Photo Success

A Place to Grow

This season, how about a good old fashioned beat down?

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Aaaaannnndddd…WE’RE BACK!

Join us, yours truly, Robert Provencher and James Hodgins, the founders of noBs PHOTOSUCCESS…

December 20th, 2017 @ 9pm EST

Better yet, send us your images for an all out assault.
Limited to the first 20 SUBMISSIONS.

No PRIZES! None…nothing but tough LOVE…pure, unmitigated, authentic and real feedback to HELP YOU grow as a photographer and an artist.

We ain’t holding nothing back, as the two founders of noBs photosuccess join forces to assess, critique, analyze and strategize YOUR IMAGES.

THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

The feedback we give you will be based on the following criteria:

*impact
*lighting
*composition
*treatment
*image quality technical mastery

And whatever else we can throw your way. Always with the BEST INTENTIONS…..

Use the force Padawan….JOIN US

Once we reach 20 submissions, we’re closing the doors. ENTER NOW!
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

Susan Eckert-Illuminating the Power of the Feminine- January 4th, 2018 at 8:00PM EST- Join us….

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Join us January, 2018 8:00PM EST with Susan Eckert with “Illuminating the Power of the Feminine.”

REPLAY IN THE FORUM

“I believe… …every woman’s voice is unique and that her body language speaks louder than any words ever could. …age is a state of mind…and that the same applies to sexy. …a woman’s curves can speak in whispers…or in deep sultry tones.

I am inspired by the poetry of Annie Liebovitz’s work, the organic beauty of Joyce Tenneson’s imagery, and the clarity of Henri Cartier- Bressons’s vision.

But my vision is also deeply shaped by Tamara Lempicka and Picasso paintings–art that celebrates imperfection as perfection; beauty as interpreted by the beholder.

I see every woman’s beauty. My gift is your trust in me.

Your gift is my capable hand in capturing your one-of-a-kind beauty, voice, soul. Susan”
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

How to guarantee you will reach your goals….

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I was at a chamber meeting last night, chatting with Rebecca, a local photographer.

I told her I was thinking about getting back into karate, since there’s a new club starting just down the road, and my wife and I know the founders. We go back.

Way back to when I originally was into karate, achieving my brown belt before quitting in favor of cardio kickboxing (which folded 4 years ago :(…). My wife had achieved her black belt.

Getting into karate at age 59, well, maybe it’s a good idea, maybe not. What is good is joining a club, paying the monthly dues, and feeling that sense of “accountability” that seems to push us when we make some form of formal commitment.

What is also attractive is the fact that many of the classes are described as “low impact”.

Me like.

My joints are sore. I can’t abuse them anymore, but I do need to keep working out.

Rebecca tells me she has a fitness coach. And it works. No coach, no workout essentially.

Accountability is a powerful force. We can’t really depend on ourselves to get things done, can we?

Having an external, outside force making us hyper aware of our goals, adds so much more to our motivation.

The same applies to coaching. Sometimes we delude ourselves. But with a coach, they can push us beyond our limits and they can call us out on our BS.

We tweak, adjust, maybe change up our goals. Clarity through honesty.

This is good. Sometimes painful, but good.

It’s what happens when you add that extra dimension of accountability to your life and your goals.

But you gotta show up. Even JUST showing up counts. Doesn’t matter if you sit at the back of the class. Showing up is 80%. Maybe more….

Tonight, at 9:00PM EST I’ll be hosting our last marketing mastermind meeting of the year. We’ll be going over:

*goal setting strategies and techniques to get you on the right footing for 2018
*some marketing from my studio from this fall
*some marketing strategies and principles from other members who have been crushing it
*general all around butt kicking…..JOIN US!

NOBs photosuccess members, login, GO HERE and register for this life changing event. As usual, the replay will be placed in the forum. Not AS good as being there live, but still good.

Yours in success and in photography,
Robert Provencher

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

Finding, seeing and using the light you randomly find on location…

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When I show up at the brides home for pre-ceremony photos, I look around for creative lighting and posing options. In this example, you can see the light reflecting in my assistant Danielle’s eyes. I spotted that right away, looked to my right and noticed the source. The same light is, in this shot, bouncing off the closet doors to my left.

