Photo Success

Tools for growing a photography business

Why stealing is essential to your success…

By Leave a Comment

My first decade in the business of photography saw me in awe of others who, in my mind, had made it in photography. Heroes they were.

They were successful. They created amazing images. To be fair I am still in awe, but those formative years were essential since I was getting established and building.

Some made tons of cash, yet their work was ok. Others were really, really good at photography itself, and also made a decent living. All were my heroes. All inspired me to be like them or better even.

I noticed and valued it all.

As a matter of fact, I can honestly say my success can easily be attributed to watching, learning, being inspired by and “swiping” ideas, both in marketing and in photography, from others.

I don’t think there’s an area where those who sky-rocketed to success didn’t at one time start by copying another.

Musicians, authors, artists….all of them, at one time, asked themselves the question: “How can I be like that?”

If it wasn’t for that process, me thinks most grand achievements would have fizzled.

Swiping is real, legit and essential. You see someone who creates something you like. You copy, and you make it your own. It inspires you to grow into your own.

It becomes your brand, so to speak.

The worse thing you can do (and I see this all the time, within the ranks of the most amateurs who are starting out) is to let your ego get in the way, because you think you got it, you’re all that and more.

Big mistake.

Becoming a student of success in marketing and in photography is an essential step. Take it out and it’s like taking out the foundation on a building.

I’m still a student. Luckily for me I always remained somewhat naive and childlike. Ask my wife and mother-in-law. They’ll tell you how immature I really am.

It’s why I have so many videos, presentations, interviews, mastermind meetings…..every single month, year after year.

I’m looking for ideas….so I can steal.
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

Grenade in the tool shed- Part One

By Leave a Comment

Every once in a while you gotta shake things up.

But you need to be careful. Whenever I’ve thrown the proverbial “grenade in the tool shed” I am aware of some key influences, such as:

  • what is the worse thing that can happen?
  • can I work with that situation, or the unknown if that’s the case ( we can’t know the unknown, so we need to be ok with that fact)
  • will things possibly be better in the long run?
  • why? why am I doing this….

And more.

Let me explain a little more what I mean by this weird sounding metaphor. Throwing a grenade in the tools shed means doing something in your life that is drastic, seemingly extreme, bold and very disruptive.

I’m comfortable with this idea. Many are not.

I’ve done this when I’ve felt things were stale, tired, old, rusty and in need of change.

AND, I also felt that it would work out in the end. However, again, this is not for everyone or the faint of heart.

You don’t do this for the sake of doing this. Like throwing all your chips on the table and gambling it all on a roll of the dice.

You need to have some idea of where you’re going AND you need to feel very good about your ability to be adaptive.

This concept came to me five years ago, when I was 55 years old and felt ready for a change. I was standing in my kitchen in our dream home. I looked across my spacious open concept home.

And I asked myself: “Do we really need 3 living rooms? Really?”

And that started it all. Within that year we sold our beautiful home and home studio (at a nice profit I might add. Otherwise I might have waited for the market to change. More on this later)

We moved into an apartment. We rented an office at a local work share place.
Plus I got rid of about 80% of our earthly possessions. Plus our daughter moved out to attend university a million miles away.

Nothing was the same anymore.

I felt better. Lighter. Excited and ready to take on the challenges that my new circumstances we’re forcing us into. I still can’t believe my wife just goes along with my insanity.

(I always said I married the right person when I asked her out on our first date, on my motorcycle. She smiled, her eyes light up, she was on board.)

Photography was always to be a thing. Families, weddings, fairy day promos and more. Oddly enough, we had our best year ever. Go figure.

AND, we spent 6 weeks in Costa Rica that winter. 3 months the next.

I still recall however the anxieties. The last day we owned our home, I made a few more last minute, late night trips to clear out any small items, give it a sweep and lock the door forever.

It was January. Snow and cold everywhere. Very depressing.

We were heading out to Costa Rica in a few days. Like I said, everything changed.

I crawled into bed beside my sleeping wife, in our new two bedroom apt, and started having an existential crisis.

“What the fuck did I just do?” bounced around in my head.

