Photo Success

Tools for growing a photography business

Do you have the social confidence of an asthmatic field mouse?

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It’s good to feel confident. I never used to be. In fact, there are times when I am petrified and filled with anxiety. (like when I am about to click the Buy Now button on that new lens from B&H and I hear my wife walking towards me…)

Seriously. I was a shy kid. Very shy. And a shy adult….until I turned 31 and decided once and for all to do something about it.

So I joined Toastmasters back in ’91. I put in 11 years, loved every minute of it, and now have superpowers because of it. That, and it was very good for business.

I rejoined a few months ago. I felt the need, I felt compelled to challenge myself. To sharpen my skills so to speak.

Confidence, courage and the ability to communicate with both is by far one of the most valuable assets. So why not?

Nobody was as shy and restricted as I was. And my photography skills and money making mojo didn’t start to really grow until I tackled this problem.

I also missed out on many group activities and opportunities because of this affliction. Maybe that had a silver lining, which assisted me in eventually marching to my own drum.

Who knows.

But one thing for certain, I do feel that my shyness held me back in a BIG way.
When I mention this to people, they have a very hard time believing me.

I suppose to many I am the picture of cool confidence and occasional aloofness…ahem….(insert smoldering smirk and cocky Bieber like hair flick here)

One of the hardest things I ever did in my life was tackle this affliction and actively start changing.

This kind of change is deep and everlasting. And, yes, scary. It’s why I believe so many avoid any kind of change. Opting out for the mind numbing work they enslave themselves to and to intense daily doses of television and other mindless entertainment.

This does NOT happen over night. I need to stress this. It all started in fact, months, years before joining. I had intentions and goals. Desire.

I created goals. Eventually, they came true. I wonder….”would my goals and achievements have happened had I not created the goals in the first place?” Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t want to take that chance.

It’s why I still create goals, believe in constant self-improvement and on going training like the monthly mastermind meetings I run for members. Speaking of which the next one is happening tomorrow night, January 17th, 2018 at 9:00PM EST…..

Registration LINK HERE

Everything starts with desire and commitment….and showing up. Do join us.

Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer

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

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.”

“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.”

3 warning signs your photography sucks….and why getting a USP is not the answer…..

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First off, let me say this. USP as a strategy is way overrated.

USP=Unique Selling Proposition in case you didn’t know.

Sure, it sounds cool when someone mentions it at some photography workshop when speaking on photography marketing.

But it makes little sense.
Why?

The best comparison that comes to mind is the overused term “commitment” in a relationship.

As if commitment is something you pursue. And chase after.

Truth is, it’s something that occurs organically, as a natural by-product because of your beliefs, discipline (think grown up), your actions and because overall, in spite of any flaws, you like the other person.

And you WANT to be with them. It’s organic.

You don’t go get a USP and then push it onto your clients.

It’s something that reveals itself because you work at creating great offers
and at building a great following for your photographic services.

Which leads me to the bare bones essence of any promotion. ( A promotion has at it’s core the essence of your USP….this is also known as “brand”. In other words, what do your clients and prospects feel, know, understand and get about you and your service?)

Here it is in a nutshell:
*Your list is 50% what makes an offer work. IN other words, WHO you pitch your offer to matters….a lot!
*The offer makes up 30%
*The copy, the message, makes up 20%

Notice nothing about having a USP? Notice the numero uno item that rocks this?
The list!

Your past clients. And, more importantly, your relationship to them.

And that my friend, you can take to the bank.

A USP is about as valuable as a mile high stack of worthless penny stocks.

So, here goes…..

3 warning signs your Unique Selling Proposition has tubes up its nose and is being kept alive by a machine:

1) You wrack your brain for hours trying to create offers for your photography business and nothing works.
2) The cost of advertising goes up and up. Like a patient in a coma, you wonder if you should just pull the plug.
3) You worry way too much about competitors. One or two rivals really get under your skin. You agonize over a few key competitors and spend way too much time thinking about them.

Listen. These are merely symptoms.

And they mean something much deeper is going on.

