We’re super excited about next week – we have an incredible giveaway and some great blog posts planned. :)

Make sure you take a look to see all the awesome things you can do with her actions, and see some gorgeous photography to boot.
www.ashleymcnamara.com

The winners were chosen completely subjectively – basically they were ones that I really liked the creative ideas that were behind them.

The first winner did an amazing job of capturing the feeling of being left out of a group. I love love love this photo.
Jamie from Ever After Photography wins a set of actions from Ashley McNamara! Jamie, please send me your email address!

And the other winner just tickled me with all of her fun ideas for the Scooby gang.
Congratulations Kayla Bate!, you win The Photo Book! Please send me your mailing address!

We have a surprise giveaway tomorrow, so check back to see how to win!

We have two fun prizes this time, first is The Photo Book. If you are new to photography or self-taught, you would be amazed to learn just how much you DON’T know about the history of photography. This book is full of amazing photos from incredible photographers from the mid-19th century to today. It’s a really neat book, so if you don’t have it already go shoot some toys so you can get it!

The second super awesome prize we have is a set of actions from the talented Ashley McNamara. If you’re not following her blog . . . well, I can’t even imagine that. That’s just crazy talk. Of course you are following her blog. How else would you get the best Photoshop tutorials around and see some amazing photography? Since you’re already following her, you must be really wishing you had her action set by now. She was generous enough to give away a set to a challenge winner here on Two Photogs, so wish no more!

To finish up this post, I’m including my attempt at toy photography from this past weekend. It was lots more fun, yet a bit harder than I expected. I think I’m kind of addicted though, because it was my daughter’s birthday on Saturday and I was eyeing up all her new toys, lol! Next attempt I will try to set up more elaborate scenes with more storytelling.

I’ve been using Moo for some cool uses of my own for the past year. Because my business name is not my actual name, I need to find ways for people to associate my own name with Fresh Sugar Photography. One of the ways I do it is with a Moo sticker on the bag of each print. I signed my name using my Wacom and made it into a cute little sticker. This way I am letting my clients know that they have purchased one-of-a-kind artwork, and I am also keeping my own name in their minds, as well as my business name.

I use the Moo MiniCards as a way to incorporate new faces into my portfolio. I made “you’ve been spotted” cards to give out anytime I see a child or family that I would love to photograph. They are cute and fun, and a less-creepy way of saying “Are you a model?”.

I also ordered sets of cards for myself and Danna before WPPI. At $19.99 for 100 cute little cards, it was the perfect solution for small run needs. The cards are seriously yummy, so thick and sturdy – you won’t believe them until you see them. Plus, you can have 100 different images on 100 different cards. So cool!

So if all of this hasn’t convinced you to give Moo a try, then how about a discount on your first order? Moo is generously giving our readers 15% off their first Moo order. Use code 2RB2CK at checkout, and anxiously await your order! You’ll love their packaging too, totally cute!

We have a ton of blog posts coming up in the next couple of weeks, tackling things like competition and jealousy, cool ways to use Moo.com and an Inspiration Challenge that I am so personally excited about that I can’t stop thinking about it!

We’re also working on another side project (I know, like we aren’t busy enough), mentoring some amazing women (with more to come next week!), and gearing up for a very busy spring season in our portrait businesses.

Another thing we wanted to let everyone know is that the next round of mentoring is now sold out. We might be doing another in May, so if you are interested, please let us know by emailing me at brandy@twophotogs.com and asking to be put on the waiting list.
Our waiting list gets first dibs on the mentoring spots, which is why they sell out so quickly.

So look forward to the next couple of weeks where we will have a new project announced, a new Inspiration Challenge, new posts about cool things, and even some new partnerships with some awesome companies and blogs!

Our next session is scheduled to start on April 5th! The most exciting news about our new session is that we’ve decided to open it up to local photographers. We had always felt a bit weird about not including everyone in this mentoring, but felt it was just something we should do to protect our businesses. After much consideration, we have decided that it’s important to us to be as open as possible to anyone who wants our help.

Registration is now full. Please visit the contact page to send us an email to get on the waiting list.

Once you have registered and submitted payment, your account will be set up and it will be activated on April 4th.

Here’s what our past mentorees have been saying about our program:

“I am SO impressed with the mentoring program so far! In just one week I have been given enormous amounts of insight into what I need to do to get my business headed in the right direction. I am already feeling more confident in my ablilities as a photographer and I am extremely grateful to both Danna and Brandy for being so open and willing to share their knowledge with me. This program has been worth every penny, and I can’t wait to see what I learn in the second half!”

“The mentoring program has been fantastic. Both Brandy and Danna have been very open about their businesses and techniques and was works for them. The information they have given regarding products, equipment, and techniques has been excellent. The program is well designed to make you re-examine how you are doing things and where you should be going. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to take their photography or business to the next level.”

