About Us
Greater Lansing Michigan and across the USA
Helping businesses with creative, quality photographs that tell their story.
You want your digital identity to tell your story.
That is what we do.
My mother handed me a camera when I was 6 years old. Her cousin's husband gave me my first lesson in photography and I became obsessed. By the 8th grade I had a darkroom and enlarger. In October of 1967 I sold my first photograph to the Lansing State Journal and a few weeks later started shooting for both The Lansing State Journal as well as the Williamston Enterprise and have been "professional" every since. I went to college at RIT in Rochester, New York majoring in professional photography, minor in business, and followed college with the US Army as a motion picture director. Since then I've run a commercial photography business primarily helping businesses with their advertising and marketing photographs.
How We Got Started
A writer asked me if I would create photographs for the Lansing State Journal that would be used with his stories. That was the beginning.
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (83)
"JD is a very talented professional commercial photographer whom I had the privilege of meeting..."
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"JD is a very talented professional commercial photographer whom I had the privilege of meeting many years ago when I was assigned to photograph him for a story we were doing about him for the Lansing State Journal. Since then, I have followed his career and taken inspiration from his work and professionalism."
" I've met J.D. on several occasions and am really impressed with him and his business. His years..."
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" I've met J.D. on several occasions and am really impressed with him and his business. His years of professional experience assure you that you are getting top-quality work, but it's the little things that set J.D. apart from the pack. He understands WHY good photography is important to you. Whether is making your business shine or your family smile -- or both! -- J.D. will take care of you."
Products & Services
Specialize in Exterior and Interior Architectural Photography. Verticals are Vertical and Shadows and Highlights are within control. An architect...
We have fun creating our business portraits. Yesterday a gentleman came to the studio not at all pleased that his company was requiring him to get...
Gallery
Recommendations Given (79)
"I've known Robb and Lisa for years both as business associates as well as friends. They are both..."
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"I've known Robb and Lisa for years both as business associates as well as friends. They are both genuine and people of high integrity. It has been a privilege and and honor to know them."
"Good reliable person with a worthwhile service."
Recent Activity
I understand my clients are human and have lives in addition to J.D. Small Studios. Whatever the situation is for them, I simply call and schedule a new appointment. Life happens and with the schedules we are expected to keep, I totally understand. This hold true whether they are a client or a...
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I understand my clients are human and have lives in addition to J.D. Small Studios. Whatever the situation is for them, I simply call and schedule a new appointment. Life happens and with the schedules we are expected to keep, I totally understand. This hold true whether they are a client or a prospect or simply someone that has agreed to get together. It doesn't matter. We are all in this together.
1 Reply
Find a new client. This is an ongoing reason to continue marketing. Services are "no longer required" for a variety of reasons, many of which you have nothing to do with. The answer is to continually be in search of new clients which you can help.
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Find a new client. This is an ongoing reason to continue marketing. Services are "no longer required" for a variety of reasons, many of which you have nothing to do with. The answer is to continually be in search of new clients which you can help.
I started out working for my dad as a carpenter and my kids started out working for me as an assistant. While it may not seem fair now, the way you are being treated, it may well be beneficial for you in the future. I would suggest you might talk with your parents privately but also start...
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I started out working for my dad as a carpenter and my kids started out working for me as an assistant. While it may not seem fair now, the way you are being treated, it may well be beneficial for you in the future. I would suggest you might talk with your parents privately but also start thinking about some of the advantages of having your job in your parents' company. Start making a list every morning of ten things you are grateful for. I call it my golden list of gratitude. Also . . . what book are you reading right now to improve your life? The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall may be a good book with which to start reading. You should be reading books to expand your mind continuously. The last thing I will say is that there is no job that is perfect. I spent the first 8 years out of college looking for a perfect job. There isn't one. No matter what you do, there will be things you don't like about it. Even running your own business . . . there are things that cause grief. Part of life is learning to deal with the challenges and learning from them. There is a silver lining somewhere, but it may not be initially apparent.
For video we use Ciberlink PowerDirector. It is easy to use, quick to learn and will do some things that apparently the fancy programs don't do. (which I don't get, but when I have a joint effort, I am always the one that puts titles and special touches on the video.) For still photography I...
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For video we use Ciberlink PowerDirector. It is easy to use, quick to learn and will do some things that apparently the fancy programs don't do. (which I don't get, but when I have a joint effort, I am always the one that puts titles and special touches on the video.) For still photography I use Photoshop and have the subscription which provides an affordable way to keep the program updated.
Social networking is the way I would go about this today. Build a network with something you can offer a large number of "friends" and occasionally tell a story and offer a photograph or video of someone you helped. Be sure to get a release if you use their name or photograph, but if you don't...
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Social networking is the way I would go about this today. Build a network with something you can offer a large number of "friends" and occasionally tell a story and offer a photograph or video of someone you helped. Be sure to get a release if you use their name or photograph, but if you don't have a release you can still tell the story. On LinkedIn you can tell about what you do on the profile. I have learned as much as I can about social network marketing . . . study, read, watch videos . . . post regularly and often.
When we used to photographs weddings, we provided our brides with names, numbers and web sites of companies we had worked with and that did an especially nice job.
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When we used to photographs weddings, we provided our brides with names, numbers and web sites of companies we had worked with and that did an especially nice job.
joyofmarketing.com
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joyofmarketing.com
The best CRM I have found for any business is ACT Pro. You can buy the program and don't have to pay a monthly fee with the risk of not being able to access the internet. You have complete control of the layout and has two ways to keep records of past activity as well as reminders for phone...
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The best CRM I have found for any business is ACT Pro. You can buy the program and don't have to pay a monthly fee with the risk of not being able to access the internet. You have complete control of the layout and has two ways to keep records of past activity as well as reminders for phone calls, meetings and ToDo. I've used ACT since it was a dos program and when it became ACT! for Windows I continued using it. At the turn of the century I started trying other CRMs and tracking options . . . nothing worked as well as ACT Pro.
For family work including portraits and weddings and other events that concern families, payment is made on the day of the event. Wedding events the payment in full is paid 30 days before the event. Generally when a wedding is booked, 50% of the event is paid for and the balance including sales...
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For family work including portraits and weddings and other events that concern families, payment is made on the day of the event. Wedding events the payment in full is paid 30 days before the event. Generally when a wedding is booked, 50% of the event is paid for and the balance including sales tax is paid 30 days prior to the event.
Commercial clients are requested to pay net 10 once credit has been approved. Our prices reflect a net-10 payment. If the client can not pay that quickly due to their accounting system, our prices reflect their payment approach - Net 30 Net-45 Net 60 Net 180. If there credit has not been approved, payment is due on delivery.
In addition to the normal objectives, I find networking to be a terrific way to meet and find partners that can help with my needs. From Networking Events, I currently work with a financial planner, a chiropractor, a computer wizard, three videographers and video editors, handyman repair...
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In addition to the normal objectives, I find networking to be a terrific way to meet and find partners that can help with my needs. From Networking Events, I currently work with a financial planner, a chiropractor, a computer wizard, three videographers and video editors, handyman repair person, cleaning team, landscaping experts, flower arrangements, printer, real estate person, brick and fireplace supplier, and the list goes on and on. Networking has been and continues to be a tremendous tool in my business.
