071: Aly Elliott- Unconventional Marketing

In this episode of The Profitable Photographer Podcast, Luci Dumas introduces you to brilliant and successful photographer, Aly Elliott. The topic, unconventional marketing, is explored in some very creative and surprising ways.

Aly has been a professional photographer since 2007. PPA Master Photographer and CPP and a certified Master Photographer with the National Association of Professional Child Photographers. She and her husband have 6 kids and manage to have a thriving photography business, successfully balancing the needs of both.

She has a gorgeous little studio on the Bloomington, Indiana town square and focuses portrait work on maternity, newborns, and family. She is also a photography educator, speaking across the country, as well as an exhibiting artist.

In this episode of the Profitable Photographer Luci and Aly discuss:

•Aly’s life, and how she built her business to into what it is today •Why you have to build a foundation of ways to reach people
•Aly’s unique, unconventional marketing ideas
•Video marketing–powerful marketing and how you can implement it

Key takeaways:

•Efficiency with your workflow allows you to put time into other areas of your life
•Exhibition can be helpful for your business. Coffee shops, galleries, etc. •Marketing is a matter of connection
•Don’t give up…play the long game

Connect with Aly Elliott:
Phone: (812) 890-4980
Email: aly@rootsandwingsphotography.com
YouTube: Mrs. Aly Elliott

Connect with Luci Dumas:
Twitter: @lucidumas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuciDumasCoaching/ Email: luci@lucidumas.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/luci-dumas
Instagram: @theprofitablephotographer_pod
Website: LuciDumas.com
Coaching: LuciDumasCoaching.com

070: Sarah Petty-“Family First” Photography Businesses

The marvelous Sarah Petty is Luci’s guest on The Profitable Photographer

Photographer Sarah Petty is the New York Times Best-Selling Author of Worth Every Penny: Build a Business that Thrills Your Customers and Still Charge What You’re Worth, a two-time Two Comma Award winner.

Sarah built her multi-million dollar empire around the value of putting ​#familyfirst ​as she balanced two businesses, speaking gigs, and an active crew of very-involved kids. She’s been featured in Entrepreneur, Fox Business, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal and is an internationally-known speaker and coach for photographers. Sarah even has a new podcast called “Worth Every Penny Joycast.”

In this episode of the Profitable Photographer Luci and Sarah discuss:
•How your brand reflects who you are
•Why a consistent brand and website are important
•Implementing marketing skills to help your business thrive
•How Sarah put family first and still became the amazing businesswoman she is today

Key takeaways:
•Your brand is how people feel about you
•Utilize hard times as inspiration to grow
•Branding starts with your identity
•You determine your own worth– keep going!

Connect with Sarah Petty:
Email: ​sarah@sarahpetty.com
Phone: ​(217) 638-7688
Websites: joyofmarketing.com
Facebook: ​Joy of Marketing for Photographers Instagram: ​@Sarah.Petty

Connect with Luci Dumas:
Twitter: @lucidumas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuciDumasCoaching/ Email: luci@lucidumas.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/luci-dumas
Instagram: @theprofitablephotographer_pod
Website: LuciDumas.com
Coaching: LuciDumasCoaching.com

069: Luci Dumas No More “Starving Artists”

In this solo episode, Luci takes on the topic of how to handle the challenge of artist who want to have a profitable photography business.

Here are some tip on how to just say NO to being a starving artist.

1- See your photography as a product,
Learn to separate yourself from what you create emotionally. When you do this, your next step is to be skilled at sales and marketing and running a consistent business.

2- Don’t take rejection personally. It is about them and not you and your photographs

3- You are selling love, or success, or memories, not your soul. Focus on them. Serve them.

4- You are selling your time. To make a living you MUST charge enough and learn how to sell to compensate you for the time you could spend at a different job.

