Over 10 years ago, while still a part of SMP, 5th Avenue Digital started by doing corporate photography, and we continued to focus on this segment after the split.  However, we soon realized we’d need to expand beyond this rather narrow market.  The companies officially separated shortly before the start of the economic meltdown.  Subsequently, the corporate work (particularly with our larger clients, Lehman Brothers and AIG) dwindled drastically.  We knew then that we’d need to regroup, find ways to reach new market segments and develop new offerings, if we were going to survive.

While the market has yet to truly rebound, we’ve been able to stay in business because we looked beyond our initial scope.  We now provide top-notch photographers for weddings, mitzvahs and other social events, offering a flexible range of talent, rates and services.  By offering these services at hourly rates, we differentiate ourselves from our competitors, and we’re meeting the demands of today’s consumers, who want tailored services to match their specific needs.  check out our  website for our social photography business.

We’ve also developed new products for our corporate and social clients, most notably YouBooth, our streamlined, modern version of the photo booth.  Most of our clients (especially event planners) prefer to keep things simple, working with as few vendors as possible.  By providing another service they may previously have sourced elsewhere, we’re able to be more of a one-stop-shop for all our clients’ photographic needs.

As any shrewd business person knows, thriving in this sluggish economy takes more than talent and drive.  Being a successful business owner also requires the ability to analyze and respond to the ever-changing dynamics of today’s marketplace.  And we don’t do it alone.  With help from my industry colleagues, family and friends, we plan to push forward and make the next two years even better than the first two.

Thank you, Howard Givner for the ispiration for this post on your thought provoking blog,  and thank you to all the industry professionals that have supported our growth and trusted us with your clients!  Lastly to my incredible team in the office and the photographers that work with us:  Thank you for working as hard as you do to see this business thrive!

What steps have you taken to survive in today’s economy?  I’d love to hear your stories so we can all share in each other’s successes, and we can all help each other thrive.

Some people may interpret – wrongly – that a reasonable rate, or a rate they perceive as low, as a reflection of the quality of our photographers talent, or of our service.  Concerned that this may be Zak’s impression, I took the opportunity to explain how we’re able to keep our rates so reasonable.  His interest in my response prompts me to share this with our blog readers.

As I explained to Zak, the photographers who work with us are true artists.  They care about the craft of photography and work hard to perfect their skills and knowledge.  They love shooting, and that’s pretty much all they want to do.  As such, they are not always good business people.

In concentrating on their art, these photographers usually haven’t developed the business acumen required to market themselves and their work in today’s competitive environment.  Nor do they enjoy doing the follow-up that’s necessary after each shoot: processing the images, editing them to properly tell the story, adjusting the light levels and cropping where needed.  They just want to shoot!

That’s why these fine photographers choose to work with us, and why we are an excellent fit for them.  They’re able to shoot a job and give their full concentration to doing their best work in the moment.  They love what they do, and this shows in their photos.   After the event or headshot session, their images are turned over to us for processing, and they’re free to move on to the next job.

In exchange for this artistic freedom, our photographers give us their exceptional skills at a much lower rate than they would charge in the marketplace.  And we’re able to pass along these savings to our clients.

Our business model is one that truly benefits our photographers and our clients.  Our photographers get steady work that allows them to practice their craft and make a good living.  Our clients get the advantage of talented, experienced photographers at very reasonable rates, backed by our attentive client service before and after every job.  And we get the pleasure of bringing it all together and making it happen.

Now you’re feeling less like the expert you are and more like the imposter at the party.  And you’re kicking yourself for thinking your old headshot was okay and the fact that it was years outdated didn’t matter.  Clearly, it matters.

Part Two of the scenario: You’re being introduced by the conference moderator, and the headshot you provided, the one that was printed in the program, is flashing on the screen behind you.  You get on stage, and you can see a number of quizzical looks in the audience, going from the projected headshot to you.  Damn!   Now moving to the top of your new to-do list: contact a professional photographer about getting a new headshot.

In today’s media-savvy world, an outdated headshot can be a true liability to your career and your image.   If your face is in front of people in any way – on a website, blog, newsletter or program – a photo that’s years out of date puts you in a no-win situation.  Either you look like you’re denying your age and uncomfortable with growing older or you look passé and decidedly out of step, with that dated hairstyle and unfashionable suit.

