[NoBs Stalker] the way it works is that I will ask questions to Shawn ...

[NoBs Stalker] the way it works is that I will ask questions to Shawn ... [NoBs Stalker] the way it works is that I will ask questions to Shawn for about 10 minutes... [NoBs Stalker] then you can ask all the questions you want [ckutzli] Hey Beer Boy! [NoBs Stalker] and as usual, Improv will show up late and ask the same questions again [Riff] heheh [NoBs Stalker] he does that every time [NoBs Stalker] Hi Shawn...thank you for doing this [Riff] my pleasure! [NoBs Stalker] Can you tell us a bit about yourself...where you grew up [Riff] first things first. Go Steelers. [Riff] , [chasityblackwell] . [cozmo] Hi all,im a first time chatter [ckutzli] BOOOOO [Riff] i'm born and raised in Holland Mi. [Riff] computer background [Riff] played in a band for about 10 years before I decided to become a photographer [Riff] shut up clem [NoBs Stalker] what about family...brothers, sisters...wife [Riff] ah yes, two brothers. one wife , [NoBs Stalker] the beautiful julie , [Riff] the beautiful and talented Julie [Riff] (she makes me look good) [NoBs Stalker] what got you started in photography? [Riff] NoBS. [NoBs Stalker] good place [Riff] seriously, i found nobs before I ever knew i wanted to be a photographer [NoBs Stalker] how long have you been in photography? [Riff] it was people like james and rob, lisa, AC, KC [Riff] Let's see.. that was early 2005. Got my first SLR in May 2005 [Riff] i knew nothing about photography. no clue what an aperture was [NoBs Stalker] wow, you've learned a lot in 3 years [Riff] i purchased the big kahuna, the old wedding system, then went to Image Explorations East [Riff] that's when I met you Dan, and James and Rob [NoBs Stalker] exactly [NoBs Stalker] still remember that [Riff] i was going to stalk James and Rob, but that position was already taken [NoBs Stalker] , [NoBs Stalker] what kind of equipment do you use [Riff] Those two really inspired me and sort of took me under their wings [Riff] Nikon, baby! [NoBs Stalker] your building a studio...how is that going? [Riff] D300 is the main camera now... I wants me a D700 before wedding season starts [Riff] It's so close to being done. I've had 3 granite guys flake out on me [Riff] i just need to finish up the bathroom [Riff] driving me nuts [NoBs Stalker] maybe clem is behind that , [Riff] our new promo video was shot in the new studio [NoBs Stalker] nice [Riff] i'm very psyched to have a garage studio [Riff] we did studio shares in the past. I'm glad to be done with that [NoBs Stalker] welll....my 10 minutes is up...who has questions for Riff [Riff] that was fast [Riff] no questions from clem. [Shelley] (that's what she said) [NoBs Stalker] shawn is the expert on websites, now is your chance [chasityblackwell] Riff is this your full time job [Riff] shelley heh [Riff] yes. [Riff] i quit my job of 20 years in Dec, 2006 [NoBs Stalker] was that a tough decision? [Riff] it was an unbelievable feeling! [Riff] it was and it wasn't. [chasityblackwell] How do you make the break? [Riff] i kept hearing rob's voice in my head. "Shawn--you gotta quit your job" [chasityblackwell] Yeah! I hear it too. [Riff] we had a few weddings booked for 2007, and I had a ton of work piled up at home [cozmo] ok,here i go......i downloaded a couple Free Templates for wordpress,and they dont seem to work....you know of a place to get a good cheap/free template for wordpress [chasityblackwell] How did you get your big break in the business to be able to afford to quit [Riff] i was sitting at work thinking, dang, I'm actually losing money by being here [Riff] honestly, the big break was just booking some weddings.. guaranteed income [Riff] so, i have google to thank for that [Riff] free wordpress templates are everywhere! [Riff] i was looking around the other night for one [cozmo] so far no luck getting them to work.....maybe im doing something wrong [Riff] one of my goals for 2009 is to set up a blog and use it regularly [cozmo] i put them in my themes under wp-content Right? [Riff] i'd have to log into 2wheels2alaska to remember the exact location, but yeah, that sounds right [Riff] lots of wordpress tutorials out there too... [Riff] google is your friend [cozmo] ok thanks [alan carson] Is your website your major marketing tool? [Riff] YES [Riff] website is HUGE [Riff] brides do their research on the web. if weddings are your market, you MUST have a great website [ckutzli] Do you have a straw in your beer so you can type and drink at the