Photo Success

A Place to Grow

Is classical portraiture dead?…or, “dream big and chase after big hairy audacious goals….”

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A couple years ago we held a series on marketing, shooting and photoshop workflow strategies with Oakville photographer Maggie Habieda.

I love this lady. So much passion, ambition, ballz (metaphorically speaking) and the willingness to chase after great big hairy audacious goals in a day and age when most are either throwing in the towel or crawling back into their caves.

Maggie shared many real, true to life ideas on building a successful photography business and some stunning insights into her story and her studio.

This lady has some serious brass b*lls! We can all learn. And learn we did. There’s so much more I can’t even begin to tell you in this email.

One item we chatted about before and during the presentation was the fact that her style is very classic and I mentioned how classic portraiture, well done, will never go out of style.

Maggie told me she only uses two main drops…a black one and a white one.
That’s it, that’s all.

She talked about how she went crazy, as we all do, using all the actions, and all the props and all the backgrounds, until eventually she created her own unique style that was true to herself.

And quit chasing.

And her style rocks. Her success and growth is testament to that.

Maggie started her dream, her ambitions and desires from the heart. She is a true success story and one that exemplifies what it seriously takes to dream, implement and realize your own photography business.

In a few weeks Maggie is joining us in a new series I started called:
The Secrets to Sales Success in Photography.

All members of noBs photosuccess inner circle members forum get access. All members ALSO have access to the original series:

How to start, market and network a high end portrait studio….
Advanced Training Series with Maggie Habieda

Click anywhere on that line above for direct members access.
(If you haven’t watched this series you’re seriously missing out)

Not a member? It’s insanely cheap.

I’m out of my mind for giving everyone access for a mere twenty bucks. CHECK IT OUT

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

P.S. I have Maria Sampao in the books for our FIRST in the series on Sales Success Secrets. We’re trying to nail down a time….Stay tuned for that email. It’ll be last minute.

Lighting is infinitely complex, and crazy simple, all at once.

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It took me a long time in my photography career to “get” lighting.

As in, really get it. Not just understand the technical side of exposure, basic portrait ratios and camera settings.

Something deeper. Something intuitive, eloquent, masterful.

I still don’t really “get” it. Even though I do sorta get it. I do feel a much higher level of confidence with lighting. Took me long enough.

But I seek higher levels of lighting application. That subtle “je-ne-sais-quoi”.

One thing is certain….in portrait photography having control over your lighting and creating images that sell based on your lighting abilities can make all the difference in whether or not your create a steady demand for your photography.

Have you ever looked at a beautiful portrait of a high school senior, or a family, or children and babies, and it just screams quality?

It is instantly something you wish you would have taken. Or, wished you knew how to replicate that “look”?

A masterful portrait starts with masterful lighting. You won’t get away with basic 101 lighting techniques.

Creating high impact portraits means applying high impact lighting strategies.

It’s why I roped in the likes of Fuzzy Duenkel, Brian DeMint, Maggie Habieda, Judy Cormier, Maria Sampao and many, many more.

Including yours truly. Every month I dedicate one of two mastermind meetings to lighting.

Sharing, brainstorming and strategyzing what works in my studio, my photography gigs (all paid of course….not academic fluff)

It’s all in the forum. And it’s cheaper than a cup-of-joe a day to get access.

Join me on my never ending quest.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

Walking a fine line between sanity and the abyss…

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There’s a reason why I love self-help so much.

I walk a fine line between sanity and falling into the deep abyss of who knows what.

I don’t want to find out what’s down there.

For me, it takes on going work. Self help and on going learning, support, family and growth.

I know. I ain’t normal.

But who is?

Most of us are hiding behind walls of consumerism, toys, big houses, big trucks and big distractions.

Our true inner, authentic selves buried under a wet blanket of distractions and mind-numbing entertainment.

As Jung says: Embrace the shadow. Slay the dragons. This is where the journey begins. And where courage matters most.

Self-help takes on many, many variations and steps (for all the nay-sayers and haters out there). Too many, since there are so many people
with so many personalities.

One variation I love is connecting, talking, sharing and masterminding ideas with others in whatever respective field one is manifesting creatively.

Not just opinions and complaints. But actual stories of struggles and successes.

It’s why I started interviewing other photographers over 19 years ago. And put the replays in the forum for members.

It helps keep me sane. And I learn a ton!

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

“Never play for your peers…”

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Was listening to Joe Rogan talk about becoming successful as a stand up comic.

He says it starts with an “ember”. A fire, passion, which drives us to work hard. You know, the “D” word….discipline.

But one thing he warned about and I found most interesting is the idea behind playing for your peers.

In other words, creating jokes that other comedians “get”.

The problem he states, besides this ruining any real chances at success, is most folks don’t get the jokes.

Are jazz musicians the same? Me thinks so.

You don’t see arenas packed with crowds to hear the best jazz bands.
Do you? Lady Gaga, yes. Jazz, no. (think small clubs filled with smoke and arrogance)

Gaga plays to her audience. A comedian who speaks to their audience and makes them laugh has a chance at success.

“It’s very problematic to play for the comedians. Because comedians like weird shit…”
Sez Joe….

I can say the same thing about photographers and photography. Call me a capitalist profiteering swine, but whenever I see ANY kind of photography with impact, I ask myself:
“Yes, but can it make money??”

Is there a game plan?

Or is it simply appealing to our peers. Depends, I guess, what you want to achieve.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

Is money evil?

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Is money Evil?

How do you feel about money?

Money isn’t everything, but all too often is viewed upon with scorn, negativity and skewed perceptions.

I personally struggled with this all my life, but am working on it everyday.
It’s an uphill battle.

We run businesses, and therefore we must have goals and plans, right? Of course.
NO plans, no directions. No ‘map’.

When you know what you want, you get what you want. This is the first step in marketing your photography business.

You also need to know how much you want to make.

I heard someone say: “I want enough to pay the bills an cover expenses.”
Uh? Can you be a little more vague please?

The fact is, you need to embrace money as an essential tool. Money isn’t evil.

Evil people do evil things with money. But not you, or I.

We expand our lives because of it and have a balanced, centered inner game.

I talk about what changed and what worked for me in a webinar from a few years ago.

How I got OK with making money.

If you don’t reconcile this struggle it won’t go away. Hate, resentment, anger or life’s unjust struggles won’t justify, fix or balance out the inequities of life.

Embrace the struggle. Be good with money. And make some. Lots of it. It’s ok.

Still relevant, timeless and valid.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

“The money and the time will figure itself out.”

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I reminded myself of this story the other day when I was chatting with Judy.

Judy is the marketing manager of our local professional theatre where I have been their “official photographer” for over 16 years.

Judy was recounting her daughters life. Her daughter is now 35. Very successful in her chosen field, theatre arts.

She tells me about a time, not too long ago, when her daughter called her in distress:
“Mom, I’ve been accepted into the program. I’m getting married in two months and I don’t think I can afford this right now…”

Judy told her: “Do it. These opportunities only come once in a lifetime. The money and the time will figure itself out.”

And it did.

What her daughter was talking about was an application she had put in at a well known university where they have an elite creative director program and only let TWO students in.

Yes, two.

Getting accepted into the program was an honor. And she got in. But what rotten timing.

Rotten timing can be the time when the boogey man also appears. And brings all his friends with him.

Good thing she had her mom there. We all could use a Judy in our lives can’t we?

Someone who simply sounds the voice of calm and reason and sees the opportunity, not blinded by the doubts and anxieties.

We all need to have the ability and outside support to stay clear. It takes discipline and fortitude.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

Operating system VS marketing system in your photography business…

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Having a good operations system in place is essential to continued success in your photography business,

But it’s NOT the only thing.

Some erroneously believe, or, are misguided into thinking that the operations system is where it’s at…..once achieved, success!

Don’t be fooled.

The marketing system is the lifeblood of your photography studio.

The operations system is simply how things flow, who does what, getting from point A to point B…it involves steps and procedures. Processes….

And more often it’s behind the scenes stuff.

The marketing is a completely different animal.

Operations can include items such as:
*workflow
*accounting
*employees
*camera brand used
*computer system used
on and on…..lots of logical, black and white thinking stuff.

There’s more to it. And, having a good operations system in place is essential.

It’s something that the smart studio owners improve on in time and make better.

It also helps to delegate the operations and create systems, so that you, as a marketer, a strategist, can spend more time in charge of running the….ahem….you guessed it….:

The marketing system.

Where the monee is.

Never delegate the marketing. Delegate as much of the operations as you can.

Although there are NO guarantees, it’s your best crack at success and growing out of the yard-sale mentality.

Grow up and treat your “business” like a business.

Photography is the NUMBER ONE HOBBY right now…and as a result, many, many hobbyists are getting into the “business”.

And many get confused on this topic.

The smart business owner knows the difference between having a marketing system and having an operations system.

Be smart. Know the difference.

So you’re asking, okay Mr. Smart guy….what is the marketing system then?

Marketing is everything you do to create, innovate products and finding people who will buy them.

Over and over. Rinse, repeat.

Once you have a marketing system in place, you delegate the “grunt” work aspect of it.

Never the strategy.

Marketing is not an easy solution. It does involve much innovation, testing, poking and prodding. And once you achieve success, always keeping an eye on it and finding ways to improve.

It’s a system, in a sense. But not the same as operations.

I’ve said this many times:

“Never try to find one way to get 100 clients…..”

That’s what hobbyists and amateurs think.

Instead:
“Find 100 ways to get ONE client.”

Those “ways” are the tools and techniques that make up the marketing system.

Hold it close. Never take it for granted.

And never rest on your laurels, lest they become wreaths…..

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

You’re never ‘broke’ when you have this…

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“I’m so broke…” my buddy lamented.

Not a dime to his name. His photography business tanking.

I tried to help him out by making him realize:

“Listen, you’re not broke. You’re not looking at it the right way. You have skills, talent, ambition and above all, you have courage, right?”

He thought for a moment.

I continued:
“Courage. Courage is one of the most valued and powerful assets known to mankind. And you got it in spades. You’re never broke when you have courage.”

He was listening. I had him. Because he knew it was truth. It all depends how you look at it.

I told him about how the most valuable asset you have is between your ears.

All your dreams, plans, hopes and ambitions start, grow and live right there.

Just create, add some courage, and a dash of persistence, and you’re rich.

How much value do you place on your dreams?

As long as you have courage, as long as you take action, as long as you refuse to quit, it is impossible for you to be broke.

IMPOSSIBLE

Priceless.

I used to be scared. So much so, my fears had me. They were defining me and controlled my every move.

And I was broke. No courage.

I couldn’t even photograph a group of students without having a near all out breakdown.

I could barely photograph a wedding without have a few drinks of liquid courage to calm me down. Yuch.

What a crappy place to be.

I was not working at my full potential. I was broke until I moved towards tapping into my power, my courage.

And when I did, that’s when the doors to wealth, prosperity, possibilities and growth skyrocketed for me.

Work at your full potential. No gimmicks. Just a simple truth.

This is where I believe we all have to start, inside.

I know this truth so well, it’s so personal for me.

Maybe ‘cuz I been there, done that.

I don’t know. I know however that it’s true:
Our potential and our destiny is created and controlled by each and every one of us.

We decide and we add the needed ingredients. It’s up to me baby.

And you too.

I can help you tap into your dreams, your destiny, your truth.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher