NEW
Hi Anie,
How is Y and the kids? I take it you are in some exotic location teaching right now.
This October will be one year since I attended Yervants workshop in Italy. The workshop is the BEST investment I have made to this day in regards to my business. Let me tell you, I have turned my studio around 1000% My average booking before Italy was around the $3000-$3500 area. Now I have confirmed bookings for this year and next year between $8500 - $9500! And I have even invoiced and paid in full one client who spent over $ 24000 !!!!! I have raised my prices about a dozen times over the last 9 months and the more I raise it the more people want to book with my studio. I would have never thought that my busiest year in the 10 years that I have had my studio, would have happened through a " recession ".
I wanted to say again THANK YOU to you and your husband. Your workshops helped me to re-invent my self as a photographer and as a business person. I am excited to see how things will go in the future!
THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!!!
Kind Regards,
Mark Anthony
www.markanthony.ca
www.markanthonyblog.ca
Canada
NEW
Hi Anie and Yervant,
I hope you are both well, and that the studio move has been totally successful.
So - Yervant and Anie in Venice 2008 - did it make a difference to Steve Ramsden Photography??
Well, we just won the Yorkshire Region BIPP Awards in both the Avant Garde and the Classic Wedding categories, and I have to say, Mr Z had quite an influence on us!
First of all, the classic section. The winner of this section was an image I showed Yervant as part of my critique. He said it was too dark at the edges, lift some of the detail out, and scored it an 83 (I'm sure this is all dim and distant memory for you guys now, but to me it's as good as yesterday). Well, I listened, did what Yervant said, and the image won the category. Not only that, we were up against Pete Bristo, the only guy awarded FBIPP in Weddings for years in England, so the opposition was quite strong!
Also, we won the Avant Garde category, also against my friend Mr Bristo. I have attached the before and after pictures. Remember we flew out of Italy late because of the strike? We eventually flew at 30 minutes past midnight, and arrived in Manchester at 7.45am. We had to be 100 miles away photographing a wedding by 11.15pm - we just made it in time. At that wedding I took the Avant Garde winning picture. Not only would I never have taken the picture in the first place pre 'Yervant Course' (because the background would have been too messy for just a normal processing), I would not have finished it in the way I did. I have taken plenty of weddings at this venue before, I just saw it differently on the day, as a direct result of what Yervant taught.
Now we are producing albums with the PP taught by Yervant, our clients can see the difference in the new work, they are telling us they see the difference. This has led to us booking some cracking good weddings next year.
So a huge thank you goes to you both for sharing so openly, and taking us forward. The course really did have an impact for us, we now have marketing to do on the back of the recent BIPP wins, and I'm sure that's just the beginning.
A huge thanks again to you both, I really do feel that you've taken my work up about four levels!!!
With very best wishes,
Steve and Karen Ramsden
UK
NEW
Dear Anie & Yervant,
My absolute wishes and joy to have the pleasure in have participated in
the Venice Workshop !
Your dedication efforts and love to each other and your business stand out
and is a core model for every successful business and relationship. There
are moments in life that changes you, moments that you can remember and
that gives you joy in times when life feels hard. My week attending your
workshop belongs to the one that will give me joy and energy. I feel
honored to have had this great opportunity and hopes it will excel my
Photography to a new level.
Bästa hälsningar / Best regards
Emanuel Higwall
Photographer
Tel +735-512014
www.higwall.com
ANIE!!!!!
Hope all is well. See you in a few weeks at WPPI :-) Please tell you husband I LOVE his new website.
And that video.... WOW. Finally I can truly say I have someone who I can look up to in this industry!
Thank you again for Italy. ( you should really charge double ) It really has changed things for me here in Toronto :-)
Mark Anthony
Canada
Hi Anie and Yervant,
This is just to say a massive thank you to you both for Venice Week 2, 2008.
We had a fabulous week and have learned lots.
I have waited a while to write, to let things sink in. It's easy after a week's training to get carried away. I have to say, the course has triggered a change in our business that may take a year or two to impliment, it is so fundamental. The Post Processing work is of course the most profound change, and it impacts on everything.
We have applied the PP training to our ongoing weddings, and learned a few things along the way.
1) Once you have 'finished' an image, it is sacrilege to use the unfinished version
2) If you have a finished image in an album, it makes all the unfinished stuff in the same album look totally - well, unfinished.
3) Once you learn how to finish images in the way taught by Yervant, there is no going back. Also everything you have ever done so far now looks unfinished, and must therefore be redone. This includes
all sample albums, studio wall images, stationery, marketing materials, my website, the whole business in fact. This did leave me feeling a little overwhelmed initially, as the reality of all this sank in, but the process has to begin somewhere.
4) I have used 'finished' images in some album designs already, the clients can 'see' the difference. I am convinced that by proper finishing, we will elevate ourselves well above our local competition in a way that will be recognized by future clients.
We now have a massive transition to undergo, which basically started with our trip to Venice. To be honest, I hadn't realized the impact that our trip would have, but am extremely grateful for your sharing and your generosity. We really did love every minute, and I am sure we will look back on the week as one of the turning points and accelerators to our own business set up.
Many many thanks, and very best wishes,
Steve and Karen Ramsden
UK
Dear Yervant,
I am your "number one fan", who was fortunate to attend the WPPI Conference in Vegas, and be directed toward your seminar and be able to meet your lovely and special wife, Annie.
