NoBs Digital Dogbowl
The NoBs Digital Dogbowl Newsletter:
Keeping you up to date and informed on the latest, coolest, and outrageous happenings inside the world of NoBS Photo Success.
Loaded with Free photography tips, Photoshop tutorials, photo reviews,
and other totally relevant essentials. Be sure to check out the whole thing!
Hungry for more? Visit our digital photography forum.
November 2007 Digital Dogbowl
Welcome To The Inferno Edition of the Dogbowl!
This month brings us a jam-packed issue with reports from the Inferno from Rob Provencher and James Hodgins. The forum has also been quite active with exciting new tips and topics being bantered about amongst forum members. This is an issue you'll want to keep bookmarked, folks. Put your seatbelts on and hang on for the ride!
The Inferno Report
November finally came and the Inferno by the Falls has been long in the works. It has come and gone. I agonize over every workshop and since the Inferno by the Falls is our biggest, and people drive, walk, crawl and fly from all points in North America to attend it, it carries the biggest agony for me. I struggle to make sure all attendees get the very best bang for their buck and hours spent. This is also reflected in my philosophy about teaching. I prefer a no-frills, no-nonsense approach opting for more hours dedicated to 'class', than to other more conventional and frivolous activities. Hence, the night owl sessions and the early bird workshops, and the fact that I am somewhat anal about getting things started on time. It's all designed to jam in as much as is humanly possible and actually give the attendees quality information. Aside from all that, I like to 'hand pick' each and every presenter. If someone doesn't fit the bill, I don't have them speak. Your time as an attendee is very important to me. Again, the best bang for your buck!
NoBS Member of the Month: 4LifePhoto
Photography for me started after I graduated college. I bought myself a Nikon N70 (yes, that is a film camera), took an adult education class at University of Texas, and started doing landscape photography. I absolutely wanted no people in my pictures! I remember my mother saying "they are nice honey, but there is no people in your pictures".
The Inferno Report from James' Perspective
You think photography is hard? Try typing out your thoughts after you have just come back from a NoBs Inferno Convention. My thoughts right now are all over the place. Where do you start? I guess I will start at the beginning (ya, good place to start hotshot, way to figure that one out). I think back on the last three days and shake my head. Information overload to say the least. It amazes me the group of NoBs individuals we have gathered into one location. Walking up onto the platform and gazing across the room is mind blowing. You could actually feel the energy in the room. Everyone eager to learn, everyone eager to share.
New Vendor: Times Two Studios
Awesome new workflow solution for photographers at Times Two Studios. If you are like most photographers you have experienced the dreaded post-shoot processing blues. You know - the shoot is over and it was great fun but now you have to chain yourself to your PC for that long post-processing session. The simple days of shooting and dropping your film at the lab are gone forever - or are they?
Post-processing your images at Times Two Studios brings that kind of simplicity back into the busy photographers life. We offer affordable packages ranging from basic adjustments to full retouching services. You simply copy your out-of-camera images to a disc and send it to our studio. We handle the rest. You are now free to shoot more - market more - relax more. When your images are finished we send back a disc with the images ready to print or deliver to your client.
NoBS Aid 2007: SCAW
Last year, NoBS members really stepped up in the name of making a difference. Hodgy rallied NoBS members to donate money to Sleeping Children Around The World.
Why did members decide to donate to SCAW? Because 100% of donations goes directly to buying bed kits for needy children. Members chipped in $5 or more per person and the fundraiser was an overwhelming success; over $4700 was raised to buy bed kits.
The children are photographed with the bed kit as well as a sign with the name of the donor and of course we post it in our community and newlsetter for all to see.
Look back on the last year you have had, look around yourself and take note of everything you have, if it be family, friends, success in business, personal growth, or all of the above. $10.00 is nothing out of the pocket, but it's something to someone when they don't have that $10.00. We have made it very simple to pay, donated directly from your credit card/paypal, you won't even know it is gone.
Donations will close on December 20th, 2007. We will tally up the funds, add our $1000 and donate it directly to SCAW (just like we did last year).
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO DONATED LAST YEAR!
Please click here to donate!
