Photographer's Kick Start: Training samples

I've been teaching this beginner's photography class for over 3 years now and after teaching it for so long I knew what the sticking points were for moms.  So I re-designed the entire program to include more samples, created diagrams, and even added in a little animation to help provide a better understanding of photography basics to moms!   My goal at the end of the class is that the moms will have a better understanding of exposure and the basic modes of their cameras so they can make better choices when they are out taking pictures.  I don't expect them to be a pro after 3 hours (remember how long it took you to really "get" it all!).

Here's a peek into the new slides created for The Photographer's Kick Start: Training module.  The class materials are broken up into roughly 3 one-hour segments so there are defined break times.

 

I knew that just offering the slide was not enough.  So much of the class is what is not on the slides...the stories I tell and even some of the jokes.  I may be comfortable getting up in front a group of strangers to talk but that doesn't mean you are.  So to help give you some guidance and some ideas for what to cover I also went through and wrote detailed speaking notes for the slides.  These speaker notes include not only the basic info for the materials...but also my stories and jokes which you may choose to use to add a little life to your class!  And the slides and speaker notes are included in a PDF file that you can easily print and review - maybe even jot down a few ideas of your own.

I encourage you to use these materials as a starting point.  It is MUCH easier to modify something to work for you than to start over from scratch.  But I also know that if you make the materials personal to you, you will be more passionate about what you are teaching and your students will recognize that!

Don't forget, the pre-release version of the training materials is available for today only at the special price of $199 AND includes the full text of the Photographer's SEO Book.  Read more about what is included and purchase here...

Featured Sponsor: Clickin Moms

{click : to become clear; fall into place}

I'm thrilled to announce another sponsor for the Photographer's Kick Start: Training module.  Clickin Moms!  If you have not been to the site yet head on over and check out all their great resources and forums!

A little about Clickin Moms...

Clickin Moms is a welcoming, generous, supportive group made up of everyone from beginners to pros. And it feels about as close to friends and family as you can get online. What a forum for sharing images and ideas! You can show others your photos and get constructive feedback about them. Learn about a ton of subjects – everything from technical areas like lighting to practical stuff like the business of photography. Even host your own lesson on a subject others want to know more about. And if you have your own blog, you can join the affiliate program and earn commissions by referring your readers to Clickin’ Moms.

On top of all the support that is available to every member every day, Clickin’ Moms has recently started to offer photography workshops. These incredibly popular classes come in several varieties, geared towards various levels of photographers and topics.

No matter where you are in your photography journey, this is a group that’s worth getting to know.

Purchase our Photographer's Kick Start: Training module when it is released April 30th and you'll get a great money saving coupon from Clickin Moms in your virtual swag bag!  You can sign up for our email newsletter to get a reminder about our product release and to learn more about future products

Featured Sponsor: BIG Folio

{service : an act of helpful activity; help; aid:}

As a former web developer, I created and managed my own website for the first three years of my business.  I didn't want a site that looked like all the other photographers' sites and I wanted something I could update myself.  I was also worried about the site not being search engine friendly if it was a Flash site.

After I had my photography business logo designed by Jen Thompson, she started working with Big Folio offering design services for through them so I thought I would check them out.  And I'm so glad I did.  I LOVE my Bubblegum Tree Photography site which was my first Big Folio site.  It is easy to update, and looks totally different.  And I rank well in the search engines for my optimized keyword phrases by taking advantage of the splash page AND HTML mirror site.  When it came time to create a new site for the photography classes I teach to moms, I purchased another Big Folio site for that!  They also have great customer service and I totally recommend them if you are looking for a change or need a site!

A little about Big Folio...

 

BIG Folio and NextProof are perfect for all types of professional photographers. From weddings to portraits, landscapes to commercial—BIG Folio is the ideal solution. Update your site's colors, images, logo, music and more to make it uniquely you. It's like having a custom site for a fraction of the cost. All of our premium sites support video galleries—making it perfect for videographers and those using today's HD-enabled DSLRs. Ready to blog? We'll install WordPress when we setup your new site. Make your blog look great with our WordPress themes and services. Our sites are designed to rank higher, look great, and boost your sales. If you sell images  through NextProof or Pictage, our sites will automatically display links to your client  galleries. High-performance servers ensure your site is fast and reliable. Easily update important ranking factors without any HTML knowledge. Build a splash page with just a few clicks. Go further with our SEO service.  A true hosting platform with PHP/MySQL support & FTP access means you can upload slideshows, videos, a blog and more.

