7 Ways Make The Most Of Attending A Tradeshow

This week is all about weddings and portraits, thanks to Andrew attending the WPPI (Weddings and Portrait Photographers International) tradeshow in Las Vegas this week. With around 11,000 photographers in attendance, row after row of tradeshow exhibits, and photographers scrambling to get a seat in some of the best training sessions around, it’s turning out to be quite the event.

If you are attending WPPI, or plan on attending any other tradeshow or seminar this year, what can you do to make sure you take back to your studio the most important nuggets? What can you do to make sure you get your money’s worth out of your training? Take a look at these suggestions.

1. Attend everything you can. If you’ve paid the attendance fees, and especially if you’ve traveled and have airfare/hotel/car expenses, it’s important to take in as much as you can. Sit down with the schedule and plan out every day.

2. Work through the expo as early as possible. Visit every booth, or at least the booths that have interest and relevance to your business. Collect literature, business cards and any deals or show specials that they are offering. Then sort through the content back in your hotel room. If you have no interest, throw it away at the hotel – no need bringing it home. If you have an interest in purchasing as a show special, make a special pile and spend a day or so thinking about it. Reserve the last day for revisiting booths you want to take advantage of offers. Also tuck a flat rate shipping box into your luggage already pre-stamped. Fill it with your literature, and drop it off at the front desk. They’ll be happy to put it into the mail, and you won’t have to tote it through the airport.
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How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects

Today I’m really excited to announce my newest ebook on one of my most favorite topics – How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects.

As we were building up our business, we hated the idea of selling. It always brought to mind the used car salesman image, and that’s the last thing we wanted to portray.

• We wanted our photography to sell itself.
• We wanted people to call or email us excited, ready to sign on the dotted line with very little effort.
• We wanted there to be so many “knocks” on our door, we would never have to sell again.

This guide is all about sharing with you the one “secret weapon” we found that literally turned our business into a Six Figure business model in just a few months.

How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects shares an idea that we used to successfully reach out to markets we never would have had access to without this “secret weapon”.

Over the past six years, VirtualPhotographyStudio.com has shared with you hundreds or posts on building up a photography business. We’ve shared our ideas in dozens of newsletters, and created many different products and services you’ve used to help build your business, and generate a profit.

Each of my products takes your learning to a whole other level. If you haven’t tried one of my e-training products before, this is your chance to see firsthand how beneficial even one great idea can be.

How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects includes:

• 23 pages of specific advice, tips, resources and step-by-step plans!
• A template ready for you to use!
• Photographs of every idea!
• Examples and case studies!
• Clear text and stories to make sure you walk away with a clear concept, ready to implement in your business!

We know this one idea helped build our business from under $50,000 per year to over $250,000 per year, in less than two years of time. We believe it will do the same for you. And at a price of $14.95 (USD), it’s one of the most economical and valuable pieces of information your business will ever have access to.

30 Day Money Back Guarantee

If one idea could double, triple, even quadruple your business over the next year, you’d be crazy not to invest in it, right? Yet you may have tried things before, and just aren’t sure what to do. Grab your copy of How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects today. I’m so confident you’ll love the ideas presented in simple step-by-step form that if you don’t agree, just let me know within 30 days of purchase and I’ll refund your money – no questions asked.

Get It Now

Make sure you take advantage by investing in How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects today. Get started today…

Joining Photography Associations: Is It For You Or Your Clients Benefit?

As a start up photography studio, there are dozens of places you can invest your money. First you start with the obvious: camera equipment. And then you move to the basic marketing materials: business cards and a website.

Where do Photography groups and associations fall into a marketing strategy? Do you join a group for your own benefit, or do you join it for your clients?

From my perspective, it’s a little of both.

With dozens of photography associations to choose from, it’s easy to find one that covers your niche market – with your interests and your goals in mind. Check out my growing list of photography associations. Read more

3 Conferences That Will Help You Improve Your Photography This Year

Looking for a quick way to improve your photography and help you build your business? I’ve found 3 conferences coming up in the next few months that can offer you a ton of resources in one easy to get to place.

PhotoPlus Expo

The PhotoPlus Expo takes place in New York October 22-24, and will bring you updates on everything photography. You’ll learn as much about the technology side of photography as you will about improving your images.

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How To Take Better Pictures Using Squidoo

Have you ever heard of Squidoo? Have you ever tried Squidoo?

I’ve been using Squidoo for years. It has a lot to offer anyone that is willing to take the time to use it for their business.

