Please join Mark Perl and myself at the inaugural Berkshire BlackStar Boardroom on the 22nd March at 14.00 hrs. More details here

John Cassidy Photography
Capturing Personality & Inspiring Confidence

w: www.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
blog: blog.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
twitter: @john__cassidy
e: johncassidyphoto@mac.com
m: 07768 401009

This month I am launching my Challenge Cassidy campaign.

Now I love a challenge and I also love photographing people who hate having their photos taken or are just very nervous about visiting a professional photographer. So I’m combining the 2 and trying to find all those camera-phobes and self confessed “non photogenic” people to prove that there’s a great photo within them. And I’m going to put my money where my mouth is. So

if people really don’t like their photos I’ll pay them the session fee……

So if you or someone you know fits the bill get in touch and I dare you to Challenge Cassidy.

I'm doing a little research and trying to find out different reasons as to why people hate having their photo taken and why some even shy away every time a camera is pointed in their direction.

Is it because they are not happy with their own appearance, or is it that they only see their "worst" features (i.e nose, ears, smile, teeth etc) or is it simply because they've never actually seen a photograph of themselves that they like.

I think I've heard most excuses by now but nevertheless I'd very much value your input....

John Cassidy Photography
Capturing Personality & Inspiring Confidence

w: www.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
blog: blog.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
twitter: @john__cassidy
e: johncassidyphoto@mac.com
m: 07768 401009

As many of you will have realised I am a big fan of social media – I’ve got profiles on quite a few including Ecademy, Linkedin, Facebook, Plaxo, Xing, Naymz and Twitter.

Now Twitter is both interesting and useful, as well as being fabulously original.  People use it to keep informed, network and do business – and it works pretty well whatever your objectives.

Read the rest of this entry »

Lisa Turner is the subject of todays ecademy photo profile critique

So the usual question, from visual first impressions is Lisa's profile image PPE (professional, personable and engaging) or FFF (fuzzy, faraway and forgetful)?

Don't forget to use my checklist as a reference and I'm always looking for volunteers and suggestions to critique, especially if you think the image is a particularly good or bad PPE or FFF example PPE.



The first thing I notice when I look at Lisa's photo is that she seems to be hiding in amongst the bushes. Her body language is slightly timid, although her expression is very warm and welcoming. I don't think this photo was taken for her profile but chosen because of this expression which is very personable although would have been better with more eye contact.

The crop is slightly odd with Lisa in the bottom right corner of the frame but could be improved by cropping it a bit tighter in.The photo has been shot in the shade of the trees but I think some fill in flash has been used which is reflecting back off Lisa's cheeks and forehead.

Style wise I think Lisa's colours suit her but not the environment would look better with a plainer or studio backdrop.

Overall Lisa's photo comes across as PPE, mainly because of her expression, but some of the technical aspects of the photo could be improved making it far better

Your comments please ...........

Previous critiques:




John Cassidy Photography
Capturing Personality & Inspiring Confidence

w: www.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
blog: blog.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
twitter: @john__cassidy
e: johncassidyphoto@mac.com
m: 07768 401009

Went to a fantastic presentation at the Windsor and Maidenhead ecademy group by Grant Leboff on Tuesday evening based on a quote from a radio interview by Steve Jones of the Sex pistols - "it's not about the music you silly cow"

Amongst other things Grant said that the model of selling on benefits (over features) only actually applies as benefits are only benefits when your ready to buy,

The new model, he explained, was to sell on emotions - experience is emotion and people buy experience and the value you add

The four main points that came out were:

Partnerships - align yourself with partners who solve the same issues (problems) as you.

Content - leverage from other people (i.e partners), it doesn't have to come from you

Market positioning - Be a big fish in a small pond - but you get to choose the pond...

Emotional selling proposition - Experience is emotion i.e "its not about the music (your service, product) its about all emotional experience it brings and the value you add

If you can get to one of Grants presentations please do - it will be a very valuable (and emotional) experience.

Whats your emotional selling proposition?



John Cassidy Photography
Capturing Personality & Inspiring Confidence

w: www.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
blog: blog.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
twitter: @john__cassidy
e: johncassidyphoto@mac.com
m: 07768 401009

Went to a fantastic presentation at the Windsor and Maidenhead ecademy group by Grant Leboff on Tuesday evening based on a quote from a radio interview by Steve Jones of the Sex pistols - "it's not about the music you silly cow"

Amongst other things Grant said that the model of selling on benefits (over features) only actually applies as benefits are only benefits when your ready to buy,

The new model, he explained, was to sell on emotions - experience is emotion and people buy experience and the value you add

The four main points that came out were:

Partnerships - align yourself with partners who solve the same issues (problems) as you.

