Friday, May 27, 2011

SmugMug LA - Group Shoot

SmugMug LA User Group - had a great group shoot last nigh at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn. The Theme was 50's style pinup. It was a great turnout, I believe there were around 50 Photographers. Only 3 models which looked like a challenge but after all everyone was very civilized and people had the chance to take their turn. The whole event was going on for about 3 hours, there were 3 different lighting setups, people pitched in with food and snacks, the models brought a few outfits and were extremely patient with everyone, so you could not ask for more. The Photographers were from all levels of Photography and a lot of them brought interesting new gadgets, so the room was quite busy and full of interaction. I have seen people showing equipment, skills and techniques to others that just turned the whole atmosphere into a warm welcoming environment.

The SmugMug La User Group host monthly events ( more about it at : - meetup.com/LASmugMug or on facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group_104717833249). The group is leader is Chris Schmitt ( and Tom Galassi as Assistant Organizer )who just recently took over this group and really shook things up in a good way. He brought a whole new level of interaction and learning experiences to the group - so if you live in LA and you are a Photographer, specially if you use SmugMug this is the right place to start socializing and learning. Below you will find some of the shots I have grabbed at the event. A faithful and regular sponsor of these events is the Photo Learning Center - who also provided I believe all the equipment to the Pinup shoot mentioned above. Which means hands on training for new photographers and given the fact that its a free group to join this is just an amazing value for the beginners. So go check out SmugMug:)

and here is a timelapse of the event - enjoy!

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Picture from The SmugMugLA group shoot - 50's Pinup Style - quick video of my stills in motion :)

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Picture from The SmugMugLA group shoot - 50's Pinup Style :)

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Picture from The SmugMugLA group shoot - 50's Pinup Style :)

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Picture from The SmugMugLA group shoot - 50's Pinup Style :)

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Picture from The SmugMugLA group shoot - 50's Pinup Style :)

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Picture from The SmugMugLA group shoot - 50's Pinup Style :)

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Picture from The SmugMugLA group shoot - 50's Pinup Style :)

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Picture from The SmugMugLA group shoot

Sunday, May 22, 2011

New Promo Video!

I just did a quick Promotional video for my site www.csabafikker.com - I figured people like to watch videos this might be another avenue to grab potential clients eyesight.
I will be including these type of video marketing pieces in my future advertising campaigns. Any thoughts? am I way out there with this type of promo pieces?

Saturday, May 21, 2011

10 Things to do 4 a Photographer's Marketing Campaign Success





Three days ago I have launched my new Photography website www.csabafikker.com and i have launched a large scale advertising campaign simultaneously. The results in the past 72 hours were amazing. I have quadrupled my Twitter followers and I went from 23 fans on my Csaba Fikker Photography Facebook page to close to 500 Fans, my site had 18,000 hits in 72 hours and I booked my first job this morning as a result of this campaign.

I'm still learning the whole process but I'm loving the results and here are some of the things that I did and I can share with you.

-1) Designed a kick ass website, took me over a month:)

-2) I created a Facebook Fan Page

-3) Redesigned my Twitter Account

-4) Created a Tumblr Account

-5) Flickr Account

-6) SmugMug Pro Account - this is where I load all my clients photos

-7)Linked all the accounts together - exmpl. anytime I post something on Flickr it will be grabbed by Tumblr and posted as a Twitter and create a note of it on My Facebook Page. Right there you have an automated system where you create pages and links instantly as soon as you post images.

8) TWIENDS.COM Account - this seems to be important but not sure of the long term value yet. Twiends.com so far brought me the most traffic, most twitter followers and Facebook Fans.

9) Created an event on Facebook for the Launch of my website where I have invited all my 650 Friends

10) I created a Promotional Giveaway Photo Shoot Package that can be won as long as you like my Facebook Fan page.

Looking at the results in 72 hours this is looking like a winner. I have a 400% larger following base that I can start marketing to in the following days. Also by keeping all my fans interacting it also helps spreading the word, higher rankings, more page and portfolio views etc.

I'm planing on Phase two of this campaign in about 10 days and I will sure write about it here on Freelance-Lifestyle

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Win an $800 Valued Photography Package!!!

After a month of hard work I have finally Launched my new site www.csabafikker.com

. I would like to invite you all to go see some of my work, the services I offer and just to let me know how bad ass the site looks:)

WIN a $800 PHOTO SHOOT PACKAGE!!!

One lucky person will be randomly selected for a 3 hour outdoor photo shoot in the Los Angeles area. The Package Includes:

- a 3 hour outdoor photo session
- Professional Hair and Makeup
- 2 Professionally Retouched Photos
- 1X 13"x19" Large Print
- Online Photo Gallery

to Enter this contest all you have to do is visit my FB Fan Page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Csaba-Fikker-Photography/361000681225

click on "LIKE" and leave a comment.
*If You Already LIKE'd my page just leave a comment and you will be entered as well.

On June 1st 2011 one random Winner will be selected and announced on my Fan Page.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

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Steel Pulse Concert Pictures up on www.IGotSnapped.com

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Saturday night I went out to shoot and I ended up at a Great Steel Pulse Concert at Canyon Club, Ca - more Pictures from the concert can be found at http://www.igotsnapped.com/Event-Photos-by-Csaba-Fikker/PublicEvents/Steel-Pulse-Concert

Monday, May 2, 2011

Strange Days Concert

Strange Days Concert

If you ever wanted to relive The Doors, and see Jim Morrison the closest thing to that might be Strange Days a Doors Tribute Band from California. The Guitar Player Robert Carston has actually played with the Doors - and the Singe Jason Tosta sound just Like Jim Morrison, They throw down a hell of a show and they sound so close to the original thing that you do not need a drink or two to believe its the real thing.