Purchase our Photographer's Kick Start: Training module when it is released April 30th and you'll get a great money saving coupon from Big Folio in your virtual swag bag!  You can sign up for our email newsletter to get a reminder about our product release and to learn more about future products

Featured Sponsor: The Savvy Photographer

{connect : to establish communication between; put in communication}

There are few people in the photography industry working as hard as Marsha of The Savvy Photographer to connect photographers with each other and with vendors that can help them in their business.  Throw in some eye candy and you have her site!  Having met Marsha in person I can say she is a lovely and busy person and I appreciate her taking the time to put together the projects that she features on The Savvy Photographer site.

A little about The Savvy Photographer...

  

{Inspiration..revealed}

We are photographers~ we inspire~ we are inspired by others~ we are inspired by ourselves~ we seek to learn... then create~ we are bound by a love of capturing moments through our lens...moments that will now last forever...

Find your inspiration~ 

In addition to having photographer interviews, studio tours, giveaways, workshop information, they also have great templates for photographers.  For example, check out the just released Beach House Collection templates in action....

Purchase our Photographer's Kick Start: Training module when it is released April 30th and you'll get a goodie from The Savvy Photographer in your virtual swag bag!  You can sign up for our email newsletter to get a reminder about our product release and to learn more about future products.  

Featured Sponsor: NAPCP

{support : to maintain or advocate}

So many organizations for photographers cater to the wedding photography world so it is great that the National Association of Professional Child Photographers (NAPCP) was started as a way to provide support and share ideas between child photographers.  It is great to have an organization that understands our unique struggles and that can provide a helping hand to us!  I am thrilled that they have agreed to be one of the sponsors for the Photographer's Kick Start: Training Module.

A little about NAPCP...

The National Association of Professional Child Photographers (NAPCP) is a member-based association representing and promoting the community of professional children's photographers. NAPCP provides a valuable platform for seasoned veterans and rising professionals alike to share their experiences, hone their craft and raise their professional visibility.

They've also created this great sounding retreat coming up in June in Napa Valley (featuring Tamara Lackey and Lisa MacKenzie) and there is still time to register so check it out!

Purchase our Photographer's Kick Start: Training module when it is released April 30th and you'll get a money saving coupon from NAPCP in your virtual swag bag!  You can sign up for our email newsletter to get a reminder about our product release and to learn more about future products.  

Snapshots vs Candids vs Portraits

One of the questions I am asked frequently is "Will teaching mom's photography be training our competition, or our replacement?"

And while I've seen some classes geared towards moms with beautiful natural light studios with sample photos that look like professional photographs, I worry that the moms will go in with the expectation that they will come out taking pictures like a pro. 

I do not do that...

I am very clear with the mom's that I will teach them how to take their pictures from snapshots to candids.  As you know, it takes practice, time, equipment, and usually editing to create fine portraits...it is MORE than can be taught in a 3 hour beginner's photography class.

My goal when I teach my class is to give the mom a foundation in photography.  I want her to walk away with a better idea of what it means to take a picture and how they can get more out of their DSLR.  I want her to walk away trying new things with her pictures to create more interesting photos.

You'll see in the class materials the kinds of pictures I would expect the moms to be able to take. Pictures of my kids in their Halloween costumes, or swimming in our pool.  They are the everyday moments of life that are true and real and deserve to be captured beautifully!

When I teach I tell the moms that I want them to approach their photography the same way I do: I take LOTS of candid pictures of my kids being kids and a few times a year I create an idealized portrait of my children.  I want them to take better pictures every day of their children, but then I want them to come to me for that idealized portrait - usually around special milestones.  I explain the differences between a snapshot, a candid, and a portrait.

2009 Zoo Boo {Houston Zoo} from Jessica Grieves on Vimeo.

The above video is one of the samples I sometimes show in my classes.  It is something I think they should be able to create with a little practice after knowing more about how to get more from their cameras.  And I have had moms that have had a class with me create videos like this and send them to me.  And a funny thing happens...they actually have a better appreciation for my professional portraits because they start to realize that SO MUCH MORE goes into it.

