Monthly Snapshot Issue 05 | January 2019

T H E M O N T H LY

#ISSUE 05

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J A N UA R Y 2 0 1 9

A NOTE FROM COLE: THE 2018 RECAP & THOUGHTS Another year is gone. Maybe I am just getting older but these years seem to be flying by faster and faster.

My little Lacey is just about 16 months old and the best thing that’s ever entered my life. I love her so much and it’s been such a privilege to be able to build a business out of my home - so I can be with her and not miss watching her grow up.

2018 was the year where we (the Cole’s Classroom team) completely stepped up our game and took “BFB” (if you don’t know what this means… it’s kinda our code for “be effing better”) to a whole other level.

Cole’s Classroom Pro members in particular have gotten the greatest “value adds” and impact from our efforts this year.

This year we: •

Launched our client management software - Hey Ned, just to give away for FREE to our members.

•

Created and launched the “Backstage Pass” - a unique behind the scenes photo education experience, also FREE for our members.

•

Added “Breakout Classes” to our education offerings.

•

Launched over 30 new courses and products

But what is required, for everyone, is…

•

Added more support team members as well as expanded the mentor team to continue to be able to provide world class service to our members.

•

A willingness to put in work & implement the things we teach you.

•

The ability to keep going even when things don’t work right away.

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The flexibility to try new things and adapt.

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The confidence to go for it and not wait for perfection.

•

The desire to be better than you were yesterday (each week, month, year).

If you feel like that’s a ton of work, you’re right - it is a TON of work.

Which brings me to my next point…

This year was the year of transformation.

For me personally as I am a new father.

For me professionally as I have had to step into a “CEO” role at Cole’s Classroom which looks entirely different than the roles I am used to (and required a lot of me “letting go”).

When you do those things, it no longer is a matter of “IF” you’ll be successful, it becomes WHEN.

But it’s also been the year where so many of YOU have had crazy transformations.

Don’t settle for average. Average doesn’t cut it these days and I know you are capable of so much more.

To be honest, we’ve never had so many “success stories” in the past as we do these days. Every week we have at least 1-2 members who have hit a massive milestone or achievement.

No more excuses, you have the resources, you have the team and the community all cheering you on.

...and that is by far, the most powerful feeling for us at Cole’s Classroom to witness.

Cheesy or not - that is why we work 7 days a week around the clock - for you, to change YOUR life.

So my plea to you is to simply push yourself for greatness.

“DON’T SETTLE FOR AVERAGE. AVERAGE DOESN’T CUT IT THESE DAYS AND I KNOW YOU ARE CAPABLE OF SO MUCH MORE.”

If you have had a massive “proud” moment or achievement this year - I commend you for putting in the work, putting yourself out there, implementing what we are teaching and of course, getting the results.

Are you with me?

If you haven’t...

Write this down and put it somewhere you’ll see every day…

That’s OK. Let’s change that. Here’s what I’ve seen and what I know after seeing thousands of members growth (or lack of growth) in Cole’s Classroom Pro.

Where do you want to be in 12 months from now? Describe what life (and even business) will look like for you. Be specific and detailed and be realistic yet don’t cut yourself short.

Success may look different for everyone. But success is available for everyone.

If you can commit to me, your other pro members and more important - yourself, to really going “all-in” on yourself and your photography I have zero doubt that you will reach that goal of yours long before 1 year from now.

You might tell yourself that you aren’t good enough, but that’s a lie.

You might think to yourself that you don’t have time, but that’s an excuse.

...and when you do, make sure to post in the group so I can give you a virtual hug ;) Here’s to making 2019 a smashing success!

You might believe that you don’t have enough money for _____ , but that’s not required.

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Cole

WHAT’S WORKING: COMMUNITY BRAINSTORM RECAP B Y K AT E G U E R T I N

5 AWESOME GEAR IDEAS TO ADD TO YOUR 2019 ARSENAL! As we enter a new year, full of new adventures, new business opportunities and new obstacles to overcome, we offer you 5 AMAZING ideas for adding convenience, ease and comfort to your new year of photography endeavors (plus one bonus because you deserve it!) Check out our members top ideas for 2019 must have gadgets to add to your arsenal below.

$250 COLE’S CASH WINNERS: K A R E N FA I R S H AW N FA I T E

1. LENS PEN Awesome for quickly cleaning sand, dust and more out of your lens and other little nooks and crannies of your camera. Loved and recommended by our own Kelly Acs!

