Photo Success

A Place to Grow

Evil forces at work in the photographic industry?

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I read a flakebook post the other day from a disillusioned wedding photographer who was quitting.

Packing it up and quitting. Done. Finito. No more weddings.
(it completely baffles me why so many people post EVERYTHING about their lives on FB…puzzling….)

He ranted on and on about how the industry has changed. As if there were evil forces at work against him.

I heartlessly commented that he was being a cry baby.

Seriously. The market is supposed to come to him? Nothing is to change? Give it up already.

No amount of justifying the crap storm will justify a twisted sense of entitlement.

Things change, you change. Innovate. Sell. Market. Get with the program or get a job.

What if clients are ONLY asking for digital files? What if you’re getting crappy results from your marketing? What if your selling tactics are getting crap results? What if in the marketplace no one respects you?

These are legit questions.

Here’s what I think are possible areas to look deeper into:

*You work is crappy.
*Your marketing is crappy.
*You sales process is crappy.
*Your market position is crappy.
*Your attitude is crappy and you don’t give a crap

Sorry princess. Want some cry-fries with that waamburger?

No one ever said being in business was easy.

If you don’t matter in your market, they perceive you as someone they don’t respect and/or someone who they don’t want more than files from (which really means they want a super good deal and don’t respect you)…. that is something the business owner has to take responsibility for.
Both in recognizing it, and innovating solutions….

Marketing is the big picture. What are you selling? (offer), to whom (your market)? and how are you delivering that offer to them (message).

The sales process, which is a story, really….reflects something very deep within the core of the business. If that ain’t there, and isn’t properly communicated(sold), then you have a problem. A vacuum; that begs to get filled.

In todays environment, that vacuum is filled by the deal a day cheapo shooters.
Some say the industry is doomed. I say, no.

It’s changed. And we need to change. I, and others I know, are doing very well.
We rarely get asked if we sell files. Why? We’re known as, and we market to something bigger.

There is good news. I think there will be a backlash on the amateurs. Since so many are hiring them, its getting obvious that they delivery crap, for the most part.

But that doesn’t mean you get to be lazy with your marketing.

This is only good news if you deliver, and sell, and market, decent work….

Key words:…that people want.

And master the art of selling and marketing.

Or get a real job.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

There’s plenty of work everywhere for any photographer eager enough…

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If you want to run a successful photography business there are many opportunities available.

My eyes don’t deceive me. I see it all the time in my own studio.

AND,I know many, many others who are totally crushing it in theirphotography business. I see it in their businesses too.

Yes, you need to think BIG….not small.

But BIG, I’m afraid, gets confused with MAGICAL.

There is no magic. No ego. No room for small thinking.

Only courage, sweat, focus, determination, guts and showing up dayafter day, month after month, year after year….

…with eagerness, passion, plans and a willingness to remainadaptable.

A willingness to shoot as many sessions as possible.

Master your craft. Become prolific. Grow your business.

There are so many opportunities out there it baffles me!

Sure, nay-sayers and cry-babies are saying the industry is dead.

It’s easy to be a critic when you can’t succeed in your own
business.

Problem is, I think, many, many got into this field thinking it was…wait for it….

…..the essence of magical thinking…..EASY…

Yes, they thought all they needed was to buy a camera….take
photos…

Make money…somehow…..somewhere….everyone would line up once they realized how amazing they were….

Here’s the thing…EVEN if you were really, really good a taking images….EVEN IF you were winning awards and recognition by your
peers…

…..It amounts to a hill of beans…unless and until you can beat your ego into submission and become a marketer.

Yes, my humble followers….a marketer. A marketer of photographic services….

There are opportunities everywhere….EVERYWHERE! Dance schools, sports, commercial, editorials, families, weddings, babies, children, pets, clubs and organizations, on and on and on…many, many opportunities and low hanging fruit for the “marketer of photographic services…”

NOT for the prima donna……who thinks all they need is to “be good”….or own a camera….

Gimmee a break…seriously…..

I’m trying to help here, honestly. Shed some light….cool?

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

Every month I share what’s working in my studio or I bring in a special guest and
we jam on all things marketing and money making strategies. I call it a marketing
mastermind.

Members can access the replays HERE.

Not a member? I’m literally giving this stuff away. For now….Get in while the gettin’
is good.

“…it was not going to be easy street being a photographer, in case I had any illusions…”

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Let’s go back in time. Way back.

I was a mere 19 years old and I recently discovered photography and the darkroom, that mysterious magical place where images came to life.

I was at the time in college, taking a bird course of sorts, trying to figure out life.
(Photography was one of the courses we needed in order to pass said bird course.)

