Two Photogs » Giving Back

Thank You.

Brandy — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:02:43 +0000

I just have to interrupt our WPPI series to write this post. I have been completely BLOWN AWAY by the response to My 25 Biggest Mistakes article. The amount of comments posted here on the blog, on Facebook, in message boards and to me personally in emails have been so amazingly powerful to me. It sounds kind of silly, but I have really been overcome with emotion seeing such positive responses.

It’s been a great lesson to me, and maybe can be to you as well. Honesty rules. You all responded the way you did because my article was honest, and it made me realize that the less pretension the better! I’m pretty much WYSIWYG both online and with my clients, but I have sometimes held back a bit in the past.

In all of this excitement over the blog post, (seriously, we have quadrupled our readership this week) one common theme kept popping up. A bunch of people told me that I was in for some great karma. Then I heard it again yesterday. And as with karma, you kind of think of it as some far away time, maybe even another life when you reap the reward. But imagine my surprise when I learned this morning that I was in for a huge karmic payback!

I’ve been listed as one of the Top 20 in Rangefinder/WPPI’s Fresh Faces contest. My image of my daughter Emma’s first day of school is #14. It just goes to show you what a lucky shot and some good karma can get you! I’d appreciate any votes that anyone wants to throw my way. I don’t care how dorky it sounds – heck yes, I want to WIN! The prize is a spread in Rangefinder and a possible cover. Seriously, who wouldn’t want that? So vote for me if you like the image, or vote for someone else’s if you like it better. Just go vote for someone, because it will probably mean the world to whomever wins!

One final note about the emails I received. They were so heartfelt and sincere that they really inspired me. I’ve recently discovered Jasmine Star (I know, where have I been hiding?) and when I thought about how much the emails that I got meant to me, I figured that no matter how “famous” a photographer got, who doesn’t like hearing that they had a positive effect on another human being? So I wrote her a dorky little note telling her how much I admired her honesty and positive attitude. Class act that she is, she wrote me back the very next day and told me that my email made HER day!

So I’m asking all of you to take a moment to think about who inspires you and to drop them a note. I guarantee that it will mean the world to them. And what goes around, comes around.

Get Mentored By Two Photogs – 2010 ThirstRelief Mentor Auction

Brandy & Danna — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:50:23 +0000

We were so honored to be asked to be mentors in this year’s ThirstRelief Mentor auction. It’s filled with some of the most amazing photographers in the industry today, so we feel pretty humbled to have been nominated. If you are going to be in Las Vegas for WPPI and have been interested in our mentoring, please bid as all proceeds go to this wonderful cause.

Grow as a photographer while saving lives!

We’re participating in the 2010 ThirstRelief Mentor Auction. Our mission is to save lives by tapping into the incredible talent and generosity of the photo industry.

Did you know that every 15 seconds someone dies of a waterborne illness? That’s 5760 people every day! You can help. Bid on a mentoring session with your favorite photographer!

100% of the proceeds directly benefit Thirst Relief. Add to that the incredible wisdom and talent that is being shared in the one-on-one mentor sessions and you have better and more successful photographers! It’s truly a win win for everyone involved!

About us and our mentor auction

Two Photogs is a collaboration between two very different photographers. Brandy and Danna both live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada but instead of competing for clients they have each specialized in ways so unique to them that they can instead help each other succeed. Danna Bowes of Bowes Photography – Baby Art specializes in studio-lit portrait work, and her passion is newborn babies and their families. Danna’s work can be described as timeless, focusing on the beauty of love and relationships. The majority of her work is in black and white, making it simple and classic.Brandy Anderson of Fresh Sugar Photography is self taught and her style is often described as modern and fresh. She utilizes elements she find in the homes of her clients to create lifestyle images on-location. Color is often a huge element to her work and she focuses on the fun families have together.

Together they have created the Two Photogs blog where they share resources and information with other photographers. They hold “inspiration challenges”, which are meant to push the photographer to get out of their box and explore different techniques. They also have articles relevant to today’s photographer such as shopping for computers, networking with other photographers and fun how-to’s. Brandy and Danna will buy you lunch and you have 2 hours to ask them anything. From business to newborn posing to natural or studio lighting. Anything you want to know about being a successful children’s photographer. We are also throwing in all of our professionally-filmed and very sought after videos!

