photography business

Marketing Your photography business with fairy portraits

December 2, 2016 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

“I’m gonna cry….do people normally cry??…”

November 29, 2016 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

Friends in photography,

I was in the back area of our studio working away, listening to clients come and go.

We have an endless flow of clients coming through this time of the year all scheduled
to see the images from their sessions.

It’s that time of the year. I used to call it insanity season, we’d get so busy.

Or better said: “Make hay when the sun shines.”

This one lady comes in with her husband. They had had a session outdoors the week prior.
It went well. She was pumped.

As soon as Tina started going through the previews she says…
“Oh my, I’m gonna cry. Do people normally cry?…”

She was looking for permission to get emotional. This was her family.

It’s also been said: “They buy when they cry.”

I always thought this a tad crass, but, it’s true.

This is all part of the reality of selling our photography, making them feel
a powerful emotional connection.

And, I’ll admit, I’ll do whatever I can to bring on the tears.

You don’t bring on this kind of connection by offering a best price, low ball offer…
You know, session and CD with files….in and out.

That type of offer and interaction actually kills emotion. At a deep level
they actually do not respect you. Getting tears from that is near impossible.

Creating a well known brand, giving them the best experience possible during the consultation, the actual session and the viewing…yea baby. Turn the tap on and make ’em cry.

So they buy.

In the end it’s a win win. How could you ask for anything else?

It’s a sales game baby. Accept it, get used to it, implement it and make some shekels.

Zig Ziglar used to say: “Shy sales people have skinny kids.”

I’d say it this way:

It’s why marketing is so, so important.

Want to know more? I pour my heart out for you.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

Why there is no career path in photography…

November 28, 2016 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

Next week is my annual trek to the local high school to speak on photography to all the young bright eyed students.

Mostly 15 yr old girls with big dreams about becoming a photographer.

The first thing I tell them shatters their dreams.

I don’t mean to be mean, I want to help them. The worst thing would be to feed them a pack of lies.

I can’t do that. And sending them down a road with no future.

“There is no career path in photography” I tell them.

“This is not like becoming a teacher, an accountant, a doctor, engineer…
where you follow a structured step-by-step plan. It does not exist.”

I continue…“If you want to take a college or university level photography program for the sake of learning photography, that’s fine. But, if you want to make a career and
make money, then you should take a business course. Forget about the degree in photography.

It’s a waste of time. Think about your favorite musician. Do they have a formal education? Likely not. Learn to run a business so you can make money. Learning photography is the easy part. Everything is on youtube.”

I show them samples of what I do in my photography business….weddings, babies, families,
executive and grad portraits and some commercial photography.

“Besides, going to school will not give you passion and ambition for photography. Only you can bring that to the game.”

Doing my part.

What I don’t tell them is the struggles, the pains, the frustrations that come to bear.

They’ll figure that out on their own, if they choose this path.

If they are ambitious, eager, passionate about business, selling, and photography,
they will find a way.

I did. And the successful photographers I know all know this basic truth:
You don’t need a formal education any more than a coffee shop owner or baker or butcher needs one.

Having a degree and a brain filled with academia will get you no where fast. It’s one of those industries where your laurels quickly become wreaths and covered in cobwebs.

Unless you move, move, move…and don’t stop moving.

It’s why I write these emails. It actually helps keep me in check.

It’s why I do goals.

It’s why I created so many business based resources, mostly to do with marketing, for and by professional photographers.

It keeps me in check. So my laurels don’t become dusty old wreaths.

HERE

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

Why RAW is a total crock….

November 16, 2016 By Robert Provencher 4 Comments

Friends in photography,

Go ahead. Hate me. I got enough scars on my body from all the arrows
flung at me over the years.

I can take it.

Thing is, I don’t care.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, my clients don’t care, nor give a rats’ pittout
what file format I shoot their work in.

And I’m talking real clients. Not some portfolio of hot girls photographed in
a ‘portfolio’ building workshop either.

Or a bunch of images shot during travels.

I’m talking real sessions, where real people called me,
eager to pay me, and in the end, leave my studio with my creations, smiling.

Their money in my pockets. Everyone happy.

And at the end of the week, when I total up my bank deposits,
the bank teller doesn’t ask me: “did you make this money shooting RAW? Or JPEG?…”

NO one cares….no one.

Well, sorry, some people do.

It seems many photographers care whether other photographers shoot RAW.

