Tools for growing a photography business
“The road to failure and despair is littered with the dreams of those who failed to act upon them”
~Napolean Hill~
I love a good story of pain and struggle. You know, when everything seems lost, hopeless and doomed.
You see this in many, many movies. Problem is, in movies, you need this so they can tie it all together for the big climatic moment. “And they lived happily ever after….”
Yea, right….
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Maggie is one of the most prolific and successful photography business success stories. Her passion, her drive and ambition are all testament to the success she so richly deserves.
[Read more…]I was chatting with Robert Bray yesterday while running a tech test for tonight’s webinar. He, like many of my guests, is a webinar newb.
We set it up and made sure all systems are go vs trying to solve any tech troubles at the last minute.
I also thanked him for offering to join us and talk about his success and struggles as a photographer.
Way back when in the day when I wore a younger mans suit, there was this studio in town that was very successful.
They had it all, including a solid reputation. It was a mom and pop operation.
My favorite.
Chatting with the pop of the ‘mom and pop’ duo one day, as he was telling me his upcoming plans to spend some time in Florida, he added:
“I can’t wait to get away from that camera.”
I was stunned by that comment. “Why?” I thought to myself.
Last week this topic came up again as I was having lunch with one of my local peers, he mentioned something similar.
“I’m like my dad, when I go home I turn work off. That part of me doesn’t exist while I’m not in it.”
I find this perplexing. But it could be me. I’m kinda weird like that.
I do know I find it odd that anyone in photography isn’t obsessed with it like a junkie is with getting his next fix.
Maybe, just maybe, this obsession, this drive, defined another way, it might be called passion.
And maybe, just maybe all told this passion is one of the reasons my photography business has worked, non-stop, endlessly bringing me and my family success, prosperity and profits.
Maybe.
I’m gonna go with that.
And I’m going to add one more important element…..marketing.
Yea. In my obsessively compulsive soul, I am about equally addicted to marketing as I am with photography.
You might call this the perfect storm.
I say, it works…. and I’m running with that.
Not turning it off. Not going away on vacation so I can “get away from my camera.”
I am 100% obsessed and addicted to photography. As a matter of fact, when I’m bored, I go to the camera store so I can cause trouble and be around photography.
I’m going away for an extended Costa Rica experience this winter and I am obsessing over which tripod and ND filters I’m hauling down there, with my complete camera system.
Lenses, flashes and camera bags. All of it.
We travel well together.
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer
“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”
“There are no stupid questions, only stupid people who ask questions.”
~anonymous~
I got an email from a photographer friend…it reads:
“I started using Rob Provencher’s pricing model about a year ago. Instead of getting a sitting fee then hoping people would buy I use Rob’s idea, in this case I collect $250 at the time of the shoot. $150 of that is used as a credit towards their purchase.
I get an email yesterday from the daughter in law of a recent family portrait client. She wanted to know if everyone got a $150 credit towards their orders of it was just the mother in law. Yes really.
On a completely unrelated note, marijuana became legal in Canada yesterday.”
Ha ha….yea.
Some people ask stupid questions. It’s part of the job, the industry. It happens….
Some tell me the industry is dumbing down. Maybe. Maybe not.
Asking questions is a smart thing. Even though some questions are dumber than others.
Either way, we get to answer our clients deepest darkest desires and educate them. Not get all offended and hopeless.
I never seem to have lost the desire for asking questions. I think it’s in my DNA.
A few days ago I asked Dave Junion a ton of questions. I hope they were smart.
Smart questions get smart answers.
I like answers from real, legit photographers who have real, genuine stories, struggles and successes.
It gives me hope, inspiration and information. It’s real.
That presentation with Dave, and the recent Marketing Mastermind with international famous photographer James Hodgins is HERE for members of the club.
It was good. Very, very good. Dave is not typical in so many ways.
But one thing he is, is, he’s an amazing photographer and has crafted a very successful niche, after a few existential crisis’.