2. 70-200MM LENS Feeling like a splurge? (hello tax return!) Try out the 70200mm f/2.8 lens, in all it’s glory!

Click for Canon

or

Nikon!

DID YOU KNOW EXCLUSIVE FOR COLE’S CLASSROOM PRO MEMBERS: RECEIVE A FREE GIFT FROM THINK TANK PHOTO WHEN YOU PURCHASE ANYTHING THROUGH THIS LINK!

CLICK HERE

3. JOBY ULTRAFIT SLING STRAP Save your back with an ergonomic camera strap-- we recommend the Joby Ultrafit Sling Strap-- save your neck, back and shoulders so you can have a painless year!

4. MEFOTO BACKPACKER AIR TRAVEL TRIPOD Check out this super lightweight yet strong travel tripod you can actually fit in your camera bag (handy!)

5. HOUSE OF FLYNN CAMERA BAG Amp up your style with a gorgeous, quality camera bag-we recommend checking out House of Flynn!

BONUS: EXPODISC We have mentioned the Expodisc many times here in CC Pro, but it’s so awesome, it’s worth another mention! If you still haven’t become a white balance super-ninja like our very own Betsy Davis, you NEED to add this handy gadget to your 2019 tool kit!

Whatever you decide to treat yourself with, the start of a new year and new you can be the perfect time to expand your capabilities, make your life easier with some handy gadgets and just treat yourself for finishing a 2018 well done! You’re sure to enjoy any of these awesome additions to your tool box.

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THIS MONTH’S PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS THEME: OPEN SUBMISSION

1ST PL ACE: NIKKI GORSU CH GELD V I E W E R ’ S C H O I C E AWA R D : J O L E N E P E T E R S O N -TAY L O R FINALISTS:

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DEBBIE DEE

KARA KNUTSON

LIZ ROBSON

H E AT H E R W I L K E Y

K I M B E R L E Y M A R JA S

M A R TA F E R R E I R A

J A M I E WAT K I N S

KRISTEN VINCENT

SABRINA

JILL ANDREWS D UDAS

L AU R E N H I X S O N

SARAH BURRILL

L AU R E N H O G U E

SHARON LEE

T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T

DEBBIE DEE

J O L E N E P E T E R S O N -TAY L O R : VIEWER’S CHOICE

H E AT H E R W I L K E Y

J A M I E WAT K I N S

JILL ANDREWS D UDAS

T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T

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KARA KNUTSON

KRISTEN VINCENT

K I M B E R L E Y M A R JA S

L AU R E N H O G U E

L AU R E N H I X S O N

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LIZ ROBSON M A R TA F E R R E I R A

SABRINA

SHARON LEE SARAH BURRILL

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PHOTO CONTEST WINNER HIGHLIGHT:

NIKKI GORSUCH GELD

BY E D E L C L A R K

HOW’D YA WIN IT? (IN A MINUTE!) Is anyone else experiencing déjà vu? The winner of the December Photo Contest may be familiar to a lot of you by now… it’s Nikki Gorsuch Geld! Nikki is a PRO at winning this contest, and has won it twice in a row now, AND had a member spotlight on her! And if her beautiful photos and success record weren’t enough to be in awe of her for, her completely humble and genuinely grounded personality is SO endearing. This month, Nikki’s win (again!) meant that we were pushed to come up with some creative content to keep things fresh – and what better content than discussing life BEFORE and AFTER CC PROs?

HEY NIKKI! SO YET AGAIN, YOU’VE COME TOP TRUMPS ON THE PHOTO CONTEST! HOW DOES IT FEEL? Honestly, I am just so appreciative to have been chosen as the winner…there are so many incredible images entered each month. This is one of my most favorite photos, so I’m so happy that you all love it, too.

IT’S BREATHTAKING! AND ONE OF THOSE PHOTOS THAT STAY IMPRINTED ON YOUR MIND – A TOTALLY DESERVING WIN! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE CONTEXT OF THE WINNING PHOTO? As soon as we stepped into the barn and I saw the lighting, I literally squealed out loud. It was pretty dreamy.

They wandered over to peek through the doors, and I captured the moment. I shoot Sony and used a Sony 35mm 2.8. Settings: f 2.8, 1/250, ISO 800. This was taken in the middle of the day, but it was pretty overcast. The barn doors opposite the ones you see in the image were wide open though, which provided a little bit of extra light to illuminate the scene.

