Photo Success

A Place to Grow

“You may be shoveling horse manure, but at least you’re in the parade.”

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Everything makes sense when we put it onto perspective.

Every step of the way counts, as long as you’re in the parade.

The guy bringing water to the players will never play in the game. But he’s “in it”.

The third string player may get on the field and play, some day, or not, as he sits there, waiting for his opportunity.

Both are the envy of every fan out there since they have some of the best front row seats in the game.

Perspective.

My sister would tell her three kids, when they started whining…. “hey, we’re not driving you to chemo and I’m not in a wheel chair….”

Having a sense of gratitude takes on many, many faces. Just being grateful to have health and freedom is a great starting point.

In work, being able to work in your chosen field and feeling so grateful to be able to serve others with our talents and skills, even if at that time we’re shoveling manure, counts for a lot. (don’t confuse this with working for free and giving away your pearls).

In photography business, this matters at all stages of the game, young and old. When I was young, I was glad to be working in my field. Still am to this day.

Some old farts like me (I’m 59) start showing their age. For some reason they feel that they’ve “earned” the right to certain privileges.

Sorry. That’s not the way the game is played.

Remember, it’s a business. Always.

And we have to constantly take it as such in order to keep the momentum going.
Let me clarify.

If StarBucks started taking the attitude with their product and service that they didn’t need to deliver a certain level anymore because they have had so many years in the game, well, would coffee drinkers seriously care?

That’s for people who work in unions and where seniority counts.
In business, it doesn’t.

One thing I love about photography is the fact that we are always learning, changing, challenging the status quo.

Why? Because our clients love it. And demand it.

I know another photographer, successful and been around a long, long time who didn’t want to embrace digital. He figured they’d been around for so long that that counted for something.
Not. I explained why.

He got it. So he packed it in and retired. Not willing to make the changes.

Making changes, rolling with the punches and staying innovative is much easier when we have the right attitude.

The same one I had when I was so young, so long ago. Where I took on every job I could. Didn’t matter if I was shovelling manure. I was in the parade.

That mattered to me more than ANYTHING. And still does to this day.
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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Beware the guru…

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Easy is a dead end.

The norm, the BIG attraction is the easy road. The fastest, easiest and less painful method.
Sure, we can and should work smart.

But in reality, when things are easy, it can and will cause you pain.

There’s a trend in the way we raise our kids these days. We want to make sure the child doesn’t suffer too much. No pain.

Sure, some pain. An “acceptable” amount. And it kills us to see them in any pain, even small “acceptable” amounts.

We’ve become a society of pansie-assed, soft spined weaklings.
You’re robbing them.

But your business won’t turn out okay. Not at all….

There is no wiggle room when it comes to running a business. There are no exceptions.

The market place has no feelings. The playing field is level and the weak are quickly devoured and sent home running to mommy to kiss the booboo.
Kids, when you make it easy for them you rob them of life’s lessons.

Business…easy sets the pace. In a destructive way. And you think, “gee, that was easy. I must be so good at business and photography, everything just falls into place.”

What happens when things get, uh uh, gulp, hard? Because they will. I guarantee it.

Ask anyone who’s been in business for ten years or more.

Here’s a few tips:

  • It’s through struggle that we learn innovation, creativity.
  • We build a sense of adventure. Self esteem. Confidence. Gratitude and appreciation
  • Awareness.
  • Winning a big lottery is not strategy. (Research shows that the vast majority of lottery winners end up right back where they were. Broke. And often worse off for winning.)
  • It’s through pain and struggle that we build character.
  • Never pursue “things” through your business. Don’t go for the money and success because of what it will give you. Do it for who you will become.
  • Every time you stub your toe along the way and feel the pain of failure, don’t let it get you down. This is very, very important. Always learn from your “failures”. They aren’t failures in reality. They are tuition fees. Keep moving.
  • Watch your ego. Keep it in check. Don’t let it fool you into believing it’s as easy as you thought. Keep an open mind and a grateful heart when it does appear easy.
  • Plan well and visualize the outcomes you desire. This is an inside job, not something you get from your peers, a class or the “gurus”. Own it. Master it. Make it yours.
  • Big budgets are dangerous. Unless you really know what you’re doing. Money is like a narcotic. We think, and delude ourselves into believing that we can spend our way to success….cameras, lights, locations, ads or expensive marketing systems from the gurus.

Guru’s make it sound easy too. Beware the guru who makes it sound easy.

Beware the inner voice in YOU that likes what they say when they make it sound easy.

Blueprints are cool. I love them and use them all the time. They save some time. But they do not make anything easy.

Easy is an illusion.

I know, I know. I sound the debbie downer. But it’s reality.

