The rigors of volume photography, and more specifically, sports team photography.
Tips and tricks for networking and growing your contacts.
The items people need to think about before trying volume photography.
Key Takeaways:
Utilize social media to find the groups, teams, and people that you want to work with.
Don’t give up! A “no” is not necessarily forever. Stay top of mind, be present, and somewhere along the way, someone will say “yes.”
Be organized on the day – not only with crowd control and your equipment but with keeping track of who is being photographed.
“In volume photography, time is money. You have to get it all right in the camera, on photo day…It’s all about not touching every individual photo multiple times.” — David Grupa
Jeff and Lori Poole own Indigo Silver Studio in Wilmington NC, offering boutique boudoir portraiture and wedding photography. They also own and operate The Shoot Space, their educational outreach for photographers.
In this episode, Luci, Jeff, and Lori discuss:
How to sell wedding albums and a system to create a story with your client.
How they balance their relationship and their business.
How to utilize lead magnets in your marketing to keep yourself top of mind.
Key Takeaways:
Designing the album that tells the story together with the client gives them a sense of ownership of the album.
Creating a sense of urgency gives the client a reason to make a decision in a timely manner, serving both your business and your clients better.
Be creative – you don’t have to use the business model that somebody else is just because it is being used. There are many ways to accomplish the same thing.
“Instead of focusing on individual images, we’re focusing on stories, so rather than picking images, we’re picking stories and working backward.” — Lori Poole
Luci is passionate about branding as a deep discovery into who you are and why people would want to hire you and only you.
In this episode, Luci discusses:
· What branding and identity mean, and misconceptions people have about the terms.
· The power in knowing who you are, radiating who you are, and being able to express it.
· How to discover your own brand and what makes up a brand.
Key Takeaways:
· A great brand doesn’t start with your ideal client and who they are attracted to – it starts with you.
· Even if you are working in the same target market as someone else, you will attract different clients based on your brand and style than someone else might.
· How you present your self and the words you say are part of your brand and communicate a lot about who you are.
“Personal brands are unearthed, they’re not created. Branding is a creative, active, introspective process that’s an ongoing and organic exploration.” — Luci Dumas
Anne Ruthmann, creative entreprenuer and author of “Pricing Workbook for Creatives” helps people figure out how to package their talents so it can lead to a profitable business.
In this episode, Luci and Anne discuss:
The evolution of Anne’s career and how it has evolved as she moved around the country and in different demographics.
Unique challenges faced by creatives in sales and marketing.
Marketing and selling your work in different spaces.
Key Takeaways:
Find out what you need to live, what you need to support your creation, and what you need to support your business, that is how you will find your pricing with confidence.
Be confident in your pricing – there is power in knowing what you and your work are worth.
Reclaim your space and your value – don’t allow the market or the customer determine what you are worth.
“I do see selling as an emotive experience, and as an emotionally connecting experience. But I think that creating the structure of a price to be applied to a work, to be applied to a print, to be applied to a service, or to be applied to an offering, is a different act – it’s one that happens behind the scenes. It isn’t one that happens in front of clients, it’s one that happens before the client walks in the door. I find that, when that structure has been built before the client walks in the door, then people can be confident and really focus on what the client loves.” — Anne Ruthman
Treating regular clients like celebrities and celebrities like regular people
My guest has photographed many prominent musicians, politician and more and featured in dozens of publication. In this episode, Luci and Bry Cox discuss:
How Bry’s magazine style approach to photographing everyday people distinguishes his brand from the competition.
His work shooting with celebrities and how he uses it to promote his business.
The value of creating a high end experience for his customers.
Key Takeaways:
Get the sellable shots done quickly then make time for a more creative approach.
Help nervous clients relax by telling them a little anecdote about yourself.
You can’t focus on the people in front of your lens if you’re wrapped up in the technical stuff.
“In the end, I think it’s just really caring and loving people and caring about who every single individual is.” — Bry Cox
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.
