A few weeks ago, I was sitting with my friend and marketing consultant, IM Effect. Through our conversation & brainstorming we formed an idea that is brilliant for Photographers to market themselves through the internet & facebook. The first idea was to allow a slideshow to play on facebook but I wanted to take it a lot further. I’m an idea guy. I love thinking of ways to make stuff collaborate and how it can benefit other people!

Showit Sites is the incredible provider of my website. Their tools are very easy to construct your very own website. If you can build a powerpoint presentation, you can build a website on showit! Now here was my idea… I want my showit site on my facebook fanpage. But how?

Here are a few reasons why YOU need to market on facebook.

Facebook Advertising: It’s very cheap and you can market it directly to your “wanted client” through keywords, age demographic, etc. I have been studying facebook ads for a few months. Most of them direct you to their outside website from facebook. THATS BAD. Here is my thought on why… Let’s say a newly engaged bride is chatting with her maid of honor on facebook, your ad pops up on her page and she clicks it and it opens a new window and takes her away from Facebook.

What you want to happen is for your ad to click to your fanpage “landing page” (we will come back to that) and it keeps her chat box open, you market to her directly through facebook and your showit site is the first thing she will see. This was my idea but I can tell you thanks to my friend David Jay, it’s a reality!

STEP 1

Go to your fanpage and at the top bar click on the “+”. Search for new application “FBML Tab”. Your coding will be placed into this box. Facebook has it’s own way of doing it called FBML or Facebook Markup Language. Luckily Spilled Milk Designs & myself did all the dirty work for ya!

When in showit, click the “share tab”. You will need the html embed code that will be seen just like this image below:

STEP 2

Your personal code will be presented just like this. See below where that bold line is? Your embed code will have that same kind of line too. Only copy that line from the showit embed code and place it into the code provided below.

<object width="800" height="540"><param name="movie" value="http://sites.showitfast.com/pl/site.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="FlashVars" VALUE="sid=10803/715&sp=home-1&fw=800&fh=541&it=0&ip=1&pc=00000d&sc=00000d&cmp=1"></param><embed src="http://sites.showitfast.com/pl/site.swf" FlashVars="sid=10803/715&sp=home-1&fw=800&fh=541&it=0&ip=1&pc=00000d&sc=00000d&bc=d4d4d4&cmp=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="800" height="540"></embed></object>

There is only one line of code that you need; the site ID line which is in bold above.

Facebook pages only allow their applications to show 760 pixels wide. Change the above code from 800 x 541 to 760 x 513

Next, go to the profile view of your Facebook page, and click the “edit page” link. Scroll all the way down until you see theWebsite-FBML application, and click on “edit.” Use the image below for reference on what to look for.

Rename the box title whatever you want and paste the code into the box below it.

<fb:swf swfbgcolor="000000" imgstyle="border-width:3px; border-color:black;"
swfsrc='http://sites.showitfast.com/pl/site.swf?PLACE SITE ID HERE' imgsrc='IMAGE URL'
width='760' height='513' />

Where it says, “PLACE SITE ID HERE“, you’re going to paste the site ID line from above that you took from your embed code from Showit.  Make sure there is no space between the ? and the start of the site ID code.

Facebook wont allow “flash swf” files to instantly start like most sites will so we need to place an image in its place. Take a screen shot of your site, resize it to 760×513 and upload it to a image sharing site like photobucket. Take the image code and place it into the ‘IMAGE URL’ space in your code.

Click Save Changes.

STEP 3

I realized that once a facebook friend is a “fan” of your page, when they visit your fanpage they will see your wall, uploaded photos, etc. But wait, remember that bride who clicks on your facebook ad? When someone new will visit your fanpage, you want to deliver them an amazing first impression! This is easy! Once your FBML tab is created and your site works. Click on the “settings” button above your fanpage wall.

See where it says “default landing tab for everyone else”? Set your newly created fbml tab in that space. What this means is that when a new visitor clicks to your fanpage via link, advertisement, whatever… the first thing they will see is your showit site. They will be wowed by your photography and the next thing they will click on is “become a fan”! I have been working this strong and my fanpage has gained 890 fans in less than 1 month since I started it and it isn’t just friends of mine, I am getting 40% traffic is unqiue page visitors.

Okay. I really hope this helps you! If you need any further help, please throw a comment onto this post and I will answer back.

If you need some help, here is my custom fanpage

Have fun!!!!

If your a photographer reading this. Ask yourself, Do I go above and beyond for my brides? Let’s connect this into a percentage right now. Did you know that 54% of Brides are using a free or paid service that will allow them to create a “wedding website” that can be shared with their bridal party, family & friends? These websites usually look tacky and they have ad’s from other wedding vendors attached and its way too commercialized!

The provider of my website, Showit Sites has launched a new program that no other website provider can match and it’s absolutely FREE and EASY to create!

