Photo Success

A Place to Grow

“The weasel clause…”

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No one likes a misleading pitch. I don’t. And try my best to avoid being using weasal clauses or acting like one….the KEY: good, clear communication.
And Bob pointed this out.
An email I received from Bob:
 
“Hi Rob, It’s annoying when you provide a link to a video and I go to it and get an OOPs message.   It would not be annoying if you mentioned it’s a members only replay.
 
IMO you’d have a much better chance of getting new members if you made more media samples available so that prospects can evaluate the benefits with some degree of confidence.
 
Best regards, Bob Flanagan”

My reply:

“Bob yea, I know….and I struggle with this.

Me, the first guy to nag others when they get “weasly”….which I come close to being when I do this….:):)

I am sending out an email on Monday, and going to quote you (if you’re ok with me doing so that is)…and, the link, with replay, added….

You can  get access to it here

Rob”

There you go…..AGAIN, click here

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NOTE: This is happening in TWO days:
Special Presentation- Secrets to building, creating, selling and promoting Enchanted Fairy, Ice Fairy & Medieval Themed Sessions

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

How to cheap out on lighting…

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SO I’m working on a coffee table book with a local restaurant. This is for a great cause and should give me oodles of exposure, plus a warm fuzzy feeling.

I’m truly honored and excited.

When we sat down to discuss and figure out the details, which are far from figured out, I thought about what style, what look I wanted to bring to this project.

I keep going simple, straight forward, “coming out of the shadows” so to speak. The cause is epilepsy and is way bigger than folks are aware of. That photo below is my first test shoot.

One photographer who’s look inspired me is Chris Knight.

You may recall this young dude. I interviewed him a few months ago.

I also reviewed his book HERE

I swiped his look, so to speak, best I could. Simple, clean, powerful.

EXCEPT….(you knew that was coming, didn’t you….)…except I used a $6. LED light from the hardware store. Not a million dollar profoto what’s it called light thingie.

ME thinks it works. Again, see image above. The graphic designer who I am also working with loves it. All is good.

I talk in greater detail on my el cheapo approach, as well as an update on using the Goddox AD200 in the field on portrait and wedding shoots, and some of the limitations and complications arising from this amazing little light.

All that and more in the replay of the May 2018 Lighting Mastermind HERE for members

Non members can watch the replay HERE

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.”

Join us…Content, Coaching & Community
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Thomas Dodd is back….Thursday, May 3rd 3:00PM EST

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***JOIN US***

Thu, May 3, 2018 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT REGISTER HERE

 

 

Thomas Dodd is BACK to discuss:

  • Marketing – what to do and NOT to do on social media to build a fan/collector base.
  • How to approach galleries ,how to get shows – how to approach the media –
  • How to get your images seen in Google image search
  • How to market in every day life, etc. etc….
  • Creativity – How intentions and influences shape our artistic style, how to be “original” as opposed to a copy – ways to “jump-start” creativity, how to overcome creative blocks
  • How to coax creativity out of models.. different forms of creativity, etc etc..

Thomas Dodd is a visual artist and photographer based out of Atlanta, Georgia who has developed a style that he calls “painterly photo montage” – a method he employs in editing software in which he crafts elaborately textured pieces that have a very organic and decidedly non-digital look to them.

His work often has mythic and quasi-religious themes that pay homage to Old Master art traditions while at the same time drawing from psychological archetypes that evoke a strong emotional response from the viewer.

Although his artwork resembles paintings, his pieces are entirely photographic in nature, fusing many images into a cohesive whole. His larger works are often presented in a mixed media form that adds a depth and texture that complements the photography beautifully. http://www.thomasdodd.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ThomasDodd

How to grow a healthy and profitable product and photography business.

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A recent quote from one of my favorite marketing philosophers, Seth Godin:
“If I listened to feedback, I would have quit on the first day.”

Problem is, this is only half true.
See, I’ve seen many photographers take my fairy success system and grow a healthy and  profitable product.
I’ve seen others fail dismally.
Why? In my best estimation and what appears to be brain dead obvious, the core product was the problem.
The work they produced was, well, crap. Let’s call it what it is.
The solution? Ask for feedback. Duh….but alas, none came.
Failure followed soon.
The goal here is to always build, create and pitch a product, that, once ready for the market, the market wakes up and says: “I want some of that! Where do I sign up.”
My clients trip over themselves when I run fairy day, medieval day, ice fairies and similar marketing promotions. All built on the same basic pattern. All built on a good product.
The core structure is the same. Come up with a product, an offer. Schedule a time. Let em know you’re there. Book em. Sell em. Everyone wins.
I’ve done this over and over and over. Rinse, repeat.
And I talk about this ad infinitum in my mastermind meetings and on going tutorials.
All you gotta do is listen. And act. I’ve posted a few sample images throughout this rant. This is what I do…..

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 it for the money…”

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I’ve said it a million times before:  “Having  a talent is worthlessunless you know what to do with it.”

That’s a quote from Charlie Chaplin. Search  out his quotes (google him) and you will find some nuggets.

Here’s another quote from Charlie Chaplin:
“I went into the business for the money, and the art grew out of it. If people are disillusioned by that remark, I can’t help it. It’s the truth.”

Interesting isn’t it?

