Photo Success

A Place to Grow

The universe loves speed…. and profits…

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The universe loves speed. So do it.

I can’t stand getting bogged down, stuck or glued to a computer for endless hours. Don’t get me wrong, I actually love spending time doing photoshop worklow.

I get to be creative, artistic, and listen to some cool podcasts. I just don’t want to do more then is necessary. Or, if it was ALL I did, I’d hit a wall and go crazy.

For some workflow strategies, like fairy day, or any other higher volume runs, I like to create templates, steps, photoshop actions and a  workflow that is FAST, consistent, and mainly, in the end, profitable.

It’s in that vain that I created a new workflow video for our new medieval knights sessions. See image above. It’s kinda, sorta a spin off the whole fairy thing. And it rocks.

This is for members, and includes the Design House action, exclusive for members, and a custom made textured PSD file. Again, all designed for maximum results, and a great bottom line.

MEMBERS go here for that video tutorial, action and template
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Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer

Learning to “see” the light and create portrait style lighting on location.

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Light is ridiculously simple and infinitely complex all at once. It’s like music, take  a few notes and you can create a masterpiece. But you need to know where you’re going, what you want to create. In other words, mastery. Learning to “see” the light.

Just like learning to play the piano, or the guitar, or the sax, learning light isn’t about buying lights or throwing a flash on camera. When you get to a scene, it’s about seeing what is available and using it, like any tool, and create a masterpiece. Even if it’s a portrait of a two year old. (which also requires an extra dash of timing, luck and patience)

Check it out, from the summer time….two scenes, very similar, where I maximized the lighting available.

We were facing north, and there were some soft streaks of light coming in from behind this scene, creating some “kicker” light:

The final results, almost near perfect studio type lighting. Yes, I did get lucky to some degree, since this was an active two year old. But I had an idea where I was going, what I hoping to achieve, and a willingness to act crazy to get her attention for a nano second. (you won’t have much luck with two year olds unless you’re willing get a little nutty. They “get” nutty…):

Same area, different scene, a younger boy. Arrow on the left indicated where I was standing during the shot. Notice that behind me is the north sky.

Arrow on the right is where the boy is standing. The light coming in from his left, our right, makes for near perfect portrait lighting on location.

80-200 2.8  lens at 200mm, 2.8

Working with lighting on location and “seeing the light” takes time and practice. Force  yourself to see the light, the light source, the possible kicker lights and stop, think, analyze for best results during your on location portrait sessions.

I used to really struggle with this, especially when working with people. I’d get flustered, nervous and couldn’t focus on the job at hand. With time and persistence I feel very confident when working with light.

Yours in success in photography,

Robert Provencher

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

3 warning signs your photography sucks….and why getting a USP is not the answer…..

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First off, let me say this. USP as a strategy is way overrated.

USP=Unique Selling Proposition in case you didn’t know.

Sure, it sounds cool when someone mentions it at some photography workshop when speaking on photography marketing.

But it makes little sense.
Why?

The best comparison that comes to mind is the overused term “commitment” in a relationship.

As if commitment is something you pursue. And chase after.

Truth is, it’s something that occurs organically, as a natural by-product because of your beliefs, discipline (think grown up), your actions and because overall, in spite of any flaws, you like the other person.

And you WANT to be with them. It’s organic.

You don’t go get a USP and then push it onto your clients.

It’s something that reveals itself because you work at creating great offers and at building a great following for your photographic services.

Which leads me to the bare bones essence of any promotion. ( A promotion has at it’s core the essence of your USP….this is also known as “brand”. In other words, what do your clients and prospects feel, know, understand and get about you and your service?)

Here it is in a nutshell:
*Your list is 50% what makes an offer work. In other words, WHO you pitch your offer to matters….a lot!
*The offer makes up 30%
*The copy, the “message/offer”, makes up 20%

Notice nothing about having a USP? Notice the numero uno item that rocks this?
The list!

Your past clients. And, more importantly, your relationship to them.

And that my friend, you can take to the bank.

A USP is about as valuable as a mile high stack of worthless penny stocks.

So, here goes…..

3 warning signs your Unique Selling Proposition has tubes up its nose and is being kept alive by a machine:

1) You wrack your brain for hours trying to create offers for your photography business and nothing works.
2) The cost of advertising goes up and up. Like a patient in a coma, you wonder if you should just pull the plug.
3) You worry way too much about competitors. One or two rivals really get under your skin. You agonize over a few key competitors and spend way too much time thinking about them.

Listen. These are merely symptoms.

And they mean something much deeper is going on.

What you need to do is fix the owner of the business.

Fix the boss, fix the business.

You don’t need another USP. What you need is a complete medical and marketing overhaul.

One of the best strategies for health, wealth and prosperity is learning from others who been there, ‘dun dat.

And it’s why we created a place where many photographers go to access some of most effective, tested, proven and street level smart advice on marketing, shooting and success.

It’s called NoBs Photo Success Inc™

If you have the passion, the desire and drive to grow your photography business, and are open to advice that makes sense, then this could be just the prescription the doctor ordered.

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

Marketing is all about coming up with offers and creating products that clients want.

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Family by the falls photo promotion…

What is the family by the falls photo promotion you ask?
I dunno…I made it up. Last year.
And it worked. So, we tweaked, modified and ran it again this year. Kaching.
Marketing is all about coming up with offers and creating products that clients want. Products that have very desirable benefits. The benefits will be your main marketing message.

