Photo Success

A Place to Grow

“There’s a frog in the toilet!”

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True story. I know it’s true because my wife and I heard the screams coming from the bedroom upstairs.
“There’s a frog in the toilet!” our daughter Danielle belted out.

We ran upstairs. And all had a big laugh. I never heard of such a thing. And been coming here, to Costa Rica, for over ten years and this is first.

I get frogs in toilets is a thing down here. Who knew.

Life goes on, even though every time we use the can, we approach the lid with some trepidation.

Life goes on back home too…. our studio orders still get done. Our lab receives files, prints them up, and ships to our studio so when we return in two weeks we hit the ground running.

And while having a blast here in Costa Rica I still promote the studio back home with daily posts on all social media.

Last week we had a webinar with Scott Crosby on SEO strategies. It was a huge hit and many SEO myths debunked. Same strategies I use to this day.

I also work on my local SEO for our Costa Rica site…in case, just in case we end up running a photography business down here.

All things are looking good. You can see that site here.

Speaking about debunking, if you haven’t watched the lighting mastermind with James Hodgins, you’re in for some serious debunking.

This 1.5 hour presentation is jammed with hard knowledge on all things lighting, in the trenches, from real legit paid gigs. Your eyes won’t believe your eyes.

Stay frosty my friend….more to come.
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

“Pair of spare underwear and two pairs of socks….”

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I love motorcycling. It’s like a disease. But NOT that the big ‘ol biker riding in a huge condo-on-wheels with monkey bars style of riding.

I’m more in it for the fun and adventure. That’s me in the image above, riding across Canada summer of 2008 heading to Alaska.

I’m more of a “…get on my 650, point the wheels to Alaska, and crank your right hand….let’s go!”

Monday last I bonded over biking with a dude at Toastmasters. He had brought up his love for bikes in a speech.

So, we bonded over bikes, and our preferred rides. We had a lot in common. This became apparent when he said:

“Load the packsack, strap it to the tank, spare pair of underwear and two pairs of socks.”

I got it.

This idea reminds me of what it takes to run a photography business, and where I get my best ideas. And how simple it really is.

Besides living and dying by the marketing sword, I get my very best ideas, strategies, inspirations and focus from other photographers.

So, tonight, grab a spare pair and join Nancy Tillberg and myself as we chat it up during a frontline webinar.

Nancy will be talking about:
*Dance schools for added income.
*Boutique Volume (this is a pretty cool topic and relevant to the type of photos currently being sold in the industry. I focus on dance but it can apply to hockey or gymnastics as well)
*Posing dancers for sales.
*Online vs traditional sales vs in person. (very short but can be worked into the webinar if you want. It’s already a part of boutique volume.)
*Her personal beliefs and experience in diversification
*Marketing & shooting at the market … high traffic marketing (I have a satellite studio at our local Country (farmers) market and get a very large part of my business from this venue. )
*Using cell phone photography to boost the business. I currently give workshops in cell phone photography and how peeps can take better pictures using them. I also touch on what you can’t do well with a phone and why a pro should take the most precious memories. I sell accessories for cell phone cameras at my market location. This is cool because I can build relationships and friendships, sell product, and maybe even book a session.

JOIN US (members get access to the 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

What they will never teach you in photography school…

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If you didn’t know any better…meaning, if you listened to everyone else, including the professors at photography school, you’d think the way to a successful career in photography would involve uber expensive lights, lenses, cameras and complicated software and more.

BUT, and this is a big but, what they won’t teach you in school is how much that’s a crock of bull.

We had an amazing lighting mastermind meeting last week with special guest and co-founder of noBs photosuccess James Hodgins.

And James was very generous in the amount of information he gave us involving his lighting strategies. Very.

See, the thing is, James is in my oh so humble and accurate opinion, one of the best lighting guys I know. I hate him 🙂

Is he a Big Name marquee celeb? Not.

Would I put him head to head, toe to toe in the photographic ring against any of the big names out there today?

In a flash (excuse the pun). And I’d bet my last dollar on him.

James has an ungodly amount of raw, innate talent and skill when it comes to working with light. He’s the real deal. (did I mention I hate him?)

And he’s just a regular small mining town, blue collar schmuck like me who likes to go fishing (a lot!) and rolls many times a week at his local jiu jitsu club.

The cooler thing is he credits me for teaching him. Ok, I’ll take that pat on the back. But the truth is, I may have started him off and kicked him in the rear, but whatever lighting monster I woke up, he created his own journey and worked at his own photography style.

And I’m just going to come right out and say this….James admits he shoots 100% jpeg, uses auto white balance, and uses every light available to him. And he makes it rock.

I can hear the gasps of air and clutching of pearls. The shock. The horror!

His images are stunning. And he’s in demand for his quality commercial and industrial photography.

Do you think they care HOW he created his images? Not in the least bit. He gets in, gets the job done FAST, and gets out, gets under budget and EVERYONE is happy.

