“People who don’t kiss ass are never invited back.”
I was chatting with Robin Spencer about professional photography
associations. (he tells me to mention his name…he’s shameless that way…)
I don’t belong to one anymore. Been about 6 years since I quit in protestation of their high fees vs value in return.
(I really had a hard time trying to justify the costs to new members)
I do love attending association events however, mainly to hang out with my droogs and people.
Love me some trade show too. My most favorite part of any photographic gathering.
I tell Robin…: “ya know, if someone asked me to join again, show some love, there’s a good chance I just might. You’d think, right? Hit up past members, especially ones like me who are still running legit operations. The association seems to be swollen with wannabees and part-timers. Nothing wrong with that. But they could all benefit with as many full time studio owners.”
He sez in his Robin Spencer in-your-face kinda way: “People who don’t kiss ass are never invited back.”
I thought about this comment. I agree in a sense. He could be right. The status quo doesn’t like being held accountable.
But maybe it’s more than that. Even though the ones who don’t kissass never get invited back, because like me they tend to point out the obvious shortcomings of a big bloated inefficient organization like a professional photography association.
Maybe it’s simpler. Who knows. It could be that they’re a big bloated inefficient organization.
Nothing more.
Either way, it’s an interesting thought. And the fact is, when it comes to hearing from them….crickets…chirp, chirp….
I know if I were in charge of one, I’d start by slashing and burning inefficiencies, cutting out excess fat and expenses, and ramping up the education for members.
( BTW I’m not throwing my hat in the ring and pitching politics….so don’t go nominating anyone!..:)…)
I’d increase value, lower fees, haul out the guillotine and lop off a few heads….and I’d start a campaign to get new members, and old members back.
It’s a funny thing. You rarely, if ever, see any membership drives.
Truth is, in one sense we don’t really need associations. Personally I think their days are numbered.
I hope I’m wrong. Because getting in person face time with others in my field is very important to me.
And we all know why associations are playing a smaller role year after year….
It’s the interweb thingie and the fact that the entire industry is in a continuous and shrinking state of ebb.
Which means marketing, brass balls, courage, selling and networking matter more than anything else in our studios.
Getting education, good quality education has been relegated to other sources, all promoted online, and webinars.
Speaking about webinars, tomorrow night I’m hosting one with Travis Gadsby on:
“Maximizing your online presence with software that does the heavy lifting – Facebook and Website optimizing”
I did a rough count and I think I’ve hosted over 700 webinars since 2008. Maybe more. Why?
I love learning.
We’re either progressing or regressing.
Pick one. For me, the proverbial info junkie, I’d rather more forward.
It’s why I do what I do. Join us tomorrow night.
Hope to see you there!
And this weekend at the PPOC in Ottawa…yes, I’ll be there with my main
droog and co-founder of noBs photosuccess James Hodgins.
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”
Are hot girls ruining the industry?
There’s a ton of talent out there.
Musicians, comics, artists and photographers.
Most of it goes away. Much of it is inert. Never revealed, put into action and given a place. A purpose.
The way I see it, if you have a talent, you don’t really have it unless you use it.
Put it out there. Give it a voice. Use it to make a difference.
It’s useless otherwise, unless it merely hits you with a mild ego boosting dopamine hit when your mommy proudly points out how ‘talented’ you are. Or someone on Facebook likes your images.
Better yet, they make a vapious compliment.
(Never trust your mom- she loves you too much for your own good. Likewise, never really
trust flakebook comments either)
This is pervasive in the industry of photography….
mainly, weddings, babies, families…and, well, hot girls.
Hot girls are ruining the industry. You know the story. Many go out, get a new Canon Rebel,
grab a hot girl, photograph her, and voila!
Photographer! Instant portfolio of hot girliness.
It’s easy to get derailed from what really matters. From real talent. Talent that plays a legit
role in the world, and continues to serve.
And make money. Yes, turn a profit.
It ain’t a business unless it’s making money.
Unless, of course, you’re just starting out and still learning marketing, selling, and getting established in your community as the GO TO photographer. But that’s just a phase.
Meanwhile, your business cards, your fancy well made website….even your stunning images of hot girls….and all those stunning images of children in fields with mucho sun flare…..
all of it……a ruse.
A lie. It’s all meaningless and temporary.
I was chatting with a well known, well established photographer last week who tells me the average
turn around for photographers is 1.5 years. And he may be a little optimistic.
