Photo Success

Tools for growing a photography business

Brian Demint, Thomas Dodd & Rob Provencher-The Art Within The Image…replay

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We had a great time chatting it up on the topic of art. Replay below.

SOME NOTES I wrote down during this presentation:

“Dunning Krueger”

Standards are shifting. Trends. Man Ray. Duchamp.

Print competitions don’t mean a thing. Juried shows are a foot in the door to galleries.

Self-study.

Watch movies. Brian’s fave director is Ingmar Bergman.

The more creative people, the better.

Thomas sez: “Visual vocabulary.” It includes everything you have taken in in your life. It’s a language.

Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung. Symbolism.Collective unconscious.

Brian Eno Oblique Strategies

Always being aware, art is all around.

If you can’t go out in your backyard and create art you have more to learn.

People bring their perspective into their work.

Everything your do with your camera is manipulation. All photos are a lie.

Book recommendation The Command to Look by William Mortensen

Godess in every woman.

Your art must be your best friend.

Brian: “Get your fave band’s first album, go to the third song and create a photo session based on that song.”

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Yes, I’m a slow learner…and here’s why that’s the best thing about me…

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I was always a late bloomer. Some might have said I was slow.   But slow I wasn’t, nor am I slow today.  
Growing up most of my teachers knew this about me. They would tell my parents that I was capable, smart even, but I simply just didn’t “try” or apply myself.   My grades were atrocious.  

The truth is, I was naive, clueless and ignorant in many ways. I was clueless and scared to death.  

This all changed eventually and I kicked into high gear when I turned 31. For most of my 20’s I pursued knowledge. I had eagerly attended business building events and read many, many self help and business book.  

I knew deep in my heart there was something in these events and books. I couldn’t apply it yet until, unbeknownst to me at the time, I  faced my inner demons, my shadow so to speak, and sobered up.  

Which I did when I turned 31. I learned to dance. (Here’s a Ten Minute video where I tell this story at a local TedTalk style event)  

This changed everything in my life. Looking back I connect the many dots.   Here’s a short list of some of the characteristics about me:

–Zen. I was clueless.
As in, duh…. but that’s me. This characteristic is still a part of my identity. But now it’s evolved to being an asset. Some think I am still ‘on the moon.’  
Truth is, I am often in a Zen like state, taking things in. Storing what’s valuable, waiting, like the tortoise. One of my super powers is the recognition that playing the long game, taking it all “one day at a time” pays off in the end.   It’s a marathon. Not a sprint to the finish.

–Immunity to criticism. When someone attacks me I don’t give a sh*t. I learned this back in the 90’s when my photography business started to skyrocket. This is  a valuable characteristic and essential to anyone in business.   And it applies to self-criticism.

-Late bloomer. Yup, that’s me.  I am not a slow learner. I am in fact  a late bloomer. This may come across as a negative thing, but it’s not. Why? Read the previous item again. It doesn’t bother me. I am in good company. History is loaded with successful late bloomers.  

Hopefully I can keep on learning until my last days here. It’s my plan.   Learning from others is one of the best  ways to expand, grow, be inspired and learn.  

This is why I organized a meeting tonight with two of my favorite photographic artists, Thomas Dodd and Brian Demint.

  “The Art within the Image”…a discussion with Thomas Dodd, Brian DeMint & Rob Provencher Feb 25/2020 at 9:00PM EST  

This should be fun! Join us….it’s tonight.

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

The first Collective presentation with Warne was a schocker to me…

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Last Thursday we hosted our first presentation with Warne Noyce.

I was shocked.

Here’s why. First off, I’ve had Warne speak at two live events in the past and had him run at least four webinars.

His information and presentation skills are off the charts.
Not to mention his passion, and marketing savvy.

But what shocked me last night was the content in his presentation. He shared his strategies in working with local charities as business building for his photography studio.
And it was like I never heard it before. All new. Maybe I have ADHD or something, (I’m sure I do….) but for some reason his content was new and invigorating.
Or maybe he’s always held back. Until now.

Anywho, he had so much information we ran out of time.
Warne has agreed to run a PART B and focus on branding
the photography business.

Links for members to the replay and the next presentation
with Warne are all HERE.

Not a  MEMBER? It’s like twenty bucks a month.

“Victims are dangerous”

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I was attending a business seminar way back when. This was a series for small business owners.  
One of the speakers was in a wheel chair.   He rolls out and says: “Take responsibility for everything that happens in your life. Everything. Even if it’s the other guys fault.”  

Wow.   This really, really resonated with me.
  I suppose this truth was in me, dormant. Now and since then awaken.
 
The idea is simple. Never be a victim. Never blame. Never complain. NEVER.  

I know, I know. This is hard.  

But it has to be. Victims, or shall I say, those who play the victim card, are in effect dangerous.  

Why? It takes their power away.   You need to own your sh*t. It’s that simple. No MATTER what.  

Especially when your in business for yourself.   It can be a hard road at times, and the struggle is real.

Feels like your crawling through mud and broken glass.   But in the end, the results are positive, productive and powerful. And yours.

Here’s one way to become positive, productive and powerful.
JOIN US TONIGHT 7:00PM CT  

Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer
“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”

John Hartman-Marketing Your Photography Business with the local symphony

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In the Fuzzy Duenkel FB group called Heavy Light, John Hartman posted some images from his recent project with his local symphony.

I was stunned at the fact that he turned this into a profit and created some of the coolest portraits I have ever seen.

So, I asked him if he’d run a webinar on this amazing idea and his experiences. And he agreed so we set the date:

Mar 5, 2020 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Registration link below.

He says: “In 1988 I had the chance to photograph the principal players in our local symphony. This idea, of course, wasn’t new—I got the idea from Bill McIntosh, who had done it decades before me (and in a far masterful way, I might add). “

“Besides being paid for this project (about $25k) I’ve had tens of thousands of dollars in spinoff business directly from this exhibit, which has been a permanent installation in the theater for the past seven years. Additionally, it was just plain fun to do…..”

JOIN Join Hartman HERE

How do we limit our sales through inadequate pricing or poor sales methods?

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How much do we limit our sales through inadequate pricing or poor sales methods…

How do we limit our sales through inadequate pricing or poor sales methods?

Most limitations start inside. To achieve external success, start inside. Then, flow outward with creative, effective and real money making strategies on pricing and sales.

Pricing, sales and marketing is not black and white. It’s complex, and requires the right tools, the right strategies and the right person.

I believe Warne Noyce is such a person.

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