The conclusion  might me that talent isn’t what DRIVES the goals and ambitions.

Sometimes it’s the desire for financial success, sometimes it’s the love of the game, or fame, or whatever. As long as we are moving towards OUR goal, OUR vision, without excuses, then we will get there, and the ART will GROW……I know.

It happened to me. Do it for the money, and the art will grow out of it.

P.S. Of course you need a  good product, and on-going training.

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

The size of the camera gear used is inversely proportional to the talent of the photographer…

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I teach a photography 101 class through the local library in our city. I actually enjoy it. So do the attendees. Go figure.

I tell them I am not going to teach them everything they need to know about their cameras and all about the tech talk owners manuals stuff.

That, I remind them, will leave them way more confused then when they started.

What I do teach them is the basics of exposure, and we dig hard and deep into seeing light.

And composition.

See, the way I see it, learning basics of ISO, aperture and shutter speeds, in other words, exposure, and learning how to see LIGHT, and understanding how composition works, are the most valuable and important foundations of what I remind them is, over and over, what photography is all about: Painting With Light.
Nothing more.

And I drive the point home that it’s NOT the camera.

Case in point….Brian DeMint….that’s him in the image on the left. His story he’s told a million times, is that he bought a basic DSLR at the local Best Buy years ago and started his photography journey.

Hell, he didn’t even know the lens came off. And he’s never been too proud to admit that.

If you look closely at the image to the left you can see Brian’s light. A 12$ garage light from WalMart.

That, and his basic DSLR from Best Buy and he’s mastered some very creative images. See the two below.

Brian knows how to see. And he understands this at a deeper artistic level than most.
I want to be like Brian.

I always love telling my class the Brian Demint story. When I show the images (below) they literally roll back and go whoa! Point made.
That’s why I’ve host numerous webinars and live events where Brian taught us his deepest secrets to seeing.

That, and a seriously twisted offbeat sense of humor.

You can watch my first ever webinar with Brian HERE This is free to all. And it’s very good. Swear words and all.

If you’re a member of noBs photosuccess you can access many more presentations with Brian in the Creative Cross training series HERE

Here’s Brian live at the Nashville Inferno with Brian HERE with his 12 dollar light.

And here’s Brian live at the Toronto Inferno HERE again, with his Walmart lighting.

As I said…..it’s not the camera.

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

Wanna dance?….and make some sales with dance school photography….

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Two webinars, two photographers, two systems for dance photography sales and success. If you were around last month we had Nancy Tillberg join us with her take on dance school photography she calls “Boutique Volume…”

Her system is meticulous and tight, and it works. She goes against the grain on what many would think is the “right” way to do volume…let alone boutique volume. But then again, she’s a retired forensic photographer…she can see things the rest of us mere mortals can’t.

If you’re a member of noBs photosuccess™ you can watch the REPLAY HERE

And there’s Warne Noyce and Paula Moon who started their studio a few years ago in a town where no one knew them. They quickly grew because of smart and innovative marketing. AND, their dance school business sky-rocketed.
We had Warne on a webinar. REPLAY 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

Photography lighting tip: When “idiot” lighting works….

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Photography lighting tips from the trenches

Some of the best photography lighting is also some of the most basic lighting.

Two lights, one on either side, both with the same, or near same output. Wash the subject with light.
Kinda flat, kinda boring….

We used to call this idiot lighting. Maybe we still do, as offensive as that sounds.
The truth is, there’s a time and place for it. And I use it often enough.

The key is to know when and where. For me, I use it when I need properly exposed images and I have very little time, and the lighting and scene available is tricky. A wedding is a great example. Or, in a small location shooting families at a house.

Likewise, when I’m shooting a large family, I don’t want to fuss, just get the job done, done right, I will use this lighting.

To rely on this lighting and only this lighting is very limiting however. I suppose this is where and when “idiot” applies. Being able to create portraits using a main and good use of shadows is key to being diverse and creative.

Here’s an example I will be showing in an upcoming  Lighting Mastermind
(LIGHTING MASTERMIND REPLAYS ARE HERE FOR MEMBERS)….from a  fall in-home session:

Two lights, small softboxes each  a Nikon SB800 set to manual, same output. Also set to optical slave, a flash on camera with a weak output, bounced, to fire these flashes.
The results…..Sony A7Rii 16-35 lens set to 35mm. f4 ISO400 1/60th second on a tripod.
And some fun shots of the kids…same lighting all throughout this session:

I will also use this lighting outdoors, during a wedding, especially for the formal portraits with the family.

These shots are there to document the family, and I often have little time.

Same exact lighting as above. We’re in open shade, but there was not enough area to light everyone evenly so I set up my two softboxes.
Sony A7Rii 85MM Batis lens at f4 ISO 100. Weak fill flash on camera to fire the two softboxes.


You can see the two main lights showing up in the specular catch lights.

Knowing when to use this lighting for your photography and best results is key. When I am on location I always bring enough, more than enough gear, to make sure if I need to set up this lighting I can do it. I need to stress the importance of not relying on this lighting exclusively for your photography. You risk creating images that are stale and predictable.

To be fair, there are some photo industries and photography markets where this lighting will work all the time, say for example, sporting tournament and the like or similar higher volume demands.

Yours in lighting,
Rob

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