same time? [Riff] same goes for Seniors, I'm sure [Shelley] Do you any Bridal Fairs? [NoBs Stalker] great question Clem , [Riff] my website, and my google rank have been huge for building our business [Riff] yeah, we do a handful of bridal shows a year [alan carson] Do you pay for placements or how do you get your site noticed? [Riff] we just did a huge one in grand rapids a couple weeks ago, and have one next saturday [Riff] i bought a book: SEO for Clem. I mean Dummies [SteveH] same thing right [SteveH] , [Riff] getting links to your site is awesome, but getting good content on your site is just as important IMHO [SteveH] what are they charging you for bridal fairs? [Riff] keywords in all the right places [Riff] the grand rapids show was $1600, but they forced us to get a double booth. [Riff] the one we're doing this coming weekend is FREE because I bartered with the location manager [Riff] i think they're charging only $250 though [Riff] 1300 brides vs. 200 brides though [SteveH] right...kind of hard to direct market to brides. I was curious if the cost was similar [Riff] we've already booked a couple weddings from the GR show, so it's paid for itself [Riff] we do follow up with the brides several times [Riff] we collect info at the show, and follow up with email and phone calls [Shelley] Just our of curiosity, how far do you see a typical bride booking ahead of the date? [Shelley] good lord I can't spell tonight... sorry [Riff] we just booked our first 2010 bride! [NoBs Stalker] how many weddings do you want to do a year? [Shelley] what's typical though? [Riff] one of our goals is to have Julie quit her full time job, and having weddings on the books is a form of security [Riff] so i'd like to do 30 or so [Riff] I'd say typical is 8-12 months, Shelley [Shelley] that's so cool! [icie] Does Julie assist at weddings now? [Riff] Yes! she goes to all of the weddings and does photograph [Riff] i send her with the bride and bridesmaids getting ready [Riff] which is a huge benefit for the girls.. no guy in the room thing [cozmo] i just typed photography Holland Mi you were #1 [Phototini] is that a typical concern Riff? [Riff] plus she's helping me all day directing and photographing [Riff] sweeeeet [Riff] i'm not sure how typical it is, but we definitely point it out [icie] Plus works full time? Sounds like you're working her hard. [Riff] yeah, she's incredible [Shelley] You've really helped (me) with your lumapix tutorials. I'd like to thank you for that right now! Thank you!! Do most of your wedding clients get albums? [Riff] she has two full time jobs [Riff] it's about 2/3rds these days [Riff] which is great because it's easy money [Riff] but i should do better at getting to the designs quicker [SteveH] do you mind if I ask Riff...what are your package ranges - if you have packages? [Shelley] cool, thanks! [Riff] our lowest package is $1700 and is no-frills.. no reception coverage even... and our top package is.. hmmm.. $3500? [Riff] none of our packages have albums in them [Shelley] nice! [SteveH] weddings are a bugger around here [Riff] i'm hoping to sell even more albums though because we're starting to offer hi-res files with them [Riff] you'd think there'd be tons of weddings in utah [SteveH] there are...they don't want to pay for good photography though [SteveH] it's the capital of shoot and burn baby! [Riff] ugh [Riff] there's always destination weddings! [Riff] i'd love to get into that some [SteveH] it's why we shoot....everything else , [Riff] i think you two have found your niche though [SteveH] so bigger packages get usually, more coverage then? [Riff] not really.. our coverage is the same for our other 3 packages [alan carson] On your more complete packages- are you finding brides wanting to eliminate some of the items to lower the package price? If so, how do you handle it? [Riff] occasionally they'll want to do that, and sometimes we'll allow certain things.. [SteveH] how do packages vary then? [Riff] some things we're absolute about, like engagement session [Riff] dvd slideshow, proof CD, parent albums, guestbook album, etc [SteveH] so everything starts at roughly the 1700 and they work their way up with add ons? [Riff] yeah [Riff] we rarely sell that package though [SteveH] gotya - thanks [Riff] mostly we'll sell our 3rd package. the princess [Riff] that's where i want them all to be , [NoBs Stalker] next question [lisamphoto] How'd ya get to be the web wizard you are? School or research? [Riff] research mostly. When I graduated