Photo Success

A Place to Grow

“Everyone’s jaw dropped when Brian DeMint said this…”

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Everyone’s jaw dropped.

Shawn Von Ins had just called out Brian DeMint during one of Brian’s live presentations just a few years ago.

Brian was chatting about some historical art trivia thingie.
And Shawn, being somewhat of a walking trivia ninja, corrected Brian.

Brian, without a seconds delay blurted: “Oh, kiss my *ss” to Shawn….sorta tongue in cheek-ish…

Nevertheless…Everyone’s jaw dropped..and then  we all laughed.

You had to be there. It was all in good fun. But mostly it was Brian.
Sometimes, no, most times, there is little to no filter between what’s brewing in his brain and his mouth.

Good thing most of what he says is genius level good stuff.

“Yea, that was edgy. He’s doesn’t hold back, does he? But I kinda like the guy….one of my favorite speakers…” is a phrase I’d hear over and over about Brian.

Funny thing is, when Brian assesses images during the Creative Cross training events, he tends to use a tad higher level of discretion….while offering up some serious kick-butt insights into the images he evaluates.

Go figure. It works, in a paradoxical kinda way.

And Brian is back. Join us….but be warned.
Let Brian review YOUR images.

Creative Cross Training with Brian DeMint. NOTE: Open to the first 15 submissions.

May 17th, 9:00PM EST with Brian De Mint print assessment and critique.

Image analysis and artistic evaluation only the way Brian can,
Insightful, sometimes bizarre, always instructional viewpoint.

NOTE:This is LIMITED TO 15 SUBMISSIONS….first come, first served.

HOW?
*Send me  your files at 1800 pixels wide, JPEG only.
*Avoid logos and names on the images.
*Email to rob@wizardoflight.com Less

All replays from previous Creative Cross Training events are in the forum for members.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

According to the brain, when we GET ADVICE we experience pain…ouch!

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We live in a crazy dopamine flooded world. Dopamine, by the way, is the chemical that creates the powerful feeling of euphoria when you take  a hit of heroin or when you check your facebook page.

Same chemical in the brain. Different drug.

It lights up your brain. It feelz good!

Brain scientists also have found that another part of the brain lights up and experiences pain when someone is GETTING advice.

Conversely, the brain lights up when experiencing pleasure when someone is GIVING advice.

Similar to the heroin or flakebook induced dopamine rush. Weird…ain’t it.

So basically, we experience a high when we GIVE ADVICE but when we GET ADVICE we experience pain, according to the brain.

Stupid brain.

This sucks for most of us.

Why? It means getting advice hurts. And most of us don’t like getting advice.
But you don’t have to be “most of us.”

But it doesn’t have to hurt. If we simply change the way we look at it.

And if we know in our hearts that when we decide to take the advice of others, and not just any other, we will truly expand.

I can’t imagine how anyone can get ahead without taking the advice from others who have succeeded.

I say others who have succeeded, because it doesn’t count if you’re taking or giving advice from some fantasy, past life wannabees, dreams or academic fluff…or worse yet, like what most do, offer advice based on opinions…yuck!

Only those who have felt the sting of failure and got back up, day after day and continue to do so to this day can truly be qualified as worthy to give advice.

I personally can’t stand the pain of learning. BUT, I focus on the big picture. And the PAIN of loss if
I don’t achieve my goals. I focus on the goals. The pleasure that will give me.

It helps me make it through the pain.

Think about it.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

P.S. If you’re a member of noBs photosuccess innercircle members forum, you have access to the many programs on marketing, selling, shooting….including some cool upcoming events with high profile players…. JOIN US HERE

Why I like to brush my teeth and take a leak at the same time…

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I always said that if I were a kid nowadays I’d be on some ADHD regiment.

Instead, back in the day, the teachers accused me relentlessly of being “on the moon”.

And that was that. Deal with it kiddo. Sometimes they’d make fun of me.
Whatever. What doesn’t kill me….

The other day I was heading out, and I admit this may be more information than you care to know, but yes, I was taking a leak and brushing my teeth at the same time.

Admit it, you’ve done it. We’ve all done it. All genders, all personality types. Stop judging.

It reminded me of how I like having many balls up in the air at once. Learning to deal with being on the moon has forced me to take my energy and funnel it into positive and creative productivity.

This is reflected in one of my all time favorite quotes by Napolean Hill. One that I read when I was 20 years old and to this day still resonates so much truth:

“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”

I love this. Times a million. Think of it this way.