You are a master craftsman and your Photoshop inspiration gives me a desire and passion to create the beauty I see that you seem to ignite. After attending Vegas, I came away from that experience saying to myself, "If I could be the secretary of the secretary of the secretary of Annie for the rest of my life, I would be truly happy."! Annie your warmth and generosity are also so evident.
I will treasure my book given as a gift from you.
Thank you again for another outstanding conference in San Diego, ending your 'Two Views' Seminar with Joe Buissink. I came away enlightened once again, and thrilled to have had that experience. Thank you for giving so much to the Photography profession.
You are a gift to any one who is fortunate enough in their lifetime to come across. And lastly, I would be honored to intern with you and Annie.
Thank you for the honor and privilege to know the two of you.
You have enriched my life so much. I am only a student of the art of photography. And now my goals and dreams are to reach your depth and height. You have certainly raised the bar, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will never be the same.
With sincere gratitude.
Sheila Estelle Neira
USA
Attending a workshop with Yervant was the best decision I could have made for my career.
Instead of focusing on how to charge more money we spent our time learning to be better photographers. When your work is phenomenal, the money will follow. His work in Photoshop was purely amazing. He shares his vision and how he creates it, while holding nothing back. He is a true revolutionary in photography.
And with his help I have taken my career to a level I had never imagined possible. I would love to attend every workshop he offers. It's so refreshing to see a photographer of his talent minus all the ego driven madness. He's not only a world class photographer but a phenomenal person as well. I was truly blessed to get to spend some time with him and Anie.
Hey Anie, have you thought about adding a section to the workshops with you teaching? Yervant told us how you run his business and you're responsible for his success. I would love to study with you too.
Talk to you soon,
Kim Nodurft
USA
Dear Anie & Yervant,
Hoping that all is well Down Under. From my side all is good, and I am putting into practice what I have learnt from the Santorini Workshop.
Just off the record, seriously off the record.
Attended a workshop recently and must admit that there is no one who can compare to Yervant, from presentation to enthusiasm.I reckon I have just been spoilt.
Mario Sales
South Africa
Thankyou both so much for one of the most wonderful weeks of my life.
I learnt so much from you both,
I have been to many seminars over the last 22 years in business and this was by far the most open and honest i have ever attended, thankyou again
congratulations also to Yervant for the Album of the Year.
David (flash) Doyle
UK
Thank you for the marvelous experience together in Greece.
It truly was life-changing and inspiring. Speaking as a husband who was involved in my wife’s business from a distance, after having spent a week with you in Santorini, I am now totally enthralled, inspired, motivated, and want to do all I can to assist Shannon and help her as much as I can to not only fulfill her dreams but exceed them. This is what last week in Santorini did for me; so thank you all for being so generous with your time, your experiences, your advice, and your friendship.
We are still soaking it all in, all that we saw, all that we learned, and all whom we were lucky enough to associate with while in Santorini. What a special group indeed!
Take care everyone. We hope to see you soon!
Dave, Shannon, and Camden Norton
USA
I went to Melbourne to do a wedding workshop with yervant, one of the top wedding photographers in the world. What a learning experience. We got to do a shoot in Melbourne with three gorgeous brides in their beautiful gowns. I was so nervous to start I didn't shoot anything! I just watched the rest of the group but I learnt a lot from that too.
One of the many things I love about Yervants work is his choice of locations, he proves time and time again that a great location is not all about a fabulous park and a fountain. Its about the texture and the colour, but most of all its about the light and making the bride and groom look fabulous.
A big thank you to Yervant and Anie for being so fabulous and sharing so much, it was truly inspirational!
Skye Davis
Australia
Hi Anie & Yervant,
I would like to say how much I appreciated the warmth sincerity and encouragement that you gave me during the seminar.Normally I would find an environment such as this as threatening and feel quite left out.
However even though I was challenged and had to put myself on the line I came away knowing the steps I needed to re-invent myself to move to the next level.The people I met I know will be my inspiration, mentors and also lifelong friends.
I have never wanted to be a "Yervant" but have loved sitting at the feet of a master so I can grow to the next level. Thank you for sharing your journey and encouraging us to look within, enjoy our own personal journey and aspire to greater heights.
Love Pam & Geoff
Australia
Dear Anie and Yervant
I just want to thank you both for a most inspiring seminar in Venice. You are both so giving – and your willingness to share your secrets is simply outstanding in the photographic community.
It was the general sentiment of all the other participants with whom I spoke that this was the best seminar they had ever attended.
I hope you will take some time off after this week’s seminar – preferably on a isolated island where Yervant won’t be able to connect to the web and truly relax and recover J – because – Yervant - I want you to be around for many years to come – as a source of inspiration and hopefully also as we get to know each other as a friend of both you and Anie.
Love
Michael Gron
Denmark
Dear Anie, Dear Yervant
Just wanted to tell you that it was a great workshop! Haven't seen a
teacher as excited and enthusiastic as Yervant for... well, for as
long as I can remember! It was a lot of fun and I took a couple of
good lessons back home.
Once again, thanks for the fun workshop and the lessons. Keep up the
great work!
Cheers,
Andreas
Switzerland |
