Photoshop Learned The Fast Way
If you recently got Photoshop but you don't have any clue about using this program, there is no reason for you to worry because now you can receive plenty of help from the Internet. There are many online Photoshop tutorials, allowing you to use them..... Read the rest of this entry »
Duh! It’s called winning, not whining…
“What could possibly be more important to you than living up to your best potential?”
~Larry Winget~
~Larry Winget~
Duh! It’s called winning, not whining…
People are too lazy to succeed. For the most part they are, the way I see it.
If they weren’t lazy, they wouldn’t be so adverse to doing what needs to
be done to actually succeed.
be done to actually succeed.
Granted, most of us didn’t have or were given the best or right tools. But that’s no excuse
for failure, or, at least for not doing what needs to be done.
for failure, or, at least for not doing what needs to be done.
The big key and take-away lesson here is the fact that fear of the unknown
is what influences so many to do what is safe. secure, and well, “known”.
is what influences so many to do what is safe. secure, and well, “known”.
Even though it is an illusion. Which it is.
But we don’t care. As a long as the secure and safe road gives us a false sense
of safety, we’re happy in our compromised position.
of safety, we’re happy in our compromised position.
Know this, act smart, and you can progress into the unknown, and reap rewards.
Most don’t get this, but I am trying to enlighten you with this potent tool.
Here’s how it works. You have a passion, a desire. A purpose. There is NO
clear, known and mapped out path. None. Get over that one as soon as you can.
clear, known and mapped out path. None. Get over that one as soon as you can.
Next, start into your own path. Start taking steps and action, takes notes, learn,
progress and your own path will come clear. Read, read, read, study, learn, ask questions,
stay moving forward no matter what, move, move, move…..
progress and your own path will come clear. Read, read, read, study, learn, ask questions,
stay moving forward no matter what, move, move, move…..
Scary for most. That’s why they like to hide behind the false cloak of safe jobs,
secure positions and well worn paths where many have traversed before us.
secure positions and well worn paths where many have traversed before us.
The fact is, when you’re on this path, you’re on your own. And that my friends
is why it’s so scary. Yes, scary. So fear is the true culprit.
is why it’s so scary. Yes, scary. So fear is the true culprit.
What I like about all this is at least now I know. Knowledge is power.
Knowing that fear is a big influential force in my life, knowing that the urge
for doing what is safe is there, knowing all these and more, now gives me the power
to move on.
for doing what is safe is there, knowing all these and more, now gives me the power
to move on.
Many, many times I am faced with scary situations, and I have to talk myself out of it.
And I always look back and say, phew, good thing I didn’t give in to my fears.
And I always look back and say, phew, good thing I didn’t give in to my fears.
Life, running your own photography business, mastering your own photographic style
is all about daily victories over the self. It’s not a grand slam big jackpot land
the big fish and you’re set for life.
is all about daily victories over the self. It’s not a grand slam big jackpot land
the big fish and you’re set for life.
It’s much simpler than that. It’s what I call winning. Not whining like a little child
because life didn’t deliver to us what we thought we needed.
because life didn’t deliver to us what we thought we needed.
Duh!
*************************************
Fairy Day Portraits
Just finished yet another successful fairy day. I’ve said it before,
and I’ll summarize it here again. Fairy portraits are the ideal marketing
portrait pitch.
and I’ll summarize it here again. Fairy portraits are the ideal marketing
portrait pitch.
They meet all the best criteria when it comes to marketing
photography:
photography:
-a great offer that a targeted group desire and will respond to-
I’ve called it ‘widgetizing’ your services. Create a package, a bundle
so to speak, that a very specific group- one that you can easily identify
and go after without breaking the bank.
so to speak, that a very specific group- one that you can easily identify
and go after without breaking the bank.
Do this, over and over, and you have the basis for the best
marketing tactic that works in ALL industries
marketing tactic that works in ALL industries
A sample from yesterdays shoot:
If you want to implement fairy portraits in your studio, I urge you to grab
my fairy success system HERE
my fairy success system HERE
It’s worth ten times the investment and could bring in that much or more into
your studio……kachin’!
your studio……kachin’!
********************
Print competition success!
Last week over at No Bs Photo Success (TM)
we had our first ever Bull Pen print competition and critique webinar.
It was a huge hit and many, many, if not all in attendance gave us positive feedback and reviews.
So that can only mean on thing…right? We’re going to keep running this type of webinar, so
if you’re a member, that’s a good thing. All these webinars, and many others, are recorded
and installed in the members only forum to watch at your convenience. (not a member? details here)
if you’re a member, that’s a good thing. All these webinars, and many others, are recorded
and installed in the members only forum to watch at your convenience. (not a member? details here)
I received an excellent email from Juan, shortly after this webinar,
specifically in regards to this submission below, and the ideas, cropping, treatment
that I had quickly played with and showed during the webinar, on this image.
