005 Skip Cohen: Growing a Profitable Photography Business

Skip Cohen is President/Founder of Marketing Essentials International, a marketing consulting firm specializing in projects dedicated to education, primarily in photography. He’s been actively involved in the photographic industry his entire career and previously served as President of Rangefinder/WPPI and earlier, President of Hasselblad USA. Prior to Hasselblad, he was with Polaroid for 17 ½ years.

He founded SkipCohenUniversity.com in January 2013. The site is a resource center for aspiring and working professional photographers.

He’s a writer, educator, and consultant. He wrote for many years for Shutter Magazine, Resource Magazine, and Digital Industry Reporter, and co-hosts “Mind Your Own Business” with Chamira Young. He’s a regular speaker and workshop instructor at several key conventions every year and has business and marketing modules with both Creative Live and Lynda.com.

He has co-authored six books on photography, The Art of Wedding Photography, The Art of the Digital Wedding, The Art of People Photography, Don Blair’s Guide to Posing and Lighting Body Parts, Wedding Photography from the Heart and GoingPro, released in 2011.

In this episode, Luci and Skip discuss: 

  • How business is going to be what you make it; it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.
  • To be profitable, you need to learn the business, learn to sell, market, and network.
  • The two perspectives of getting noticed are within the industry and building your network, and the other is your community.
  • There’s incredible depth within the industry, so go to every possible conference, convention, or workshop as possible.
  • A great blog is about great content, and great content develops a community.
  • Relationship building is about getting your name, images, and branding known.
  • Build a strong reputation with clients, deliver on time, and keep your promises

“The photography industry has helped the world capture one memory after another and take an intangible moment and turn them into tangible photographs that they can hold and look at for a lifetime.” – Skip Cohen 

Connect with Skip Cohen: 
Twitter:   twitter.com/SkipCohen
Facebook:   facebook.com/SkipCohenUniversity
Website:   www.SkipCohenUniversity.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/skip-cohen-25b261

004 William Bay: Get Noticed SEO

004 William Bay: Get Noticed SEO

In this episode, Luci and William discuss:  

  • Why SEO is important for entrepreneurs to increase visibility through online searches and the mistakes business owners make with keyword searches.
  • The foundations of SEO and the importance of website content and external links with clients and organizations.
  • The impact website power, social media, and networking have on SEO algorithms and how to avoid competing website content.

Key Takeaways:  

  • The two foundational components to SEO are onsite content and offsite content.  Onsite content is what is on your website while offsite content is links from other sites to yours.  
  • You must have a very powerful website for search engines to find your content. Content on pages should use different keywords as searches are page specific, not site specific.   
  • SEO algorithms are updated by search engines, and it’s essential to understand what the new algorithm analyses and how to modify your website content for maximum exposure.

“Profitable beyond money means to me that I have led a fulfilled life doing something with purpose, that I made a difference, even if it was only on one person.” — William Bay  

Connect with William Bay:  
Facebook:   facebook.com/williambay
Instagram: instagram.com/williambahiabay
Website:    getnoticed.flauntsites.com
Twitter: @WilliamBay
*Use discount code “getnoticed20” for 20% off course at Get Noticed SEO Training Course

003 Stacey Lievens: Witness The Proof

In this episode, Luci and Stacey discuss:

  • The importance of giving back to your community and building a strong reputation.
  • Why sourcing the right talent and encouraging creativity and independent work, sustained a high-quality work product and employee loyalty.
  • How offering video as part of your services will increase the level of your business and enter the growing market demand with entrepreneurs and online influencers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Entrepreneurs need to be the face of their brand, and they’re hiring photographers for professional headshots and photographs in a natural state for use in social media, websites, online marketing, and blogs.
  • “Proof” gives entrepreneurs and thought leaders the opportunity to perform on a live and virtual stage to talk about what they are passionate about and why they do what they do.
  • It’s essential to build your photography business by finding a way to align your core values with some kind give back component to the community.  It’s the best way to give back to your community in a way that’s also beneficial to you and your business.

“The more we can lift each other as we climb, the better we are, give in the spirit of generosity and your heart will be free to reach and build the life you want to live.” — Stacey Lievens

Connect with Stacey Lievens:
Facebook: facebook.com/witnesstheproof
Website: www.witnesstheproof.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/witness-the-proof

002 Luci Dumas: The Profitable Photography To-Do-List

In this episode, Luci discusses:

  • The top to-do-list items necessary for growing a professional photography business.
  • The importance of hiring a coach experienced in photography and business, who will provide inspiration and guidance to avoid costly mistakes.
  • The advantages of building a reputation through volunteering, assisting other photographers, and generosity.

Key Takeaways:

  • A photography business requires money to invest in education, equipment, marketing, coaching, and travel.
  • Finding your niche will make it easier to grow your business in that specific area, build your reputation, and know the market you’re serving.
  • Attend a week-long class with professional photographers who have had a successful journey to network, learn new skills, and be inspired.

“Never stop learning and don’t give up; success is inevitable if you’re willing to do what it takes and trust yourself.” — Luci Dumas

001 Welcome to The Profitable Photographer with Luci Dumas

Your host for The Profitable Photographer is Luci Dumas, an award-winning photographer at local and national competitions including the People’s Choice Award at the Del Mar Fair’s International Competition.  She served as President of PPSDC and WICP and has been a professional photographer for over 36 years. Early in her career, she was a high-end wedding photographer and has transitioned to a high dollar child and family portrait specialty. Luci’s business coaching program empowers her students to grow their business, increase income, gain confidence, and knowledge as they share their experiences with the world.  Join her weekly as shares her wisdom for building a successful photography career through her journey and interviews with industry experts.

“It takes nurturing and planning. It takes heart and commitment, education and imagination.  It takes everything you have, your talents and your experience.  It takes support and people to guide and believe in you.  It takes grit and you can do it.” — Luci Dumas