Will the new global shutter Sony A9III set the photography world spinning? Dan is one of the first pros to get his hands on one, and it looks like it is a gamechanger. As in, all of the rules just changed, especially with off-camera flash. Lear

Sales are Fundymental

Mar 11th, 2024 50m 35s

It's been a while since we had a special guest, and this episode's guest is extra special: Andrew Funderburg -- or just plain "Fundy", the man behind Fundy Designer. If you are not familiar with Fundy Designer, you are in for a treat. It's one

Kicking off 2024 the right way

Feb 16th, 2024 43m 24s

As we kick off 2024, we cover diverse topics like ImagingUSA, SYNC, email marketing, annual planning, and cheese curds. Good stuff. Photo Happy Hour is brought to you by MoLight, Seniors Unlocked, and Carl's Coaching Corner.Your Hosts:Michael M

How to be successful (despite yourself)

Dec 21st, 2023 47m 10s

As we wind down the year, we put together a far-ranging episode with tips on how to succeed despite whatever personal failings you might have (LOL). From web tips, to what you can learn from the folks in Las Vegas, there's plenty of insight and

Tricks or Treats? Talking about fire, volume, gear, and more.

Nov 3rd, 2023 56m 16s

As is our habit of late, we cover a lot of territory in this episode. We weigh in on the latest trend of lighting seniors and athletes on fire. We crossover and chat about volume photography. And of course, we talk about some gear stuff, too. L

Family portrait tips and tricks

Sep 26th, 2023 51m 35s

Family portraiture can be a very lucrative segment of the photography industry. However, many photographers struggle with family portraits. Each of us approaches family portraits from slightly different angles, yet we have all been successful w

AI: Friend, foe, or somewhere in-between

Aug 22nd, 2023 57m 29s

Everyone is talking about it. We talked about it before, but a lot has changed since the last time we broached the subject of AI. In this episode we chat about which AI tools we are using, and how different AI tools have helped our businesses.

A chat about home studios and more with our buddy, Angela Navarette

Jul 24th, 2023 45m 15s

What's the most important tool your home studio should be equipped with? It's...nope...you need to listen and pick up this and many more great tips from our chat with Angela Navarette. Angela is an award-winning master photographer based in the

Keeping up with rising costs, and Michael's sketchy tax tips

Jun 20th, 2023 55m 45s

Since when did a quick trip through the fast food drive-thru start costing $25 or more? Costs are rising everywhere...have you adjusted your pricing to keep up? We share some thoughts on this, and Michael shares a few sketchy tax tips that migh

Lures catch more people than they do fish, and you can't smoke an 8x10

May 26th, 2023 1h 1m

With a title like that, do you really need an elaborate episode description? We think not. We cover a lot of ground in this one, so pop in your earbuds, grab a gummie, and enjoy. Photo Happy Hour is brought to you by MoLight, Seniors Unlocked,

Injuries, Mezcal, drywall, and a puppy.

Apr 10th, 2023 48m 19s

We're all over the map -- literally -- in this episode. From Michigan to Mexico, we cover the gamut and give some updates on our ongoing (and debilitating) projects. And as always, we dispense a little wisdom along the way. Just a little wisdom

Awards, New Digs, and Flaming Cheese

Mar 16th, 2023 1h 2m

If you like variety, this episode has it! We cover a lot of ground, including some fun conference shenanigans as well as several prestigious awards bestowed upon us. We may not cover how to calculate the inverse square law, but we have a lot si

Tips to start off the new year

Jan 12th, 2023 55m 3s

It's 2023 already, just in case you didn't realize it. But there's definitely still time to make some changes, implement new ideas, refine some old ones, and make this a great year for your photography business. In this episode we give you som

Reinvention

Dec 7th, 2022 41m 23s

All three of us have undergone some level of reinvention this year. How about you? Planning any changes for 2023? Why wait? In this episode, we talk about how we reinvent ourselves constantly -- in both big and small ways. Photo Happy Hour is b

Why can't clients listen?

Aug 30th, 2022 50m 46s

We put it all in writing, in brochures and on the website. We go through everything in person and on the phone. We have YouTube videos walking clients through all the steps. Yet we still get clients who misunderstand how things work, or are su

Is AI creating "art"?

Aug 8th, 2022 46m 48s

This week we jump into the deep end and wade into chemical-laden toxic pool that is the topic of Artificial Intelligence: Creating art from words being input into an app. Is it art? Whose art is it? Is it cool? Is it ethical? Is it the best thi

Sportraits -- Sports Portraits

Jul 26th, 2022 46m 25s

One successful product we have used to help grow our sales and differentiate us as artists in the marketplace is the "sportrait": Unique artwork based around a client's sports activities. Ranging from single-image composites, to montages, to pa

Dressing clients for photo success

Jun 25th, 2022 47m 24s

"Dress for success" is an old idiom that has some merit. But what about when a client shows up wearing unflattering or ill-fitting clothing? Or a mishmash of conflicting colors and patterns for a family portrait? This week we chat about how to

Light Quality: talking about softness, specularity and diffusion

Jun 10th, 2022 53m 45s

We get a little technical this week as we explore the topic of light quality and really dig into the definition of hard and soft light, and the role that diffusion and specularity play. Note: Our online recording service flipped to record Micha

Workflow

May 17th, 2022 45m 22s

One of the most common complaints we see, especially from newer photographers, is how much time they spend in front of the computer, up until the wee hours of the morning, editing, retouching, etc. We often talk about getting it "right in camer

The Great Reset: What has changed over the past two years?

Apr 29th, 2022 45m 22s

Our podcast launched at the start of the pandemic two years ago. We reflect over the past two years on what has changed in our own businesses as well as the industry in general. Photo Happy Hour is brought to you by MoLight, Seniors Unlocked,

Should you be a specialist, or a generalist, in your photography?

Apr 13th, 2022 54m 20s

Specialize? Or generalize? It's a huge question for many photographers, especially when they are starting out. The three of us all have taken different approaches, yet we've all been successful. In this episode, we share our thoughts and tips o

Caring for your gear

Mar 25th, 2022 47m 36s

Breaking, damaging, ruining, or just messing up gear can get pretty expensive, both in out-of-pocket costs to replace or repair, and lost opportunities because your equipment wasn't working or available. This week we give some tips on how to ca

Pricing

Mar 14th, 2022 46m 52s

What holds photographers back from pricing their work appropriately? This week, we do an in-depth discussion on pricing to help photographers struggling to make a living in our industry.Photo Happy Hour is brought to you by MoLight, Seniors Unl

What it's like to sit in the judge's chair

Mar 10th, 2022 53m 56s

This week we give you a little peek behind the curtain and let you know what it's like to sit in the judge's chair. Since Carl and Michael are both IPC jurors, and Dan has heard us complain enough that he can serve as an honorary juror, we thou