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Lighting strategies with Ted Linczak

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Lighting strategies with Ted Linczak

 Ted is one of the most dynamic photographers around.

His style is high impact, glamorous and combines high fashion photography with photojournalism to display relationships and connections between his subjects.

His instincts lead him off the beaten path as he continuously challenges himself to not only stay current in the field of wedding photography but also create new trends and set new precedents.

Ted’s goal in education is to teach photographers the fundamentals of dynamic composition and lighting techniques, as well as capturing the decisive moment.

His ultimate goal is getting photographers back in touch with the craft of impactful image making. JOIN US…

REPLAY IS IN THE HOUSE

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About Ted Linczak

Nuvo Images is a wedding photography studio dedicated to creating fashion inspired images for art focused couples. Our studio has been named South Carolina Photographer of the Year from 2012-2016, and our dedication to the craft of photography has resulted in international recognition of both our wedding and portrait work, most recently receiving the Overall Grand Imaging Award from The Professional Photographers of America in January of 2016.

The size of the camera gear used is inversely proportional to the talent of the photographer…

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I teach a photography 101 class through the local library in our city. I actually enjoy it. So do the attendees. Go figure.

I tell them I am not going to teach them everything they need to know about their cameras and all about the tech talk owners manuals stuff.

That, I remind them, will leave them way more confused then when they started.

What I do teach them is the basics of exposure, and we dig hard and deep into seeing light.

And composition.

See, the way I see it, learning basics of ISO, aperture and shutter speeds, in other words, exposure, and learning how to see LIGHT, and understanding how composition works, are the most valuable and important foundations of what I remind them is, over and over, what photography is all about: Painting With Light.
Nothing more.

And I drive the point home that it’s NOT the camera.

Case in point….Brian DeMint….that’s him in the image on the left. His story he’s told a million times, is that he bought a basic DSLR at the local Best Buy years ago and started his photography journey.

Hell, he didn’t even know the lens came off. And he’s never been too proud to admit that.

If you look closely at the image to the left you can see Brian’s light. A 12$ garage light from WalMart.

That, and his basic DSLR from Best Buy and he’s mastered some very creative images. See the two below.

Brian knows how to see. And he understands this at a deeper artistic level than most.
I want to be like Brian.

I always love telling my class the Brian Demint story. When I show the images (below) they literally roll back and go whoa! Point made.
That’s why I’ve host numerous webinars and live events where Brian taught us his deepest secrets to seeing.

That, and a seriously twisted offbeat sense of humor.

You can watch my first ever webinar with Brian HERE This is free to all. And it’s very good. Swear words and all.

If you’re a member of noBs photosuccess you can access many more presentations with Brian in the Creative Cross training series HERE

Here’s Brian live at the Nashville Inferno with Brian HERE with his 12 dollar light.

And here’s Brian live at the Toronto Inferno HERE again, with his Walmart lighting.

As I said…..it’s not the camera.

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

Become a slave to the technique…

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“There is no such thing as ready. Do it scared, and build the muscle of confidence.”

I was paralyzed with fear when it came to public speaking. Throughout most of my 20’s I was incapacitated by this fear.

And I didn’t really break out of it until I stopped any negative and destructive behaviors that only fed that fear.

I took painful, slow grinding action to develop new skills.

I learned how to speak in front of groups. I took every single opportunity I could in my life to speak in front of groups. I still do to this day.

And for a couple of years, it was hard, it was very, very hard. But I persisted.

I am glad I did, because now I have the skill that I would have never been able to develop, unless I faced my fears dead-on and wrestled them to the ground and almost removed them or at least now they are able to be managed.

Now when I speak in front of a group, it’s a real sense of mastery for me.
That took a total of 13 years to develop.

The first 2 years were painful. But I got there.

Was it worth it? The better question to ask is:

What price are you really paying when you don’t tap into the talents and skills locked inside you by your fears?

When you manage to get a handle on your fears, look for the opportunity to become a better person, you will be become a better photographer.

That is a total given. You cannot avoid it. The two are linked.

Jeff Foxworthy talks about when he was struggling and growing. Seinfeld gave some advice to Foxworthy’s big question back then: “How can I create a “style?”

Seinfeld told him to keep giving his show,keep making people laugh, keep doing it, day after day, month after month, and your style will develop.

And it did. Jeff is now a household name.

