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10 Tips For Creating A Trash The Dress Package

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The funny thing about buying a wedding dress is you wear it once, and it hangs in the closet forever more. I know – that’s where mine is at the moment.

Mine got a bit more use than most, as I pulled it out on more than one occasion when we were first getting started to practice and build up our portfolio doing the crazy things we dreamt up. But for most brides, it goes into the closet, and rarely is seen again.

Which is why Trash The Dress sessions have become so popular, and can enhance the images a bride and groom have from their special day. The day of the event, the bride would never risk getting her gown dirty or wet. But the day after – all bets are off. For many, Trash The Dress is part of the fun of the entire wedding process.

Not only is it fun for the bride and groom, its also a great way to enhance your portfolio, and let all of your crazy ideas come to light. What have you always wanted to do? What photograph would you love to have in your portfolio? Dream away, and pitch it to your next bride to be.

If you’ve always wanted to add a Trash The Dress package to your services, now is the time. Use these 10 tips to help build your own package, and start selling it today.

1. Don’t Include Trash The Dress Sessions in Your Packages

Wedding packages should be just that, photography the day of the wedding. You shouldn’t include engagement images in your wedding packages. And you shouldn’t include Trash The Dress sessions in your packages. Trash The Dress sessions are extra – above and beyond the norm. Not everyone wants it, and if you include it in your packages, you’ll start the bargaining process with certain clientele.

Dig Deeper: 8 Keys To A Great Engagement Portrait

2. Start With A Small Plan And Grow From There

If you are new to the Trash The Dress concept, don’t start out by having your bride do something completely over the top. Start small and build your portfolio from there. Your creativity will grow as you see the potential. [Read more...]

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Cost vs. Value: Would You Spend $25,000 To Grow Your Photography Business?

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Around the world, most people think with their pocketbooks instead of realizing the impact something could have on their futures.

They focus in on the cost of everything that is presented to them, instead of on the value the item presents to their lives.

For instance, if I said you have the opportunity to spend one week with the top minds of the world, learning all you can about business and improving your life, but it came with a price tag of $25,000 for the week, what would you focus on?

The chance to spend one on one time with brilliant minds that have grown major corporations?

Or the fact that there is no way you could ever afford $25,000?

Would you concentrate on the value you would receive from spending time with people that have succeeded at everything you’ve ever dreamed of?

Or would you concentrate on the cost of the program?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

I have spent thousands of dollars to attend seminars in the past, and when I talk about them with family and friends, the response is predictable:

“What, are you crazy? How could you spend THAT much?”

Because they are so focused on the costs, they miss one crucial point.

You can’t learn million dollar strategies from someone who has never made one million dollars. You can’t learn successful business strategies from someone who has never built a successful business. And you can’t learn successful lifestyle strategies from someone who doesn’t have the lifestyle you are trying to emulate.

So when I see someone holding a multi-thousand dollar event, I look at it and say, “Hmm … I wonder what they know that I don’t?” I look at the people in attendance, their reputations, their resumes, and what they have to offer to the group.

While the big price tag of $25,000 probably got your attention, the same holds true no matter what the price tag. People have different thresholds, and while some declare $25,000 to be outrageous, for others it might be $500, or even $50.

One person may say, “OMG, you paid $1,000 for that? Really? I’ll give you “advice” for half of that, give me $500 and I’ll tell you everything I know, wink wink.”

But a smart person knows better. “If this training teaches me one important tip that will help me generate $1,000 into my business next month, I could keep earning that $1,000 for the life of my business.”

Filed Under: Six Figure Photographer Tagged With: , , , , ,

10 More Apps You Have To Have As A Photographer

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Photo Slides

Now you can use your iPad as a digital frame. Photo Slides is an app that allows you to showcase your portfolio when your iPad isn’t in use.

Easy Release

Do you work with models, or out on location? You’re going to love Easy Release. No more bringing along files and loose forms of paper to the shoot. Simply use Easy Release, and you can quickly have model and property releases at your fingertips, ready for your clients to sign before the shoot.

