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It's been an interesting month, busy with weddings, portraits of all kinds, teaching, travelling and motorcycling, amongst various other things. We had a huge upset concerning one of our key players over at No Bs Photo Success. Rob Hoffman, also known as Portrait University, will no longer be affiliated with us or will be recomended by myself. Details and specifics are being kept under wraps under the direction of our legal counsel and further investigation. Meanhwile, we do not recommend Portrait University or any other products or services by Mr Hoffman.

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Announcing the fastest filling workshop we've ever done. We announced this event and within 2 days it was two-thirds filled! What is it you ask? This November 6-8, 2006 we are having a three day very intensive seminar in Niagara Falls, Canada. CHECK out the details here. This event is near full already, if it is't by the time you get to it. Remember, this is for Inner Circle Members only. If you ain't one, what-r-ya-waiting-fer?!! Details

Niagara School of Imaging was a huge success and a blast. Rick Bell is doing an amazing job getting this school running like a top. This year they had better attendance than ever. My guess is next year will be even better. Stay tuned on their website for 2007 line up- of which we are sticking around for third year in a row.

Struggling with baby portraits? Don't cry. Here's a FREE VIDEO DOWNLOAD (Expired) for you. Just 'cuz I love you. This one is from my baby system. It shows how I shoot the 6 month baby. Enjoy.

Wanna see my studio? Here's another FREE DOWNLOAD (expired) (Be patient. QuickTime Video- Big File!) for you. It's a studio tour featuring your truly. Part of the Dangerous Downloads fro Inner Circle Members

Here's a few samples from recent shoots:

Actually, those above aren't mine. They are from my friend and associate James Hodgins. But I thought I would show them to you to make a few points. First off, James has only been shooting professionally for about 4 years now and he has positioned himself as a top notch, very much in demand, wedding photographer, mining/industrial photographer (amongst various other commercial gigs he gets from local ad agencies) and band photographer, to mention but a few areas that he is pulling in a very decent income from and loving every minute of it. When you get right down to it, this stuff ain't rocket science. All those shots above were taken using basic, old beat up Vivitar flashes. Buy em on Ebay for like $40.00. He has mastered in many ways the use of exposure, lighting and composition. But is this all you need top succeed? There are many talented photogaphers out there who are starving, and more talented than him. Way more. So what is the "key". Ask James and his anser will be very simple: attitude. Corny or what. But that is exactly what hewill tell you. The way he comes across with clients, his disposition, his approach, well, his attitude, clinch the deal. May not work if he were a crappy photographer, but marry these two together, talent/skill and attitude, and you have a winning combination.

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Here's mine.
It's been a busy month, so here's but a small sampling of what I do all week long:

Here's a few wedding samples.

Better yet download an entire slide show (expired). Big file, about 85MB I use this show in my studio when I have prospects shopping for a wedding potographer.
PC only. When you are done downloading, simply click on the freestylewedding.exe file. Turn speakers up!
Or simply check out the online shots (expired) from the show that I've added to me webpage.

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Photography Marketing Strategies
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Couple personal experiences I would like to share with you. And both could easily be remedied with a little marketing, sales or management training. I received a new pair of motorcycle boots for my birthday. I guess I can't blame my wife. She bought the ugly pair, not the cool pair. Hey, what does she know about this stuff? She can outdress the most fashionable, but with motorcycle wear and accessories, she flops big time.

I go back to the store. Same store I bought the bike. I am a regular. The guy behind the parts counter says he'd have to order them in, and he can't order them in, because they are about to order their winter stuff. D'uh! Soooorrryyyyy. I didn't mean to be a bother and expect you to go out of your way or anything. I'll just leave now and go crawl under my slimy rock since as a valued client I shouldn't resort to such inconveniences and burdens.

But I don't. Because they are the only dealer in town. Give me an option, and I would just as well never step inside that place again. So, I track down the sales guy who a while back sold me my bike. I always pop in say hi to him. Surely he values me. I basically asked him in a nice way to fix it. He knows, it don't get fixed, I'm buying a Honda next time, not a Yamaha. All's good. BUT, that should have never happened. I don't blame the guy, I blame the owner of the store. They should know what kind of place they want to run. What kind of service they will deliver. It all starts at the top.

Another story. Quick one. I was leaving my driveway a few weeks ago. A guy's walking up the driveway. He noticed we have a cedar sided home, so he pulls over and pitches me to hire his services as a cedar siding re-finisher. Smart guy, I think to myself. Ambitious too. He targeted me as the ideal, most-likely-to-need -his-service kind of prospect, and approached me with an offer. Cool.

