Skip’s Summer School

All posts tagged Skip’s Summer School

Skip’s Summer School #5 – Say Hello to a Life-Changer!

Posted by scottbourne on April 19, 2013
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , . Leave a Comment

Skip’s Summer School is going into its fifth season this August, but thanks to feedback from past attendees and many of the faculty, the program has expanded and evolved into Skip Cohen University.

Now there’s content to help you raise the bar on your business all year long with an educational resource that includes posts, podcasts, videos and webinars covering a wide range of topics, products and techniques.

At the August 11-14 Summer Session of SCU Skip is going to stay focused on the foundation he’s had from the very beginning. He wants attendees to THRIVE, not just survive! Repeatedly over the years Skip has been told the program changed people’s lives…and he’s out to make it even better in 2013.

• Education Content: This year’s program includes incredible help for the beginner in wedding photography along with outstanding workshops on boudoir photography, lighting, family portraiture, intermediate Photoshop, business and marketing and fine art. Attendees don’t just attend a platform program, but a full day intensive workshop with no more than 20 other photographers.

• Networking: It’s been referred to as the best networking experience in photography, because of two things – the passion of the people involved and the size of the conference itself.

• The Faculty: It’s not just the instructors for the programs you register for, but a chance to interact with pretty much all of the faculty. It’s just the nature of the conference and it all starts with the SCU Mixer on Sunday night, August 11.

• Recharging Your Battery: It’s August and there’s pretty much nothing going on all summer long to help you charge your battery following the convention and trade show season at the beginning of the year. The SCU Summer Session will give you ideas you can take back and start to implement right away as you prepare for a strong finish to the year with the seasonality of the business in the last four months.

• Help outside the program: Every attendee starts with a business review session prior to the August conference with SCU’s founder, Skip Cohen. Skip wants to help you identify where you need the most help and maybe even come up with ideas to help you expand your business before you even get to Chicago.

Still not convinced you should be there ? Well check out this video put together by Clay Blackmore, Dean of Weddings and his crew following last year’s program.

There’s never a wait to get into any workshop…There’s never a line except for the luncheon buffets…there’s always a seat for you in every program…and you’re going to learn so much to help strengthen your skills and your business!

This is about learning ways to THRIVE not just survive!

You Can’t Fake Fast

Posted by scottbourne on July 2, 2012
Posted in: Tips. Tagged: , , , .

Photo by Scott Bourne – Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs Creative Commons

Some of you know I’m a car guy. In fact, I run a car-related blog called carloves.com. I collect cars. I race cars. I love cars. I’m passionate about anything related to cars.

In racing there’s a very old saying – “You can’t fake fast.” I’ve heard it a million times. I understand it. I believe it. I love to go fast. There’s no feeling like it. I’m not racing much these days, but once in a while I still get on the track by myself and do laps. I’m a lucky guy. I’ve driven cars at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour. At that speed you’re moving at a rate of a football field per second. You can’t fake that. You’re either going fast or you’re not.

What’s this got to do with photography?

It’s a lead in to my next old but true statement.

You can’t fake passion. You either have it or you don’t. You either have passion for photography or your subjects or both or you don’t.

Passion:
…a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept
…intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction
…an object of desire or deep interest

If you are truly passionate about something, your interest in it comes naturally. It’s the driving force behind my life in photography and the role passion plays in photography is going to be the central theme of my platform talk at Skip’s Summer School in Chicago, IL this August.

I’ve never shared this program before and will likely never share it again – so if you’re interested in it, be sure to sign up for Skip’s Summer School now. There are still seats available. For information visit http://www.mei500.com.

