PhotographyMarketing

What they will never teach you in photography school…

January 29, 2018 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

If you didn’t know any better…meaning, if you listened to everyone else, including the professors at photography school, you’d think the way to a successful career in photography would involve uber expensive lights, lenses, cameras and complicated software and more.

BUT, and this is a big but, what they won’t teach you in school is how much that’s a crock of bull.

We had an amazing lighting mastermind meeting last week with special guest and co-founder of noBs photosuccess James Hodgins.

And James was very generous in the amount of information he gave us involving his lighting strategies. Very.

See, the thing is, James is in my oh so humble and accurate opinion, one of the best lighting guys I know. I hate him 🙂

Is he a Big Name marquee celeb? Not.

Would I put him head to head, toe to toe in the photographic ring against any of the big names out there today?

In a flash (excuse the pun). And I’d bet my last dollar on him.

James has an ungodly amount of raw, innate talent and skill when it comes to working with light. He’s the real deal. (did I mention I hate him?)

And he’s just a regular small mining town, blue collar schmuck like me who likes to go fishing (a lot!) and rolls many times a week at his local jiu jitsu club.

The cooler thing is he credits me for teaching him. Ok, I’ll take that pat on the back. But the truth is, I may have started him off and kicked him in the rear, but whatever lighting monster I woke up, he created his own journey and worked at his own photography style.

And I’m just going to come right out and say this….James admits he shoots 100% jpeg, uses auto white balance, and uses every light available to him. And he makes it rock.

I can hear the gasps of air and clutching of pearls. The shock. The horror!

His images are stunning. And he’s in demand for his quality commercial and industrial photography.

Do you think they care HOW he created his images? Not in the least bit. He gets in, gets the job done FAST, and gets out, gets under budget and EVERYONE is happy.

Including his wife and his bank.

That’s the stuff they won’t teach you in photography school

But we do…The replay is HERE for members.
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

Sending in a 5 star chef to run a chip stand on the beach…

January 19, 2018 By Robert Provencher 2 Comments

I was chatting with a retired RCMP and his wife, who recently got back from 7 days in Las Vegas.

They recounted the shows, the casinos, the usual chaos that makes Las Vegas, well, Las Vegas.

He pipes up and says: “Rob, you should go there. There were photographers everywhere, taking pictures that we buy on spec. Everywhere…”

(Same idea as when you go for a ride at some amusement park and the
camera snaps a photo of you and your ride mates at the most horrifying
time of the ride.)

I told him: “Without trying to sound like a blow-hard..” (I talk like that to retired folks)….“that would be like sending in a 5 star chef to run a chip stand on the beach.”

They got it. Point made.

“However,…” I continued. “I’m not above running a chip stand, especially if I were starting out. When I started in photography, I took EVERY job I could. I was ambitious. I was hungry and I wanted to grow.”

They told me how their niece graduated from a reputable photography course
and could NOT find any work.

Of course not. There ain’t no “work”. I explained that photography is not a career path.

It’s a business.

And it’s only for the ambitious and eager. Unless one does it for pure passion and enjoyment. Then it’s a hobby.

They looked at each other, and agreed their niece was not in that category of the overly ambitious.

She treated it like a job. And because she went to college, someone, somewhere “owed” her a job.

I continued painting my picture of hard cold reality:
“About 98% who graduate from college programs end up doing something else. She should have taken a business course and learned everything she could about running her own business.”

Maybe she could move to Las Vegas and photograph people, on spec, at shows, for peanut wages I’m sure.

It’s all about perspective. Starting out, working at a chip stand with ambitions of becoming a 5 star chef is not a bad thing.

When you take on every single job you can, you treat it like an opportunity.
And you’re grateful!

Because you have bigger plans to move on from the beach.

Photography is not for the job-seekers. It’s for the dreamers, the believers, the ambitious and those who know they have the skills, the passion to create their own reality.

Their own business.

Because that my friend, is where the gold is. In business.

Two nights ago we had our monthly mastermind and two members shared their success stories. Both from real, in the trenches marketing and networking stories, including some strategies from yours truly, revealing what it takes to grow a photography business.

Join us….and hundreds of ambitious, hard working photographers not too proud to run a chip stand on the beach.

Some are now 5 star chefs, some are still slogging it out on the beach.

But one thing for sure, we’re all in the same boat.
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

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

January 16, 2018 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

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….

December 13, 2017 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

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…”

December 6, 2017 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

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…..

November 28, 2017 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

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/offer”, 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™

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.

November 17, 2017 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

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….