And when you’re realistic, and sensible and are willing to grow your photography business over time, not over night, and grow it one brick at a time, your success, through the tough lessons learned, AND applied, will serve you well.

Easy? Not.
Possible. YES!

Some of the wisest words I ever read were from Napoleon Hill:
“Each and every adversity has within it the seeds of equal or greater opportunity.”

The seeds of greatness are in you and in you alone. The greatest asset you have is your conviction to keep moving, keep learning. And to keep growing.

No matter how much it hurts.

Pain is your friend-embrace it-….easy is your enemy.
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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“I messaged you, I will take a spot please!!! My daughters are 3 and 6…”

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My wife gets mad. “Why are they sending us messages through facebook?”

I tell her it’s one of the ways people reach out. One of the ways they let us know they want to spend money with us.

I too was annoyed. A bit. For a while. Then I realized this is the way it is.
Roll with it. Like a ninja.

And take their money. A client is a client is a client. A sale is still a sale.

What’s more important is the THREE exclamation marks after the word PLEASE!!!

See it? See the passion? The desire? It’s one of the reasons I love shooting fairy sessions.

There’s a ton of passion and a big market that is endlessly flowing along like a huge parade.

All we gotta do is pitch em. I don’t care if they respond via phone, facebook, twitter, instagram, linkedIn, email or in person.

It’s the way we all roll nowadays. In the old days, phone. That was it.

Ultimately, the only thing that matters in the end is whether I have a jam packed schedule, and a happy bank account.

More HERE on my fairy days bookings.
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer

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

The Psychology of Persuasion and How to Use It In Your Photography Business For Maximum Profits

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My biggest collection of books are on marketing.

I have always said I have the heart of a photographer and the soul of a marketer.

I attribute this to a long and (so far) continued success running my own photography business shooting weddings, babies, children and families. Life is good.

One book that always stood out for me was from Robert Cialdini. He studied influence and wrote the definitive guide on that topic titled: “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion.”
It is a must read for any serious student of marketing.

Here in a nutshell are the key elements of influence and some quick ideas how they may apply to running a photography studio…..

1. Reciprocity
As humans, we generally aim to return favors, pay back debts, and treat others as they treat us. In our photography studios we can use this in many ways. A free gift, excellent service when they arrive at your studio. It’s a very simple idea, and easily implemented if we pay attention and put it into action.

2. Commitment (and Consistency)
Cialdini says that we have a deep desire to be consistent. For this reason, once we’ve committed to something, we’re then more inclined to go through with it.
This is very easy to implement in our photography marketing. I call it jumping through hoops. Get your clients to jump over one, and then the next, next, next is easy.

Getting your clients to come to the studio for a no obligation portrait planning session is one way to get them to “commit” to the simple action of showing up at your studio.
On fairy day, when we promo mini sessions for only $97.00, pre-paid, we are in effect asking them for a payment commitment. A commitment to showing up and a commitment to paying us. It’s one of the best steps to a larger sale.

3. Social Proof
This principle relies on people’s sense of “safety in numbers.”
This one is easy for photographers. One of the best ways to “sneak” this principle into your marketing and sales could be to show a large wall portrait, and say something like: “We find when most families come in for family portrait session, they…..bla bla…” Talk about whatever….print finish, canvas, clothing ideas….it doesn’t matter. The idea is you are using social proof and showing them an example of what “most families” do….It creates a social proof effect.

4. Liking
Cialdini says that we’re more likely to be influenced by people we like. Likability comes in many forms – people might be similar or familiar to us, they might give us compliments, or we may just simply trust them.
D-uh….does this one get any simpler?
Be someone they like. This doesn’t mean be a pushover or a mushy people pleaser. Don’t get this confused. You create likability by asking questions and listening.
The best read on this topic is How To Win Friends And Influence People

5. Authority
We feel a sense of duty or obligation to people in positions of authority. This is why advertisers of pharmaceutical products employ doctors to front their campaigns.
In our studio we play good cop, bad cop. I get to play artist. My wife gets to play manager. She’s no nonsense and she’s very, very good at it.
Easy for me since I get to be exactly who I am. Fun, childish, creative, outlandish, crazy…..on and on. When it comes to closing the sale, I bring her in. They all respect her authority.

6. Scarcity
This principle says that things are more attractive when their availability is limited, or when we stand to lose the opportunity to acquire them on favorable terms.

We use this all the time on marketing our Fairy Day, babies first year and any studio promotion. All promotions and offer need to have a deadline and a sense of scarcity. Otherwise, your offer will die.

It’s that simple.

I feel that every photographer should and would benefit by learning as much as they can about marketing.

Read something everyday. Keep feeding your mind and watch your photography grow, your profits, your confidence and your creativity.