Purchase our Photographer's Kick Start: Training module when it is released April 30th!  You can sign up for our email newsletter to get a reminder about our product release and to learn more about future products.  

Featured Sponsor: Photographer's SEO Book

A while back I purchased the Photographer's SEO Book in an effort to make smarter choices on my photography website to increase traffic and get better more qualified leads from search engines.   Making changes based on the book has made a HUGE difference in my rank for the keywords I am targeting.  And using those same techniques I have created the website I Want to Shoot My Kids which features my photography classes for moms (and ranks #1 for that keyword phrase).

A note from Photographer's SEO Book...

There's no faster, easier, and cheaper way to kick start your photography business than through search engines. A high rank in Google gets you in front of clients already looking to hire, and you can turn that steady stream of new client requests into satisfied customers that build great referral leads. It doesn't take long to build a thriving online marketing program with a simple website or blog and some guidance.

Hi, I'm Zach Prez and I love helping photographers with search engine optimization (SEO). I've helped hundreds of photographers understand Google in a non technical way. With my free 8 lesson email class on SEO or the very affordable Photographers SEO Book you'll have the knowledge and tools to rank with ease. Plus, an investment in SEO costs a tiny fraction of what you'd pay for old school banner ads or event marketing where you're lucky to get a couple solid leads.

I hope you'll visit my website or Twitter page and pickup some free tips to begin your journey with search. Learn about:

• perfect keywords
• link building
• the truth about meta tags
• benefits of blogs
• image naming
• web analytics

Start getting steady traffic from Google right away.

Head over to the Photographer's SEO Book site to sign up for his new FREE 8 Lesson eClass.  

Featured Sponsor: my four hens

{cute: delightfully pretty or dainty}

I came across My Four Hens when I was looking at the samples from On the Spot Studio (OTSS).  OTSS created some SUPER cute social media icons for My Four Hens that I loved.

Check out her cute twitter icon!!!

And when I looked a little more I found that Sarah at My Four Hens Photography had more than just beautiful photography, she had free Photoshop actions, and Photoshop actions for sale (even some actions designed specifically for Photoshop Elements).  Here is an example of one of her freebie sets!

Lots and lots of lovely actions.

 

Here's the description from My Four Hens...

My Four Hens Photography actions are an essential photography tool
designed and inspired for photographers in every angle and walk of their
journey whether they are hobbyist, amateur or professional! Not only are
they easy to use but they are designed to be non destructive to your image.
I always have something fun and creative up my sleeve so be sure to check
my shop often for new and fresh products!

Purchase our Photographer's Kick Start: Training module when it is released April 30th and you'll get some goodies from My Four Hens Photography Actions in your virtual swag bag!  You can sign up for our email newsletter to get a reminder about our product release and to learn more about future products.  More sponsors will be announced over the next week as we count down to the release!

Featured Sponsor: Sassy Designs, Ltd.

{sassy: stylish; chic}

In business for almost 8 years, Sassy Designs is a veteran of the graphic design world and offers a variety of design products to give photographers options for standing out from the crowd including card templates and digital paper pack to customize for your client work.  Her Facebook Fan page is full of notes from happy customers and photos showing samples that have been created using products purchased from Sassy Designs.

A Little About Sassy Designs...

My name is Terry Cutlip and I’m the designer behind Sassy Designs, Ltd in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

I started off as a website designer back in 1997. I was intrigued by the web and I wanted to learn how to create my own website. So I did. I read books and tutorials and I taught myself HTML – and everything else I needed to know.

 

I started Sassy Designs in 2002 after a few years of experience and enough confidence that I could actually make it. I focused on website design but as the years went by I began branching out and doing different types of projects – logo design, print design, and ad design. I even had the opportunity to design the layout and masthead for a local newspaper/tabloid publication devoted to canines.

 

After the birth of my son in 2006 I realized that I didn’t quite have the time to devote to large scale website design projects so I focused more on the smaller ones. When my oldest and dearest friend started her own photography business she hired me on the side to design custom business forms for her so she could get her brand in place. Then she asked for my design help in creating custom birth announcements for her clients. That is ultimately what got me started designing card templates.

