Monday, December 20, 2010

3 simple step for writing your "about" page

Did you know that the “About Page” is the 2nd most popular page on your website? The main reason so many of your website guests pay a visit to this page is simply because they’re interested in knowing the “person” behind your small business. They just want to connect with an actual human being. (Is that truly too much to ask?)

That being said, hopefully your “About Page” isn’t a tiresome dissertation of mind-numbing facts about your small business.

Here are three simple tips for putting together an “About Page” that will stun your visitors:

1. Avoid stock photos.

Stock photos are just not going to cut it when it comes to depicting your small business. Your visitors want to get to know you. They really don’t care if you’re fat, skinny or somewhere in between, they’re just trying to make a connection.

Your visitors want to get to know the “real you,” not the slick and polished picture of Mr. Joe Clipart.

2. Don’t use wearisome industry jargon.

There’s nothing worse than an About Page that drones on and on with industry jargon that only your mother would care about.

Here’s an actual “About Page” paragraph that I read the other day:

“XYZ Marketing Solutions is a recognized leader in online and offline marketing solutions. Dedicated to providing the highest level of marketing expertise, XYZ Marketing Solutions delivers unparalleled support, superb customer service and superior education to their discerning clients.”

Yawn…are you sleeping yet?

Here’s the deal. When visitors read about your small business, they don’t give a hoot about your high level of expertise or superior education. They simply want to know how you can solve their problems.

I rewrote John’s “About Page”:

“If you’re looking for ways to create more visibility, generate more leads and make more money, XYZ Marketing Solutions will produce maximum results for your business.”

3. Include your contact information.

If you operate a small business, then there needs to be an easy way for prospects, customers and clients to contact you. Obviously, you don’t need to give out your home phone number. You can simply use a 1-800 number that redirects to your cell phone (i.e. Grasshopper is a low-cost, professional choice.)

And, the same is true for providing a simple way to email you. If you don’t want to use your personal email account, but want a low-cost email solution try Zendesk.

So, make sure that when visitors land on your “About Page,” you give them something to remember. It’s as simple as that.

www.jessicaswanson.com

The “Secret” to Beautiful Senior Pictures

Recently I spoke at a local photography workshop and someone made a comment that it has to be easy shooting only “pretty people”. Another photographer jokingly communicated to me that it “wasn’t fair” that we got to photograph all the “attractive people”. To that I laugh and say I’ll take that as a compliment. I do have to say that every one of the seniors that we photograph is beautiful…inside and out. But some people don’t understand that most of the senior girls do not walk around looking like they do for their senior session…just as a bride doesn’t walk around everyday looking like she does on her wedding day.

I think as a professional photographer that it is your job to find what is “beautiful” about your clients and focus in on that for their images. That can be their eyes, their hair, their smile, their laugh,…anything that makes them look good and feel good about themselves. That can only HELP you in creating images the senior and their families can be proud of.

At our studio we do go all out to make people look their best and feel their best for their senior session. Our customers deserve it…and we demand it. Which is why we incorporate the use of a professional makeup artist on our senior sessions. This, I believe, has really separated our work and the experience shared by our customers. No one has “perfect” skin. It can be splotchy, red, sunburned, and/or uneven. I cannot tell you the time I have saved in LightRoom and Photoshop from having a quality makeup artist.

I have also recently gotten a few emails from other photographers asking about using a makeup artist, how we incorporate it in the session, and what does the makeup artist do on the shoot. So I thought I would use this article to interview Stephanie Kelly of S.Kelly Makeup to answer a few questions. She has worked with us for two years and knows how I like to shoot and what looks I like to shoot for our sessions. And yes… I am glad that everyone thinks we are “lucky” to only photograph the “beautiful people” Thanks for the compliments to our work and our seniors! :)

What is your background and specialty in makeup?

I have been involved with make up since I was 17. I started modeling and began to learn how to apply makeup for the camera as well as runway shows. At age 30 I took a break from the industry, but only a few short years later I found myself wanting to be a professional makeup artist full time. I made the decision to change direction in my career and attended Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles, California under the Master Makeup Program. I specialize in all aspects of makeup applications: TV/Film, Special Effects, Beauty, High Fashion, Editorial, Senior Models, and Bridal/Weddings.

What do you look for in working with a photographer?