Impression

What if you take a great image with your iPhone, and want to share it with the world … but you’re afraid you’ll lose the rights? Now you can use Impression and add your watermark to any photograph first.

[Read more...]

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Location Location Location – Is It Everything For A Photography Business?

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“I’m in the stage now that I need an actual location. My question to you is how important is the actual location of the studio? The reason I ask is because I fell in love with this particular building and the price is right but the location isn’t too great. It’s outside the city a couple miles and off the beaten trail so I wouldn’t get any drive by business. I have excellent marketing skills and ideas though. Would that be enough? Or is my business going to fail before it even has a chance because of the bad location?” ~Heather

Great question Heather. There are actually several ways to look at this, and you made several references in your email that I will address to help you along your process.

Is location important?

If you talk to anyone in real estate, they tell you the only important thing is location, location, location. And I agree.

But different businesses have different ways of addressing the location issue.

A fast food restaurant, for instance, depends on quantity. They need as many people as possible coming through their drive thru every single day. If they aren’t near a large area of population with easy access to the main thoroughfare, they won’t stay in business.

Yet for photography businesses, it’s completely different.

Is drive by traffic important?

The first thing to think about is if you really want drive by business. If you are running your business like a big box store, where you need an ever-flowing client base coming through your doors, this is important. But if you plan on keeping your photography business very customized, working with just a few select clients a day, drive by traffic loses its value. [Read more...]

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Are You Lacking The Right Level Of Confidence?

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I’m working with a client who is building up a pretty large web presence. One of her goals is to start speaking, and wants to begin using a YouTube channel in order to give weekly tips, have video testimonials on her sites, and be able to showcase who she is all around the web.

We built her YouTube account up close to one year ago. We branded her channel, and it mimics the look she has on her site, her Facebook and her Twitter accounts. Yet to date, her YouTube channel remains empty.

As photographers, we tend to think of what we do in the form of stills. Yet I’m betting even with stills, you probably enjoy being behind the lens much more than you do being in front of it, right?

And when you add in the dimension of video, where you can see yourself move, laugh, speak and communicate, it becomes much more surreal … and scary.

The problem lies with how we normally see ourselves. In most cases, you see yourself daily in the mirror. Yet that is you in reverse. Its not the true you. So when you see yourself in video, which allows you to see yourself as others see you, it throws off your perspective. Your voice also changes. When you hear yourself talking every day, you hear it through your own filtering system. When you are recorded, it removes your filtering system, and you suddenly hear yourself as others do. In combination, that can overwhelm you, and cause you to doubt your true presentation.

If your goal is to showcase video on your sites, the only way to get passed it is to just do it. Create a video, and put it out there for the world to see. Just do it. You’ll always be able to find something wrong with it – you don’t like the background, or the way you look, or the clothes you wear, or the way you presented the message. Yet what you see isn’t what everyone else sees. They simply listen to your message without all the biases you have going into it.

When I was working on my degree, I needed a public speaking class in order to graduate. That class was my biggest fear, and I put it off until the very last semester. Being a public speaking class, we gave a ton of speeches. And with every speech we gave, every person in the class had to write down comments on a half sheet of paper, which we were given at the end of the class. Those pieces of paper taught me a lot about speaking. I expected my comments to be the worst: you have a terrible voice, what a dumb tip, your presentation was horrible. That’s what had built up in my mind over time. Instead, every sheet of paper had a positive comment: I loved the tip on ___, I love your necklace, great voice, speak up I really want to hear more about what you are saying. And by the end of class, my presentation skills improved a lot.

Today I speak regularly, and teach classes all over, including at a local community college. Trust me, I never would have predicted that back in college. I also can record a video with one or two takes, and look at it critically for the message I delivered, not for the way I look or sound. It takes practice. But once you stop looking at it from your insecurities, and get the general population to listen to what you have to say, you’ll be surprised at the results.

