Loaded with
marketing tips, success
secrets, spelling mistakes,
'cuss
words, odd-ball ideas and the occasional insult.
For the
professional portrait and wedding photographer.
July
(Part B) 2004
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The Profitable Studio Newsletter
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What's the best thing
you can do for your photography business RIGHT NOW?
Read this newsletter in its' entirety.
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Newsie bits
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*How's everyone doing!? Hope you're busy like stink and taking lots of
great photographs and mostly making money doing what you love. I've
been busy like ten, but loving every minute.
Time zooooomms by and I honestly try to slow it down and smell the
Cappuccino. This Sunday two big things are happening in my life. One,
I'm turning 46, yea I know, I know, damn I look good!; what can I say,
all that good living..eh eh,...
and two,
my 8 yr old daughter Danielle (almost 9) and I are taking off, renting
a rustic cabin in the woods at a resort (with an indoor swimming pool
in the main lodge, go figure...) for three days and then off to Toronto
to take on some thrill rides at Wonderland (big theme park with long
line ups, lousy food and too expensive..).
I love my daughter and really appreciate how she's turning out so far.
Smart as a whip, filled with gratitude and very conscientious. If only
I can get her interested in learning Photoshop and helping out at the
studio....hhhhmmmm. She thinks I'm the best photographer in the world
too. Amazing what a little brainwashing will do..
......more news:
*James Hodgins and I (he's the other guy in my other website based
business: www.NoBsPhotoSuccess.com
) just finished shooting two hours of what we figure will be a
dynamite lighting tutorial. One hour is studio and one hour is natural
light. We are editing the videos so you get to see the actual shots as
they are being explained. James is totally pumped, and so am I.
To quote James : "these tutorials
will kick some severe ass..."
Below is a sample image from the
natural light video.
If you go to the
No Bs
website and sign up for the Digital Samurai newsletter.
That way you will get the info re: lighting tutorials at a
special time
limited offer.
*I've decided to make this
newletter a monthly instead of bi-weekly. Why? Well, on average
it takes about 2-3 hours of my time. It's not that I don't like doing
'em, actually I rather enjoy ranting and raving and sharing
marketing/success stuff with my favorite people, photographers, it's
just that time is very hard for me to spare so I like to use it in a
more balanced way. Soon I will rant about an important yet often
misunderstood success principle..time management. Soon. In time. I
still love you guys, just can't give up all my time...
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Back Talk
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I get a lot of questions. Many are like this "How do I get more
business? In my depressed area people are not spending? My competition
is killing me on price, how to I ever compete....." on and on. Listen
folks, I said it before, and I'm gonna say it again a MILLION TIMES.
You must take on the responsibility of being a masterful marketer of
photographic services FIRST, and a photographer second. Treat your
business with strategy and focus. Just because we start a business,
lease a spot, get a sign made, plug in the phone, can take great
photographs, and whatever else we think is the "KEY" to success in
business, doesn't mean we've earned the right to have clients
automatically knocking on our door, lining up for portraits. This
attitude sucks. It's sheer arrogance to think we deserve anything,
especially when we think we're artists, and we're different.
Geeeeezzzzz, get over it and get on with getting business.
Especialy in today's day and digital age. Man, I hear photogs
complaining and hurting like never before. And I know the solution.
Wanna hear it? Okay, you asked for it. Here's goes.
Rob's
secret to success in photography:
* Do something. Actually do
something. Don't think about it, DO IT!. Listen, here's the truth.
99.999999% WILL NOT DO ANYTHING.
So if you do something, you automatically put yourself at an advantage.
Remember, next time you sit to watch tv, you just made a choice. You could be
creating some dynamite sales letters promoting some special, working on your newsletter,
website, strategizing, finding your market, on and on....... your
choice. Excuses WILL NOT HELP and do not make it any better in any market. Working
and dedicating time will. It's like magic. I've seen it before. When you start
on something, anything, and persist, the universe opens up. When you get better
and better it becomes easier.When you have a little help with marketing photography,
it really helps. It's harder at first, I've been there where I barely made it
month to month, but you must believe that you can make it happen, and it will.
I guarantee it.
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Q&A
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Why do business's fail? Specifically, studio owners, big and
small....here's an answer for you, right from one of my favorite books.
