So there you are, looking through the expensive bit of glass on the front of your camera at two people you hardly know, thinking how do I make them look good? Is it a trick with the light? Is it a 'looking good' filter under the Artistic Filter menu in Photoshop? Is it making them really, really small in the image so you can't tell anyway, but man oh man that scenery is spectacular? Is it that they paid you SOOO much that they believe they will look good regardless of what you do, a bit like the 'Emperor's new photographer'? Is it that the photograph itself looks good, so by association/participation To View More >>

Christophe Flers has just started a new project www.photos-en-amoureux.com which offers photography to couples who are simply in love - whether they are engaged, married, or just want to create memories of their love and relationship together. What a beautiful idea, and Christophe has created a sample album with images of newly engaged couple Cécile & Philippe. Below are a few layouts of the Matted 12x12 album. Here's to celebrating love! If you'd like to see more of Christophe's work, click here. Enjoy. Anna To View More >>

This post won't mean much to those of you who's knowledge of social media is limited to, "You know, Facebook and Twitter etc". But the rest of us are trying to get good at it without feeling like it consumes all our time. Anyway, I've just been asked my opinions about automation and social media. It's something I feel strongly about, and my advice is to "approach with caution". Here's why. 1. We're in the 'intimacy business', and automation is usually the the enemy of intimacy. If I skype my wife, "Hi darling – love you!", we both feel good about it. It was impulsive and heartfelt. Automate To View More >>

Click here to watch on Vimeo. In the second half of our conversation I talk to Kristie and Brett Harkness about: • dealing with high-end clients • word of mouth • the importance of tangible products • building a relationship with venues • maintaining your business in the the recession • avoiding being a "busy fool" • changing, adapting and diversifying, and • working together as a couple – the last but not the least ;) Oh, and Brett explains why their workshops and DVD aren't for beginners or the advanced, but those in between. Cheers, Ian To View More >>

It's not all about "strategy". When young @stephenbaugh was working at Fuji Xerox a very successful colleague had this advice for him: There are three rules if you want to succeed in sales: 1. Get yourself in plenty of debt - it motivates you to go out the door in the morning ;) 2. Don't let anybody see the fear in your eyes. If you're so scared of losing this piece of business, people will wonder why … are you unsuccessful? 3. Build a relationship with the prospect. Is there a personality fit? Nothing else matters until you do, and a bad relationship doesn't work for you or the prospect. Check To View More >>