college with my BA in computer science, there was only 1,500 websites worldwide [lisamphoto] DUDE! [Riff] so, i never had any formal training on anything internet [Riff] yeah, 1993. [lisamphoto] I was afraid of thta...but you did have a CS background..that helped. [Riff] i read a lot, and play around a lot [Riff] yeah. i love to program , [lisamphoto] what is the one bit of computer knowledge you can't live without? [Riff] i haven't done much of it at all though since i left college [lisamphoto] without [Riff] i'd say it would be website knowledge.. how to do a little html [Riff] it empowers me to be able to do whatever i want with my website [lisamphoto] Why don't you post pics if you got so much computer skilzzz?????? [lisamphoto] , [Riff] heheh [Riff] lots of photos on my website , [Riff] i know, i'm horrible about posting photos on nobs... [Riff] i'm like dan [NoBs Stalker] hey, hey leave me out of this , [Riff] heheh [lisamphoto] got it! , Riff you have been such a great help here and at all the Infernos..you and Julie are truly a couple of folks I truly admire! Thanks! [Riff] awww, thanks lisa! [Shelley] Yes, thanks for all you do behind the scenes for NoBs. You are appreciated [Riff] i said earlier, you were definitely one of the people that got me interested in photography to begin with [lisamphoto] , We are all fortunate to have this place! [Riff] yeah, it's like i'm james and rob's personal computer tech! [Riff] i honestly feel like there's no way i'll ever be able to give back to nobs what it's given to me [lisamphoto] Who would you like to study with on a one on one basis? (leave julie out , ) [Riff] ghionis! [Riff] that guy just blew me away last year at wppi [Riff] incredible speaker, incredible photographer [lisamphoto] yea...we need to invade Aussiegirl for a week. [Riff] what? hahaha [NoBs Stalker] should have inferno in australia , [lisamphoto] Soon as Obama makes that change...I might cam afford it! [Riff] i actually got to meet rebecca in chicago a couple years ago [lisamphoto] DUDE! I hate you!! [Riff] her accent is awesome , [lisamphoto] She has been here longer than ME! , [lisamphoto] Ok...back to questions!! [Shelley] I meant to ask above, who is your preferred album vendor? [Riff] there's tons of people i want to study with on nobs too... [NoBs Stalker] who's got the next question [Riff] there's a local album place here, about a mile from my house. [chasityblackwell] What is the one thing you would tell a photographer that is struggling on the business side [Riff] very very convenient! [Riff] great albums... custom, handmade [Riff] first, read the e-myth [Riff] then keep reading.. there's so many great books out there [Riff] not to mention the incredible WEALTH of information that Rob has posted here [JillD] gotta go! Thanks Riff! [Riff] thanks Jill , [Riff] Rob's platinum club would be a godsend to that person [chasityblackwell] business side and marketing it such a struggle. [Riff] yeah, no kidding.. as much as i've learned about photography in the last 4 years, i've learned three times as much about business [Riff] i love getting the nobs newsletters and the profitable studio newsletters that rob sends out.. great info in those [Riff] that guy's a madman [chasityblackwell] I seem to read and research and watch tutorials till I am sick. What would you tell the person that is suck and has the issues of applying because of lack on confidence [Riff] fake it til you make it, baby! [chasityblackwell] getting better at that. , [Riff] you've just got to suck it up and get out of the comfort zone [Riff] the butterflies before a session are a good thing i think.. i used to get them every time before i went on stage with the band [Riff] now i get the same feeling before a wedding [Riff] after i get started, i'm fine [chasityblackwell] That is true. [Riff] and at a wedding, man, if you don't appear confident, those MOB's will eat you alive! [chasityblackwell] I just can't seem to get the business and marketing thing down. [ckutzli] Do you miss playing in a band? [Riff] i don't miss 2am teardowns, but i do miss jamming with the guys , [Shelley] That was the highlihgt of the Inferno, listening to you guys play. Seriously. [chasityblackwell] Oh ya! I make sure I am in control or they will eat you alive. [improv] ooops...a little late... [Riff] yeah, that was awesome! [NoBs Stalker] as usual mike , [improv] , [Riff] you certainly called that one, dan! [NoBs Stalker] , [chasityblackwell] Ok time to go Mike showed up [improv] More trailer