Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Using Visual Media to Fight Back
United Airlines is a great example of a company mistreating a customer to avoid dealing with a problem. When they refused to compensate a passenger whose guitar was broken by baggage handlers the passenger created a video about the incident and posted it on youtube. The story went viral putting a negative view of UA in front of tens of millions of people.
Find out more here...
This persons use of social media has become a worldwide sensation and has led to the US government creating legislation to protect airline rights.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Monday, 7 December 2009
Has Marketing Changed in 50 Years
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Friday, 4 December 2009
Brett Gilmour on Chase Jarvis Blog
The debate goes to the heart of an age old question, what is real? Whose version of history is correct? Do I see the same blue as you see, my colour blind friend always reminds me that he can't tell which 'blue' thing is the nice one. Whose God or Dog is the best? Is Dog real?
Too often we get caught up in the questions and debate instead of getting to the action of creating. Getting things done is the important part of life. Not many of us are remembered for our philosophical slant on a particular hobby rather we are remembered for what we contributed to this world. So go out and test, experiment, push boundaries and create things.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Brett Gilmour Backdrop: How-to Create Time Lapse Interior Photography, DIY
Learn how to DIY with this Backdrop article. Backdrop is our new series of DIY photography articles where we give you a behind the scenes look at how we create photographs.
Our client, Waterfront, wants to show off the pocket doors leading to a bedroom show suite. The 420 sq. ft. condo doesn't have many options for camera placement or lighting so I suggested we create a video to demonstrate the clever dual pocket doors. You can see some of the photographs on their web site.
Step 1 . Establish the camera position
Choose a camera angle the best shows your subject and allows you to come and go without moving the camera.
Step 2. Set up the lighting.
We put Profoto Acute 2 head with a zoom reflector directly above the bed and bounced it off the ceiling using a Manfrotto convertible boom . Another Acute 2 in a 3'x4' softbox lit the kitchen , a 2nd Acute 2 with 3'x4' softbox lit the living room and patio, 1 Lowel DP 1000W tungsten light with colour correcting gel was aimed at the print in the hallway, 1 Lowel 500W tungsten light mounted at floor level lit the edge of the bed and the night stand.
Step 3. Shoot
The camera must be on a solid tripod for this to work. We used a remote control to make sure no vibrations or camera movement was introduced into the images during the shooting. We made exposures with the pocket doors in every combination of closed, open, and partially open. All images were made at the same exposure.
Step 4. Post-Production
Choose your favourite combination of images. Convert them from RAW to your favourtie archive file such as .tiff, .psd, .dng and create your Finals. Next create 72ppi jpeg images sized down to about 400ppi (pixels per inch).
Step 5.Turning Stills Into Motion
Combe a series of still images into a movie. I use Apple's QuickTime Pro. Quicktime creates the movie from a folder of images you select. Set the frame rate to a speed of your choice based on some trial and error. That's it, a series of still images can now be played as a video for presentations or on a website Sphere: Related Content
Sunday, 29 November 2009
CAPIC Christams Party and Print Exchange
RSVP to prairie@capic.org and I'll see you there.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Rodeo Prize Winners Announced!
Six students, two from Quebec, one from Ontario and three from Alberta won cash prizes and special packages from sponsors.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Friday, 27 November 2009
Undoing Limitations
After reading how to remove limitations, listing to Jean on Blog Talk Radio by folling the link at the end of the story.
Undoing Limitations by Jean Hudson
What barriers or roadblocks stand between you and what you want? Bring to mind a goal, any goal. What stops you from reaching it quickly? Perceived limitations.
What will undo any limitation is the awareness that it is our vision, not what we are seeing, that is limited.
Billions of distinct bits of information are being registered by our senses every second. We are aware of only about 2000. What do you choose what to pay attention to? Are you keeping your goal in mind, and paying attention to reality (as experienced by the five senses) or to the mental limitations, the stoppers, the what if’s?