P.S. I have two and two only 50% off passes for this event to give away to my followers. If you have a genuine need and want the code to sign up for 50% off – send me an email to photofocus@me.com no later than July 4, 2012, 5:00 PM PST. I’ll select two of you and give you the code. You’ll have 72 hours to register from that point. If you do not, then the code will deactivate so please don’t ask for a discount if you don’t have genuine need or genuine intention to attend. This offer is only available to someone who has NOT yet signed up. The reason for that is simple. I am looking for someone who has a financial need so great they couldn’t sign up based on the current price. If you already signed up – your need isn’t that great. I’m really hoping to help someone who needs a jumpstart and who is willing to show they’re sincere by paying half the cost of the ticket and expenses. I’ll make sure the other half of the ticket cost gets covered.

Thanks.

Remember: The Photos Live Even As We Fade Away…

Photographers: It’s Time To Register For Summer School

Posted by scottbourne on April 12, 2012
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , , .

Hi folks. Scott Bourne here with a message about a photo conference you can’t afford to miss. It’s Skip’s Summer School.

I’m proud to once again be on the teaching faculty at Skip’s Summer School for 2012. I’ve taught at each of these events and hands-down, they have been some of my favorite in the industry. Skip’s Summer School had turned into the most amazing boutique photo conference in the business and this year, Skip’s managed to make it better.

It’s one of the best programs and faculty ever assembled and there are some new components that people have asked for in survey after survey.

Before I talk about the up-coming program, here’s a three minute look back at last year that I think you’ll really enjoy…

Here’s what’s different this year…

*Everyone who signs up gets an immediate website review – we’ll help you figure out how to improve your chances of getting seen on the web.

*Now in Chicago with a more centralized location that’s easier for most people to get to than Vegas.

* It’s not just classroom stuff – Now each attendee gets a full day of hands-on with the two instructors of their choice.

* Enhanced platform programs and speakers.

*A couples workshop – more couples are working together in the photo industry than ever before and we have advice from three pro couples who have seen it all.

*Two catered lunches on Monday and Tuesday – this will maximize everybody’s time and we’ll be running two panel programs at lunch as well.

*Discounted $75 registration for WPPI next year.

*Enhanced network building experience unlike any other workshop or conference.

I can’t stress how important it is to get to know and learn from the other people in the photo business who have been there and done that. Here’s your chance. All the registration info is right here at www.mei500.com.

I’m Buying 10 Photographers Free Admission to Skip’s Summer School

Posted by scottbourne on June 9, 2011
Posted in: Contest. Tagged: , .

In case you’ve missed it – and I don’t know how you have – Skip’s Summer School is coming up again July 31, 2011 in Las Vegas.

This is an annual boutique photography conference hosted by photo industry giant Skip Cohen. Skip has 41 years in the photo business including executive positions at Polaroid, becoming President of Hasselblad USA, President of Rangefinder/WPPI etc.

Skip now runs his own consulting company MEI500  and as part of that portfolio puts on an amazing photography conference every year. I’ve been privileged to speak at each of the previous events and will be speaking this year alongside what I believe to be the single best photo conference faculty ever fielded. If this were professional baseball this would be the All Start team!

Here’s the lineup – Jules Bianchi and Joy Bianchi Brown, Clay Blackmore, Bambi Cantrell, Skip Cohen, Tony Corbell, Bob Davis, Jerry Ghionis, Doug Gordon, Kevin Kubota, Vincent LaForet, Bobbi Lane, Tamara Lackey, Matthew Jordan Smith, Roberto Valenzuela – and me.

It costs $279 to attend. Unlike most conferences, you have a guaranteed seat at a table, with space to stretch out, and no long lines to stand in to see the people you paid to see. There is no trade show per se – but there are vendors in the room who are organically part of the program. Best of all – the networking is amazing. The show is much smaller (by design) than most other photo conferences so you can really take time to interact with everyone – including the presenters.

If you’d really like to come – but you can’t afford the $279 ticket – I’ll buy it for you – well for 10 of you anyway. You have to get to Vegas on your own. You have to handle your food, hotel and transportation – but I’ll buy your conference pass for you. All I ask is that you send me a brief e-mail (bournemediagroup @ gmail.com) detailing what you hope to get out of the conference, along with your plans for covering the hotel, food and transportation costs, and I’ll consider buying your ticket. I’ll pick the 10 people who I think need to go most and who I believe WILL go. If you ask for the ticket and don’t use it – you’ll be depriving someone else who may have really needed it – so please, don’t ask for my help if you have no intention of going.