I do:

NO matter what the situation, problem, task at hand…ask:
“What can I learn from this?”

“What lessons are there? What new ideas?”

And take notes. Swimming in the seas of regret or fear will lead you down a dark miserable path.

You get to choose.

For me, I feel like I am on a mission. I have goals, plans, creative projects to get on. So much to do.
So little time…

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

P.S. I like being mentored by successful photographers who are also on a mission.
Fuzzy Duenkel, Kirsten Lewis, Margaret Habieda, Argentina Leyva, Margaret Bryant, and so many more…
Members can access the complete list in my Advanced Training series HERE

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

“People who don’t kiss ass are never invited back.”

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I was chatting with Robin Spencer about professional photography
associations. (he tells me to mention his name…he’s shameless that way…)

I don’t belong to one anymore. Been about 6 years since I quit in protestation of their high fees vs value in return.
(I really had a hard time trying to justify the costs to new members)

I do love attending association events however, mainly to hang out with my droogs and people.

Love me some trade show too. My most favorite part of any photographic gathering.

I tell Robin…: “ya know, if someone asked me to join again, show some love, there’s a good chance I just might. You’d think, right? Hit up past members, especially ones like me who are still running legit operations. The association seems to be swollen with wannabees and part-timers. Nothing wrong with that. But they could all benefit with as many full time studio owners.”

He sez in his Robin Spencer in-your-face kinda way: “People who don’t kiss ass are never invited back.”

I thought about this comment. I agree in a sense. He could be right. The status quo doesn’t like being held accountable.

But maybe it’s more than that. Even though the ones who don’t kissass never get invited back, because like me they tend to point out the obvious shortcomings of a big bloated inefficient organization like a professional photography association.

Maybe it’s simpler. Who knows. It could be that they’re a big bloated inefficient organization.
Nothing more.

Either way, it’s an interesting thought. And the fact is, when it comes to hearing from them….crickets…chirp, chirp….

I know if I were in charge of one, I’d start by slashing and burning inefficiencies, cutting out excess fat and expenses, and ramping up the education for members.
( BTW I’m not throwing my hat in the ring and pitching politics….so don’t go nominating anyone!..:)…)

I’d increase value, lower fees, haul out the guillotine and lop off a few heads….and I’d start a campaign to get new members, and old members back.

It’s a funny thing. You rarely, if ever, see any membership drives.

Truth is, in one sense we don’t really need associations. Personally I think their days are numbered.

I hope I’m wrong. Because getting in person face time with others in my field is very important to me.

And we all know why associations are playing a smaller role year after year….
It’s the interweb thingie and the fact that the entire industry is in a continuous and shrinking state of ebb.

Which means marketing, brass balls, courage, selling and networking matter more than anything else in our studios.

Getting education, good quality education has been relegated to other sources, all promoted online, and webinars.

Speaking about webinars, tomorrow night I’m hosting one with Travis Gadsby on:
“Maximizing your online presence with software that does the heavy lifting – Facebook and Website optimizing”

I did a rough count and I think I’ve hosted over 700 webinars since 2008. Maybe more. Why?

I love learning.
We’re either progressing or regressing.

Pick one. For me, the proverbial info junkie, I’d rather more forward.

It’s why I do what I do. Join us tomorrow night.

Hope to see you there!

And this weekend at the PPOC in Ottawa…yes, I’ll be there with my main
droog and co-founder of noBs photosuccess James Hodgins.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

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

Bring the best you got to each and every shoot…

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It’s easy to lose focus. Our equipment, our personal ideas about how things ought to be done, our personal neurotic messed up voices constantly telling us what to do…good and bad.

All, or part, of it can get in the way of our clarity and intention.

And clarity and intention is what we need most for each and every job we photograph.

Not so much….“Do I have the right camera, or lights, or computer……”

But intention, clarity and focus on bringing the very best we got to every aspect of our photography business.
To every session. To everything.

Here’s some crappy (depending on how you look at it that is) news: It doesn’t get any better over time.

Doesn’t get any easier.

Sure, your skills improve, depending on which ones you decide to hone in on and focus on….lighting, posing, communicating, selling, innovating…etc etc…

But destiny alas decides it doesn’t get that much easier.

You always need to be on your toes, so to speak. And never, ever, ever take anything for granted.

Bring the best you got to every session, every aspect of your photography business,
every marketing idea, every client….