How Craig Booked 20% of Brides Who Attended a Bridal Show
November brings us a new Monthly Success Interview. Rob recently interviewed NoBS member Craig Kerr (craigspix). Craig is a corporate pilot and entrepreneur by day and a professional photographer in his off time. Among the many tidbits of info in the interview, Craig discussed the power of writing down one's goals and how, in doing this for himself, his business took off. (Excuse the pun) You can also hear how he managed to book 5 brides out of 25 who went to see him at a bridal show. To hear this interview go to the Dangerous Downloads section and to the Monthly Success Interviews thread.
Bonus Interview
Rob added yet ANOTHER Monthly Success Interview in the Downloads Section. This month he interviews NoBS member, KrisG. Kris is NoBS' top poster and has come a long way since joining NoBS way back in 2005. In this one-and-a-half-hour interview, Kris tells us how she came to NoBS and how she got to where she is today: a successful photographer with a newly acquired studio. There are also some other juicy tidbits from Rob for those of you who missed the Inferno. Don't miss this enthralling interview!
Happy 2nd Birthday NoBS!
Recently, NoBS celebrated it's 2nd birthday. Here's what Rob had to say in his e-mail to members:
Crazy! It's been two whole years to the day since we started up the No Bs Photo Success Inner Circle Members forum.
Man, have we grown in that time! Personally, without blowing my own horn, or sounding a little biased, we think it's the absolute best forum and resource online for photographers who are dead serious about growing their photography business. This applies to newbies and old farts too!
This place is beyond words, with hundreds of video tutorials, audios, manuals, Photoshop actions and more. All battle-tested, from the trenches stuff."
To celebrate this milestone, Rob and James waived the activation fee for new members for 24 hours.
Got M.E.X.?
Midwestern NoBSers recently got together in Kris Gay's hometown for the Midwest Express (aka- M.E.X.). As attested by what may possibly be the longest thread in NoBS history (36 pages and counting), members had a productive, educational, and fun time. NoBS member Holly posted video from day one and day two on You Tube. To read more and to see the links to the video, allot yourself a good hour or so to read through the posts and click here. The event was such a success that dates for next spring are already being discussed. Go M.E.X.!
Hot Topics on NoBS
We've all agonized over this at one point or another: to work from home or to invest in a studio off property. Is one more "professional" than another? This topic was aptly covered on the forum for member tiny crane who herself posed this question as she is at a critical point in her just-beginning career. To read more, click here.
Another hot topic was one posed by peppypea, on how to sell large wall portraits.
Last, but certainly not least, was the topic on how to keep clients from copying images. Although there didn't seem to be a foolproof solution, interesting tips were provided on how to at the very least maximize profit on images. For more, read here.
Next NoBS Get Together
It looks like another get together is in the works, folks! Craigspix is organizing an informal Detroit/Michigan Shoot Party tentatively scheduled for February 2, 2008. Our own Hodgy is expected to make an appearance for this one. For more details check out the following link.
There are possibly two more get-togethers for our Texas members. George Dean is putting one together in the Dallas area: read about it here. Another one is being discussed for central Texas here.
"Friday the 13th" Shoot
James recently did a photo session for a client who wanted to recreate the horror flick Friday the 13th. The client was in full costume: hockey mask and machete, and the session was done on location in the woods. Watch as James uses Nikon speedlights with his Canon cameras to create some authentic and very frightening images. Tres cool!
NoBS forum members, watch the video here.
How About Some Backgrounds On Backgrounds by Bill Guy
If there is one thing that Photoshop creators love it's cool backgrounds, and if you search on the web you will find many sites that are willing to sell you many different backgrounds. Some are realistic, but the biggest sellers are far out colors and shapes that can be placed on websites or behind high tech types of images.
I have to admit that some are very creative, sometimes so creative they take away from the image. I tend to like simple so that it will not be so wild as to distract from my photography. Well, they really aren’t that hard to make and can be very creative, too.
NoBS Photo of the Month: Inferno 2007
Last Chance Discount on Craig's Actions
Hello again fellow NoBS'rs - a true pleasure to see you all at the past Inferno, and a special thank you for the warm welcome, great comments, and craaazy adventures in the Trailer!
I've heard from quite a few that missed the Inferno and the special pricing made available to its attendees... (and Hodgy has once again twisted my arm to give the NoBS crew a shot at the best prices around), so I have decided to extend my special for the next few days to give those that missed out a chance to access the Action Sets Savings made available to everyone attending the convention!
