Tools for growing a photography business
Cameras can’t find light direction. Only you can decide how to place light, decide on direction, intensity and your final creation.
Light is light. Composition is composition. It all starts and end with your and your ability to see light.
[Read more…]RecentIy I wrote about the “Anvil effect”.
Over the years I’ve taken notice of obvious reasons why businesses fail, falter and f*ck up.
Many of these are obvious as day, and reveal fundamentals that span all industries.I hope they help you in your photography business.
As part of this series I give you, the “Books & Beans effect”.
Books and Beans was a small cafe style restaurant in our city that boasted one of the best pastrami on rye sandwiches. You could come in, order a coffee, sit at a wooden homey table and read one of the books in the bookshelves.
This worked for many years. They seemed to thrive. Until…..someone in their infinite wisdom, likely from the accounting department, decided to reduce the quantity of pastrami.
Maybe they thought no one would notice. Maybe they thought we were stupid. Maybe they thought that, for whatever reason, this was how you increased profits. By reducing the very thing that is the very reason why people come there.
All reasons that rank way up in the highest levels of marketing screw ups.
This narrow minded, short term thinking always leads your business down the road of ruin.
Instead of finding creative ways to “keep the pastrami in the sandwich”, they took the easy, short term road. It wasn’t long before people stopped coming. And sales dropped. And the doors closed.
Sad, but true. Opportunities get lost because of mis-guided attempts to increase profits. Instead of increasing the client experience and maintaining a quality product, they completely missed the mark.
And lost their market.
No market, no business.
Yours in success
Rob
So, I did it. I actually did it and I kinda sorta love it now. It’s actually a thing.
And I waited at least 30 days to make sure it’s a thing, before I jump the gun and y’all start thinking I’m full of it.
Of what do I speak? Simple….getting up at 5:00AM.
Now before you quit on me, hear me out.
The first thing you need to know is this: I am the consummate night owl. Always have been, and I thought I always would be forever and ever.
I am NOT going to try and convince you that YOU need to do the same.
“Marketing is fun, once you get it…”
This line that James quipped keeps buzzing around in my head from last February’s Marketing Mastermind when James Hodgins joined me in this epic event.
There is a lot of truth to it, and hard to express to many small business owners, photographers included.
Thinking and acting in terms of strategy, is the BIG mind switch.
[Read more…]I see this all time. And it’s a huge mistake. I think also, it’s human nature.
Example, years ago I knew a lady. Let’s call her Jean, cuz that’s her name.
She sold gold and jewelry, in people’s homes. You know, a home party. Like Tupperware and such.
Everyone’s jaw dropped.
Shawn Von Ins had just called out Brian DeMint during one of Brian’s live presentations just a few years ago.
Brian was chatting about some historical art trivia thingie.
And Shawn, being somewhat of a walking trivia ninja, corrected Brian.
Brian, without a seconds delay blurted: “Oh, kiss my *ss” to Shawn….sorta tongue in cheek-ish…
Nevertheless…Everyone’s jaw dropped..and then we all laughed.
You had to be there. It was all in good fun. But mostly it was Brian.
Sometimes, no, most times, there is little to no filter between what’s brewing in his brain and his mouth.
Good thing most of what he says is genius level good stuff.
“Yea, that was edgy. He’s doesn’t hold back, does he? But I kinda like the guy….one of my favorite speakers…” is a phrase I’d hear over and over about Brian.
Funny thing is, when Brian assesses images during the Creative Cross training events, he tends to use a tad higher level of discretion….while offering up some serious kick-butt insights into the images he evaluates.
Go figure. It works, in a paradoxical kinda way.
And Brian is back. Join us….but be warned.
Let Brian review YOUR images.
Creative Cross Training with Brian DeMint. NOTE: Open to the first 15 submissions.
May 17th, 9:00PM EST with Brian De Mint print assessment and critique.
Image analysis and artistic evaluation only the way Brian can,
Insightful, sometimes bizarre, always instructional viewpoint.
