Social Media: Engage, Inform and Entertain

We are nearing the end of my Social Media Marketing class, which means, I don't have to continue with the blogs, if I choose not to, however, I really have enjoyed this portion of my class and will continue to write my weekly blog for Pose Photography. I hope that I was able to make the posts interesting and informational for my followers that I gained along the way. 

Without further ado, the top three picks of Social Media platforms from Pose Photography's standpoint were:

Source Pose Photography

Facebook-Because it took my photography business to another level with being able to really utilize and understand how Facebook posts could engage potential clients locally and get them talking about my business. 

Twitter-I didn't really understand what Twitter was all about when I started this class, however, I've found that I like this platform a lot! I like to be able to follow other photographers from all over the world, so see their work, get insights into different photography styles and some of them are following me as well, and that's pretty cool!

Pinterest- This is something I have grown to really love as well, because it's all about pictures, for the most part. I can post my best photography work here and reach a whole different audience. My favorite thing about Pinterest is having someone from New York, "pinning" my photos. Between Twitter and Pinterest, this means that my work is going all over this great country of ours and globally, and I find this amazing; that other people, besides friends and family, think my work is good enough to share! Wow...just wow.

Out of my core classes for my program, this is the one class that I was really looking forward to the most. I wanted to learn how using social media platforms could draw in business, of course, but also to learn how to fine-tune posts to engage, inform and entertain current and potential clients.

Source Laurie Boettcher Teaches

Thank you to Laurie Boettcher, my instructor (pictured right), for pushing me out of my comfort zones and doing that in an exciting way, and above all, for making it as much fun as it was challenging. You get my "Woot" award!

Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!   

The Last Gift of Love

Source Carmel Suhr

I lost my mom to cancer almost three years ago. So this week, I thought I'd share with you a little story that might inspire you for a gift-giving idea, and while you still have time to do it! 

While my mom was fighting cancer, she had enormous medical bills. She lived on a tight budget as it was, so one day while she was sick, I found her in tears because she couldn't afford to buy Christmas presents that year. I felt so bad, so I enlisted the help of my two daughters. My oldest daughter was living with my mom at the time, so I told her, "Sneak out your grandma's recipe box and bring it to me."

For a couple of weeks, my youngest daughter and I worked and worked and typed up all of her best recipes that I grew up with as a child. Her Brownie recipe, Carrot Cake recipe, Chili, and many others that she had grown famous for. My daughters and I created recipe books for her three children, her five grandchildren, her sister and her best friend. There were ten books in all. I will never forget the look and smile and tears on her face when we presented her with the recipe books that we made for her to give. She cried and hugged all three of us and just kept thanking us and thanking us.  

I never knew at the time how important those recipes books would become, for, you see; my mom passed away five days after Christmas that year. In each corner of the book, she wrote a special message to each and every one of us. She painstakingly wrapped them all herself. It was the hardest gift to open that year, but it was also the most beautiful gift too and her last gift of love.

Source Carmel Suhr 

Maybe this will inspire you to pass on those recipes or old pictures to someone in your own family.

May your Holidays be Merry and Bright.

Pose a 'Stache Photo Bash

Source Movember Foundation 

While looking around for more information to share with you on No-Shave November, I came across a pretty cool foundation. It's called the Movember Foundation and it's a global, charity organization whose commitment is to, "Men living happier, healthier and longer lives." Even women can become members of this organization. Anyone who joins instantly becomes a "Mo-Bro," if you are male, or "Mo-Sista" if you are female. Their website contains great information on what they are doing to help men live longer, more fulfilling lives. You can get more information by clicking on their logo to the right!

Another great way that everyone can support No-Shave November is by donating all your normal monthly expenses for shaving to men's cancer awareness. Even women can participate in this by simply putting down the razors for 30 days, quit shaving our legs, stop the bikini waxes, eyebrow waxes, forget the shaving cream and donate those bucks to organizations that promote men's cancer awareness like the Prostate Cancer Foundation or Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation. Below are some links to lead you to where you can donate those extra dollars. 

Source Prostrate Cancer Foundation 

Source Testicular Cancer Foundation

            

Pose Photography is proud to support these two great foundations. I'd like to help you make a difference in supporting men's health awareness with a donation on your behalf when you book a portrait sitting with me during the month of November. For each sitting booked, Pose Photography will donate $1 to each foundation. To contact me, just click on my link on the right to my Facebook page and send me a message to book your sitting.

Together we can make a difference for men all over the world!

Source Movember Foundation

Pose Forward for the Holidays

Source Carmel Suhr

In honor of the holiday season that is fast approaching, I thought I'd take time to reflect on the things that we take for granted that many families must go without.

There are many children out there that are going without toys for Christmas, or decent winter wear to ward off the frigid temperatures that Northwest Wisconsin is known for. They are also going without a good meal to look forward to for Thanksgiving, or any day for that matter. For many, there is no birthday present or cake or nice meal. They go hungry and cold, each and every day. Santa doesn't come to their house. Many of us take this for granted and I'd like to help change that within our community for children and families alike. 

Pose Forward

I'm starting the annual Pose Forward charity event. Here's the scoop. What I'm going to do is collect new or gently used coats, gloves, hats, boots, clothing, toys, dry food goods, gift certificates for local stores, or anything that can be donated for the upcoming holidays.

If you bring $10 or more in items to donate to our local charities and food pantry, I will give you one free family portrait when you book your family portrait sitting with Pose Photography. You could even donate your free portrait to another family, if you choose. Just pay the small sitting fee and receive a gift certificate to bring to another family. 