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BEAUTIFUL! THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING! IT’D BE AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOUR GROWTH WITHIN CC PROS. CAN YOU SHARE WHAT TAKING PHOTOS WAS LIKE FOR YOU BACK THEN – HOW YOU FELT, WHAT YOUR VISION WAS, AND HOW SUCCESSFUL YOU FELT YOU WERE AT ACHIEVING THAT VISION? AND MAYBE INCLUDE AN IMAGE THAT YOU TOOK BEFORE YOU TOOK THE STEP UP TO IMPROVE YOUR EDUCATION? I feel like I could write a novel about the next two questions, and I’m pretty long-winded in general. It usually takes me 20 words to say what my husband can say in 3…sooo sorry for all the words!

When I look back at my work before joining CC Pro the word “inconsistent” is the first thing that pops into my head.

Simply put, I was all over the place. I was just a mom with a camera and an eye for good composition. I knew how to shoot in manual, but mostly shot in auto. I shot in JPEG because I didn’t know RAW existed. I knew how to dodge and burn film in a darkroom, but had never edited a digital photo in my life other than shifting a few sliders in iPhoto or adding a filter. I didn’t own LR or PS. I knew I loved light, but I didn’t fully understand it. I knew what inspired me, but I didn’t know how to achieve it. I knew I loved taking photos of my kids, but had no interest in running a business.

If I’m being honest, I did take some really great photos pre CC Pro. They could be so much better now, but they were still pretty solid then. However, I also took some really, really, really bad photos… and the worst part was that I didn’t know they weren’t good!

Side note: I absolutely still take bad photos… don’t we all? But they are fewer, and I now have the awareness.

I wanted to share this one because I think it falls somewhere in the middle, and shows my base and my growth. I took this photo in the summer of 2017, about 3 months before joining CC Pro. Even though I wasn’t exactly sure what I was doing, I love it for the backlighting, the movement, and the moment. These are all components I try to incorporate in my photos still.

Unfortunately for this poor image, I applied a blur filter to make it look fancy (ugh), it has a green color cast, and there is motion blur from a too slow shutter speed.

I know it was underexposed SOOC. I shot in auto. I shot in JPEG. I REALLY wish I had known about RAW then. I can only think, if I had taken this photo after spending some time in CC Pro, it could have been so good!

I LOVE THIS RESPONSE SO MUCH NIKKI! FINALLY – LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW – LOOKING FROM YOUR STARTING POINT PHOTO BEFORE CC PROS, TO THE MOST RECENT WINNING PHOTO, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR GROWTH? AND IF YOU CAN IMAGINE YOURSELF WINNING THE CONTEST THIS TIME NEXT YEAR (WHICH CLEARLY IS A HIGH PROBABILITY WITH YOUR TRACK RECORD!) WHAT PROGRESS, IF ANY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? ANY FINAL THOUGHTS? Oh my goodness… my growth has been exponential.

I feel like I am miles away from where I started just a year ago… and even from where I was just a few months ago.

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I owe it all to the incredible resources and mentors here at Cole’s Classroom.

What has specifically helped get me here? Again, the resources are so incredible from the trainings to the courses to the breakouts to the lives. And now backstage pass!

I popped onto a Live with Cole the other day and he commented “Nikki’s always here.” He said it kindly, but I was a little embarrassed like, maybe I don’t have a life lol. But the truth is I really do! It mostly entails chasing my preschooler and toddler around all day and catering to their every whim…but still, I have a life!

But even with my busy schedule I just always make time to pop on and browse posts or catch a live. I often find something I didn’t even know that I didn’t know. And then, it opens a whole new can of worms for me to sort out and learn from. I learn so much just from being present in the group, taking advantage of what it has to offer, and then picking up my camera to practice/implement.

If I had to pick a few things that have been game changers for me related to my growth in quality of work, I would say…

1. Learning to look for the light has been the biggest game changer. I believe light has the most significant impact on our work as photographers. It’s so important to be able to see the light, to understand all the ways we can use it, and to learn how to use it properly.

2. Understanding how to create consistent photos is another major one. Being consistent from start to finish, not just in post, has been huge!