What matters most? Clients. Clients who pay, and return year after year.
Take that idea, and scale it up. Multiply it. And you got a business.
A reason and a place for your talents. Awards are meaningless. Accolades and praise
from family, friends, fiends and peers too. All meaningless.
Your cameras, lenses, computers and facebook fans and likes….all…meaningless.
Unless you put it all into action and build a business.
Now go forth ye friends and foes….and build. Keep it real.
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study
profitable and successful photographers.”
What do you do when you lack self-confidence…
Norman Vincent Peale said it best. Short, sweet, inspiring and to the point:
*Decide exactly what it is you want.
*Make it a primary goal.Make it big. Make it important.
*Establish a series of yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily objectives to achieve that goal.
*Fight the urge to give up along the way. This is easiest when you have clarity.
My own experience bears this out: you can achieve almost anything you want in life – even if you don’t have much faith in your own abilities.
Lack of self-confidence, Peale said, “is one of the great problems besetting people today.”
(And that was like way back in the days of old, when everything was still in black and white.
Nothing much has changed…besides color. Yes, they invented color.)
He makes reference to a survey of college students indicating that for 75 percent of them, confidence was the thing most lacking in their life.
No one know this more than I do. No one was more afraid, lost and burdened with the stress of life than I.
Just last night over supper with friends we were recounting our early 20’s.
(we’re all in our 50’s now, healthier, wealthier and wiser… so we think)
I told our friends about how petrified I was when I was 21. Working full time in a darkroom.
Loving it, good at it. But ready for change and ready to start a new job photographing school photos for a large national company.
That first year shooting was horrible. I was in a constant state of panic it seemed. I had anxiety attacks that were unrelenting.
When asked how long that went on for, I answered: “A whole year.”
It took me one whole year of photographing hundreds and thousands of students to finally, FINALLY get a handle on it.
In the second year I started to get a sense a confidence. I started a new skill set in those early years.
But I had a long way to go.
“Imagine if you would have been stuck in that prison the rest of your life?” was a comment.
“Yes, I know that! I always look back at those years and wonder what would have happened had I let the fears and anxieties rule me. Rule my destiny. What if I would have embraced it and made it my closest friend, my dearest ally? What problems would have and could have arose? What medications would I have chosen to eventually fight that battle?”
Crazy stuff when I think about it.
“The blows of life, the accumulation of difficulties, the multiplication of problems tend to sap energy
and leave you spent and discouraged,” Peale says.
In such situations, “it is easy to lose track of your abilities and powers” – but by re-appraising your personal assets, you can convince yourself that “you are less defeated than you think you are.”
Part of me is glad I went through all those times.
They made me who I am now. I persisted. I did not let myself get defeated.
Easy? Not for a second. Worth it? What do you think?
I grew because I persisted. I faced the fears and moved ahead in spite of them. I created goals.
I studied and fed my mind a constant flow of books, seminars and new ideas. I pushed hard.
I fought the demons that tried so hard to rule me.
And you can too. Be true to yourself.
Be fearless my friend.
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
How to kick the muse in the balls and wake him up…
Apparently I have adhd. So I’m told and tell myself. And the articles I read online verify.
How do I know? It appears one of the biggest symptoms is procrastination.
There are as many ways procrastination rears its ugly head as there are excuses for why we are not moving forward with our hopes, dreams and goals.
Personally, I feel the biggest influence is lack of imagination and fear.
Imagination is hard. It takes discipline. And it’s a lonely journey. Only I can use this amazing force…..all by my lonely self.
But it is powerful and essential.
There are specific things you can do to avoid getting off track…. here’s a few that I personally use:
*cards. Write out lists. I like small recipe cards. I have my goals and affirmations written out
in point form. I read them every night before bed and in the morning.
*smart questions. Never quit on a situation and give in. Instead, ask compelling questions.
For instance, you may be trying to come up with some marketing solutions and you maybe hitting a dead end. External forces may be creating some serious roadblocks. Don’t quit. Ask. What can I do to create a solution?
Sometimes I take on a role model, someone I admire and ask: What would so and so do in this situation?
And wait for answers. They will come. All YOU need to do is learn to ask compelling questions. This is one of the most powerful imagination tools at your avail.
*positive imagery. On cue. Whenever a negative feeling enters you, instantly and on cue create a positive image
*love list. Ask yourself what things do you love. Get creative. Have fun. Write fast. Stir the soul.
