Photo Success

A Place to Grow

What is the greatest virtue for photographers?

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Is it love? Discipline? Business ethics? Generosity? Determination? Sincerity?

It’s none of the above.

The greatest virtue is courage.

If you don’t have courage you’ll never live out any of the other virtues.

You’ll hold yourself back, because fear rules you.

Courage sets you free. Courage allows you to step out of the confines that you’ve imposed upon yourself. It is the force that allows you to discover new exciting possibilities.

You don’t need certainty or clarity. You need courage first and foremost.

I’ve often stated that one needs a big huge set of brass balls. That’s one way of stating it. Means the same thing.

Without courage you won’t turn the door knob and walk into the room of possibilities.

Like I refused to do years and years ago when I showed up on a Sunday morning to my first ever photography association meeting.

I was petrified. And hungover.

I turned and walked away. Too scared.

Thankfully less than a year later I did walk in and my life was changed forever. It was like the lights got turned on and the sky light up with the voices of angels chanting above.

Wow….what an eye opener. Attending my first meeting starting changing me and eventually it was the first step in what became the big picture of success for me.

Good thing I walked in the room that time.

I attended so many workshops and seminars I can’t even begin to count. It was like being handed a cornucopia of wealth and skill enhancing knowledge.

Who knew? I certainly didn’t. Not until then.

I’ve known many photographers who refused to come out to local, provincial or state and national conventions. I was baffled by their BS and excuses.

It made sense however in one sense, since they were frustrated in creativity and finances.

I was still baffled when the answer was right there. Just turn the knob, open the door, walk in.

“How could you not come out and learn so much?” I reasoned within.

Many who did attend never really got far in their photography businesses regardless.
I paid attention, and asked myself: “Why?”

My answer: They were crappy students.

You need to be a good student, not just cherry picking the info you want to hear. One needs to place ones ego aside, push forward and be realistic.

And keep turning that door knob to further opportunities.

Yes, showing up is important. What you do afterwards is just as or more valuable. It’s called being a good student.

Having courage means showing up. Showing up on time and sitting in the front row.

It means asking the right questions. It means studying and putting into play what you learning and testing new ideas and new theories for you, for your photography business.

If you want to step into a place that is a virtual cornucopia of knowledge and ambitious photographers, then consider joining me and bunch of other like minded “students” in the art of photography, business and marketing.

I could not have done it without the help of others. But mostly it started with me, and my willingness to have courage to turn the door knob and step into the room.

Be courageous my friend. Open doors and walk in.

By the way, the replay for the Joel Grimes webinar is posted HERE

This guy gets it. Enjoy…..
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.”

How to guarantee you will reach your goals….

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I was at a chamber meeting last night, chatting with Rebecca, a local photographer.

I told her I was thinking about getting back into karate, since there’s a new club starting just down the road, and my wife and I know the founders. We go back.

Way back to when I originally was into karate, achieving my brown belt before quitting in favor of cardio kickboxing (which folded 4 years ago :(…). My wife had achieved her black belt.

Getting into karate at age 59, well, maybe it’s a good idea, maybe not. What is good is joining a club, paying the monthly dues, and feeling that sense of “accountability” that seems to push us when we make some form of formal commitment.

What is also attractive is the fact that many of the classes are described as “low impact”.

Me like.

My joints are sore. I can’t abuse them anymore, but I do need to keep working out.

Rebecca tells me she has a fitness coach. And it works. No coach, no workout essentially.

Accountability is a powerful force. We can’t really depend on ourselves to get things done, can we?

Having an external, outside force making us hyper aware of our goals, adds so much more to our motivation.

The same applies to coaching. Sometimes we delude ourselves. But with a coach, they can push us beyond our limits and they can call us out on our BS.

We tweak, adjust, maybe change up our goals. Clarity through honesty.

This is good. Sometimes painful, but good.

It’s what happens when you add that extra dimension of accountability to your life and your goals.

But you gotta show up. Even JUST showing up counts. Doesn’t matter if you sit at the back of the class. Showing up is 80%. Maybe more….

Tonight, at 9:00PM EST I’ll be hosting our last marketing mastermind meeting of the year. We’ll be going over:

*goal setting strategies and techniques to get you on the right footing for 2018
*some marketing from my studio from this fall
*some marketing strategies and principles from other members who have been crushing it
*general all around butt kicking…..JOIN US!

NOBs photosuccess members, login, GO HERE and register for this life changing event. As usual, the replay will be placed in the forum. Not AS good as being there live, but still good.

Yours in success and in photography,
Robert Provencher

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

Think different

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One of my fave books was the bio on Steve Jobs. Steve considered himself “different”.

A rogue, freak and geek…..I can relate. Can you?

I think we’ll agree. And we can all learn a valuable lesson.

People love the Apple brand. They’ll tell you they are well designed and give you reasons why based on the physical virtues and functionality.

However, that’s not the real reason they feel so religiously bonded to this brand.

The real reason is Apple sold them on the idea that they too were different. And because they were different, they used Apple products.
Rogues, freaks and geeks and proud of it.

The first comparable that comes to mind is the Harley motorcycle. These people feel cult like bonded to their brand. Just like the Apple users.

Where else do you see an entire look based on slapping corporate logos over just about every accessory and attachment for their “hogs” and call it bad ass?

(need proof? just go to any coffee shop in the summer where 20 or more Harley owners congregate and count the logos. You’ll get dizzy…)

It’s not the bike. It’s the feeling they get when they own and ride one. Like being in a gang.

I read the best description of a Harley user:

“It’s the only time a 44 yr old accountant can ride down main street and have town folks be afraid of them.”

Years ago when I started in photography I noticed, even in myself, that many people looked up to the gurus du jour.

We wanted to be like them. We mimicked their style and even their marketing.

The truth is, you can’t really give your studio marketing power until you feel deeply connected to it. Until you think different. And become a rogue and a freak.

Everything else is just marketing incest and eventual cannibalism.

We WANT to be different. But getting there isn’t done by swiping wholesale what another photographer does in their marketing.

Owning an Apple or Harley won’t make us so. It’s a vapious lie, of sorts.

But dammit, it sells a lot of computers, ipods and motorcycles. (and motorcycle helmets, jackets, boots….)

Are you throwing darts in a blizzard when it comes to marketing your photography business?

Maybe it’s time to think different.

The first headline I created when I started NoBs PhotoSuccess was… “no whiners, egos, prima donnas…”

I wanted people who thought different.

In order to truly think and act different, you need the right information and a great place where you don’t feel the need to conform.

You get to be yourself.

That, my friend, is one of the founding principles of NoBs Photo Success.

Thankfully, many feel this way. NOT everyone does. Since some leave and look for a place that is more “like them”.

Where it feels safe.

Forget about feeling safe. One never does when one ventures out.

Stay real, stay frosty my friend. Be authentic, be yourself, think different.

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 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.”