I started panicking. This was not like me. Me, who’s up for anything, and believes in the power of commitment, goals and having a positive colorful vision to urge me forward.

More on this and how we changed things up and coped, all while running a photography studio. Stay tuned…

Pura Vida!
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?

By 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.”

“Show me the money…”

By Leave a Comment

 

Getting paid is hard for many. The old axiom “when they show up, bill em!” sounds good on paper. But in real life, many artists struggle with getting paid and asking for money.

Unless of course you have a Tina in your life.

Tina, my wife, and business partner in crime, I’ve joked over the years, has a black belt in studio management.

She’s no nonsense, to the point, “nothing personal, just business” and is super effective.

She makes a good match up to this flighty, airy, lost in space dude who loves marketing and would give everything away if he could.

Fact is, I can sell. I just don’t like it much. I faked it for years before showed up and graced my life with her profit enhancing aura.

Faking it works.

I’m like the introvert who has to go out and make a speech. Each time, a struggle. I need to psych myself out and work at getting into the right frame of mind.

Not Tina. Asking for the money is as natural as rain in April for her.

Each and every promo we run is often modeled after our fairy day sessions:
Irresistible offer with print. Take the call, or email, book em, get the entire session prepaid, book the viewing app’t.

Each step an ascension into our selling process.

See the above image for our Family by the Falls promo as example.

A few years back I ran a presentation called Wealth Attraction strategies for photographers. In it I revealed how I went from poverty and rags to a healthy mindset where I was at peace with making money and sales.

This is important, since the struggle is real, and starts way deep in us all. This presentation is pure gold for anyone struggling.

Every month I run a Marketing Mastermind meeting where I discuss and explain marketing, showing many of the steps, strategies and promotions I run in our studio.

If you struggle with selling and/or marketing you’re not alone. And there is hope. This is an ongoing process, and a skillset we can and should master.

It’s not something you’re magically born with. It’s something you need to work at.
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer

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

Three presentations guaranteed to help you market your photography business.

By Leave a Comment

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

****************************************************************
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

****************************************************************

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

This method almost guarantees top google ranking for your studio…

By Leave a Comment

Last week during our first installment in the Sales Success Secrets for photographers, Maria mentioned that the majority of her new clients came from online searches.

You know, master goog. The Yoda of search engines.

As it turns out, we get top ranking in our area as well. And I’m not talking about paid searches. Organic, google friendly, top shelf position.

Gotta love it.

But getting there takes specific steps. And one of the best is google reviews. It’s what works for our studio.

Turns out, SEO alone ain’t enough.

Maria has discovered a technique to create a steady, ongoing flow of positive google reviews. Yes, reviews. The magic ingredient, so to speak.

Turns out google loves reviews. (good ones me thinks)

Anywho, she shared her strategy in the replay and sent me the actual email used.
It’s all in the forum. This, my friend, is pure gold.

GO watch, listen to the replay.

One more thing. The second presentation is happening today. This afternoon.
At 2:00PM EST. With one of the biggest, baddest, most dynamic photographers around. Maggie Habieda.

JOIN US….(or, as usual, watch the replay later)
Shine on…

Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer

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

Jogging and playing air guitar

By Leave a Comment

I try and stay in shape. Running, walking, biking and such.

Running, oddly enough, has become my favorite exercise.

Who’d a thunk. The only running I used to like doing was running from the authorities and cops. Besides that, running, in my o so humble and inaccurate opinion, was a product of satan himself.

I hated it.

So I thought.

Until I discovered running sandals. Changed my life.
And completely removed the pain I always felt when I’d run with regular running shoes.

AND, removed my need for insoles and expensive orthotics.

I’m organic. Running as nature intended it to be. Feelz great!

What also feels great is listening to music on my LSTN headphones while running.
This totally inspires me and makes running that much better.

Problem is, I sometimes break out in air guitar. Or, worse yet, I start
singing along.

Whatever. Bottom line is I don’t really care. As long as I’m doing my thing
and it feels great!
(BTW they’re called ‘huarache’ sandals, from the running culture based in the copper canyons of Mexico)

You can see a pic of me after a marathon, above, sporting a pair.