This applies equally to photography techniques and creativity.

Or, any skill we are trying to master. Become a slave to the technique first, before you can forgot the technical and let the creative shine through.

Confidence is a skill. Selling, and marketing are too. Shooting is.

No matter what the creative endeavor, they are all subject to the same grind.
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

We’re lazy…

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We want what we want, and we want it now.

I don’t think social media and smart phones are helping much.

They add fuel to the dopamine fueled fire. Not much more.

The key: self-discipline.

Go there, and you have super powers that most others choose to ignore.

Why? Because they want what they want and they want it now.

Problem is, it ain’t coming. No more than a temper tantrum screaming two year old wants toys in a store.

Aim high. For you. And focus on the day.

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

Will this dance school flyer bring in new business to my photo studio?

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Will it work? I won’t know unless I try, right? So, off it goes into the mail.

Yes, mail. Never mind email and such. I’m going back to old school marketing strategies.

If it doesn’t work, I’ll mail another. And another. And take it from there. Ink and stamps are cheap.

Going after dance school photography was not on my radar until I ran three presentations in the last while, with three amazing and successful photographers.

Each of these in the forum, for members.

Each doing dance schools. All making good coin.

Don Ling HERE Warne Noyce HERE Nancy Tillberg HERE

And last week I ran my monthly marketing mastermind meeting where I showed, discussed this flyer, among various other marketing strategies.

I don’t have much dance school experience. I have very few dance images in my portfolio. Very little.

But what I do have is brass ballz, passion and persistence. That’s enough for the likes of me.

The rest I’ll figure out as the doors open. So for now, I’m trying to open doors.

And marketing is what does the heavy lifting when it comes to opening doors.

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 Sistine chapel was a paid gig…

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Let me tell you about a cool story on marketing, from a pencil artist…no less.

I listened to an interview with this dude named Owen Garratt.
This guy is one cool renegade.

Turns out there’s money in art. Even in pencil art, his main product.

Owen is probably the first pencil artist you ever met who  makesa hefty six figure income. Better than most photographers.

We can all learn.

One thing I’ve alw ays believed, taught and am on the same page aswith Ow en, is the idea that the business side of art is just as valuableas the art itself.

Hey, even the Sistine chapel was a paid gig, says the man.

Owen makes an interesting point about creativity.

He says creativity and art is nothing more than solving problems.

When you get right down to it, isn’t that what all business is?

Solving problems?

He also states that inspiration and creativity is not some bolt from the blue.

Not so. The truth is, there is no creativity, no inspiration.

It’s all around, been around and has been in existence for a long time.

Artist tend to be their own worst enemies…. we join old boy clubs and associations and get stuck in our ways.

Aahhheeem…..photographers? Us? Naawwww. We ain’t got no big bloated egos.

When I first realized this and started to ramp up the marketing,I felt like I was neglecting the “art” in photography.

Truth is, I was doing something very, very wise. And Owen makes this point throughout his interview.

When I took the marketing more serious, some seriously cool things started happening:
*I made more, way more money
*I started getting more creative. Indeed. Success breeds creativity.
*I started getting more respect from peers, people in my community,
my clients, my family….

It was like a tide that lifted me. And one that lifts us all when we realize that it just ain’t about the “art”.

This is not a mystery. Try it yourself and see. Like I did. Like Owen, the prosperous artist.
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

Existential crisis anyone?

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Have you ever had one? You know, a crisis? As in, what is life all about? Why, oh why am I here?

Why am I on this beach when I should be back home marketing my photography studio?

And other compelling struggles?

My life has been a long series of struggles. I’m sure you can relate.

The thing is and what matters is, what direction do you take? That’s what’s important.

Do we wallow? Or move forward?

I like moving forward. Even if but an inch at a time.

Years ago, way back in my my early, early twenties, I recall having a big question of questions creep into my little pea brain head: “What is my big theme in life?”

Or something like that. Do you know what answer almost instantly popped in my thoughts?

Communication. Go figure. Communication. And me, the most awkward, shyest, tongue tied kid ever. I have no idea where that came from, but there it was, and I picked it up and ran with it.

Me thinks it’s one of the main reasons why I faced the demons of fear decades ago and kinda sorta mastered public speaking. I’m sure it’s tied into why I write all these bloody emails.

