Renovating the 100-year-old house.
MUJI Brings Its Minimalist Styling to Kamogawa Airbnb
Wannabe Horse Photographer Demands $1,000 for Training
In a viral post on Reddit, a user has described how a photographer demanded $1,000 to be trained in the art of horse photography.
A Reddit user named u/Flimsy-Field-8321 shared the story in a post that outraged and amused readers.
The Reddit user describes themself as a horse person who is “extremely fortunate” to have access to “a gorgeous barn with the best trainer.”
They claim to have met a photographer through a business networking group. And a few weeks ago, the photographer, who typically does family portraits and sports events, contacted them asking for help.
The photographer wanted to take up equestrian photography and asked if the Reddit user could offer any advice on breaking into the profession.
The Reddit user was happy to oblige and even ended up inviting the photographer to a horse show so he could be taught by a top trainer in return for providing low-cost prints.
“He called me a couple of weeks ago and told me he wanted to break into equestrian photography and would I have any advice on how to do that. I invited him to our barn to discuss,” the Reddit user says.
“He came and had a terrific time, took some photos, and we talked about having him attend a horse show with us.
“In return for the trainer and the barn girls advising him on what he should be looking for and what angles to shoot during the show, he would provide prints at low cost.”
The Reddit user explains how this experience with a top horse trainer was an excellent opportunity to learn about what it takes to be an equine photographer.
“We talked about how valuable the trainer’s time was and yet she was willing to take the time with him,” the Redditor explains.
“Now this trainer is one of the top in the north east and also works with TV and movies to train actors who need to be on horseback.
“She is much in demand, but because I asked her, she would advise the photographer at the show, and also allow him to attend a group jumping lesson for more training.
“Obviously she is not a photographer, but is well versed in what actions shots of horses should involve. He seemed very excited about the opportunity and seemed to understand the value.”
‘I’ll Need $1,000 Up Front’
However, the Reddit user was left shocked when the photographer contacted them shortly after their meeting and demanded $1,000 to be trained at the horse show.
They also demanded that no other photographer attend the horse show so that he had exclusivity over the event and could sell his images to the competitors.
“Well, last night he emailed me. Instead of providing low cost shots in exchange for knowledge in horse behavior, action, etc, he decided that he ‘needs $1,000 up front’ to attend the show, and needs assurance he will be the only photographer there,” the Redditor says.
“Further he needs the email addresses of every competitor so he can sell his photos. This is the polar opposite of what we discussed. I was dying laughing.”
‘This Kind of Attitude Kills Me’
The Reddit user couldn’t believe what they were hearing from the photographer. Readers were also stunned by the photographer’s request and claimed that he should never have passed up the valuable training offered to him.
“That kind of attitude kills me. Having a decent camera doesn’t make someone a photographer any more than wearing a striped shirt makes me a zebra,” a reader writes.
Another Reddit user comments: “He is an idiot as he will lose a good opportunity.”
Several readers asked for the Reddit user’s email back to the photographer’s demands and they shared their reply in a comment.
In response, the photographer was apprently “sorry for the miscommunication.”
Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.
Rachel Hulin joins the L.A. Times as deputy director of photography
The following announcement is sent on behalf of Executive Director of Photography Kim Chapin:
We are thrilled to announce that Rachel Hulin has joined the Los Angeles Times as our deputy director of photography, focusing on entertainment, features and lifestyle coverage.
Hulin is a photographer, writer and author. She was previously photo editor for Rolling Stone, Radar magazine and People magazine. She thrives on pairing narratives with new modes of delivery, developing fresh visual stories across all platforms.
Hulin began her career at the Guggenheim Museum, where she created visual solutions for the museum’s online offerings, and also spent time at the International Center of Photography, where she led the existing post-baccalaureate programs and helped to establish a new graduate program in photography.
Hulin’s fine art photography has been exhibited at the Bronx Museum of the Arts and ClampArt Gallery. Her editorial clients have included the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, the New Republic and Real Simple.
