Photo Success

A Place to Grow

The three amigos…

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The three amigos…

We’ve known each other since about 2000.

James Hodgins got into photography in a big way back then, and co-founded noBs photosuccess Inc™

Nowadays, he’s still in photography in a big way, and shoots primarily mining, industrial and commercial photography.

Great big buildings, huge operations and gigormous pieces of million dollar equipment.

(If there ever was a boudoir for mining equipment, he’s the man)

Smart move to niche out into an area that’s rich in photographic opportunities, dripping with cash and eager clients willing to part with their money in exchange for highly specialized skillset.

Then there’s Judy Cormier….the firecracker. One of the best wedding photographers in North America turned her back on weddings to niche out into boudoir photography.

Her story is amazing. And she reveals the details of her story, her struggles, in the last two podcast we had together. (more on that below)

And then there’s yours truly…moi, me, the man who sends you these emails…Rob Provencher…. portrait studio owner, weddings, small commercial gigs and a garden variety of photo sessions in a small city where being good at many disciplines amounts to a nice tidy business.

Together we have over 70 years experience. Not that throwing around big numbers like that really matters.

It only matters, in my oh so humble yet laser sharp accurate opinion, if you’re in the game, day after day, toe-to-toe with real, breathing clients.

We be just that team.

And we come together this Thursday, March 23rd 9:00PM EST as your panel of judges
in the the Bull Pen print show.

All are welcome. You can in cash prizes! Join us.

DETAILS HERE

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

P.S. If you want to hear why Judy quit weddings, and why and how she’s getting back into the game…and some great success strategies and headtrash talk, check out the Feb 2015 and March 2015 podcasts HERE.

How to get good at goals…

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Some of the photographers I interview are making a rock-solid 6-figures and some have not made much of anything yet.

I think I know why.

When I coach anyone, one of my first questions is “what are your goals?”

And, what’s stopping you? Knowing the obstacles is just as valuable.

Some start blaming, whining, complaining. Not taking any responsibility.
Riding the pity party train….heading no where.

NO where…..so, my question to you is:

What do you want to create? What is your vision for your photography business?

It’s amazing how the answers are all over the place. But here’s the interesting thing.

The photographers who are making more have some very specific and common practices.

One, they have goals.

Two, they take action.

And three, when their actions flop, they don’t take it the wrong way.

For example, when you act on  a goal, and it fails, you have THREE ways to look at that fail:

1-Quit
2-Repeat the same behavior
3-Change your approach

In other words, you learn from the fail, making the fail a valuable stepping stone.

Where else you gonna get this kind of education? Your failures now have become your best lessons.
If you choose to look at it that way.

Set a goal that is SPECIFIC (exactly how much do you want to make and what markets do you want to go after).
It’s amazing how your brain starts to come  up with solutions when it has a specific goal to reach.

Next, set a goal that is MEASURABLE (when exactly will you achieve your goal). You must set timelines to achieve your goals – it’s mandatory.

Create a system, a series of steps you can take to get you closer to your goals. List every possible step, every possible action, working with everything you have available to you right here, right now.

Get off the train.

And finally, when you do make it, keep your feet firmly planted on the ground. Don’t be  a jerk.
Success and money can do that to some folks…..but not you…

In the forum I posted a presentation and some forms for you to download. I have in my life never found more practical and useful information.

And it’s right there.

Go grab it.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

With “impact” you have what it takes to build an empire.

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Chuck Berry left us. He’s up in that great big jam session in the sky.

He was the dude who started it all. Rock and Roll.

Every single band that came out of the 50s and the 60s were inspired by the sound he created.

It was rock and roll baby.

His sound, his style had impact. You knew it when you heard it.

Any musician who can write, perform a song that gets people dancing, tapping their toes, buying their albums and attend live concerts has the ability to create art with impact.

And impact is the very root of our art.

If you can create images with impact, images that makes people stop, and go whoa!!!!, images of their babies, their families, their events, you have what it takes to build an empire.

I mention this over and over when I judge images in print shows. The number one, first and most important element of a good photograph is impact.

Everything else is secondary.

Easy to define beyond…”whoa!”??? Not really. But you know it when you see it.

Like music, you know it when you hear it.