It’s like a religion. And you better get on board.

Or, sweeennngggg, off with your head.

Weird, I know. I don’t get it. But it’s there.

My main droog and jpeg shooter James Hodgins and I used to wear T-Shirts at conventions.

Big ones too, like WPPI…. and such.

On the back it said: “Real men shoot JPEG”

🙂

We liked having a few laughs.

We also had some that said: “MAC…whatever.”

Shooting RAW, using a MAC, creating images on your Canon DSLR
and 1.8 prime lens makes not a photography business.

Ask my accountant. And get over it. I am. And was, a long, long time ago.

Come hate me some more over here.

I’ll show you what really matters when building a successful, long term, and profitable
photography business.

And it’s got nothing to do with file types, computers and cameras.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

Healing shame…

November 15, 2016 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

Friends in photography,

Let’s get off topic and chat about something deep, yet very relevant.

Shame.

We all got it. Shame was and is my best friend.

At some level it controls us, for better or worse. Knowing the difference is key.

When I finally tackled shame in my life, my life turned around in a huge way, and I started on a fantastic journey.

That my friend was about 26 years ago. There’s more to the story, but for now, let’s stick with a few lists I created for you….namely, symptoms, triggers and cures.

This is universal, see. If you want to improve any part of your life,
you also improve your art, creativity, photography and money.

It’s awesome when you get these things right.

Here we go….starting with the symptoms of shame.

Or, shall I say, toxic shame.

Symptoms of toxic shame:

people pleasing
unresolved talents
neurosis
procrastination
addictions
compulsions
fears
behaviors
distractions
victimization
doing too much

I know, I know, this is a big list. A birds eye view so to speak. Many of these items can easily be opened up into vast endless sub topics.

Let’s continue, shall we….triggers.

Toxic shame triggers….

social (other people, events, social situations, and especially social media these days)
fears (real or not)
justifying behavior or thoughts (this is like a defense mechanism. We don’t know any better so we rationalize)

This is much more diffuse.

It shows up yet is hard to identify. But it’s like a water hose under pressure.
Eventually the hose will expand and burst. Or we deal with endless pain and pressure. Ugh.

Cures:

groups…I luv, luv, luv groups. I believe the ancient tribes had this down with the healing circle
Nothing triggers shame better than a group, namely, a supportive group with positive intentions. Group coaching,
mastermind groups, group therapy and 12 step meetings are a few examples. Very, scary for many at first, but very healing.
actions…move, move, move. Take massive actions with whatever you have available in your life right here, right now. All your inner demons and voices will stir to life. Now you can identify them.
goals…d-uh
facing fears, dragons….If and when you can identify them, face them down. They ain’t as scary as they seem.
talents.. work with what you got. Grow your skills and talents, often shame gets triggered.
never be a victim…ever.
exercise, yoga, meditation…again….d-uh.
focus, don’t do too much.

Knowing is never enough. You’ll stay stuck in your head. The key is action. Actions based on your goals.
And looking at your messes…either physical messes or emotional messes.

Even showing up counts as an actions step.

I believe the mastermind meeting is based on this concept as well.

It’s why I’m such a huge believer in them. That, and besides the fact that so many others believe in them, including notables like Napoleon Hill in his classic book Think & Grow Rich…

On that note, tonight we’re having a mastermind meeting….on lighting no less.

Yes lighting. Our main tool of the trade. In our endless pursuit of mastery, as we hone our craft, endlessly studying lighting.

Members can watch the replays here.

Hope to see you tonight……non-members welcome too…here.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

“I took a class like that and was more confused then when I walked in”…

November 14, 2016 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

Friends in photography,
I just finished teaching a 101 photography course through our local library.

This is my fourth time doing this.

Why, you ask, would I do this? I don’t know.
When I was asked 2 years ago my instant reaction was: “No thanks.”

Then for some reason I hesitated, thought about it, and answered:
“OK, I’ll do it. But it has to be for serious amateurs only. Not rank beginners.”

And so we were off.

I had a blast. So I kept doing it.

Teaching photography, with my own little twisted and bizarrio take on it.

Let me explain. I tell the class that I am not going to teach them an academic by the manual class where they will hear me explain all the camera functions and all the shooting scenarios.

Most of which they will never, ever use again.

If they want to hear that, they’ll get it from the local college
or camera store.

And someone invariably always shakes their head up and down in agreement with me.
They know what I’m talking about. They been there.