“I have been very impressed by the structure of the mentor program with Brandy and Danna. They immediately led me on my rebranding journey, that I so desperately needed and with a detailed portfolio/website review, I was well on my way. They are more than generous with their time and information for what they think will work for my business as well as the choices they have made within their own. With one more week left, I know I will walk away from this very special opportunity with new vision, confidence and validation not only as a professional photographer, but also as a successful business owner.”

“I have learned a lot of specific things about the technical side, and love seeing how other photographers work and see the workflow, just to confirm that I’m on the right track and to make sure my clients are getting the best product out of me”

And here is more information about our program:

Who is it for?

Anyone who is wanting to take their business to the next level and develop a style and brand that will get you there. You could be struggling with the business side of things, getting the clients you want and the sales you deserve. Maybe you are a natural light photographer wanting to learn studio lighting or a studio photog wanting to learn natural light. You might be tired of being intimated by light, or you want to do on-location sessions but don’t know what to do once you are in your client’s home. Or maybe you are just a fan of Danna and/or Brandy’s work and want to know “how they do it”. It’s like a tailor-made workshop specifically for YOU!

Topics we will cover:
Style
Creativity
Lighting
Pricing
Marketing
Branding
Maternity & Newborns
Boudoir
Fusion Slideshows
Social Networking
Products and Sales
Workflow

Who isn’t it for?
This is NOT a workshop to learn how to use your camera. You must have working knowledge of your DSLR and basic photography skills.

What is the price?
The price is $1250 USD.

What do you get?
You get 3 weeks worth of knowledge and help, from two photographers with over 15 years of combined business experience. Nothing is off limits to ask. You will receive weekly topics, questions and guidance and a personal portfolio/website review. Also included are 6 professional videos that you can view online to see us in action in a maternity, newborn and baby session as well as photoshop videos to see our post-processing.
Plus amazing vendor discounts, a pricing calculator, posing guides, lighting diagrams and more!

This isn’t a workshop or a class. While we will have PLENTY to teach you and assignments for you to complete, our focus is coaching you and your business and making our help as specific to you as possible. We will do everything in our power to help you succeed. Think of us as your personal cheering section – we want only the best for you and when you are done with your mentoring you will be ready to soar! Before starting your mentoring, think about the areas of your business that you would like to work on, and some specific questions/problems you want to discuss. The mentoring can only be successful if you are willing to commit the time to work on your business and your photography. We will be checking in daily with you (except on weekends which is when we hold our client sessions) throughout the program and expect you to try to do the same.

How many spots are there?
There are only 5 spots for each 3 week session. We want to give personalized and specific mentoring to each person.

How will it work?
We have something very new and very cool to use for our online mentoring. It’s a way to communicate privately with each person and give feedback daily. We can’t wait to show you all! We have also developed a small forum where you can chat with others and keep chatting after your 3 weeks mentoring is over.

Why online? Why no workshops?
We are super-busy running successful photography businesses. We get a LOT of emails asking questions about mentoring and workshops, and this was the only way we could fit it into our schedules at this time. It also saves you the hassle of finding childcare, and paying the added expenses of flight and hotel. We’re also going to talk *with* you, not at you.

-Brandy & Danna

http://www.twophotogs.com

These actions are compatible with:

Photoshop CS4, Photoshop CS3, Photoshop CS2, Elements 8, Elements 7, Elements 6, Elements 5

Jodi truly has thought of everything. She also has video tutorials on the site to show you how to load the actions and how to use them…easy peasy!

Here are a few of the ones I played with.

“build it round color block bottom”

“Round it extra”

“Build it rounder color block right”

“Build it color block”

You want these..I know you do!! So what do you have to do to get your own set for free valued at $49.99 USD? Pretty easy, visit the MCP Actions Site, browse around and then post a comment here about which of her amazing products is your favorite. She has lots of really awesome stuff there! One week from today we will choose 1 random winner to receive the complete “Finish It Photoshop Action Set”.

]]> http://twophotogs.com/2010/03/another-cool-giveaway-mcp-finish-it-photoshop-actions/feed/ 113 http://twophotogs.com/2010/03/our-countdown-to-wppi-two-photogs-meetup/ http://twophotogs.com/2010/03/our-countdown-to-wppi-two-photogs-meetup/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:26:31 +0000 Brandy & Danna http://twophotogs.com/?p=743 We’ve got all the info on all the speakers, all the parties, and all the essential non-WPPI stuff that you need to see!

We’re breaking it down into what to do at the convention, who to see, where to go – and then we’ve got a whole lot of other stuff to do in Vegas while you are down there!

MEETUP!

