The definitive guide to Google Adwords- this book reveals all!
I got my hands on Perry Marsall's first book on adwords years ago and without a doubt he is the definitive adwords go to guy when it comes down to running successful, smart and accountable ads.
He now has a new version out and it's a must read. We used his techniques, and continue to to this day, with great success. His skills and knowledge helps keep us ahead of the pack and our heads above water. We literally built an entire business on adwords alone and his help was invaluable. A must read for any serious adwords user.
Rob
Find the Light
at shootsmarter.com, where he talks about creating your own home made ring light
clamps/plugs/screws/fasteners to attach to a tripod/light stand?
Will sign up to your site later today. Thank you. Jim Amato”
he shows some cool ‘ring flash’ images and has added a video that explains how you too can make
your own ring flash for under $100.00
to be precise.
I use mine with a super clamp and small stand, to hold and adjust my reflector, to enhance the main light.
shootsmarter first. You’d be crazy not to. It’s free, and it’s loaded with photography
tips, marketing, photoshop by some of the leading experts in the industry.
I made one identical to James’s….
and attended the Inferno in Nashville, helped out on our night owl sessions,
and donated some equipment, brought out a very well priced ring flash to show us all!
I was impressed. Go see them at Durys.com
In marketing 101 you start with the product. It should be the star. If not, let the packaging
and bundling be the star. For most of us, we want to make our photography stand out,
be the star. And by adding some cool lighting that makes clients go: WOW! then you|
are effectively adding more to your core product: your photography.
and she had concerns about exposure, color balance and such.
best I can her concerns. Go ahead, click on it:
Finding The Light
sound is to a musician. I always say, find the light!
taking advantage of the fact that there was still not snow, but chilly ,I saw an ideal
situation where the light would have a serious affect on the specular highlights in the eyes.
she is in the shade. Open shade. That sky light, just north of the setting sun, is the main light source.
will create some great looking specular highlights.
would be, as well as affecting the overall effect on the main light.
at her eyes, you can see the effect I’m talking about.
and know how to apply this in all types of lighting situations in your photography. Works great
in wedding photography, seniors, glamour….whatever!
the lower part of the eyes. Very funky.
Get clear, get focused, and get going….the only path to photographic success….
Profitablestudio.com newsletter video on goal setting for photographers.
Testimonial to photography success
I luv it when I get emails like this…..
"Hi there Rob,
I have just received the latest Profitable Studio Newsletter and I have to say thank you. Somehow your newsletters are always about the things that are happening here with me right at the time they are happening. Last month you were talking about fairies and having enough interest to do more than one day…so you are going to. I have exactly the same thing going on here, we booked out 2 days within days of doing our first ever fairy sessions – looks like we may even do 3 days at this rate, I am still having people ask to be put on the pre-register list for our February Fairy Day.
This latest newsletter has struck a chord as well. I have read the SOGR (because you recommended it) and will read Earn What You Deserve as well. I have also recently read the E-Myth, Sleeping Your Way to the Top (not what it sounds) by Ben Angel as well as being a member of NoBS, Profitable Studio, SPU, PSH and Six Figure Photographer. All of these resources have been motivational, inspirational and played a huge part in what my business has become and will be in the future.
My story goes like this. I was a horse photographer for years and didn’t feel like a photographer..really. I wanted a challenge, I wanted to do more and that’s when I found NoBS and realised just how little I knew. In April last year I did my last horse event and in May (about 7 months after becoming a member of NoBS) I kicked off my re-incarnation as a baby, children and family photographer – with zero clients! I worked part time 8 hours a week at a panel beating shop which generated enough income to keep the bills paid. Fast forward to the last 3 months. In October this year, my little studio (which consisted of me only, until a couple of weeks ago) did over $11000 in sales. November was just over $10000. These are figures that just a few months ago, I could never have dreamed of. My Santa’s Workshop sessions alone generated $9945 during that period. I held Santa’s Workshop last year and did 20 sessions over 2 days. In July this year, I mentioned Santa in the Newsletter and booked out 2 days @ 15 sessions per day, I went on to book another 2 days for a total of 60 sessions (137 children) over 4 days – wild!!! I could have booked 7 days easily had I been physically capable of doing more – I knew I couldn’t turn any more around prior to Christmas with all the other stuff (baby’s, children, maternity, families) as well. I am still getting enquiry about Santa’s Workshop – amazing!