Don’t get caught.

If you think your clients will love you next year as much as they did last, you could be fooling yourself, if you assume it.

For me, for us, this means:

*be grateful (quit complaining, say thanks, and get off facebook)

*be better… always push your basic skills to be better

*work your marketing. Newsletters (home delivered), offers, selling, networking, affiliation marketing…work it, work it, work it

*Goals…..one of the HARDEST things to do in life is to come up with a five year vision and one year goals.

The simple act of tackling these areas (especially the goals one) will put you in a category of few.

The minority who tune out the inner dialogue of shame and excuses, the outer dialogue of criticism and blame….and push forth anyhow.

But this all starts with clarity and intention.

You won’t find that from your mom. In the coffee shop surrounded by comfort friends. Or on facebook.

It’s an inside job.

Take it on and run with it.

I can always tell where a person will be in the next year based on where they’ve been in the last year.

It’s simple really.

And I assess a person, or their intentions, goals, ideology not based on what they say.

But what they do.

Action, my friend, speaks much louder than words.

Go forth, and put action to your intentions, and watch how clarity sets in.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

Write it down….and predict everything from success to your baby’s due date…

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When I get together with my fours sisters, as I did recently over the holidays, we often reminisce years gone by.

We we’re chatting about the oldest of the four girls (I’m the oldest in the family, with four sisters younger than I) and the birth of her four babies.

You see, she’s the academic in the family. Made the rest of us look smart.
She became and currently is a successful lawyer.

And she had four babies. Barely interrupting her career.

She’s a great mom, and her clients love her too. She totally kicks butt in the “having it all” category.

But here’s what I found truly fascinating. You see, the sisters were chatting, and sort of poking fun at her ability to schedule the birth of each baby.

Not a medically induced, scheduled dealio. But old school, organic, natural, baby comes when baby is ready.

She would put the babies due date in her jam packed schedule, and, baby came THAT DAY.

Here’s what’s really cool.

With one baby, she had a visit with her doctor the day before her due date.

The doctor said something to the effect of…:
“baby’s fine, you got about ten more days before it comes…..hang tough…”

All the while, her due date was the NEXT day. AND, the baby came, the NEXT day.

I chuckled….maybe, maybe not, that because she “scheduled it”, the baby, on the day she had in mind.

It reminded me of the power of writing things down.

Goals, Plans. Ideas. Crazy thoughts. Dreams. Hopes. Wishes. Aspirations. Births.

But mostly goals.

True story:

My wife and I and our nine year old girl moved into our new ‘dream home/home studio’ back in 2005.

It was uncanny.

Going through my office, cleaning out some of the drawers in my desk, I found a sheet of paper with my five year plan written out on it… from, you guessed it, five years prior.

I totally forgot I even had this tucked away.

I read it.

And was blown away. On that five year plan I had written down the following:

*in five years I’ll be living and working in a home studio (we were at the time renting a commercial space)
*this place will be 3,000 SQ feet
*it will be wood, lots of wood
*it will have cathedral ceilings
*large lot
*it will have a home studio on location
*it will be not too far from the city, yet not too close

And that’s it. All I wrote. And as I’m reading this long lost list, I got chills.

It dawned on me.

Our new home was, you guessed it:

  • exactly 3,000sq ft
  • cedar outside, everywhere. Hardwood inside
  • 1200 sq ft studio out back, all cedar as well. About 20 paces from the patio doors out back
  • it was right on the city line. Bears, deer, moose, foxes, coyotes and more. A two minute drive to everything
  • cathedral ceilings….(I’m not shitting you!)
  • acre sized lot

I ain’t making this up. Coincidence? Nonsense? I don’t know, don’t care.

I’ve had this happen to me many, many times in my life…Cars, Hasselblads, health and homes….and more.

I can honestly say I’ve achieved more, way more by doing TWO things:

1-having a clear mental picture of what I wanted….CMP I call it

2-writing it down

I believe in this principle. A lot.

It’s why I teach and preach it. And help other photographers, young and old, newbs and oldtimers,
get better, stronger, healthier and more prosperous.

BUT, you gotta start inside. In your heart and soul.
What do YOU want?

What’s getting in YOUR way?

Start there first. Cool?

You with me?

Success IN photography starts on the inside,

Rob Provencher

P.S. Everything I know, practice, teach and show on goals setting is in my presentation I gave a few years ago, along with some PDF forms…..members can access it now.