A blend of good value, attractive features and easy to respond to. With a deadline of course (hey, you gotta add some pressure).

I talked about this promotion in last years Marketing Mastermind meeting.
And will be talking about it some more, as update, in the next, soon to be announced, November marketing mastermind.
The point it, you need to try different ideas.
No orders or instructions will come down from over yonder or above with marketing direction. You, I, we all, as professional photographers who rely on our photography marketing to live, need to create and be responsible for marketing.
It’s what makes the wheels turn.
The family by the falls promotion was just one of many strategies I hammered away at this fall. This, among many others.
I love the saying from Dan Kennedy: “Don’t look for one strategy to get 100 clients. Use 100 strategies to get 1 client.”
I’ll admit, this lifestyle is not for everyone. It’s too uncertain and unstable for many.
I get it.
But know this, in order to succeed in business you need to become a marketer. And it’s a skill, not something you’re born with. You get better with time.
ABOVE…my VAL….voice activated lights stand….
Tina , the boss and queen bee, and Danielle, the princess and millennial padawan in training, trying to adjust the Octodome….and doing their best not to fly away like a kite.
Below…a sample of the promotional image. To be discussed. Stay tuned….
Yours in photography,
Rob

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

My first wedding and first near nervous breakdown….(how I got through it)

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“Self-belief is the catalyst for spectacular achievement.”
~Robin Sharma~

My heart was pounding.

My legs were like rubber. My brain was exploding in a flurry of stress and fear…all cascading down onto my young fragile and vulnerable soul.

I was freaking out in a big way.

I tried as best I could to keep up the illusion of control while inside me I was like a duck paddling furiously under the water, trying to stay afloat, looking sorta calm on the surface.

All an illusion.

This by the way wasn’t my first wedding. This was my first year. My first 5 years to be honest.

When I started shooting schools, families and especially weddings, and, well, people…. I was so close to having an all out nervous breakdown I have no idea how I got through it all.

But get though it I did. It’s hard to say where the drive, the inner fortitude comes from that keeps one going. I can’t say.

Maybe, just maybe it has something to do with having goals and a vision for something bigger and better for oneself. Yea, let’s go with that one.

In the best self-help business book ever written, Think and Grow Rich, there are 13 key fundamentals.

The first one is “Desire”.

From the book:
“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.”

I suppose I had two choices. Let the fear dominate and let the chips fall where they may. Or, make a decision as to what I wanted for myself. Desire.

You can get far in any and most endeavors, including a photography business, or photography marketing, or in trying to enhance your photographic skills, by simply asking yourself this one easy question: “What do I want?”

If you have that knowledge, you now have a map, so to speak. And having a map may give you the edge you need to keep going on your journey.

I created some goal setting forms to help others create self-awareness and a strong personal vision. These forms have helped me immensely in my lifetime.

You’re welcome to them. Download HERE

If you’re a member of noBs photosuccess you can also watch/download the video replay HERE.

Either way, download and print out the PDF forms and sit down for 20 minutes.

This is some of THE MOST IMPORTANT work you can ever do in your life.
I guarantee it!

The choice is yours.

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

7 Of The Biggest, Baddest, Classic Business Breaking Blunders Photographers Make….(in business)

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Let me get straight to the point…..7 mistakes photographers make.

1- Market Too Soon
This is a newb mistake. They start doing all sorts of marketing, and spending money on ads and other “magic pill” solutions…..when the truth is….their work is crap.
Increase the marketing too fast, and you’re only speeding up the process with which the marketplace finds out how crappy you are.

2-Not Market Enough
Another mistake. Often with established photography studios.
They sit back and think: “Yea, we’re so dam good we don’t need to lower ourselves.”
What a load. It’s all fine until the eventual winds of destiny come blowing into their studio business and all is gone because we sat on our laurels.

Listen, everyone needs to market. Always….publicity, networking, greeting cards, social media, offers, clubs and programs, monthly offers, specials and themed portrait offers, affiliation strategies….

All you need to do is lose the ego, get on the marketing mule and go panning for gold. No one is immune to this.

3-Suffer From Technitis
Way too much focus on gear and processes. ’nuff said.

4-Pursue Wrong Markets
I love the story from my good friend Alicia Birch, from Australia.
I’ve had her pitch in and help me with a few coaching calls, and she told us about how she used to photograph horses. Yes, she made some money.
But not much.

The reality is, it’s not a large market. Sure, she could offer some sessions as horse themed photography sessions, or shoot the occasional show, but to niche in that area is a losing proposition.

5-Copy Cat Syndrome
I call this marketing incest. We see another photog we admire, and do everything like them instead of creating our own style, our own voice.
Our marketing gets dumber, watered down and weaker because of this. Our style doesn’t sing and resonate. Be true to yourself and shine. It takes courage. Brass balls.

6- Lack Big Picture Vision
Michael Gerber wrote one of the best business books of all time…The E Myth. Read it if you haven’t yet.
In it he tells how it’s vital for all businesses to envision what their (photography) business will look like five years from now.
This is a powerful exercise. And it forces us to use our imagination. No one else can do this for us. Only we can.

7-Fail To Treat The Craft Like A Business
This is common. So many don’t get this and it’s likely the number one reason why photography “businesses” fail.
It’s a business. You must make a profit. The final vote goes to the client who opens up their minds and hearts and votes with their wallets….over and over…

Their is no shame in making money.
It’s a business.
Get it?

Get it and you’re on the right track.

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