It was so simple for me to copy & paste the branding from my main site into the new +Site feature. I was able to put the couples favorite song on the website, page devoted to their love story, gallery of all their images and complete the design with a page for the wedding guests that will have links to their gift registries & ceremony location. The beauty for marketing your brand through a +Site is that when all the bridal party & guests visit this personal wedding website, they will see my logo and are presented with a link to view my personal website if interested in my work! It’s easy marketing that will impress your client & show you off big time to all their guests. Now, when the wedding is over, they will all go back to it and you can present them to a new website specifically for their wedding images!

Showit Sites is a FREE download and you can start building +Sites for your brides, TODAY!

To view the website below that I created for Chelsey & Josh, click here

“The moment you wake up each morning… all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first Job of each morning consists in shoving them all back, in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger quiet life come flowing in” – CS Lewis

Every morning, after I wake up, before my mac turns on and I even look at a single image that is ready to be edited… I sit with Jesus. Quiet as his words flow like water through my mind and I wonder with Him for a few moments. Sometimes he tells me what to do that day, who I should pray for, why I should pray for them, what I should be on the lookout for today. It’s almost easier said than done, right? Wrong.

Give God your thoughts, your desires, your dreams. God is much bigger than the world and the world is bigger than your photography business. It may be harsh for me to say this but we don’t deserve to own a business. YET, Jesus loves us so much and he chose each of us to be photographers so he gave us each the power to capture love. In that sense, do you believe you do this for YOU or you do this for HIM?

I’ve struggled with that idea before. “But GOD! I worked hard on booking them, I shot those images, I did all that editing… its MY work”. Well, who on earth told you that? God created you, he gives you live, he gives you everything. Therefore if that is true, isn’t your business part of everything that is already his?

I’m not saying give it away… God doesn’t want us to feel pain but he does want us to acknowledge Him and understand that our business is HIS business. Our photography is HIS photography. He wants to be shooting that wedding when you are. Don’t leave Him at the studio, take Him with you. I can tell you that you WILL feel more Joy.

Mother Teresa  was asked by Dan Rather, “What do you say to God when you pray?”

Teresa responded with, “I sit and listen”.

Rather responded with, “Well, what does God say?”

Teresa said, “He Listens.”

That. is. deep.

During our quiet time with God, we will develop an intimate feeling. It feels like assurance and it contains no worries because we should know that we will wake up the next day and he will be right next to us.

At the end of your day, give God your thoughts. Let your mind settle with Him. Thank Him for everything he did for you that day. Thank Him for all that he does everyday for your business.

I usually do this as I am falling asleep. Some people have told me you need to be fully awake when praying… well, why not fall asleep when you pray? I sometimes get this feeling of “assurance” when I fall asleep praying. “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep”. (Psalm 121:4) What better place to fall asleep into than the arms of God? He knows your thoughts, why not release them to Him as you sleep? Try it tonight. I bet you will sleep a better night of sleep.

Wow, has it really been a year? I remember last Christmas when I went downstairs and heard the sound of my new puppy who is now 1 year old! So many incredible things have happened within 1 year and I want to thank my faithful blog readers who have followed me in my journey and who comment my images every week. You guys inspire me more than you could ever know!

I have so many people to thank such as my great clients, my amazing girlfriend, my mentors who have helped me grow, photogshootout, my family for constantly supporting me no matter what and YOU for reading all my blog posts!! As thankful as I am right now, let me encourage you to be this way through all of 2010! As we will all have challenges facing us every year we need to remember to keep Jesus first. When you keep Jesus first, everything will work stronger through not only you but your business!

Now to give you a few laughs… here are a few a few pictures of me, that were shot at the San Diego PUG Christmas Party!!

Merry CHRISTmas! I hope you are blessed this weekend and that you tell someone you love them!

Alright… so my good friends and Nashville Wedding Photographers, Zach & Jody Gray spent a week in Southern California teaching their amazing lighting workshops. On their last day in the area we decided on grabbing some food in Oceanside near the pier. This is where Mr. Pelican comes in. This pelican always sits in the same spot… So we grab milkshakes on our way out of Ruby’s and with Zach & Jodys’ camera we made an Animal Planet documentary.

When I was selecting highlights from Josh & Chelsey’s shoot, I selected over 60 images and that is why I am dividing this into 2 sections! Here are is the second batch of images from their engagement session in Julian! If you haven’t seen Part 1 click here

When Chelsey was in her Junior year of high school, she moved to Arizona, this is where Josh met Chelsey. After they had been good friends, Josh had to move away to San Diego and he would drive to Arizona all the time just to see her. In the meantime, she was attending ASU and the distance for them was too much so she found herself moving back to OCC in SoCal. The very first weekend that she was back home in February he surprised her with a trip to Disneyland! Soon they became best friends. Months later on July 27th, 2007 at 7am they were in a terrible accident with a semi truck hit their car from behind. Josh was left without a scratch but Chelsey was rushed to the hospital. During her recovery, Josh stayed with her day and night by her side and whispered in her ear, “I Love You”. She knew at that moment that they would never be apart. Praise the Lord that everyone is safe!

