Yuma Arizona Centennial 2014

Celebrating 100 Years

Social Media Sizing Cheat Sheet

How often do you find yourself having to stop and look up specs for sizing your photos or app images. It's can be a time consuming job. Especially when your managing several social sites for clients. Finally the ultimate cheat sheet for social media. Luna Metrics did a great job of collecting the sizing specifications for most of our mainstream social media venues. Thanks guys!

Brought to you by the LunaMetrics blog.

The Heartbeat of a stranger

Recently I was asked to donate a flyer design for a client of mine. Of course I agreed. I rather enjoy donating my work for just causes. I'm a firm believer in sharing our gifts to help others. However, this particular project had a huge effect on me.  In the process of gathering the necessary info and reading the provided copy I found myself feeling the strange pull of mortality that we all seem to take for granted. I personally don't know Kat Summerchild, yet in a profound way it was as if I did. Her journey in life over the past 30+ plus years has been a difficult one. Yet, from all appearances she has managed to rise above all her obstacles as if blessed with some mystic knowledge unknown to me. I found myself humbled and in awe. It occurred to me that this was a perfect example of how people unknown to us can still slip into our daily lives and leave their footprints. To Kat Summerchild I thank you for reminding me of how truly precious this life is. God bless you and may your journey be swift and filled with love.

Keep your accounts from getting hacked

You may not use Sony's PlayStation Network or Qriocity music services. But they both got hacked earlier this year, which goes to show that your accounts aren't always safe even on big-name websites. That means people could have your login name and password without your realizing it. And if you use the same name and password on a hacked site that you do everywhere else, you guessed it ... it's time to change them everywhere.

The best way to keep this from happening is to make sure that you use a different login name and/or password on each website. But if a site that you frequent has already been hacked, you can visit the aptly-named shouldichangemypassword.com to find out if your data got stolen. Enter your login name, and it'll tell you if there are any known security breaches involving it. If so, then yes, you should change your password.

Don't worry, the site has been vetted. It's not a phishing scam; it doesn't even ask for your password, just your user name.

Building Your Business with Facebook Pages

Facebook is giving away a 20-page PDF called "Building Your Business with Facebook Pages." If you're new to using Facebook to connect with existing and potential customers, the free guide has some useful pointers. If your social-media marketing is more advanced, you may still want to give the guide to clients who are just starting out on Facebook.

The PDF is divided into three sections:
1. Start the conversation
2. Expand your fan base
3. Analyze and optimize
Each section includes tips and tricks on such topics as best practices for posting and how to get fans involved with your Facebook page. Those of you who are more experienced in social-media marketing may find most value in the list of additional resources at the end of the guide. I've included that list and live URLs below.

• Manage your existing ads
• Advertising guidelines & policies
• Guide to Facebook Ads
• Receive ongoing tips
• Create a Facebook Page
• Advertising help center
• Facebook Page Promotion Guidelines

The Instant Camera Is Back!

We all remember the state of the art Polaroid Instant camera's from the late 70's. It was technology at it's best, instant gratification. My favorite was ripping out that little square of film and waving it ever hopeful for the next great Ansel Adams shot. And least we forget the under the armpit processor when it was too cold out. And to think I just recently throw mine out while doing what most of us put off, clearing out a few of those mysterious boxes in the garage that have been sitting untouched for years. Yes, I ran across my old Polaroid camera with it's case, I even still had the original box. Of course they discontinued producing the film as well as the camera years ago.
When I worked at an ad agency in the Bay Area and then later in New York, Polaroid's were part of my art. There was no such thing as a digital camera and the first cell phones were just rolling off the production lines. Compared to todays cell phones, my first one could be compared to holding a red brick up to your ear; both in size and weight. . . and yes, I ran across that old phone too. Still in it's original box I might add.

Now Polaroid has just recently reintroduced the new and improved Polaroid Instant. And yes . . I want one. I used my old one for years. At client meeting, it was central to the development of product layouts. A quick snapshot of the product at different angles and I was back at the office with dozens of polaroids pinned up on the wall while I sketched out a catalog product page(s). These new smaller versions produce a business card size photo, and I imagine have much of the same digital capabilities as the current digitals.
It's nice to have something like this come back. There certainly is a market for it's functionality, unlike that brick of a phone that's still sitting in that old dusty box - which by the way I think I'll keep.

Ad Campaign for Photography Contest

This is one in a series of ads done for my client for a Photography contest. I enjoyed designing this one out.  I used Photoshop and Ilustrator in the design process. I'm continually amazed with the abilities of Indesign CS4. I wanted to use strong visual elements that would help communicate the message. Makes you want to run and grab your camera. 

Speaking of which I just recently read that the "good old Polaroid" is coming back onto the market. The new and improved Polaroid produces a small business card size photo. Instant gratification has returned to the world of photography!