Many feel the same way I do:
Marketing is EVERYTHING.
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer

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

How you find the time to do so much writing?

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Peg writes:
“Morning Rob, I just want to send you a quick note of thanks for your
email blasts, which generally arrive just as I need a shot in the arm and are so full of practical advice and common sense.

I don’t know how you find the time to do so much writing, but it is much appreciated. And I love how you promote all kinds of styles and photographers – I found Kirsten Lewis through you, and I find her work so inspiring…..”

Thanks. Your comments are appreciated. I’m blushing.

I get enough positive emails from photographers like you who get it. Yea, sure. I get some hate mail. Not much. I mostly ignore it.

But for those like minded people, I write.

And here’s how I find the “time”.

And how you can, and should find the time to do the things
that are super important in your life.

(Everyone has heard the saying…’when you want something done, ask a busy person’…it’s all about productivity…)

First off, I have the desire. Everything starts there. Desire. Pure and simple.

Secondly, I make a commitment. How simple is that?

I have a regiment, a plan, a goal, a purpose….and I commit to it.

Does it get any simpler?

I also have rules. Like, no teevee. None. Nada. Zilch….

Yes, I watch movies. But only on weekends. And not always.

The rest of the time I am committed to my goals and personal growth.

Seriously, that’s all there is to it.
Ain’t no more.

Get serious, get committed, have some rules that you will never break and be ruthlessly committed.

By the way, Peg mentioned Kirsten Lewis, who I had the privilege of running a four part series with a while back….truly epic stuff.

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

Three presentations guaranteed to help you market your photography business.

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Friends….just finished another amazing Frontline presentation with Charles Gregory from the UK.

Charles is a real go-getter. He started over ten years ago, ran a busy 5,000 sp ft studio, with three photographers and staff. since starting a family he’s downsized, and is primarily shooting schools, events, head shots, commercial.

His new website which is going live in nine days as of this writing is loaded with savvy and strategic marketing strategies. And he shares it all in this presentation.

You won’t be disappointed. WATCH HERE

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Lighting Mastermind with guest host Robin Spencer

Robin showed us his recent executive headshots created on location.
Plus, I showed actual lighting tactics I used in REAL paid sessions from my photography business…weddings, families and a creative John Hartman inspired light painting shoot…

WATCH HERE

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Marketing Mastermind presentation

I love marketing. In this presentation I did a quick update on our two upcoming fairy day events, our family by the falls event, our Montessori School fundraiser promotion and more, much more….

WATCH HERE

When education doesn’t work…

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I have what I consider to be about the equivalent of a Phd in photography and marketing.

Or so I think. It feels that way sometimes. My brain is full.

I ain’t bragging. Just making a point that reflects my passion for learning. And the countless weeks, and years of teaching at live workshops, manuals created, blog posts written, and webinars hosted or presented in.

Getting a Phd, legit or not, doesn’t matter to me. It’s a by-product in a sense.

If it were a real Phd with real letters by my name, it still wouldn’t amount to a hill of beans mostly because I don’t give a rats ass about letters beside my name.

Having a great education is meaningless unless I can put what I know to work.

Let me spell this out: Will it help my business grow? Will it make money? This is not a hobby my friend. It’s a business.

I do love learning however.

And the more I teach, the more I learn…so to speak.

Tonight I share it all in the Marketing Mastermind meeting. All of it real, legit, marketing strategies that actually sell.

For members.

Not a member?

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

Is your success barometer creating limits and sabotaging your efforts?

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Let’s take a deep, dark look into the topic of success….

It’s simple really, all you have to do is succeed. Really.

Once you succeed you attract more success. It’s like magic and very powerful.

But you have to be comfortable with success at first. This is essential, or you won’t move forward. Many will sabotage at the first signs and experiences of success.

The key words: comfortable with success.

Which leads to my next question….how do you succeed in the first place?

How can you get success if you ain’t got none?

Okay, that’s a fair question and it certainly sounds like a catch-22 doesn’t it?

In order to create success out of thin air you must start with a vision, an idea, a goal, a clear mental picture of what it is you see yourself succeeding at.

This is what pushes you. What starts the engine. What drives the passion. The desires.

It all starts with your ability to use your IMAGINATION.

Einstein believed that IMAGINATION was the most powerful force in the universe.

He was right.

But, you have to use your own imagination first. Combined with desire.

You must convince yourself of this on an hourly, daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Without this you are wandering aimlessly. Or, you are vulnerable to you dark side, that part where we don’t feel we deserve success, and where the armies of sabotage struggle to ruin everything for you.

See it. Be it. Act on it.

One of my favorite presentation is called “Follow Your Dreams”. This, along with the pdf forms that you print out and fill out, will help kick YOUR vision into the stratosphere HERE.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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