3. And I can’t forget…simply just taking a sharp photo. I joined CC because I was having trouble taking a sharp photo and I HAD NO IDEA WHY sometimes they would be sharp and sometimes they wouldn’t. Do I still miss sometimes? Yep! Especially when I’m trying to capture my own kiddos. But at least when I miss, I know why. It’s not a major point of frustration for me anymore because I know exactly how to fix it. I don’t panic anymore. I just adjust and move on.

Where do I want my work to be in a year? That’s such a tough question! I just always want to be raising the bar— taking my work to the next level. I don’t think I know what that’s going to look like yet. I feel like I’m just along for the ride—- always learning, always practicing, always studying (my work and others)— and I can’t wait to see where that takes me a year from now.

NIKKI, I THINK I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE WHEN I TELL YOU, WE ARE SO IN AWE OF YOUR PROGRESS SO FAR AND EXCITED TO SEE WHERE YOUR GROWTH THROUGH CC PROS TAKES YOU NEXT! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING ANOTHER ANGLE OF YOUR INCREDIBLE STORY TO SUCCESS WITH US - UNTIL NEXT TIME! IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE LEVEL OF GROWTH AND SUCCESS THAT NIKKI HAS HAD, WHY NOT START RIGHT HERE? TAKE PART IN THIS MONTH’S PHOTO CONTEST - PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE, ENGAGE, LEARN AND IMPLEMENT!

FIND NIKKI ONLINE:

WEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM

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GRAIN:

IS IT REALLY AS BAD AS YOU THINK? B Y B E T S Y D AV I S

Have you seen the terms “grain” or “noise” thrown around and wondered what exactly it is? Or maybe you’ve noticed that some of your images aren’t as crisp and clear as you want them to be, and almost have a grainy appearance to them.

Several factors can affect the level of noise and grain, including sensor size, higher ISO settings, and long exposures, to name a few. Because of their smaller sensors, crop-body cameras produce more grain when increasing ISO than full frame cameras.

But what if you don’t have a full frame camera and need to shoot in low-light using a high ISO? Are you doomed? NOT. A. CHANCE. The good news is that:` 1) Grain is almost never as bad as we think. In fact, most of our clients couldn’t spot it if they tried.

2) There is an easy way to avoid grain that you may not have known about!

EXPOSE PROPERLY By getting your exposure right in camera, you can avoid unnecessary grain. Increasing exposure during editing can make grain worse. See the comparison above. The image on the left was exposed properly in camera, and the image on the right was originally underexposed, with the exposure being increased in Lightroom. Both of the images were shot at ISO 12800. Notice the substantial difference in the amount of grain in the image on the right. Exposing your images properly in camera goes a long way to preventing grain!

Next time you’re shooting with a high ISO, pay attention to how well you are exposing your shot! Keeping the image properly exposed in camera (even if it means higher ISO!) will definitely give you better results!

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PRO MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

NATASHA BORIEL

WHERE I CALL HOME: TORONTO, CANADA YEARS I’VE BEEN IN BUSINESS: STARTED OCTOBER 2018. BUT I’VE BEEN TRYING TO LEARN PHOTOGRAPHY AND UNDERSTAND MY CAMERA SINCE 2009.

MY NICHE / WHAT I SPECIALIZE IN: I STARTED OFF DOING NEWBORNS BUT SINCE I HAVE DISCOVERED BOUDOIR, I THINK THAT’S GOING TO BE MY MAIN FOCUS. WHY I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY: I love photography because it allows me to express myself and it brings out my creative side. I have always had a love for art, except, I can’t draw for the life of me. Photography allows me to create my visions.

ONE CHALLENGE IN MY BUSINESS THAT I’VE OVERCOME: I haven’t gotten there yet. Still working on many challenges but I don’t believe I have overcome any yet.

ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT COLE’S CLASSROOM: I love the support I get from senior photographers and all the learning materials I have access to for such an amazing monthly fee.

3 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:

1. I’m a foodie! I just love all kinds of food.

2. I’m very critical and hard on myself and my work.

3. I am very determined to be the best at everything I do.

FIND NATASHA ONLINE:

FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM 12

T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T

GEAR HIGHLIGHT B Y K E L LY A C S

H O U S E O F F LY N N C A M E R A BAGS

So for YEARS I’ve been on the hunt for a bag that I love, that not only protects my gear, but I can use as an everyday bag/diaper bag for my two toddlers.

