Top 5 Artists And Creators That Inspired Me 2019
As I reflect on 2019, I'd be remiss if I didn't share the top 5 influences on my work the last year. All five of these artists and creators are active and engaging online and make up a large percentage of the online content that I personally crave. I'm hesitant to rank them all from 1 to 5 because I have so much admiration for their work as well as their willingness to share. You'll find outside links to their content and my thoughts on how they've had an impact on my work this past year below.
1. Keith Nester. This guy wears many hats and he wears them all well. Keith and I met in 2010 and have stayed in touch regularly since then. Keith is not only a photographer, he works as a representative for one of, if not the top photo printing lab in the Midwest. In addition, Keith has written a book and created some viral inspirational videos all in the last year. Last and certainly not least, Keith is a husband and father of 3 wonderful kids.
Keith had a huge impact on me by inspiring me to start printing and selling my landscapes and wall art photography. He also provided guidance and friendship as I began the journey. I am looking forward, with great anticipation, to what 2020 brings to Keith.
2. Fototripper. Gavin Hardcastle is the guy behind or perhaps in front of the lens at the Fototripper YouTube Channel. Gavin takes you on photo journeys with other photographers giving guidance on his process that he uses in the field. The journeys are to some spectacular photogenic places around the world.
I've been inspired by his humor and the many guests or cohosts he brings on are always entertaining and educational.
3. Steve Mattheis. Based in Jackson Hole, WY. Steve shares his journeys into many national parks photographing spectacular wildlife along the way. Owls, elk, wolves, and other wildlife await you at Steve's down to earth YouTube Channel.
Steve is a down to earth yet award winning wildlife photographer. He inspires me to stay on my journey and provides insight while on beautiful locations, mostly in the western US.
4. Nick Page. Another inspiring and educational YouTuber, Nick shares beautiful photography and his process, from out in the field on shoots to processing and printing images. So much information to consume on Nick's channel.
Everytime I watch one of Nick's videos, his work amazes me and pushes me to keep learning and improving all aspects of my photography.
5. Jim Bigam. This is a late year addition to my top five. Jim is the founder of the Twitter hashtag #ArtAdventCalendar and an accomplished and successful artist. His website features his work as well as information on the advent calendar idea.
Winter can be a tough time on a photographer in the midwest. Jim's #ArtAdventCalendar on Twitter has me excited to share my work, for free across Twitter. This event is not a sales pitch or the hard sell that you typically find this time of year, it's simply artists sharing their work and making social media a little brighter during the holidays.
Why Professional Headshots Matter
Why You Should Have A Professional Headshot
First Impressions Matter
The more things change, the more they stay the same. It's almost a new decade, we're just couple of weeks from the year 2020, but first impressions mean as much today as they always have.
A strong first impression is the key to success. Like it or not, it is human nature to form opinions about people and organizations upon our first meeting of them. In today's world, first impressions often happen online or digitally. That means your company website, Facebook Page, or LinkedIn. Your headshot or online image is important because if it's unprofessional, you may not ever get a second chance and that has potential impact on your bottom line.
How you are perceived by others is key in building strong relationships with clients and employers. Whether you're a new business in Iowa, the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, or someone looking to get hired by either, your headshot will likely be your first impression on that person or entity that is seeking to fill a need. Your image should convey professionalism, strength, friendliness and confidence. Today's customer as well as employers are using the internet to find the right fit. If your image doesn't inspire confidence in others, potential clients and employers are simply going to move on the the next person or company in line until they find the right message of professionalism and authority.
If you're an organization with an online presence, do your images reflect your brand values? Do you present a professional and consistent image to your customers and competitors? Do your competitors images outshine your own?
If you're building your personal brand online the questions are similar. Is your LinkedIn profile professional? Does your online image convey confidence and friendliness? Are you losing to the next person in line?
First impressions really do matter, make yours count.
At Craigmile Photography, we'll use our expertise behind the camera to create images for you or your company that convey the right message for your brand. We offer professional headshot sessions for any size organization, from individuals to large groups. Whether your a job seeker or a company looking to gain an advantage versus your competitors, we'll work with you to make your first impression count.
Contact us at your convenience here or by phone (319)936-3933.
20% Off Landscape Prints
Happy Holidays and welcome to Craigmile Photography.
20% Off Any Landscape / Fine Art Image
Use coupon code "HOLIDAY20" at checkout!
Between the holiday season kicking into full gear, Thanksgiving is two days away as I type this, and the launch of my new website, I wanted to create an offer that you can't refuse. From now through Christmas any image that's available in my Print Gallery is eligible for 20% off when you check out. Whether you pick out just one image or five images, when you checkout just put HOLIDAY20 in the coupon code box and you'll receive 20% off of your order.
