Charles Lewis - Does He EXIST?

[Ed Gerson]

"VIP" may just be photographer instead of person, a bunch of people paying his retirement through a subscription of some sort. All these sneaky terms, good grief. Sort of like senior photographers using the term "ambassador" for their high school student operatives.

"VIP" may be somebody who subscribes to his "newsletter/blog". He was a marketing genius.

[Peter Gregg]

Yes, CL is a highly charged selling centered seminar speaker, popular and legitimate. Don't be so quick to say "I would never . . .", be open to find out what people are about.

Many times, a photographer becomes very successful and the amount of money they can make teaching how they made a lot of money is more than they can make in photography. I can name quite a few right off the bat that have done this, and a few more that will be crossing that line into their new role very shortly.

The trouble with CL is the market level he is trying to reach. While it is true that his main thrust is growing your farmland and then farming that same farmland over and over (even the big corporations do that), the market he is trying to reach is too low income for my type or style of photography and prices.

While I have an opening price of $1500, that is basically burn and shoot and pretty limited in my accepting them. I start at $4500 as the opening lowest price, and I am pretty low compared to others I know. Jessica Claire aims to start now at $15,000. It is more what you believe you can get and are worth than it is the talent AFTER a certain point and how far you are willing to travel.

Chuck Lewis is run more by his son now with the dad jumping in more or less for his own fun. It is what I call "retiring in your own business".

Peter

[DougAxford]

Welcome Peter.

I'm sure everyone here will welcome your expertise and opinions. You are never lacking in either.

I miss you and a few others at DWF. I just found that the fluff was outweighing the good stuff and I was spending too much of my time reading the fluff and had to get back to business.

I hope you enjoy the smaller group here. As my wife says, small is better.

DougA

[Jerry Skrocki]

Originally Posted by Peter Gregg

Yes, CL is a highly charged selling centered seminar speaker, popular and legitimate. Don't be so quick to say "I would never . . .", be open to find out what people are about.

I guess that comment was for my benefit. I based my opinion on the overall look and design of his website and I was not too far off base. For a business that teaches seminars on marketing, I expect to see a top notch website and it was not.

... the market he is trying to reach is too low income for my type or style of photography and prices.

Looks like you said "I would never" also.

Chuck Lewis is run more by his son now with the dad jumping in more or less for his own fun. It is what I call "retiring in your own business".

The son definitely has some work to do if he wants to bring the business into the 21st Century.

Jerry

[Peter Gregg]

Originally Posted by Jerry Skrocki

I guess that comment was for my benefit. I based my opinion on the overall look and design of his website and I was not too far off base. For a business that teaches seminars on marketing, I expect to see a top notch website and it was not.

The son definitely has some work to do if he wants to bring the business into the 21st Century.

Jerry

Heck no Jerry - I wasn't aiming my comments towards anyone in particular. More of the not to jump to conclusions too quick because you never know where the gold is hiding cause sometimes it needs to be dug up type of thinking.

In this case, I have to agree with you that CL is someone I would steer clear of, but the original poster wasn't sure if he was a fraud or for real when he Chuck Lewis actually has a very long and solid history. In fact, I sometimes see his stuff on Ebay being sold by people, so it can be had at a lower price for smart bargain hunters. But he is legit and was quite a stir when he was on the circuit.

Seeing how you are a moderator though - I certainly would never want to cross swords with you, I know where the power lies .
Plus I know being a mod means a lot of hours with sometimes too little "thanks" and that is something I don't want to do, I actually appreciate the time and work you guys do, so I don't do "shots" at mods. At least not until I get to know you

Peter

[Peter Gregg]

Originally Posted by DougAxford

Welcome Peter.

I'm sure everyone here will welcome your expertise and opinions. You are never lacking in either.

I miss you and a few others at DWF. I just found that the fluff was outweighing the good stuff and I was spending too much of my time reading the fluff and had to get back to business.

I hope you enjoy the smaller group here. As my wife says, small is better.

DougA

I knew I knew that name, thanks for the welcome
Yeah, I am know for having an opinion sometimes - lol. I hope I come up with good ones every once in a while.

I thought of every way I could think of, but no matter how I answer your wife, I lose - so I will have to leave that one alone

Peter

Wait - she is talking about lenses right???? Tell her to think 4/3rd's - hehehe

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