“I took a class like that and was more confused then when I walked in” is what I hear.

I created some strong feelings about how to teach photography by volunteering to this community service.

Had I not, I wouldn’t have known what I now know. Cool.

That’s part of what made it fun. And I was developing my voice, so to speak.

What I also like was the fact that the attendance was near perfect, and so was the homework assignments.

This, to me, showed it was working. They were on fire baby!

I really pushed them into the deep end. I pushed them to “see the light”. I pushed them to focus on composition, lighting and impact.

Everything else would fall into place I told them. Learn to “see” and create your own inner style, voice and artistic expression.

I would tell them over and over we’re “painting with light”

Which is what photo-graphy means. Photo=light Graphy=painting

What a concept. I also brought my passion to the game. I showed everyone how I constantly am shooting.

I love photography. I called the course “Love of Photography”…hhhmmmmm.

I have tens of thousands of images from my life, travels, events where I always bring my camera.

Why not? I love photography. It’s not a job. It’s a passion.

And I share my passion.

It’s who I am. What I do. Why I share and teach and try my best to help others.

It’s also why I run a monthly lighting mastermind for my members of noBs photosuccess Inc ™

Where we talk lighting. I analyze, critique, coach others….and I show many, many lighting scenarios, and explanation, from my photography studio.

This my friend is not text book stuff. This is from actual sessions, paid or publicity, where I get dirty and grimy and have to fight through a gauntlet of evil forces always trying to take me down.

Including my own headtrash. But more on that later.

Get clear. Get focused…..
Members can join us on our MasterMind presentations or watch all the replays, of course, which get posted in the forum….
HERE

Not a member? No problem…JOIN US HERE.
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

“Reality is a b*tch!”…

November 10, 2016 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

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Friends in photography,

Imagine going to the bank to make a meager deposit from your photography sales.

And the teller looks at your total, looks up at you and sez:
“Reality is a bitch, ain’t it”.

That would be funny.

:)….I digress.

This reality points to a common behavior among photographers, specifically newbies.

I had it too, way, way back when.

Of what do I speaketh?

The misguided, disillusioned, fallacious, erroneous belief that
we’re right. We can do no harm. Create no crap with our cameras.

Everyone else is wrong.

More specifically, our photography, our photography skills
is righteous, excellent and immune to criticism…since…after all, we’re so dam good.

And we “know” so much, until reality hits us square in the face.

Ever had this? Be honest…..

Let me explain some more. This behavior is common among not only newbs,
who for the most part can be excused since they know not what they speak of.

They’re merely protecting their thin and vulnerable egos.

But the crusty old pro who becomes a curmudgeon in his or her (way more often a him)
photographic ways since, well, as with the newbs, they know ssssooooo much.

As if knowledge, photographic knowledge is the bomb and end all be all.

I’ve said it a million times. And I’m saying it again.

The only vote that counts, is your clients.

And your clients vote with their wallets.

Newbs don’t have this, since, well, they ain’t got no clients.

Indeed they have comfort friends and family who will boost their egos.
And give them flakebook likes galore.

But the real ambitious, dedicated, serious and focused among them
know that the best opinion comes from those who are in the trenches.

When they don’t hear what they want to hear about their photography skills,
they rant, moan, complain and whine.

The real student (even old curmudgeons can and should be students) knows
how to take it and grow.

The real student not only delivers top notch photography but knows how to sell
and market.

Gasp!! Two words that make most gag. Selling and marketing.

But, you gotta do what you gotta do. Assuming you want to make money with your a camera
and run a legit bidness.

A great place to start, in my oh so humble yet laser sharp focused and accurate opinion, is with the advanced training series I created for my members.

It includes deep, deep learnings from such notables as Judy Cormier, Argentina Leyva, Vanessa Joy, Kirsten Lewis, Fuzzy Duenkel, Marilyn Sholin, Margeret Bryant, Maggie Habieda…..to mention but a few accomplished photogs.

And we’re scratching the surface here. There’s so much more.

If you’re already a member, you know where to find those presentations.
They’re in there, ready for you to devour.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

How to be the “go to” photographer in your area.

November 9, 2016 By Robert Provencher Leave a Comment

Friends in photography,

Got no business? Then, you need a business plan.

Maybe you had one ten, or twenty years ago.

Or, you’re just starting out.

You need a business plan. And then you need to implement.