Photography changed my life, my destiny. But more than that, the two people I met while in this course mattered even more.

The first one was Karl, the photography prof.

Now Karl was not loved by everyone. He was scary, brash and loud. I, however, put him on a pedestal. He was outspoken, brash and he knew photography.

He also had no tolerance for sloppiness or lazy work. I admired that and respected him for it.

I naively asked him if I also bought a Leica (his brand) camera if I too would become a good photographer.

He laughed. It’s not about the camera. Okay, got it.

He set the pace for my career. I knew back then there was no room for being less then your best or being sloppy.

And while some students cowered and crawled in the  corner when he came storming in the darkroom, I stopped and listened.

I was not a good student overall. But I was a good student where it mattered. And it mattered as far as Karl was concerned.
He knew his stuff. And I was eager to learn.

To this day, and I think we can all learn from Karl, being a good student matters.

No ego. No sensitive snowflakes too afraid to “get their feelings hurt”, always opting for political correctness over quality teaching.

Sad. But true for many. Their loss.

I decided to quit that program and pursue photography full time. Enter Fritz Grottoli.
Mr.Grottoli, the head of the program, sat me down in his office and gave me a one-on-one talk that to this day still resonates.

He warned me it was not going to be easy street being a photographer, in case I had any illusions.

He told me I was going to starve, and live every day in doubt and uncertainty.

Good thing. If he told me it was going to be easy, I might have believed him.
He set the pace.

They both did. And to this day I am grateful. It was the BEST education I could have ever asked for.

Every single successful photographer I know, and there are many of them, in spite of what the doomsayers and pessimists say, all have this one thing in common.

They were good students. And still are, no matter their success.

They pushed forward. Eager. Wide-eyed and ambitious. Burning with passion and they showed up. Day after day, month after month, year after year.

Success is like that. You don`t accidentally find it one day. You pursue it with dogged determination.

Truth is, nothing much has changed, has it? The business of making it in photography is still very challenging. As it was then, so it is today.

And you learn the one thing that neither Fritz nor Karl knew, or failed to mention at the time, but I discovered because I never gave up….. that marketing, and becoming a marketer of photographic services was the missing link.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

How to get from incompetent to competent….

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The substance of what makes a business run and what makes it great isn’t on the surface (design, image etc etc).

The true substance is much deeper. IN the grueling, disciplined sweat. pain, blood and turmoil……PLUS,  a few secret ingredients.

I’ll get to those in a second.

First, take my story as example…

I had acquired by some weird twist of fate a beautiful large home studio.

I was terribly wet behind the ears and as green as grass when it came to running a pro photography studio.

I did however have big dreams, hopes and ambitions. And, in the grand scheme of things, knew enough about taking decent photographs to get me started in my own business…barely…and…largely because I had the balls to get out there and do it.

I had several years as a darkroom techie….almost one year managing a chain like studio and….better yet….

…several years photographing schools….which did more for my self-confidence than anything else.

And I was only 25.

I had a ways to go. I knew little about management, accounting, selling and all those essentials.

I did my best. I took a night course at our local college on running a small bid’ness…

I asked my landlord, the dude who gave my this amazing opportunity, for some tips on setting up the books and all thing accounting.

The key = I asked for help. This attitude got me far in life.

I hate bookkeeping with a passion and eventually did what I feel most photographers should do…

I farmed it out.

Paid a lady $50.00 a month to come in. On busier months, she’d want more. I paid her whatever she wanted.

It meant I was getting busier.

But I was glad not to be doing the books…yeessshhhh.

In studio management, it occurred to me years later how incompetent I was in this area once I married my wife and she and I started working together.

She as manager, me as photographer and marketing director. Two essential jobs I loved!

We were now competent. A team. And the studio skyrocketed!

This whole idea came to light a few years ago when I booked Maggie Habieda as a speaker for the Inferno workshop.

Maggie, as I was dealing with her, when it came to payments and anything non essential, had me communicate with her studio manager, Ian Cuthbert.

Everything was run very professional. She delegated.

I noticed this and thought, one of the reasons she is so successful is because she brought someone like Ian into the picture to help her studio grow.

And grown it has!

She not only was the most popular and energetic speaker, she showed us how she grew her studio in a matter of a few years.

Amazing story. Great news when so many are saying the days of the full time studio are numbered.

Phhhoeeeyy! Don’t believe it for a second.

Just because there are hot dog and lemonade stands popping up all over doesn’t mean there isn’t a market for something better.

People want gourmet and fine dining.

It’s a huge market.

And that’s the market I cater to. As well as many successful photographers I know who are crushing it. Photographers like Maggie.

Remember a while back I said:

“I asked for help. This attitude got me far in life….”