We would love to meet any and all of you that read the blog and are coming down to WPPI.
We’ll be having a low-key get-together on Sunday night at at 7:00pm at Rouge in the MGM.
We’ll be hanging out for a couple of drinks before the Canon party and we’d love for you to come by and say hi!
It’s a chance to meet some new friends before the week starts, or catch up with some old ones to make plans!

Hope you can make it!

We’re breaking it down into what to do at the convention, who to see, where to go – and then we’ve got a whole lot of other stuff to do in Vegas while you are down there!

While I am taking a shorter trip to Vegas this year I still plan to sit in on a couple of classes. Really, you learn so much if you pick the right speakers. Take time to consider what you want to learn, where you would like to improve most and then take care to choose classes that are going to focus on those things. 2 years ago I sat in on some classes that were really great and I walked away with a fresh new perspective and lots of inspiration, and some other…well not so much…lol. It’s not that they were bad classes they were just not what I needed.

Sunday

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Doug Gordon — Posing is Back and It’s this Year’s Black

Come with Doug Gordon as he brings you on a complete journey toward taking your photography and business to the next level, in his straight-forward, straight from the heart, inspirational style.

You will be motivated, educated, challenged and entertained in a program that will completely transform the way you shoot. If you love speakers who are motivational and very funny, come to this class. Come because people learn best when they are laughing; because they need a motivational message; and because they need to have fun while they learn. Learn how to take immediate action and create momentum toward becoming the photographer you want to be. What better environment is there to learn than while on the fly working outside-the-box. See unconventional, unique, edgy, glamorous poses right before your eyes.

Develop a distinctive wedding style allowing you to direct a client yet capture the emotion and feel of photojournalism.

There’s a natural magic you need to learn to capture and shoot like two photographers, a main and second shooter. Learn from this legendary imagemaker.

Monday:

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Eric Meola — Seeing in Color
This lecture is meant to be inspirational as opposed to technical, personal rather than theoretical. “My focus is on my use of color, how I visualize it, how I think in color and why I use it to tell my story,” says Eric. The talk lasts approximately an hour and a half to two hours, and includes more than 200 images covering many aspects of Eric’s career from advertising through several book projects; as well shows a cross section of personal images made on trips throughout the world, including images made with both digital cameras and film.

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. / RM# 311
Rocco Ancora — Bring Your Vision to Life
Capturing stunning images in-camera is an art in itself but how do you interpret  an image and complete  your vision in the final print? Image capture has always been half of the equation. Bringing the negative to life in the hands of a master printer is the other. The digital age has allowed us to be in full control of the process. Understanding the digital concepts that allow you to bring an image to life is an essential skill for redefining the image creating process. Join three-time Australian wedding photographer of the year Rocco Ancora as he takes you through a process of digital enhancement to give your images a unique and distinct signature look.

OR

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sondra Ayers & Jerry Deck — Great Studio Success Stories
Fast-paced and full of take-home information, this program will showcase a number of studio owners who have started living the Life Of Their Design. Hear and see how each of the featured studios used marketing and branding elements to build their own unique success stories. From the basics of branding to the latest tips on social and Internet marketing, this interactive program will help all who attend find their own unique marketing voice. The audience will be inspired by the photographers featured who are in the trenches just like they are! This class will captivate both beginners and seasoned pros!

Unfortunately I have to leave Tuesday afternoon, but if I were staying I would LOVE to check out these classes as well. So if any of you out there attend any of these feel free to email me with your notes…I would be very grateful :-)

Tuesday

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Jay Maisel — Light, Gesture, Color, Perception & New Works
Jay Maisel’s name has become synonymous with light, gesture and color. He started his professional career in 1954 and since then his images have been used for advertising, editorial and corporate communications worldwide. He has exhibited widely and his prints are in private, corporate and museum collections. Among his awards are the ASMP Life Time Achievement award, ASMP Photographer of the Year, International Center of Photography’s Infinity Award and the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame. A graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School, Cooper Union and Yale University, Jay conducts workshops, seminars and lectures around the world.  His most recent books are Jay Maisel’s New York and an homage to the World Trade Center, A Tribute.

Wednesday

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Matt Mendelsohn and Greg Gibson — Now It’s Personal: Taking Time Away From Weddings To Pursue Meaningful Projects
Join former USA Today photographer and photo editor Matt Mendelsohn and two-time Pulitzer-prize winner Greg Gibson as they describe the personal work that has given them new perspective on their careers as photojournalists and wedding photographers. For Mendelsohn, it was an offhand remark from a makeup artist at a wedding that led to a yearlong project that has reinvigorated his photographic passion. From Gibson, learn how his exotic travels deep into Brazil have recharged his batteries. You won’t look at wedding photography the same after this platform.

** I don’t shoot weddings but one goal for me this year is to do more personal projects. I have a book full of ideas and never make the time for them. I love learning about other photographers personal projects and what they have done for them.