Someone once told me….
“The reason you’ll never attain success in your photography business is the same reason you don’t put yourself on an endless self-educating schedule…it’s because you’re not hungry and passionate enough about success.”
Most folks don’t go out and look for ways to do things better or different. Nor do they apply much of what they learn.
The problem is, we have very short attention spans. Or the tenacity of a snail.
I have become well known and respected in our town, when one time I was a nobody and my work sucked.
For me it was a long slow crawl to earning a respectable reputation, then almost overnight a rise to mastery and success.
For nearly 5 years I took every single photographic job I could get my hands on. I then started my own studio and essentially became self employed, I struggled along for at least another ten years.
Hey, I’m a slow learner. You don’t have to be slow. But a learner you must be.
I worked my buns off. I went to every workshop and convention I could get my hands on or could scrape together the cost to attend and the expense to travel to.
I asked old timers for information and feedback. I wanted to know how others made it. I especially liked sales and marketing.
What was the driving force that compelled all my role models to succeed? I wanted to know. I read hundreds and hundreds of self help and success books.
Not to mention whatever books on photography I could find. Everything!
I get asked what it takes to succeed by newbies and those struggling along, how they too can grow, succeed, shoot and market to success.
But they look for answers that are out of balance with what they are capable of producing.
And too often are unwilling to do what is necessary to build.
There’s two sides to this coin. Both of equal and essential value and importance.
Ignore one in favour of the other and you will begin to wobble down the wrong road until you figure out the wheels ain’t rotating properly and the steering gets harder and harder, until you eventually drive into the ditch, broke and torn up.
One side is the photography. The other, the marketing. Get good, or minimally decent and deliver a good product.
Hopefully something with impact. This includes delivering a great attitude and personality, since you are touching people’s lives at very important and meaningful times.
On the marketing side, the one too often abandoned or replaced with the wrong information or tactics, is the one that fuels the engine.
Without marketing you won’t have anything. (maybe a fun hobby)
The two areas need to progress together, one leap-frogging in front of the other.
Get good at both.
Also, get good at selling, creating new offers, communicating with your ‘herd’ and keeping them close to you.
I am told all the time that people don’t have the time to learn, study, read and listen to educational materials.
Time is democratic and fair. We all got the same amount. Success in your photography depends on a mastery of a handful of skills and how you manage the time allotted to you.
The two main ones I already mentioned: marketing and shooting. And hustle…tons of hustle.
The person who sets out earnestly and diligently to acquire a wealth of know-how, tempered over time and application, will end up with wealth in their bank accounts.
Also, they discover the joy and thrill of success in their own photography business.
On that note….let’s get together and talk shop, marketing and challenges:
January 17th at 9:00PM EST is our next members marketing mastermind meeting.
Got ANY questions, ideas or struggles…email me, or, show up and well throw you in the fire. REGISTER HERE
*Judy Comier will make a cameo appearance and talk about her 2018 Brand Ambassador Search promotion
*Hark Nijar will join us and share some successes he’s had with fairies, sports and more…
*Rob (yours truly) will update his newest promotion Ice Fairies…a whole new look and add on to the fairy brand And more….
Yours in success and in photography,
Robert Provencher