Including his wife and his bank.

That’s the stuff they won’t teach you in photography school

But we do…The replay is HERE for members.
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

Photography, as a career?… “fugget about it”

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Donna asked about speaking at local high schools on career day.

This is something I’ve done many a times and I am on mission to save the world from the illusion that there are any careers in photography.
(There I am, two months ago, with a group of fifteen year olds in the selfie pic above)

Whenever I am asked to speak at just about any event locally, I do. On career day I tell the kids that there is no career in photography. None.

Teachers, accountants, doctors, engineers and the like have careers.

We don’t. They simply don’t exists. And it’s getting worse.

My advice? Take a business course. Learn marketing. Master photography on your own. Maybe take an art program if you’re so inclined. Or graphic design.

I told her: “I don’t get anything from this, other than a warm fuzzy feeling. I do anything and everything I can in my community….everything.

Many photogs are ignorant of this. Get out, get out, get out, get over yourself, and network….always.

Give, give, give…and dress up. Look successful. Bring business cards. You should be collecting names when asked….”

I was asked recently to put on a photography 101 course at the local library. I said yes. More on that soon.

The fact is getting out there is good for the soul and good for the brand.

I talk about this idea is greater depth in my “Secrets to Publicity” webinar and special report in the forum. HERE for members….

The fact is publicity takes on many shapes and forms.

Yes, it’s not easy to measure with precision. But who cares. It’s fun to do. Just look at what Richard Branson has done using this marketing strategy to build up his business interests.

We can all learn and grow.

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

Why Do Photographers Fail?

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Someone once told me….
“The reason you’ll never attain success in your photography business is the same reason you don’t put yourself on an endless self-educating schedule…it’s because you’re not hungry and passionate enough about success.”

Most folks don’t go out and look for ways to do things better or different. Nor do they apply much of what they learn.

The problem is, we have very short attention spans. Or the tenacity of a snail.

I have become well known and respected in our town, when one time I was a nobody and my work sucked.

For me it was a long slow crawl to earning a respectable reputation, then almost overnight a rise to mastery and success.

For nearly 5 years I took every single photographic job I could get my hands on. I then started my own studio and essentially became self employed, I struggled along for at least another ten years.

Hey, I’m a slow learner. You don’t have to be slow. But a learner you must be.

I worked my buns off. I went to every workshop and convention I could get my hands on or could scrape together the cost to attend and the expense to travel to.

I asked old timers for information and feedback. I wanted to know how others made it. I especially liked sales and marketing.

What was the driving force that compelled all my role models to succeed? I wanted to know. I read hundreds and hundreds of self help and success books.

Not to mention whatever books on photography I could find. Everything!

I get asked what it takes to succeed by newbies and those struggling along, how they too can grow, succeed, shoot and market to success.

But they look for answers that are out of balance with what they are capable of producing.

And too often are unwilling to do what is necessary to build.

There’s two sides to this coin. Both of equal and essential value and importance.

Ignore one in favour of the other and you will begin to wobble down the wrong road until you figure out the wheels ain’t rotating properly and the steering gets harder and harder, until you eventually drive into the ditch, broke and torn up.

One side is the photography. The other, the marketing. Get good, or minimally decent and deliver a good product.

Hopefully something with impact. This includes delivering a great attitude and personality, since you are touching people’s lives at very important and meaningful times.

On the marketing side, the one too often abandoned or replaced with the wrong information or tactics, is the one that fuels the engine.

Without marketing you won’t have anything. (maybe a fun hobby)

The two areas need to progress together, one leap-frogging in front of the other.

Get good at both.

Also, get good at selling, creating new offers, communicating with your ‘herd’ and keeping them close to you.

I am told all the time that people don’t have the time to learn, study, read and listen to educational materials.

Time is democratic and fair. We all got the same amount. Success in your photography depends on a mastery of a handful of skills and how you manage the time allotted to you.

The two main ones I already mentioned: marketing and shooting. And hustle…tons of hustle.

The person who sets out earnestly and diligently to acquire a wealth of know-how, tempered over time and application, will end up with wealth in their bank accounts.

Also, they discover the joy and thrill of success in their own photography business.

On that note….let’s get together and talk shop, marketing and challenges:

January 17th at 9:00PM EST is our next members marketing mastermind meeting.

Got ANY questions, ideas or struggles…email me, or, show up and well throw you in the fire. REGISTER HERE

*Judy Comier will make a cameo appearance and talk about her 2018 Brand Ambassador Search promotion

*Hark Nijar will join us and share some successes he’s had with fairies, sports and more…

*Rob (yours truly) will update his newest promotion Ice Fairies…a whole new look and add on to the fairy brand And more….

Yours in success and in photography,
Robert Provencher

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

“Howard Cosell color commentary on bridal shows”…and other great posts….

