BNI Seven-Minute Presentation
Friday, April 21, 2006
This morning, I want you to learn about my philosophy, about what makes me unique, and to educate, excite
and inspire you about how to find and give me good referrals.
A friend recently asked me, "Bruce, where do you find inspiration? The easy answer would be to say, "I find
inspiration everywhere and in everything." But the more I thought about this, I more I thought the question
better answered might be: "Why do you find inspiration?"
In his celebrated book, The Pursuit of Wow, which talked about stepping out (individuals at all levels in
business--in LIFE) and standing out from a crowd of look-alikes, Tom Peters wrote:
”Work and business can be creative and exciting. A journey of lifelong learning and constant surprise. But, to
be honest, I think such rewards will only be yours if you learn to approach your career and enterprise with the
strategy I call......The pursuit of wow!”
The pursuit of wow. This is the way I try to live my life; all day; every day; Every where I turn and see I truly am
astonished. I work every day, not just when I am photographing a wedding; everyday I use my camera in the
same manner a painter uses a brush every day, a sculptor a chisel, a pianist a piano. I am always creating
images. And by constantly creating images, I continue to see new things in the world every day; and there is
only one way to see new things and that is to be astonished.
My business cards reads: Studio 19, FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY
I see myself as an artist. Whether I am photographing a wedding, a cat or dog, a nude, nature, a baby, a
pregnant woman, a portrait……I consider all my photography art; and all my photography is personal work.
Life is my subject matter.
The first thing that differentiates me from most wedding and portrait photographers is I am trained as an art
historian and I worked as a photojournalist. Thus, I have a trained eye that sees the decisive moment.
Also, I am the creator and director of an art gallery devoted to promoting young women artists. And my fine
art photography is in a number of private collections throughout the world.
People say of my photography:
Browsing your (photography) is like walking thru a museum and watching a documentary on the history of photography. you have managed to make art your life itself.
So many of your images triggers an emotional response that makes me FEEL. And dear Bruce in a world where I have learned to numb that down, that is powerful.
Thank you for making my life more beautiful with each of your photographs
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful images and words. Your vision is a gift.
Art and Life. I bring to my fine art wedding photography all that I am and all that I have been. Photojournalism, for example, trained me to work with existing light and backgrounds, to anticipate and to be on my toes. I try to do the best I can… my way, setting myself and my studio apart. I cater to my clients and let them know my goal is to make them happy—to make their memorable events more memorable; to treat them great so they will continue to come back to me year after year, memorable event after memorable event. Two ways I help to ensure this are: 1) I guarantee all my work; you don’t like it, I return your money and 2) all wedding clients are automatically enrolled in the Studio 19 Lifetime Portrait Club, in which they are entitled to a free portrait sitting every year—their only cost being the prints.
My approach to a wedding day is a day in the life. Couples select me as their wedding photographer because they are touched by my images and they share my vision. My nature is that of a romantic. I am inspired by not only the love of the couple, but the love of family, friends and children. My techniques used are those of a wedding photojournalist, but beyond photojournalism, there is art. I see myself as an artist and the wedding is the subject matter of my art. I also offer couples, family and friends archival museum quality prints and custom framing.
In conclusion, drawing on a degree in art history, a passion for telling stories and years of working as a
photojournalist helps me to follow my heart; bringing a heightened sensitivity to my wedding photography--
artful, real-life images made with quiet observation.
I see the emotion in a moment, in every small detail, and capture it—photographs that express a personality
and show the beautiful scenes that could only happen on a wedding day.
I am also the owner and director of Studio 19 which is dedicated to showcasing the talents of young women
photographers from the around the world.
My photography studio is located in my loft and residence in Eastworks.
A bride once asked me, "Bruce, where do you find inspiration?” And I answered, "I find inspiration in abride’s smile, a groom’s hand-shake, a child’s laugh, a mom and dad’s tear, a friend’s joke. The moments
which make a wedding day special and unique.”
The pursuit of Wow. Astonishment.
Three professions that would help me increase my business the most are:
Florists
Pastors and Rabbis
Wedding Consultants and Planners
Thank You. Questions?