This week on The Profitable Photographer Podcast we are thinkin’ OUTSIDE THE BOX with multi-talented artist and photographer, Carly Sullens. She helps us understand how to use the new tools in the current Creative Renaissance to create digital photographic art limited only by our imaginations.
Carly is an award-winning photographer, artist, digital painter, and educator.
With a master’s degree in art therapy, Carly studied painting, psychology, and art history in both undergraduate and grad school. She added photography to her repertoire several years ago. Eventually, she began to apply her painting training, turning photos into works of art. Her photographs have earned tons of awards, including “Image Excellence.”
Carly combines her painting and photography worlds by exploring how photographs can be deconstructed and transformed into a new reality.
She says, “The idea behind my work and what I teach is to push the artistic potential of photography and compose a new artistic image. Whether that be through digital painting or composite.”
In addition to art for the sake of beauty and exploration, Carly is also a trained art therapist, helping students tap into their own creative genius. “Art and symbolism speak to all of us in unique ways. To be more creative is to learn to sit with imagery, yours, and others and to listen.”
If you’re looking for a way to tap into your creative genius, Carly says:
Go within
Notice the patterns that show up over and over
Explore your emotions
And if you’re interested in taking up photo painting:
Choose the right photograph
Be sure the image has good highlights and shadows
Test your digital brushes
How you paint the pixels is up to your artistry
Focus on fundamental principles like perspective, form, and color
It’s never too late to learn a new skill and add to your artistic portfolio. You never know what potential you’ll tap into.
“Salesmanship begins when the customer says no”…today’s quote from a coffee mug by Sandra Bynton
This solo episode by me, Luci, you know…your hostess with the mostest…is all about how to deal with objections from your clients.
No matter how great you are at photography, marketing, attracting ideal clients, or planting seeds for eventual purchasing, you need to know how to handle those inevitable objections.
How? By having a strategy (and lot of responses in your back pocket) so you will have a great session and order you are really really happy about.
In this episode, I cover the following topics:
How to“Head um off at the pass”. I.E., anticipating and solving potential issues in advance.
The value of becoming the trusted advisor.
What to do first when someone asks a question or makes a comment that sets you back on your heels, or risks the entire success of the project.
How to use the“Feel, Felt, Found” tool that is like magic.
And I offer several responses to common questions like “can we order more later” or “do you sell digitals?”.
Don’t miss this one. It can make all the difference in the world.
And thanks a zillion for listening! Luci
Photography Business Coach Luci Dumas’ Programs and Contact Info:
We are amping up our photography sales this week on The Profitable Photographer podcast.
Special guest Jeff Dachowki joins us to spill his secrets to big and meaningful sales.
Jeff is an award-winning Master Craftsman Photographer. He owns a highly profitable studio with his lovely wife Carolle in New Hampshire which has been on its feet since 2003.
He is also the President of the Professional Photographers of America (or PPA for short), a PPA International Approved Juror, Certification Judge, and a Vatican Approved Photographer. Not only that, he is also a super fun and great human.
What’s Jeff’s number one tip to making big sales? SELL IN PERSON!
It gives you a better opportunity to connect and collaborate with your clients.
And always remember that you are valuable and worth it–You are the only place your clients can get what you offer.
Jeff also says to make sure to:
Pick at least one impact piece to focus the conversation on
Let your client know the importance of each piece
Let the client add to their own shopping cart
Photographs are the most talked about piece of furniture in our homes. Your clients WANT to buy from you!
Woooah! Slow down there, Nelly. This episode of The Profitable Photographer Podcast is all about avoiding burnout!
We’ve got special guest Hunter Lowder here to share her expertise on avoiding and healing from burnout. Trust me, photography business owners are no strangers to this topic!
Hunter is co-owner of Tortoise & The Bear, a business strategy, operations, and mindset coaching company that supports visionaries in bringing their wild and crazy dreams to life. Coupling her past business experience as CEO of a multi-million dollar company with mindful coaching approaches, Hunter helps service-based business owners create and prioritize a strategic plan to grow their impact and move their business forward in a sustainable way.
After suffering severe burnout as a CEO, Hunter is passionate about building a business in alignment with her values.
“Burnout is not afraid of playing the long game. To prevent burnout, we need to play a long game, too.” ― Sally Clarke
You’ve probably been there, you’re a visionary and you have big plans for your business…BUT NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY! You find yourself overworking to make your business grow. You’re exhausted, yet not sleeping. More emotional than usual, maybe overeating or leaning on alcohol. It feels like you are spinning and your business is out of control.
Hunter says it’s important to come back to ourselves and our bodies by:
Journal and meditate
Let your values guide you
Ask for help
And, hey, if burnout has got you down, it’s not the end of the world!
Here are some tips for recovery:
Get to know yourself through personality assessments to better understand what led to this moment.
Let go of the “shoulds”
Celebrate!
Like Hunter says, there are no rules and “shoulds” when it comes to developing your business. So let that pressure go and move forward with you in mind!
Take the first step to valuing your needs and listen now!
And grab Hunter’s FREE customer journey audit – a personalized video to get you on the right path to creating a customer journey for consistent leads and sales.
This week on The Profitable Photographer Podcast, we welcome guest Deevo to share his insight on the value of storytelling in your photography business marketing!
(Read till the end to grab his free gift!)
Starting off with a camera at 12 years old, Deevo has always had the spirit of an entrepreneur. Today, he leads a full life as a Thought-Leader, Photographer, Videographer, Blogger, serial entrepreneur, single father, and Strategy Consultant and Speaker. WOWZA!
He is an expert in creating digital architecture that helps small businesses and entrepreneurs market their services. And that is what he’s here to talk about today!
Digital Architecture? YES!
Deevo says the most effective way to communicate your brand is by intentionally structuring a story for your audience.
Storytelling is the epicenter of humanity. It is the common ground between strangers. If we can tap into storytelling, we can connect directly with our audience.
How can your photography business use storytelling on social media?
Be clear on your purpose and develop a strategy around it
Pick one channel
Plan it all in advance and schedule your posts!
Have aesthetic appeal
Be consistent
So, what’s your story? Listen to the episode now!
And look out for Deevo’s retreat coming at ya next summer!
A big, exciting and maybe a little scary dream to have a successful, profitable and creative photography business doing exactly what you love for wonderful, grateful clients? Or do you want to bring your business to the next level of fun and profit.? If so, then this Podcast is for you.
For over 36 years, I have made a great living as portrait and wedding business, Luci Dumas Fine Photography, with no other source of income. No rich husband or lottery winnings, through the ups and downs of the industry and economy.
Now as a business coach with Insight Training for Photographers, I love love love to support photographers who want to do the same. This podcast is full of practical business info, and insights gained from my years in business, plus interviews with amazing people. My desire is to help you along on your joyful journey to success, however that looks to you.