If haven't read "Think And Grow Rich", run and buy it today. It's
a must read...
"Analysis
of over 25,000 men and women who had experienced failure disclosed the
fact that lack of
decision was near the head of the list of the 31 major causes of
failure".
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Success Corner
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Here's a cool idea for you. James, who shoots wedding through my studio
(this year only, next year he's on his own), came up with it. What is
it? Well, it's a DVD case with business cards clipped on the inside.
Not only that, but the case has a custom made cover for the case and
the CD with actual images from the couples wedding and the business
cards have photos from their wedding as well. For every couple we
photograph we make them a gift slide show and burn it to a CD as a DVD
playable show. All images, set to music and dissolve transitions. Very,
very powerful.
Total time to make a slide show and two labels? About 20 minutes.
Really, 20 minutes, once you become prolific, which is our goal and
resposability, right?
Below is a simple layout make-over I suggested to my friend Kevin from
Kevanna Studio of Fine Photography. His layout is the first and my make
over is the following copy with my comments..read on:
________________________________________________________________________________________
Are you?
Tired of Senior Packages that no one
can understand?
Tired of having to purchase large
packages?
Tired of Traveling to studios far away
from home to get the quality imagery you deserve?
If Yes!
Then you should consider a studio
right in your own back yard.
Kevanna Fine Photography in Sault
Ontario has just what you are looking for.
No complicated packages, and no
minimum orders.
You order from our Al A’ Carte price
list and can order from as many or as few images as you wish.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Are
you tired of Senior Packages that no one can understand? Tired of having to purchase large packages?
Tired of Traveling to studios far
away from home to get the quality imagery you deserve?
If
You answered YES, and you want great looking seniors portraits, then
you should consider a studio right in your own back yard.
Kevanna Fine Photography in Sault
Ontario has just what you are looking for.
*No complicated packages, and no minimum orders.
*You order from our Al Ala Carte price list and can order from as many
or as few images as you wish.
*Right Next Door…Other than crossing the bridge we are right next door
not far from the bridge or the Station Mall.
*Prices Are Reasonable
*Senior clients from Sault Michigan have told us that we are actually
less expensive than what is available in Michigan, and that is before
you factor in the cheaper Canadian Dollar.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Created avery simple and easy to get Headline with a distinct
offer/promise/curiosity question. Followed with a sub-head and bullets.
Same basic words and copy but layed out in an easy to see and
understand format.
I always recomend the use of clearly understood benefit rich headlines
that target a specific group and don't generalize everybody in
photography but speak to the actual studio making the pitch. One thing
I would suggest is taking away the a la carte idea. Many people do not
understand what this means or simple won't "get it". Instead, make a
very specific offer...Session packages starting at **** and you only
buy what YOU need...."
People understand and get packages and bundles of products and
services. It always creates an illusion of added value and makes the
information very easy to get, therefor making selling easier.
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Blatant Promotion BRAG BRAG BRAG
*****************
Here's two emails I received from Rob and Fran in the UK within the
last month They've had some success with some of my wedding ideas
"Rob...
You should be locked up, surely
anything producing this many $$$ in such a short space of time has to
be illegal? Replying to your ProfitableStudio web site ad was the
smartest thing I've done since marrying my wife 26 years ago :)
YIPPPPPEEEEEEE.
Robert and Fran
Abbey House Studios
and again:.......
"Rob
It seems that the 300+ wedding
album was not a fluke. We've just sold a second one with 288. It seems
our brides love this Freestyle approach almost as much as my bank
manager.
If you also take a look at the
last few wedding strips you'll see what a bad influence you are on us
:-)
Take care, Bob and Fran.
PS. Thanks for getting in touch
with Gary Williams he *will* be ordering the 'Full Monty'
|
That's
it for now folks! hope you enjoyed my bi-weekly rant.
Thank You
Robert Provencher
Hold on to your hats and take names! I
will tell all! Muchos gracias!
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Email me: If you're excited, euphoric, lost, confused, happy, sad,
depressed....
I'd love to hear from 'ya!
I love a challenge, compliments (true or otherwise), comments,
feedback, ideas, contributions,.........
I reserve the
right to use any and all emails on this newsletter.
info@profitablestudio.com
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Thanks! Robert Provencher
www.ProfitableStudio.com