When I am hired for a job, I always ask who the photographer will be so I can research their work. As a makeup artist, you want to see the light they use and the style of photography so you can prepare yourself for the photo shoot. Once you’re on the shoot, it’s vital to communicate with the photographer on the style of makeup that is needed. Professionalism, the ability to be creative, and having fun are the most important aspects to a photo shoot between a makeup artist and photographer.


What are the goals for the senior makeup session?

Makeup applications are different with every senior. You will have some seniors that want to take their senior session geared towards the fashion side and other seniors will want to look like “themselves” in their photos. My goal is to make each senior look their absolute best on such a memorable day. I communicate with the senior and ask what look they are going for and if they have any examples of makeup they like. I take into consideration their ideas but also bring my knowledge and vision to the makeup. As a makeup artist, you have to know when to step in and give what you think would look best even when the senior has a set idea on what she wants. I want the makeup to look professionally applied but also fun and creative to each senior’s request. My ultimate goal is to have each senior look in the mirror and be in awe. I want them to look their absolute best! When a senior feels like they look stunning and beautiful, the end result says it all….beautiful senior photos that will last a lifetime.

What are the mistakes that are seen with senior photography makeup?

Uneven skin tone, mismatched skin tone, wrong color choices, and what I like to call flat makeup: no shadowing, contouring, highlighting or luminous makeup applied, but the number one mistake is taking a senior model and experimenting with makeup on her photo shoot. You have to be creative and fun, but taking it too far is disturbing to look at. A senior shoot isn’t the time to invent a new eye shadow technique or have the model wear green lipstick. From time to time, you will have a senior model request a high fashion look to incorporate into their session. I think it’s a great idea, but save it for the last look! What you don’t want is to lose the natural look of senior model and at the end of the shoot, she’s unrecognizable. Yes, be creative. Yes, be fun with your ideas, but always remember as a makeup artist you have to know when to bring back the reigns a little.

What do you enjoy the most about makeup with senior sessions?

Being a part of their senior photography experience is enjoyment enough. It’s wonderful to see them from being extremely nervous at the beginning and when the makeup is revealed they are so confident and excited. To see each senior view themselves in a beautiful light is my enjoyment and that’s when I know I did my job well.


*Stephanie Kelly of S.Kelly Makeup is a professional makeup artists located in Columbus, GA where she specializes in fashion, portrait, wedding, and beauty photography along with TV, film, and special effects. You can visit her facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/SKelly-Makeup/325429291636.

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We are a full time portrait photography studio in Columbus, Georgia. John Pyle Photography specializes in High School Senior Photography and is a two time national senior portrait artist (spa) winning studio.

Photo/Video Credits: © 2010 John D Pyle

John Pyle Logo

Company: John Pyle Photography, LLC
Phone: 706-662-8956
Email: johndpyle@mac.com
Website: http://www.johnpylephotography.com/blog
Twitter: @johndpyle
Facebook: http://facebook.com/johnpylephotography

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Did somebody say free?

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FREE BUSINESS 101 E-COURSE LAUNCHES

It gives me warm fuzzies to announce the launch of the first free Served Up Fresh e-course: Business Basics.

If you feel like there are some legal business steps you might have missed (or have been knowingly avoiding), then you will want to sign up for this course. It's 5 weeks long, and includes 2 super-simple, not-the-least-bit-intimidating e-mails a week.

We’ll get your legal ducks all lined up in a row to start 2011 off right. Click here to sign up for the e-course!
Psst! Feel free to tell a friend who's just starting out in business about this. Better yet: sign them up and tell them you paid big bucks for it, then wish them a Merry Christmas. (Yeah, that's the kind if friend *I* would be!)

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS, GET TASTY ANSWERS

When you head over to the (new! Improved! Triple awesomesauce!) website to check it out, you’ll notice a brand new section called Tasty Q&A. I'll be posting common questions and answers here that go beyond Easy as Pie. For example, right now there’s a great post about how to make customer’s special requests profitable -- not just a pain in the tush.
Click here to submit your own Tasty Q&A, and you just might see your answer on the website soon.

FINAL UPGRADE REMINDER

Oh, and this is your final reminder that tomorrow (that would be December 5th) is your very last chance to buy the Easy as Pie for $89. There is always one person that waits until last minute, and this is me telling you the last minute starts right now.

Click your last chance!

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Big holiday hugs to you!
XOXO,
Alicia