(before and after….)
specifically in regards to this submission below, and the ideas, cropping, treatment
that I had quickly played with and showed during the webinar, on this image.
(before and after….)
After, when I grabbed a screen shot, and quickly played with the treatment:
Juan’s email:
“On one of the last photos,Rob recropped an image and added a pinstripe.
I believe that was the only image in which am extra design element was added. Please
discuss the importance of theses extra design elements in the judging process. How much
“fluff” would be considered too much?
Thanks. Really learned a lot Juan”
I believe that was the only image in which am extra design element was added. Please
discuss the importance of theses extra design elements in the judging process. How much
“fluff” would be considered too much?
Thanks. Really learned a lot Juan”
My reply….
Juan, the ‘fluff’, or treatment as it’s often referred as, is only functional when it enhances the image.
Too much, and you’ll know. If the borders, pinstrip etc are there for no other sake other than to be
there, likely, it isn’t working. There is not hard fast rule, other than, does it look good?
Too much, and you’ll know. If the borders, pinstrip etc are there for no other sake other than to be
there, likely, it isn’t working. There is not hard fast rule, other than, does it look good?
It’s that simple. In that image (above), I added a mild stripe, and the border was
essentially the same as the backdrop in the image, so it continued and enhanced what is there already vs taking away….
hope this helps. Cropping is more to do with affecting the composition, and that could also enhance an image as well.Rob
essentially the same as the backdrop in the image, so it continued and enhanced what is there already vs taking away….
hope this helps. Cropping is more to do with affecting the composition, and that could also enhance an image as well.Rob
**************************************
A little revealing? A little offensive?
Well, the headline should grab some attention.
From my studio website…one of the featured banners….
Photoshop Actions
Photoshop actions have become very useful for all photographers around the world. It is a very easy way to improve a photograph that did not come out as you wanted it to be. Photoshop actions provide you all the help you need to create that perfect p..... Read the rest of this entry »
Photoshop Actions For Fun
If you are not a specialist in , you might find the following tips quite useful. There are a few of these marketing materials over the past while (including
your book) and I was going through the “big book of ads”. I have some questions about
your pricing methods.
your book) and I was going through the “big book of ads”. I have some questions about
your pricing methods.
I realize some of the material is a few years old and prices have changed but its about
your portrait sessions and weddings pricing. The studio sessions and promo prices you
offer seem quite low. Do you use these session fees like a “loss leader” to get the clients
into the studio and then you up-sell them portraits and prints at the sales session?
your portrait sessions and weddings pricing. The studio sessions and promo prices you
offer seem quite low. Do you use these session fees like a “loss leader” to get the clients
into the studio and then you up-sell them portraits and prints at the sales session?
And for your wedding packages (also in the “book of ads”) it seems like the add-on
albums you offer are also priced very low (most studios I know are selling similar albums
for 2-3 times that). Are you including your albums at a low cost in order to sell the
packages?
Your input would be appreciated. thanks, Larry”
albums you offer are also priced very low (most studios I know are selling similar albums
for 2-3 times that). Are you including your albums at a low cost in order to sell the
packages?
Your input would be appreciated. thanks, Larry”
My reply……
Larry, my studio sessions are about $250.00, nowadays, $325.00, unless you’re talking
about something else? can you specify?
about something else? can you specify?
Weddings, to me, are somewhat influenced by the area. Big cities, higher cost of living,
higher prices. to some drgree, but not wholly.
I arranged my wedding prices like this: what do I want to take home? and, what time am I done?
So, I take home almost $3,000.00 and am home for supper on Saturdays. I priced wedding
accordingly. the albums are about 100% to 150% marked up. they are easy to create, and
we feel ok at that price. I know other album companies cost way more, but Album Epoca,
our supplier, keeps the cost way down, and they have a superior product. When I book a
wedding, I tell them not everyone wants an album, those who do, can get one. We don’t
force it. And, I tell them that they are not buying albums and prints. they are investing (I use
that word) in me. My skills. My talents. They can’t argue with that:) Hope this helps….Rob
Keep reading….Larry replied with:
“Thanks for your reply Rob. That helps for the wedding question.
For the studio sessions in your book of ads your promos for the “1st year baby panel”
and “5 yr child plan” are priced at below $100. Is this old pricing or still current? Or is it
priced low as an incentive to sign up?
and “5 yr child plan” are priced at below $100. Is this old pricing or still current? Or is it
priced low as an incentive to sign up?
And do you still recommend not giving clients proofs to take home, but getting them to
return for a sales presentation?
If so are you using any particular sales presentation software? Thanks, Larry”
return for a sales presentation?