Worthy of pursuit.

This Thursday we’re hosting another Bull Pen print show, and you’re welcome to join us.

You’ll hear all about the elements of a good photograph and  a few egos will get bruised, no doubt.

It happens.

Join us.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

…”there is so much BS, especially with wannabees, fake artists and poseurs…”

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An email I just received….
“Rob…I’m a pretty serious amateur photographer looking to buy some equipment as I haven’t shot for a few years now. May do portraits and the odd wedding for friends. I was a Nikon D200 shooter before but now have no equipment what so ever! What would you recommend as someone who is a hard working photographer. Thanks in advance for any help Scott”

My reply…..“Scott, don’t buy anything…..yet. Use what you got. Shoot, shoot, shoot….learn to see light, pose, create and shoot for mastery.

Sadly, many feel that getting the “right” equipment constitutes seeing light, posing, creating and, ugh, marketing.

It’s like the dude with 11 guitars, yet he’s stuck playing alone in his basement.

It takes a long time to put in your 10,000 hours….but that’s what it takes….10,000 hours…or almost.
Owner stuff is not a replacement.

One camera, one lens is all you need for now.

Not sure that that’s the answer you hoped for, but in todays photographic industry there is so much BS, especially with wannabees, fake artists and poseurs.

And, in all honesty, it’s such an open ended, vastly huge question with a thousand answers. All I’m saying is, the tools that really matter, is right there, between your ears.

Having said that, I shoot Sony mirrorless…..I believe mirrorless is the future :)….

Here’s  2 short videos where I explain why I switched HERE.

When it comes to lenses, lights, tripods….all depends what you’re shooting, how much you wanna spend (again, don’t fall into the trap of ownership equals skill….)

thanks…Rob
****

Scott replied to my reply:
“Thank you very much, I knew I’d get a logical answer from yourself and I totally get what you are saying ! Do you still run the No Bs success website ? And if so do you think it would be a great place for me to be a member of ? Many thanks again Scott”
****

Final thoughts….

“Anytime Scott! Yes, my forum would be a great place to be. Remember that scene (me thinks from The Hobbit movie???) where the little dude goes into the dragon’s den, and there’s gold everywhere. And a sleeping dragon. Well, the forum is kinda like that. Except the dragon is a friendly dragon. And the gold is real.”

Check it out HERE

Don’t forget, all are welcome to join us next Thursday, March 23rd, for our monthly

Superhero child against blue sky background…
Have your images critiqued and reviewed. Win cash and certificates! Details HERE.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

Are “phantom” pains dragging you down?

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A little while ago I learned a new word: `fauxcellarm“

It means a phantom cell phone vibration in your leg when you`re not even carrying your cell phone.

Kinda like the phantom pain people get who lost a limb. And they feel either pain or the actual limb, even though it`s not there.

I thought it was cute and funny. Made me smile.

This, by the way, is a scientific fact. It`s how the brain works because of neurons and pathways that have been traveled since forever.

I read all about that in a book I just finished called: `The Brain That Changes Itself`. Great read! I highly recommend it.

This all made me think about success and getting ahead in business. It seems that we struggle when certain habits get in the way. Bad habits. Habits that create the wrong mindset.

Habits that are like the phantom pain effect, but to us they are real.
So, we let them control us.

Let me explain. Couple quick examples.

You go out and buy a ton of photography gear, and photography marketing stuff. You struggle, you get some success. But you hit a wall.

Or, something really bad happens. Anything. Name it. We all experience it…..bad decisions, rejection, debt, burn out….on and on…no one is immune. Trust me.

And these experiences live in our brains as if they were real. Well, frankly, they were real. But `were`is the operative word here.

We give them life because we don`t know any better. It`s hard to reprogram those pathways. To reset, re boot and get on the right path.

The only way I know of that has any hope of working is outside influence. A coach. A mastermind.

It`s one of the best ways to progress and move beyond those phantom pains.. And it`s why I run so many mastermind meetings. It’s the truest source of change and inspiration for success and prosperity in photography.

If you need to re set, re focus, re program your brain for success,
consider joining  me….details are HERE.

If you’re already a member, as usual, the replays are all in the forum (login first) HERE.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher