014 Abbey Chamberlain: Gold in your contact list!

Don’t ignore people that already know and love you!

This week’s guest is one of my dearest friends,Abbey Chamberlain. She has been a highly profitable full time photographer for 40 years, is a teacher on creativity and business success. Semi retirement gives her the luxury of growing as a fine art photographer where work for sale in several galleries

Our conversation goes deep into how Abbey “loved”, ie…stays in touch with, her best clients in ways that kept them coming back year after year, refer her consistently, and investing thousands in wall art every time.

In this episode, Luci and Abbey discuss:

  • Importance of keeping a robust contact list and continuing the relationship with clients
  • What clients received when they purchased $12K with Abbey’s wedding photography
  • How Abbey kept in close contact with her clients

Key Takeaways:

  • So many professional photographers undervalue their talents in photography
  • It is crucial that business owners collect all the information possible from clients so there is always an event to offer their services to
  • Having a more friendly relationship to clients versus a purely business relationship

“Photography seemed just a natural extension of who I am and it was something I did and love and I still love.” — Abbey Chamberlain

Connect with Abbey Chamberlain:

www.abbeychamberlain.com

Email: info@abbeychamberlain.com

Connect with Luci Dumas:

Twitter: @lucidumas

Facebook: facebook.com/LuciDumasInsightTrainingForPhotographers

Website: www.lucidumascoaching.com

Email:   luci@lucidumas.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/luci-dumas

013 Dirk Witt: Partnership with your Photo Lab and how it leads to more success

Dirk Witt is the lab rep for Midsouth Color Lab, a professional photographic service that caters to the photographer that requires excellence both in the printing and service. A photographer himself since 1992, he joined Midsouth in 2008 and has become a good friend and part of Luci’s success team.

Having a great relationship/ with a lab/becoming part of their “family” is an essential element in growing and maintaining a highly profitable business and this episode covers lots of basics as to why and how to get the best from them

In this episode, Luci and Dirk discuss:

  • The benefits of having a relationship with a photo lab
  • How to work with a great lab and grow your business
  • Color and composition when printing photos and how to adjust it to one’s own desire

Key Takeaways:

  • Wall portraits are the most profitable items
  • Stick to what is known to be most trustworthy in times where technology is changing and transitioning
  • Get familiar with a single lab that you know will provide you the best quality service, being partners and help each other to achieve the desired goal

“Partners, we like to be partners. We want to help each other and help them lift their photography to the best it can be” — Dirk Witt

Connect with Dirk Witt:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MidSouthColorLabs

Website: https://www.midsouthcolor.com/

Email: info@midsouthcolor.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirk-witt-1529a07

Connect with Luci Dumas:

Twitter: @lucidumas

Facebook: facebook.com/LuciDumasInsightTrainingForPhotographers

Website: www.lucidumascoaching.com

Email:   luci@lucidumas.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/luci-dumas

012 Jeannie Hobbs: The Classic Photo in a time of trends

This week’s fantastic guest is award winning Master Craftsman Jeannie Hobbs. Jeannie has been creating images since she held her first camera at the age of five.  Working in the family studio since 1988, she is the studio’s main photographer. Jeannie often speaks to other photography groups, does private mentoring and promotes the ideals of the photographic industry with her service to the industry. In this episode, Luci and Jeannie discuss:

  • Capturing the emotions of vulnerable moments through her photos
  • The new photography trends and Jeannie’s take on them
  • The components of a classic photo that will be timeless

Key Takeaways:

  • Capturing timeless photos being her niche versus succumbing to trends
  • If a customer has a set aesthetic, she will adapt to it but she will notify them about it being a trend
  • Going to a professional photo session creates a memory and experience that will otherwise be absent when going to someone who is not a professional

“I think that classic portrait just means well posed, clients are well connected, they clearly act as a family unit and they are not too far away from each other you can see some family dynamics and all of that, I think it is just relatively traditional, and classic and timeless and will always be fantastic on their wall.” —  Jeannie Hobbs

Connect with Jeannie Hobbs:

Website:   hobbsstudio.net

Email:   info@hobbsstudio.net

Connect with Luci Dumas:

Twitter: @lucidumas

Facebook: facebook.com/LuciDumasInsightTrainingForPhotographers

Website: www.lucidumascoaching.com

Email:   luci@lucidumas.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/luci-dumas

011 Marketing Luxury Photography and the 7 Dollar Donut

In this episode, Luci discusses:

  • How to sell a luxury product
  • Branding, marketing, and positioning a product
  • Why she happily purchased a seven dollar donut

Key Takeaways:

  • There will always be buyers who want to pay for the entire experience and service so make it an occasion when they purchase the product
  • Create an entirely new experience with packaging, service, style, and innovative customizations that attract customers
  • The seven dollar donut was successful because the company was able to create a niche
  • Branding in a niche and how it works.

“Discover who your ideal client is and market to them.” — Luci Dumas

Connect with Luci Dumas:

Facebook:   facebook.com/LuciDumasInsightTrainingForPhotographers


Website and free eBook at:  www.lucidumascoaching.com 
Email:   luci@lucidumas.com 
Show: The Profitable Photographer 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/luci-dumas

009 Andrew Darlow: Protect Your Data & Streamline Your Processes

Managing and protecting your precious your files, using your time wisely when editing, and staying organized is an important part of being profitable as a photographer. If your photographs disappear or become corrupted, there is potential for huge financial losses. Andrew is an expert in this area and has taught thousands of photographers his system for staying safe and streamline at the same time.

In this episode, Luci and Andrew discuss:

  • Should photographers use a RAID storage system and what are some alternatives?
  • UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) Units (Battery Backups).  Why you might want to install one or more in your home or studio, and when you don’t really need them.
  • What to do to protect your computers and data drives during electrical storms.
  • Docks and hubs, and an important thing to consider when using them.
  • Why Apple’s Time Machine can be a lifesaver for your data. Windows has a similar option that comes with Windows 10 and some earlier Windows OS versions called File History, and a popular 3rd party application called “Genie Timeline” can also be used.
  • A simple system for “syncing” your data from one location to another. Andrew recommends Get Backup Pro (belightsoft.com/products/getbackup).
  • Online backup systems and specific things to consider when choosing one. Andrew recommends BackBlaze.com and Crashplan.com.
  • How to manage your smartphone photos and videos.
  • Tips for optimizing your computer’s performance and reducing the chances of losing data.
  • What to do if your external drive does not mount.
  • Media card management: Should you delete photos on your camera?
  • A simple backup strategy to help avoid losing the photos and videos on your media cards.
  • A printing tip to speed up your output without sacrificing quality.

“Success in my mind is being able to do what you would like to do, with whom you would like to do it, when you’d like to do it, and also be a good citizen while you do it.” — Andrew Darlow

Connect with Andrew Darlow:

SPECIAL GIFTS for Luci’s listeners: workflowschool.com/profit

Website: www.andrewdarlow.com

Facebook (personal page): facebook.com/adarlow

Facebook (business page): facebook.com/andrewdarlow

Instagram: instagram.com/andrewdarlow

Twitter: @AndrewDarlow