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Friends in photography,
what a year it’s been! Last count I think we’ve had over 47 high quality webinars, presentations, posts and insightful videos…in 2017 alone!!

Much thanks to Marian, our resident “Howard Cosell” and intrepid wedding show investigator.

See, back in October 2015 member Ben Craig asked for advice on wedding shows and displays. Boy, did he open up a can of worms.

Marian attends many shows each year and took it upon himself to photograph the displays there (blurring out their names to protect the innocent), posted the images in the forum with his on going commentary.

This thread has grown to nine pages long and is LOADED with valuable information.

Some of the recent webinars and replays include:

There’s more…..much, much more…Including Chris Knight, Bry Cox, Kira Derryberry, Rick from Columbia (yes, the same Ricky you recall from Venezuela….amazing story!), John Hartman, Charles Gregory, Travis Gadsby and many, many more mentors to help inspire and teach.

Stay frosty my friend. Keep searching and asking questions….
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

No sunsets, no flowers….

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Sigh…
How many times do people send me sunset photos.
And expect me to revel in the visual beauty that they’ve so easily created.

Or shots of flowers. All taken by merely pointing their camera and clicking.

Someone naively suggested to me that I could take pictures of surfers while in Costa Rica.

I replied…”naw, there’s no money in it. Unless I photograph them just for fun and passion, or to hone my skills for when I need them honed for real money making paid gigs.”

“Oh..” Is all they replied, stymied.

Conversation over. Most folks don’t get it.

Why?Most aren’t in business. I be a bid’ness dude
Photography is my business. And they’re ain’t no money in sunsets, flowers and surfers.

As a matter of fact, anything that has inherent visual beauty won’t have a load of economic muscle….wedding photos aside.

Back when I was in college all of, hmmm, one feeble semester, we had one photography-based project due every Friday. Each with a specific theme.

And we had two rules, break either, instant fail.
“No sunsets, no flowers.”

That was it. If I had to adjust that for modern times, it would be:
“No sunsets, no flowers, no surfers and pretty young girls.”

Pretty young girls are the new sunsets and flowers.

Fairly easy to shoot, and every newbie with a Canon Rebel from Best Buy starts shooting them right away, and even in bad light gets fairly decent results. (so they think)

Ask their facebook friends. And their moms. They’ll tell you how awesome their stuff is.

Problem is, getting feedback, even if in the real world where real, paying clients fork over hard earned moolah, getting feedback from facebook and your mom amounts to nothing less than small hill of beans.

It means nothing. You’re not a photographer.

You’re a dude or dudette with shiny new toy photographing things that are EASY to photograph.

That’s why we couldn’t submit sunsets and flowers.

And why I always warn newbs: “never take business advice from your mom.”

She loves you too much.

I could add never take business advice from your facebook friends either.

Wanna impress me? Show me how you created a business model based on your photographic skills.

Not the sickly “$97.00 session and a thousands files on DVD or jump drive” promotion.

But a real, legit business model where over the span of five years you work your butt off, and start making some serious pesos shooting families, babies, children, business portraits, pets,…even some commercial and editorial stuff.

Not advanced stuff here folks. Just business.

Speaking of legit photographers crushing it in business, Susan Eckert is the real deal.
We had to cancel her webinar last night due to major technical glitches.

No worries, she’s coming back to join us and share some of her success strategies on January 4th, 2018.

REPLAY HERE

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

The industry that ate itself alive…

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I don’t know too many industries that have as many mentors and instructors as this industry (photography).

It seems, for many that is, it goes like this….Get good, start teaching. Maybe, get good, make little to no money, start teaching to make up for it.

I don’t want to sound cynical. It’s not my style. I’m very much a zen like dude. Que sera sera.

Roll with it. Adjust.

The biggest changes in this industry are being fueled by the fact that there is an abundance of “how to”, either from industry gurus or from the proliferation of youtube videos. Not to mention that cameras are everywhere.

Don’t take my word. Go to youtube and search any topic on photography of your choosing.

The fact is, we’re eating ourselves alive. Photography is being ground down to an organic, democratic, “everybody is a photographer” state. For better, or, for worse. Who knows.

The bigger question, for me anywho, is: “How do I market my studio so I stand out and make money?”

It really boils down to marketing. The old days of running a photography studio because of our tech knowledge are quickly coming to an end.

It’s one of the reasons I do my best to answer the question above. And why I believe in constant, non-stop personal growth and searching for excellence. Not just in tech. Iphones got that covered.

If you want to grow, no matter your level, join me tonight and tomorrow. I have three presentations lined up for you:

  1. Bull Pen Print Show….send us your images, let us give you a beat down. With love, of course.
  2. Kristi Elias– Platinum, Silver and California Photographer of the Year
  3. Joel Grimes– shattering the myths in Photography

The industry is like a unicycle. Stop peddling, and you fall off. Don’t risk being eaten alive.
Get serious about your personal growth as an artist and a business person.

Yours in success,
Robert Provencher

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