Riz Crescini » inspire

Scott Robert Lim Workshop – New York City (Part II)

Riz Crescini — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:48:29 +0000

Sometime after the workshop in New York City, I went to a service at a church that Anne and I used to attend when we lived in the States. I had to use the men’s room and as I entered, something struck me by its very absence. The huge bathroom mirror was entirely gone! I don’t know if it was damaged or if it was being replaced but it felt strange looking at a bare wall.

At the workshop, Scott invited three of his former students to share with us. All three challenged us to look at things in a whole new way that, if not practiced, will seem strange by its absence (similar to the mirror). Junshien Lau challenged us to dream big and to work towards our dream. Marie Lyssa Dormeus challenged us to consider our dream as not a destination but as one to be lived out moment by moment. And finally, Tauran Woo challenged us to be proactive, to think thoughtfully on how to compose our images. Dream, journey, composition…all three, in my opinion, have an essential element: thoughtful and careful reflection. These require some serious “soul-searching” if we are to excel in both photography and life. A missing mirror is not a big deal but a missing “self” is a big deal when we don’t find the time to examine our lives. Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Scott Robert Lim: New York City Workshop (Part I)

Riz Crescini — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 16:47:43 +0000

Rome, Italy (late August, 2000)

Anne was still in bed when I set off to explore Rome in the early morning. My walk took me to an unassuming small church. It was not magnificent like St. Peter’s but its impact on me was no less astounding. The church was all mine as I studied the paintings in the sanctuary (one of them the smaller work of Michelangelo). I sat in one of the pews enjoying the solitude and the scene before me: the early morning light coming in to radiate not just the beautiful, stained glass windows but also illuminating the cross above the sanctuary. And then, as if on cue, the organ pipes above me began playing music that lifted my soul to the heights. It was a time of refreshment for my soul.

I thought perhaps that this heavenly music was pre-programmed into the organ to play every morning at that exact time. But as I slowly made my way to the back where the organ sat, I was in for a pleasant shock. At the organ was an elderly Asian nun. She looked to be in her 80′s and no taller than 5 feet. From those frail, little hands came the most moving music I have heard in a long time. The towering, metal pipes were a stark contrast to her small, fragile frame. But it was clear who was in command. The inner passion inside this humble nun was released as she played one majestic piece after another.

“The key to life: give to the world with all your giftedness, passion and compassion.” -Scott Robert Lim

So why am I sharing this? Because I believe it is a good illustration of what I learn at a Scott Robert Lim workshop. Scott mentors in a way that cultivates passion and vision. Our equipment, like the cold metallic pipes of an organ, can seem intimidating as we struggle to create images. Scott strives to help us master techniques of posing and lighting, to take it to the next level. But more than that, he helps us find and release our inner passion. Without this inner passion, we cannot, like the nun, create one majestic piece after another. It is this inner passion to excel that, when others view our work, they are, in a phrase, brought to the heights.

The New York City workshop was an exciting week as Scott inspired us to pursue passion.

Part II coming up: The Missing Mirror

Big in Japan – Core Cultural Service of Great Customer Service (Notes)

Riz Crescini — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:17:31 +0000

Hello friends,

First of all, a big “Thank you!” to everyone who came out to attend and support the first ever Photographers Ignite at WPPI. It was funny, practical, and inspirational. Like others have already expressed, I hope that this event will become an annual event at WPPI.

At the end of my presentation, I shared that I have compiled a list of stories of people and their experience of Japanese customer service. At the end of this post, you will find a link to a PDF file. I have also included the four core concepts (with notes) which I shared in my presentation. The stories are from friends and I did not “clean” it up to present a perfect picture of Japanese customer service. In fact, you will read some negative things from some of the commenters. Japanese customer service is not perfect BUT it is great (IMHO).

After reading through it (and please do) I hope it will allow you to pause and reflect about how you service your clients. I hope my talk and the notes below will generate a storm of ideas on how you can give excellent customer service in 2010 and beyond. It’s been often said that we, as an industry, need to raise the bar in producing excellent images. I think it is also equally true that we need to raise the bar in how we serve our clients.

By the way, if my 5-minute presentation has inspired and encouraged you, would you be interested in hearing me share more about Japanese customer service principles and how to apply those in your business? If you are, please leave me a short comment. Thanks! Have a great 2010 rocking it out with mind-blowing customer service!

Click here for the pdf file called Japanese Customer Service.