Why? He failed miserably in his sales pitch. I told him to get me a quote and get back to me. He showed up a few days later with 2 quotes scribbled on the back of his biz card. One was for $14,000.00 with taxes extra, the other was for $12,000.00 cash deal. That was it. Nothing else. Nada. I tell him that it's way more than I expected, and, for that kind of investment, he better explain to me what I am paying for. Nothing. Haven't heard back from him. Too bad. He was half way there.

There's a reason why my wedding price list is about 14 pages long. For many, it's a huge investment. I figure my prospects need to have things explained to them before they become clients. They like knowing what they are buying. In detail. And hey, while I'm at it, I will offer them as much advice as I can muster up. So I include some useful tips AND another report called "The Seven Mistakes Brides Make When Hiring A Wedding Photographer and What You Can Do To Avoid Them". About 12 pages long as well. All helpful and enlightning.

Same with my regular portrait clients. I use a 12 page report called "Your Photography Session: Success Secrets, Tips, and Strategies For Your Upcoming Portrait Session" Of course in all these reports they are loaded with samples of my best work. Loaded. Jammed. Why? Because an integral part of my offer is my work and what I have created for others who are in a similar situation. People are very visual.

Make your business cards work for you. Here's a cool idea. Sorta like a guerilla tactic. Biz cards. Create several styles for the different types of photography you do. When you meet someone, give them a card that is suitable for them. James gives his wedding couples about 30 custom made cards from their actual wedding. Tell me they won't beam and radiate when they hand those out?

These samples below are printed three up on a 4"x6". Got that idea from Rick Bell. Thanks Rick. What samples would work best for your niche?

Original is 8"x10. I delivered it to the brides mom's home the next day after their wedding a few weeks ago. Most folks have a reception at the parents home the day after the wedding, so it's a great opp to give them a special gift. Need to know how effective this is?
Listen to Dawn's phone call that she left on Monday afterwards.

This composite was created in seconds using a cool new program called Lumapix.. Fellow photographer and friend Jean Francois O' Kane has some more samples and a direct download form his site, The Studio Coach. This program is amazing and does all kinds of layouts, composites and more. And, it's a huge time saver. I like that! Check it out. Better yet, buy it. I did. Worth every penny and then some.

The Chalkmaster is at it again. I just got back from three days in Toronto to eat, play and shop.You may recall last year's May 2005 Issue newsletter. Here's an excerpt: "Walking along Queen we stopped to check out this sidewalk artist. Check out the video first and come back to read more about some rarely used but powerful marketing strategies.Queen Street Sidewalk Artist Video......What's at work here and why is he making so much? At least I think he's well on his way to earning the $50,000.00 he needs for a house in Halifax for him, his son and his wife. People were constantly throwing money into those buckets you see around him. The buckets closest to the crowd were piled with cash...."

Anyhoo, this guy is good. Very innovative. He knows how to use copywriting and how to market his talent- which, by the way, is top notch. His art is amazingly accurate and stunning. In a nustshell here's what I observed:

*Top-notch product (essential!)
*Humour- Can backfire so using humour can be risky. He's uses it very effectively, revealing his personality and also in a self-depricating fashion
*Bulets- Actually, it's a Win a date with the Chalkmaster contest.
*Reasons Why Advertising- Simple, and proven. Just tell people why you want/need them to act on your offer.
*Website- plug and more copy

Watch the video I shot. See all the people gathered around? And pouring money into his buckets. It's working for him.

Y'all remember Bill from last month? I interviewed him last month for the Inner Circle Members monthly success interview. Read what Torrey had to say:
"Rob this has got to be one of the best interviews yet. I mean they all were great but there is so much info from Bill. According to my Ipod I have listened to it 37 times so far. It has really given me confidence with phone calls and the consultation. Bill just made it all so easy to answer and discuss with people. Thanks so much for taking the time to do all these interviews....Torrey"

"Hodgy and Rob...Since I joined your No BS on April 14th, I have learned so much. My photography has improved dramatically and I owe that to No BS! The words “thank you” don’t seem enough. Someday I hope to be able to meet you guys! Have an awesome day. Ski, Photography By Ski"

"Thank-you!I learned a pile & it will help me tremedously in my business. (I'm still hoping to get a copy of Wednesday afternoon's marketing class as I wasn't able to be there for it.). Thank-you very much.
Sincerely, Rachelle"

That's it for now folks! hope you enjoyed my monthly rant.
Thank You
Robert Provencher

Hold on to your hats and take names! I will tell all! Muchos gracias!

"In my mind's eye, I visualize how a particular . . . sight and feeling will appear on a print.
If it excites me, there is a good chance it will make a good photograph. It is an intuitive sense, an ability that comes from a lot of practice."
~Ansel Adams~