A headshot that doesn’t reflect how you look today sends all the wrong messages.  It can suggest you’re not keeping up with what’s current; that you’re out of touch with how business is done these days; that you don’t care about your appearance or image; or that you’re not happy with how you look now.  A current, professionally-taken headshot automatically conveys confidence, competence and business savvy.

Don’t think you can get away with a friend taking a photo of you against a plain wall.  That won’t cut it in today’s competitive market.  Find a photographer you like and trust, who will come to know what works best for you and who you can return to for updates.  Ideally, you should get a new, professional headshot every year – every two years, at most.  You’ll be surprised how far it takes you.

And for tips on how to look your best for your headshot, check out our recent blog post:

While the economy seems to be (slowly) improving, most companies aren’t ready to return to the blow-out celebrations of the past. (It’s possible we’ll never return to those days, but that’s another subject.)  Shrinking event allocations can burden a planner’s list of challenges: how do you bring in fun, novel party entertainment that won’t gobble up the budget?

New ways to use photography offer the perfect solutions to party ennui.  Following are a few ideas to ignite your creative fire and bring much-needed pizzazz to 2010 holiday parties.  These ideas will deliver that “WOW” factor everyone wants for their events.

“Honey, I wanna be in pictures”

You’ll be amazed how even the most camera-shy person warms up to taking his own picture with YouBooth, our modern take on the old-fashioned photo booth.  YouBooth takes the photo booth to new heights, with a streamlined, polished wood casing and simple foot-pedal operation.  Just step on the pedal and *snap* — in seconds, your photo pops out on the side.

Photos can be formatted with a logo or message.  They can print in black and white or in color, with one photo per print, or two, or four per print, a la Andy Warhol.  See samples and more info here:

Add props – bows, Santa beards, elf hats, and mistletoe for the holidays – and the fun really begins.  The YouBooth photo booth from 5th Avenue Digital is an easy, economical, interactive form of entertainment for everyone.  And at the same time, all your party guests will go home with at least one photo as your gift and their memento.

“I wish I were in Paris”

Or at the Taj Mahal, or on a tropical island, or…. And that’s the beauty of green screen photography.  It puts you anywhere!   We can create a green screen background, or a choice of several backgrounds, using whatever image works with your overall theme or message.  You can put your party guests in a picture of a snowy winter scene, or standing next to your corporate mascot.

What makes green screen photography so effective, aside from the fun everyone has with it, is the way the images can be tailored to your event.  We can help you fashion a specific message or image that directly relates to your company or your client.  Click here to see more examples of how much fun your event guests will have with green screen photography.

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“Give it to me NOW!”

Many holiday celebrations are dressy occasions, allowing guests to put on their finest, most glittery outfits and take them away from the ordinary.  This is the perfect time to commemorate the special occasion with a take-away portrait for each guest.  5th Avenue Digital’s onsite printing team makes giving your guests a take-away photo easy and affordable.

Whether you format the portraits formally, with a designated portrait station, or more informally, snapping each person as they arrive, your guests will love going home with a tangible keepsake of your event.   We can add a logo, decorative border or message to the photos as they print, to further customize your photo gift.   And our producer will work with you prior to your event, discussing the options and making sure the photo format addresses your goals and desires.

Something for Everyone

No matter what your event or who your guests are, printed photos are always a welcome party gift.  5th Avenue Digital offers a number of options and price points, and best of all, we take care of all the details before and after we shoot.  So there’s no need to worry about finding something memorable, fun and different from what you’ve done for past holiday events.  One call and you’re done!  It’s never too early to start planning.

First, people have to know the photo booth is there.  At an intimate event, the booth’s presence is obvious; curiosity is aroused and it doesn’t take long for people to start having fun with it.  However, at a large party or a corporate event – or, as we experienced recently at a trade show – the booth’s presence isn’t as obvious.  With so much happening in a large event space, some people probably won’t even notice the photo booth.  This is easily resolved with onsite promotion and signage, which leads to the first tip.

Tip # 1: Use promotion and signage to let people know the photo booth is there.

If you’re hosting a large event, include mention of the booth – and that people will be able to take photos home with them – in the invitation verbiage, and in all pre-event promotion.  At business and not-for-profit events especially, people like to know they’re getting something just for showing up.  If they know the photo booth is there, they’ll probably seek it out.

At the event, you can direct people to the photo booth with signage at the entrance and throughout the space.  You also could tack photos onto a corkboard and place it on an easel somewhere in the venue, so people can see photo samples.  The key is to use visuals to generate buzz, curiosity and participation.  Showing the images on large screens is the most impactful way to do this, which leads to the next tip.