Check it out. Look around the room you are in. How many specific bits of information can you identify? What can you see, hear, smell, taste, touch? Now close your eyes. How much do you recall? When you have remembered all you can, open your eyes and look around. What did you miss? There is too much available information to hold in consciousness. So we filter and sort it, delete, distort and generalize it, pay attention to some and disregard the rest. Consider what does get your attention and focus.
When you think about your goal, are you single-minded? Do you pay conscious attention to desired outcomes, and then take focused action? Do you explore ways to achieve what you want, examine your strengths and excavate your inner resources? Do you look beyond what you may have seen before, study the reality of the situation in depth? Identify what you may have previously missed?
Most ‘limitations’ are simply ideas, thoughts, mental constructs, not necessarily based on sense data (reality). Are you willing to look beyond them? What else is possible? Could you ask others for help in seeing what you are missing?
What will undo any limitation is the awareness that it is our vision, not what we are seeing, that is limited.
Put your name on a goal. Go straight for it. Do not stop at bland or boring. Play full out.
Those who succeed are not any brighter or talented than others. They are simply more willing to look closely at reality, and to move beyond preconceived limitations.
Before you close this email, be sure you register for Calling All Writers! http://execucoach.net/ calling-all-writers.aspx
And download The Power of Listening http://www.blogtalkradio.com/smb/2009/04/17/Power-Listening-with-Jea n-Hudson
If you received this email from a friend, subscribe now at www.execucoach.net and get your free ebook to help you release your strengths and talents.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Monday, 23 November 2009
Better Networking with Your Blackberry
I had every intention of typing all of the business cards into MS Outlook so I could follow up and develop the relationships I had just started. I actually spent hours typing in all of those contacts after each event. Yes, it took hours. It took so much time that I gave up typing them in and never followed up. My time, money and potentially great relationships were wasted so I looked for a better way.
When I got a new Blackberry Bold, I started using DUB, a contact trader that is similar to Bump for the iPhone. DUB works on both Blackbery and iPhone. DUB allows people to digitally exchange contact information with one click. Based on your proximity to each other it will either wirelessly trade contact cards or send a message with your contact info and a link to create their card. Once they do, your info is saved to their mobile address book and theirs to yours.
DUB aslo automatically updates your address book when a contact updates their contact information. One more great feature is that DUB acts as a backup for your phone. If your phone meets an untimely death or disappears? Just download DUB to your new phone and all your DUB contacts return to your mobile address book and under DUB Contacts.
Awesome, paperless, easy.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Friday, 20 November 2009
Is Advertising Dead in 2009? Part III
Although Q2 and Q3 of this year were really slow we are on track to do as well as last year and maybe better. How? Seeing all of the layoffs and downsizing in the market I realized that I needed to meet the decision makers, I needed to start networking with the top level decision makers. Since January I have been going to networking events and meeting entrepreneurs that are concerned about their business and how to keep it alive.
During the first few months there wasn't much pay off and I wondered if I was on the right track. Developing real relationships takes time so I kept going to networking events and meeting people, after a few months they remembered my name. A few months later I was being introduced by other people. By the beginning of Q3 referral business started coming in and I was able to contribute by helping people in need with my own recommendations.
Once genuine relationships are established it's easier to be a photography consultant and help decision makers plan and execute their marketing. In times of lean budgets and small staffs being a go to resource is invaluable and is helping us turn this into a fantastic year.
Share your ideas, go out and meet people, talk to the person next to you in line. Smile at people and make your business and your city a better place.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements.
Thursday, 19 November 2009
So what's a Purist?
At the Ansel Adams museum in Jackson Wyoming they have a large, 3'x4' or so, print that Ansel had marked up for his printer. I used to convert a slide to print so I cold mark it up for my printer who then made beautiful cibachromes. The printer hand cut masks for each of the dodge and burn areas and kept them on file for 1 year, after that I had to pay storage fees on the masks. At the time I was considered a Purist because I didn't use coloured filters even though during the printing I manipulated what the camera had captured. As a purist it was permissalbe to use 1a and polarizing filers just not coloured filters. At the time I also refused to use chalk when climbing, wouldn't climb an artificial wall, and if I fell on a route I went all the way to the bottom before trying again.
