Get Connected: Business project with a Mary Kay consultant

BEFORE, a fresh face
AFTER, a glamorous makeover by Lisa Young, a Mary Kay consultant

This month, myself and photography colleague Jason Peckovitch of Illusive Dreams Photography are developing a partnership with Alicia "Lisa" Young, a Mary Kay independent consultant that we hope will be profitable boons for both our businesses. The plan is still evolving, but basically when Lisa holds her beauty consultations with new clients, Jason and I also will be there shooting "before" and "after" images and selling prints on-site of their new glamorous makeover. The arrangement is going to be fantastic and I can't wait to get started this month!

Image of Jason Peckovitch by Picture Your World Photography

Image of Lisa Young by Adrian Michael Green

Jason met Lisa last month when he manned a vendor booth for Picture Your World Photography at the 2nd Annual Diversity and Outreach Fair. I was out of the state that day driving back from Ali's Quinceanera in Nebraska. Jason didn't make much profit that day shooting photos and selling prints because a rainstorm shut down the event early. But a chance networking encounter with Lisa (Jason took her photos and explained how our photo booth set up worked) lead to the great opportunity we have before us now.

Earlier this week, I took before and after shots of several of Lisa's coworkers to jump start her Wonder Woman Portfolio. I will be writing more about this project in future blogs as it develops. It was a lot of fun to see the transformations take place under Lisa's adept tutelage and makeup artistry skills. Even I couldn't refuse when she said I needed my own makeover. I loved the results so much that I'm now using the image as one of my business portraits! "You were already so pretty I just waved my magic wand and let the fairy dust settle on the pretty parts LOL!" Lisa said. But I think she's underestimating herself. Her choice of colors helped my features popped, and I was amazed to discover that I do have eyebrows!!!! I personally can't wait to try her oily skin/blemish prone skin care. She promises me she has a product to help end my "shine." I tell people I produce enough oil on my face to supply fuel to a small country. :)

Here are several more of my favorites from the shoot. These portraits haven't been edited yet since my desktop is still out of commission:













If you are interested in getting your own makeover with Lisa, contact her at this link and have me take your portrait! We would love to help you reaffirm or rediscover that you are a WONDER WOMAN!

Here's a personal note from Lisa:
"Calling all WONDER WOMEN! I am completing a Wonder Woman Portfolio.
Ladies join me in spreading the word on what makes you WONDERFUL!
MEN nominate your lady friend, female companion, coworker, MOM, daughter and girlfriend to join me to show the world our BEAUTY inside"

I think this is the start of not just a great business opportunity but a beautiful friendship!

Get Connected: Networking

I recently joined two emerging networking sites for photographers that I thought I should introduce you too, as well. It's always exciting to be a part of something that is new. You know I'm a big proponent of connecting with photographers as close as in your backyard or as far away as another continent. Doing so can fuse you with energy and inspiration. It's also a great way to learn about new opportunities including seminars, model shoots, classes, etc.



Ian Littauer, former publisher of Studio Photography, and imaginginfo.com has launched photoclique.com, the alpha version of a new photography news article and social networking portal. The site's insightful articles focus on products and services, tips and techniques, profiles and business marketing. The photographer community features photo albums, blogs, chat, classifieds, events, groups and poll applications to allow photographers to share experiences and help each other become better photographers. Have something to contribute? All press releases and articles can be sent to edit@photoclique.com for publishing consideration.

Have some fun personalizing your profile and giving potential clients another way to find you online. Check out my profile here and if you live in Colorado, join the group I created here.



Andrew Fashion Photography, based in Denver, created the bemodel.com portfolio hosting site. Similar to Model Mayhem, but with the latest in innovative social networking tools and features for this industry, bemodel connects photographers, models, makeup artists and stylists for organizing events, casting calls, photo shoots and portfolio building sessions. New members were able to get unlimited albums and photo uploads, as a thank you for beta testing, and received their own custom beModel URL (bemodel.com/yourname).



New features coming soon include a personal beModel email account (yourname@bemodel.com). The messages can be forwarded to your real email account for your convenience or you can use it separately. An online prints feature is on the horizon so members can print any photo they want instantly. Sign up at this URL.

I love checking out the work from members spotlighted every day on the site. Plus, it was incredibly easy to set up my own shoot I am hosting for Auraria Campus to promote their spring campus wear fashion line. Within days, I had numerous talented models online ready to shoot with me. My URL is www.bemodel.com/pictureyourworldphotography. Stop by!

Q and A: Networking

JESSICA FOLWICK ASKS: "Congrats on your opportunity to shoot at the wedding expo! Wedding shoots are one of the best kinds of photo shoots to do, in my opinion. You have any suggestions on networking with businesses for photo services especially the bigger business names from local malls or expos?"

ANSWER: Networking is definitely a skill set that I'm still trying to learn myself! To prepare for this marketing opportunity, I read a series of articles on About.com related to "Business Networking for Entreprenuers." If you are like me, you have very little money for advertising, so you have to be your own walking and memorable advertisement.

One of the things I made sure I had on hand with me at the expo were as many business cards as I could carry. I made the mistake of running out of cards at one event, and of course that was the time when a potential client wanted to hire me for a shoot. All I could do was scribble something on a piece of paper with the feeble excuse that I didn't have any more cards on hand. Slips of paper are far too easy to misplace. How many times have you jotted something down, lost it, found it and then couldn't remember what or whose number it was you had written down? Business cards are more tangible and less likely to get tossed.

But arming myself with cards wasn't enough. I systematically went to every booth at the expo and introduced myself to each owner. I spent time with all of them, learning about their businesses and products as well as asking questions about what kind of photo services they might need. Many of those businesses were small and up-and-coming like me, and they needed business portraits and product shots for their own advertising. I took photos of them working behind their booths and interacting with potential customers.

The next step is follow-through. I was always good about making the initial contact, but, but my biggest mistake was never contacting potential clients again. I would get too busy doing other assignments for those few people who contacted me. But I would miss out on other opportunities I could have had with prospective customers or referrals if I had only contacted them again! One of the things I intend to do is email each contact a free photo I took of them during the event to help them remember who I was. I have also reserved Fridays as my day to work on my contact lists, following up on meetings and past phone calls. Consistency is key to networking.

As far as contacting larger businesses, the only thing I have as a far instance is my contact at Remo Men's Wear, a men's clothing store in a local area mall. I met Hossam at a fashion show planning meeting. When "Sam" introduced himself, he said that he was hosting his own fashion show at a local club later that month and would need photographers. Apparently, no one else paid attention when he was speaking! I was one of only a few other photogs who spoke with Sam that night about his own upcoming show. I got a call from Sam later that week asking if I was still available to shoot his fashion show, which I did for free. Sam liked what I produced and he hit me up with the wedding expo shoot which led to the wedding I'm shooting next weekend...and so forth...and so on. Get it? One thing can always lead to another so take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.

I might suggest heading out to your local malls and speaking with their public relations specialists to see if they have a photographer on tab for their various events or shows. I think the same tips can apply. I have made several contacts with chain stores, event promotion companies etc. by networking with their representatives and company spokespeople. Even if they already have a photog on their staff, you never know when someone may be sick or unable to shoot an event, and you get the call to step in! Sow the seeds and reap the benefits whenever they bloom.