5- Good enough is all you need to be. They don’t need to be award winning images. Awards don’t pay bills

6- You do need to be proficient and results need to be repeatable. Learn the basics of photography. Study lighting, learn how to pose people in a way that makes them look their best AND evoke natural expression. And have the right equipment and skill to make it happen.

7- Style. You don’t need to figure this out to make a great living. You need to know how to take photographs people want to pay for that also make you happy to create.

8- Of course, it is vital to have the passion to produce the best work we possibly can every time. As your work is continually better, success does become easier.

068: Ann Monteith-Preserving Images as a Business

Master Craftsman and Fellow-Irish PPA Ann Monteith is the professional photography industry’s leading authority on studio marketing and business management. As a past president of Professional Photographers of America (PPA), she is an internationally read author of books and articles on subjects of interest to studio owners and managers. Her workshops are credited with setting some of the industry’s most successful photographers on the road to profitability. Ann and her husband, Jim Monteith, have owned and operated three different portrait studio businesses.

As PPA President she helped the philanthropic arm of the Association, PPA Charities, forge a relationship with Operation Smile.

In recent years she has become an outspoken advocate of the need for photographers, families, businesses, and societal institutions to properly preserve their vulnerable digital files. Having Ann on The Profitable Photographer is an absolute treat.

In this episode of the Profitable Photographer Luci and Ann discuss:

•The upkeep required to preserve digital files
•How to charge clients for archiving
•Ann’s tips on running a thriving, profitable business

Key takeaways:
•Build an annual business plan; It sets a standard, goals, expenses, etc.
•Understanding your finances is essential to establish your price points
•Don’t be afraid to make changes– it is trial and error to find which methods fit you and your business best
•The potential in offering an archiving service
A wonderful offer to archive your photos, information, and more with FOREVER:
$15 coupon and free starter pack to get 2gb of storage ​with Forever.com https://www.forever.com/sign_up

Connect with Ann Monteith: Phone: 717-867-5079
Email: ​ann@annmonteith.com
Websites: www.PersnicketyPetPortraits.com
www.lovelyireland.photo
www.SaveYourPhotoHistory.com
​http://www.annmonteith.com/

Connect with Luci Dumas:
Twitter: @lucidumas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuciDumasCoaching/ Email: luci@lucidumas.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/luci-dumas
Instagram: @theprofitablephotographer_pod
Website: LuciDumas.com
Coaching: LuciDumasCoaching.com

067: Amy and Tavis Guild-Creating Desire for Your Photography

Tavis and Amy Guild are business designers and award-winning portrait artists based in Yakima, WA. A fun and vibrant style has given these two the opportunity to photograph over a thousand weddings and sessions in the past twelve years all over the world. Passionate about people and wall portraits, helping photography business owners has been a natural extension of their work. They have been coaching and teaching photography courses since 2011.

Tavis and Amy are also the owners of Guild Canvas, an exclusive canvas company that specializes in handcrafted wall art for professional photographers. This kind and charming duo offers knowledge and tips you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of the Profitable Photographer Luci, Tavis and Amy discuss:
•Why and how Tavis creates an experience for his clients
•How this husband and wife team balances each of their strengths, to better their business
•The importance of a consistent, cohesive website
•How the Guild’s implement their brand into their studio’s design

Key takeaways:
•Any team thrives when each person involved knows their strengths and where to apply them •Have a student’s heart– remain willing to learn how to do better
•Don’t be a one-hit-wonder…look for long term value
•How you market helps your clients see the value in the artwork you offer
Connect with Tavis and Amy:
Email: ​hello@guildcanvas.com
Websites: Guildcanvas.com ​www.tavisandamy.com Facebook: ​The Guild Canvas Club
Instagram: ​@guildcanvas

Connect with Luci Dumas:
Twitter: @lucidumas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuciDumasCoaching/ Email: luci@lucidumas.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/luci-dumas
Instagram: @theprofitablephotographer_pod
Website: LuciDumas.com
Coaching: LuciDumasCoaching.com