Monday Morning Cup of Mo

Are the currents swirling around you trying to pull you in a direction? You can resist and be like a rock in a stream, letting everything flow around you. Or, you can let go and go with the flow of the current. This week I am relating my own personal story of learning to let go and let the current guide me in my photography career. Monday Morning Cup of Mo is proudly sponsored by MoLight, America's Top-Rated Godox Retailer. Learn more at www.gomolight.com

What business are you in? You might say that you have a photography business. Or maybe you refine that to say that you create custom portrait art. Or you specialize in corporate headshots. Would it upset the apple cart if I told you that you really should be in the experience business? Especially if you want repeat customers or wish to grow through referrals.Monday Morning Cup of Mo is proudly sponsored by MoLight, America's Top-Rated Godox Retailer. Learn more at www.gomolight.com

This week I’m talking about providing quotes for business projects that are maybe a little out of the norm of your everyday work. Many people struggle with these. Hopefully, I can help the entire process much easier for you. Monday Morning Cup of Mo is proudly sponsored by MoLight, America's Top-Rated Godox Retailer. Learn more at www.gomolight.com

Inflation and fear of a recession are on the rise. It's a dilemma. Let’s face it. Professional photography is a luxury item for most people. Do you have to have the biggest and best senior portraits in order to survive? No. Not at all. Is there value in high-quality professional photography? Absolutely. So what are some strategies that you can follow to navigate through a recession and maintain and possibly even grow your sales?  I have some tips to follow.Monday Morning Cup of Mo is proudly sponsored by MoLight, America's Top-Rated Godox Retailer. Learn more at www.gomolight.com

Here’s a common question I get: How do I overpower the sun?  What most people really want to find out is how to balance with the sun; they want to be able to hold the blue sky while using flash to fill in shadows and create a pleasing portrait. So let’s use that as our guiding premise for today. We’re going to talk about what you need to know and do to balance your lighting with the light from the sun.More information on the Sunny F16 rule.More information on the Exposure Triangle.Monday Morning Cup of Mo is brought to you by MoLight, America's Top Rated Godox Retailer.

Today I am talking about speedlights, which are great tools when used right. But often, folks expect more out of them than they can deliver. So I’m going to run through the good, the bad, and oooooh, you shouldn’t do that with speedlights.In Godox and MoLight news...If you need a new speedlight, be sure to check out the Godox V860III and the V1 at MoLight.

I find that folks are often confused regarding the concepts of SOFTNESS and SPECULARITY when describing the quality of light. This is most often rooted in a misunderstanding of what role DIFFUSION plays in creating softness (it doesn’t...surprise!).  Intrigued? Listen now.In MoLight news, all proprietary MoLight-branded softboxes are on sale. For a limited time you can save on all SNAP, EXO, DeepMo, and GoMo softboxes. Check out the savings in the MoLight online store at www.gomolight.com.

Here’s a question: how many softboxes and other modifiers do you own? Here’s the follow-up question: can you ever have enough modifiers? Personally, I have dozens. Small softboxes. Large softboxes. Beauty dishes. Long-throw reflectors. Umbrellas. Grids and snoots. And on and on. Of course, you would expect that because I am kind of a lighting guy. But why have so many? That’s what we’re going to explore today. What are the differences between the various modifiers? And do you really need that many different kinds?In Godox and MoLight news, Godox just announced the new R200 ring flash accessory for the AD200/AD200Pro flashes. The R200 ring flash will attach to your camera and will connect to the main body of the AD200 via a connection cord. Look for these to be in stock at MoLight in June.

If you're like me, you probably have spent thousands of dollars to archive and store photos. In my case, it's tens of thousands of dollars. Which begs the question: Should we charge our customers an archiving fee for storing their photos? If they don’t want to pay it, they sign off on it, and we are no longer obligated to store their photos, come what may. It's a provocative thought.In Godox and MoLight news: instead of product news, I provide valuable tips on maintaining your lithium-ion batteries. Please like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.

As we emerge from the slow season like bears exiting hibernation, what can you do to shake off the rust and return to being the well-oiled photography machine that you are? The obvious answer is never to let the rust set in by staying active throughout the winter. But that’s often not an option for folks who don’t have a studio space or a style that is conducive to indoor photography. Or maybe your business model and clientele are built around photography outside. In any event, how can you quickly knock off the rust and get back to work? One solution that has worked well for me over the years is scheduling creative collaborations in the slow times.In MoLight news, be sure to check out the new VSA-26K spotlights and accessories at MoLight. They pair perfectly with any Bowen-mount LEDs and lower-powered flashes (300ws and lower recommended).Please like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.

One of the most common questions I receive is, “What flash should I buy?” It’s also one of the most common questions I see in lighting groups on Facebook. The answer will vary person by person and will depend on your specific needs, what you photograph, how you photograph, and so on. I semi-joking titled this episode “What flash you should buy, and why it’s the AD300Pro.” And I meant “semi-jokingly” because it is the most common recommendation for people who are moving into the Godox flash ecosystem. I’ll share why in a few moments. But, first, I have several thoughts and suggestions for anyone looking to get a new flash system, or possibly even their first off-camera flash.In MoLight news, be sure to check out the lightweight Godox-mount softboxes available at MoLight. They pair perfectly with the AD300Pro and AD400Pro to make for excellent portable and lightweight lighting setups.Please like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.