The mini and full size Evermore are my JAM! They are made by The House of Flynn, and the owner, Maureen Flynn is the nicest human on the planet. She even sold me her personal longbard skateboard, and it’s one of my most prized possessions! Everything she makes is with love and it shows.

CLICK HERE

The Mini Evermore bag holds a camera body (with a lens attached), and one other GOOD sized lens. It’s small, stylish, and has a million pockets for snacks, tissues for snotty toddlers, SD cards, an Expodisc, extra lens caps (that disappear like socks), etc!

The Full Sized Evermore can hold far more (two camera bodies, two lenses, two flashes, accessories), and if you get the one with backpack straps, can be hauled around comfortably! I LOVE it for traveling, as I can keep it as a carry on, and often use it as a weekend bag for short trips.

They have both leather and non-leather options, and you can find these bags in a kaleidoscope of different colors (which is a problem because you will probably want to buy 15)!

They range in price from $120 to $350, and run sales frequently! They also ship worldwide!

CLICK HERE TO SEE ME SHARE A VIDEO COMPARISON OF THE BAGS!

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AVA I L A B L E N O W !

NEWLY ADDED COURSES & PRODUCTS!

IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY NOTICED, WE’VE BEEN HARD AT WORK MAKING SURE TO CONSTANTLY BE RAISING THE BAR AND ADDING MORE COURSES & PRODUCTS TO OUR MEMBERSHIP SITE FOR YOU!

Here’s a list of recently added courses and perks that are now available!

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE TREASURE CHEST

CLICK HERE TO REDEEM YOUR CREDIT!

BACKSTAGE PASS EPISODE 3

BREAKOUT WITH KIMBERLEE

CLICK HERE TO WATCH NOW!

A CHILD SESSION WITH BETSY!

MONTHLY PRO PERK: GIFT CARD TEMPLATES

CLICK HERE TO WATCH NOW!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD!

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COMING SOON! WHAT’S COMING UP NEXT FOR PRO MEMBERS

HERE’S A SNEAK PEEK AT A FEW OF THE THINGS WE’VE GOT IN THE WORKS. COMING SOON FOR ALL COLE’S CLASSROOM PRO MEMBERS!

2019 SUMMIT ARE YOU AN ANNUAL OR SEMIANNUAL UPGRADED MEMBER? IF SO, YOU’LL HAVE ACCESS TO A LIVE 2019 SUMMIT WITH COLE, BETSY, AND KIMBERLEE - WHICH WILL BE HELD ON JANUARY 9TH! BE SURE YOU’RE IN THE PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP SO YOU’LL BE NOTIFIED WHEN WE GO LIVE!

BACKSTAGE PASS EPISODE 4

DISCUSSIONS

THE NEXT EPISODE WILL BE RELEASED ON JANUARY 15TH! WANT TO WATCH IT LIVE WITH US?

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT COLE’S CLASSROOM IS THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP.

CLICK TO RSVP!

CLICK TO JOIN IN! T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T

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7 REASONS TO JOIN THE INSIDERS CLUB HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO CUT YOUR MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT WHILE UNLOCKING DRAMATICALLY MORE MEMBER BENEFITS? FOR THE BEST VALUE, YOU’LL WANT TO UPGRADE TO OUR INSIDERS CLUB.

HERE’S WHY: 1. Save $100 cash on Membership

5. Instant Access to All New Courses Compared to 45 Day Wait Time for Others

2. $6,000 Instant Cole’s Cash

6. No More Monthly Payments!

3. 12 Instant Free Product Credits

7. Access to the Exclusive Insiders

4. FREE Access to Breakout Class Lounges!

Facebook Group

8. Access to Focus Groups!

READY TO LOCK IN THE SAVINGS & UNLOCK MORE TRAINING? BECOME AN INSIDER OR PREMIUM MEMBER TODAY!

CLICK HERE TO UPGRADE NOW! BASIC

PREMIUM

INSIDER

When You Pay

Monthly

Semi-Annual

Annual

What You Pay

$49

$249

$489

Effective Monthly Price

$49

$41,50

$40,75

15%

17%

PRO MEMBERSHIP PLAN

Savings W H AT YO U G E T :

Days Until New Product Access

60

Instant

Instant

Monthly Breakout Class Enrollment

$49

FREE

FREE

Free Product Credits (Per Billing)

1

6

12

Insider Facebook Group Cole’s Cash (Per Billing) Bonus Cole’s Cash (Per Billing)

3000 250

1500

3000