Squidoo is a site where you share your knowledge, expertise, and basic love of a particular thing. Choose your passion. Then head over to Squidoo and create a lens. With Squidoo’s design tools, you can easily add text, photographs, videos, and links to a variety of online resources. You can even choose from a variety of money making tools, allowing you to share in the revenue if your lens becomes popular and begins making money.

For me, the best way to use Squidoo is to showcase your expertise. I created a lens today entitled How To Take Better Pictures.

Then in 5 easy steps, plus a YouTube video, a reader can see simple ways of improving their photography. And of course I link back some of the information to my newest website.

How can you use Squidoo?

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Do You Give Your Clients Digital Images or Prints?

What’s your number one question when it comes to building your photography business?

Every week I get email asking various questions about the business. I do try and answer everything that comes through, though I will admit it might take me several days at times to go through everything.

Last week I received a great note from John. And since he ended by saying, “I’d love to see a blog post covering the topic”, here it is.

Hi Lori,

I read your blog all the time and truly enjoy it!  I’m just starting out in the photography business.  I followed your advice:  Networked with my co-workers here on FaceBook, showed my work, became enthusiastic and passionate about it without pandering to people.  Well, today it happened;  I was asked the question:   “So, if I were to hire you to take some pictures of me and my girlfriend….etc..”  Bad news:  I didn’t really have an answer.  Today’s younger crowd, with all the time they spend online, don’t really want prints.  They want digital images.  So, what’s the answer?  How does one set a price for what your time is worth without chasing off a potential client?  I’m sure this is in your Six Figure Course,…but I’d love to see a blog post covering the topic.  Thanks for any help you may be able to provide!!  ~John

First of all, you are correct about covering it extensively in my Six Figure Photographer. I dedicate several modules to discovering what your client wants, and giving them what they ask for. It really can help you build up your business in the shortest amount of time possible.

That said, let’s talk for a moment about expectations.

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HDR Photo Gallery – A Great Place to Look and Learn

Are you inspired by HDR photography?

If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know that’s my newest passion. (read more about HDR photography)

If you’ve ever tried your hand at HDR, its time to see your work.

A new site, HDRcreme allows you to share your work, look through the photo gallery, and vote on your favorites. I’ve added their feed to my favorites – I just love the look. Let me know if you post anything – I’d love to see what you’re doing.

Learn Photoshop Now training guide

Questions always come through in themes. I get a ton of email from you every week, and keep track of the questions to make sure I cover everything in a timely manner. (If you would like to send in your question, please send it to info at virtualphotographystudio.com)

One of the more common questions is:

“How can I learn Photoshop, and improve my photography using Photoshop tools?”

So I’m always on the lookout for great tools and resources. Occasionally we’ll be putting up tutorials like this one.

I also found this tool that I think could help you become even better at Photoshop. It’s called Learn Photoshop Now. You’ll find a guide to help you through actions, and videos to show you exactly what to do.

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HDR Photography – High Dynamic Range Technique

We’re heading out this weekend for a business retreat – and to have a change of scenery. The Rockies are beautiful anytime of the year, so we thought we’d head up to a few of our favorite places and try are hand at a new technique – HDR photography, or High Dynamic Range technique.

HDR creates amazing images – almost surreal – that gives you a sense of being in a different time and place.

HDR is created through tone mapping using bracketed exposures. To create one image, you end up taking a series of images – one at the correct exposure, a variety under and over exposed – and combine them into one dynamic image.  The highlights and shadows are all represented, giving it the surreal look.

photo source petervanallen

photo source joep r

photo source smashingmagazine – check out the other 35 shots

I pulled just a couple here to show you what other photographers have captured. If you’ve experimented with HDR, I’d love to see your work.

Part Time Photography

A week or so ago I was introduced to Dan Eitreim with Part Time Photography. He has a great ebook available for anyone that is trying to use their camera to bring in a part time income. Its a book filled with tips and strategies from a variety of different professional photographers. And that is really what makes this book so valuable.

You’ll find 16 chapters, each by a different photographer, filled with ideas to help you get your business up and running. I finally had a chance to read it cover to cover, and was impressed with the ideas. These ideas go hand in hand with my Six Figure philosophy, and are sure to spark your interests with a few new ideas.

Each chapter brings a distinct idea to you, and provides you with enough detail to put it into action. If you want to make money with portraits, family and children portraiture, this could be a great investment for you. You don’t need to come up with new ideas; take ideas that are already tried and profitable, and incorporate those into your business.

On top of that, the price couldn’t be better. In these trying times, if you’re great with a camera, its time to use your skills to bring in some extra income. And with the upcoming holiday season, and more people sticking close to home, family photographs will make perfect gifts.  Go to Part Time Photography and get your own copy now.

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