Thankfully, for the past 10 years all of my masks are digital and are stored on hard drives and backed up on the server and DVD's.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Monday, 16 November 2009
Is Advertising Dead in 2009? Part II
We changed our strategy in March 2009 because our clients started freezing budgets and cancelling jobs. Our cash flow was interrupted and we had to cancel our print and online advertising. It was a great opportunity to find a new way to reach our clients and deepen relationships with them. So what did we do to get the message out? We went 'Old School’; we picked up the phone and shook hands.
Like everyone, we are trying to limit spending so traditional photography advertising like paid web promotion, portfolio hosting and postcards have been stopped. Instead of a shot gun approach we are using finely targeted promotion and calling people up to have an in person interview. We are finding out where our customers and prospects go outside of the office and we are meeting them there. We are taking it to the people.
The change in our marketing taught us that my closing ratio is much higher with in-person promotion than it is with web portfolios, direct mail or any other marketing method. With all of the money we save by cutting out direct mail and paid web portfolios we can take a lot of prospects in our local market out to lunch and make a personal connection. We are meeting people and finding out how we can help them.
Some of the best places to meet business people are the many networking events put on by The Calgary Marketing Meet Up, Stuart Crawford's Calgary Entrepreneurs Meet Up and the monthly events held by CAPIC . These events are live, one-on-one advertising opportunities if you arrive prepared to meet people, engage directly with them and listen. Make the most of these events by finding out how you can help people and eventually they will reciprocate and help you. Over time you can build a powerful network of allies that will advertise you to their own networks.
Our result has been the biggest growth ever of our client base. We have done more commercial photography jobs than in any other year. We have significantly increased the size of our network. And we had a lot fun doing it. On the flip side, we have also helped other businesses make connections and accomplish their goals.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Brett Gilmour is a corporate and advertising photographer based in Calgary, Alberta. Sphere: Related Content
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Is Advertising Dead in 2009? Part I
I think advertising and the commercial photography market is just different, the landscape has changed. Everyone is trying to shave budgets and look for ways to save money. Businesses still need to advertise so they are looking for discounts, extras, service upgrades and package deals. We can get scared by this or we can seize the opportunity.
The main opportunity for this year has been positioning our photography studio as a trusted marketing consultant to small and mid-sized businesses. With agencies working on smaller budgets and fewer staff on a job we are able to pick up some of the slack and work with clients and the agency to develop ideas and get more involved in the planning and post-production of a shoot. And I love it because we are more involved in the success of our clients.
I learned most of this watching Sesame St., happy 40th cookie monster.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Friday, 24 July 2009
10 Essential Questions For Networking
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Earth Day
20 years later, to mark Earth Day in 2009 I undertook an energy audit of our home and my attached studio. The audit results were favourable for a wood frame house built in 1986. The auditor was surprised to report that our building is very well insulated and has very efficient windows and heating. In our mountain climate cooling is done by mother nature.
The auditor made a list of recommendations for improving our efficiency and we have committed to increasing the building's efficiency by at least 10%, a considerable goal since the house is already in the high efficiency range for it's age and type of construction.
