to attend by calling (248) 388-6947.

During the 3-hour program, Brad will show you how to use the same successful workflow he uses in his full-time studio business, as well as step-by-step examples for creating the effects that has made his senior portrait work so popular. This includes:

• Creative thought – setting a theme, telling a story
• Light balancing and styles, including the latest techniques and equipment
• RAW vs JPG facts in the real world
• Working with Light Room presets
• Creating the latest image effects in Photoshop, Nix, Alien Skin, AutoFX and Painter

If you are ready to take your images to the next level in the shortest amount of time, you should plan to attend this workshop. You do not need to bring your laptop.

As much as we appreciate the fact that you read the JD blog (over 700 of you do each week), there are many others – written for pro photographers – by pro photographers – available online.

Below (in no particular order) is a list of some of the better ones I’ve found. I suggest you click through each of these and see if their are any you like. Then, instead of manually visiting each blog daily, add them to your news reader. This way, you’ll have a virtual “pro photographer newsletter” that updates each time a new article is published. I’ve used both the Yahoo news reader and the Google version, but any of them will work great.

http://learnwithbetsy.com/ – Betsy Finn provides unbiased reviews of many products available for professional photographers. She takes the time to research the competition so you don’t have to.

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Kirk Russell will present a webinar entitled, “How to double your sales, and what to do if your marketing leaves your business underexposed” on Monday, Nov 29 at 2pm EST. The cost for this webinar is $99, or free for paid 3Lenses clients.

According to Kirk, “attendees will learn more about effective marketing in 1 hour than 97% of businesses will learn in decades.”

During this online seminar, Kirk explains in detail the three ways to double your sales, how to truly differentiate yourself, and how to attract more clients more quickly. Using real life examples, Kirk reveals the benefits of using innovative methods to transform photography businesses of any size.

Learn more.

$99 Registration below, or email Kirk for a free registration link if you are already a paid 3Lenses.com client.

The Detroit Professional Photographers Association will hold it’s annual Fall Print Competition on Tuesday, November 16 at 7pm at the Birmingham Conference Center. Contest rules and Entry forms are here.

If you have never entered a print competition, I have five reasons why you should make the commitment to get started this year:

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JD is proud to have partnered with Kirk Russell at 3lenses.com to help bring you a whole new level of marketing knowledge for your business. Kirk is known throughout the industry as a photography marketing expert, and can help you take your studio to the next level.

To make it easier to find all Kirk’s resources, we’ve opened a new website jdphotoimaging.3lenses.com. Here you can find:

• Recordings of Kirk’s Webinars including Weddings, Families, Dance & Pre school, Seniors and Sports. Each hour-long webinar is packed with action-items you can use in your studio to help you be more profitable.

• Free marketing Evaluation. Kirk will schedule a private phone interview with you to review your business and help you set new goals.

• Inspiration. A collection of Kirk’s articles designed to inspire you to take your business to the next level.

• Tips, Techniques and Templates. A collection of useful scripts and templates you can use in your business.

To get started, go to jdphotoimaging.3lenses.com and register. Registration is FREE for JD customers only.

Once you’re registered, check back often. Kirk will be regularly adding new materials to the website, and you don’t want to miss any of them.

Did you know that:

• That China will soon become the #1 English speaking country in the world?
• That the average high school student sends over 2,000 text messages a month?

A fascinating new video is making the rounds on the Internet. Created by Karl Fisch, Jeff Brenman, and Scott McLeod, it describes how technology is changing our world.

The original version, created in 2007 is called “Shift Happens.” It focuses on how global changes (not just technology) are impacting our lives. According to the authors:

These videos have been viewed well over 20 millions times by audiences large and small, educational, corporate and everything in between. It’s been shown to the leaders of our national defense and to incoming congressmen. It’s been shown by university presidents and kindergarten teachers, televangelists and politicians, folks just trying to make a buck and those trying to save the world.

If you have 5 minutes to spare, I definitely recommend you watch the latest video. It will remind you where you need to focus your marketing efforts. If you have 10 minutes, watch them both. You won’t be disappointed.