Additionally, Hulin is the author of “Flying Henry,” a children’s book published by powerHouse Books in 2013, and “Hey Harry, Hey Matilda,” a novel released by Doubleday in 2017.
She has a bachelor of arts from Brown University and a master of arts from New York University. Hulin started July 10.
Zillennials Are Saving A Lot Of Money Using A.I. For Professional Headshots Instead Of Hiring Photographers
Most adults have been told that professional headshots are needed to be taken seriously in any career. The photos, while useful, can run anywhere between $125-$500 from skilled photographers, but A.I. is making it happen for less than the cost of lunch.
Platforms like Remini and Canva’s Magic Edit tool are quickly gaining popularity among millennial and Gen Z users that are paying about $9.99/week to change their casual selfies into hi-res professional headshots in seconds.
“The response is actually really energizing,” Tom Bevan, Canva’s Product Marketing Manager told ESSENCE back in May, not too long after the Magic Edit tool launched.
The tool has already garnered the praise of social media users, with the #WorkTok community offering glowing reviews about the easy yet effective experience.
Article continues after video.
While it has its advantages, A.I. generated photography isn’t perfect.
As Fortune points out Remini’s headshots feature unnaturally smooth skin on users and distorted hands.
Some experts warn that AI is quickly poised to change not only the photography industry, but the way we perceive reality overall.
“The tools are going to get better, they’re going to get cheaper, and there will come a day when nothing you see on the internet can be believed,” said Wasim Khaled, chief executive of Blackbird.AI, a company that helps clients fight disinformation in an April 8 report.
AI-Enhanced Samsung Bespoke Vacuums Get Smarter, More Efficient
It’s only been a little over a year since Samsung launched the original Bespoke Jet stick vacuum, an all-in-one cordless cleaning appliance with a decor-friendly design and adaptable multi-surface brush and suction capabilities, and they’re already updating the device with the addition of those now two ubiquitous letters: AI.
Beyond its new satin black finish, the artificial intelligence enhanced Samsung Bespoke Jet AI may appear indistinguishable from its launch model predecessor. But don’t let outward appearances fool you, there are several notable performance and efficiency improvements that distinguish this new model as a distinct successor (and sets to warrant its $300 price bump).
The new Bespoke Jet AI stick vacuum was spotlighted during the recent Samsung Bespoke Life 2023 livestream, where the Korean manufacturer spotlighted numerous product announcements within the smart home realm. To the right, the Bespoke Jet Bot AI+ robot vacuum is visible, another cleaning device updated with artificial intelligence.
An Achille’s heel of cordless vacuums beyond suction has always been battery life. To address this limitation, Samsung upgraded the Bespoke Jet AI features with a large 4,500mAh battery delivering 100 minutes of runtime. That’s an impressive 80% improvement in capacity than the previous Bespoke Jet and probably good for several cleaning sessions.
Now you may be wondering about artificial intelligence’s role in this new model and if it really improves chasing down dust bunnies and errant pieces of snacks. Samsung’s AI Cleaning Mode is essentially smart enough to distinguish between different floor types as quickly as you might, adjusting the cleaning power and in turn stretch out battery life. The vacuum does all this via sensors to feed the vac’s AI data about the brush load alongside the air pressure through pressure sensors (for example, a tufted rug will result in higher air pressure than a wood floor).
In turn the AI system dials up or down suction power and brush roll speed to optimal settings on the fly. You’ll definitely notice when the AI is working, as it results in audible changes similar to shifting gears in a car while it switches from hard wood floors, carpet, rugs, and tiles, adjusting suction and brush performance near instantaneously.
Samsung has also switched out the heart of the Bespoke Jet AI with an upgraded HexaJet Motor. This new motor brings with it a 25% increase in suction power compared to the original Bespoke Jet AI. What’s impressive is while the motor boosts the vacuum’s suction power to 280W, the motor is 52% more efficient. At max setting, we found the suction power is comparable to a corded vacuum, so strong it is capable of pulling up low pile area rugs and runners.