The main source of this light. I spotted the bannister to the right as a possible option for some creative angles:
I knew I wanted to try some images here with the bride, and planned on shooting from several angles, since the main floor (upper right) would allow me a great place to shoot from. I love finding cool, unusual angles.

Here’s one angle, at eye level…notice the specular highlights in her eyes:

Another example, (the bride is in the exact same place, and this is one of many poses/ expressions) creative angle from up high, shooting just over the bannister:

The thing is, when shooting at a wedding, there’s isn’t a lot of time so I need to work fast, work with what I got and get maximum results.

Yea, yea, I could bring all sorts of studio lighting, or spend hours planning. I want the bride to enjoy the day, not have to sit for too long, and have fun in front of my camera…..

Yours in photography,

Robert Provencher

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

 

Think different

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One of my fave books was the bio on Steve Jobs. Steve considered himself “different”.

A rogue, freak and geek…..I can relate. Can you?

I think we’ll agree. And we can all learn a valuable lesson.

People love the Apple brand. They’ll tell you they are well designed and give you reasons why based on the physical virtues and functionality.

However, that’s not the real reason they feel so religiously bonded to this brand.

The real reason is Apple sold them on the idea that they too were different. And because they were different, they used Apple products.
Rogues, freaks and geeks and proud of it.

The first comparable that comes to mind is the Harley motorcycle. These people feel cult like bonded to their brand. Just like the Apple users.

Where else do you see an entire look based on slapping corporate logos over just about every accessory and attachment for their “hogs” and call it bad ass?

(need proof? just go to any coffee shop in the summer where 20 or more Harley owners congregate and count the logos. You’ll get dizzy…)

It’s not the bike. It’s the feeling they get when they own and ride one. Like being in a gang.

I read the best description of a Harley user:

“It’s the only time a 44 yr old accountant can ride down main street and have town folks be afraid of them.”

Years ago when I started in photography I noticed, even in myself, that many people looked up to the gurus du jour.

We wanted to be like them. We mimicked their style and even their marketing.

The truth is, you can’t really give your studio marketing power until you feel deeply connected to it. Until you think different. And become a rogue and a freak.

Everything else is just marketing incest and eventual cannibalism.

We WANT to be different. But getting there isn’t done by swiping wholesale what another photographer does in their marketing.

Owning an Apple or Harley won’t make us so. It’s a vapious lie, of sorts.

But dammit, it sells a lot of computers, ipods and motorcycles. (and motorcycle helmets, jackets, boots….)

Are you throwing darts in a blizzard when it comes to marketing your photography business?

Maybe it’s time to think different.

The first headline I created when I started NoBs PhotoSuccess was… “no whiners, egos, prima donnas…”

I wanted people who thought different.

In order to truly think and act different, you need the right information and a great place where you don’t feel the need to conform.

You get to be yourself.

That, my friend, is one of the founding principles of NoBs Photo Success.

Thankfully, many feel this way. NOT everyone does. Since some leave and look for a place that is more “like them”.

Where it feels safe.

Forget about feeling safe. One never does when one ventures out.

Stay real, stay frosty my friend. Be authentic, be yourself, think different.

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 dogs got a boner…”

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Client calls my wife last week: “Love the pics, but the dogs got a boner.”

Oooops. Totally missed that one. No problem, we reopen the image in photoshop, simple clone, and poof….boner be gone!.Send the new version, cleaned up and boner free to the lab.

I always like including the family dog in our family portraits. We encourage everyone to bring them along. They are valued members of the family.

Sometimes, depending on the gender and the angle, certain body parts reveal themselves. No problem, we can “fix it in post.”

Unless we miss it. Still, no problem, we’ll redo and make sure the client is happy. No one wants a family portrait with an excited pooch.

When it comes to photographing dogs, there’s no one better than Margaret Bryant. She knows dogs, knows how to photograph them and has built a successful business on this niche.