I like communicating. Maybe, just maybe it’s also tied into marketing a business.
Maybe.

I do believe it’s got something to do with my attending a 3 day conference in L.A. last week, hosted by the worlds’ greatest voice coach, Roger Love.

Not sure how that happened. But there I was. And it was amazing. And it ties into this theme of communication. (and my secret inner desire to be a old black blues singer….more on that later).

Tomorrow night I’m running our marketing mastermind, where we all get together and have a group crisis, discuss marketing, share ideas, ask compelling questions and search out actionable answers.

You won’t get answers if you don’t ask.

JOIN ME Thursday, March 22 at 8:00PM…..(members….login first)

I’ll also be sharing some of thoughts on the Voices of Success with Roger Love.

And communication.

Let’s get together, have an existential marketing crisis, figure this out, talk shop and marketing…including….:
*fairy sessions update from yours truly
* some thoughts on what are the BEST Ingredients to build a long term portraits photography business
*does direct mail still work? Works for this guy….let’s have a look Any marketing questions or challenges?

Bring them to the table and let’s talk.
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

Why do rich photographers keep getting rich?

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“Of course complaining is really a waste of energy like being unhappy with the weather. Time is better spent on each studio finding their own solutions and adapting to “what is” and not “what was.”…”
~Jeff Lubin~
Watch the ‘Jeff Lubin effect’ webinar replay here.
One of the most powerful and information rich presentations for photographers.

What do successful photographers do, that others do not, that helps keep them “in the game”?

And here’s what I found out, in my humble yet accurate opinion.

I’ve boiled it down to one simple idea.
One core fundamental “truth” so to speak: Habits.

Yes, habits. Daily, weekly, monthly and lifelong habits are what make the differences. It explains why rich photographers keep getting richer, and the rest struggle.

So here my fair minded friend, is my list of core habits:
–marketing habit….yes, marketing. (you knew I was going to mention this one)
Whether they nail down offers, products and services that clients want and are willing to pay for, they recognize that marketing is the lifeblood of any successful photography business.

Make marketing your number one activity.

–goals habit…Have a clear direction and set of goals. More importantly, act on them.

Every month, and every year, have a list of goals. It’s okay to drop goals as you discover new ideas, new passions. The important thing is to create a road map and get in the car and start driving.
–personal challenge habit…successful photographers are NOT happy giving up, rolling over and playing dead, giving in or picking a rut in the road and laying in it.
We recognize that deep down, success is an inside job, and will challenge us in more ways than most folks can handle. We know this. And accept it. You welcome challenges of all kinds and never, ever let them defeat you.
Challenges help you to grow. They give you more courage and confidence. And these two qualities, courage and confidence, are recognized as two of the most important qualities to have, to keep, to grow within.
Without them, not much else is possible.
–saving money habit….Cash is a serious matter. Over optimism over cash flow can kill you. Credit card debt can crush you faster than anything. Crushing expenses can cause you to lose all hope.
Listen, this is 101 stuff. The stuff your parents were right about when they say…“put some away for a rainy day.”
Being sensible is being smart. Throwing money at a problem won’t cure it. But having money, and saving more and more will give you a solid base to work from. Learn this and start applying it today. Sooner is better.
–prosperity consciousness habit….many have a problem with making money. As photographers, this will create problems. Making money is not evil.
And it’s a positive mindset and habit that we need to address, resolve and grow from.
One of my most popular presentations I gave titled: “Wealth Attraction &Goal Setting” I dig deep into many of the limiting beliefs that many don’t even know they have nor do they realize they are sabotaging any chance of their having success in business.
This is  controversial subject.
I’ve had people cry, leave the room, quit and never talk to me again because of the deep and sensitive nature of this area.
More have benefited from these ideas than have been negatively affected. I am one of them, years ago, when I was made aware.
I can say with all my conviction it is unconditionally an area we MUST address. Like it or not….
–learn habit… It’s one of my rules in life…“Always be learning”. It’s good for the mind, the heart, the soul. It helps expand you. It doesn’t have to be all things photography. As  a matter fact, diversity is good for the souls. Hobbies, activities, challenges….all new things that will expand your mind.
Speaking of always be learning, I just downloaded and installed the latest replay with Don Ling in the forum, where he gave us  over an hour of pure strategy on how he has succeeded in his in-home photography studio.

“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”

Join us…Content, Coaching & Community