Tip #2: Show the images on large screens so everyone can share the fun.

With our YouBooth photo booth, it’s easy to have the photos shown on plasmas, a large plain wall or large screens throughout the room.  If you’re already using screens at the event for other purposes, there’s little additional cost.  People love seeing the images flash around them.  It’s always a conversation-starter, and it makes the photos become part of the event entertainment.  Once people see the images projected, it usually starts a stampede for the photo booths – everyone wants to join in.

This video shows how the projection looks in a large venue: event video

Of course, with many events, budget or space restrictions preclude showing the images on large screens.  But remember the power of the spoken word!  This brings us to the next tip.

Tip #3: Make announcements about the photo booth location.

When the party includes a host or DJ, have him encourage everyone to use the booth.  If there’s a public address system, use it to make announcements about where the photo booth is located, and that free photos are available for everyone.  The word “free” usually generates immediate interest!   With catered affairs, or those with entertainment or hired hosts, you can ask the staff to spread the word about the booth.  If you can spare a few of the staff early-on, ask them to have their photos taken, and post them.  This leads to …

Tip #4: Get the ball rolling by taking photos of yourself or your support staff.

Once people watch other people use the booth, they usually want to give it a go themselves.  Often, that’s all you need to break the ice.  The hostess can ask early arrivers to pose with her, and she can then ask those people to ask a few other people to pose with them…and so on.  Do the same with the event staff at a corporate affair.  When people are seen posing and having fun with the photo booth, and they start showing their photos around, others want to jump in.  Most people will want more than one photo, but to keep people coming back for more, you need to make it interesting, which takes us to the final tip.

Tip #5: Use props to maximize the hilarity – and get better photos.

With our YouBooth photo booth, we offer a selection of props that people can use to help bring more silly fun to their photos.  Boas, hats, picture frames, fake mustaches and goofy glasses are all fun props that bring out everyone’s sense of play.  When people are having fun, you get better pictures.

You can customize the props for holidays, or tie them in with the theme of the event – small bouquets for weddings, fake lobsters and bibs for a seafood cook-out, Santa hats and mistletoe for a Christmas party. There are dozens of ways to personalize the props and make the photos more relevant to your event.

We are always happy to work with you in finding creative ways to maximize the effectiveness of our YouBooth photo booth.  Using even one of these tips will help ensure that you maximize the effectiveness of the photo booth – and that your event guests maximize their fun.

When asked about holiday parties, one planner confirmed that her firm (a large technological services company) would be holding holiday parties in their various offices around the country, and that budgets for them had grown from last year.  Planners in the financial sector echoed this optimistic view.  And while other industry sectors took a more cautious view, the overall mood indicated promise for a more robust economic future.

This upbeat mood is certainly reflected in the photos we captured with our YouBoothphoto booth.  COPE graciously allowed us to showcase the YouBooth photo booth at the event, held in the stunning, panoramic Bridgewaters space with superb food by the Glazier Group chefs.  As usual, people had a blast mugging in front of the YouBooth camera and taking fun pictures with their friends.  Just take a look at the smiling faces below – you’ll start to feel optimistic about the future, too!

But don’t fall into the trap of allowing a less-than-fabulous headshot to linger on your LinkedIn profile!  If your headshot isn’t current, doesn’t look professional nor show you at your best, it’s time to change it.

Don’t make the mistake of settling for an up-against-a-white-wall shot that your friend took yesterday.  It may be current, but won’t look professional. Remember, this is a photo that potentially everyone who comes in contact with you will see.  That’s right…all those eyeballs are on YOU.  A professional, flattering, effective headshot is well worth the small investment.

How do ensure you get an effective, professional headshot?

1.    Find a professional photographer who knows how to properly light your face to look its best.  Lighting is crucial and getting it right requires an expert.

2.    Make sure the photographer has a simple, flattering background.  Sometimes you’ll be locked into using a standard background that’s on your company’s website, but usually these are universally flattering.  As long as it’s simple and not distracting, a professional photographer can ensure the background color won’t make you look washed-out.

3.    If possible, schedule your headshot session for a time when you can arrive a little early, and not feel rushed about leaving.  Being relaxed adds an air of composure to your portrait.

4.    Before the session, drink plenty of water and get a good night’s sleep.  You’d be amazed what a difference this makes: dehydration and fatigue really come across on camera.

