Kevin Kubota takes his show on the road.  This time to Berkeley, California

If you’ve ever attended any event hosted by by Kevin Kubota and his Kubota Image Tools team, you will know that this is an investment that is well worth your time.  Jules and I were fortunate enough to go to Kevin’s Bay Area Studio Power System program last week, and I’d like to tell you a little about it.  

The Kubota mantra is to “empower photographers” and man, does he ever!  Day One of his two-day tour was actually FREE to all participants, and included a talk from Bill Moore of Silverback Imaging on how to partner with various resources to make your studio prosper.  Bill’s approach to photography comes from his business background which gives him a great perspective on who you need to have on your team in order to really become a success.  Bill’s website and blog are chock full of great resources and ideas on how to move forward in your business which is why Jules Café is such a fan!  

DAY ONE

AsukaBooks 

If you are looking for some new and innovative products for your clients, check out these books. Representatives from AsukaBooks presented their line of gorgeous coffee table books, and demonstrated their album making software.

Cornerstones of Success

What would you do if you only had $2000 to spend on your business this year?  or  What is the worst thing you ever did for your business?   Wouldn’t it be great to be able to ask some of the most successful photographers pressing questions like these and learn their secrets?  Well, now you can!   Kevin gave a talk that revealed the efforts of a project he embarked on last year.  For this project, Kevin interviewed photographers and business people that stood out to him.  His questions ranged from personal to professional, and what came out of this effort was a dynamic presentation full of fascinating and very useful information.  

DAY TWO  

Studio Power System

Although Kevin’s all day workshops are filled with information, his conversational teaching style and lively presentations help to keep all the facts straight.  Kevin’s crazy wealth of knowledge on all things Photoshop and Lightroom is amazing, and his willingness to share it has made him one of the most popular speakers in the world.  His Studio Power System covers how to organize each job, Lightroom workflow, and powerful sales systems to boost your bottom line.   And that’s only half of it — he also covered the artistic side! 

I loved Kevin’s take on creativity, lighting, composition, and storytelling.  He talked about how to determine your style as an artist and creating a niche for yourself, and then gave some solid suggestions on how to put it all together.  

Bringing Sexy Back

The highlight of the day was of course the moment that a phone rang during class.  If you’ve ever attended a Kubota workshop, you might remember the rule… if your phone goes off in class, you gotta dance.  Luckily for the class, it was KEVIN’S phone that was ringing, and the class got a chance to see him bring sexy back as he leapt onto a table to boogie.  Thanks to Heather Meade Lussier for this shot of Kevin!

I can’t recommend Kevin’s workshops enough.  I have heard Kevin speak on several occasions, and I always pick up some new gem and leave his workshops with a creative idea and renewed energy for photography.   Check out his website to find the next workshop near you.  But if you are going to attend, I’d recommend you leave your phone in the car.