Finish watching today’s tip:

Filed Under: YouTube Tagged With: , , , ,

The Problem With Using Bad Advice

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We’ve been marketing businesses online since 1994. So I consider us to be connoisseurs of online marketing. That’s why I’m shocked at what some of the so-called experts promote every day.

For instance, the other day an email came through my inbox that promised the best way to build up your website was through a link exchange, and they would help me get hundreds of links for a monthly fee.

And last week I received a comment from someone who said Flash was the best thing out there, and if smartphones chose to ignore Flash, then you simply shouldn’t use those phones. Go with Androids that can readily accept Flash, and build your sites the way you want them designed.

I’m sure a lot of people listen to these “gurus” and follow their advice. And I’m sure a lot of people fail using their advice as well.

When you take advice from someone, you put your trust into his or her knowledge, education, and background. You trust they know what they are talking about, and rely on them to further your business or your lifestyle. But how do you know when their advice is right? And how do you know when its wrong?

Don’t Fall In Love In 2 Seconds

Sometimes we get caught up in the moment.

Maybe you have a problem in your business, and you suddenly find the solution. You attend a seminar and the speaker is speaking directly to you – she seems to have the perfect answer for your situation. Or someone leads you to a blog post or site that has a wealth of information on what is giving you the most trouble.

Instead of jumping in the minute you find a solution, spend some extra time looking at things through different eyes. Does this solution truly make sense? [Read more...]

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An easy portrait profit center

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A Guest Article By Andrew Funderburg

High-end portrait sales are a great source of income for studios. But sometimes the big ticket items create sticker shock for the client.

Using Finao 3ditions (three albums exactly the same in a matching box) is a great way to bring profits into you studio. Watch this video with Fundy explaining a simple payment plan concept with three albums.

**(Prices in this video are for illustration purposes only. Make sure you price for your profitability.)

Filed Under: Portrait Photography Tagged With: , , , , , ,

5 Ways To Boost The Most Important Page On Your Site

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What’s one of the most important pages on your website?

Your home page?

Your gallery section?

While they are all important in creating your overall brand, there is one page that stands out above the rest, and has the most impact in converting a complete stranger into a potential prospect. Yet its also one of the pages we think the least about, and throw up more as an afterthought.

It’s the About Us page.

Statistics continually show your About Us page is the second most trafficked page on your site. Yet if it’s just a few bullet points, a few sentences that give basic information about you, it’s also the number one page that is holding you back.

Your About Us page should be used to sell who you are and what you can do. And while that sounds easy in theory, statistics also show its one of the most difficult pages for people to write. There’s something about “tooting your own horn” that people simply find impossible. They consider it bragging. And therefore they write up a few sentences and leave it at that.

Having trouble writing up your own About Us page?
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Adding The Pizzazz To Your About Us Page

1. Start with a story. Every business started with one late night idea that built up because of passion. Every photographer loved the art of photographing, and somewhere along the way decided to turn it into a business. People love to hear that story. They love to know what was “the moment” for you, and what persuaded you to take action and create the business you are in today.

2. Who else loves you? Over the years, you’ve accumulated awards and accolades. Now is the time to share them with the world. Whether it’s a degree in photography, finishing a week long seminar and training session in Italy, or a 1st place award from the county fair, that’s you starting point. That’s why you are doing what you do today. And someone else has appreciated what you do as well.

3. Say it with a photograph. I’m always amazed at the number of photographers who don’t like to have their personal image showcased on their websites. Why? Be creative with it. Showcase your personality. Create an image that you’ve always dreamed of creating with your clientele. And use it on your site, and throughout your social platforms.