Here is a list of upgrades so far:
- replaced incandescent bulbs with CFL's
- started washing about 50% of our dishes by hand
- use only cold or warm/cold water in the washing machine
- connected our electronics to power bars so we can eliminate phantom power consumption
- installed solar powered outdoor lighting that turns off after a couple of hours
Here's a list of the big savings
- we unplugged our deep freeze
- we unplugged an old bar fridge
- we installed a high efficiency condensing boiler to heat our water and the entire house
- we added insulation to the pipes that carry heat to our radiators
- we actively control the passive solar heating of our South facing glass walls
- we draft proofed both overhead doors and the double man doors to the studio
- we draft proofed all of the exterior doors of the house
- we added curtains to our very large windows so we can shut out the sun during the summer and keep in the heat during the winter
- we programmed the thermostats in every room according to our use of each room
- we added insulation to light switches and electrical outlets to stop drafts
- framed and drywalled an unfinished skylight in the studio that let cold air from the attic in while let our heated air out the roof vents
Next Steps
- investigating the addition of solar water heaters for our domestic hot water and possibly for our hydronic heating system
- investigating the addition of a wind turbine
- applying for a permit to sell excess electrical power from the wind turbine back to the energy grid
- replacing two 13 litre toilets with 6 litre toilets
The recent issue of Dwell Magazine listed about 50 things we can do to become more efficient in our living. Surprisingly our family and this studio were already doing all but one of the suggestions. Most of the suggestions seem obvious and none of them require drastic lifestyle changes. As we make changes and become more efficient in our use of resources I'll post updates here.
I invite you to post your experiences with improving the efficiency of your home or workspace.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements.
Saturday, 14 February 2009
xPose! Launches

The successful on-line contest generated great interest last year, attracting entrants from across the country.
See the Call For Entries here: www.capic.org/Contests.html
Copies of the xpose 2008 winners book have been sent to all CAPIC General, Sustaining, Associate and Emerging Talent members.
In addition, the xpose book has been sent to over 1350 advertising agencies, graphic designers and magazines.
Start selecting your entries now! Submitted work can be either published (excluding text) or personal work created from July 2007 to December 31, 2008.
See the current xpose show gallery here www.capic.org/contests/xpose/
Support CAPIC's Copyright Fundraising efforts - buy xpose prints. Some xpose 2008 winners have graciously allowed CAPIC to sell copies of their images to support our efforts to have the copyright act updated.
Those images have a "Buy print" link under the image. www.capic.org/contests/xpose/
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All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Friday, 13 February 2009
No Uncertain Terms
No Uncertain Terms
"No Uncertain Terms" yielded no uncertain interest January 26, as nearly 200 of our industry's leading professionals braved the bitter winds of Toronto's Front Street, to make their way to Glenn Gould Studio and logged in from around the country via live webinar.


© 2009 Wingo Digital Studio
Jeff Sedlik, PLUS President & CEO and CAPIC President Ewan Nicholson
Countless others attended via our nation-wide webcast allowing viewers from coast to coast to be included in the evening's discussions.
Jeff Sedlik's introduction of the PLUS System was met with much praise and even a bit of giddy excitement. Could standardizing image licensing actually become a reality in Canada? Many related questions were asked of our panel in the second part of the seminar, and, if the spirit at the Glenn Gould Studio was any indication, YES, this is a possibility in Canada!
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Thursday, 12 February 2009
The BIG ClipUp - The theme is BIG
February 20, 2009
19:00:00
The Prairie Chapter of CAPIC is hosting an exhibit in conjunction with Exposure 2009 - Calgary/Banff Photography Festival. The BIG ClipUp will be a one-night-only exhibit on Friday, February 20, 2009. All CAPIC Prairie Members are encouraged to participate in the The BIG ClipUp. Although submissions are only open to CAPIC Prairie members, the viewing and judging is open to the public. No admission fee. Cash bar.
The BIG ClipUp is just like the other ClipUps that that CAPIC has had in the past, with one exception. It's bigger! Big exhibition prints will be printed by Hewlett Packard. Start shooting for the theme of 'BIG'.
How to Upload to the CAPIC Prairie ClipUp FTP site:
1. Name your print (important): firstname_lastname_clipup
2. Upload the work in one of the following ways:Simply click the following link Capic Prairie ClipUp FTP and enter the username and password. Click on 'choose file' and select the image you want and hit 'upload' or you can use Fetch or Transmit to upload the file using the login information below.Host: ftp.jgimages.ca username: capic
Please contact prairie@capic.org for the password.