On a trip to one of their favorite spots near Lake Tahoe, Josh surprised Chelsey with a trip north onto the Tahoe Queen Riverboat. It was that evening on July 3rd, 2009 that he asked her to marry him. I cannot wait to capture their love on their wedding day next July which will be taking place at the Rancho Bernardo Winery! I’ve been so blessed to have become good friends with these two and I love seeing their passion for Jesus and there desire to never be apart!

Our engagement session started in the hills of Ramona at the Mt. Woodson Castle and continued into the fields of Julian. Josh & Chelsey aimed at having a little more of a “vintage” feel to their shoot and we totally rocked that out! Thank You to Josh & Chelsey for being so amazing!

Also, be sure to check out their Wedding Website that I personally created: Chelsey & Josh Website

Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of Josh & Chelsey’s engagement session!!

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15: 5,7

God wants to be as close as possible to you and your photography business. He wants to be the branch to the vine. They aren’t separated. The branch doesn’t connect to the vine when it’s time to bear fruit. The branch is connected from day one. The vine & branch will die if they aren’t connected. They need each other to survive. Your photography business needs Jesus to fully survive.

Isn’t that awesome news? God knows that he needs us and we need him. He won’t ever leave us on the side of the road. We are all vines that connect to Jesus as the branch. When we are ready to produce fruits in our lives to produce blessings, he will make it happen. Consider this… You are a vine that is connected to Jesus, right? If a plant has a good farmer who will water it all the time, the vine has no worry about withering.

Jesus is our farmer. He knows what we will be blessed with and when. It’s actually only a matter of trusting him and knowing that your business will be fine. You will have amazing clients to capture. Your going to shoot great images. Then we all worry about finances, will I have any jobs next month, will I make ends meet? We worry too much about those things… All of those areas are part of our lives and they are on our vines that are connected to the branch and we’re wrapped around Jesus, just like a vine. When it’s time for us to bear fruit and receive blessings, he will do it. When we need to be watered, he will do it.

When you trust God and know that he is going to take care of you. Once you give everything over to him. You will feel good because you know it’s in his hands. You then have intimacy with Jesus, knowing that what he created you for is what you will be doing through intimacy with him!

Now, please go read Psalm 139:2-6

God Bless You

One of my shoots this week took me back into the world of using studio strobe lights. Not inside of a studio space but rather on the beach. My good friends and Nashville Wedding Photographers Zach & Jody Gray came to visit Laguna Beach while providing the photography community with a week of sharing their lighting expertise! These guys know lighting and they turn their clients into rock-stars all the time! Beyond their great photography, they are super great friends of mine who have strong hearts for Jesus, they invest time into true friendships and they love wearing their converse shoes. One of the best parts of their trip out to SoCal was their discovery of one of my favorite restaurants, In-N-Out Burger!!! They were kinda jaw dropped when I went crazy on the secret menu with my #1 no cheese, animal style, grilled onions, protein style with fries well done!! Yeah…. I go insane with In-N-Out!

I was so blessed to have the opportunity to hangout with Zach & Jody multiple times in SoCal and it topped it off bigtime by getting to attend their workshop. Their teachings taught much more than what I already know about lighting (I took a year of lighting in College). Their shooting style allows you to capture it directly in camera which cuts your workflow time in 1/2 and then the shot it so good that you don’t even think about touching photoshop!!

If you ever have the opportunity to jump into one of their shooting workshops, I highly… highly recommend it!!

Here are some of my shots that I captured during the shoot with our lovely model & a few fun behind the scenes shots!!

Note: None of these shots went through Photoshop. They are directly out of camera and went through through basic color correction.

This amazing workshop was held at Tosti Studios which has a sweet location right across from the beach on Pacific Highway 1

Zach showing off his mad lighting skills!

Jody being super silly!

Here are all my images that I captured during our shoot!

Thank You Zach & Jody for an incredible experience during our shoot! I love you guys!

While on my trip to New Orleans for Partner Con last month, I was blessed to have the opportunity to hang with two of Scarlett‘s good friends and incredible, I mean Incredible photographers and husband & wife team, Zach & Jody Gray. They are extremely kind, have strong faith in God and they are fun as heck! They just completed their In-Camera Shooting workshops in both Jacksonville and Laguna Beach. In the full blog post, I will explain more about their workshop but for now, here is a teaser from the great time I had shooting with Zach & Jody yesterday in Laguna.