Our mentor session will take place at WPPI 2010 (Las Vegas).

To bid on our auction, visit: Thirst Relief Auction

Holiday Cards & Gifts – What I Sent My Clients

Brandy — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:36:30 +0000

This year I was having trouble deciding what to send my clients for their holiday gift. I always love to send out a kickass card, but I was kind of feeling like I peaked last year and really didn’t know how to top it.

Two years ago I send clients Coach photo key fobs and tree ornaments, last year I got over a HUNDRED copies of the movie Elf on DVD and included a copy with each holiday card I sent. So you can see why this year was very difficult.

I had been looking at corporate gift catalogs, tossing around the ideas of branded etch-a-sketches (they are pretty cool), yo-yo’s, etc when I got a catalog in the mail from Plan Canada. Their marketing strategy – Gifts of Hope, was very effective on me – essentially it was a shopping catalog of different “gifts” I could buy for underdeveloped countries. Things like a goat ($75), birth certificate ($25), mosquito netting ($30) and they even have special gifts from their “Because I am a Girl” campaign like sewing machines ($90) and girls-only latrines ($100).

I decided then and there that THIS was what I wanted to give my clients this year, and where I wanted that budgeted money to go. So I chose mango trees ($12) and home-birthing kits ($25) and bought one for every client I had this year, and some of my favorites from years past. All in all I sent over 60 gifts, and it was such an amazing feeling. I feel 100% confident that this was the perfect choice of gift for my clients, and more importantly, the children they are helping. Each gift was donated in my client’s name, and Plan Canada sent me little note cards with all the information and client names printed on them, which I then just slid into my own Fresh Sugar Photography card and sent off!

I’ve also learned that Operation Smile has a similar type gift catalog, check it out: Operation Smile Gift Catalog

The response from clients has been overwhelming, and so moving. People are truly so thankful that I’ve done this, and I know that it is so much more appreciated than a new keychain. Next year when you are thinking about gifts for your photography clients, think about ethical gift-giving. It will make such a difference to both your clients and people you’ve never met.

The card image above is what I sent to clients, usually I am a stickler for having a generic “holiday” card, but couldn’t get this phrase out of my head. The template by Beyond Red and Green and is slightly modified. I actually have some of 2009′s holiday card left, so if you’d like to receive a card from me, please send me your address: brandy@twophotogs.com.

Giving is Awesome

Brandy — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:06:30 +0000

If you haven’t yet heard about Giving is Awesome, it’s this amazing idea that was started by Philadelphia photographer Kristen Kalp. She posted on her blog about giving away a few thousand dollars worth of photography to a worthy family, and within a week, over 100 photographers had signed on to do the same. Last year Giving is Awesome gave away over half a million dollars in custom photography to deserving families. Pretty amazing, right?

This year’s goal is 1 million dollars, and right now the tally is at just over $300 000. I encourage all of you to take a moment to visit www.givingisawesome.com and sign up to be a part of this incredible movement. I can tell you from personal experience how truly wonderful it feels to give back to your community in this way. You can see my 2008 Giving is Awesome session here: Fresh Sugar’s Giving is Awesome. The recipient of last year’s giveaway was so thankful for this gift that she emailed everyone in her address book and told them to think of me if they are ever looking for a photographer. While the purpose of this was NOT to get anything in return, it’s pretty darn nice to be appreciated in such a way.

If you are worried that you might not get many entries, let me just say that even 2 entries can feel like too many – because it makes it so hard to choose. I know that last year our friend and amazing Red Deer photographer Deanna Hall chose more than one winner because it was just too hard to decide who was the most deserving.

This year, both Danna and I are giving away over $5000 in custom photography to some soon-to-be-excited Calgary families, I’ve already got my work cut out for me deciding on the entries I have received so far. It’s so humbling to read the emails from the loved ones who are doing the nominating.

You can take a look at our blog posts to get an idea of what to write for yours, or you can visit the Giving is Awesome site for more ideas.
Bowes Photography – Giving is Awesome 2009
Fresh Sugar Photography – Giving is Awesome 2009

PS – Our own little giveaway here at Two Photogs ends tonight at midnight, so there’s still time to win a spot in our January mentoring! There have been some AWESOME entries so far, check out the comments section in the post below to take a peek!