The only other rules are – you must be a US resident (sorry but I find it unlikely you live outside the USA and can afford to fly to Vegas but don’t have the money to buy the conference ticket – this is somewhat needs based) and you must be at least 18 years old. Send your email to bournemediagroup @ gmail.com. I’ll post a list of the winners in a few days. Good luck. I hope to see you at Summer School.

P.S. I’ll have a post on EXIF data later today.

Meet Me at Skip’s Summer School

Posted by scottbourne on April 18, 2011
Posted in: Tips. Tagged: .

I want to invite you to Summer School – I’ve been privileged to attend and speak at each of the previous Summer School conferences for photographers and without a doubt, it’s one of my favorite gatherings each year. It’s a boutique conference. It’s small enough that you can actually get to know people. The networking and educational events are literally the best I’ve seen. And it’s going to happen again, in Las Vegas, starting July 31, 2011. I hope you can make it. Here’a a break down of the past Summer Schools.

Where’s everybody from?  We had 41 states represented last year and five countries outside the US. California represented 24%, but if you start combining other areas of the country, like the 12 states considered the Midwest, they represented 15%. So, overall it was a great mix on the geography, which helps create a stronger networking base. For this summer we’ve already got 17 states and Canada represented!

What does everybody do? Wedding photographers represented 47%, with portraiture (children, family and seniors) at 36% and commercial, fine art and outdoor/wildlife making up the remainder. Again, it’s a great mix. For this year, so far, portraiture leads the way at 40%, wedding photographers at 25% and everybody else is in just about every specialty.

How long has everyone been in business? New photographers just starting out represented 32% and 27% said they had been in business less than 2 years.  The remaining 41% were considerably more experienced with half being in business over five years.  This is part of what makes Summer School so much fun. It’s the mix of experience and everybody makes a contribution.  The exchange becomes incredibly helpful to everybody.

This year’s mix so far, is running about 50% under two years in business. Again, it’s a great mix for networking.

Are you full or part time? Just like the numbers nationally for the industry, every year it’s been about the same, split 55-60% part time and 40-45% full time.  This year it’s running a little higher in the part time, about 65% as of now.

Male vs. female was also dead-on with industry statistics, split right down the middle at 50/50 men vs. women attending. Again, it’s a great mix and registration for this year is the same.

But there’s a fun twist this year with the hands-on demonstration day, August 2, Tuesday. In terms of programming and class selection for the Tuesday lighting and posing workshops, TonyCorbell, Bambi Cantrell and me, Matthew Jordan Smith and Kevin Kubota lead the way. Remember, these classes will be limited in size, but there are eight different programs to choose from!

Just a reminder, this year’s program is at the Mirage with Jerry Ghionis kicking off the program on Sunday night, July 31. The Mirage has a great package at just $79 a night, but the room block won’t be held forever. If you plan on going, lock in your hotel reservation early. Here’s the link to the Mirage registration page.

And here’s the link to registration: Summer School 2011

If you haven’t been to Summer School before it’s a pretty amazing experience and if you have, you know what I’m talking about. Friendships made year after year just seem to keep growing. People leave the program year after year with great information and ideas they can implement the minute they get home. I’ve said it every year, but this year we just seem to have the best mix of faculty yet.  Plus, we’ve got some amazing sponsors.

Video by Clay Blackmore and Jeff Medford
See you at Summer School!

______
Sponsored by CLIQ Photo Community

Win A Trip To Summer School

Posted by scottbourne on March 29, 2010
Posted in: Contest. Tagged: , .

If there was a way you could spend 2 1/2 days with 15 of the very best photographers in the country and not have it cost you anything wouldn’t you want to know about it?