What you need to do is fix the owner of the business.

Fix the boss, fix the business.

You don’t need another USP. What you need is a complete medical and marketing overhaul.

One of the best strategies for health, wealth and prosperity is learning from others who been there, ‘dun dat.

And it’s why we created a place where many photographers go to access some of most effective, tested, proven and street level smart advice on marketing, shooting and success.

It’s called NoBs Photo Success Inc™

Listen, if you have the passion, the desire and drive to grow your photography business, and are open to advice that makes sense, then this could be just the prescription the doctor ordered.

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

Marketing is all about coming up with offers and creating products that clients want.

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Family by the falls photo promotion…

What is the family by the falls photo promotion you ask?
I dunno…I made it up. Last year.
And it worked. So, we tweaked, modified and ran it again this year. Kaching.
Marketing is all about coming up with offers and creating products that clients want. Products that have very desirable benefits. The benefits will be your main marketing message.

A blend of good value, attractive features and easy to respond to. With a deadline of course (hey, you gotta add some pressure).

I talked about this promotion in last years Marketing Mastermind meeting.
And will be talking about it some more, as update, in the next, soon to be announced, November marketing mastermind.
The point it, you need to try different ideas.
No orders or instructions will come down from over yonder or above with marketing direction. You, I, we all, as professional photographers who rely on our photography marketing to live, need to create and be responsible for marketing.
It’s what makes the wheels turn.
The family by the falls promotion was just one of many strategies I hammered away at this fall. This, among many others.
I love the saying from Dan Kennedy: “Don’t look for one strategy to get 100 clients. Use 100 strategies to get 1 client.”
I’ll admit, this lifestyle is not for everyone. It’s too uncertain and unstable for many.
I get it.
But know this, in order to succeed in business you need to become a marketer. And it’s a skill, not something you’re born with. You get better with time.
ABOVE…my VAL….voice activated lights stand….
Tina , the boss and queen bee, and Danielle, the princess and millennial padawan in training, trying to adjust the Octodome….and doing their best not to fly away like a kite.
Below…a sample of the promotional image. To be discussed. Stay tuned….
Yours in photography,
Rob

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

Photography marketing templates and photoshop actions

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Marketing templates and photoshop actions included in the forum, and more added all the time…

Peppy Pea templates.….(click the image- make sure you’re logged in first)

Marketing templates for members only:(login first)

We have a whole bunch of really cool photoshop actions for members. Here’s a sampling:

Design House HERE for members (login first)

NOTE: We’ve paid a license fee for this and they are for NOBs Members only.

7 Minute video explaining what each action does and how I use them in my photography studio.

Enjoy:


DOWNLOAD Craigs’ bundle IN THE FORUM HERE (login first)

Quick video explaining how I use Craigs Actions and the softar and hodgysoft….

These photoshop actions are included in the nobs photosuccess inner circle members forum

 

Babies First Year Marketing Program…

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I built my business on this marketing program. It has served me well and has been the groundwork and foundation for my photography success.
In this series, I reveal everything…I mean all of it…every single strategy on marketing, lighting, posing...

AND it’s in the forum for MEMBERS HERE

Hodd1035

Fairies…Can this be the easiest money you can make with a few props and your camera?

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Can this be the easiest money you can make with a few props and your camera?

THIS Series IS INCLUDED WHEN YOU JOIN noBs Photo Success Inner Circle Members Forum
Note: All our products are delivered to you online via membership access. Nothing is shipped.

 

Let me prove to you why Fairy Portraits is the fastest, easiest and most profitable money-making addition you can add to your photography studio….

From the desk of Robert Provencher…

Creator of the Enchanted Forest Success System

Dear friends, I have been doing fairy portraits for over ten years in our studio and it is a great marketing tool for adding extra income and extra exposure.

I believe it is by far one of the very best ways to increase your photography studio’s bottom line, and increase your market position.

In my 30+ years of creating and selling family, baby and wedding portraits, I have not found a niche portrait market where you will have as much fun, clients will eagerly line up, book you out, take their kids out of school for and show up with smiles and anticipation…. and ready to buy!

