I thought I was a good presenter because I'd been doing it for decades. I was wrong. The day someone suggested I should film myself presenting (to address my distracting mannerisms) was the day I started working on my YouTube channel. I spend an evening or two a week on it. Here's what I've learned after 2 years of YouTubing… 1) Hearing my own voice and seeing my own face while editing is surreal. I experience what it's like for someone else to talk to me. 2) My distracting mannerisms are worse than I thought. I often pause because my mind stutters and can't find the right word to say. It ..read more

I'm constantly amazed that people at the top of their game talk about their work in an accessible way, regardless of how complicated it is in reality. They can split the technical expert and the public relations parts of their personality to suit their audience. I feel smarter after spending time with them, which is a perk of the job. Do you read the room and tailor your approach for it? Laura Jaramillo, Executive Director of LISC Houston ..read more

I usually make portraits and headshots indoors, but the town I live in is far too eye-friendly to not think about outdoor locations too. Marblehead is nestled on the north shore, not too far north of the city of Boston, and next door to Salem. The Atlantic harbor is full of recreational and fishing boats, and even away from the beaches are wonderful conservation lands and historic architecture dating back to the earliest settlers in America. Disclaimer: If you buy through the affiliate links in this description, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. I appreciate you ..read more

We get excited about taking pictures and sharing them, sometimes to the extent we overlook some of the less exciting housekeeping tasks. BUT there are some things to do that make us better photographers in the long run and the end of the year is the perfect time to make sure we are on top of it. 1.Be grateful It is a great privilege to be able to take pictures. To have the resources and the time to take an interest in some aspect of life and preserve it through a camera. I look forward to every photo session. The portraits I make allow me to meet and learn about hundreds of people a year. I ge ..read more

Thanks to Yeager Anderson for this guest post! Here’s his advice on how to go about choosing the best photographer for your new headshots. Yeager is a portrait and headshot photographer based in Rochester, NY. You can check out more of his work here: www.yeagerandersonphotography.com. Portrait by Yeager Anderson Choosing a portrait photographer for your company or small business involves an evaluation that considers technical skills, artistic vision, and personal qualities contributing to a positive and productive collaboration. The distinction between a good portrait photographer and a great ..read more

Written November 2023. CAUTION: could be out of date at time of reading, and fees can change fast! Big Players for Small Businesses There are a few payment-processing companies offering ways for small businesses to accept credit card and online payments without the traditional monthly fees of a full-blown merchant account. These services usually charge the seller a fixed-fee per transaction and a percentage of the total sale. I created a simple table to show the fees incurred for different transaction amounts. The table below shows popular payment services from PayPal, QuickBooks, Square an ..read more

There are so many exciting things to buy for your business - Like computers, cameras, and business cards with your name on. But the other day I had a moment in Staples where I found myself holding a ream of paper in my hands. Its not as exciting as the photography gear I have littering the place. So let's talk about the things business owners overlook. The items that make day-to-day business possible, but definitely won't be turning any heads. Disclaimer: If you buy through the affiliate links in this description, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. I appreciate y ..read more

Strangely, when I joined Alignable I attended an in-person networking event in town that same week (something that happens rarely, I found out). I made some real connections with people that I followed up with in person over the following weeks. It was brilliant! For that alone, joining Alignable was worth it for me. Using the platform for a few months now, I’ve found that there are some great aspects to Alignable, and some really bad ones. You need to know about both. Alignable is not social media, but a networking space for business owners. The word “networking” can mean different things to ..read more

Whether it's professional headshots for yourself or your small business’ staff, choosing the right portrait photographer is paramount. A skilled and experienced portrait photographer can bring out the best in yourself in images that resonate with authenticity and emotion for your audience. Lets explore the essential factors to consider when selecting a portrait photographer. Portfolio and Style Start your search by examining the photographer's portfolio. Look for a diverse but cohesive body of work that showcases various types of portraits, styles, and settings. Pay attention to their ability ..read more

The world of small business is competitive, so establishing a strong connection with your customers is crucial for your success and growth. One often overlooked but powerful tool is having the best small business portrait of yourself and your team on your business website.  You see it all the time - your customers are looking for a local service or store, but their “about” page either has poor quality pictures of the owner and staff, or no pictures at all!  And it is such an easy fix. A quality set of images instantly elevates the perceived quality of your website and will entice yo ..read more