New Name & New Opportunities

Aside from my last post being made at the end of last year, you may have noticed that Photographic Memories of Tampa Bay is no more. In order to give my photography a more personal appearance, it has been changed to Michael Troy Photography. Not only is the new business name shorter, it is more personal; mainly because it is my name. I can already hear the questions:

Question: It's a good name Troy, but why not use your last name?
Answer: I never liked the way Troy Salisbury Photography sounded. Too many syllables for one, and for some reason, it just didn't fit. Some have suggested using my middle and last name. As you may have noticed, Troy IS my middle name. The easiest solution was to use my first and middle name, therefore, Michael Troy Photography was born.

Question: Is there any other reason you decided to change the name of your business?
Answer: Yes. When you get some time, Google "Photographic Memories". Make sure to use the quotes. The result is 52 pages of results or 520 web pages. They range from Photographic Memories Portrait Gallery, Leones Photographic Memories, Photographic Memories of Atlanta, etc. Since I've been in business for 3 years now, I am fortunate to be on page 2 fluctuating from the middle to the end. Now Google "Michael Troy Photography". You get nothing. That is, aside from a popular keyboard player. Once I get more established with the site, I should be at the top of the list.

Question: How do people know to search "Michael Troy Photography"?
Answer: They don't. But if they remember the name from either meeting me, seeing an ad somewhere, or a glimpse of the sign on my vehicle, they can Google it and find me right away.

Question: Aside from the name, has any other information changed?
Answer: My contact telephone number and mailing address will remain the same. My new web site address is www.michaeltroyphotography.com and email address is troy@michaeltroyphotography.com. My troy@pmtampabay.com email address is still active, but now would be a good time to adjust it in your address book (since I'm sure you have me as the only photographer listed in your address book ;-) ).

Any other questions? Since I no longer see hands raised, hopefully my rambling answers made sense.

After 3 years in business and many absolutely wonderful clients, I believe this is a step in the right direction. I may have a new business name and logo, but my love for photography has only continued to grow. I look forward to providing photographic memories to all of my past, current, and future clients. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Putting Perspective on Life

Over the past year, I was asked to photograph various charity events. As most photographers know, charity events will bring you a few additional job, but not much. The joy of helping worthwhile organization can pay you more in self satisfaction and give you a sense of fulfillment. I've always enjoyed helping others, although I never knew how much until the beginning of this year. What I didn't realize is that I received as much of the benefit as those I was helping. The first event that I was asked to assist was Autism Speaks (www.autismspeaks.com). This group organizes annual benefit walks throughout the country to bring about awareness and raise money for autism research. One statistic that continues to surprise me is that 1 in every 150 children will be diagnosed with autism. Needless to say, the walk was a complete success. With almost 50 teams and more than 200 participants, it amazed me to see how many people put their heart into this group. The new friends that I met, some of those diagnosed with autism, continues to be a positive force behind the reason I donate time to these worthwhile causes.

As a member of the Safe Kids Coalition, its members receive emails from other groups or individuals needing assistance with fundraisers, events, a bicycle helmet for their child, or a car seat check-up. In March, we received a similar type of request, but this time it was a request for help to organize a special needs prom. Most people take going to the the prom for granted. It is an opportunity not given to all people. For this reason, Sarah and Faith Christian Church decided to solve this by taking on the challenge of providing a prom for those with disabilities and special needs. I immediately offered to be the photographer and talked a DJ friend of mine into participating as well. Without getting too detailed or long winded, the positive energy in the room was indescribable. We knew we had achieved something good, but we will never truly understand the positive affect we've had on those lives we touched.

If you have an opportunity to help someone, take it. It will become an experience that you'll remember for a lifetime.

My Biggest Mistake

As anyone who has visited my blog can see, I haven't updated it in quite a while. That'll teach me to put it as part of my New Year's Resolutions. I'm not going to mention what other resolutions I didn't keep. Just to make sure I wasn't alone, I checked 10 other photographer blogs. That made me realize that I wasn't alone. Out of the blogs that I had visited, only two of them were updated on a regular basis. I suppose I'm in pretty good company. Of course that's no excuse. I will vow to do better. Wish me luck!

"The Spark"

Well, now that I have officially broken one of my New Year's resolutions to publish a blog posting at least once a week, I felt I'd better at least make an attempt to correct it. So here is my next blog entry...only 3 days late.

The one thing that I really enjoying shooting are engagement photos. The reason is that I get to work for couples that have plenty of smiles to share and love to express. Their realization of spending a lifetime with one another often starts sinking in at this moment, therefore, true emotions come shining through. It is a tremendous honor to be asked to capture those true emotions.

Out of all of the engagement photos that I have shot, there are couple that have "The Spark". These are couples that not only have a smile on their faces, but a sparkle in their eye. They exude love and devotion to their "soon to be" lifetime partner. Both of them enjoy the moment equally. Generally, I'll walk away from a couple during a shoot with the excuse, "I'll be right back. I have to change out my batteries." This is a wonderful time to sneak up on a couple who can be found gazing into each others eyes, laughing, playing, and having a genuine "personal moment". These are the couples that you'd be willing to place a bet that they'll be together forever. When times get tough, the couples with "The Spark" with go back to these very moments in time, remembering the feelings that brought them together in the first place.

When times get tough and relationships get strained, I personally believe that people should try for a "do-over" by remembering the times that are important and the moments that mean the most, and try to relive the moments that created the wonderful relationship in the first place. By the way, at 10 years of marriage in February, my wife and I have "The Spark" too.

Below is a brief slideshow of Alex and Sandy; a couple that I would definitely place my bet on.

