Everybody should get out and check out this great opportunity to work with a true professional in a classroom environment.  No matter your skill level, YOU CAN ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING!

Here is a recent review I would like to share from one of my students:


"Wow! What an inspiration! I had just about given up on a gift from my wife; a Nikon D3200 DSLR.

While I had studied photography as a minor in college, I wasn't at all familiar with today's modern technology. The myriad buttons and settings discouraged me. I just shot whatever I could in the AUTO mode before giving up and using my iPhone 6S Plus for everything. None of the Nikon's pictures gave me a "Wow" feeling. It was like using my Instamatic camera from the 70's.

Your class changed that for me. The hands on demonstrations of Aperture, ISO, and Shutter speed relationships and the way you explained it all made it so easy to understand. I can't wait to try the lesson learned. I'm excited about my Nikon again.

Your method of instruction is clear with plenty of examples to show the technique of what is being discussed. I walked away at the end of the class feeling "I can do this!"

Thank you and I look forward to more study and inspiration from you.

Cal H.
Lebanon, TN

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Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!""

Sometimes it is not about earning money. I worked for a good cause this weekend and had a great time doing it. The charity needed someone to help put the word out in pictures and I'm glad they asked me. It was a long day, could have been longer. But I got the shots they needed for their website/paper and was finished in about eight hours. Pedal For Paws is a worthy program benefiting Sumner Counties spay and neuter program for cats and dogs. The bike ride had a short ride (14 miles) and a long ride (65 miles), all of which were too long for me, I'm glad I was photographing the event. I would like to thank Julie for asking me to to work with them and welcome anything I can do for the Chamber of Commerce and Sumner County/Hendersonville Arts Council. I will have some pictures up shortly of the event so you can see their fun/windy bike ride for a worthy unselfish cause.

Leslie Wilkes
Owner Photographer
#LeslieWilkesPhotography.com

#PedalForPaws,#SumnerCounty,#HendersonvilleArtsCouncil,#Pedal For Paws,#Sumner County,#Hendersonville Arts Council

Teaching Others....

I had a great time with the Hendersonville Camera Club and teaching a Beginners Photography Class.  Everyone was eager to advance their knowledge and ask questions.  I had this e-mail post from one of the students, his kind words made we want to post it.

"Leslie, thanks so much for sharing your experience and expertise with me and the others who attended your classes. I think we will all find our photography more rewarding as a result.

Tommy
Thomas W."

Thanks Tommy, that is why I like to share my knowledge of digital cameras and photography, so we can learn together and take and make great photographs.

Leslie Wilkes
Owner/Photographer

This is very interesting, it is a post from Rosh Sillars, so I can't take credit.  I thought it was worth re-posting

10 things photographers do wrong. You did number 3

Photo by Zuhair A. Al-Traifi

Photographers love photography. That’s rather obvious. Unfortunately, most don’t love the photography business. Of course it takes a lot of different elements to make a photography career work. Below is a list of ten things that young and old photographers alike do wrong when taking pictures, working with clients and running their business.

1) Not treating the client with respect. For some reason I see photographers who think a photography session is about them. People in front of your lens are happy to be there, pay your bills and often honored to have you take their photo. Make the event or session about them, not you.

2) Ignore the value of your copyright. I know you’ve heard it a million times, respect your copyright. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in the business, managing your copyright is important. I think the best argument is that if your copyright had no value, why is everyone working so hard to get it?

3) Believe getting paid a little money for your work means you can make a career of photography. Often an entry-level or hobby photographer will earn 50-100 dollars for a few photographs they took a few moments to create. They get excited and start doing the math in their head. Wow, if I do this a few times a day – I can make a career of photography. Of course, they don’t realize how hard it is to earn that many clients at any price.

4) Photographers don’t charge enough. The cost to develop and run a business is expensive. Have you thought about how many assignments you can realistically procure over a year and how much you need to charge to meet your income goal. Not to mention your expenses.

5) Believe they have no overhead.  Your camera is a computer that needs upgrading, your computer and software is expensive. Stuff breaks! Marketing for new business and the insurance to protect yourself costs money. Your accountant, lawyers and other professional services that you enlist are not cheap. Working without a studio does not mean you don’t have overhead.

6) They don’t follow-up. After you complete an assignment, how do you keep in touch with the client for future work and referrals? Do you have a system for referrals in place?

7) Photographers don’t help other photographers. I can’t tell you how many times young photographers tell me that established photographers will not talk to them. They shut the door in their face and give attitude for even suggesting they help the competition. The reality is that up and coming photographers are your competition whether you talk to them or not. Teach them the business, the value of their images and the importance of copyright. This helps to improve the health of your industry. I rather bid against someone who is charging 10% less than 50% less. Heck, I just might win on my portfolio quality.

8) Fail to create partnerships. If you wish to grow your business; working with partner companies is a powerful way to go. Look for other companies targeting the same demographic or industries and work together.

9) They don’t ask for a testimonial. After you finish photographing, flip the camera to video mode and ask for a testimonial. It only takes a few moments and the value is worth every second. Share the video of your happy customer on YouTube, Facebook and on your website.

10) Photographers stop learning. No, you don’t know it all. There is always something new to learn in photography. You must continue to seek new information and inspiration like you did when you first discovered photography.

What would you add?