*deadlines and discipline. I don’t know how many times I found myself in a situation and looked back thinking: “Good thing I committed to this. Because it all worked out.” There would be a project I am working on and it jus sits there. The solution, each and every time, is committing a block of time and forcing myself to sit and work at it. Each and every time I end up tapping into an immense amount of ideas, innovations, clarity….it all requires commitment. Do not wait for the muse.
Kick him in the b*lls and wake him up.
Taking control of your life is a big job.
Being scared or a whiney cry baby is reserved for those who refuse to accept they have a passionate, confident and creative life running right beside them.
All you gotta do is get off the trail you’re on and step over.
Notice I never said the word easy. Lose that word. Kick it out of your life. Easy is for children who rely on mommy to wipe their nose and butts. And flakebook.
Being able to grab the proverbial bull by the horns and ride it takes a certain mindset and willingness to move on our desires.
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
The number one principle of design for photography studios….
I am in the middle of decorating our studio reception. New wall samples, decor and furniture…the whole dealio.
This is very important to me. Why? Because I want to make money.
I want my photography business to thrive.
It’s that simple really. Having the right studio reception area and wall samples is of paramount importance to me.
Every photographer who is serious about selling their services for top dollar needs to take this message very serious.
I thought it a good idea to revisit Tana Lemay, the queen of studio decor. She’s good. In my oh so humble, yet accurate opinion, she’s the best there is at this game.
Couple years ago I had Tana do a presentation called: “Principles OF Design”
Members, login, and access that HERE.
She mentioned the NUMBER ONE, the big KAHUNA, the grand daddy of all elements of design….drum roll please…..HARMONY.
This is hard to describe however. But she gave an excellent analogy….
You walk into a room, and it just feels right. The brain resonates and all sorts of synapses fire off in glorious harmony and visual dance.
I couldn’t help but think of the time my wife visited a spa in Costa Rica…..and she comes home and described it to me. Sounds like heaven!
Have you ever been to one? You know, you walk in, and it’s like …wow! What a place….!!
We, as photographers need that.
Why? The main reason is it reflects the quality of our work and more importantly it advances the sales process.
Tana also mentioned that the industry is doing very well. We looked at some images from other studios that are well designed (you need to see this to believe it) and there are many, many successful studios out there.
She did say she speaks with many photographers who are in their first or second year, and she often doesn’t get them as clients for another year or two.
But eventually they do come to her (her company delivers some of the best framing services out there.
Very exclusive, attractive and she only sells to photographers, not to the consumer market.)
Why? Because many aren’t ready. Many, she told me, are not serious about their studios yet. They need confidence.
They need to make that “switch” where they realize they can’t sell their services for $200.00 for a CD of digital files.
She said, tongue in cheek, “bottle confidence and sell it to photographers and you’ll make a million tomorrow…”
Like I said, there’s a ton of gold in what she said.
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
Something I always noticed about photographers who progress the fastest…
There’s a consistent, almost predictable behavior pattern with many photographers who are successful.
I’ve noticed this many years ago. I also noticed it in myself, and have attributed this set of behaviors to my own success.
These behaviors I can almost guarantee will propel you to great heights.
Then why don’t most apply and take advantage of these behaviors? You’re guess is as good as mine, but if there’s one simple word that could possibly explain it. That word is attitude.
Sounds old fashioned, but some things never change.
And the list of behaviors is timeless. Let’s look at that list right now….
#1-Successful photographers are always hungry for knowledge.
They know that in this field, staying on top, staying fresh in our photography and in our marketing is vital.
Successful photographers never whine about speakers who are selling stuff at conventions.
They know that the information most speakers have is valuable, and you can take that photographer home with you by investing in their education materials.
I have shelves and boxes filled with educational materials.
Losers have big egos that get in the way or cause them to get creative in the excuse department.
#2– Successful photographers are not afraid of criticism. And I don’t mean evil, mean spirited criticism. Or sour grapes, knee jerk jealous comments from losers who have no place in offering input.
But valuable critiques from other photographers who are qualified to help.
This is one way to stay young, vibrant and alive! But you must be open. A closed minded photographer is nothing more than a fool And a fool is losing out.
Don’t be a fool.
#3– Successful photographers are never too proud to take on jobs that are “below” them.
Especially when starting out!
I take on loads of little, dinky jobs. Warne Noyce shoots dance schools. Ansel Adams shot school pictures.