Newbie or old timer, we all need to ask questions, learn, and seek out deep, meaningful answers.

And who you ask is important. You don’t want bad advice or opinions. Everyone’s got ’em.

You want real, solid information from qualified photographers like Maggie.

Wish I had a Maggie way back when. We can all access Maggie and her super powers in the photography forum HERE.

Maggie at the inferno 2013 HERE

Maggie at the Inferno 2014 HERE

The journey to competence starts by asking the right questions and asking the right people.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

The BIG Secret to photographing the two year old….

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I made a complete fool of myself. Again.

And I offended my clients. Again.

Let me explain. I had yet another two year old in the studio.

When clients show up, I explain to the adults that they are not to repeat what I say, or, worse yet, INSTRUCT to their child specific things like “Okay, smile for the man.”

Nay, nay…that NEVER works. And I often have to remind them during the shoot. Some get offended. Too bad, I got a job to do.

I call myself the Zen Master of the two year old. It’s not as hard as you might think.

The key? Let go. And have faith. And know when to manipulate.

At some point during the shoot I need to start doing hands up “I’m gonna get you!!” gestures. And start after them.

Other times, I need to start jumping up and down. Or, offer to play catch with a rubber ball.

Or start sneezing really loud. Whatever it takes….that’s my motto.

Including making a complete fool of myself.

Last week, whilst doing just that, I stop, look over at the dad who was like  an engineer type (and totally judging me I’m sure), and said to him non-chalantly: “Welcome to my life.”

We laughed. He got it. You gotta love and GET kids to photograph them in their authentic state. And to get natural, happy smiles….

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

Are you a prima donna? 3 BIG pitfalls to avoid when you fall into this trap….

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One of the worst things you can do is get a great big ego in business.

You know, a prima donna….lead ballerina….I been there.

My  head got so big I lost focus of what really mattered….profits and business.

I lost touch with reality. Thought I had wizard-like talents and God-given magical powers.

To succeed in business, especially in the photography business, one needs to be grounded, focused and realistic.
Above the fray, as they say.

Many struggle with this. Hence why I am here to hit you over the head with solid grounding advice.

Seriously, our market is saturated with egos and prima-donnas.
Musicians suffer this too.

I imagine not so with industries like plumbers, accountants and butchers who don’t nearly have this to the same degree we do.

Can you imagine? Joe the rockstar plumber? Awards and medals. Plaques too.

But not us’em photographers. It’s like it’s a built in our DNA reaction.

We start getting good, and dang-it, we’re good! Time to start wearing cool hats like those gooroos.

Time to walk on water. And we wonder why we’re not making any sales.

The solutions is to stay focused. Get over myself.

Don’t let my ego get the better of me like a wild stallion bucking out of control.

The truth is, most successful photographers are serious and dedicated.

They avoid drama, whether in forums, flakebook or elsewhere, and are too busy running their studios.

Being a prima-donna is all about trying to make an impression.
A false one, but one nevertheless.  And we wonder why we’re not making any sales.

“Work under the radar, and above the fray.”

Wiser words have never been uttered, except maybe, was it that ancient
Greek dude when he said it simply: “Know thyself.”

Be not ye a prima donna……:)

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

P.S. Last night we had our May Marketing Mastermind…REPLAY is in the forum.

P.P.S. Tomorrow afternoon we’re having our Lighting Mastermind with special guest Maria Sampao, where we’ll be going
over and tweaking lighting for fairy portraits (Maria had her first ever Fairy Day…wait’ll you hear her sales…..)
REGISTER

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

Freedom 55 is a load of bull…

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Three years ago I turned 55. I know! I can hardly believe it myself.
I made it this far. Who’d a thunk.

Three years I also had what I now call my existential beach crisis.

It all started when I was standing in our spacious, open concept kitchen, looking across to our dining room, a “family room”, and over the other way, the official family room, complete with leather furniture. PLUS, we had a fully decked out room in the downstairs area,  with a 60 inch plasma screen TeeVee, ping pong table and sauna. The whole dealeo.

I stood there, pondered: “Do we really need three living rooms? Really?”

Thus began my crisis. We sold the house, with studio, cleaned out about 90% of our possessions, and started spending more time in Costa Rica, where my beach crisis began.

I have NO regrets minimizing our possessions. It’s a cool exercise, and I’d do it again in a flash.

However, I was without a studio for about 1.5 years. That part got to me.

WHY?
I realized I am what I am….a photographer. I need my studio.

So, first opportunity came up and we jumped back into a studio. Last week we completed the wall samples, lighting and furniture (I know, I know…). Signage, window dressing, new flooring, paint and such. Ready and good to go!

Feelz like I’m starting over. Luv it!