Submission deadline: Friday, February 13, 2009 at 5:00pm MST
One night only at The Marquee Room
at The Uptown
610-8 Ave SW
Calgary, AB
7:00pm-10:00pm
Contact
prairie@capic.org
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Brett Featured by Best Selling Author, Michael Oliver
Michael's sales training helped me see selling as more than a necessary evil of being self-employed. The training helped me fully understand that my photography helps solve problems that businesses have.
Michael showed me that sales calls are an opportunity to ask intelligent questions and then listen to what drives a company, what problems they have and what they want to do about it. Listening to clients allows me to understand and respond to what they need.
As a result I am able to work with clients to develop solutions and deliver successful photography.
Read article here:
Hi Brett,
___________________________________________________
Calgary, Alberta, Canada... Saturday, February 28, 2009...
A place and date you'll remember for a long time.
Why? Because after you, or anyone you know, has participated in
my one-day interactive Natural Selling experiential workshop,
you'll have the communication tools that will rapidly having
growing your business and saying... "What global recession?"
This workshop will also have you harnessing the power to create the outer success and inner fulfillment you're looking for.
Want proof? Read what happened to Brett Gilmour in Calgary immediately after last weekend's short introduction seminar to Natural Selling.
___________________________________________________
It works!
I want to let you know that after seeing your two hour seminar on
Natural Selling in Calgary I put it to work during my next meeting
with a potential customer. During the 45 minute drive to their
office I rehearsed asking Natural Selling questions. I felt
relaxed and more comfortable about the sales call just by getting
into this frame of mind.
Later the same day I received an email from the Marketing
Director saying, "both the CEO and I really like your style of
photography, and look forward to working with you."
Michael, thank you for introducing me to a way of selling that
really is natural. During the sales call I genuinely felt like I was
there to help this company solve a problem rather than trying
to sell them something.
Brett Gilmour
__________________________________________________
Michael and I met at a recent seminar in Calgary, Alberta organized by HUB - Humanity Unites Brilliance. Michael is a faculty member of HUB.
To get the full details about Michael and the seminar, simply click here. To learn more about personal development and giving click here.
All images and text Copyright 2009 Brett Gilmour
Links to our articles are welcome.
If you would like to reproduce any part of this article written permission is required, contact Brett Gilmour Photography and we'll be happy to provide it along with hi-res imagery for any print or magazine requirements. Sphere: Related Content
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Joe Englander: In the Moment, Buddists of the Himalayas
February 5 - 28, 5 - 8 PM
Joe Englander's black and white and colour prints from the Buddhist Himalayan countries of Bhutan, Tibet and Ladakh.
Opening Thursday, Feb. 5, 5:30 - 9 PM
Art Central, 14 100 7th Ave SW
Calgary, AB, Sphere: Related Content
The BIG ClipUp Exhibit - Submission Extension
Submission extended to February 13th at 5:00 PM MST
The BIG ClipUp One Night Only
February 20, 2009
The Marquee Room at The Uptown
610-8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
7:00pm-10:00pm
We are very excited about this event and want to make sure you take advantage of this opportunity. This is a chance to show your great work to industry buyers and the public at The Marquee Room in The Uptown. Be a part of the Exposure Festival , get creative and have fun.
Hewlett Packard and The Camera Store are printing the exhibition prints for free. Print size is up to a maximum of 44 inches x 30 inches @ 300ppi. How you use it is up to you. You can upload to the FTP Below or take your submissions on disk to The Camera Store.
To Upload files to the CAPIC Prairie ClipUp FTP site:
1. Name your print (important): firstname_lastname_clipup
2. Upload the work in one of the following ways: Use an FTP client like Fetch or Transmit to upload the file using the login information below:
Host: ftp.jgimages.ca
username: capic
password: clipup
EXTENDED deadline: Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 5:00pm MST
THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS IN COMMUNICATIONS We represent the best in photography and illustration in Canada. Through best business practices, our code of ethics, education and marketing, we help our members achieve excellence in their craft and success in the global marketplace. CAPIC is committed to protecting the rights of visual creators in Canada. Sphere: Related Content