International Business Image Improvement Month – Update

By Terry Orr

Remember the expression – “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” – well it is true, as most of us know – often first hand.  We can however work to continue to make a good impression during our daily lives – and in business. Your image is more than just your visual brand, it’s your customer service, it’s your marketing and sales, it’s how you communicate with customers and how they view you, and it’s the way you do business.

So how can you improve your impression on others?

• Find out from others what they think?
• What can you do to improve your image to others?
• What is it others do – that impress you?
• What is it others do – that insult your sense of fairness and good business practices? Are you or your people doing it as well?
• Take a few moments at the end of each day and ask yourself – if I had to do over something today, what would I do differently? Then apply that lesson learned.
• Consult a professional organizer or image consultant to help you improve your office and appearance.
• Consult a web or graphic designer to design your website, blog, business cards, and brochures

Be consistent – the look and feel across all your marketing channels and your customer will feel at ease wherever they come in contact with you.

(All images from Google)

Photographer Appreciation Month

(Google Image)

By Terry Orr

As far back as I can remember – I have been attracted to photographs, images, paintings and other forms of catching a moment in time. Little did I know back in grade school that this interest would be common link for both my professional and personal life!  One of my favorite pastimes today is surfing the Internet – looking at specific and general Blog and Web Sites that contain these priceless pieces of art.

(Google Image)

 In 1960, my Dad married June (our second step-mother) who was an artist in her own right and her father – Vernon was a practicing minister, farmer, journeyman carpenter, engaging story-teller, a World War 1 photographer veteran and all around wonderful person to know and be around.  It wasn't until after I had joined the Navy that I learned about his efforts during his war – taking photos by leaning out of plans and hot air balloons. A few years later – I learned that he had kept current on photos/images being taken by man and unmanned vehicles and various space platforms.  Sadly, he passed before I was able to bring him to Washington, DC for special meeting on where we were and going in the imagery business.

The details of this black and white photograph are simply amazing.

Capturing the very instant – as if the frozen in time.

The Beautiful Colors of Nature

Cat is very much at ease.

Children at play - Lovely  

What a magnificent setting

Digital Photography School posted “Maternity Photography – 7 Tips for Taking Great Shots” by Natalie Norton – this is one of those photographs.

Jim Harmer of Improve Photography wrote – “The 5 Elements of Captivating Photography”- what an interesting and beautiful black and white image.

Morris Pawtucket from Picture Correct top 10 most famous photographers of all time are:

1. Ansel Adams
2. Yonsuf Karsh
3. Robert Capa
4. Henri Cartier-Bresson
5. Dorothea Lange
6. Jerry Uelsman
7. Annie Liebovitz
8. Brassai
9. Brian Duffy
10. Jay Maisel

 The last night while watching the second game of the World Series, a new super-fast camera was discussed that took around 5,000 frames per second – most cameras speeds today are around 30 frames per second.

Local Friends in the Photography:

April Rose

• http://www.facebook.com/pages/April-Rose-Photography/123755634383476
• http://aprilrosephotos.com/

Online Friends with great photographs:

• http://aboutcreate.blogspot.com/
• http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/

References and Links:

• http://www.harrysproshop.com/Links/Great_Photographers/great_photographers.html
• http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/top-10-most-famous-photographers-of-all-time/
• http://life.time.com/history/the-best-of-life-37-years-in-pictures/#1
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2222249/National-Geographics-famous-photographs-expected-fetch-3MILLION-Christies-auction-collection.html
• http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/07/17/famous-photographers-the-55-best-photographers-of-all-time/
• http://listverse.com/2007/08/15/15-incredible-historical-photographs/
• http://m.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/09/how-google-builds-its-maps-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-everything/261913/
• http://digital-photography-school.com/tummy-time-7-tips-for-taking-great-maternity-shots
• http://improvephotography.com/762/the-5-elements-of-captivating-photography/
• http://photocreative365.com/100-awesome-photography-blogs

 Next time you see something that catches your eye, grab your camera and snap that image.  Enjoy

Build a Better Image Week

(Google Image) 

By Terry Orr

What kind of first impression do you, your company and or blog site make?  September 16-22, 2012 is Build a Better Image Week.  Give yourself a few minutes to think about this, what you can do to build that new image?

My wife and others believe that I am cursed – I am always looking for ways to improve things – never completely satisfied – will review an article, project, event, or whatever and say to myself (and others at times) – if I had to do that again, how would I improve it.  I believe the same is true in life in general.  Life is about change – incorporating change into our life – we are all agents of change in one form or another.  Much the same as we are in charge of enhancing our image – personal or otherwise.

Wanting to gather as much background information as possible before writing this article, I conducted a Google search on this topic and surprise on the lack of responses on this topic. I did find these topics to be plentiful:

• Build a better block;
• Build a better mousetrap;
• Build a better photograph;
• Build a better burb;
• Build a better website;
• Build a better business;
• How to build a better burger;
• Build a better blog; and
• Build a better you.

Politicians & Diapers should be changed often and for the same reason.  ~ Mark Twain

Life is like that as well – change in good.  We need to take stock of ourselves, environment, business, etc. from time to time – to assess what we can do to improve that image - from many different perspectives.

Then let us know what you did and how it worked out - thanks.