Men's Athletic Photography

Visual Advantages, L.L.C.

This is a NEW photographer who just joined my team last month, and he is AMAZING!!!!
Nike- we need to talk!

Introduction to ModelWire Network

Today was another 100+ degree scorcher here in Dallas. While my urge to venture outside the A/C was incredibly low, I still managed to go out and meet with two new photographers who may possibly be joining the Visual Advantages team. They will specialize in the category of “Architecture”.

But today I realized that I have been so busy starting this business, that I have strayed away from blogging about one of my biggest passions, and the reason I started in this business. Ohhh fashion, how I love thee!

While I thought my day was complete after my earlier outing (outings are counted on one hand in this heat), and was ready to throw in the towel, I then got a surprise call from Shana Oates, who is the Community Manager at ModelWire Network in Los Angeles, California. Shana and I had chatted earlier about me possibly writing a blog about ModelWire Network, and seeing as I have strayed away from blogging about fashion for way too long, I thought today was the day! (Is it hot in L.A. Ms. Oates? Because I really need a vacation).

It seems my fellow Dallas-ites have yet to discover ModelWire Network on a larger scale, so I am also hoping to help my fellow industry peers advance their careers in a new and better outlet.

Who or what is ModelWire Network you may ask? ModelWire Network is a social networking site that allows communication and networking between models, agents, photographers, wardrobe stylists, hair stylists, makeup artists, fashion designers, advertisers, producers (like moi), casting professionals, and just recently, fashion bloggers. They released their services less than a year ago . They are powered by their parent company ModelWire, which is the leader in model management software, or in layman’s terms, helps modeling agencies send out information electronically so they don’t have to mail a bunch of paper portfolios.

Yes, I know what you are thinking! So how are they different than MM? Well for starters, this site is controlled and monitored a lot more closely than the Mayhem. They do not allow any below the waist photography (thank you), and each photo must be pre-approved by an employee rather than a volunteer. Another great feature about ModelWire Network, unlike MM, is that the ModelWire agencies actually use and scout through the site every day. If you want to check out what agencies that you could be scouted by then go to ModelWire and go to their Fashion Directory – feel secure that no scammer agencies will be approaching you through the site. I personally like to think of ModelWire Network as the more sophisticated and classy site for our industry’s networking.

And, if you are in the mood for some great reading and education to advance your career, you can check out their blog section called “Industry Wire”, which features great fashion bloggers all over the country, as well as real advice from ModelWire’s founder, Joey Hunter, who has a weekly blog called, “Ask Joey” . Joey has worked in the modeling business for over 40 years and is the former president of Ford Model Management. He has advised many models throughout the years, including Naomi Campbell, Brooke Sheilds, and in conjuction with Jerry Ford coined the term “Supermodel.”

You can also get modeling advice from Supermodel, Emily Sandberg, who also has a section on the Industry Wire.

So thank you for chatting with me Shana. I really enjoyed our conversation very much, and I know I will be networking on your site very soon. And yes, I will continue to blog more about fashion, just as soon as I go stain our backyard fence now that it has cooled down to a low low 98 degrees. If I do not return shortly, someone please send help!

http://modelwirenetwork.com

“Sallie LeBlanc owns Visual Advantages, LLC. , a commercial photography production company in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX. Sallie LeBlanc’s goal is to not only grow her business, but to also help put Dallas-Fort Worth, TX. on the map as a “go to” destination for commercial photography in the United States. www.visualadvantages.com .”

Photo Shoot at Cafe Malaga, McKinney, TX.

Recently the Visual Advantages, LLC. crew and I produced a food photo shoot for the amazing Cafe Malaga in downtown McKinney, TX. For those of you who are not familiar with Cafe Malaga, it is a Tapas restaurant just off the main McKinney square, with a beautiful patio and outdoor seating area.

So what is a Tapas? Tapas are snacks, appetizers, or canapes originating from Spain (though Malaga's menu seems to cross many more culinary boarders than just Spanish cuisine). It is the type of food you pass and share across the table with good conversations and good wine.

The restaurant was originally started by Annie Stokes in 2006, then later sold to the current owner, Albert Segui. Albert has done a fantastic job in his new position as owner. Not only has he added some great new dishes to the menu, but he has also added in wine tastings and special events.

Albert chose some amazing dishes for the Visual Advantages team to shoot. From asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and drizzled in balsamic vinegar, to a beautiful and colorful cheese plate with fruit. The food was art!

While we were very lucky to do a photo shoot of his food, we were even luckier to be able to eat it! Thanks Albert.

We will be posting more photos from this photo shoot, as well as many more amazing commercial shoots, on our Visual Advantages Face Book Fan Page.

Come fan us!

https://www.facebook.com/VisualAdvantages

or

Check out our website:

www.visualadvantages.com

KEY MARKETING PEOPLE IN THE NEW DIGITAL WORLD

Fifteen years ago, when a business decided to invest money in advertising, typically this meant buying ad space in a newspaper or magazine, creating print mail ads, or buying air time on the t.v. or radio.

But that was then, and this is now. Unless you have been living under a rock, most of us realize that advertising has moved from traditional, to the completely fast-paced digital world of social media.

The internet has been a game changer. So what are the rules to this new world of digital advertising world, and how can business stay competitive? It can all be very overwhelming, especially if you are just starting a new business, or you are lacking the man power or time to fully invest in digital marketing. Digital marketing, unlike traditional marketing, does have one huge flaw unlike traditional advertising. Digital Marketing is extremely time consuming! And to really do it right, you cannot do it on your own.

But before panic ensues, I am going to try to break it down into a few easy steps, in hopes that I can somehow relieve your anxiety. Think of it as "Social Media Marketing Help 101". There are a few key people who can manage your business in this digital world, and make your business a powerful player on the internet and in the social media world. These are not ALL the people who work in social media, rather the four key players who can launch your business.