The great Skip’s Summer School Scholarship – a free registration to the number one program of the summer, featuring 15 different instructors for 2 1/2 days – plus $500 cash towards your expenses. If you book your airfare early enough, with MGM’s special $79 rate – you should be able to attend the program at just about no additional cost!

And what a program!  Unlike other seminars you might have been to recently at major conventions, there will be no long lines, no chance of you not getting a seat because we will NOT oversell the program and because the room will be set up classroom style – everyone has a seat at a table, with room to spread out, enjoy the presentations and take notes without being crowded into an over packed auditorium.

It’s the educational and networking event of the summer! And you may get to go for free.

Simply write a blog post, a Tweet or a Facebook entry that starts with the words: “Skip’s Summer School – Why I Want to Go.” (You can get a free blog from Blogger.com and accounts on Twitter and Facebook are free.) Then say something that moves us, entertains us or otherwise convinces us that you’re the person who should win the scholarship. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter. Entrants are welcome from any country. You must be able to attend the conference in August if you are selected. Please don’t enter if you can’t go once selected as winner. That would deny someone else who could attend the chance to go in your place.

We’ll pick a winner on July 1, 2010 and announce here. Skip will also announce it on his Twitter stream at http://www.twitter.com/skipcohen.

Good luck.

P.S. if you register now and we pick your name as the contest winner Skip will reimburse you. So register now if you want to save the $100.

Want to Learn More About Photography? Go To Summer School

Posted by scottbourne on March 22, 2010
Posted in: News. Tagged: , , .

I’ve spoken at, led, or taught at more than 150 photo workshops in my lifetime and attended dozens more as a student. Last year’s Skip’s  Summer School was easily one of my all-time favorites. You can read my wrap-up from last year here.

Few photo-related conferences I’ve been involved with in the last 10 years have generated as much buzz as Skip’s Summer School. People were talking about it on Twitter and Facebook for months. And the number one thing I heard about last year’s Summer School was that people were bummed they missed it!

You have another chance, August 8-11, 2010.  And it will be bigger and better this year. Last year, Skip planned the event with 60 days notice. That’s generally considered to be insane. But it wasn’t. It was brilliant. He correctly identified that summer would be a great time to re-energize for most of us. This year, months of planning have already gone into the event. Skip believes the attendance will be up but he wants to keep this a boutique conference. That was part of the secret of last year’s success.

Have you been to a conference where you had to stand in line to get a cramped seat? That’s not going to happen at Skip’s Summer School. Everyone gets a seat, guaranteed and better yet, most of the events – perhaps all of them, will be arranged classroom style so not only will you get a seat, but you’ll get a desk to work on so you can type into your computer or take notes with an old-fashioned pen and paper.

This year, the line-up is amazing. In just two and one half (2 ½) days you’ll hear new ideas from Joe Buissink, Jonathan Canlas, Tony Corbell, Kay Eskridge,  Kevin Kubota, Bobbi Lane, Cliff Mautner, Stacy Pearsall, Dane Sanders, Jasmine Star, Vicki Taufer, Kirk Voclain, Jerry Weiner and coming in from Australia,  Yervant! Oh yeah, I’ll be teaching there too.

We’re going to try some things at this conference that have never been done before. I don’t want to give away too many surprises but suffice it to say, it will be different. There will be new networking opportunities (the big value for many at a conference) and lots of entertaining features that will blow your mind.

Skip has reserved the entire third floor at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Vegas. Rooms are only $79 a night – while they last.

The cost for all this is an amazingly-low $279, but Skip has also decided to reward early adopters with a $199 early bird rate for those who register before April 1. That’s just a few days away folks so don’t delay. The photographers who show up for this event will prove to everyone that they are serious about taking their careers to the next level. If you can afford only one photo conference in 2010 – this should be the one to attend.

I hope to see you there. And oh, by the way – yeah – you guessed it – I’m giving away a free seat to the conference – stay tuned next month for more information.

Click here to register -  or click here for more information.