A few years ago she presented a four part series. And it’s good. Very, very good.

CHECK IT OUT…CLICK HERE

Yours in success and in photography,

Robert Provencher

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

Your clients buy the artist more than the art- A webinar with Thomas Dodd

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Let me send you my best PHOTOGRAPHY MARKETING TIPS-How To Build A Six-Figure Income Photographing babies, children and families. Plus advance notice on marketing, lighting and success webinars.

“The more pictures you see, the better you are as a photographer.”
~Robert Mapplethorp~

Thomas Dodd Wiki entry

Fave podcast: Joe Rogan

Some quotes…..:

“Texture is critical.”

“Model selection is the most important part of an image.”

Have an elevator speech. They buy the artist more than the art. This is influenced by how you present yourself, what you say, how you look. Do you walk in looking like an artist?

This matters: “The way you talk about yourself. The way your work. The way you present yourself.”

Have multiple streams of income.

15% commission paid to affiliates who show his work.

Getting grants for art is all about being a good writer.  Reporters are lazy. They will run with the bio and the press release you give them.

Start small, ascend your way up through the ranks. It’s all about people.

Think like a rick person. They spend money on things they value. Easiest jobs seem to be the ones who pay the most.

Painters are open, photographers not so much. “What is currently popular is on it’s way out.”

Copy right and key word all your online files. Blog twice a week, even if you’re not a good writer.

Think of social media not as promoting, but as sharing.

The universe loves speed…. and profits…

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The universe loves speed. So do it.

I can’t stand getting bogged down, stuck or glued to a computer for endless hours. Don’t get me wrong, I actually love spending time doing photoshop worklow.

I get to be creative, artistic, and listen to some cool podcasts. I just don’t want to do more then is necessary. Or, if it was ALL I did, I’d hit a wall and go crazy.

For some workflow strategies, like fairy day, or any other higher volume runs, I like to create templates, steps, photoshop actions and a  workflow that is FAST, consistent, and mainly, in the end, profitable.

It’s in that vain that I created a new workflow video for our new medieval knights sessions. See image above. It’s kinda, sorta a spin off the whole fairy thing. And it rocks.

This is for members, and includes the Design House action, exclusive for members, and a custom made textured PSD file. Again, all designed for maximum results, and a great bottom line.

MEMBERS go here for that video tutorial, action and template
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Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer

Learning to “see” the light and create portrait style lighting on location.

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Light is ridiculously simple and infinitely complex all at once. It’s like music, take  a few notes and you can create a masterpiece. But you need to know where you’re going, what you want to create. In other words, mastery. Learning to “see” the light.

Just like learning to play the piano, or the guitar, or the sax, learning light isn’t about buying lights or throwing a flash on camera. When you get to a scene, it’s about seeing what is available and using it, like any tool, and create a masterpiece. Even if it’s a portrait of a two year old. (which also requires an extra dash of timing, luck and patience)

Check it out, from the summer time….two scenes, very similar, where I maximized the lighting available.

We were facing north, and there were some soft streaks of light coming in from behind this scene, creating some “kicker” light:

The final results, almost near perfect studio type lighting. Yes, I did get lucky to some degree, since this was an active two year old. But I had an idea where I was going, what I hoping to achieve, and a willingness to act crazy to get her attention for a nano second. (you won’t have much luck with two year olds unless you’re willing get a little nutty. They “get” nutty…):

Same area, different scene, a younger boy. Arrow on the left indicated where I was standing during the shot. Notice that behind me is the north sky.

Arrow on the right is where the boy is standing. The light coming in from his left, our right, makes for near perfect portrait lighting on location.

80-200 2.8  lens at 200mm, 2.8

Working with lighting on location and “seeing the light” takes time and practice. Force  yourself to see the light, the light source, the possible kicker lights and stop, think, analyze for best results during your on location portrait sessions.

I used to really struggle with this, especially when working with people. I’d get flustered, nervous and couldn’t focus on the job at hand. With time and persistence I feel very confident when working with light.

Yours in success in photography,

Robert Provencher

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