Content - leverage from other people (i.e partners), it doesn't have to come from you

Market positioning - Be a big fish in a small pond - but you get to choose the pond...

Emotional selling proposition - Experience is emotion i.e "its not about the music (your service, product) its about all emotional experience it brings and the value you add

If you can get to one of Grants presentations please do - it will be a very valuable (and emotional) experience.

Whats your emotional selling proposition?



John Cassidy Photography
Capturing Personality & Inspiring Confidence

w: www.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
blog: blog.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
twitter: @john__cassidy
e: johncassidyphoto@mac.com
m: 07768 401009

Joy Webber is the subject of todays ecademy photo profile critique

So the usual question, from visual first impressions is Joys profile image PPE (professional, personable and engaging) or FFF (fuzzy, faraway and forgetful)?

Don't forget to use my checklist as a reference and I'm always looking for volunteers and suggestions to critique, especially if you think the image is a particularly good or bad PPE or FFF example PPE.



My first impressions with Joys photo is very professional looking. Joy looks happy, confident and approachable and her personality shines through. Joys styling is impeccable and I like the way her dark jacket draws your eye up to her face.

Her pose looks natural, relaxed and comfortable, and I like the openness of her look helped by the slight tilt of her head. A nice neutral background and soft studio lighting make this technically a very well taken photo. I also like the way it has been cropped with a slight reverse reflection on the bottom of the image

If I saw this photo on a book cover or promoting her at a speaking engagement Iit would definitely encourage me to find out more.

Most definitely PPE - a great example.


Your comments please ...........

Previous critiques:


John Cassidy Photography
Capturing Personality & Inspiring Confidence

w: www.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
blog: blog.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
twitter: @john__cassidy
e: johncassidyphoto@mac.com
m: 07768 401009

Mark Robinson is the subject of todays ecademy photo profile critique

So the usual question, from visual first impressions is Marks profile image PPE (professional, personable and engaging) or FFF (fuzzy, faraway and forgetful)?

Don't forget to use my checklist as a reference and I'm always looking for volunteers and suggestions to critique, especially if you think the image is a particularly good or bad PPE or FFF example PPE.



Whilst looking through some profiles for interesting photos to critique I came across this one that Mark Robinson had uploaded.

As a tiny thumbnail on the people search page I had difficulty in making out what the picture was all about, and to be honest with you I still was when I looked at it on Marks profile.

I'm not sure if that's supposed to be Mark on the advertising poster in the background or whether he's the person traveling down on the escalator looking towards us? Or perhaps this is a snap he took with his own mobile phone camera? I'd love to be enlightened Mark, and the reasons behind posting his image.

It say absolutely nothing to me about you, what you do or even who you are.

Suffice it to say FFF but I am intrigued to find out more.

Your comments please ...........

Previous critiques:


John Cassidy Photography
Capturing Personality & Inspiring Confidence

w: www.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
blog: blog.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
twitter: @john__cassidy
e: johncassidyphoto@mac.com
m: 07768 401009

Bux Shayeb is the subject of todays ecademy photo profile critique

So the usual question, from visual first impressions is Bux's profile image PPE (professional, personable and engaging) or FFF (fuzzy, faraway and forgetful)?

Don't forget to use my checklist as a reference and I'm always looking for volunteers and suggestions to critique, especially if you think the image is a particularly good or bad PPE or FFF example PPE.



I think you can all probably guess what I'm going to say about Bux's "profile" photo but here goes anyway.

First Impressions are does Bux sell cars for a living, if so this type of photo may be appropriate, but I guess not. No this is a typical "boys and their toys" photo which does little to tell me about Bux except he likes fast cars. Some people may see this as an image of success, however others may see it as more of a boast.

Profile pictures on a business social networking site should be about you and your personality, not you with your favourite toys, or a photo of you on your wedding day because that was the happiest day of your life. There are places for these photos images online but they should be further down the page and not our main profile photo. I'm not saying you can't include props but only if they're relevant to your business.

When I look closer at this photo Bux doesn't even appear to be happy. If I was photographed to be standing next to my pride and joy I'd be beaming from ear to ear. From what I can see Bux even appears a little fed up, as if he's saying to whoever's taking the photo "rush along and get on with it"

I'm sure Bux is very personable and successful in reality but I don't get those messages from this photo FFF


Your comments please ...........

Previous critiques:


John Cassidy Photography
Capturing Personality & Inspiring Confidence

w: www.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
blog: blog.johncassidyphoto.co.uk
twitter: @john__cassidy
e: johncassidyphoto@mac.com
m: 07768 401009