If so are you using any particular sales presentation software? Thanks, Larry”
Those are leaders, for sure. I don’t want to call them “loss leaders”, because in a much bigger sense, they are not.
Sandy Puc talked about this before. She experienced the same thing I did. Babies first year
cannot be compared to each session. It’s more about bringing them into your family, and having
them come back again and again. She canned her, realized it was a mistake, and fired em up
again. I only wondered why they didn’t make as much, but realized their inherent value, overall,
and allowing for long term client value. Clients come to you because of what they think you will
do for them. They return again and again because they like you. It’s all about building a ‘herd’, a
family. Those are programs. They target a specific group and is an irresistible offer. Each studio
has to price it according to their market position and their ability to sell.
We let all our clients leave with proofs. But, they have to pay a hefty deposit AND we educate
them. If you sell and market on price, and let proofs leave, you’re doomed. If you get a great
rapport going, get paid, and make it about the experience, they will get it, and honor you….the
software doesn’t matter. Seriously. It’s all about the process, not the tools. I could use windows
explorer, proof them using PS proof sheets….wouldn’t matter. I’d still make the sale.
them. If you sell and market on price, and let proofs leave, you’re doomed. If you get a great
rapport going, get paid, and make it about the experience, they will get it, and honor you….the
software doesn’t matter. Seriously. It’s all about the process, not the tools. I could use windows
explorer, proof them using PS proof sheets….wouldn’t matter. I’d still make the sale.
Some very successful studios I know use zoombrowser, free with canon cameras. they swear by
it. And they make a truckload of sales and profits. I know this for a fact. Some use bridge, very
similar. Included with PS.
Some use Pro Select (we have this, but I don’t swear, live and die by it the way some studio
do). I used to use, and it is my preferred choice, but Epson canned it, Film Factory. Came free
with a basic printer 11 years ago. Loved it! I mean loved it! It did everything. But again, the
tools aren’t secondary to the process and the communication.
do). I used to use, and it is my preferred choice, but Epson canned it, Film Factory. Came free
with a basic printer 11 years ago. Loved it! I mean loved it! It did everything. But again, the
tools aren’t secondary to the process and the communication.
We do use pics to exe for slide shows that they take home. Creates .exe files that expire in
given time. Hope this helps/ Rob
(PS- google pics to exe if you want to get it. Not expensive)
************************************************
Another email this time from Gareth, with an excellent
example of a direct mail postcard:
example of a direct mail postcard:
“Rob, Having promo postcards printed similar to this (uses this image). No contact info on
the front, on the back 3 more images & my contact info. What do you think? Gareth”
the front, on the back 3 more images & my contact info. What do you think? Gareth”
My reply:
“Gareth, that is a marketing question. When marketing, the two most
dynamic components are A- Who are you communicating to? and B-
What are you saying, offering, pitching?
“Gareth, that is a marketing question. When marketing, the two most
dynamic components are A- Who are you communicating to? and B-
What are you saying, offering, pitching?
So, who? If you’re general population mailing, this would be a waste of money.
If you on the other hand have a list of just engaged couples, for some
reason or other have a higher than average likely hood of booking with
you, than that makes sense. The list is VITAL. It is the life blood.
So is the offer. The offer is communicated through words. Words are the oxygen.
What are you pitching them? Showing them some images, and adding|
your studio logo/name is one thing. How about a more powerful reason to
contact you? an offer….something. Not a vague percentage off dealio
(boring). Get creative. Here’s the chance to really connect with them, reel
them in. The answer is in you, not out there. Rob”
your studio logo/name is one thing. How about a more powerful reason to
contact you? an offer….something. Not a vague percentage off dealio
(boring). Get creative. Here’s the chance to really connect with them, reel
them in. The answer is in you, not out there. Rob”
PAY ATTENTION….. this is an excellent marketing strategy. It’s lean, mean,
accountable. The kind of marketing I’ve used in my studio and the kind
of photography marketing that I encourage others to use.
accountable. The kind of marketing I’ve used in my studio and the kind
of photography marketing that I encourage others to use.
*********************************
Mark your calendars for November 2012 in Nashville.
The Inferno 3 Day photographic workshop is set.
The speakers are being lined up and the major sponsor, Durys Camera
***************************************
Wedding season has started in most parts in and around North America.
If you want to crank up your wedding photography business and experience the kind of success
I do in my wedding photography business, then I urge you to check out my wedding
photography success system. And at the cost it’s being sold for, it’s a steal at triple the price.
I do in my wedding photography business, then I urge you to check out my wedding
photography success system. And at the cost it’s being sold for, it’s a steal at triple the price.
It is loaded, I mean loaded with information. DETAILS HERE.
Yours in photography,
Robert Provencher
Photography Tutorials To Set The Basics In Photography
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Photography Tutorials We Need To Keep Up With Technology
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Details HERE