It was sometime last fall. I was waiting for a family to show up for a photo shoot.
(I love photographing families. My favorite of all shoots.)
I suffer for my craft. Mostly self imposed I must confess.
My insecurities and lack of confidence rustle in the darkest corners of my consciousness. Far gone impulses from days gone by threaten to take me down. The struggle is real.
It’s easy enough to counter and beat back any threats from within. You get better with age and experience. But I do need to be pro active.
One strategy I love to use is going through my swipe files. A collection of images from previous photo shoots from me and other photographers I admire.
I use these for ideas, poses, inspiration. I creatively swipe!
I use Pinterest as well. I have a board called Family Portrait Ideas. Why not? easy, fast, so rich with examples and content.
As I was perusing Pinterest suggested images were showing up that really caught my attention. I kept saving some of those and realized something: my favorite images were the same photographer.
Her name was Allison. And she was based in Phoenix.
I saw her website link, clicked it and dove deep into that rabbit hole. I loved what I saw. Her images really resonated with me. I added more and more to my collection.
After a few weeks I decided I needed to interview Allison. Sent an email, and after about eight months of back and forth, I finally got her. (She’s very busy)
A few days ago she was on a zoom call with me and in one hour she revealed more business, marketing and technical savvy than just about anyone I have ever interviewed.
Allison is passionate, smart as a whip and uses more metaphors per paragraph than anyone I’ve chatted with. Plus she speaks about 2.5 times faster than the legal speed limit, which means you get more content per minute.
Some key points:
*why having a guiding “North Star” when starting out is the most important element for success. An internal ‘locus of control’, so to speak… a vision. Allison started in 2005.
*She sold ONLY files for the first 30 days and quickly figured out that was the WORST strategy for success Ask yourself this key question: “How much do I want to make?”
*Time management….this is an area where every photographer needs to manage and respect. And maximize for profits.
*The consultation prior to each session and how she not only manages the behaviors of her clients but she also has the sale made…in advance! (Her numbers are off the charts!)
* “You work really hard…” is a statement she hears at the end of each session. And she does. She explains how she brings maximum energy, passion and enthusiasm when working with families. (this really shows in her work!)
*She loves a challenge. Pig headed rebellious kids and alpha CEO types on cell phones….bring em on! experiences, struggles and successes which lead to her starting and making profits in her photography studio….
And more. Much more. Allison is a shining star. And someone we can all learn from. It’s why I love stalking and interviewing photographers like her.
School is never out!
The replay is HERE for members.
Not a member? It’s like twenty bucks to have access to this, and hundreds of other similar high quality profit inducing replays, presentations and marketing manuals.
That, and much more. Details HERE
See you at the top!
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer
“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”
Join us…Content, Coaching & Community
Leave a Reply