4. Use different media tools. The great thing about the online world is you have a variety of tools available to you to enhance your look and feel. Use them all to showcase what you do. Animoto, YouTube, SlideShare, Photoshop and others offer you amazing tools to create a variety of ways to showcase your talents. Don’t be afraid to use this new technology to make them say “wow”. (example)

5. Ask for comments. Instead of telling people about you, ask your current customers what they think. Then use those in your About Us page as well. Chances are they can say it better, and your prospects will completely relate to what they have to say about who you are and what you offer.

Bottom Line: Online or off, the ultimate job of self-promotion comes down to us, the business owner. If you can’t toot your own horn and make yourself stand out from the competition, it’s that much harder to convince people to use you as their photographer. Its your time to shine. What’s holding you back?

Promote yourself with a new About Us page today >>

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7 Tips To Keep In Mind As A Destination Photographer

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The idea of traveling to exotic locations to shoot weddings, portraits or commercial work is what most photographers dream of. Where else can you get paid to see some amazing sites around the world?

But like everything, not only does it have its “ups”, it also has a few “downs” to consider.

Whether you’ve been traveling with your photography for years, or are just putting together your very first promotional campaign, keep these tips in mind.

1. Choose your locations carefully

While traveling around the globe is a relatively safe thing to do, keep in mind that some places are easier and safer to travel to than others. It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful place for a wedding than the beaches of the Caribbean. Yet choosing a place like Haiti or Dominican Republic can be more taxing than a place like St Croix. As you are making your plans, do your research first. Search the Internet for current stories, check with the State Department, and look at tourism sites for your chosen location. In just a few minutes you should be able to gain a pretty good feel for the area.

2. Research the area

Once your area has been selected, spend some time learning about the location and the time of year you’ll be visiting. Hawaii is beautiful – unless you get there during rainy season and you experience inches of rain every day. If you know the weather patterns ahead of time, you can quickly plan backups for the just in case. [Read more...]

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5 Posing Tips For The Perfect Beach Portrait

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A while back I posted 7 Tips For Taking The Perfect Beach Portrait.

And while choosing the perfect location and the best time of day are important, there is one thing that matters even more.

Posing.

Even with a great location, if your subjects are just standing there with no connection, you’ll never give your clients the “experience” that makes them want to invest in everything you capture.

1. Frame the image first, then drop your subjects in

The more you photograph, the more you can look at an area and pick out the perfect background. Set you camera up on a tripod and visualize what you want the scene to convey. Then drop your subjects into the perfect location. When you “see” it first, its easy to direct them in a pose. Have them kick the water with their toes. Or hold hands walking down the beach. This makes the portrait session quick, and keeps your clients motivated and happy.

2. Let your subjects connect on their own

Your subjects love each other, and will automatically connect with just a little direction. If they are an engaged couple, with just a little encouragement they will hug and kiss even without your nudge. And a family with young kids will automatically start having fun in the water and the sand. Just let them do what comes naturally. Not only will it look better to the camera, it will look equally pleasing in the final photograph – they will see it as a natural extension of who they are.

3. Repeat the posing

When your subjects are doing something right, tell them. “I love the way you are holding her hand.” or “Leaning in like that really makes this a WOW image.” will cause your subject to focus in on what they are doing, and they’ll remember how it feels. When you ask for a similar pose 10 minutes later, they will automatically repeat that feeling.

4. Add angles

If you’ve ever looked at a portrait where everyone in it is stiff as a board, you know how uncomfortable it can make you feel. People have lines and curves – accentuate it. Bend the arms and legs. Separate people just a bit and have them lean in. You’ll be amazed at the difference you see.

5. Get the best image you can the first time

One of the biggest problems with digital is the “spray and pray” method. You place a subject in an area, shoot dozens of images from all different angles, then head back into the studio to play with Photoshop to make it look good. That method takes away the creativity of creating the perfect photograph the first time around. See your image through the lens first, and use Photoshop later to enhance. You’ll see a big difference in your final photograph.

[None of these environmental beach images are enhanced through Photoshop - these are the original film image files directly from the shoot. ]

Filed Under: Portrait Photography Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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