Here’s THE June workshop – now 28 years famous – that may very well save your business for all time. Spaces are still open to attend what may well be the last Wall Portrait Conference with Ken Whitmire. Sunday, June 26 – Friday, July 1 in Ken’s studio in Yakima, Washington.
Ken demonstrating in his studio garden.
As a professional portrait photographer, you may feel your chosen life’s work is being attacked on all sides. I feel this way too. Digital photography long made file quality a given for the rankest of amateurs; even point and shoots practically do it for you. Everybody, just everybody seems to be new in our industry – and in consequence it’s no secret that art, insight and the substance of memories has generally gone down the drain. Price cutting is rampant, and everybody just hands over the files with no finished product ever made. The most precious of precious family pictures are found only in tiny size on the computer or facebook, hardly the status appropriate to the memories of your nearest and dearest. The bottom line is, and has been for some years, the only thing that matters to clients. $$ over end value.
All this is so strange to me, because people are snapping tons more images than ever before. We humans simply crave making pictures of each other. But we do nothing with them, even if we hire a pro for the big family reunion. What are we thinking?
The reality is shoot-and-burn has lowered understanding of the value of portraiture, degraded public trust and opinion of the profession and is precluding long-term enjoyment of investment in photography.
Yet, I want to tell you that I feel Ken Whitmire has the secret for salvation of fine photographers everywhere. Has had it all along. It’s not posing or lighting, though of course you must have these as your base of fine work. It’s an approach of finding out how to give the client the greatest enjoyment of what you do through a system of presentation and helping clients to see what is possible. 
Location is key to wall portrait work.
This is the man who basically invented the concept of large wall d©cor in America. He is one of my mentors and that of my long time colleague Bruce Hudson. Bruce had the privilege of studying with Ken early on at his 1985 Wall Portrait Conference. The experience literally made his business then, and has kept it thriving past economic depression, loss of market share to shoot-and-burn newbees, and technological revolution. This business model, based on intensive attention to product and client service will never go out of style. It is not infrequent that when Bruce and son Josh deliver their trademark – a 50-inch portrait – that the client’s interior designer, builder, and electrician arrive for the occasion. Wanting to make sure the lighting and color scheme of the wall are appropriate for display. “Let us know if there is anything we need to adjust Mr. Hudson”. How would you like your clients to treat you this way?
Wall portraits become fine decorator art.
Great camera technique is important, but only the starting place.
Well you can! And ladies this is an extra special opportunity to learn how to turn your very natural interests in family and memories into a profession for life. The Wall Portrait Conference is six days of the most serious (but totally fun) mentoring of most photographers’ careers. I did it too, right after I received my Master Photographic Craftsman degrees in 1998. Ken’s approach really works. I just hung 13 large canvases in a client’s home, my largest sale ever. Surprise, surprise! Ken’s teaching is evergreen; nothing is new, yet everything is fresh! This workshop is the picture of what is to come.
Bruce Hudson asks, “Where would I be right now if I never learned the finer points of creating wall d©cor? Where would I be if I never studied with Ken Whitmire?” Don’t miss out on what may be the last workshop Ken will host.
Are these photographers having fun? Come and find out how much fun it is to make a profit.