NOTE:This is LIMITED TO 15 SUBMISSIONS….first come, first served.
HOW?
*Send me your files at 1800 pixels wide, JPEG only.
*Avoid logos and names on the images.
*Email to rob@wizardoflight.com Less
All replays from previous Creative Cross Training events are in the forum for members.
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
I love getting out and about in our community. Nothing like rubbing elbows with all the big wigs and muckeemucks.
Plus, I know it’s good for business. Very good. BUT…and this is a BIG but….
Don’t go to events, meetings and local affiliations with your agenda.
Forget your agenda. If you start jamming your agenda you’ll lose more than you will gain.
Try to help others. Listen to them. Connect. Play nice. Listen.
Getting out in your community is by far one of the best ways to crack open
a few doors.
And open they will, I promise. Unless of course you’re a fumbling moron or excessively shy like I was. In that case, a little self honesty and a step back is in order.
Hey, at least you’ll know where you stand. And knowing it good. Sure helped me.
But for now, let’s assume you have a pleasant disposition and are somewhat likable.
And you have an established studio in town.
Meeting one on one, in the right places, right events, will start the ball rolling big time.
And it isn’t that expensive.
I used to be paralyzingly shy in my youth and twenties. Shy, insecure, shame filled,
bumbling and awkward.
Now I’m just awkward. Often in a foot in my mouth kinda way.
I know it sounds corny as hell, but it’s true.
(and photographers are not immune)…:
“My net worth is my network.”
Where should you go? My thoughts….:
* fundraising events….especially ones where your target audience chillz. For me, the symphony, theatre, cancer society, rotary, chamber of commerce…
* local trade shows, events where you can display….often these are low cost…and you will meet a lot of people….A lot!
Especially any event in your area where you target audience and/or past clients hang out.
You want to be seen. You want to connect. It’s very hard to quantify, I know.
But, you just gotta do it. Get out there. Connect. It’s more, much more than advertising.
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
If you want more, much more info on every aspect of marketing and growing a
wonderful profitable community based portrait and wedding photography business.
Tap into your true potential!
Friends in photography,
Your potential grows and expands over time as you discover more
of who you are. More of what your capable of.
Most of us think we know ourselves. But we don’t, not really.
Why? Because you discover more as you dream, expand, face fears,
push, prod and reveal. Fun times, I say. Bring it on!
Yes, this takes some work.
But what better than to work on oneself? Oui non???
This, to me, is the ultimate adventure in life.
Joseph Campbell said: “Follow your bliss.”
A statement I like to live by.
I always said: “Business is the greatest self-help program going.”
Nothing like getting the crap beat out of you by being in bidness,
taking risks (calculated of course) and being scared to death.
Still with me?
But it’s all for the greater good. Your good. Your potential, in photography.
That’s the key!
And make some moolah while you’re at it.
My brutha from a different mutha James Hodgins and I chat about this all the time.
How making money is key to success.
And growing a business in art and in photography.
And how so many fall short. The way I see it, if someone ain’t getting the “making money” part,
or if they’re shooting themselves in the foot, they ain’t tapping into their potential.
And leaving money and potential on the table.
So, in order to do our best to save the world from mediocrity,
James offered to join me tonight during the monthly marketing mastermind meet up.
And, he twisted my arm, convincing me to open it up to the world.
Not just members. Everyone.
So I agreed.
We’ll be chatting about:
*sales and leaving money on the table
*creating promotions for families like the family day I just created and booked out 11 sessions, prepaid,
in one day
*other promotions like Fairy Day (one of our most profitable) where we have
over 45 sessions booked, prepaid, so far….
*why branding is so valuable and what you need to do about it.
And more….much more, including your questions.
If you wanna see what all the fuss is about join us.
REGISTER HERE:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2293900491951224834
Can’t make it? And you’re a member…no worries, as usual, it’s recorded and ready
for replay or download within 24hrs.
See you on the inside. Be your best in photography.
Discover your potential in business.
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
P.S. If you wanna be a member, click here for all the gory details.