Suggestions for Convention 2012 Masterclasses Please

[Christina Lauder]

I've been a speaker for the past two years and have been asked to speak again.  But rather than guess at what I think people might be interested in I'd really like to hear what people actually are interested in seeing. 

Please list any suggestions in this thread.  I'm sure there are other speakers out there who could benefit from this information as well. 

For example, do you want to a tutorial session on Photoshop, if so do you want beginner, intermediate, advanced?  Are you interested in marketing, motivational talks, or social networking? 

Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated. 

Regards,
Christina

[Bev Downie]

I'd love to see a practical baby photography class but don't know how easy this would be with getting babies that would be happy to be photographed.....

[Gemma French]

100% agreed.  Working with babies looks SO much easier than it is!

[island dave]

for me, the surprise of the week was the talk of our very own Kevin Mullins.
although (regrettably) there was no room for me, the feedback from those inside was excellent.
i'm sure he discussed the web thingy, generating business via the internet, and getting ahead on those search engine wotsits.
(please correct me if i'm wrong, anybody).

Christina, my sweet, your seminars are always terrific, your help, advice & support always freely given, and with pin point accuracy.
whatever your choice for 2012, it will be a 'sellout', i'm sure.


   d

[Richard P Walton]

If you did a live baby shoot Christina you would get ALOT of respect if it turned out well haha 

I would love to hear how you market your studio, that would be great for me 

[Christina Lauder]

No offence but a live baby shoot isn't high on my list of topics for masterclasses.  Much too many things that could go wrong.  If I had a baby of my own I would do it but I really don't fancy relying on someone elses. 

Marketing the studio may be an option.  I just wish we didn't have to submit topics so early on. 

Well thanks everyone.  I'd still really like to hear from others to get a really good idea as to what people want.

[Kevin Mullins]

for me, the surprise of the week was the talk of our very own Kevin Mullins.
although (regrettably) there was no room for me, the feedback from those inside was excellent.
i'm sure he discussed the web thingy, generating business via the internet, and getting ahead on those search engine wotsits.
(please correct me if i'm wrong, anybody).

Dave - I can tell you I was more surprised than anyone.  The feedback I recieved at the convention and since has been great so I've submitted another one for 2012 (though it will be slightly different of course). 

For me, I'd be interested in a session from somone who really did something "different" this year.  By different - I mean a bit like Richy (thinking outside of the box), rather than business or lighting for example.  I don't know what of course (otherwise I would have done it myself)......

[Kevin Brown]

I'd like to see Dave Nunn talk, his work is awesome.

Kevin.

[Christina Lauder]

Kevin, I agree with you but that is where the problem lies.  Its hard to set a topic now when you don't know how the year is going to pan out. 

[Kevin Brown]

Sorry Christina, Monday morning, didn't read the post properly, how are you? We met on Crash Taylor's one day course in Nottingham about 3 years ago.

Kevin.

[Kevin Mullins]

Kevin, I agree with you but that is where the problem lies.  Its hard to set a topic now when you don't know how the year is going to pan out. 

Good point!

[TURTLEC]

Its a difficult one to work out and try to second guess whet people will find useful.

Personally I really enjoyed your talk this year and anything at all that helps people with
marketing and 'selling' themselves will always be useful. For me it was interesting to see
how your studio etc is set up and how you run things 'from home' ..

I also like to see something that is different but to be honest I'd really only attend one
masterclass like that I am more interested in ways to drive my business forward both in terms
of business areas (e.g marketing etc) and also in terms of improving my skills.

I've been considering a talk on the trials and tribulations of setting up a brand new studio from scratch and also re-launching the business overall . Hopefully then talking about the successes
of how things have developed over the firat year or having a proper studio etc...

Any talk you give Christina will be well attended and popular because  you are open and gonest about everything and give freely of the information you have

[Christina Lauder]

Colin, that is really nice of you to say.  Thanks for that. 

And I am sure you will put on a great talk too.  You will have loads to talk about at the end of this year given the changes you are about to make to your business.  Just be aware that things will probably move at a slower pace than you are anticipating.  At least it did for me.  Good luck with it all. 

Regards,
Christina

[Richard P Walton]

Hi Christina, I think it's a good thing in a way, it could certainly help you achieve some of your goals. Put in a proposal for something that you will be doing this year, that way it will make you more pro active? Does that make sense? It's what I am going to do. 

[TURTLEC]

Just be aware that things will probably move at a slower pace than you are anticipating. 

Oh I really hope it does not get any slower than it is already...........
I applied for planning permission in MAY 2010 hoping that I'd get everything sorted and the studio working by autumn so tha I'd get some of the christmas Portrait rush....Planning was eventually passed 1 week before Christmas...there was also a local enterprise grant available and I managed to get in before it closed --- by a few hours !!!!!

In terms of the business 2011 has started well with contact about availability, convention, newspaper articled, magazine profiles and now I've been accepted at a couple of bridal fayres I've been tryiong to get into for a few years so hopefully it will move forward now .....