The SMUGS Blog

The Elizabethtown, Kentucky SMUG welcomed Steve Mills, SmugMug Expert, at the Nolin RECC building on Ring Rd. in Elizabethtown. Nearly 20 of our SMUG members attended this meeting, and we were enlightened by Steve’s expertise.

One of the items of interest was the discussion of sharing on Facebook and other social network sites. Steve stated that this option for your clients to share on their site was “extremely, extremely powerful.” Getting your business active on social sites boosts your photography business and allows your family and friends to share your work on their own sites as well.

We learned that as SmugMug customers, we are not tied down to only one lab, but four! So when it comes to who prints your hard work, you have a say in what lab gets to do that for you. Publishing to SmugMug from Lightroom was a plus, also. This feature along would save tons of space, time and frustration when uploading photos to your SmugMug galleries

Steve really made us feel at ease when he talked about the customer service side of SmugMug. We really got the feeling that we, as customers, would never truly be alone in our efforts to create the best SmugMug site for our business. If you wanted to really get in it, you could hire one of SmugMug’s Certified Customizers that can design your site for you!

In addition to the wealth of information about SmugMug, we had several giveaways tonight, including hats, mugs, stickers, WHCC gallery wraps, and one new member even won a one year subscription to SmugMug Pro!

Submitted by the Elizabethtown SMUG Scribe: Anita Conder
Anita is a freelance photographer, able to shoot what she wants, when she wants, so she is able to devote 110% to the satisfaction of her clients. She shoots with a Nikon D7000 and a Nikon D80.

Our Elizabethtown, KY SMUG had 30 attendees welcoming international wedding photographer, Victor Sizemore, at the Nolin RECC center!

Victor Sizemore is from Eastern Kentucky, originally, and actually started out wanting to play baseball. Thankfully, Sizemore ended up studying photography instead. He has built his photography business in just a few short years, is preferred by top wedding coordinators, and has traveled the world to shoot weddings in France, Italy, England, Ireland, Hungary, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Residing in Los Angeles, CA, he is close to the Resort at Pelican Hill and the Beverly Hills Hotel, which are two top spots for wedding photography.

Sizemore covered areas for photographers wanting to build a business in wedding photography such as pricing, equipment, and a bit of his own philosophy on being the best.

• Pricing is a difficult subject for beginning pro photographers. Sizemore stated that pricing is relative to the market; adapting to the market around you is key. He also states that having a 3 to 5 package system is a great way to sell up. Rather than use the Ala Carte pricing, have a package system in place that you can entice your client up to the next level packaging with discounts.

• Sizemore had some surprising tips about the type of bag you use to store your equipment. Many photographers buy the same brand of bag as their new camera to show it off, but Sizemore uses Lowepro bags. When traveling, they are less conspicuous as camera equipment, thus decreasing the chances of theft.

• Finally, Sizemore threaded his entire presentation with his philosophy of how to be the best. “Getting in the right mind set is the most important.” He discussed how we sometimes dread going to work, but getting your head in the game can help. Attention to detail is a plus as well. He shared a story with us where, at a wedding he was shooting, he knew what the wedding colors were going to be ahead of time. So, on the wedding day, he wore a tie that matched those colors, and the bride was impressed and flattered at the extra effort and attention he paid to her day. These tiny, but mighty details as he pointed out, are the things your clients will remember and tell all their friends and family about.

About the Elizabethtown Scribe: Anita Conder:
Anita is a freelance photographer, free to shoot what she wants, when she wants. She’s proud to admit that she uses Picnik Pro to do her editing. Anita carefully makes time for her cherished photography hobby, and makes sure she gives it her all.