Samsung says the Bespoke Jet AI is the first cordless stick vacuum to feature an AI verification from UL Solutions, a newly set standard of testing created to test AI algorithm product claims independently and determine whether the AI can adapt to both unstructured and structured conditions (versus machine learning, the older and less adaptable software+hardware optimization technology).
The new model retains the same automatic self-emptying suction base as the previous model, delivering an oh-so-satisfying “now you see it, now you don’t” magic act after each cleaning session.
And this vacuum being an extension of Samsung’s smart home ecosystem, there’s also Wi-Fi connectivity built-in, allowing users to add the Bespoke Jet AI into the SmartThings app to further customize the vacuum and its functions. The app also gives owners the option to run the smart self-diagnosis function to keep their vacuum running at tip-top.
We just hope Samsung eventually adds a few more color options to this top tier model. The original Bespoke Jet [shown above] nabbed an iF Design Award 2022 a year ago with a trio of interior design friendly hues to appeal to those homeowners who prefer to keep their vacuum out in the open, ready for duty at a moment’s notice – a purely aesthetic preference we do not believe has changed even with the advent of artificial intelligence.
The Samsung Bespoke Jet AI is not yet available, but is listed at samsung.com as a pre-order with a limited period $150 discount ahead of availability.
This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!
Perspectives in Native American Studies
Last fall, poet Heid Erdrich ’86, an award-winning author and educator, was invited by the Department of Native American and Indigenous Studies to teach NAIS 8: Perspectives in Native American Studies.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Native American Studies Program and of co-education at Dartmouth, Erdrich, a visiting professor, invited a different Native American alumna to the class each week. The speakers included women artists, authors, and activists, and what they had to say resonated with students.
Mastering the Art of Marketing Reporting
The Gist
- Master reporting. Marketing reporting is pivotal in optimizing strategies.
- Overcome challenges. Successful marketers navigate reporting hurdles effectively.
- Balance matters. Harmonize data explanation and exploration in reports.
Marketing reporting plays a pivotal role in evaluating the success of campaigns, optimizing strategies and guiding future decision-making. Nonetheless, effectively demonstrating marketing’s influence during report presentations can be an intricate task, riddled with frequent challenges.
From grappling with an overwhelming deluge of data to struggling to communicate effectively with the intended audience, marketers often encounter hurdles that hinder the extraction of meaningful insights from their efforts. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. With actionable tips and strategies to overcome these challenges in marketing reporting, marketers can be empowered to create impactful reports that cut through the noise, speak to their audience effectively and surface the metrics that truly matter in driving success.
Related Article: Why Causal AI Is the New Marketer Must-Have for Deeper Insights
The Secret to Good Marketing Reports: You Need Multiple Reports
When making marketing reports, you will generally have two audiences with two very different outcomes: the various stakeholders within your organization who need high-level insight into marketing and the marketing team looking for continual improvement through deep data analysis. The first group needs reports that explain data, while the second needs reports that explore data. Both types of data analysis are highly useful but have key differences.
Explanation reports:
- Have one visualization that answers one question; don’t try to “combine” data points!
- Speak directly to business questions rather than show statistics; think, “What channel performed best this quarter?” vs. “here are all the channels we used this quarter.”
- Are digestible at a high level and require minimal knowledge outside of the report itself.
Exploration reports:
Learning Opportunities
- Show the entire universe of your efforts and impacts.
- Often need analysis to find the key insights explanation reports don’t surface.
- Can be used to develop/test marketing experiments.
If you’re wondering whether your audience needs explanation or exploration reporting, ask these key questions:
- Who needs this report’s information communicated to them?
- What insights or actions do you want to communicate?
- How will the report’s data strengthen your argument or make action clearer?
Related Article: The Best Marketing Plans in a Cookieless World
Tips for Marketing Reporting Success
- Marketers often underestimate their expertise and assume the audience knows better about data. As the expert, you know what matters the most. Interpret data, facilitate understanding and encourage action by finding key insights and distilling them into bite-sized chunks. Communicate with confidence when using data.