My BFY program continues to grow with over 40 babies been/going through and forward bookings for several not born yet. My word of mouth referrals bring in new clients every week. Fairies are selling like hotcakes and I am getting more and more requests for maternity, Platinum Baby, Families and children all the time. I am growing out of my double garage studio and I have had to outsource some of my editing and very recently have put a casual employee on to assist with the admin tasks.
When I was a horse photographer $56000 for a year was good! I have done just on $40000 in the past 5 months…
Why am I telling you all this? Well, I wanted to say thank you. From the bottom of my heart – thank you! While I am only at the beginning of my journey and I still have so much to learn about photography techniques, marketing, business, myself and so many other things – I have you and everybody at NoBS to thank for the education, skills, mindset that I have gained in such a short time. I have no doubt that had I not found NoBS and the other educational sites that NoBS has led me to, I would not be doing what I am today. Just two years ago, I was undergoing counselling for depression!
I am only average. But, it goes to show, that if you are determined to expand your knowledge, put your ego aside and realise how bad you are, commit to learning and be prepared to work towards the things you want – even average joe’s can achieve their goals. You have said so many times MOVE! And the universe, cosmos whatever it is that you believe in will move with/for you – that is so very true. When you think you can, when you truly believe you can, and set your mind to it, things really do fall into place. I still have a long way to go to become as good a photographer as I want to be and to build my business to what I see for it in the future, but I am definitely on my way.
My next plan is to make it all the way from Australia to Inferno – depending on how busy I am that is! So until I can thank you in person, I will thank you again here. Thank you!
Warm regards,
Alicia Birch"
Four Steps to Becoming a Successful and Prosperous Photographer
Four Steps to Becoming a Successful and Prosperous Photographer
$85,000.00 in one month in portrait sales?
or soul development unless he/she has plenty of money,
for to unfold the soul and to de-velop talent he/she must
have many things to use, and he cannot have these
things unless he has money to buy them with.
A person develops in mind, soul, and body by making
use of things, and society is so organized that people must
have money in order to become the possessor of things.
Therefore, the basis of all advancement must
be the science of getting rich."
~WALLACE D WATTLES~
$85,000.00 in one month in portrait sales?
in one month last summer. $85,000.00. That's good news!
portrait studio. Well established, yes. Successful, yes. And they create awesome work, in a
medium sized city.
amounts, considering I am the one and only shooter. Upwards to $40,000.00 in one month,
on the low end around $18,000.00.
mom and pop studios in our city, and he was telling me they had a great
December and brought in $65,000.00. I was impressed, inspired,
and felt fortunate that he would, bragging or not, share this with me.
when I hear other photographers quote good times in actual amounts. And it
ain't braggin' if you can do it.
is still crushing it in their own photography business. It can, and
is being done.
professional photography associations there was always a rule to never talk
pricing, sales or throw dollar amounts around. Somewhere some lawyers
advised against it, in case there was risk of "price fixing".
of their deal killing advice. That aside, I think the real truth is we used
that as an excuse because truth be told, we simply are not comfortable
talking about money.
made up of wannabees.Who knows? Right?
in real towns and cities, making real sales, every day, all year long,
with real breathing clients, toe-to-toe, belly-to-belly sales, cumulatively
month after month, year after year, is a good thing.
I say, grow up, and get a prosperity consciousness.
programming that I grew up with, heard at the top of the stairs as a child
and from our culture. You know what I'm talking about.
a negative thing, but as frozen energy, an idea, a possibility.
have serious internal issues. And are fear based, not prosperity consciousness
based. Money, like many things in life, is a responsibility. The more you have,
the greater the responsibility. Or, as I like to think, responsibility is a challenge to grow
and become a better person.
might have road blocks. This is not easy for many of us.
that you could also acquire as an audio. I've read this book several times,
and have listened to the audio CD three times so far. Worth a serious
study.
some, or most of you squirm. From the book mentioned above,
Earn What You Deserve, is a list that I personally had printed out
and posted in a laminated plastic on my bedroom mirror, to remind me.
believe is indicative of actual symptoms of poverty consciousness.
and reprogram yourself for prosperity. If not, and you're doing great, kudos to
you my friend for joining the ranks.
