Several customers have recently inquired about ‘appointment scheduling’ and ’sitting fee collection’. How often have you told a client ‘let me check my schedule and I will get back with you’ which then starts the ‘phone/e-mail tag’ ?   This results in countless hours of

Non-Value Added Activity (muda) in your week of scheduling appointments, collecting sitting fees, confirmations, appointment reminders and appointment conflicts. Therefore, in 2010 gain more control of your schedule with web appointments.

Features include (click here to view a demo) :

* No software installation; all functionality from your web browser
* Set up appointments and schedules – display and hide dates/times from your customers
* Create recurring appointments and ‘block off times’
* Create services for specific dates and date ranges (example – portrait session weekend)
* Ability to display services/events for businesses with multiple employees
* Customized customer appointment forms to collect specific customer information
* Confirm appointments before it the appointment is added to your calendar
* Automated e-mail notifications and reminders for both you and your clients
* Client database in which you can download for future use
* Paypal payment integration – collect your sitting fees, etc up-front – automated. Ability to charge different sitting fees for different services.
* Show your own business policies (cancelations, no-shows, what to wear or bring to the appointment, etc…)
* Calendar ‘removes’ time slots confirmed to avoid double-booking
* Ability to enter ‘phone in appoinments’
* Ability to send out specific links to specific services/events
* Web site integration – easily integrate within your smugmug or wordpress site
* Create links for web site, e-news, facebook, etc…
* Visual calendars (see below)
* Calendar sync and downloading – supports Excel/Outlook/Sunbird/GoogleC/iCal (your entire schedule or a specific service/event)
* Access your schedule via your iphone / Mobile access
* Ability to set-up access to the calendar for multiple employees (employees can view their own schedule)
* Affordable : Only $10 a month with one-month free trail (for specific customization, contact me)
*** Coming soon – more customization capabilities ***

PROCESS MODEL

CLIENT VIEW

click here to view a demo

YOUR VIEW ONLY

Entire schedule or 14 day blocks. You also have the ability to calendar sync/download – supports Excel/Outlook/Sunbird/GoogleC/iCal (your entire schedule or a specific service/event)

For more information, please feel free to contact me.

click here to view a demo

Live – Studio KYK Services

The Camera Slingers “Freedom” double camera strap:

The “Freedom” comfortably supports the weight of two cameras at one time and gives you the flexibility to use one camera when you need it. Finally, a solution for the two or one camera shooter. The included strap extender allows you to quickly change from two cameras to one camera in a snap without ever having to readjust your strap. No more fumbling or having to set your bodies on the ground. The Camera Slingers design does not require the use of a cross strap, making it both female and wardrobe friendly. You can now carry two cameras with ease and comfort, even if worn all day! The Ergonomic design support system is made to support the weight of your cameras on the stronger part of your back, the unique bi-lateral binding takes the stress off your shoulders and spine. Your back will love you! Shoot in style … shoot with ease.

Features and Benefits:

 • Carry two camera bodies at one time with one

 • Converts into a single camera strap

 • Fits all cameras and lenses with a standard tripod mount

 • Adjustable camera positioning

 • Military grade components

 • Slip resistant shoulder pads

 • Fully adjustable, for all heights and body types

 • Sleek professional design

 • Ergonomic design helps prevent neck and back pain, even if it is worn all day!

 • 2 camera or lense mounts

 • 1 strap extender

 • 1 year manufacturer’s warranty

Visit Camera Slingers to learn more.

Camera Slingers

Ok, so am I not a big book reader, but a few years back I did take the time to read the book
“Now, Discover Your Strengths” by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton.

The authors have created a program to help readers identify their talents and build upon the talents. The main concept behind the book is “most of us have little sense of our talents and strengths, much less the ability to build our lives around them. Instead, guided by our parents, by our teachers, by our managers and by psychology’s fascination with pathology, we become experts in our weaknesses and spend our lives trying to repair these flaws, while our strengths lie dormant and neglected.”

The book enables you to ‘discover’ your top five strengths (from 34 different themes) by taking the online StrengthsFinder assessment. The book spent more than five years on the bestseller list and the StrengthsFinder assessment has help millions to discover their top five talents.

I took the assessment when I first read the book and then again recently to determine the accuracy of the assessment. Yes, I got the same five results (Arranger, Achiever, Relator, Individualization and ‘Woo’). Sorry – you have to read the book to find out what the themes truly mean !

I actually use this program as a team building exercise in the corporate world. Years ago, I given the opportunity to lead a team of programmers and systems analyst on a year+ application development project. Most of the team members did not know each other and as the project began, I heard team members point out faults in one another. As a team, we decided to take the each take the assessment and share our results. This way, we were able to recognize that each team member had different talents which could contribute to the overall success of the project. The ‘negatively’ quickly ended and to make a long story short, the project was a success – ahead of schedule, under budget and exceeded customers expectations. No, the book did not make this happen, but it did provide a positive influence on the team as well as focusing efforts on strengths instead of faults.

I highly recommend it to anyone – or any team – looking to reveal their hidden ‘talents’.

Showit Web Slideshows

Create stunning slideshows quickly and simply. Just upload your photos, select your music, customize the look and ShowitWeb does the rest.
 • Automatically resizes images and generates Flash file
 • Pre-timed transitions syncopated to the music
 • Customize the music, text, colors, zoom, focal points, and include your own logo
 • Embed slideshow into your blog or Facebook page
 • Sell a DVD of the slideshow to your customers with Showit’s MediaLab

I used Showit Web for a the home page slideshow on my Sarah and James Wedding Site. It was very easy to use and I had the slideshow created within minutes. I like the ability to create variations on slideshow transitions and timings.

Visit Showit Web to learn more.

Ok, so you have the following:
- Great photography skills – check
- Awesome photography equipment – check
- Outstanding order fulfillment process – check
- Stellar web site – check (well, depends on who designed it!)
- Great Search Engine Optimization – check

Does that all really make a difference you if you do not have exceptional customer service? Think about it for a moment. Every now and then, I will receive an email/phone call from a client regarding their web site. Sometimes I stop and ask myself, “I wonder how they treat their customers?” or “If I was their customer, would I recommend them?”

I remember years ago going through a ‘morale building event’ at work. Our manager introduced us to the philosophies of Seattles Pike Place Fish Market. Of all places, a fish market! The four key points of Seattles Pike Place Fish Market philosophy are:

* Play – have fun and create energy at home or at the office.
* Make their day – how can you engage fellow employees, customers and make each other’s day?
* Be Present – How can you make sure you are fully available and aware during conversations with people? It is about create a greater sense of intimacy between individuals.
* Choose Your Attitude – Each day you choose how you are going to act or which “side of the bed” you wake up on. The choice is yours and, the way you act, affects others.

Hence, the book – Fish! by Stephen C. Lundin

You may or may not have employees that work for you. But stop and think about the level of energy, excitement, dedication and customer commitment created at Pike Place Fish Market. How is your level of customer commitment ? Is it part of your check list ? (thanks Lawrence for the friendly reminder and yes, I love seafood!!)