What a great way to Pose Forward this holiday season. You get some great family portraits for your seasonal cards and gifts, you can Pose Forward your free portrait, plus the opportunity to help kids and families to give them a great meal and some neat things to look forward to!

To schedule your family portraits, message me on Facebook or click on the Pose Forward picture above.     

When Black Cats Prowl and Pumpkins Gleam

Halloween is a time for tricks or treats and most prefer treats over tricks, however, I am quite the opposite. I love the tricks, especially when it comes to special effects and optical illusion costumes. From very young on, I would decorate for Halloween. I started by making a scarecrow with a carved pumpkin for our porch at the age of twelve and one year I bought a scary mask and borrowed a big furry coat with a big hood that my mom had, and that was my costume. I've come a long way with costume construction since that time. 

Source St. Croix Casino and Hotel-Turtle Lake

In recent years, my passion has turned to elaborate costume construction and competing for big prizes in local costume contests. To my surprise, I have been winning. I've won for the past 6 years of competitions at our local casino, as that's where the bigger prizes are! (Click here or on the picture to the right for more information). So each year, sometimes as early as March or April, I begin brainstorming for ideas for my newest, and best costume.

My first year, I constructed a Three-headed monster (I, being one of them). The second year, I made a Tiki Bar, (pictured below) which was a huge hit. The third year, I had an evil clown holding my head; the next a Night Stalker; the next, a Haunted Tree House and last year, I was the apple tree from The Wizard of Oz, who overtook Oz.

Source Carmel Suhr-Halloween Costumes

This will be my 7th year of competition and I'm constructing a nostalgic, ghostly Fortune Teller's Booth that will be complete with a lighted crystal ball that will change colors, lighted shapes on the front and sides, and a star/moon projection behind me. This one is so big that I will have to attach wheels to the bottom to push it around. I will also be giving out fortune cookies and paper ticket fortunes to passers-by.

Does this pertain to photography, no; not really, other than it's another artistic form, but it's as much fun as doing photography.

I'll let you know next week how I do on Halloween night. Until then,

May luck be yours on All Hallows Eve!

Tips for Phototastic Family Photos

I've seen so many family photos lately where everyone is dressed the same. You've seen it too, I'm sure; the entire family dressed in navy blue shirts and khaki pants. My own family was guilty of this recently. We all wore jeans with black shirts. Truthfully, it's pretty boring and colors like solid black or solid white are hard to photograph because they lose much of the details in the clothing, such as stitching or embellishments. So here I've compiled a list of do's and don'ts for addressing the issues of the question,

"What should we wear for our family photos?"

Solid colors are better except for black and white.

Avoid patterns and characters. These can be distracting and hard to photograph. The saying, "A little goes a long way," definitely pertains. A little bit of pattern is fine, just not too much.

Accessories are great!

They add to your photos and can be used for fun poses such as the man wearing a tie for the woman to hold, or hats for kids to wear and to peek out from behind.

Gone are the days of matching outfits.

Try selecting coordinating colors and adding complementary colors. The picture below is a great example. As you can see, this family is wearing different hues of blue with some more subtle patterns and a bit of a complementary color in the gentleman's purple shirt. It is very pleasing to the eye, yet each family member still stand out.

Source Fall River Productions, Inc

Look to the interior of your home.

Look at your decorating preferences such as wall colors or curtains and use those colors as inspiration for what you wear. You don't want your color choice for attire to clash with your home's interior since family photos are proudly displayed in the home.

Just because they are called "Holiday Photos..."

This doesn't mean Aunt Jenny needs to be wearing a red sweater with a green scarf and her favorite poinsettia pin. If the clothing is more on the classic side (also avoiding the space/time continuum), then the photos can make a great gift to be displayed all year round and yet still adorn the front of your holiday card.

Have fun with your photos and your attire. After all, you want the pictures to show your family's personality. Part of the love of a great family is the mix of those different personalities. Let them come through in your family photos too.

Pink Ribbons and Honky Tonks

Next weekend I will be traveling to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for a weekend escape with some dear cousins to see Trace Adkins in concert. Not only do I love his music, but I have also had the privilege of meeting this man many years ago, while working as an announcer for a radio station. He was very kind and generous, and his support of our troops is to be commended.

Source Pose Photography

One of my favorite past times in photography is taking photos of music artists at performances. One of the biggest artists I've had the opportunity to photograph is Garth Brooks. There have been many others along the way, including classic country greats, Charlie Daniels and Conway Twitty. My two, all-time favorites are Sawyer Brown (pictured left, Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown), and Collin Raye. Getting that one special photo where they are looking at me is what makes it all worthwhile, not to mention the great music. So next weekend, I will try to get that perfect shot again.

Source (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) 

As everyone knows, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I did find one country artist that is doing a lot of good this year for Breast Cancer Research; Jason Aldean. While I'm not a fan of the new country, I was glad to see that he is contributing some of his concert ticket sales and honoring survivors at each of his concerts this year. Kudos to Jason! For more information just click on Jason's picture.

While my own contributions to Breast Cancer Awareness consist of an awareness commercial I had a part in creating for college recently, next weekend I'm going to remember some very special people that my family has lost to other kinds of cancer. Joyce Howie (my mom), James Howie (my dad), Frieda Hansen (my aunt), Debbie Lowrie (my best friend), Jeff Cook (my cousin), Butch Drake (my uncle) and Wally Drake (my uncle). My hope is that Breast Cancer Research may contribute to finding a cure for all cancers. God Bless the ones we've lost, the ones still fighting, the ones who have survived and the ones trying to find a cure.