 

In June of 2009 I officially re-launched my website and opened up my online shop. I was nervous to make the leap but I must say it is one of the best decisions I ever made! I now offer a variety of card templates designed around WHCC’s print specifications along with digital papers and other design elements for those photographers that want to create their own. I also take custom orders. So if you’re looking for something specific to coordinate with your existing image, or even if you’re looking to create your business image with a logo and branding package, just let me know!

Purchase our Photographer's Kick Start: Training module when it is released April 30th and you'll get a goodie from Sassy Designs in your virtual swag bag!  You can sign up for our email newsletter to get a reminder about our product release and to learn more about future products.  More sponsors will be announced over the next week as we count down to the release!

Pre-Release Available April 30th

 I am excited to announce that the pre-release version of the Photographer's Kick Start: Training module will be available for purchase starting April 30th.  This version will include all of the module materials PLUS some very special pre-release only swag bag items.  Check out the details below!

What's Included (via digital download)

• PowerPoint & Keynote Presentation with over 30 customizable slides for teaching.  Don't worry if you don't have Powerpoint...you can get a free Powerpoint viewer from Microsoft to play the presentation...you just won't be able to edit if you don't own either Powerpoint or Keynote.
  
• Layered PSD files for slide background and all diagrams to customize for your branding.
• All slide text to create your own slideshow using the tool of your choice.
• Speakers notes to guide you through the training materials.
• Pricing and Marketing Guide
• Customization Guide
  
• Resource Guide for Moms
• Tips for speaking to MOPS groups
  

Virtual Swag Bag
Our Virtual Swag Bag includes coupons and freebies from our sponsors as a thank you for your support of this project.  So far we have announced the following sponsors and we have more sponsors that we'll be announcing later this week...

• Paperie Boutique
• MCP Actions
• Pretty Presets
• On the Spot Studio

 

 

SPECIAL PRE-RELEASE BONUS

As part of the the pre-release available on Friday April 30th only, we'll be including the FULL version of the Photographer's SEO Book with the training materials.  This eBook is a great way learn how to update your website materials to not only increase traffic for your photography business, but to help moms find your classes as well!  My class website currently shows up at 1st in Google for "photography classes for moms" thanks to the the tips I learned in this book and my photography website continues to move up in the search results as well!

SECOND PRE-RELEASE BONUS
For photographers who purchase the class materials during our pre-release on Friday, you will also have the option to have your business listed for one year free of charge in a directory we will be creating on our website "I Want to Shoot my Kids" which will list other photographers teaching classes for moms for anyone looking for a class.  The directory will be listed by state to make it easy for potential students to find you.

Who Should Buy
These materials are designed for a professional photographer looking to offer a beginner's photography class to moms in their market.  You, as the photographer, should already be familiar with photography and camera operation.  These materials do not alone teach you photography but rather give you a framework for teaching others combined with your own experience and understanding. 

The Money
Included in the training materials are a pricing guide that gives you an idea of how to price the classes based on the successes I've had as well as ways you can customize the training to better match your business model or market.  I have found that for a 3 hour private one-on-one class I can easily charge $250 and for a private group class I can charge $300-800 based on the class size in my suburban market.  Once your class materials are setup the way you want them, classes require VERY little time outside of the time you are teaching so your hourly rate is high.

The Price
The retail price of the materials including the virtual swag bag is $299 and includes class materials listed above as well as coupons and freebies that roughly value the price of the class.  You should be able to make back the cost of the materials in the first class you teach making this a great investment in increasing your revenue. 

However, for the one day pre-release on April 30th we will be offering the materials for $199 - the only day they will be available for under $200.  In addition, for the one day pre-release, we will also be offering the full ebook Photographer's SEO Book, a $39 value.   

After you have had time to review the pre-release, you will be asked to participate in a survey to help improve the materials.  The feedback will be considered in updating the materials prior to the final release on May 28th.  The purchase of the pre-release materials includes an updated download of the final materials for no additional charge.

I have been training others for the past 10 years in various subjects, and teaching these materials for the last 3 years to moms in the Houston area.  I worked with local moms to develop the outline for the class materials.  I have loved teaching the class and look forward to each and every class.  I hope you will enjoy bringing these materials to your own markets as well!