Photo Success

Tools for growing a photography business

How do we limit our sales through inadequate pricing or poor sales methods?

By Leave a Comment

How much do we limit our sales through inadequate pricing or poor sales methods…

How do we limit our sales through inadequate pricing or poor sales methods?

Most limitations start inside. To achieve external success, start inside. Then, flow outward with creative, effective and real money making strategies on pricing and sales.

Pricing, sales and marketing is not black and white. It’s complex, and requires the right tools, the right strategies and the right person.

I believe Warne Noyce is such a person.

[Read more…]

“A thousand images isn’t worth anything.”

By Leave a Comment

One of the very things Maggie tells us last week during our Mastermind Marketing meeting with her, was:
“A thousand images isn’t worth anything.”
And she proceeded to explain how she markets and shoots high priced sessions in her studio, and sells, and shows the value of ONE SINGLE IMAGE. One single file.
 
What’s her mojo? It’s fairly obvious, had you been there with us in this rich and educational presentation.
 
Maggie has been, in her words: “To the moon with a shovel.”
 

[Read more…]

The “Initiative Gap” according to Dan Kennedy…

By Leave a Comment

I always liked Dan Kennedy and his no-bull, no sugar coating, no-nonsense straight talk on all things to do with success, marketing and business. He is the real deal.
 
When I first discovered Dan back in ’98, it felt like he was speaking directly to me. His words and wisdom were honest like I had never seen before in all the hundreds of success and self-help books I had read by that time in my life.  

His timing could not have been more perfect.

See, I was recently married, new baby in the house, wife quit her reliable and secure job as a senior accountant, and we decided to work together in the photography studio I had started on my own back in ’85.  

Things were about to get real. I knew that I needed to make the studio work. Mortgages and car payments don’t pay themselves.  

And then Dan shows up. It’s like the old adage: “when the student is ready, the master will show up.”  

Being ready is the key word. Being motivated, compelled, eager, ambitious, hungry and driven. All these and more play a key role in being “ready”.  

And ready I was.   I had initiative.  

Dan talks about “The Initiative Gap” in one of his most recent marketing newsletters. (yes, I still subscribe to Dan’s marketing newsletter)  

In this one issue he says of those who take on the much needed initiative:
“…They are invested in continuous strengthening or breadth or depth of knowledge…”  

Meaning…. always be learning, growing, expanding your skills, knowledge, information.

These characteristics and more push you to become a ‘marketer of photographic services” vs a photographer. Most won’t do this.
Hence, the “gap”.  

My suggestion? Be on the right side of the gap.  

Being a photographer is fine, if that’s your endgame. For me it’s more. Way more.  

I need to make money. If you’re offended by that idea, seriously, think about it. Where does your money come from? How are you paying your bills?  

No shame. I’m in business. And in business money is the scorecard.

And in the business of selling photography, I follow other photographers I admire, want to be like, and inspired by and know I can learn the success and marketing skills needed to keep on the rails.  

Don’t get me wrong. I love the technical side of photography….lighting, photoshop, creative subject matter, cool new trends and all that. And more. I LOVE all things about photography.

But in the end, when I go to the bank, I need to show a nice healthy profit on my bank deposit slip to the teller. He/she doesn’t care how good my photography is.  

On that note, I am hosting another success webinar with one of my all time favorite photographers, Maggie Habieda. Tomorrow morning, at 11:00AM EDT.

REPLAY HERE

If your dead-serious about being successful in photography, there are NO easy shortcuts. And you need to check your level of initiative.

Maggie defines the word and meaning behind initiative.

Don’t take my word for it. Join us and see for yourself.   To your success in marketing and in photography….
Being ready is the key word!

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

“Do it for the money…”

By Leave a Comment

I’ve said it a million times before:  “Having  a talent is worthlessunless you know what to do with it.”

That’s a quote from Charlie Chaplin. Search  out his quotes (google him) and you will find some nuggets.

Here’s another quote from Charlie Chaplin:
“I went into the business for the money, and the art grew out of it. If people are disillusioned by that remark, I can’t help it. It’s the truth.”

Interesting isn’t it?

The conclusion  might me that talent isn’t what DRIVES the goals and ambitions.

Sometimes it’s the desire for financial success, sometimes it’s the love of the game, or fame, or whatever. As long as we are moving towards OUR goal, OUR vision, without excuses, then we will get there, and the ART will GROW……I know.

It happened to me. Do it for the money, and the art will grow out of it.

P.S. Of course you need a  good product, and on-going training.

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

Existential crisis anyone?

By Leave a Comment

Have you ever had one? You know, a crisis? As in, what is life all about? Why, oh why am I here?

Why am I on this beach when I should be back home marketing my photography studio?

And other compelling struggles?

My life has been a long series of struggles. I’m sure you can relate.

The thing is and what matters is, what direction do you take? That’s what’s important.

Do we wallow? Or move forward?

I like moving forward. Even if but an inch at a time.

Years ago, way back in my my early, early twenties, I recall having a big question of questions creep into my little pea brain head: “What is my big theme in life?”

Or something like that. Do you know what answer almost instantly popped in my thoughts?

Communication. Go figure. Communication. And me, the most awkward, shyest, tongue tied kid ever. I have no idea where that came from, but there it was, and I picked it up and ran with it.

Me thinks it’s one of the main reasons why I faced the demons of fear decades ago and kinda sorta mastered public speaking. I’m sure it’s tied into why I write all these bloody emails.

I like communicating. Maybe, just maybe it’s also tied into marketing a business.
Maybe.

I do believe it’s got something to do with my attending a 3 day conference in L.A. last week, hosted by the worlds’ greatest voice coach, Roger Love.

Not sure how that happened. But there I was. And it was amazing. And it ties into this theme of communication. (and my secret inner desire to be a old black blues singer….more on that later).

Tomorrow night I’m running our marketing mastermind, where we all get together and have a group crisis, discuss marketing, share ideas, ask compelling questions and search out actionable answers.

You won’t get answers if you don’t ask.

JOIN ME Thursday, March 22 at 8:00PM…..(members….login first)

I’ll also be sharing some of thoughts on the Voices of Success with Roger Love.

And communication.

Let’s get together, have an existential marketing crisis, figure this out, talk shop and marketing…including….:
*fairy sessions update from yours truly
* some thoughts on what are the BEST Ingredients to build a long term portraits photography business
*does direct mail still work? Works for this guy….let’s have a look Any marketing questions or challenges?

Bring them to the table and let’s talk.
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

Wanna dance?….and make some sales with dance school photography….

By Leave a Comment

Two webinars, two photographers, two systems for dance photography sales and success. If you were around last month we had Nancy Tillberg join us with her take on dance school photography she calls “Boutique Volume…”

Her system is meticulous and tight, and it works. She goes against the grain on what many would think is the “right” way to do volume…let alone boutique volume. But then again, she’s a retired forensic photographer…she can see things the rest of us mere mortals can’t.

If you’re a member of noBs photosuccess™ you can watch the REPLAY HERE

And there’s Warne Noyce and Paula Moon who started their studio a few years ago in a town where no one knew them. They quickly grew because of smart and innovative marketing. AND, their dance school business sky-rocketed.
We had Warne on a webinar. REPLAY 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