Hey, we all need a good existential crisis once in a while.
Enjoy.
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer
“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”
It seems selling photography is getting tougher and tougher all the time. I know, I see it, experience it and witness some strange behaviors.
Questions from clients are revealing. For example, two recent scenarios from our studio and one from another studio who shall remain nameless.
“Can I come over take a cell phone picture of so and so’s family photo so I can run to Walmart and get some prints?”
Serious. This happened last week. My wife was stunned.
Another client contacts a studio and asks…..“The $150.00 credit we have towards the family session, does everyone in the family get the same $150.00 credit.”
Really?
Really.
Imagine if you will a crappy cell phone photo. Now, imagine a finely crafted portrait of the same subject. Fine, as in, ….“whoa..wish I shot that! I love that style! It’s stunning…” fine.
It seems many people don’t know the difference anymore between quality and crap.
To be fair, I am not gripping and running down grievance road. It’s important to know what’s going on in society so we can best “fix the problem”, assuming it is fixable.
So, on that note, here’s my best advice in three parts. Do this and sales will flow in your favor like water down a hill.
This is one reason I never was crazy about print competitions. Yes, yes, they help you grow and become a better photographer. But will it help you create products they want?
Know the difference. Is it ego based or strategy?
I was at one of our 3 day events a few years ago, during the night owl mastermind (everyone loved these!) and one lady was complaining about her lack of clients.
I asked her the obvious, how big is your town? About 2,000 she replied.
My advice? Move.
Get in front of the right clients. If they’re not there, you need to move to where they are, or, adjust your offerings to get the limited amount in your area to respond.
Know your market. This is the FIRST step in marketing. If you have a great product, and no one wants it, you don’t have a product. It’s that simple.
Kristi Elias is a great example. I interviewed her last year. She’s flowing in work and has an endless amount of clients because she delivers and is in the right area for her work.
I interview a lot of photographers every year because I am a student of marketing. Always will be.
And tomorrow night I am bringing in Stacey Fox. And you’re welcome to join us.
CHECK OUT her resume and the list of things she does to remain relevant in her industry.
Of course all members have access to the replay and download.
Thu, Nov 8, 2018 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST REGISTER HERE
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’ve scheduled three presentations with three of the smartest photographers in the industry today.
In the books, locked and loaded..(with more to come!)
Frontline presentation with Stacey Fox
On November 8th at 8:00PM EST DETAILS HERE
November 13th at 9:00PM EST with Dave Junion
DETAILS HERE November 15th Marketing Mastermind with Rob Provencher and James Hodgins
Be smart. Join us…..
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There are critics everywhere.
Not a job I would want. Good thing there are more creators than critics.
I’d rather be a creator truth be told.
Maybe there’s a legit reason we have critics. Maybe not.
Maybe they keep us on our toes. Maybe it weeds out the weak and infirm.
‘Thins the herd’ so to speak.
Who knows. I look at my years of print competition and all the critiques I personally gave out and received, maybe it all had a purpose.
Who knows. Maybe we’d all be fine without them. Maybe in fact we’d create even more? Even better?
Who knows.
But critics will always be with us to darken our souls and cast a shadow.
Some are legit and serve a solid purpose.
Or do they?
If something is crap, and it’s fairly obvious, then, we’d know. Because, well, it’s obvious.
We don’t need someone to point it out, do we?
I always felt the ultimate ‘critic’ so to speak is my client. Her vote counts the most.
She votes with her wallet and her heart.
If something is a work of art, whether it’s a photo or a person, and another person, say a critic, has something negative to say, maybe, just maybe that’s there opinion.
Nothing more. We need to ignore them and listen to the only critic that matters.
Is being a critic the lowest form of expression?
Let the critics do what the critics do best. Meanwhile, my job is to create.
One final point. Don’t confuse coaching, positive feedback and old fashioned kick-in-the butt mentoring on the same plane as what a typical critic doles out.
Ain’t the same. Know the difference.
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer
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