Shoot Sac

I want to talk a bit about the Shoot Sac. Jessica Claire invented and developed a great lens bag called the Shoot Sac. Many photographers know about this bag, but I’ve been using it since late last year, even though I bought it last summer, and it’s my favorite bag. I use the Shoot Sac over the Boda Bag now.

 

The Shoot Sac is made of neoprene, like the stuff they make wet suits out of for surfing. Mainly, I love that smell, so that’s part of my attraction. But, also, neoprene is the perfect material for a lens bag. It’s such a simple and elegant solution. It has 3 pockets on each side. It fits snug and flat against the body and has a flap that can cover either side.

 

I generally shoot with two camera bodies, and therefore have 2 lenses on the bodies, usually an 85mm and a 35mm. Then, I’ll have my 45mm TSE and maybe a 50mm. I can also slip two flash units in there. And have a pocket left for my phone, keys, and a few odds and ends.

 

I generally use it for portrait sessions, engagement sessions and for parts of a wedding (getting ready, and the bride and groom portraits). I like to be quick, flexible, and light. I move around a lot, so it’s nice to have that freedom. It’s probably the best bag I have ever used.

 

I highly recommend this bag. It is totally worth every penny and then some.

Jerry Frazier
Los Angeles Wedding Photographer
http://www.jerryfrazierphotography.com

It’s So Easy to Stand Out, Part II

The other day, I had to fill my car with gas. I swiped my card, and it told me that there was a problem and to go see the cashier. I go in, and handed him my card and said I’d like to fill it up. He looked at me strange, and then I explained that the machine told me to come to the cashier. He acknowledges this, takes my card, hands it back and says, “Go try it now. It should work.” Befuddled and amazed I stood there for probably longer than I should have, and then said, “Are you serious?” Of course, now, I’m the jerk customer. He replied, ‘Yeah, it should work now. You’re all set”. He was right, but that’s not the point.

Today, my wife and I were trying to plan a trip to New Orleans. We were trying to use our milage points. We were having trouble, so my wife calls Delta. They look in the computer and say, “Oh, I see the problem. OK, I fixed it. It should work now”. It did work, but that’s not the point.

I am using these real life examples to show you how bad customer service often is. But, the good news is, as a small business, you can totally smoke these larger firms by not doing this. When your clients call you with a problem, you don’t fix it on your side and then send them off to complete the transaction. Fix the whole thing so it’s effortless to your clients. The fact that they had to call you is telling you that you had a glitch in the system or process. Make it right by fixing the problem, completing the transaction for them, ask them if there is anything else you can do, and view it as an opportunity to make deeper connections with your clients.

And, don’t forget to look into why this might have happened, and ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Jerry Frazier
Los Angeles Wedding Photographer
http://www.jerryfrazierphotography.com

Lessons Learned from an Outstanding Company

If all companies put the time and energy into their packaging, like Apple does, the world would be better, more simple, and less wasteful. Think about how this might affect your business and what you can do to help the environment, your clients, and your business image.

Jerry Frazier
Los Angeles Wedding Photographer
http://www.jerryfrazierphotography.com

Reduce Your Stress by Driving Safely

There are many things that can happen before, during, and after a wedding. While it is not necessary to live your life in fear, it probably is prudent to take precautions when necessary. I’ve heard of photographers losing cards between walking from the reception to the car. I’ve heard of photographers packing up their bags getting ready to leave the reception, go say their good-bye’s to the bride and groom, only to find their bags gone, along with the wedding images that were in the bag.

 

There are many things that can happen. But, one thing you can do your best to ensure your safety is to drive carefully, slowly, and defensively. I have been known from time to time to drive a little on the…ahem…aggressive side. However, on a wedding day, I give myself plenty of time to drive.

 

If a wedding is nearby, like within surface street distance, I’ll leave myself an additional 30 minutes. So, if it’s 15 minutes away (I use Google maps to estimate my drive time), I’ll leave 45 minutes early. If it’s a location that is a freeway drive, I’ll give it an hour. So, if it’s a 60 minute drive, I’ll leave 2 hours early. I do this because I can drive carefully and take my time. I just put on good tunes, and forget about the traffic. I try to just think about the awesome wedding I’m about to shoot. If I get there early, sometimes, I just sit in my car and wait; other times, I call the bride and just say I’m a little early and ask if it’s OK if I can go in. But, the point is you don’t want to be rushed and speed and potentially get in an accident due to your being in a hurry. Also, an accident will delay you getting to your wedding, and this could really be a bad situation. You want to play safe, and just not have that be an issue. I don’t mind being early, but I get really stressed out if I am late. It’s only happened once, and I don’t think it will ever happen again.

 

To me, driving to and from a wedding is something that you do mostly have in your control, and it’s a serious stressor that you can eliminate from your day. The minimization of stressors makes you happy and feeling good about what you are doing. Not to mention, that it’s just a safer way to drive anyway.

Jerry Frazier
Los Angeles Wedding Photographer
http://www.jerryfrazierphotography.com