As a matter of fact, Ansel is quoted as saying that he learned more from the “bread and butter” photography than anything else.
Al Gilbert shot passports when I last spoke with him. And he was nearing 80 yrs old. And still considered on of the best photographers in North America.
Don’t be too proud to take on jobs. Unless of course you have no time because you’re way too busy. But many small jobs, be they donations to community causes or small time gigs, will keep you active, learning, and earning.
#4– Successful photographers are not quitters. I know, some people realize it’s not for them. Or, they get offered a “real job” and opt for the security and golden hand cuffs.
But successful photographers who are very, very serious about making it, don’t quit.
And they don’t start and stop all the time, jumping from one piece of equipment to another, one forum to another, never truly committing to their personal drive and passion.
It takes guts and commitment. It’s that simple. Your level of desire must rise above, way above your pain threshold and your inner weakness that makes you give in to the pain.
Let me repeat that…..your level of desire to succeed must be way, way bigger than the pain, fear and desire to quit.
#5– Successful photographers chose good role models and mimic their work through practice. We all have role models. Those who produce work that truly inspires us to want to reach great heights.
Musicians have them too. They all talk about the music they listened to in their formative years and how it inspired them.
I get asked a lot of questions. My main answer, most times, is get out there and shoot, shoot, shoot.
What will happen is this: Not only will you be getting technical mastery over your gear and adding to your ability to “see the light”, but in time inspiration will seep into your life and you will begin to find direction, purpose and focus on the style of photographer you are evolving into.
And part of that is finding other successful photographers that inspire you. It’s all part of the journey. Be open. Be true to your journey and let others inspire you.
Throw it away, and your throwing away part of your journey.
Hey, I SUFFER for my craft. I demand perfection from myself. I don’t always get it, but I demand it nevertheless.
It’s why I teach and preach and try to reach out to other photographers who have the same passion and drive as I do.
I love teaching, because I learn as much as the student. I put on more webinars, workshops and tutorials each month than anyone out there.
Why?
I luv learning…it’s that simple.
If I hated it, why would I do it?
Luving it is a big enough why for me….hopefully you too
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
Who let the dogz out….!
When I book a family session, I encourage them to bring the family dog.
Some are amazed that I insist. For some reason, they somehow think I’d be offended by them bringing the pup along. To me, they are family.
“And when you show up, unleash the dog and let her be. Let her sniff the place out, get comfortable. Ignore them. Talk to me. Let them see I’m a friend.”
I take a similar approach to photographing two year olds. Unleash them and let them see me interacting with the family. Don’t even look at them.
They can sense it when you’re trying to control.
With the dog, and with the two year old, something amazing almost always happens.
I start posing the family, and the dog (or 2 year old) will walk on over and plop themselves down.
Often next to their favorite person.
They want to be part of the family. Let them be. Don’t try an control them. It makes them nervous and I swear I know what they’re thinking when they’re tense:
Doggie thoughts: “Everyone’s acting weird. What’s with that? Wait a minute! This dude’s a vet! He’s gonna stick a need in my ass! Get out! Everyone, get out! AAaaa oooooooo!!!” So the howling goes.
Or something like that.
Yesterday I had two Goldens and their mom, a retired university prof in my studio.
One of the dogs was blind and deaf from birth. She kept walking into things. Mom made a few lighthearted remarks and poked fun.
She walked over to me (the dog, not the mom) and could almost sense me. She nuzzled up against me, insisting I pet her. Cute. Very sweet.
I thought of all the tactics and strategies that Margaret Bryant uses in her pet photography business.
She really knows her stuff when it comes to creating genuine, personality loaded poses of dogs. How she does it who knows. But she can do it. It’s like she has a super power and can draw out the personality of each dog.
Amazing.
Anywho, whilst in this session, now knowing how it was going to unfold, I started shooting the three of them, and then eventually snuck mom out to grab some poses of the two dogs.
It worked. I got some amazing stuff. Now remember, one dogs is completely deaf and blind. And her one eye looks like she was in a fight with a bear.
Also, you can access the entire four part series with Margaret Bryant here.
Don’t forget, if you’re a member of my noBs photosuccess inner circle, I posted more images and discussion on this topic here.
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
P.S. If you’re a member of the noBs photosuccess inner circle I posted more images and discussion on this topic HERE
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- …
- 63
- Next Page »