Photo Success

Tools for growing a photography business

File this one under “mind blown”….

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Did you know that when you first meet someone they know more about you in 45 seconds than what you say, wear or how you act?

True…all true….and this idea applies directly to your photography marketing. Keep reading…

We project more about ourselves, about our confidence, about our “success” barometer than anything else.

Try as you might, you can’t escape this.

When you meet a new client for the first time, the first questions that pop into their little ‘ol pea brains are questions like:

*How much do they make?
*How old are they?
*Should I trust this person?

And the big ONE!

“Should I respect them.”

You can’t control this any other way, other than by having a deeply ingrained success foundation. This will, in turn, emit success rays, and they pick it up like a radar picks up a lighthouse in thick fog.

No one emits success better than Maggie. She “radiates” success and magnanimous radiance form her every pore.

If anyone’s walking on sunshine, it’s her.

She happens to run a high end studio in one of the wealthiest areas in North America…Oakville, Ontario.

Good match. I’m not saying we all need to be in a high end photography studio situation.

I don’t care if you’re shooting sports, dance schools, fairies, families, weddings or whatever.

It matters not.

What matters is what you believe DEEP, WAY DEEP down inside.

Maggie lets it shine through in her studio, her marketing, her publicity and every piece that she shares with her clients.

And it comes through in pricing. Her basic session fees start at $800.00. And she doesn’t sell small prints. Only large art piece one-of-a-kind canvases. Starting at around $5,000.00.

What does this radiate? Quality. Everything she says, acts, moves, and radiates says quality. Through and through.

Maggie and I created a four part series HERE. She’s very, very open and passionate about
sharing her information with other photographers.

All I can say is: “mind blown”. Success is truly an inside job. It ALL starts inside each and everyone of us.

Check it out HERE and see how Maggie achieves high success and is known as the very best in her area. We can all learn.

Learn from the best, see you on the inside.
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer

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

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How to get a free full page ad for your photography studio…

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This is not the first time I scored free advertising in bigger media outlets in our city. I’ve acquired full page ads in magazines, newspapers and most recently a full page 8.5″ x11″ ad in  a local real estate mag. This ads are typically very expensive, sometimes running into thousands of dollars for a full page version.

I did get lucky, but I’ll take it. I believe in getting out in the community and giving. A lot. As much as you can. I find many photogs get pigheaded over this one.

What happened for me recently is a guy started a ballroom dance event. You know, chacha, waltz, foxtrot and such. (For the record, my wife and I are dance school dropouts.)

This even was a fund raiser, for kids with cancer. I think it was more a showcase for the dancers, which it was. It appears dancers are very passionate, and love dancing. Especially when in a crowd.

So Len, the guy who started it, contacted me to see if I wanted to set up a drop, lights etc and shoot on spec. I thought about it, and came back with a better idea. “Why not give me an area to display at, feed me and my wife, and I’ll shoot all the dancers in action, and give everyone the files.”

Done. It was  huge success. Why didn’t I go with his suggestion? Think about it. There were 16 dancers. I’ll go in, bring all my lights, a huge drop, and see if anyone wants to pay me for pics. Ugh. I’d rather go back to dance school.

My ultimate suggestion was, in my oh so humble yet accurate opinion, was a much better solution. Win win all the way, and we got a great meal out of it. Not to mention all that publicity.

I love helping out in our community too. Meeting so many people, getting face time, and displaying my work. That, and Len was so grateful, he gave me a full page ad in his real estate magazine. (yes, that’s his full time, day time job and business.)

You can see some of the images I shot from this event. And the actual ad I ran….
I spoke in greater detail on this subject in the December Mastermind presentation…. replay available HERE for members.

 

Next year will be even better…..just watch.

Yours in success and in photography,

Rob

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

“Oh my, the outrage….”

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We live in a day and age where there’s a group of folks eager to point
out the wrong doings and inappropriate behaviors of others, shaming them at every chance and making a hoopla on flakebook and other social media.

This idea occurred to me:….“who has time and the gumption to monitor all the wrong doings of others?”

I have a theory. Most live in an empty vacuum.

In that vacuum we fill with endless meaningless content that does no more than entertain -like a jolt of feel-good mojo in our brain that creates instant gratification.

A shot of dopamine.

And the science backs me up on this one. It appears being outraged fuels as much dopamine as any other emotional state. (maybe more than heroin and cocaine)

In other words, it feels good to get mad as hell.

But, will it help your cause? Will it move you forward? For some it will.
For most, it won’t.

I’ve had times where I got so pissed off it inspired me to “get out there and prove them wrong.”
“I’ll show them!!”

And get out there and show them. But, be warned. Choose wisely what and who you get mad at my friend.
Knowing the difference is pure wisdom. More on that idea in a minute.

Nothing wrong with being motivated by outrage. As long as you don’t get pulled into the dark side.

Use it as springboard. Don’t get sucked into the cesspool.

It’s hard to stay grounded when the vacuum is pulling hard. Especially with the allure and pull of social media.
We think there’s something legit about posting on twitter and fakebook.

Truth is, like sugar, it tastes great, but there is little to ZERO nutritional value.

For me, facebook is a cesspool of narcissism. I admit, it can and does serve a purpose for business.
And I use it mainly as such, occasionally losing my grip and posting a rant or two.

The key is to stay focused on: where I want to go? Who do I want to become?
This is a never ending quest. The climb is real. The struggle is daily.

Far from perfect, I try to hone myself, to be the best I can be. Does it get easier?

