Another Arizona POTN get together (4)?

To be fair, I should have called out the "glad handing" separately from the concept of the group (it's called BNI)

The concept is ok, it's just the "approach" some of the members seem to take with newbies that was a little creepy.

BTW, Brian, we've never actually met...

I talked to Hatch a while ago and he tells me he beat the hoard of 240 school kids to the Butterflies by mere minutes!

That type of networking is very profitable. Not being fully integrated across all platforms, business referrals are fantastic. I look to my experience with my home purchase last year. My realtor tried to set me up with a mortgage broker, home inspector, closing company, etc. Some get kickbacks, and some get referrals down the line. It's profitable. It's what Sundevilstormin is doing with his vendor relationships. He can get business referrals from venues, florists, DJ's, wedding planners, etc.

BrianAZ wrote in post #12117828
I've thought long and hard about the way clients look at male photogs. As a father, I would be much more comfortable with a woman taking my newborn's pics than a guy. Even if the guy was a father, and the woman was childless. It just seems more natural. I could only imagine how women, who are almost the exclusive buyers of photography, must feel.

On a purely emotional instinct, photography, feels like one of those creative, nurturing, things that makes me think women have the upper hand outside of a more traditional studio setting.

That's why my wife is the Primary in the wedding business. She can relate to the bride, help out and give suggestions 'woman to woman'... she jokes openly with couples that the groom is just a prop for "HER" day... she can quickly use her Dale Carnegie Jedi Mind tricks (NLP) to establish trust and make the emotional connection.. and if you can win the bride and her mom, THEY make the purchase decisions, Dad is there just to open his wallet.

And as she tells us all the time: show up, shut up and shoot.. and carry my bags

She came home from her last AZ-PPA shoot several years ago, a member opened his studio for a newborn shoot. She was so turned off, almost offended, at several of the male photogs... 'fat sweating pervs who looked like they were only there to shoot a naked baby' that she never attended another AZ-PPA event or meeting.

BrianAZ wrote in post #12118092
That type of networking is very profitable. Not being fully integrated across all platforms, business referrals are fantastic. I look to my experience with my home purchase last year. My realtor tried to set me up with a mortgage broker, home inspector, closing company, etc. Some get kickbacks, and some get referrals down the line. It's profitable. It's what Sundevilstormin is doing with his vendor relationships. He can get business referrals from venues, florists, DJ's, wedding planners, etc.

It's the $465 up front that is giving me crocodile arms...

Holy jeebus!

I'd rather spend $50 and buy that book from the guy who tells me how to get free money from the government!

BrianAZ wrote in post #12118194
Holy jeebus!

I'd rather spend $50 and buy that book from the guy who tells me how to get free money from the government!

Only if it comes with that really cool "Riddler Suit!"

Yeah, the cost involved is probably going to make this a non-starter. There are members who could probably benefit from professional photography services (property manager, interior design firm, pool rebuilder, real estate agent) but I think it would be a tough sell.

I like my "Proparazzi" delusions much better.

sundevilstormin wrote in post #12118099
That's why my wife is the Primary in the wedding business. She can relate to the bride, help out and give suggestions 'woman to woman'... she jokes openly with couples that the groom is just a prop for "HER" day... she can quickly use her Dale Carnegie Jedi Mind tricks (NLP) to establish trust and make the emotional connection.. and if you can win the bride and her mom, THEY make the purchase decisions, Dad is there just to open his wallet.

And as she tells us all the time: show up, shut up and shoot.. and carry my bags

She came home from her last AZ-PPA shoot several years ago, a member opened his studio for a newborn shoot. She was so turned off, almost offended, at several of the male photogs... 'fat sweating pervs who looked like they were only there to shoot a naked baby' that she never attended another AZ-PPA event or meeting.

"perv" vibes at a newborn shoot? Yuck. My fear was mostly that they might think I wouldn't pose them like a woman would, or that I couldn't handle the baby.

I think the man/woman thing is a fit for purpose. Women have a leg up in portraits. Men might be more favored in car/truck/motorcycle/a​ircraft. Other avenues might be a tossup, like architecture.

Few shots from the DBG.

01

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hatch1921/55719​15007/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hatch1921/55725​05122/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hatch1921/55725​04946/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hatch1921/55725​04740/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hatch1921/55719​14469/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hatch1921/55725​04546/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hatch1921/55725​04500/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hatch1921/55725​04438/

Hatch1921 wrote in post #12118956
Few shots from the DBG.Hatch

01 - nice - the ONLY poppy in bloom in the entire state
02 - posing for a peanut or other treat?!
05 - AWESOME - IMO, the BEST of the series - well done!
08 - use any butter on that artichoke?

Nicely done overall

Many thanks Doug. It was a fun morning out.

Rest of the images here. http://****/eyvxgP

Hatch

Nicely Done Frank. See, I'd have only held you back...

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #12119698
Nicely Done Frank. See, I'd have only held you back...

No way... would have helped for sure... you see things differently.

Glad you like the images.
Hatch

Awesome butterflies! I like #4 ... a new perspective.

grassabber wrote in post #12119855
Awesome butterflies! I like #4 ... a new perspective.

Thank you very much Grassabber
Hatch

Saw a 60mm macro for $280 new... i should of bought it. I keep seeing them sell for $300+... :/