*ARE USUALLY IN DEBT
*HAVE LITTLE SAVINGS, FEW ASSETS
*OFTEN IN FINANCIAL CRISIS
*FEEL STRESS, PAIN AND FEAR OVER MONEY
*DO UNPAID WORK: VOLUNTEER, CHARITY or SHOWCASE WORK
*HAVE A VAGUE IDEA OF WHAT THEIR EXPENSES ARE
*BELIEVE MONEY WILL SOLVE ALL THEIR PROBLEMS
*Do not take work that pays you less
*Do not say no to money
Should you enter print competitions? If so, why? Here’s some insight for you..
Should you enter print competitions? If so, why? Here's some insight for you..
one of your subscribers. I have a quick question for you. Recently I entered a
small photo contest and there were many beautiful images so I was not
feeling bad at all that I did not win any.
them though…lol…) and I thought hmm… "Somebody said winning a photo
contest is essential for our photography business but if you try to shoot your
photos as the juror recommended… I am wondering such images would sell
as a portraiture…" because seriously I totally got what the juror likes and
dislikes. He does not like photoshop processed images and that was one of
the reasons why I did not win. He also does not like images do not have any
contexts or real impact…
what their jurors usually like? And do I really need to win any kind of photo
contest to have a great photography business? Any kind of comments will be
greatly appreciated!
my photography manuals that I wrote a few years back on Publicity for
Professional Photographers….
CLICK ON IMAGE
HOW TO CREATE
KICK-BUTT
IMAGES FOR PRINT COMPETITION
That was a bonus section in my publicity manual titled:
INSIDER SECRETS
How to Get A Million Dollars In
FREE Publicity For Your
Portrait & Wedding Studio
That manual, by the way, is free, amongst many other, for all members of
my photography forum, No Bs Photo Success(TM)
competitions. Throughout the years I've won my fair
share of ribbons and plaques and have a wall plastered with
them. I received a lot of publicity and here's what I've discovered
works in print competition…
First off, print competitions are rarely a reflection of the real
business world of running a studio. It is a universe unto itself and
the rules are unique. Think about other competitions in other
areas such as the academy awards or dog shows or figure
skating or karate tournaments or horse shows or whatever,
where the guidelines are based on unrealistic and sometimes
bizarre views, and the only thing that matters is how technically
correct the presentation is.
If a hunting breed takes top ribbon at a dog show, does that
mean he'll do well in the field under realistic conditions? No
guarantee. If a photographer pulls off many first place ribbons,
does that guarantee him or her business, success, satisfied
clients, or great looking photographs under realistic
circumstances? Not a chance.
The rules in competition can seem very odd, strict and a true
antidote to creativity, however, they are set up with solid
intentions and you will benefit immensely if you go in with the
right mindset. But recognize them for what they are: an aspect of
your photography career that ought to be given your utmost
attention, but not the end all be all.
You can't take ribbons to the bank or have them create clients for
you. But you can get some media attention and this, (besides the
great training you will receive photographically, and the fact
that you will be tempered by the critiques and "toughened" up
by the mean old judges when they score your prints less than
what your babies deserve…) and media is a great way to position
yourself as a respected artist in your community.
Photography contests have the same structures that are
prevalent in many other fields. Namely, a panel of judges. This is
always the wild card in the equation but if you follow some basic
strategies you can do well.
Is it wrong to shoot images for competition? Absolutely not!
Collect images and samples from books and magazines an
websites. Creatively borrow them and try to duplicate the ideas.
You may also notice and get baffled by some prints, wondering
what the judges saw in them. Don't get too hung on those and
be inspired by the ones you like and have an affinity for. Educate
yourself. Go to as many print judging events as you possibly can
and stick around for the print critiques and judges comments…
yours in photography, Robert Provencher