Traditional Senior Class Portraits: A Thing of the Past

Just recently, I was hired to shoot high school senior portraits on the beach.  I learned that one of the nationwide companies has already taken some indoor senior photos; however, they were not only very "stuffy", but packages ranged from $150 to $200 for a couple of 5x7s and an 8x10.  As a photographer, I can tell you that I would never pay that amount for only a few photos.  These are two of the many reasons why people hire me to shoot on-site photos.

Let me tell you the benefits of shooting on-site as opposed to in a studio.  Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy time within a studio.  Frankly, it's easier to control lighting in a studio, you don't have to worry about outdoor elements, and there is no need to lug your equipment anywhere.  However, the benefits of on-site photography greatly outweigh the benefits of studio shots, in my own opinion.  The studio is a controlled environment.  Clients immediately look to the photographer for direction on where to stand, what to do, where to look, etc.  There's a time for that type of photography; however, it can sometime limit the range of emotions, energy, realism within a shoot.  More often than not, people feel comfortable within an area that is "normal" or "neutral".  Call it human nature.  For this reason, the range of emotions are escalated tremendously, providing for more natural photos.  Smiles are more real, especially in children.  Creating a fun and natural environment brings out the best energy and greatest rewards.

My final advise:  when you inquire about senior, family, or group portraits, check with the photographer to determine whether outdoor or on-site photographs are included with the studio shots.  And, unless you want to take out a second mortgage, pass on those high priced photos and shop around before the first shot is taken.  

Customer Service is SOOO Overrated!

I can already hear your response to the title. Fact of the matter is, I think some people in the "customer service" industry truly believe that customer service IS overrated. Let me explain what prompted me to write this blog. Before I start, the photos are from the trip itself, which was fantastic. I would highly recommend this same trip to anyone.

Just recently, my wife and I traveled to the wonderful Lake Tahoe and San Francisco area for vacation. What we found, along with a beautiful crystal clear lake, beautiful mountain ranges, and crisp air, was a combination of people who enjoyed their job, and those not vying for an "employee of the year" award. As we boarded the plane and headed west, we were faced with, what has become, standard flight delays and lost luggage. I, like many, understand that mistakes happen. It's how you handle those mistakes that can make a lasting impression, whether good or bad.

After we landed, we waited for our luggage only to find that a piece was missing (go figure, it was mine). We naturally proceeded to the 'lost and found' location only to find the door closed and locked and no customer service rep to be seen. The door lied with a sign that displayed, "Customer Se rvice Representative available 20 minutes after each flight." We look at our watch which indicated that we had been waiting for at least 40 minutes. Our next course of action, and one we didn't expect to work, was to go next door to a competing airline. The customer rep, let's call her Jane with US Airways (I have no problem naming them), immediately called the luggage gods (probably an outside tarmac manager) to see if she could locate our square container of home apparel. Nothing. Not to be defeated by her newly assigned quest, she paged our "real" assigned customer service agent. Nothing. She didn't stop there. As she turned to walk away, she said, "I'll be right back. I'm going to check the plane." Wow! This was good, no...GREAT customer service. Unfortunately, Jane's search was to no avail, but her effort has left a lasting impression.

Now that you've heard the story of great customer service, let me tell you about the contrasting bad customer service. Finally, and an hour late, our assigned person, let's call her Bertha with Smelta Airlines, arrived. No eye contact was made. She immediately took the position behind her assigned desk area. Finally, she spoke, "ticket number?" I handed her our claim ticket which she snatched with authority from my hand. "Ok, I've put a trace on your luggage. You'll be contacted," she said, again with no smile or emotion. "Next!", she said, ending our one sided conversation. I began to ask additional questions, "this will be delivered when?". Annoyed, she said, "I don't know. When they find it." She immediately reach past me to grab the next ticket. Which airline do you think we'll use next time we travel?

As a small business owner, I understand the importance of "treat others as you would want to be treated." If my business was operated in the same manor as was represented by Bertha, I'd be out of business faster than I could say, "Say Cheese!" Aside from the business aspect, people should treat people with respect and unintentional errors need to be corrected while treating the unfortunate party with a sense of "understanding".

Perhaps I'm just venting; however, I will promise you one thing: if you and I should cross paths in life, you can be confident that I will treat you as I treat my friends and family. Life is way too short live life any other way. Our goal should be to make more friends than enemies, and smile while doing it. That is the way I treat my clients and operate my business. With that I say, "Bertha, my friend, smile!"

Let me close by saying that not all employees at Smelta provided the same service as Bertha. Unfortunately, Bertha's was the person who made the lasting impression.

Creating Interesting Photographs

Just recently, I taught a photography class to a group of kids from the ages of 10 to 12 years old for the Suncoast Safe Kids Coalition, of which I am a member. The assignment was to teach them how to be photojournalists and capture pedestrian dangers, those they experience everyday walking to school, in an interesting way. Now, I don't know about you, but making sidewalk cracks, potholes, low lying tree branches, and other similar hazards interesting, is not my idea of a fascinating day of photo taking. However, because this was a national campaign through the Safe Kids Coalition, we had to make them interesting.

No doubt you've experienced this same situation during family events, vacations, or taking business photos. In this blog, are a few general photography tips that I taught to the kids to help them photograph subjects that are sometimes less than exciting.

• Everyone loves the view of an American flag; however, no one enjoys having the pole that holds it up, sticking out of your head. Make sure you are aware of EVERYTHING that is in the picture and its relation to your subject.
• Don't be afraid to angle your photo to make it more interesting. A straight photo with the subject in the middle all of the time can make your photos boring.
• Get down low and get up high. Try laying on the ground to show a different perspective. Conversely, take photos from the top of a ladder.
• Most importantly, tell or create an interesting story that people want to view.
  

One thing to remember..."there are no bad photos; there are only more interesting photos."