Do you ever feel like customers take advantage of you? Or people in general? Do you feel like you sometimes or even often get the short end of the stick? It can be frustrating.My original concept for this episode was to chat about policies for your business. But as I thought more deeply about it, it is more about establishing and maintaining boundaries, both in business and our personal lives. In MoLight news, the new Mo-Z-Up collapsible leg lightstands are now in stock. We've also added a new 48" padded lightstand bag. Check them both out at MoLight.Please like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.

Last week I presented the concept of turning failure into success and how we need to be the concierge for our respective businesses. While we can do our best to avoid screwing up, it will happen eventually. The important thing is how we respond to screwing up, how we address it and make it right, to delight our customers.Today I’m going to walk through the specific steps that you can follow to help you turn your screw-ups into opportunities to not only satisfy the customer but possibly bind them tighter to your brand. And I’m going to use an example of when I screwed up. No, it doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. So let me share my story and the steps I followed to help fix the problem. In Godox and MoLight news, the Godox released several new audio products, including two new microphones: a wireless kit in the MoveLink series that works with smartphones and cameras, and a new USB condenser microphone gear for podcasters and anyone who wants better computer audio capture. Look for these items soon at MoLight.Please like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.

Did you ever screw something up? I mean, like royally screw something up, especially in your business? It happens to everyone. Even with the best intentions we’re not perfect. Something will slip through the cracks, or we’ll make a poor judgment call, or whatever. Point is, we all make mistakes. But it is how we deal with those mistakes that can make or break our businesses. So today’s topic is just that: how to turn failure into success. In Godox and MoLight news, the Godox released a number of new products, including two new LEDs in the premium KNOWLED series and an update to the UL150. They also release the P2400 ring flash head for the R2400 power pack. Learn more at https://gomolight.comPlease like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.

If you have been listening to my series of podcasts, you might be noticing a trend: I’m often taking on the problems I see in the industry. I try to educate everyone on what these issues are, and hopefully provide some insight and ideas on how to fix the problems. Today I am taking on pricing, or what I call the race to the bottom of the barrel.In MoLight news, the new EXO series of focusing deep parabolics is on sale. Learn more at https://gomolight.comPlease like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.

I want to tackle one of the biggest banes of my existence: misinformation or just plain bad information being shared constantly in photography forums. I sometimes feel like I spend more time correcting bad information than I do sharing and teaching the good stuff. Post a question or an issue in a Facebook group and watch as you get twenty different answers in twenty minutes. And 18 or 19 of them are wrong. It’s no wonder my hair is thinning and my forehead is flat.   Today I take on the misinformation about high speed sync (HSS). In Godox and MoLight news, learn more about the new Godox QT600III studio flash. This next generation edition takes the flagship Godox studio flash up yet another notch. Check it out in the MoLight Store. Please like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.

Wouldn’t be great if you could cut out all of the cords in your studio and work untethered to anything? No power cords, with the freedom to put your lights wherever you want. And not have to worry about where to plug them in, or if you have a cord running across the set, or if the toddler you’re photographing is going to trip over or even chew on a power cord. Wouldn’t that be nice? This episode I share my journey into cordless and discuss the pros and cons of the Cordless Studio.In Godox and MoLight news, learn more about the new Godox FL150 fabric-based LED that was a smash hit at the SYNC conference. And the new 500 watt high-powered Golden Eagle LED5000. Both of these new unit have battery and AC power options.  Please like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.

This week’s topic will likely become controversial and in reality it really shouldn’t be. But it will be. So here goes:Guys -- quit talking down to women. I see this. all. The. Time. It’s rude. It’s cringey. It’s demeaning. It hurts our industry and society as a whole. And you know, while you are at it, quit talking down to everybody. Period. I was kicking this around in my head as a topic for awhile. Will it have any impact? Will I get blowback? Then I got mansplained to this past week. In Godox and MoLight news, learn more about the how Godox has moved into the audio/video market. Also, the MoLighter curved reflector has been added to the MoLight lineup.Please like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.

One of the most common mistakes I see newer photographers make – and let’s be frank, I see some quote/unquote experienced photographers make the same mistake – is that they do not place their main light with an exacting purpose. Maybe they just always place their key light in the same spot every time out of habit. Or because they saw someone else do it the same way. Which isn’t “horribly” wrong, but it doesn’t lend itself to the creation of compelling portraits.In Godox and MoLight news, learn more about the new EXO focusing deep parabolics we just added to the MoLight lineup.Please like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.

Today’s we’re talking about finding the U in your photography. How can you do that? And why is it important? It’s something that every photographer struggles with when they are starting out. Truth be told, many continue to struggle with finding themselves in their photography years or even decades down the road. In Godox and MoLight news, learn more about the new Godox TL120 RGB tube lights as well several exciting new modifiers in the MoLight lineup.Please like and follow the podcast Facebook page and join my Facebook group.