Your special discount code is: INFSP
The Discount Rate is : 40%
Here is the website: Craig's Actions
This can be used on all Action Sets on the site, so if you don't have them yet - please drop by to see what can be super-easily accomplished with the magic of PhotoShop and even look after your FULL WORKLOAD of image enhancements with just a SINGLE TOUCH!... Just ask Shelley!!
This is in effect ONLY through Dec 2nd, which is almost as good as being at the Inferno!
Thanks again to all, and look for an exciting new feature coming next week to the Craig's Actions website: Gift Certificates and Wishlists - The perfect way to "Get some Action" for Xmas!
As always - Enjoy the Adventure!
- Craig
The Perfect NoBS XMas Gift
Check this out! For Rebecca, one of our Aussie members, Christmas came early: "I had some good recent sales and decided to SPLURGE on some NoBS stuff that I've been wanting for ages. Got the wedding system, last year's Inferno DVDs and a NoBS t-shirt for Jessica! Had hubby take a quick pic of is in the studio this morning so I could show off our shirts." If you would like your own, buy the DVDs here and the apparel here.
November Group Buy For Silverlake
The votes are in and the winners for this month's group buy were Fire and Ice, Tuscan Sun, and Brown Sugar. To see details on how to make your purchase and how these were selected, go to the following link. Thanks again to Travis Gadsby and the folks at Silverlake.
MacGyver Corner: A New Take On The Beauty Dish
NoBS member Julie P brings to us a new way to make a beauty dish for roughly $20. The purpose of the beauty dish is to diffuse the light so that only bounced light is hitting the subject and creating a beautiful, diffuse, softening effect. To see Julie P's dish and how it was made, click here.
Craving More Inferno Info?!?
Are you still craving MORE Inferno news? Check out the Inferno 2007 forum, which is chock full of pictures, stories, and information from this year's Inferno. You'll find more info than you bargained for!
Inferno Print Competition Winners
As announced by imaginphoto, here are the winners of the 2007 Inferno Print Competition:
- 1st place - John Phillips Photography
- 2nd place - Brian Little
- 3rd place - Cindy Alain
To see their images and the rest of the images submitted, click here.
Congratulations!!
A NoBS Member Hits The Airwaves
Congratulations to Carina who recently appeared on local Canadian programming to discuss black and white photography. To find the link to see the video, click here.
November Chat Room Meeting by The No Bs Stalker
I would like to thank Neil Copeland for being my special guest at our November Chat Room meeting. Neil gave out a lot of information regarding taking large group photos. I guess Rob and James really liked his interview because a few days later, Neil became a moderator on the NoBS forum. Congratulations Neil, I know you will do great!
There will not be a Chat Room meeting in December but we will have one in January. The date will be announced soon.
Thank you to all the people that participate in our monthy meetings and I will see everyone in the new year.
The NoBs Stalker aka Dan Morency
Here's the link to the post and the pdf
New Forum Moderator
NoBS has promoted our own Neil Copeland to moderator status. Neil will be in charge of the Commercial and Sports forum. This forum is dedicated to all forms of Commercial, Sports & Event Photography.
New Format On The Forum
Have you noticed something a little different with the forum lately? It's not your eyes or your monitor failing you. The software for the forum was recently upgraded to improve function. Let us know what you think!
Lumapix Tutorials
Lumapix's FotoFusion is a revolutionary tool for building collages, scrapbooks, and flush-mounted photo albums from digital photos. In the forum, Riff has posted several video tutorials to help you get the most from this excellent program.
Proofing Session Tutorial
Another new set of downloads comes to us from Rob. This month, Rob posted a comprehensive guide to getting images ready for proofing. To see these indispensable video tutorials, go here.
2008 Goals
Have you written your goals for the new year? If not, why not? Time and again we've heard from Rob and James and many other members how setting goals has transformed their lives and their businesses. All it takes is a few minutes of your time to determine what it is you really want to accomplish. With 2008 rapidly coming upon us, there is no time like the present to sit down with your margarita (or sparkling juice) and write out the things you wish to accomplish. Here's to success!
Download Rob's Goals Worksheets from last year's Inferno Here.
New Forum: Painter
NoBS welcomes Marilyn Sholin and her expertise with Corel Painter to the family! The new forum focuses on painting techniques not only with Painter, but with Photoshop as well. Soon you'll be painting your weddings and portraits so you can sell them. Watch for the coming tutorials!