park boys next time [Riff] hahah [Shelley] I hope that's on the agenda for 2009 Inferno. Too fun! [Riff] me too! [Riff] plus it was cool to say, "yeah. i'm going to nashville to play a gig..." [Shelley] I had Mike sign my chest that night. [Riff] lucky dog [improv] shhhh....what are you ? Crazy??!!?? [Shelley] , [ckutzli] Me too! [Shelley] LMAO!! [Riff] usually no one pays attention to the bass player [improv] that's okay by me... [krisgay] Newbies post something every once in a while or you will get logged out! [ckutzli] Any good drummer jokes? [Phototini] i'm good [improv] you know how you know the stage is level? [krisgay] Shawn, did you answer that album question? [Riff] tons [Shelley] was clem playing that night? (jk) [craig] Hey I’m a drummer [Riff] the drummer drools out of both sides of his mouth [improv] HA!!! [craig] ouch [Riff] love that one [improv] that's it!! [krisgay] What do you call a drummer in a suit? The defendant. [Riff] Kris, i use a local album vender, Great Lakes Albums [krisgay] Website? [improv] what's the definition of an optimist? [improv] a trombonist with a pager!! [Shelley] , [Riff] [krisgay] Thank you [Riff] control-click that or you'll get booted from the chat [Riff] hehh [improv] where are the dynamic duo? [Riff] here's my favorite drummer joke... what do you get when you cross a drummer with an orangutan? [Phototini] What is your best advice for a husband wife team that is new to photography wanting to follow closely in your foot steps Riff? [Riff] a retarded orangutan [Shelley] Clem? [Riff] great question [craig] I used to like you Riff [Shelley] Hi Brian. , [Riff] i feel like julie and i are doing that very thing by following hodgy who followed rob [brian] hey guys...just got home. what r we talking about... [Riff] it's an incredibly awesome thing to have a supportive spouse [ckutzli] It just about Brian's suppertime. [Shelley] clem [brian] easy ds [Riff] craig , [brian] not much to talk about there except his 3 pound mustache [Shelley] , [Phototini] do you try and split up different area's of the business and art? And each try to master certain parts? [Riff] one thing that Julie and I struggle with is personal time vs. business time.. it seems like the business dominates too much of our lives [Phototini] noted [brian] ditto [Riff] yeah, julie is pretty much the office manager.. she does the scheduling, the phone calls [Riff] i do most of the photography, the PS work, website, etc [Riff] i don't know how I could do this without her [brian] awwwww [Riff] and I can't wait until she's full time... i just know we're going to make a lot more money [wiphoto] hi all [Phototini] Does she enjoying shooting as well? Because my wife loves to shoot just different things than I do. [Riff] she's not as into the camera as i am. i've sort of forced that on her.... [Riff] she's come a LONG way though! she does enjoy shooting at weddings now [brian] does julie 2nd shoot at weddings with you? [Riff] yeah... she does the girls getting ready and the ceremony [ckutzli] Can I second shoot a wedding with you? [Riff] no. [brian] me too. [Phototini] Ok was just wondering if the shooting was split up for different types of shoots. [Riff] hahah [improv] Do you guys ever fight while working together? [Riff] not really split up... she comes with me to the sessions and helps with posing and that [chasityblackwell] I'm Slapping Clem and Brain for ya RIFF [Riff] thanks [brian] , [Riff] we used to fight more often before, but not as much anymore [improv] I love that you cats can work together.... [Riff] like at a wedding, under pressure, i need something to happen NOW, and my tone of voice isn't always the best [Phototini] ok I guess that will be something we need to figure out on our own then lol. Thanks for the answer riff. [Riff] she would get hurt sometimes, but she knows now that I don't mean anything by it [improv] ....and no doubt this is a different side of you that she rarely sees... [Riff] julie is awesome at a regular session though.. i'll set up lights, cameras, and she's getting the family posed [improv] and you can bruise her feelings...ya heartless ogre.. [ckutzli] I see it all the time! [Riff] hahah [brian] Clem got hurt when he shot a wedding with me a few weeks ago. He cries like a girl. [improv] how's the new studio Shawn? [Riff] i think i'm getting better though... having more confidence means less stress i think [ckutzli] asked and answered [NoBs Stalker] did I call this right lmao [Riff] yeah, totally [Riff] haha [improv]