KEY MARKETING PEOPLE IN THE NEW DIGITAL WORLD
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#1) The WEBSITE company

Yes, it is obvious, but you must have a website to do business today. Businesses without websites might as well not even be open.

Think back to the days of yellow pages. If your business was not listed in the yellow pages fifteen years ago, there was a good chance Mrs. Jones was not going to find your air conditioning service when her A/C unit blew out in the 100 degree summer. Well it is the same thing with the internet. No website= no business. You cannot have one without the other.

But many of you are taking the cheap route and hiring just about anyone to create a website. Yes, we know who you are! You are the one who hired your college kid's friend to throw up a website, and then this same kid disappeared and left you high and dry with a website that is still dated with a December 2009 calendar. While December 2009 might have been a good month, it is doing nothing to help market your company. Possible client's assumed you went out of business and moved onto the listing underneath you.

And a bad website design can actually hurt your business rather than help it.

Lesson: Invest in a well designed website run by a real company from day one. Trying to take the cheap route will cost you more in the long run.

#2) The SEO Optimization Specialist

SEO, what? SEO, who? Search Engine Optimization is the process of improving your ranking on the internet so your website shows up at the top of a search page. Basically this means when you do an internet search for, "Pet Stores, San Diego, CA", an SEO specialist can help your link for "Susie's Reptiles and Fuzzies" show up higher than "Doug's Dog's and Cat's" . You are more likely to be found and receive business.

SEO optimization is tricky, and time consuming. There are many rules for how to rank high in Google, and many times the rules change.

So how do you find an SEO specialist? Today most website designers are also SEO specialists, so make sure when purchasing your website, you are also comfortable with their SEO capabilities.

Lesson: The common person does not have the time or energy to play the SEO optimization game, nor do they care. Get your website guy to do it, or contract it out.


#3) The VISUAL's company

I realize I lost you many of you on this one, but stay with me. Your Visual company is the people or company you hire to enhance your website through visual elements. Your Visuals company would include your commercial photography, as well as your video. As most of you should already know, consumers are visual!

Yes, I know, I know, many of you think you are photographers because you bought that high-tech camera down at the Big Box store and you can do some really funky stuff on Photo Shop, but I am sorry to tell you, you are not a photographer!

And, if you insist on buying those cheap generic stock images just to fill in the website space, how does the consumer really know you are a real company and not just some random person in a foreign country who threw up a website?

Recently I posted an ad on craigslist for a website designer. I got multiple replies from professionals who had active websites, but these websites were almost all text, with maybe a couple of cheap stock images. Then, as I looked closer at their sites, I realized their "Contact Us" section had 1-800 numbers. And as I looked even closer, I realized there was a possibility these company were not even in the United States, and were most likely in India.

Professional photography can never be replaced by amateur photography or cheap stock images, which can make a company look small or invalid.

"I see so many people who try to take the cheap way out when doing their photography," said Sallie LeBlanc, owner of Visual Advantages, LLC, a commercial photo and video production company in Dallas-Fort Worth,www.visualadvantages.com . "But they always pay for it in the long run, either by losing customers, or by having to re-shoot later with a real professional."

Your visual company will partner with your website designer to finish your website, and make it stand out from the other thousands of other websites. Professional photography can engage your customer, create a brand, and can even make a small company look huge!

Now let's talk about video. Statistics show that the more engaged your customer becomes in your website, the more likely they are to become a customer. With video, you are not only engaging your customer, but you are teaching them! Many times it is hard to explain a product or service over the internet, but video can bridge the gap between a consumer quickly clicking though your site, and one that is actively learning about you and what you can offer.

Lesson: Consumers are visual. Professional photography and video can make your company's website or social media look stellar, as well as engage your customer. Don't whip out your digital camera or camcorder, or plug up your website with cheap stock images. Leave the visual elements to the professionals, and develop your brand.

4) The Social Media Manager
Ahhh, Social Media Manager! A title of a person who did not exist so long ago. A title you may not even recognize.

Social Media Managers are the ones who continually update your website so consumers do not think you went out of business. They write your blogs, tweet for you on twitter, run your Face Book, and stay up to date on your competition. They may also create polls on Face Book, or organize live events. Your Social Media Manager may even take on the role of PR Rep by writing Press Releases, on occasion.

Social Media Managers are the cohesive unit between your live business, your website, and all your social media outlets.

But many people put social media on a back burner, thinking it secondary, and hand it off to an intern or friend with no vested interest in their company.

Recently I was on the Face Book page of a local restaurant who posted that that they had a "buy one, get one free lunch special" coupon on their website . All of the Face Book fans flocked to the website lusting after that free plate of pasta, only to find an expired coupon from a year ago. A restaurant employee later told me their Face Book fan page was being run by a student, in another state.

Lesson: Invest in a Social Media Manager if you do not have the time to tweet on Twitter, post on Face Book, or blog your little heart out. This can be a full-time position for larger companies, or for small business, this could simply mean a small monthly fee for a contractor who is off site but dedicated to promoting your brand.

Also, I would highly recommend finding someone local, who keeps up with current events in your city, rather than farming the job out to a telecommuter. And sometimes your website guy may try to take over this role, but it is better to let him focus on what he does best, the technical side of your website and SEO !

OVERVIEW

Social Media Marketing may be new territory for most businesses, but with the right people in place, you can be an active competitor. Most businesses will never reach their greatest potential until they are actively optimizing their social media.

If you make the time to find the right people to create and manage your website, SEO, visuals, as well as social media communications, it will be time and money well spent.

Once you have these companies and individuals in place, be sure and introduce them to one another. Together they can be a well oiled machine that can drive your business to the next level.