5.    Dress in the fashion you feel best represents you and your business. Your photographer should be OK with you bringing some clothing options.  Jewelry (if any) should be limited to non-distracting pieces.  Medium to dark solid colors are best.  Small patterns are OK, but avoid checks and flesh tones.

6.    Your photographer should have a professional, theatrical-quality make-up mirror in his studio.  Use it!   Make sure your tie is straight, your scarf adjusted just so, that cowlick smoothed down.  Take a moment to be sure that you look the way you want to be seen.  The added confidence of that one moment will read in your photos.

Following these basic steps will give you the platform required for today’s competitive marketplace.  It all starts with YOU at your best, and the synergy you’ll find with the right photographer.

To see more examples of executive headshots click here

The second surprise and real delight was seeing our YouBooth in action.  We tested our new photo booth extensively during its development, so I’ve seen what it can do.  We’ve already contracted YouBooth for a number of events, and I’ve seen the photos and videos from those events.  But that’s nothing like witnessing for myself how people interact with YouBooth!  Seeing YouBooth at an actual event really opened my eyes to its entertainment value.

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We’ve incorporated a prop kit into our YouBooth bookings, and it makes all the difference because it allows people to do more then just stand there.  The props bring out a sense of play and silliness that makes for more fun, engaging shots.  At this event we had empty frames in various sizes, and paper lips and mustaches on sticks for people to play with.  And did they ever!

I didn’t realize, until I saw it myself, how positively people react to the modern photo booth.  It truly is a fun form of interactive entertainment for almost any type of event.  Plus, event guests leave with at least one photo of themselves (though they usually get several photos, including shots with friends), so YouBooth serves as a vehicle for party gifts.  On top of that, the customized photo template allows for branding for corporate events, or commemoration for weddings, Mitzvahs or other social occasions.  Extending the fun even further, the party host receives a downloadable link after the event, so all the photos can be shared online.

We’ve been told YouBooth was the hit of La Venue’s event.  After watching people line up for their chance to shoot – the line for the booth was longer than for the bar! – and seeing the resulting photos, I can sincerely say everyone had a blast.  Their laughter and enjoyment were abundantly real – and infectious.  It shows in the pictures: see for yourself with the entire link!

Organized by CCK Global Events, in partnership with the American Pet Products Association, the NYC Pet Show was created to address the needs and interests of city-dwelling pet owners.  With appearances by the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, and other pet-centric celebrities, plus presentations from industry experts on topics such as where to travel with your pet this summer, the show featured products and services to help enhance owner/pet relationships.

Because this was the first year for the NYC Pet Show, CCK Global Events, a full-service event sales, production and marketing company, decided it was important to document the presentations, exhibitors and attendees with event photography.  5th Avenue Digital photographers were on hand both days to capture all the unpredictable antics that animals create – especially pets with their fanatical owners.

For CCK Global, the images clearly demonstrate the popularity of this inaugural consumer event, showing the crowds generated each day, the positive responses to the presentations and celebrity appearances, and the interactions between the exhibitors and the pet owners – and the pets themselves!   When CCK Global markets next year’s event, they’ll have a full complement of over 2000 images to use as promotional tools.  Words tell one part of the story, but photos complete the narrative.

Take a look at the photo highlights and see for yourself!

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When they heard about YouBooth, they knew it was perfect for the gala.  The event was held at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, on the third and fourth floors with to-die-for views of the city skyline.  They wanted a YouBooth unit on each floor, to give everyone an opportunity to get in on the photo fun.

5th Avenue Digital worked hand-in-hand with the event team to create a seamless production of picture-taking, photo printing and image projection.  The ball started with cocktails, where guests had the first opportunity to take their own portraits with YouBooth.  Their portraits were printed almost instantly, ejecting from the side of the booth, and branded with the hospital’s logo.

The elegant sit-down dinner was served on another floor, where a second YouBooth was positioned.  After the speakers, award presentations and dinner, the dancing resumed and so did the photos.  These photos were almost instantly projected onto large screens strategically located throughout the space.  Within moments after guests took their own photos, using YouBooth’s floor pedal, the shots were shown larger-than-life on the screens.  To augment the evening’s message, the projected images also were branded with the hospital’s logo.

By now everyone was in on the fun, enjoying seeing friends’ faces smiling down from the screens, and snapping their own portraits that they could take home with them.  5th Avenue Digital’s YouBooth turned out to be the perfect answer to our client’s needs, yielding them a satisfied client, whose message was carried home in the hands of all their happy guests.