Hell no. Yes, wisdom is an added tool that can, when honed, benefit us, should we choose to use it.

But the truth is, as time moves on, I have one day less to live. So, it matters more than ever to make each one count.

Learning to make the days count is a skill, fueled by time and wisdom that by-passed me in my youth, that has become, for me, the biggest aspiration.

When I was young, I wanted it all. Problem is, I didn’t really know what “all” meant.

Now it means making each day count. And fighting the pull into the cesspool.

Make the next year your best.

Make the lessons learned from the last your rational, your motive.

And make your successes from the last year be the basis of your gratitude.

Yours in photography and success,
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.”

Selling secrets from real, genuine studio owners…with Maggie Habieda

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The “Secret Sauce”. The magic pill. The cure all, end all solution to all.

Selling is something we do everyday, for good, for bad, done well or done with mediocrity.

Either way, we’re selling. Always. You can’t run, you can’t hide.

We sell ourselves on our hopes and dreams (one excuse can wipe out an entire inner sales pitch and render our hopes powerless).

We sell our community on our marketing messages.

You cannot run or hide from the power of selling. So we may as well harness
it and use it to our advantage.

Selling is never something we find outside ourselves.

It’s not a talent we’re born with. It’s a skill, no different than learning to ride a bike or tying your shoes. Some pick it up faster and easier than others, others are late bloomers and late comers, but we all get there, for better or worse.

Selling is not a mysterious force. (The one that, when mastered, delivers us from all evil and resistant clients.)

Selling is a specific process. Not a specific tool.

It’s a series of steps, done right, create a desired result.

…so on that note….

Part TWO of the Secrets to Sales Success for Photographers is in the books.

Last week Maria Sampaio launched this series with a stunning presentation jam packed with her strategies used for maximum profits.

This week we have another one of my favorites Maggie Habieda.

OVER..replay here

May as well learn from the best in the industry. REAL, WORKING photographers.

Not academic fluff. This is the real deal folks.
Not a member? See the P.S. below….

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

How to create sales with your photography in the 4 figure+ range…

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Been perusing the information shared last Thursday in the webinar with Maria Sampaio.

This happens to me when I attend a great event or a really good movie with a great story or even when indulging in a great meal….yummmmm.

It percolates, resonates and stays with me. I get ideas, flashbacks, creative insights….all stemming from the original source.

I can taste it days later.

Maria was with us to discuss her selling strategies used in her studio. And she has a winning system. one of the BEST I’ve seen.

And system is the key word. When you hit upon a structure that works, it becomes the go to “system”.

Selling is not immune. Systems are valuable. I’ve been using them for decades.

She shared with us the key steps used and the dialogue spoken, step-by-step.
That, plus she showed us her price list book (part of her sales process), which I thought genius.

PLUS, a whole bunch more. Including one of the coolest, most effective SEO strategies for ranking high in google searches.

Nothing, was held back. I’ve posted the replay and included the script, samples of her menu and more in the forum.

HERE for members.

Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer

P.S. Not a member? JOIN US HERE

The best selling strategies….it’s all psychology…

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Have you ever used one of the many online travel booking services?
You know, Expedia or Orbitz and such.

Here’s an interesting little bit of information that you may find useful and applicable in your photography business.

When you submit a search, the results are much faster than what these sites show you. In other words, they intentionally slow down sending you the results.

Why? It’s all psychology…

They know that if they send you the results within a second, the perception is they didn’t really work that hard to go find you the best travel deal.

Who knew? I didn’t, until now.

It’s interesting how our perception alone affects our buying decisions. In our studios this works in similar ways. Think about the shoot and burn photographers. They sadly will never be truly trusted as a photographer that delivers and cares.

Why? They shoot, and burn. The perception is, they didn’t really work that hard to bring the very best in photography to the client.

When you intentionally take your time, have a step by step process in your shooting and selling process, and you deliver really nice photography that clients love, it works, and you have a sustainable model for long term profits and success in your photography studio

Here’s another example. The Hare Krishna….at one time they were all over airports. I’m not sure where they do their street level fundraising anymore, but they knew one of the most powerful selling tactics available. As soon as they approached you they handed you a flower. This simple act alone triggers in us a powerful reaction.

When someone gives you something, you feel the need to return the favor. Maybe it’s a guilt thing. The experts call it the principle of reciprocity. And it’s a powerful innate reaction most of us have.

It’s all psychology…

A few weeks ago my wife and I were at a large mall.

There was a nicely dressed young lady standing at the entrance to a store. She handed my wife a free product.

We stopped. My wife said thank you.

I knew what was going on. And the next question came….she asked my wife something about skin or cosmetics. She was fishing and the free handout was her lure. Powerful stuff. It’s all psychology…

And it works….on most folks. That time it didn’t, because my wife wasn’t interested and she can be ninja level cool when she wants to be.

We can use this strategy for good in our studios.

In  small ways. Offering our clients a tea, coffee, juice or soda when they come in to view their images. Maybe a glass of wine.

Definitely a grand experience, some killer images, a great smelling, and looking
studio/reception area. It all matters and is all part of the psychology of selling.

Reciprocity. It works. And our intentions are noble and good, so nothing wrong with that.

It’s all psychology…Maybe you find it manipulative? Not so if what you’re selling is something they truly desire, appreciate and something that enriches their lives.

No excuses. We all need to learn to sell.

I always loved this quote: “Selling is serving”.

When put that way, it feels right. No shame.

I posted a thread a while back, with some links to some great interviews on selling, in the forum.

Members login, click here.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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