What in the world is going on with professional photographers? Most days I try hard with this blog to be tactful, but I believe today is not one of those days! It’s time to speak plainly and clearly for a change before we lose yet another talented photographer from our great industry…
The End Is Nigh!
Despite the failed warning that May 21st 2011 was supposed to be the beginning of the end of the world, I get the distinct feeling that many photography professionals truly feel that the end has arrived, especially for their own photography business! This not only makes me sad, but also quite angry!
I’m hearing a lot of things like, “I can’t do this“, “no one appreciates good photography“, “the people here won’t buy“, “I give up, it’s too hard“, there’s too much competition“, “I quit…” and so on… the list of excuses is painful to listen to and almost endless!
Come on folks, there are plenty of people all over the world facing hardships so dire they would make your skin crawl and keep you awake in terror for a month. Yet, many of them are determined and persistent, and manage to prevail. Still more continue on without complaint, believing with utmost certainty that better days are ahead for them. Their faith in the face of adversity is unwavering and unshakeable. Why can’t yours?
Read more…
Photography Business Ideas
business breakthrough, business coaching, business success, photography business
The days of paper proofs have been gone for a long time now, leaving two main camps of photographers: Those who sell through online portfolios, and those who sell through projection in a personalized portrait sales session.
Although this post focuses more on the aspects of projection sales, this is not a “projection vs. online sales” rant. In fact, I believe both sales models have a part to play in today’s digital sales world. For example, print sales to the extended family from a wedding or large event are probably better served through an online sales model. However, when it comes to wall portrait sales for families, high-school seniors, or children then projection selling is definitely the better way to go.
If you do already sell portraits by projection, how are your average sales? Are you happy with the purchasing decisions your clients are making? Do you feel that your clients are somehow missing out on the amount of enjoyment they could be getting from the small (in your opinion) photographs hanging on their walls?
These are all interesting questions that we all need to answer for ourselves. However, there’s a more important question we really should be asking, and the answer to it directly affects our responses to those other questions above.
Sales & Marketing
photography business, photography sales, projection sales, wall portrait
Why are so many of us scared of setting goals for the future? After all, it’s hard to imagine someone deliberately setting a goal they didn’t actually want to reach. If we assume that most photographers have at least some ideas of realistically achievable goals, why is it that so few fail to set any real objectives for themselves or their photography business?
Following Through Is The Important Part
I think it’s fair to say that a reasonable percentage of photographers would consider setting at least one major life goal or business goal. In fact, many of them do just that by adopting a New Year’s resolution. However, having decided upon an end result and then consciously deciding to go after their desired outcome, too many develop cold feet and back away from the challenge when the specter of their subconscious programming rears its ugly head with all those negative and limiting thoughts we’re so familiar with; “I’m not good enough…”, “I’m not smart enough…”, “It would never work anyway…” and so on.
The funny part is that those limiting thoughts then become, in the mind of the person having them at least, a perfectly reasonable justification for not setting or pursuing the result they desire in the first place!
Personal Zen
business success, motivation, setting goals
With two very dismal sales presentations in as few days, I’m left feeling more than a little disgruntled, to say the least! You might imagine (as I did) that two lovely families, with smiling faces all round, photographed in the beautiful surroundings of our local Botanic Gardens, would result in some good sales results…
Well imagine away, because the net profit from both sales combined was barely enough to take my wife and three children on a road trip to the local McDonald’s drive-through – and that would be if we ate off the dollar menu (no fancy shakes or frosties for us!)… As much as I hate to say so, it seems that it’s now official:
Portrait photography really can be worth less than fast food…
Of course, fast food and portrait photographs both have effects that can last one a lifetime, however I would think most folks would prefer the happiness of enjoying a loved-one’s portrait to the alternative of persistent heartburn and clogged arteries… go figure.
Sales & Marketing
groupon, photography business, photography sales, portrait photography
Do you have days when you just think to yourself, “I don’t know how I’m ever going to get anything done today; there are just so many things to get through”? When the end of the day comes do you wonder why you’re exhausted from so much work, yet you really don’t feel as though you achieved anything?
I’m sure the vast majority of us can relate to that, putting it down to the fact that we live in a world that’s becoming more demanding and frenetic every day. I think it’s weird that we seem to be getting ever busier, yet we’re surrounded by a growing multitude of machines, which are sold to us on the idea of being “labor-saving” devices.
Something just doesn’t seem right there, does it?
Life In The Fast Lane
I hear from a lot of photographers who tell me that they just can’t seem to make any real headway in their business because they are just so darned busy! They run from one job to the next, get caught up in endless phone calls and email conversations, find themselves multitasking just to try to get ahead, are forever playing catch-up on tasks that get delayed, and then have to deal with their personal lives at the same time, which are also racing along at a million miles an hour!
Read more…
Personal Zen
goals, law of attraction, time management
Recent Comments