Why do I bring this up?

Two reasons….one, we can’t predict what the future is. Even with best laid retirement plans, we may get hit with something out of our control. (How many folks do you know who retired and either dropped dead or got seriously ill)

And two, why retire?

I means seriously? Who came up with that lame-ass idea?

I think retirement is for pussies and the delusional.

Stick with me on this one. I have good news.

Remember that commercial from some evil insurance company that promoted some lame idea that they called “Freedom 55”

What?

Freedom?

From what?

What kind of a hellhole do you have to be in to think that some day, down the road, maybe if you’re really lucky, you can “retire” and stop doing whatever big freaking mess you created for yourself in the first place, and “break free”.

And do it by age 55….I mean c’mon…..who they trying to kid?

Here’s my deal.

I ain’t retiring. Not now, not never.

Ever.

I love working. And work loves me. If you don’t love it, I have some advice….QUIT!
And do something else.

It ain’t worth the price you’re paying. I don’t care how much your paycheck and benefits are. How big your house is. How many toys you got.

It means nothing, NOTHING if you aren’t doing something that fulfills you.

And every day, most days that is, I feel fulfilled doing what I’m doing.

If I get old and feeble, and can’t work no more, hell, I’ll go down to the old age club and volunteer. Or kick some ass…..something. Do something!

But that’s a long way away for me.

You see, I feel 25. Many people are amazed at my health, my energy. Many think I’m younger. My wife wants me to grow up. Ain’t happening anytime soon….

Nope…I’m having too much fun. And loving it.

All because I’m creating, making money, growing a business…all in photography.

I feel in my heart that the biggest reason we stay in our self -made rut is simple.

It’s fear. Nothing more, nothing less.

Be honest with yourself.

On that note, tonight I am running the monthly marketing mastermind meeting for noBs photo success inner circle members.
AND, I’ll be talking marketing, showing some images from my new studio decor and we’ll answer, tackle YOUR questions.

But you gotta be a member….Here’s the link…:
https://photosuccess.com/forums/nobs-digital-shop-talk/mastermind-marketing-meeting-may-23rd-join-us/

The mastermind meeting is one of the most important activities you can
participate in for success, prosperity and health.

Not a member?

Yours in success in photography,

Rob

“hey, hippie, more beer….”

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One of my first ever summer jobs was way back when I was 18 years old, slinging beer at a local tavern where hardrock miners and blue collar workers hung out.

They were a fun, tough and lively bunch. And they liked to drink. A lot.

So did I. We had that in common. But that’s where the similarities ended.

I was a fish out of water with hair to my shoulders and three inch rock and roll shoes that were popular back in the mid seventies. Think KISS.

What a sight I must have been.

And the guys, when they needed more beer, which was pretty much always, would simply yell out…”hey, hippie, more beer….”

Most of the time all I needed to do was load the tray to capacity with draft beer and get it to their table.

They were happy. So was I.  I liked serving people. I made some good money.

I learned that serving people at this most basic level was humbling.

I had many part time jobs waiting in bars and restaurants since then.

I feel to this day it’s something that all younger folks should do, at least once in their lives.

It teaches us a lot.

Teaches us how to get over ourselves, and help others.

Even when they’re jerks. Which you get a healthy dose of when waiting on tables.

It toughens you up. Not for the easily hurt or offended.

The skills you acquire do come in handy when learning to sell your photography.

And selling is by far one of the BEST skills you can and need to master.

I’ve said it a million times, selling is not something you are born with.
It’s a skill. A muscle,.

It gets stronger and better with practice and use.

Hard at first, easier in time. Like anything else.

Saying you can’t sell or coping out with comments like: “She’s a born salesperson.” are just excuses.

Confidence plays a big role. And confidence is also a muscle. A skill.

I had very, very little confidence. It took me years of pain, struggle, coaching
and persistence to get some.

I seriously believe, if I can do it, anyone can.

And you don’t need beer. Just persistence and confidence in yourself.

One of my favorite sayings goes like this: “Your ability to sell is linked to your ability to not blink when you quote your price.”

In other words, don’t flinch. Be solid, grounded in the belief in yourself and your product.

Don’t flinch. Not even inside. People can pick up those vibes easy!

Growing my photography skills was way easier than growing my confidence.

But growing it was essential to mastering selling, and it helped, in turn, grow my photography.

This my friend, is an inside job.

If you want some serious butt-kicking coaching, no matter what level you’re at, and a huge amount of relevant information and strategies on selling and marketing, join me tomorrow night, Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017 9:00PM EST….

…for our monthly marketing mastermind meeting.

Members go here for registration link.

Not a member? Twenty bucks….peanuts when compared to the returns HERE.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher