Photo Success

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The turbo charged pixel myth…

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Well, I never thought this would happen.

I met a photographer who started out in digital before the dawn of all things digital like I did.

I met Kirk Saint a few months ago at a 2 day convention. I couldn’t believe he started out with one of these cameras like I did.

We’re talking way back. As in the year 2000 back. When Canon introduced what I consider to be their most groundbreaking camera ever.

The Canon D30.

And few, very few have heard about it. Maybe because it was primitive, at a mere 3.4 Megapixels.

But most thought it simply couldn’t do the job. Many, in fact, thought digital was crap and a passing fad. Even the dude who owned our local camera store thought this.

The best thing about this camera was the price. A very reachable $3,500.00 for the body. Not bad considering the next best thing was about twenty grand or so.

By today’s standards I consider this camera, if I were to compare today, on par with a Model T Ford. With a hand crank no less.

But whatever. Back in the day, it was revolutionary. And I bought one, with a Canon 50MM lens.

I was Hasselblad and Nikon. I sold everything I owned. All of it.

Except for my Nikon 105MM lens.

Hey, I needed a portrait lens. So I found a dude in New York who sold Nikon to Canon lens adapters. I was in, in a manual focus way, for $85.00 plus shipping.

Kirk’s story was similar to mine in that he got great results from this camera, in spite of the small file size.

I was pulling off wall portraits the first year I switched.
(see link below for examples)

I had to be able to otherwise I wouldn’t have taken the plunge.

Consistently I was getting great results. While everyone told me I couldn’t. My reply to the nay-sayers, was “bullsh*t, look what I had printed from my dinky little 3.4 MB file.”

Proof’s in the pudding, as they say. It ain’t bragging if you can do it.

My next camera was the Nikon D1x or something like that. A whopping 5.5 MB. Again, I pulled off hundreds, nay, thousands of wall portraits over and over.

If it does the job, it does the job. I prefer to obsess over marketing, than file size.

See samples below….

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

P.S. Last month I interviewed Kirk. He runs a successful studio in a small town shooting amazing Santa images, cool sports photos and more….Members, login, go here.

Not  a member? no problem.

Below…a few samples from my Canon D30, images that were enlarged, with ease, to over 30 inches….:

Insane moves create insane success

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Maggie moved to Canada from Poland when she was only 16.

She attended OCAD, one of our finest art universities and in spite of her lack of English and being in a foreign country, she acquired a degree in art.

When I met her, about 7 years ago, she had been in her own photography business for about 5 years, and most recently took some seriously insane steps.

Even she admits what she had done made no sense, was at the worst time one could imagine, under less than ideal circumstances.

She had two young children at home. A husband. Mortgage, the whole nine yards. What did she do that made everyone around think she completely lost it?

It was 2009, one year after the big economic meltdown, when more people were leaving photography than joining.

Here’s the story of a true renegade.

She mortgaged her home, and paid half  a million dollars into the purchase of a new mall storefront condo.

AND, she drops about an additional 100K in renos.

See, she had a vision. And the passion needed to rise about the nay-sayers and doubters.

One thing she has is passion. More than anyone I ever met. And balls. Great big audacious balls.

When she was guest speaker at my 3 day inferno, two years in a row, everyone in attendance would tell me the same comments:
“I love this lady! By far my favorite speaker.”

Her story is amazing. Her studio is rocking. She’s top of the mountain. And she helps other photographers like as if they are her own children.

This lady is my hero.

And tonight, along with her studio manager Ian Cuthbert, who also has an amazing legacy in the photography industry, they will be judging the noBs Bull Pen Print Show.

Your welcome to join in, watch and learn.

If you want to submit an image or two, it’s PHREE! And you might win #hard-cold-cash

I don’t know if there’s room to submit your images at the late time, but worth  a go.
Don’t delay, it’s only hours away.

DETAILS on registration and submissions.

Hope to see you there.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

P.S. Here’s even more about Maggie’s story.

I had a dream….

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Call me Jungian or call me crazy.
Last night I had a dream. A strange dream. All my dreams are strange.

There I was, checking into a hotel in a strange city. I was attending a photography convention.

And I couldn’t find the front desk. I kept walking around the hotel, looking.

There was none to be found. Where’s the front desk!??

I did bump into the occasional photographer I knew from years ago.
They were indifferent to me. Not very chatty. Nothing personal.

Keep walking, keep searching. No luck.

When I woke up I wondered if this was prophetic.

Or at least indicative of what I already noticed about the photography industry.

Photography, as in, professional photography.

Professional, as in, a getting paid professional….as in, for me anywho, running my own photography studio.

You see, in the last few years, the conventions I attended, was like being in the Wizard Of Oz movie.

You know, the wizard was an illusion. An allegory for truth.
The truth being, things aren’t what they appear to be.

Sounds cynical, but it isn’t.

There aren’t as many profitable photographers anymore. But, there’s a ton of folks looking to enhance their skills. (and eager instructors…nothing wrong with that! Gotta fill the demand….)

You can still make it in photography, but it’s gonna take hard work, business savvy, focus, daily effort and marketing. If you want to make money.

The photographers I know fit this description. Others lack in one, more, or all those areas.

Business is hard. Period. Therefor, photography is hard. Period.

But still possible. Just don’t have any illusions about it. Stay focused, adapt, everyday do something to market, have goals and everyday do something to achieve those goals.

And be ready to pounce when any and all opportunities show up. Instead of sitting back, wondering.

It’s why I interview real working professionals. People like Maggie Habieda, Maria Sampaio, Fuzzy Duenkel, Kirk Saint, Danny Rabalais and many, many more.

And yours truly, of course. Running my monthly mastermind meetings for members. No fluff, no hype. (all in the noBs photosuccess forum BTW…)

If you want to wake up from the dream, you need to focus on business.
Making money. There is no shame. It’s called reality.

I ain’t dreaming this up.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

P.S. If you want, we still have  a few spots left for this Thursday’s NoBs Bull Pen Print Show.

Why I don’t golf…and why I would if I did….

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The last time I went golfing I almost killed a dude.

That’s how bad I am.

Besides, I don’t really like the game. I find it odd, like yoga.
(I started yoga last month…what a weird activity that is…more on that later)

Strange, strange stuff…..but it could be me. Who knows.

One thing about golf that is super cool, is the tight feedback loop.

You know instantly if you’re doing ok. Music is the same way.

You hit the ball, it responds with scientific accuracy.

You play a note, it’s either in tune, or not.

You take a photograph….well, maybe it’s ok, maybe it’s not.
Who knows?

So you post it on flakebook. A hundred peeps tell you it’s amazing. You feel good.

Wow….I am a photographer. Look at what I created. Look at the love and admiration.

I’ve said this a million times.

Love it or hate it, it’s about as scientific as you can get in this field: the only feedback
loop that matters in the business of photography is the money.

Show me the money.

Unless, of course, you’re in it for the hobby and therapy, which if perfectly OK.

But if you’re in the biz side of things, the ONLY feedback loop that matters is sales.

Profits. Cash. Sheckles. Don’t fight me on this one. You will lose.

There is no alternative. We live on an economic planet. It’s always been that way.

Don’t like it? Find another planet. Or, take up photography for other reasons.

For me, it’s my passion, and my “job”.

My feedback loop is the profit loss statement. Everyone wins when I win. My wife, my family,
and especially my clients.

They must. They keep coming back.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

P.S.Want more information on shooting photographs that sell and marketing your photography business?

HERE

The best profit making lighting strategies from the trenches….

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Not sure about you, although I do enjoy some down time during the holidays,
I do start chomping at the bit.

I’m eager to get back in the game. I can only take so much holiday cheer,
family, food and Xmas carols.

This week is a crazy one for us. Betwixt Xmas and New Years often is.

Not to mention the insanity that went down prior to Xmas. What I used to call
the “hair pulling season”.

Truth is, I love it. Creating images and getting paid…sweet deal!

And I love teaching, inspiring, helping other ambitious, eager, hungry and open minded
photographers.

There’s so much crap out there. Hype, nonsense, BS and hyperbole.

I feel like it’s my job, along with a few friends, to help light the way, pull away the
mask and reveal the truth in running a photography business.

No matter the economic climate.

Next Lighting Mastermind meeting is  December 29th 8:00PM EST

I’ll be sharing real lighting scenarios from the trenches. From PAID GIGS….
Not academic purist crap.

REAL, money making stuff.

I’ll be taking your questions and revealing the strategies behind my recent
sessions…..including:
*family sessions outside in the snowey, snowey cold
*executive posing
*event photography
*boring, boring board of director stuff…(pays the bills, keeps me shooting!)
*basic overview of studio lighting…soft box VS halo light VS beauty dish….

And more….including some strategies used for planning an upcoming commercial session for
a front page lifestyle magazine.

As usual, if you can’t make it, and you’re a member, the replay will be in the forum,
same place as the past replays.

Lighting Mastermind replay HERE

Come and learn, share, ask questions….REGISTER MEMBERS HERE

Not a member? Join us HERE

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

Predictable behavior patterns with photographers who are highly successful….

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There’s a consistent, almost predictable behavior pattern with many photographers who are successful.

I’ve noticed this many years ago.

I also noticed it in myself, and have attributed this set of behaviors to my own success.

These behaviors might propel you to stratospheric heights if you apply them in your life and in your photography business.

The BIG question…..“why don’t most apply and take advantage of these behaviors?”

Your guess is as good as mine, but if there’s one simple word that could possibly explain it. That word is attitude.

Sounds old fashioned, but some things never change.

The list of behaviors is timeless.

Let’s look:

#1-Successful photographers are always hungry for knowledge.

They know that in this field, staying on top, staying fresh in our photography and in our marketing is vital.

Successful photographers never whine about speakers who are selling stuff at conventions.

They know that the information most speakers have is valuable, and you can take that photographer home with you by investing in their education materials.

(I have shelves and boxes filled with educational materials.)

Losers have big egos that get in the way or cause them to get creative in the excuse department.

#2- Successful photographers are not afraid of criticism. And I don’t mean evil, mean spirited criticism.

Or sour grapes, knee jerk jealous comments from losers who have no place in offering input.

But valuable critiques from photographers who are qualified to help.

The photographer who bravely submits their work, their goals, their challenges for review benefit in a big way.

This is one way to stay young, vibrant and alive. But you must be open.

A closed minded photographer is nothing more than a fool.

And a fool is losing out.

Don’t be a fool.

#3- Successful photographers are never too proud to take on jobs that are “below” them.
Especially when starting out.

Not every job is a passion filled experience. But every job contributes to your financial and skills growth. It’s all opportunity when we have the right mindset.

Chase the opportunity and bring your passion with you.

I take on loads of little, dinky jobs. Warne Noyce shoots dance schools. Ansel Adams shot school pictures.

As a matter of fact, Ansel is quoted as saying that he learned more from the “bread and butter” photography than anything else.

Al Gilbert shot passports when I last spoke with him. And he was nearing 80 yrs old. And is still considered on of the best photographers in North America.

Don’t be too proud to take on jobs.

Unless of course you have little time because you’re way too busy. Or your ego won’t let you. Stay humble. Be modest.

Many small jobs, be they donations to community causes or small time gigs, will keep you active, learning, and earning.

#4- Successful photographers are not quitters. I know, some people realize it’s not for them.

Or, they get offered a “real job” and opt for the security and golden handcuffs.

But successful photographers who are very, very serious about making it don’t quit.

And they don’t start and stop all the time, jumping from one piece of equipment to another, one forum to another, one logo to another, never truly committing to their personal drive and passion.

It takes guts and commitment. It’s that simple. Your level of desire must rise above, way above your pain threshold and your inner weakness that makes you give in to the pain.

Let me repeat that…..your level of desire to succeed must be way, way bigger than the pain, fear and desire to quit.

#5- Successful photographers chose good role models and mimic their work through practice.
We all have role models. Those who produce work that truly inspires us to want to reach great heights.

Musicians have them too. They all talk about the music they listened to in their formative years and how it inspired them.

Laura P, a member of No Bs Photo Success,  asked me while ago about taking one of those home study photography courses.

You know, the one from New York… I told her not to bother.

Instead, get out there and shoot, shoot, shoot.

What will happen is this: Not only will she be getting technical mastery over her gear and adding to her ability to “see the light”, but in time inspiration will seep into her life and she will begin to find direction, purpose and focus on the style of photographer she is evolving into.

And part of that is finding other successful photographers that inspire her. It’s all part of the journey.

Be open. Be true to your journey and let others inspire you.

Throw it away, and your throwing away part of your journey.

I SUFFER for my craft. I demand perfection from myself. I don’t always get it, but I demand it nevertheless.

It’s why I teach and preach and try to reach out to other photographers who have the same passion and drive as I do.

I love teaching, because I learn as much as the student.

I put on more webinars, workshops and tutorials each month than anyone out there.

Why?

I luv learning…it’s that simple.

If I hated it, why would I do it?

Luving it is a big enough why for me….hopefully you too.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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