Same in running a photography studio. I often do stuff that you could say is similar to winding out some air guitar, or running in bare foot sandals.

Like the fact that I shoot 100% in jpeg.

Or, that I still believe in using mail and direct mail pieces.

Or that I am 100% mirrorless.

Or that I sometimes take jobs below my pay grade.

Or get face to face with my people in my community.

I use what works, what saves time, what inspires me and whatever adds to my overall enjoyment in life and in business.

Should it be any other way?

I also share EVERYTHING I know on running a studio in my forum. Every month I host and run a mastermind meet up…sometimes I bring others, sometimes it’s just me.

Either way, learning what works, like I learned (from others BTW) ho to jog pain free, is a journey.
And you gotta show up.

Join me and we’ll wind out some air guitar.

JUNE 2017 Lighting Mastermind and Marketing Mastermind will be in the books in a few days.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

P.S. Past mastermind replays are in the forum (login first).

How to get from incompetent to competent….

By Leave a Comment

The substance of what makes a business run and what makes it great isn’t on the surface (design, image etc etc).

The true substance is much deeper. IN the grueling, disciplined sweat. pain, blood and turmoil……PLUS,  a few secret ingredients.

I’ll get to those in a second.

First, take my story as example…

I had acquired by some weird twist of fate a beautiful large home studio.

I was terribly wet behind the ears and as green as grass when it came to running a pro photography studio.

I did however have big dreams, hopes and ambitions. And, in the grand scheme of things, knew enough about taking decent photographs to get me started in my own business…barely…and…largely because I had the balls to get out there and do it.

I had several years as a darkroom techie….almost one year managing a chain like studio and….better yet….

…several years photographing schools….which did more for my self-confidence than anything else.

And I was only 25.

I had a ways to go. I knew little about management, accounting, selling and all those essentials.

I did my best. I took a night course at our local college on running a small bid’ness…

I asked my landlord, the dude who gave my this amazing opportunity, for some tips on setting up the books and all thing accounting.

The key = I asked for help. This attitude got me far in life.

I hate bookkeeping with a passion and eventually did what I feel most photographers should do…

I farmed it out.

Paid a lady $50.00 a month to come in. On busier months, she’d want more. I paid her whatever she wanted.

It meant I was getting busier.

But I was glad not to be doing the books…yeessshhhh.

In studio management, it occurred to me years later how incompetent I was in this area once I married my wife and she and I started working together.

She as manager, me as photographer and marketing director. Two essential jobs I loved!

We were now competent. A team. And the studio skyrocketed!

This whole idea came to light a few years ago when I booked Maggie Habieda as a speaker for the Inferno workshop.

Maggie, as I was dealing with her, when it came to payments and anything non essential, had me communicate with her studio manager, Ian Cuthbert.

Everything was run very professional. She delegated.

I noticed this and thought, one of the reasons she is so successful is because she brought someone like Ian into the picture to help her studio grow.

And grown it has!

She not only was the most popular and energetic speaker, she showed us how she grew her studio in a matter of a few years.

Amazing story. Great news when so many are saying the days of the full time studio are numbered.

Phhhoeeeyy! Don’t believe it for a second.

Just because there are hot dog and lemonade stands popping up all over doesn’t mean there isn’t a market for something better.

People want gourmet and fine dining.

It’s a huge market.

And that’s the market I cater to. As well as many successful photographers I know who are crushing it. Photographers like Maggie.

Remember a while back I said:

“I asked for help. This attitude got me far in life….”

Newbie or old timer, we all need to ask questions, learn, and seek out deep, meaningful answers.

And who you ask is important. You don’t want bad advice or opinions. Everyone’s got ’em.

You want real, solid information from qualified photographers like Maggie.

Wish I had a Maggie way back when. We can all access Maggie and her super powers in the photography forum HERE.

Maggie at the inferno 2013 HERE

Maggie at the Inferno 2014 HERE

The journey to competence starts by asking the right questions and asking the right people.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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