- A common error marketers make is to present reports with extensive underlying data and complexity, neglecting the need for clear explanations. It’s tempting to showcase the thorough analysis you’ve performed; however, this makes your audience redo the analysis themselves! Concentrate on delivering the necessary information they require.
- It’s important — especially in live presentations — to let your audience know their role. What are the key action items and decisions that need to be made by them? Stating this at the beginning of your presentation prepares attendees to consider outcomes and keep them in mind during your analysis.
- Sometimes, you may need to present reporting when you don’t know what action items must be considered. In these cases, prepare and suggest possible next steps as a springboard for discussion. Making your audience make a decision versus brainstorming helps keep them engaged and focused on outcomes.
- If brevity is the soul of wit, then being succinct is the soul of insight. What would you highlight if you only had two minutes to tell your audience what they need to know? It’s not uncommon for leaders who are in executive roles to demonstrate High D behaviors, so “be brief, be bright, be gone!” matters.
Final Thoughts on Successful Marketing Reports
The key to marketing reporting success is finding the balance between delivering clear explanations and exploring the depths of data. By recognizing the different needs of your audience and providing reports that address their specific requirements, you can effectively communicate insights, prompt action and drive continual improvement.
Remember to be concise, purposeful and adaptable, and you will be able to ensure that your reports resonate with stakeholders and deliver meaningful impact.
Learn how you can join our contributor community.
Exchange.art Integrates with Ethereum: Boosts Digital Art Market
Pentwater’s Gallery Stroll Friday evening, Sculpture Walk ongoing
PENTWATER — The Pentwater Arts Council is sponsoring its first of two Gallery Stroll events from 4-7 p.m. Friday.
The Demand for Instant Images is Upending Wedding Photography
Couples increasingly want instant images from their wedding photographer so they can update their social media pages immediately after the ceremony.
The Associated Press (AP) spoke to a number of wedding photographers who say couples are opting for less tradition and that means they also want changes in how their hired photographer operates too.
Typically, couples will wait weeks and months for their photos. But Kari Bjorn, who operates Kari Bjorn Photography in Arkansas, senses that what the bride and groom want is to update their Instagram pages with wedding photos on the day of the event.
Bjorn says he has noticed an uptick of “content creator” roles being advertised and he has responded by adding new services like wedding-day GIFs.
“Essentially it’s a contractor whose job it is to shoot and publish phone content for the bride and groom on their wedding day so they don’t have to,” he tells AP. “I feel like people really want to post things instantly as their event is happening.”
More Work for Photographers
A wedding is a big job for a photographer. The number of photos shot easily stretches into the thousands and that means an incredible amount of time spent on the computer tweaking shadows and color balance.
However, the demand for instant imagery is something that Jonica Moore from Brooklyn, New York may require extra help for.
“If you’re a photographer, you don’t really have time to do that,” she tells the AP.
Sarah and Peter Olson, a husband and wife team from Boston, say they are hiring an assistant to help them “specifically grab content we can use for social media and behind-the-scenes type content.” The Olsons have started shooting videos vertically so the clips can easily be posted as Reels on Instagram.
“We try to deliver teasers on social media in 24 to 48 hours,” adds Peter who runs CityLux Studio with Sarah.
A wedding photographer from Baltimore, Naomi Cataldo of Urban Row Photography, says that she hasn’t changed how she works all that much but she now turns around photos in a shorter time period.
Cataldo used to send photos after eight to 10 weeks but now shares previews with the couple within the first week and the full set is delivered within four to six weeks.
Cataldo also tells the AP that she has noticed couples forgoing traditional wedding features like a bouquet toss or cake cutting.
“Couples are asking for more personalized details and non-traditional, unique elements and events for their wedding day or weekend, and a lot less of just doing things for tradition’s sake,” she adds.
Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.