Could this be the perfect product for photographers to offer?

I’ve created these special sessions many times and have relied on it as a solid and reliable marketing strategy for my photography studio.

These sessions, when done right, will bring you tons of publicity and profits. But you must know how to market them effectively and you must know how to create results that people will love.

Fail on either of these areas and you are doomed. Get it right, and your success is virtually guaranteed.

We’ve been doing these for over ten years and I’ve put together a doanloadable package with ALL the resources to show you exactly how you too can expand your studio sales and tap into this hungry market.

What is the Enchanted Forest Fairy Portrait Success System?

The videos  are about two hours long. In them, I demonstrate the set-up and actual shooting of several fairy sessions in my studio. You get to see the lighting, the posing, the rapport and learn from me while I create fairy portraits from these real sessions.

On this video I also have a frank, honest, no-nonsense one-on-one chat with you on the finer aspects of marketing, attitudes, strategies and mindset. I’ve laid it out for you and made it brain-dead simple.

The resources  includes several videos on the exact work-flow I use in Photoshop.

BONUS ITEMS:

Ditto Cam web broadcast and webinar video from PhotographySchoolhouse.com on Shooting Fairies…more great information as I instructed hundreds in this web broadcast….

You will be amazed at the simplicity and the final results

 

I reveal every aspect, and no advanced photoshop skills required. I also give you photoshop actions, including a fairies set from photoshop guru Mama Shan, who has created some of the best actions for these types of portraits. Also, I interview another photographer Diane Wilson, and she reveals how she creates these sessions successfully in her studio. This is a must listen-to interview.

More testimonials…..

"....average sales $678 per fairy. THIS YEAR!..."


 




"I just wanted to let you know how well the Fairy Day promotion has done in my studio. I tried it for the first time last January, I set up using things i already had, woodland Christmas trees, an old muslin I had from a past Easter session, and a bridge piece from a 10 year old Off the wall set, I gathered up random greenery
from around the studio, found a resin frog, and fake butterflies, picked up rocks from a culvert and sprayed them with texture spray paint, made a fairy wand from a dowel rod and some cardboard, used an old candle lantern from a 25yr old Christmas centerpiece, dug out a old Christmas ornament. I purchased 3 costumes from an online Halloween place, all on clearance. And then bought a piece of mirrored plexi glass from the local hardware store. I set up a main, a kicker and a reflector. I decided to shoot on 3 days, 4 appointments each day, thinking i would need a lot of time for each appointment. I ended up with 13 Fairies. And was perfectly happy with that. Average I offered only in Studio viewing with the slideshow, set to music, and although my print price were higher they were even more if clients did not order the day of their viewing. average sales $678 per fairy. THIS YEAR! we are also shooting 3 days only, Friday Sat and Sun, but we have 53 appointments booked, shooting a fairy just about every 1/2 hour. Viewings will also be done in Studio via projection in our
"New Studio" I just purchased a new building and I want viewings in the new place. "It's OK to make money" in the photography business, that I was looking for.This is my business, this is how I make a living.  I'm not part time anything. If I crossed the line by using all your wonderful ideas, I am soooo sorry, but they work extremely well, even in my little rural US midwest town of 3600. I also have adapted several other of your great ideas for use in our studio, we tried out the Rock Star idea for the first time in September 2010, it went very well. An outdoor Fall Family special, Black&White Mothers Day and Fathers Day. Plus our old stand by's of real Easter bunnies and the best Santa Claus ever. Thank you once again,
Lori Craig"




You also receive ad samples to help you create and model your own ads when you start up your enchanted forest specials. These ads and the fairy day promotion is brain dead simple and easy to replicate.


You also get me! This system shows you everything you need to start your own fairy portraits. When you invest in the system and you have questions or need to have some samples or ads critique, then you can contact me for feedback. I will be there for you. 




THIS Series IS INCLUDED WHEN YOU JOIN noBs Photo Success Inner Circle Members Forum