Photo Success

A Place to Grow

Webinar replay with Kira Derryberry

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Excellent and insightful. Enjoy.

An interview with Kira Derryberry. Some highlights and quotes:

  • “they have to know why they love an image….it’s a feeling….”
  • critique…’everyone’s an expert online
  • “I start a dialogue that ends in a sale…”
  • Personal projects segue to sales and money
  • Essential: Good with people
  • “It’s a choice…”
  • Give yourself permission to fail….and take the variables out

Kira admits there are a million Facebook groups….but she always wanted to start one. In discussion with her she decided to “level up” and get it done.

And so it it.
“Have you ever met a carpenter who only uses a hammer? A chef who only uses a hot plate? As professionals we have a wealth of tools at our disposal to create our art. So why limit ourselves by shooting only in our comfort zones? This group is here to encourage you to keep learning, to experiment, to increase your bag of tricks as a photographer so that it’s not fear that keeps you from taking that assignment that’s outside of your wheelhouse. Why not make it your wheelhouse?…”

Kira’s “Level Up” FaceBook Group HERE

kiraderryberry.com web page

Yours in success and in photography,

Robert Provencher

“There’s always money for spinach….”

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“There’s always money for smokes” I told my daughter Danielle the other day.
She was like, uh? I explained that way back, when I was 30, and a smoker, as was my girlfriend at the time, and her dad. He’d say this if cash ran out, and we needed smokes: “There’s always money for smokes.”

It means we’ll find the cash. Cuz’ we need to get our nicotine on. No option.

I told this to Danielle as metaphor that whenever you want something, or need something, whether you actually need it or not, you’ll FIND a way.

It’s that simple.

Nowadays I am much healthier, smoke free, near vegan and making huge ass spinach smoothies every morning. The budget for good food is limitless because health, and smoothies, are what I want.

There’s always money for spinach.

When you know what you want, you get what you want. It’s really that simple.

When Danielle was young, I had a rule: “There’s always money for books.”

Same idea, you get it. I wanted a smart kid.

If there’s one activity that will guarantee you success in life and in your own photography business it’s the effort you put into digging deep into your heart and soul and pulling out a list of meaningful challenges worth pursuing.

In other words, have meaningful goals. Have purpose to your life. Dig deep, kick butt and no excuses.

In this presentation below I reveal to you what I feel in my heart is the most effective ways to break free from the limitations that hold you back. Grab a pen and note pad, turn off your phone and facebook and focus in on this for an hour.

GO HERE and watch, download, get the goal setting PDF form.
It may change your life.
Yours in success in photography,
Robert Provencher

Follow your dreams goal setting presentation…

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If there’s one activity that will guarantee you success in life and in your own photography business it’s the effort you put into digging deep into your heart and soul and pulling out a list of meaningful challenges worth pursuing.

In other words, have meaningful goals. Have purpose to your life. Dig deep, kick butt and no excuses.

In this presentation I reveal to you what I feel in my heart is the most effective ways to break free from the limitations that hold you back. Grab a pen and note pad, turn off your phone and facebook and focus in on this for an hour.

It may change your life.

GOAL SETTING PDF FORM

download replay

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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Podcast with Rob, Judy & James October 2017

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“Don’t use pro photography when you have a crappy Santa…”

Plus, all about best dressing strategies as a wedding photographer….

AND, accidental death by trains, water and dry-mounting presses.

Those, and other meandering topics to do with running a photography business.

From three of the busiest players in the industry….
yours truly, Rob Provencher, James Hodgins & Judy Cormier

“I don’t know how you find the time to do so much writing…”

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Whenever I start to feel sorry for myself, I ask: “Do I belong the the club of winners and do-ers?”

Or the whiners, wannabees and weak kneed complainers who only create excuses and a sense of entitlement?

Seriously, I struggle with this all the time. Human nature I guess. So is procrastination.

On that note, let me give you some solid advice inspired by a recent
email I received from Peg. 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….Peg”

Thank you Peg. 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. 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. The rest of the time I am committed to my goals.

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 ago…truly epic stuff.

That four part series is in the PhotoSuccess forum along with many other high quality educational presentations with world class photographers.

That info is here.

I gotta run now. Got a studio to manage…that time of the year! 🙂

Yours in success and in photography,
Robert Provencher

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

Playing with fire…

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On the beach in Tamarindo, Costa Rica….I set up a shoot with the fire guys.

These dragons can often be seen putting on shows around town at various restaurants.  They tell me they also do a lot of weddings and corporate gigs, as well as travel all over the world competing.
Serious stuff. Good people to be affiliated with.

The lighting is simple. Two Nikon SB800’s and one on camera that is primarily used to fire the two flashes on the stands as shown. That’s Tina, my wife, off to the left.

Both flashes off camera are set to optical slave. I slowed the shutter speed down to 1/80th of second in order to bring in the ambient light and distant sunset. ISO500

Straight out of the camera:

Yours in photography,

Rob

“Show me the money…”

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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.”

How To Be Controversial Without Being A Dick

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There’s a line. A fine one, where, once crossed, your words or actions will become branded as being a dick move or statement.
Being controversial ain’t a bad thing. It’s good actually.

Great for business.

Many will suffer and stagnate for fear of being called out on their actions.
You gotta risk being called a dick. Here’s the thing: you’ll offend someone, always.
Unless you’re huddled away in your basement.

Someone reading this is offended right now, I’m sure. Just look at my grammar, and the liberal use of the word “dick”.
When you get out there and start publicizing and promoting your photography business, SOMEONES’S gonna get the knickers in a twist.
Guaranteed!

And, in a sense, it’s a marker that you’re on the right track.

If you can offend 50% of the people, and the other 50% love you, that my friend is a great ratio.
However, most won’t need to shoot for numbers that high. We’ll leave that to the politicians.

If you cross the line and the majority think you’re being a dick, then it’s a problem.

So, like I always say, don’t be a dick. But, do risk being called one. By a few.
No big whoop.

The key to being controversial without being a dick is simple.
Here it is:
* don’t offend more than 50%
* don’t talk politics
* don’t talk religion
* stay clear of anything too sexual

I’ve posted shots of me sitting on my red couch, in the snow, in nothing but my underwear. Weird, risky, and I’m sure offensive to some.

For the most part and because of participation in my community I am well known.
In a good way.

You need to push the envelope. Get out in your community. Let your personality shine.

Photographers are notorious for resting on their laurels, sitting back and leaning on their egos, and feeling high and mighty.
Big mistake.

I created a publicity report years ago, and a “secrets to publicity” presentation.
Both loaded with relevant and key strategies to using publicity in your photography business.
Without being a dick.
For members, here.

A few weeks ago I had Maggie Habieda back as part of our Secrets to Selling for photographers.
Maggie, by far, is the queen of networking and publicity. Her presentation was jammed.

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.”